{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/31/bennet-hickenlooper-slam-trumps-veto-of-their-finish-the-avc-act/", "Bennet, Hickenlooper Slam Trump\u2019s Veto of Their Finish the AVC Act", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed their bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act:\n\n\u201cNothing says \u2018Make America Great Again\u2019 like denying 50,000 rural Coloradans access to clean, affordable drinking water. President Trump\u2019s first veto of his second term blocks a bipartisan bill that both the House and Senate passed unanimously, costs taxpayers nothing, and delivers safe, reliable water to rural communities that overwhelmingly supported him. Trump\u2019s attacks on Southern Colorado are politics at its worst\u2014putting personal and political grievances ahead of Americans. Southeastern Coloradans were promised the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit more than 60 years ago. With this veto, President Trump broke that promise and demonstrated exactly why so many Americans are fed up with Washington. We will keep fighting to make sure rural Coloradans get the clean drinking water they were promised.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/31/bennet-statement-on-federal-intervention-at-northwest-colorado-power-plant/", "Bennet Statement on Federal Intervention at Northwest Colorado Power Plant", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement following the Department of Energy\u2019s 202(c) 90-day order to require Craig Station\u2019s Unit 1, a 427 MW coal-fired power plant in Northwest Colorado, to remain operational past its planned 2025 retirement:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s so-called \u201cenergy emergency\u201d is being used to justify tying the hands of utilities, forcing them to keep aging, outdated power plants open, often at high cost to the consumers they serve, whether or not it makes sense for energy reliability. It is unacceptable to burden ratepayers with these unnecessary costs. The Department of Energy (DOE) should be focused on doing everything it can to partner with transitioning communities and make energy more affordable. Instead, this administration is overriding business decisions and ignoring the costly consequences for Coloradans.\n\n\u201cThe DOE order is the latest in a string of attacks against Colorado, because we refuse to bend to the President. President Trump continues to take out his personal and political grievances on Coloradans who are already struggling to make ends meet. Federal intervention like this makes long-term planning impossible \u2013 this is not how you operate a business, plan an electric grid, or help a community stay prosperous. I am disappointed but not surprised by this continued revenge tour.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-slam-trumps-veto-of-their-finish-the-avc-act/", "Hickenlooper, Bennet Slam Trump\u2019s Veto of Their Finish the AVC Act", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "DENVER \u2014 U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed their bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act:\n\n\u201cNothing says \u2018Make America Great Again\u2019 like denying 50,000 rural Coloradans access to clean, affordable drinking water. President Trump\u2019s first veto of his second term blocks a bipartisan bill that both the House and Senate passed unanimously, costs taxpayers nothing, and delivers safe, reliable water to rural communities that overwhelmingly supported him. Trump\u2019s attacks on Southern Colorado are politics at its worst\u2014putting personal and political grievances ahead of Americans. Southeastern Coloradans were promised the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit more than 60 years ago. With this veto, President Trump broke that promise and demonstrated exactly why so many Americans are fed up with Washington. We will keep fighting to make sure rural Coloradans get the clean drinking water they were promised.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.moreno.senate.gov/press-releases/moreno-recaps-first-year-successes-for-ohio", "Moreno Recaps First Year Successes For Ohio", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "OH", "Bernie Moreno", "M001242", "www.moreno.senate.gov", "moreno", "https://www.moreno.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) recapped his work for Ohio in his first year in the U.S. Senate.\n\nSenator Moreno\u2019s 2025 Statistics:\n\nIntroduced 25 pieces of legislation\n\nCo-sponsored 48 pieces of bipartisan legislation\n\nSecured more than $35 million for Ohio projects\n\nVisited 48 counties in Ohio\n\nSolved 2,364 constituent cases\n\nHosted over 50 constituent coffees in Washington, D.C.\n\nWelcomed four cabinet secretaries to tour Ohio\n\nSat for over 250 interviews with Ohio TV and radio stations\n\nJoined the Senate Whip team to help pass President Trump\u2019s legislative priorities\n\nFighting for Ohio:\n\nSenator Moreno worked to secure $1.3 billion in funding for rural hospitals across Ohio in the One Big Beautiful Bill.\n\nAfter the closure of the historic Chillicothe Paper Mill, Senator Moreno worked to encourage investment in the community and bring good-paying jobs to hardworking families in Ross County.\n\nFollowing a brutal attack on a woman in Cincinnati, Senator Moreno fought for accountability alongside local law enforcement.\n\nAfter the historic passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, Senator Moreno held a three-day, 18 county tour to hear directly from constituents, small business owners, and tour manufacturing plants.\n\nReindustrialization and the American Auto Industry:\n\nSenator Moreno introduced the USA CAR Act to promote American manufacturing and allow Ohioans to write off interest on auto loans for U.S.-made cars. The USA CAR Act was included in the final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\nSenator Moreno introduced the Transportation Freedom Act to reverse nonsensical EV mandates, make an historic investment in American auto workers, and streamline our regulatory processes.\n\nSecuring the Border and Restoring Law and Order:\n\nSenator Moreno introduced the Refugees Using Legal Entry Safely (RULES) Act to reform the broken asylum system.\n\nTo protect American workers and college graduates, Senator Moreno introduced the HIRE Act. If companies want to hire foreign workers instead of Americans, his legislation will hit them where it hurts: their pocketbooks.\n\nTo honor the legacy of Hamilton County Sheriff\u2019s Deputy Larry Henderson, Senator Moreno introduced the Larry Henderson Act to set a new mandatory sentence of 20 years in prison for anyone found guilty of assault on a federal officer. Anyone who assaults our law enforcement must face severe consequences.\n\nSenator Moreno worked across the aisle with Senator Chris Coons to introduce the Auto Theft Prevention Act to create programs to provide funding to state and local law enforcement agencies to crack down on auto theft.\n\nChampioning Financial Freedom and Digital Assets:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-statement-on-ninth-circuit-court-order-returning-control-of-national-guard-to-california/", "Padilla Statement on Ninth Circuit Court Order Returning Control of National Guard to California", "2025-12-31", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Alex Padilla", "P000145", "www.padilla.senate.gov", "padilla", "https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its stay on a federal judge\u2019s order barring the Trump Administration from deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles, ending the federalization of California\u2019s National Guard and returning authority over them to the state:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s order affirms what we\u2019ve said from the beginning: the Trump Administration\u2019s choice to federalize and deploy National Guard troops in Los Angeles was unlawful. This deployment is reckless, harmful, and an abuse of executive power that has put service members in an impossible position.\n\n\u201cThe fight is not over but I look forward to the remaining service members returning to their families, their jobs, and their primary critical missions as soon as possible.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=B6BF6C33-92F6-4587-8F5C-F59D674DF378", "Klobuchar and Local Duluth Business Owners Advocate to Change Federal Hemp Ban", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", "klobuchar", "https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "DULUTH, MN \u2014 U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar was joined by Ryan Kopperud, Vice President of Growth for Birdie at Wild State Cider, and Adam Ruhland, CEO of Wild State Cider, to advocate to change the recently enacted federal ban on hemp. Klobuchar is working across the aisle to change it.\n\n\u201cA one-size fits all approach to hemp regulation doesn't work for states like Minnesota that already have strong safety standards in place,\u201d said Klobuchar. \u201cWe can protect our kids and support our small businesses \u2014 Minnesota\u2019s model proves that\u2019s possible. Under current state rules, small businesses like Wild State Cider are licensed, meet labeling and packaging standards, and ensure their products are available only to adults. I want our state\u2019s small businesses and farmers to know: I\u2019ve got your back.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s at stake here is not just one business. Not just one taproom. It\u2019s manufacturers, distributors, retailers, farmers, labs\u2014the entire system behind these hemp products people already trust. Responsible, compliant, transparent businesses, and the jobs, revenue, and tax base that come with them. This is what happens when policy meets reality. And that reality\u2014for us and for thousands of Minnesota businesses\u2014is frankly terrifying,\u201d said Ryan Kopperud, Vice President of Growth for Birdie at Wild State Cider.\n\nWild State Cider is a well-known cidery based in Duluth that was founded in 2019. The cidery specializes in producing ciders made with natural ingredients. In 2023, Wild State Cider launched a successful line of THC-infused products called \u201cBirdie.\u201d However, a recent bill signed into law includes provisions that could severely impact Minnesota\u2019s hemp industry by banning many products currently manufactured in the state. Senator Klobuchar voted against the bill and voted for an amendment by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to remove the provision impacting Minnesota\u2019s hemp businesses.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-and-expand-mental-health-services-in-michigans-rural-communities", "Peters Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen and Expand Mental Health Services in Michigan\u2019s Rural Communities", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "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) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen and expand mental health services in Michigan\u2019s rural communities. The Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act \u2013 which Peters introduced with U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) \u2013 aims to help states grow their behavioral health workforce, particularly in rural areas, to ensure mental health resources are accessible across the state. Specifically, the bill would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue guidance for states on ways to increase education, training, recruitment, and retention of mental health and substance-use disorder providers under Medicaid and the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join my colleague in leading this bipartisan bill to help ensure all Michiganders can access quality mental health care from trained professionals. With the demand for mental health support higher than ever before, this commonsense legislation would help states strengthen this critical workforce to expand the mental health services available in rural and underserved communities,\u201d said Senator Peters.\n\nThe Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act is supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).\n\nPeters has been a consistent advocate for mental health care, supporting policies that expand access to quality, affordable treatment. Earlier this year, Peters introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase access to care in areas experiencing shortages of mental health care professionals. In 2024, Peters also cosponsored bipartisan legislation to expand access to telemental health care.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-celebrates-further-award-of-more-than-215-million-for-rural-nebraska-healthcare/", "Ricketts Celebrates Further Award of More than $215 Million for Rural Nebraska Healthcare", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Pete Ricketts", "R000618", "www.ricketts.senate.gov", "ricketts", "https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list&pagenum=", "scraper", "Omaha, NE \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) celebrated the award of Rural Health Transformation Program grant money for rural healthcare in Nebraska. This funding comes from a program that was created by Congress earlier this year in the Working Families Tax Cut to strengthen rural healthcare. Senator Ricketts voted in support of the bill.\n\n\u201cThis is how you keep rural communities thriving,\u201d said Ricketts. \u201cThe Rural Health Transformation Program was an important part of the Working Families Tax Cut that Senate Republicans passed earlier this year. This is an investment in the future of rural healthcare and in the future of Nebraska.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced awards to all 50 states under the Rural Health Transformation Program. The program, created by Congress earlier this year as part of the Working Families Tax Cut, committed $50 billion to invest in rural healthcare. 50% percent of this funding is split equally among the states, 50% percent is awarded after an application process. Nebraska was awarded an additional $218,529,075.\n\nAs a part of CMS\u2019 application guidelines, awarded money is to be used to help rural communities expand care reach, strengthen and sustain clinical workforce, modernize rural health infrastructure and technology, drive efficiency, empower community providers, and advance innovative care models.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2025/12/sen-rick-scott-introduces-bill-to-designate-anti-communism-week-and-honor-victims-of-communist-regimes", "Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Bill to Designate Anti-Communism Week and Honor Victims of Communist Regimes", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "FL", "Rick Scott", "S001217", "www.rickscott.senate.gov", "rickscott", "https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Rick Scott announced the introduction of legislation to designate the first week of every November as Anti-Communism Week and request an annual presidential proclamation recognizing the victims of communist regimes worldwide. This bill builds on President Trump\u2019s 2025 Anti-Communism Week proclamation and reinforces America\u2019s commitment to freedom, liberty, and dignity across the globe. Senator Marsha Blackburn is a cosponsor in the Senate. Companion legislation is being led in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar.\n\nSenator Rick Scott said, \u201cCommunism is one of the most destructive and deadly ideologies in human history, responsible for the suffering and deaths of millions while crushing freedom wherever it takes hold. As a nation founded on liberty and individual freedoms, we must never forget these horrors or allow dangerous ideals to be repackaged, idealized, or sold to future generations. Designating Anti-Communism Week serves as a reminder of this evil ideology and reaffirms America\u2019s unwavering commitment to freedom and opportunity for all.\u201d\n\nSenator Marsha Blackburn said, \u201cCommunism has claimed over 100 million lives by suppressing freedom, erasing faith, and destroying the prosperity that comes from hard work. The Anti-Communism Week Act would designate November 2 through 8 as a time to honor those victims, stand firm for liberty, and ensure this destructive ideology ends up on the ash heap of history.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar said, \u201cCommunism has left a trail of death, suffering, and shattered nations across the globe, from Cuba to China, from Venezuela to North Korea. Too many Americans, especially in our schools, are now dangerously unaware of the real history and real horrors behind these failed systems. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to lead the Anti-Communism Week bill, which formally designates a week when we will reaffirm America\u2019s commitment to freedom, educate our youth about the deadly consequences of communist ideology, and honor the memory of the tens of millions who have died under it. If we lose sight of history, we risk repeating it. This week isn\u2019t just symbolic, it\u2019s a necessary stand for liberty and truth.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/over-the-past-year-schatz-worked-to-protect-federal-funding-for-hawaii-amid-national-cuts-secured-more-than-1-billion-to-support-mauis-recovery-improve-infrastructure-expand-high-speed-internet-across-the-state", "Over The Past Year, Schatz Worked To Protect Federal Funding For Hawai\u2018i Amid National Cuts; Secured More Than $1 Billion To Support Maui\u2019s Recovery, Improve Infrastructure, Expand High-Speed Internet Across The State", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "HONOLULU \u2013 In 2025, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) worked to protect Hawai\u2018i from significant cuts to federal funding by the Administration across the country and helped secure more than $1 billion for Hawai\u2018i to support Maui\u2019s ongoing recovery, expand high-speed internet, and improve airports and infrastructure, among other things.\n\n\u201cThis year, we delivered more than $1 billion to Hawai\u2018i, including funding to support Maui\u2019s ongoing recovery, help upgrade airports and health centers, and expand high-speed internet. My top priority always is making sure Hawai\u2018i gets its fair share of federal dollars, and together with the delegation and state and local leaders, we\u2019re going to continue working to lower costs and support families and communities across the state,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\nFunding highlights include:\n\nNearly $31 million to expand high-speed internet statewide. The federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 will be used to build out and improve broadband infrastructure statewide.\n\nNearly $9.8 million to support the ongoing recovery effort on Maui following the devastating fires. The funding, which Schatz helped secure, will help the community of Lahaina rebuild the Waiola Church, Hale Aloha Museum, the Old Lahaina Courthouse Building, and the Master\u2019s Reading Room.\n\nMore than $70 million for Kona International Airport. The federal funding for Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, the largest airport on Hawai\u2018i Island and the state\u2019s second international entry point, will be used to help complete KOA\u2019s ongoing runway rehabilitation project.\n\n$1 million for the Lana?i Community Health Center. The funding will support the Lana?i Community Health Center, a nonprofit and federally qualified health center serving the island of Lana?i, to purchase equipment.\n\nMore than $140 million for the Red Hill Water Treatment Plant. The funding will help build a water treatment facility provides a drinking water treatment facility at the Red Hill water supply shaft and ensures that treated water continues to meet all Federal and State drinking water standards.\n\nMore than $50 million for Lihu?e Airport. The funding will help improve takeoff and taxiway operations at LIH by increasing the Runway Safety Area.\n\nNearly $2 million to protect Hawai\u2018i-grown coffee. The funding will support the research and programs needed to stop coffee leaf rust, a devasting disease caused by a rust fungus.\n\nMore than $553 million to replace Dry Dock 3 at Pearl Harbor. The funding will support the construction of the new Dry Dock 5 to replace the existing Dry Dock 3. Dry Dock 5 will be able to accommodate maintenance and sustainment work on Virginia class submarines and the Next Generation Attack Submarine (SSNX), ensuring that Hawai\u2018i\u2019s public shipyard workforce will be able to support Navy\u2019s submarine fleet for years to come.\n\nThis year, Senator Schatz secured Senate passage of key legislation, including a bill to help stop illegal ahi from reaching people\u2019s plates, while protecting Hawai\u2018i fishermen. The bipartisan Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper and certain species of tuna imported into the United States.\n\nSchatz also authored and secured Senate passage of the Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act, bipartisan legislation to expand Department of Veterans Affairs health care and benefits to U.S. veterans who reside in the Freely Associated States of Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-fox-news-senator-banks-demands-probe-of-minnesota-childcare-fraud/", "ICYMI: Fox News: Senator Banks Demands Probe of Minnesota Childcare Fraud", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Jim Banks", "B001299", "www.banks.senate.gov", "banks", "https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) sent a letter to Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Alex Adams urging the department to investigate and review Minnesota\u2019s childcare contracts in light of recent instances of childcare fraud.\n\nSee excerpts from the story below or read the full story here.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\nEXCLUSIVE: Senator Jim Banks, R-Ind., is pushing for a federal investigation after sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) calling forthe agency to construct investigative reports of Somali networks as the roughly $9 billion fraud scandal in Minnesota continues to unfold.\n\nThe Indiana senator pointed out that the Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program is administered by the state government, but is largely funded by federal tax dollars through two programs that provide roughly $300 million in federal childcare subsidies to Minnesota.\n\nOn Sunday, Banks sent a letter to Alex J. Adams, the Assistant Secretary for Family Support, leading the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS.\n\n\u201cI urge ACF to investigate reports of Somali networks creating fake \u2018daycare centers\u2019 as vehicles to steal millions of dollars from Minnesota\u2019s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which administers hundreds of millions of dollars in federal childcare subsidies each year,\u201d Banks\u2019 letter to HHS reads.\n\n\u201cClearly, the Walz administration has failed to meet the most basic benchmarks required by ACF,\u201d Banks explained. \u201cAny unlawful behavior uncovered in ACF\u2019s investigation must be immediately referred to the proper federal authorities including ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and Federal prosecutors.\u201d\n\n\u201cI will not stand by while tax dollars meant to support hardworking families are stolen and state officials refuse to act,\u201d Banks added.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/barrasso-applauds-205-million-award-for-wyomings-rural-health-fund/", "Barrasso Applauds $205 Million Award for Wyoming\u2019s Rural Health Fund", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WY", "John Barrasso", "B001261", "www.barrasso.senate.gov", "barrasso", "https://www.barrasso.senate.gov/newsroom/news-releases/", "scraper", "Wyoming will receive $205,004,743 to implement its plan to expand rural healthcare access, stabilize rural hospitals and make Wyoming healthy again.\n\nCASPER, WY \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) announced the State of Wyoming\u2019s application for the $50 billion rural health fund, created by the Working Families Tax Cut Act, has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Wyoming will receive $205,004,743 in 2026 to implement its plan to expand rural healthcare access, stabilize rural hospitals and make Wyoming healthy again.\n\n\u201cThe State of Wyoming has a smart and targeted plan to address our unique healthcare challenges,\u201d said Barrasso. \u201cWith this over $205 million award, Wyoming can get to work expanding access to care, recruiting and training new health providers and strengthening rural healthcare across our state. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cut Act, rural health providers will have the funding and resources we need to keep caring for patients in frontier communities.\u201d\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cut Act created a Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. RHT Program funding is $50 billion to be allocated to approved States over five fiscal years, with $10 billion of funding available each fiscal year, beginning in fiscal year 2026 and ending in fiscal year 2030. This will give Wyoming hospitals, clinics, and health centers access to more than $500 million to help ensure high-quality care remains available across our frontier state.\n\nStates were required to submit a plan by early November for how they would use these funds and apply to CMS to receive these grants. On December 29, 2025, CMS announced the awards for each state.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/blackburn-applauds-206-million-for-tennessee-from-rural-health-transformation-program", "Blackburn Applauds $206 Million for Tennessee from Rural Health Transformation Program", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the Trump administration announced a $206,888,882 award to strengthen rural health care in Tennessee. This funding comes from the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, which Senator Blackburn supported as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation that President Trump signed into law over the summer.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.britt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/a-year-of-results-for-alabama-families/", "A Year of Results for Alabama Families", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AL", "Katie Boyd Britt", "B001319", "www.britt.senate.gov", "britt", "https://www.britt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "The past year has certainly been a memorable one\u2014and, more importantly, a rewarding one.\n\nBeginning the year by leading the Laken Riley Act through the Senate and to President Trump\u2019s desk\u2014and seeing it become the first bill he signed into law in his second term\u2014was just the start of what we have accomplished for Alabamians and Americans alike. President Trump and Republicans campaigned on cracking down on illegal migration, and this legislation sent an immediate and unmistakable message to the nation: we intended to keep that promise.\n\nSince then, in less than a year, border crossings have reached historic lows, and as a result, countless lives have been saved. Whether it\u2019s stopping deadly fentanyl or violent criminals from crossing our border, the success in securing our nation is undeniable.\n\nAnother issue Republicans were tasked with cleaning up is an inherited economy plagued by record inflation, soaring grocery prices, and an energy industry in shambles. Under Republican leadership, significant strides have been made to restore affordability and economic stability, starting with unleashing American energy.\n\nPresident Biden ended his term with the highest gas prices in our nation\u2019s history. In less than a year, average gas prices dropped to their lowest level in more than four years. This didn\u2019t happen by chance. Energy prices are finally lowering thanks to cutting government red tape and overturning Biden-era regulations that were suffocating our energy producers. This has resulted in lower energy costs, which are a critical first step to bring down prices across the board, namely groceries.\n\nMaking America energy dominant again is just one piece of the puzzle, though. Another landmark piece of legislation Republicans delivered was the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. This resulted in the largest tax cut in U.S. history, putting millions of Americans on track to keep more of their hard-earned money. Whether it\u2019s a larger tax refund, no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, or Social Security relief for seniors, the benefits of this legislation will soon be felt by families across Alabama as our economy continues to rebound.\n\nWe achieved another historic win by updating child care tax credits. This priority was personal to me\u2014before my children were old enough for school, we struggled to find child care that had two spots open. After finally securing care, we were shocked when it felt like we were writing checks to college, not child care. Experiencing the issue of both affordability and availability of childcare is what led me to be at the tip of the spear in fighting to modernize three child care tax credits.\n\nWe permanently increased the Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) for the first time since 1986, when Ronald Reagan was President. Parents can now set aside up to $7,500, a 50% increase. We also permanently updated the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), a provision that hadn\u2019t been touched in over two decades. This change will directly cut taxes for nearly 4 million working families. Lastly, we gave the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit (45F) its first major upgrade in nearly 25 years \u2013 and made it permanent. This means more employers can help cover child care \u2013 a win for businesses and a lifeline for working parents.\n\nDemocrats had been talking about the issue of child care for decades, but it was Republicans who took action. Republicans are the party of families, and it\u2019s paramount we continue to find ways to responsibly support them. While this was an important step, I will continue to fight for families and to find ways to address the affordability and availability of child care.\n\nThe results we have seen in D.C. have been matched by incredible results in Alabama. From the Shoals to the Shores, from the Wiregrass to Jackson County and everywhere in between\u2014we put the needs of hardworking Alabamians front and center. This year, we celebrated the Port of Mobile becoming the deepest container port in the Gulf of America. We also secured tremendous commitments from businesses looking to expand their footprint across our state. In my first year in office, I secured funding to relaunch Tuskegee University\u2019s aviation science program, and I was proud to join their community this year to celebrate the first students who received their pilot licenses.\n\nAnd finally, we permanently relocated U.S. Space Command Headquarters to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Thanks to the work of Alabama\u2019s entire congressional delegation and President Trump\u2019s support, Space Command will now proudly call Alabama home. This relocation will bring thousands of jobs to our state and further strengthen Alabama\u2019s vital role in our national defense.\n\nWhile I am proud of what we\u2019ve accomplished this year, I recognize there is still more work to be done. Whether it\u2019s fixing Democrats\u2019 health care crisis, taking on Big Tech and protecting our children online through meaningful social media legislation, or ensuring Alabama has the resources and tools it needs to thrive for generations to come, I will keep fighting every day for our state and nation.\n\nServing you remains one of the greatest blessings of my life, and I will continue to give you everything I have.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2025/12/29/senator-budd-issues-statement-after-cms-announces-213m-in-funding-for-north-carolinas-rural-hospitals/", "Senator Budd Issues Statement After CMS Announces $213M+ in Funding for North Carolina\u2019s Rural Hospitals", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Earlier this month, U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined members of the North Carolina congressional delegation in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Mehmet Oz, expressing strong support for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service\u2019s (DHHS) Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application. Today, CMS allocated $213,008,356 in funding for North Carolina\u2019s rural hospitals, which was previously approved in the Working Families Tax Cut Act signed into law earlier this year.\n\nIn a statement following the announcement, Senator Budd said:\n\n\u201cNorth Carolina has the second-largest rural population in America, home to 7.6% of our nation\u2019s rural residents. Today\u2019s announcement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of $213 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program will greatly benefit patients across our state. While I was proud to support the inclusion of this funding in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, it is unfortunate that the State\u2019s application was not appropriately coordinated with federal officials and did not request funding levels that more accurately correlate with our significant rural population.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the letter HERE and below.\n\nDear Administrator Oz:\n\nAs members of the North Carolina congressional delegation, we express our strong support for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (DHHS) Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application. We respectfully request that you approve the application in full before the December 31 deadline. Approval will allow our state, which has three million rural residents across 85 counties\u2014the second-largest rural population in the nation\u2014to expand proven innovative models, foster sustainable innovation, and strengthen our rural workforce.\n\nWhile our state\u2019s application requested a funding amount equal to 2 percent of total RHTP dollars available, North Carolina accounts for 7.6 percent of the rural population nationwide, so we are requesting that CMS allocate additional dollars so that the total funding amount is proportional to the disproportionately large rural population in our state. Per existing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance, North Carolina applied the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) definition of rural, which excludes counties like Burke, Moore and Pitt, with respective populations of 88,000, 108,000 and 180,000, yet includes counties like Wake, which is a primarily urban county home to over 1.2 million residents. Moore, Pitt, and similar jurisdictions serve some of the most isolated patients living in the most rural and even remote areas, and we look forward to ensuring all our rural providers and patients receive funding commensurate with their level of need.\n\nAfter applying on November 3, DHHS plans to allocate awarded funds through its Office of Rural Health (NCRHTP). A statewide steering committee, including Medicaid, Public Health, and Behavioral Health divisions, would guide implementation. The program allows sufficient flexibility for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to assign recipients. As population declines continue and rural hospitals increasingly rely on Medicaid, rural communities face ongoing healthcare and economic challenges, with gaps in access to care and quality. At least 24 counties lack adequate primary care, and 90 counties are designated mental health shortage areas. Since 2006, 12 rural hospitals have closed, with seven closures in eastern North Carolina.\n\nAn RHTP investment will improve health outcomes and access for nearly three million rural North Carolinians, advancing innovative care models, transforming the rural care experience, and creating a sustainable rural delivery system. By FY2031, NCRHTP aims to increase rural provider-to-population ratios, reduce preventable hospital readmissions and emergency visits, lower chronic disease risk factors, and expand access to integrated behavioral, mental health, and substance use services. Locally governed, community-tailored networks will connect medical, behavioral, and social services, making it easier for rural residents to access comprehensive care in one place.\n\nEach hub is tailored to its region, offering in-person services, care coordination, and direct family support, while also leveraging virtual care and advanced AI to improve access and data sharing. These efforts will provide an opportunity to accelerate technological innovation, access, and interoperability through expanded health information exchange participation, digital literacy programs to ensure rural residents can access modern, connected care, and the broad implementation of state-of-the-art AI-based technology to support documentation and real-time expert clinical decision support to drive down business costs for rural providers and improve sustainability.\n\nApproving North Carolina\u2019s application for the RHTP will improve health outcomes and our economy, which relies on healthy communities to thrive. We are grateful for your full and fair consideration of this crucial award ahead of the December 31 deadline.\n\nSincerely,\n\n/X/\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/capito-applauds-historic-rural-health-care-investment-for-west-virginia", "Capito Applauds Historic Rural Health Care Investment for West Virginia", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WV", "Shelley Moore Capito", "C001047", "www.capito.senate.gov", "capito", "https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "CHARLESTON, W.Va. \u2014 U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today applauded the Trump administration\u2019s announcement awarding nearly $200 million to West Virginia through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a historic initiative established by Republicans under the One Big Beautiful Bill, also known as the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.\n\nWest Virginia will receive $199,476,099 as part of the largest federal investment in rural health care in American history\u2014an initiative that every single Democrat voted against.\n\n\u201cFor rural states like West Virginia, this historic investment is transformative, and it proves that President Trump and Republicans are delivering real results for rural America. In the crafting of this legislation that impacts every American, I was proud to help shape the Rural Health Transformation Program from the start and to support the Working Families Tax Cuts Act that made this funding possible. Today\u2019s announcement means more West Virginians can access care, stronger rural hospitals, and a more sustainable health care future,\u201d Senator Capito said.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe Rural Health Transformation Program was authorized by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and empowers states to strengthen rural communities across America by improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes by transforming the healthcare delivery ecosystem. Through innovative system-wide change, the Rural Health Transformation Program invests in the rural healthcare delivery ecosystem for future generations.\n\nSenator Capito played a significant role in the creation of the Rural Health Transformation Program and has long been a leading voice in Congress for strengthening rural health care systems. She also voted in favor of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which established this landmark investment.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cassidy-secures-over-19-5-million-to-improve-louisiana-roadway-safety-from-his-infrastructure-bill/", "Cassidy Secures Over $19.5 Million to Improve Louisiana Roadway Safety from His Infrastructure Bill", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "LA", "Bill Cassidy", "C001075", "www.cassidy.senate.gov", "cassidy", "https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced Louisiana will receive $19,517,973 in federal funding from his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. The funding will help communities across the state improve traffic safety, reduce serious injuries and fatalities, and make local roads safer for families, pedestrians, and first responders.\n\n\u201cToo many Louisiana families have had their lives changed forever by preventable traffic accidents,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cThis funding I secured is going directly to Louisiana communities to make our streets safer.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-announces-281-million-for-texas-from-new-rural-health-transformation-program/", "Cornyn Announces $281 Million for Texas from New Rural Health Transformation Program", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "AUSTIN \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement announcing that the Trump administration has allocated $281,319,361 for Texas from the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, which Sen. Cornyn supported as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts:\n\n\u201cI was proud to vote to create the new Rural Health Transformation Program to improve health care for the millions of Texans living in rural areas across the Lone Star State,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dr. Oz, and the Trump administration for allocating Texas this significant funding, which is yet another example of the Working Families Tax Cuts benefitting all Texans.