{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-holiday-podcast-senator-king-discusses-the-virtues-of-community-service", "In Holiday Podcast, Senator King Discusses the Virtues of Community Service", "2022-12-31", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Listen to the November edition of Senator King\u2019s podcast here or on Apple Podcasts.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the December episode of Senator King\u2019s \u201cInside Maine\u201d podcast \u2013 a special holiday season edition that features a timely discussion about community service, volunteerism, and how Maine people can give back to their communities this holiday season. Senator King was joined by Charley Martin-Berry, the Director of Community Caring Collaborative (CCC); Vassie Fowler, the Executive Director of Seeds of Hope; David Patch, the Commander of American Legion Post 36, Veterans Resource Center and Mid-Coast Veterans Council; and Sarah Duncan, the Executive Director of United Way Aroostook.\n\nDuring the conversation, Senator King and his guests share how volunteerism has helped Maine communities weather the economic and social challenges that unfolded over the past year. Specifically, his guests highlighted the affordable housing crisis and the need for organizations to cut through red tape and bureaucracy to connect Maine people in need with food banks, shelters, and other nonprofits. Senator King and his guests also discussed the role Congress can play in promoting more community service across the country.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s nonprofits and volunteers have always stepped up to support our neighbors and communities in need,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIn the face of daunting obstacles, these leaders have responded with energy, joy, and compassion \u2013 bringing light in dark moments. Their work has been critical to Maine people. During this holiday season, I hope everyone will continue to build on this work by finding a local volunteer opportunity near them. Each of us can do something to make someone\u2019s day a little brighter. I\u2019m deeply thankful for everything that my guests this month do for our communities, it was a pleasure to learn more about their organizations and what volunteer opportunities they offer.\u201d\n\nCharley Martin-Berry is the director of the Community Caring Collaborative (CCC). She leads the collaboration of state, local, and tribal partners working to improve outcomes for vulnerable Washington County community members. She previously worked at Family Futures Downeast, and led the CCC Hope Fund and Dream Fund.\n\nVassie Fowler is the Executive Director of Seeds of Hope. She previously served as the Assistant Director for the organization and is a long time Biddeford resident. She\u2019s previously done work for both Community Partnerships Protecting Children and York County Community Action.\n\nDavid Patch is a retired US Navy commander. He now serves as the commander of American Legion Post 36, and works with the Veterans\u2019 Resource Center, the Mid-Coast Veterans Council, Honor Flight Maine, and Veterans No Boundaries. He also works with Congress on veterans\u2019 issues. In his free time, he serves as a registered Maine Guide. David served in Vietnam and was also assigned to the Pentagon, where he was in charge of experimental vessels such as hydrofoils and surface-effect ships.\n\nSarah Duncan is the Executive Director of United Way Aroostook. She was born and raised in Presque Isle and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Liberal Arts and History from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She previously worked at WAGM and Townsquare Media. She is on the board of directors for 211 Maine, the Drug Free Coalition, and is a member of the Going Places Network and multiple other organizations.\n\nIn addition to his volunteer work in personal capacities, Senator King has long been an outspoken advocate for the importance of community service, and the need to promote community service opportunities across the country \u2013 especially AmeriCorps. He recently cosponsored the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act, which would fund 750,000 national service positions over a three-year response and recovery period, to meet the projected need for as many as 300,000 public health workers. Under the bill, the number of AmeriCorps and national service positions could expand from 75,000 to 150,000 the first year and double to 300,000 in years two and three. He also cosponsored the Cultivating Opportunity and Recovery from the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act, similar legislation that would expand national service programs significantly to help the country recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 public health emergency.\n\nThe \u201cInside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King\u201d is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King\u2019s work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator King\u2019s podcast airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. on the last Saturday of every month.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom-news-releases-barrasso-biden-admin-wants-control-of-wyomings-water/", "Barrasso: Biden Admin Wants Control of Wyoming\u2019s Water", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WY", "John Barrasso", "B001261", "www.barrasso.senate.gov", "barrasso", "https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom/news-releases/", "scraper", "CASPER, WY \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement in response to the Biden administration\u2019s announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final rule regarding the definition of \u201cwaters of the United States\u201d (WOTUS).\n\n\u201cPresident Biden is raising from the dead the failed policies of the Obama administration. The Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule is one of the worst offenders. This misguided rule suffocates Wyoming\u2019s farmers, ranchers and landowners alike. Make no mistake, this isn\u2019t about protecting America\u2019s waterways \u2013 it\u2019s about putting Washington in control of everything from ponds to potholes.\n\n\u201cWyoming doesn\u2019t need the federal government telling us what to do with our farms, ranches, and land. Americans deserve clean water and clear rules \u2013 not more government overreach.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/2022-year-in-review", "2022 Year in Review", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Aloha,\n\nOver the past year, Democrats in Congress have passed landmark legislation to lower energy costs, support veterans and seniors, uplift underrepresented communities, and provide funding to upgrade aging infrastructure. As the year comes to a close, I\u2019d like to reflect on the work we\u2019ve done to support families and communities in Hawaii and across our country.\n\nLowering Prescription Drug Costs\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 passed in August will lower prescription drug costs for hundreds of thousands of our kupuna in Hawaii. Thanks to the IRA, Medicare recipients who rely on insulin will have their insulin costs capped at $35 a month starting next year. Starting in 2025, the more than 200,000 Medicare recipients with Part D in Hawaii will have their annual drug costs capped at $2,000. Medicare finally has the power to negotiate prescription drug prices, with the first of those negotiated prices going into effect in 2026. The IRA also includes my bill to make vaccines for things like shingles and hepatitis-A free under Medicare. I recently participated in a Town Hall with AARP Hawaii about the IRA\u2019s drug cost savings, which you can listen to here.\n\nRed Hill\n\nI have been in direct and regular contact with the Department of Defense and Navy leadership about the Red Hill fuel spill and drinking water system contamination, and more recently the AFFF spill and cleanup efforts. The repeated leaks at Red Hill are completely unacceptable and have been devastating for families and businesses in the impacted area. My focus has been on securing the funding necessary to safely defuel and permanently close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on Oahu, which has endangered the health and safety of thousands of families in Hawaii.\n\nLast week, I successfully secured $1 billion in the annual defense authorization bill for Red Hill\u2019s closure, and that funding was also included in the year-end appropriations bill. Both of these pieces of legislation have now been signed into law, getting us closer to safely closing Red Hill for good. I\u2019ll continue to insist the Department of Defense coordinates closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Hawaii Department of Health, the Board of Water Supply, and other local stakeholders to ensure Red Hill is closed safely and as quickly as possible.\n\nSenator Hirono tours the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, Senator Jack Reed.\n\nInfrastructure Investment & Jobs Act\n\nThroughout 2022, Hawaii has received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to repair, rebuild, and expand infrastructure across the state, thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which is expected to create millions of good-paying jobs over the next decade. This funding is already being used to modernize infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, ports, public transit systems, and the purchase of electric school buses to help keep the air clean. The IIJA also provided investment to expand broadband access for families, and support Hawaii\u2019s transition to clean energy.\n\nHelping Veterans\n\nAs a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, I\u2019m working to support veterans in Hawaii and across the country. This year, we passed the Honoring Our PACT Act to expand VA care to more than 3.5 million Post-9/11 veterans who have been exposed to toxins during their service. Here in Hawaii, construction of the new Daniel K. Akaka Outpatient VA clinic on Oahu continues, bringing us one step closer to opening a new world-class healthcare center for veterans across Hawaii and the entire Pacific region.\n\nSupporting Native Hawaiian Survivors of Gender-Based Violence\n\nNative women experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence. However, Native Hawaiian women have been excluded from accessing much-needed federal resources. Just this month, the President signed my legislation to enable Native Hawaiian Organizations to use federal funding to support Native Hawaiian survivors of gender-based violence, something they\u2019ve been unable to do for far too long. I will continue to advocate on behalf of survivors of sexual violence, especially within particularly vulnerable communities such as the Native Hawaiian community.\n\nUplifting AANHPI Communities\n\nEarlier this year, President Biden signed into law legislation I introduced in the Senate to establish a commission to study the creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. This museum would help promote understanding about Asian Pacific Islander American communities and their many contributions to American history and culture.\n\nSTEM Education\n\nThis year, Congress also passed and enacted legislation to invest in American innovation and strengthen domestic supply chains. The Chips and Science Act (CHIPS) included historic investment in scientific research and development, funding to support Hawaii\u2019s transition to renewable energy, and tens of billions in federal funding for the domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, which are used in everything from cars to cell phones. The bill also included my Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Opportunities Act, which provides funding for guidance, research, data collection, and other activities to promote opportunities for women and minorities in STEM at colleges and universities and federal science agencies. As we work to spur innovation, it\u2019s critical that we support students and innovators from diverse backgrounds.\n\nI\u2019m proud of everything we accomplished this year to help families and communities in Hawaii and across our country. I look forward to continuing to build on this progress in 2023 and beyond.\n\nHappy holidays, from my ohana to yours.\n\nMahalo,\n\nMazie K. Hirono\n\nUnited States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-on-biden-administrations-final-wotus-rule", "Hoeven Statement on Biden Administration's Final WOTUS Rule", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "John Hoeven", "H001061", "www.hoeven.senate.gov", "hoeven", "https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "Hoeven Statement on Biden Administration's Final WOTUS Rule\n\nBISMARCK, N.D. \u2013 Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a final rule to redefine the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS).\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration continues to push overbroad regulations that impose increased costs and greater constraints on our economy, which ultimately lead to higher prices for American consumers,\u201d said Hoeven. \u201cLike the Obama-era rule, this new WOTUS definition violates private property rights and is the wrong approach for our nation. Instead, we need regulatory relief that encourages investment and reduces costs for energy development, agriculture producers and construction, among others, while empowering states to protect the water resources within their borders.\u201d\n\nHoeven has been working to protect private property rights and push back on the Biden administration\u2019s efforts to advance an expanded WOTUS rule, which imposes unworkable mandates, burdensome new permitting requirements and compliance cost on landowners, energy and agriculture producers and other industries. Accordingly, the senator:\n\nHelped introduce legislation to codify the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which replaced the 2015 WOTUS rule.\n\nHoeven previously worked to advance the NWPR, following his efforts to defund WOTUS in 2015 and 2016 and prevent its implementation.\n\nJoined an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case ofSackett v. EPA urging for the preservation of state authority to regulate local waters and lands.\n\nPressing the EPA and the Army Corps to suspend rulemaking on WOTUS until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration ofSackett v. EPA.\n\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=F8751C73-8E4E-4119-8A91-8D75D579C836", "Sen. Moran Statement on the Passing of Ed Seaton", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", "moran", "https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today issued the following statement after the passing of longtime Kansas newspaper publisher, former Pulitzer Prize Board Chair and Manhattan native Ed Seaton:\n\n\u201cEd Seaton lived a full life, dedicating himself to the advancement of democracy and freedom for the international press. He was a champion of local journalism and worked tirelessly to advocate for journalists on every level. Robba and I were privileged to know Ed personally, and he always treated us graciously. In particular, we valued his leadership of the Landon Lecture Series at Kansas State University. Robba also enjoyed the time they spent serving together at KSU.\n\n\u201cEd leaves a lasting legacy of commitment to journalism, and I am grateful for his passion for making Kansas and the world a better place. I extend my sincere condolences to his son Ned, his daughter-in-law Angie and his grandchildren. Robba and I are praying for them during this difficult time.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-releases-2022-end-of-year-report", "Murphy Releases 2022 End of Year Report", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released his year-end report outlining the work he\u2019s done for Connecticut residents during 2022:\n\n\u201c2022 was Congress\u2019s most productive year in decades. Personally, I was able to pass nearly a dozen pieces of legislation I authored and introduced to help people in Connecticut. This report captures just a glimpse of everything we\u2019ve been able to accomplish. Breaking a thirty year political logjam, we passed a historic piece of gun safety legislation that has already saved lives. We took action to lower drug costs, tackle the climate crisis, invest in mental health, supercharge American manufacturing, and deliver millions in federal funding for our state. It\u2019s my honor to represent the people of Connecticut every day in the Senate, and I look forward to continuing to work together in 2023.\u201d\n\nClick here to download Senator Murphy\u2019s 2022 Year in Review and here to watch his 2022 Year in Review video.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-stabenow-announce-lower-health-care-and-prescription-drug-costs-for-michiganders-going-into-effect-january-1st", "Peters, Stabenow Announce Lower Health Care and Prescription Drug Costs for Michiganders Going Into Effect January 1st", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "DETROIT, MI \u2013 U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) today announced that several Inflation Reduction Act provisions will go into effect on January 1, 2023, cutting costs for Michiganders across the state. A $35 monthly cap on the cost of insulin for Medicare recipients and free vaccines for seniors on Medicare are among the measures that will take effect in the new year. Peters and Stabenow helped pass into law the Inflation Reduction Act in August.\n\n\u201cNo one should have to choose between getting the health care and prescription drugs they need and putting food on the table,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cThere\u2019s no question that\u2019s a reality too many Michiganders face. That\u2019s why I\u2019m pleased help is on the way and starting January 1st insulin will be no more than $35 a month for seniors on Medicare and vaccines will be fully covered\u2014with no out-of-pocket costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis year, Senator Peters and I stood up to Big Pharma and won\u2014passing laws to lower the cost of health care in Michigan. On January 1st, the price of insulin will immediately drop for seniors on Medicare and they will not have to pay for their vaccines,\u201d said Senator Stabenow.\n\nBeginning January 1, 2023, the following Inflation Reduction Act provisions will go into effect:\n\nInsulin will cost no more than $35 a month for seniors on Medicare.\n\nEstimates show that more than 73,000 Michigan seniors with diabetes are expected to benefit from this measure that caps out-of-pocket costs at $35 a month for insulin.\n\nAll vaccines will be free for seniors on Medicare.\n\nApproved vaccines under Medicare Part D will be free, which will help an estimated 176,500 Michiganders.\n\nWith this provision implemented, nearly 9 out of 10 of Americans will have access to vaccines with no out-of-pocket costs.\n\nPrescription drug rebates will go into effect for Medicare.\n\nPharmaceutical companies will be required to pay back the federal government through rebates if prices for critical prescription drugs covered through Medicare rise faster than inflation. This measure is aimed to lower costs for Medicare patients and discourage pharmaceutical companies from exploiting inflation to hike up their prices.\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law in August 2022. In addition to lowering health care and prescription drug costs, the law makes landmark investments to tackle climate change, creates good-paying jobs and incentivizes domestic manufacturing, while fighting inflation and reducing the deficit.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/senator-scott-2022-year-in-review/", "Senator Scott 2022 Year in Review", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Tim Scott", "S001184", "www.scott.senate.gov", "timscott", "https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released his 2022 year in review, highlighting the work his office did on behalf of the people of South Carolina and advancing his Opportunity Agenda across the country.\n\nThis year, Senator Scott introduced 18 bills, 7 resolutions, and 13 amendments. Twenty one pieces of his legislation were in part or fully enacted this year.\n\nWhile he voted against the Democrats\u2019 big spending increase in the omnibus bill, the senator was able to secure passage of many bills and provisions he led or supported in the accompanying legislative package. Among those wins were:\n\nPortions of Senator Scott\u2019s MADE in America Act that strengthen the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain;\n\nA 2-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities;\n\nA 2-year extension of the hospital at home program, based off of language in Senator Scott\u2019s Hospital Inpatient Modernization Act;\n\nSenator Scott\u2019s Advancing Auto Portability Act, which cuts red tape to help Americans who change jobs frequently to increase retirement savings; and\n\nKey provisions of Senator Scott\u2019s IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act.\n\nSouth Carolina\n\nSenator Scott continued his emphasis on communicating directly with constituents. To that end, he increased the number of letters sent annually by nearly 70%, amounting to more than 17,000 letters sent in 2022 alone.\n\nThe senator continued his efforts to aid the South Carolina Port Authority in its harbor deepening project, and joined with South Carolina leaders earlier this month to celebrate Charleston becoming home to the deepest port on the East Coast.\n\nAs a result of his efforts to strengthen the Minority Business Development Agency, South Carolina was issued a grant for $1.6 million.\n\nLaw Enforcement\n\nIn recognition of his work to support and increase funding for training for police departments across the country, Senator Scott was given numerous awards from law enforcement organizations. At the beginning of the month, the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation honored the senator with their National Service Award. In July, he received the Florida Sheriffs Association\u2019s National Legislative Champion Award, and in February he was given another legislative champion award from the Major County Sheriffs of America.\n\nThe Scott-sponsored Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act, a bill that equips law enforcement officers with the tools to effectively and safely respond to people in crisis, was passed and signed into law by President Biden. The new requirements for developing de-escalation training standards contained in the bill are the same requirements included in Senator Scott\u2019s JUSTICE Act, which was introduced in 2020.\n\nJustice & Fairness\n\nOne of the marquee achievements this year was the passage of Senator Scott\u2019s anti-lynching legislation, named in honor of Emmett Till. The senator first introduced the bipartisan legislation in 2018. This is a key component of his broader mission to combat hate crimes, which has included speaking out against bomb threats at HBCUs and forming the Senate Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations.\n\nSenator Scott successfully lobbied FEMA to change its disaster relief policies that discriminated against Black homeowners. Known as heirs property, more than a third of Black-owned land in the South is passed down informally, rather than through deeds and wills, which precluded those land owners from getting much-needed FEMA aid after natural disasters. Following this push and policy change, 42,000 homeowners and 53,000 renters nationwide\u2014who would have previously been denied\u2014received disaster assistance, totaling $350 million.\n\nEducation\n\nAs the co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus, Senator Scott hosted the inaugural School Choice Caucus Breakfast with dozens of Congressional and education leaders to call attention to the growing nationwide support for school choice and fight against the Biden administration\u2019s attempts to limit education options for students. He also led the charge to get answers from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on his coordination with the National School Boards Association that led to concerned parents being labeled as domestic terrorists.\n\nAs the co-chair of the bipartisan HBCU Caucus, Senator Scott hosted the first ever HBCU Career Fair in conjunction with Benedict College. The event served as a forum to foster public-private partnerships and introduce students and alumni to career, fellowship, and internship opportunities with South Carolina\u2019s top employers.\n\nAs the co-chair of the Congressional Financial Literacy Caucus, Senator Scott co-led a resolution designating April as Financial Literacy Month and led a forum on the importance of youth financial literacy. He also spearheaded efforts to build consumers\u2019 financial capability and broader economic well-being.\n\nAging Committee\n\nAs the ranking member on the Aging Committee, Senator Scott led the charge to reopen Social Security field offices. After being closed for more than a year due to COVID, the senator\u2019s pressure campaign to reopen allowed seniors and people with disabilities to once again receive in-person services for the benefits they deserve.\n\nThroughout the year, the senator led a series of reports on issues that represent national imperatives for older Americans including senior nutrition programs, financial literacy, senior housing, retirement security, drug pricing, and home and community based services. He also led the effort to combat frauds and scams that target seniors through the publication of an annual Fraud Book, hearings investigating frauds, and a Fraud Hotline to support seniors.\n\nHealth Care\n\nSenator Scott led his colleagues in urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to support and strengthen the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. Following their efforts, CMS announced lower than expected premiums for individuals utilizing the MA program, which covers one third of the Medicare enrollees across South Carolina.\n\nForeign Affairs & National Security\n\nSenator Scott continued his vocal support for Israel and fight against threats to peace and stability in the Middle East. To that end, he introduced the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Elimination Act, a bipartisan bill to withhold U.S. funding for the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for their targeted and biased investigation into Israel.\n\nHe also introduced the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act, which would make permanent sanctions against Iran\u2019s energy sector.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-criticizes-biden-admins-resuscitated-overreaching-wotus-rule", "Sullivan Criticizes Biden Admin\u2019s Resuscitated, Overreaching WOTUS Rule", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "ANCHORAGE, ALASKA\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today released the following statement criticizing the Biden administration\u2019s recently-announced Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule under the Clean Water Act.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration today announced its \u2018final\u2019 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule, resuscitating the burdensome and overreaching Obama-era \u2018final\u2019 interpretation of the Clean Water Act and giving the EPA vast authority over lands across the country, particularly in Alaska, which has more wetlands than any other state in the country by far. Remarkably, the Biden administration refused to pause issuing this WOTUS Rule just a few months until the Supreme Court rules in a case (Sackett vs. EPA II) that will determine the scope of the agency\u2019s authority under the Clean Water Act. As a result, millions of hard-working Americans and Alaskans are left in regulatory limbo.\n\n\u201cUnder this rule, land owners face the potential for thousands of dollars in litigation and months of bureaucratic back-and-forth just to fill a ditch or build a structure on their own property. This rule abandons the balanced, bipartisan and statutorily-based implementation of the Clean Water Act that we had achieved working with the Trump administration, through multiple court victories, and through multiple field hearings I chaired as a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee\u2014including in Alaska.\n\n\u201cThe truth is, all Americans want clean water, and we have some of the country\u2019s cleanest water right here in Alaska. But the federal government should not take authority from states and run rough shod over the law, good-paying jobs, and our economy\u2014which is on the verge of a recession\u2014to achieve that goal. I will do everything I can to fight this illegal federal power grab, and I look forward to the Supreme Court once again reining in this out-of-control federal agency.\u201d\n\nBelow is a timeline of Sen. Sullivan\u2019s work on the WOTUS Rule.\n\nOn April 6 and April 8, 2015, Sen. Sullivan chaired Environment and Public Works Subcommittee field hearings in Anchorage and in Fairbanks on the impacts of the previously proposed WOTUS Rule on state and local governments and stakeholders.\n\nOn April 30, 2015, Sen. Sullivan, along with Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Pat Roberts (R-Kas.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), introduced the bipartisan Federal Water Quality Protection Act (S. 1140) to direct the EPA and the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to issue a revised WOTUS Rule that protects navigable water from water pollution, while also protecting farmers, ranchers and private landowners.\n\nOn May 19, 2015, Sen. Sullivan chaired a subcommittee legislative hearing on S.1140 The Federal Water Quality Protection Act. This bill would have withdrawn the WOTUS Rule and required EPA to more appropriately define what bodies are \u201cWaters of the United States.\u201d\n\nOn October 9, 2015, Sen. Sullivan issued a statement on the nationwide stay of the EPA\u2019s previous WOTUS Rule.\n\nOn September 30, 2015, Sen. Sullivan chaired a subcommittee hearing titled \u201cOversight of the Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 Participation in the Development of the New Regulatory Definition of \u2018Waters of the United States.\u2019\u201d\n\nOn May 24, 2016 Sen. Sullivan chaired a subcommittee hearing titled \u201cErosion of Exemptions and Expansion of Federal Control \u2013Implementation of the Definition of Waters of the United States.\u201d\n\nOn February 28, 2017, Sen. Sullivan attended a meeting at the White House where President Trump signed an executive order that began to roll back the EPA\u2019s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule.\n\nOn April 26, 2017, the EPW committee held an oversight hearing titled \u201cA Review of the Technical, Scientific, and Legal Basis of the WOTUS Rule.\u201d At the hearing, Chairman Barrasso called for the withdrawal of the fundamentally flawed rule. Witnesses testified that the 2015 WOTUS Rule is not supported by the Corps\u2019 experience and expertise, scientific studies, or the law.\n\nOn June 27, 2017, Senator Sullivan shared his views on the EPA\u2019s efforts to withdraw and rewrite the overreaching WOTUS Rule.\n\nOn September 27, 2017, Senator Sullivan, along with committee members Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jerry Moran (R-Kas.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), sent a letter to the EPA and the Corps in support of the proposed withdrawal of the 2015 WOTUS Rule.\n\nOn December 11, 2018, the EPA and the Corps proposed a revised definition of the WOTUS Rule.\n\nIn January 2020, the EPA and the Corps issued a revised definition of the WOTUS Rule.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3FB17931-E9AB-424E-B3BD-B588C30CF4A9", "Thune Statement on Biden Administration\u2019s Over-Reaching WOTUS Rule", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cI strongly oppose this thinly veiled land grab, I urge the administration to abandon this retread of a misguided rule, and if it does not, I will push for the Senate to overturn this over-reaching regulation.\u201d\n\nSIOUX FALLS, S.D. \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:\n\n\u201cLike President Obama before him, President Biden is trying to greatly expand the reach of the federal government into the lives of farmers and ranchers,\u201d said Thune. \u201cOpening up nearly every body of water to federal jurisdiction would be a nightmare for property owners and producers in South Dakota and across the country. I strongly oppose this thinly veiled land grab, I urge the administration to abandon this retread of a misguided rule, and if it does not, I will push for the Senate to overturn this over-reaching regulation.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIn September 2022, Thune helped introduce the Simplify Timelines and Assure Regulatory Transparency Act, comprehensive federal regulatory permitting and project review reform legislation that would codify sensible regulations like the Navigable Waters Protection Rule instead of the Biden administration\u2019s over-reaching WOTUS proposal.\n\nIn April 2022, Thune joined an amicus brief in support of the petitioners in the pending case Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is directly related to how much authority the federal government has over states and private citizens to regulate \u201cwaters of the United States\u201d under the Clean Water Act (CWA).\n\nIn February 2022, Thune led the entire Senate Republican Conference in urging the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to suspend the pending rulemaking to redefine the scope of waters protected under the CWA, specifically WOTUS, until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration of Sackett v. EPA, as the case is expected to have major implications on CWA scope and enforcement. Oral arguments for the case were heard on October 3, and an opinion is not expected until 2023.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-harry-armstrong-of-canaan-and-john-bayliss-of-hanover-as-decembers-granite-staters-of-the-month", "Senator Hassan Recognizes Harry Armstrong of Canaan and John Bayliss of Hanover as December\u2019s Granite Staters of the Month", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Harold (Harry) Armstrong of Canaan and John Bayliss of Hanover as December\u2019s Granite Staters of the Month. For decades, Harry has led a successful effort to collect used medical equipment and deliver it to those in need in the Upper Valley area and beyond.\n\nHarry helped start the Health Closet, with members of the Canaan Lions Club, more than forty years ago. The group collected used medical equipment, such as manual and electric wheelchairs, walkers, lift chairs, crutches, canes, and bath stools from the area\u2019s visiting nurses, nonprofits, hospitals, and individuals. They would then keep the equipment in storage until they found someone who needed it.\n\nWhen Harry was hospitalized two years ago and had to have his foot amputated, he worried that Health Closet\u2019s mission would cease to be fulfilled. That\u2019s when Harry\u2019s friend and Lebanon Upper Valley Lions Club member John Bayliss stepped up to help run the initiative. Together, the two men have teamed up to do everything from DIY fix-ups of medical equipment in Harry\u2019s and John\u2019s garages, to lugging large medical machinery in their pickup trucks.\n\nSenator Hassan launched the \u201cGranite Stater of the Month\u201d initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a \u201cGranite Stater of the Month,\u201d constituents can complete the nomination form here.\n\nTo read Senator Hassan\u2019s statement for the Congressional Record, see below.\n\nI am honored to recognize Harold (Harry) Armstrong of Canaan and John Bayliss of Hanover as December\u2019s Granite Staters of the Month. For decades, Harry has led a successful effort to collect used medical equipment and deliver it to those in need in the Upper Valley area and beyond.\n\nHarry helped start the Health Closet, with members of the Canaan Lions Club, more than forty years ago. The group collected used medical equipment, such as manual and electric wheelchairs, walkers, lift chairs, crutches, canes, and bath stools from the area\u2019s visiting nurses, nonprofits, hospitals, and individuals. They would then keep the equipment in storage until they found someone who needed it.\n\nWhen Harry was hospitalized two years ago and had to have his foot amputated, he worried that Health Closet\u2019s mission would cease to be fulfilled. That\u2019s when Harry\u2019s friend and Lebanon Upper Valley Lions Club member John Bayliss stepped up to help run the initiative.\n\nThrough their work, the duo profoundly touches people\u2019s lives by giving them the medical equipment that they desperately need to go about their lives and continue to be a part of their community. From doing DIY fix-ups of medical equipment in Harry\u2019s and John\u2019s garages, to lugging large medical machinery in their pickup trucks, their dedication to helping others, willingness to take the initiative, and generosity is a shining example of the Granite State spirit.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-government-funding-bill-with-key-nh-priorities-secured-by-senator-hassan", "SIGNED INTO LAW: Government Funding Bill with Key NH Priorities Secured by Senator Hassan", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement after the President signed into law the bipartisan government funding legislation, which includes key New Hampshire priorities that Senator Hassan worked to secure:\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s government funding bill includes major Granite State priorities that will lower costs for families, strengthen our response to the opioid epidemic, and help more Americans save for retirement. I\u2019m pleased that we came together across the aisle to pass this critical legislation, and I look forward to seeing how it will support families, our economy, and our national security in the year ahead.\u201d\n\nCritical New Hampshire priorities that Senator Hassan helped secure in the government funding bill include:\n\nCombating the Opioid Epidemic\n\nSenator Hassan\u2019s bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which eliminates an outdated requirement, the \u2018x-waiver,\u2019 that limits the number of medical practitioners who can prescribe life-saving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.\n\nA measure backed by Senator Hassan to give law enforcement more flexibility to interdict fentanyl-related substances by extending the designation of fentanyl analogues as Schedule I drugs until December 31, 2024.\n\nProvisions from Senator Hassan\u2019s bipartisan bill to help address the severe shortage of doctors trained in addiction medicine. The government funding bill creates 200 new medical residency positions, including for addiction medicine, at teaching hospitals in New Hampshire and across the country.\n\nSupporting Veterans\n\nSenator Hassan\u2019s bipartisan bill to designate one week per year as \u201cBuddy Check Week.\u201d The bill is modeled after the American Legion\u2019s \u201cBuddy Check National Week of Calling\u201d that connects veterans to other veterans in order to better ensure that they receive the support that they need.\n\nBipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan championed to help provide surplus government computers to veterans and others who need them. Senator Hassan worked on the legislation with Digitunity, a nonprofit based in North Conway.\n\nA bipartisan measure that the Senator introduced with Thom Tillis (R-NC) to improve oversight of the VA and reduce the backlog of requests from veterans for medical and other VA military records.\n\nLowering Health Care and Home Energy Costs\n\nBipartisan measures that Senator Hassan worked on to increase access to generic and biosimilar medications, which are often less expensive than generic drugs.\n\n$4 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program, a $200 million increase over last year, which will help Granite Staters with their energy costs.\n\nHelping Americans Save for Retirement\n\nBipartisan measures Senator Hassan and colleagues introduced to make it easier for businesses to offer retirement benefits, including enabling more businesses to join multiple employer plans (MEPs) and expanding tax cuts to small businesses who provide retirement benefits to their employees.\n\nIncreases retirement plan flexibility for public safety officers and improves access for military families, including provisions from bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Hassan and Susan Collins (R-ME) to help military families save for retirement.\n\nAddressing the Housing Shortage\n\nFunding that Senator Hassan worked to secure that will help with the construction of thousands of new rental units and houses.\n\nStrengthening Maternal Health and Child Care Support\n\nThe bipartisan TRIUMPH Act, which Senator Hassan introduced with Senator Tillis, that creates a federal taskforce and national strategy to improve maternal mental health outcomes and expand mental health resources for new mothers.\n\nA critical measure that Senator Hassan pushed for to ensure that for the first time, every child in America who qualifies for Medicaid or the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will now be guaranteed at least one year of continuous health coverage.\n\nExtension of a measure, which Senator Hassan supported, that ensures that states can provide a full year of postpartum coverage for mothers on Medicaid and CHIP.\n\nIncreased funding for Child Care and Development Block grants, a measure that Senator Hassan pushed for, which will expand affordable child care to more families in New Hampshire and across the country.\n\nExtending Access to Affordable Telehealth Services\n\nA measure Senator Hassan pushed for that extends coverage of Medicare telehealth services through 2024, ensuring that more patients, especially in rural communities, get the care that they need.\n\nStrengthening Support for Rural Students\n\nDoubling funding for a program that supports rural students, including college prep and career pathway programs in rural communities.\n\nFunding Key Bipartisan Legislation\n\nCritical funding to implement key bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan helped pass into law, including the bipartisan infrastructure law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and PACT Act that addresses veterans\u2019 toxic exposure.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-tester-lead-colleagues-calling-on-administration-to-support-northern-border-priorities-", "Hoeven, Tester Lead Colleagues Calling on Administration to Support Northern Border Priorities", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "John Hoeven", "H001061", "www.hoeven.senate.gov", "hoeven", "https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "Hoeven, Tester Lead Colleagues Calling on Administration to Support Northern Border Priorities\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) led their colleagues in urging U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young to prioritize including resources to properly staff and secure the northern border as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 President\u2019s Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In addition, the senators outline the need to resume normal operating hours at the northern ports of entry, invest in technology deployment and recruit and retain additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) personnel.\n\n\u201cAs senators representing states along the U.S.-Canada border, we write to express our support for including the resources necessary to properly staff and secure our northern border as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 President\u2019s Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cWe support ensuring that our border professionals have the personnel, technology, and tools necessary to secure our nation\u2019s borders. In doing so, it is important that the Federal government effectively carry out its responsibility to safely and effectively secure both our northern and southern land borders. This is particularly important given the increased levels of activity at the southern border over the past several years which has necessitated the reallocation of personnel and resources, including technology, from our border with Canada,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nIn addition to Hoeven and Tester, the letter was signed by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Angus King (I-Maine), James Risch (R-Idaho), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.).\n\nClick here for the full text of the letter.\n\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7765556E-4576-4022-897F-09B84AD24361", "Graham on Passing of Joe Taylor Jr. of Columbia", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Lindsey Graham", "G000359", "www.lgraham.senate.gov", "graham", "https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham today made this statement on the passing of Joe Taylor Jr. of Columbia.\n\n\u201cI was shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of my good friend, Joe Taylor.\n\n\u201cJoe was a force in South Carolina business and politics, and a friend to so many. His time as South Carolina\u2019s Secretary of Commerce was one of unprecedented growth for our state. He was also a strong and challenging voice on the Columbia City Council - always looking out for the taxpayer.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=09C36811-1E91-41A1-AFC2-D09859763AAA", "Senator McConnell and Governor Beshear Announce More Than $1.6 Billion in Federal Grants for Brent Spence Bridge", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KY", "Mitch McConnell", "M000355", "www.mcconnell.senate.gov", "mcconnell", "https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases", "scraper", "FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 29, 2022) \u2013 Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced today that the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project was awarded federal funding grants worth more than $1.6 billion, giving the landmark bridge and corridor project the green light to move toward construction.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled the time has finally come for us to get the companion bridge built,\u201d Gov. Beshear said. \u201cFunding and constructing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is more than the fulfillment of my administration\u2019s promise \u2013 it\u2019s a dream fulfilled for the thousands of travelers who pass through the bustling region every day waiting eagerly for traffic relief to come on this nationally significant corridor. It also shows what\u2019s possible when we prioritize people over politics. Once complete, drivers will have a more enjoyable and efficient drive and we\u2019ll have the infrastructure in place to support the booming economy in this part of the state. Hats off to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Ohio Department of Transportation, and the countless partners and advocates who played a role in today\u2019s monumental achievement, including the Kentucky General Assembly for the last budget allocation and Sen. McConnell for supporting the federal legislation. We appreciate President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg for this historic investment.\u201d\n\nSen. McConnell helped secure the funding for today\u2019s grant announcement by supporting last year\u2019s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and shepherding the bill through the Senate. The legislation authorized a historic investment in our nation\u2019s infrastructure and provides robust resources to states to fund major bridge projects specifically. Over five years, the IIJA will deliver billions of dollars to Kentucky to improve the commonwealth\u2019s roads, bridges, airports, railroads, waterways, broadband and more. Sen. McConnell contacted U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to advocate directly for Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project funding.\n\n\u201cFor decades, inadequate capacity on the aging Brent Spence Bridge has created headaches for drivers traveling between Kentucky and Ohio. Today, we\u2019re taking a major step toward fixing the problem,\u201d said Sen. McConnell. \u201cUsing my role as Senate Republican Leader, I stood with Sen. Rob Portman to break through gridlock and pass last year\u2019s bipartisan infrastructure deal, delivering record funding for landmark infrastructure projects including today\u2019s grant. Building a new companion bridge on the Brent Spence Bridge corridor will be one of the bill\u2019s crowning accomplishments, bringing long-awaited safety improvements, traffic relief and rejuvenated commerce to Northern Kentucky and Southwestern Ohio.\u201d\n\nWith funding secured, groundbreaking on the project is anticipated for late 2023, with substantial completion slated for 2029.\n\n\u201cOhio and Kentucky have been discussing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project for almost two decades, and now, we can finally move beyond the talk and get to work,\u201d said Gov. DeWine. \u201cThis project will not only ease the traffic nightmare that drivers have suffered through for years, but it will also help ensure that the movement of the supply chain doesn\u2019t stall on this nationally significant corridor. My administration vowed to press the federal government to fund this project, and we\u2019re glad that they have recognized its significance. I\u2019m grateful to the teams in both states who have worked so hard to make this project a reality.\u201d\n\nThe Brent Spence Bridge was constructed in the 1960s to carry around 80,000 vehicles a day, but the daily traffic load on Interstate Highways 75 and 71 has reached 160,000 vehicles in recent years. Because I-75 is a key freight corridor stretching from Canada to Florida, the congestion impacts commerce and commuters who travel the corridor in the eastern United States.\n\nProject plans call for the construction of a companion bridge to the west of the existing Brent Spence Bridge, as well as improvements to the current bridge and the roadway network that ties into each river crossing. As a result of robust engagement with local partners, there will be enhanced pedestrian access across I-75 in Cincinnati to reconnect downtown with western neighborhoods and the City of Cincinnati will regain nearly 10 acres to develop in the downtown area. In Kentucky, the project will include a new storm sewer system to reduce flooding and improve local roads, including enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities, in the area of the existing and new bridge.\n\nThe project team \u2013 consisting of representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) \u2013 applied jointly for funding and have outlined terms to move the project to construction.\n\nThe once-in-a-lifetime competitive funding was made available through the passage of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that invested billions of dollars to revitalize infrastructure and spur the economy.\n\nIn July, Govs. DeWine and Beshear announced revised plans based on community engagement and technical analysis to shrink the project footprint while still delivering a transformative project that meets the needs of the region.\n\n\u201cNothing great is achieved alone, and I\u2019m proud of all the people who\u2019ve come to the table over the years to ensure that we\u2019ll deliver a project with huge benefits and minimal impacts to the communities that live in and around the project area,\u201d KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said.\n\n\u201cThis project doesn\u2019t just move vehicles, it moves people. We\u2019re able to reconnect neighborhoods to downtown Cincinnati, improve safety and reduce congestion on this route, all while only adding a single lane to the interstate with this project,\u201d said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks.\n\nWith funding secured, groundbreaking on the project is anticipated in late 2023 with larger construction activities in 2024. Substantial completion on the project is slated for 2029. The immediate next step will be the selection process to determine the Progressive Design Build contractor team to complete the project. That effort will begin in January when the Request for Proposals (RFP) is released to the contractor community.\n\nThe Federal Highway Administration recently required the project team to complete an analysis to better identify project cost estimates. Through this process, the project team determined the project is likely to cost about $3.6 billion. The increase from previous estimates was not unexpected, due to the recent impact of inflation in construction prices. As a result, the project team is updating the project\u2019s financial plan to account for the change.\n\nAbout the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project\n\nBrent Spence Bridge Fact Sheet\n\nFueled by bipartisan cooperation and community engagement, the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project will invest in local communities and help grow America\u2019s economy. Spanning 8 miles between the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio and Dixie Highway in Kentucky, the project will address the second-worst truck bottleneck in the nation by improving safety and travel on the interstate connection that carries more than $700 billion worth of freight every year.\n\nIn addition, the project will improve access to the central business districts of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky, and will also support local businesses and underserved communities in historic neighborhoods on both sides of the river. Ohio and Kentucky are working together to deliver this transformative project that will improve the quality of life for the millions of Americans who use the federal highway system to travel between the two states and beyond.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=D0D89E1A-C470-43D5-BA17-E524D869BB05", "Sen. Moran Named Co-Chair of Senate Army Caucus", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", "moran", "https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) \u2013 senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and member of the United States Military Academy (USMA) Board of Visitors \u2013 today was named the new Co-Chair of the Senate Army Caucus by fellow Co-Chair U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) \u2013 chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Sen. Moran will replace retiring U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) as Co-Chair.\n\n\u201cI am honored to be selected to serve as the next Co-Chair of the Senate Army Caucus,\u201d said Sen. Moran. \u201cKansas has a proud history of military service and is home to a significant Army presence with Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth and the Army National Guard and Reserve. Throughout my time in Congress, it has been a priority to support our military institutions in Kansas and this position will allow me to better advocate for our soldiers and their families in Kansas, the United States and across the globe.\u201d\n\n\u201cSen. Inhofe has been one of Congress\u2019 most influential and strongest advocates for servicemembers and their families, and I am grateful for his many years of leadership on the Senate Army Caucus and in the U.S. Senate,\u201d continued Sen. Moran. \u201cI look forward to working with Sen. Reed, Army leaders and members of the Senate Army Caucus to support our nation\u2019s soldiers and their missions.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to welcome Senator Jerry Moran as Co-Chair of the Army Caucus,\u201d said Sen. Reed. \u201cSen. Moran has long been a steadfast advocate for our nation\u2019s soldiers, and I look forward to serving with him in this new leadership role. The Army is fundamentally a \u2018People First\u2019 organization, and the Senate Army Caucus is committed to supporting our soldiers, their families, and our Army civilians and veterans. Sen. Moran will be a tremendous partner in this endeavor.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am also grateful to my good friend, Senator Jim Inhofe, for his tremendous leadership as Co-Chair of the Senate Army Caucus, and I congratulate him on his well-earned retirement,\u201d continued Sen. Reed. \u201cThe Army is stronger and America is safer because of his service.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to support the United States Army during my time as Army Caucus Co-Chair, and now I am proud to see that position filled by someone with great dedication and integrity \u2013 my friend, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran,\u201d said Sen. Inhofe. \u201cI am certain that Sen. Moran will continue to keep the best interest of the U.S. Army at heart as he co-leads this caucus with Senator Reed into the future.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan Senate Army Caucus includes more than 30 Senators from across the country. The Army Caucus is one of the largest and most active caucuses in the Senate. The caucus\u2019 goal is to advocate on behalf of the U.S. Army in the Senate and educate members on the importance of supporting Army goals. The caucus meets regularly with Army leadership to receive updates on the service\u2019s readiness, assess soldier quality of life initiatives and develop legislation to advance the goals of the Army.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-delivers-on-alaska-priorities-in-annual-interior-bill", "Murkowski Delivers on Alaska Priorities in Annual Interior Bill", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "The U.S. Senate recently passed an omnibus appropriations package containing funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2023. The measure includes the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee\u2019s annual bill, which U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) negotiated as the panel\u2019s Ranking Member.\n\nMurkowski championed provisions to strengthen Alaska\u2019s economy, invest in water and wastewater infrastructure, improve access and recreation on public lands, provide health and other critical services to tribal communities, and create safer communities across the state. Examples include funding to restore access to Denali National Park, create an EPA grant program for the assessment and remediation of contaminated lands conveyed by the federal government, and to protect communities in Alaska from wildfires. Through the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) process, Murkowski secured significant additional funding to support over 47 projects in Alaska.\n\n\u201cThe Interior Subcommittee is important in Alaska with oversight over public lands, Native issues, and the environment. Through the standard appropriations process, I secured significant support for Alaska through investments in her people, lands, and waters. Our final bill improves infrastructure on public lands and provides for important research projects related mapping, landslides, and early monitoring systems for natural disasters. We provide support for Alaskans\u2019 health and safety through investments in priorities such as Small Ambulatory Clinics, Village Built Clinics, and clean drinking water\u2014which every Alaskan deserves. This year I was able to include nearly 50 CDS projects. These are boots-on-the-ground initiatives that Alaskans identified as their top local priorities\u2014from clean drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities to the clean-up of contaminated lands and greater salmon monitoring. I\u2019m proud of this bill and look forward to the positive impacts it will have across our state,\u201d Murkowski said.\n\nCongressionally Directed Spending Allocations for Alaska\n\nAnchorage: $13 million to the Municipality of Anchorage for the safe disposal of wastewater in Anchorage.\n\nAnchorage: $4 million to implement the Municipality of Anchorage\u2019s Community Wildfire Protection Plan.\n\nChickaloon: $250,000 for the Chickaloon Native Village for a community well.\n\nChignik: $5.3 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for safe drinking water in Chignik.\n\nChugach National Forest: $2.3 million to construct and improve recreational trails and access on the Iditarod National Historic Trail.\n\nCraig: $760,000 for upgrades to Craig's wastewater treatment plant.\n\nDenali: $2.2 million for design and construction of pedestrian pathways along the Parks Highway corridor in the Denali Borough.\n\nEagle River: $4.5 million to the Municipality of Anchorage for the safe disposal of wastewater in Eagle River.\n\nGirdwood: $1.6 million to replace the Ruane Road culvert in Girdwood.\n\nGirdwood: $2.5 million for a sewer access project, for the safe disposal of wastewater in Girdwood.\n\nJuneau: $2.5 million to the City and Borough of Juneau to design and construct a commercial-scale composting facility to serve Juneau residents and businesses.\n\nKenai: $875,000 to the Alaska Electric & Energy Cooperative, Inc. for the installation of a combined heat and power project at the Kenai Peninsula Borough\u2019s Central Peninsula Landfill.\n\nKenai: $2.9 million for the safe disposal of wastewater in Kenai.\n\nKenai: $1.5 million to implement the Kenai Peninsula Borough Community Wildfire Protection Plan.\n\nKetchikan: $1.7 million to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough for wastewater treatment plant upgrades.\n\nKivalina: $8 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to construct a new Kivalina landfill that meets state regulatory standards.\n\nKodiak: $1 million to the Island Trails Network for removal, recycling, and recovery of debris from the Alaska marine environment.\n\nKotzebue: $140,000 to build cyanotoxin analysis capacity at the Native Village of Kotzebue.\n\nNome: $1.6 million for safe drinking water distribution and wastewater collection.\n\nNorth Slope: $1.2 million for a wastewater replacement project.\n\nNorth Slope: $2.5 million for the Northern Route of the North Slope Borough Community Winter Access Trails pilot program, which provides for the creation of temporary winter trail access between communities where year-round connecting roads do not exist.\n\nPalmer: $6.9 million for wastewater treatment system upgrades.\n\nPetersburg: $1.6 million for water treatment plant upgrades.\n\nSt. Paul: $3 million to improve solid waste disposal facilities.\n\nSeldovia: $746,000 for a sewer line replacement.\n\nSeldovia: $414,000 for safe drinking water.\n\nSeward: $2 million for the safe disposal of wastewater.\n\nSoldotna: $680,000 for a wastewater treatment plant.\n\nSoldotna: $320,000 to improve wastewater effluent before discharge to the Kenai River.\n\nSoldotna: $960,000 for upgrades to equipment used to dewater treated solids at the Soldotna Wastewater Treatment Plant.\n\nSt. George: $3 million to replace 50-year-old water distribution and wastewater collection infrastructure.\n\nStatewide: $2 million for salmon monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim River watersheds.\n\nStatewide: $500,000 to the Tanana Chiefs Conference to address the large data gap regarding salmon populations on the Yukon River.\n\nStatewide: $880,000 for implementation of the Intertribal Federal Subsistence Cooperative Management Program at the Kuskokwim River Watershed.\n\nStatewide: $1.2 million for ecological monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.\n\nStatewide: $1.5 million for the Denali Commission to develop regional solid waste management plans.\n\nStatewide: $1 million to complete a National Scenic Trail feasibility study to connect Seward and Fairbanks.\n\nStatewide: $3 million for the Alaska Native Justice Center for Alaska tribal public safety empowerment activities.\n\nStatewide: $7 million to support the State of Alaska in conducting an inventory and verification of contaminated sites conveyed to Alaska Natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).\n\nStatewide: $300,000 for the University of Alaska Anchorage to study the need and economic feasibility of constructing and operating a hazardous waste processing facility and landfill in Alaska.\n\nStatewide: $250,000 to the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association to build tribal capacity for the inventory and verification of ANCSA contaminated lands.\n\nStatewide: $250,000 to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to build further tribal capacity for the inventory and verification of ANCSA contaminated lands.\n\nStatewide: $33.9 million for abandoned well remediation in the NPR-A.\n\nValdez: $5 million for the safe disposal of wastewater in Valdez.\n\nWasilla: $5.7 million for improvements to wastewater treatment facilities.\n\nWhittier: $1.2 million for well field upgrades.\n\nYakutat: $5.1 million for a water line extension project.\n\nInterior-Environment Appropriations Bill Highlights\n\nClick here for comprehensive bill highlights.\n\nInvesting in Communities: Provides full funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which provides compensation to local governments throughout Alaska that contain federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. PILT helps local governments provide vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, search-and-rescue operations, and the construction of public schools and roads.\n\nSupporting Outdoor Access and Recreation: Provides investments to complete the project to restore access to Denali National Park Road for both the safety of the road and for access into the park for locals and visitors. Directs BLM to support the Alaska Long Trail project, a proposed 500-mile route connecting Seward and Fairbanks. Provides additional funding for critical operations and management of our National Park System.\n\nAir, Water, and Wastewater Infrastructure: Addresses drinking water and wastewater infrastructure challenges by providing funding for the construction of new drinking water and wastewater systems and the improvement of existing systems in rural Alaska communities. Supports grant programs which help bring basic water and sewer infrastructure to communities in need. Includes increased funding for Targeted Airshed Grants, which support communities such as Fairbanks in their efforts to reduce air pollution. Prohibits EPA from implementing its small, remote incinerators rule in Alaska while Alaskans work with the agency to develop a rule that will work better to address the state\u2019s rural, unique needs. Provides for transboundary river pollution monitoring and directs the U.S. Geological Survey to work cooperatively with local tribes, stakeholders, and other federal agencies to help develop a water quality strategy for transboundary rivers.\n\nProtection from Natural Hazards and Wildfire: Provides for the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, which will benefit Alaska. Provides greater funding for Prince William Sound and the Southeast landslide program as well as language supporting the ongoing landslide and tsunami warning work in the region. Provides funding for both wildland fire management and wildfire suppression.\n\nPublic Safety: In order to improve the federal response to the epidemic of missing, trafficked, and murdered indigenous women and girls, provides funding to BIA for cold case work, equipment needs, and victim witness specialists. Includes additional funding for Public Law 280 states, such as Alaska, to help develop tribal court systems for communities.\n\nHealth and Wellness: Maintains funding for the Small Ambulatory Clinics Program and dental therapist training. Increases maternal funding through IHS and funding for Village Built Clinics\u2014a program unique to Alaska which supports approximately 150 healthcare clinics in rural areas, many of which require intensive maintenance and often serve as the only health facility or source of regional medical care. Advance appropriations are included for fiscal year 2024 to prevent the interruption of healthcare related services in the event of a government shutdown.\n\nAlaska Lands: Prioritizes infrastructure improvements for public lands, including investments in land cleanup. Addresses legacy well cleanup to support the next series of sites in need of remediation. Increases support for the Alaska Land Conveyance Program, which serves to fulfill legal requirements to transfer lands to the State and Alaska Natives under ANCSA. Establishes a new grant program at EPA to provide funding for the first time for the assessment and remediation of ANCSA contaminated sites in Alaska. Recognizes the importance of Alaska Public Land Information Centers and encourages the agencies to seek to strengthen partnerships with them.\n\nCulture and the Arts: Supports the arts through funding for NEA and NEH. Includes support for the NEA\u2019s Healing Arts Program, developed by the NEA and DOD to help wounded and injured service members and their families in their transition into civilian life. Continues funding for an arts and cultural program with Sealaska and the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development.\n\nThe Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee establishes the annual budgets for federal agencies and departments including the Department of the Interior (DOI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Forest Service (FS), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Indian Health Service (IHS). Murkowski, as Ranking Member, is able to help write the Senate\u2019s annual appropriations bill for the Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-highlights-stamfords-nourishedrx-as-innovator-of-the-month", "Murphy Highlights Stamford's NourishedRx as \"Innovator of the Month\"", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "HARTFORD\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that NourishedRx, based in Stamford, was named December\u2019s \u201cInnovator of the Month.\u201d Founded in 2019, NourishedRx is a woman-owned company that bridges the gap between health care and nutrition through its AI-enabled platform, which matches individuals facing diet sensitive chronic health conditions or nutrition insecurity with highly personalized food solutions and nutrition consultations. NourishedRx has also established partnerships with multiple Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid plans to provide its services as part of an all-encompassing healthcare solution.\n\n\u201cAccess to nutritious foods is key to improving health outcomes. That\u2019s why the team at NourishedRx is working to better integrate nutrition with health care through their evidence-based, AI-enabled platform. I\u2019m proud to recognize their innovative approach toward addressing food insecurity, and look forward to their continued growth in Connecticut,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cBuilding our company in Connecticut has been wonderful. We\u2019re grateful for the support and partnership of Connecticut Innovations and have enjoyed being part of UConn Technology Incubator Program (TIP). Being in CT is definitely helping us on our way to achieving our mission of improving lives, enhancing health equity and bending the health care cost curve,\u201d said Lauren Driscoll, Founder and CEO of NourishedRx.\n\nMurphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies\u2014the Angel Tax Credit Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=F7EB5A8F-9743-4975-90E2-29EE3DE505CE", "Warner & Kaine Applaud Signing of Government Funding Bill", "2022-12-29", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded President Joe Biden\u2019s signing of legislation to avert a government shutdown and fund the government through Fiscal Year 2023. Among other major priorities, this legislation includes nearly $200 million in federal funding for Virginia-specific projects secured by Sens. Warner and Kaine.\n\n\u201cThe 117th Congress has been the most productive Congress in modern history and it\u2019s only fitting that we wrap up it up by enacting a consequential government funding package that will continue to strengthen and build on this progress,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cThis bill funds essential community projects in Virginia to the tune of $200 million dollars, and it supports hardworking families by increasing access to affordable child care, housing, high-speed internet, and start-up capital in underserved communities. This law will provide needed protections to pregnant workers, lower drug costs, and improve access to mental health care. Importantly, I\u2019m proud that this bill will ensure a more resilient military right here at home, while reaffirming our commitment to the Ukrainian fight for democracy and against authoritarianism.\u201d\n\n\u201cVirginia will benefit greatly from the budget President Biden just signed, and I\u2019m grateful to every Virginian whose insights and advice helped me shape this legislation to best meet the Commonwealth\u2019s needs. Not only will this budget execute the pay raise Congress just authorized for our servicemembers, expand internet access, address mental and physical health needs, and expand access to affordable housing\u2014it will bring over $200 million in funding back to Virginia to support urgent local community projects. This budget is a big win and I look forward to seeing all of its positive impacts in the new year,\u201d said Sen. Kaine.\n\nAs part of last year\u2019s budget process, the Senate restarted a process that allows members of Congress to work with the communities they represent to request funding for local community projects, otherwise known as earmarks, in a manner that promotes transparency and accountability. This process allows Congress to dedicate federal funding for specific projects.?\n\nThrough strong advocacy, the senators secured funding in the budget bills for the following projects in Virginia:\n\nFor projects in Northern Virginia, click here.\n\nFor projects in Central Virginia, click here.\n\nFor projects in Southwest Virginia and Southside,click here.\n\nFor projects in the Shenandoah Valley, click here.\n\nFor projects in Hampton Roads, click here.\n\nFor projects that impact communities in multiple regions across the Commonwealth, click here.\n\nIn addition, the budget bills include funding for the following Warner and Kaine priorities:\n\nInvesting in Kids: Provides $8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which provides financial assistance to help low-income families access child care. This is $1.85 billion more than Fiscal Year 2022, representing a 30 percent increase in funding for the program. The bill also includes $11.996 billion, $960 million more than Fiscal Year 2022, for Head Start, the national school readiness program. Last year, Virginia received more than $120 million through the CCDBG program, and Virginia\u2019s Head Start programs served 15,000 vulnerable children and their families. Increasing funding for the CCDBG program is a core tenant of Kaine\u2019s child care and early childhood education proposal to expand the supply of quality child care facilities, increase child care and Head Start teacher wages, and lower child care costs for families across the country.\n\nAddressing Americans\u2019 Mental Health Needs: Expands the number of mental health care options available for seniors by ensuring seniors can access marriage and family therapists and licensed professional counselors under Medicare for the first time. This expansion is based on a bill Kaine cosponsored, theMental Health Access Improvement Act. The budget also includes Kaine\u2019s bipartisan Investing in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Act, legislation to support children\u2019s access to mental health care by providing grants to human service agencies or non-profits to develop, maintain, or enhance early intervention mental health programs for children from 0 to 12 years of age.\n\nIncreasing Access to Affordable Housing: Includes $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which will lead to the construction of 10,000 housing units nationally; $3.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program, which cities and counties can use to build affordable housing or for economic and community development projects that benefit low- and moderate-income housing; funding for 11,700 new housing choice vouchers; and dedicated funding to address homelessness, housing for the disabled, and housing for older Americans, among other investments. The budget also establishes a new $85 million competitive grant fund for localities looking to increase housing construction, similar to legislation proposed by Kaine.\n\nIncreasing Military Pay and Compensation:?Includes $1.5 billion to fully fund a 4.6 percent pay raise for servicemembers that Kaine helped authorize as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which writes the annual National Defense Authorization Act. Also includes $515 million towards military family support programs. Warner, who pushed for this funding, has long stressed the need for increased support for servicemembers through legislation such as the?Military Hunger Prevention Act?that helps low-income military families put food on the table and through a number of provisions in this year\u2019s defense bill.\n\nMaking Our Communities Safer:?Provides $50 million for Community Violence Prevention grants to support communities in developing comprehensive, evidence-based violence intervention and prevention programs, including efforts to address gang and gun violence through partnerships between community residents, law enforcement, local government agencies, and other community stakeholders. The bill also includes $45 million in funding to a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program to train police officers in de-escalation, implicit bias, and preventing unlawful force. This funding will also go towards strengthening crisis intervention teams by embedding mental and behavioral health professionals alongside law enforcement officers. Finally, the bill includes $125 million for anti-recidivism programs, helping formally incarcerated individuals re-integrate peacefully into society.