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nEarlier this month, Sen. Cornyn and Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) led a letter with members of the Texas congressional delegation to Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Dr. Mehmet Oz, urging him to prioritize funding for the State of Texas. Sen. Cornyn also released a statement in support of Texas\u2019 application in November.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/north-dakota-awarded-nearly-200-million-for-rural-health-transformation-plan", "North Dakota Awarded Nearly $200 Million for Rural Health Transformation Plan", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "www.cramer.senate.gov", "cramer", "https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "BISMARCK, N.D. \u2013 When Congress passed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, it established the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to strengthen rural health care by providing states funding to support innovation, expand access, and enhance quality of care.\n\nThe U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services will receive $199 million in initial funding for its RHTP. North Dakota\u2019s approved application includes a five-year plan to strengthen and stabilize its rural workforce, bring high quality health care closer to home, and confront immediate threats to rural health while building lasting sustainability.\n\n\u201cRural hospitals are essential to the health and economic stability of their communities,\u201d said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). \u201cThe creation of this fund reflects a clear commitment by the Trump administration to prioritize rural healthcare and protect access to care where it is needed most. I look forward to this money getting to North Dakota and providing the support it was designed to deliver.\u201d\n\n\u201cNorth Dakota is taking bold steps to restore health, opportunity, and dignity to our prairies,\u201d the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services said in its application. \u201cNorth Dakota\u2019s RHTP delivers practical investments that honor local and tribal values, protect rural independence, and get America back to what matters: healthy people, prosperous communities, and common-sense service delivery.\u201d\n\nThe unprecedented funding provides key opportunities for North Dakota\u2019s rural health care systems:\n\nStrengthens and Stabilizes Rural Health Workforce:\n\nThe funding allows rural hospitals in North Dakota to expand rural healthcare training programs, improve retention in rural and Tribal communities, and use technology as an extender for rural providers.\n\nMakes North Dakota Healthy Again:\n\nNorth Dakota\u2019s RHTP initiatives support the launch of Eat Well ND to enhance nutrition education for North Dakotans, initiates ND Moves Together to provide education on the benefits of physical activity across the state and promotes connection and resilience to improve mental health with a focus on children.\n\nBrings High-Quality Health Care Closer to Home:\n\nThe state\u2019s five-year plan right-sizes rural healthcare delivery systems, enhances the telehealth and mobile clinic infrastructure; and expands community health worker and paramedic infrastructure, training, and certification. It ensures rural residents have access to transportation and develops care coordination programs with payers in the state for patients with chronic disease or behavioral health conditions.\n\nConnects Tech, Data, and Providers for a Stronger North Dakota:\n\nNorth Dakota\u2019s application outlines key initiatives to gain efficiency with modern tech and data, including cooperative purchasing agreements for technology, regulatory and financial infrastructure, use of staff, and bulk purchasing of supplies and equipment.\n\nIt also summarizes plans to harness artificial intelligence to detect early signs of chronic disease and behavioral health conditions, expand the capacity of rural providers, and utilize new technology for rapid transport, automated prescription pickup kiosks, and laboratory capability to process self-collected specimens.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.daines.senate.gov/2025/12/29/icymi-daines-op-ed-2025-was-a-historic-year-for-montana/", "ICYMI: Daines Op-Ed: 2025 Was a Historic Year for Montana", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MT", "Steve Daines", "D000618", "www.daines.senate.gov", "daines", "https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. SENATE \u2013 U.S. Senator Steve Daines wrote an op-ed for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle recapping 2025\u2019s historic wins for Montana. Read it below.\n\n2025 Was a Historic Year for Montana\n\nBozeman Daily Chronicle\n\nSenator Steve Daines\n\nDecember 27th, 2025\n\n2025 was a historic year for Montana. Tim Sheehy, a former Navy Seal, joined me in the U.S. Senate, along with Troy Downing and Ryan Zinke in the U.S. House.\n\nWorking together, we\u2019ve made major strides advancing Montana priorities, from increasing our energy dominance, protecting our public lands, and supporting farmers, ranchers, veterans, and working families.\n\nWe now have a majority in the U.S. Senate, which allowed us to quickly confirm President Trump\u2019s cabinet as well as excellent Montana candidates to serve us on the federal level \u2014 Kurt Alme to serve as our U.S. Attorney and Bill Mercer to serve as a district judge.\n\nI worked around the clock with my colleagues in the Senate to implement the president\u2019s agenda as quickly as possible. On Independence Day, I stood with President Trump at the White House as he signed the Working Families Tax Cut, which delivered the largest tax cuts in American history.\n\nMontana families will see the effects in 2026, when their take-home pay is boosted by over $10,000 a year and there are no taxes on tips. The bill also included my provision to save the Bull Mountains Mine, which protects Montana\u2019s energy dominance and saved over 300 good-paying Montana mining jobs.\n\nAnd as a lifelong sportsman, protecting our public lands is one of my top priorities. That\u2019s why I was proud to block a provision from being included in the bill that would have sold millions of acres of our public lands.\n\nThanks to President Trump\u2019s leadership we\u2019ve saved Montana energy. In addition to keeping the Bull Mountains Mine open, he also signed into law my bill to reverse a disastrous Biden administration anti-coal rule that would have blocked future coal leasing in eastern Montana and caused the loss of billions of dollars in revenue to our state.\n\nAdditionally, President Trump and his cabinet listened to the concerns of Montanans and reversed a Biden mandate that would\u2019ve put the Colstrip Power Plant out of business.\n\nOne of my main priorities this year was supporting the Montana sportsmen and our great outdoors.\n\nI worked closely with the administration to support our logging industry and ensure we can better fight catastrophic wildfires. I also introduced the \u201cAmerica the Beautiful Act,\u201d which provides critical funding for our national parks and addresses maintenance backlogs, so that people can get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.\n\nAdditionally, I introduced a bill to expand access to our public lands for sportsmen and outdoor recreation.\n\nI am also working hard to support our farmers and ranchers. Montana beef is the best in the world, and one of my main focuses this year was expanding market access for our farmers and ranchers.\n\nI\u2019m pushing for a robust Farm Bill that will support Montana ag and ensure Montana voices are represented, and worked hard to pass a permanent increase to the death tax exemption, which will allow family farms and ranches to pass their land down to future generations.\n\nWe\u2019ve also made massive strides protecting life and family. In December, President Trump signed into law my bill, the BABES Enhancement Act, which makes it easier for moms and families to safely travel with breastmilk and formula. I\u2019m working to protect women from the harmful abortion pill, which causes traumatic adverse effects at a rate 22 times higher than advertised.\n\nMontana has the highest number of veterans per capita in the nation, so it\u2019s critical they get the support and resources they deserve. This year I attended the Butte VA Clinic\u2019s renaming ceremony, which honors Montana legend Charlie Dowd for his incredible legacy of service.\n\nI also introduced bills to protect health care and pension benefits for veterans and their families. Lastly, I introduced a bill to honor fallen service members and keep national cemeteries open on federal holidays.\n\nFinally, protecting Montana\u2019s tribal communities remained at the forefront of 2025. I introduced a bill to combat drug trafficking in our tribes and also passed a resolution designating May 5 as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.\n\n2025 has brought win after historic win for Montana and the nation. I\u2019ll always work to support the needs of Montanans \u2014 from our veterans to our children, and from our farmers and ranchers to our loggers.\n\nIt\u2019s my honor to serve you in the U.S. Senate and I look forward to what 2026 brings.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-highlights-key-2025-efforts-as-2025-draws-to-a-close", "Duckworth Highlights Key 2025 Efforts as 2025 Draws to a Close", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 As 2025 comes to a close, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted several key accomplishments she secured over the last year:\n\n\u201cWhether helping nearly 2,900 Illinoisans recover more than $13 million the federal government owed them, passing a law making it easier for new parents to travel with critical breast milk supplies, pushing back against Trump and Republicans as they work to jack up costs for everything from groceries to health care, fighting Donald Trump\u2019s illegal and reckless invasion of our state or getting Veterans\u2019 jobs back after this Administration cruelly fired Veterans Crisis Line workers\u2014I\u2019m proud of everything we\u2019ve been able to do this past year,\u201d Duckworth said. \u201cWhile this year was far too difficult for far too many in our community, I am as committed as ever to showing up and getting things done for my fellow Illinoisans\u2014and all those who feel targeted by the Trump Administration. I look forward to continuing my work for our state in 2026.\u201d\n\nOver the past year, Duckworth and her office responded to over 1,047,000 emails as well as other messages and assisted more than 2,800 Illinoisans who were experiencing difficulties navigating the federal bureaucracy, helping recover more than $13.2 million in Social Security payments, Veterans\u2019 benefits, tax refunds and more for her constituents. A select list of Duckworth\u2019s accomplishments from the past year is below.\n\nDuckworth hosted a series of town halls and telephone town halls this year to hear directly from her constituents on how the Trump Administration is negatively impacting their lives and the lives of their families and communities, hearing from Illinoisans in McHenry County, Rockford, Carbondale and throughout Chicagoland.\n\nKey Efforts:\n\nDuckworth\u2019s Bipartisan BABES Enhancement Act Became Law: After passing the House and unanimously passing the Senate, bipartisan legislation authored and championed by Senator Duckworth to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies became one of roughly 30 bills to be signed into law in 2025. Senator Duckworth\u2019s Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula and other related nutrition products, including ice packs, in consultation with leading maternal health groups.\n\nFighting to Prevent Healthcare Costs from Skyrocketing: As Republicans time and again voted to gut Medicaid with Trump\u2019s Big, Beautiful Betrayal and did nothing to stop health insurance premiums from skyrocketing, Senator Duckworth fought against these efforts at every turn. She voted against the Republicans\u2019 Big Beautiful Bill and voted against all of Republicans\u2019 extreme partisan funding bills. She met with health care leaders throughout Central Illinois, Southern Illinois and the Chicagoland area to discuss how these cuts will impact health care access for all Illinoisans. Trump and Republicans plunged the nation into the longest government shutdown in history to guarantee that out-of-pocket health care costs will skyrocket, refusing to negotiate an extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)\u2019s enhanced premium tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. Duckworth continuously called out Republicans for refusing to help stop health insurance bills from doubling or even tripling for millions of hardworking families, including their own constituents. Then, in December, when Republicans finally had the chance to vote to extend these ACA subsidies, they chose to please Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies rather than serve the tens of millions of Americans who will see their premiums rise\u2014or the four million who will lose coverage entirely.\n\nDefending Reproductive Freedom and Expanding Access to IVF: Senator Duckworth has been a strong advocate for reproductive freedom and access to IVF in the face of Republicans\u2019 anti-choice crusade. In June, she introduced the Protect IVF Act to establish a nationwide right to IVF. She has also long pushed to pass her Right to IVF Act\u2014which Senate Republicans blocked not once, but twice last year\u2014that would both establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees, as well as lower the costs of IVF for middle-class families across the country. This year, Duckworth successfully secured a provision in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act requiring TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including IVF, for servicemembers, reflecting her earlier IVF for Military Families Act. However, Speaker Mike Johnson single-handedly blocked her provision, denying troops the same IVF coverage available to Members of Congress despite broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. This is the second time Duckworth secured this provision in an NDAA bill that passed committee, only to have Republicans block her amendment from the final NDAA\u2014despite it being included in the committee-approved version.\n\nProtecting Our State from Trump\u2019s Unlawful Domestic Deployment: Senator Duckworth, alongside Governor Pritzker and Senator Durbin, helped lead our state\u2019s effective pushback against the Trump Administration\u2019s unconstitutional and dangerous deployments of National Guard troops into American cities, including Chicago. She singlehandedly secured the first and only Senate hearing on Trump\u2019s domestic deployments, during which top Trump Defense officials admitted to three damning revelations that had never been publicly stated before. In addition to numerous actions, including visiting Naval Station Great Lakes amid threats to deploy the military to Chicago and filing an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit against Trump for his misuse of the U.S. military, Duckworth successfully advanced her Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act to finally help rein in Trump\u2019s continued misuse of our military and troops.\n\nPushing Back on DHS\u2019 Invasion on Chicago: In light of Trump\u2019s \u201cOperation Midway Blitz,\u201d Senator Duckworth continued her efforts as an outspoken champion for defending Illinoisans and their First Amendment rights. She condemned DHS\u2019s excessive and aggressive force, including unlawful abductions, deploying tear gas near schools and raiding community shelters. Additionally, she demanded an end to forcing law enforcement to abandon criminal investigations in order to assist ICE and called on ICE and CBP to enforce body-camera requirements in compliance with federal orders. Duckworth and Senator Durbin also visited the grounds of the Broadview ICE processing center in their congressional oversight roles.\n\nSupporting Servicemembers and Holding Pete Hegseth Accountable for Putting Them at Needless Risk: As a combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator Duckworth has condemned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth\u2019s lack of experience or qualifications to lead our troops, repeatedly calling on him to resign, especially after reports confirmed he sent highly-sensitive war plans in an unclassified group chat with other Trump Administration officials, putting servicemembers at greater risk and undermining mission effectiveness. She denounced the Trump Administration\u2019s unlawful military strikes and supported a resolution to block illegal use of force in or against Venezuela without congressional approval, while raising concerns about violating the laws of war and endangering our servicemembers and national security.\n\nSupporting Our Veterans: After Trump fired more Veterans than any other President in history and imposed illegal pauses in federal funding and slashed Veterans\u2019 care, Senator Duckworth continued her life\u2019s mission of advocating for our brave servicemembers and their families affected by Trump\u2019s recklessness. This year, she introduced legislation to protect the lifesaving Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) and restore collective bargaining rights for VA health care professionals. She demanded accountability from Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins for the VCL firings. She also introduced her Protect Veteran Jobs Act to reinstate Veterans who were fired from their jobs as part of Trump and Elon Musk\u2019s indiscriminate purge of federal employees. Duckworth spoke at the \u201cUnite for Veterans\u201d rally on the National Mall, criticizing Trump for using Veterans as political pawns and undermining their care and benefits. She also hosted a Veterans town hall in Crystal Lake to hear directly from Veterans about the impact of the Trump Administration and Elon Musk\u2019s cuts to federal programs and mass federal worker firings.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-shares-overview-of-his-2025-policy-and-oversight-achievements", "Grassley Shares Overview of His 2025 Policy and Oversight Achievements", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Chuck Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", "grassley", "https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA \u2013 U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is sharing an overview of his 2025 legislative and oversight work on behalf of Iowans.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an honor serving the people of Iowa every day. I\u2019m happy to report that Senate Republicans made a great impact this year by preventing the largest tax increase in U.S. history and ending the Biden Border Crisis, providing American families with increased safety and prosperity. In 2026, I\u2019ll continue my efforts to bring down costs for Iowans and make government more accountable and transparent. We\u2019ve got more work to do to lower the price of prescription drugs, pass a five-year Farm Bill and root out wasteful spending. I encourage all Iowans to share their views with me while I continue working for them in Washington,\u201d Grassley said.\n\nClick HERE to read Grassley's 2025 Year in Review.\n\nTable of Contents:\n\n1 Welcome\n\nNumbers to Know\n\n2 Iowa: Number One in the Senate\n\nHIStory Series\n\n3 Every County, Every Year\n\n4 Year One of Trump\u2019s Second Term\n\n5 Tax Cuts for Working Families\n\n6 Advancing Iowa\u2019s Clean Energy Future\n\n7 Agriculture\n\nPushing for Year-Round, Nationwide E15\n\nLowering the High Cost of Fertilizer\n\nSupporting Farm Aid\n\n9 Health Care\n\nProtecting Rural Health Care and Supporting Telehealth\n\nPreserving and Strengthening Medicaid\n\nCracking down on Obamacare Fraud\n\nLowering Prescription Drug Prices through PBM Transparency\n\nCaring for Rural Iowans\n\n11 The Senate Judiciary Committee | Chairman Chuck Grassley\n\nAbout the Committee\n\nEnding the Biden Border Crisis\n\nSupporting the American Workforce\n\nPutting President Trump\u2019s Team in Place\n\nLifetime Judicial Appointments\n\nBreaking Through the Partisan Blockade\n\nFighting Unconstitutional Judicial Overreach\n\nKeeping an Eye on the Courts\n\nRestoring Law and Order\n\nDelivering for American Communities\n\nCombating Organized Retail Crime\n\nHalting the Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl\n\nSafeguarding Children\n\n17 Transparency Brings Accountability\n\n18 Arctic Frost: A Scandal Worse than Watergate\n\n19 Standing Strong at Home and Abroad\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-welcomes-historic-investment-in-iowa-rural-health-care-from-republicans-working-family-tax-cuts-law", "Grassley Welcomes Historic Investment in Iowa Rural Health Care from Republicans\u2019 Working Family Tax Cuts Law", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Chuck Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", "grassley", "https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA \u2013 U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, welcomed news from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that Iowa will receive $209,040,064 in Fiscal Year 2026 from the Rural Health Transformation Fund to boost hospitals, nursing homes, community health centers and other rural providers.\n\n\u201cSenate Republicans fought hard to ensure our Working Family Tax Cuts Law included significant funding for rural communities. I was proud to help craft this legislation that provides the largest federal investment in rural health care in history. It\u2019s fantastic news that Iowa will receive $209 million in the next year to support its Healthy Hometowns program and revitalize rural care across the state. I thank Governor Reynolds and her team for working with my office and our congressional delegation to make this substantial investment in Iowa health care,\u201d Grassley said.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe rural health care funding comes from the Grassley-backed Working Family Tax Cuts law, titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In addition to preventing the largest tax increase in history and providing major investments in border security and law enforcement, the law includes a historic investment in rural health care.\n\nLast month, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the state had submitted its \u201cHealthy Hometowns\u201d application for a portion of the law\u2019s funding. Iowa\u2019s plan is aimed at building a high-quality, sustainable system of care that improves the health, well-being and quality of life in rural communities across the state.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-north-dakota-awarded-nearly-200-million-from-one-big-beautiful-bill-rural-health-transformation-fund", "Hoeven: North Dakota Awarded Nearly $200 Million From One Big Beautiful Bill Rural Health Transformation Fund", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "John Hoeven", "H001061", "www.hoeven.senate.gov", "hoeven", "https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "Hoeven: North Dakota Awarded Nearly $200 Million From One Big Beautiful Bill Rural Health Transformation Fund\n\nState Receiving Initial Funds for FY26, Expected to Receive $500 Million Over Five Years\n\nBISMARCK, N.D. \u2013 Senator John Hoeven today announced North Dakota will receive more than $198 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill\u2019s (OB3) Rural Health Transformation Fund for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The state is expected to receive a total of $500 million over five years to improve health care quality and access in rural areas, using the funds to:\n\nBuild and retain a rural health workforce.\n\nPrevent chronic disease and reduce costs.\n\nLeverage telehealth and care coordination to bring health care closer to home, while improving the timeliness of care.\n\nHoeven worked to support the state as it developed its application for the program, which was submitted in November. A summary of North Dakota\u2019s application can be found here.\n\n\u201cThis nearly $200 million award is a tremendous step toward implementing North Dakota\u2019s plan for creating a more accessible and robust health care system for our rural communities,\u201d said Hoeven. \u201cWith nearly $500 million expected to be awarded to the state over the next five years, these funds will help address staffing needs over the long-term, open up new care opportunities for local residents and improve efficiency to reduce providers\u2019 costs. Through efforts like these, we can improve the health and well-being of North Dakotans across our state and support the continued resiliency of our rural communities.\u201d\n\nAs chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has worked to empower local communities to better meet their health care needs. This includes leveraging Rural Development loans and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) reimbursement to build state-of-the-art hospitals in communities like Rugby, Grafton and Hazen and improve health care access in those regions. Hoeven also advanced a multi-year effort to ensure the best possible health care for the residents of the Devils Lake region. This resulted in the agreement between Altru and CommonSpirit Health for Altru to acquire Devils Lake Hospital, benefiting both patients and health care providers.\n\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=23E19F2B-B66D-4C93-BA00-907571B2B5F2", "McConnell Helps Secure More Than $212 Million in Federal Funding for Kentucky Rural Hospitals", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "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. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that the Commonwealth of Kentucky has been awarded $212,905,591 in federal funds for investment in rural healthcare.\n\nThe Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services will receive funding from the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program which was authorized by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act that Senator McConnell voted in support of. The federal funding distributed this year to Kentucky will be directed toward rural hospitals and will be used in a variety of ways approved by statute.\n\n\u201cThis significant investment in healthcare is a major win for Kentucky\u2019s rural hospitals and providers,\u201d said Senator McConnnell. \u201cI was proud to help secure the Rural Health Transformation fund in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act that Congress passed earlier this year. This legislation helped strengthen safety nets for Kentuckians most in need and works toward a more sustainable and innovative healthcare system in rural areas throughout our country and the Commonwealth.\u201d\n\nThis federal program was established to help implement structural reforms to failing rural healthcare systems in place of prior temporary patches. The main goals of the program include sustainable access to care, workforce development, innovative care, and innovation in technology to promote healthy lifestyles for Americans. The federal funding will be allocated to approved states over five years. All 50 states were eligible to apply for funding from the RHT, and half of the funds will be distributed equally to approved states while the other half will be allocated based on state metrics and applications to maximize impact as well as address needs.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=C379D510-3516-412F-943B-FC5C0D7BE2D7", "Sen. Moran Applauds $222 Million for Kansas Rural Hospitals from First Year of CMS Rural Health Transformation Program", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "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.) today applauded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement that Kansas will receive $222 million for the first year of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. This allotment will be awarded for 2026, the first year of the five-year program. The RHT was created in the Reconciliation Bill to direct CMS to work with states to identify the root challenges facing rural health providers and invest in solutions to improve outcomes for struggling providers.\n\n\u201cThe Rural Health Transformation Program is a significant investment in rural health care and will help improve outcomes for struggling hospitals, invest in new technology and bolster rural communities,\u201d said Sen. Moran. \u201cI worked with my colleagues to establish this fund, and these resources will now be tailored to meet the individual needs of rural health care in each state with no match required by the state. I look forward to working with our health care leaders and state leaders to make certain Kansas providers are able to use these resources to improve the long-term success of rural providers.\u201d\n\nSen. Moran helped establish the rural provider fund as a part of the Reconciliation Bill, which was signed into law by the President on July 4. On July 3, Sen. Moran joined a town hall with more than 100 Kansas hospital leaders to outline changes made in the Reconciliation Bill for rural hospitals specifically, highlighting the Rural Health Transformation Program.\n\nItems to note:\n\nFunds from the RHT program will be allocated to approved states over five years, with $10 billion available each year from Fiscal Year 2026 through Fiscal Year 2030.\n\nKansas will receive one of the highest amounts from the RHT program, exceeded by only five other states.\n\nThe funding requires no state match; it is a federal-only investment aimed at helping to improve outcomes for struggling healthcare providers.\n\nThis is a one-time application with no renewal required, making certain states and providers have access to the funding over the next five years without needing to reapply.\n\nIn collaboration with CMS, states submitted detailed rural health transformation plans for improving access to care. CMS will monitor implementation in order to make certain resources are being targeted to best support struggling providers and improve health outcomes in rural communities.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-on-rural-health-transformation-fund-alaska-has-an-extraordinary-opportunity", "Murkowski on Rural Health Transformation Fund: \u201cAlaska has an extraordinary opportunity.\u201d", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", "murkowski", "https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3", "scraper", "Anchorage, AK \u2013 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established through the reconciliation bill. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) highlighted the opportunity presented to Alaska\u2019s rural health care system through the newly expanded fund, which will deliver $272 million per year to Alaska for the next five years.\n\n\u201cDuring the reconciliation negotiations, protecting health care access for rural communities in Alaska and across the country was my top priority,\u201d said Senator Lisa Murkowski. \u201cAs one of the lead advocates to double the Rural Health Transformation Fund from $25 billion to $50 billion, I was intent on ensuring our rural providers had the resources to adapt, innovate, and continue to deliver care in challenging environments like ours. In addition to the funding, I fought for key provisions, including exemptions for Tribal members from SNAP and Medicaid work requirements and greater flexibility for states like Alaska to exempt regions with limited job availability. These safeguards will matter just as much as the funding. Taken together, they position Alaska well for the future and recognize the realities facing our rural and remote communities. We have an extraordinary opportunity in front of us, and I\u2019m committed to working with our partners in the state to seize it.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Rural Health Transformation Fund was conceived during negotiations on H.R. 1. The fund provides $50 billion nationwide over five years (FY 2026\u20132031), including a $100 million per-state base allocation each year. Alaska will receive $272 million annually\u2014totaling $1.36 billion over five years\u2014to support rural health care priorities such as maternal and child health, access to essential services, preventive care, workforce recruitment and retention, and health care technology. Senator Murkowski\u2019s negotiations directly led to the doubling of the fund from $25 billion to $50 billion.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-releases-2025-end-of-year-report", "Murphy Releases 2025 End Of Year Report", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "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.) on Monday released his 2025 End of Year Report. In a year marked by turmoil, Senator Murphy joined with elected leaders, civic organizers, and Connecticut residents to defend Americans\u2019 rights and fight for a better future. This report highlights the measures Sen. Murphy and his office took to stand up to Trump\u2019s corruption and deliver for Connecticut families. As Donald Trump systematically dismantled programs working people rely on, while transforming the government into a tool of personal enrichment, Murphy helped deliver federal dollars to Connecticut while taking action to unrig our economy and democracy from billionaire interests.\n\nThis year, Murphy and his office:\n\nIntroduced or co-sponsored 270 pieces of legislation and amendments, including 91 bills, resolutions, or amendments as the lead sponsor;\n\nCompleted his ninth Walk Across Connecticut: four days, 67 miles, 11 towns, and hundreds of conversations with Connecticut residents along the way;\n\nEngaged with over 436,800 calls, emails, and letters;\n\nReturned more than $7 million to constituents, including owed Social Security payments, veterans\u2019 benefits, tax refunds, and other savings from federal agencies;\n\nHelped over 3,233 constituents work through federal issues and get their owed benefits", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/sen-tim-scott-applauds-200-million-rural-health-care-investment-for-south-carolina/", "Sen. Tim Scott Applauds $200 Million Rural Health Care Investment for South Carolina", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "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", "CHARLESTON, S.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) today released the following statement on the Trump administration\u2019s announcement that South Carolina will receive more than $200 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program:\n\n\u201cAccess to health care should not be determined by one\u2019s ZIP code. The $50 billion investment in rural health care established through the Working Families Tax Cut, which was advanced by Republican Members of Congress and signed into law by President Trump, demonstrates our commitment to improving life for every American,\u201d said Sen. Scott. \u201cI was proud to champion this historic funding that will benefit South Carolinians by ensuring rural families in the Palmetto State and nationwide have access to life-saving care closer to home.\u201d\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cut authorized the Rural Health Transformation Program, and all 50 states will benefit from the $50 billion initiative, marking the largest federal investment in rural health care in American history.\n\nThe funds allocated to South Carolina will support initiatives such as expanding telehealth and improving chronic disease management, including Sickle Cell Disease, both issues that Sen. Scott has long championed.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-welcomes-272-million-investment-in-alaskas-health-care-system", "Sullivan Welcomes $272 Million Investment in Alaska\u2019s Health Care System", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2", "scraper", "ANCHORAGE, ALASKA\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today welcomed a $272 million award from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen Alaska\u2019s health care system, the first of five annual awards for Alaska under the five-year Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Sen. Sullivan was one of the lead authors of the $50 billion fund in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, the budget reconciliation bill signed into law in July, that established the RHTP. The program is intended to help states expand access to care in rural communities, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize rural facilities and technology, and support innovative models that bring high-quality, dependable care closer to home.\n\nSen. Sullivan announced the award at a press conference today in Anchorage alongside Governor Mike Dunleavy (R-Alaska), Congressman Nick Begich (R-Alaska), and Alaska Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg.\n\n\u201cThis is the biggest investment in rural health care in American history, and certainly the largest investment in Alaska\u2019s health care system from the federal government in our state\u2019s history,\u201d said Sen. Sullivan. \u201cThe $272 million per year that Alaska will receive for five years\u2014nearly $1.4 billion from the federal government\u2014is a generational opportunity to transform our health care system. It gives our communities, state officials, and the Legislature the opportunity and freedom to design a health care system that reflects Alaska\u2019s unique needs. This is the opposite of the one-size-fits-all approach we too often see from Washington, DC. This funding will help keep care closer to home, reduce the need for costly and disruptive travel, strengthen rural clinics, and stabilize our health care workforce. With the application the Dunleavy administration put forth, this award is an example of the power of local, tribal and state leaders, and our federal delegation\u2014all the stakeholders\u2014working together to get results for Alaskans.\u201d\n\nAccording to CMS, the funding will be used by states to implement comprehensive strategies to improve care delivery, support providers, and advance new approaches to coordinating health care services across rural communities. Five key areas of focus for the program include:\n\nBringing more care within reach\n\nStrengthening and sustaining the rural clinical workforce\n\nModernizing rural health infrastructure and technology\n\nDriving structural efficiency and empowering community providers\n\nAdvancing innovative care models and payment reform\n\nBelow is a timeline of Sen. Sullivan\u2019s work on the Rural Health Transformation Program.\n\nDuring the first few months of 2025, Senate Republicans began working with the Trump administration on their legislative priorities to be included in a budget reconciliation bill.\n\nAmong many other important priorities for Alaska, Sen. Sullivan initially secured a 25 percent increase in Alaska\u2019s Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) in the bill to better reflect the state\u2019s high cost of living and high cost of health care delivery. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the change would\u2019ve permanently generated more than an additional $200 million in increased annual federal Medicaid dollars for Alaska.\n\nDuring the final stages of debate on the bill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Democrats challenged Sen. Sullivan\u2019s FMAP provision by arguing to the parliamentarian of the Senate that it violated budget reconciliation rules. Following this review, the parliamentarian advised that the provision violated the requirements of the \u201cByrd Rule,\u201d resulting in its removal.\n\nIt was disappointing that Sen. Schumer and Senate Democrats cut the estimated $200 million in increased annual Medicaid funding for Alaska, but Sen. Sullivan and his team quickly pivoted to another solution\u2014shaping the formula for the Rural Health Transformation Fund to better address Alaska\u2019s unique needs, doubling the fund\u2019s overall size to $50 billion, and moving up the program\u2019s start date to 2026.\n\nOn July 1, 2025, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation bill. On July 4, 2025, the legislation was signed into law.\n\nOn September 15, 2025, CMS unveiled details on how states could apply to receive funding from the RHTP. The State of Alaska then crafted an application with a plan for transforming Alaska\u2019s health care system.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.britt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/u-s-senator-katie-britt-joins-cnns-state-of-the-union-to-discuss-protecting-minors-from-the-growing-threat-of-big-tech-ai/", "U.S. Senator Katie Britt Joins CNN\u2019s State of the Union to Discuss Protecting Minors from the Growing Threat of Big Tech, AI", "2025-12-28", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AL", "Katie Boyd Britt", "B001319", "www.britt.senate.gov", "britt", "https://www.britt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u2018How many parents \u2026 are going to have to come and tell us a devastating story before we actually pass legislation?\u2019\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined CNN\u2019s Jake Tapper on a special edition of State of the Union, which focused on the growing threat of Big Tech and artificial intelligence (AI).\n\nOn raising teenagers in the age of social media and AI:\n\n\u201cI often say I don\u2019t have to ask people what it\u2019s like to raise kids right now, I am living it. We have two teenagers \u2026 15 and 16. And so when you come with that perspective, you know that there are parents out there that are looking for tools to help keep their children safe. Also, when you look at both social media and technology and how fast everything is moving, it\u2019s truly hard to keep up \u2026 So I think if we think about all of those things and what our kids are dealing with right now, it is imperative that we put up guardrails, especially when you\u2019re looking at AI.\u201d\n\nOn the harms of AI chatbots and the GUARD Act, legislation that would put guardrails around chatbots for minors:\n\n\u201cI have met with a number of parents who have told me devastating stories about their children, where chatbots ultimately \u2026 had isolated them from their parents, had talked to them about suicide, had talked to them about a number of things. And you think about this: If these AI companies can make the most brilliant machines in the world, they could do us all a service by putting up proper guardrails that did not allow for minors to utilize these things \u2026 And that\u2019s one thing that this legislation does.\u201d\n\nOn Big Tech and Congress\u2019s failure to deliver solutions and protect American families:\n\n\u201cI mean, truly enough is enough. I mean, I also want to say: How long is it going to take Congress to actually act? \u2026 We\u2019ve been talking about this for years. How many parents like the one that we just heard from are going to have to come and tell us a devastating story before we actually pass legislation? The truth is (that) these AI companies can absolutely do much of this on their own. But we know consistently, time and time again, whether it\u2019s been social media companies or now some of the AI space that we consistently see people putting their profits over actual people \u2026\n\n\u201cI want to elevate this topic for parents from coast to coast. [Congress is] not doing enough to put up guardrails. I mean, you and I did not grow up with front facing cameras \u2026 If these things were happening in a storefront on a main street in Alabama, we would shut that store down \u2026 So I am disappointed and will continue to push, because I think the time to act for Congress is now \u2026 People are over it, and we\u2019re over people going to DC and just dragging their feet and coming up with an excuse. Get in a room and let\u2019s figure out a pathway forward. That\u2019s certainly what I\u2019m committed to doing.\u201d\n\nSenator Britt has been a leader on reining in Big Tech and social media companies and a champion for children\u2019s safety online since she came to Congress. She has led a number of bipartisan pieces of legislation, including the Stop the Scroll Act and Kids Off Social Media Act, both of which would set critical guardrails on social media platforms and companies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-on-passing-of-jeffrey-holland", "Crapo Statement on Passing of Jeffrey Holland", "2025-12-27", "2025", "2025-12", "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 the passing of Jeffrey R. Holland, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:\n\n\u201cI join other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in mourning the loss of President Jeffrey R. Holland. Known for his empathetic love and care for others, President Holland embodied a Christ-like spirit of generosity. His more than 30 years of service in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spread the gospel far and wide, inviting others to know the unrelenting love of Christ here on earth.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/icymi-an-iowans-advice-after-70-years-of-parenting", "ICYMI: An Iowan\u2019s Advice After 70 Years of Parenting", "2025-12-27", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Chuck Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", "grassley", "https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "An Iowan\u2019s Advice After 70 Years of Parenting\n\nBy Senator Chuck Grassley\n\nDecember 26, 2025\n\nWall Street Journal\n\nLast weekend I encouraged everyone to read Rahm Emanuel\u2019s op-ed \u201cLessons From Modern Parenthood\u201d (Dec. 20). He\u2019s a Democrat, and I\u2019m a Republican, but his advice is sound for moms and dads of any stripe. Kudos to him for speaking up on a consequential issue on many Americans\u2019 minds.\n\nAfter years of policymaking and parenting, I agree that there\u2019s no \u201csecret sauce\u201d to raising a family. Good parenting isn\u2019t partisan. My wife of 71 years and I agree with the Emanuels on the ritual of eating together as a family. The conversations around the table in my own childhood are seared in my memory\u2014they prompted an interest in government that turned into my vocation.\n\nWhen our five kids were growing up, I can\u2019t pretend I was at every meal. I give Barbara credit for serving as commander in chief of our household, acting as mom, homework-helper, chore-taskmaster and more when I was in Washington. Yet there was no daylight between us in our approach to parenthood. We taught our kids to work hard and live by the Golden Rule. Farm chores and school work didn\u2019t leave much time to waste on television.\n\nRaising kids today comes with new challenges, but the fundamentals haven\u2019t changed. Our advice: Stick your nose in their business and keep strict boundaries. The internet poses risks beyond idleness and harm to mental health. Nefarious predators are targeting children with all manner of schemes.\n\nAs chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I\u2019m leading bipartisan efforts with Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) to combat online child exploitation and keep the next generation safe. Our reforms will help deter bad actors by revamping federal sentencing laws, targeting online criminal networks and cracking down on offenders who use child sex-abuse material to extort and coerce children.\n\nHaving and raising children is our nation\u2019s most important work. Parents deserve to feel empowered, to be assured that Washington is an ally.\n\nBarbara and I didn\u2019t fall into helicopter- or tiger-parenting categories. Our Midwestern philosophy was handed down from our parents: Have faith in God and yourself; don\u2019t worry about failure\u2014it yields resilience\u2014and remember that love guarantees you a permanent seat at the supper table.\n\nSen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.lummis.senate.gov/press-releases/trump-signs-into-law-lummis-bill-reauthorizing-congressional-awards-program/", "Trump Signs Into Law Lummis Bill Reauthorizing Congressional Awards Program", "2025-12-27", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WY", "Cynthia M. Lummis", "L000571", "www.lummis.senate.gov", "lummis", "https://www.lummis.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Cheyenne, WY \u2014 U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) released the following statement after President Trump signed her Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act into law, continuing this vital program that encourages young Americans to achieve their personal goals and give back to their communities. The Congressional Award is the highest honor bestowed by Congress to young Americans aged 14 to 24. This reauthorizes the board that administers the Congressional Award Program through FY2028.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled that President Trump has signed my bipartisan legislation into law, ensuring the Congressional Award will continue empowering young Americans through FY2028,\u201d said Lummis.\u201cWyoming holds a special connection to this program\u2013 it was our own Senator Malcolm Wallop who helped establish the Congressional Award in 1979, creating a legacy that has inspired generations of youth to embrace service, personal growth, and civic responsibility. For more than forty years, this program has shaped the character of countless young people across our nation, and I am proud to see this Wyoming tradition flourish. This continued investment in America\u2019s youth will help develop the leaders our country needs for tomorrow.\u201d\n\nAbout the Congressional Award Program:\n\n\u2013 As the United States Congress\u2019 only non-profit and highest honor for youth civilians, the Congressional Award program was started by late Wyoming Senator Malcolm Wallop in 1979, and Senator Lummis is proud to carry on his legacy by serving on the national board of directors.\n\n\u2013 To achieve a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Congressional Award Certificate or Medal, each participant sets and achieves challenging goals in four program areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition/exploration.\n\n\u2013 Medals are presented by members of the House and Senate, with the Gold Medal Ceremony/Summit taking place each June at a Ceremony in the U.S. Capitol.\n\n\u2013 The Congressional Award is a public-private partnership.\n\n\u2013 Although created by Congress, the Congressional Award program is funded entirely through private-sector donations.\n\n\u2013 Congress provides in-kind support, including office space, the medals from the U.S. Mint and the audit oversight by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).\n\n\u2013 There are currently more than 50,000 youth enrolled throughout the country and reside in every congressional district.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.britt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/u-s-senator-katie-britt-urges-epa-to-prioritize-national-emission-standards-for-lime-manufacturing/", "U.S. Senator Katie Britt Urges EPA to Prioritize National Emission Standards for Lime Manufacturing", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AL", "Katie Boyd Britt", "B001319", "www.britt.senate.gov", "britt", "https://www.britt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) recently sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the EPA to prioritize the reconsideration of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Lime Manufacturing Plants (Lime NESHAP).\n\nDespite low levels of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) emitted by lime plants, the Biden Administration EPA finalized a new set of regulations with which the lime industry must comply. The regulations include four strict emissions standards that would cost the industry $2 billion\u2014the lime industry\u2019s annual revenue totals $2.3 billion.\n\n\u201cI ask you to continue your crucial work reconsidering yet another disastrous Biden-era rulemaking that would stunt the capability of our domestic lime manufacturing industry and negatively impact downstream industrial end-users. Lime is manufactured in 20 States and is an important component in steel production, energy production, delivering safe drinking water, road building, and wastewater treatment,\u201d wrote the Senator.\n\nShe continued, \u201cAccording to EPA\u2019s own regulatory impact analysis, the rule would impose more than $2 billion in costs on an industry that generates just $2.3 billion in annual revenue.\u2019 Despite this, the agency was unable to identify any quantifiable monetized benefits associated with the rule. The EPA has repeatedly acknowledged that the rule is unnecessary as emissions from the lime industry are already within acceptable limits, posing no threat to human health or the environment.\u201d\n\n\u201cI urge you to establish a workable rule with feasible standards and ensure that manufacturers do not have to make costly and unnecessary efforts to comply with a rule that produces no quantifiable public health benefits,\u201d Senator Britt concluded.\n\nAlabama is one of the top lime-producing states in the U.S. In fiscal year 2024, approximately 28.5 million tons of limestone were produced in Alabama. Additionally, it is estimated that 20% of total lime production in the U.S. takes place in Shelby County, Ala., alone.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-announces-2025-service-academy-nominees", "Senator Cramer Announces 2025 Service Academy Nominees", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "www.cramer.senate.gov", "cramer", "https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "BISMARCK, N.D. \u2013 U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced his nominees to the U.S. service academies:\n\n\u201cOne of the great joys of serving North Dakota in Congress is nominating some of our best young patriots for appointments to our service academies,\u201d said Cramer. \u201cAfter visiting with Cormac and Oliver, I am honored and grateful they are willing to answer the call to serve. They will be great ambassadors of our state.\u201d\n\nThe nominees are as follows:\n\nCormac Dunnick \u2013 U.S. Military Academy (West Point). Cormac, son of Ev and Kendra Dunnick, competes in basketball and trapshooting. He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and enjoys hunting, weight-lifting, and golf. Cormac is from Grand Forks and attends Red River High School.\n\nOliver Schaefer \u2013 U.S. Air Force Academy. Oliver, son of Mark and Kristi Schaefer, competes in track and field and cross country. He volunteers for the Serenity Therapeutic Equine Program and enjoys reading, military history, and board games. Oliver is from Minot and attends Des Lacs Burlington High School.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=082A36F7-1B14-44EB-81D7-6852ADCB2B2F", "Klobuchar, Sullivan and Colleagues Introduce VISIT USA Act to Promote U.S. Tourism", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", "klobuchar", "https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) \u2014all members of the Senate Commerce Committee \u2013 introduced the bipartisan Vital Investment in Sustaining International Tourism to the USA (VISIT USA) Act to fully restore Brand USA\u2019s funding in Fiscal Years (FY) 2026 and 2027.\n\nBrand USA is a public-private partnership charged with promoting America as a premier international travel destination and clearly communicating U.S. visa and entry policies abroad.\n\nThis legislation will fully fund Brand USA to promote the United States as an international travel destination ahead of several significant events hosted in the U.S., including the 250th anniversary of America\u2019s independence, the FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Olympic games. President Trump\u2019s FY 2026 budget request also calls for fully funding Brand USA.\n\n\u201cTravel and tourism powers economic growth in communities in Minnesota and across our country,\u201d said Sen. Klobuchar. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will restore funding for Brand USA, providing the resources it needs to continue to support an additional 1.6 million visitors, $6 billion in spending, and nearly 80,000 jobs every year\u2014all at no cost to taxpayers.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States is the third most visited country in the world. As we prepare to host several once-in-a-generation global events\u2014from America250, to the FIFA World Cup, to the 2028 Olympic Games\u2014there has never been a better moment to showcase all that our country has to offer,\u201d Sen. Sullivan said. \u201cRestoring Brand USA\u2019s full funding will help us welcome more international visitors, strengthen our tourism economy, and support the thousands of small businesses that make America and Alaska such remarkable places to experience.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the U.S. Travel Association. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) have introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cThis legislation is an important step forward, and we are grateful for Senators Sullivan and Klobuchar for leading this effort,\" said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. \"With the World Cup, America 250 and the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, the U.S. has a pivotal chance to capture global attention. By restoring Brand USA\u2019s resources, Congress can help drive new visitors, support jobs nationwide and ensure the United States stands out on the world stage.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=4DA43F2D-C747-4AE0-A481-A224962CFDFF", "Sens. Moran, Cortez Masto Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen America\u2019s Energy Supply Chain", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "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. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen America\u2019s energy supply chain, reducing the risk of dangerous power outages and helping to meet increasing energy demand. The Electric Supply Chain Act would require the Secretary of Energy to conduct regular assessments of electric consumption trends and vulnerabilities in the electric energy supply chain, which includes distribution lines, transformers and other equipment required to connect energy generators to energy consumers.\n\n\u201cDemand for energy is continuing to grow in Kansas and across the country as power needs increase for housing, business and transportation,\u201d said Sen. Moran. \u201cAs demand for energy expands, so does the importance of securing our energy supply chains. It is critical that the Department of Energy is tracking trends in our nation\u2019s energy consumption to recognize vulnerabilities and protect national energy security.\u201d\n\n\u201cNevada\u2019s electric grid is experiencing unprecedented levels of demand,\u201d said Sen. Cortez Masto. \u201cIt is our responsibility to help ensure that our supply chains are secure and capable of meeting growing energy demand to prevent power outages or other disruptions to daily life. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will ensure the Department of Energy is collecting information needed to keep electricity flowing throughout the country.\u201d\n\nThe legislation would require the Department of Energy to conduct regular reviews of the electric energy supply chain with the following information:\n\nEfforts and opportunities to strengthen, secure and supply electric energy supply chains;\n\nAny trends, risks and vulnerabilities in the supply, demand and availability of components for or related to transmitting electricity;\n\nNational security and energy security considerations for strengthening, securing and expanding such supply chains;\n\nBarriers to expanding and manufacturing transmission components and the processing of critical minerals;\n\nDomestic policies that would prevent greater investment into such supply chains;\n\nWorkforce challenges impacting such supply chains; and\n\nRecommendations to address the above challenges and risks to the electric energy supply chain.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\nSimilar legislation led by Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH-05) recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM); National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO); Securing America\u2019s Future Energy (SAFE); and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).\n\n\u201cManufacturers thank Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Moran for introducing the Senate companion to the Electric Supply Chain Act,\u201d said Chris Phalen, NAM Vice President of Domestic Policy. \u201cTheir leadership underscores the bipartisan commitment to strengthening America\u2019s competitiveness and keeping our economy growing. Manufacturers are making significant investments in the domestic production of components that are helping to maintain and modernize our grid, and this bill will help ensure those efforts are matched by smart federal oversight and strategic insight. We urge the Senate to continue this momentum and advance this legislation as part of the broader push for comprehensive permitting reform and grid modernization that will strengthen America\u2019s energy and AI dominance.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s grid is foundational to reindustrializing our economy and advancing U.S. leadership in twenty-first century technologies,\u201d said Avery Ash, SAFE CEO. \u201cEnergy-intensive industries are central to American global competitiveness, including critical mineral processing, smelting, automotive manufacturing, and AI computing. The analysis required by this bill will be valuable in enabling strategies to secure our grid component supply chains from foreign adversaries and expand our grid to meet future electricity demand.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) applauds Senators Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) for their introduction of the Electric Supply Chain Act, marking a swift and encouraging response to House passage of the bill earlier this month,\u201d said Peter Ferrell, NEMA Senior Director of Government Relations. \u201cBy requiring regular reports on the grid and its supply chains from the U.S. Department of Energy, this bill enables government and private sector partners to undertake more efficient and effective actions that will improve the reliability and affordability of the grid. NEMA appreciates the Senate's commitment to comprehensive oversight and stewardship of our nation's most critical infrastructure, and encourages bipartisan action on this legislation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/senator-tim-scott-releases-2025-year-in-review/", "Senator Tim Scott Releases 2025 Year in Review", "2025-12-26", "2025", "2025-12", "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 \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) released his 2025 Year in Review, highlighting major legislative accomplishments and continued efforts to expand opportunity, strengthen American security, and deliver results for the people of South Carolina and families across the nation.\n\n\u201cI am incredibly proud of what we\u2019ve accomplished this year for the people of South Carolina and Americans nationwide, and I\u2019m looking forward to building on that momentum,\u201d said Senator Scott. \u201cWhether it\u2019s expanding school choice, securing tax relief for families, or strengthening our national security, my mission remains the same: to champion hope, protect opportunity, and ensure every American has the chance to achieve their version of the American Dream. I look forward to building on this progress in the year ahead.\u201d\n\nThis year, Senator Scott led the introduction of 38 bills, 8 resolutions, and 14 amendments as well as cosponsored 79 bills and 42 resolutions.\n\nPutting South Carolinians First\n\nThe Senator and his team completed casework for nearly 6,000 South Carolinians.\n\nMaintaining a direct line of communication with constituents remained a priority for the Senator and allowed him to respond to more than 200,000 emails and letters from South Carolinians in 2025.\n\nEnergy and American Competitiveness\n\nIn an effort to restore American energy dominance and strengthen U.S. energy security, Senator Scott reintroduced the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025. The legislation removes red tape by eliminating the requirement for the Department of Energy (DOE) to approve exports of American liquefied natural gas and streamlining the approval process. In November, the House companion bill, led by Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas-11), passed by a vote of 217-188, moving Congress closer to expanding U.S. energy production, supporting jobs, and lowering energy costs.\n\nEnvironmental Oversight and Regulatory Accountability\n\nSenator Scott also led efforts to rein in federal regulatory overreach by introducing a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) Rubber Tire Manufacturing National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule. The Biden administration finalized the rule in November 2024 despite the EPA\u2019s own risk review concluding it was unnecessary for protecting public health or the environment and unable to quantify any public health benefit. The CRA passed the Senate and was signed into law in May, reversing a burdensome mandate and protecting American manufacturers and workers.\n\nStanding with South Carolina and Honoring Its History\n\nThis year marked 10 years since the tragic shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina \u2013 an attack that shook the nation and forever changed the Palmetto State. Senators Scott and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) led the introduction of a Senate resolution honoring the lives of the nine innocent worshippers murdered in the attack. The resolution passed unanimously, reaffirming the nation\u2019s commitment to combating hatred and preserving the legacy of the Mother Emanuel Nine.\n\nSupporting Small Businesses and Disaster Recovery\n\nFollowing the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Senator Scott led efforts to ensure small businesses and homeowners received timely assistance by reintroducing the SBA Disaster Transparency Act. The legislation requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to publish regular reports on the status of its disaster loan fund, providing Congress and communities clear insight into the availability of critical recovery resources.\n\nSenator Scott also continued his work to protect small businesses from unnecessary federal overreach by reintroducing the Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act. This legislation pushes back against a Biden-era rule that would allow the SBA to make direct loans, ensuring that community banks and credit unions \u2013 that know the communities they serve \u2013 remain the primary source of credit for local businesses.\n\nEmpowering Families Through Education\n\nThroughout 2025, Senator Scott continued advancing educational freedom and expanding school choice for families across the country. He introduced the National School Choice Week resolution and led the introduction of the High-Quality Charter Schools Act, legislation designed to grow and support charter schools, ensuring that more students, regardless of background, race, or ZIP code, have access to high-quality education.\n\nIn response to the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, Senator Scott partnered with Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) to introduce the Antisemitism Awareness Act. The legislation directs the Department of Education (ED) to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance\u2019s working definition of antisemitism when enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This provides schools and investigators clear guidance for addressing antisemitic incidents, protecting Jewish students, and ensuring a safe learning environment for all students.\n\nThrough the Working Families Tax Cut, signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, Senator Scott secured major wins for students and families, including the Educational Choice for Children Act becoming law. This provision encourages charitable contributions to scholarship programs and helps families access quality K\u201312 education, further empowering parents and communities with meaningful educational options.\n\nStrengthening Families Through Quality Health Care\n\nIn 2025, Senator Scott continued leading efforts to expand health care access, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen the nation\u2019s health care system. He reintroduced the Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, ensuring that pregnant and postpartum women across the country have access to vital mental health and substance use disorder care.\n\nSenator Scott has prioritized modernizing health care delivery and expanding patient access to high-quality care by working across the aisle to implement innovative solutions that meet the needs of families and communities. He partnered with Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) to extend the Acute Hospital Care at Home Waiver program, passed by the House in December, giving patients the option to receive hospital level care at home, reducing costs, improving outcomes, and modernizing the delivery of care.\n\nAs a champion for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), Senator Scott introduced legislation reauthorizing the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Program. SCD is an inherited blood disorder that disproportionately affects African Americans, Latinos, and other minority groups, affecting approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States and significantly reducing life expectancy. The legislation expands access to research and treatment, trains more clinicians in SCD care, improves care during the transition from pediatric to adult services, and strengthens coordination among health care providers. Additionally, Senator Scott hosted a roundtable in Charleston, South Carolina to highlight emerging gene therapies and drive innovation in treatment options for patients living with the disease.\n\nSenator Scott further led Senate resolutions recognizing National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, underscoring his commitment to health equity, protecting vulnerable populations, and advancing access to high-quality, patient-focused care for Americans.\n\nSupporting America\u2019s Workers and Families\n\nSenator Scott continued leading efforts to strengthen America\u2019s workforce and protect the rights of workers across the country. He introduced the Modern Worker Empowerment Act to provide independent workers greater flexibility, helping them thrive in the modern day economy. He also championed stronger retirement security through the Strengthening Benefit Plans Act, which allows employers to use overfunded pension accounts to maintain health benefits amid rising costs. Additionally, Senator Scott reintroduced the Employee Rights Act of 2025, reinforcing fairness, privacy, and choice in the workplace and ensuring that all Americans have the protections and opportunities they need to succeed.\n\nTax Relief and Pro-Growth Reform\n\nSenator Scott delivered major tax wins for hardworking Americans in 2025 aimed at lowering costs, encouraging investment, and strengthening communities. Through the Working Families Tax Cut, Opportunity Zones were made permanent and expanded upon, providing lasting incentives for investment in distressed areas. The legislation also established an extended educator tax deductions to coaches and athletic staff and delivered critical disaster relief and protections for South Carolina\u2019s farmers.\n\nBeyond this landmark legislation, Senator Scott introduced and supported key tax reforms to support families, infrastructure, and economic growth. These initiatives include the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act, expanded tax credits for short line railroads essential to South Carolina\u2019s port economy, the IRS Accountability and Taxpayer Protection Act, and incentives to strengthen American clean energy and advanced nuclear production.\n\nBolstering Our National Security\n\nThroughout the year, Senator Scott advanced policies to strengthen U.S. national security, secure the southern border, and support those who serve our nation. He introduced the Securing Our Border Act to redirect unobligated International Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement funds toward border security priorities, including nonintrusive inspection systems, border wall construction, and Border Patrol recruitment and retention efforts. He also introduced the Alan Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act to accelerate the processing and removal of migrants illegally entering the country to protect American lives in response to the fentanyl crisis.\n\nSenator Scott secured a key provision in the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) directing the Department of Defense (DOD) to support recruitment, training, and retention of top cyber talent to ensure the U.S. military remains prepared for evolving threats. During the government shutdown, he introduced the Pay Our Capitol Police Act to guarantee continued pay for Capitol Police officers, civilian staff, and essential contractors, and supported similar legislation to pay our military personnel during the shutdown.\n\nSupporting our veterans remained a key priority of Senator Scott\u2019s. Last month, the Senator joined Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in introducing the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NOPAIN) for Veterans Act. The legislation would expand veteran access to non-opioid alternatives by providing pathways for FDA-approved non-opioid treatments to be included in the VA National Formulary (VANF), the list of available prescriptions at VA facilities.\n\nEarlier this year, Senator Scott joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Republican colleagues in introducing the No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act to cut off U.S. assistance to entities that give additional rights and privileges to the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Current U.S. law prohibits funding to organizations, such as the United Nations, which gives the PLO full membership or standing as a member state. The NOPE Act updates the existing funding prohibition to organizations that offer the PLO \u201cany status, rights, or privileges beyond observer status.\u201d\n\nPreserving the American Dream\n\nSenator Scott, as Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, led the inclusion of key provisions in the Working Families Tax Cut to cut waste, eliminate duplication, and protect hardworking taxpayers. These reforms rein in the unaccountable Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), defund wasteful Green New Deal spending, and eliminate the Securities and Exchange Commission\u2019s (SEC) slush fund.\n\nSenator Scott also played a leading role in advancing the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, which President Trump signed into law in July. The legislation established the nation\u2019s first regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, strengthening consumer protections and national security. Under Senator Scott\u2019s leadership, the bill passed the Senate Banking Committee with the support of every Republican and five Democrats. He further led the release of a discussion draft on digital asset market structure, as well as a Request for Information (RFI) for stakeholders to submit feedback on the draft and on a wide range of related issues.\n\nTo combat the debanking of federally legal businesses and law-abiding Americans, Senator Scott introduced the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management (FIRM) Act to eliminate all references to reputational risk as a measure to determine the safety and soundness of financial institutions. The bill advanced out of the Senate Banking Committee during its first legislative markup of the 119th Congress, prompting federal regulators to remove this arbitrary standard from their oversight practices.\n\nPresident Trump also signed into law Chairman Scott\u2019s Congressional Review Act resolution overturning a Biden-era CFPB rule that imposed government price controls on overdraft fees, preserving access to short-term liquidity for millions of Americans.\n\nIn the Committee\u2019s first bipartisan housing markup in more than a decade, Chairman Scott led the unanimous passage of the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025. The comprehensive package passed the Banking Committee 24-0 and was later included in the Senate-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act. Senator Scott will continue to build on this momentum in 2026, reinforcing his priorities: expanding housing supply, lowering costs, and making the American Dream of homeownership within reach for more Americans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/ranking-member-shaheen-senators-tillis-rosen-barrasso-coons-king-moran-merkley-van-hollen-statement-on-russias-christmas-bombing-of-ukraine/", "Ranking Member Shaheen, Senators Tillis, Rosen, Barrasso, Coons, King, Moran, Merkley, Van Hollen Statement on Russia\u2019s Christmas Bombing of Ukraine", "2025-12-25", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cWe condemn Russia\u2019s brutal attacks on Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Donetsk and Kryvyi Rih waged on innocent Ukrainians as they convened to mark the birth of the Prince of Peace with their loved ones and in prayer.\n\n\u201cIt bears repeating that President Zelenskyy agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined, yet he directs soldiers to continue to commit brutal crimes of aggression on one of Christianity\u2019s holiest days.\n\n\u201cEven for countries at war, there is a long history of Christmas ceasefires, including notably during World War I. Today\u2019s decision by Putin to launch attacks rather than hold fire is a sobering reminder for us all: Putin is a ruthless murderer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted.\n\n\u201cWe stand with the people of Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk marking the birth of Christ under the most challenging of circumstances. Ukrainians\u2019 faith is a stronger force than the evil unleashed today by the Kremlin.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/general/video-blackburn-wishes-tennesseans-a-merry-christmas", "VIDEO: Blackburn Wishes Tennesseans a Merry Christmas", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a video message wishing Tennesseans a Merry Christmas:\n\n\u201cFrom all the Blackburns, I want to say Merry Christmas to you,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThere is nothing so special or nothing more wonderful than a Tennessee Christmas. Our wish is for all Tennesseans to know firsthand the blessings of the Christmas and holiday season. So, from our family to yours, Merry Christmas.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-murkowski-and-merkley-lead-call-for-inspector-general-audit-following-dojs-failure-to-release-the-full-epstein-files-as-demanded-by-survivors-required-by-law", "Blumenthal, Murkowski & Merkley Lead Call for Inspector General Audit Following DOJ\u2019s Failure to Release the Full Epstein Files as Demanded by Survivors, Required by Law", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a bipartisan group of senators in writing Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume requesting the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) perform an audit of the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation requiring the release of all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein.\n\n\u201cGiven the Administration\u2019s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cAs such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (\u201cDOJ OIG\u201d) perform an audit of the Department\u2019s compliance with the statute.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Blumenthal, Murkowski, and Merkley, today\u2019s letter was signed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Gary Peters (D-MI).\n\n\u201cFull transparency\u2014as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors\u2014is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein\u2019s crimes,\u201d the senators concluded. \u201cSurvivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department\u2019s compliance.\u201d\n\nThe full text of today\u2019s letter is available here and copied below.\n\nDear Acting Inspector General Berthiaume:\n\nWe write to you following the December 19 deadline imposed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act for the Department of Justice (\u201cDOJ\u201d or \u201cthe Department\u201d) to release all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. By the Department\u2019s own admission, it is in violation of the law\u2014before DOJ had even begun to release the files, Deputy Attorney General Blanche admitted that it would not disclose them all by the December 19 deadline. And DOJ has lived up to that promise, failing to fully disclose the files in violation of the Act.\n\nNot only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public. Even those records are so heavily redacted that there are serious questions as to whether the Department is properly applying the limited exceptions for redaction that are permitted under the Act. Moreover, several records appear to have been removed, without explanation, from the files the Department did release.\n\nGiven the Administration\u2019s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential. As such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (\u201cDOJ OIG\u201d) perform an audit of the Department\u2019s compliance with the statute.\n\nIn passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming margins in both the House and the Senate, Congress demonstrated a clear, bipartisan mandate for public transparency in the Epstein case. The legislation expressly enumerates the limited circumstances in which withholding or redaction is permitted. Any withholding or redaction beyond those specified circumstances is against the law. But because Congress and the public do not have complete access to the Epstein documents, we are not able to fully assess for ourselves whether records were inappropriately withheld or redacted. DOJ OIG\u2014with access to the full Epstein files and with independence from the larger Department\u2014is ideally positioned to do a complete and independent assessment of the Administration\u2019s compliance with the Act.\n\nDespite calls from Epstein survivors for complete release of the documents, this Administration has shown consistent hostility towards transparency and a perceived willingness to weaponize the case for political ends. In February, Attorney General (\u201cA.G.