\n\nSupporting America\u2019s Veterans: Provides $5 billion to implement theHonoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which Warner and Kaine successfully pushed to pass earlier this year. This legislation expanded health care services and benefits to veterans with conditions related to toxic exposure during their service. The budget also includes $118.7 billion for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care and $2.7 billion to support critical services and housing assistance for veterans and their families experiencing housing insecurity.\n\nExpanding High-Speed Internet Access: Includes $364 million for the USDA\u2019s ReConnect Program to expand access to high-speed broadband to remote underserved areas. As governors and senators, Warner and Kaine have long supported expanding broadband access in Virginia. During the pandemic, they secured significant funding for broadband through the?Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Warner and Kaine also joined a bipartisan letter to Senate leadership requesting this funding earlier this year. Warner also personally secured billions of dollars for broadband expansion in both the?American Rescue Plan?and the?Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\nStrengthening the Prescription Drug Pipeline: Includes bipartisan provisions championed by Kaine to strengthen the pipeline and increase transparency for critical medicines, which would lower costs and make it easier for physicians and patients to plan for the future. Kaine first outlined these steps in two bipartisan bills, the Interchangeable Biologics Clarity Act and the Biologics Market Transparency Act.\n\nBoosting Local Economies:?Includes $200 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission and $20 million\u2014an increase of $15 million compared to last year\u2019s budget\u2014for the Southwest Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) to support their work to build economic partnerships, create opportunity, and foster economic development. Kaine and Warner, along with the late Representative A. Donald McEachin, led the push to increase SCRC funding.\n\nImproving NASA Infrastructure: Provides an estimated $103 million to fully construct and replace the Wallops Causeway Bridge at the Wallops Flight Facility. The Wallops Island bridge replacement project will address structural deficiencies, improve safety, and help ensure mission readiness for future NASA launches. Warner and Kaine have consistently advocated for increased funding to address the deterioration of the bridge by hurricanes and severe weather and most recently sent a letter to Congressional leadership requesting this funding.\n\nRestoring the Chesapeake Bay: Includes $92 million for the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Chesapeake Bay Program, which is the leading federal program that coordinates restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.\n\nExpanding Defense Workforce Training: Includes $830.2 million for the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program Office, which funds a range of efforts at the Department of Defense to support the defense industrial base, including a pilot program in Danville which is currently training students in machining, welding, metrology and manufacturing for jobs in shipbuilding.\n\nBoosting Scientific Research and Innovation: Includes $1.8 billion in funding to help implement the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. Warner and Kaine led efforts in the Senate to secure funding from the legislation for Virginia, noting in a letter to the Department of Commerce that Virginia has a leading technology workforce and semiconductor manufacturing presence, making the Commonwealth an ideal location for future federal investments in semiconductor research and manufacturing.\n\nMaking Higher Education More Affordable: Provides a $500 boost or 7.2 percent increase to the maximum Pell Grant in the 2023-2024 school year, raising the maximum award to $7,395. This is the largest increase in the maximum Pell grant award since the 2009-10 school year and further builds off the $400 increase provided last year. The omnibus also includes $1 billion, an increase of $137 million or 15 percent, for programs to strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions.\n\nAddressing the Opioid Epidemic: Includes the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) Act, legislation Warner and Kaine cosponsored to reduce barriers to non-opioid pain management for those enrolled in Medicare. The budget also includes theMainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act, legislation Kaine cosponsored to reduce barriers to accessing medication-assisted treatment for individuals living with substance use disorders.\n\nFighting Eating Disorders: The bill includes the Anna Westin Legacy Act, legislation cosponsored by Warner to help those affected by eating disorders through improved health care professional training and clarity of mental health parity.\n\nSupporting the Direct Care and Family Caregiver Workforce: Includes $2 million for a project to identify new strategies to attract and retain a qualified direct care workforce. A similar provision was included in Kaine\u2019s Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act, legislation designed to address direct care and family caregiver workforce shortages.\n\nAddressing Americans\u2019 Long COVID Needs:?Includes $10 million for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to provide the research needed to ensure those experiencing Long COVID have access to the patient-centered, coordinated care they need. This effort was first outlined in Kaine\u2019s?CARE for Long COVID Act.\n\nExtending Telehealth Access: Extends COVID-19-related telehealth flexibilities for two full years, through 2024, drawing on legislation introduced by Warner and cosponsored by Kaine to allow more Americans to utilize telehealth services and expand the types of health care providers eligible to offer telemedicine.\n\nProtecting Pregnant Workers: The bill includes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, legislation cosponsored by Kaine to require employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and prevent them from forcing a woman to take leave when other reasonable accommodations would allow her to continue working.\n\nKeeping Kids Healthy: Extends the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides low- and no-cost health coverage for thousands of low-income children in Virginia, for an additional two years.\n\nImproving Cybersecurity in Health Care: Includes several provisions addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities across the health care sector. Last month, Warner released a policy options paper outlining current cybersecurity threats facing health care providers and systems and offering a series of policy solutions to improve cybersecurity across the industry, several of which were included in the bill.\n\nSupporting Miners Suffering from Black Lung Disease: Includes $12.19 million for Black Lung Clinics. Warner and Kaine have actively worked to secure benefits for miners and their families suffering from black lung disease. In August, the?Inflation Reduction Act,?supported by both Warner and Kaine, permanently extended the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund excise tax at a higher rate, providing more certainty for miners, miner retirees, and their families who rely on the fund to access benefits.\n\nImproving Access to Lifesaving Drugs: Includes significant improvements to the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s Accelerated Approval Pathway, an important regulatory mechanism that provides early access to treatments and cures for patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Kaine has long advocated for these improvements, which he outlined in his bipartisan Modernizing Accelerated Approvals Act.\n\nFunding for Pediatric Cancer Research:?Provides $12.6 million to fund childhood cancer research through the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act\u2014legislation?championed?by Warner and Kaine and named after a child from Loudoun County who died from a brain tumor in 2013.\n\nSupporting Hospital-Based Nurse Training Programs: Includes a technical correction to protect funding for programs that train nurses and other allied health professionals at hospital-based nursing programs across the country. This provision is based on the Technical Reset to Advance the Instruction of Nurses (TRAIN) Act, legislation Kaine cosponsored.\n\nAddressing Physician Shortages: Provides for the distribution of 200 additional Medicare-funded graduate medical education (GME) residency positions, with 100 slots specifically dedicated to increasing the number of mental health residencies. Kaine has long-supported expansion of GME residency positions and is a cosponsor of the Physician Shortage Reduction Act to do so.\n\nSupporting Rural Hospitals: Includes a two-year extension for Medicare payment programs that are vital to rural hospitals: the Medicare Dependent Hospital program and the Low Volume Adjustment Hospital program. Kaine cosponsored legislation in support of this action, the Rural Hospital Support Act. The budget also includes $5 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish an Office of Rural Health, a step first outlined in the Rural Health Equity Act, which was led by the late Congressman A. Donald McEachin in the U.S. House of Representatives and cosponsored by Kaine in the Senate.\n\nFighting Global Hunger:? Includes over $2 billion in international food aid and to promote U.S. agricultural exports overseas. This funding is critical to combatting global hunger and malnutrition. This funding follows?Kaine\u2019s work to highlight and address the threat Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine poses to food security around the world, and?Warner\u2019s support for non-governmental organizations responding to the food crisis. It also includes $154 billion\u2014an increase of $13.4 billion compared to last year\u2019s budget\u2014for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Last year, 756,600 Virginians, or 9 percent of Virginia\u2019s population, relied on food stamps.\n\nFighting Pandemics and Promoting Access to Medical Countermeasures: Includes provisions from Kaine\u2019s bipartisan bill, the Promoting Access to Critical Countermeasures by Ensuring Specimen Samples (ACCESS) to Diagnostics Act, to support quicker research and development of medical countermeasures to disease outbreaks and pandemics, including diagnostic tests, vaccines, and therapeutics, in response to emerging infectious diseases. The budget also includes $10.56 billion\u2014a $731 million increase compared to last year\u2019s budget\u2014to support global health and vaccination efforts worldwide. This funding is critical to protecting Virginians from the impacts of disease outbreaks around the world.\n\nModernizing America\u2019s Health Data Infrastructure:?Includes $175 million\u2014an increase of $75 million compared to last year\u2019s budget\u2014to modernize the public health data systems that help support healthy communities throughout America and Virginia. Also included are provisions from Kaine\u2019s?Improving Data Accessibility Through Advancements (DATA) in Public Health Act to increase timely and accurate information sharing between local, state, and federal public health departments to improve preparedness for emerging public health threats and create a grant program to strengthen the quality and completeness of demographic data collection used by public health entities.\n\nStrengthening Transportation and Recreation Infrastructure:?Provides $150 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, in addition to $45 million for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program, which will support multi-purpose trails across Virginia.\n\nSupporting Key Missing Persons Program: Includes $1 million to help with the nationwide implementation of the Ashanti Alert system. In 2018, Warner secured?unanimous Senate passage?of the Ashanti Alert Act, legislation that created a new federal alert system for missing or endangered adults between the ages of 18-64.?The bill was signed into law on December 31, 2018.\n\nSupporting Economic Growth for Underserved Communities:?Provides $324 million for the U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund, which supports businesses\u2019 economic growth in underserved communities. The successful push by Warner and Kaine follows Warner\u2019s efforts to support CDFIs through legislation including the?Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act?and the creation of the bipartisan?Senate Community Development Finance Caucus.\n\nProtecting Democracy: Includes provisions to ensure that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state\u2019s vote for president and provides specific guidelines for the point at which candidates elected president and vice president can receive the resources provided for their transition into office. Warner and Kaine have long called for legislation to safeguard future elections, and Warner was among the bipartisan group of senators who negotiated these proposals.\n\nAssisting Ukraine in the Fight Against Russia\u2019s Illegal Invasion: Provides $44.9 billion in emergency assistance to support the Ukrainian people, to strengthen our NATO allies, and to defend global democracy in response to Russian aggression.\n\nSupporting Our Afghan Allies: Provides funding to help eliminate processing backlogs and expedite adjudications of Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) cases. Virginia is home to one of the largest Afghan diaspora populations in the United States and led the U.S. in resettling Afghan allies following the U.S. withdrawal.\n\nSupporting Order and Safety at Our Border: Includes funding to support 19,855 Border Patrol agents, 300 more agents compared to last year\u2019s budget, in addition to $800 million to support Customs and Border Patrol\u2019s management of migrant processing facilities. The budget also provides resources for various programs to help improve the conditions that drive migration from Central America, including programs focused on counter-narcotics efforts and economic development. As Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Kaine has long advocated for efforts to address the root causes of migration.\n\nFairness for Victims of Terrorism: Transfers $6 billion to the U.S. Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, to help ensure all victims of state-sponsored terrorism have access to appropriate compensation. The additional Funds would expand the Fund\u2019s coverage and provide justice to victims and families of those killed or injured during the 9/11 terrorist attacks (including at the Pentagon), the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing, and the Iran hostage crisis, among others.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-scotus-ruling-to-maintain-title-42-a-win-for-border-security-biden-administration-needs-to-enforce-our-laws", "Hoeven: SCOTUS Ruling to Maintain Title 42 a Win For Border Security; Biden Administration Needs to Enforce Our Laws", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "John Hoeven", "H001061", "www.hoeven.senate.gov", "hoeven", "https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "Hoeven: SCOTUS Ruling to Maintain Title 42 a Win For Border Security; Biden Administration Needs to Enforce Our Laws\n\nBISMARCK, N.D. \u2013 Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling to maintain the Title 42 Public Health Order while litigation on the issue proceeds. The decision reverses an earlier federal court opinion that enabled the Biden administration to rescind the immigration tool, which allows immigration officials to return illegal immigrants to their home country and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hoeven has been working to keep Title 42 in place and has repeatedly called on the Biden administration to address the ongoing illegal immigration crisis at the nation\u2019s southern border. To this end, the senator:\n\nIntroduced legislation with Senator Marco Rubio to extend Title 42 until February 2025.\n\nTraveled to Del Rio, Rio Grande Valley and El Paso regions in Texas to support Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials and North Dakota Guard members and draw attention to their work at the U.S.-Mexico border.\n\nPressed the Homeland Security Secretary to secure the border and keep Title 42 in place.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s policies are creating a humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border,\u201d said Hoeven. \u201cBy rescinding tools like Title 42 and refusing to enforce our laws, the Biden administration is enabling human trafficking and drug smuggling into our nation. That not only undermines our national security, but contributes to the overdose epidemic that has brought tragedy to communities and families across the country. This SCOTUS ruling is a step in the right direction, but the Biden administration needs to change course and take real action to secure our borders.\u201d\n\nIn addition to maintaining Title 42, Hoeven is pressing the Biden administration to:\n\nEnforce the nation\u2019s laws and secure the southern border, including resuming construction of the border wall and putting in place the necessary infrastructure, personnel and technology.\n\nReinstate key immigration policies, such as:\n\nThe Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) or Remain in Mexico Policy, which required people seeking asylum at the southern border to wait in Mexico while their case was adjudicated.\n\nThe Safe Third Country Agreements so those seeking asylum from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala can be returned to their home country to await the outcome of their claims.\n\nMove toward a merit-based immigration system.\n\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/after-years-of-limbo-delegation-secures_rebecca-trimbles-permanent-resident-status", "After Years of Limbo, Delegation Secures  Rebecca Trimble\u2019s Permanent Resident Status", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today celebrated the enactment of private legislation they led with the late Congressman for all Alaska, Don Young. The measure \u2013 H.R. 681, For the Relief of Rebecca Trimble \u2013 is now Private Law 117-1, and provides Mrs. Trimble with a pathway to lawful permanent resident status in the United States.\n\n\u201cAfter a decade of uncertainty and legal appeals, I\u2019m so pleased that we have put an end to any possibility of deportation and provided Rebecca with the peace of mind she so clearly deserves. She has lived in America, built her life in America, and raised her family in America. Now she can remain with her husband and children in the only country she has ever called home,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cI thank all who helped ensure this bill could unanimously pass the House and Senate \u2013 including Rep. Nadler, Senator Padilla, and Senator Cornyn \u2013 as well as President Biden for quickly signing it into law. We finally got this right for a woman who never did anything wrong.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is exceptionally rare for Congress to pass a piece of legislation that impacts just one person. That\u2019s exactly what we\u2019ve been able to deliver today for Rebecca Trimble,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cRebecca spent her entire life living the American Dream, raising a family with her husband, an Army dentist who, until recently, served Alaskans in the Bethel area. That dream was thrown into jeopardy when Rebecca, through no fault of her own, faced threats of deportation to a country she\u2019s never known. When Rebecca\u2019s unique and challenging case couldn\u2019t be resolved through regular immigration channels, Congressman Young, Senator Murkowski and I got to work on a legislative fix. It is fitting that this will be Don Young\u2019s final bill to get signed into law, a capstone to a long and amazing career advocating for a state and a people he loved. I commend Rebecca and her family for their patience and dogged determination, and I hope this news makes for an especially meaningful holiday season for the Trimble family and for the many Alaskans who the Trimbles touched.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt has been amazing and heartwarming to see the Alaska Congressional delegation come together and do the hard work necessary to help this military spouse stay in the United States,\u201d said Margaret Stock, Rebecca Trimble\u2019s immigration lawyer in Alaska, Cascadia Cross Border Law group, Anchorage.\n\nBackground:\n\nMrs. Trimble was born in Mexico in 1989, adopted by an American couple, and brought into the U.S. when she was only a few days old. In 2012, after applying for an enhanced driver\u2019s license and despite no wrongdoing by her or her adoptive parents, Mrs. Trimble learned that her adoption was not properly completed, her birth certificates were not valid, and that she was not a legal citizen\u2014as she had understood she was for more than 20 years.\n\nAs the spouse of a military member, Mrs. Trimble applied for \u201cparole in place\u201d status in 2015 but was denied in 2016. She applied for permanent resident status while living in Bethel, Alaska in 2017 but was denied in 2020. At that point, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service informed her that she had just 33 days to depart the country and could face removal proceedings if she did not.\n\nThe Trimble\u2019s received an outpouring of support from the Bethel community\u2014from the military community to their church to community members\u2014who urged for Rebecca\u2019s special case to be addressed. After learning of Mrs. Trimble\u2019s unique situation, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and Congressman Young sought to assist her through a private bill, a rare form of legislation that seeks to address the exceptional circumstances faced by an individual. Murkowski introduced the first measure to assist Mrs. Trimble in February 2020, with Sullivan as an original cosponsor. They reintroduced the bill as S. 776 in the current Congress.\n\nH.R. 681 is the first private bill to become private law during the 117th Congress, and just the third to be enacted in the past 10 years.\n\nMore information is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-ensures-year-end-omnibus-contains-significant-assistance-funding-for-university-of-alaska", "Murkowski Ensures Year-End Omnibus Contains Significant Assistance, Funding for University of Alaska", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today welcomed passage of the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, which she added to the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. The year-end omnibus also includes multiple Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) allocations totaling $8.325 million that Murkowski requested and secured on behalf of the University of Alaska (UA).\n\n\u201cThe University plays a critical role in educating Alaskans, adding to our workforce and shaping the very future of our state. I recognize how important this system is, and that\u2019s why I worked so hard to ensure the omnibus will help strengthen its fiscal foundation for decades to come,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cBy providing a new way to expand the University\u2019s land grant, we are ensuring it can generate additional revenues that support its students, faculty, and campus infrastructure. Through our successes in the CDS process, we are improving the University\u2019s facilities, meeting priority research needs, and expanding its pipeline of well-educated Alaskans who enter key fields across our economy. I thank President Pitney and her team for working so closely with me and my staff to move these achievements across the finish line.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a monumental day for the university. We\u2019ve been working diligently for years to resolve our land grant deficit, and today is the day that hard work has paid off. On behalf of the entire university community, I thank our congressional delegation for finding a path forward through the omnibus appropriations bill. I also want to recognize the bipartisan backing we\u2019ve had from our Alaska businesses, organizations, and state leaders who advocated for this positive outcome.\n\nThis break-through legislation means that the university will be empowered to actively manage productive lands that will generate recurring revenue for the benefit of our students, our cutting-edge research, and the education of our next generation of leaders,\u201d said Pat Pitney, President of University of Alaska.\n\nMurkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) re-introduced S. 1128, the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, last year to help fulfill UA\u2019s long-suffering land grant, which remains a fraction of the size it was intended to be. Murkowski and Sullivan developed the bill in collaboration with UA and the State of Alaska (State); the late Congressman Don Young (R-AK) introduced a companion measure in the House of Representatives.\n\nDespite being located in the largest state in the union, UA has one of the smallest land endowments\u2014just 110,000 acres\u2014of any applicable institution anywhere in the country. To help remedy this, S. 1128 allows UA and the State to jointly identify up to 500,000 acres in Alaska for potential conveyance. The Department of the Interior (DOI) will then survey those selections and work with UA and the State to transfer up to 360,000 acres to UA. Any transfers will be deducted from Alaska\u2019s outstanding statehood lands entitlement, which still totals millions of acres.\n\nElsewhere in the omnibus, Murkowski provided increased funding for the Alaska Land Conveyance Program to help fulfill long-standing legal requirements to transfer lands to the State and Alaska Natives under ANCSA.\n\nIn addition to the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, Murkowski secured the following CDS allocations for UA:\n\nKotzebue: $825,000 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for renovations and safety improvements to the Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue.\n\nAnchorage: $500,000 to the University of Alaska Anchorage to implement a forensic training program for healthcare providers and advocates.\n\nFairbanks/Statewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to support research on seasonal weather forecasting.\n\nFairbanks/Statewide: $1.7 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to conduct baseline marine fishery surveys.\n\nStatewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Anchorage to expand UAA\u2019s business development services to rural and young entrepreneurs in Alaska.\n\nStatewide: $300,000 for the University of Alaska Anchorage to study the need and economic feasibility of constructing and operating a hazardous waste processing facility and landfill in the State of Alaska.\n\nAnchorage: $2.25 million to the University of Alaska Anchorage to renovate UAA\u2019s facilities for nursing education, telehealth training, and inter-professional education programs.\n\nAnchorage: $6 million to the Alaska Community Foundation to support the preservation, processing, and digitization of records of Alaskan leaders, which will be housed at UAA.\n\nJuneau: $750,000 to establish and operate a commercial driver's license education training program at the University of Alaska Southeast.\n\nThe University of Alaska is a land-, sea- and space-grant system of higher education established in 1917. The system has three universities \u2013 Alaska Anchorage (UAA), Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and Alaska Southeast (UAS) \u2013 as well as 13 community campuses and extended learning centers across the state. System-wide, more than 20,700 full- and part-time students are enrolled, studying among 500 unique degree, certificate, or endorsement programs. Study areas include short-course workforce training, associate degrees, bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees, as well as doctorates. UA generates $1.1 billion annually in economic impact and supports more than 15,000 Alaskan jobs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-peters-bipartisan-bill-to-fight-human-trafficking-signed-into-law", "Peters Bipartisan Bill to Fight Human Trafficking Signed Into Law", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to enhance our nation\u2019s ability to combat human trafficking has been signed into law. The new law will make permanent and strengthen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT).\n\n\u201cHuman trafficking continues to leave deep traumatic scars on victims and families in Michigan and across the country,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cThis new law will help enhance our ability to stop these crimes by ensuring the Center for Countering Human Trafficking has what it needs to disrupt human trafficking organizations and protect victims of these horrific crimes.\u201d\n\nMillions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide \u2013 including thousands in the United States. According to DHS, traffickers might use violence, manipulation, false promises of jobs that pay well, or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations. Based on calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, the Polaris Project found that in 2020 there were at least 16,658 human trafficking victims and survivors in the United States. However, the actual number of these crimes is likely much larger because these crimes often go unreported. In addition, the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission says that an extremely high number of human trafficking cases involve the sexual exploitation of a child. Eradicating these heinous crimes will require stronger anti-trafficking policies and ensuring that law enforcement professionals and the public are able to recognize indicators of human trafficking.\n\nThe Countering Human Trafficking Act makes permanent the CCHT, which oversees DHS\u2019s efforts to combat human trafficking and the importation of products that are made with forced labor. The Center also ensures the Department is leveraging and coordinating its capabilities and resources to fight back against traffickers. The law allows the CCHT to build out their permanent staff with Special Agents, criminal analysts, and others. It also allows the Center to modernize their systems and operations to support worldwide investigations on human trafficking and forced labor in supply chains, and bolster efforts to protect human trafficking victims. Finally, the law expands and improves national public awareness and law enforcement training initiatives to boost efforts to counter trafficking.\n\nPeters\u2019 legislation to increase coordination between Department of Homeland Security components and the Blue Campaign, a national public awareness effort designed to educate law enforcement and the public to recognize human trafficking, was signed into law as a part of last year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-bipartisan-bill-signed-into-law-to-better-predict-severe-weather-and-protect-michiganders", "Peters Bipartisan Bill Signed into Law to Better Predict Severe Weather and Protect Michiganders", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 The President has signed into law U.S. Senator Gary Peters\u2019 (MI) bipartisan legislation to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System. The bill recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives and unanimously passed the U.S. Senate last year.\n\nThe Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support (FLOODS) Act \u2013 which Peters reintroduced with U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) \u2013 will provide funding to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) ability to forecast floods, hurricanes, and tornados and disperse relevant information to local officials and first responders. Peters is a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which oversees NOAA.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s important we have the resources to better prepare for severe weather like flooding, particularly as storms continue to worsen due to climate change,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cThat\u2019s why I was proud to help champion this bipartisan bill into law, which will strengthen NOAA\u2019s ability to predict severe weather and protect the lives and livelihoods of folks across our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cFlooding is a common and deadly natural disaster in the U.S., resulting in over $25 billion in annual economic losses,\u201d said Senator Wicker. \u201cEvents in my home state of Mississippi, such as the prolonged opening of the Bonnet Carr\u00e9 spillway and the Pearl River and Yazoo backwater floods, underscore the importance of an effective understanding and response to high water. This legislation will protect lives and property by directing NOAA to improve its flood monitoring, forecasting, and communication efforts.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith flash floods occurring more frequently in every corner of the nation, early and reliable detection and warning is critical to save life and property,\u201d said Cheryl Small, Executive Director, National Flood Association. \u201cWe believe the integration and partnerships \u2014 including with the private sector \u2014 that will be developed or improved through this legislation will result in a more prepared and resilient nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvesting in science and NOAA\u2019s prediction and communication capabilities will help keep communities \u2014 particularly vulnerable communities in coastal and inland floodplains\u2014safe,\u201d said Rachel Cleetus, Policy Director and Lead Economist, Union of Concerned Scientists Climate & Energy Program. \u201cThis timely legislation will improve the NOAA\u2019s forecasting through comprehensive data collection and integration at multiple levels, including governmental, private and non-governmental agencies and organizations.\u201d\n\n\u201cImproving the nation\u2019s resiliency to natural catastrophes including flooding will take the combined efforts of individuals, communities, businesses, and governments,\u201d said Nathaniel F. Wienecke, Senior Vice President, American Property Casualty Insurance Association. \u201cOn behalf of our members, we commend Senator Peters and Senator Wicker for addressing this important issue by taking action to improve flood monitoring and forecasting.\u201d\n\nThe FLOODS Act is also supported by the American Association of Flood Plain Managers, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Society of Professional Surveyors, and the U.S. Geospatial Executives Organization.\n\nThe bipartisan bill will also form partnerships between NOAA and institutions of higher learning to bolster total water predictions, assign a service coordination hydrologist at each National Weather Service River Forecast Center to support decision making on the local and statewide levels, and establish a committee to increase coordination between federal agencies responsible for water management.\n\nPeters has led numerous efforts to support Michigan communities that have been affected by flooding and other severe weather events. Peters secured $500 million in funding as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law for a program he created to help states establish revolving loan programs for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce the risk of natural disasters, including extreme flooding, shoreline erosion, and rising water levels. As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters also convened a hearing with disaster preparedness and response experts to hear how worsening natural disasters, including flooding, severe storms, and wildfires, continue to harm lives and livelihoods in Michigan and across the nation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-1000000-for-akwesasne-boys-and-girls-club-to-support-mohawk-youth", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $1,000,000 FOR AKWESASNE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB TO SUPPORT MOHAWK YOUTH", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are announcing that they secured $1,000,000 for the Boys & Girls Club in Akwesasne for children of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in the FY2023 spending bill. The Boys & Girls Club of America provides safe community gathering centers nationwide and empowers young students with educational programs designed to help them succeed in school. The federal dollars Gillibrand and Schumer fought for will help construct a new \u201cGreat Futures Start Here\u201d Clubhouse in Akwesasne to serve this purpose for Mohawk youth. The new Clubhouse will enable the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club to continue offering its vital afterschool, summer, athletic, and meal programs in a safe, modern, and accessible space.\n\n\u201cInvesting in the youth of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe is investing in the future of the North Country, and I am proud to deliver this $1 million in funding to boost the community, its families, and most importantly the children of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThese funds will help finally begin construction of the community gathering space the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club has long deserved for afterschool and other essential youth programs. I will always fight to deliver meaningful, community driven investments to uplift the future of our children in Upstate New York.\u201d\n\n\u201cFostering a sense of community and support is vital to helping our youth get off on the right foot. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a proven track record of doing just that and preparing young people across New York State to achieve their full potential,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThis $1,000,000 will kick-start the building of a safe and modern community center for Mohawk youth and provide them with the indispensable opportunities they deserve. The children of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe are essential to the fabric of our state and I am thrilled to announce this important investment in their education and in their future.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/after-years-of-limbo-delegation-secures-rebecca-trimbles-permanent-resident-status", "After Years of Limbo, Delegation Secures Rebecca Trimble\u2019s Permanent Resident Status", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today celebrated the enactment of private legislation they led with the late Congressman for all Alaska, Don Young. The measure \u2013 H.R. 681, For the Relief of Rebecca Trimble \u2013 is now Private Law [117-1], and provides Mrs. Trimble with a pathway to lawful permanent resident status in the United States.\n\n\u201cAfter a decade of uncertainty and legal appeals, I\u2019m so pleased that we have put an end to any possibility of deportation and provided Rebecca with the peace of mind she so clearly deserves. She has lived in America, built her life in America, and raised her family in America. Now she can remain with her husband and children in the only country she has ever called home,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cI thank all who helped ensure this bill could unanimously pass the House and Senate \u2013 including Rep. Nadler, Senator Padilla, and Senator Cornyn \u2013 as well as President Biden for quickly signing it into law. We finally got this right for a woman who never did anything wrong.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is exceptionally rare for Congress to pass a piece of legislation that impacts just one person. That\u2019s exactly what we\u2019ve been able to deliver today for Rebecca Trimble,\u201d said Senator Sullivan. \u201cRebecca spent her entire life living the American Dream, raising a family with her husband, an Army dentist who, until recently, served Alaskans in the Bethel area. That dream was thrown into jeopardy when Rebecca, through no fault of her own, faced threats of deportation to a country she\u2019s never known. When Rebecca\u2019s unique and challenging case couldn\u2019t be resolved through regular immigration channels, Congressman Young, Senator Murkowski and I got to work on a legislative fix. It is fitting that this will be Don Young\u2019s final bill to get signed into law, a capstone to a long and amazing career advocating for a state and a people he loved. I commend Rebecca and her family for their patience and dogged determination, and I hope this news makes for an especially meaningful holiday season for the Trimble family and for the many Alaskans who the Trimbles touched.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt has been amazing and heartwarming to see the Alaska Congressional delegation come together and do the hard work necessary to help this military spouse stay in the United States,\u201d said Margaret Stock, Rebecca Trimble\u2019s immigration lawyer in Alaska, Cascadia Cross Border Law group, Anchorage.\n\nBackground:\n\nMrs. Trimble was born in Mexico in 1989, adopted by an American couple, and brought into the U.S. when she was only a few days old. In 2012, after applying for an enhanced driver\u2019s license and despite no wrongdoing by her or her adoptive parents, Mrs. Trimble learned that her adoption was not properly completed, her birth certificates were not valid, and that she was not a legal citizen\u2014as she had understood she was for more than 20 years.\n\nAs the spouse of a military member, Mrs. Trimble applied for \u201cparole in place\u201d status in 2015 but was denied in 2016. She applied for permanent resident status while living in Bethel, Alaska in 2017 but was denied in 2020. At that point, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service informed her that she had just 33 days to depart the country and could face removal proceedings if she did not.\n\nThe Trimble\u2019s received an outpouring of support from the Bethel community\u2014from the military community to their church to community members\u2014who urged for Rebecca\u2019s special case to be addressed. After learning of Mrs. Trimble\u2019s unique situation, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and Congressman Young sought to assist her through a private bill, a rare form of legislation that seeks to address the exceptional circumstances faced by an individual. Murkowski introduced the first measure to assist Mrs. Trimble in February 2020, with Sullivan as an original cosponsor. They reintroduced the bill as S. 776 in the current Congress.\n\nH.R. 681 is the first private bill to become private law during the 117th Congress, and just the third to be enacted in the past 10 years.\n\nMore information is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/youngs-pacific-islands-embassies-act-becomes-law/", "Young\u2019s Pacific Islands Embassies Act Becomes Law", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Todd Young", "Y000064", "www.young.senate.gov", "toddyoung", "https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 The U.S. Pacific Islands Embassy Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill aimed at countering the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through increased American diplomacy in the Pacific, is now law. The legislation establishes physical U.S. Embassies on the Pacific Island nations of the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Tonga, and authorizes expanded physical presence on Vanuatu to reinforce American leadership in the Pacific region.\n\nU.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) were the Senate sponsors of the bill. This legislation was included as an amendment to the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law on December 23, 2022.\n\n\u201cThe Indo-Pacific is a region of active competition with China, and our Pacific Island partners are especially vulnerable to Chinese coercion. This new law will strengthen our diplomatic presence in the region and signal our resolve to our partners and allies,\u201d said Senator Young.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-releases-end-of-year-round-up-for-2022", "Senator Hassan Releases End of Year Round Up for 2022", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 As 2022 comes to a close, the office of Senator Maggie Hassan released key highlights from the second year of the 117th Congress.\n\n\u201c2022 was a boon for bipartisanship, and a powerful reminder of what we as a country can achieve when we come together to find common ground. I have always sought to follow the example of Granite Staters who every day set aside differences to solve problems \u2013 and by doing so, we have passed critical legislation to address some of the most pressing challenges that we face as a nation,\u201d said Senator Hassan. \u201cAs I begin my second term in Congress next year, I look forward to continuing to build bipartisan cooperation to support the needs of families and our economy. And as we look to 2023, I wish my fellow Granite Staters happy holidays and a wonderful New Year.\u201d\n\nWatch Senator Hassan\u2019s 2022 recap video here.\n\nBy the Numbers\n\n74,000+ responses to constituent emails, letters, and calls\n\n9 million: The number of surprise medical bills prevented to date by Senator Hassan\u2019s bipartisan No Surprises Act that went into effect this year\n\n1 POW/MIA flag returned to its rightful place at Arlington National Cemetery\u2019s administration building\n\n6 birthday cards sent to Granite Staters on their 100th - and 109th birthday! - by Senator Hassan\n\n#1 most bipartisan Senator according to the Lugar Center-Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy\n\nNearly 75 percent of bills and resolutions introduced by Senator Hassan had a Republican cosponsor\n\n12 seconds: Fastest mini-crossword completed by Senator Hassan\n\n10 Key Accomplishments\n\nInvesting in American Manufacturing & Research: Senator Hassan and colleagues passed into law the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Act, which strengthens our economic and national security by providing critical investments in semiconductor manufacturing and research and development in the U.S. The law will help ensure that the U.S can outcompete China while lowering costs for families and strengthening our supply chains.\n\nCombating the Opioid Epidemic: This year\u2019s government funding bill includes Senator Hassan\u2019s bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which eliminates an outdated requirement, the \u2018x-waiver,\u2019 that limits the number of medical practitioners who can prescribe life-saving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.\n\nDelivering Comprehensive Care for Veterans Exposed to Toxic Substances: A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, Senator Hassan and her colleagues worked to develop and pass into law the PACT Act, which fundamentally reforms and improves how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits from the VA.\n\nImproving Mental Health Support for Young People: The President signed into law a bipartisan bill from Senator Hassan and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to strengthen mental health resources for young people and help prevent youth suicide. Senator Hassan introduced the bipartisan STANDUP Act after students across New Hampshire reached out to Senator Hassan about the urgent need to address mental health challenges and expand access to resources for young people.\n\nReforming the Postal Service: Senator Hassan and colleagues' bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act is now law. It eliminates requirements that have decimated the Postal Services\u2019 finances, increases transparency and accountability at the agency, guarantees mail delivery six days a week, and strengthens support for postal workers. In her remarks to the press, Senator Hassan said, \u201cGranite Staters \u2013 especially in rural areas \u2013 know that a dependable Postal Service is essential for local communities to thrive, and today\u2019s bill is a testament to the progress that we can make when we come together.\u201d\n\nLowering Prescription Drug Costs: The Inflation Reduction Act included a number of key provisions that Senator Hassan pushed for to take on Big Pharma and address the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, including allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices \u2013 which will bring down the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and help drive down prices across the board \u2013 and capping out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare prescription drugs.\n\nProtecting Fundamental Freedoms: Senator Hassan celebrated and helped pass the Respect for Marriage Act to enshrine marriage equality into law. In her statement, Senator Hassan noted New Hampshire\u2019s proud legacy: \u201cAs the first state in our country to legalize same-sex marriage without the force of a court order, New Hampshire has long led the fight for marriage equality. Today\u2019s signing is the culmination of efforts by advocates working to secure these freedoms for decades, and I\u2019m proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community in celebration.\u201d\n\nStanding Up to Those Who Enabled the Opioid Epidemic: Senator Hassan and colleagues\u2019 bipartisan legislation to address conflicts of interests in federal contracting - such as McKinsey\u2019s past work with the FDA and opioid manufacturers \u2013 will soon become law. In her advocacy for the legislation, Senator Hassan noted the bill\u2019s importance: \u201cThis bipartisan bill will ensure that companies that work for the federal government are acting in the best interest of the American people \u2013 not Big Pharma.\u201d\n\nHelping Veterans Make the Transition to Civilian Life: President Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Hassan to strengthen the Solid Start program, which contacts every veteran three times by phone in the first year after they leave active duty service to check in and help connect them to VA programs and benefits. In addition, the year-end funding bill includes a bill Senator Hassan introduced with Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to designate one week per year as \u201cBuddy Check Week.\u201d The bill is modeled after the American Legion\u2019s \u201cBuddy Check National Week of Calling\u201d that connects veterans to other veterans in order to better ensure that they receive the support that they need.\n\nAddressing Gun Violence: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act includes a number of measures to address gun violence that Senator Hassan has long pushed for, including: Incentives for states to pass and administer extreme risk protection laws, protecting survivors of domestic violence by closing the \u201cboyfriend loophole,\u201d and enhancing background checks as well as investing in mental health supports and services in schools and communities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-peters-grassley-hassan-and-ernst-bipartisan-legislation-to-prevent-conflicts-of-interest-in-federal-contracting-signed-into-law", "SIGNED INTO LAW: Peters, Grassley, Hassan & Ernst Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Conflicts of Interest in Federal Contracting Signed Into Law", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) to help identify and mitigate potential conflicts of interest between taxpayer-funded projects and government contractors\u2019 other business opportunities has been signed into law. The federal government contracts with private companies to support important government functions, such as the delivery of services and the approval of prescription drugs. However, many contractors also conduct business with the private sector or other outside entities, and this can raise questions about the reliability of consultations, advice, or projects under federal contracts if not handled appropriately. The law requires updates to existing rules to protect the integrity of services while allowing contractors to continue pursuing business opportunities to the greatest extent possible. The law was led through the House by U.S. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.\n\n\u201cGovernment agencies should know about whether federal contractors\u2019 outside business interests might conflict with their work for Michiganders and Americans,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cThis new law will ensure federal contractors are providing transparency about potential conflicts before they are awarded taxpayer dollars.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal contractors are entrusted to provide critical goods and services to the federal government as it serves the American people. If we don\u2019t know whether they are serving other, potentially conflicting interests, we can\u2019t be confident that Americans are getting exactly what they pay for,\u201d said Senator Grassley. \u201cThis good government bill, which is now law, takes steps to eliminate these potential conflicts of interest to rebuild public trust in our contracting process.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is unacceptable that federal contractors have potential conflicts of interest, including when McKinsey was working for opioid manufacturers at the same time it was working for the FDA on opioid-related projects,\u201d said Senator Hassan. \u201cI was glad to work with members of both parties to develop this law, which will help ensure that companies that work for the federal government put the interests of the American people first, not Big Pharma or other special interests. I\u2019ll keep working with my colleagues to address conflicts of interest and stop waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.\u201d\n\n\u201cBefore Washington doles out billions of dollars to government contractors, we need to make sure these organizations don\u2019t have outside business interests that conflict with their work for our taxpayers,\u201d said Senator Ernst. \u201cThis new law improves accountability and increases transparency by working to eliminate any potential conflict of interest, better ensuring these contractors are working in the best interest of Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy Committee\u2019s investigation into McKinsey & Company\u2019s conflicts of interest made it clear that our federal government contracting laws are in desperate need of reform,\u201d said Chairwoman Maloney. \u201cThe American people deserve to know that their taxpayer dollars are working in their best interests \u2013 not the financial interests of powerful corporations. Today\u2019s legislation is an important step to creating more transparency and accountability, and I thank Senator Peters for his partnership on this critical issue.\u201d\n\nReports have highlighted the need to prevent conflicts of interest within companies that are awarded federal contracts. For example, McKinsey & Company, a management consulting corporation often hired by the federal government, was paid more than $140 million dollars since 2008 by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to help support their oversight work of pharmaceutical companies, including determining the safety and efficacy of prescription pain medications. At the same time, McKinsey had not disclosed to the FDA that they were also consulting for several opioid manufacturers on how these companies could effectively market their products. This has called into question whether consultants from McKinsey were providing biased advice to the FDA, and whether that advice was influenced by their relationship with the drug makers whose business practices are a root cause of the opioid epidemic. The senators\u2019 law will give federal agencies a process to evaluate similar potential conflicts of interest to ensure that federal consultants and other contractors are using taxpayer dollars to work in Americans\u2019 best interests.\n\nThe Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act requires agencies to identify potential conflicts for specific contracts early in the process. Federal contractors will be required to disclose other business relationships with entities that conflict with the specific work that an agency has hired them to do. Private companies under contract with the U.S. government would also have to disclose new potential business that opposes ongoing services they are providing to the American people. The law ensures federal contractors are aware of disclosure requirements and how working with agencies could impact other parts of their business. Finally, the law requires federal agencies to assess and update their procedures for determining whether contractors could have a conflict of interest.\n\nBelow are statements in support of the senators\u2019 bipartisan law:\n\n\u201cThe U.S. government increasingly relies on government contractors for their expertise on matters that threaten our nation's safety and security. Yet, based on current federal contract regulations, agencies cannot always discern whether government contractors have business relationships with foreign governments and private entities that could create a conflict of interest,\u201d said Noah Bookbinder, President of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. \u201cTo protect the integrity of services provided to the United States, CREW endorses the Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act, which would require greater transparency in contractor business relationships in order to prevent conflicts of interest.\u201d\n\n\u201cCompanies perform mission-critical government functions. Organizational conflicts present one type of ethics risk to the government, and they must be identified and avoided through careful government oversight,\u201d said Scott Amey, General Counsel for the Project on Government Oversight. \u201cWithout more guidance, organizational conflicts of interest can result in unfair competitive advantages and biased contract awards\u2014both of which compromise the impartiality of the federal government and the integrity of the contracting process.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen government policymaking is tainted by conflicts of interest, it weakens the legitimacy and credibility of the entire process. That erodes public confidence in government and harms democracy,\u201d said Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy for Transparency International U.S. \u201cThis law promotes greater transparency and accountability to ensure the public can trust that government is making decisions with their best interests at heart.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-president-signs-into-law-bipartisan-bill-backed-by-senator-hassan-and-congressman-pappas-to-provide-funding-for-law-enforcement-de-escalation-training", "SIGNED INTO LAW: President Signs into Law Bipartisan Bill Backed by Senator Hassan & Congressman Pappas to Provide Funding for Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The President today signed into law bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan, and supported by Congressman Chris Pappas, to help law enforcement officers respond effectively to people experiencing mental or behavioral health crises. The bill authorizes millions of dollars in annual grant funding to improve training for police officers interacting with individuals dealing with mental or behavioral health issues, including using alternatives to force and de-escalation tactics and working with mental health professionals on crisis intervention teams. It would also empower police and the mental health professionals working with them to link individuals to mental and behavioral health services in their community.\n\n\u201cWhen there is an emergency, law enforcement officers are often the first ones on the scene, making it essential that they have the training to handle a variety of crises,\u201d Senator Hassan said. \u201cThis new law can help law enforcement officers more effectively respond to someone experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency and de-escalate the situation swiftly.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day members of law enforcement respond to a wide variety of calls, and it\u2019s important they have the training and resources to respond to every call safely and effectively,\u201d said Congressman Pappas. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will close critical gaps in mental health crisis training, helping protect law enforcement officers and improving outcomes for the people they serve. I\u2019m pleased that this bipartisan bill has been signed into law today, and I will continue fighting to deliver the resources law enforcement needs to keep our communities safe.\u201d\n\nSenator Hassan is committed to providing law enforcement officers with the support that they need. Senator Hassan and Representative Pappas recently joined the rest of the delegation in announcing $500,000 to help local New Hampshire police departments hire more law enforcement officers, which follows Senator Hassan\u2019s push to increase funding for state and local law enforcement. The President also signed into law bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan cosponsored to support law enforcement officers suffering from PTSD and their families. Senator Hassan also joined her colleagues in introducing legislation to gather greater information on attacks targeting law enforcement. In 2019, bipartisan legislation became law that Senator Hassan cosponsored to help prevent law enforcement officer suicide.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-senators-hassan-risch-rosen-and-rubios-bipartisan-bill-to-help-prevent-human-trafficking", "SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Hassan, Risch, Rosen, and Rubio\u2019s Bipartisan Bill to Help Prevent Human Trafficking", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The President today signed into law the bipartisan Human Trafficking Prevention Act that Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), James Risch (R-ID), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced to help prevent human trafficking by requiring the posting of the National Human Trafficking Hotline in the restrooms of all U.S. planes, buses, and trains, as well as airports, bus stations, and rail stations.\n\n\u201cRestrooms are often the only time that a victim will have the opportunity to get away from traffickers, making it one of the first lines of defense in getting someone the help that they need,\u201d said Senator Hassan. \u201cI\u2019m pleased that our bipartisan bill to help prevent human trafficking was signed into law, and I will continue to work across the aisle to crack down on these heinous crimes.\u201d\n\nThe National Human Trafficking Hotline is a toll-free service connecting victims and survivors of trafficking to critical support and resources. The Hotline provides both a toll-free phone line and SMS text lines which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish or in more than 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-biden-signs-hirono-legislation-to-support-native-hawaiian-survivors-of-gender-based-violence", "President Biden Signs Hirono Legislation to Support Native Hawaiian Survivors of Gender-Based Violence", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law legislation led by Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) to allow Native Hawaiian survivors of gender-based violence to access critical programs and resources provided by Congress through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The reauthorization of VAWA\u2014which was signed into law in March, 2022\u2014provides funding to Native Hawaiian survivors of all types of sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual assault, sex-trafficking, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. Senator Hirono\u2019s legislation amends VAWA to ensure Native Hawaiian organizations are able to serve the Native Hawaiian community. The bill, which passed in the Senate unanimously last month, passed in the House on a voice vote earlier this month.\n\n\u201cLike other Native communities across the country, Native Hawaiians experience disproportionately high levels of sexual and gender-based violence,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cDespite this crisis, Native Hawaiian women have long been unjustly excluded from accessing much-needed resources for survivors provided through the Violence Against Women Act. This bill addresses this injustice and allows Native Hawaiian Organizations to better serve Native Hawaiians, and I\u2019m glad the President has signed it into law. Now, Native Hawaiian organizations will have access to support and resources to serve the Native Hawaiian community and work towards eradicating sexual violence in our state.\u201d\n\nNative women across the country\u2014including American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women\u2014experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence. Therefore, VAWA includes Services, Training, Officers Prosecutors (STOP) grants to provide funding for eligible Native-serving non-profits, including Native Hawaiian organizations, to help combat sexual violence and support survivors. However, due to an earlier drafting error in the law, while Native Hawaiian organizations were able to apply for STOP grant funding, they could not use the funds to actually serve the Native Hawaiian community. As a result, Native Hawaiian women have been unable to access critical resources included in VAWA.\n\nAccording to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, more than two-thirds of sex trafficking victims in Hawaii are Native Hawaiian women and girls, and 37% of reported child sex trafficking cases in Hawaii are Native Hawaiian. Recently, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women released the \"Holoi a Nalo Wahine Oiwi\" report, which further underlines the disproportionate impacts that sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, and domestic violence have on Native Hawaiian women and girls.\n\nSenator Hirono has been a vocal advocate for the Native Hawaiian community and efforts to combat violence against Native Hawaiians. Last month, she spoke on the Senate floor about the need to amend VAWA to include Native Hawaiian women. In August, she pressed FBI Director Christopher Wray to do more to protect the Native Hawaiian community from sexual exploitation at a full Judiciary Committee hearing and emphasized the need for the FBI to include the Native Hawaiian community in its efforts to address the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis and violence against Native communities. In May, she joined a resolution designating May 5th as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-champions-mental-and-behavioral-health-provisions-in-fy-2023-appropriations-package_", "Murkowski Champions Mental and Behavioral Health Provisions in FY 2023 Appropriations Package", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "As a senior appropriator, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) played a key role in securing numerous mental and behavioral health provisions within the omnibus appropriations package that funds the federal government for the rest of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.\n\nRecognizing the need to bolster mental and behavioral health support in Alaska, Murkowski prioritized suicide prevention programs, treatment and recovery opportunities for those struggling with substance misuse, and expansion of the mental health workforce. She also secured significant mental and behavioral health-related Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) allocations that were requested by Alaskans.\n\n\u201cAffordable, accessible, and destigmatized mental and behavioral healthcare services are fundamental to quality of life in our communities. I made greater resources for them one of my top priorities in the omnibus because Alaska is disproportionately impacted by substance misuse disorders, faces a lack of mental and behavioral health specialists, and has seen a devastating uptick in death by suicide, particularly among military service members,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cI\u2019m heartened that three provisions I led were included in the final package; two aim to prevent death by suicide and the other bolsters maternal and postpartum mental health services. We also made sure the omnibus contains significant investments to educate and mentor youth, to help keep them on the safest path possible, and for safe housing to create a safer, more reliable environment for vulnerable individuals to heal. Whether it is prevention, treatment, recovery, or support for individual or family care, our year-end package provides critical resources to help ensure that Alaska\u2019s most vulnerable have the care and support they need, when they need it most.\u201d\n\nMurkowski added the following CDS allocations to the year-end omnibus:\n\nJuneau: $870,000 to renovate and expand the JAHMI Health & Wellness specialty behavioral health facility.\n\nStatewide: $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Southcentral Alaska to provide behavioral health support to children and youth.\n\nAnchorage: $290,000 for Providence Alaska to establish and launch the Alaska Psychiatry Residency Program.\n\nAnchorage: $750,000 for construction of a Crisis Stabilization Center at Providence Alaska Medical Center.\n\nWasilla: $5 million to Set Free Alaska to build a therapeutic campus consisting of recovery residence facilities.\n\nMental and behavioral health highlights in the omnibus include:\n\nMainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act: Murkowski-led legislation that will vastly increase access to life-saving addiction medicine by eliminating a duplicative bureaucratic hurdle\u2014colloquially known as the \u201cx-waiver\u201d\u2014currently blocking millions of highly trained health professionals from prescribing buprenorphine to their patients.\n\nEffective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department: Murkowski-led legislation to provide additional resources for hospital emergency departments to improve screening and care for individuals at risk of suicide, and enhance the coordination of care for such individuals during discharge.\n\nGarrett Lee Smith Reauthorization: Murkowski-led legislation to reauthorize a number of suicide prevention programs, including the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and State and Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention grants.\n\nInto the Light for Maternal Mental Health: A Murkowski-led provision that reauthorizes and expands programs to screen and treat for maternal mental health and substance use disorders.\n\nCrisis Response Pilot Program: Establishes a mental health crisis response pilot program to establish and enhance mobile crisis response teams to respond to mental health and substance use disorder crises.\n\nSummer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act: Reauthorizes programs to address substance use disorder treatment and recovery for homeless individuals, increase access to treatment in areas with high rates of opioid use, support efforts to prevent and respond to underage drinking, and increase access to emergency treatment for opioid overdoses.\n\nPeer-Supported Mental Health Services: Directs HHS to award grants to develop, expand, and enhance access to mental health peer-delivered services, with special consideration for the unique needs of rural areas in states like Alaska.\n\nReauthorization of Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services: Reauthorizes and increases funding for the Community Mental Health Block Grant program, with a set-aside for evidence-based crisis care services.\n\nRecovery Housing: Includes language clarifying it is the role of SAMSHA to collaborate with national housing organizations, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other relevant stakeholder to promote the availability of high-quality recovery housing and services for individuals with substance use disorder.\n\nHousing Working Group: Directs the Secretaries of HHS and HUD to convene an interagency working group with all relevant agencies to increase collaboration to promote the availability of housing, including recovery housing, for individuals experiencing homelessness and those with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders.\n\nRecovery Housing Grants: Authorizes significant funding for grants to states to promote recovery housing availability and develop plans to implement recovery housing best practices.\n\nBehavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Resources for Native Americans: The Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act creates a formula and grant program to help Tribes access resources to address mental health needs and substance-use disorders in their communities.\n\nMedia and Mental Health: Directs HHS to conduct or support research on the mental health impacts of smartphone and social media use by adolescents.\n\nNOPAIN Act: Legislation co-sponsored by Murkowski to provide a separate Medicare payment for non-opioid treatments to manage pain from surgeries.\n\nMental Health Access Improvement Act: Legislation co-sponsored by Murkowski which establishes Medicare coverage for services provided by marriage and family therapists and licensed professional counselors beginning January 1, 2024.\n\nRelated Issues: Health", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-delivers-big-wins-for-alaskas-fisheries-and-oceans-in-consolidated-appropriations-act-", "Murkowski Delivers Big Wins for Alaska\u2019s Fisheries and Oceans in Consolidated Appropriations Act", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, secured significant funding for fisheries and oceans priorities in Alaska in the recently-passed Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. As a result of Murkowski\u2019s work, the year-end omnibus includes $15 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) allocations for ocean and river research to be performed by Alaskans in addition to significant programmatic support through agency budgets.\n\n(Click here to view all of Alaska\u2019s CDS allocations).\n\n\u201cOur fisheries and oceans provide foundational food security and economic opportunity for Alaskans statewide. I\u2019m proud to champion our marine environment and cornerstone species like salmon and crab in this year-end package,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cThe language I secured provides support for fisheries disaster relief, research, indigenous co-management, surveys, fisheries management, marine debris removal, transboundary watershed monitoring, and many more Alaska priorities. Alaskans advocated for these projects, we worked together to deliver on them, and we can now look forward to their implementation for our state.\u201d\n\nFishery Disasters\n\nAs part of a dynamic effort to address fisheries disasters nationwide, Murkowski successfully requested $300 million in fisheries disaster funding with an additional $300,000 for administration costs. This funding will provide relief to commercial, recreational, and subsistence harvesters impacted by fisheries stock crashes, including in Alaska. The funding will also support research to determine the cause of disasters and provide relief to impacted community governments that rely on shoreside taxes for municipal budgets. Additionally, the bill includes the Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act, legislation co-sponsored by the Senator that will improve the National Marine Fisheries Service\u2019s (NMFS) fisheries disaster program. More specifically, the bill specifies a timeline for action by NMFS, clarifies the declaration process, and expedites review and fund dispersal processes. It also specifies assistance eligibility for subsistence and recreational fishers.\n\nResearch\n\nThrough her role on the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Department of Commerce, Murkowski supported oceans and climate research through NOAA, NASA, and NSF budgets. She prioritized headquartering research capacity in Alaska and included report language prioritizing increased focus on the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.\n\nMurkowski added new technologies to Alaska\u2019s tool chest like eDNA to monitor struggling salmon runs in the Yukon and Kuskokwim watersheds. She prioritized expansion of existing technologies like citizen science temperature monitoring, electronic monitoring, and ocean-based carbon dioxide removal.\n\nThe omnibus also includes her legislation with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, which directs NOAA to convene a task force to review current research and applied research gaps on migration patterns and declining returns of Pacific salmon in Alaska to support sustainable management.\n\nManagement\n\nMurkowski supported multiple cooperative management projects in the omnibus, including marine mammal co-management on the North Slope and implementation of intertribal subsistence fisheries on the Kuskokwim River. This work will help support commercial, recreational and subsistence harvesters and ensure sustainable management.\n\nThe Senator successfully requested funding for fisheries management bodies and secured significant funding to support U.S. obligations relating to the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Her language to support transboundary governance between the US and Canada was also included.\n\nSurveys\n\nThe year-end appropriations package increases funding for fisheries data collections, surveys, and assessments to ensure that historical levels of survey coverage are maintained. This includes at least six Alaskan surveys to better understand movement of fish out of historic survey areas.\n\nThe bill supports a project by the University of Alaska Fairbanks to conduct baseline marine fishery surveys using emerging technology like autonomous underwater vehicles. It also supports projects for community-based monitoring of salmon and crab in the Yukon River and the Bering Sea.\n\nFurther funding is provided for mapping the nearshore and shoreline of Alaska, as well as language directing NOAA to continue coordinating and implementing an interagency mapping, exploration, and characterization strategy for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The omnibus also includes a strategy for mapping the Arctic and sub-Arctic shoreline and nearshore of Alaska.\n\nWeather\n\nMurkowski\u2019s language to maintain and service the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) Array, which provides tsunami prediction capacity and directs the National Weather Service (NWS), will ensure that all DART buoys in Alaska, especially those in Prince William Sound and Southeast Alaska, are deployed and fully operational.\n\nFurthermore, the omnibus directs NOAA to enhance coverage by the National Mesonet Program in Alaska and other non-contiguous States and Territories to improve weather observation, prediction, and warnings.\n\nAdditional funding for the NWS will support staffing efforts, particularly for extreme weather events. A CDS allocation requested and secured by Murkowski will support collaborative research between the University of Alaska Fairbanks and NOAA to improve forecasts for Arctic seasonal weather and sea ice.\n\nCongressionally Directed Spending for Fisheries and Oceans\n\nBering Sea: $2.75 million for the Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation to monitor commercial fisheries in the Bering Sea.\n\nFairbanks/Statewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to support research on seasonal weather forecasting.\n\nFairbanks/Statewide: $1.75 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to conduct baseline marine fishery surveys.\n\nSt. Paul/Statewide: $250,000 to the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island for surveillance monitoring of fisheries and ecosystems.\n\nUtqiagvik: $2.7 million to the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management for marine mammal and co-management research on the North Slope.\n\nYukon River Drainage: $825,000 to the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association to support research, surveys, and community engagement.\n\nKodiak: $1 million to the Island Trails Network for removal, recycling, and recovery of debris from the Alaska marine environment.\n\nKotzebue: $140,000 to build cyanotoxin analysis capacity at the Native Village of Kotzebue.\n\nStatewide: $2 million for salmon monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim River watersheds.\n\nStatewide: $500,000 to the Tanana Chiefs Conference to address the large data gap regarding salmon populations on the Yukon River.\n\nStatewide: $880,000 for implementation of the Intertribal Federal Subsistence Cooperative Management Program at the Kuskokwim River Watershed.\n\nStatewide: $1.2 million for ecological monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.\n\nRelated Issues: Alaska's Fisheries", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-cornyn-applaud-help-find-the-missing-act-signed-into-law", "Murphy, Cornyn Applaud Help Find the Missing Act Signed Into Law", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Tuesday released the following statements after President Biden signed into law the Help Find the Missing Act, or \u201cBilly\u2019s Law\u201d, legislation to close loopholes in America\u2019s missing persons systems by streamlining the missing persons reporting process and ensuring that law enforcement databases are more accessible and comprehensive.\n\nThe bill was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John. Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cWhen I first met Jan and Bill almost 15 years ago, I was inspired by their determination to fix a missing persons system that had repeatedly failed them during the search for their son Billy. I\u2019m so proud to have worked with Senator Cornyn, Congresswoman Hayes, the Smolinskis, the family of Gabby Petito, and countless others to finally get this bill to the president\u2019s desk. This is a big deal that is going to ensure the thousands of other families with missing loved ones won\u2019t face the same obstacles going forward,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cFor families who have exhausted all possible leads to find their loved one, improving the missing persons reporting process is essential,\u201d said Cornyn. \u201cThis legislation will ensure local law enforcement can work swiftly and comprehensively to deliver justice to the families and friends of the missing, and I am proud of the bipartisan support that pushed this bill across the finish line.\u201d\n\nBilly's Law was originally introduced in the House of Representatives in 2009 by then-Congressman Chris Murphy. The bill was conceived by Janice and Bill Smolinski of Cheshire, Connecticut, after their 31-year-old son Billy went missing from Waterbury, Connecticut. While working with law enforcement to locate their missing son, the Smolinskis faced countless systemic challenges, most significantly the incomplete and uncoordinated federal databases for missing persons and unidentified remains. Billy's Law was introduced to address those challenges and help ensure that the tens of thousands of American families whose loved ones go missing each year do not experience the same hurdles faced by the Smolinskis.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\nA section-by-section of the bill is available here.\n\nA one-pager of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-bipartisan-legislation-to-prevent-conflicts-of-interest-in-federal-contracting-signed-into-law", "Peters Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Conflicts of Interest in Federal Contracting Signed Into Law", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to help identify and mitigate potential conflicts of interest between taxpayer-funded projects and government contractors\u2019 other business opportunities has been signed into law. The federal government contracts with private companies to support important government functions, such as the delivery of services and the approval of prescription drugs. However, many contractors also conduct business with the private sector or other outside entities, and this can raise questions about the reliability of consultations, advice, or projects under federal contracts if not handled appropriately. The law requires updates to existing rules to protect the integrity of services while allowing contractors to continue pursuing business opportunities to the greatest extent possible.\n\n\u201cGovernment agencies should know about whether federal contractors\u2019 outside business interests might conflict with their work for Michiganders and Americans,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cThis new law will ensure federal contractors are providing transparency about potential conflicts before they are awarded taxpayer dollars.\u201d\n\nReports have highlighted the need to prevent conflicts of interest within companies that are awarded federal contracts. For example, McKinsey & Company, a management consulting corporation often hired by the federal government, was paid more than $140 million dollars since 2008 by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to help support their oversight work of pharmaceutical companies, including determining the safety and efficacy of prescription pain medications. At the same time, McKinsey had not disclosed to the FDA that they were also consulting for several opioid manufacturers on how these companies could effectively market their products. This has called into question whether consultants from McKinsey were providing biased advice to the FDA, and whether that advice was influenced by their relationship with the drug makers whose business practices are a root cause of the opioid epidemic. Peters\u2019 law will give federal agencies a process to evaluate similar potential conflicts of interest to ensure that federal consultants and other contractors are using taxpayer dollars to work in Americans\u2019 best interests.\n\nThe Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act requires agencies to identify potential conflicts for specific contracts early in the process. Federal contractors will be required to disclose other business relationships with entities that conflict with the specific work that an agency has hired them to do. Private companies under contract with the U.S. government would also have to disclose new potential business that opposes ongoing services they are providing to the American people. The law ensures federal contractors are aware of disclosure requirements and how working with agencies could impact other parts of their business. Finally, the law requires federal agencies to assess and update their procedures for determining whether contractors could have a conflict of interest.\n\nBelow are statements in support of Peters\u2019 bipartisan law:\n\n\u201cThe U.S. government increasingly relies on government contractors for their expertise on matters that threaten our nation's safety and security. Yet, based on current federal contract regulations, agencies cannot always discern whether government contractors have business relationships with foreign governments and private entities that could create a conflict of interest,\u201d said Noah Bookbinder, President of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. \u201cTo protect the integrity of services provided to the United States, CREW endorses the Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act, which would require greater transparency in contractor business relationships in order to prevent conflicts of interest.\u201d\n\n\u201cCompanies perform mission-critical government functions. Organizational conflicts present one type of ethics risk to the government, and they must be identified and avoided through careful government oversight, said Scott Amey, General Counsel for the Project on Government Oversight. \u201cWithout more guidance, organizational conflicts of interest can result in unfair competitive advantages and biased contract awards\u2014both of which compromise the impartiality of the federal government and the integrity of the contracting process.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen government policymaking is tainted by conflicts of interest, it weakens the legitimacy and credibility of the entire process. That erodes public confidence in government and harms democracy,\u201d said Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy for Transparency International U.S. \u201cThis law promotes greater transparency and accountability to ensure the public can trust that government is making decisions with their best interests at heart.\u201d\n\nIn his role on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has worked to ensure government is effectively serving the American people. His bipartisan legislation to strengthen protections for Inspectors General so they can conduct independent oversight to root out waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars will soon be signed into law. The Senate has also passed Peters\u2019 bipartisan bill to improve our nation\u2019s ability to prevent foreign governments, including adversaries like the Chinese and Russian governments, from attempting to influence U.S. policy without making appropriate disclosures.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-respect-act-signed-into-law", "Rounds\u2019 RESPECT Act Signed into Law", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds\u2019 (R-S.D.) bipartisan legislation to repeal discriminatory federal laws targeting Native Americans was signed into law by the president today.\n\nThe Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act will repeal 11 outdated federal laws, including laws that stripped Native American children from their families for the purpose of placing them in \u201cIndian reform schools,\u201d such as the now-infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Rounds first introduced the RESPECT Act in 2016, and has led this legislation in each Congress since.\n\nA full list of laws the RESPECT Act will repeal is available HERE.\n\nThe RESPECT Act is supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen\u2019s Association (GPTCA) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).\n\n\u201cI have worked on this common sense, bipartisan legislation since coming to the United States Senate, so I am pleased that it has been signed into law,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cIt\u2019s long overdue to remove these immoral, discriminatory federal laws from our books. Throughout history, Native Americans have been subjected to unfair treatment from our federal government, including the forced removal of their children from their homes. Clearly, there is no place in our legal code for such measures, and it is appalling these laws are still in our federal code. While we cannot rewrite the past, we need to acknowledge it and continue to strive for a more perfect Union.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst, I\u2019d like to commend and thank Senator Rounds for his sincere intent in sponsoring this legislation,\u201d said J. Garret Renville, Chairman-elect of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. \u201cThe RESPECT Act is a first step in an attempt to better consult and coordinate with Tribal Nations. Historically and symbolically; it is my hope, that it represents a path to improving the long standing inequities in the relationship and dealings between sovereign people, their nations and the United States Government.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to thank Senator Rounds for spearheading this legislation,\u201d said Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Councilman Christian Skunk. \u201cThe RESPECT Act will ensure going forward the relationship between tribes and the federal government is mended. We know it\u2019s impossible to change the past, but we can choose how we proceed and the RESPECT Act is a step in the right direction.\u201d\n\n\"The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) applauds the passage and signing into law of the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act,\u201d said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. \u201cWhile our history books often ignore the facts, it is no secret that for far too long the U.S. Congress has passed destructive and oppressive laws that by design diminished tribal sovereignty and our political standing of equity and parity with the federal government. This legislation is but one more step in a very long journey ahead toward achieving our vision for a real, just and meaningful government-to-government relationship between sovereign Tribal Nations and the United States.\"\n\n\u201cSenator Rounds\u2019 efforts to repeal these old laws, such as the law still on the books regarding Indian boarding schools that caused tremendous harm to indigenous communities, is a great step towards reconciliation with tribal nations,\u201d said Tamara St. John, archivist for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, who testified on behalf of this bill. \u201cI\u2019m excited to see the RESPECT Act signed into law causing the repeal of these eleven outdated and racist laws. Great work!\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT) applauds the passage of the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act and thanks Senator Mike Rounds for his stalwart leadership of this bill,\u201d said COLT Chairman Marvin Weatherwax (Blackfeet National Tribal Business Council). \u201cThe RESPECT Act modernizes federal law to remove inconsistent federal agency consultation policies with tribal nations and their citizens. This act is an important step to restore basic dignities of Native people and honoring the United States\u2019 solemn Trust and Treaty obligations and government-to-government relationship with tribal nations.\u201d\n\nSenators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) are cosponsors of this legislation.\n\nCompanion legislation was introduced in the House on May 12, 2021, by Representatives Tom O\u2019Halleran (D-Ariz.) and cosponsored by Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-more-than-7-million-for-clarkson-university-to-strengthen-health-care-workforce-resilience-and-green-energy-infrastructure-in-the-north-country", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $7 MILLION FOR CLARKSON UNIVERSITY TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE RESILIENCE AND GREEN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed that they secured $7,030,000 for Clarkson University in the end-of-year spending package. More than $6 million of this significant federal investment will help the Potsdam campus expand programs and educational opportunities to train the next generation of health care professionals. Additionally, the senators secured nearly $900,000 for Clarkson University\u2019s Green Energy on Demand rapid transit research and development project.\n\n\u201cThis $7-plus million for Clarkson University is just what the doctor ordered to bolster healthcare in the North Country. As communities continue to recover from the pandemic, these federal dollars will help Clarkson expand its Health Sciences campus and train more local residents to enter good paying healthcare careers, bolstering the regions medical workforce, while strengthening other critical areas of research in green energy,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding means good paying jobs, innovation, and a healthier North Country. I am proud to deliver this $7 million shot in the arm to help train the next generation of healthcare workers and build a better future here in the North Country.\u201d\n\n\u201cNorth Country hospitals and frontline health care workers worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our patients safe, and now we must repay their heroic efforts by supporting the next generation of health care workers,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cAs we continue to recover from the pandemic, these federal dollars will help build up our health care workforce and create a pipeline for public health jobs right here in the North Country. That\u2019s why I\u2019m so proud to have helped secure $7 million for Clarkson University \u2013 this federal funding will strengthen the resiliency of both our green energy and public health infrastructure, and give students the support they need to have a robust career as a health and medical provider.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand are true champions for education and research that matters in the health professions,\u201d said Clarkson University President Marc P. Christensen, Ph.D., P.E.. \u201cClarkson and our Lewis School of Health Sciences are national leaders in the education of health professionals who can meet rural and distance-challenged healthcare needs. The support from the New York delegation for the renovation and expansion of our facilities will advance the career-readiness of these health professionals, improving healthcare outcomes for the North Country and other rural communities, as well as accelerate critical biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and innovation.\u201d\n\n$6,155,000 to Clarkson University for their Health Professions Training & Research Facilities Renovations and Expansion Project. This project will allow for the expansion and upgrade of Clarkson University's Lewis School of Health Sciences/Collins Hill Campus, which will produce additional health and medical providers that will significantly improve the struggling health care infrastructure in the North Country.\n\n$875,000 to Clarkson University for their Green Energy On Demand Rapid Transit R&D Project. This project will allow for research and exploration of the potential to advance on-demand transit using green energy to the next level by taking stronger, lighter, more modular rail cars and independently moving them on an elevated rail line with extreme efficiency and safety.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-urge-president-biden-to-swiftly-approve-emergency-declaration-for-western-new-york-and-upstate-communities-impacted-by-deadly-holiday-weekend-blizzard", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND URGE PRESIDENT BIDEN TO SWIFTLY APPROVE EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR WESTERN NEW YORK AND UPSTATE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY DEADLY HOLIDAY WEEKEND BLIZZARD", "2022-12-26", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators Say Emergency Declaration Would Unlock Federal Funds for Impacted Counties Still Recovering From Double Blow Of Back To Back Winter Storms After The Record Breaking \u201cSnowvember\u201d Storm\n\nDeadly Blizzard Buried Buffalo And Upstate Communities In Nearly 4 Feet Of Snow, With More Still Coming, And Brutal Mix Of Frigid Temperatures And High Winds \u2013 Creating Impossible Road Conditions And Tragically Resulting In Over 20 New Yorkers Losing Their Lives\n\nSchumer, Gillibrand: Feds Must Provide Resources To Western NY And Upstate Communities To Begin To Recover\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged President Biden to approve the Emergency declaration for New York communities impacted by the deadly holiday weekend blizzard still raging across Western New York and other communities across Upstate.\n\n\u201cThe holiday weekend blizzard is still raging through Buffalo and communities across New York, causing severe damage to infrastructure, power outages, and tragically the loss of life of life for at least 27 New Yorkers. This once in a generation blizzard has already brought nearly four feet of snow, hurricane force winds, and many are still without power,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe are asking FEMA to promptly approve the Emergency declaration and urgently needed federal assistance for state and local governments. We need to get Western New York and other communities severely impacted by this deadly storm the resources they need to rebuild and recover.\u201d\n\nNew York State declared a State of Emergency for the entire State of New York in advance of a significant winter weather system forecast. Throughout the storm, tens of thousands were left without power over the holiday weekend in Western New York and across Upstate. The storm hit Buffalo especially hard with nearly 4 feet of snow and hurricane-force winds that reached 70 miles per hour causing whiteout conditions that made road conditions nearly impossible and halting emergency response efforts. Massive snowdrifts caused damage to critical energy infrastructure, leaving over 17,000 residents, mostly in the City of Buffalo, still without power. Tragically, there have been at least 27 reported deaths related to the storm in Upstate and Western New York, including one carbon monoxide fatality due to snowed in furnace vents.\n\nIf an Emergency declaration is declared, grant assistance would be made available to state and local governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations, to reimburse costs incurred for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged facilities. This funding is available on a cost-sharing basis; FEMA generally covers 75 percent of the eligible costs for permanent and emergency work. After any severe storm, the first step in the declaration process is for the state to request a Preliminary Damage Assessment, during which FEMA representatives join state, local, and other officials to survey damage across storm-impacted counties to help determine whether the cost of the disaster meets the criteria for a federal Major Disaster declaration. While that assessment is underway, New York State has just submitted an application for an Emergency declaration, which allows the State to seek reimbursement for emergency protective measures \u2013 like getting medical help to those in dire need. Schumer and Gillibrand urged FEMA to be prepared to support this Emergency declaration request, as well as any future Major Disaster declaration request, that will provide aid for New York State.\n\nThe Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authorizes the president to issue \u201cMajor Disaster\u201d or \u201cEmergency\u201d declarations before or after catastrophes occur. The decision to issue a disaster declaration is at the discretion of the president, and must be requested by the governor of the state. These declarations unlock federal aid through FEMA that is broken into two broad areas: Individual Assistance (IA) that aids families and individuals, and Public Assistance (PA) that is mainly for emergency work such as debris removal and permanent repairs to infrastructure. When assessing the degree of PA damage, FEMA considers six factors: estimated cost of the assistance, localized impact, insurance coverage, hazard mitigation, recent disaster, and programs of other federal assistance. Regarding the cost, FEMA has certain thresholds that have to be met to qualify for PA specific to the state and the counties in question.\n\nA copy of Schumer and Gillibrand\u2019s letter appears below:\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write to respectfully urge your swift consideration and authorization of Governor Hochul\u2019s request for an Emergency declaration for the State of New York in the wake of Winter Storm Elliott on Buffalo, Western New York, and across Upstate New York, following up on our two letters of support to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) ahead of the worst of the storm. Such a declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (PL 100-707) would unlock crucial FEMA resources and assets that will aid the State, first responder, and community efforts to protect human life, property, and infrastructure.\n\nSince December 22 and over the holiday weekend, New Yorkers across the state have endured severe high winds gusting over 70 miles per hour, record levels of snowfall, and extreme cold \u2013 especially in the Buffalo metropolitan area, Western New York, and the North Country. More than 17,000 of our constituents remain without power as of noon on December 26, and nearly 27,000 were without electricity in Erie County on Christmas morning. The snow and winds led to whiteout conditions, blinding drivers and causing accidents, which have resulted in arterial roadways blocked by trapped vehicles. First responders and emergency workers are continue to face a myriad of challenges, including these blocked roads, as well as ongoing whiteout conditions, and severely damaged to infrastructure. Tragically, as of December 26, there have been at least 27 reported deaths related to the storm in New York. With snow continuing to fall, and intense cold lingering in the region, New Yorkers need federal help now.\n\nNew York State government and local first responders have fully committed their manpower and resources in response to Winter Storm Elliot, and we commend them for their bravery and heroic effort ensure public safety and save lives, many working continuously over the holiday weekend. However, because of white out conditions and the danger to our first responders some municipalities suspended emergency response efforts. For all of these reasons, Governor Hochul has requested a federal Emergency declaration for the areas of our state most deeply affected by this storm.\n\nAs families across New York wake up from the holiday weekend and look towards to beginning of the New Year, our first responders, search and rescue personnel, law enforcement, and state government employees will continue to work around the clock. We are grateful for the prompt attention that the federal government has historically give in responding to disasters impacting New York State. In that spirit, we strongly urge you to approve New York\u2019s request for FEMA assistance as affected communities begin their recovery from this storm.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-annual-defense-bill-with-key-hassan-backed-provisions", "SIGNED INTO LAW: Annual Defense Bill with Key Hassan-Backed Provisions", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The President today signed into law the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes key national security provisions that Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) secured and supported.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s annual defense bill includes critical priorities that I fought for that will help protect Granite Staters and Americans, support our service members, and crack down on criminals both at home and abroad,\u201d Senator Hassan said. \u201cI worked to ensure that this new law included bipartisan measures to disrupt drug trafficking, hold Putin accountable, and strengthen cybersecurity, while also providing important resources to New Hampshire to support our military operations and clean up harmful PFAS chemicals. The number one job of government is to keep our country safe, secure, and free, and this law will be vital to those efforts.\u201d\n\nKey measures that Senator Hassan championed that are included in the NDAA:\n\nCracking Down on Drug Traffickers: A bipartisan bill that Senator Hassan introduced that authorizes existing Transnational Criminal Investigative Units, which help identify gang members and drug dealers and collect and share intelligence on transnational criminal organizations, and enhances vetting and provides stipends for participants\n\nImproving Cybersecurity: The bipartisan FedRAMP Authorization Act which Senator Hassan helped lead to codify the successful government-wide program that approves cloud computing companies and products to ensure that they are secure and safe for agency use\n\nStrengthening Domestic Supply Chains: A bipartisan bill, which Senator Shaheen introduced and Senator Hassan worked to advance, to bolster the domestic supply chain for national security-related items and increase the government\u2019s capacity to supply these critical materials that the Department of Homeland Security needs\n\nSanctioning Russia: A bipartisan bill which Senator Hassan introduced to sanction the purchase of Russian gold as part of ongoing efforts to stand up to Putin\n\nBolstering Coastal Resiliency: Senator Hassan\u2019s legislation that allows New Hampshire and other coastal states to participate in Regional Ocean Partnerships, which are new organizations that coordinate collaboration and grant funding among participating states on coastal resilience and environmental protection\n\nModernizing Reports from the Inspectors General: Senator Hassan\u2019s bipartisan Inspector General Reporting Modernization Act that will make key federal spending oversight reports simpler to read, easier to compile, and require less taxpayer dollars to produce\n\nAddressing the Substance Misuse Crisis: Provisions to build relationships with international partners to track and detect synthetic-controlled substances, including fentanyl\n\nSupporting Israel: Provisions to support U.S.-Israel Missile Defense research and development through additional funding for the Iron Dome system\n\nIncreasing Access for People with Disabilities: The 21st Century Assistive Technology (AT) Act, which Senator Hassan helped introduce, that will increase access to assistive technology devices like wheelchairs, wheelchair ramps, hearing aids, screen readers, closed captioning systems, and more for people who experience disabilities.\n\nEstablishing the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative: A bipartisan proposal Senator Hassan helped push for which aims to improve cognitive performance and brain health of service members\n\nSupport for NH priorities that are included in the NDAA:\n\nAuthorizing funding to procure additional Virginia-class submarines that will be maintained at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard\n\nAuthorizing $503 million in funding to support the Multi-Mission Dry Dock project at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard\n\nAuthorizing a record-level $20 million in funding to address PFAS contamination in military communities\n\nInclusion of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which will support localities across New Hampshire by authorizing essential infrastructure projects, including the Town of Lancaster, through the long-sought removal of the obsolete Israel River Dam\n\nAuthorizing more than $900 million for Compass Call electronic attack aircraft, whose development is based in Nashua and Hudson\n\nAuthorizing $100 million to continue the purchase of the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular, produced by New Hampshire manufacturers, which increase the effectiveness of U.S. service members\n\nBanning the purchase of PFAS-laden firefighting gear after October 1, 2026 to protect the health and safety of fire fighters serving in the military\n\nAuthorizing a $20 million increase which Senator Hassan pushed for in the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) to boost research at New Hampshire Universities\n\nProvisions to strengthen our military and national security that are included in the NDAA:\n\nProviding critical security assistance and support to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia\u2019s unconscionable invasion\n\nProviding a 4.6 percent pay raise for U.S. service members\n\nAuthorizing funding for eight additional F-35 joint strike fighters, a measure Senator Hassan helped advocate for\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-bills-to-protect-coral-reefs-reconnect-families-separated-by-korean-war-create-new-va-advisory-committee-enacted-into-law", "Hirono Bills to Protect Coral Reefs, Reconnect Families Separated by Korean War, Create New VA Advisory Committee Enacted Into Law", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, President Joe Biden signed into law three bills introduced by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) to protect coral reefs, connect families separated by the Korean War, and create a new Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) Advisory Committee. Senator Hirono\u2019s Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act and Korean War Divided Families Reunification Act were both signed into law as part of the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), as was legislation she introduced to create a VA Advisory Committee for veterans from outlying areas and the Freely Associated States.\n\nSenator Hirono\u2019s Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act is a bipartisan bill to help protect coral reef ecosystems in Hawaii and across the nation from increasing threats such as climate change, pollution, and direct damage from humans. The legislation directs the federal agencies that are members of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to establish\u2014individually or with one or more other agencies\u2014a coral health prize competition in order to spur innovative solutions to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems at no additional cost to taxpayers.\n\n\u201cCoral reefs are vital to Hawaii\u2019s environment, providing a rich habitat for marine life while helping to protect our coastlines and prevent flooding. However, decades of pollution and ocean warming caused by climate change have left corals in Hawaii and around the world at risk of extinction,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs we work to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems, I\u2019m glad that President Biden has now signed into law my legislation to create prize competitions that will help incentivize innovation and inspire creative solutions to protect coral reefs. I\u2019ll continue fighting to protect Hawaii\u2019s coral reefs and all of our natural resources for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe Korean War Divided Families Reunification Act, which Senator Hirono introduced in August, is bipartisan legislation that directs the U.S. Secretary of State to establish a formal process to help Korean American families reconnect with family members that remain in North Korea.\n\n\u201cNo family should be forcibly separated. Nearly seven decades after the Korean War armistice though, too many Korean American families are still unable to connect with family members in North Korea,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis legislation takes important steps toward ending this injustice by directing the Secretary of State to develop a process to reconnect these families. I\u2019m glad to see this bill signed into law and look forward to working with the State Department to build on this progress.\u201d\n\nAlso signed into law as part of the NDAA was legislation introduced by Senator Hirono and Del. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP) to create a VA Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States to advise VA on matters relating to veterans residing in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.\n\n\u201cVA has a duty to provide quality, accessible care and support to all of our veterans, no matter where they live,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis legislation will help ensure VA is aware of, and responsive to, the needs of U.S. veterans living in outlying areas and the Freely Associated States. As a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, I\u2019m glad to see this legislation signed into law to help VA better serve our veterans across the Pacific.\u201d\n\nAs a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Hirono also secured numerous defense-related provisions in the FY23 NDAA, including $1 billion for the closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on Oahu, as well as nearly $800 million for other military infrastructure projects across Hawaii.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-led-provision-providing-1-billion-to-close-red-hill-signed-into-law-as-part-of-annual-defense-bill", "Hirono-Led Provision Providing $1 Billion to Close Red Hill Signed Into Law as Part of Annual Defense Bill", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, President Biden signed into law the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizing $1 billion for the defueling and closure of Red Hill secured by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. In addition to the $1 billion for Red Hill, Senator Hirono also secured nearly $800 million for other military infrastructure upgrades in Hawaii in the annual defense bill.\n\n\u201cOver the past year, I have fought to make sure the Department of Defense has the authority and funding necessary to defuel and close Red Hill once and for all,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cI\u2019m glad that President Biden has now signed the NDAA into law, giving DOD the authority I fought for to safely and quickly close Red Hill. This is about protecting the health and safety of our servicemembers, families, and all of the communities impacted by the fuel leaks. I\u2019ll continue working to make sure DOD uses this funding appropriately in order to safely defuel and close Red Hill without delay.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the $1 billion for Red Hill, Senator Hirono also secured nearly $800 million for military infrastructure projects across Hawaii. More information on the military provisions Senator Hirono secured is available below:\n\nRed Hill\n\nAuthorizes $1 billion in funding for the Red Hill Recovery Fund.\n\nAuthorizes the closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on Oahu and $1 billion in funding to support the closure.\n\nDevelops plans for\n\nDirects the Department of Defense (DoD) to appoint a single point of contact to lead the closure of Red Hill and conduct an independent assessment of optimal post-closure care for the Red Hill facility.\n\nEstablishes a water monitoring program at the facility.\n\nDirects a federally funded research and development to conduct a study to determine the range of feasible alternative DoD uses for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and provide to the Secretary a report on the findings of the study.\n\nDirects a briefing on the efforts of the Secretary of Defense to appropriately track the health implications of fuel leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility for members of the Armed Forces and dependents thereof, including members of each Armed Force and dependents thereof.\n\nthe closure, clean-up, monitoring and maintenance and post-optimal closure care for the facility;\n\nenvironmental remediation of ground water at the facility; and\n\nhow the Department will coordinate with state regulatory authorities, water utility authority, state environmental agencies and surrounding community.\n\nWhile not a part of NDAA, the military is taking additional steps to address health implications, including standing up the Red Hill Clinic, administered by the Defense Health Agency, which will be the main medical agency for symptoms and conditions related to the water contamination.\n\nDelivering for Hawaii\n\nDirects the Secretary of the Navy to pay for the cost to transfer customers off the Navy\u2019s electrical system at Kalaeloa to a new system operated by Hawaiian Electric.\n\nAuthorizes up to $40 million in funding for planning and design for the Waterfront Production Facility at Pearl Harbor Shipyard.\n\nAuthorizes $446 million for the replacement of Dry Dock 3 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham (JBPHH).\n\nAuthorizes $7 million for the construction of an aircraft maintenance hangar at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay.\n\nAuthorizes $10 million for increasing safety and modernization of missile magazines at JBPHH.\n\nAuthorizes $57.9 million for the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay.\n\nAuthorizes $40 million for the C-40 Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay.\n\nAuthorizes $29 million for the National Guard Readiness Center, Kalaeloa.\n\nAuthorizes $89 million for the Air Force Research Laboratory, Maui Experimental Site.\n\nAuthorizes $25 million for the Company Operations Facility, Schofield Barracks.\n\nAuthorizes $33 million for Water System Upgrades at Fort Shafter.\n\nAuthorizes $38 million for the Potable Water System at Tripler Army Medical Center.\n\nAuthorizes a 4.6% salary increase for servicemembers.\n\nStrengthening Our Ability to Protect the Pacific Region\n\nDirects INDOPACOM to submit a report on the international agreements necessary to achieve the necessary force presence in the Pacific, and a plan for entering into those agreements.\n\nDirects the Secretary of the Navy to implement the Comptroller General\u2019s recommendations to the Shipyard Improvement Optimization Plan (SIOP) to better understand anticipated costs of the program.\n\nSets a floor of at least 31 amphibious assault ships in the U.S. fleet.\n\nAuthorizes $78.9 million for INDOPACOM theater exercises.\n\nAuthorizes $19 million for the Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability (PMTEC) to connect training ranges across the Pacific.\n\nAuthorizes $2.4 million for INDOPACOM Pacific Movement Coordination Center to support collaboration and information sharing across the Pacific region.\n\nAuthorizes $8 million for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative (APRI) to strengthen the U.S. military\u2019s relationships with Pacific region partners.\n\nAuthorizes $250 million for LPD Flight II Advance Procurement to support the procurement of additional amphibious transport docks.\n\nPrioritizing Sustainability\n\nRequires DoD to transition fully to electric and other alternatively-fueled vehicles for its fleet of non-tactical vehicles by 2035, helping reduce the DoD\u2019s reliance on fossil fuels.\n\nAuthorizes $176 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) to make military installations more resilient to climate change and land use conversion.\n\nAuthorizes $30 million to improve the reliability of the electrical grid at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam under the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-leading-efforts-to-stop-defense-departments-costly-green-new-deal-mandates", "Hoeven Leading Efforts to Stop Defense Department's Costly Green New Deal Mandates", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "John Hoeven", "H001061", "www.hoeven.senate.gov", "hoeven", "https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "Hoeven Leading Efforts to Stop Defense Department's Costly Green New Deal Mandates\n\nSenator Leads All Republican Senators in Calling on DoD Secretary to Drop Proposed Rule, Introduces Legislation to Block Costly Environmental Regulation\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, is leading efforts to stop the Department of Defense (DoD) from imposing a new environmental rule on federal contractors, both large and small, that would drive up costs for our national defense. Hoeven was joined by all Republican senators in pressing for DoD to drop the newly proposed rule requiring burdensome greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting. Additionally, Hoeven introduced legislation with 15 other senators to block the proposed regulation and intends to lead a Congressional Review Act (CRA) to rescind the rule should it be finalized.\n\nIn a letter to DoD Secretary Lloyd Austin, the senators strongly oppose the rule and outline concerns with the proposal, including: the significant regulatory burden in requiring a company to report not only its own emissions but emissions that occur elsewhere; increased costs resulting in budget inefficiencies at DoD; and the potential use of environmental reports in awarding future contracts.\n\n\u201cDoD\u2019s proposed rule on GHG emissions disclosures is self-defeating. It undercuts our industrial base, drives up costs and puts environmentalism over national security. As such, it is at odds with the DoD\u2019s mission and should be rescinded immediately,\u201d the 50 senators write. The full text of the letter is availablehere.\n\nHoeven also authored the Focus on the Mission Act (S.5269) to block the rule and introduced the bill with the following cosponsors: Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), James Inhofe (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Barrasso (R-WY), Rick Scott (R-FL), James Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and James Lankford (R-OK).\n\nBACKGROUND: DoD\u2019s proposal would require those receiving more than $7.5 million in federal contracts to provide a detailed accounting of GHG emissions within one year. Additionally, the rule would require those receiving more than $50 million in contracts to develop reduction targets within two years. The proposed rule was published in November and the comment period for the rule goes through January 13, 2023, after which a final rule will be formulated.\n\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-celebrates-approval-of-over-250-million-in-congressional-funding-for-140-projects-across-maine", "King Celebrates Approval of Over $250 Million in Congressional Funding for 140 Projects Across Maine", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Download an Excel spreadsheet of the 140 projects HERE and view a map of projects HERE\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today celebrated the final Congressional approval of 140 Maine projects that will be receiving $250,083,018 from his Congressionally-Directed Spending (CDS) requests included in the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Package. The funding will be used by a broad range of state, local, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen Maine communities.\n\n\u201cFrom food banks and hospitals to job training programs and infrastructure upgrades, Maine\u2019s 2023 Congressionally-Directed Spending supports important projects across the state that will improve the lives of Maine people and invest in the future of our communities. These historic investments are going directly to the local organizations who need them the most and can effectively provide economic opportunities, personal enrichment, and other vital public services,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cMaine people have always looked out for each other, and the 140 nonprofits and local governments receiving these funds are no different \u2013 they have proven track records of success in our communities and will use this support to expand and improve their efforts. I\u2019m grateful that Congress approved so many of my CDS requests, and deeply appreciate all of the Maine organizations who submitted projects for consideration. I look forward to seeing these investments support people across our state for years to come.\u201d\n\nCDS funding is included in annual federal appropriations legislation and provides a specific amount of discretionary funding to a state, locality, or nonprofit organization for projects with demonstrated civic and community value. Last year, Senator King secured over $137 million in Congressionally-Directed Spending for 93 Maine projects.\n\nSenator King will begin accepting preliminary requests for FY24 Maine-based Congressionally-Directed Spending projects in upcoming months.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-golden-led-downeast-national-heritage-area-legislation-passes-congress-heads-to-presidents-desk", "King, Golden Led Downeast National Heritage Area Legislation Passes Congress, Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King, Chairman of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, and Representative Jared Golden announced that their bipartisan, bicameral bill to designate a Downeast Maine National Heritage Area has passed Congress and now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law. The legislation, which is cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins and Representative Chellie Pingree, will designate all of Hancock and Washington counties as an area with national importance, qualifying the counties for additional federal investment and helping to drive economic activity to the rural Maine region. The bill specifically recognizes the contributions of Downeast Maine\u2019s agriculture industry \u2013 including wild blueberry growers \u2013 as well as the impacts of heritage fishing and forestry.\n\n\u201cFor much of the year, the rocky coasts of Downeast Maine greet the first rays of sunshine to reach the United States,\u201d said Senators King and Collins and Representatives Golden and Pingree. \u201cThe region literally starts America\u2019s day, and its rugged coastline, rolling mountains and lush forests are a fundamental part of the American identity. There is nowhere more deserving of a heritage area designation. Making Hancock and Washington counties a National Heritage Area will open the door for critical federal funding, and drive important economic activity and investments to support Downeast communities and the hardworking, resilient people who call these counties home. We are deeply grateful to our colleagues in both chambers who helped us get this bill past the finish line and we look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this new designation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe people of Downeast Maine are fiercely proud of their heritage and are motivated to develop quality opportunities that carry us into the future while being rooted in our historic values,\u201d said Crystal Hitchings, Director of Community Infrastructure at Sunrise County Economic Council. \u201cDesignation as a National Heritage Area provides Downeast communities with more resources to support coordinated efforts in economic and community development and education initiatives that matter locally.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-delivers-congressionally-directed-spending-for-130-alaska-projects_", "Murkowski Delivers Congressionally Directed Spending for 130+ Alaska Projects", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, today announced that she secured close to $500 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. The funding will benefit over 130 community-driven projects in Alaska.\n\nThrough this process, Murkowski delivered significant investments for workforce development, fisheries, public safety, higher education, infrastructure, protection from natural disasters, wildfire mitigation, water and wastewater, the Alaska gasline project, outdoor recreation, contaminated lands cleanup, legacy well cleanup, mental and behavioral health, public health, military construction, defense, and more.\n\nAfter the Senate\u2019s bipartisan passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Murkowski released the following statement:\n\n\u201cLeaders from across Alaska have come to me requesting help on needs and priorities for their communities. I have listened to their requests, and I\u2019m proud to deliver significant assistance in the form of direct, targeted funding to projects throughout our state.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s CDS process will benefit dozens and dozens of communities and nearly every sector in our state\u2014from health and public safety to fisheries and workforce development and much, much more.\n\n\u201cAlaskans have shared their anxieties on the workforce, housing, and food security. I\u2019m particularly pleased with the funding we secured to help address those challenges, which will make our communities safer and our economies stronger. Other projects will strengthen Alaska on so many fronts\u2014from climate resilience to wildfire protection, cleaner water, and a higher quality of life for our military members and their families.\n\n\u201cI thank the Alaskans who identified these needs, and then worked closely with me and my team to bring this funding to our state. Together, we are creating a brighter future for the beautiful place we call home.\u201d\n\nThe CDS process, which resumed in FY 2022, allows Alaskans to identify and receive federal assistance for needs in the state. It helps restore Congress\u2019 Constitutional power of the purse, accounts for no more than one percent of federal discretionary spending, and does not increase overall spending levels. Without this process, many of the dollars now headed for Alaska would go to other states based on decisions made by federal departments and agencies.\n\nMurkowski secured the following CDS projects for Alaska in the FY 2023 omnibus:\n\nCongressionally Directed Spending Allocations for Alaska\n\nAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies\n\nAniak: $221,000 to TKC Fish Wheel, to construct the Arviiq Regional Economic Development and Training Center.\n\n\u201cThese funds will allow us to outfit the Arviiq Regional Training and Economic Development Center with critical equipment needed to provide opportunities for the people of the Middle Kuskokwim Region. More Alaskans will now access to education, training and workforce development resources without having to leave their homes where their families and communities rely on them. We are grateful to Senator Murkowski for recognizing the value of local capacity building in Rural Alaska.\u201d -Andrea Gusty, President & CEO, The Kuskokwim Corporation\n\nBethel: $9.9 million to expand the main training building on the Yuut Elitnaurviat Campus to provide a permanent home for the Kuskokwim Learning Academy.\n\n\u201cIn 2016 The Kuskokwim Learning Academy, the YK Delta's alternative boarding school, burned to the ground. Yuut Elitnaurviat brought the students and staff home to our campus that same day. It has taken six years, but we can now, thanks to this generous support, finally build KLA the school our kids deserve. Students from throughout our region will have access to state-of-the-art classrooms as well as Yuut's robust vocational programs. KLA will grow and become a magnet school where education is innovative and linked to real world opportunities.\u201d - Mike Hoffman, Executive Director, Yuut Elitnaurviat\n\nKenai: $4.6 million to construct a new clubhouse for the Boys and Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula clubhouse.\n\n\u201cThe Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula has 7 Clubs in 5 communities that provide educational, enrichment and leadership programs for over 2,400 youth ages 5 to 18. But our ability to serve all the youth who need these services, and their parents who need afterschool and summer childcare while they work, is limited. Having our forever facility for a Clubhouse and a Head Start center will not only result in increased numbers of youth served, but it will also allow the Club to more efficiently utilize resources. As a result, we will be able to serve more youth more often, provide additional programs and days, and employ more Kenai Peninsula residents. This project will help increase the earning power of parents and youth when they become adults; these services and programs will benefit our communities, region, and state!\u201d - Shanette Wik, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula\n\nKenai: $1 million to the Alaska Children\u2019s Institute to rebuild a community theater.\n\n\u201cThe arts make kids smarter, forge life-long friendships and create the leaders of tomorrow. When a fire destroyed our community\u2019s children\u2019s theatre it was a devastating blow. This funding obtained for the rebuilding of the theater by Senator Murkowski\u2019s efforts is a game changer. The theater and all its life-changing programs for youth will rise from the ashes thanks to this congressionally directed spending. Children and youth will thrive and once again be on a path of becoming their best selves.\u201d - Joe Rizzo, President, Alaska Children\u2019s Institute for the Performing Arts\n\nKotzebue: $825,000 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for renovations and safety improvements to the Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue.\n\n\u201cThis project will equip the Kotzebue community with a modern facility to provide world-class education to residents in the area and in Alaska. The building renewal will update the facility to modern fire and accessibility codes, allowing us to continue supporting program offerings from the building and maintaining the option for rural and Alaska Native students to receive a high-quality education in their region. Thank you to Senator Murkowski for supporting the Chukchi Campus mission, \u201cI\u00f1uunaiyu?iksra?at Piqutigiplugu-- For the purpose of a good life.\u201d - Interim Chukchi Campus Director Minnie Naylor\n\nNome: $2.2 million to the Norton Sound Health Corporation for construction on a childcare facility.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of NSHC, thank you for dedicating funds to support NSHC's vision to provide employee and patient day care services on campus at Norton Sound Regional Hospital. The lack of housing and day care options are two of the biggest challenges hindering recruitment and retention for our organization. A building concept is under design.\u201d - Angie Gorn, President and CEO, Norton Sound Regional Hospital\n\nUtqia?vik: $5 million to Ilisa?vik College to advance and complete the design phase of a new college campus.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of our Board of Trustees, staff, faculty, and most importantly our students, we humbly say a sincere \u201cquyanaqpak\u201d (thank you) to Senator Murkowski for her continued advocacy and support towards I?isa?vik College. The Senator understands our mission and vision is aware of our needs. She has visited our campus, heard directly from our students, and sees the positive impacts of higher education. Our tribal college has a state-wide reach that continues to grow. We look forward to the increased opportunities that will come with our new campus, increasing the number of Alaskan people and communities that we serve. Iglaurugut suvunmun \u2013 We are moving forward!\u201d - Justina Wilhelm, President, I?isa?vik College\n\nWasilla: $17,000 to Family Promise Mat-Su for childcare facility improvements.\n\nCommerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies\n\nAnchorage: $500,000 to the University of Alaska Anchorage to implement a forensic training program for healthcare providers and advocates.\n\n\u201cThank you to Senator Murkowski and her staff for continuing to be such strong advocates for victims of violence. Alaskan healthcare providers need more tools, training, resources, and collaboration to provide comprehensive care that includes medical Forensic principles and trauma informed care. The Alaska Comprehensive Training Forensic Academy (ACTFA) is designed to meet that need. Provision of these funds will enable ACFTA to reach communities and stakeholders across the state in order to increase engagement regarding community capacity to respond to all victims of violence.\u201d - Angelia Trujillo, Professor at School of Nursing at University of Alaska Anchorage\n\nAnchorage: $250,000 for law enforcement technology and equipment, specifically for the Anchorage Police Department to replace and upgrade cameras.\n\n\u201cThis funding will allow the Anchorage Police Department to implement an array of advancements to improve operational efficiency and outcomes. Our current inventory has reached the end of its lifespan and upgrading our vehicles and radios are necessary for our officers to serve the public in a safe and efficient manner.\u201d - APD Police Chief Michael Kerle\n\nAnchorage: $2 million for replacement of police vehicles.\n\nAnchorage: $1.7 million for law enforcement technology and equipment, specifically for the Anchorage Police Department to replace radios.\n\n\u201cThe APDEA greatly appreciates Senator Murkowski\u2019s commitment to public safety in Anchorage. As the President of APDEA, I represent over 500 members of Alaska\u2019s largest police department, and I, along with the men and women who protect us all on a daily basis, are grateful for this much needed funding.\u201d - APDEA President Jeremy Conkling\n\nBering Sea: $2.7 million for the Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation to monitor commercial fisheries in the Bering Sea.\n\n\u201cCollapsing Bering Sea crab stocks need immediate attention and urgent research to help understand causes and inform efforts toward recovery. Crab fishermen and processors are in survival mode due to enormous economic losses from recent season closures with associated impacts rippling through Alaskan communities. This CDS funding will support critical collaborative research through direct involvement with the Alaska crab industry and agency partners. Research is expected to provide further clarity to stakeholders and managers on what's next for crab and the ability to conduct this research through the Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation further mitigates economic impacts on the crab industry that directly funds BSFRF. This CDS will vitalize research efforts toward rebuilding the stocks to sustainable levels to support Alaskan fishermen, and to bring back critical jobs and economic livelihood to Alaskan communities.\u201d - Scott Goodman, Executive Director, Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation\n\nFairbanks/Statewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to support research on seasonal weather forecasting.\n\n\u201cFunds for Arctic seasonal weather forecasting and improved seasonal prediction of sea ice and environmental conditions will support a collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Arctic Testbed and Climate Prediction Center and the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Experimental Arctic Prediction Initiative. In particular, funds will support development and validation of improved forecast models, focusing on Arctic hazards such as wildfires, flooding or extreme events that impact coastal communities in Alaska's Arctic. Engagement with stakeholders, especially underserved rural communities, will inform our activity about needs for particular seasonal forecast products and the optimal methods for the delivery of forecast information. The experimental products and formats will, in turn, inform the National Weather Service Alaska Region and other NOAA entities to foster a transition from research to operations. Thank you to Senator Murkowski for her tireless efforts to further our understanding and living conditions in the ever changing Arctic.\u201d - Hajo Eicken, Director of the International Arctic Research Center (IARC) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks\n\nFairbanks/Statewide: $1.7 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to conduct baseline marine fishery surveys.\n\n\u201cFunding for Baseline Fisheries Surveys will usher in a new era of environmental monitoring in support of an ecosystem approach to Alaska fisheries management. Autonomous underwater vehicles deployed and piloted by UAF scientists will collect subsurface data to better characterize the state of Alaska's marine ecosystem. This information will inform the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council as it assess ecosystem status and harvest levels. I'd like to thank Senator Murkowski for her steadfast support of UAF research and Alaska's fisheries.\u201d - Dr. Seth L. Danielson, Associate Professor of Oceanography, University of Alaska Fairbanks\n\nSt. Paul/Statewide: $250,000 to the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island for surveillance monitoring of fisheries and ecosystems.\n\nStatewide: $3 million to the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to support victim service organizations.\n\n\u201cWe cannot say thank you enough to our Senator for working tirelessly to ensure victims of crime have access to the resources they need to heal. These funds will ensure that ANDVSA can continue the work we have started with underserved populations to ensure they have access to support services. It will also strengthen the infrastructure of Alaska\u2019s victims services organizations so they can continue walking the journey of healing with those who have been harmed.\u201d - Brenda Stanfill, Executive Director of ANDVSA\n\nStatewide: $4 million to the Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to support advocacy organizations and services for victims of violent crime.\n\nStatewide: $1 million to the Alaska Police and Fire Chaplains to support counseling and emotional support programs for victims of crime and law enforcement officers.\n\nUtqia?vik: $2.7 million to the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management for marine mammal and co-management research on the North Slope.\n\n\u201cThese funds will support research on the North Slope of Alaska necessary for the effective co-management of marine mammals by Alaska Natives. These studies will promote food security for our communities and will help ensure that our subsistence resources are available for future generations.\u201d - North Slope Borough Mayor Harry Brower, Jr.\n\nYukon River Drainage: $825,000 to the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association to support research, surveys, and community engagement.\n\n\u201cWe are very excited to receive the funding for the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association. The funds will allow us to be able to work more closely with Yukon River communities we serve. The last few years have been very difficult with no salmon fishing on the Yukon River, so the funding will ensure the people have a space to provide their knowledge and expertise in the fisheries they have lived off of for generations. We want to thank Sen. Lisa Murkowski for her dedication in serving the people of the Yukon River and the salmon they rely on. Quyana.\u201d - Serena Fitka, Executive Director, Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association\n\nEnergy and Water Development\n\nStatewide: $4 million to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation to assist in conducting the necessary analysis for a Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) study for a liquid natural gas pipeline in Alaska.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of AGDC, we are grateful Senator Murkowski included this vital funding. This legislation bolsters federal backing for the Alaska LNG Project and adds to the federal record of support for exporting LNG from Alaska, which includes $28 billion in federal loan guarantees. This project funding will kickstart front-end engineering and design work to finalize technologies and execution strategies, and update cost estimates and schedules. Alaska LNG is poised to reduce energy bills and improve air quality in Alaska and achieve national objectives such as supplying Asian allies with clean, reliable, and stable energy, greatly reducing global carbon emissions, and strengthening energy security.\u201d -Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) President Frank Richards\n\nStatewide: $1.5 million to the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative to study the feasibility of deploying marine energy in rural Alaska.\n\nAmbler: $650,000 to the City of Ambler to expand the City\u2019s current fuel storage capacity to be able to adequately store enough fuel supply for the community\u2019s stove oil and gasoline needs without having to rely on costly air deliveries in winter months.\n\nFalse Pass: $1.25 million for procurement, assembly, and installation of a hydrokinetic power system for the City of False Pass. This system will provide for renewable energy as an alternative to high-cost diesel generation.\n\nHomer: $300,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the feasibility study for the proposed large vessel harbor expansion in Homer.\n\nSt. George: $2.5 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District to support priority funding for the federal share for Preliminary Engineering and Design and Construction of St. George Harbor.\n\nUnalaska: $2.5 million to the City of Unalaska for reliability and efficiency upgrades for Unalaska\u2019s electrical distribution system.\n\nUnalaska Channels: $25.6 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand Dutch Harbor.\n\nFinancial Services and General Government\n\nAnchorage: $6 million to the Alaska Community Foundation to support the preservation, processing, and digitization of records of Alaskan leaders.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful for Senator Lisa Murkowski and her staff, and the entire Alaska delegation, for their support in advancing the Alaska Leaders Archive project. This is an important first step as we work to ensure a deeper understanding of Alaska\u2019s unique history from the leaders who helped build our state.\u201d - Hugh Ashlock, board member of the Alaska Leaders Archive\n\nStatewide: $1 million to the University of Alaska Anchorage to expand UAA\u2019s business development services to rural and young entrepreneurs in Alaska.\n\n\u201cWith the unprecedented amount of new infrastructure, broadband and transportation projects coming to Alaska due to the amazing work of our Congressional delegation, economic opportunities have never been better for the state's small businesses. This appropriation will enable the Alaska SBDC to help Alaskans all over the state take advantage of those opportunities through the expansion of the BuyAlaska program which helps promote the power of buying local, our Rural Development program which will help remote and rural entrepreneurs, thrive and grow as well as supporting the newly launched State Small Business Credit Initiative which will drive hundreds of millions of dollars in new private sector investments into Alaska's businesses. On behalf of the Alaska SBDC, thank you to Senator Murkowski for her efforts to secure funding to support our work to help all of Alaska's small businesses.\u201d - Jon Bittner, Executive Director of the Alaska Small Business Development Center (SBDC), located at the University of Alaska Anchorage\n\nHomeland Security\n\nAnchorage: $500,000 to the Municipality of Anchorage to replace the roof of the Anchorage Emergency Operations Center.\n\nDillingham: $5 million to the City of Dillingham for shoreline protection for the City\u2019s sewage facility.\n\nOuzinkie: $2 million to the Native Village of Ouzinkie to mitigate potential disaster threat implications from major tsunami events through the construction of an Emergency Response Shelter and Equipment Staging Complex.\n\nInterior, Environment, and Related Agencies\n\nAnchorage: $13 million to the Municipality of Anchorage for the safe disposal of wastewater in Anchorage.\n\n\u201cI want to thank Senator Murkowski for bringing close to $60 million dollars in federal funding to Anchorage. I appreciate the partnership and collaboration of the Senator and her staff to advance work on critical projects that will enhance public safety and infrastructure across Anchorage and create jobs for Alaskans.\u201d - Municipality of Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson\n\nAnchorage: $4 million to implement the Municipality of Anchorage's Community Wildfire Protection Plan.\n\n\u201cThe threat of a major wildland-urban interface fire in the Municipality is the single largest safety hazard facing our community. Thanks to this funding secured by Senator Murkowski, we will be able to fully implement our Community Wildfire Protection Plan and resume addressing the dangerous fuels that have accumulated during the last decade. We thank Senator Murkowski for hearing our concerns and taking action for the benefit of the Municipality and those we serve.\u201d - Anchorage Fire Chief Doug Schrage\n\nChickaloon: $250,000 for the Chickaloon Native Village for a community well.\n\n\u201cChickaloon Village Traditional Council is excited to partner with Senator Murkowski on an initiative to bring healthy, drinking water to the community of Chickaloon. We are grateful for the opportunity to develop this collaborative public project. This new facility will strengthen community health and resilience through the creation of a public water system.\u201d - Lisa Wade, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council\u2019s Executive Director\n\nChignik: $5.3 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for safe drinking water in Chignik.\n\n\u201cQuyana (thank you) to Senator Murkowski for your unwavering advocacy and commitment to the health of our people and communities. These projects are essential to maintain access to clean drinking water and safely dispose of solid waste, addressing longstanding safety and providing improved health for children and families in these communities.\u201d - Valerie Nurr\u2019araluk Davidson, President/CEO of Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium\n\n\u201cThe new water distribution system would reverse the negative impacts of the significant daily loss of clean water, and bring relief to our operators and staff, who work tirelessly to maintain the current system which has caused years of anxiety and panic on a regular basis. Finally a clean and reliable water source for our families, children, fishing and subsistence lifestyles that we all depend highly on!\u201d - Michelle Anderson, Chignik Lagoon Village Council Administrator\n\nChugach National Forest: $2.3 million to construct and improve recreational trails and access on the Iditarod National Historic Trail.\n\n\u201cAlaska Trails is excited about the funding for significant trail projects included in the omnibus appropriations package. These projects will be a great benefit to both outdoor recreation and the economy in Alaska. We are grateful to Senator Murkowski for her efforts to spur this investment in Alaska\u2019s trail infrastructure and are excited to hit the ground in the new year to make them happen. From a pedestrian pathway along the Parks Highway to trail connections in the Chugach National Forest \u2013 these projects will bring benefits to Alaskan communities. Alaska Trails is especially pleased to see the National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study for the Alaska Long Trail in the package as that project will have long-lasting benefits to the state and we are eager to help plan and build that visionary trail from Seward to Fairbanks.\u201d - Alaska Trails Executive Director Steve Cleary\n\nCraig: $760,000 for upgrades to Craig's wastewater treatment plant.\n\n\u201cThis project will help us replace sewer lift stations that are at the end of their expected life. New lift stations will increase effectiveness; help protect the environment and public health; and will decrease operations and maintenance costs for the system.While these might not be the most exciting projects that we get to work on, funding for critical aging water and sewer infrastructure in communities is critical to the health, viability, and growth of our Southeast Alaska towns. The congressionally directed spending process has helped us to close a funding gap that is traditionally difficult to fill while keeping utility rates for small town Alaskans affordable.\u201d - Brian Templin, Craig City Administrator\n\nDenali: $2.2 million for the design and construction of pedestrian pathways along the Parks Highway corridor in the Denali Borough.\n\nEagle River: $4.5 million to the Municipality of Anchorage for the safe disposal of wastewater in Eagle River.\n\nGirdwood: $1.6 million to replace the Ruane Road culvert in Girdwood.\n\nGirdwood: $2.5 million for a sewer access project, for the safe disposal of wastewater in Girdwood.\n\nJuneau: $2.5 million to the City and Borough of Juneau to design and construct a commercial-scale composting facility to serve Juneau residents and businesses.\n\n\u201cThis project is a game changer for waste treatment and reduction in Juneau. The community has 20 years left in our current landfill; the Assembly has committed to a zero-waste initiative to extend the life of the facility. Approximately 25% of the waste stream is organics which in addition to filling up valuable landfill space creates unpleasant odors. Organics that don\u2019t go in the landfill sometimes go down the drain in garbage disposals, driving up the cost of wastewater treatment. A municipal composting facility is a triple win for Juneau: less odors, less trash, less costly wastewater treatment. It will provide an important example for communities across southeast that struggle with solid waste.\u201d \u2013 Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt\n\nKenai: $875,000 to the Alaska Electric & Energy Cooperative, Inc. for the installation of a combined heat and power project at the Kenai Peninsula Borough\u2019s Central Peninsula Landfill.