\u201d) Bondi gave binders of supposedly newly declassified Epstein files\u2014not to survivors, but to reported \u201cright-wing influencers.\u201d She also claimed that Epstein\u2019s so-called \u201cclient list\u201d was \u201csitting on [her] desk right now to review.\u201d Yet, in July, DOJ and FBI released an unsigned memo directly contradicting her, and claiming it had found no evidence of Epstein having kept a client list. In August, Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a lower security prison after two days of meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. In November, President Trump expressly and publicly urged A.G. Bondi to investigate prominent Democrats and banks connected to Epstein. Just days later, A.G. Bondi announced she would follow the President\u2019s command. These actions, including inconsistent public statements about the contents of the files, have raised fundamental questions about the Department\u2019s willingness to faithfully and impartially comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These questions have only grown in volume since the incomplete release of files on December 19.\n\nGiven DOJ OIG\u2019s ability to access the full set of Epstein files and its independence from the Department, it is ideally placed to perform an audit to ensure the Department\u2019s compliance with the law. Such an audit is essential not only to ensure the Department has acted as the law requires, but also to maintain the public\u2019s trust in the disclosure of the files and in the Department\u2019s handling of the case. Specifically, DOJ OIG should ensure that: (1) redactions were properly applied to protect all survivors; (2) redactions were not used to shield abusers, perpetrators, or enablers; (3) records were not withheld for any reason other than those enumerated in the statute; (4) all withholding of records was appropriate under the statute and narrowly tailored; and (5) the Department did not consider politics in deciding whether or how to release documents.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this important request. Full transparency\u2014as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors\u2014is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein\u2019s crimes. Survivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department\u2019s compliance.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-statement-on-trumps-va-abortion-ban-that-denies-millions-of-veterans-the-care-theyve-earned", "Duckworth Statement on Trump\u2019s VA Abortion Ban That Denies Millions of Veterans the Care They\u2019ve Earned", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Trump Administration quietly implemented a policy banning the VA from providing abortion care to Veterans and their families\u2014including in cases of rape, incest or to protect the health of the mother\u2014despite widespread opposition from advocates and the Veteran community:\n\n\u201cOur Veterans risked their lives to safeguard our freedoms. And yet a man who has never served a day in his life is taking away their own freedom to choose what's best for their health.\n\n\u201cIn cases of rape, incest or when the health of the mother is at risk, Trump is denying our heroes the care they\u2019ve earned through their service\u2014and it\u2019ll be those living in states with extreme abortion bans who will suffer the most.\n\n\u201cTrump implemented this extreme policy during the holiday season, quietly and over the objections of Veterans, thinking we wouldn\u2019t notice. Well, we did. And I will keep fighting to give Veterans and all Americans the health care and reproductive freedom they deserve.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/blumenthal-murkowski-merkley-lead-call-for-inspector-general-audit-following-dojs-failure-to-release-the-full-epstein-files-as-demanded-by-survivors-required-by-law/", "BLUMENTHAL, MURKOWSKI & MERKLEY LEAD CALL FOR INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT FOLLOWING DOJ\u2019S FAILURE TO RELEASE THE FULL EPSTEIN FILES AS DEMANDED BY SURVIVORS, REQUIRED BY LAW", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a bipartisan group of senators in writing Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume requesting the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) perform an audit of the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation requiring the release of all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein.\n\n\u201cGiven the Administration\u2019s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cAs such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (\u201cDOJ OIG\u201d) perform an audit of the Department\u2019s compliance with the statute.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Blumenthal, Murkowski, and Merkley, today\u2019s letter was signed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Gary Peters (D-MI).\n\n\u201cFull transparency\u2014as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors\u2014is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein\u2019s crimes,\u201d the senators concluded. \u201cSurvivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department\u2019s compliance.\u201d\n\nThe full text of today\u2019s letter is available here and copied below.\n\nDear Acting Inspector General Berthiaume:\n\nWe write to you following the December 19 deadline imposed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act for the Department of Justice (\u201cDOJ\u201d or \u201cthe Department\u201d) to release all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. By the Department\u2019s own admission, it is in violation of the law\u2014before DOJ had even begun to release the files, Deputy Attorney General Blanche admitted that it would not disclose them all by the December 19 deadline. And DOJ has lived up to that promise, failing to fully disclose the files in violation of the Act.\n\nNot only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public. Even those records are so heavily redacted that there are serious questions as to whether the Department is properly applying the limited exceptions for redaction that are permitted under the Act. Moreover, several records appear to have been removed, without explanation, from the files the Department did release.\n\nGiven the Administration\u2019s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential. As such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (\u201cDOJ OIG\u201d) perform an audit of the Department\u2019s compliance with the statute.\n\nIn passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming margins in both the House and the Senate, Congress demonstrated a clear, bipartisan mandate for public transparency in the Epstein case. The legislation expressly enumerates the limited circumstances in which withholding or redaction is permitted. Any withholding or redaction beyond those specified circumstances is against the law. But because Congress and the public do not have complete access to the Epstein documents, we are not able to fully assess for ourselves whether records were inappropriately withheld or redacted. DOJ OIG\u2014with access to the full Epstein files and with independence from the larger Department\u2014is ideally positioned to do a complete and independent assessment of the Administration\u2019s compliance with the Act.\n\nDespite calls from Epstein survivors for complete release of the documents, this Administration has shown consistent hostility towards transparency and a perceived willingness to weaponize the case for political ends. In February, Attorney General (\u201cA.G.\u201d) Bondi gave binders of supposedly newly declassified Epstein files\u2014not to survivors, but to reported \u201cright-wing influencers.\u201d She also claimed that Epstein\u2019s so-called \u201cclient list\u201d was \u201csitting on [her] desk right now to review.\u201d Yet, in July, DOJ and FBI released an unsigned memo directly contradicting her, and claiming it had found no evidence of Epstein having kept a client list. In August, Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a lower security prison after two days of meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. In November, President Trump expressly and publicly urged A.G. Bondi to investigate prominent Democrats and banks connected to Epstein. Just days later, A.G. Bondi announced she would follow the President\u2019s command. These actions, including inconsistent public statements about the contents of the files, have raised fundamental questions about the Department\u2019s willingness to faithfully and impartially comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These questions have only grown in volume since the incomplete release of files on December 19.\n\nGiven DOJ OIG\u2019s ability to access the full set of Epstein files and its independence from the Department, it is ideally placed to perform an audit to ensure the Department\u2019s compliance with the law. Such an audit is essential not only to ensure the Department has acted as the law requires, but also to maintain the public\u2019s trust in the disclosure of the files and in the Department\u2019s handling of the case. Specifically, DOJ OIG should ensure that: (1) redactions were properly applied to protect all survivors; (2) redactions were not used to shield abusers, perpetrators, or enablers; (3) records were not withheld for any reason other than those enumerated in the statute; (4) all withholding of records was appropriate under the statute and narrowly tailored; and (5) the Department did not consider politics in deciding whether or how to release documents.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this important request. Full transparency\u2014as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors\u2014is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein\u2019s crimes. Survivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department\u2019s compliance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-raise-alarm-over-loss-of-mental-health-access-in-eastern-oregon/", "Wyden, Merkley Raise Alarm Over Loss of Mental Health Access in Eastern Oregon", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senators: Trump and congressional Republicans\u2019 budget bill threatens essential mental care for nearly 800 Malheur County residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote health care providers serving Malheur County to ask how they\u2019ll ensure nearly 800 residents keep access to the mental health services they need in the wake of new coordinated care organization (CCO) coverage changes brought on by the devastating cuts by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to Medicaid.\n\n\u201cWe understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill,\u201d the lawmakers wrote to Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. CEO Ann Ford and Eastern Oregon CCO CEO Sean Jessup. \u201cAs you manage through this calamity, We ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon\u2019s 36 counties,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cAmong those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.\u201d\n\nThe senators asked Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI), which distributes Medicaid dollars for mental health in eastern Oregon, to answer the following questions no later than January 9, 2026:\n\nHow will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?\n\nWhat determination did GOHBI make to ensure network adequacy and sufficient access for patients?\n\nWhat circumstances led GOHBI to make these changes to its provider network in 2026?\n\n\u201cWe recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task,\u201d Wyden and Merkley wrote. \u201cRepublicans\u2019 Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.\u201d\n\nThe entire letter is below.\n\nAnn Ford\n\nGreater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.\n\n3729 Klindt Dr.\n\nThe Dalles, OR 97058\n\nSean Jessup\n\nEastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization\n\n601 SW Second Ave\n\nPortland, OR 97204\n\nDear Ms. Ford & Mr. Jessup,\n\nWe write with deep concern about recent reporting that nearly 800 residents of Malheur County enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan will not be able to see the mental health providers they rely on starting next year. We understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill. As you manage through this calamity, we ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.\n\nWe know that Oregon\u2019s families and health care providers are staring down the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history. Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill cuts federal funding for the U.S. health care system by over $1 trillion, raising health care costs for everyone while kicking 15 million Americans off of their health insurance. States, Medicaid managed care organizations, and health care providers will need to make impossibly hard choices. Already, the effects of these catastrophic cuts are harming rural communities like Malheur County. Hospitals are closing. Mental health counselors, nurses, doctors, and other essential health care workers are losing their jobs. Service access, especially care for new mothers and babies, is dwindling.\n\nIn Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon\u2019s 36 counties. Among those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.\n\nWe recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task. Republicans\u2019 Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.\n\nAs you navigate this challenging landscape, we ask that you limit life-threatening disruptions for patients and their families and ensure the residents of Malheur County have ample access to a sufficient network of health care providers.We are hearing from members of the community who are deeply concerned about their ability to continue to see the doctor of their choice, and ask that you share answers to the following questions:\n\nAccording to reports, the Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOHBI) is offering a transition period, permitting patients to complete a current episode of treatment after January 1, 2026 with an out-of-network provider and allowing extension requests for medically-necessary care. How will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?\n\nWhat is GOHBI\u2019s process for granting medically-necessary extensions?\n\nPlease describe appeals processes and other patient protections available to patients related to provider access.\n\nYou represent the best of our nation\u2019s health care system, and we know you seek to do right by the patients with mental health and substance use disorders who you tirelessly serve. Please provide the requested information to Andrew Cutler at Andrew_Cutler@wyden.senate.gov no later than January 9th, 2026. Thank you for providing a prompt response to this inquiry.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2025/12/wicker-s-statement-on-the-44-million-awarded-to-mississippi-s-safe-streets-for-all", "Wicker's Statement on the $44 Million Awarded to Mississippi's Safe Streets for All", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Roger F. Wicker", "W000437", "www.wicker.senate.gov", "wicker", "https://www.wicker.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today released the following statement after five cities is Mississippi were awarded $44 million in roadway funding under the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program. These projects are possible because of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Senator Wicker helped negotiate as a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee.\n\n\u201cImproved roadways lead to improved safety and increased commerce. I have continually advocated for these investments in Mississippi\u2019s infrastructure. I am eager for these grants to be implemented across the state. These upgrades will provide safer, more convenient travel options for drivers and pedestrians alike.\u201d\n\nThe grants for Mississippi will support:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-pause-discriminatory-national-park-entry-fees", "Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Pause Discriminatory National Park Entry Fees", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators express concerns over January 1 implementation \u2014 without proper notice \u2014 of $250 America the Beautiful non-resident annual passes and $100 non-resident fee for highly visited national parks\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said today he has joined colleagues in calling on the Trump administration to pause its expensive new national park entry fees and annual passes for non-residents scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.\n\nWyden and the other senators emphasized these new passes and fees were not properly noticed in accordance with the law, will slow park entry, and will further limit international visitation. In late November, the federal Department of Interior announced a new fee structure for access to public lands. Beginning next year, the annual pass will cost $80 for U.S. citizens and residents and $250 for non-residents, the first time the United States has required proof of residency to have access to public lands. Non-residents age 16 and up who don\u2019t have an annual pass will be forced to pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the country\u2019s most visited national parks.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s national parks serve as destinations for visitors both domestically and internationally to experience our country\u2019s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history,\u201d the senators wrote Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. \u201cWhile we understand that entrance and recreation fees are vital to enhancing the visitor experience, we want to ensure all feel welcome to enjoy all national treasures. Since these new fees are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, we strongly believe these fees are being implemented too quickly, without public input, and will be a barrier for both residents and non-residents alike.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe request that you stop implementation of the new non-resident passes and fees until the public has an opportunity to weigh in, impacts to visitation are studied, and clarity on implementation is provided to Congress, NPS employees, and impacted stakeholders,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThe National Park Service is permitted to collect and retain entrance and recreation fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. These fees play an important role in making sure these parks can provide a positive visitor experience for citizens and non-residents alike. However, the law requires the Secretary of the Interior to allow the public the chance weigh in on the development of or changes to recreation fees, and it mandates advanced notice to affected communities in local publications. The senators criticized the administration for failing to provide this legally required opportunity for public input.\n\nIn addition to Wyden, the letter led by U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was also signed by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).\n\nThe senators also warned that this plan would further strain the understaffed Park Service workforce, as the Trump administration has cut 24% of permanent Park Service employees since January, including positions like fee collectors and information technology specialists. These staffing shortages will likely further compound entry delays, especially at the highly visited parks charging an extra $100 for non-residents.\n\nWith overseas visitation to national parks already down over 3% (and down 25% for visitors from Canada), the senators expressed concerns that these numbers could fall even further with the steep price of non-resident passes, hurting the U.S. economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-raise-alarm-over-loss-of-mental-health-access-in-eastern-oregon", "Wyden, Merkley Raise Alarm Over Loss of Mental Health Access in Eastern Oregon", "2025-12-24", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators: Trump and congressional Republicans\u2019 budget bill threatens essential mental care for nearly 800 Malheur County residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote health care providers serving Malheur County to ask how they\u2019ll ensure nearly 800 residents keep access to the mental health services they need in the wake of new coordinated care organization (CCO) coverage changes brought on by the devastating cuts by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to Medicaid.\n\n\u201cWe understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill,\u201d the lawmakers wrote to Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. CEO Ann Ford and Eastern Oregon CCO CEO Sean Jessup. \u201cAs you manage through this calamity, We ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon\u2019s 36 counties,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cAmong those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.\u201d\n\nThe senators asked Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI), which distributes Medicaid dollars for mental health in eastern Oregon, to answer the following questions no later than January 9, 2026:\n\nHow will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?\n\nWhat determination did GOHBI make to ensure network adequacy and sufficient access for patients?\n\nWhat circumstances led GOHBI to make these changes to its provider network in 2026?\n\n\u201cWe recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task,\u201d Wyden and Merkley wrote. \u201cRepublicans\u2019 Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.\u201d\n\nThe entire letter is below.\n\nAnn Ford\n\nGreater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.\n\n3729 Klindt Dr.\n\nThe Dalles, OR 97058\n\nSean Jessup\n\nEastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization\n\n601 SW Second Ave\n\nPortland, OR 97204\n\nDear Ms. Ford & Mr. Jessup,\n\nWe write with deep concern about recent reporting that nearly 800 residents of Malheur County enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan will not be able to see the mental health providers they rely on starting next year. We understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill. As you manage through this calamity, we ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.\n\nWe know that Oregon\u2019s families and health care providers are staring down the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history. Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill cuts federal funding for the U.S. health care system by over $1 trillion, raising health care costs for everyone while kicking 15 million Americans off of their health insurance. States, Medicaid managed care organizations, and health care providers will need to make impossibly hard choices. Already, the effects of these catastrophic cuts are harming rural communities like Malheur County. Hospitals are closing. Mental health counselors, nurses, doctors, and other essential health care workers are losing their jobs. Service access, especially care for new mothers and babies, is dwindling.\n\nIn Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon\u2019s 36 counties. Among those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.\n\nWe recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task. Republicans\u2019 Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.\n\nAs you navigate this challenging landscape, we ask that you limit life-threatening disruptions for patients and their families and ensure the residents of Malheur County have ample access to a sufficient network of health care providers.We are hearing from members of the community who are deeply concerned about their ability to continue to see the doctor of their choice, and ask that you share answers to the following questions:\n\nAccording to reports, the Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOHBI) is offering a transition period, permitting patients to complete a current episode of treatment after January 1, 2026 with an out-of-network provider and allowing extension requests for medically-necessary care. How will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?\n\nWhat is GOHBI\u2019s process for granting medically-necessary extensions?\n\nPlease describe appeals processes and other patient protections available to patients related to provider access.\n\nReports suggest GOHBI\u2019s changes to the Malheur County provider network will reduce the number of available mental health and substance use disorder providers from four to just one, representing a dramatic downward shift. What determination did GOHBI make to ensure network adequacy and sufficient access for patients?\n\nDoes GOHBI have plans to monitor patient access throughout 2026?\n\nWhat circumstances led GOHBI to make these changes to its provider network in 2026?\n\nWere anticipated cuts to the Oregon Health Plan a factor? Thank you.\n\nYou represent the best of our nation\u2019s health care system, and we know you seek to do right by the patients with mental health and substance use disorders who you tirelessly serve. Please provide the requested information to Andrew Cutler at Andrew_Cutler@wyden.senate.gov no later than January 9th, 2026. Thank you for providing a prompt response to this inquiry.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/23/icymi-bennet-fights-back-against-trumps-targeted-attacks-on-colorado/", "ICYMI: Bennet Fights Back Against Trump\u2019s Targeted Attacks on Colorado", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet slammed President Trump for canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants from the Departments of Transportation and Energy, dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and denying Colorado\u2019s request for two emergency declarations following extreme flooding and wildfires. Before the Senate adjourned for the year, Bennet blocked the appropriations package from advancing before the holidays to demand funding to protect NCAR.\n\n\u201cAfter more than a week of targeted actions against Colorado, it\u2019s clear President Trump has turned his sights on our state because we refuse to go along with his corrupt demands,\u201d said Senator Bennet. \u201cThis holiday season, hundreds of NCAR employees face uncertainty about their jobs and communities across the state are worried they won\u2019t get the support they need to rebuild their lives after historic flooding and wildfires. Colorado deserves better, and I am doing everything in my power to fight back and protect our state from the President\u2019s vindictive chaos.\u201d\n\nHere\u2019s how Senator Bennet is fighting for Colorado:\n\nKKCO 11: Colorado Senator Bennet accuses Trump of retaliating against Colorado over Tina Peters\n\nSen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., is accusing President Donald Trump of taking punitive actions against Colorado that Bennet describes as political retaliation.\n\nDuring a press call, Bennet criticized several recent decisions tied to the federal government\u2019s relationship with the state \u2014 including the administration\u2019s reported call to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).\n\nBennet also warned of broader consequences beyond Colorado if NCAR were dismantled.\n\n\u201cI think that Colorado deserves much better from our federal government. Our entire country deserves better from our federal government. We will not stand by while President Trump attacks Colorado and puts our communities in danger. We\u2019ll use every tool at our disposal to fight back against this reckless political attack,\u201d he said.\n\nColorado Sun: Colorado\u2019s U.S. senators hold up appropriations package over NCAR\u2019s future\n\nColorado\u2019s U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper\u2026put a hold on the so-called mini-bus package over the Trump administration\u2019s decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump is attacking Colorado because we refuse to bend to his corrupt administration. His reckless decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research will have lasting, devastating impacts across the country,\u201d Bennet and Hickenlooper said in a joint statement.\n\nIn a social media post, Bennet, who is also running for governor, said \u201cwhen Trump comes after Colorado, we don\u2019t back down, we fight back.\u201d\n\nThe Denver Post: Trump denies disaster declarations for Colorado fires, flooding: \u2018We won\u2019t stop fighting\u2019\n\nSen. Michael Bennet called President Trump\u2019s decision to deny Colorado\u2019s request for federal assistance \u201cunacceptable.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump continues to use Coloradans for political games; it is malicious and obscene,\u201d Bennet said. \u201cA disaster is a disaster, regardless of what state in the country it took place. Together with Governor Polis and the Colorado delegation, I will take every available step to appeal this decision.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/12/veterans/blackburn-resolution-recognizing-importance-of-community-care-for-veterans-passes-senate", "Blackburn Resolution Recognizing Importance of Community Care for Veterans Passes Senate", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) released the following statements after their resolution recognizing community care as essential to meeting veterans\u2019 health care needs unanimously passed the Senate:\n\n\u201cFederal government bureaucracy should not get in the way of America\u2019s veterans getting the health care they need,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThis resolution reaffirms my commitment to ensuring veterans in Tennessee and across America can access high-quality, affordable health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cVeterans deserve prompt, high-quality care and greater flexibility in choosing when, where and how to use the healthcare benefits they have earned through their service,\u201d said Senator Moran. \u201cThis resolution reaffirms our commitment to making certain that veterans have a choice in where they receive care \u2013 whether at VA or in the community \u2013 while acknowledging the essential role community care partnerships play in strengthening the VA health care system. I thank Sen. Blackburn for leading this resolution and for her continued dedication to supporting our nation\u2019s veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur veterans deserve the best care possible, and that means ensuring they can access timely, high-quality treatment through VA facilities and trusted community providers,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThis resolution cuts red tape and makes sure no veteran is forced to wait for the care they\u2019ve earned.\u201d\n\n\u201cMississippi\u2019s veterans rely on community care providers,\u201d said Senator Wicker. \u201cThe VA health system cannot meet every imaginable need, and these providers stand in the gap for those who have given so much to our country.\u201d\n\nThis resolution is also co-sponsored by Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nA decade ago, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) faced a nationwide access-to-care crisis that left many veterans waiting too long for essential medical services. In response, Congress passed the VA MISSION Act, a bipartisan reform designed to ensure that veterans could access timely, high-quality care, including through community providers when the VA could not meet veterans\u2019 needs.\n\nCommunity care has become an indispensable part of the VA health care system, expanding veterans\u2019 options and improving access, especially for those living in rural areas, facing mobility or transportation challenges, or requiring specialized treatment.\n\nSpecifically, this resolution:\n\nRecognizes community care as an essential tool for meeting veterans\u2019 health care needs;\n\nAffirms that community care complements the VA\u2019s mission to serve veterans;\n\nUrges the VA to fully and faithfully implement the VA MISSION Act, ensuring veterans can seek community care when the VA cannot provide timely or appropriate treatment; and\n\nReaffirms the Senate\u2019s commitment to ensuring every veteran has access to high-quality, affordable, and veteran-centered care, whether provided at a VA facility or through community providers.\n\nClick here for resolution text.\n\nRELATED\n\nAhead of Veterans Day, Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Recognizing Importance of Community Care\n\nBlackburn, Tuberville Support Expanding Veterans\u2019 Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids\n\nBlackburn, Booker, Boozman, Rosen, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Female Veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-on-stb-doj-to-oppose-railway-merger-threatening-jobs-and-driving-up-costs", "Blumenthal Calls on STB, DOJ to Oppose Railway Merger Threatening Jobs & Driving Up Costs", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Patrick Fuchs and Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division Gail Slater urging them to oppose the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway\u2014two of the four largest railroads in the country. In today\u2019s letter, Blumenthal raised concerns that the merger would significantly reduce competition in the rail industry, driving up costs for shippers and threatening railroad workers\u2019 job security.\n\n\u201cRailroads are a critical link in the supply chain for everyday consumer goods, including food, fuel, building materials, and household products. When competition in rail transportation is reduced, higher shipping costs are often passed directly on to consumers in the form of higher prices at the checkout counter. With inflation and affordability already top concerns for American families, approving a merger that could further raise the cost of moving goods across the country would worsen financial strain on households nationwide,\u201d wrote Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cThe proposed merger also threatens job stability for countless employees at Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern,\u201d continued Blumenthal. \u201cTogether, the two companies have more than 50,000 employees. While the companies have said they will protect all union jobs during a merger, precedent shows us such promises are little more than hollow words. Instead of trusting these empty promises, you should protect thousands of jobs for hardworking Americans.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Chairman Fuchs and Assistant Attorney General Slater,\n\nI write with serious concerns about the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway. A merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern \u2013 two of the four largest railroads in the United States \u2013 would further consolidate the nation\u2019s rail network, resulting in potential job insecurity for workers, higher costs and less competition for shippers, and safety and community harms. At a time when families are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, household goods, and other essentials, further consolidation in the rail industry risks driving up consumer prices even more. As the Surface Transportation Board considers the application from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, I urge you to oppose this proposed merger.\n\nRailroads are a critical link in the supply chain for everyday consumer goods, including food, fuel, building materials, and household products. When competition in rail transportation is reduced, higher shipping costs are often passed directly on to consumers in the form of higher prices at the checkout counter. With inflation and affordability already top concerns for American families, approving a merger that could further raise the cost of moving goods across the country would worsen financial strain on households nationwide.\n\nThe proposed merger also threatens job stability for countless employees at Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Together, the two companies have more than 50,000 employees.[1] While the companies have said they will protect all union jobs during a merger, precedent shows us such promises are little more than hollow words.[2] For example, after Union Pacific and Southern Pacific merged in 1996, thousands of employees were laid off or relocated despite assurances to protect workers before the merger went through.[3] Instead of trusting these empty promises, you should protect thousands of jobs for hardworking Americans.\n\nIn addition, the consolidated transcontinental railroad system that would result from the proposed merger would undoubtedly increase prices and decrease service for shippers. Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern largely serve different markets, and as a result, shippers are able to negotiate with each of them and their competitors for better prices for various portions of their trip. Under the proposed merger, however, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would control a transcontinental rail line, which they could then use to preferentially price their services to direct shippers. Additionally, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern currently have various intermodal partnerships with each other and their competitors to improve access to shipping containers and underserved areas around the country.[4] The proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would jeopardize these partnerships. As shipping costs rise, consumers inevitably pay the price through higher costs for everyday goods, and as prices for consumer goods reach record highs, you should be focused on ensuring that shippers have access to affordable, reliable rail service instead of handicapping competition.\n\nFinally, you must consider the impact of the proposed merger on the safety of communities around the country. In recent years, ambulances and emergency service vehicles have been delayed for extended periods of time as long trains roll through highway-rail grade crossings in towns.[5] Similarly, to get to and from school, kids have been forced to climb under trains stopped at such crossings.[6] In addition, residents of East Palestine, Ohio, remain concerned about long-term health impacts of the hazardous materials they were exposed to in the 2023 derailment of Norfolk Southern train cars in East Palestine, Ohio.[7] Historically, cost-cutting efforts implemented by railroads only exacerbate these issues, and you must evaluate the forthcoming Safety Integration Plan and information on addressing blocked highway-rail grade crossings to determine whether this merger would do the same.[8]\n\nTo protect workers\u2019 jobs, prevent price increases for shippers and consumers, and promote safety for communities surrounding rail lines, I urge you to oppose the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Thank you for your close attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n-30-\n\n[1] Stuart Chirls, \u201cRail merger: Lifetime job is great \u201cuntil you are stuck in it,\u201d FreightWaves, September 24, 2025, https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-merger-lifetime-job-is-great-until-youre-stuck-in-it.\n\n[2] \u201cCreating America\u2019s First Transcontinental Railroad: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern\u2019s STB Merger Application Details Enhancements to Competition and Public Benefits,\u201d Union Pacific, December 29, 2025, https://www.up.com/press-releases/growth/stb-merger-application-enhances-competition-251219; Erik Peinert and Ashley Nowicki, \u201cThe New Railroad Barons: Why the Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern Railroad Merger Must Be Blocked,\u201d American Economic Liberties Project, https://www.economicliberties.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-09-30-AELP-Railroad-Brief.pdf, 11.\n\n[3] Peinert and Nowicki, 11.\n\n[4] \u201cUMAX Domestic Container Program,\u201d Union Pacific, https://www.up.com/shipping/intermodal/umax (last accessed December 15, 2025); \u201cCSX, CPKC Create Faster Freight Solutions with Southeast Mexico Express,\u201d CSX, July 21, 2025, https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-us/media/press-releases/csx-cpkc-create-faster-freight-solutions-with-southeast-mexico-express/.\n\n[5] Mike Hendricks, \u201c\u2018They just don\u2019t care\u2019: Trains blocking roads can be deadly. It\u2019s only getting worse,\u201d The Kansas City Star, December 13, 2022, https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article268879922.html.\n\n[6] Topher Sanders, Dan Schwartz, and Jove Sterman, \u201cAs Rail Profits Soar, Blocked Crossing Force Kids to Crawl Under Trains to Get to School,\u201d ProPublica and Gray Television/Investigate TV, April 26, 2023, https://www.propublica.org/article/trains-crossing-blocked-kids-norfolk-southern.\n\n[7] \u201cA year after a train derailment in Ohio spilled hazardous chemicals, health fears persist for East Palestine,\u201d PBS, February 2, 2024, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/a-year-after-a-train-derailment-in-ohio-spilled-hazardous-chemicals-health-fears-persist-for-east-palestine; Julie Grant, \u201cTwo years after train derailment and chemical disaster in East Palestine, some residents worry about liver cancer,\u201d WHYY, January 30, 2025, http://whyy.org/segments/two-years-after-east-palestine-train-derailment-health-risks/.\n\n[8] Peinert and Nowicki, 9.