\n\n\"Homer Electric Association, Inc. (HEA) appreciates federal investment in its landfill gas to energy project on the Kenai Peninsula. This project will save the Kenai Peninsula Borough money, increase HEA's generation capabilities and reduce harmful methane emissions. The project produces positive outcomes for the State of Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula Borough and HEA members. We appreciate Senator Murkowski's tireless efforts to invest in our state and local communities.\" - Brad Janorschke, General Manager of Homer Electric Association, Inc.\n\nKenai: $2.9 million for the safe disposal of wastewater in Kenai.\n\nFunding for the City of Kenai Wastewater Treatment Plant Digester Blower Replacements Project will replace 40+ year old highly inefficient and failing equipment with new. This activated sludge plant, which discharges into Alaska\u2019s Cook Inlet waters at the mouth of the Kenai River, was originally constructed in the early 1970s. This project will modernize our operations while reducing utility and maintenance expenses. \u201cThanks to Senator Murkowski, this Congressionally Designated Spending allocation will allow the City to complete this important project that will allow the City to continue to safely discharge water from our plant into the Cook Inlet at the mouth of the Kenai River.\u201d - Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander\n\nKenai: $1.5 million to implement the Kenai Peninsula Borough Community Wildfire Protection Plan.\n\nKetchikan: $1.7 million to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough for wastewater treatment plant upgrades.\n\n\u201cThis funding for upgrades to the Mountain Point Wastewater Treatment Plant will ensure high quality treatment of wastewater which is an improvement for the environment, will minimize impacts to the rate payers, and will make a safer work environment. Plant improvements include upgrades to treatment basins, operational systems, and disinfection processes. We appreciate Senator Murkowski\u2019s attention to this important project for our City of Saxman, Forest Park, and Mountain Point residents.\u201d - Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor Rodney Dial\n\nKivalina: $8 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to construct a new Kivalina landfill that meets state regulatory standards.\n\n\u201cThe current landfill is not only at capacity, it is also located next the airport runway, where ravens and seagulls congregate, creating safety hazards for airplanes. A new landfill, away from the runway, will accommodate trash from the new school and existing community, and reduce airplane hazards.\u201d - Leroy Adams, Vice Mayor of Kivalina\n\nKodiak: $1 million to the Island Trails Network for removal, recycling and recovery of debris from the Alaska marine environment.\n\n\u201cMarine debris is an eyesore, a hazard to navigation, a danger to wildlife and a looming threat to the nation\u2019s seafood resources. There is an urgent need to recover these materials before they break up and become more difficult and costly to remove. This Congressionally Directed Spending Request proposed by Sen. Murkowski will trigger Kodiak\u2019s largest-ever cleanup and will have an immediate and dramatic impact on our coastline, including the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge and numerous Alaska state parks and public lands.\u201d - Andy Schroeder, Executive Director, Island Trails Network\n\nKotzebue: $140,000 to build cyanotoxin analysis capacity at the Native Village of Kotzebue.\n\n\u201cThe Native Village of Kotzebue appreciates Senator Murkowski assisting us in securing a Congressionally Directed Spending allocation to allow the Tribe to build local capacity to understand the changes occurring in the marine ecology of the Chukchi Sea and Kotzebue Sound. In particular, to understand better how warming waters and decreasing ice cover is impacting the microbiology of the marine system and contributing to the emerging phenomenon of harmful algae blooms and the implications for Arctic marine food webs which are central to the food security for Arctic coastal communities. Northwest Alaska and the community of Kotzebue will benefit for years to come by leveraging this assistance into additional research funding and programs to continue to improve the local capacity to understand these relationships. We applaud Senator Murkowski\u2019s long-term commitment to understanding and protecting the Ocean systems that Alaskans rely on for their cultural, nutritional, and economic way of life.\u201d - Alex Whiting, Environmental Program Director, Native Village of Kotzebue\n\nNome: $1.6 million for safe drinking water distribution and wastewater collection.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the City and community of Nome, we are very grateful for Senator Murkowski\u2019s efforts to secure much-needed federal funding for sewer and water projects in remote Alaska communities. She really understands how much of a difference this will make in Nome, and it is yet another example of how hard she fights for Alaskans when she is stuck down there in DC.\u201d - Mayor John Handeland, City of Nome\n\nNorth Slope: $1.2 million for a wastewater replacement project.\n\n\u201cTNHA\u2019s mission is to excel in the delivery of opportunities for affordable housing that empower, build and sustain vibrant self-determined communities on the Arctic Slope for generations to come. We are so excited to see our Wastewater Replacement Project included in the omnibus passed by Congress. Sanitation needs look a lot different in remote, rural Alaska than they do in urban centers, and we\u2019d like to say thank you to Senator Lisa Murkowski and her staff for supporting this critical request, which will provide insulated wastewater tanks meeting Arctic design criteria for 30 TNHA homebuyer units in the villages of Anaktuvk Pass, Atqasuk, Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, Point Lay and Wainwright. Quyanaqpak, Senator Murkowski!\u201d - Griffin Hagle-Forster, Chief Executive Officer, Ta?iu?miullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority\n\nNorth Slope: $2.5 million for the Northern Route of the North Slope Borough Community Winter Access Trails pilot program, which provides for the creation of temporary winter trail access between communities where year-round connecting roads do not exist.\n\nPalmer: $6.9 million for wastewater treatment system upgrades.\n\n\u201cThe City of Palmer has been challenged over multiple years to meet the federal requirements of our Water Pollution Control operation. Our citizens have willing stepped up in this effort. The funding approved by Congress on the impetus of Senator Murkowski will financially and operationally permit us to complete this need.\u201d - Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington\n\n\u201cWe have been in discussions with Senator Murkowski on our local challenges. She and her team listened, assisted and put fulfilling this need in motion. This award will directly benefit the citizens of Palmer and our utility user group.\u201d - John Moosey, Palmer City Manager\n\nPetersburg: $1.6 million for water treatment plant upgrades.\n\n\u201cThe Petersburg Borough is very grateful to receive $1.6 million due to the support of Senator Murkowski so that we may improve the safety and security of our water treatment system. The money provided through the omnibus appropriations bill will serve to replace a vital portion of Petersburg's water treatment system and will ensure that the potable water produced by the treatment plant is safe for all residents, businesses and visitors. We truly appreciate her hard work on behalf of Alaska.\u201d - Mark Jensen, Mayor of Petersburg\n\nSt. Paul: $3 million to improve solid waste disposal facilities.\n\nSeldovia: $746,000 for a sewer line replacement.\n\nSeldovia: $414,000 for safe drinking water.\n\n\u201cCommunities like Seldovia require and deserve infrastructure that protects public health and is well maintained. But that comes at a high expense, especially since we are small, rural and located off the road system. With less than 250 residents in the city, we rely on partnerships at the tribal, state, and federal level to help us provide services including clean drinking water, safely collected wastewater, and material to help us resurface our roads. The CDS funding Senator Murkowski secured for Seldovia means we are taking care of our community now and into the future. In short, we aren't just remaining here - we can, and will, grow.\u201d - Seldovia Mayor Jeremiah Campbell\n\nSeward: $2 million for the safe disposal of wastewater.\n\nSoldotna: $680,000 for a wastewater treatment plant.\n\nSoldotna: $320,000 to improve wastewater effluent before discharge to the Kenai River.\n\nSoldotna: $960,000 for upgrades to upgrade equipment used to dewater treated solids at the Soldotna Wastewater Treatment Plant.\n\nSt. George: $3 million to replace the 50-year-old water distribution and wastewater collection infrastructure.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the City of Saint George, we are beyond thankful for your support and advocation for our Congressionally Directed Spending allocation request. The need for a new potable water and wastewater system is at its most critical point. After nearly 40 years of use, the potable water distribution lines are ready for replacement. We have had instances in the past where our storage tank froze, along with the distribution lines. These scenarios have led to many repairs in the water lines. We are currently repairing the old repairs that have been made. The wastewater system was constructed during the same time and needs replacement as well. The community has faced many hardships regarding the water distribution system over the years. These repairs will ensure safe drinking water for community members and anyone working on and traveling through Saint George. Thankfully, we are a resilient community and have overcome associated issues. We are also thankful for the support from our regional entities and state authorities, in response to these difficulties. The inclusion of our CDS request in the upcoming omnibus is a great victory for us in our small community. This announcement will make for a great holiday season. Thank you!\u201d - Mark Merculief Jr., Mayor, City of St. George\n\nStatewide: $2 million for salmon monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim River watersheds.\n\nStatewide: $500,000 to the Tanana Chiefs Conference to address the large data gap regarding salmon populations on the Yukon River.\n\n\u201cTanana Chiefs Conference applauds Senator Murkowski\u2019s advocacy to secure funding for a Middle Yukon River Sonar. For the past three years, the Yukon River salmon populations have suffered catastrophic declines, preventing our tribal communities from subsistence fishing which is essential to the overall health and wellbeing of our people. A Middle Yukon River Sonar supports building tribal data, and develops a pathway for co-stewardship to ensure balanced management and harvest decisions for all Tribes and people that rely on the Yukon River to meet subsistence needs.\u201d \u2013 TCC Chief/Chairman Brian Ridley\n\nStatewide: $880,000 for implementation of the Intertribal Federal Subsistence Cooperative Management Program at the Kuskokwim River Watershed.\n\n\u201cThis is great news for the communities of the Kuskokwim river as we continue to research and respond to this unprecedented salmon crisis and the food security issues caused by our declined chinook, chum, and coho salmon.\u201d - Kevin Whitworth, Executive Director, Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (KRITFC)\n\nStatewide: $1.2 million for ecological monitoring in the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers.\n\n\u201cThere lies a growing need to support and encourage residents of rural communities to engage and participate in the collection of environmental data which lends itself to better management of salmon populations in the Arctic, Yukon and Kuskokwim regions of Alaska. These data help to tell the story of changing environmental patterns and conditions and systematically informs a clearer picture of the health and abundance of salmon populations in these regions. Jobs provided by these funds are essential for rural communities and encourage youth to participate in the health and wellbeing of their area.\u201d - Karen Gillis, Executive Director, Bering Sea Fishermen\u2019s Association\n\nStatewide: $1.5 million for the Denali Commission to develop regional solid waste management plans.\n\n\u201cThe Denali Commission is very pleased to have the opportunity to support comprehensive regional strategies for waste management that are otherwise lacking in many parts of Alaska. This funding will allow communities to address the risk posed by waste to the environment and human health and promote community aesthetics. We thank Senator Murkowski for her commitment to funding waste management.\u201d - Garrett Boyle, Federal Cochair of the Commission\n\nStatewide: $1 million for to complete a National Scenic Trail feasibility study to connect Seward and Fairbanks.\n\nStatewide: $3 million for the Alaska Native Justice Center for Alaska tribal public safety empowerment activities.\n\nStatewide: $7 million to support the State of Alaska in conducting an inventory and verification of contaminated sites conveyed to Alaska Natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.\n\nStatewide: $300,000 for the University of Alaska Anchorage to study the need and economic feasibility of constructing and operating a hazardous waste processing facility and landfill in the State of Alaska.\n\nStatewide: $250,000 to the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association to build further tribal capacity for the inventory and verification of ANCSA contaminated lands.\n\nStatewide: $250,000 to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to build further tribal capacity for the inventory and verification of ANCSA contaminated lands.\n\nStatewide: $33.9 million for abandoned well remediation in the NPR-A.\n\nValdez: $5 million for the safe disposal of wastewater in Valdez.\n\n\u201cThe Community of Valdez is extremely grateful to Senator Murkowski for acquiring this funding to assist in the replacement of our sewer force main. This infrastructure is critical to our core of town and we are in desperate need for replacement as our current system is well past its useful life. We hope this money will help us overcome rising construction costs and inflation so that we can replace this critically important piece of our waste water system. We are all tax payers and it is great to see some of the Federal support coming back to small towns like ours in Alaska.\u201d - Mark Detter, Valdez City Manager\n\nWasilla: $5.7 million for improvements to wastewater treatment facilities.\n\n\u201cThe City of Wasilla provides sanitary sewer collections and treatment to more than 700 businesses and residents within the city. The City\u2019s request for support with three sewer sludge projects reflects the need for assistance in meeting the growing population with additional customers and new stipulations by regulators. The three projects include a much needed second sludge digester to increase daily capacity to meet current and future wastewater demands, a lagoon sludge dredge to safely remove the collected sludge at the end of the treatment process, and sludge drying beds to meet new sludge management regulations. Being the fastest growing city in the State of Alaska, support for our critical infrastructure like this project is the first step to building redundancy and resiliency in our community. Our priority is to deliver innovative and more environmentally responsible ways to deliver quality WWT services.\u201d - Erich Schaal P.E., Director of Public Works, City of Wasilla\n\nWhittier: $1.2 million for well field upgrades.\n\n\u201cThanks to Senator Murkowski for her dedication and attention to Alaska's, and Whittier's needs, we will have new critical water well infrastructure installed. This opportunity will replace post WWII systems and provide us a fire safety margin in summer when cruise ships are filling up with our untreated water and fish processing is operating at a high level. This threat has been a burden on our 272 People residents. Many thanks from all of us and our annual visitors numbering in the hundreds of thousands!\u201d - Jim Hunt, Whittier City Manager\n\nYakutat: $5.1 million for a water line extension project.\n\n\u201cThe 5.1 million for a water line extension project will provide clean drinking water In Yakutat. We have struggled for the last 5 years addressing water pollution and Senator Murkowski congressional allocation is heaven sent!\u201d - Jon Erickson Manager Yakutat\n\nLabor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies\n\n\u201cAlaska Community Health Centers form the backbone of our primary care system in Alaska. These capital improvements secured by Senator Murkowski will improve health clinic spaces that make comprehensive, coordinated care more easily accessible for more than 120,000 Alaskans.\u201d - Nancy Merriman, CEO, Alaska Primary Care Association\n\nAnchorage: $2.25 million to the University of Alaska to renovate UA\u2019s facilities for nursing education, telehealth training, and inter-professional education programs.\n\n\u201cWe are so thankful to have this funding to increase simulation capacity at UAA. This will increase our ability to teach students the clinical knowledge and competencies needed to be work-ready graduates. It will help us address the high demand workforce needs in Alaska\u2019s health care industry.\u201d - Debbie Craig, Dean of the College of Health, University of Alaska Anchorage\n\nAnchorage: $290,000 for Providence Alaska to establish and launch the Alaska Psychiatry Residency Program.\n\nAnchorage: $1.2 million to update and improve the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center.\n\nAnchorage: $500,000 to the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center to establish a new Dental Assistant Training Apprenticeship.\n\n\u201cThis incredible support for Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center will create a safer and more energy efficient space for patients and a pathway to train more dental assistants and professionals to provide critical dental care for people in Anchorage and Alaska. Thank you to our federal government and Senator Murkowski and her office for working to prioritize high quality, accessible, safe and effective healthcare for Alaskans. We are so grateful!\u201d - Lisa Aquino CEO, Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center\n\nAnchorage: $5 million to Southcentral Foundation to construct the Fireweed Specialty Dental Clinic.\n\nAnchorage: $2 million for a Southcentral Foundation Workforce Development Program, to provide resources and support to students training as nurses, certified medical assistants, dental health aid therapists, and as behavioral health providers.\n\n\u201cThe last few years have been extremely challenging for health care systems in Alaska. This critical funding will allow Southcentral Foundation to expand and enhance our workforce through recruiting, training, and mentoring Alaska Native and American Indian people in clinical careers that are often hard to fill or have high turnover rates. The funding will also consolidate SCF\u2019s Specialty Dental Clinic allowing better access to care which will directly benefit those with complex dental needs. These improvement projects, made possible through the efforts of Senator Murkowski, will have a direct impact on the health and well-being of our community.\u201d - April Kyle, MBA, Southcentral Foundation President and CEO\n\nAnchorage: $400,000 to the Alaska Center for FASD to connect individuals with FASD to services.\n\n\u201cAccording to a recent report, an estimated 47,860 Alaskans have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and costs the State of Alaska millions of dollars each year in direct health and other services. Monies from the omnibus legislation will increase the capacity of the Alaska Center for FASD to not only mitigate these economic costs but more importantly, continue to work with the State of Alaska to support individuals impacted by this life-long disability and increase the awareness of the effects of alcohol on our families and communities throughout Alaska and the nation. Senator Murkowski understands this need for focused attention on FASD and her commitment to improving systems of care for all Alaskans is evident by her concrete actions. On behalf of the Alaska Center for FASD we deeply appreciate Senator Murkowski\u2019s efforts to elevate these complex issues to refuel and stimulate momentum for system advancement and growth.\u201d - Alaska Center for FASD, Board of Directors\n\nAnchorage: $750,000 for construction of a Crisis Stabilization Center at Providence Alaska Medical Center.\n\n\u201cProvidence is grateful for Senator Murkowski\u2019s ongoing support to secure funding to address Alaska\u2019s behavioral health needs and bolster our mental health workforce as well as provide supportive housing to seniors with significant health conditions experiencing homelessness.\u201d - Ella Goss, RN, Chief Executive, Alaska Region\n\nAkiak: $500,000 to the Rural Alaska Community Action Program to recruit and train local community members to become early educators and certified teachers.\n\n\u201cThe Omnibus Appropriations Bill will benefit communities and initiatives statewide by increasing rural communities\u2019 capacity to provide quality, local education. Thanks to Senator Murkowski, RurAL CAP\u2019s pilot Teacher Apprenticeship Program will address the high turnover rates of educators and ongoing shortages of certified, local teachers that rural communities face. Aimed at improving rural Alaskans' ability to obtain early education teaching credentials locally, the project ultimately works to increase our state's rural workforce, increase protective factors against adverse childhood experiences, and bolster the early education of our state's future leaders.\u201d - Tiel Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP)\n\nBethel: $100,000 to purchase a portable X-Ray and other medical equipment for the Bethel Family Clinic in Bethel.\n\nBethel: $600,000 to the Bethel Family Services Community Health Center to provide well child exams to children in 55 locations throughout YK Delta.\n\n\u201cBethel Family Clinic's board of directors and all staff are excited and grateful for Senator Murkowski's dedicated work on securing $700,000 appropriation grant. $600,000 for well child examination/village travel program which will assist Bethel Family Clinic to send providers to the school districts villages to provide medical exams to their staffs, and students. Bethel Family Clinic service area is large and most communities don\u2019t have a medical clinic or local health aide to meet the needs of the community. Through our child examination / village travel program our medical providers will be able to provide much need referral for addition services such as; dental, behavioral health, which that would not have access to previously due to limited funding\u2019s. $100,000 for medical equipment purchase. Bethel Family Clinic will spend the funds on blood hematology analyzer, portable x-ray machine, computer, laptop, fire proof safe and fire proof cabinet. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Senator Murkowski and her team to support Bethel Family Clinic on this funding.\u201d - M. Enayet U. Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer Bethel Family Clinic\n\nHealy: $2.5 million to construct a health center in Healy.\n\n\u201cThe funds enable the Interior Community Health Center to construct a health facility on its lot on the Parks Highway in Healy, Alaska to best serve the year round primary care needs of the Denali Borough - a population of just over 1,600 - scattered 79 miles between the towns of Cantwell to the Anderson, Alaska. The impact of this congressionally directed spending will be to improve access to primary care services, including preventive health and oral health screenings, manage chronic disease and overall health.\u201d - Cheryl Kilgore, Chief Executive Officer Interior Community Health Center\n\nHomer: $633,000 to the Seldovia Village Tribe to expand the Homer Health Center.\n\n\u201cWe would like to remind you of the primary benefits that our Tribe, patients and staff, as well as the community, will be able to enjoy upon project completion, thanks to you. Those include: Expanded services to support Healthy Alaskans 2030 health priorities; Reduce health disparities to low-income, underinsured and uninsured Alaskans; Provide community education sessions to improve the health and well-being of Alaskans.\u201d - Crystal Collier, President Seldovia Village Tribe\n\nJuneau: $870,000 to renovate and expand the JAMHI Health & Wellness specialty behavioral health facility.\n\n\u201cThis congressionally directed allocation will relocate, expand and improve JAMHI Family services in Juneau at a larger facility at 2075 Jordan Avenue and through technology, for youth and families throughout Alaska, as well as increase overall capacity to meet service needs across the lifespan. Improved access, increased space for more staff with specific specialization in evidence-based therapies, integrated on-site pediatric care and physical and mental wellness services will be provided and the additional capacity will also be used to support other groups and entities throughout Juneau to better meet the behavioral health needs of youth and families in our community as well.\u201d - Dave Branding Chief Executive Officer\n\nJuneau: $750,000 to establish and operate a commercial driver's license education training program at the University of Alaska Southeast.\n\n\u201cWe can't thank Senator Murkowski enough for the $750,000 to develop a CDL program in Southeast Alaska. This program has been greatly needed in Southeast Alaska and we look forward to being able to report on the progress we make.\u201d - Dr. Karen Carey, Chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast\n\nKetchikan: $600,000 for facilities and equipment at the Peacehealth Ketchikan Medical Center.\n\n\u201cWe are deeply grateful to Senator Lisa Murkowski for championing this allocation of federal funds for a new CT scanner for PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center. Along with PeaceHealth's financial commitment to the project, Senator Murkowski's successful advocacy for this funding will help ensure local patients can continue to access the very latest diagnostic imaging services right here in our community.\u201d - Dori Stevens, Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center\n\nKodiak: $7.9 million to expand the Kodiak Community Health Center.\n\n\u201cKodiak Community Health Center is ecstatic to be included in the Congressionally Directed Spending Omnibus bill for $7.9M toward a capital expansion of our clinic. This funding will allow us to meet the growing healthcare needs of our community including behavioral health, substance abuse and primary care. In remote Alaska, healthcare takes a high level of skill and creativity to be successful. Expanding our facility and equipment will allow our team to provide next level care for our patients. Thank you Senator Murkowski for your diligence and hard work for Alaska!\u201d - Carol Austerman, Executive Director, Kodiak Community Health Center\n\nNaknek: $3 million to renovate and expand the Camai Community Health Center.\n\nSeward: $5 million to expand the Seward Community Health Center.\n\n\u201cThis Congressionally Directed Spending Allocation via Lisa Murkowski\u2019s office represents a giant step toward transforming the face of healthcare in Seward. This is the first stepping-stone to building a new clinic that will help improve the health and quality of life for Alaskans on the Eastern Kenai Peninsula. A new clinic will allow us to provide expanded primary care services to our community, including preventive/wellness educational programs, access to specialists, and greater telehealth connectivity. Along the way, a new facility is expected to increase staff satisfaction and retention, which will result in a higher quality of care for our community. We are excited about the possibilities that lie before us through this funding and are grateful for the opportunity to elevate the level of care we can provide.\u201d - Craig Ambrosiani, Seward Community Health Center Executive Director\n\nSeward: $2.5 million to expand the Chugachmiut Health Clinic.\n\n\u201cI want to thank Senator Murkowski for securing these funds! This one-time allocation will have a huge impact far into the future. Chugachmiut will now be able to improve and expand health services to the underserved and remote communities it serves. Adding services that are desperately needed but that were inaccessible before this generous gift by Congress will generate improved health outcomes for, at minimum, the next 30 years. \u201c - Jan Vanderpool, Executive Director\n\nStatewide: $2.5 million to expand the Alaska Primary Care Association\u2019s community health worker program into rural areas.\n\nStatewide: $350,000 to expand the University of Washington\u2019s Alaska Pediatric Residency Track, to increase opportunities for pediatric residents to train in Alaska.\n\n\u201cWe thank Sen. Murkowski for her longstanding support in securing funds to strengthen access to pediatric health care for children living in rural Alaska Native communities. This appropriation will enable the University of Washington/Seattle Children\u2019s Alaska Track pediatric residency program to send pediatricians to more Alaska Native villages where they can provide direct care to children and provide pediatric specific education for our community health aides. The funding will also help to expand programs for adolescent well-being, including mental health, sports medicine and infectious disease prevention, through school-based health clinics located at high school campuses in Bethel and Anchorage.\u201d - Richard Shugerman, MD Director, Pediatric WWAMI, Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington\n\nStatewide: $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Southcentral Alaska to provide behavioral health support to children and youth.\n\n\u201cThe lasting effects of childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences not only impact mental and physical health, but also educational outcomes, economic stability, and generational health and welfare. Our youth are facing civil unrest, racial inequality, online social pressure, and systemic inequalities that create barriers to success. According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, 62.9% of Alaskan youth ages 12-17 who have depression did not receive care last year. Youth face many barriers to accessing behavioral health services including transportation, financial, and cultural stigma. They need hope and an easier way to access help. That is why our program will bring care directly to kids through Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state. We will use prevention and intervention services to help the youth who need it most. To do this we will employ mental health professionals to support our youth and to empower our staff to understand, identify, and respond to youth who may be facing challenges and to connect them with proper care, if necessary.\u201d - Jen Patronas, Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs-Alaska\n\nStatewide: $2 million to Covenant House Alaska to strengthen Alaska's workforce and provide pathways to permanent housing.\n\nStatewide: $230,000 to the Rural Alaska Community Action Program to identify, train, and support a cohort of interested youth peer mentors.\n\n\u201cThe passing of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill is a great success for all Alaskans as we face the mental health crisis, especially with youth in rural communities. This bill supports RurAL CAP\u2019s Peer Mentor and Mental Health First Aide in Rural Alaska project. This pilot project will pair a cohort of youth peer mentors with local professionals to provide suicide prevention and mental health first aid to youth in rural communities. With these efforts, we strive to empower rural youth to increase mental health awareness and resources, and strengthen the future for all Alaskans.\u201d - Tiel Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP)\n\nStatewide: $950,000 for Bree\u2019s Law Inc. to address and prevent teen dating violence.\n\n\u201cWe are overjoyed that Senator Murkowski was successful in securing funding for the Bree's Law Curriculum Development project, included in the FY23 omnibus released yesterday. As parents who have experienced the devastation of losing our daughter, Bree Moore, to dating violence, we know prevention is the key to keeping future generations safe from interpersonal violence. This Bree's Law funding will expand teen dating violence awareness and prevention education, first developed and implemented in Alaska, and make it available to all teens throughout the United States. We are incredibly thankful to Senator Lisa Murkowski and her staff for their tenacity, passion, and commitment to the passage and funding of Bree's Law. We are truly indebted to everyone who has helped make this law possible.\u201d - Butch and Cindy Moore, Parents of Bree Moore\n\nUnalaska: $500,000 to Iliuliuk Family & Health Services to purchase a CT scanner and fund associated facility and site work to provide expanded health services at the clinic in Unalaska.\n\n\u201cThrough this congressional directed spending award Iliuliuk Family and Health Services can now offer CT services to our community for the first time in our 50 years. This will bring better care to our friends, families and neighbors by reducing the need to travel to Anchorage some 800 miles away. This will also reduce the need for unnecessary medevacs for the region having the ability to better diagnose and treat patients at home. Unalaska and neighboring communities all benefit from this improvement in imaging services \u2013 Thank You Senator Murkowski!\u201d - Noel Reo, CEO of Iliuliuk Family & Health Services\n\nUpper Susitna River Valley (Talkeetna): $2 million to purchase a complete mobile medical unit to provide medical treatment across the Upper Susitna River Valley.\n\nWillow: $1 million to expand the Sunshine Clinic in Willow.\n\nMilitary Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies\n\nAnchorage: $63 million to build an aircraft maintenance hangar at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.\n\nAnchorage: $5.2 million to remove PFAS contaminated soil on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.\n\nFairbanks: $99 million to build a physical fitness center annex at Fort Wainwright.\n\nTransportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies\n\nAmbler: $1.5 million to construct a new firehall and search and rescue facility.\n\nAnchorage: $5 million to the Port of Alaska to make site improvements.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019d like to thank Sen. Murkowski for her continued advocacy and support of the Port of Alaska\u2019s infrastructure modernization efforts. This contribution helps us to continue to move forward while reducing the financial burden that could be placed on port users and Alaskans.\u201d - Steve Ribuffo, Port of Alaska Director\n\nAnchorage: $7.5 million to Providence Community Foundation to provide permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness in Anchorage.\n\nAnchorage: $1.6 million to the Rural Alaska Community Action Program to address homelessness in Anchorage by improving and expanding permanent supportive housing facilities.\n\n\u201cThe Omnibus Appropriations Bill will benefit the health, safety, and well-being of all Alaskans, with particular support to those experiencing homelessness. Among many other great successes, Senator Murkowski\u2019s efforts with this bill have ensured that 126 vital units of new and existing permanent supportive housing are available to individuals in Anchorage as they navigate out of homelessness. These housing services ultimately increase the clients' self-sufficiency and reduce the strain on expensive local and statewide emergency response systems.\u201d - Tiel Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP).\n\nJuneau: $7 million to build a bridge over the Gastineau Channel between Douglas and Juneau.\n\n\u201cA second crossing between Juneau proper and Douglas Island has been a priority for the community for over 40 years - since I was in high school!. A crossing project will improve traffic congestion, reduce travel times, provide critical alternate access to thousands of households in the event of an emergency and open up new land for housing and development. A big push for outreach and engagement with the community has been underway for over a year through a Planning and Environmental Linkages study and this $7M will build on that success and keep the project moving forward.\" \u2013 Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon\n\nFairbanks: $2.5 million to the North Star Council on Aging to expand the Fairbanks Senior Center.\n\n\u201cThis wildly generous gift provided by the passage of the omnibus bill, and spearheaded by Senator Murkowski, comes at a time of great need as the Fairbanks Senior Center works hard to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the 18,000 pioneers who built the amazing community of Fairbanks. Please allow North Star Council on Aging to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every member of congress who voted to support the passage of the omnibus bill, with a special thanks to the tirelessly supportive Senator Lisa Murkowski and her dedicated staff. This appropriation will touch every Interior senior house hold in a profound and caring way for years to come.\u201d - Darlene Supplee, Executive Director of the Fairbanks Senior Center, North Star Council on Aging\n\nFairbanks: $6.9 million to acquire and expand a facility to provide a permanent location for Presbyterian Hospitality House.\n\n\u201cToday, we got word from Senator Murkowski\u2019s team that Presbyterian Hospitality House will be awarded funding for our new building in Fairbanks. The Senators strong commitment to Children\u2019s mental health issues and youth who are homeless has long been established. The new building will help bring Alaskan youth and families together. It will be a place that allows for healing and growth. PHH serves youth in several ways. We provide residential treatment, mental health counseling, Therapeutic Treatment homes. PHH serves youth from all over the State of Alaska. Working to stabilize and keep our youth safe is the most important.\u201d - Ty Tigner, Executive Director, Presbyterian Hospitality House (PHH)\n\nHomer: $750,000 to acquire and construct a facility to support South Peninsula Haven House in building a new financial empowerment facility.\n\nJuneau: $5 million to provide a building to house multiple nonprofits which serve children and families.\n\n\u201cThe creation of a family services center in Juneau has been a long-held dream for AEYC-SEA, and we are so excited that Senator Murkowski was able to secure funding to get it started. Social service supports for children and families are currently spread out all over the Juneau community, making access a challenge for many families. This new facility will bring together multiple partner nonprofits to provide a seamless resource opportunity for families, including an on-site childcare center. I think the true impact of this project won't be realized until the building/dream has been built, but for now this funding is a strong message of support to families with young children in SE Alaska from Senator Murkowski and we could not be more grateful.\u201d - Blue Shibler, Executive Director, Association for Education of Young Children Southeast\n\nKlawock: $500,000 to build a RISE Campus which will include domestic shelter units and outbuildings to support cultural activities.\n\n\u201cWe are so incredibly grateful for the funding Senator Murkowski was able to secure for help in the construction of the RISE Tribal DV Shelter on Prince of Wales! Having a local shelter on the Island allows domestic violence survivors to receive assistance and safety in their own community instead of having to leave their support systems behind- not to mention schools and jobs- and go to a different Island to be safe. This additional funding is crucial for completion of the shelter. Thank you to Senator Murkowski and her team for helping us make this dream a reality for Prince of Wales!\u201d - Tiffany Mills, Executive Director, HOPE Prevention\n\nMcCarthy: $200,000 to build a fire hall for the Kennicott-McCarthy Volunteer Fire Department.\n\nNome: $2 million to rehabilitate the Bering Sea Women\u2019s shelter.\n\nNome: $5 million to the Norton Sound Health Corporation to construct patient housing and affordable housing for low-income employees.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of NSHC, thank you for dedicating funds to our region. NSHC has been expanding health care services over the past decade. While the workforce has grown and higher -level care is being delivered in-region, [neither] NSHC, nor the community, has adequate capital infrastructure to meet these growing patient lodging and employee housing needs. Additionally, a new wellness center was opened in summer 2021, which will offer in-region long-term substance abuse treatment, which requires additional housing. This funding award will contribute to both of these critical needs to allow NSHC to continue to provide the highest level of care to the region.\u201d - Angie Gorn, President & CEO, Norton Sound Health Corporation\n\nRural Alaska: $3 million for the acquisition of facilities, including housing, necessary to establish Alaska State Trooper posts in rural locations.\n\nSeldovia: $22,000 for a road resurfacing project.\n\nSitka: $1 million to provide basic housing for chronically homeless Sitka residents.\n\nTeller: $5.1 million to the Bering Straits Regional Housing Authority to move homes out of the flood zone and construct affordable housing at safe locations.\n\nWainwright: $1.2 million to Tagiugmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority to remodel and convert former National Guard Armory buildings into a modern, energy efficient, tribal childcare facility and multi-use community building.\n\n\u201cGood afternoon from the village of Wainwright, I\u2019m Muriel Panik, Tribal Council Member and Commissioner for the Ta?iu?miullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority. As our local Community-Based Development Organization, TNHA provides services that empower, build and sustain vibrant self-determined communities on the Arctic Slope for generations to come. I want to share Wainwright\u2019s gratitude for Senator Lisa Murkowski and her staff for recommending the Wainwright Childcare Center project for funding consideration by the U.S. Senate. If funded, we will be able to convert a former National Guard armory into a much-needed community facility that will support working parents of young children and help grow the village economy. The facility will be resilient and comfortable with healthy indoor air, using energy-efficient renovation practices and on-site production of renewable energy from to reduce its reliance on costly imported diesel. Again, we want to say quyanaqpak, Senator Murkowski, for supporting our village and regional housing authority in this request.\u201d - Muriel Panik, Tribal Council Member and Commissioner for the Ta?iu?miullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority\n\nWasilla: $5 million to Set Free Alaska to build a therapeutic campus consisting of recovery residence facilities.\n\n\u201cSet Free Alaska would like to thank Senator Murkowski for securing funding for our recidivism reduction and recovery program! Individuals struggling with substance misuse and mental health problems often experience increased incarceration. Services and infrastructure are lacking in our communities to address this problem. This money will be used to build facilities that will provide counseling support services for individuals and families in Mat-Su. These programs will support the agencies vision of all Alaskans experiencing God\u2019s love, lasting freedom, and abundant life!\u201d - Philip Licht, President & CEO, Set Free Alaska, Inc.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-year-end-omnibus-packed-with-good-news-for-alaska", "Murkowski: Year-End Omnibus Packed with Good News for Alaska", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "The U.S. Senate yesterday passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, an omnibus package that contains all 12 appropriations bills and funds the federal government through September 30, 2023.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior Appropriator, helped write major parts of the bill and secured significant funding and assistance for Alaska throughout it. She championed provisions to strengthen Alaska\u2019s economy, accelerate workforce development, and support military members and their families. She also directed funding to water and wastewater infrastructure, public safety, childcare, fisheries, military readiness, affordable housing, mental and behavioral health programs, contaminated lands cleanup, wildfire prevention, recreation on public lands, and much more.\n\nThrough her vote in favor of the measure, Murkowski supported funding authorized by major legislation passed in this Congress \u2013 including the National Defense Authorization Act, bipartisan infrastructure bill, CHIPS and Science Act, Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, and the PACT Act \u2013 while ensuring robust funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA\u2019s disaster relief fund, mental health, child nutrition, rural housing assistance, energy development and lower energy costs, and many additional state priorities.\n\nIn FY 2023, Murkowski was the only member of Alaska\u2019s congressional delegation to pursue Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) projects. Through this bill, she secured nearly $500 million for more than 130 projects across Alaska that were proposed by local communities to address their most pressing needs.\n\nThe omnibus also features a number of authorizing provisions sponsored by Murkowski, including her University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, the PUMP Act, and emergency disaster assistance for Alaskan fisheries. The legislation includes a historic plus-up for the Department of Defense to benefit service members and protect national security, as well as critical emergency funding for Ukraine.\n\nMurkowski released the following statement about the Consolidated Appropriations Act:\n\n\u201cThis year-end bill contains a huge number of wins for Alaska and is the culmination of all the hard work my team and I put in for our home state throughout the 117th Congress.\n\n\u201cThis measure supports our men and women in uniform and our veterans. It strengthens our economic opportunities and addresses some of our greatest challenges, from workforce and supply chains to the Denali Park Road. It makes major investments in mental and behavioral health, including initiatives to help address the growing issue of death by suicide. Nutrition, public safety, telecom, port and road infrastructure, ocean and coastal mapping, the clean-up of contaminated lands, climate research, natural disaster preparedness, the Arctic, and so much more\u2014there is literally no part of our state that this legislation doesn\u2019t benefit.\n\n\u201cOn top of those major wins for Alaska, I secured funding allocations to directly benefit nearly 130 projects through Congressionally Directed Spending. This process continues to give Alaskans a voice in the federal budget by allowing them to identify their communities\u2019 greatest needs, helping federal agencies identify spending priorities.\n\n\u201cAs a year-end measure, I also worked hard to make sure the omnibus would be a vehicle for as many of Alaska\u2019s outstanding legislative priorities as possible. We ultimately added more than a dozen bills and authorizing provisions focused on everything from the University of Alaska to healthcare in rural and underserved areas.\n\n\u201cThis omnibus is very significant for Alaska. It builds on our successes over the past several years and will help create jobs, reduce costs, improve all types of care, protect our fisheries, bolster public safety, and more. Combined with all we have been able to deliver as a result of the bipartisan infrastructure law, I\u2019m excited about the benefits this measure will provide across our state for a long time to come.\u201d\n\nBILL HIGHLIGHTS\n\nSupports the Military and Veterans\n\nThe omnibus includes significant support to boost our nation\u2019s defense capabilities and enhance military readiness by fully funding the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes provisions of the Don Young Arctic Warrior Act to address service member well-being and Alaska\u2019s unique strategic role in national security. The bill supports military construction projects, such as funding for an aircraft maintenance hangar for the Alaska National Guard, and significant projects on Fort Wainwright, Clear Space Force Station, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.\n\nTo support the health and well-being of military members and their families, Murkowski secured robust funding for mental health and suicide prevention programs, as well as a much-deserved 4.6 percent pay raise for troops, housing and food allowances, and childcare support.\n\nIn support of veterans, Murkowski included language to improve their quality of care and worked to expand access to mental healthcare and training for the VA workforce. She also secured significant support for individuals exposed to toxic chemicals during their service and for health-related research initiatives, such as peer-reviewed ALS research.\n\nBolsters America\u2019s Arctic Presence\n\nAs America\u2019s Arctic Senator, Murkowski secured funding for the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the Department of Defense\u2019s (DOD) first regional center in the Arctic. Murkowski previously introduced and helped usher into law the legislation to create this center. She also secured support for the 2024 Arctic Winter Games, which will be held in the Mat-Su Valley, the Arctic Youth Ambassadors Program, and the Permanent Participants to the Arctic Council. As part of her push for a greater diplomatic presence in the Arctic, Murkowski provided funding for an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region, an initiative she advocated for until the State Department announced its establishment in August 2022. The bill also funds the Department of Energy\u2019s Office of Arctic Energy.\n\nInvests in Alaska\u2019s Communities\n\nThe omnibus provides full funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which provides compensation to local governments throughout Alaska with federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. These dollars help local governments provide vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, search-and-rescue operations, and construction of public schools and roads. The bill also protects and robustly funds the Essential Air Service program, which maintains commercial air service for approximately 60 communities in Alaska. The bill includes a provision led by Murkowski and colleagues to allow unspent COVID relief dollars to be used for infrastructure investments and disaster relief, including providing a fix which will benefit Alaska\u2019s unified municipalities who unfortunately were left out on relief funding intended to help address the economic impacts of the pandemic.\n\nThe year-end package strengthens Alaska\u2019s infrastructure in many ways. It invests in restoring the Denali Park Road. It allocates significant resources to the EPA to construct and improve wastewater and drinking water systems throughout rural Alaska. New funding for the Denali Commission will boost roads, ports, and boat ramps, which will help the agency continue to build infrastructure in rural Alaska. The City of Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula Borough will receive funding for wildfire prevention activities in accordance with their community protection plans.\n\nTo address food security, Murkowski increased funding for her Micro-grants for Food Security Program, which she authored to help Alaskans grow more food in the state. The omnibus provides long-sought flexibility for Alaska\u2019s rural Summer Food Service Program providers, allowing them to serve food in non-congregate ways to children in rural communities who cannot access program sites. It also increases funding for the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Program that helps Alaska\u2019s farmers offset the high costs of importing seeds, fertilizer, and other inputs and transporting their crops out of Alaska.\n\nThe omnibus provides additional funding for Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant programs, which help low-income parents afford high-quality childcare and set the youngest Alaskans on the path to healthy and successful futures.\n\nCapitalizing on Alaska\u2019s Tourism Sector\n\nAlaska is the crown jewel of America\u2019s tourism industry. The omnibus finally cements a federal champion and planning role for the federal government to ensure that our nation makes the most of tourism-based economic opportunities. It establishes an Assistant Secretary of Tourism within the Commerce Department, who will be appointed by the President and required to collect and make public aggregate data on domestic travel and tourism trends. The provision also requires the Commerce to develop a 10-year strategy with annual goals to boost the industry and establishes the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. It also funds, for the first time, the Denali Access Program.\n\nFinally, the omnibus requires Commerce to develop recovery strategies in response to the pandemic and future threats. Notably, it requires the Secretary to conduct a cost-benefit analysis between the economic and health effects of its strategies. It also contains Murkowski\u2019s cruise ship and tourism reforms, which were adopted as part of the PREVENTS Pandemics Act.\n\nSupports Workforce Development\n\nTo help Alaskans train for good-paying jobs, the year-end package invests in workforce development for veterans, youth, and adults through programs like Job Corps, registered apprenticeship programs, and the Young Fishermen\u2019s Development grant program. The omnibus continues to require that timber sales in Alaska be economically viable and requires that Alaska sawmills be given the first right to process the timber to keep these jobs in the United States. In addition, the package includes several Murkowski-led efforts to help build out Alaska\u2019s healthcare workforce, such as the Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Area Act, the BIO-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program, and the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act. Those measures will bolster the state\u2019s primary care, allied health, and infectious disease workforce. Also included are Murkowski\u2019s Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program Act, which reauthorizes a program to provide loan repayment in exchange for working in a local or public health department, and her bill to reauthorize a community health worker grant program to recruit, hire, train, and retain community health workers.\n\nAddresses High Energy Costs\n\nAs Alaskans grapple with some of the highest home heating costs in the nation, the omnibus provides increased funding to help lower-income families cover the costs of heating their homes. It also funds the Weatherization Assistance and State Energy Programs, which help to improve the energy efficiency of low-income families\u2019 homes and invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emergency preparedness.\n\nPrioritizes Alaska\u2019s Lands\n\nThe omnibus features Murkowski\u2019s University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act, which will provide long-term fiscal stability for the University of Alaska by fulfilling its promise as a land grant university to generate additional revenues that help support its students and operations.\n\nMurkowski-led legislation designating the 16-mile-long U.S. segment of the Chilkoot Trail, which first served as a Tlingit trade route and then was used during the gold rush, as a National Historic Trail is included. Murkowski\u2019s bill also requires and provides funding for the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study to determine if the proposed 500-mile Alaska Long Trail, which will connect Seward to Fairbanks, should become a National Scenic Trail.\n\nThe omnibus prioritizes public lands, including investments in land cleanup. It increases funding for legacy well cleanup to support the next set of sites that need remediation. It likewise increases support for the Alaska Land Conveyance Program, to help fulfill legal requirements to transfer lands to the State and Alaska Natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).\n\nThe year-end package also establishes a new EPA ANCSA Contaminated Lands grant program with first-of-its-kind dedicated funding for the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in Alaska. It recognizes the importance of Alaska Public Land Information Centers and encourages agencies to seek to strengthen partnerships with them. The measure also provides additional funding for critical operations and management of our National Park System.\n\nEnsures Cleaner Air, Water, and Wastewater Infrastructure\n\nThe omnibus addresses drinking water and wastewater challenges in Alaskan communities by providing increased funding for the construction of new drinking water and wastewater systems and the improvement of existing systems. It also provides support for grant programs that help bring basic water and sewer infrastructure to communities in need.\n\nTo support communities such as Fairbanks in their efforts to reduce air pollution, the year-end package includes increased funding for Targeted Airshed Grants. It also prohibits EPA from implementing its small, remote incinerators rule in Alaska while Alaskans work with the agency to develop a rule that will work better to address the state\u2019s unique rural needs.\n\nPromotes Safer Communities\n\nThe omnibus supports state and local law enforcement and includes funding for Bipartisan Safer Communities Act programs, legislation passed earlier this year to address gaps in the law that have enabled mass shootings at schools. One example is additional resources for mental health and school safety. Significant increases are included for Violence Against Woman Act programs, legislation shepherded into law by Murkowski in March 2022. Increased funding is included for Public Law 280 states, such as Alaska, to help them develop tribal court systems for communities.\n\nCommunity safety is also bolstered through funding for wildland fire management and wildfire suppression as well as important programs that help emergency responders react to natural hazards and to quickly inform the public about those hazards. Funding for the earthquakes hazard program and volcano hazards program will allow Alaska to develop and upgrade monitoring capabilities to keep Alaskans safe. The omnibus retains Murkowski\u2019s report language directing the USGS to expand its landslide work in Southeast Alaska.\n\nBuilds Safer, Healthier Communities\n\nThe year-end package makes significant investments in mental and behavioral health, including through a Murkowski-led provision to improve the identification, assessment, treatment, and transition to follow-up care for individuals in emergency departments who are at risk of suicide. This dovetails with Murkowski\u2019s provision to reauthorize the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which supports numerous suicide prevention programs for youth and children.\n\nThe omnibus includes a Murkowski-led provision which supports grants for states, tribes, and tribal organizations to establish and maintain maternal mental health and substance use disorder programs, codifies the maternal mental health hotlines, and supports a pilot program for pregnant and postpartum women.\n\nAs a result of an amendment adopted during floor debate, the omnibus includes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a bill Murkowski helped lead that would ensure that pregnant women receive reasonable accommodations in the workplace needed to have healthy pregnancies. Murkowski\u2019s bipartisan Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act was also included, which expands breastfeeding protections for workers.\n\nIn light of the rising number of overdoses and deaths caused by substance misuse in Alaska, the year-end measure funds numerous programs for substance use disorder treatment and recovery for homeless individuals, access to treatment in areas with high rates of opioid use, efforts to prevent and respond to underage drinking, and increased access to emergency treatment for opioid overdoses.\n\nIn support of Alaska\u2019s most vulnerable communities, the bill package includes a number of housing-related initiatives to help support quality, accessible recovery for those in need. Murkowski\u2019s bipartisan legislation to help health care providers more effectively treat patients suffering from substance use disorder\u2014the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act\u2014is also incorporated.\n\nSupports Alaska\u2019s Fisheries and Oceans\n\nIn addition to fishery disaster funding, the omnibus supports this foundational industry through investments in surveys, management, electronic monitoring, and research. It includes $15 million in CDS for research on our oceans and rivers that will be performed by Alaskans. Murkowski\u2019s requests also support citizen science, co-management, data collection, and the addition of new technologies to Alaska\u2019s tool chest like eDNA monitoring. Murkowski\u2019s legislation with Senator Sullivan, the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, was included and directs NOAA to convene a task force to review current research and applied research gaps on migration patterns and declining returns of Pacific salmon in Alaska to support sustainable management.\n\nTo protect and invest in our oceans, the year-end package provides funding to address ocean acidification and for data collection and treaty obligations. Language authored by Murkowski will maintain and service the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) Array, which provides tsunami prediction capacity and directs the National Weather Service (NWS) to ensure that all DART buoys in Alaska, especially those in Prince William Sound and Southeast Alaska, are deployed and fully operational. Additional funding for the NWS will support staffing efforts in Alaska. Also included are funding for mapping the nearshore and shoreline of Alaska, as well as language directing NOAA to continue coordinating and implementing an interagency mapping, exploration, and characterization strategy for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The omnibus also requires a strategy for mapping the Arctic and sub-Arctic shoreline and nearshore of Alaska.\n\nEnhancing Retirement Benefits & Access\n\nThis year-end omnibus builds off provisions enacted in 2019 by including the package known as Secure 2.0, which will provide Alaskans greater access and an easier path to strengthening their retirement savings. As 401k and 403b plans make up a greater share of Americans\u2019 retirement savings, the Secure 2.0 package works to ensure they are participating and maximizing the benefits of employer-sponsored retirement plans. Murkowski supported the package as it advanced through the committee process and worked to ensure parity for all populations.\n\nSpecifically, the Secure 2.0 package:\n\nAutomatically enrolls employees into an employee sponsored retirement account;\n\nAllows for increased \u201ccatch up\u201d contribution limits for individuals aged 60-63;\n\nCreates a federal savers match of up to $2000 for those in qualifying income brackets;\n\nExpands access to retirement plans for part-time workers;\n\nExpands access to the Saver\u2019s Credit (a tax credit for contributions) for lower- and middle-income employees; and\n\nAllows employers to offer emergency rainy day savings accounts through their retirement plans.\n\nElection Integrity\n\nThe package includes bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Murkowski, the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, which reforms and modernizes the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The measure ensures that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state\u2019s vote for President. It replaces ambiguous provisions within the original law with clear procedures that maintain appropriate state and federal roles in selecting the President and Vice President of the United States as set forth in the Constitution. If there is more than one apparent successful candidate for President, each candidate must be provided with equal access to federal government resources and information.\n\nRelated Issues: Budget & Spending", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/schatz-murkowski-bills-supporting-native-language-revitalization-tribal-water-access-economic-development-mmip-resources-set-to-become-law", "Schatz, Murkowski: Bills Supporting Native Language Revitalization, Tribal Water Access, Economic Development, MMIP Resources Set To Become Law", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "House-Passed Package Includes Two Bipartisan Native Languages Bills Led By Schatz And Murkowski\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, released the following statements on eight bills set to become law \u2013\n\nS. 989, the Native American Language Resource Center Act of 2021;\n\nS. 1402, the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act of 2021;\n\nS. 3168, a bill to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to modify the enforceability date for certain provisions, and for other purposes;\n\nS. 3308, the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2021\n\nS. 4104, the Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022;\n\nS. 3773, a bill to authorize the leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation;\n\nS. 5087, a bill to amend the Not Invisible Act of 2019 to extend, and provide additional support for, the activities of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice Joint Commission on Reducing Violent Crime Against Indians, and for other purposes;\n\nS. 4439, the Katimi\u00een and Ameeky\u00e1araam Sacred Lands Act; and\n\nH.R. 897, the Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act.\n\n\u201cIn addition to three bills we sent to the President earlier this week, with passage of these bills in the House and Senate, 12 Indian Affairs bills are set to become law,\u201d said Chairman Schatz. \u201cThese bills advance key legislative priorities, including expansion of culturally-based Native American language revitalization efforts, construction of life-saving water systems for Tribes and surrounding communities, support for Tribal economic development, and more resources to combat the missing and murdered Indigenous peoples crisis. I thank my friend and colleague, Vice Chairman Murkowski, whose partnership has been critical to advancing these important bills.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am pleased that the Senate and the House have approved these 12 bills important to Native peoples from the Indian Affairs Committee. These bills will promote and expand Native American languages, support economic development, resolve disputes related to Indian water rights and provide resources and support to address the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous people. I appreciate all of my colleagues and their staff for the hard work moving our legislation forward,\u201d said Vice Chairman Murkowski.\n\nThe bills now head to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/year-end-omnibus-supports-readiness-security-military-construction_and-servicemember-and-veteran-well-being", "Year-End Omnibus Supports Readiness, Security, Military Construction,  and Servicemember and Veteran Well-Being", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "Includes More Than $335 Million for Military Construction in Alaska\n\nThe U.S. Senate recently passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, an omnibus package that contains all 12 appropriations bills and funds the federal government through September 30, 2023. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior Appropriator, secured funding and assistance for Alaska throughout the measure.\n\nThrough her role as a senior member of the Defense and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittees, Murkowski added significant funding and support for military members and their families, veterans, readiness and security needs, and military construction. The omnibus fully funds the recently-passed the National Defense Authorization Act, provides a historic plus-up for the Department of Defense, sends critical emergency aid to Ukraine, and continues to rebuild U.S. supply chains through critical mineral development.\n\n\u201cThe omnibus invests in the health and wellbeing of military service members while making sure they have the equipment and infrastructure they need to complete the mission. We provide crucial assistance to Ukraine, to combat Chinese influence in the Pacific, and to ensure that Alaska is the best place to serve in the best military in the world,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cI\u2019m particularly proud of the direct investments I secured for Alaska military installations\u2014from JBER to Fort Wainwright to Clear\u2014and the resources we added to support veterans. We increased funding for VA facilities, medical care, and services, expanding access to mental health care and programs to help veterans transition to civilian life. In the span of a single week, we have passed an NDAA and an appropriations package with more support for our military and veterans than we have seen in years.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Murkowski\u2019s successes in prioritizing defense spending in Alaska put our nation on stronger footing in the Arctic,\u201d Retired Air Force Lt. Gen David Krumm, former Commander of Alaska Command, said. \u201cIncreases in capacity to maintain our aircraft at JBER and building a world-class soldier readiness center for our Arctic Angels at Ft. Wainwright are a few examples of her continuing to be a champion for national security in the Arctic.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe thank Senator Murkowski for being the leader in Congress on critical mineral issues, drawing a straight line from their domestic development to the defense technologies that safeguard national security,\u201d Anthony Huston, CEO of Graphite One, said. \u201cWhether for lithium-ion batteries or a safer foam fire suppressant for defense or civilian use, it\u2019s essential to develop Alaska\u2019s rich graphite resources. The 2023 Defense Appropriations bill reflects that imperative.\u201d\n\nBILL HIGHLIGHTS\n\nImproving Quality of Life\n\nPay Raise: Provides a well-deserved 4.6 percent pay raise for military servicemembers.\n\nBasic Needs Allowance: Provides funding for a supplemental basic needs allowance for eligible families as well as a Basic Allowance for Subsistence.\n\nInflation: Includes funding to help servicemembers and families bear the cost of inflation.\n\nMental and Behavioral Heath: Provides funding for mental and behavioral health programs, including an increase in funding for mental health providers and funding for suicide prevention with a focus on rural, remote, and isolated locations.\n\nMedical Programs: Includes significant funding for medical and health care programs.\n\nMedical Research: Provides for medical research, including funding for ovarian cancer research and peer-reviewed ALS research.\n\nEnvironmental Restoration: Provides funding for environmental clean-up, including the clean-up of formerly used defense sites (\u201cFUDS\u201d) and remediating contamination caused by PFOS/PFOA.\n\nInfrastructure and Equipment\n\nMilitary Construction:\n\n$99 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for military construction (fitness/training) at Fort Wainwright.\n\n$63 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for military construction (airport hanger) on JBER.\n\n$5.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to remove PFAS contaminated soil on JBER\n\n$100 million for a runway extension on JBER.\n\n$68 million for military construction (housing) on Clear Air Force Station.\n\nCold Weather Gear: Supports our military serving in the High North through funding for Arctic clothing and individual equipment.\n\nAircraft:\n\nFunds 20 HH-60W combat rescue helicopters, which are used by the Alaska National Guard.\n\nIncludes funding for 16 C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard.\n\nProvides funding for F-35 aircraft including funds for restoration, spares, and repair facilities.\n\nFunds 12 MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range UAVs for the Army National Guard, like those used at Fort Wainwright.\n\nJPARC: Provides funding for the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC), the premier Air Force training range.\n\nHypersonics: Provides funding for the development and fielding of hypersonic weapons.\n\nDefense Community Cooperation: Provides funding for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, which supports infrastructure projects that impact both installations and communities.\n\nNuclear Energy: Provides funding for Pele Micro nuclear reactor. Eielson AFB was selected as the first installation to deploy a microreactor.\n\nIndustrial Base: Provides significant investments in our defense industrial base.\n\nShipyards: Provides funding for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan to recapitalize Navy shipyards.\n\nSpaceports: Supports state operated spaceports, which includes Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska in Kodiak, and launch and range complexes that support defense space priorities\n\nArctic Presence and Domain Awareness\n\nTed Stevens Center: Increases funding for the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies.\n\nPermafrost: Includes funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to expand and modernize their capability to conduct research in permafrost.\n\nArctic Awareness: Provides funding for Arctic terrain sensing through the use of Drone platforms to support military operations.\n\nArctic Operations: Provides funding to support Arctic defense capabilities including:\n\nRapid entry and sustainment for the Arctic\n\nSnowmachines\n\nShelters and heaters\n\nVisual and tactical Arctic reconnaissance\n\nEnergy: Provides funding for Arctic energy research and resiliency.\n\nVeterans\u2019 Health\n\nVA Medical Care: Provides significant funding for medical care for the 7.3 million veterans across our nation who receive their healthcare through the VA.\n\nPACT Act: Puts a down payment into the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund to begin the important work of caring for veterans who are victims of toxic exposure.\n\nProvides increased funding for rural health priorities, caregivers, women\u2019s health, and homelessness.\n\nAging Veterans\n\nRequires the VA Secretary to develop a standardized process throughout the VA for entering into sharing agreements between State homes and medical centers.\n\nDirects the VA to examine the contracts entered into with each State for nursing home care to determine if adequate compensation is provided for the cost of furnishing care in those locations.\n\nRequires the VA Secretary to develop a strategy for the long-term care of veterans.\n\nNative Veterans\n\nDirects the VA to appoint a single point of contact to coordinate federal tribal and veteran healthcare in areas where it may be difficult for a veteran to find proper representation of care due to the limited presence of VA facilities.\n\nEstablishes a Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program.\n\nRequires the VA to provide minority veteran coordinators with training in delivery of culturally appropriate mental health and suicide prevention services to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.\n\nVeterans\u2019 Mental Health\n\nProvides historic levels of investment in mental health and suicide prevention services.\n\nMakes the first three calendar-year visits for mental health services free for qualifying veterans.\n\nGrows the mental health workforce at the VA.\n\nExpands existing scholarship and loan repayment programs to those pursuing degrees or training in mental health fields.\n\nRequires the VA Secretary to establish a Buddy Check Week.\n\nCritical Minerals\n\nProvides additional Defense Production Act funding for feasibility studies that will help advance domestic graphite, cobalt, and platinum mines into production.\n\nProvides funding for the development of flake graphite-based solutions for PFAS contamination, including foam fire suppressants.\n\nRelated Issues: Defense, Veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-honors-cottingham-hardware-of-alexandria-as-senate-small-business-of-the-week/", "Dr. Rand Paul Honors Cottingham Hardware of Alexandria as Senate Small Business of the Week", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KY", "Rand Paul", "P000603", "www.paul.senate.gov", "paul", "https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 23, 2022\n\nContact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Cottingham Hardware of Alexandria, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week.\n\nDr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:\n\nMr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Cottingham Hardware of Alexandria, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week.\n\nAll across the nation are American small towns whose main street businesses bring color and vibrancy to their community. These businesses might be stores that occupy a specific niche, or may be the product of one entrepreneur\u2019s dreams turned reality. Many of these businesses however, are simply shops that the community has come to rely on, with a top-quality product or service that keeps their customers coming back. Such is the case for Alexandria\u2019s Cottingham Hardware, also referred to as Cottingham Ace, that was founded in 1957. This hardware store has been faithfully serving its\u2019 customers for sixty-five years, easily cementing the business as community institution.\n\nSixty-five years ago, Tom and Betty Cottingham opened Cottingham Hardware, a hardware store right in the heart of the little town of Alexandria, Kentucky. Since its\u2019 inception over six decades ago, the store has been dutifully serving its customers, offering them whatever hardware goods they might need, including but not limited to, specialty chrome, electrical lighting, as well as lawn and garden tools. The store also carries a large selection of firearms and ammunition, making the shop especially popular during Northern Kentucky\u2019s busy hunting season. In addition to the wide array of products available for purchase at Cottingham, the store has two mechanics who are always available to meet the needs of customers, with both mechanics having received the proper training and certification to handle practically any job. They boast a selection that is appropriate for all types of customers, whether they be a first-time home owner or the owner of multi-acre properties, they have the products and services to help with any project.\n\nStarted by a married couple, Cottingham Hardware continues to be a family business. Tom and Betty\u2019s three sons practically grew up in the store, so it would only make sense that the three men choose to perpetuate their parents\u2019 dream and run the store with the same dedication and customer-friendly atmosphere that Tom and Betty created. The three sons, Tom, Mike, and Joe, took over the business in the mid 90\u2019s, roughly a decade after Cottingham Hardware moved from their original location right in Alexandria out to U.S. Highway 27. The three brothers led the business through a vast array of modernizations, opting for computerized systems in place of the original manual inventory and registry systems. Today, Cottingham Hardware can easily locate a necessary piece of machinery as it travels along the supply chain before arriving at their store. The Cottingham men understood that to lead their parents\u2019 business into the modern era requires these types of technological advancements, and they make sure Cottingham Hardware stays on the cutting edge of modern computer equipment.\n\nIn addition to their eye for key modernizations to the hardware store, the Cottingham brothers understand that their parents\u2019 success was due in large part to their dedication to family values. Tom, Mike, and Joe maintain a strict policy that at least one of the Cottingham brothers is in store at any given time during business hours, all seven days a week. Friends and neighbors are constantly coming through their doors to purchase tools or equipment and to visit with the familiar faces of the Cottingham store. These days even the brothers\u2019 children occasionally work with them in store, entering in to a new generation of Cottingham family leadership. Moreover, Cottingham Hardware maintains their dedication to the Alexandria community, as they often participate in donations for local schools and churches. Additionally, Joe Cottingham is a member of the Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD), representing Campbell County. NKADD strives to achieve sustainable economic growth and improve the overall quality of life for the citizens of Kentucky. Clearly the Cottingham family is dedicated not only to running a successful family business, but to championing and supporting small businesses around the state as well. For that reason, it gives me great pleasure to honor this multi-generation family business as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Congratulations to the Cottingham brothers and the entire team at Cottingham Hardware. I look forward to seeing your continued growth and success in Kentucky.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America\u2019s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America\u2019s small businesses.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.paul.senate.gov/dr-rand-paul-releases-2022-festivus-report-on-government-waste/", "Dr. Rand Paul Releases 2022 \u2018Festivus\u2019 Report on Government Waste", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KY", "Rand Paul", "P000603", "www.paul.senate.gov", "paul", "https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nDecember 23, 2022\n\nContact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) incoming Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), released his 2022 \u201cFestivus\u201d Report, totaling $482,276,543,907 in government waste.\n\nThis marks Dr. Paul\u2019s eighth edition of the Festivus Report as he continues working to alert the American people to how their federal government uses their hard-earned money.\n\nSome of the highlights include the National Institutes of Health spending $2.3 million injecting beagle puppies with cocaine, and separately spending $187,500 to verify that kids love their pets. The Department of Health and Human Services spent $689,222 to study romance between parrots, the NIH funded a $3 million annual research project to watch hamsters on steroids fight, and the U.S. Census Bureau spent $2.5 million on Super Bowl Ads.\n\nYou can find Dr. Paul\u2019s 2022 Festivus Report HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-led-provisions-to-support-michigans-defense-sector-signed-into-law", "Peters-Led Provisions to Support Michigan\u2019s Defense Sector Signed Into Law", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 President Biden signed the bipartisan annual national defense bill into law today, which U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, played a key role in passing out of the Senate. Peters successfully led or supported provisions in the law to invest in Michigan\u2019s military facilities, strengthen our national security, bolster troop preparedness, combat PFAS contamination and give our servicemembers a pay raise.\n\n\u201cThese critical investments will not only support Michigan\u2019s defense sector but the men and women in uniform across our state who play a key role in our national defense. From efforts to combat PFAS contamination \u2013 to ensuring our troops are well-prepared \u2013 to bolstering Michigan\u2019s military installations \u2013 this law takes important steps to have the backs of those who selflessly serve our nation,\u201d said Senator Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. \u201cThis national defense law will also provide our troops a well-deserved pay raise and strengthen our national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Peters continues to be a champion for the Michigan National Guard who fights to ensure our Soldiers and Airmen have the federal support they need to perform their mission,\u201d said Major General Paul D. Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. \u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA contains many wins for Michigan that will keep our installations and facilities at the forefront of Department of Defense training and ensure Michigan remains a vital enabler of our National Defense Strategy.\u201d\n\nThe National Defense Authorization Act sets annual policy for the Department of Defense (DOD). The defense bill has been signed into law for more than 60 straight years.\n\nThe following provisions Peters led or supported, including the authorization of more than $40 million in funding for Michigan\u2019s military facilities, were secured in the law:\n\nInvesting in Michigan Military Facilities:\n\n$1.6 Million for Army Reserve Center at Southfield: Peters included an authorization of $1.6 million to complete the construction of maintenance facilities at the Army Reserve Center in Southfield. This builds on Peters\u2019 efforts in last year\u2019s national defense bill to secure a $12 million authorization to help construct new maintenance facilities at the Army Reserve unit in Southfield, which allows servicemembers who serve as mechanics to maintain and extend the lifespan of military vehicles and enable them to utilize the latest equipment and facilities.\n\n$16 Million for National Guard Armory at Camp Grayling: Peters secured an authorization of $16 million for a National Guard armory at Camp Grayling. This funding authorization aligns with the President\u2019s budget calling for funding the armory and helps ensure the Armory can receive full appropriations. This follows Peters\u2019 efforts in last year\u2019s national defense bill to secure the authorization of $5.7 million for the construction of a power generation system.\n\n$24 Million for Marine Corps Reserve Unit at Battle Creek: Peters included an authorization of $24 million for new supply and storage facilities for the Marine Corps Reserve Unit in Battle Creek. This builds on Peters\u2019 efforts in last year\u2019s national defense bill to secure the authorization of $10 million to construct a new main gate and entrance facility to Battle Creek Air National Guard Base.\n\nAddressing PFAS Contamination:\n\nTackling PFAS Contamination: Peters has led the charge in the Senate addressing PFAS contamination. The national defense law includes a Peters-led effort that will bolster the Department of Defense\u2019s (DoD) transparency surrounding PFAS research to keep servicemembers and communities safer. It asks DoD to establish practices to ensure the timely and complete dissemination of research findings and data relating to PFAS to the general public. It will also specifically ask DoD to release to the public within 180 days up-to-date information on any research collaborations, the development and testing of fluorine-free firefighting foam, PFAS health effects and the impacts on veterans and military families, and treatment options for drinking water and safe PFAS disposal. Peters also supported provisions to phase out the military purchase of firefighting equipment containing PFAS and authorize significant funding to clean up PFAS contaminated military sites.\n\nSupporting Michigan\u2019s Defense Sector and Advanced Technology:\n\nFunding Electrification Technology for Army Vehicles: Peters secured a $5 million authorization to help fund the continued development of Next Generation Electrified Transmission, as well as a provision encouraging continued Army funding towards the project to reduce fossil fuel reliance and meet climate strategy goals. This funding will ensure that vital work to develop next-generation, hybrid engines can continue being done in Michigan.\n\nEnsuring Appropriate Use and Recycling of Federal Electric Vehicle Batteries: The bipartisan law includes a provision, based on Peters\u2019 Strategic EV Management Act, that will ensure government agencies are properly using and recycling batteries from the federal fleet of electric vehicles (EVs). The provision will help the federal government provide American manufacturers with a domestic supply of reusable EV batteries and the rare metals needed to make them, while reducing our nation\u2019s dependence on foreign suppliers for these limited, but critical resources.\n\nSupport for Ground Combat Vehicles: Peters supported an increase in authorization of funding for ground combat vehicles \u2013 including the Abrams tanks, Stryker vehicle upgrades, and Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) systems. General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights is the prime contractor for the Stryker armored vehicle and many Michigan companies serve as suppliers for each of these platforms.\n\nBolstering Cybersecurity Efforts: Peters supported a provision to establish the DoD Cyber and Digital Service Academy as a scholarship-for-service program partnered with universities and colleges in the United States, with a DOD service requirement for participants. As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters is leading the charge to strengthen our cybersecurity and has passed into law significant cybersecurity reforms.\n\nEnsuring Agencies Can Quickly Adopt Cloud-Based Technology: Peters secured a provision, based on his bipartisan bill, to ensure federal agencies are able to quickly adopt cloud-based technologies that improve government operations and efficiently provide services to Americans. The provision will also make sure federal cloud systems \u2013 which store a considerable amount of personal and sensitive information \u2013 are secure from cyber-attacks.\n\nSecuring and Preventing Misuse of Data Collected By Artificial Intelligence: The package includes a provision, based on bipartisan legislation authored by Peters, that will ensure that government contractors are securing and using data collected by artificial intelligence technology, such as biometric data from facial recognition scans, in a way that protects protect national security and in ensures the privacy and rights of all Americans.\n\nSupporting Our Troops, Their Families, and Their Communities:\n\nPay Raise for Troops: Peters supported a 4.6 percent pay raise for both military servicemembers and the DoD civilian workforce.\n\nSupporting Troop Preparedness: Peters secured a provision highlighting the importance of cold weather training and mandating that DoD provide a report detailing existing all-domain warfighting centers that are able to support arctic like training exercises. Also included was a provision supported by Peters that authorizes $32.5 million in funding for female/small stature body armor.\n\nPromoting STEM Education through STARBASE: Peters supported efforts to authorize significant funding for STARBASE, a DoD Youth Program that promotes STEM education. Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township is home to the first STARBASE program, which specifically provides K-12 students unique experiences in experiential learning, simulations and experiments in aviation and space-related fields.\n\nSupporting Defense Community Infrastructure Projects: Peters secured language altering the requirement for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) by allowing for land which is community owned but DoD leased to be eligible for DCIP project funding \u2013 allowing for the possibility of communities near Selfridge Air National Guard Base to apply for DCIP funds. Historically, DCIP projects have been used to improve access to and from military facilities, build more resilient infrastructure, enhance quality of life among servicemembers and their families, and bridge the gap between defense installations and the communities they serve.\n\nSafeguarding Houses of Worship: Peters helped secure a provision to reauthorize the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at $360 million. Peters has long championed and supported increased funding for this program, which provides grants to help houses of worship and at-risk nonprofits plan for and safeguard their facilities against potential attacks.\n\nInvest in Defense Operations and Support U.S. Security Interests:\n\nSupporting Ukraine and Key Allies: The law extends and modifies the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which provides appropriate security assistance to the Government of Ukraine and to other forces or groups recognized by, and under the authority of, the Government of Ukraine; and authorizes funding to provide security assistance to Ukraine via this authority.\n\nSupporting Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Research: Peters supported provisions to reauthorize cooperation between the U.S. and Israel on counter-unmanned aerial systems issues. This builds on Peters\u2019 efforts in the previous national defense bill, which authorized a program for joint research and development with Israel on counter-unmanned aerial systems technology. A range of unmanned aerial systems from small, commercially available platforms to larger, armed aircraft pose a threat to both the United States and Israel. This cooperative research program will allow the United States military to benefit from Israel\u2019s expertise and experience in countering unmanned aerial systems.\n\nSupporting Defense Relationship Between U.S. and Israel: Peters included a provision to clarify the requirements and expectations from Congress for the U.S. Israel Operations Technology Working Group. Peters previously called for the formation of the working group with the Israeli government to focus on shared defense technology issues and coordinate defense capabilities, research and development.\n\nSupporting Taiwan: Peters supported the authorization of the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act of 2022, including various provisions designed to increase security cooperation with Taiwan consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, which will help deter aggression from the Chinese government.\n\nBuilding Information Operations: Peters included a requirement for the DoD to better identify and build up partner nation capacity to conduct information operations.\n\nInvesting in the U.S. Coast Guard:\n\nU.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise: The bill authorizes additional funding for the operation of the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response. In 2018, Peters authored a provision that was signed into law to establish the Great Lakes Center of Expertise to examine the impacts of oil spills in freshwater environments and help develop effective responses. Peters later secured $4.5 million for the Center of Expertise, and led efforts to ensure it was headquartered in Michigan. Peters helped cut the ribbon at the Center of Expertise at Lake Superior State University\u2019s Center for Freshwater Research and Education.\n\nImprove U.S. Coast Guard Data on Oil Spill Modeling: The law incorporates a recommendation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to ensure the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) acquires all data relevant to advanced predictive modeling for spills of diluted bitumen being transported by pipelines. NOAA has begun incorporating new data on this practice; however, they are not required by law to do so. Therefore, this commonsense provision authored by Peters will require U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to acquire this data to improve oil spill preparedness moving forward.\n\nAuthorize Funding for New Great Lakes Icebreaker: The bill provides an authorization of $350 million in funding to acquire an additional Great Lakes icebreaker.\n\nAddress Backlog of USCG Infrastructure Projects: The bill will begin to address the current backlog of USCG infrastructure projects in the Great Lakes by requiring an annual report from USCG on shoreside infrastructure needs by region.\n\nModernizing Water Infrastructure:\n\nWater Resources Development Act: The bipartisan Water Resources Development Act is included in the national defense bill. Peters helped secure major water infrastructure investments \u2013 including the authorization of projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to modernize the Soo Locks, stop invasive carp, prevent coastal erosion and flooding, and improve water quality in Michigan, among other priorities.\n\nOther Provisions:\n\nBolstering Federal Response to Disasters and Emergencies: Peters also helped secure provisions to strengthen our federal government\u2019s response to natural disasters and emergencies. One bipartisan provision, based on legislation Peters helped introduce this summer, will ensure our nation is better prepared for high-consequence events, regardless of the low probability, such as new strains of disease, biotechnology accidents, or naturally occurring risks such as super volcanoes or solar flares that though unlikely, would be exceptionally lethal if they occurred. Peters also secured a provision that will expand mental health assistance for communities recovering from the psychological effects of natural disasters and other emergencies.\n\nStrengthening Protections for Inspectors General: As Chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has long worked to ensure government works effectively and efficiently. Peters secured long overdue reforms, based on legislation he championed in the Senate, to strengthen protections for inspectors general who conduct independent oversight to prevent and uncover fraud, waste, and abuse of tax dollars in the federal government.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-5-billion-included-in-government-funding-bill-for-the-honoring-our-pact-act-which-extends-va-care-to-afghanistan-and-iraq-veterans-exposed-to-burn-pits-and-other-toxins-these-funds-will-deliver-desperately-needed-medical-coverage-for-tens-of-thousands-exposed-ny-vets-", "SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $5 BILLION INCLUDED IN GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL FOR THE HONORING OUR PACT ACT, WHICH EXTENDS VA CARE TO AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ VETERANS EXPOSED TO BURN PITS & OTHER TOXINS; THESE FUNDS...", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer Led PACT Act To Passage After Years Of Fighting Alongside NY Vets To Extend VA Care; Veterans Have Struggled To Receive Coverage & Had Claims Repeatedly Denied For Long-Term Health Effects\u2014From Cancers To Respiratory Illnesses\u2014Caused By Toxins In Burn Pit Smoke; Funding Also Helps Vietnam Vets Exposed to Agent Orange\n\nCritical Funding For \u201cHonoring Our PACT Act\u201d Will Ensure Vets Exposed To Environmental Hazards Get The Health Care Benefits They Desperately Deserve\n\nSchumer: Every Breath Our Veterans Take Is A Reminder Of Their Sacrifice; Our Vets Will Receive The Full Benefits They Deserve With The Help Of These Funds\n\nAfter months of tireless advocacy, and an all-out push standing with veterans across New York State from Rochester to Long Island to Central New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced $5 billion has been included in the government funding bill for the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (Honoring Our PACT Act).\n\nSpecifically, the bill allocates $5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, which provides funding for the Honoring Our PACT Act. The PACT Act extends health coverage for veterans who were exposed to burn pit smoke and other environmental hazards that caused cancers and other illnesses during their service. Earlier this year, Schumer led the PACT Act to Senate passage after years of relentless fighting to extend healthcare coverage to tens of thousands of vets across New York to get the medical treatment they deserve.\n\n\u201cI am proud to have led the Honoring Our Pact Act to passage and to deliver this funding to extend critical care to our nation\u2019s veterans,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cTens of thousands of New York veterans, and over three and a half million vets across America, have been exposed to toxins from burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan in the line of duty, and for too long, bureaucratic rules denied them treatment for cancers, respiratory diseases, and countless other illnesses incurred while fighting for our freedom. Every breath our veterans take is a reminder of their sacrifice for our country. Funding this long overdue legislation keeps our nation\u2019s promise of taking care of our veterans and providing them the full health benefits they deserve after they put their lives and health on the line to protect our freedoms.\u201d\n\nSchumer explained that the Honoring Our PACT Act expands health care access for veterans affected by exposure to harmful substances, toxins, and other environmental hazards, including from burn pits, which put service members in Iraq and Afghanistan in proximity of airborne hazards with the open-air combustion of trash and other waste like chemicals and munitions. Toxins in burn pit smoke have been shown to potentially have long-term effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, gastrointestinal tract, and internal organs, and veterans often faced a complicated disability benefit claims process at the VA to get access to the health care they needed. Schumer said this funding and legislation will help extend VA health care to the tens of thousands of toxic-exposed veterans in New York, and 3.5 million veterans nationally exposed to toxic substances during their service even if they do not have a service-connected disability.\n\nSchumer has a long history of fighting to expand healthcare coverage for veterans and fighting to deliver the treatment they deserve. In 2020, Schumer stood with Upstate New York Vietnam War veterans across the state to demand the inclusion of additional diseases to the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list. After a full court press that he launched in Upstate New York, Schumer was successfully able to secure the expansion of the list to include bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism for diseases associated with \u2018Agent Orange\u2019 exposure in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nThe Honoring Our Pact Act expands on Schumer\u2019s previous advocacy for Agent Orange exposure by further adding hypertension to the list of presumptive conditions. In addition, the bill also provides new or increased disability benefits to thousands of veterans by designating 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers as likely linked to toxic exposures related to military burn pits.\n\nDetails of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which was funded in the just-passed government funding bill can be found below:\n\nProvide Priority Group 6 health care for over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans\n\nProvide extension of combat eligibility for health care from 5 to 10 years with a one-year open enrollment period for those veterans who missed their window.\n\nStreamline VA\u2019s review process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions\n\nConcede exposure to airborne hazards/burn pits based on locations & dates of service\n\nRequire medical exams/opinions for certain veterans with toxic exposure disability claims\n\nAdd hypertension and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to the list of presumptions for Agent Orange exposure\n\nEstablish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits/airborne hazards exposure\n\nCreate a presumption of exposure to radiation for veterans who participated in cleanup activities in Palomares, Spain, and Enewetak Atoll\n\nExpand Agent Orange exposure to veterans who served in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia\n\nImprove data collection between VA and the Department of Defense\n\nCommission studies related to incidents of cancer among veterans, health trends of Post 9/11 veterans and feasibility of providing healthcare to dependents of veterans\n\nRequire VA to provide standardized training to improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications\n\nRequire VA to conduct outreach and provide resources to toxic exposed veterans\n\nResources VA with additional workforce and facilities investments to deliver these historic benefits to veterans across the country\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-44-million-in-bipartisan-spending-package-for-new-greenwich-wastewater-treatment-plant-", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $4.4 MILLION IN BIPARTISAN SPENDING PACKAGE FOR NEW GREENWICH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand revealed that the Village of Greenwich will receive $4.4 million in funding from the omnibus funding package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The funding will be used to build a new wastewater treatment plant for the Village of Greenwich. The omnibus is expected to pass Congress and be signed into law this week.\n\nThe Village of Greenwich\u2019s wastewater treatment plant is at the end of its useful life and is in an advanced state of deterioration. Given the fact that the original manufacturer is no longer in business and replacement parts would not be available, any failure of an individual critical component could lead to a complete shutdown of the plant.\n\nThe proposed facility will have an anticipated lifespan of at least 60 years and will have built-in redundancies and room for future expansion.\n\n\u201cFor far too long the Village of Greenwich\u2019s aging wastewater treatment facility has needed serious upgrades, and I am proud to deliver this major $4.4 million federal investment to finally replace and expand the wastewater treatment plant to move this project forward without the burden having to fall on local taxpayers,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI will always to fight tooth and nail to keep our water systems flowing, jobs growing, and New Yorkers safe and healthy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Village of Greenwich\u2019s existing wastewater treatment facility serves a key role in protecting the environment but it is nearing the end of its useful life,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI am proud to have helped secure this $4.4 million in funding, which will enable Greenwich to build a new, modern wastewater treatment plant that will ensure our state\u2019s waterways remain clean now and into the future.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-nearly-11-million-for-syracuse-in-federal-bipartisan-funding-package-includes-25m-to-bolster-syr-airport-security-operations_to-fight-food-insecurity-and-boost-health-care-across-cny-", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $11 MILLION FOR SYRACUSE IN FEDERAL BIPARTISAN FUNDING PACKAGE; INCLUDES $2.5M TO BOLSTER SYR AIRPORT SECURITY OPERATIONS, $$$ TO FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY AND BOOST...", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are announcing that several of their priorities for Syracuse, including $2,500,000 in federal funding for security enhancements at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, were successfully passed in the final omnibus funding package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. Together, the senators secured $10.76 million for projects that will directly impact the Syracuse community. Notably, the senators secured $1.1 million to support suicide prevention efforts and $900K to center research, diagnostic expertise, clinical specialists, and medical education resources for Lyme and tick-borne disease at SUNY Upstate Medical University.\n\n\u201cFrom increasing public safety to expanding SUNY Upstate\u2019s mental health services to boosting the Food Bank of Central New York, these projects will address some of the most critical infrastructure, public health, and community needs across the greater Syracuse area,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding means good-paying jobs, better healthcare, clean drinking water, revitalizing our neighborhoods, and so much more. I am proud to deliver this major investment of nearly $11 million in Central New York\u2019s future.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud that I was able to secure nearly $11 million in this year\u2019s funding package to invest in the future of Syracuse,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI will remain vigilant in the Senate fighting for the resources that will help make transportation seamless, improve public safety and health, and create new jobs in Central New York. It is more important now than ever that we invest in the infrastructure that Syracuse needs to ensure that the city continues to be a fixture for economic growth in Upstate New York.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-over-35-million-for-twenty-two-hudson-valley-projects-secured-in-the-end-of-year-spending-bill-including-increasing-access-to-lifesaving-cancer-treatment-in-rockland-county-connecting-communities-along-the-hudson-river-boosting-crime-prevention-programs-and-kick-starting-infrastructure-projects-across-the-hudson-valley-", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $35 MILLION FOR TWENTY-TWO HUDSON VALLEY PROJECTS SECURED IN THE END-OF-YEAR SPENDING BILL; INCLUDING INCREASING ACCESS TO LIFESAVING CANCER TREATMENT IN ROCKLAND...", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed that the Hudson Valley will receive $35,694,472 in community project funding from the omnibus end-of-year spending package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 for critical local projects.\n\n\u201cFrom boosting lifesaving cancer treatment at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern to connecting communities along the scenic Hudson River in Westchester and Rockland to boosting public safety in New Rochelle and finally fixing our aging water infrastructure in Middletown, these projects will address some of the most critical infrastructure, public health, and community needs across the Hudson Valley,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding means good-paying jobs, gun violence prevention programs, safer streets, a cleaner environment, getting lifesaving healthcare where it\u2019s needed most, and so much more. I am proud to deliver this major over $35 million investment in the Hudson Valley\u2019s future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a critical investment that will help revitalize the Hudson Valley,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cToday, we are committing to putting millions toward rebuilding our roads and sewers, improving public safety, and expanding health care access. I\u2019m proud to have fought to secure this funding and I\u2019ll work tirelessly to make sure Hudson Valley families, workers, and businesses have what they need to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe successful Community Project Funding requests are as follows:\n\nMUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES (7 Projects, $19,150,472)\n\n$5,000,000 For The Town of Orangetown To Complete Route 9W Safety Improvements At Oak Tree Road: The funding will build a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Oak Tree Road and Route 9W in Palisades, New York, where many accidents occur every year. This project was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$4,000,000 For The Village of Ossining To Construct Its Route 9 Road Diet: The funding will design and construct a road diet to improve safety and balance the Route 9 corridor in the Village of Ossining. Earlier this year, village officials met with Senator Schumer and Congressman Jones\u2019 offices to show them the dangerous intersection leading to this successful funding request. This project was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$3,452,972 For The City of Middletown To Make Critical Water System Improvements: This project will commence phase three of a multi-stage upgrade to the City of Middletown\u2019s water infrastructure. These funds will go towards replacing pipes from 1887 with new infrastructure and builds on the funding that Senator Schumer secured last year to expand reliable water infrastructure for Middletown residents and businesses. This project was in partnership with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.\n\n$2,797,500 For Westchester County And Scenic Hudson To Construct The Route 9-RiverWalk Transit Connector: The funding will connect Route 9 neighborhoods and businesses with the iconic Westchester RiverWalk. This ADA-compliant trail connection will provide bicycle and pedestrian access between Tarrytown Station, a multi-modal transportation hub, and homes, businesses, and jobs. This was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$2,400,000 For The Village of New Square To Make Key Drainage And Flood Mitigation Improvements: The funding will replace storm sewers with larger diameter pipes for increased flow capacity and the ability to provide some attenuation of peak flows by providing increased storage capacity. In New Square, a densely populated urban center, flooding impacts thousands of residents and businesses in a short timeframe, creating significant health and safety hazards, a problem that this project seeks to help address. This project was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$1,500,000 For Water Treatment Facility Improvements In The Village Of Kiryas Joel: This investment will help the village enhance its publicly-owned water treatment facility. Modernized upgrades will help the village to create cleaner and more reliable water for its residents.\n\n$1,000,000 For The Town Of Poughkeepsie\u2019s Hudson Heritage Sewer System Project: Hudson Heritage is a mixed-use development project on the 156-acre site of the former Hudson River Psychiatric Center. This funding will allow the Town of Poughkeepsie to create a waste water system at the site, entirely within a federally-designated Environmental Justice Area.\n\nHEALTHCARE, ARTS AND EDUCATION (12 Projects, $14,869,000)\n\n$2,000,000 For Good Samaritan Hospital To Construct Oncology Surgical Suite: This funding will provide Hudson Valley patients who need cancer surgery a fully-equipped and dedicated surgical oncology room with on-demand service that will offer responsive, timely cancer surgeries and will result in increased patient satisfaction as well as improved health outcomes. This funding follows Senator Schumer\u2019s personal visit to Suffern\u2019s Good Samaritan Hospital in November of 2021.\n\n$2,000,000 For Sun River Health To Build A New Urgent Care Center In Beacon: This project will renovate the Beacon Health Center in Dutchess County to significantly expand access and capacity, raise visibility, and contribute to community revitalization in downtown Beacon. The new Urgent Care Center will provide walk-in access to a full complement of primary care services, as well as radiology and labs, through expanded hours of service, including weekends, with easy linkage to a medical home for ongoing primary, preventive, behavioral and oral health care. This project was in partnership with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.\n\n$1,975,000 For Montefiore Nyack Hospital To Upgrade Critical Electrical Infrastructure: Montefiore Nyack will purchase and install two new emergency generators allowing for greater capacity for critical equipment not currently on emergency power. This includes much of the hospital cooling in patient care areas. The plan will also develop campus wide emergency power generation capacities to allow for sustained operation in the event of prolonged power failure. This funding follows multiple meetings and months of work between Senator Schumer\u2019s team and Montefiore Nyack.\n\n$1,900,000 For New York Medical College To Implement Its Equity And Compassion In Medical Education Project: This project will expand a highly specialized healthcare training facility to provide students and residents with patient encounters specifically engineered to teach and test their ability to recognize patients\u2019 issues that go deeper than the health problems they report. The project will train healthcare professionals in Westchester and Rockland to better serve diverse populations, not only with standard practices, but also systemic issues of food insecurity, sustainability, substandard housing, and resilience during community-wide emergencies This project was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$1,600,000 For Storm King To Complete Its Entrance and Conservation Facility Renovation Project: This project will complete the renovation of the entrance and welcome facilities to the park along with the facility used for the conservation of art projects. This project will help sustain tourism and economic development in Orange County and the surrounding towns. This project was in partnership with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.\n\n$1,300,000 For Jawonio To Construct A State-Of-The-Art Behavioral Health Center: This funding will build out a new space in Rockland County for the Jawonio Behavioral Health Center where people with a mental health diagnosis and the dually diagnosed can receive holistic mental health services, achieve their recovery goals, and actively participate in their community. The program is unique as it provides integrated psychiatric rehabilitation and clinical services that promote treatment through a recovery-oriented lens. This was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$1,000,000 For Good Samaritan Hospital To Construct Modernized Cancer Screening Endoscopy: The funding will be used to establish a modernized Cancer Screening Endoscopy suite to facilitate preventative screenings aimed at detecting cancerous growths during early treatable stages that are commonly without external symptoms. . This funding follows Senator Schumer\u2019s personal visit to Suffern\u2019s Good Samaritan Hospital in November of 2021. This was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$1,000,000 For St. John\u2019s Riverside Hospital To Upgrade Its Emergency Department:This funding will renovate and expand the Emergency Department space at St. John\u2019s Riverside Hospital to add additional patient care space and workstations to the currently overcrowded location. This hospital primarily serves Medicaid and Medicare recipients, and the renovations will help create a safer and more effective healthcare delivery setting. This funding builds on Schumer\u2019s successful 2021 CDS request which revamped the hospital\u2019s maternity unit. This project was in partnership with Congressman Jamaal Bowman.\n\n$825,000 For New York Medical College To Launch The Women's Institute for Science Entrepreneurship (WISE): This transformative program will support female undergraduates pursuing STEM education to cultivate new scientific concepts and launch new businesses. WISE creates a multidisciplinary entrepreneurship educational opportunity for students and launches careers for alumni who will make significant differences to their communities and around the world.\n\n$537,000 For Access: Supports for Living For A Renovation & Training Facility: This will fund the renovation of the Access: Supports for Living\u2019s headquarters, creating functional, efficient space, including shared workspace used by staff working in program administration. This will allow one of Orange County\u2019s largest employers to eliminate other costly, inefficient space, and redeploy those funds into serving the community. Senator Schumer worked closely with Access to secure this funding and was honored with their Vision of Hope award last year for his efforts.\n\n$500,000 For The Westchester Residential Opportunities Aging-In-Place Home Repair Program: This funding will launch an Aging-in-Place Home Repair program, which will support aging-in-place repairs, energy efficiency, and healthy living for Westchester County\u2019s seniors. This was in partnership with Congressman Mondaire Jones.\n\n$250,000 For Riverkeeper\u2019s Water Quality Web Portal: This funding will support Riverkeeper in updating and expanding upon this nearly 10-year-old data portal, in order to better serve the public's interest in safe recreation, and inform climate-resilient water quality improvements and equitable access to the joys of outdoor recreation. Riverkeeper's Publicly Accessible Water Quality Web Portal will be a collection of unique scientific data on the presence of E.coli and Enterococcus, two fecal-indicator bacteria, in the Hudson River, New York Harbor, and many tributaries.\n\nPUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION (3 Projects, $1,675,000)\n\n$1,125,000 For Justice Innovation Inc. To Implement The New Rochelle Community Youth Violence Intervention Initiative: This funding would be used to prevent youth violence in New Rochelle. Project staff will leverage the services of local social service providers, reengage disconnected youth, support their enrollment and completion of socioemotional, educational, and economic services, and facilitate the improvement of their economic self-sufficiency, thereby improving community violence outcomes. This project was in partnership with Congressman Jamaal Bowman.\n\n$300,000 For The City Of Middletown Police Department To Upgrade Its Police Security and Technology: This project will assist with the acquisition of additional public security cameras and license plate readers, which will help with the investigation of criminal activity. This project will contribute to public safety in Middletown by providing first responders with additional tools to prevent criminal activity. This project was in partnership with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney.\n\n$250,000 For The City Of New Rochelle To Make Key Upgrades To Its Youth Bureau:The funding will be used to furnish, outfit, and establish the first-ever youth-based community center in New Rochelle, to be managed by the City of New Rochelle's Department of Parks and Recreation and Youth Bureau. The community center will be located in downtown New Rochelle, where there are thousands of low- and moderate-income children and families living and working within walking distance. This funding follow\u2019s Senator Schumer\u2019s personal meeting with the New Rochelle NAACP earlier this year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-urge-fema-to-stand-ready-to-quickly-approve-disaster-declaration-for-western-new-york-and-upstate-communities-impacted-by-holiday-weekend-blizzard", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND URGE FEMA TO STAND READY TO QUICKLY APPROVE DISASTER DECLARATION FOR WESTERN NEW YORK AND UPSTATE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY HOLIDAY WEEKEND BLIZZARD", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators Say Disaster Declaration Would Unlock Federal Funds for Impacted Counties Still Recovering From Double Blow Of Back To Back Winter Storms After The Record Breaking Snowvember Storm\n\nCurrent Forecasts Predict Brutal Mix Of Frigid Temperatures, Snow, Rain, And High Winds \u2013 Creating Dangerous Conditions, With Meteorologists Already Referring The Event As Potentially A \u201cOnce-In-A-Generation Storm.\u201d\n\nSchumer & Gillibrand To FEMA: Stand Ready To Approve Any Requested Aid for Western NY & Upstate Communities\n\nU.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve any request from New York State for a major disaster declaration as the potential holiday weekend blizzard begins to touch down in Western NY and communities across Upstate NY. The senators said that current forecasts of snow, extremely high winds, freezing rain, and rapidly dropping temperatures creates potentially very dangerous conditions, especially around such a peak travel time due to the holiday weekend.\n\n\u201cBuffalo, Western NY and communities across New York State are expecting a rapidly intensifying blizzard and dangerous conditions as we enter the holiday weekend and it is absolutely crucial that they have resources they need to recover and weather this storm,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cFEMA needs to stand ready to swiftly approve any forthcoming requests from the state for assistance to help these communities quickly recover and endure the storm.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the next few days, Western New Yorkers will weather dangerously low temperatures, poor travel conditions, severe storm surges, and heavy wind gusts expected to lead to widespread power outages,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cAhead of this storm of potentially historic proportions, FEMA must be prepared to immediately send any aid requested by the state in order to keep our communities safe through the storm and allow them to recover quickly from any damage.\u201d\n\nNew York State has already declared a State of Emergency for the entire State of New York in advance of a significant winter weather system forecast beginning Thursday evening and continuing through Monday, and the City of Buffalo has also issued a State of Emergency ahead of the storm.\n\nIf a disaster declaration is requested and declared, grant assistance would be made available to state and local governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations, to reimburse costs incurred for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged facilities. This funding is available on a cost-sharing basis; FEMA generally covers 75 percent of the eligible costs for permanent and emergency work. After any severe storm, the first step in the declaration process is for the state to request a Preliminary Damage Assessment, during which FEMA representatives join state, local, and other officials to survey damage across storm-impacted counties to help determine whether the cost of the disaster meets the criteria for a federal disaster declaration. Schumer and Gillibrand urged FEMA to be prepared to support any requests for aid from New York State.\n\nThe Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authorizes the president to issue \u201cmajor disaster\u201d or \u201cemergency\u201d declarations before or after catastrophes occur. The decision to issue a disaster declaration is at the discretion of the president, and must be requested by the governor of the state. These declarations unlock federal aid through FEMA that is broken into two broad areas: Individual Assistance (IA) that aids families and individuals, and Public Assistance (PA) that is mainly for emergency work such as debris removal and permanent repairs to infrastructure. When assessing the degree of PA damage, FEMA considers six factors: estimated cost of the assistance, localized impact, insurance coverage, hazard mitigation, recent disaster, and programs of other federal assistance. Regarding the cost, FEMA has certain thresholds that have to be met to qualify for PA specific to the state and the counties in question.\n\nA copy of Schumer and Gillibrand\u2019s letter appears below:\n\nDear Administrator Criswell:\n\nWe write in strong support of communities in New York ahead of what is predicted to be a \u201conce in a generation\u201d storm. We urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to stand ready, if requested, to work with affected counties and New York State to respond to the impacts of this storm and if the state requests it, to make assistance available through a pre-disaster declaration as expeditiously as possible.\n\nDays ahead of the impact, forecasters are already warning this will be an extremely powerful winter storm. The rain is expected to begin today, Thursday, with winds picking up and rain falling throughout the night. On Friday, the temperature is expected to drop significantly, causing a flash freeze across the soaked ground and possibly taking down tree limbs. The rain will transition to snow as temperatures drop, with winds expected to reduce visibility to almost nothing. Overnight, the forecast predicts the snow will be extremely heavy with wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour. This could down powerlines and place many Western New Yorkers in danger.\n\nSnow and winds are expected to continue through Saturday and Sunday, with relief not anticipated to come until Monday. As of midday on Wednesday, the National Weather Service had already issued a winter storm watch for much of Western New York, including Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus counties. With so many New Yorkers and visitors planning to travel ahead of the holiday weekend, we urge FEMA to stand ready to approve any pre-disaster declaration request that may come from New York State, and provide any and all assistance available to New Yorkers should the storm impact New York.\n\nWe are grateful for the prompt attention that the federal government has historically give in responding to disaster impacting New York State. In that spirit, we strongly urge you to approve any forthcoming requests for FEMA assistance from New York State as affected communities begin their recovery from these storms.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=F5757F09-BDCF-4E24-BD30-8DE17B729ADD", "Sens. Warner & Kaine Applaud Senate Passage of Their Legislation to Designate Blue Ridge Music Center\u2019s Amphitheater After Former Rep. Rick Boucher", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement in celebration of the Senate passage of their legislation to formally designate the Blue Ridge Music Center\u2019s outdoor amphitheater the \u2018Rick Boucher Amphitheater\u2019 after former Congressman Rick Boucher. Now the legislation heads to the House of Representatives for passage before going to the President for signature.\n\n\u201cWe are deeply appreciative of Congressman Boucher\u2019s many years of public service for the people of Southwest Virginia,\u201d the Senators said. \u201cOne of his many contributions to his community was supporting the creation of this treasured music center, and the passage of this legislation helps ensure his legacy is recognized for generations to come.\u201d\n\nFormer Congressman Boucher, an Abingdon native, represented Southwest Virginia\u2019s ninth congressional district in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 2011. Rep. Boucher was an early supporter of the development of the Blue Ridge Music Center and continued to advocate for the project throughout his tenure. He also served as the Chairman of the U.S. House Energy Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet as well as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality while in Congress.\n\nLocated in Galax, VA, the Blue Ridge Music Center is home to a visitor center, outdoor amphitheater, indoor interpretive center, and museum that highlights the historical significance of the region\u2019s musical culture.\n\nOn the National Park Service\u2019s Founders Day in August, Kaine toured the center, visited the amphitheater, and performed at Midday Mountain Music.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-calls-for-accountability-from-fcc-on-broadband-mapping-and-joins-pscs-call-for-wisconsinites-to-badger-the-fcc", "Senator Baldwin Calls for Accountability from FCC on Broadband Mapping & Joins PSC\u2019s Call for Wisconsinites to \u201cBadger the FCC\u201d", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to ensure the FCC\u2019s new national broadband maps satisfy the goals of the Broadband DATA Act and provide a reliable depiction of broadband availability across the nation. The FCC\u2019s new map will help determine funding allocations under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program \u2013 the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act\u2019s historic investment to close Wisconsin\u2019s digital divide.\n\n\u201cWe have heard from constituents, state and local governments, and service providers alike of continuing concerns about the accuracy of the map, ranging from persistent issues with missing or incorrect serviceable locations to potentially overstated claims of coverage by providers,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cTo ensure the map can be used for decisions about where to direct tens of billions of dollars for broadband deployment, it is critical that these issues be examined and addressed in a systematic and thorough manner.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe recognize that these steps will require more work now in ensuring all serviceable locations are represented and in sorting through challenges as to the availability of service and to the underlying Fabric data,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cBut these processes must not be short-cut or millions of Americans in need of broadband risk being short-changed.\u201d\n\nAccurate maps are necessary to the success of the BEAD program, which is why the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin is encouraging Wisconsinites to \u201cBadger the FCC\u201d and check the accuracy of the FCC\u2019s new map. View the map at BroadbandMap.FCC.gov and visit the FCC\u2019s consumer challenge website to learn more.\n\nThe letter was led by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.). Joining Senators Baldwin, Capito and Rosen in signing the letter were Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.).\n\nTo ensure accountability and accuracy, the senators\u2019 letter asks the FCC to:\n\nWork with stakeholders to make sure that all serviceable locations are represented on the map.\n\nUpdate the Fabric more than twice each year.\n\nMake sure that providers are held accountable for their reports if they are found to have overreported coverage.\n\nEnsure that its crowdsourcing process works effectively and promptly in response to parties filing robust testing data regarding performance of services that are available.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chairwoman Rosenworcel,\n\nWe write today to highlight important next steps in ensuring that the national broadband map being developed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ultimately satisfies the goals of the Broadband DATA Act and provides a reliable depiction of broadband availability across the country.\n\nAs an initial matter, we appreciate the efforts of you, your colleagues on the FCC, and the FCC staff in seeking to develop a nationwide Fabric that identifies serviceable locations and in amassing data detailing the level of broadband service available to each of them. We appreciate that this has involved the creation of a new means of capturing and presenting such data, and we are pleased that the public can now view a preliminary version of the map reflecting initial location estimates and initial service coverage reports from providers.\n\nBut for all of the work done to date, as you and others have noted on multiple occasions, this is an \u201citerative\u201d process. We have heard from constituents, state and local governments, and service providers alike of continuing concerns about the accuracy of the map, ranging from persistent issues with missing or incorrect serviceable locations to potentially overstated claims of coverage by providers. To ensure the map can be used for decisions about where to direct tens of billions of dollars for broadband deployment, it is critical that these issues be examined and addressed in a systematic and thorough manner.\n\nAccountability and accuracy must be paramount moving forward. A more granular map will be of little use if there is little confidence in the results and if providers are not accountable for reporting accurately. We encourage you therefore to work with stakeholders of all kinds to make sure that all serviceable locations are in fact represented on the map, such as by making it relatively simple for adjustments to be made to the Fabric. We also recommend that the Fabric be updated more than twice each year and that such updates, especially when adding new locations, also enable the identification of the locations as served or not.\n\nSimilarly, we encourage you to make sure that providers are accountable for their reports \u2013 not just after the fact if they are found to have overreported coverage, but on the front end even prior to the map being finalized. This is especially important precisely because choices as to how billions of broadband dollars will be spent or not will turn on these claims. We therefore ask, for example, that you not allow a provider to claim coverage at locations where challengers can demonstrate they have tried to request service and been told the service is unavailable or cannot be delivered within 10 business days. Likewise, if a challenger submits robust testing data or publicly available coverage data indicating that a provider\u2019s signals cannot in fact be received at a given location as promised, this should disqualify the provider from claiming to serve that location. In addition, the Commission should ensure that its crowdsourcing process works effectively and promptly in response to parties filing robust testing data regarding performance of services that are available.\n\nWe recognize that these steps will require more work now in ensuring all serviceable locations are represented and in sorting through challenges as to the availability of service and to the underlying Fabric data. But these processes must not be short-cut or millions of Americans in need of broadband risk being short-changed.\n\nThank you again for your work thus far in developing the map and for your attention to this letter. We look forward to continuing to work with you to promote accountability on the part of reporting providers and to ensure that we are working from a map that is both granular and accurate in making responsible decisions about distributing valuable taxpayer resources for broadband deployment.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-secures-over-255-million-for-wisconsin-in-senate-appropriations-legislation", "Senator Baldwin Secures Over $255 Million for Wisconsin in Senate Appropriations Legislation", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that more than $255.7 million in congressionally directed spending for Wisconsin projects she supported has been included in the bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023. Senator Baldwin has spent the last year working to fund the following projects on behalf of public and nonprofit entities across Wisconsin.\n\n\u201cFor the second year in a row, I\u2019m proud to have worked in a bipartisan way to deliver direct support from Washington to Wisconsin,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThese community driven projects will reach every corner of Wisconsin, with critical investments for roads, bridges and water infrastructure, workforce development, access to health and child care, improvements for emergency services, and so much more. By working with folks from across Wisconsin, I am proud to deliver federal support that responds to the unique needs of so many different communities.\u201d\n\nStatewide\n\nWisconsin Department of Workforce Development: $5,000,000 to create innovative career pathways in educational sectors to attract and retain more diverse talent and increase affordable access to childcare by expanding and enhancing early childhood education apprenticeship programming.\n\nWisconsin Department of Health Services: $3,140,000 in funding to support Wisconsin\u2019s implementation of the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Senator Baldwin introduced the legislation to create the nationwide 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which launched over the summer.\n\nWisconsin Technology Council: $115,000 to expand entrepreneurial reach across all regions and demographics of Wisconsin, including through regional networking and educational programming workshops for would-be entrepreneurs, with a special focus on rural communities, women and minorities.\n\nSoutheastern Wisconsin\n\nMilwaukee County: $5,000,000 to rehabilitate foreclosed properties and prioritize the sale to first-time homebuyers. This project will give these households an opportunity to become homeowners and will support the County\u2019s vision on racial equity.\n\nMilwaukee County: $2,000,000 to partner with a local opioid treatment provider to provide evidence-based, direct treatment services to underserved areas severely impacted by opioid use/abuse and overdoses within Milwaukee County via a mobile unit.\n\nMilwaukee County: $3,850,000 to purchase buses as part of the County\u2019s cleaner buses initiative and to support public transportation.\n\nCity of Milwaukee \u2013 Milwaukee Police Department: $6,000,000 to support the Milwaukee Police Department\u2019s initiative to update its current radio system infrastructure, which is reaching the end of its manufacturer-supported lifecycle. The update will improve radio interoperability with surrounding cities and counties, which is critical to responding to crime and collaborating across southeastern Wisconsin.\n\nCity of Milwaukee: $3,452,972 for the City of Milwaukee\u2019s Clean Water Initiative, in partnership with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Wisconsin National Guard, to replace outdated water infrastructure and remove pollutants.\n\nCity of Milwaukee: $750,000 for a community wellness center at the City of Milwaukee\u2019s Westlawn Gardens Choice Neighborhood Project.\n\nMilwaukee Health Services: $2,983,000 to support infrastructure investments that promote patient and staff safety, accessibility and wellness at federally-qualified health centers in Milwaukee.\n\nNear West Side Partners: $2,350,000 for the Concordia 27 Consortium Initiative to build a new comprehensive community center in Milwaukee that will provide access to food, health and wellness education, job training, and other benefits in an area of the city struggling with high poverty and food insecurity rates. Funding will also be used to support a youth summit and healing and trauma services for adult victims of sexual abuse.\n\nMilwaukee Area Technical College: $310,000 to hire bilingual welding faculty to expand access to welding training and offer scholarships to economically disadvantaged students to gain access to welding careers.\n\nMarquette University: $799,500 for college readiness and STEM pipeline services.\n\nLocal Initiatives Support Corporation Milwaukee: $750,000 for predevelopment loans for affordable housing.\n\nWRTP Big Step: $1,500,000 for a skilled trades and manufacturing lab that will serve youth and adults in training, support and placement in family-sustaining wage careers.\n\nGerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center: $900,000 to support the build out of existing facility space within the Ignace Health Center in Milwaukee to accommodate increased patient demand for behavioral and physical health care, including to add additional child and family therapist offices, an occupational therapist office, speech pathologist office, additional clinical care areas, and behavioral health programming space.\n\nCity of Kenosha: $3,000,000 for a solar panel project at the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood. The City of Kenosha is revitalizing a closed auto manufacturing facility and plans to ensure the entire site has as much sustainable and renewable energy as possible, including solar streetlights and solar lighting on the first plaza. As part of the City\u2019s commitment to maximizing renewable and sustainable energy use on the site, their plan includes utilizing solar energy for street, pedestrian and bike path lighting\n\nCity of Racine: $1,235,000 for a solar project to offset EV bus charging with renewable energy generated on-site.\n\nCity of Burlington: $880,000 for a new fire truck for City of Burlington Fire Department.\n\nCentral Wisconsin\n\nMarshfield Agricultural Research Station Dairy Facilities: $6,000,000 for expansion of the facilities at the Marshfield Agricultural Research Station in Marathon County currently used by UW-Madison and USDA researchers. This project will finish the original station plan which remains incomplete by constructing permanent office space, restrooms, facilities for 24-hour animal studies, and indoor meeting space for stakeholders and community groups.\n\nCity of Wausau: $1,667,000 to investigate, assess and implement PFAS treatment or alternative drinking water options for Wausau residents.\n\nRib Mountain Sanitary District: $1,667,000 for construction of a water treatment plant to obtain safe drinking water by removing PFAS, present in municipal supply wells.\n\nBoys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area: $500,000 for construction of a new building in Ripon offering affordable childcare and skilled trades employment training.\n\nBrandon Public Library: $473,000 to expand the current library space, which currently houses the Brandon Historical Society and museum, and make the building handicapped accessible.\n\nAdams County Fire District: $34,000 for a backup generator to ensure that citizens can continue to receive protections and services provided by the Fire District during power outages. It will be able to maintain heat and lights for the station and radio communications with emergency responding crews.\n\nSouth Central Wisconsin\n\nCity of Janesville: $5,000,000 in funding for the Woodman\u2019s Community Center, which will create a space for community members of all ages and demographics to participate in a greater range of social, recreational and physical activities and build community resiliency through improved physical, social and mental health outcomes. The WCC will serve as a public facility, conference and event venue, and tourism hub.\n\nMemorial Hospital of Lafayette County: $5,000,000 for construction of a new hospital facility.\n\nSalvation Army of Dane County: $4,000,000 to construct a new shelter facility for women and families.\n\nCity of Sun Prairie: $3,200,000 to construct a solar radiation water pollution control facility, increasing the energy efficiency and sustainability of water pollution control operations.\n\nSouthwest Health: $2,585,000 for two new high-quality childcare centers in Platteville and Richland Center.\n\nLatino Academy of Workforce Development: $2,000,000 in funding to support the Latino Academy\u2019s education and workforce training model to grow Wisconsin\u2019s truck driver workforce.\n\nCity of Madison: $1,500,000 for a solar project at the Truax Park Apartments complex on the city\u2019s northeast side, serving low-income residents. The City is seeking to install a roof-mounted system of solar panels for the benefit of tenants and the neighboring East Madison Community Center in order to lower utility costs.\n\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison: $1,000,000 to enable the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery to expand student-led research for new antibiotics and offer additional high-quality STEM opportunities.\n\nUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison: $1,000,000 to upgrade the University\u2019s aging helium plant, securing infrastructure needed by federal researchers on campus performing work funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Department of Agriculture, and others.\n\nVillage of Oregon \u2013 Oregon Public Library: $1,000,000 to build a new library to provide much-needed meeting space including a community room, conference room and study rooms.\n\nVillage of New Glarus: $1,000,000 to construct a new water tower for the Village of New Glarus.\n\nCity of Monroe: $825,000 to replace a fire truck to better serve and protect the city and surrounding areas.\n\nCity of Baraboo: $500,000 for construction of the Wisconsin Riverwalk and Oak Street Overlook.\n\nWestern Wisconsin\n\nArmy Corps of Engineers (Upper Mississippi River/NESP): $49,300,000 for implementation of the Navigation and Environmental Sustainability Program, which aims to improve the capacity and efficiency of the navigation system through updated lock and dam infrastructure and smaller-scale infrastructure designed to further improve the advantages of towboat and barge transportation on the Mississippi River.\n\nFort McCoy \u2013 Enlisted Barracks: $38,000,000 for Enlisted barracks at Ft. McCoy to provide a permanently constructed barracks building to house 400 Soldiers during annual training and mobilization.\n\nFort McCoy \u2013 Officer Barracks: $31,000,000 for Officer barracks at Ft. McCoy to provide a permanently constructed barracks building to house 160 Soldiers during annual training or mobilization.\n\nCity of Prairie du Chien: $4,950,000 for construction of a new Prairie du Chien Public Safety Center that will house the Prairie du Chien Police Department, Prairie du Chien Fire Department, and local EMS.\n\nCity of Viroqua: $5,250,000 to design and construct a new fire station to replace the current facility to serve as the sole base of operations for the Viroqua Fire Department. The Department provides traditional fire services, public safety services, and emergency medical response to the City of Viroqua as well as the Townships of Viroqua, Franklin, and Jefferson.\n\nCity of Viroqua: $1,223,400 for projects to support the resiliency and expanded capacity of sewer infrastructure supporting businesses, residents, and future growth\u2014including at the new Viroqua Business Park.\n\nSt. Croix Valley Food Bank: $4,319,000 for construction of a new food bank serving Western Wisconsin that will allow the organization to not only accept more fresh and healthy food, it will allow them to receive, store and distribute food to all counties in the service region of St. Croix, Pierce, Polk and Burnett Counties.\n\nVillage of Viola: $1,751,115 for construction for commercial and residential development outside the floodplain to advance Viola\u2019s economic recovery plan.\n\nCity of Eau Claire: $1,666,000 in funding for a PFAS remediation project to provide safe drinking water to residents.\n\nTown of Campbell: $1,666,000 in funding to support a new water utility system due to PFAS contamination in private drinking water wells.\n\nGunderson Tri-County Hospital: $1,000,000 to support the hospital\u2019s solar array upgrade and renovation in Whitehall, WI.\n\nBoys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley: $1,000,000 to develop a Teen Program Center.\n\nAdventHealth Durand: $916,000 to expand and modernize the ambulance bay at AdventHealth Durand to enhance patient safety, accommodate the larger modern ambulances operated by local municipalities, provide enhanced isolation for decontamination and hazardous waste cleanup and additional space for community services.\n\nRiverwood Nature Center: $950,000 for the establishment of a nature center, providing much needed community facilities, creating jobs and economic development in a rural area of western Wisconsin serving St. Croix and Polk Counties. It will provide a Visitor and Interpretive Center and a Youth & Senior Activity Center, as well as an Environmental Learning Center and additional classroom spaces.\n\nBoys & Girls Club of Barron County: $500,000 for construction of a new building in Rice Lake that will include community spaces and allow for continued programming on leadership, healthy lifestyles, the arts, fitness, and education and career.\n\nFamily and Children\u2019s Center Wisconsin: $450,000 to expand behavioral health services, including outreach, education, equipment and technology in La Crosse.\n\nNorth Eastern Wisconsin\n\nSturgeon Bay Historical Society: $3,300,000 for an agricultural museum and community gathering space at the Door County Granary. A rehabilitated Granary will further transform Sturgeon Bay\u2019s waterfront.\n\nTown of Peshtigo: $1,667,000 in funding to support installation of a new water line to provide residents living with PFAS contamination safe drinking water.\n\nCollege of Menominee Nation: $1,425,000 for purchase, renovation, and service re-design of an administrative office building in the Neopit community on the Menominee Indian Reservation. This project is essential to begin to bring more direct educational services, economic and entrepreneurial support, workforce development, and other community outreach services to an underserved area of the reservation.\n\nMenominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin: $1,326,000 to construct a new Menominee Tribal Clinic, as health needs of the community have outgrown capacity of the current facility.\n\nBoys & Girls Club of Oshkosh: $1,000,000 towards reconstruction of a new community center, which will include additional classrooms and outside green space for the use of over 1,000 children each year for the county\u2019s largest non-profit youth serving agency. The new construction will address the economic impact for the county at large by bringing as many low-income serving agencies together to work in the same facility to improve the upward mobility for low-income people. By combining services in one location, we will work to help those in poverty to increase their self-sufficiency.\n\nSister Bay & Liberty Grove Fire Department: $900,000 for a new fire apparatus for this volunteer fire department.\n\nArmy Corps of Engineers (Menominee River Deepening): $600,000 to continue a feasibility study of infrastructure improvements to Menominee Harbor in Marinette, WI. This project will evaluate potential improvements important to the economic future of the region. The infrastructure improvements will benefit multiple harbor users.\n\nLakes Country Public Library: $500,000 to expand the library in Lakewood, WI and upgrade technology to allow patrons access to fast, reliable, free broadband service.\n\nBrown County: $100,000 in funding to support mental health outreach by creating additional staffing capacity to conduct help underserved populations within the county access behavioral health services.\n\nNorthern Wisconsin\n\nWisconsin Department of Transportation: $7,500,000 for the Blatnik Bridge construction project in Superior, Wisconsin. The purpose of the project is to provide an interstate highway connection across the St. Louis Bay that does not restrict the movements of freight and provides local, regional, and international movement in a reliable and efficient manner. President Biden visited Superior and highlighted the Blatnik Bridge project following passage of the IIJA.\n\nLac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College: $5,000,000 for construction as part of the college\u2019s expansion project.\n\nLaona Rescue Unit: $2,093,000 for construction of a new station to allow Laona Rescue to continue to provide ambulance service to the citizens and visitors to the area.\n\nCity of Park Falls: $1,667,000 to repair and improve the aging public infrastructure of the City of Park Falls Municipal Water and Sewer utilities.\n\nAshland County: $900,000 to construct shoreline revetment to protect one of Madeline Island\u2019s widely used and most at-risk stretches of road along Lake Superior from catastrophic failure. If nothing is done to protect the road, it is estimated to fail due to erosion damages within the next ten years.\n\nDouglas County: $825,000 to construct a new bridge on County Highway W over the Nemadji River that is designed to handle larger storm events, which are occurring in Northern Wisconsin in greater magnitudes and frequencies.\n\nSenator Baldwin\u2019s office began soliciting input for appropriations requests from communities in every part of Wisconsin in early spring, working to submit requests for projects that benefit communities across the state. The Senate Appropriations Committee reviews all requests from Senators. Only those requests that comply with Committee and Senate rules and are deemed appropriate for federal support were considered for funding.