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-markey-and-warren-demand-amazon-remove-listings-for-used-cars-with-unrepaired-safety-recalls-clearly-display-vehicles-recall-status", "Blumenthal, Markey, & Warren Demand Amazon Remove Listings for Used Cars with Unrepaired Safety Recalls, Clearly Display Vehicle's Recall Status", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on Amazon to remove listings for pre-owned vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls. In a letter to Andrew R. Jassy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amazon, the Senators raised safety concerns about the company\u2019s new Amazon Autos partnership with Hyundai and Ford dealers, which lists pre-owned vehicles that may have unrepaired safety recalls for sale without adequately warning consumers about a vehicle\u2019s recall status.\n\n\u201cWe are extremely troubled by the fact that Amazon is listing vehicles for sale with unrepaired safety recalls. Selling cars with unrepaired safety recalls is extremely dangerous and poses a potentially fatal threat to vehicle drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Amazon\u2019s suggestion to consumers to check a vehicle\u2019s recall status themselves on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u2019s (NHTSA) website is simply insufficient. We call on Amazon to remove all vehicle listings with unrepaired safety recalls and to directly display to prospective vehicle buyers a vehicle\u2019s recall status,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cAmazon does not need to wait for the law to change to prioritize vehicle safety. We call on Amazon to immediately stop listing for sale on Amazon Autos any vehicle with an unrepaired safety recall. In addition, Amazon should make it as easy as possible for people to confirm that the vehicle they are looking at does not have unrepaired recalls. Instead of linking to NHTSA\u2019s website and encouraging people to check the recall status themselves, we urge Amazon to prominently display the status of recalls under the key features it lists for vehicles it is selling.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the Senators\u2019 letter is available here and copied below.\n\nDear Mr. Jassy,\n\nWe are extremely troubled by the fact that Amazon is listing vehicles for sale with unrepaired safety recalls. Selling cars with unrepaired safety recalls is extremely dangerous and poses a potentially fatal threat to vehicle drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Amazon\u2019s suggestion to consumers to check a vehicle\u2019s recall status themselves on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u2019s (NHTSA) website is simply insufficient. We call on Amazon to remove all vehicle listings with unrepaired safety recalls and to directly display to prospective vehicle buyers a vehicle\u2019s recall status.\n\nOn August 4, 2025, Amazon announced that dealers would be able to sell used and certified pre-owned vehicles through Amazon Autos, which was at the time limited to Hyundai vehicles. On November 17, 2025, Amazon announced that certified pre-owned vehicles sold by Ford dealers, which are not exclusively Ford vehicles, would also be for sale on Amazon Autos. In its announcement with Ford, Amazon touted its transparency in the vehicle selling process by highlighting it provides viewers with the service history and condition reports for vehicles. However, Amazon fails to disclose to prospective vehicle buyers that a vehicle may have unrepaired recalls. In fact, Amazon lists for sale\u2014and appears to have facilitated the sale of\u2014vehicles with unrepaired recalls, including urgent fire risks and a potential engine stall while driving.\n\nWe have long raised concerns about the dangers of allowing used vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls to be sold. Our legislation, S.2956, the Used Car Safety Recall Repair Act, would prevent dealers from selling used cars with unrepaired safety recalls, a prohibition that already applies to new vehicles.\n\nAmazon does not need to wait for the law to change to prioritize vehicle safety. We call on Amazon to immediately stop listing for sale on Amazon Autos any vehicle with an unrepaired safety recall. In addition, Amazon should make it as easy as possible for people to confirm that the vehicle they are looking at does not have unrepaired recalls. Instead of linking to NHTSA\u2019s website and encouraging people to check the recall status themselves, we urge Amazon to prominently display the status of recalls under the key features it lists for vehicles it is selling.\n\nWe look forward to working with Amazon to ensure that the vehicles it lists for sale are safe.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-seeks-data-on-security-grant-program", "Blumenthal Seeks Data on Security Grant Program", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem seeking data about previous applications to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to help inform Congress about how the program should be funded for the upcoming fiscal year.\n\n\u201cAs I travel around Connecticut and hear from community leaders here and around the country, I am struck by the severely heightened anxiety and apprehension about physical threats to places of worship and community centers involving hate-based violence,\u201d Blumenthal wrote.\n\n\u201cRecently, I have called for dramatically increasing funding for NSGP to $1 billion and for increasing funding and resources for other programs to keep pace with the violence we are seeing in our communities. I am disappointed that the proposal released Friday night by Senate Republicans for Fiscal Year 2026 includes only $330 million for NSGP, far short of my request and the program\u2019s clear need, with reports indicating recipients requested approximately $1 billion from FEMA in 2024 alone.\u201d\n\nLast week, Blumenthal wrote the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Chairs and Ranking Members of its Subcommittees on Homeland Security and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies calling for a dramatic increase in resources for programs that combat hate-based violence through security and prevention, including by appropriating no less than $1 billion to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), making significant investments to the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act (NO HATE Act), and reestablishing and fully funding the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS).\n\nOn Friday, he joined leaders from the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and the Anti-Defamation League of Connecticut at an event in West Hartford, Connecticut, calling on Congress to robustly fund NSGP and the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act grant program.\n\nThe full text of today\u2019s letter is available here and copied below.\n\nDear Secretary Noem,\n\nIn recent years we have, unfortunately, seen a rise in antisemitism, extremist ideology, and hate-based violence. As I travel around Connecticut and hear from community leaders here and around the country, I am struck by the severely heightened anxiety and apprehension about physical threats to places of worship and community centers involving hate-based violence. One of the most important tools at our disposal to combat such hate and protect religious institutions and minority communities is the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).\n\nRecently, I have called for dramatically increasing funding for NSGP to $1 billion and for increasing funding and resources for other programs to keep pace with the violence we are seeing in our communities. I am disappointed that the proposal released Friday night by Senate Republicans for Fiscal Year 2026 includes only $330 million for NSGP, far short of my request and the program\u2019s clear need, with reports indicating recipients requested approximately $1 billion from FEMA in 2024 alone.\n\nIt is critical for Congress to have fulsome data about past NSGP applications and awards as we work towards completion of Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills. Please provide me with the following information for Fiscal Years 2023, 2024, and 2025, disaggregated by fiscal year and FEMA region, by no later than January 6, 2026:\n\nThe number of grant applications submitted to the NSGP;\n\nThe number of awards made under the NSGP;\n\nFor each award where the recipient received less money than requested in their application, the requested funding, received funding, and reason for the difference; and\n\nAny resources or assistance FEMA provides to unsuccessful applicants to improve their application in future years and to ensure safety and security in the meantime.\n\nThank you for your attention to this letter. I look forward to receiving your response.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-slams-secret-trump-administration-memo-ending-life-saving-abortion-care-for-veterans", "Blumenthal Slams Secret Trump Administration Memo Ending Life-Saving Abortion Care for Veterans", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released a statement slamming the Trump Administration\u2019s Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) secret implementation of a new policy to stop providing abortion care and counseling to veterans who have been raped or whose pregnancy is threatening their health.\n\n\u201cSecretively and sickeningly, Trump\u2019s VA is depriving women veterans of essential health care. A policy just issued by Secretary Collins stops this reproductive care even for women who are victims of rape or incest, or whose health is at risk. He\u2019s done it by internal memo, not by open rule making, avoiding public attention and scrutiny. My Republican colleagues should be as outraged as I am. The result will be chaos and confusion among health care providers, and anxiety and pain for women veterans. This cruel, misguided action is reckless and reprehensible.\u201d\n\nIn September 2022, VA began to offer abortion counseling to all pregnant veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries, and abortion in cases of rape, incest, or life or health endangerment of the veteran or CHAMPVA beneficiary. This was in response to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization ruling, which created urgent risks to the lives and health of pregnant veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries in states that banned or otherwise severely restricted access to abortion.\n\nThe Trump Department of Justice issued a memo banning this abortion care and counseling at VA a few days ago, and the Trump VA just issued its own internal memo yesterday implementing this new policy immediately. This follows the Trump VA\u2019s announcement in August of its intent to issue this change in a proposed rule. However, rather than complete the regular rulemaking process, VA Secretary Doug Collins is implementing this policy without issuing a final rule without notifying veterans or the public.\n\nMore than 462,000 women veterans of reproductive age are enrolled in VA health care. More than half of these women live in states that have enacted abortion bans or restrictions.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-blocking-deployment-of-national-guard-troops-to-chicago", "Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Deployment of National Guard Troops to Chicago", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "[CHICAGO, IL] \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court declined to stay a federal judge\u2019s temporary restraining order that blocked President Trump\u2019s plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time for the Trump Administration to back off Chicago. The majority of Americans believe they\u2019ve gone too far, and even the Supreme Court\u2019s conservative supermajority refused to greenlight this blatantly unlawful overreach. Our government is supposed to help our communities\u2014not go to war with them.\n\n\u201cImmigrants make our country better, and we will keep fighting like hell to protect the promise of America.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-duckworth-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-blocking-deployment-of-national-guard-troops-to-chicago", "Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Supreme Court Ruling Blocking Deployment Of National Guard Troops To Chicago", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Richard J. Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", "durbin", "https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "CHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Supreme Court declined to stay a federal judge\u2019s temporary restraining order that blocked President Trump\u2019s plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time for the Trump Administration to back off Chicago. The majority of Americans believe they\u2019ve gone too far, and even the Supreme Court\u2019s conservative supermajority refused to greenlight this blatantly unlawful overreach. Our government is supposed to help our communities\u2014not go to war with them.\n\n\u201cImmigrants make our country better, and we will keep fighting like hell to protect the promise of America.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/qanda-time-to-end-section-230", "Q&A: Time to End Section 230", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Chuck Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", "grassley", "https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "Q: What is Section 230?\n\nA: Section 230 refers to the federal statute that provides legal immunity to Big Tech. The outdated law shields social media platforms and prevents parents and victims from seeking justice from online harm. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I\u2019m co-sponsoring the bipartisan Sunset Section 230 Act to repeal this provision of the Communication Decency Act of 1996. This nearly 30-year old measure was written to give emerging internet entities the runway to get off the ground. It allowed social media companies to host and moderate third-party content unencumbered by the fear of costly litigation. Fast forward three decades, many of these entities are among the most powerful, profitable companies in the world; they use Section 230 to evade badly needed accountability. At the helm of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I\u2019ve convened congressional hearings to gather expert testimony on child online exploitation to inform public policy; heard from witnesses exposing online child extortion rings, like the \u201c764\u201d network; and introduced bipartisan legislation to implement whistleblower protections in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry. I\u2019ll continue advocating for parents, including Deric and Kathy Kidd of Des Moines, who lost their son in 2021 when he took half of what he thought was a pain pill that was actually fentanyl.\n\nCongress must take swift action to empower victims and send a message to Big Tech. With passage of our legislation, social media companies would no longer have license to profit from heinous material and drug trafficking pushed on their platforms with immunity. The day is long overdue to open the courthouse doors for victims of online crimes and exploitation to seek justice and hold wrongdoers accountable.\n\nQ: What are the next steps in the new year?\n\nA: I wrote a bipartisan letter alongside the cosponsors of the Sunset Section 230 Act and called upon the Senate Majority and Minority leaders to prioritize this issue and our bipartisan bill for next year\u2019s legislative calendar. Common sense says Section 230 has outlived its utility and instead fosters a breeding ground for online harms and criminal exploitation. The bottom line is clear: Big Tech is profiting at the expense of the American people, especially young people. Section 230 allows online predators to sexually groom and extort kids. Predators create and distribute AI-generated deepfake pornography; drug traffickers sell fentanyl-laced pills to teenagers; impressionable adolescents experience harm to their mental health, with online content exploiting body image issues, anxieties about isolation and stress over peer exclusion. Vulnerable victims and distraught parents are at their wit\u2019s end with no meaningful relief for exploited consumers. Policymakers need to put the American people first and open the door to our system of justice for the redress of grievances. Too many grieving parents will observe this holiday season another year without a precious son or daughter lost to online exploitation or drug trafficking.\n\nWhen Congress returns to work in the new year, we\u2019ve asked Senate leaders to dedicate a week in February to advance bipartisan legislation that protects children from online threats \u2013 including my landmark legislative package to target lax sentencing laws, violent online criminal networks and child sextortion crimes \u2013 and end the crisis that\u2019s cropped up after three decades of legal immunity once and for all. After 30 years in the wilderness of legal immunity, it\u2019s time to chop down Section 230 and give victims of online crimes their day in court and parents better peace of mind.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/23/2025/senator-hassan-nominates-new-hampshire-students-for-united-states-service-academies", "Senator Hassan Nominates New Hampshire Students for United States Service Academies", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "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 announced that she has nominated students from New Hampshire to attend United States Service Academies \u2013 the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.\n\n\u201cIt is a privilege to nominate these outstanding New Hampshire students to our United States Service Academies,\u201d said Senator Hassan. \u201cThe choice to serve our country in uniform reflects the highest form of public service, and I am grateful for these young Granite Staters who are answering that call. I have no doubt that they will make New Hampshire and our country proud.\u201d\n\nFor more information on the nomination process for interested applicants, click here.\n\nSee below for a list of Senator Hassan\u2019s nominees:\n\nUnited States Military Academy\n\nJustin Baldridge \u2013 Salem\n\nRyleigh Bannister \u2013 Derry\n\nWilliam Bellerose \u2013 Chichester\n\nCaidyn Carter \u2013 Northfield\n\nLiam Conway \u2013 Alton\n\nRyan Cowher \u2013 Keene\n\nTroy Hayes \u2013 Windham\n\nJacob Levesque \u2013 Jaffrey\n\nCharlotte Lund \u2013 New London\n\nLeah Lynskey \u2013 Durham\n\nLiam Mahoney \u2013 Hampton\n\nKyle Paolino \u2013 Rindge\n\nWade Plaskiewicz \u2013 Surry\n\nJames Sisco \u2013 Goffstown\n\nJack Williams \u2013 Stratham\n\nUnited States Naval Academy\n\nTalia Batherwich \u2013 Londonderry\n\nAnna Boyer \u2013 Ashland\n\nHayden Brunell \u2013 Meredith\n\nLiam Canty \u2013 Exeter\n\nEamon Griffin \u2013 Amherst\n\nSamuel Kellner \u2013 Hollis\n\nCiara Kerley \u2013 Wilmot\n\nAddison Knoetig \u2013 Goffstown\n\nColin Magnuszewski \u2013 Brookline\n\nSophia Malloy \u2013 Portsmouth\n\nKelly Moriarty \u2013 Rye\n\nRuby Neutra \u2013 Marlborough\n\nReilly O'Brien \u2013 Salem\n\nAnita Parmelee \u2013 Exeter\n\nChristian Salaun \u2013 Greenland\n\nUnited States Air Force Academy\n\nBrandon Adamson \u2013 Londonderry\n\nAndrew Allen \u2013 East Kingston\n\nKevin Benard \u2013 Pembroke\n\nJack Calderwood \u2013 Intervale\n\nJacob Daley \u2013 Nashua\n\nDominic Fazzio \u2013 East Hampstead\n\nNathan Ferreira \u2013 Pembroke\n\nKipling Hedquist \u2013 Hopkinton\n\nAshlie Klawes \u2013 Allenstown\n\nGiana Leonardi \u2013 Dover\n\nCooper Mack \u2013 Holderness\n\nGavin Niemela \u2013 Dublin\n\nVictor Pham \u2013 Tilton\n\nSamuel Sanders \u2013 Hillsborough\n\nMaximilian Williams \u2013 Concord\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy\n\nSamuel Kellner \u2013 Hollis\n\nAddison Knoetig \u2013 Goffstown\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/2025-in-review-hickenlooper-defends-colorado-against-trump-chaos/", "2025 in Review: Hickenlooper Defends Colorado Against Trump Chaos", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 It\u2019s been a hell of a year, Colorado. Here are just a few of the ways Senator Hickenlooper fought this administration\u2019s chaos and stood up for Coloradans in 2025.\n\nDEFENDING SCIENCE\n\nLast week, Senator Hickenlooper blocked a federal appropriations package in the Senate after President Trump announced his plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder and cancel millions intransportation grants designated for Colorado. Hickenlooper demanded Republicans add an amendment to the package guaranteeing that all funding for NCAR be fully spent.\n\nAfter blocking the bill on the Senate floor, Hickenlooper joined protesters outside of NCAR in Boulder on Saturday to raise public pressure against cuts to critical environmental research.\n\nPROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS\n\nHickenlooper also led the fight against Senator Mike Lee\u2019s proposal to force the BLM to sell up to 1.2 million acres of public lands in Colorado and 10 other Western states. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm in April, when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendment to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans\u2019 tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.\n\nIn May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration\u2019s threats to Colorado\u2019s national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park.\n\nThe public pressure campaign worked. Following mounting opposition from Western senators and their constituents, Senator Lee stripped the public lands sale provision from the bill in June.\n\nPROTECTING HEALTH CARE\n\nSince the beginning of the year, Hickenlooper has railed against Republicans\u2019 manufactured health care crisis and worked closely with state leaders to protect Coloradans\u2019 care.\n\nIn July, congressional Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cutting more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for huge tax cuts for the richest Americans and largest corporations. 15 million Americans \u2013 including 241,000 Coloradans \u2013 are expected to lose their health care because of Republicans\u2019 cuts.\n\nHickenlooper helped mount a political pressure campaign to fight for Americans\u2019 health care. He was one of the first senators to announce he\u2019d oppose the Republican government funding bill unless Republicans worked with Democrats to lower health care costs. Hickenlooper voted against Republicans\u2019 funding bill every time it came to the Senate floor.\n\nDuring the 43-day government shutdown, Hickenlooper organized a press conference with Coloradans facing steep premium increases and cuts to their Medicaid in 2026 to pressure Colorado Republicans and the administration to fix skyrocketing health care costs.\n\nRecently, in a last-ditch effort to save Americans\u2019 health care, Hickenlooper and Senate Democrats proposed a simple extension of the Affordable Care Act\u2019s enhanced premium tax credits for three years, without any changes, to save more than 24 million Americans from paying double for their health costs or losing their insurance entirely. Republicans rejected the proposal.\n\nFIGHTING ICE OBSTRUCTION\n\nThroughout the year, Senator Hickenlooper and his office have worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE, and to advocate for those in detention.\n\nIn August, Hickenlooper visited the ICE detention center in Aurora after ICE repeatedly stonewalled his office\u2019s calls and emails. During the visit, he raised concerns with ICE officials regarding delayed communication with congressional offices, irregular process changes, reports of ICE pressuring detainees to voluntarily depart instead of proceeding through a judicial process, and facility conditions. ICE failed to give satisfactory answers.\n\nIn August, Senator Hickenlooper\u2019s office led the effort to get a mother and her 7-year-old son from Chaffee County released from the family detention center in Dilley, Texas. The mother had no criminal record and an active asylum claim \u2013 she and her son were held for two months before their release.\n\nIn November, Hickenlooper called for the immediate release of a Durango father and his two young children after ICE arrested them while they were on their way to school. Following ICE\u2019s failure to release the family, Senator Hickenlooper spoke directly with DHS Secretary Noem, demanding ICE release them from custody after they reported being physically abused while in ICE detention. Despite having active asylum claims and no criminal record, DHS refused.\n\nIn response, Hickenlooper and Senator Jon Ossoff opened an inquiry into ICE\u2019s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. Just last week, a federal judge blocked a Trump administration policy requiring members of Congress to give prior notice before visiting ICE facilities. On Saturday, Hickenlooper performed a congressional oversight visit to ensure ICE was following the law and to push for two young detainees to be released.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-markey-press-sba-administrator-on-audit-targeting-underserved-businesses", "Hirono, Markey Press SBA Administrator on Audit Targeting Underserved Businesses", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Lawmakers: \u201cRather than using this audit as a pretense to unfairly attack a program with which you have an ideological disagreement, it is our hope that you will refocus on the goals of the 8(a) Program to make sure it continues to support socially and economically disadvantaged businesses\u2014as intended.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ed Markey (D-MA), Ranking Member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, sent a letter to U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, expressing their deep concerns regarding the U.S. Small Business Administration\u2019s (SBA) December 5th announcement of a sweeping, program-wide audit of the 8(a) Business Development Program. SBA\u2019s announcement has left many businesses scrambling to meet the agency\u2019s extensive document request under a short deadline with unclear guidance, while raising concerns about how businesses\u2019 information will be used and secured.\n\nThe 8(a) Business Development Program was created by Congress to provide training, assistance, and federal contracting opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in the U.S. and plays an important role in helping to ensure these businesses have the opportunity to work with federal agencies. Recently, however, the 8(a) program has come under attack as Republicans have unfairly targeted many of these small, socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, which often rely on government contracts to stay in business and keep their staff employed.\n\n\u201cWhile we wholeheartedly support meaningful oversight of all programs that fall under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, we disagree with your characterization of the program,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cWe also emphasize that formal audits should be conducted by the appropriate authorities, such as Inspectors General, who are a part of a comprehensive system that has decades of proven success in preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse.\u201d\n\nThe ambiguous language in the SBA\u2019s audit has led to mass confusion among 8(a) businesses, who have been seeking clarity and guidance regarding the documentation they must provide to remain eligible to participate in the 8(a) program.\n\n\u201cFurthermore, we are concerned about the nature in which you requested the information from businesses in the program\u2014an indiscriminate data call asking 4,300 businesses to complete additional paperwork, with limited guidance to clarify the manner in which they should comply\u2014which raises questions,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cSo too does the short turnaround, initially giving businesses only 31 days to comply with a deadline of January 5, 2026\u2014shortly after the holiday season\u2014before extending the deadline to January 19, 2026.\u201d\n\nTo that end, the lawmakers demand answers to a number of specific questions about the audit by January 2, 2025, including:\n\nHow should a business doing classified and/or sensitive work for the federal government provide the agency with the requested information in a timely and appropriate manner before the requested deadline?\n\nWill extensions be granted for businesses that make a good faith effort to comply with the deadline, especially if there is no feasible way to provide the information before the deadline?\n\nWhat assurances do businesses have that proprietary information shared with the agency will be protected?\n\nWho within the agency will conduct the audit of the program?\n\nWill the agency follow government-approved standards to conduct investigations or audits, such as the Government Accountability Office\u2019s \u201cGenerally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS)?\u201d\n\n\u201cSBA\u2019s fundamental mission is to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the United States,\u201d the lawmakers concluded. \u201cRather than using this audit as a pretense to unfairly attack a program with which you have an ideological disagreement, it is our hope that you will refocus on the goals of the 8(a) Program to make sure it continues to support socially and economically disadvantaged businesses\u2014as intended.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono and Markey, the letter was also signed by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Administrator Loeffler:\n\nWe write today to express our strong concerns about your recent decision to request detailed information from every participant in the 8(a) Business Development Program by January 19, 2026. Specifically, we are concerned about whether and how small businesses will be able to fully comply with the request given the limited guidance and short timeline that was provided. We are also concerned about your agency\u2019s ability to meaningfully review these materials in a timely manner given the deep staff reductions you have directed at the SBA.\n\nCongress created the 8(a) Business Development Program to provide training, technical assistance, and federal contracting opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in the United States. Today, the program plays an important role in making sure these companies have the opportunity to do business with federal agencies, which not only supports those businesses and the communities in which they are located\u2014creating jobs, for example\u2014 but also pays dividends for the agencies. Within the Department of Defense, for example, there is evidence to show that these businesses play a role in strengthening the industrial base by diversifying the supply chain. The same can be said for other agencies.\n\nOn December 5, 2025, you announced that every participant in the 8(a) Business Development Program would be receiving a letter asking for detailed information about their companies, citing \u201cwidespread misconduct\u201d in the program and referring to the program as a \u201cvehicle for institutionalized abuse at taxpayer expense.\u201d While we wholeheartedly support meaningful oversight of all programs that fall under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, we disagree with your characterization of the program. We also emphasize that formal audits should be conducted by the appropriate authorities, such as Inspectors General, who are a part of a comprehensive system that has decades of proven success in preventing and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse. Furthermore, we are concerned about the nature in which you requested the information from businesses in the program\u2014an indiscriminate data call asking 4,300 businesses to complete additional paperwork, with limited guidance to clarify the manner in which they should comply\u2014which raises questions. So too does the short turnaround, initially giving businesses only 31 days to comply with a deadline of January 5, 2026\u2014shortly after the holiday season\u2014before extending the deadline to January 19, 2026.\n\nThere are several outstanding questions that are left unanswered by your notices to companies. We respectfully request answers to the following questions by January 2, 2026.\n\nHow should a business doing classified and/or sensitive work for the federal government provide the agency with the requested information in a timely and appropriate manner before the requested deadline?\n\nWill extensions be granted for businesses that make a good faith effort to comply with the deadline, especially if there is no feasible way to provide the information before the deadline?\n\nWhat assurances do businesses have that proprietary information shared with the agency will be protected?\n\nWho within the agency will conduct the audit of the program?\n\nWill the agency follow government-approved standards to conduct investigations or audits, such as the Government Accountability Office\u2019s \u201cGenerally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS)?\u201d\n\nSBA\u2019s fundamental mission is to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the United States. Rather than using this audit as a pretense to unfairly attack a program with which you have an ideological disagreement, it is our hope that you will refocus on the goals of the 8(a) Program to make sure it continues to support socially and economically disadvantaged businesses\u2014as intended.\n\nWe look forward to your timely response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-cornyn-bill-to-enhance-u-s-mexico-counternarcotics-efforts-signed-into-law/", "Kelly, Cornyn Bill to Enhance U.S.-Mexico Counternarcotics Efforts Signed into Law", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "AZ", "Mark Kelly", "K000377", "www.kelly.senate.gov", "markkelly", "https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statements after their Counternarcotics Enhancement Act, which will require elements of the Intelligence Community to review any direct relationships with elements of the Government of Mexico, develop a strategy to enhance counternarcotics efforts, and make recommendations or request resources required to implement the strategy in furtherance of the national interest of the United States, was signed into law as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026:\n\n\u201cTo win the fight against drug trafficking, the U.S. and Mexico have to work together against the cartels,\u201d said Sen. Kelly. \u201cThis effort will make our country safer by keeping drugs off our streets through Intelligence Community engagement with the government of Mexico.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne innocent life lost because of illicit narcotics smuggled into the U.S. by way of Mexico is one too many,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cThis law will ensure our Intelligence Community leverages the U.S.-Mexico relationship to most effectively root out these silent killers and keep Americans safe.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Counternarcotics Enhancement Act will require elements of the Intelligence Community to submit to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) the following information:\n\nA description and assessment of their relationship, if any, with any element of the government of Mexico;\n\nA strategy to enhance counternarcotics cooperation and appropriate coordination with each element of the government of Mexico they have a direct relationship with;\n\nAnd recommendations and a description of the resources required to efficiently and effectively implement this strategy to further the national interest of the U.S.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-staff-up-irs-for-better-service-swifter-refunds", "King, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Staff Up IRS for Better Service, Swifter Refunds", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "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. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King, alongside 23 of his Senate colleagues, wrote a letter urging the Trump Administration to help Americans get more responsive service and expedited refunds by restoring staff and resources at the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), the independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that helps taxpayers resolve issues within the IRS. TAS has faced dramatic attrition since this administration began, and at its current staffing level, it faces significant challenges handling its current caseload and helping taxpayers in Maine and across the country. The Senators are urging Treasury Secretary and Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent to stop hiring freezes, reduction-in-force efforts, and properly staff TAS.\n\n\u201cTAS ensures the American people have a voice within the IRS [\u2026] We are concerned that the recent personnel cuts at TAS and the ongoing hiring freeze will greatly hinder these advocates' ability to provide quality, timely service to taxpayers who need help,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\n\u201cSince January, the Trump Administration's deferred resignation programs and efforts to reduce the federal workforce have resulted in nearly one in four TAS advocates departing the IRS [\u2026] According to the National Taxpayer Advocates FY2026 Report to Congress, these losses of IRS customer service personnel have created \"vulnerabilities in service delivery\u2026and taxpayer assistance.\" We are concerned that the rapid decrease in staff will increase remaining advocate\u2019s case load and taxpayers\u2019 wait times for service,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cAccording to the January 20, 2025, Presidential Memorandum, the IRS hiring freeze will remain in place until the Secretary of the Treasury determines that ending it is in the \"national interest.\" [\u2026] We expect you agree with us that ensuring Americans can access their full tax benefits in a timely manner falls squarely within the \u201cnational interest,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Senator King, the letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (D-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).\n\nThe letter text can be found here and below.\n\n###\n\nDear Secretary Bessent,\n\nWe write to urge you to lift the freeze on hiring additional staff at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and ensure that both the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) have enough staff to ensure they meet the needs of the American taxpayers.\n\nDedicated TAS advocates resolve over 230,000 taxpayer issues with the IRS every year.[1] From helping a disabled first responder receive their refund[2] to resolving a decade-long problem with a taxpayer\u2019s railroad worker\u2019s retirement tax that was holding up his refund,[3] TAS ensures the American people have a voice within the IRS.\n\nAlthough we understand there may be some isolated instances of hiring for internal positions at TAS, we are concerned that the recent personnel cuts at TAS[4] and the ongoing hiring freeze[5] will greatly hinder these advocates\u2019 ability to provide quality, timely service to taxpayers who need help. Moreover, the IRS operating divisions need enough employees to be able to implement TAS\u2019s requests for their assistance in resolving taxpayer problems.[6]\n\nSince January, the Trump Administration\u2019s deferred resignation programs and efforts to reduce the federal workforce have resulted in nearly one in four TAS advocates departing the IRS.[7] To further compound staffing issues, the Trump Administration\u2019s freeze[8] on hiring additional personnel across the IRS remains in place, making it impossible to appropriately backfill TAS staff at the levels needed to address the workload.\n\nAccording to the National Taxpayer Advocates FY2026 Report to Congress, these losses of IRS customer service personnel have created \u201cvulnerabilities in service delivery . . . and taxpayer assistance.\u201d[9] We are concerned that the rapid decrease in staff will increase remaining advocates\u2019 caseloads and taxpayers\u2019 wait times for service.\n\nOur Congressional casework teams are already seeing delays in responses and case resolution. For example, in January, a taxpayer in Georgia reached out to TAS about an issue with a tax return. Despite submitting the correct paperwork in a timely manner and multiple inquiries from Congressional caseworkers, the most recent update as of December was that the case was still being processed. This is too long for a taxpayer to wait for answers.\n\nMany IRS employees who accepted deferred resignation offers were required to stay to support the 2025 tax filing season,[10] so we have not seen the full detrimental effects of the staffing cuts. If these shortages are not addressed, the repercussions will likely be felt during the 2026 tax season.[11]\n\nAccording to the January 20, 2025 Presidential Memorandum, the IRS hiring freeze will remain in place until the Secretary of the Treasury determines that hiring additional IRS employees, including TAS caseworkers, is in the \u201cnational interest.\u201d[12] The complex nature of TAS\u2019s work demands an intense training process[13] and requires current advocates to limit their existing casework to assist.[14] With significant changes to the tax code for this upcoming filing season,[15] hiring for TAS position must begin as soon as possible.\n\nWe expect you agree with us that ensuring Americans can access their full tax benefits in a timely manner falls squarely within the \u201cnational interest.\u201d We urge you to immediately lift the IRS hiring freeze and to respond to the questions below by January 23, 2026, to provide additional clarity to the American people regarding IRS administration and service:\n\nWhat criteria are you using to evaluate what is in the \u201cnational interest\u201d with respect to the TAS hiring freeze? Do these criteria include case backlogs, current wait times, demand on caseworkers, and increased complexity due to new tax laws? If not, why?\n\nWhat is the current average caseload of tax advocates?\n\nWhat is the average wait time for tax advocates to resolve taxpayers\u2019 cases?\n\nAt the end of the last filing season victims of identity theft had to wait 20 months to resolve their cases, on average.[16] What is a reasonable wait time for taxpayers to receive assistance on issues like late tax returns or identity fraud from TAS? What is the current wait time for these cases, and what is the IRS doing to reduce it?\n\nIf TAS is unable to meet its casework demands or if the IRS is unable to process all of TAS\u2019s requests for operational assistance, what cases will be prioritized? Which taxpayers will have longer to wait to have their problems resolved?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\n###\n\n[1] Improvements to Taxpayer Advocate Case Processing Would Result in Better Customer Service, 2025-100-024, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (Jun. 11, 2025), https://www.tigta.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2025-08/2025100024fr.pdf at 3 (Figure 2: Case Advocacy Receipts, Closures, and Cycle Time for FYs 2020 through 2024).\n\n[2] TAS Advocates for a First Responder, Taxpayer Advocate Service (Nov. 18, 2024), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/success-stories/tas-advocates-for-a-first-responder/2024/11.\n\n[3] Taxpayer Advocate Service Helps Taxpayer Resolve 15 Years of Hardship, Taxpayer Advocate Service (Sept. 20, 2021), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/success-stories/success-story-taxpayer-advocate-service-helps-taxpayer-resolve-15-years-of-hardship/2021/09.\n\n[4] Objective Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2026, National Taxpayer Advocate (Jun. 25, 2025), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/JRC26_FullReport.pdf at 19 (Figure 1.3, IRS Personnel Losses by BOD/Function (as of June 4, 2025)) [FY26 Report to Congress].\n\n[5] Hiring Freeze Presidential Memorandum, White House (Jan. 20, 2025), https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/hiring-freeze.\n\n[6] 2024 Annual Report to Congress, National Taxpayer Advocate (Jan. 8, 2025), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/reports/2024-annual-report-to-congress/full-report at 74 (\u201cDue to underinvestment in the IRS and critically low staffing levels over the past decade, taxpayers have faced: prolonged wait times for assistance; delays in processing returns and refunds; reduced access to knowledgeable IRS employees; and inconsistent application of tax laws and increasing errors.\u201d).\n\n[7] FY26 Report to Congress, supra note 4.\n\n[8] White House, supra note 5.\n\n[9] FY26 Report to Congress, supra note 4, at 30.\n\n[10] Jory Heckman, Some IRS Employees Required to Work Longer Under Deferred Resignation Offer, Federal News Network (May 8, 2025), https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/05/some-irs-employees-required-to-work-longer-under-deferred-resignation-offer (\u201cBut IRS taxpayer services employees and some call center representatives have been told they must remain on the job through June 30\u201d).\n\n[11] National Taxpayer Advocate Issues Mid-Year Report to Congress, IR-2025-71, Internal Revenue Service (Jun. 25, 2025), https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-taxpayer-advocate-issues-mid-year-report-to-congress (\u201cBut with the IRS workforce reduced by 26% and significant tax law changes on the horizon, there are risks to next year\u2019s filing season. It is critical that the IRS begin to take steps now to prepare.\u201d).\n\n[12] White House, supra note 5.\n\n[13] TAS is Taking Steps to Better Serve Taxpayers, National Taxpayer Advocate Blog (Sept. 19, 2024), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/nta-blog/tas-is-taking-steps-to-better-serve-taxpayers/2024/09 (\u201cIt takes months, even years, to train newly hired case advocates, because they work cases that involve a wide range of procedural and technical issues, including returns processing, identity theft, audits, collection matters, and Appeals.\u201d).\n\n[14] Id. (\u201cTo compound the challenges, we have to temporarily reassign experienced case advocates to provide training and supervision for the new hires, further straining our resources to work current cases.\u201d).\n\n[15] Ellis Chen and Vanessa Williamson, The New Tax Bill Burdens an Already Overburdened IRS, Brookings (Jul. 17, 2025), https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-new-tax-bill-burdens-an-already-overburdened-irs.\n\n[16] FY26 Report to Congress, supra note 4, at 14.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=2CE5D131-E44C-43C6-9E0D-612C6495AFBC", "Klobuchar Announces Federal Funding for Minnesota Broadband Infrastructure", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", "klobuchar", "https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee and co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, announced that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Minnesota\u2019s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal. Minnesota received $652 million in funding to implement its BEAD proposal.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to announce that Minnesota\u2019s broadband funding proposal has been approved, which will bring fast, affordable, reliable internet to families in every corner of our state,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar. \u201cThis funding is available thanks to my bipartisan legislation that I fought to pass so that Minnesota families\u2014regardless of their ZIP code\u2014have access to high-speed internet.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis BEAD milestone represents a major step forward in our commitment to ensuring every Minnesotan \u2014 regardless of geography \u2014 has access to reliable, high quality broadband,\u201d said Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Matt Varilek. \u201cMinnesota extends its sincere appreciation to the many Internet service providers and partners across the state who worked alongside us to shape this proposal. Their dedication, expertise and willingness to engage deeply in this effort have been essential to reaching this point. With this BEAD approval, Minnesota is one step closer to closing the digital divide and building a more connected future for all.\u201d\n\nThis development advances Minnesota\u2019s affordable broadband rollout to unserved and underserved areas of the state.\n\nKlobuchar has long led efforts to expand broadband access, support rural broadband, and bridge the digital divide.\n\nKlobuchar\u2019s Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act was incorporated into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and has delivered significant federal funding to Minnesota for expanding high-speed internet access statewide.\n\nIn June 2023, Klobuchar announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce had awarded major federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring reliable, affordable, high-speed internet access to every household in Minnesota. The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, Klobuchar\u2019s legislation with then-House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) to expand high-speed internet nationwide, served as the basis for the program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nIn March 2023, Klobuchar and Senators John Thune (R-SD), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to expand broadband access to rural communities. The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act would strengthen funding mechanisms for the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), which promotes universal access to broadband and other telecommunications services. Currently, the USF is primarily funded through landline fees, disproportionately impacting seniors, who are more likely to use landlines than other Americans.\n\nIn February 2023, Klobuchar introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to strengthen broadband access for rural communities. The Rural Broadband Protection Act would ensure that providers applying for federal funding can reliably deliver broadband to underserved, rural communities.\n\nIn July 2021, Klobuchar introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to expand rural broadband access by streamlining the funding process and removing barriers for broadband connectivity in hard-to-serve rural areas.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=136799C1-5C8E-4A3E-B181-5F52F5F5FC03", "Sen. Moran, Colleagues Call on NTIA to Preserve States\u2019 Ability to Use Broadband Infrastructure Funds as Congress Intended", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "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 Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, Transportation \u2013 joined Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and their colleagues in urging Arielle Roth, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to preserve the ability of states to use their remaining Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funds consistent with congressional intent.\n\nThe senators\u2019 letter also requests NTIA to provide a public accounting of unspent BEAD funds for each state, clarification of NTIA\u2019s current interpretation of allowable \u201cnon-deployment\u201d uses and a timetable for revised guidance on non-deployment funds.\n\nSens. Moran and Fischer were joined by Sens. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Lisa Murkowski (R- Alaska), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).\n\n\u201cWe write to request the agency\u2019s attention to a major question emerging within the BEAD Program,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cUnder the latest BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity, many states likely will \u2014 or already do \u2014 have leftover BEAD allocations. Given the intent of Congress that these resources be used to expand broadband access nationwide, we respectfully seek clarity on how NTIA will ensure proper stewardship and redistribution of non-deployment funds to close the digital divide.\u201d\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Administrator Roth:\n\nWe write to request the agency\u2019s attention to a major question emerging within the BEAD Program. Under the latest BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, many states likely will \u2014 or already do \u2014 have leftover BEAD allocations. Given the intent of Congress that these resources be used to expand broadband access nationwide, we respectfully seek clarity on how NTIA will ensure proper stewardship of non-deployment funds to close the digital divide.\n\nUnder the statutory framework established by Section 60102 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (47 U.S.C. \u00a7 1702), BEAD funding was intended first and foremost to fund broadband expansion: deployment to unserved locations, then underserved areas and connection of eligible community anchor institutions, before consideration of a broader set of permissible \u201cnon[1]deployment\u201d uses to facilitate goals of the program. Congress granted this authority, along with the authority to redistribute unallocated funding amongst eligible entities, to maximize broadband infrastructure buildout \u2013 and thereby boost the economic productivity that connectivity brings to every corner of our country.\n\nThe current status of non-deployment funding, however, appears unsettled. While NTIA\u2019s recent guidance stated that allowable non-deployment purposes were still under review, we were encouraged by your public comments on December 2, 2025, stating that the agency is \u201coperating under the assumption that the states will get to use their BEAD savings,\u201d though noting that \u201cnothing has been finalized.\u201d\n\nGiven these considerations, we respectfully request that NTIA provide:\n\nA public accounting of the BEAD funds for each state, including amounts already committed to deployment projects and amounts remaining unallocated or reserved for non-deployment uses;\n\nClarification of NTIA\u2019s current interpretation of allowable \u201cnon-deployment\u201d uses in light of the June 2025 policy notice and consistent with authorized use of the funds under 47 U.S.C. \u00a7 1702 moving forward, and whether any previously approved non-deployment activities may remain eligible; and\n\nA timetable for revised guidance on non-deployment funds, along with any criteria or conditions under which non-deployment programs will be permitted or prioritized.\n\nIn responding, we strongly urge NTIA to preserve states\u2019 ability to use their non-deployment BEAD funds consistent with congressional intent and the bipartisan infrastructure law. We look forward to your timely reply and to ensuring that every BEAD dollar is used to connect Americans for generations to come, as Congress intended.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murray-statement-on-trump-administration-quietly-banning-abortion-care-for-veterans-families/", "Senator Murray Statement on Trump Administration Quietly Banning Abortion Care for Veterans & Families", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "WA", "Patty Murray", "M001111", "www.murray.senate.gov", "murray", "https://www.murray.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Approximately 300,000 women veterans of reproductive age are enrolled in VA health care, 155,000 live in states that have enacted abortion bans or restrictions\n\nSenator Murray, longtime leader on reproductive rights and veterans issues, grilled Secretary Collins on preserving access to abortion care at VA during his nomination hearing in January\n\nICYMI FROM AUGUST: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Ripping Away Access to Abortion Care for Women Veterans Who Were Raped or Whose Health is in Danger\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, released the following statement on the news that the Trump administration has quietly implemented a near-total abortion ban at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), banning abortion care for veterans and their dependents\u2014even when a woman\u2019s health is in danger, or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.\n\nA Department of Justice (DOJ) memo issued last week, which regional VA leaders were told to comply with in an internal directive Monday, (screenshots here and here) shows the Trump administration is making this shift before VA even finished finalizing a proposed rule regarding this policy change and without allowing any public comment or consultation. Senator Murray forcefully condemned the Trump administration\u2019s initial move to ban abortion at VA facilities in August\u2014the new DOJ memo is a workaround by the Trump administration to implement their VA abortion ban even sooner, and as of this week, the policy is now fully in effect at VA facilities across the country.\n\nThe policy is a near-total ban on abortion care at VA, with only an exception for care when \u201ca physician certifies that the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term\u201d\u2014and no exceptions for the health of the veteran or for rape or incest. The policy also bans VA providers from even discussing abortion with their veteran patients\u2014even in life-threatening situations. There are approximately 300,000 women veterans of reproductive age who are enrolled in VA health care, and VA estimates that over 155,000 of them live in states that have enacted abortion bans or restrictions. Senator Murray pressed VA Secretary Doug Collins at his nomination hearing in January on whether he would eliminate access to abortion care at VA for veterans who are victims of rape, and he refused to give a straight answer.\n\n\u201cThis backdoor move by the Trump administration to impose a near-total abortion ban at VA is an outrageous assault on veterans\u2019 health care and a profound betrayal of veterans who have put their lives on the line for our country,\u201d Senator Murray said. \u201cVA already prohibits abortion care except in incredibly limited circumstances\u2014this change goes even further, blocking women veterans whose health is in danger, or who are survivors of rape or incest, from getting the basic care they need. It\u2019s shameful and indefensible.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past year, Trump and Republicans have shown they will do everything in their power to restrict abortion access so they can ultimately ban abortion nationwide. President Trump can pretend all he wants that he supports exceptions for rape and incest, but the reality is that his administration is right now banning abortion care in exactly those circumstances,\u201d Murray continued.\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration may think they can quietly rip away women veterans\u2019 health care and avoid accountability\u2014they are wrong. I will never stop speaking out against Republican attacks on reproductive freedom or fighting back to protect veterans\u2019 health care.\u201d\n\nSenator Murray was the first woman to join the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee and the first woman to chair the Committee\u2014and advocating for women veterans and their access to reproductive health care has been a longtime focus for Senator Murray. Senator Murray called on VA to provide abortion care to veterans early in the Biden administration, and she applauded the Biden administration\u2019s announcement later in the year that would begin to provide abortion care for veterans and their eligible dependents to protect the health and life of the individual and in cases of rape or incest. Murray has helped lead the charge in calling out Republicans for their attacks on, and attempts to undo, this limited and commonsense policy. Senator Murray also leads the Veteran Families Health Services Act, comprehensive legislation that would expand fertility treatments\u2014including IVF\u2014and family-building services for servicemembers and veterans who are unable to conceive without assistance, and she has sought unanimous consent to pass the legislation on multiple occasions. She introduced new legislation this summer with Senator Duckworth to help cover IVF costs for servicemembers and military families\u2014and slammed Speaker Johnson from working behind the scenes to strip an amendment mirroring that legislation from the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. Senator Murray voted against the NDAA earlier this month, citing\u2014among other things\u2014the failure to include her provision to expand IVF care for servicemembers and veterans.\n\nSenator Murray is also a longtime leader in the fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health care and abortion rights, and she has led Congressional efforts to fight back after the Supreme Court\u2019s disastrous decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Murray has introduced more than a dozen pieces of legislation to protect reproductive rights from further attacks, protect providers, and help ensure women get the care they need; Murray has led efforts to push for passage of these bills on the floor multiple times. Last January, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Murray led her colleagues in hosting a \u201cState of Abortion Rights\u201d briefing with women who have suffered firsthand from Republican abortion bans, and last June, she chaired a HELP Committee hearing titled \u201cThe Assault on Women\u2019s Freedoms: How Abortion Bans Have Created a Health Care Nightmare Across America.\u201d Murray helped lead efforts to force Republicans on the record on votes to protect access to contraception and access to IVF (twice), and she led her colleagues in raising the alarm about the threat a second Trump administration would pose to reproductive rights and abortion access in every state, as outlined in Project 2025. At a forum Senator Murray held at the beginning of this year on the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, Senator Murray spoke about Republicans\u2019 plan to institute a backdoor nationwide abortion ban, including by defunding Planned Parenthood.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-126-lawmakers-urge-dhs-to-withdraw-public-charge-proposal-that-would-harm-immigrants-citizen-children-and-public-health/", "Padilla, 126 Lawmakers Urge DHS to Withdraw Public Charge Proposal That Would Harm Immigrants, Citizen Children, and Public Health", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Alex Padilla", "P000145", "www.padilla.senate.gov", "padilla", "https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, co-led 126 lawmakers, including 16 other Senators and 110 Representatives, in urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw its proposed public charge rule, warning it would harm U.S. citizen children, immigrant communities, and public health systems nationwide. The letter was co-led by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), as well as Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.-13), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng (D-N.Y.-06), Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (D-N.M.-03), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), and CHC Vice Chair of Policy Robert Menendez (D-N.J.-08) in the House.\n\n\u201cPublic charge\u201d is a ground of inadmissibility to the United States, under which an immigration officer determines whether an immigrant is likely to become primarily dependent on the government for future assistance. The Trump Administration\u2019s proposal would rescind the clear 2022 public charge regulations and replace them with vague, undefined standards, leading to arbitrary decision-making, fear, and widespread confusion. Past public charge expansions have driven families, including those with U.S. citizen children, away from lawful access to health care, nutrition, and early childhood programs.\n\n\u201cThe proposed public charge rule will lead to mass uncertainty, disparate and arbitrary outcomes for individuals applying for permanent status or admission into our country, and undue harm to U.S. citizens,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cThe chilling effects triggered by expansions of public charge interpretation are well-documented and severe. Research following [past public charge restrictions] showed that confusion about eligibility led large numbers of eligible immigrant families \u2014 including U.S. citizen children \u2014 to forego health insurance, nutrition supports, and early childhood programs vital to healthy development,\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers argued that the proposal contradicts Congressional intent, undermines the rule of law, and risks triggering a massive chilling effect that would worsen child health outcomes, increase food insecurity, and shift costs to states and local governments. The members urged DHS to withdraw the proposal in full and maintain the 2022 regulations, which provide clarity, fairness, and consistency for families and adjudicators alike.\n\nPadilla also joined Senate and House immigration leaders in a separate formal regulatory comment to DHS opposing the public charge rule, warning that the proposal unlawfully rewrites longstanding immigration law and would deter immigrant families from accessing basic health, nutrition, and housing assistance they are legally entitled to receive.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Noem and Director Edlow,\n\nAs Members of the United States Congress, we write in strong opposition to the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding \u201cpublic charge,\u201d published in the Federal Register on November 19, 2025.\n\nWe urge the Department to completely withdraw the proposed rule, which would rescind the 2022 public charge regulations without establishing a clear or lawful replacement. The proposed public charge rule will lead to mass uncertainty, disparate and arbitrary outcomes for individuals applying for permanent status or admission into our country, and undue harm to U.S. citizens. The NPRM also defies Congressional intent, seeks to rely on illegal data-sharing from other government agencies, and erodes trust in our legal immigration system. Our immigration laws function only when families, adjudicators, and service providers can rely on transparent standards grounded in statute.\n\nBy discarding the existing regulations and signaling that future, undefined \u201cpolicy and interpretive tools\u201d will guide public charge decisions, DHS creates immediate and widespread uncertainty for immigrants who have followed every requirement of the law. Families seeking adjustment of status \u2014 including refugees, survivors of domestic violence or trafficking, children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, and others whom Congress has long exempted from punitive public charge treatment \u2014 cannot navigate a system where the rules shift without warning and where past, lawful conduct that the federal government had stated was permissible could be reinterpreted as a negative factor. To be very clear, the proposed rule will trigger a massive chilling effect, driving eligible families away from essential assistance in health care, nutrition, childcare, and education, with the heaviest harm falling on U.S. citizen children.\n\nCongress has repeatedly affirmed that public charge must be administered with clarity, fairness, and fidelity to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) not through shifting sub-regulatory tools that create fear and confusion. If DHS believes further policy changes are necessary, those changes must be forward-looking, transparent, and subject to full public notice and comment. Families should never be penalized for accessing programs that the federal government has long stated would carry no immigration consequences.\n\nFor these reasons, we urge DHS to withdraw this NPRM and maintain the 2022 public charge regulations, which reflect longstanding law, congressional intent, and the stable framework that immigrant families and communities need in order to thrive.\n\nI. By withdrawing the 2022 regulations and leaving no clear replacement, the proposed rule seeks to circumvent public and congressional input, creates mass uncertainty, and will lead to discriminatory and uneven application of our laws.\n\nThe proposed rule would rescind the 2022 public charge regulations currently codified in 8 CFR 212.20\u2013212.23 and related provisions in 8 CFR Parts 103, 213, and 245, without replacing them with a binding regulatory standard. Instead, DHS indicates that it will rely on the future issuance of \u201cpolicy and interpretive tools\u201d to guide public charge determinations. Deferring critical substantive policymaking to later sub-regulatory guidance \u2014 outside of notice-and-comment procedures \u2014 violates the Administrative Procedure Act\u2019s (APA) requirement that agencies provide the public with meaningful opportunity to evaluate and comment on the agency\u2019s actual policy. Regulations of this significance cannot lawfully be implemented through internal guidance that bypasses both public scrutiny and congressional oversight.\n\nThe INA, 8 U.S.C. \u00a7 1182(a)(4), requires public charge assessments to be made based on a totality of the circumstances, considering specific statutory factors including age, health, family status, assets, resources, financial status, education, and skills. The 2022 rule provided a clear and administrable framework consistent with congressional intent and more than a century of agency practice, including the codification of definitions for \u201clikely to become a public charge\u201d and \u201creceipt of public benefits.\u201d Removing these definitions invites arbitrary decision-making and creates significant risk that adjudicators will rely on factors that Congress has not authorized, contrary to both INA \u00a7 212(a)(4) and long-established precedent. DHS\u2019s stated interest in removing \u201climitations\u201d on the types of public resources considered underscores the agency\u2019s intent to expand adjudicator discretion well beyond statutory bounds.\n\nRecent reporting on new guidance issued by the Department of State (DOS) demonstrates the harms already resulting from unbounded discretion in public charge adjudications. Without transparent regulations, DOS has reportedly issued internal guidance directing consular officers to speculate about future health care costs, employability, English proficiency, financial sufficiency, and even the health and perceived economic burden of family members without making this guidance public or seeking input from Congress. Officers are instructed to assess access to employer-sponsored insurance decades into the future and may disregard otherwise valid affidavits of support. These instructions contradict statutory requirements and introduce subjective and inconsistent decision-making into visa adjudications. The NPRM implies DHS will replicate this discretionary approach across USCIS adjudications, creating a patchwork of unpredictable outcomes for similarly situated applicants based solely on assigned adjudicator or processing location.\n\nFinally, the proposed rule\u2019s lack of clear standards will create profound uncertainty for immigrants, state and local governments, legal service providers, and Members of Congress constituent services. Families will be confused about how DHS intends to apply public charge law, community organizations will lack reliable information to provide lawful advice, and congressional offices will face new barriers in assisting vulnerable constituents with federal agencies. Because the proposed rule eliminates all certainty and predictability for those who anticipate applying for a green card and are not exempt from a public charge determination, it damages the ability of Members of Congress to provide actionable information when approached by constituents. Instead, the proposed rule would lead to a chaotic and inconsistent immigration system that congressional offices and their constituents will be unable to predictably navigate. This is particularly concerning because Congress\u2014not the Executive Branch\u2014retains the authority to make key decisions about the conditions under which noncitizens may access federal safety-net programs. Without clear regulatory direction, DHS and DOS would effectively assume policymaking authority that resides with Congress.\n\nFor these reasons, rescinding the 2022 rule without simultaneously proposing a fully developed and transparent replacement is unreasonable, violates core APA requirements, and guarantees discriminatory and uneven application of immigration law across agencies and jurisdictions.\n\nII. The proposed rule contradicts long-standing practice and law, congressional intent, and seeks to rely on illegal data-sharing from other government agencies.\n\nFor more than a century, the meaning of \u201cpublic charge\u201d under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) has been consistently interpreted to refer to a person likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, demonstrated through reliance on cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalization at government expense. This understanding is reflected in longstanding agency practice, judicial precedent, and the 1999 Interim Field Guidance, which Congress has repeatedly left undisturbed. See 64 Fed. Reg. 28689 (May 26, 1999). The 2022 DHS regulations formally adopted this longstanding interpretation in 8 CFR 212.21\u2013212.23, creating clear and consistent rules that aligned with congressional intent under INA \u00a7 212(a)(4).\n\nThe NPRM departs sharply from this settled framework and disregards Congress\u2019s deliberate decisions in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA). When Congress amended the public charge inadmissibility ground in IIRIRA, it enumerated the five statutory factors\u2014age, health, family status, assets/resources/financial status, and education/skills\u2014yet significantly chose not to list or incorporate any specific public benefit programs into the statute. At the same time, in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Congress imposed detailed restrictions on eligibility for federal benefits but did not tie eligibility for or use of those benefits to public charge. Congress clearly understood how to specify benefit programs when it wished to do so. The omission in INA \u00a7 212(a)(4) reflects a deliberate legislative choice not to equate temporary use of safety-net programs with future dependency. Courts addressing the 2019 final rule implemented by the first Trump administration recognized this; as the Second Circuit explained, \u201cHad Congress thought that any benefits use was incompatible with self-sufficiency, it could have said so\u2026 but it did not.\u201d New York v. DHS, 969 F.3d 42, 77 (2d Cir. 2020).\n\nThe proposal\u2019s removal of the definitions in 8 CFR 212.21\u2014including what constitutes \u201cpublic charge,\u201d \u201cpublic cash assistance for income maintenance,\u201d and \u201creceipt of public benefits\u201d\u2014signals DHS\u2019s intent to authorize officers to consider benefits well beyond those Congress has ever permitted. This contradicts 140 years of consistent interpretation and decades of administrative practice aimed at providing clarity, limiting confusion, and preventing unnecessary public health harms. In 1999, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) explained that confusion about public charge and benefits eligibility was producing \u201csignificant, negative public health consequences,\u201d and issued systemwide guidance precisely to prevent the chilling effects that DHS now proposes to recreate. Eliminating the 2022 rule\u2019s clear standards revives those same risks without any statutory basis.\n\nThe proposed rule contains no assurance that adjudicators will refrain from considering benefits received during periods when the federal government expressly stated that such benefits had no immigration consequences. This omission breaks sharply from the approach taken even in the 2019 rulemaking, where DHS stated explicitly that benefits used before the effective date \u201cwould not be considered\u2026 because SNAP was not considered in public charge inadmissibility determinations under the 1999 Interim Field Guidance.\u201d 84 Fed. Reg. 41292, 41573 (Aug. 14, 2019). Removing decades-old expectations without transition guidance or prospective limitations is an arbitrary and capricious decision, given that families have built their health, nutrition, and economic decisions around clear federal assurances that these programs are safe to use while they work toward self-sufficiency. In fact, DHS acknowledges in the NPRM that \u201cthe regulated public may be relying on aspects of the regulatory scheme in the 2022 Final Rule,\u201d which substantively aligns with the 1999 guidance.\n\nFinally, the proposed rule also raises serious concerns that DHS may rely on inter-agency data-sharing, including with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to obtain information about public benefit use or household financial circumstances. Congress has been unequivocal: IRS data is protected by strict confidentiality rules under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 6103, and executive agencies cannot repurpose tax information for immigration enforcement or adjudications. Many of the undersigned Members of the Congress have a documented history of challenging such illegal data-sharing schemes.\n\nIf DHS intends to base public charge determinations on tax data, state benefit records, or other protected sources, such a system would directly violate federal privacy law, exceed statutory authority, and contradict repeated congressional directives. The NPRM\u2019s ambiguity on this issue is unacceptable. Agencies cannot expand their statutory reach through backdoor data-sharing arrangements that Congress has expressly forbidden. Any implication that DHS will access IRS or other sensitive data to determine eligibility for immigration benefits must be explicitly rejected, and the Department must clearly affirm that it will not use protected data sources\u2014directly or indirectly\u2014in any public charge determination.\n\nIII. The proposed rule will create a massive chilling effect with undue harm to American communities, U.S. citizens, and especially children; and it will erode faith in our legal immigration system.\n\nThe chilling effects triggered by expansions of public charge interpretation are well-documented and severe. Research following the 1996 PRWORA and IIRIRA laws showed that confusion about eligibility led large numbers of eligible immigrant families \u2014 including U.S. citizen children \u2014 to forego health insurance, nutrition supports, and early childhood programs vital to healthy development. Federal and academic studies following welfare reform found that confusion and fear led to significant declines in Medicaid participation among otherwise eligible immigrant families and their U.S.-citizen children, with researchers warning that rising uninsurance among these children would worsen health outcomes and increase uncompensated care burdens on safety-net providers.\n\nUnder the 2019 Trump public charge rule, similar harm reemerged rapidly. Even though many programs were not included in the rule, nearly half (46%) of immigrants in low-income families reported that they or a family member avoided applying for or disenrolled from public benefits due to immigration concerns.\n\nThat chilling effect extended far beyond the rule\u2019s legal scope, including participation in Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and school meal programs. The consequences were borne disproportionately by U.S. citizen children, who lost access to preventive medical care, early childhood education, and essential nutrition \u2014 evidence that fear-driven policy harms American families and public health systems.\n\nThe proposed rule will predictably magnify these harms. DHS itself acknowledges that the rule would reduce government spending on benefits by more than $9 billion per year \u2014 a drastic impact that cannot be explained by changes in eligibility since very few immigrants who lack permanent status qualify for the programs implicated. As experts have pointed out, those cost reductions will instead come from reduced use by eligible U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, including children. The rule\u2019s elimination of key standards \u2014 such as the express exclusion of family members\u2019 benefit use and clear definitions of \u201creceipt of public benefits\u201d \u2014 will create widespread fear that parents\u2019 lawful use of critical support for their children will threaten their ability to obtain permanent residence.\n\nThat chilling effect will be the most acute among children. Nearly one in four children in the United States lives in a family with an immigrant parent. Many of these children are U.S. citizens who rely on Medicaid or CHIP for healthcare, WIC and school meals for nutrition, and Head Start and childcare subsidies for early learning and economic stability. When parents are forced to choose between enrolling their child in life-saving healthcare or preserving their own chance to stay with their family, the result is poorer child health, delayed development, reduced educational attainment, and heightened food insecurity \u2014 all harms Congress has repeatedly acted to prevent.\n\nUncertainty about how DHS will treat past or current benefit use will also impair state and local governments\u2019 ability to meet public health and safety goals. Officials have relied on the clarity provided by the 2022 rule to design outreach campaigns, create eligibility worker training, and expand coverage initiatives for low-income families. If immigrants become afraid to use medical care or food assistance, the resulting rise in communicable disease risk, emergency care usage, and poverty will burden local budgets and undermine federal investments in preventive services.\n\nFinally, the chilling effect of this rule must be understood in the context of the broader campaign of threats against legal immigration being carried out by the current Administration. Immigrants already face pervasive uncertainty regarding visa issuance, humanitarian pathways, family reunification, and agency backlogs. The proposed rule would dramatically expand that uncertainty to include basic life decisions about children\u2019s health, nutrition, and early education. When federal agencies send the message \u2014 explicitly or implicitly \u2014 that families must avoid lawful programs or face immigration penalties, the result is a collapse in trust in the legal immigration system itself.\n\nFor these reasons, DHS\u2019s proposal would deter eligible families from accessing essential services, directly harm U.S. citizen children, shift costs to state and local governments, and erode confidence in lawful immigration pathways. Congress cannot tolerate a regulatory change that so clearly and predictably undermines public health, child well-being, and the credibility of federal law.