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom-news-releases-barrasso-statement-on-omnibus-spending-bill/", "Barrasso Statement on Omnibus Spending Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WY", "John Barrasso", "B001261", "www.barrasso.senate.gov", "barrasso", "https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom/news-releases/", "scraper", "CASPER, WY \u2014 U.S. Senator Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement after the Senate voted to approve an omnibus spending bill.\n\n\u201cOver the past week, I\u2019ve been with my wife Bobbi as she continues treatment for cancer. During this time, the Senate voted on an omnibus funding bill. This fall, I made it clear in a letter that my strong preference was to support a clean, short-term funding bill that would take us into the beginning of the 118th Congress. I remain committed to reining in wasteful Washington spending and combatting record-high inflation suffocating families across Wyoming.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-beyer-lead-colleagues-in-urging-cpsc-to-address-dangerous-indoor-air-pollutions-emitted-by-gas-stoves", "Booker, Beyer Lead Colleagues in Urging CPSC to Address Dangerous Indoor Air Pollutions Emitted by Gas Stoves", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) urged Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), to address the high level of dangerous indoor air pollutants emitted by gas stoves.\n\nReports have found that gas stoves, which are used by more than 40 million homes across the country, emit dangerous air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Without adequate ventilation, this can cause serious health risks and raise indoor air pollutants to levels that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers to be unsafe even for the outdoors.\n\n\u201cIn addition to the climate impacts, these emissions represent real health risks to millions of Americans. Both NO2 and PM2.5 are known to exacerbate respiratory conditions,\u201d wrote the members of Congress to Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. \u201cShort-term exposure to NO2 is linked to worsening asthma in children, and long-term exposure has been determined to likely cause the development of asthma. Both pollutants have also been linked to cardiovascular impacts and a range of other adverse health issues. Even low-level CO exposure can exacerbate cardiovascular illness among people with coronary heart disease and other vulnerable populations.\u201d\n\nThe members of Congress continued, \u201cThese emissions can create a cumulative burden to households that are already more likely to face higher exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Statistics show that Black, Latino, and low-income households are more likely to experience disproportionate air pollution, either from being more likely to be located near a waste incinerator or coal ash site, or living in smaller homes with poor ventilation, malfunctioning appliances, mold, dust mites, secondhand smoke, lead dust, pests, and other maintenance deficiencies.\u201d\n\nAdditionally, the members of Congress urged that the CPSC consider taking the following actions to help protect Americans from the hazards of gas stove emissions:\n\nRequire gas stoves to be sold with range hoods that meet mandatory performance standards, assessing their efficiency of removing the pollutants,\n\nWhere feasible, issue mandatory performance standards for gas stoves that address steady-state-off leakage, including requiring automatic shut-off valves,\n\nWhere feasible, issue mandatory performance standards for gas stoves that address the health impacts of hazardous emissions,\n\nRequire labels on gas stoves that educate consumers about their exposure risks,\n\nLaunch a public education campaign on the health risks of cooking with a gas stove, and steps that consumers can take to minimize their risk.\n\nThe letter is cosigned by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernard Sanders (I-VT).\n\nThe letter is cosigned by Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH), Mark Takano (D-CA), Alan S. Lowenthal (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Gwen S. Moore (D-WI), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), and Katie Porter (D-CA).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-menendez-outline-wins-for-new-jersey-in-fy23-funding-bill", "Booker, Menendez Outline Wins for New Jersey in FY23 Funding Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "The bill provides $1.7 trillion in funding, which reflects increases in both non-defense and defense spending and includes several community projects across the state\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-N.J.) today voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus (H.R. 2617), a government funding bill which provides significant investments in health care, transportation, housing, and education programs. Senators Booker and Menendez also fought to secure federal funding in the bill designed exclusively for community projects across New Jersey and for an amendment to provide relief to 9/11 families and other U.S. victims of state-sponsored terrorism.\n\n\u201cThe Senate passed a bipartisan government funding bill that invests in our future, helps manage rising costs, and strengthens our economy, health, and well-being. This bill ensures our children, our families, our troops, and our veterans have access to vital services and programs. It will improve financial security through emergency savings accounts and makes significant investments in our region\u2019s infrastructure, including advancing the Gateway Program. The bill also provides critical security and humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine as they fight to defend their democracy from Russia\u2019s invasion,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cI am disappointed we were unable to reach an agreement to restore the expanded child tax credit to provide relief for millions of American families, including our most vulnerable; to secure critically needed increases in global food aid; or to include measures to finally end the crack-powder cocaine sentencing disparity that has contributed to the explosion of mass incarceration in this country. This bill caps off one of the most productive Congresses in history. But there is still work to be done, and I look forward to working with colleagues next year to reinstate the child tax credit expansion and take steps toward building a more equitable country.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith today\u2019s passage of the FY23 funding bill, we\u2019ve been able to support many of the priorities I\u2019ve been fighting for during the 117th Congress. From securing a five-year extension of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program and an additional 200 slots for Graduate Medical Education to providing justice and relief to 9/11 families and other U.S. victims of terror and funding Puerto Rico\u2019s Medicaid program for the next five years, this spending package provides key investments for communities all over the country,\u201d said Senator Menendez. \u201cI\u2019m also pleased to have secured specific provisions for the state of New Jersey, including $181 million for individual projects and programs across the Garden State and funding for key projects like Gateway and the Army Corps of Engineers. While this bill should have included a provision paving the way for the Latino Museum to be built on the National Mall \u2013 I\u2019m proud to have voted for the package and look forward to working with my colleagues in the next Congress to advance the issues that were left behind.\u201d\n\nH.R. 2617 provides $1.7 trillion in funding, which reflects increases in both non-defense and defense spending over FY22. Overall, the 12 appropriations bills provide $772.5 billion in nondefense funding and $858 billion in defense funding, including $44.9 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine and our NATO allies and $2.4 billion for states who helped resettle Ukrainian refugees.\n\nA number of legislative changes championed by Senator Booker are part of the package, including: making permanent the option that states can provide 12 months of continuous Medicaid or CHIP coverage during postpartum, an effort Sen. Booker has called for in his MOMMIES Act and temporarily secured in the American Rescue Plan; the reauthorization of the Alternative to Opioids in Emergency Departments Reauthorization Act, a Booker bill that establishes a grant program for developing and implementing alternatives to opioids for pain management in hospitals and emergency departments; Sen. Booker\u2019s Enslaved Voyages Memorial Act, which authorizes the establishment of a memorial in Washington, DC, to honor enslaved persons who were forcibly transported across the Atlantic; Sen. Booker\u2019s bipartisan Emergency Savings Act, legislation to help Americans save for unexpected expenses through workplace emergency savings accounts; an additional $50 million for community violence intervention efforts; Booker\u2019s bipartisan FDA Modernization Act that would end the outdated requirement that experimental drugs be tested on animals, instead allowing for non-animal testing when appropriate; a modified version of Sen. Booker\u2019s Right Whale Coexistence Act to establish a new federal grant program to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale; and additional funding for Small Business Administration to support entrepreneurship.\n\nSenator Menendez secured several legislative victories in the package including: a five-year extension of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, the first funding increase for this vital program in a long time; an additional 200 new graduate medical education (GME) positions to respond to the dire need for mental health professionals; and five-year funding for Puerto Rico\u2019s Medicaid with a Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) of 76%. Additionally, key provisions from Sen. Menendez\u2019s bipartisan, bicameral DIVERSE Trials Act to help improve patient access to and diversity in clinical drug and treatment trials, as well as the reauthorization of the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) included in the Senator\u2019s Pursing Equity in Mental Health Act (S.1795), were also both included in the omnibus spending package.\n\nNew Jersey specific provisions include:\n\nGateway: $1.26 billion for Amtrak\u2019s Northeast Corridor, an increase of $385.5 million over FY22 levels. The bill funds the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program at $2.635 billion in total. $2.21 billion of this is for normal FY23 appropriations, and the remaining $425 million is to help existing projects, like the Portal North Bridge, offset increased costs. The bill includes a $25 million increase in funding for the Portal Bridge in New Jersey \u2013 a key component of the broader Gateway Program \u2013 as part of a pot of money secured by Sens. Menendez and Booker to support projects affected by inflation and supply chain disruptions.\n\nHoboken Rebuild by Design Project: Sens. Booker and Menendez fought to include an important extension for the Hoboken Rebuild by Design Project that will allow critical flood safety improvements to move toward completion in Hoboken, New Jersey.\n\nTeterboro Airport: The bill includes Sens. Menendez and Booker\u2019s report language prohibiting the use of funds to increase the aircraft weight restrictions at Teterboro Airport.\n\nArmy Corps of Engineers: The bill includes $37,300,000 in funding for New Jersey Army Corps projects. Sens. Menendez and Booker successfully fought to secure a critical legislative fix for the Green Brook Flood Risk Management Project that will allow for the allocation of additional funding at full federal cost share to the project, which is critical to the safety of New Jersey communities.\n\nManufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs): included in the bill (Section 3204) was partially authored by Sen. Menendez, and would create an advanced manufacturing center of excellence to help increase American manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).\n\nMore broadly, the FY23 funding bill includes investments in:\n\nEducation\n\nEarly Childhood Education:increase of $2.8 billion above the FY22 enacted level.\n\nHead Start: $12 billion for FY23, an increase of $960 million over FY22, which includes a $596 million cost-of-living adjustment for Head Start staff, and $262 million in quality improvement funding.\n\nK-12 Education: $458 billion, an increase of $2.4 billion over FY22.\n\nChild Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): $8 billion, an increase of $960 million over the enacted FY22 level.\n\nHistorically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): provides $396 million, an increase of $33 million above the FY22 level.\n\nHispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs):provides $271 million for HSIs including for Post-Baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans and Food and Agriculture to provide Education Grants for Hispanic-Serving Institutions.\n\nTransportation & Infrastructure\n\nRoads and Bridges: $62.9 billion for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), an increase of $2.3 billion compared to FY22. Of this total, $58.765 billion is from the Highway Trust Fund to meet the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act obligations for Federal-aid highway programs and $3.418 billion from the general fund, which includes $1.145 billion to reduce the backlog of structurally deficient bridges.\n\nPublic Transportation Grants:$105 million for federal grants under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Public Transportation Security.\n\nPort Security: $100 million for federal grants under FEMA for Port Security.\n\nDisaster Relief: $803 million in emergency disaster relief for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and $213.9 million for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).\n\nInvestments in High-Poverty Areas: Included language to target federal resources to high- and persistent-poverty to more than a dozen programs within the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Treasury, and EPA. Sen. Booker leads the Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act, a bill to establish a government-wide effort to increase the share of federal dollars going to high need communities. The bill also contains new language directing the Economic Development Administration to create a plan to increase the share of investments across all EDA programs in persistent poverty counties, high-poverty areas.\n\nHealth Care\n\nMaternal Health: The bill includes $324 billion for maternal health, an increase of $120 million. The bill makes permanent the option for states to provide 12 months of postpartum coverage to pregnant individuals in Medicaid and CHIP, which is a critical step towards ensuring yearlong coverage for all pregnant people nationwide.\n\nFirefighter Cancer Registry: The bill provides $5.5 million in funding for the Firefighter Cancer Registry, a $2.5 increase from FY22. Sen. Menendez led the request for $5.5 million in funding.\n\nProstate Cancer Research:$110 million for prostate cancer research and $45 million for ovarian cancer- flat over last year.\n\nNational Institutes of Health (NIH): The bill includes $47.5 billion for the NIH, an increase of $2.5 billion.\n\nCenters for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): The bill includes $9.2 billion for the CDC, an increase of $760 million. This funding is critical to support the US response to continuing and emerging public health threats.\n\nState Opioid Response:The bill includes $1.6 billion, an increase of $50 million for states\u2019 response to the opioid pandemic. Sen. Booker\u2019s bill also authorizes the Alternative to Opioids in the Emergency Department (ALTO) Reauthorization Act, which establishes a grant program for developing and implementing alternatives to opioids for pain management in hospitals and emergency departments. Yearly funding has increased from $6 million to $8 million.\n\nPublic Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP): The bill includes $735 million, a $20 million increase over last FY\u2019s $715 million.\n\nGlobal Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria: $2 billion included, a $440 million above FY22.\n\nEnvironment\n\nEnvironmental Protection Agency: The bill provides $10.135 billion for the EPA, an increase of $576 million over the FY22 enacted level. This funding invests in core environmental programs, providing increases for EPA enforcement and compliance programs (+$72 million), clean air programs (+$32 million), water programs (+$33 million), and toxic chemical programs (+$20 million) \u2013 helping advance environmental protection and environmental justice throughout the country.\n\nOcean Programs:The bill funds the Sea Grant program at $80 million, a $4 million increase above the FY22 enacted level. Coastal Zone Management grants are funded at $81.5 million, $2.5 million above the FY22 enacted level. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is funded at $32.5 million, an increase of $2.8 million. NOAA Habitat Conservation and Restoration is funded at $56.684 million. Sens. Menendez and Booker write an appropriations letter each year requesting funding for these programs.\n\nEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE):The bill provides record funding for EERE at $3.46 billion, an increase of $260 million above fiscal year 2022 enacted.\n\nWater Infrastructure: The bill continues steady funding for the State Revolving Funds, including $1.126 billion for Drinking Water and $1.638 billion for Clean Water. The Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program increased by $6.1 million totaling to $75.640 million. The bill provides $27.5 million for lead contamination testing at schools and childcare centers.\n\nWild and Scenic Rivers:The bill funds the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers program at $5.3 million for fiscal year 2023, an increase of $900,000 and building on significant prior year increases that Sen. Menendez helped secure by leading the annual appropriations letter for the program.\n\nHousing, Community, and Economic Development\n\nCommunity Development Block Grant (CDBG): $3.3 billion for the CBDG to support community development activities to build stronger and more resilient communities.\n\nRooftop Solar in Puerto Rico:The bill includes $1 billion to assist in the deployment of rooftop solar and energy storage systems for low-income households and households with people with disabilities in Puerto Rico. Sen. Menendez championed this effort in the Senate, which will help to increase grid resiliency in the island especially following natural disasters.\n\nChoice Neighborhoods: The bill provides $350 million for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, the same as FY22. The Choice Neighborhoods program supports locally driven strategies that address struggling neighborhoods with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation.\n\nPublic Housing: The bill provides a total of $8.514 billion for Public Housing, an increase of $64 million from FY22.\n\nHousing for the Elderly: The bill provides $1.075 billion for Section 202 Housing for the Elderly, including $120 million for service coordinators. Sen. Menendez led a letter requesting full funding for contract renewals and $600 million for new construction.\n\nHousing for Persons with Disabilities: The bill provides $360 million for Section 811 Housing for persons with disabilities. In total, the increases to 811 and 202 will provide housing for 2,910 new households.\n\nHousing Counseling Assistance: The bill provides $57.5 million for housing counseling assistance, unchanged from FY22.\n\nFinancial Assistance for Home Heating: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) received $5 billion, which is $1.2 billion more than in FY22. The program provides financial assistance for home heating and cooling to low-income households including those in New Jersey.\n\nDisaster Supplemental: The Disaster supplemental includes $3 billion in CDBG-DR for 2022 natural disasters, which includes funding for Puerto Rico\u2019s recovery of Hurricane Fiona. It also includes a $5 billion appropriation to the Disaster Relief Fund, which pays out for expenditures for FEMA individual assistance program. The Disaster Relief Fund also covers infrastructure repairs under FEMA\u2019s Public Assistance program.\n\nNFIP Extension: Despite Sen. Menendez\u2019s fight to reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) the omnibus only extends the program until September 30, 2023.\n\nSupport for disadvantaged communities: The bill includes $800 million for RAISE Grants (formerly TIGER/BUILD), including not less than $20 million for grants to assist areas of persistent poverty and historically disadvantaged communities.\n\nInclusive Zoning to Increase the Supply of Affordable Housing: The bill includes a new $85 million competitive grant program that will reward state, local, and regional jurisdictions that have made progress in improving inclusionary zoning practices, land use policies, and housing infrastructure that will ultimately increase the supply of affordable housing. Sen. Booker has been leading efforts in the Senate to expand inclusive zoning policies and has included zoning reform provisions in his legislation to address the affordable housing crisis, the HOME ACT.\n\nEnslaved Voyages Memorial: The bill includes Sen. Booker\u2019s Enslaved Voyages Memorial Act, which authorizes the establishment of a memorial on federal land in the District of Columbia to honor enslaved persons forcibly transported across the Atlantic.\n\nScience and Innovation\n\nCHIPS and Science Act:The bill provides $1.8 billion in new funding to implement the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. This includes $820 million in the CJS Appropriations bill and $980 million in supplemental funding to help jumpstart the initiative. The CHIPS and Science Act sets out an ambitious goal of doubling funding for science and technology programs by 2027 to help drive U.S. economic competitiveness.\n\nNASA:The bill funds the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at $25.4 billion. This is $1.34 billion more than the fiscal year 2022 enacted level.\n\nPublic Safety and Justice\n\nCommunity Violence Intervention: The bill provides a total of $50 million for community violence intervention programs.\n\nRecidivism Reduction: The bill provides a total of $35 million for programs to reduce recidivism rates for people reentering society.\n\nReentry Programs and Research: The bill increases Second Chance Act funding from $115 million to $125 million to address a wide array of issues returning citizens face when reentering society after their time incarcerated, including substance abuse treatment, mental health services, job training, and housing services.\n\nPublic Defense: The bill provides $1,382,680,000 in funds for the operation of federal defender organizations to ensure adequate representation in federal court, an increase of nearly $39 million from FY22.\n\nJudicial Training Programs: The bill provides $22 million to the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women for grants to support families within the justice system, a ten percent increase from FY22.\n\nFinancial Services and General Government\n\nCommunity Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs): The bill provides $324 million for the CDFI Fund, $29 million more than FY22. Sen. Menendez led the funding support letter for the CDFI Fund requesting $331 million.\n\nSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC): The bill provides $2.149 billion for the SEC. Sen. Menendez led the funding support letter for this amount.\n\nEmergency Savings: The bill includes Sen. Booker\u2019s bipartisan Emergency Savings Act, a bill to facilitate convenient and affordable access to workplace emergency savings accounts, improving financial security, and reducing retirement leakage.\n\nDisaster Retirement Savings: The bill includes Sen. Menendez\u2019s provision that would allow for individuals to permanently be able to withdraw up to $22,000, per Stafford-declared disaster, from an employer-sponsored retirement plan or IRA without being subject to the normal 10% early distribution tax penalty. This provision would also allow the emergency distribution to spread over a taxpayer\u2019s income over a three-year-period. This provision would be applied retroactive to January 26, 2021\u2014the expiration date of the last Stafford-declared disaster that allowed for retirement plan distributions, thus allowing for coverage for Hurricane Ida.\n\nSBA Funding: The bill provides $1.218 billion for the Small Business Administration, which is $188 million more than fiscal year 2022. That includes $320 million for Entrepreneurial Development grants, which is $30 million above the 2022 \u2013 including $140 million for Small Business Development Centers, $27 million for Women\u2019s Business Centers, and $41 million for Microloan technical assistance. It also increased funding for SBA\u2019s Growth Accelerators from $3 million to $10 million, to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. Sen. Booker leads the appropriations request and the Startup Opportunity Accelerator Act, which would authorize and scale the program.\n\nMinority Business:The bill provides $70 million for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to help minority owned businesses grow and succeed and to implement the new programs authorized in the Minority Business Development Agency Act, which passed as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This is an increase of $15 million, or 27 percent, above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level.\n\nData on Child Poverty: The bill included Sen. Booker\u2019s request to create more frequent and timely measures of poverty, including child poverty. The bill also included funding to support these frequent and timely measures of material hardship, including measures focused on children and families. Currently, the U.S. Census Bureau releases poverty estimates annually and with a significant lag; further, this data can fail to capture the full scope of hardship and deprivation children and families confront. These changes will help us better understand child poverty and child wellbeing in real time.\n\nVolunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Sites: The bill provides $11 million for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program and $40 million for the Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which helps low- and moderate-income individuals and families nationwide comply with their tax obligations and maximize their returns and savings. That is an increase of $10 million over last year.\n\nWorker Protection Programs: The bill makes important investments in agencies that help workers receive the pay they earn; ensure that employers provide safe and healthful working conditions; and strengthen trading partner commitments to comply with labor rights under free trade agreements and preference programs. The Wage and Hour division receives $260 million, an increase of $9 million. Wage and Hour recovers wages for workers that do not receive the pay they are entitled to receive for their work, which on average amounted to $1,212 for each of the 193,349 workers assisted by the agency in 2021. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) receives $632 million, an increase of $20 million. OSHA works to ensure that employers are following the law and providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. The bill includes an increase of $25 million for the National Labor Relations Board, which administers and enforces the National Labor Relations Act and protects employee and employer rights under the law. The bill also establishes critical worker protections through the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act, a bill to provide expecting and new moms with temporary, reasonable accommodations to avoid devastating health complications and support their families and ensure they are no longer fired or forced off the job, and the PUMP For Nursing Mothers Act, a bill expanding worker protections for nursing workers, a bill which Senator Booker co-led.\n\nVeterans\n\nDepartment of Veterans Affairs: The bill provides the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and related agencies $135.2 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, as well as $168.6 billion in mandatory funding, to fulfill our obligations to our nation\u2019s veterans. This is $34 billion above fiscal year 2022 levels. This includes $118.7 billion for VA medical care in fiscal year 2023, a $21.7 billion or 22.4 percent increase over fiscal year 2022. $5 billion is included in the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, which will be used to implement the PACT Act.\n\nWorld War II Bill: Division U of the Omnibus contains the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022. This is SVAC\u2019s end of year package which includes S. 1040, Sen. Menendez\u2019s bill to provide all veterans of World War II healthcare services through the VA.\n\nVoting Rights and Elections\n\nElectoral College Reform: The bill includes the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 to improve how elections are certified and clarify that the Vice President only plays a ceremonial role in the certification process. The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Booker, will prevent attempts such as those used by former President Trump to prevent the certification of election results.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-secures-funding-for-critical-new-jersey-projects-in-major-government-funding-bill", "Booker Secures Funding for Critical New Jersey Projects in Major Government Funding Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "NEWARK, N.J. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced millions of dollars in federal funding for critical New Jersey programs, projects, and priorities he worked to secure were included in the $1.7 trillion Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill.\n\n\u201cFrom upgrading our vital infrastructure to increasing access to affordable housing, to creating and expanding health programs that promote mental health care and combat the opioid crisis, the projects funded in this bill will provide major benefits to communities across New Jersey,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cThese vital projects will create jobs, stimulate economic activity, and keep New Jersey families healthy and safe. I am proud to have fought to ensure this funding was included and am grateful for the organizations, community leaders, and elected officials who are working tirelessly to advance these critical initiatives. As these projects all across our state move forward, I\u2019m excited to see the positive impact they will have on the quality of life of New Jerseyans.\u201d\n\nSenator Booker, alongside Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), were able to secure tens of millions of dollars for key community projects in cities and townships across New Jersey including Newark, Passaic, Bayonne, Paterson, Lakewood, Clayton, Cape May and Mount Holly; and for countywide projects in Burlington County, Union County and Hudson County, just to name a few.\n\nIn total, Booker secured $166.2 million in funding for 130 essential New Jersey projects and programs, detailed in the table below.\n\nFunding highlights include:\n\n$3,452,973for the Town of Parsippany-Troy Hills for the Pump Station No. 4 Sanitary Sewer Redirection Project\n\n$2,347,000for Keyport Borough for Water Main Replacement and Upgrade Project\n\n$1,200,000for Union City Police Department\u2019s Digital Trunked Radio System Replacement\n\n$1,000,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties for mentoring and student support\n\n$32,000,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for beach replenishment on Long Beach Island\n\n$10,000,000for the City of North Wildwood to extend the seawall in North Wildwood\n\n$3,550,000 for the City of Newark for the Lincoln Park restoration project\n\n$3,000,000for the South Jersey Transportation Authority for its Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) Cargo Taxiway Project\n\n$1,333,000 for the Town of Newton for First Response Communications Equipment\n\n$1,000,000for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark for Cooperman Family Arts Education and Community Center Construction\n\n$3,452,972for the Willingboro Municipal Utilities Authority for the Well 5A PFOS Treatment System Upgrade\n\n$1,000,000for the Inspira Health Network for the Cumberland County NJ Youth Violence Cessation Initiative\n\n$600,000for the City of Cape May to expand its Drinking Water Treatment Plant\n\n$445,000 for the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault for its Accessibility Capacity Building Project\n\n$1,000,000for the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence for services for domestic violence survivors and their families and its Legal Representation Project\n\n$1,404,800for the Rutgers University-Camden Community Partnership Centers for community and partnership centers\n\n$2,170,000for the City of Elizabeth for Replacement of Known Lead Service Lines", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-applauds-passage-of-amendment-providing-compensation-to-terrorism-victims", "Cotton Applauds Passage of Amendment Providing Compensation to Terrorism Victims", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Caroline Tabler orJames Arnold (202) 224-2353\n\nDecember 22, 2022\n\nCotton Applauds Passage of Amendment Providing Compensation to Terrorism Victims\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 The Senate passed today Senator Tom Cotton\u2019s (R-Arkansas) legislation that will extend financial compensation to American victims of terrorism and their families. Introduced with Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), the legislation will also extend coverage to victims of the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing and their families and increase the available funds to help satisfy their judgments.\n\n\u201cThe passage of this amendment will direct funding to the brave Americans who were the targets of brutal terrorist attacks. The victims of acts of terrorism like 9/11 and the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing cannot be compensated fully for their losses, but this legislation will help repay the debt of gratitude America owes them,\u201d said Cotton.\n\nVideo of Senator Cotton speaking on the amendment can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-vote-against-further-unrestrained-federal-spending", "Crapo Statement on Vote Against Further Unrestrained Federal Spending", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ID", "Mike Crapo", "C000880", "www.crapo.senate.gov", "crapo", "https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) issued the following statement on his vote against the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations package.\n\n\u201cInstead of moving forward with individual spending bills to allow members of Congress to separate good policy from bad, we are once again having to vote on a single bill that will unfortunately add to our unsustainable debt crisis. The omnibus appropriations package contains some good policies I have supported and championed, like robust support for our servicemembers and their missions, and support for homeless veterans. It also includes legislation I authored as the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, including important legislation to strengthen retirement savings and improve federal health programs.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, these bipartisan provisions were combined with dozens of other provisions that likely would not have passed on their own, from Green New Deal style handouts to wasteful pet projects. Other broadly bipartisan items were woefully omitted, including widely-supported trade priorities and critical business tax incentives, particularly R&D tax credits that incentivize innovation and growth.\n\n\u201cUnrestrained federal spending over the past two years has led to one of the most expensive holiday seasons in history. Idahoans are paying an estimated additional $819 per month--an increase of 16.5 percent--compared to two years ago. This behemoth funding package will only add fuel to the current inflationary fire. It is past time to rein in reckless, unnecessary government spending and get our fiscal house in order.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-issues-statement-on-omnibus-vote", "Sen. Cruz Issues Statement On Omnibus Vote", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement on the omnibus vote:\n\n\u201cToday we saw unaccountable politicians pass a 4,155-page, $1.7 trillion spending monstrosity. This is the kind of wasteful and irresponsible spending that has plagued Washington, D.C. for far too long.\n\n\u201cIt is the height of recklessness for Senate Republican leadership to cut a deal with House Democrats who were just voted out of power and give away the leverage that the incoming Republican majority in the House of Representatives could have used to force the Biden administration to change course on policies that are harming America. Without this leverage, the Biden administration will now be able to continue the reckless spending spree that has led to uncontrolled inflation. They will keep pushing anti-energy policies that have caused gas prices and home heating prices to rise. They will continue reckless immigration policies that have led to open borders and a massive influx of deadly drugs and illegal immigration. Their soft-on-crime policies will continue to endanger our communities. The main beneficiaries of this bill are those on the receiving end of left-wing pet projects and pork-barrel spending while the American people will get stuck paying the bill as they continue to suffer.\n\n\u201cDue to the disastrous polices of Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats, inflation is out of control, the border is wide open, and crime is soaring. This $1.7 trillion spending boondoggle will drive inflation and prices even higher. For the sake of Texan and American families I voted no.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-government-funding-bill-with-key-nh-priorities-secured-by-senator-hassan", "Senate Passes Government Funding Bill with Key NH Priorities Secured by Senator Hassan", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement after the Senate passed the bipartisan government funding legislation, which includes key New Hampshire priorities that Senator Hassan worked to secure:\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s government funding bill includes major Granite State priorities that will lower costs for families, strengthen our response to the opioid epidemic, and help more Americans save for retirement. I\u2019m pleased that Senators on both sides of the aisle came together to pass this package, and I urge my colleagues in the House to swiftly follow suit.\u201d\n\nCritical New Hampshire priorities that Senator Hassan helped secure in the government funding bill include:\n\nCombating the Opioid Epidemic\n\nSenator Hassan\u2019s bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which eliminates an outdated requirement, the \u2018x-waiver,\u2019 that limits the number of medical practitioners who can prescribe life-saving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.\n\nA measure backed by Senator Hassan to give law enforcement more flexibility to interdict fentanyl-related substances by extending the designation of fentanyl analogues as Schedule I drugs until December 31, 2024.\n\nProvisions from Senator Hassan\u2019s bipartisan bill to help address the severe shortage of doctors trained in addiction medicine. The government funding bill creates 200 new medical residency positions, including for addiction medicine, at teaching hospitals in New Hampshire and across the country.\n\nSupporting Veterans\n\nSenator Hassan\u2019s bipartisan bill to designate one week per year as \u201cBuddy Check Week.\u201d The bill is modeled after the American Legion\u2019s \u201cBuddy Check National Week of Calling\u201d that connects veterans to other veterans in order to better ensure that they receive the support that they need.\n\nBipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan championed to help provide surplus government computers to veterans and others who need them. Senator Hassan worked on the legislation with Digitunity, a nonprofit based in North Conway.\n\nA bipartisan measure that the Senator introduced with Thom Tillis (R-NC) to improve oversight of the VA and reduce the backlog of requests from veterans for medical and other VA military records.\n\nLowering Health Care and Home Energy Costs\n\nBipartisan measures that Senator Hassan worked on to increase access to generic and biosimilar medications, which are often less expensive than generic drugs.\n\n$4 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program, a $200 million increase over last year, which will help Granite Staters with their energy costs.\n\nHelping Americans Save for Retirement\n\nBipartisan measures Senator Hassan and colleagues introduced to make it easier for businesses to offer retirement benefits, including enabling more businesses to join multiple employer plans (MEPs) and expanding tax cuts to small businesses who provide retirement benefits to their employees.\n\nIncreases retirement plan flexibility for public safety officers and improves access for military families, including provisions from bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Hassan and Collins (R-ME) to help military families save for retirement.\n\nAddressing the Housing Shortage\n\nFunding that Senator Hassan worked to secure that will help with the construction of thousands of new rental units and houses.\n\nStrengthening Maternal Health and Child Care Support\n\nThe bipartisan TRIUMPH Act, which Senator Hassan introduced with Senator Tillis, that creates a federal taskforce and national strategy to improve maternal mental health outcomes and expand mental health resources for new mothers.\n\nA critical measure that Senator Hassan pushed for to ensure that for the first time, every child in America who qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP will now be guaranteed at least one year of continuous health coverage.\n\nExtension of a measure, which Senator Hassan supported, that ensures that states can provide a full year of postpartum coverage for mothers on Medicaid and CHIP.\n\nIncreased funding for Child Care and Development Block grants, a measure that Senator Hassan pushed for, which will expand affordable child care to more families in New Hampshire and across the country.\n\nExtending Access to Affordable Telehealth Services\n\nA measure Senator Hassan pushed for that extends coverage of Medicare telehealth services through 2024, ensuring that more patients, especially in rural communities, get the care that they need.\n\nStrengthening Support for Rural Students\n\nDoubling funding for a program that supports rural students, including college prep and career pathway programs in rural communities.\n\nFunding Key Bipartisan Legislation\n\nCritical funding to implement key bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan helped pass into law, including the bipartisan infrastructure law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and PACT Act that addresses veterans\u2019 toxic exposure.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-portmans-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-national-security-by-preparing-for-quantum-cybersecurity-risks", "SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Hassan and Portman\u2019s Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen National Security by Preparing for Quantum Cybersecurity Risks", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The President has signed into law Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senator Rob Portman\u2019s (R-OH) bipartisan Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act. The law will strengthen national security by preparing the federal government\u2019s defenses against quantum-computing-enabled data breaches. As quantum computers, including those being developed by our adversaries, continue to get more powerful and more widely available, federal agencies must proactively work to ensure that federal cybersecurity protections remain up to date.\n\n\u201cTo strengthen our national security, it is essential that we address potential vulnerabilities in our cybersecurity systems, including new threats presented by quantum computing,\u201d said Senator Hassan. \u201cThis law will help ensure that our federal government is ready to defend our country against data breaches that could be exploited by quantum computing. I was glad to work with members of both parties to get this law across the finish line, and I will continue working to strengthen our county\u2019s cyber defenses.\u201d\n\n\u201cQuantum computing will provide for huge advances in computing power, but it will also create new cybersecurity challenges,\u201d said Ranking Member Portman. \u201cI\u2019m proud our bipartisan legislation to require the government to inventory its cryptographic systems, determine which are most at risk from quantum computing, and upgrade those systems accordingly is now law of the land.\u201d\n\nThe Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act would:\n\nRequire the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prioritize the acquisition and migration of federal agencies\u2019 information technology to post-quantum cryptography;\n\nInstruct OMB to create guidance for federal agencies to assess critical systems one year after the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issues planned post-quantum cryptography standards;\n\nDirect OMB to send an annual report to Congress that includes a strategy on how to address post-quantum cryptography risks, the funding that might be necessary, and an analysis on whole-of-government coordination and migration to post-quantum cryptography standards and information technology.\n\nSenator Hassan is leading efforts in Congress to invest in quantum research, which is critical to national security and the economy. Senators Hassan and John Thune\u2019s (R-SD) measure to encourage quantum research efforts was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. Senators Hassan and Thune also previously introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen national security by advancing U.S. capabilities in quantum networking and establishing a more comprehensive approach to workforce development in this field. In addition, Senator Hassan previously joined the New Hampshire congressional delegation in announcing $2.76 million in federal funding for Dartmouth College to support its quantum genome mapping project.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-secures-nearly-450-million-for-hawaii-in-federal-spending-bill", "Hirono Secures Nearly $450 Million for Hawaii in Federal Spending Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 government spending bill, which includes nearly $450 million in earmarks, known as Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS), she secured for nonprofit organizations and government agencies in Hawaii. Senator Hirono secured CDS funding for projects in every county in Hawaii, including military construction projects, community health organizations, projects to support Native Hawaiian communities, and more. The spending bill passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29, and now heads to the House, where it is expected to pass and be sent to President Biden to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThis funding bill invests in our communities, our country, and our national defense,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have secured nearly $450 million in federal funding for projects across Hawaii as part of this bill. From protecting our environment, to strengthening our state\u2019s emergency management capabilities, to supporting community health organizations and more, these projects will benefit people and communities across our state. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law and these funds put to good use for the people of Hawaii.\u201d\n\nA full list of the projects for which Senator Hirono secured CDS funding is below.\n\nSchofield Barracks - $111,000,000\n\nTo construct standard design Company Operations Facilities for four companies and Troop Aid Station.\n\nJoint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam - $103,350,000\n\nTo construct three box magazines for ordnance storage and improve perimeter security.\n\nMarine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) - $87,900,000\n\nTo provide the required enlisted personnel housing units to accommodate personnel stationed at MCBH.\n\nFort Shafter - $38,000,000\n\nTo provide a Potable Water System for Hawaii\u2019s Tripler Army Medical Center and for antiterrorism protection measures to enhance potable water system resiliency and security.\n\nFort Shafter - $33,000,000\n\nTo construct two potable water wells and one above ground water storage tank, and to replace infrastructure to increase well production, water storage capacity, and improve potable water quality.\n\nJoint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam - $20,000,000\n\nTo plan and design a Waterfront Production Facility that will bring light industrial productive capacity and shipboard worker services closer to the drydocks in a permanent and modern facility.\n\nCounty of Hawaii - $13,000,000\n\nTo provide facilities at Hilo Memorial Hospital for necessary community services.\n\nUniversity of Hawaii (UH), UH Cancer Center - $6,500,000\n\nTo support the construction of a new Early Phase Clinical Research Center (EPCRC) at the UH Cancer Center\u2019s Kakaako campus (Oahu), which will provide Hawaii\u2019s cancer patients and families with access to novel clinical trials that are currently only available on the U.S. mainland.\n\nKauai County Housing Agency - $5,000,000\n\nTo provide infrastructure for housing development in Hanapepe, Ele'ele, and Port Allen on Kauai.\n\nCity and County of Honolulu - $3,538,000\n\nTo provide stable, affordable housing to those with mental illness.\n\nHoahu Energy Cooperative Molokai - $3,000,000\n\nTo construct a solar power and battery energy storage system on Molokai that will be the first community-led, community-owned energy project on the island, displacing diesel generation.\n\nUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa - $2,250,000\n\nTo establish the Shoreline Equity and Adaptation Hub (SEA Hub) to understand shoreline communities\u2019 needs and develop equitable solutions to the challenge of adapting to sea level rise.\n\nDepartment of Water Supply, County of Hawaii - $2,080,000\n\nTo construct a deep well at a location that reduces the infrastructure required to bring high quality drinking water to the North Kona water system.\n\nMaikai Health Corporation, Hawaii Island - $2,000,000\n\nTo support the construction of a comprehensive health center site to provide a wide spectrum of out-patient services, including several that are not currently offered in the community.\n\nWaimanalo Health Center, Oahu - $2,000,000\n\nTo support the construction of an expansion facility that would provide oral health, vision, health promotion and disease prevention, cultural healing, and other comprehensive health services to the Waimanalo community.\n\nMaui County and Kauai County - $1,500,000\n\nTo prevent the extinction of Hawaii\u2019s critically endangered native forest birds by focusing on developing/scaling a new intervention to suppress invasive mosquitoes and reduce avian malaria infections for Hawaii\u2019s native forest birds.\n\nCounty of Maui - $1,400,000\n\nTo provide a new emergency operations center and security operations center with electrical, technological, audiovisual and security systems, and provide redundant power and communications systems.\n\nDaniel K. Inouye US Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center - $1,215,000\n\nTo complete the facility\u2019s solar panel installation and roof design, and install a sidewalk for the insectary.\n\nDepartment of Public Works, County of Kauai - $1,200,000\n\nTo engineer and inspect the Wailua\u2014Kapaa sewer system serving as a prerequisite to sewer system expansion, ensuring system reliability to conform with State legislation to replace all cesspools in the state by 2050.\n\nAha Punana Leo (APL) - $1,126,000\n\nTo support the reaccreditation of Aha Punana Leo\u2019s (APL) statewide Hawaiian language medium early childhood education programs, providing for another 13-year indigenous early learning accreditation and allowing APL to seek mainstream recognition of this accreditation within the state of Hawaii.\n\nYWCA Hawaii Island - $1,102,000\n\nTo support an initiative to demonstrate the feasibility of breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma by healing trauma caused by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among new parents with multiple ACEs, and providing support to enable them to provide an ACE-free childhood for their young children.\n\nThe Nature Conservancy - $1,000,000\n\nTo empower local communities across Hawaii to co-manage coastal resources in partnership with NOAA, the State Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to restore healthy reefs and nearshore fisheries.\n\nDivision of Forestry and Wildlife, State of Hawaii - $1,000,000\n\nTo purchase equipment necessary to locate and remove species that prey on endangered plants and animals in priority areas.\n\nUniversity of Hawaii, Office of Indigenous Innovation - $1,000,000\n\nTo support the creation of an Indigenous Data Science Sector Development Initiative (IDSSDI), which would address the need for diversification of Hawaii\u2019s economy through the restoration of Indigenous agencies.\n\nHawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) - $850,000\n\nTo implement a collaborative effort to establish selected invasive pest-free areas for nursery production across Hawaii and implement post-harvest sanitization methods to reduce presence of regulatory pests on nursery products entering export markets.\n\nSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance - $800,000\n\nTo renovate and repair facilities used to educate and engage with the community on Hawaiian bird conservation.\n\nKumano I Ke Ala o Makaweli, Kauai - $796,000\n\nTo support the development of K-12 school curriculum focused on natural resource management, traditional Hawaiian language and agriculture, and food production.\n\nMalama Aina Foundation - $765,000\n\nTo install 150 planter boxes at 50 K-12 schools and community organizations to provide full-scale, culturally-integrated agricultural K-12 STEM education for low-income students in underserved areas on Hawaii Island and Oahu.\n\nCity and County of Honolulu - $679,000\n\nTo take a cost-effective, resilient approach to managing storm water impacts by installing two types of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) to replace damaged and aging hardened storm drainage structures in the urban Honolulu area.\n\nParents and Children Together, Oahu - $550,000\n\nTo provide funding for afterschool and other out-of-school-time services (e.g., homework health, afterschool meals) for children and youth living in, and adjacent to, the Kuhio Park Terrace (Kalihi) and Puuwai Momi (Aiea) public housing communities.\n\nHale Kipa, Oahu - $500,000\n\nTo increase the community of parent leaders in Hawaii, create a parent leadership support group, and provide parent specific support through skill building, leadership, and coaching; will establish a community based behavioral health clinic and assessment center, offering individual parenting skill and parent leadership classes to the community at large.\n\nMalama Kauai - $492,000\n\nTo construct a food hub facility to serve the surrounding community.\n\nSusannah Wesley Community Center, Oahu - $325,000\n\nTo convene representatives from various Native Hawaiian organizations to develop a strategy to increase intervention and prevention efforts related to the sexual exploitation of Native Hawaiian children, and develop culturally appropriate human trafficking awareness training curricula and materials for stakeholder groups within the Native Hawaiian community, including parents, youth (ages 12-18), schools, and healthcare practitioners.\n\nKalamapii PLAY School, Hawaii Island - $197,000\n\nTo create a pilot program serving 70 preschool-aged students in Hilo, Hawaii that combines therapy with preschool play to focus on collective learning and recovery from trauma.\n\nThe Legal Clinic, Oahu - $120,000\n\nTo offer immigration law internships for Hawaii-based law students and training for legal practitioners culminating in a Criminal Immigration Seminar in the fall of 2023.\n\nDepartment of Water Supply, County of Hawaii - $80,000\n\nTo replace large, under-registering meters to customers that use significant amounts of water, resulting in proper billing to customers and providing accurate data to reduce water loss.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/house-passes-hirono-bill-to-study-designating-kaena-point-a-national-heritage-area", "House Passes Hirono Bill to Study Designating Kaena Point a National Heritage Area", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Heritage Area Act, which includes the Kaena Point National Heritage Area Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) to study designating Kaena Point on Oahu as a National Heritage Area, by a vote of 326-95. The legislation would require the Department of the Interior (DOI) to study the feasibility of designating Kaena Point, on Oahu, as a National Heritage Area. The National Heritage Area Act, S. 1942, passed the Senate unanimously earlier this week and now heads to President Biden\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cKaena Point offers one of the last glimpses of undisturbed coastline in Hawaii and is home to numerous cultural, historical, and natural resources,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cA National Heritage Area designation would bring much-needed federal support to maintain and manage Kaena Point, as well as protect the native and endangered species that inhabit the site. This bill will help preserve this precious ecosystem and ensure it can be appreciated for years to come.\u201d\n\nThe Kaena Point National Heritage Area Actdirects the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with state and local stakeholders, to study the possibility of designating Kaena Point as a National Heritage Area. It requires the study to be completed within 3 years and that upon completion the Secretary submit a report to Congress on the findings. The bill is supported by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Representative Ed Case introduced the companion Kaena Point National Heritage Area Act, H.R. 1908, which passed the House of Representatives in March.\n\nA National Heritage Area designation would unlock federal resources to help elevate public awareness of Kaena Point and enhance management activities to protect cultural and natural resources for future generations. Kaena Point is currently managed by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and includes the second-most visited park on Oahu\u2014Kaena Point State Park. The State Park also serves as a gateway to the Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve, which was established over 30 years ago to help preserve one of the last intact dune ecosystems in Hawaii. The coastal ecosystems and nearshore waters at Kaena Point offer critical habitat to numerous endemic and endangered species.\n\nThe full text of the National Heritage Act can be found here.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, Senator Hirono has championed legislation to protect Hawaii\u2019s environment, fish, wildlife, and plants. In September, she introduced legislation authorizing $55 million in federal funding over the next eleven years to support ongoing efforts to help combat Rapid Ohia Death in Hawaii. At a ENR subcommittee hearing, Senator Hirono delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of the Kaena Point National Heritage Area Act, legislation she introduced earlier this year to study the feasibility of designating Kaena Point as a National Heritage Area.\n\nThis past March, Senator Hirono introduced a bipartisan resolution designating April 2022 as \u201cNational Native Plant Month,\u201d recognizing the importance of native plants to environmental conservation and restoration, as well as in supporting a diversity of wildlife. In April 2021, she also announced that the Kona Soil and Water Conservation District was one of the projects to receive federal funding to boost biodiversity and support wildlife habitats. Earlier that year, Senator Hirono joined the other members of the Hawaii delegation in introducing legislation to assess the potential for Hawaii lands to be declared a national forest.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-north-dakotas-rising-population-due-to-strong-economy-pro-growth-business-climate", "Hoeven: North Dakota's Rising Population Due to Strong Economy, Pro-Growth Business Climate", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "John Hoeven", "H001061", "www.hoeven.senate.gov", "hoeven", "https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "Hoeven: North Dakota's Rising Population Due to Strong Economy, Pro-Growth Business Climate\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Census Bureau released estimates showing North Dakota with a record population of 779,261 residents in 2022.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve worked hard in North Dakota to build a pro-growth business climate that attracts investment, creates good-paying jobs and supports a high quality of life,\u201d said Hoeven. \u201cAs a result, our state has reached a record population of nearly 780,000 residents, while being one of the youngest states in the nation, showing our potential for continued growth. By advancing priorities like lower taxes, regulatory certainty, a low cost of living and public safety, we are continuing to build a strong and vibrant future for North Dakota.\u201d\n\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/annual-spending-bill-passes-senate-with-king-backed-initiatives-to-support-maine-jobs-bolster-national-defense", "Annual Spending Bill Passes Senate with King-Backed Initiatives to Support Maine Jobs, Bolster National Defense", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today voted along with sixty-seven of his Senate colleagues to pass the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which funds government programs through next September and advances a number of Senator King\u2019s policy priorities. The annual funding bill will support Maine jobs, increase affordability for working families, and invest in our national security. The bill is expected to pass the House by the end of the week.\n\n\u201cThe 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes a wide range of provisions to strengthen Maine communities, protect our economy, and improve life for people across the state,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis forward-thinking legislation supports high-paying jobs for Maine people, whether it be at Bath Iron Works or one of our craft breweries, and will help working Maine families afford essential needs, like housing and child care. The bill also takes important steps to enhance our national security by funding shipbuilding priorities, stopping illegal drug imports, and bolstering America\u2019s leadership in global public health. Finally, it invests in Maine\u2019s greatest outdoor natural resources by designating the York River as \u2018wild and scenic,\u2019 expanding affordable worker housing on Mount Desert Island, and increasing the amount of staff at National Parks. There is so much worth celebrating in the bill, and all told, I\u2019m grateful to see this bipartisan product pass the Senate. I am eager to continue working across the aisle with my colleagues in the coming year on more policies that help Maine people.\u201d\n\nProvisions supported by Senator King included in the legislative package include:\n\nDefending Democracy and Securing Elections. Nearly two years after insurrectionists on January 6th tried to use the 1887 Electoral Count Act to overturn a free and fair election, the spending bill modernizes the outdated law to protect the will of voters by updating procedures for the counting and certification of electoral votes for the presidency. This effort incorporates many proposals from Senator King\u2019s discussion draft Electoral Count Act reforms from February.\n\nPausing Devastating Lobster Gear Regulations. Senator King and the Maine Delegation secured a provision in the bill to pause looming lobster gear regulations that would have damaging impacts on thousands of Maine families and businesses. As King explained on the Senate Floor earlier this week, the proposed regulations were not based on any substantial evidence, ignored conservation efforts by lobstermen, and would have been an economic death sentence for thousands of Maine families that make up the lobster industry.\n\nAiding Local Maine Nonprofits. The FY23 Omnibus spending bill includes 140 of Senator King\u2019s Congressionally Directed Spending items, totaling over $250 million. This money will go to nonprofits and local governments in Maine to fund a broad range of community projects, including expanding workforce development initiatives, supporting health care providers, fixing roads, upgrading fire stations, and preserving historical sites.\n\nFunding Shipbuilding and Coast Guard Priorities. The legislation appropriates funding for the procurement of 3 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in fiscal year 2023, which Bath Iron Works (BIW) can compete to build. The package also funds advanced procurement of a fourth DDG-51 and $380 million to enhance shipyard infrastructure for ongoing and future shipbuilding programs. The bill also invests in the Maine Coast Guard with $11.6 billion for USCG operations and assets like increased fuel costs, acquisitions, vessels, aircraft, facilities related to USCG\u2019s mission, search and rescue, drug interdiction, marine safety, environmental protection, and fisheries enforcement.\n\nSupporting Ukraine\u2019s Fight for Freedom. With Russia\u2019s bloody, unprovoked attack on Ukraine in its tenth month and winter setting in, the legislation includes an additional $45 billion in aid to help brave Ukrainians continue to fight for their freedom and stop Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s empire-building ambitions.\n\nProtecting Veterans\u2019 Physical and Mental Health. The bill makes significant steps towards meeting America\u2019s commitment to those who served. Along with providing funding for the veterans healthcare expansions in the PACT Act, it expands support for Department of Veterans Affairs rural healthcare, mental health programs, women\u2019s health programs, homelessness prevention, and IT services benefiting Maine Veterans\n\nSpotlighting and Supporting the York River. The bill would designate portions of the York River as part of the National Park System\u2019s \u201cWild and Scenic\u201d Rivers program. This designation helps protect the river from future development and provides federal funding to the region. Senator King introduced the study bill in 2013, and the designation is the result of more than decade of community-driven efforts to designate and protect the river.\n\nSupporting National Park Staffing and Addressing Employee Housing. The legislation transfers an undeveloped parcel of land in the Village of Town Hill from Acadia National Park to the Town of Bar Harbor to develop affordable housing; the remainder of the parcel will be used by NPS to construct staff housing for park service employees. The bill also provides funding for an additional 500 full time equivalents (FTEs) at the National Park Service.\n\nReauthorizing and Expanding the National Park Foundation. The bill reauthorizes the National Park Foundation (NPF) through FY2030 and expands its authorized funding from $5 million to $15 million \u2013 a continued priority for National Parks Subcommittee Chairman King. NPF uses its funding to match private donations, so this expanded federal funding will likely result in increased private, matched donations to protect America\u2019s greatest treasures substantially.\n\nAddressing the Climate Crisis. The omnibus includes the Growing Climate Solutions Act which will help Maine forest owners and farmers access existing carbon markets that will provide financial benefits for sustainable farming practices. Through the program, USDA will help connect landowners to private sector groups who can assist the landowners in implementing the practices that capture carbon, reduce emissions, improve soil health, and make operations more sustainable.\n\nSupporting Maine Families and Children. The bill extends nutrition programs including a $13.4 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, $28.5 billion for Child Nutrition Programs, and $6 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The bill also includes a $7.67 billion investment for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and nearly $12 billion for Head Start. The bill includes increases for the maximum Pell Grant award to over $7,000, allocates $18.387 billion for Title I-A grants, and delivers $1.2 billion for TRIO to support more than 800,000 low-income first generation students get into college and succeed when they\u2019re there.\n\nMaking Housing More Accessible and Affordable. With Maine facing an affordable housing crisis, the omnibus provides housing assistance including $3.6 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, $2 billion for the Rural Housing Service, $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, $1.435 billion for the Housing for the Elderly and Housing for Persons with Disabilities program, and new incremental Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to support over 11,700 additional low-income households. These funds will support renters in Maine\u2019s towns, help retain the stock of rental housing in rural Maine, and construct and rehabilitate new rural rental properties. The bill also provides $5 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help families address the rising cost of energy.\n\nBoosting the Tourism Industry. The legislation includes the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act, which Senator King led with a bipartisan group of colleagues. This includes the King-led Visit America Act, which would coordinate national tourism policy, develop the tourism workforce for Maine, and bring more visitors, ultimately fueling the state economy.\n\nImproving National and Global Health Infrastructure. The omnibus makes bold investments in health care and research including $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $9.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $1.5 billion for ARPA-H (President Biden\u2019s initiative to develop cutting edge treatments against cancer and other illnesses), and $950 million for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. As a member of the NIH Caucus, Senator King routinely advocates for the agency and it\u2019s vital work to improve our understanding of, and capacity to, treat disease and illness.\n\nEnsuring Access to Healthcare and Telehealth in Rural Communities. The bill increases Medicare payments to healthcare providers, and avoids across the board cuts to Medicare programs, ensuring vital healthcare services remain viable in rural communities. The legislation also extends telehealth flexibilities that are currently tied to the pandemic until the end of 2024. Without this extension, the policies that have enabled the rapid rise of telehealth would expire with the existing public health emergency. Senator King pushed for this continuation and will continue to advocate for permanent expansions.\n\nStrengthening Law Enforcement and Improving Public Safety. The bill provides $231 million for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office grant programs related to police-community relations. The bill contains $700 million, the highest funding level ever, for grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The legislation also includes $4.9 billion to address the opioid crisis, including funding for the Opioid Response Grant, and the CDC overdose surveillance and prevention program. The bill also provides extra funding to the Department of Defense for anti-drug operations and coordination.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-celebrates-passage-of-electoral-count-act-reforms-to-protect-democracy", "King Celebrates Passage of Electoral Count Act Reforms to Protect Democracy", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight of federal elections, today celebrated the Senate passing a package of democracy protections to ensure election results can\u2019t be exploited by bad-actors and prevent another January 6th, 2021. The bipartisan Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act \u2013 which contains several policy recommendations from Senator King\u2019s ECA discussion draft released in February \u2013 clarifies ambiguities in the outdated 1887 Electoral Count Act (ECA) to protect the will of voters and updates procedures for the counting and certification of electoral votes for the presidency.\n\nThe ECA Reform Act passed the Senate in a bipartisan 68-29 vote as part of the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Package.\n\n\u201cToday, the Senate took a necessary, historic, and commonsense step to remove dangerous ambiguities from the process governing presidential elections and protect our fragile American democracy. The Electoral Count Reform Act is the most important piece of legislation we\u2019ve passed this Congress because it protects the foundation of our entire democratic system,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAfter attempts to overturn a free and fair election in 2021 exposed dangerous vulnerabilities in the antiquated Electoral Count Act, this bill was essential to defuse the ticking timebomb at the heart of our system of government. Now, as some continue to raise doubts about our electoral system, the bill ensures the ECA can never again be used as a weapon by disappointed candidates. The bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act we passed today prevents abuse of the 1887 law by making the process for certifying a presidential election clearer and more resistant to manipulation and mischief.\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, this bill is no substitute for the comprehensive voting rights and process reforms we need to confront the wider challenges facing our democracy,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cWhile I continue to look for ways to better protect the democratic process for all Americans, this effort will further guarantee that the will of the voters cannot be undermined once they\u2019ve made their choice. After over a year of work on this bill, I\u2019m proud my colleagues and I could find bipartisan consensus to stave off a looming crisis in our presidential election process. I want to thank Senators Durbin and Klobuchar who partnered with me on our first draft of the bill, the dozens of historians, lawyers, and experts who shared their knowledge, and all my Senate colleagues, particularly Senators Collins and Manchin, who helped get this critical effort across the finish line.\u201d\n\nThe Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act updates the outdated and vague 1887 Electoral Count Act to ensure that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect the will of the voters in each state. The bill replaces ambiguous provisions with clear procedures to ensure the counting of electoral votes can\u2019t be exploited. Key provisions in the bill include:\n\nClarifying the Role of the Vice President.\n\nAffirmatively states that the constitutional role of the Vice President in the counting of electoral votes is ceremonial, with no power to adjudicate conflicts that might arise.\n\nRaising the Objection Threshold.\n\nRaises the threshold to object to a state\u2019s electors to at least one-fifth of the duly chosen and sworn members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate \u2013 up from one member of each chamber.\n\nEnsuring a Single, Accurate Slate of Electors.\n\nDesignates each state\u2019s governor as responsible for submitting a single slate of electors to Congress.\n\nEnsures a state\u2019s executive can\u2019t submit a slate of electors in violation of state and federal law.\n\nExpediting Judicial Review.\n\nProvides an expedited review process, including a three-judge panel with appeal to the Supreme Court, of certain claims related to a state\u2019s slate of electors.\n\nPreventing Moving or Canceling of Elections.\n\nRequires \u201cextraordinary and catastrophic\u201d events for a state to move their election, and removes a provision that allows states to declare failed elections.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=CD470C38-AE55-4ACB-9A06-7A8D854662BD", "Graham, Whitehouse Russian Oligarch Asset Seizure Amendment Unanimously Passes Senate", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Lindsey Graham", "G000359", "www.lgraham.senate.gov", "graham", "https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of consideration of their amendment calling for asset seizure for Ukraine reconstruction.\n\nThe Graham-Whitehouse amendment allows the sale and proceeds from assets - including seized mega-yachts, private jets, mansions, and expensive art - from sanctioned Russian oligarchs and entities supporting Putin to be used to the benefit of the Ukrainian people.\n\nUkrainian President Zelensky has called on nations to use seized assets to help pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The provisions outlined in the Graham-Whitehouse amendment would make Putin and his cronies pay for the infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and homes his military has destroyed without any cost to the American taxpayer. The amendment applies to sanctioned persons already designated for malign activity outlined in executive orders and for those who facilitate Putin\u2019s war efforts.