\n\nIV. Conclusion\n\nFor the reasons detailed above, we urge the Department to withdraw this proposed rule in its entirety and maintain the 2022 public charge regulations currently in effect. The existing framework reflects longstanding congressional intent, ensures consistent and lawful adjudications, and provides immigrant families with the clarity required to make informed decisions about their health, stability, and future in the United States.\n\nIf DHS determines that further regulatory changes are necessary, those changes must be prospective only, must undergo full public notice-and-comment review, and must include explicit instructions that adjudicators may not penalize individuals for the lawful use of benefits during a period when federal policy assured them it was safe to do so. The Department must also ensure that any sub-regulatory guidance with practical adjudicatory effect is made public and subject to meaningful oversight.\n\nCongress will continue to uphold its responsibility to ensure that our immigration system operates with fairness, transparency, and fidelity to the rule of law. We stand ready to work with the Department to protect immigrant families, strengthen pathways to lawful status, and maintain the integrity of the public charge ground as Congress intended.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-pause-discriminatory-national-park-entry-fees/", "Padilla, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Pause Discriminatory National Park Entry Fees", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Alex Padilla", "P000145", "www.padilla.senate.gov", "padilla", "https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senators express concerns over January 1 implementation \u2014 without proper notice \u2014 of $250 America the Beautiful non-resident annual passes and $100 non-resident fee for highly visited national parks, including Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led four Senators in calling on Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to pause the implementation of the Administration\u2019s expensive new national park entry fees and annual passes for non-residents, which are slated to take effect on January 1, 2026. The Senators emphasized that these new passes and fees were not properly noticed in accordance with the law, will slow park entry, and will further limit international visitation.\n\nIn late November, Interior announced a new fee structure for access to public lands. Beginning next year, the annual pass will cost $80 for U.S. citizens and residents and $250 for non-residents, the first time the United States has required proof of residency to access public lands. Non-residents age 16 and up who don\u2019t have an annual pass will be forced to pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the country\u2019s most visited national parks \u2014 including Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks \u2014 in addition to the standard entrance fee.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s national parks serve as destinations for visitors both domestically and internationally to experience our country\u2019s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cWhile we understand that entrance and recreation fees are vital to enhancing the visitor experience, we want to ensure all feel welcome to enjoy all national treasures. Since these new fees are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, we strongly believe these fees are being implemented too quickly, without public input, and will be a barrier for both residents and non-residents alike.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe request that you stop implementation of the new non-resident passes and fees until the public has an opportunity to weigh in, impacts to visitation are studied, and clarity on implementation is provided to Congress, NPS employees, and impacted stakeholders,\u201d continued the Senators.\n\nThe National Park Service (NPS) is permitted to collect and retain entrance and recreation fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. These fees play an important role in making sure these parks can provide a positive visitor experience for citizens and non-residents alike. However, the law requires the Secretary of the Interior to allow the public the chance weigh in on the development of or changes to recreation fees, and it mandates advanced notice to impacted communities in local publications. The Senators criticized the Administration for failing to provide this legally required opportunity for public input.\n\nIn addition to Padilla, the letter was also signed by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).\n\nPadilla and his colleagues also warned that this plan would further strain the understaffed NPS workforce, as the Trump Administration has cut 24% of permanent NPS employees since January, including positions like fee collectors and information technology specialists. These staffing shortages will likely further compound entry delays, especially at the highly visited parks charging an extra $100 for non-residents.\n\nWith overseas visitation to national parks already down over 3% (and down 25% for visitors from Canada), the Senators expressed concerns that these numbers could fall even further with the steep price of non-resident passes, hurting the American economy.\n\nThe Senators also pushed for answers regarding how Park Service staff would implement this fee structure \u2014 including how the Park Service would identify who is subject to these new fees and how non-resident information would be collected or potentially stored \u2014 why public notice was not provided, and what analyses were done to understand impacts to visitation, to gateway communities, and to the recreation industry.\n\nEarlier this year, Senator Padilla and his colleagues urged Secretary Burgum to immediately resolve looming staffing shortages at the NPS following President Trump\u2019s hiring freeze, cancellation of thousands of job offers for seasonal NPS employees, and buyout offers made without clear legal authority. He also pushed Secretary Burgum to allow Yosemite to implement its preferred reservation system, while underscoring the threat that the Trump Administration\u2019s reckless NPS staff cuts posed to a successful summer season. In May, Padilla introduced the RESERVE Federal Land Act to expand access to public lands, improve the visitor reservation process, and enhance transparency in how fees are collected for federal lands and national parks.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Burgum,\n\nWe write to express our concern about the new $250 America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Passes and the additional $100 non-resident fee for 11 highly visited parks. America\u2019s national parks serve as destinations for visitors both domestically and internationally to experience our country\u2019s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history. While we understand that entrance and recreation fees are vital to enhancing the visitor experience, we want to ensure all feel welcome to enjoy all national treasures. Since these new fees are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, we strongly believe these fees are being implemented too quickly, without public input, and will be a barrier for both residents and non-residents alike.\n\nThe Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act allows most of the federal land management agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS), to collect and retain entrance and recreation fees. The law states the \u201cSecretary shall provide the public with opportunities to participate in the development of or changing of a recreation fee.\u201d It also requires advanced notice to impacted communities, specifically requiring the Secretary to \u201cpublish notice of a new recreation fee or a change to an existing recreation fee established under this chapter in local newspapers and publications located near the site at which the recreation fee would be established or changed.\u201d To our knowledge, there was no opportunity for the public to participate in the development of these new fees.\n\nWe are also concerned about the impact this plan would have on the already understaffed NPS workforce. The NPS permanent workforce has been reduced by 24% since January, with lost positions that would be important in helping implement these new fees, including fee collectors and IT specialists. Further, the additional requirements to check each visitors\u2019 residency will very likely slow entry into the parks, particularly the highly visited parks identified to charge $100 per person in addition to regular entry fees.\n\nFinally, we are concerned about what these fees will mean for international visitation. According to the International Inbound Travel Association, overseas visitation is down more than 3% and Canadian visitation is down 25%. International visitors spent $254 billion in the United States in 2024 and national parks are often part of their itinerary.\n\nTherefore, we request that you stop implementation of the new non-resident passes and fees until the public has an opportunity to weigh in, impacts to visitation are studied, and clarity on implementation is provided to Congress, NPS employees, and impacted stakeholders.\n\nWe also request answers to the following questions:\n\nThe Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act requires public participation in the development of new national park fees. Can you explain why the public was not involved?\n\nDid the Department publish notice of the new recreation fees in local newspapers or publications located near the 11 highly visited parks, as is required by the Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act? If no, why not?\n\nHow does the Department plan to implement the new fees, particularly the additional $100 in 11 highly visited parks, with severely reduced permanent staff levels? What guidance has been provided to NPS staff required to collect these fees? Please provide any guidance or training materials associated with this fee change.\n\nHow is NPS defining the terms \u201cresident,\u201d \u201cresidency,\u201d and \u201cnon-resident\u201d? How do individuals prove citizenship or residency when purchasing a pass online, and will any personal information be stored in any way for the Department or any other agencies to access?\n\nHow do individuals prove residency when purchasing a pass in-person, and which documents will be accepted? Will any personal information be stored through this process?\n\nWhat is the process for checking a carload of visitors to a national park for their residency? Will the driver be the only one required to show proof of residency, or will every visitor be required to provide identification?\n\nWhat if an individual fails to bring an acceptable form of identification?\n\nSeveral popular national park sites already have issues with long entrance lines. What measures are being put in place by the Department to ensure the process is seamless and efficient for both residents and non-residents?\n\nWhat analyses were conducted by the Department to understand the impacts to visitation at our parks, as well as the economic impacts to gateway communities and the recreation industry, by implementing these new fees?\n\nThank you in advance for addressing these important questions and stopping the implementation of these new fees until we get clarity on these issues.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025-year-in-review-senator-peters-continues-working-across-the-aisle-to-deliver-for-michigan", "2025 YEAR IN REVIEW: Senator Peters Continues Working Across the Aisle to Deliver for Michigan", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In 2025, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) continued fighting to deliver bipartisan, commonsense solutions to strengthen communities across Michigan. Despite being in the minority party, Peters successfully advanced and passed numerous bipartisan bills, and secured wins that will have a positive impact for Michiganders for years to come. This includes the major announcement that Selfridge Air National Guard Base will receive an F-15EX fighter jet mission, as well as the enactment of numerous Peters-led bills to expand opioid addiction treatment for young adults, protect burial benefits for military families, and continue to invest in safeguarding the Great Lakes ecosystem. In addition to these legislative accomplishments, Peters remained committed to holding the Administration accountable and fighting back against Republican efforts to cut health care benefits that Michigan families depend on.\n\n\u201cFighting for Michiganders will always be my top priority in Congress, and I\u2019m proud of the progress we made on issues important to our state,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cThroughout my entire career, I\u2019ve always found the best way to get things done is by reaching across the aisle and finding common ground. As we look to next year, I\u2019m going to continue honoring that commitment by partnering with anyone willing to roll up their sleeves and help improve the lives of Michiganders, whether that\u2019s protecting health care benefits, supporting American manufacturing, or lowering prices for working families.\u201d\n\nPeters has been repeatedly named one of the most effective and bipartisan senators. In the 118th Congress, Peters earned the highest effectiveness score for a U.S. Senator ever recorded in the fifty years the Center for Effective Lawmaking has tracked this data. He also becomes the first Senator in more than four decades to be named most effective three times in a row. Peters also authored more bills signed into law during the 117th Congress (2021-2022) than any Senator in more than 40 years, according to the Congressional Research Service and the Senate Historical Office.\n\nBelow is a recap of Senator Peters\u2019 key accomplishments and efforts in 2025:\n\nSECURING MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN MICHIGAN\u2019S MILITARY FACILITIES & DEFENSE SECTOR\n\nAfter Years of Advocacy, Peters Secured 21 F-15EX Fighters at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: In April, Peters welcomed the announcement that Selfridge Air National Guard Base would receive a squadron of 21 F-15EXs \u2013 a next-generation fighter aircraft. This announcement followed years of advocacy and efforts by Peters to secure a new fighter mission for Selfridge and protect the future of the base. This announcement came after Peters announced last year that Selfridge will receive a squadron of KC-46A aircraft tankers. Following the announcement of the new fighter mission, Peters advocated for continued investment at Selfridge Air National Guard Base to support basing of the F-15EX fighters, as well as the KC-46A tankers.\n\nHelped Craft and Pass Annual National Defense Bill: In December, Peters secured several provisions and major funding wins in the annual national defense bill. This bill includes numerous provisions secured and authored by Peters to strengthen our national security and support Michigan\u2019s military assets, including:\n\nFunding to support Selfridge as it prepares for its new missions. This includes $9 million for runway improvements, $5.2 million for two new taxiways, and a provision prohibiting the early retirement of the Selfridge A-10 mission. To further support long-term success at Selfridge, Peters fought for and secured language protecting the 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge and their A-10 Warthog fighters from potential early retirement before Selfridge accepts a new squadron of F-15EX fighters.\n\nThe bill also includes provisions to support the Camp Grayling All-Domain Warfighting Training Complex (ADWTC) and the annual Northern Strike Exercise, which is the country\u2019s largest all-domain reserve forces exercise.\n\nPeters also worked to secure language directing the Air Force to move forward with initial full-scale production of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).\n\nThroughout his time in the Senate, Peters has led the charge to address PFAS contamination across Michigan, including at military bases. Peters helped include a provision in this bill that requires DOD to develop a PFAS remediation acceleration strategy and submit a report to Congress that details the criteria that the Department uses to prioritize response actions, timelines for completing each phase of the cleanup process, a plan for deploying additional resources to reduce delays in remediation efforts, and standards for evaluating performance. The provision also requires DOD to publish \u2013 on a public online dashboard \u2013 up-to-date PFAS cleanup data, funding, timelines, and community points of contact for each and every military installation and National Guard facility where efforts are planned or underway.\n\nFIGHTING TO PROTECT QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR MICHIGANDERS\n\nFighting Back Against Republican Efforts to Cut Medicaid: Peters has consistently led the charge to fight back against Republican efforts to cut funding to Medicaid. In February, Peters led 46 of his colleagues in urging Republican leadership not to make cuts to Medicaid in order to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. Despite push back from voters and Congressional Democrats, Republicans pushed through with a bill that cuts funding Medicaid and adds more than $3 trillion to the deficit, in order to cut taxes for billionaires. Peters fought back against this and also helped introduce and advocate for the Protecting Healthcare and Lowering Costs Act, which would repeal Republicans\u2019 devastating health care cuts.\n\nFighting to Protect the Affordable Care Act and Keeping Health Care Affordable: In January, Peters again cosponsored and helped reintroduce the Healthcare Affordability Act, legislation that would make permanent the Premium Tax Credits (PTCs) that were created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Throughout the year, Peters has been one of the most outspoken advocates in the Senate fighting to extend these tax cuts and keep health care affordable for all Americans. During the government shutdown, Peters introduced a commonsense proposal to end the shutdown and pass a one-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits in any deal to reopen the government. In December, Peters also fiercely advocated for a proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits before Republicans voted down this proposal.\n\nLegislation to Improve Opioid Addition Treatment for Adolescents Signed into Law: In December, Peters\u2019 Youth Prevention and Recovery Reauthorization Act was signed into law as a provision of the bipartisan Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. Specifically, Peters\u2019 provision reauthorizes funding to make existing substance use treatment programs available for young adults, ensuring this critical resource remains available to adolescents, families, care providers, and communities. This bill builds off previous legislation that Peters authored into law in 2018.\n\nSTRENGTHENING HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY\n\nThrough his role as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters:\n\nExpanded Protections Against Unmanned Aircraft Threats: Peters secured a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that enables state and local law enforcement to disable drones that threaten public safety and extends these authorities at the federal level. The bill would extend these authorities through 2031, ensuring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) can respond to drone threats near airports, stadiums, and other sensitive locations. The legislation also for the first time enables state and local law enforcement to counter dangerous drones at a number of critical events. These authorities are especially important as the U.S. prepares to host major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.\n\nInvestigating DOGE\u2019s Unchecked Access to American\u2019s Personal Data: Peters released the first in-depth congressional oversight report of DOGE activities at federal agencies. The report included observations from oversight visits to the Social Security Administration (SSA), General Services Administration (GSA), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM), as well as deeply concerning whistleblower disclosures about DOGE personnel uploading the personal information \u2013 including Social Security numbers \u2013 of all Americans to a cloud environment without required security controls. The report showed that an internal SSA risk assessment found that there is up to a 65% risk of a catastrophic data breach as a result of this DOGE project. Peters continues to demand answers from the Trump Administration on the security of Americans\u2019 data.\n\nSimplifying Access to Federal Disaster Aid for Survivors: Peters authored a bipartisan bill passed by the Senate that would make it easier for disaster survivors to access federal help. The Disaster Assistance Simplification Act would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a universal application across federal agencies for disaster survivors seeking federal assistance from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters. This legislation would significantly help streamline this process and reduce the burden placed on disaster survivors in need of immediate assistance.\n\nDelivering Fair Retirement Benefits for Customs and Border Protection Officers: The Senate passed Peters\u2019 bipartisan legislation that seeks to ensure Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers receive the retirement benefits they were promised. The CBPO Retirement Corrections Act addresses a longstanding error in which Customs and Border Protection (CBP) incorrectly informed newly hired officers that they would qualify for proportional annuity benefit \u2013 meaning they would not be required to retire at a certain age or complete 20 years of service to access enhanced retirement coverage. More than a decade later, CBP rescinded those benefits, leaving at least 1,352 officers \u2013 including 67 in Michigan \u2013 facing additional requirements to secure the retirement protections they were originally promised. Peters\u2019 bill delivered long-overdue financial security to CBP officers who have dedicated their careers to protecting our borders.\n\nImproving Federal Emergency Response Capabilities: The Senate passed Peters\u2019 bipartisan Helping Eliminate Limitations for Prompt (HELP) Response and Recovery Act, which would help strengthen DHS\u2019s ability to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. The bill repeals outdated DHS-specific contracting rules and helps align the department with government-wide standards under government-wide . By ensuring greater consistency and timeliness in emergency contracting, Peters\u2019 bill boosts the federal government\u2019s capacity to deliver needed products and services during crises.\n\nProtecting Mail Processing Operations in the Upper Peninsula: In February, following consistent advocacy from Peters, the U.S. Postal Service announced the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center would continue its local mail processing operations. Peters repeatedly pushed back on proposed consolidation of the USPS delivery network, including for the Iron Mountain facility, that would have significantly impacted mail service for Upper Peninsula residents. Prior to the announcement, Peters secured a pause on proposed changes at the Iron Mountain Mail Processing and Distribution Center until USPS leadership could ensure the changes would not impact local mail service. Peters has long led oversight efforts to protect mail delivery for the Upper Peninsula, including convening a hearing with USPS officials to examine proposed changes to its delivery network and sending a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy in February 2024 requesting further details into changes at the Iron Mountain Processing Center.\n\nAdvancing Efforts to Ban Member Stock Trading: Peters advanced bipartisan legislation through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for the second Congress in a row to bar stock trading by elected officials. . The legislation would immediately ban Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President from buying stocks and other covered investments, and prohibit them from selling stocks 90 days after enactment. The bill would also require elected officials, their spouses, and any dependent children to divest covered assets at the start of the elected official\u2019s next term.\n\nEnding Improper Payments to Deceased People: The Senate unanimously passed Peters\u2019 bipartisan legislation that would prevent taxpayer dollars from being spent in error on payments to deceased Americans. Specifically, the bill provides the Department of Treasury with permanent access to Social Security Administration databases of individuals who have died, which has proven successful for identifying erroneous payments.\n\nPreventing Foreign Influence in U.S. Policy: The Senate passed two bipartisan Peters bills to help prevent foreign governments from attempting to influence U.S. policy. The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement would require registered lobbyists working for foreign persons or organizations to disclose when they utilize an exemption under the Foreign Agent Registration Act that allows them to avoid more stringent transparency requirements. The Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act would close a commonly used loophole that allows foreign adversaries \u2013 including the Chinese government \u2013 to conceal their roles in efforts to lobby the U.S. government by using closely connected organizations and businesses. The bill makes clear that lobbying organizations must disclose when foreign governments and political parties participate in their lobbying efforts, regardless of any financial contribution to the lobbying effort. The bill makes clear that lobbying organizations must disclose when foreign governments and political parties participate in their lobbying efforts, regardless of any financial contribution to the lobbying effort.\n\nProtecting Americans\u2019 Genetic Data from Foreign Adversaries: Peters secured a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that helps prevent foreign adversaries from stealing Americans\u2019 sensitive genetic data and personal health information. This provision, which is based on Peters\u2019 bipartisan Prohibiting Foreign Access to American Genetic Information Act, bans all biotechnology companies that are owned or controlled by a foreign adversary such as the Chinese Communist Party, and whose business practices threaten national security, from receiving U.S. taxpayer dollars through federal contracts, grants, and loans.\n\nPROTECTING THE GREAT LAKES\n\nBipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Great Lakes Fisheries Headed to President\u2019s Desk: The Senate and House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Peters to bolster support for Great Lakes Fishery research and management efforts. The Great Lakes Fisheries Research Reauthorization Act would reauthorize funding for the U.S. Geological Survey\u2019s (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center for another five years, helping to ensure that they are able to continue conducting critical research that supports Great Lakes fisheries.\n\nLed Effort to Extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Peters again led the effort to extend federal funding and protections for the Great Lakes. Peters introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through 2031 and increase the program\u2019s annual funding levels from $475 million $500 million. Peters also helped secure funding for the GLRI through the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The GLRI is the most significant investment ever made to restore and protect our Great Lakes.\n\nSUPPORTING OUR NATION\u2019S VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES\n\nLegislation Protecting Burial Benefits for Military Families Signed into Law: In January, bipartisan legislation Peters introduced was signed into law to ensure our military families can continue to be laid to rest together in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries. This law grants the VA the authority to bury the spouse or child of a servicemember in a VA cemetery in the tragic case that their death precedes that of the servicemember.\n\nBill Inspired by Late Michigan Veteran Signed into Law: Bipartisan legislation led by Peters was signed into law to expand the eligibility of VA burial benefits to terminally ill veterans who pass away at a non-VA facility while receiving hospice care. The legislation, called Gerald\u2019s Law Act, was named after late Michigan veteran Gerald \u201cJerry\u201d Elliott of Kingsford who did not receive full VA burial benefits after he made the decision to spend his final days at home instead of a VA facility.\n\nSUPPORTING MICHIGAN MANUFACTURING & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT\n\nStrengthening U.S. Manufacturing Strategy: In July, the Senate unanimously passed Peters\u2019 bipartisan National Manufacturing Advisory Council Act to establish the National Manufacturing Advisory Council at the Department of Commerce. This council would play a key role in developing federal manufacturing policy to help strengthen U.S. leadership in global manufacturing.\n\nSupporting American Workers and Bolstering American Manufacturing: Peters\u2019 Strengthening Support for American Manufacturing Act was passed by the Senate this year. The bill would strengthen federal efforts to boost domestic manufacturing by authorizing a study by the independent National Academy of Public Administration on how to maximize effectiveness across the U.S. Department of Commerce\u2019s various manufacturing programs.\n\nBolstering American Semiconductor Manufacturing: In May, the Senate passed Peters\u2019 bipartisan Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act, legislation that would strengthen federal efforts to attract investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and supply chains. The legislation aims to build on the CHIPS and Science Act, which Peters helped craft and pass into law to expand U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, bring home good-paying jobs, and strengthen U.S. national security.\n\nLeading Fight to Prevent Illegal Trump Administration Cuts to Manufacturing Programs: In July, Senator Peters authored language in a Senate spending bill to prevent the Department of Commerce from unilaterally defunding or withdrawing contracts from Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Programs \u2013 like the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. For every dollar of federal investment, MEP generates $24.60 in new sales growth for manufacturers and $27.50 in new investment. In 2024, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center estimated they helped 584 businesses produce over $150 million in sales growth and over $100 million in investments.\n\nASSISTING MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES DURING NATURAL DISASTERS, IMPROVING FEDERAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE\n\nHelping Michigan Recover from Historic Ice Storm: In March, an historic ice storm hit communities across Northern Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula. The National Weather Service ranked it one of the most significant ice storms ever recorded in Northern Michigan, causing an estimated $137 million in immediate response costs. In the immediate aftermath, Peters led the effort in coordination with the state and federal government to get aid to the region. The lawmakers worked in a bipartisan way to get President Trump and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler to approve a Major Disaster Declaration and SBA assistance for the region and bring much needed aid into the region. Although the President approved some disaster aid in July, the lawmakers again came together in August to further push the Administration to provide aid for public utilities, individual residents, and hazard mitigation.\n\nStrengthening Michigan\u2019s Power Grid: In response to widespread power outages caused by the ice storm, Peters introduced the bipartisan Preventing Power Outages Act, which would strengthen the resiliency of power grids in Michigan and across the country. The bill would reauthorize two U.S. Department of Energy grant programs that help states and utilities invest in modernizing their grid infrastructure to help ensure that the power stays on even during extreme weather and natural disasters. The bill would ensure that sufficient funding goes to states whose grids are least reliable and require the most investment, like Michigan.\n\nSUPPORTING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN\n\nResolving Longstanding Land Claims for Upper Peninsula Tribe: In December, the Senate passed Peters\u2019 bipartisan, bicameral Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025 to settle the longstanding land claims of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). The bill would provide compensation to the KBIC through the U.S. Department of Interior and clear the title of current landowners in the community who have acquired the land at issue in good faith over the past 150 years.\n\nHONORING TRAILBLAZING MICHIGANDERS\n\nPeters led several efforts to honor Michiganders, including:\n\nAttending a ceremony to rededicate the Mt. Clemens Post Office as the \u201cLieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson Post Office.\u201d In 2024, Peters led legislation signed into law dedicating the post office in Lt. Col. Jefferson\u2019s name to recognize his service as a member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen of the U.S. Army Air Forces with the 332ndFighter Group during World War II, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier, and an educator with Detroit Public Schools.\n\nLeading a bipartisan resolution honoring the 108th anniversary of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and commending the thousands of men and women who have worked and trained at Selfridge since its inception. The resolution recognizes the base\u2019s significant contributions to U.S. national security, such as leading security operations to protect the Northern Border after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The resolution also reinforces the commitment of our Armed Forces to ensure Selfridge remains a key component to U.S. national defense.\n\nLeading a bipartisan resolution to recognize the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, an iron ore freighter that sank in Lake Superior approximately 17 miles off the coast of Whitefish Point, Michigan. The resolution honors the 29 crewmembers who died during the shipwreck, which occurred during one of the worst storms ever recorded on the Great Lakes.\n\nIntroducing the bipartisan Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act that seeks to honor members of the U.S. Olympic Men\u2019s Hockey Team and their historic victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. The bill includes honors for two Michiganders: Ken Morrow of Flint and Mark Wells of St. Clair Shores.\n\nHELPING MICHIGANDERS OBTAIN BENEFITS & RESOLVE ISSUES WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES\n\nPeters\u2019 office continued to help constituents navigate complex federal agencies and get the support they need. This includes assisting Michigan families and small businesses in their effort to receive benefits from and resolve issues involving the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration (SSA), Medicare and Medicaid, and others.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/signed-into-law-national-defense-bill-with-provisions-secured-by-peters-to-strengthen-michigans-defense-footprint", "SIGNED INTO LAW: National Defense Bill with Provisions Secured by Peters to Strengthen Michigan\u2019s Defense Footprint", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "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 annual national defense bill was signed into law with numerous provisions authored and secured by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Armed Services Committee, to strengthen U.S. national security, invest in Michigan\u2019s military facilities and defense sector, clean up PFAS contamination, and give servicemembers a pay raise.\n\n\u201cThis bill makes investments that will ensure Michigan is positioned to continue leading the way in keeping our nation safe and secure,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have secured provisions in this bill that will support transformational upgrades at Selfridge Air National Guard Base to prepare for its new missions, make progress to clean up PFAS contamination at our military bases, and support Michigan\u2019s defense sector, which is working to develop innovative technologies that protect American servicemembers around the globe.\u201d\n\nThe national defense bill sets annual policy for the Department of Defense (DOD) and has become law for more than 60 consecutive years. Below are provisions in the bill successfully led or supported by Peters:\n\nInvesting in Michigan\u2019s Military Facilities\n\n$9 million for Runway Improvement at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: The bill authorizes funding to allow for runway improvements at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County to prepare for basing of future missions, including the KC-46 Tankers and F-15EX fighter jets that were announced for Selfridge following years of persistent work and advocacy by Peters.\n\n$5.2 million to Construct Two New Taxiways at Selfridge: The bill authorizes funding to support the construction of two new taxiways at Selfridge to prepare for basing of future missions including Selfridge\u2019s two new missions. This includes $2.8 million for the construction of Taxiway Alpha and $2.4 million for the construction of Taxiway Bravo.\n\n$4.4 million for Camp Grayling All-Domain Warfighting Training Complex: The bill authorizes funding to kickstart the Camp Grayling All-Domain Warfighting Training Complex (ADWTC). The ADWTC provides a state-of-the-art facility where servicemembers can plan, lead, and execute realistic training. The ADWTC is critical to ensuring Northern Strike remains the premier training exercise in the country.\n\nPermanent Funding for Northern Strike: Peters secured report language urging permanent funding for the annual Northern Strike Exercise, which is the largest all-domain reserve forces exercise. Northern Strike provides a realistic training environment and robust training experiences for units and leaders to strengthen joint all-domain warfighting \u2013 and helps keep Michigan central to our national defense operations.\n\nProhibits Early Retirement of Selfridge\u2019s A-10s: Peters fought for and secured language protecting the 107th Fighter Squadron at Selfridge and their A-10 Warthog fighters from potential early retirement before Selfridge accepts a new squadron of F-15EX fighters. This provision prevents the Air Force from reducing the number of A-10s in their aircraft inventory and requires a briefing to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on the divestment plans for the A-10 aircraft. The briefing continues strict oversight of the Air Force\u2019s A-10 retirement efforts including by mandating reporting on the Air Force\u2019s proposals to replace the A-10s with new or existing aircraft, efforts to minimize negative impacts on personnel training and retention and a specific divestment timeline for each aircraft in their inventory.\n\nBolstering Collaborative Combat Aircraft Production: Peters secured language in the bill that directs the Air Force to move forward with initial full-scale production of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Peters has pushed for and secured language to support the development and integration of CCAs, including during a hearing with the former Secretary of Defense and a recent hearing with the current U.S. Air Force Secretary. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Peters has also secured language to help position Selfridge Air National Guard Base as a potential location for CCA fielding. He led a provision included in recent government funding legislation requiring a report regarding basing criteria of CCAs. This report will include an evaluation of whether existing Air National Guard bases with legacy fighter missions, such as Selfridge, may be appropriate locations for the basing of CCAs.\n\nConnected Vehicle Cybersecurity Center at Selfridge: Peters led a provision in the bill underscoring the growing threat of cyberattacks on both manned and unmanned military vehicles and platforms, as well as critical infrastructure that interacts with advanced vehicles. The provision recognizes the work of the Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) in Warren, Michigan to identify cyber vulnerabilities to secure joint ground vehicle platforms and prevent cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. The bill encourages vehicle cybersecurity at places like GVSC who is working to establish its Connected Vehicle Cybersecurity Center, which will also be located in Michigan at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. In addition to supporting our Armed Forces and servicemembers, the Connected Vehicle Cybersecurity Center will support Michigan\u2019s auto industry and help establish Southeast Michigan as a hub for all auto-cyber activity in the country. Peters has continuously used his role on the Armed Services Committee to support the GVSC, and recently warned DOD officials about the consequences of potential cuts at the GVSC.