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m very pleased the Senate unanimously adopted my amendment with Senator Whitehouse to allow assets seized from sanctioned Russian oligarchs and entities supporting Putin to be used to the benefit of the Ukrainian people,\u201d said Senator Graham. \u201cThis change in U.S. law allows the proceeds of seized assets to support Ukrainian war efforts, which is a win-win for the people of Ukraine and the American taxpayer. I expect over time billions of dollars in seized assets will be sent to help Ukraine in their fight for freedom. Our amendment also takes pressure off the American taxpayer.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Zelenskyy\u2019s address last night was a reminder of what Senator Graham and I have believed from the earliest days \u2013 victory for Ukraine can be achieved with our continued support. My amendment with Senator Graham gives the Biden administration authority to transfer the proceeds from recovered Russian oligarch assets back to the victims in Ukraine. It unlocks billions of dollars for the Ukrainian people to rebuild their schools, hospitals, homes, and critical infrastructure that Putin\u2019s military has destroyed \u2013 all at no cost to the American taxpayer,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThank you also to Senators Blumenthal and Bennet and Representatives Malinowski and Wilson for helping us get this provision over the finish line.\u201d\n\nThe Department of Justice (DOJ) has a variety of tools to go after these assets, both criminal and civil. This amendment does not impact the tools DOJ has at its disposal to go after the assets of Russian oligarchs \u2013 it impacts what is done with those assets.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F3D64163-4140-4869-A324-1F503443DCDF", "Graham on End of Year Spending Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Lindsey Graham", "G000359", "www.lgraham.senate.gov", "graham", "https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement after voting in favor of the end of year spending bill.\n\n\u201cThis bill is a big win for the American military. It gives a much-needed boost to the Department of Defense and a well-deserved pay raise to our men and women in uniform. A ten percent increase in defense spending will add real dollars to our defense budget. The legislation also contains vital aid to Ukraine to deal a decisive defeat to Putin in his war of aggression. I\u2019m also pleased my amendment with Senator Whitehouse was adopted that allows the proceeds from confiscated property from Russian oligarchs to be sent to Ukraine to support their efforts to rebuild their country. This over time could be billions of dollars for Ukrainian war efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=6DEACF57-625F-4C68-8CB4-30A50839A089", "McConnell Secures Resources to Benefit Kentucky in this Year\u2019s Government Funding Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KY", "Mitch McConnell", "M000355", "www.mcconnell.senate.gov", "mcconnell", "https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today this year\u2019s Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill contains significant resources to support important Kentucky institutions and programs. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator McConnell advocated on behalf of the Commonwealth in this year's government funding process. Once the House passes the measure, it will go to the President for his signature.\n\n\u201cThis government funding bill makes a big, real-dollar increase in defense spending and a big, real-dollar cut to liberal domestic spending while still directing significant federal resources to Kentucky. It\u2019s a win for every Kentuckian concerned with rising threats to our national security and the Commonwealth\u2019s economy and health,\u201d said Senator McConnell. \u201cWhile I worked to ensure responsible spending in this bill, I also made sure it funds the programs that directly help Kentucky. This legislation devotes landmark resources to helping disaster-affected communities, securing our national defense, fighting back against substance abuse, investing in our infrastructure, and preserving our natural beauty.\u201d\n\nSenator McConnell secured the following achievements in this year\u2019s bill to benefit Kentucky:\n\nProtecting Land Between the Lakes\n\n\u201cLand Between the Lakes is one of Kentucky\u2019s finest natural treasures and drives tourism and job growth in a large portion of Western Kentucky. I\u2019ve worked with constituent groups for years to preserve this Kentucky landmark for future generations, and was proud to continue those efforts in legislation included in this year\u2019s government funding bill,\u201d said Senator McConnell. \u201cThe Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act will improve funding and oversight and help solve the long list of issues facing LBL. I appreciate Congressman Comer\u2019s work on the issue and look forward to the improvements it will make for visitors and LBL stakeholders.\u201d\n\nSenator McConnell introduced the Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act in April and shepherded it through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously in July. Congressman James Comer (KY-01) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives. This year\u2019s federal funding bill enacts the Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act into law, including the following provisions:\n\nSecures more federal resources to address Land Between the Lakes\u2019 (LBL) maintenance needs and expand recreation opportunities. This includes additional funding from the U.S. Forest Service and regulations ensuring user fees collected at LBL are used to improve LBL.\n\nMakes changes to the LBL Advisory Board makeup to ensure consistent and responsive leadership.\n\nBolsters law enforcement capacity in LBL and surrounding counties.\n\nBetter defines the special status of the families who once resided in LBL and guarantees their direct descendants\u2019 access to cemeteries within the territory.\n\nHelping Kentucky Rebuild from This Year\u2019s Disasters\n\n\u201cWhen I visited Eastern Kentucky following this summer\u2019s devastating floods, I told my constituents that I would stand by their side for as long as the recovery process took. This year\u2019s government funding bill helps build on that promise,\u201d said Senator McConnell. \u201cFrom funds for new housing, to resources for long-term recovery, to investments to lessen future flood risk, provisions in this legislation will directly help rebuild shattered Eastern Kentucky communities. There\u2019s no easy way to recover from disasters as destructive as these floods, but I\u2019m confident the Commonwealth will bounce back.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator McConnell has stood with Eastern Kentucky since the moment floods hit this summer. With the provisions he secured in this year\u2019s government funding bill, he is doubling down on his commitment to helping us rebuild better than before. We appreciate his help and look forward to using the funding in this legislation to continue our recovery process,\u201d said Kentucky State Representative Chris Fugate.\n\nSenator McConnell advocated for robust funding for the following programs:\n\nThe Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program.\n\nThe USDA\u2019s Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program.\n\nThis year\u2019s government funding bill also funds federal programs that can help Kentucky communities affected by disasters rebuild homes and critical infrastructure. Those include initiatives within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration\u2019s (SBA) Disaster Loans Program, the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (UDSA) and USDA\u2019s Office of Rural Development.\n\nSecuring our National Defense\n\n\u201cKentucky\u2019s military installations and servicemembers form a crucial part of America\u2019s defense infrastructure. With our nation\u2019s enemies on the move across the globe, it\u2019s more important than ever that we invest in our armed forces, in the Commonwealth and around the country,\u201d said Senator McConnell. \u201cThis year\u2019s government funding bill not only delivers record funding for our nation\u2019s military; it also provides resources to take care of Kentucky veterans, better accommodate the Commonwealth\u2019s military families, and develop the next generation of talent for our armed forces.\u201d\n\n$35 million for the new Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky to cover construction cost increases.\n\n$1.059 billion for chemical agents and munitions destruction, a portion of which supports demilitarization operations at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Kentucky.\n\n$135 million for the renovation of Vietnam War-era barracks to improve soldier quality of life at Fort Campbell.\n\n$20 million for an Army Research Lab manufacturing project, which supports research done at the University of Kentucky.\n\n$20 million for the National Security Agency (NSA) to support the University of Louisville\u2019s cyber workforce training program.\n\n$350 million for the acquisition of the first Gray Eagle Unmanned Aerial Systems for Army National Guard units.\n\nFighting Back Against Substance Abuse\n\n\u201cKentucky is facing record drug overdoses and, with fentanyl flooding across our southern border, the crisis is far from over. As we continue to fight our Commonwealth\u2019s substance abuse epidemic, I\u2019ve worked across party lines to bring federal drug czars to Kentucky and direct more than $650 million to fight back against addiction in our state. This year\u2019s government funding bill goes even further than those past initiatives, directing millions of dollars to the programs that keep drugs off our streets and help Kentuckians beat addiction,\u201d said Senator McConnell.\n\nThis legislation extends the federal ban on fentanyl-like substances through the end of 2024 and provides robust funding to programs that help prevent and treat substance abuse in Kentucky. Those include the State Opioid Response Grant program, the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) program, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, the National Guard Counter-Drug program, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, and the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery through Effective Employment and Reentry (CAREER) Act workforce and transitional housing programs.\n\nInvesting in Kentucky\u2019s Infrastructure and Economy\n\n\u201cBy investing in Kentucky\u2019s infrastructure today, we are building the jobs, businesses, and economy that our Commonwealth needs for the future. Last year\u2019s bipartisan infrastructure bill offered record resources to spur infrastructure development in our state and this year\u2019s government funding bill will go even further. The programs funded by this legislation promise to help Kentucky stay at the crossroads of American commerce and cement our place in the global economy,\u201d said Senator McConnell.\n\nFunds the Department of Transportation\u2019s (DOT) RAISE discretionary grant program, which has funded over $286 million in new Kentucky transportation projects to date.\n\nFunds the Essential Air Service program, which benefits the Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah and the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport.\n\n$344.9 million to support workers performing necessary environmental cleanup operations at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. This includes $7.5 million for the treatment and offsite shipment of oxide cylinders and $2 million for a reindustrialization study for the site following the completion of its deconstruction.\n\nFunds the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support infrastructure development in Central Appalachia. This includes $16 million for basic infrastructure development \u2013 through a program Senator McConnell helped create - $13 million to address substance abuse, and $10 million to develop broadband.\n\nFunds the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), a 3,090-mile network of highways linking Appalachian states like Kentucky to the national Interstate Highway System.\n\n$52 million to be split among the 12 Regional Biocontainment Laboratories, including the University of Louisville\u2019s biocontainment laboratory, to support research in biodefense.\n\nFunds the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) program to provide enhanced worker training in rural areas. $21.75 million will be distributed to the ARC and Delta Regional Authority (DRA) each, both of which include Kentucky.\n\n$43.4 million for the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, which creates innovative products for visually-impaired students and people around the country.\n\n$30.1 million for the Delta Regional Authority to support economic and infrastructure development in the Mississippi Delta region, which includes a number of counties in Western Kentucky.\n\n$10 million for researching alternative uses for coal at the University of Kentucky.\n\nFunds programs to encourage broadband and telehealth improvements in rural areas.\n\nEnsures funding remains available for the Letcher County federal prison construction project to move forward.\n\nPreserving Kentucky\u2019s Natural Beauty\n\n\u201cKentucky\u2019s natural treasures don\u2019t just make our Commonwealth beautiful; they also attract tourists, support jobs, and offer recreation opportunities to locals and visitors alike. This year\u2019s government funding bill helps Kentucky preserve that natural inheritance for years to come, ensuring future generations can enjoy the parks and waterways we all cherish,\u201d said Senator McConnell.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=01A40DDA-5C3B-448E-86D0-B60CEEC6DB4B", "Sen. Moran Secures $15 Million Federal Investment for Fort Riley", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", "moran", "https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) \u2013 a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations \u2013 today announced a more than $15 million federal investment for the construction of new barracks at Fort Riley. This federal investment was included in the FY2023 Appropriations Package.\n\n\u201cAlready home to nearly 15,000 active duty servicemembers and the headquarters for the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley will soon have the opportunity to expand its capabilities,\u201d said Sen. Moran. \u201cBy building new barracks, the base will have greater capacity for additional soldiers to be housed at Fort Riley and will be in a better position to compete for future opportunities. I appreciated the opportunity to welcome Chief of Staff of the Army General James McConville to Fort Riley this summer to see firsthand Fort Riley\u2019s capabilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThroughout my time in Congress, and especially since the 1st Infantry Division\u2019s return to Fort Riley in 2005, I am proud to have worked closely with the Department of Defense to invest in resources to grow and support Fort Riley\u2019s critical infrastructure, including new middle and elementary schools and the state-of-the-art Irwin Army Hospital,\u201d continued Sen. Moran. \u201cWith the addition of these new barracks, Fort Riley will continue to be one of the best places for our servicemembers to live, work and raise a family.\u201d\n\nSen. Moran hosted Gen. McConville at Fort Riley in August 2022 to meet with the troops and see Fort Riley\u2019s capabilities firsthand.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=2987236F-6956-4967-8D42-79ADB17FE3E8", "Sen. Moran Secures Federal Investment for Alzheimer\u2019s Treatment at The University of Kansas Health System", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", "moran", "https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) \u2013 a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education \u2013 today announced a $5 million federal investment to help The University of Kansas Health System purchase MRI and PET technology for Alzheimer\u2019s disease treatment and research. This funding was secured by Sen. Moran in the FY2023 Appropriations Package.\n\n\u201cAlzheimer\u2019s disease affects thousands of Kansans, and it\u2019s important to have the resources to diagnosis and treat patients close to home,\u201d said Sen. Moran. \u201cThis investment will provide The University of Kansas Health System with updated equipment to help families navigate and treat this terrible disease.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis funding for new MRI and PET/CT technology at The University of Kansas Health System Alzheimer Disease Program will be incredibly impactful at just the right time,\u201d said Jeff Burns, MD, co-director of The University of Kansas Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Center. \u201cThe field is changing fast with new diagnostics and drugs ready for patients in the very near future. This new equipment will help us prepare for a new era in brain health.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=B6110F69-9408-4977-A224-CBEBE17133A0", "Sen. Moran Secures $43 Million Federal Investment to Help Build New KU Cancer Center", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", "moran", "https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) \u2013 a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations \u2013 today announced a $43 million federal investment to plan and help build a new cancer research facility at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. The funding was secured by Sen. Moran in the FY2023 Appropriations Package through his role on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education.\n\nIn July of this year, The University of Kansas Cancer Center received the National Cancer Institute\u2019s (NCI) Comprehensive Designation Status \u2013 the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI and the gold standard for cancer centers.\n\n\u201cAfter years of hard work and dedication, The University of Kansas Cancer Center was awarded the NCI\u2019s Comprehensive Designation Status earlier this year, opening up new possibilities and greater federal investment,\u201d said Sen. Moran. \u201cThe KU Cancer Center is already a nationally recognized leader in the fight to treat and cure cancer, and soon, with a new, state-of-the-art cancer center, KU can expand its legacy and capabilities to do research, development and treat patients. With the new center, even more Kansans will have the opportunity to receive care and treatment for cancer close to home. It has long been my priority for Kansas to be a place that not only recruits the top talent in the world to our state, but also keeps our students, their knowledge and intellect in Kansas. Now, more Kansans will have the opportunity to change the world right here at home, and one day, God willing, find a cure for cancer.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe funding provided in this omnibus package will enable the KU Cancer Center to enhance its work in research and patient care while fulfilling its duty to provide public education and outreach programs, especially to underserved and high-risk populations,\u201d said Douglas Girod, KU Chancellor. \u201cMore broadly, by strengthening the KU Cancer Center, this funding elevates the entire university and strengthens KU\u2019s position as a leading national research institution and proud member of the Association of American Universities. We deeply appreciate Senator Moran\u2019s continued support of the KU Cancer Center and the university, and we look forward to partnering with him in the future on initiatives that benefit Kansas.\"\n\n\u201cThe funding will significantly bolster The University of Kansas Cancer Center\u2019s research infrastructure and collaborative culture, leading to a broader portfolio of practice-changing clinical trials that we offer,\u201d said Roy Jensen, MD, Vice Chancellor and Director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center. \u201cIt will also foster significant economic growth and further position our region as a hub for innovative biomedical research. We are grateful for Senator Moran\u2019s resolute support of the cancer center.\u201d\n\nTimeline of KU Cancer Center\u2019s Comprehensive Designation Status Application:\n\nIn 2012, KU Cancer Center was recognized as a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.\n\nIn 2017, KU Cancer Center\u2019s NCI designation was renewed, but the first attempt toward comprehensive status fell short. This same year, NCI made it a rule that no cancer center could be promoted to comprehensive status on its first five-year renewal, allowing KU time during the subsequent five years to focus on strengthening core areas necessary to achieving comprehensive status from NCI.\n\nIn 2021, as its five-year cancer center renewal would soon come up for review, KU Cancer Center submitted its second application for comprehensive status.\n\nIn June of 2022, KU Cancer Center officially received the National Cancer Institute\u2019s comprehensive designation status.\n\nAdditional Federal Resources:\n\nAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee with jurisdiction over the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the NCI, Sen. Moran also helped secure a total of $16 million in federal resources for KU Cancer Center in the FY2022 Appropriations bill.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/merkley-murkowski-bill-expanding-breastfeeding-protections-for-workers-poised-to-become-law-", "Merkley-Murkowski Bill Expanding Breastfeeding Protections for Workers Poised to Become Law", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "Washington D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced that their bipartisan Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support as an amendment to Congress\u2019s fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations package, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President Biden this week.\n\n\u201cBreastfeeding is great for the baby and great for moms,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cWe must make it possible for every new mom returning to the workplace to have the option to continue breastfeeding. That option is also really good for business. With this bill, parents will be empowered to make their own choices on breastfeeding, and businesses can improve retention of valuable employees. It\u2019s a win-win-win.\u201d?\n\n\u201cThe health benefits of breastfeeding are without question. What has been a question is a women\u2019s protection at the jobsite to pump safely. If a mother chooses to breastfeed her baby, she deserves the legal protection to do so without having to worry about it impacting her career,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cI am encouraged to see the PUMP Act pass the Senate\u2014good progress toward ensuring no mother ever has to choose between a job and nursing her child.\u201d\n\nInadequate time and space to pump in the workplace subjects countless employees to?harassment, reduced wages, and job loss, while others are forced to stop breastfeeding\u2014with consequences for their own health and the health of their children. According to the Surgeon General, breastfeeding can help protect babies from illnesses like ear, skin, and respiratory infections, diarrhea, and vomiting, as well as longer-term conditions such as obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and asthma. It also lowers mothers\u2019 risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and other ailments.\n\nThe bipartisan?PUMP Act expands a 2010 law authored by Merkley and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12), which provides space and time for hourly employees to pump and store breast milk at work. This enables parents to continue breastfeeding, which is of enormous value to the health of our infants and breastfeeding parents. The new legislation expands these rights to salaried employees. Additionally, the legislation includes an anti-retaliation provision so workers have recourse against employers who flout the law.?", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-applauds-funding-for-connecticut-priorities-support-for-mental-health-electoral-count-reform-act-gun-violence-prevention-in-fy23-omnibus-appropriations-bill-passed-by-senate-today", "Murphy Applauds Funding For Connecticut Priorities, Support For Mental Health, Electoral Count Reform Act, Gun Violence Prevention In Fy23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed By Senate Today", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Murphy Applauds Funding For Connecticut Priorities, Support For Mental Health, Electoral Count Reform Act, Gun Violence Prevention In Fy23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed By Senate Today\n\nWASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, on Wednesday released the following statement after U.S. Senate passage of the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which will support Connecticut priorities, make investments in gun violence prevention, increase access to mental health care, fund programs for under-resourced communities, promote national security, and make important reforms to the Electoral Count Act of 1887.\n\n\u201cPart of my job on the Appropriations Committee is making sure the budget we write funds Connecticut priorities. On top of the $236 million for local projects in Connecticut, this budget makes major investments in upgrading the Northeast Corridor, combating gun violence, supporting schools and under-resourced communities, and giving Connecticut manufacturers a major boost. It also includes my legislation to ensure the Housatonic River and the Highlands are protected for generations to come. This bill includes bipartisan mental health legislation I authored with a Republican colleague \u2013 reauthorizing and expanding many of the programs we created in 2016 \u2013 and also sends a clear signal that the United States remains steadfast in our support for the people of Ukraine, who have spent the last ten months at war,\u201d said Murphy.\n\nMurphy added: \u201cI\u2019m also proud to have helped write the bipartisan legislation included in this bill that will reform the archaic process Congress uses to certify presidential elections and safeguard against future attempts to overturn the results of a fair election. Reforming the electoral count process won\u2019t protect American democracy from all the threats we face, but it will help restore faith in our elections.\u201d\n\nMurphy, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, released a statement on the fiscal year 2023 Homeland Security bill. Murphy and Blumenthal applauded inclusion of $236 million for community-based projects in Connecticut, including over $100 million for 99 projects requested by Murphy and Blumenthal.\n\nSome highlights of the omnibus appropriations bill:\n\nUpgrading the Northeast Corridor: Building upon the $30 billion for the Northeast Corridor in the bipartisan infrastructure law, Murphy supported the inclusion of more funding to modernize rail in Connecticut, including:\n\n$1.86 billion in funding opportunities to help modernize the Northeast Corridor, including:\n\n$1.26 billion for Amtrak improvements and operations on the Northeast Corridor.\n\n$100 million for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail, to support major capital projects.\n\nNearly $500 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program to fund projects that improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger rail.\n\nConserving Open Space and Protecting Small Farms in Connecticut: To protect more of Connecticut\u2019s natural beauty and small farms, Murphy secured the following:\n\nPassage of the Housatonic Wild and Scenic River Act which designates 41 miles of the Housatonic River as Wild and Scenic. Proposed by Murphy, this designation will make federal resources available to protect the river and to support recreation.\n\nPassage of the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act, proposed by Murphy, to reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act through fiscal year 2028. This reauthorization extends protections and provides $10 million to conserve 3.5 million acres of land in CT, NJ, PA, and NY.\n\nNew funding for agriculture disaster aid, which Senator Murphy advocated for in order to assist forage farmers who cannot access traditional crop insurance or disaster aid programs.\n\n$7 million for the Acer Access and Development Program, which provides grants to maple syrup producers in Connecticut.\n\n$918 million for the Natural Resource Conservation Service to support on-farm conservation, water quality, and soil health projects.\n\nProtecting Retirement Savings: More and more, private equity firms looking to turn a quick profit are buying pension liabilities, transferring them to riskier investments, and removing important protections for pensioners and their retirement savings. To protect retirees from greedy corporations playing games with their pensions, Murphy secured the inclusion of his Pension Risk Transfer Accountability Act, which directs the U.S. Department of Labor, for the first time in almost thirty years, to review existing protections and guidance and to report its findings to Congress.\n\nProtecting Long Island Sound: The Long Island Sound is a multi-trillion dollar asset to Connecticut, and Murphy secured the inclusion of federal funding to protect and support the health of the Sound, including:\n\n$40.2 million to improve water quality, restore coastal habitats, and protect shoreline in Long Island Sound. This is an $8.6 million increase from last year and comes on top of the $106 million over five years that was allocated for this program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\n$6.35 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an increase of $323.9 million over last year, which includes funding for a number of programs that protect Connecticut coastlines and help manage our fisheries. The bill also includes an additional $657 million for disaster funding at NOAA that can support address the impacts of natural disasters on our coasts and fisheries. This includes the following increases Senator Murphy championed:\n\n$32.5 million for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), a $2.8 million increase from last year. This account will fund the newly created NERRS in Southeastern Connecticut that Senator Murphy helped create and open earlier this year.\n\n$19 million for NOAA aquaculture research, a $1 million increase from last year, that will help support the work of Milford Lab.\n\n$80 million \u2013 a $4 million increase \u2013 for the National Sea Grant College Program and $14 million for Sea Grant Aquaculture Research.\n\nCombating Gun Violence: Murphy successfully fought to secure funding for gun violence prevention efforts, including:\n\n$50 million for a Community-based Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program at the Department of Justice. This is on top of the $250 million over five years that Senator Murphy secured for this work in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.\n\n$25 million for gun violence research at the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health.\n\n$125 million for the FBI\u2019s operation of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This is on top of the $100 million that Senator Murphy secured for NICS in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.\n\n$95 million for grants to states to upload criminal and mental health records to NICS on top of the $200 million for the same purposes in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.\n\nInvesting in Mental Health: Murphy, a leader in the Senate on expanding access to mental health care, supported the inclusion of:\n\n$191.1 million for the Employee Benefits Security Administration, an increase of $5.6 million from FY22, to strengthen oversight over mental health parity laws.\n\n$1.01 billion for Mental Health Block Grants, a $150 million increase over FY22.\n\n$25 million for Graduate Psychology Education, a $5 million increase over FY22.\n\n$55.877 million for Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration.\n\nSupporting Under-Resourced Communities: Murphy supported the inclusion of federal funding to support historically under-resourced communities and address education, economic, and health disparities, including:\n\n$18.4 billion for Title I Grants, an increase of $850 million over last year, to help school districts that serve a significant number of students living in poverty.\n\n$15.2 billion for IDEA Part B State Grants, representing an increase of $904 million over last year, to help schools provide services to students with disabilities.\n\n$20.3 billion for early childhood education programs, representing an increase of $2.8 billion over last year, which includes $12 billion for Head Start (an increase of $960 million), $8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (an increase of $1.85 billion), and $315 million for Preschool Development Grants (an increase of $25 million).\n\nRaising the maximum Pell Grant award by $500 to $7,395, which represents the largest increase in more than a decade to help low-income students afford postsecondary education.\n\n$129 million for the Magnet School Assistance Program, a $15 million increase, to support the creation of diverse and high-quality magnet schools.\n\n$1.3 billion for Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a $40 million increase, to support the creation of community learning centers that provide after-school and summer enrichment opportunities for students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools.\n\n$1.4 billion for Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, in addition to the $1 billion provided in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to provide all students with a well-rounded education and support safe and inclusive school climates.\n\n$8 million to the CDC to address health disparities and inequities around the Social Determinants of Health.\n\n$19.516 million for SAMHSA\u2019s Minority Fellowship Program to help expand the number of racial and ethnic minorities in the behavioral health workforce, an increase of $3.347 million over FY22.\n\n$400 million for Juvenile Justice program at the Department of Justice, a $40 million increase from last year.\n\n$560 million for the Legal Service Corporation, a $71 million increase over last year. The bill also includes $20 million to provide emergency legal aid in the wake of recent natural disasters.\n\n$30.2 billion for Tenant-based Rental Assistance to continue to serve very low- and extremely low-income households nationwide and $14.9 billion for Project-based Rental Assistance, an increase of $1 billion above FY22.\n\n$1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which will lead to the construction of nearly 10,000 new rental and homebuyer units.\n\n$3.63 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, an increase of $420 million above FY22.\n\n$14.1 billion for the Social Security Administration\u2019s administrative expenses, an increase of $785 million over FY22\u2014the largest increase in more than a decade. This supports the administration of Social Security benefits for over 70 million Americans, including processing over 8 million retirement and disability claims annually.\n\nPartnering with Connecticut\u2019s Defense Manufacturers: Murphy supported federal funding that will benefit Connecticut\u2019s defense and manufacturing industries, including:\n\n$4.5 billion for full funding for two Virginia Class fast attack submarines.\n\n$3.1 billion for full funding for the Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine\n\n$1.8 billion in additional funding for the F-35 program to restore nineteen total aircraft.\n\n$1.7 billion in additional funding for sixteen C-130J aircraft, to modernize 2 Air National Guard operational units.\n\n$570 million for ten additional Combat Rescue Helicopters to restore production to a total of twenty aircraft, in line with the previous year\u2019s plan.\n\n$273 million for ten additional UH-60M aircraft for the Army National Guard.\n\n$250 million for two additional CH-53K heavy lift aircraft.\n\n$220.4 million for the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program.\n\n$200 million for additional funding for F135 engine spares.\n\n$60 million in additional funding for C-130H 8-Bladed Propeller Upgrade (NP2000).\n\n$25 million in additional funding for Academic Partnerships for Submarine & Undersea Vehicle Research & Manufacturing.\n\n$20 million in additional funding for Small Satellite Tech.\n\n$20 million in additional funding for Versatile Rotary Engine Systems.\n\n$15 million in additional funding for Digital Enterprise Technology for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle.\n\n$13 million in additional funding for laser metal deposition powder for turbine engine component restoration.\n\n$10 million in additional funding for Multi-Mission Helicopter Upgrade Development.\n\n$9.5 million in additional funding for Emergency Power and Cooling Technology Demonstration.\n\n$8.5 million in additional funding for Precision maneuvering units.\n\n$8 million in additional funding for Deployable Surveillance Systems: Deep Water Active.\n\n$4 million in additional funding for Lunar Surface Based Situational Awareness Network.\n\n$5 million in additional funding for laser peening of jet engines.\n\n$3 million in additional funding for Next Generation Digital Design and Manufacturing for U.S. Army Combat Vehicles.\n\n$3 million in additional funding for Innovative Biomaterials for Combat Wound Care.\n\nSending Aid to Ukraine: Murphy, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, supported $45 billion in funding for the people of Ukraine, bringing the total amount of emergency supplemental funding for Ukraine to $112.3 billion since Russia\u2019s invasion in February. The new funding in the Omnibus Appropriations bill includes:\n\n$11.9 billion to replenish U.S. military equipment provided to Ukraine.\n\n$9.3 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to bolster the Ukrainian military.\n\n$6.98 billion for U.S. European Command operations in support of Ukraine and NATO Allies.\n\n$13.37 billion in economic assistance, including budgetary support for the Government of Ukraine.\n\n$2.47 billion in humanitarian assistance, including funding for emergency food assistance and health care, as well as support for refugees fleeing Ukraine and other vulnerable populations.\n\n$2.4 billion to support the resettlement and other support services for Ukrainian arrivals and refugees through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\n\n$166 million for the Department of State and USAID in support of their response to the situation in Ukraine.\n\n$126.3 million to prepare for and respond to potential nuclear and radiological incidents in Ukraine.\n\n$50 million for USAID\u2019s Food for Peace program.\n\n$13.5 million for the Department of State and USAID Inspector General, $6 million for the Department of Defense Inspector General, and $7.5 million for the Government Accountability Office to conduct oversight and end-use monitoring of equipment sent to Ukraine.\n\nSupporting the People of Puerto Rico: The funding package includes historic investments to support the people of Puerto Rico, by:\n\nExtending the increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Puerto Rico through the end of 2027 at 76%, which will help Puerto Rico avert its Medicaid funding cliff. This would permit the largest-ever allocations to Puerto Rico\u2019s Medicaid program in history.\n\nProviding additional funding for disaster relief and preparedness, including $1 billion to help rebuild Puerto Rico\u2019s energy grid.\n\nPromoting Progressive Foreign Policy and National Security: Murphy also supported the inclusion of funding to support global health and climate change mitigation efforts, invest in the Development Finance Corporation, and provide increased assistance to important allies and strategic priorities. The bill includes:\n\n$1 billion for the Development Finance Corporation to invest in development overseas, an increase of $302 million over FY22.\n\n$2 billion to address the climate crisis and other environmental issues.\n\n$10.5 billion to invest in global health and the prevention of future pandemics, an increase of $670 million from FY22. This includes $900 million for global health security, a $200 million increase from FY22, to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.\n\n$1.51 billion for International Security Cooperation Programs, a $200 million increase from FY22.\n\n$500 million for Israeli cooperative research and development programs, a $200 increase from FY22, including modernization of Israel\u2019s Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense Program and Arrow-3.\n\nIncreased assistance for Ukraine, Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza.\n\n$225 million for the Baltic Security Initiative, an increase of $69.5 million, and an additional $153 million for security cooperation programs, with a particular focus on critical European allies in light of Russia\u2019s continued aggression.\n\nImplementing Billy\u2019s Law: Murphy secured $3.6 million for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, an increase of nearly $1 million from last year. NAMUS is a federally run clearinghouse for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-announce-236-million-in-funding-for-connecticut-projects-in-omnibus-appropriations-bill", "Murphy, Blumenthal Announce $236 Million in Funding for Connecticut Projects in Omnibus Appropriations Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Murphy, Blumenthal Announce $236 Million in Funding for Connecticut Projects in Omnibus Appropriations Bill\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Wednesday announced the inclusion of more than $236 million in the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. Senate today. The bill, once passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by President Biden, will fund 99 congressionally directed spending projects requested by Murphy and Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThis was the year of getting things done for Connecticut, and I\u2019m so proud that we are bringing home $236 million more for community-based projects in our state. This funding will help reduce gun violence in our communities, support small businesses and workforce development, improve water infrastructure, increase access to mental health services, and ensure the resiliency of our coastline communities. These investments are the result of thousands of conversations I\u2019ve had with people across Connecticut, and they\u2019re going to have a real positive impact on our communities,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThese targeted specific grants are a fantastic new year win for our state. Connecticut can now count on hundreds of millions of dollars for our most urgent needs\u2014from reducing gun violence to increasing affordable housing to providing critical mental health services. This infusion of funds will be transformative for our state\u2019s economic growth and quality of life. Think of them as smart, strategic investments, producing major dividends in health, education, roads, bridges and more. These projects will undoubtedly strengthen our communities and I am proud to have worked alongside Senator Murphy to deliver these invaluable investments to Connecticut,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\nIn the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is more than $102 million for Connecticut projects, including:\n\n$12 million the Connecticut Department of Transportation to support track speed improvements on the New Haven Line as part of their TIME for CT project\n\n$7 million to expand and improve the Shoreline Greenway Trail in New Haven\n\n$5 million for construction to realign Lafayette Circle in Bridgeport\n\n$1.4 million to replacement of 10 signals at critical locations on state and local routes within Waterbury\u2019s downtown\n\n$3.4 million for design and construction of a multi-use path, sidewalk, and three pedestrian bridges in Oxford on Route 67\n\n$2 million for the City of New London to support ongoing construction of a Community & Recreation Center\n\n$2 million for the Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to construct affordable housing in Bridgeport\n\n$420,000 for the Waterbury Housing Authority to complete the demolition of blighted structures in the West Grove St. area as they work towards constructing affordable housing in that area\n\n$4.5 million for Hall Neighborhood House to construct a new wing at its site in the East Side of Bridgeport\n\n$98,000 for Community Renewal Team to renovate bathrooms at a family shelter in East Hartford\n\n$642,000 for Chrysalis Center for renovations at veterans housing facilities in Rockville and Vernon\n\nIn the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $48,582 million for Connecticut workforce development, health, and education projects, including:\n\n$204,000 for 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm for workforce development summer programming for students with disabilities\n\n$54,000 for CCARC, Inc. for job training programs that serve individuals with disabilities\n\n$76,000 Youth Business Initiative, Inc. for funding for middle school career and life skills programs\n\n$200,000 for the City of Bridgeport to support the modernization and transition of the Bridgeport Health Department record management system\n\n$200,000 for the City of Bridgeport to support the modernization of the IT system in the communicable disease clinic\n\n$1,500,000 for the City of Hartford for the sexually transmitted infection clinic\n\n$100,000 for Community Child Guidance Clinic to replace the roof at its mental health center and a therapeutic day school\n\n$1,800,000 for Connecticut Children's Medical Center for a perinatal care center\n\n$255,000 for Connecticut Counseling Centers Inc. for a food prescription program in the Danbury area\n\n$630,000 for Continuum of Care, Inc. for renovations at a veterans residential PTSD treatment program\n\n$2,000,000 for Cure Rare Disease to support the renovation of laboratory space that is used for research into rare diseases\n\n$1,800,000 for InterCommunity, Inc. to expand a primary and behavioral health care facility in Hartford\n\n$500,000 for Keystone House Inc. for renovations at three group homes for adults with a mental health diagnosis\n\n$350,000 for LifeBridge Community Services, Inc. for an elevator replacement\n\n$175,000 for MARC of Manchester for facilities and equipment improvements\n\n$325,000 for McCall Foundation, Inc. for renovations at an intermediate residential treatment program\n\n$1,000,000 for Optimus Health Care, Inc. for renovations at a federally qualified health center\n\n$207,000 for Reliance Health, Inc. for renovations at nine mental health facilities in Eastern Connecticut\n\n$43,000 for The Connection, Inc. to support renovations to a residential substance-use treatment center\n\n$1,100,000 for The Village for Families and Children for facilities renovations\n\n$980,000 for Wheeler Clinic, Inc. for a new health care facility in Bristol\n\n$100,000 for YWCA Greenwich Sexual Assault Services for the design of a new program space\n\n$1,500,000 for Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery to support five recovery community centers\n\n$200,000 for The Connection, Inc. for mental health, substance use, and behavioral health services training\n\n$1,122,000 for The Governor's Prevention Partnership to train community and youth leaders in substance use prevention\n\n$25,000 for The Greater Bridgeport Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. for youth mental health programming, including equipment\n\n$100,000 for Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse Inc. for recreational programming and support for low income families\n\n$216,000 for Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence for a therapy support program for children affected by domestic violence\n\n$462,000 for Fairfield County\u2019s Community Foundation for economic inequality and mobility research\n\n$50,000 for Saint Joseph Parenting Center in Stamford for services for families and children at risk of child abuse and neglect\n\n$1,050,000 for United Way of Western Connecticut for a nutrition services program\n\n$2,000,000 for the Bridgeport Board of Education for in-person and virtual library programs, including purchase of books, materials and virtual library resources\n\n$730,000 for East Hartford Public Schools for the Manufacturing Academy and Internship program, including purchase of equipment\n\n$305,000 for the Hartford Public Library for educational programs for immigrant, refugee and English learner students\n\n$100,000 for Hartford Stage to expand arts-based summer education programming\n\n$218,000 for NAFI Connecticut, Inc. for a career readiness initiative\n\n$150,000 for New Haven Reads Community Book Bank for Structured Literacy programming\n\n$125,000 for Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership for social-emotional learning initiative within Bridgeport Public Schools\n\n$361,000 for SoundWaters, Inc. for after-school and extracurricular programming\n\n$259,000 for Waterbury Public Schools to improve wireless access and connections\n\n$326,000 for the University of New Haven for the Center for Consumer Protection and Cybersecurity Project\n\nIn the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $18,345,000 million for Connecticut projects including:\n\n$3 million for the City of Bridgeport Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) for design of the West Side Wastewater Treatment Plant Project\n\n$1.6 million for the Torrington Water Pollution Control Authority for resiliency upgrades at Harris Drive Pump Station\n\n$2.5 million for the Metropolitan District Commission for to construct of a new water transmission main to supply drinking water to East Hartford, South Windsor, Glastonbury, and Portland\n\n$500,000 for the City of Bridgeport to restore the Perry Memorial Arch\n\n$1.2 million for the School Hill Water Association to connect 31 homes and 87 residents to the Connecticut water system\n\n$280,000 for two awards to Save the Sound to construct green storm water infrastructure in Hamden town center and in Bridgeport\n\n$200,000 for the Town of Monroe for replacement of Monroe\u2019s Senior Center septic tank\n\n$1.6 million for two awards to the Norwich Public Utilities that will complete a sewer gravity pipe lining project and an emergency water interconnection between Groton and Norwich water systems\n\n$300,000 for the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society for Restoration & Interpretation for renovations at Nathan Hale Homestead\n\n$111,000 for the Mystic Seaport Museum to restore the 1866 National Historic Landmark Vessel Emma C. Berry\n\n$192,000 for two awards to the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments for a tree canopy assessment and regional open space inventory\n\n$154,000 for Groundwork Bridgeport to support a urban forestry project\n\n$3.363 million for two awards to the South Central Regional Water Authority for HVAC and electrical improvements at Lake Gaillard Water Treatment Plan and a generator replacement at a well treatment facility in Seymour\n\nIn the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, there is $11.962 million for Connecticut priorities including:\n\n$656,000 to support improvements at the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection State Interagency Coordination Center\n\n$1.025 million for the City of Hartford for a flood mitigation project\n\n$742,000 for the City of Bridgeport for a community flood scoping project\n\n$708,000 for the Town of Old Lyme for an emergency operations center\n\nIn the Agriculture Appropriations bill, there is $6.236 million in funding for Connecticut, including:\n\n$2.53 million for the Town of Winchester help replace an old public works garage\n\n$2.75 million for the Town of East Windsor to renovate the East Windsor Scout Hall Youth Center and streamline town services for seniors and low-income residents\n\n$206,000 for the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station to monitor tick populations and tick-borne pathogens\n\nIn the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, there is $6.175 million to support Connecticut small businesses, including:\n\n$2 million for the Women's Business Development Council to fund staffing and new offices that allow the organization to expand its programming to more women-owned businesses in Connecticut\n\n$550,000 for Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development Area to create a Connecticut Veteran Farmer Educational Resource Hub\n\n$400,000 for CLiCK Inc. to make infrastructure improvements at their food hub in Willimantic\n\n$1 million for Connecticut Historical Society to digitize tens of thousands of records from the American revolution\n\nIn the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, there is $35.244 million for Connecticut projects, including:\n\n$2.39 million for Greenwave to launch the Connecticut Kelp Innovation Center\n\n$650,000 for the Sea Research Foundation to establish the Blue Economy Career Development Center\n\n$2.218 million for the City of New London to purchase new emergency communications equipment\n\n$500,000 for the City of Bridgeport to purchase forensic technology\n\n$930,000 for the City of Waterbury to support its Real-Time Crime and Pandemic Center\n\n$152,000 for two awards to the Town of Bloomfield to upgrade to police car cruiser cameras and purchase equipment for its police training room\n\n$250,000 for the City of Stamford to purchase training equipment for a Regional Police Academy\n\n$850,000 for the Town of Winchester to purchase new radios for police and emergency services\n\n$237,000 for Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership to support ongoing work to reduce gun violence in Bridgeport\n\n$67,000 for Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut to support firearm safety and reduce gun violence in New Haven area and across Connecticut\n\n$1 million for the University of New Haven to support its Community-Based Gun Violence Reduction Project\n\nIn the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, there is $8.145 million for Connecticut, including $2.48 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to make water infrastructure improvements across the state:\n\n$380,000 for USACE operations and maintenance work in Branford Harbor\n\n$500,000 for USACE operations and maintenance work in Guilford Harbor\n\n$600,000 for USACE operations and maintenance work in Stony Creek Harbor\n\n$1 million for the Town of Madison to make energy efficiency upgrades at an emergency shelter\n\n$1.9 million to for the Town of Manchester to support energy efficiency upgrades at two public schools in\n\n$2 million for the City of Stamford to upgrade the network of inefficient, high-pressure sodium-based streetlights to energy-saving LEDs streetlights\n\n$165,000 for Children's Community Development Center to install solar panels that will provide electricity to three childcare centers in Westport\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-applaud-senate-approval-of-sara-bronins-nomination-to-serve-as-advisory-council-on-historic-preservation", "Murphy, Blumenthal Applaud Senate Approval of Sara Bronin's Nomination to Serve as Chair of Advisory Council on Historic Preservation", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) applauded Senate confirmation of Sara Bronin\u2019s nomination to chair the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.\n\n\u201cSara Bronin is an architect, attorney, and nationally-recognized expert on historic preservation \u2013 there is no one better suited to serve as chair of this council. I\u2019m proud of the work she\u2019s done to advance equity in Connecticut and the city of Hartford, and I\u2019m confident she will bring the same expertise and passion to this new role. I\u2019m thrilled to see her confirmed by the full Senate,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cSara Bronin\u2019s extraordinary expertise and experience as a preservation advocate and steward will make her an outstanding chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cHer commitment to this vital cause is demonstrated convincingly by her championing vulnerable community assets across Connecticut. In this new role, she will take this work to a national level.\u201d\n\nAs chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Bronin will lead the agency in addressing policy issues, directing program initiatives, and making recommendations regarding historic preservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of our nation\u2019s diverse historic resources to the President, Congress, and heads of other federal agencies.\n\nLast September, Blumenthal and Murphy introduced Bronin before her Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing.\n\nSara Bronin is a Mexican-American architect, attorney, professor, and policymaker whose interdisciplinary work focuses on how law and policy can foster more equitable, sustainable, well-designed, and connected places. She is a Professor of the Cornell College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, an Associated Faculty Member of the Cornell Law School, and a Faculty Fellow of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Bronin is also an elected member of the American Law Institute and leads the research team behind the groundbreaking Connecticut Zoning Atlas, the first interactive GIS map of all of the zoning regulations in a single state.\n\nBronin is a board member of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, an advisor for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Sustainable Development Code, and the founder of Desegregate Connecticut, a coalition that successfully advanced the first major statewide zoning reforms in several decades. Previously, she chaired Preservation Connecticut, served on the city of Hartford historic preservation commission, and led Hartford\u2019s nationally-recognized efforts to adopt a climate action plan and city plan, and to overhaul the zoning code. Bronin holds a J.D. from Yale Law School (Harry S Truman Scholarship), M.Sc. from the University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholarship), and B.Architecture/B.A. from the University of Texas. While in law school, she clerked for then-Judge Sonia Sotomayor on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-secures-major-wins-for-michigan-helps-senate-pass-government-funding-bill", "Peters Secures Major Wins for Michigan, Helps Senate Pass Government Funding Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today helped the Senate pass an essential bipartisan government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2023. Peters successfully secured funding in the legislation for dozens of high-impact public local projects in Michigan that can benefit from federal assistance. Peters also supported or led provisions to protect the Great Lakes, support our veterans and troops, address PFAS contamination, fund the CHIPS and Science Act, bolster Michigan manufacturing, protect houses of worship, and keep investing in the bipartisan infrastructure law, among other priorities. This legislation now heads to the House of Representatives where it is anticipated to be passed quickly prior to being sent to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThere is no doubt that this government funding bill makes needed investments to improve the lives of Michiganders across our state,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cIt includes federal resources for dozens of local high-impact public projects in Michigan that I fought for, which will meet the needs of Michigan communities and address the issues that matter most to them. I\u2019m also proud to have supported and secured efforts that will help protect the Great Lakes, invest in key workforce training, education and manufacturing programs, upgrade our infrastructure, and support Michigan\u2019s defense footprint.\u201d\n\nPeters supported or led the following key provisions on issues important to Michiganders:\n\nProtecting the Great Lakes and Improving Water Quality in the Region\n\nGreat Lakes: The bill includes $368 million to support the efforts of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This funding will be used to combat the greatest threats to the Great Lakes, including invasive species, harmful algal blooms and loss of fish and wildlife habitats.\n\nProtect Against Asian Carp: The bill includes $47.9 million for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project, which was supported by Peters in the Water Resources Development Act. This funding will be used to initiate construction on the project, which is critical to preventing the further spread of invasive Asian carp. The bill also invests $14.3 million for the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Dispersal Barrier at Des Plaines River, which is a key control mechanism for protecting the Great Lakes from invasive Asian carp.\n\nAddressing PFAS Contamination: Peters has pushed for continued efforts to address PFAS contamination. The bill includes $5 million for the Department of Agriculture to support efforts to address PFAS contamination in agriculture. It also includes $2.7 million for the U.S. Geological Service to conduct research on the transmission of PFAS substances in watersheds and aquifers, and $2 million for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to continue their work on PFAS and other contaminants of concern.\n\nRemoving Lead from Drinking Water: The bill includes $30.5 million for the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) lead testing in schools program, $25 million for its efforts to reduce lead in drinking water, and $7 million to support its work to improve drinking water infrastructure resilience and sustainability.\n\nStrengthening Michigan\u2019s Economy and Infrastructure\n\nContinued Investment in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: The bill includes $62.9 billion for the Federal Highway Administration. Part of this funding will meet the bipartisan infrastructure law\u2019s obligations for federal-aid highway programs and the remaining funding will be used to reduce the backlog of structurally deficient bridges.\n\nCHIPS and Science Act: The bill includes $1.8 billion in new funding to implement the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. Peters helped author and pass the bill, which includes a provision he and Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) secured to boost the auto sector\u2019s manufacturing of semiconductor chips.\n\nSupporting Michigan Manufacturing: Peters helped secure $188 million for Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) like Michigan\u2019s Manufacturing Technology Center. MEPs like the Center provide technical assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturers on business operations, advanced technologies, workforce and skills development, cybersecurity and more. Over the past year, Michigan\u2019s MEP has created over $78 million in new sales, generated $46 million in cost savings, and created and retained over 4,000 Michigan jobs.\n\nThe bill also includes Peters\u2019 bipartisan Manufacturing.gov Act, which would establish a single coordinated online portal to assist manufacturers in accessing available federal programs, grants and services. This will help small and medium-sized Michigan manufacturers access programs and information to help them grow their business, accelerate technology improvements, and bolster their workforce.\n\nWorkforce Training And Development: The bill includes $2.9 billion for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State grants. It also provides $285 million for Registered Apprenticeships. This investment in workforce development activities is expected to increase employment, retention, earnings and occupational skill attainment.\n\nCommunity Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund: The bill provides $324 million for the CDFI Fund to promote economic and community development in low-income communities, an increase of $29 million over fiscal year 2022. These funds support a variety of projects in low-income and underserved communities from proposals that bring grocery stores to communities with no healthy food alternatives to investments in low-income housing. Peters has long supported CDFIs and their impact in local communities and is a member of the bipartisan CDFI Caucus.\n\nEmployee Stock Ownership Plans: The bill includes the bipartisan Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) Fairness Act, which Peters served as a cosponsor on and would allow many small businesses to offer ESOPs to their employees.\n\nInvesting in Our National Defense & Security and Supporting Servicemembers & Veterans\n\nInvesting in Michigan\u2019s Defense: Peters secured $16 million for Camp Grayling and $23 million for Northern Strike. Earlier this year, Peters welcomed U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth to Camp Grayling and U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to Alpena\u2019s Combat Readiness Training Center \u2013 key parts of the National All-Domain Warfighting Center. While there, Peters, Secretary Wormuth, and Secretary Kendall viewed the current operational capabilities of the bases, observed an annual joint training exercise hosted by the Michigan National Guard \u2013 Exercise Northern Strike \u2013 and discussed how Michigan\u2019s military facilities are critical to our nation\u2019s defense.\n\nPay Raise for Troops: The bill fully funds a 4.6 percent pay raise for our troops, which Peters helped authorize during his support of the National Defense Authorization Act.\n\nSupporting Our Veterans: The bill includes $5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, which provides additional funding to implement the landmark PACT Act that expands eligibility for health care services and benefits to veterans with conditions related to toxic exposure during their service. Following the passage of the PACT Act, Peters held events across Michigan to raise awareness about these new benefits for veterans and their families.\n\nSafeguarding Houses of Worship: Peters secured $305 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program for houses of worship and other nonprofit organizations that want to secure their facilities against potential attacks. Grants can be used to harden facilities, promote emergency preparedness training, and strengthen security coordination between communities, emergency responders and state and local government agencies. In 2022, $8.4 million in grant funding was awarded to nonprofits and faith-based organizations across Michigan. Peters joined his colleagues in calling for the program to receive robust funding last week.\n\nSupport for Ukraine: The bill includes $44.9 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine, including for equipment, security assistance, and other humanitarian and economic assistance.\n\nProtecting Against Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems: The legislation includes a short-term extension of authorities for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to counter threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones. Peters helped secure this extension and will continue pushinghis bipartisan legislation to expand these authorities and provide increased resources to federal agencies who are charged with protecting the public from this evolving threat.\n\nIdentifying Vulnerabilities in Medical Supply Chains: Peters helped secure a provision, based onhis bipartisan bill, that will help increase visibility into our medical supply chain and provide the Food and Drug Administration with a clearer picture of foreign-made medical products. The provision builds off of findings from Peters\u2019 2019 report, A Price Too High: Cost, Supply, and Security Threats to Affordable Prescription Drugs, that identified vulnerabilities in our nation\u2019s medical supply chain and provided recommendations to address growing shortages of critical drugs and national security concerns related to our nation\u2019s dependence on foreign sources for these products.\n\nOther Priorities Supported by Peters\n\nEnsuring a Fair and Accurate Census: The package includes $1.4 billion in funding that Peters helped secure for the U.S. Census Bureau to prepare for the 2030 Census. Robust and steady funding for census operations will help ensure that every community is counted. The legislation also includes a provision that Peters secured to push the Bureau to expand programs that help address 2020 Census undercounts \u2013 such as those in Detroit. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which Peters chairs, is responsible for conducting oversight of the U.S. Census Bureau. Peters convened a hearing in downtown Detroit on the 2020 Census and its impacts on local communities.\n\nPROSWIFT Act: The bill includes $1.75 million for Space Weather Research to Operations, including the development of a space weather testbed, as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) implementation of Peters\u2019 bill, the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act.\n\nElectoral Count Reform: The bill includes the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, legislation that Peters cosponsored. The legislation would take several steps to modernize the Electoral Count Act of 1887, including by clarifying the role of the Vice President and raising the threshold to lodge an objection to a state\u2019s electors \u2013 which would help safeguard our democracy and prevent another January 6th type effort to overturn the election results.\n\nThe bill also includes funding secured by Peters for high-impact public local projects in Michigan that can benefit from federal assistance, including to improve public safety, upgrade and build more resilient infrastructure and strengthen skills training programs. For a full list of projects Peters supported that were included in the bill, click here.\n\nRebuilding Our Roads, Transportation and Community Infrastructure\n\nMound Road/Detroit Arsenal Connector Project: The Mound Road/Detroit Arsenal Connector Project is located on 5 miles of the 8-lane Mound Road Industrial Corridor in the Cities of Warren and Sterling Heights. The $2.5 million in federal funds would be used for planning and final design of the project \u2013 which will strengthen a corridor that\u2019s home to the Detroit Arsenal, GM Tech Center, BAE, GDLS, as well as Stellantis and Ford plants up and down the corridor and a massive supply base and supporting industry.\n\nBrown, Giddings, Silverbell Roads \u2013 Orion Township Industrial Corridor: The Road Commission for Oakland County will receive $1 million in funding to help rehabilitate, reconstruct, and resurface Brown Road from Jamm Road to Giddings Road; Giddings Road from Brown Road to Silverbell Road; and Silverbell Road from Giddings Road to M-24. This project will complement the work being done at General Motor\u2019s Orion plant in the area, which is converting for the production of full-size electric vehicle pickups.\n\nGerald Ford International Airport: Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids will receive $5 million towards the design and eventual replacement of its Air Traffic Control Tower. This will improve safety, efficiency, and capacity at Michigan\u2019s second-largest airport.\n\nJoe Louis Greenway: The City of Detroit will receive $1.38 million towards the Joe Louis Greenway West Chicago Connector, which will significantly expand the region\u2019s bicycle and pedestrian connectivity from Belle Isle to Island Park, across the Detroit River to Windsor, Ontario and to existing and future trails stretching across the state.\n\nBay County Health and Human Services Complex: Bay County will receive $2 million to support the development of a new community-based health center that will bolster health and human services through integrated efforts.\n\nBuilding More Resilient and Sustainable Water Infrastructure\n\nMidland County Flood Plain Reconnection and Enhancement Project: The County of Midland will receive $55,000 to help Midland improve stormwater drainage and allow stormwater to flow into formerly disconnected floodplains. Doing so would not only help the county prepare against future flooding \u2013 but could also help it continue to recover after the 2020 dam failure that resulted in catastrophic flooding and property damage.\n\nMarquette County's K.I. Sawyer Clean and Safe Water Initiative: $1.5 million in funding would be used to assist Marquette County in properly managing and disposing of approximately two million gallons of PFAS-contaminated wastewater, which is in the area after Air Force\u2019s previous use. Proper management and disposal of the contaminated sludge will allow additional capacity of the treatment plant which will support planned business expansions and additional jobs.\n\nCity of Benton Harbor Water System Improvements: $800,000 in funding would be used to make necessary improvements to the City of Benton Harbor water system, especially after elevated levels of lead were detected in the water system.\n\nMichigan Combined Sewer Overflows: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would receive $6 million for a project in Lansing, Michigan. The funding would be used to facilitate separation of four blocks of combined sewers along two streets in downtown Lansing, including replacement of other underground facilities and the road surface above the sewers.\n\nOscoda Charter Township for Water Distribution System for Potable Water: Oscoda Township will receive $3 million in funding to provide safe, potable water/sewers/roadways for residential, commercial, industrial, and public use areas throughout Oscoda Charter Township. This project will help remediate the impacts that PFAS contamination has had in the Oscoda area \u2013 including for residents around the former Wurtsmith Air Force base.\n\nCity of Hamtramck Water System Improvements: The bill includes $3.4 million in funding that will be used to support the City of Hamtramck in replacing lead service lines in the city.\n\nCity of Midland Sylvan Pump Station Detention Basin Project: The bill includes $1 million in funding to support the City of Midland\u2019s planned Sylvan Pump Station Detention Basin project, which will benefit a sizable number of residents.\n\nCriminal Justice and Building Trust Between Communities & Law Enforcement\n\nClinton Township Police Social Worker: The bill includes $675,000 to supplement Clinton Township\u2019s existing police department with a social worker, who would offer assistance and expertise when the police are called upon to assist in mental health matters.\n\nDetroit Police Department Body Worn Cameras: The bill includes $1 million in funding that will support the purchase of new body worn cameras (BWCs) for the Detroit Police Department, replacing current BWCs with new devices that have updated camera equipment, storage capacity and global positioning systems.\n\nNorthern Michigan Law Enforcement Training Group Capital Improvement Plan: The bill includes $1 million in funding to support the Northern Michigan Law Enforcement Training Group\u2019s Capital Improvement Plan.\n\nExpanding Opportunities for Education, Skills Training, and Workforce Development\n\nGRCC Center for Automation: The $998,000 in funding would be used to create a state-of-the-art, fully automated training laboratory at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC). The lab will serve as a training hub for students pursuing careers in the high-demand fields of advanced manufacturing and automation and will allow for upskilling for those already working in the field who need advanced credentials for promotion. This builds on GRCC\u2019s extensive workforce training programs and is geared towards the future of manufacturing in Michigan.\n\nNorth Central College: North Central College will receive $2 million for the Career and Technical Education Enhancement (CATEE) Complex to scale the school\u2019s Nursing, Allied Health, and Skilled Trades programs.\n\nSt. Clair County Community College: St. Clair County Community College will receive $955,000 for the acquisition of interactive equipment which students use to engage in STEM learning at the Challenger Learning Center.\n\nWashtenaw Community College: Washtenaw Community College will receive $2.5 million to support the development of the Electric Battery Technician & Electric Charging Station Maintenance Curriculum/Lab Project. This skills training program will address workforce needs in the movement to electrification.\n\nWayne-Westland Community Schools District: Wayne-Westland Community Schools District will receive $3.5 million to renovate and repurpose a vacant school building, Marshall Upper Elementary School, into a recreation and community center that will provide early childhood learning, STEM programming, senior services and other community and family services for residents.\n\nWayne County Community College: Wayne County Community College will receive $330,000 to support the creation of a mobility certification program focused on Automotive Electrification and Testing.\n\nMott Community College: Mott Community College will receive $650,000 in funding to support the purchase of equipment to improve educational opportunities for in-demand jobs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2022/12/sen-johnson-requests-information-from-department-of-defense-on-covid-19-vaccines-harmful-effects-on-service-members", "Sen. Johnson Requests Information from Department of Defense on COVID-19 Vaccines\u2019 Harmful Effects on Service Members", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to Defense Health Agency Director Lieutenant General Ronald Place requesting detailed information about claims filed on Tricare, a military healthcare program, for active duty service members related to COVID-19 and potential COVID-19 vaccine injuries.\n\n\u201cAlthough the Biden Administration\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military will end with the signing of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, my efforts to uncover and expose the vaccines\u2019 harmful effect on our service members will continue. The brave men and women who serve our country deserve to know the truth about the short and long-term health effects these mandated vaccines will have on the rest of their lives,\u201d the senator wrote.\n\nSen. Johnson has heard from many whistleblowers \u2014 including service members \u2014 raising concerns about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. He has led multiple roundtables addressing pandemic response failures and has written over 45 public letters to federal health agencies demanding transparency about the COVID-19 vaccines. Last week, Sen. Johnson offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have provided additional protections for service members who were negatively impacted by the Department of Defense\u2019s pointless and harmful COVID-19 vaccine policy.\n\nSen. Johnson requested Lt. Gen. Place respond to his letter no later than January 9, 2023.\n\nRead more about the letter in The Post Millennial.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDecember 19, 2022\n\nLt. Gen. Ronald J. Place\n\nDirector\n\nDefense Health Agency\n\nDear Lt. Gen. Place:\n\nOver the last year, I have heard from countless individuals across the country who have suffered life-altering injuries after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. My office has also been in contact with many men and woman of the U.S. military who have shared their concerns about the Department of Defense\u2019s (DoD) pointless and harmful COVID-19 vaccine policy. In an effort to inform the public of the potential harm caused by these vaccines, I held three roundtables on this topic and have sent multiple letters to federal health agencies\u2014including DoD\u2014requesting information on vaccine safety and efficacy.[1] Unfortunately, despite the unprecedented number of adverse events and deaths associated with the COVID-19 vaccines on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, this administration has failed to provide full and transparent information on vaccine safety to Congress and to the public.\n\nAlthough the Biden Administration\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military will end with the signing of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, my efforts to uncover and expose the vaccines\u2019 harmful effect on our service members will continue. The brave men and women who serve our country deserve to know the truth about the short and long-term health effects these mandated vaccines will have on the rest of their lives.\n\nAs part of my effort to uncover the truth, I request the following information from Tricare for active duty service members:\n\nFrom January 1, 2017 \u2013 present, please provide the following annual data:\n\nTotal number of claims filed; and\n\nTotal number of hospitalization claims filed.\n\nFrom January 1, 2020 \u2013 present, please provide the following annual data:\n\nTotal number of claims filed relating to a COVID-19 diagnosis;\n\nOf those claims, please provide the number of:\n\ni. Hospitalizations;\n\nii. Remdesivir treatments;\n\niii. Ventilator usages;\n\niv. Treatments with no hospitalizations;\n\nv. No treatments and no hospitalizations; and\n\nvi. Deaths.\n\nFrom January 1, 2017 \u2013 present, please provide data by year for the number of claims filed relating to the following diagnoses:\n\nBreast cancer;\n\nDemyelinating;\n\nFemale infertility;\n\nGuillain-Barre syndrome;\n\nHypertension;\n\nMalignant neoplasms of esophagus;\n\nMalignant neoplasms of digestive organs;\n\nMalignant neoplasms of thyroid and other endocrine glands;\n\nMigraines;\n\nMultiple sclerosis;\n\nMyocarditis;\n\nPericarditis;\n\nPulmonary embolism;\n\nOvarian dysfunction;\n\nTachycardia; and\n\nTesticular cancer.\n\nPlease provide the number of service members who received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.\n\nOf those individuals, please provide a monthly breakdown of the number of claims filed between January 1, 2020 \u2013 present for each diagnoses listed above.\n\nPlease provide the total number of deaths that occurred in days 0 through 7 after a service member received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.\n\nOf those individuals that died in days 0 through 7 after receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine:\n\ni. How many had a preexisting medical condition?\n\nii. What were the official causes of death?\n\nPlease provide this information as soon as possible but no later than January 9, 2023. Thank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2022/12/sen-johnson-votes-against-massive-omnibus-spending-bill", "Sen. Johnson Votes Against Massive Omnibus Spending Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released the following statement after voting against final passage of the 4,000+ page, $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that was fast-tracked through the Senate without proper consideration.\n\n\u201cThe Omnibus that just passed in the Senate is an abomination. There is no way anyone had time to read all 4,155 pages, much less comprehend how the massive deficit spending and major policy elements will negatively impact Americans. This takes Washington dysfunction and cynicism to an entirely new level. We were unable to amend the bill to eliminate at least $11 billion in earmarks or preserve Title 42 as the only restriction to Biden\u2019s open border policy. Once again, Congress easily waived the \u2018Paygo\u2019 discipline to enable massive deficit spending to continue. We are mortgaging our children\u2019s future and a majority of the members of Congress couldn\u2019t care less. I voted no.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2022/12/senate-blocks-sen-johnson-s-amendments-to-eliminate-9-8-billion-in-earmarks-restrict-federally-funded-transportation-of-illegal-migrants-in-omnibus", "Senate Blocks Sen. Johnson\u2019s Amendments to Eliminate $9.8 Billion in Earmarks, Restrict Federally Funded Transportation of Illegal Migrants in Omnibus", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WI", "Ron Johnson", "J000293", "www.ronjohnson.senate.gov", "ronjohnson", "https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) secured a full vote of the United States Senate on his amendments to the $1.7 trillion, 4,000+ page omnibus spending bill. Sen. Johnson offered amendments to eliminate $9.8 billion in earmarks from the bill and to restrict federally funded transportation of illegal migrants. Unfortunately, the Senate voted in favor of keeping the nearly $10 billion of earmarks that will go to states that are sitting on almost $400 billion in surpluses.\n\nIn a press conference on Tuesday, Sen. Johnson argued that earmarks are \u201cthe gateway drug to the massive deficit spending, to the mortgaging of our children's futures. It has to stop.\u201d On the Senate floor today, the senator explained how the earmarks will go to states that are already \u201csitting on close to $400 billion of surpluses.\u201d In response to the growing crisis on our southern border, Sen. Johnson explained that his amendment \u201ctakes whatever funds are appropriated for transporting illegal immigrants \u2013 it only allows those funds to be used to send them home or to a safe third country or to Mexico or to a detention facility here in America.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the amendments can be found here and here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-bill-to-support-native-hawaiian-language-schools-and-programs-set-to-become-law", "Schatz Bill To Support Native Hawaiian Language Schools And Programs Set To Become Law", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Native American Language Resource Center Act. The bipartisan legislation, authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, will bolster Native American language schools and programs with coordinated, experienced support. The bill now heads to the president\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cAs we have seen in Hawai\u2018i, Native speaker-led language programs have proven that culturally based instruction is key to revitalizing and maintaining indigenous knowledge and traditions,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cThe Native American Language Resource Center will build on this grassroots momentum to support Native American language schools and programs by providing them with the resources they need to continue to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe Native American Languages Resource Center will comprise a consortium of institutions housed at multiple locations throughout the country, reflecting the geographic diversity of Native American languages, cultures, and communities. It will support Native language students at all levels of learning, act as a central nexus for Native American language schools and programs across the nation, and provide additional resources to enhance distance learning capacity.\n\nThe bill is supported by the National Congress of American Indians, National Indian Education Association, National Coalition of Native American Language Schools and Programs, Joint National Committee for Languages \u2013 National Council for Languages and International Studies, and the Hawaiian Language Renormalization Committee.\n\nIn addition to the Native American Language Resource Center Act, Schatz\u2019s Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act is also set to become law. The bipartisan bill named after Durbin Feeling, a renowned Cherokee linguist and Vietnam veteran who passed away on August 19, 2020, will review and make recommendations to improve federal agencies\u2019 coordination in support of Native American languages. It would also authorize a federal survey of Native language use and programmatic needs every five years.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-federal-funding-for-hawaii-continues-to-increase", "Schatz: Federal Funding For Hawai\u2018i Continues To Increase", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, the U.S. Senate passed the annual government funding bill which will increase federal funding for critical programs that benefit Hawai\u2018i. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), worked with his colleagues on the committee to successfully secure new and increased federal funding for Hawai\u2018i\u2019s priorities.\n\n\u201cWe continue to see big increases in federal funding for Hawai\u2018i. This appropriations bill will give our state funding to grow our local economy, improve roads and public transit, protect our environment, and strengthen housing, education, and health care programs,\u201d said Senator Schatz, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.\n\nThe bill provides new funding for the Honolulu Rail Project and to defuel and shut down the Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility. It also will increase funding for transportation, housing, and clean energy projects, as well as Native Hawaiian health and education programs. The bill also includes more than a half a billion dollars in new earmark funding secured by Senator Schatz \u2013 more than double the amount he delivered to Hawai\u2018i last year.\n\nThe bill is expected to pass the House of Representatives and be signed into law by the president by the end of the week.\n\nFUNDING HIGHLIGHTS FOR HAWAI\u2018I:\n\nRed Hill Recovery Fund \u2013 $1 billion, new funding. The Red Hill Recovery Fund will enable the Navy and Joint Task Force Red Hill to effectively defuel and shut down the Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility. The leak that contaminated the Navy\u2019s public water system and neighboring communities affected thousands of residents. This funding will aim to also support the DoD\u2019s ability to comply with the standards set in place by the State of Hawai\u2018i Department of Health (HDOH) which include the necessary oversight and improvements required to ensure that the facility is successfully defueled and closed. The Red Hill Recovery Fund will support ongoing environmental monitoring and health remediation efforts and provide the resources required to enable the DoD to responsibly close the facility by approved timelines as set forth by HDOH.\n\nRed Hill Water Treatment Facility \u2013 $25 million, new funding. This funding allows the Navy to conduct initial planning and design activities to explore the feasibility of a potential water treatment and distribution facility, if necessary, for the Red Hill shaft.\n\nNative Hawaiian Education \u2013 $46 million, a $7 million increase from last year, which includes $10 million set aside for facility construction, renovation, and modernization. This funding supports programs that strengthen Native Hawaiian culture, improve levels of educational attainment, and enhance family and community involvement in education. Senator Schatz included a provision to allow funds to be used for construction, renovation, and modernization of public schools that predominantly serve Native Hawaiian students.\n\nNative Hawaiian Health Care \u2013 $27 million, a $5 million increase from last year. Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, as part of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Program, provide critical access to health education, promotion, disease prevention, and basic primary care services for thousands of Native Hawaiians. This funding will support five health centers on Hawai\u2018i Island, Kaua\u2018i, Moloka\u2018i, Maui, and O\u2018ahu, and Papa Ola Lokahi.\n\nNative Hawaiian Housing \u2013 $22.3 million. As Chairman of both the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Housing, Senator Schatz worked to secure funding for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program, which provides financial assistance for Native Hawaiian families to obtain new homes, make renovations, build community facilities, and receive housing services, including counseling, financial literacy and other critical resources to address housing disparities. This year\u2019s funding level preserves last year\u2019s historic $20.3 million increase from the status quo.\n\nNative Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence \u2013 $2 million, a $1 million increase from last year. The Domestic Violence Resource Network, funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will establish a new state resource center dedicated to reducing disparities and strengthening domestic violence intervention and prevention efforts for Native Hawaiians.\n\nAffordable Housing and Community Development \u2013 $72.1 billion (nationwide), a $6.5 billion increase over last year. As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, Senator Schatz fought to secure the Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s (HUD) funding, which includes Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Project-Based Vouchers, Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing, Public Housing, and Housing for Persons with AIDS. Funding also includes:\n\n$6 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program which provides funding for economic and community development projects that benefit low- and moderate-income households.\n\n$85 million in new funding for the Yes In My Backyard Incentive Grant Program. This funding, part of the overall CDBG amount, establishes a new federal grant program to reward state, local, and regional jurisdictions that adopt land-use policies that will ultimately increase the supply of affordable housing.\n\nBus and Transit \u2013 $16.7 billion (nationwide). This funding is distributed among states and counties for the operation and capital costs associated with public transit systems, including the Maui Bus, TheBus, Kaua\u2018i Bus, Hele-On Bus, and TheHandi-Van fleets. This amount also includes competitive grant funding. As part of the overall amount, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit is receiving nearly $64 million to speed the completion of the light rail project.\n\nEnergy Transitions Initiative \u2013 $15 million, a $5 million increase from last year. This program helps remote and island communities design their own clean energy and resilience solutions to address high energy costs and reliability issues, with help from world-class U.S. Department of Energy experts. In 2022, the program gave awards to the University of Hawai\u2018i and Hui o Hau\u2018ula, a community organization on O\u2018ahu. In 2021, the program gave awards to Kaua\u2018i and Honolulu. $15 million in funding increases the size of the program by 50 percent, and report language directs the Department of Energy to support stakeholder engagement and capacity building through regional project partner organizations, including the Hawai\u2018i Natural Energy Institute.\n\nHighway and Transportation \u2013 $62.9 billion (nationwide), a $2.3 billion increase over last year. This funding is distributed to states for highway maintenance and new construction of bridges, roads, and bike and pedestrian paths.\n\nKane?ohe Pali \u2013 $1.8 million, new funding. This funding from the Forest Legacy Program will go towards efforts to protect and preserve the Kane?ohe Pali, including a priority watershed and one of the largest traditional Hawaiian agricultural complexes on O\u2018ahu.\n\nMaunawili Valley \u2013 $1.3 million, new funding. This funding from the Forest Legacy Program will go towards efforts to protect and preserve the Maunawili Valley, including the largest wetland in Hawai\u2018i and many historic and cultural sites.\n\nHaleakala National Park \u2013 $12.9 million, new funding. This funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund will help support projects at Haleakala National Park.\n\nHaleakala National Park, Hawai\u2018i Volcanoes National Park, and Kalaupapa National Historical Park \u2013 $30.5 million, new funding. Funding from the Legacy Restoration Fund for rehabilitation of fences to protect park resources at Haleakala National Park, Hawai\u2018i Volcanoes National Park, and Kalaupapa National Historical Park.\n\nFarm to School Grant Program \u2013 $14 million, a $2 million increase from last year. Funding supports farm to school activities, which increases access to fresh, nutritious, and locally-produced foods in school systems and early care and education settings while supporting agricultural producers nationwide. Funding from this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program supports the Hawai\u2018i Department of Education\u2019s efforts to purchase 30 percent locally sourced food by 2030.\n\nFood Security Microgrants \u2013 $3.2 million, a $1.2 million increase from last year. This funding will go towards helping individuals and groups in Hawai\u2018i purchase tools, soil, seeds, plants, animals, composting units, gardening systems, and other necessities for growing and preserving food. The funds can also be used to expand areas under cultivation, extend the growing season, build or repair livestock fencing, travel to agricultural education programs, expand the sale of locally grown crops and meats, and engage in other activities that increase food security.\n\nNative Community Development Capacity Building \u2013 $1 million, new funding. This funding from HUD\u2019s Section 4 program is for non-profit organizations to carry out affordable housing and community development activities to support American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native communities.\n\nNative American Language Preservation \u2013 $15 million (nationwide), a $1 million increase from last year. This funding supports Native American language preservation activities under the Administration for Native Americans, and includes $6 million for Native American language immersion schools as authorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act.\n\nPublic Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement \u2013 an estimated $6.1 million, a $481,000 increase from last year. Funding to build and strengthen the Hawai\u2018i Department of Health\u2019s abilities to effectively respond to public health threats. This funding level will help restore and maintain capacity at health departments, modernize data systems, and advance laboratory capacity.\n\nHospital Preparedness Program \u2013 an estimated $1.4 million, an $88,370 increase from last year. This program is the primary source of federal funding for health care system preparedness and response. The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness Response program helps to build coalitions of health care and response organizations to respond to emergencies and disasters.\n\nImmunizations \u2013 an estimated $3.6 million, a $432,000 increase from last year. Provides funding to the Hawai\u2018i Department of Health to purchase vaccines for children, adolescents, and adults. The Section 317 Program helps achieve national immunization coverage targets and reduce disease.\n\nNative American Language Immersion Schools and Program \u2013 $12.4 million (nationwide), a $3 million increase from last year. This funding supports the Native American language immersion grant program and the State-Tribal Education Partnership program. Senator Schatz co-authored the legislation to create new grants for Native American immersion schools and programs.\n\nNative Hawaiian and Alaska Native-Serving Institutions \u2013 $24 million to Hawai\u2018i and Alaska, a $3 million increase from last year. This program provides funding and vital support to Hawai\u2018i\u2019s colleges and universities, enabling them to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Hawaiian students.\n\nCompact of Free Association Impact \u2013 $6 million (nationwide), a $1 million increase from last year. The United States has entered into the Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the governments of the Freely Associated States (FAS), which are the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. These Compacts allow FAS citizens to live in the United States and receive certain benefits. This funding will help Hawai\u2018i provide those benefits to FAS citizens who live and work in the state.\n\nMicrogrids for Underserved and Indigenous Communities \u2013 $10 million, protected funding for a new program. This funding is for the second year of a coordinated research, development, deployment, and training program focused on microgrid technologies in underserved and Indigenous communities. This program was created last year within the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Office of Electricity. It aims to provide replicable microgrid solutions to address the broad array of reliability and price challenges facing remote and island communities throughout the United States. Report language directs the Department of Energy to partner with organizations with specialized experience addressing local energy challenges, including community-based organizations and institutions of higher education, with a priority for minority-serving institutions.\n\nHansen\u2019s Disease Treatment \u2013 $2 million. Funding solely awarded to Hawai\u2018i for the care and treatment of patients with Hansen\u2019s disease. Though Hansen\u2019s disease is rare and treatable, Hawai\u2018i has among the highest prevalence in the country. This funding supports the Hawai\u2018i Department of Health to provide treatment for patients living in Kalaupapa and on O\u2018ahu.\n\nPapahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument \u2013 $1.2 million. This funding supports the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) National Ocean Service to provide competitive education, research, and management grants for existing marine national monuments, including the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.\n\nNational Estuarine Research Reserve, including He\u2018eia \u2013 $32.5 million (nationwide), a $2.8 million increase from last year. Funding will be shared among system sites, including the He\u2018eia National Estuarine Research Reserve. This site demonstrates the value of Native Hawaiian taro cultivation and fishpond aquaculture to maintain a healthy ecosystem. It is viewed by NOAA to be a model site because of its seamless integration of science and culture.\n\nEndangered Hawaiian Marine Species Protection \u2013 $12 million, a $750,000 increase from last year. $4.6 million in funding will continue to support conservation and recovery of monk seals, the only seal species in the world that lives in only one nation's territorial waters, with research on vaccination and disease prevention (morbillivirus and toxoplasmosis). $5.6 million in funding will support sea turtle conservation activities such as continued monitoring of endangered turtle populations and the impacts of habitat loss. $1.375 million in funding will support investigations into interactions between fisheries and false killer whales. $375,000 will be dedicated to state-led conservation activities.\n\nCoffee Leaf Rust Research \u2013 $1.2 million (nationwide). This funding will support development of science-based management strategies, extension services, and research on varieties of coffee that are resistant to coffee leaf rust.\n\nMacadamia Nut Health Initiative \u2013 $1 million. This funding will support research to combat and control the felted macadamia nut coccid to improve the production of this iconic Hawaiian crop.\n\nJapanese American Confinement Sites, including Hono\u2018uli\u2018uli \u2013 $4.6 million (nationwide), a $1.2 million increase from last year. Funding will support Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) grants. JACS grants support the preservation of Japanese American internment camps, including the Hono\u2018uli\u2018uli National Monument, through partnerships with local preservation groups. Grants may also be used to encourage and support the research, interpretation, and preservation of internment camps to help prevent the injustice of internment from being repeated.\n\nAsian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions \u2013 $18 million (nationwide), a $7.5 million increase from last year. This program provides funding and vital support to Hawai\u2018i\u2019s colleges and universities, enabling them to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian American and Pacific Islander students.\n\nCenter for Indigenous Innovation and Equity \u2013 $4 million, a $1 million increase from last year. Funding supports the Office of Minority Health, which funds the University of Hawai\u2018i, in partnership with other academic institutions, to provide education, service and policy development, and research to advance health equity among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Native Hawaiian populations.\n\nImpact Aid Program \u2013 approximately $54 million, a $2 million increase from last year. The estimated Impact Aid funding will provide the Hawai\u2018i Department of Education with the resources to help finance the education of federally-connected children. Impact Aid funds a range of programs, including efforts to retain highly qualified teachers, adequate technology, facilities renovation, and maintenance of transportation fleets.\n\nDoD Impact Aid Program \u2013 $80 million (nationwide), a $10 million increase from last year. The funding provides support to school districts with high concentrations of military students and school districts that enroll children of military families with severe disabilities.\n\nSTEM Apprenticeship Grant Program \u2013 $2.5 million (nationwide), a $500,000 increase from last year. The funding will continue a new grant program created by Senator Schatz. The program at the Economic Development Administration will help expand and create new apprenticeships in STEM fields. In 2021, the Maui Economic Development Board received $300,000 from this program; the 2022 awardees have not yet been announced. Senator Schatz introduced the legislation creating the program, which was signed into law in 2017 as part of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act.\n\nGeographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers \u2013 $4 million (nationwide), a $1 million increase from last year. This funding reimburses geographically disadvantaged producers in Hawai\u2018i, Alaska, and insular areas with a portion of the cost to transport agricultural commodities or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity.\n\nRacial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Program \u2013 $69 million (nationwide), a $3 million increase from last year. Funding supports community-driven, evidence-informed, and culturally-tailored programs to address the root causes of chronic disease in communities by focusing on interventions that improve nutrition, increase physical activity, promote tobacco-free living, and support linkages between community-based and clinical services.\n\nMinority Centers of Excellence \u2013 $28 million (nationwide), a $4 million increase from last year. Funding supports the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence at the University of Hawai\u2018i John A. Burns School of Medicine to prioritize education and training for Native Hawaiians to enter and successfully complete a health professions education. The program also supports research and community partnerships that build the capacity of Native Hawaiian students and faculty to succeed in medicine.\n\nNative American Language Resource Center \u2013 $1.5 million (nationwide), a $1 million increase from last year. This funding will continue to support the establishment of a Native American Language Resource Center (NALRC) to provide best practices and curricula development on Native American language education, including the Native Hawaiian language. Senator Schatz has introduced legislation to permanently authorize the NALRC program.\n\nEast-West Center \u2013 $22 million, a $2.3 million increase from last year. This funding will allow the East-West Center to continue and expand its education, professional development, research, policy dialogue, journalism, and cultural programs throughout the Indo-Pacific. The East-West Center directly supports U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue with countries in the region.\n\nState of the Birds Research \u2013 $4.7 million, a $1 million increase from last year. State of the Birds activities are dedicated to stopping the bird extinction crisis in Hawai\u2018i. More than 90 Hawaiian bird species have gone extinct, and nine listed Hawaiian bird species are currently in decline. These funds are crucial to prevent further extinctions as climate change, habitat degradation and destruction, and other human and environmental impacts threaten to reach crisis levels.\n\nSpecies Management Research \u2013 $64 million (nationwide), a $23.5 million increase from last year, which includes $500,000 for Hawaiian birds. This funding supports scientific research used to protect, conserve, and enhance wildlife populations. For the first time, this funding includes $500,000 dedicated to responding to the urgent needs of critically endangered Hawaiian forest birds that face imminent extinction.\n\nCoral Reef Conservation \u2013 $33.5 million (nationwide), a $500,000 increase from last year. This funding supports NOAA\u2019s Coral Reef Conservation Program, which addresses the top threats to coral reef ecosystems in Hawai\u2018i and across the country. Working with partners, NOAA develops place-based strategies, measures the effectiveness of management efforts, and builds capacity among reef managers globally.\n\nAirport Agricultural Inspections \u2013 $35.5 million (nationwide), a $1.7 million increase from last year. In Hawai\u2018i, this program helps to fund federal agricultural inspectors at airports on Kaua\u2018i, Maui, O\u2018ahu, and Hawai\u2018i Island. It is critical to conduct inspections at the neighbor island airports so that passengers can directly connect to flights to the mainland.\n\nNational Sea Grant College Program \u2013 $80 million (nationwide), a $4 million increase from last year. The National Sea Grant College Program supports colleges, including the University of Hawai\u2018i, and other institutions for research, education, and advisory services in any field related to the conservation and development of marine resources.\n\nNational Marine Sanctuaries \u2013 $68 million (nationwide), a $7 million increase from last year. The National Marine Sanctuary program has two sites in Hawai\u2018i: the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, and the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale Sanctuary. Both bolster tourism and robust recreational industries, promote visitation, engage businesses in stewardship, and drive the growth of the blue economy through diving, recreation, hospitality, and tourism. Funding will support research, preserve habitat for endangered, threatened, and rare species, preserve our nation\u2019s maritime heritage, and protect heritage sites for indigenous peoples, such as Native Hawaiians.\n\nResilient Innovative Sustainable Economies via University Partnership (RISE-UP Initiative) \u2013 $9 million, a $1.5 million increase from last year. The Resilient Innovative Sustainable Economies via University Partnerships (RISE-UP) Initiative, established in the FY22 defense appropriation, seeks to leverage the technical expertise of public universities located in similarly isolated states, but which play an important role in U.S. national security, to collectively develop and commercialize scalable technologies and build a workforce to meet future national security needs. This funding will continue to support the University of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s efforts to create incubators aimed at developing and commercializing scalable technologies related to clean energy, marine technology, and other economic areas tied to the maritime space.\n\nNative American Workforce Programs \u2013 $60 million (nationwide), a $3 million increase from last year. This funding supports programs that provide quality employment and training services to Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribes, Tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities, and Indian-controlled organizations serving unemployed and low-income Native Hawaiians, Native Americans, and Alaska Natives.\n\nVeterans Affairs \u2013 $135.2 billion in non-defense discretionary funding and $168.6 billion in mandatory funding, a $34 billion increase from last year (nationwide). Funding included for:\n\nVA Medical Care: to expand rural health access to transportation and telehealth, supporting women\u2019s health programs by enabling gender-specific healthcare services, and supporting homeless veterans and their families by bolstering housing assistance.\n\nVA Benefits: provides funding to enable the VA to provide benefits to recipients in a more efficient manner, bolstering disability compensation benefits to millions of veterans, and expanding VA\u2019s capabilities to support an increase in the number of claims it can process, address the scope of claims, and the ability to reduce the VA backlog.\n\nMedical Research: provides historic investments into research in areas like toxic exposure, traumatic brain injury, and oncology.\n\nHonoring our PACT Act: $5 billion to support the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, which expands eligibility for health care services and benefits to veterans who are suffering from toxic exposure effects from their time in service.\n\nNative American Veteran Housing Loan Program: $1.4 million for FY23, a $214,000 increase from last year.\n\nFormerly Used Defense Sites \u2013 $317 million (nationwide), a $25 million increase from last year. This funding will support the removal of unexploded ordnance on formerly used defense sites in Hawai\u2018i. The funding ensures that the Army Corps of Engineers has sufficient funds to conduct remediation at these sites and continue the federal government\u2019s trust obligation with indigenous populations by ensuring safe environments that are free from munitions and debris.\n\nU.S. Army Corps of Engineers \u2013 $1.2 million. This funding will support inspection and maintenance of U.S. Army Corps of Engineer projects in Hawai\u2018i. $282,000 will be directed towards the Barbers Point Deep Draft Harbor on O\u2018ahu.\n\nNavy Alternative Energy Research \u2013 $30 million, a $2.5 million increase. This funding supports the Navy\u2019s efforts to expand its research of energy risk reduction technologies enabling energy diversification. By allowing the Navy to move away from its reliance on a single source of energy, this funding helps the Navy meet its two main energy objectives \u2013 energy security and energy independence. The University of Hawai\u2018i and the Hawai\u2018i Natural Energy Institute are national leaders in this research and their joint collaboration with the Navy on alternative energy will continue to forge innovations that meet crucial energy security requirements and enable renewables.\n\nProject HOPE Opportunity Probation with Enforcement \u2013 $5 million (nationwide). Based on Hawai\u2018i\u2019s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program, this high-intensity supervision program reduces probation violations by drug offenders and others at high risk of recidivism. The funding will support the existing federal program to replicate the HOPE model and includes $500,000 to establish an institute to provide training, technical assistance, and best practices to assist other jurisdictions with the program.\n\nTsunami Program \u2013 $28 million (nationwide), a $500,000 increase from last year. The NOAA Tsunami Program provides funding to coastal states for preparedness activities such as inundation mapping, disaster planning, and tsunami education. Funding includes support for tsunami monitoring, forecasts, and a grant program, which states can compete for, to prepare inundation maps and assist with outreach and education. Hawai\u2018i relies on all three components of the program. The increase in funding will help fill important vacancies and improve technology.\n\nADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS\n\nIncreased Federal Reimbursements for School Meals. The appropriations bill directs the USDA to provide a temporary increase in the federal reimbursement rate for school meals in outlying areas including Hawai\u2018i. This follows a letter led by Senator Schatz urging USDA to increase its school meal reimbursement rate for Hawai\u2018i. The current reimbursement rate for Hawai\u2018i is outdated and does not accurately account for the real costs associated with producing and supplying school meals in the state. A temporary upward adjustment in the reimbursement rate while USDA completes a long-term cost analysis study could provide Hawai\u2018i with millions in additional federal revenue to support child nutrition programs in the state.\n\nPost Office Service. The bill guarantees that no funds may be used by the United States Postal Service to close small rural and other small post offices, including post offices in Hakalau, Lihu?e, Hana, and Kalaupapa.\n\nFunding to Support the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (NATIVE ACT). Additional funding and specific report language will enable the Economic Development Administration to provide technical assistance to Native Hawaiian organizations, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations that work to preserve culture and traditions and share them with visitors. The NATIVE Act was introduced by Senator Schatz and signed into law by President Obama in 2016.\n\nPacific Islands \u2013 $150 million. This funding will be a significant investment in the future of Pacific Island Countries. It will support programs at the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development focused on deepening engagement with countries in the region through trade capacity building, climate change mitigation and adaptation, emergency preparedness assistance, democratic governance, security assistance, and economic development. The bill specifically contains $2.5 million for removal of unexploded ordnance in the Solomon Islands.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-legislation-extending-expanded-telehealth-services-set-to-become-law", "Schatz Legislation Extending Expanded Telehealth Services Set To Become Law", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) secured the inclusion of provisions to the FY23 government funding bill that will temporarily extend access to expanded telehealth services. The provisions, which are from the Schatz-authored Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, allow Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country to utilize telehealth services in their homes and allow more types of health care providers to provide telehealth. The bill passed the Senate today and is expected to pass the House of Representatives and be signed into law by the end of the week.\n\n\u201cThe last few years have proven that telehealth works. It has made it easier and safer for people to see their doctors and stay healthy,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cWhile this extension is helpful, these changes should be made permanent. It\u2019s time to pass the CONNECT for Health Act.\u201d\n\nExpanded access of telehealth services was first made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but was limited to the emergency period. The two-year extension contains provisions from Senator Schatz\u2019s CONNECT for Health Act, including:\n\nRemoving geographic restrictions on telehealth services and allowing Medicare beneficiaries to access virtual care from their homes; and\n\nAllowing health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services.\n\nThe two-year telehealth extension follows a letter led by Senator Schatz earlier this month that called on congressional leaders to extend expanded coverage of telehealth services in this must-pass legislation.\n\nSchatz\u2019s bipartisan and bicameral CONNECT for Health Act was first introduced in 2016. The bill, which is cosponsored by 64 senators, is considered the most comprehensive telehealth legislation in Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-over-108-billion-to-launch-first-of-their-kind-initiatives-created-in-chips-and-science-bill-includes-largest_increase-to-national-science-foundation-in-history-and--to-launch-the-first-ever-regional-tech-and-innovation-hub-competition-schumer-pushes-to-get-money-to-upstate-ny", "SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $10.8 BILLION TO LAUNCH FIRST-OF-THEIR KIND INITIATIVES CREATED IN CHIPS AND SCIENCE BILL; INCLUDES LARGEST $ INCREASE TO NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION IN HISTORY, AND $$ TO...", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Schumer\u2019s Historic CHIPS & Science Bill Has Already Spurred Thousands Of Jobs In Upstate NY- And Now He\u2019s Secured First Major Down Payment Bringing Unprecedented New Investment For STEM Job Training, Strengthening Manufacturing, And Creating Regional Tech And Innovation Hubs Competition\n\nNew Funds Will Help Prepare New York Workers For Semiconductor & Other Tech And Manufacturing Careers, Revitalize Economically Distressed Areas, Attract New Businesses, And Supercharge Research At Universities With NSF Funding\n\nSchumer: New Historic Fed Investment In Tech Hubs, Science And Manufacturing Will Lay Foundation For Upstate NY Workers To Build The Future Of Technology\n\nWith his historic CHIPS and Science Bill already spurring major investment across Upstate New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today revealed that the just announced, end-of-year spending bill expected to pass later this week provides $10.8 billion in federal investment for key programs in the CHIPS and Science Act, including $1.8 billion in increased funding, compared to last year, to implement major provisions from his legislation that are key to supercharging the Upstate innovation economy.\n\nThis includes the largest dollar increase for the National Science Foundation in history, the launch of the Regional Technology & Innovation Hub program, expansion of manufacturing programs, and STEM education and training programs to help prepare the next generation of Upstate NY workers for the good-paying jobs spurred by his legislation, all of which will help further establish Upstate as an emerging global tech ecosystem.\n\n\u201cI just secured the largest increase in history, over $1 billion, for the National Science Foundation which is going to help jumpstart R&D and STEM workforce training to help prepare the next generation of Upstate New Yorkers to out-compete China and position Upstate New York to lead in the innovation economy. This is the first major down payment to implement key provisions from my CHIPS and Science Bill for Upstate New York, which will bolster cutting-edge research, rebuilds domestic supply chains, and give workers the technical skills to bring manufacturing back to America and build the future in places like Upstate NY,\u201d said Senator Schumer.\n\nSchumer added, \u201cThis funding also will finally kick off the Regional Tech Hubs program I created in my CHIPS and Science Bill, and originally proposed in my Endless Frontier Act, specifically with Upstate New York in mind. Now communities can begin planning to compete for major federal investment, and you can bet I will be fighting to deliver this and other federal funding from these programs to Upstate New York.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Schumer explained that this $10.8 billion in funding includes:\n\n$9.87 billion for the National Science Foundation: The omnibus includes an increase of over $1 billion for the NSF, the largest dollar increase for NSF in history. Schumer said that Upstate universities and community colleges will be able to utilize this new investment for workforce training, including technical training programs key to supporting the emerging semiconductor industry in Upstate NY with the arrival of major projects like Micron in Central New York, Wolfspeed at the Marcy Nanocenter, and Edwards Vacuum at STAMP, along with expansion of GlobalFoundries and other manufacturing companies in the chip and clean energy industries, all of which will require a large workforce pool. This surge of funding will also be important to preparing underrepresented populations for these good-paying jobs, and to translating more research at the state\u2019s universities and labs into new businesses. Additionally, this funding will support the continued implementation of the NSF\u2019s new Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate, originally proposed in Schumer\u2019s Endless Frontier Act, to keep the U.S. on the cutting-edge of research and entrepreneurship in key industries like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and advanced energy.\n\n$500 million to begin implementation of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (\u201cTech Hubs\u201d) Program: This funding will provide planning grants and an initial round of implementation awards to create regional technology hubs, focusing on economic development, job creation, and expanding U.S. innovation capacity. Schumer\u2019s CHIPS and Science bill created the Regional Technology Hubs program to build up major technology hubs across the country to lead in research, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship in key industries, with places like Upstate NY in mind, and this funding represents the first major down payment to this program becoming a reality and allowing Upstate communities to compete for major federal investment to bring manufacturing back to America.\n\n$200 million for the Recompete Pilot Program: Through Schumer\u2019s leadership on the CHIPS and Science bill, Congress created the Recompete Pilot Program, which authorizes the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to make comprehensive economic development investments in economically distressed communities. This new funding will establish grants to empower distressed communities to develop, implement, and carry out economic development strategies and create jobs.\n\n$188 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP): This program is a national network of affiliated manufacturing extension centers and field offices located in all fifty states and territories that work to improve the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers to strengthen domestic supply chains. MEP funding supports New York State\u2019s network of 11 MEP Centers that work directly with small and medium-sized manufacturing firms throughout the state, working to cultivate the growth of the high-tech industry and help small manufactures expand.\n\n$51 million for the Manufacturing USA program: This funding will create at least one new Manufacturing USA institute to drive innovation and expand American manufacturing in key industries. The Manufacturing USA program is a public-private partnership with 14 manufacturing institutes across the nation, including AIM Photonics in Albany and Rochester, RAPID in New York City, and the REMADE Institute in Rochester, that connect companies, academic institutions, nonprofits, and local, state and federal entities to solve industry-relevant advanced manufacturing challenges in technology and help expand manufacturing in the U.S.\n\nSchumer has been the leading champion of bringing tech manufacturing back to America and Upstate New York in particular. Going back to 2019,Schumer proposed a major tech investment \u201cmoon shot\u201d in cutting-edge technologies like semiconductors to out-compete China. Schumer then spent the next three years working to pass into law this vision \u2013 ultimately manifesting itself into the CHIPS and Science Act, which makes a generational investment in innovation and manufacturing, including providing over $76 billion in new federal incentives for microchip manufacturing and research and development in the U.S.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-15-million-in-funding-package-for-albany-city-hall-restoration-and-renovation", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $1.5 MILLION IN FUNDING PACKAGE FOR ALBANY CITY HALL RESTORATION AND RENOVATION", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand revealed that the City of Albany will receive $1.5 million in funding from the omnibus funding package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to be used for the Albany City Hall Restoration & Renovation, Phase I and Phase II. The omnibus is expected to pass Congress and be signed into law this week.\n\nThe funding will be used to kick off the engineering, design, and permitting phase of the renovation, allowing the City of Albany to issue bids and collect detailed cost estimates from qualified firms. A preliminary existing condition study was already commissioned in order to understand which repairs are necessary for City Hall, and an architectural firm study has confirmed the urgency of carrying out roof repairs and exterior facade restoration.\n\n\u201cAlbany\u2019s historic City Hall is the beating heart of the Empire State\u2019s capital dating all the way back to 1883, but weather and age have caused much of its exterior fa\u00e7ade to deteriorate. That is why I am proud to announce that we have secured $1.5 million so the City of Albany can finally begin the renovation process for this iconic landmark,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis funding will help breathe new life into this treasured piece of New York history, and ensure this pride and joy of Albany can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy hometown of Albany has a beautiful City Hall, but deferred maintenance has unfortunately led to visible deterioration in some areas of the building,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI am proud to have helped secure this funding, which will enable the City of Albany to begin the engineering and design phase of this critical renovation project. I am optimistic Albany\u2019s City Hall will be restored to her former glory.\u201d\n\nAlbany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, \u201cIn 1885, Albany City Hall was listed by American Architect and Building News as one of the \u2018Best Ten Buildings in the United States.\u2019 While it has housed our city government for nearly 140 years, decades of deferred maintenance coupled with scores of northeast winters have required a complete renovation of the roof and building envelope. Thanks to the leadership and advocacy of Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand, this $1.5 million grant will help return the building to its former glory and ensure it is a place Albany residents can continue to be proud of for years to come.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-2-million-for-auburn-community-hospital-secured-in-just-announced-end-of-year-spending-package-to-boost-the-expansion-of-the-hospital-as-it-builds-its-new-cancer-center-and-purchases-essential-medical-equipment-to-help-fight-cancer-in-cayuga-county", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $2 MILLION FOR AUBURN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SECURED IN JUST ANNOUNCED END-OF-YEAR SPENDING PACKAGE TO BOOST THE EXPANSION OF THE HOSPITAL AS IT BUILDS ITS NEW CANCER CENTER...", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed that Auburn Community Hospital will receive $2 million in the just announced end-of-year spending packaged to purchase essential medical equipment for cancer diagnostics and boost the expansion of the hospital as it breaks ground on its new state-of-the-art cancer center.\n\n\u201cAuburn Community Hospital will soon have a modern, state-of-the art cancer treatment center, and now thanks to funding we secured in the federal budget they will purchase lifesaving medical equipment \u2013like a new PET-CT Scanner,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cCancer is one of the leading causes of death in Cayuga County and this new center will be a one-stop shop to help patients get the top-notch care they need in their own community. I am proud to deliver this funding to Auburn Community Hospital so that our doctors can have the support they need and the people of Cayuga County can have the cancer treatment center they have long needed and deserved.\u201d\n\n\u201cAuburn Community Hospital provides lifesaving care to cancer patients in and around Auburn,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cToday, I\u2019m proud to be delivering $2 million in funding to ensure that the hospital\u2019s new cancer center can purchase the cutting-edge technology it needs to provide the best possible care. I\u2019ll keep fighting to bring federal dollars to hospitals and health care facilities in Auburn and across New York.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of Auburn Community Hospital (ACH), and our community, we couldn\u2019t be more appreciative of the hard work Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand put forth to secure this $2M appropriation. This funding will allow ACH to purchase state-of- the- art medical technology and make building improvements that will support our new Cancer Center. The new Cancer Center will provide necessary care for the leading cause of premature death in Cayuga County. The Center will provide essential care for the local community that they would otherwise have to travel long distances for and will increase employment. Senator Schumer understood the need and worked diligently to secure this appropriation\u201d, stated Scott Berlucchi, President & CEO Auburn Community Hospital.\n\nThe senators explained that Auburn Community Hospital is building a new 12,000 sq. ft. cancer center that just broke ground last month. Currently, 80% of residents in Cayuga County have to travel greater than 25 miles for medical oncology services. This long overdue major expansion will add radiation oncology services and many other lifesaving cancer treatments and diagnostic services close to home for members of the community .\n\nThe federal funding Schumer and Gillibrand secured as a congressionally directed spending request in the FY23 budget set to pass later this week will help support and facilitate this new expansion. Specifically, helping the hospitals with key infrastructure and renovations like adding critical new parking spots to accommodate the increased patient load, as well as helping purchase a new PET-CT Scanner for pre-diagnostic testing. The PET-CT scanner will allow doctors, especially cancer surgeons, to determine the exact location of a tumor in relation to an organ or spinal column.\n\nSchumer and Gillibrand have a long history of fighting for Auburn Community Hospital. Earlier this year, Schumer personally called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to help successfully secure over $3.4 million in long overdue federal funding to help the hospital make up from budget shortfalls from the pandemic after it had previously been held up in bureaucratic red tape.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-nearly-14-million-for-buffalo-and-western-ny-projects-secured-in-the-soon-to-pass-end-of-year-spending-bill-including-funding-to-combat-food-insecurity-complete-community-hub-in-niagara-falls-boost-infrastructure-and-transportation-across-western-ny", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $14 MILLION FOR BUFFALO & WESTERN NY PROJECTS SECURED IN THE SOON-TO-PASS END-OF-YEAR SPENDING BILL; INCLUDING FUNDING TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY, COMPLETE COMMUNITY...", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed that Western New York will receive nearly $14 million in funding from the soon-to-pass omnibus end-of-year spending package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 for critical local projects.\n\n\u201cFrom bolstering our facilities at the Niagara Air Base, to combatting food insecurity through organizations like FeedMore WNY to building up infrastructure on Main Street to helping area residents get the skills they need for good-paying jobs, this federal funding will help address many of the core issues facing Buffalo and Western New York communities,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI am proud to deliver this $14 million boost for community-driven projects across WNY. I will always fight to bring home federal dollars to give Western NY the support it needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a critical investment that will help revitalize Western New York,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cToday, we are committing to putting millions toward fighting hunger, upgrading infrastructure, and promoting economic development. I\u2019m proud to have fought to secure this funding and I\u2019ll continue to work tirelessly to make sure Western New York\u2019s families, workers, and businesses have what they need to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending requests and said that these projects include:\n\n$2,000,000 for FeedMore WNY for a Facility Expansion:\n\nThis funding will cover planning costs for a large-scale expansion that is expected to more than double the current capacity and office space allowing for FeedMore WNY to significantly bolster their operations, boost productivity, and improve logistics, all with a focus on helping to better combat hunger in Western NY. In 2021, FeedMore WNY distributed enough food to provide 12.8 million meals to Western New York neighbors in need.\n\n$2,800,000 for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (ARS) for Combined Operations Alert Facility:\n\nThis funding will cover design costs for planning and design money for a joint operations facility, consolidating several major functions at the Niagara Falls International Airport. The existing 914 presence is geographically spread across Niagara ARS in several buildings, none of which are located on the flightline. Being spread across multiple facilities and with no significant access to the flightline hampers command and control, makes coordinated training more difficult and less efficient. This project will help boost response times by consolidating operation into the new combined operations alert facility.\n\n$2,000,000 for University at Buffalo for Smart Public Transportation Infrastructure in the City of Buffalo:\n\nThis funding will build smart transportation infrastructure along Main Street in the City of Buffalo and around the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC). The infrastructure will be used to develop and test an accessible, self-driving shuttle (SDS) that utilizes AI-powered, open-source autonomous driving software to improve mobility and accessibility, especially for underserved populations, people with disabilities, and the elderly.\n\n$2,000,000 for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center for Precise Diagnostic Technology:\n\nThis funding will allow for implementation of a new, more advanced radiation treatment technique called Adaptive Radiation Therapy. Adaptive Radiation Therapy is a form of radiation treatment that allows even greater precision by reassessing the status of the tumor daily and adjusting the treatment plan to maximize effectiveness for cancer treatment.\n\n$1,500,000 for Preservation of the First Presbyterian Church in Allentown, Buffalo for Preservation, Restoration Measures:\n\nThis funding will cover major repairs on a Buffalo building, which is a contributing element of the Allentown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that has unfortunately begun to severely deteriorate due to weather and age. Specifically, the project will help replace the slate roof on the building's east side and perform other repairs to maintain the integrity of the building's exterior envelope, repair roof tiles on the stone tower, and other essential renovations to ensure this building can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.\n\n$1,400,000 for Niagara University to boost the Academic Innovation Hub in Downtown Niagara Falls:\n\nThis funding will help complete the Academic Innovation Hub in downtown Niagara Falls. The Hub will function as a community education space and will provide residents with opportunities to attend speaker events, concerts, art shows, and community meetings. In addition, it will also help strengthen local workforce development opportunities, childhood education, and other education programming so underserved residents can gain industry-recognized credentials to secure jobs and advance their careers.\n\n$900,000 for Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority for Niagara Falls International Airport Renovations:\n\nThis funding will complete design work required to bring the realignment and extension of Taxiway D to construction. The project will support and align with a Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station project to extend the main runway at Niagara Falls International Airport.\n\n$750,000 Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Society for Expansion Project:\n\nThis funding will cover costs for a 33,000 square foot addition to the Botanical Gardens\u2019 historic 121-year old Conservatory to expand their education, exhibition, grow houses, and event spaces which are currently at capacity. Federal funds will support the capital costs of the expansion, helping to increase the Botanical Gardens\u2019 service to the community, improve safety and accessibility for visitors, and boosting the economic impact for the region.\n\n$440,000 for Town of Pomfret to Construct a New Town Hall:\n\nThis funding will allow for the purchase and renovation of an existing vacant building to serve as a new Town Hall which will help address the current lack of appropriate space for all of the Town's functions.\n\n$250,000 for University at Buffalo for Renewable Hydrogen Research and Development:\n\nThis funding will build U.S. research and development capacity, speed the investment in and deployment of hydrogen-related industries in upstate New York, seed three new university-industry collaborations, and advance the readiness of three hydrogen-based technologies. Development and infrastructure investments in hydrogen feedstock, production, and end-users will improve U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace and provide export customers for hydrogen and its downstream products.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-over-46-million-secured-in-end-of-year-spending-bill-to-expand-affordable-childcare-in-ogdensburg-increase-affordable-housing-and-revitalize-downtown-canton", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $4.6 MILLION SECURED IN END-OF-YEAR SPENDING BILL TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IN OGDENSBURG, INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN CANTON", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the North Country will receive over $4.6 million in funding from the omnibus end-of-year spending package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to help bolster economic development in downtown Canton, boost affordable housing, and expand desperately needed affordable childcare services in Ogdensburg.\n\n\u201cFrom helping directly address childcare desserts in Ogdensburg to breathing new life into our Main Streets in downtown Canton, these projects get to the heart of issues facing the North Country today,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cThis over $4.6 million in funding means good-paying jobs, affordable housing, attracting new businesses and giving North Country families the support they need. I am proud to have secured these significant investments to build up the future of the region and I will always fight to bring home federal dollars to the North Country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a critical investment that will help revitalize the North Country,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cToday, we are committing to putting millions toward building affordable housing, supporting local businesses, strengthening the healthcare infrastructure, and helping parents afford child care. I\u2019m proud to have fought to secure this funding and I\u2019ll work tirelessly to make sure North Country families, workers, and businesses have what they need to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending requests, descriptions for the projects can be found below:\n\n$ 2,641,000 to the Canton College Foundation for their Canton Midtown Plaza Redevelopment Project.\n\nThis project will take an underutilized and derelict shopping center in the heart of downtown Canton and transform it into three floors of much-needed commercial and residential space, including 44 residential units and the anchor of the project, the SUNY Canton Entrepreneurship Center. This project addresses three pressing needs in the North Country, increased economic development, commercial revitalization of city\u2019s downtown, and access to quality downtown housing.\n\n$2,100,000 to the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority for their Childcare Center Project.\n\nThis project will help ensure parents have access to affordable, high-quality childcare in Ogdensburg, as currently there aren\u2019t any providers in town. This will also ensure that businesses are able to attract and retain talent and the region can attract investments from new businesses, aiding the local economy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/senator-tim-scott-votes-no-on-bloated-omnibus-bill/", "Senator Tim Scott Votes \u201cNo\u201d on Bloated Omnibus Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Tim Scott", "S001184", "www.scott.senate.gov", "timscott", "https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released the following statement on his vote against the bloated and rushed omnibus spending package.\n\n\u201cA rushed end-of-year vote on a $1.7 trillion spending package chock full of government waste is exactly the type of bad governance South Carolinians sent me to Washington to fight against,\u201d said Senator Tim Scott. \u201cFor two years, Democrats\u2019 out-of-control spending has fueled record-high inflation that\u2019s squeezing the budgets of hard-working Americans and families growing up in poverty like I did. Instead of crafting a bill focused on bringing down prices, helping small business owners, securing our border, and increasing opportunity for all Americans, we are being asked to blindly pass legislation that will plunge our nation even further into debt in service of liberal priorities like more IRS funding and a radical climate agenda.\n\n\u201cWhile I was pleased to see legislation I authored included in the package, I could not in good conscience vote for yet another debt-increasing, taxpayer-dollar-wasting, big-government spending bill. I will continue to stand up against this type of mismanagement that puts the American Dream further and further out of reach for the next generation.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nBundled with the omnibus spending bill was a legislative package that contained a number of Scott-led bills or supported provisions, including:\n\nAn extension of the National Flood Insurance Program authorization and borrowing authority;\n\nPortions of Senator Scott\u2019s MADE in America Act that strengthen the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain;\n\nA 2-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities;\n\nA 2-year extension of the hospital at home program, based off of language in Senator Scott\u2019s Hospital Inpatient Modernization Act;\n\nSenator Scott\u2019s Advancing Auto Portability Act, which cuts red tape to help Americans who change jobs frequently to increase retirement savings; and\n\nKey provisions of Senator Scott\u2019s IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-votes-against-17-trillion-spending-bill", "Sullivan Votes Against $1.7 Trillion Spending Bill", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=26", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) released the following statement today after voting against H.R. 2617, the 4,155-page, $1.7 trillion omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2023.\n\n\u201cEnd of year omnibus votes are always difficult because of the looming threat of a government shutdown and the fact that some of the provisions in these bills inevitably are ones that benefit Alaska. However, these massive spending bills are usually crafted through backroom deals with no debate and no time for Senators to do their appropriate due diligence on what is actually in them. This dysfunctional process is not worthy of the country and people we represent.\n\n\u201cThere are a number of things in this bill that I support and strongly advocated for, such as robust funding for our military to counter the threats of this new era of authoritarian aggression led by Russia\u2019s Vladimir Putin and China\u2019s Xi Jinping. Specifically, this bill increases defense spending by $45 billion above the President's anemic request, which is something I fought for as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and will continue the significant buildup of the U.S. military in Alaska. This bill also addresses other important Alaska priorities, including items I authored and coauthored, like the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, the Visit America Act, language granting the University of Alaska\u2019s land transfer, and funding to provide disaster relief for Alaska fishermen.\n\n\u201cHowever, this is a more than $1.7 trillion dollar spending bill consisting of 4,155 pages, with thousands more in supporting documents, negotiated and agreed to only by House and Senate leadership, and their staff. We were given approximately 48 hours to read and analyze it. Decisions were made behind closed doors, many of which are clearly beyond the expertise of those making them, and the legislative process once again provided no meaningful opportunity for further input from Senators.\n\n\u201cCase in point: The final package we\u2019ve been asked to support undermines national security in the Arctic by cutting funding for the building of Polar Security icebreakers and striking funding for the purchase of an icebreaker that the Coast Guard is planning to home-port in Juneau. This was a priority for the Alaska delegation. We have worked hard to get both the Trump and Biden administrations to support these critical American Arctic assets, and we were able to get them included in President Biden\u2019s budget request, as well as in appropriation and authorization bills. But in the final hours of this opaque omnibus process, these funds were removed. By whom and for what reason, is not clear. This decision could further set back our nation\u2019s ability to provide persistent presence in the Arctic for years. This is a major disappointment for our state and country.\n\n\u201cAs I have repeatedly emphasized, we need to fix our broken budget process that is not serving our military, government or the American people well.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2022/12/tillis-votes-against-1-7-trillion-omnibus-package", "Tillis Votes Against $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Package", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Thom Tillis", "T000476", "www.tillis.senate.gov", "tillis", "https://www.tillis.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted against the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package.\n\n\u201cI voted against the $1.7 trillion spending bill because it contains too much wasteful spending and misguided, left-wing priorities,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cNorth Carolina families have struggled with inflation and have been forced to cut back on spending and make some tough decisions. Congress needs to start doing the same.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=323E853F-D185-480F-94AB-A87BACB356F3", "Warner, Kaine, Wittman Applaud Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Protect the Northern Neck, Generate Economic Activity", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) applauded passage of their legislation to preserve invaluable local resources and help generate economic activity in the Northern Neck. By officially designating the region as a National Heritage Area (NHA), the Northern Neck National Heritage Area Act will deliver critical federal dollars, encourage public-private partnerships, and assign a specific entity \u2013 the Northern Neck Tourism Commission \u2013 to help protect the Northern Neck\u2019s natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational resources. After unanimously passing the Senate, the House voted today to approve the bill, which now heads to President Biden for his signature.\n\nNPS defines National Heritage Areas as congressionally designated places where \u201cnatural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape.\u201d Through their resources, NHAs communicate \u201cnationally important stories\u201d that celebrate the nation\u2019s diverse heritage. Under this legislation, the NHA designation would apply to the land between the Potomac River and Rappahannock River, spanning King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties.\n\n\u201cThe Northern Neck is a national treasure, and a source of immense pride, history and economic development for the Commonwealth,\u201d said Sens. Warner and Kaine and Rep. Wittman. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to have worked together on this successful bipartisan effort to highlight the natural beauty of the Northern Neck and leverage federal dollars to spur long-lasting economic opportunity in the region.\u201d\n\nThe legislation follows the completion of the Northern Neck National Heritage Area Feasibility Study, which concluded that the Northern Neck\u2019s themes, local traditions, and natural and historic resources retain \u201csufficient integrity and opportunities for public engagement\u201d to be eligible for an NHA designation.\n\nThis legislation would also make federal funding available to the region and empower the Northern Neck Tourism Commission to carry out an area management plan by:\n\nProtecting and restoring relevant historic sites and buildings;\n\nCarrying out programs and projects that recognize, protect, and enhance important resources;\n\nDeveloping recreational and educational opportunities in the area;\n\nEstablishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and programs;\n\nPromoting a wide range of partnerships among the federal government, state, tribal and local governments, organizations, and individuals;\n\nIncreasing public awareness and appreciation for natural, historical, scenic, and cultural resources in the area; and\n\nEnsuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs identifying points of public access and sires of interest are posted throughout the area.\n\n\u201cThe Northern Neck has been working together for over 20 years in pursuit of the National Heritage Area Designation. With designation, the Northern Neck Region will have a greater voice in sharing its stories which contribute to understanding the early origins of our nation. The National Heritage Area Designation recognizes the region for the special place it is, historically, culturally, and for its natural resources. It aligns with the region's tourism strategy as an important economic development driver in this rural area,\u201d said Jerry W. Davis, AICP, Executive Director of the Northern Neck Planning District Commission.\n\nSen. Warner, Sen. Kaine, and Rep. Wittman have long advocated for the designation of the Northern Neck as a National Heritage Area. The lawmakers previously penned a letter pressing for an update from the National Park Service on the area\u2019s feasibility study following apparent delays in its release.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 4106, "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 \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "2022"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 2551, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2022&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1438, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2022&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Independent", "label": "Independent", "count": 117, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2022&party=Independent", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 4106, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2022", 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