\n\nEmergency Response Authority Act: Peters successfully secured an amendment to give states more flexibility in deploying Army Guard and Reserve (AGR) personnel with specialized skills for emergency response. This will allow AGR forces to respond to state declared emergencies, such as floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters, for a total of 14 days per person. This provision empowers states to respond to major disasters more quickly and effectively.\n\nSupporting Our Servicemembers and Their Families\n\nPay Raise for Servicemembers: This bill includes pay raises of 3.8 percent for military servicemembers.\n\nAddressing PFAS Contamination\n\nImproving the Speed and Transparency of DOD PFAS Cleanup Efforts: Peters successfully included a provision that requires DOD to develop a PFAS remediation acceleration strategy and submit a report to Congress that details the criteria that the Department uses to prioritize response actions, timelines for completing each phase of the cleanup process, a plan for deploying additional resources to reduce delays in remediation efforts, and standards for evaluating performance. The provision also requires DOD to publish \u2013 on a public online dashboard \u2013 up-to-date PFAS cleanup data, funding, timelines, and community points of contact for each and every military installation and National Guard facility where efforts are planned or underway. Peters has worked with communities across Michigan for years on PFAS remediation efforts. Peters convened the first-ever hearing on PFAS contamination in the Senate, and convened a field summit in Grand Rapids in November 2018 to shine a light on how local, state, and federal governments are coordinating responses to address PFAS contamination. He has also passed numerous bills into law to help address PFAS contamination and protect Michiganders. Michigan is home to a number of military installations where PFAS contamination has been detected, including Camp Grayling and the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda.\n\nEnsuring Access to Clean Drinking Water for Households with PFAS-Contaminated Drinking Water Wells: The bill contains a Peters-led initiative that establishes new requirements for DOD to provide alternative drinking water \u2013 such as bottled water \u2013 to households with private drinking water wells that have been contaminated by PFAS as a result of DOD activities.\n\nSupporting Michigan\u2019s Defense Sector\n\nSupporting Munition Production in Grayling: The bill authorizes $31.9 million to support production of the Army\u2019s Individual Assault Munitions (IAM), which will soon be made at a new production facility being constructed in Grayling, Michigan. This new facility is expected to employ 70 people in 2025 and expand to an estimated 100 employees by 2027.\n\nBoosting Made in Michigan Ground Vehicle Production: The bill authorizes robust funding for the Army to produce new, modernized Strykers as well as Abrams tanks. This funding will help ensure that Made in Michigan testing and development of ground vehicles like the Strykers are operating with cutting edge technology designed to keep our servicemembers safe.\n\nBolstering Military Aircraft Engine Industrial Base: Peters secured a provision that requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a roadmap for bolstering our military aircraft engine industrial base to support existing and planned platforms.\n\nStrengthening U.S. Cybersecurity\n\nProtecting Against Phishing Attacks: The bill includes report language Peters secured to require DOD to issue a strategy on implementing the adoption of phishing-resistant authentication across the Department. There has been an increase in phishing attempts targeting officials at DOD to retrieve personal information that allows hackers and foreign adversaries to gain access to sensitive national security information. This provision will ensure that DOD takes steps to protect sensitive national security information and protect American lives.\n\nPreventing Manipulation of DOD-Generated Media: Peters secured report language in the bill which will require DOD to implement digital content provenance across the Department. Digital content creation, editing, and distribution tools are increasingly more accessible, and can be easily weaponized against the U.S. by our foreign adversaries who seek to threaten our national security, spread anti-American propaganda, and weaken our institutions. The amendment will help prevent DOD media content from being manipulated and used maliciously against our country by creating a pilot program to implement authenticity information on DOD-generated media. This builds on Peters\u2019 bipartisan Digital Defense Content Provenance Act, which he secured in a previous national defense bill and requires DOD to create a course at the Defense Information School to teach personnel about the threats posed by synthetic media such as deepfakes, as well as emerging technologies and key concepts of digital content provenance. The bill also created a pilot program at DOD to assess the feasibility of establishing content standard technologies on DOD-produced and owned media content.\n\nStrengthening U.S. Cyber Workforce: Peters secured language that will require a report on the implementation of the DOD Cyber Workforce Strategy. DOD has struggled to attract and retain a skilled cyber workforce despite efforts such as bonus pay for skilled cyber professionals and expedited hiring pathways. The DOD Cyber Workforce Strategy was designed to identify difficulties and provide specific activities to increase the recruitment and retainment of the cyber workforce, both military and civilian. A skilled DOD cyber workforce benefits all Americans.\n\nEnhancing DOD Weapons Systems to Protect Against Real-Time Cybersecurity Threats: The bill includes specific directives for the DOD to enhance its weapons systems with technology to track cybersecurity threats. This will allow for weapons systems at military bases in Michigan and across the country to track cyber threats in real time and constantly update the health and security of their cybersecurity operations.\n\nBolstering Advanced Technology Capabilities & Critical Industries\n\nStrengthening Counter-UAS Authorities for Law Enforcement: This bill includes a provision which allows state, local, Tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement agencies to protect large mass gatherings, critical infrastructure, and airports from potential unmanned aircraft system (UAS) threats. This provision, which includes core tenants of Peters\u2019 bipartisan Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act, will allow SLTT law enforcement officials to protect large mass gatherings, such as college football games, concerts, festivals, and sensitive sites such as critical infrastructure facilities and airports from potential UAS threats. The provision requires the FBI to train state and local law enforcement officers on the proper use of counter-UAS technology before it is deployed, and it makes DOJ grant funding available to allow state and local law enforcement to purchase approved counter-UAS equipment. Additionally, the provision increases the scope DHS and DOJ\u2019s C-UAS authority to allow federal law enforcement officers to protect additional facilities and assets from UAS threats, including major airports, such as Detroit Metro Airport, seeing an influx of UAS incursions. Finally, the provision would impose criminal penalties for certain offenses committed using a UAS. This provision is particularly critical as the U.S. prepares to host major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.\n\nDeveloping U.S. Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Capabilities: The bill will provide increased funding for the development of new and innovative design and production of low-cost, uncrewed systems. The bill will also require a strategy to develop a secure domestic supply chain of critical components for small UAS systems.\n\nSupporting U.S. Security Interests Around the World\n\nPlanning for Enhanced Operations in Arctic Region: The bill includes a provision authored by Peters that recognizes the current geopolitical challenges and opportunities presented by the Arctic region, and supports efforts to better understand the emerging need to enhance operations in the region. Specifically, the bill encourages the Secretary of Defense to partner with interagency organizations, including the Center for Arctic Security and Resiliency and the Joint All Domain Weather Operations Center, to coordinate federal agency planning for Arctic operations as well as testing of systems to support Arctic operations.\n\nProtecting Americans\u2019 Genetic Data from Foreign Adversaries: The bill includes an amendment secured by Peters that helps prevent foreign adversaries from stealing Americans\u2019 sensitive genetic data and personal health information. This provision, which is based on Peters\u2019 bipartisan Prohibiting Foreign Access to American Genetic Information Act, bans all biotechnology companies that are owned or controlled by a foreign adversary such as the Chinese Communist Party, and whose business practices threaten national security, from receiving U.S. taxpayer dollars through federal contracts, grants, and loans.\n\nSupport Israel\u2019s Defense Against Emerging Threats: Peters authorized funding in the bill to help increase U.S. collaboration with Israel to develop emerging defense technologies to meet the warfare challenges of the future. Peters also secured a provision that will establish a cooperative program between the U.S. and Israel for advancing C-UAS technologies and joint research. Peters introduced bipartisan legislation last Congress to bolster collaboration between the United States and Israel on emerging technologies.\n\nStrengthen Efforts to Combat Anti-Tunneling Activity: The bill authorizes additional funding to strengthen current collaborative efforts between the U.S. and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to combat Hamas and strengthen anti-tunneling activity in the Gaza Strip. As part of the DOD\u2019s collaboration with the IDF, Israel shares its counter-tunnel technology with the DOD and Department of Homeland Security to combat growing threats at our borders, as well as similar threats faced on the Korean Peninsula and in multiple locations in the Middle East.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2025/12/sen-rick-scott-applauds-trump-administration-actions-to-protect-america-s-roadways-crack-down-on-cdls-issued-to-illegal-aliens", "Sen. Rick Scott Applauds Trump Administration Actions to Protect America\u2019s Roadways & Crack Down on CDLs Issued to Illegal Aliens", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "FL", "Rick Scott", "S001217", "www.rickscott.senate.gov", "rickscott", "https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praising their leadership and the Trump administration\u2019s actions to improve roadway safety by cracking down on the reckless issuance of commercial driver\u2019s licenses (CDLs) to illegal aliens after the deadly crash in Florida caused by an illegal alien who was issued a CDL license in California. The administration\u2019s life-saving actions to keep our roadways safe and ensure only qualified drivers operate commercial vehicles on America\u2019s roadways as federal audits and enforcement operations uncovered widespread safety failures by states issuing CDLs to illegal and unqualified drivers.\n\nRead the letter HERE or below:\n\nDear Secretary Duffy and Secretary Noem:\n\nThank you for the leadership you, your agencies, and President Trump have shown in advancing policies to make American roadways safe again. I appreciate your efforts to restore safety to our roads following the dangerous Obama-era policy that allowed drivers lacking English proficiency to operate commercial motor vehicles without the ability to comprehend basic traffic signs or speak our language.\n\nEarlier this year, three innocent people in my state of Florida were killed by an illegal alien who was granted a commercial driver\u2019s license (CDL) in the state of California. This gut-wrenching tragedy should never have happened, and I appreciate you both taking swift action to ensure this can never happen again.\n\nOne vital action in preventing the recurrence of this tragedy was the Department of Transportation\u2019s emergency action this September, restricting eligibility for nondomiciled learner\u2019s permits and CDLs in response to the ongoing nationwide audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This much-needed audit has already uncovered blatant disregard for public safety by certain states \u2013 especially California, which improperly issued more than 25% of its non-domiciled CDLs.\n\nI was also grateful to see the Department of Homeland Security partner with state and local law enforcement to actively address the threat posed by these illegal and unqualified drivers. During September\u2019s joint operation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, not only were 91 illegal aliens found to be operating a commercial vehicle with a CDL, but one illegal alien possessed a Real ID-compliant CDL issued by the state of New York to \u201cNo Name Given.\u201d The New York Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed that this license was authentic.\n\nThe reckless issuance of these CDLs during the previous administrations is clearly a widespread problem. This licensing failure was further highlighted by Operation Midway Blitz, a joint ICE-Indiana State Police operation. As of October 30, this operation resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens on Indiana highways, 40 of whom possessed CDLs.\n\nThankfully, your agencies and the current administration are working hard to address these very real safety issues and protect American drivers by getting unsafe and unqualified drivers off our roadways.\n\nHowever, it is deeply concerning that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) reportedly uses the very same drivers that your agencies have worked to keep off our country\u2019s roads in order to protect American lives. These reports indicate the USPS has become dependent on a CDL workforce made up of illegal aliens, and, as a result, it is now rescinding its temporary ban on these same employees after only a few short days, despite guidance from the administration.\n\nYour agencies have shown a commitment to addressing this threat, and I look forward to hearing how you plan to hold USPS and other agencies accountable for this negligence. I am also proud to support your efforts to protect citizens on our roadways by joining my colleague, Senator Ashley Moody, in advancing the Safer Truckers Act, which protects drivers by establishing lawful U.S. residency requirements for CDLs and requiring states to report their adherence to English proficiency standards.\n\nI am also proud to have joined Senator Tom Cotton in advancing the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act, which requires all testing relating to the issuance of driver\u2019s licenses to be conducted in English only. These bills are critical steps to build on your action to prevent further tragedies and prioritize the safety of Americans.\n\nThank you both again for your leadership on this critical public safety issue. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if there are additional ways Congress can support your efforts to make America's roadways safe again.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-his-advocacy-schumer-announces-112-million-in-americorps-funding-for-senior-volunteers-across-new-york", "FOLLOWING HIS ADVOCACY, SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $11.2+ MILLION IN AMERICORPS FUNDING FOR SENIOR VOLUNTEERS ACROSS NEW YORK", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Charles E. Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", "schumer", "https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Earlier This Year, Trump Fired Thousands Of AmeriCorps Staff And Ripped Away Community Grants For Seniors\n\nSchumer Revealed Impact Of The Cuts And Cancelled Grants And Demanded Trump Restore Funding For AmeriCorps Programs; Senator Now Announces Trump Backed Down And Fed Funding Is Flowing To Support 1,000+ Older NY AmeriCorps Members\n\nSchumer: Despite Trump\u2019s Threats To Dismantle AmeriCorps, Older AmeriCorps Volunteers Continued Their Excellent Work & Now Get The Support They Deserve\n\nU.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced $11,274,471 in federal funding has flowed this year to programs across New York through AmeriCorps\u2019 Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program, supporting more than 1,000 volunteers.\n\nEarlier this year, President Trump took steps to dismantle AmeriCorps, firing staff and freezing federal grants. Schumer demanded that Trump and Republicans protect this vital public service agency, and now, thanks to his advocacy, organizations across New York have continued to receive the funding they needed for volunteers to serve their communities, especially through the popular Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program.\n\n\u201cAmeriCorps is one of the world\u2019s greatest service programs, and more than one thousand New York seniors rely on AmeriCorps funding to volunteer in their communities every year. That\u2019s why when I heard the Trump administration was threatening to dismantle AmeriCorps, including the popular and effective the popular Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program, I demanded answers and called on him to reverse these counterproductive and cruel cuts,\u201d said Senator Schumer. \u201cI\u2019m proud to announce that, despite Trump\u2019s threats, New York has received $11.2+ million this year for older AmeriCorps members to continue the excellent work they do to support kids and other seniors in their communities through the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs. I will continue to fight any cuts to the excellent AmeriCorps program and support organizations that help our seniors stay active in their communities.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Trump and \u2018DOGE\u2019 placed a majority of AmeriCorps employees on leave and terminated nearly $400 million in AmeriCorps grants nationally. Schumer revealed the impact that slashing over $26 million in federal funding for local community projects had on over 3,600 community service members across New York State and demanded that Trump and Republicans protect this vital public service and immediately reverse these cuts. Schumer continued to demand answers about the funding freezes and called for the money to be released.\n\nThanks to Schumer pushing to resolve delays with the AmeriCorps Seniors Program grants, AmeriCorps was able to complete two rounds of FY2025 funding, delivering $11.2 million in Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) and Senior Companion Program (SCP) awards to organizations across New York State. A list of Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program awards for New York in FY2025 can be found below:\n\n\u201cThe Community Place of Greater Rochester is deeply grateful for Senator Schumer\u2019s steadfast support and for this significant AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program grant,\u201d said Scott C. Benjamin, President & CEO of Charles Settlement House & The Community Place of Greater Rochester. \u201cThis more than $1 million investment strengthens our ability to connect older adults with meaningful opportunities to serve, mentor, and support children, families, and neighbors across our community. These programs change lives every day \u2014 not only for those receiving support, but for the seniors whose wisdom, compassion, and service make Rochester stronger.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program is an impactful program providing opportunity for Broome County Seniors to serve their community and make positive contributions to the lives of others and have meaningful outlets to share their time and talents. The funding Broome County is receiving from this program will support opportunities for over 30 volunteers and we are grateful to Senator Schumer for his tireless efforts on behalf of this program,\u201d said Jason Garnar, Broome County Executive.\n\n\u201cWe are very pleased about the release of 2025 AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program funds and the continuation of this important mentorship program. The one-to-one social-emotional attention, encouragement, and support provided to the approximately 225 Syracuse City School District and Head Start children is critical in a city like Syracuse, where childhood poverty is the worst in the nation. Likewise, the more than 68 senior volunteers gain renewed purpose, companionship, and a modest stipend for their time and talents. We thank Senator Schumer for his continued support of this program,\u201d said Carolyn D. Brown, Executive Director, People\u2019s Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc.\n\n\"We are so thankful for the efforts of Senator Schumer to secure funding for our foster grandparent program,\u201d said Deacon Steve Schumer, president & CEO, Catholic Charities of Buffalo. \u201cWhen funding for the program was cut earlier this year, it impacted more than 1,000 children with special and exceptional needs, who received added assistance to help them succeed academically, and older adults, who were given a sense of purpose and much needed social interaction in their retirement years. The extra care and attention the foster grandparents provide make a difference not only in the classroom, but in the lives of these children. During this season of giving, Senator Schumer has given Catholic Charities a gift that is so appreciated by the children, teachers and foster grandparents who can now restart this vital program in our community.\u201d\n\nVernex Harding, Executive Director of Head Start of Rockland, Inc., said, \u201cI express heartfelt gratitude for Senator Schumer's unwavering support and advocacy for AmeriCorps to allocate essential funds to programs like Foster Grandparents. This funding restores and empowers our dedicated senior volunteers' ability to continue mentoring and uplifting children, creating meaningful relationships that shape bright futures. We are deeply thankful for this assistance, which strengthens intergenerational bonds and enriches the lives of both children and volunteers in our community.\u201d\n\nAmeriCorps programs have long-standing bipartisan support, having been previously authorized by Congress and funded by the annual appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed into law. The FGP and SCP programs both provide grants to engage Americans 55 and older in volunteer service to their communities. FGP members support children and youth with special or exceptional needs in schools, Head Start centers, youth facilities, and other community-based settings, providing critical support such as tutoring, mentoring, and emotional reassurance. SCP members support older adults who need assistance to remain independent, offering friendship, companionship, and support with daily tasks.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-delauro-renew-bill-to-ban-unpredictable-scheduling-practices", "Warren, DeLauro Renew Bill to Ban Unpredictable Scheduling Practices", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MA", "Elizabeth Warren", "W000817", "www.warren.senate.gov", "warren", "https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Warren, DeLauro Renew Bill to Ban Unpredictable Scheduling Practices\n\nLegislation would require many employers to provide work schedules two weeks in advance and compensate workers when their schedules change last minute\n\nBill Text (PDF) | Bill One-Pager (PDF)\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) reintroduced the Schedules That Work Act to address unpredictable scheduling practices that may deprive workers of income and require them to work unreasonable hours, like \u201cclopening\u201d shifts that leave little time to commute and rest between shifts.\n\n\u201cUnpredictable scheduling makes it impossible for workers to arrange child care, juggle an education, or even pay the bills. We\u2019re fighting to empower workers and help them regain control over their work schedules and build economic security for themselves and their families,\u201d Senator Warren said.\n\n\u201cWe are in a cost of living crisis that forces too many Americans to live paycheck to paycheck,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cHardworking Americans deserve economic security and the peace of mind that the hours they work will provide enough to make ends meet so they can provide for themselves or their family. That is why I am proud to join Senator Warren in reintroducing the Schedules that Work Act, so workers are not subject to abusive scheduling practices that can lead to financial insecurity and instability. American workers deserve certainty about their schedules and incomes.\u201d\n\nWorkers experience many unreasonable scheduling practices, like last-minute shift cancellations, being placed \u201con-call\u201d with no guarantee of work hours, scheduled for \u201csplit shifts\u201d of non-consecutive hours, and even being sent home early without pay when demand is low. If they push back or request schedule changes, employers may retaliate.\n\nThis month, Starbucks agreed to pay $38.9 million to settle claims it violated New York law by failing to provide regular schedules to employees, cutting workers' scheduled hours without their consent, and giving shifts to new hires first instead of to existing employees.\n\nA report by the Harvard Kennedy School found that unpredictable schedules lead to higher employee turnover, household economic insecurity, and reductions in workers\u2019 health and wellbeing. It also found that Black and Hispanic women are disproportionately impacted by unpredictable schedules and were more likely to have a shift canceled without appropriate notice than white workers.\n\nThe Schedules That Work Act curbs these harmful practices by giving workers a voice in their schedules and helping people meet their responsibilities at work and at home. The bill protects workers who ask for schedule changes from retaliation, and it requires employers to consider their requests. For workers in retail, food service, and cleaning occupations, it requires employers to provide schedules two weeks in advance. The legislation also provides compensation to these employees when their schedules change abruptly, or they are assigned to particularly difficult shifts, including split shifts and call-in shifts.\n\nThe bill also expands these same protections to hospitality and warehouse workers, and establishes a right to rest between shifts \u2013 protecting workers from being forced to work a closing shift one night and the opening shift the next day \u2013 and compensating them adequately if they voluntarily do so.\n\nIf passed, employers would also be required to compensate employees if schedules are not posted two weeks in advance, or if there are changes to the schedule within the two-week period.\n\nThe bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).\n\nThe bill is cosponsored in the House by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA-47), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA-18), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), Barbara Lee (D-CA-13), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35), Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-IL-04), Richie Torres (D-NY-15), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI-14), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Kathleen M. Rice (D-NY-04).\n\nThe Schedules That Work Act is supported by: 9to5, A Better Balance, Action for Children, AFL-CIO, African American Health Alliance, All-Options, American Association of University Women, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, BreastfeedLA, Catch Fire Movement, CDF, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Center for Popular Democracy, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers, Chicago Foundation for Women, Child Care Aware of America, Citizen Action of New York, Coalition for Social Justice, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Coalition on Human Needs, Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), Economic Policy Institute, Equal Rights Advocates, Every Texan, Faith in Public Life, Family Values @ Work, Healthy Nourishment, Jobs With Justice, Justice for Migrant Women, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Legal Aid at Work, Legal Momentum, The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund, MANA - A National Latina Organization, MomsRising, National Black Worker Center, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, National Council of Jewish Women, National Employment Law Project, National Employment Lawyers Association, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women's Law Center, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Network of Jewish Human, Service Agencies, North Carolina Justice Center, Oxfam America, Poligon Education Fund, Public Justice Center, ROC United, Service Employees International Union, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Start Early, Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice, TakeAction Minnesota, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, United for Respect, We All Rise, Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest PA, Women Employed, Women's Fund of Rhode Island, Women's Law Project, Women's Media Center, Workplace Fairness, YWCA of the University of Illinois, YWCA USA, ZERO TO THREE.\n\n\u201cUnpredictable and inadequate work hours have long been a problem for part-time and hourly workers in low-paid jobs, which means they have been a problem for women, and especially for women of color,\u201d said NWLC Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice Emily Martin. \u201cBut the harms posed by volatile work hours\u2014and the uncertain paychecks they produce\u2014have intensified during the pandemic, as workers face new risks to their health, inadequate access to paid leave and paid sick days, and additional caregiving challenges posed by school and child care closures and quarantines. Together, the Schedules That Work Act and the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights will help working people meet their responsibilities both on and off the job, bolster economic security for their families, and help close race and gender wage gaps.\u201d\n\n\u201cThrough A Better Balance\u2019s free and confidential legal helpline, we are constantly hearing from workers in industries like retail, food service, and other shift-based roles who have to miss out on hours and pay because their employers\u2019 unpredictable scheduling practices make it impossible to plan around childcare, medical appointments, and other care-related needs. Many of these workers are also denied essential benefits like paid leave and healthcare due to their part-time status \u2013 even if they\u2019re working full-time hours across multiple jobs,\" said A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar. \"The Schedules That Work Act and Part Time Workers Bill of Rights will together combat these unfair practices and support the health and financial security of these essential workers, advancing gender and racial equity nationwide. We thank Senator Warren for her leadership on this legislation and continued commitment to this country's working families.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman DeLauro and Senator Warren have introduced the Schedules That Work Act every Congress since 2015.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-schakowsky-renew-fight-to-pass-part-time-worker-bill-of-rights-act", "Warren, Schakowsky, Renew Fight to Pass Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MA", "Elizabeth Warren", "W000817", "www.warren.senate.gov", "warren", "https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Warren, Schakowsky, Renew Fight to Pass Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act\n\nBill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF)\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), have reintroduced the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act to strengthen protections for part-time workers and allow them to better balance their work schedules with personal and family needs. The legislation will address one of the primary issues that hourly workers face - work schedules that do not provide as many hours as they need to support their families - and provide additional protections and benefits for part-time workers.\n\n\u201cEvery worker deserves a chance at providing for themselves and their families, but greedy giant corporations are using loopholes to exploit part-time workers instead,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cI\u2019m fighting hard to pass the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights and ensure companies put their workers over profits.\u201d\n\n\u201cPart-time workers across the country deserve better. More than one in five American workers are part-time and they face volatile work hours, unstable incomes, and low wages. Earlier this week, I reintroduced the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act with my colleagues Representative DeLauro and Senator Warren to ensure equitable workplace treatment and conditions for part-time workers. This legislation requires employers to treat part-time and full-time employees impartially and gives part-time workers access to stable hours and medical leave. We must improve the quality of part-time work for millions of families across the country,\u201d said Congresswoman Schakowsky.\n\nCorporations often attempt to avoid providing workers benefits and higher wages by giving part-time workers fewer hours than they want and spreading work among many part-time employees rather than hiring full-time employees.\n\nThis month, Starbucks agreed to pay $38.9 million to settle claims it violated New York law by failing to provide regular schedules to employees, cutting workers' scheduled hours without their consent, and giving shifts to new hires first instead of to existing employees.\n\nThe Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act would:\n\nRequire employers to offer available hours to current, available, qualified part-time employees before hiring new employees or subcontractors. The legislation requires employers with more than 15 workers to compensate existing employees if they hire new employees instead of assigning new work to available, qualified, existing employees. This provision is based on successful access to hours ordinances in cities across the country, including those in Chicago, Emeryville, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.\n\nMake more part-time employees eligible for family and medical leave. The legislation guarantees any employee who has worked for their employer for at least a year access to federal leave protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act.\n\nAllow part-time workers to participate in their employers\u2019 pension plans. The legislation amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to give part-time workers who have worked at least 500 hours for two consecutive years access to retirement plans if they are offered by their employers to full-time workers.\n\nThe bill is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).\n\nThe Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act is supported by: 9to5, A Better Balance, Action for Children, AFL-CIO, African American Health Alliance, All-Options, American Association of University Women, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, BreastfeedLA, Catch Fire Movement, CDF, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Center for Popular Democracy, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers, Chicago Foundation for Women, Child Care Aware of America, Citizen Action of New York, Coalition for Social Justice, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Coalition on Human Needs, Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), Economic Policy Institute, Equal Rights Advocates, Every Texan, Faith in Public Life, Family Values @ Work, Healthy Nourishment, Jobs With Justice, Justice for Migrant Women, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Legal Aid at Work, Legal Momentum, The Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund, MANA - A National Latina Organization, MomsRising, National Black Worker Center, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, National Council of Jewish Women, National Employment Law Project, National Employment Lawyers Association, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women's Law Center, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Network of Jewish Human, Service Agencies, North Carolina Justice Center, Oxfam America, Poligon Education Fund, Public Justice Center, ROC United, Service Employees International Union, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Start Early, Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice, TakeAction Minnesota, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, United for Respect, We All Rise, Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest PA, Women Employed, Women's Fund of Rhode Island, Women's Law Project, Women's Media Center, Workplace Fairness, YWCA of the University of Illinois, YWCA USA, ZERO TO THREE.\n\nThe legislators also introduced the Schedules That Work Act, complementary legislation to help ensure that low-wage employees have more certainty about their work schedules and income. The Schedules That Work Act protects workers who ask for schedule changes from retaliation and requires employers to consider their requests. For retail, food service, and cleaning occupations, it requires employers to provide schedules two weeks in advance. The legislation also provides compensation to these employees when their schedules change abruptly or they are assigned to particularly difficult shifts, including split shifts and call-in shifts.\n\nA recent Berkely study found that unpredictable schedules - which often mean lack of access to enough working hours - are associated with financial insecurity, housing insecurity, high stress, poor health outcomes, and, for parents, less time spent with children, which, in turn, leads to worse outcomes for children. One study found that 65% of respondents with part-time jobs had dealt with \"at least one serious material hardship\" in the past year. Workers facing these challenges are disproportionately women and workers of color as exposure to schedule instability is 16% higher among workers of color compared to white workers.\n\nLaws to help workers access more work hours have already been passed as part of fair workweek laws across the country, including in Chicago, Emeryville, California; New York City; Philadelphia; San Francisco; San Jose; Seattle; and SeaTac, Washington.\n\nSenator Warren and Congresswoman Schakowsky first unveiled their plans to introduce the bill in December 2019. Senators Warren and Booker reintroduced the bill in the Senate in 2020.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-960881-coming-to-wasco-county-for-distance-learning", "Merkley, Wyden Announce $960,881 Coming to Wasco County for Distance Learning", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a federal investment of $960,881 for the Dufur School District 29 to support distance learning in Wasco County. With this funding, instructors at Portland Community College in Multnomah County, Baker Technical Institute in Baker County, Columbia Gorge Community College in Wasco County, and the Oregon Veterans Home in Wasco County will deliver technical training, STEM coursework, and certified nurse assistant training courses to three locations benefiting 655 Dufur School District 29 students.\n\n\u201cAs I hold a town hall in each of Oregon\u2019s 36 counties every year, I frequently hear from folks about the challenges they are facing, especially in rural communities that have unique hurdles in accessing education and health care services,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis critical investment will ensure that working families living in more remote communities will have better access to the tools and services they need to thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cDistance to a city should not determine whether or not hard-working students are able to access a quality education,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThis grant closes that gap and ensures students in Wasco County can gain the technical skills required to expand the healthcare workforce. I applaud this federal award to Dufur School District, and I will fight for more programs like this that provide opportunities for students living in Oregon\u2019s rural communities.\u201d\n\nThis federal funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development\u2019s Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants, which help rural communities access advanced telecommunications technology.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kennedy.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2340", "The Clock is Ticking: Students Have Only a Few Months to Make Grad School Decisions - Kennedy Pushes for Passage of the LEAP Act to Provide Equal Access to Higher Education for In-Demand Professions", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "LA", "John Kennedy", "K000393", "kennedy.house.gov", "kennedy", "https://kennedy.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act Restores Fairness and Financial Parity for all Advanced Degree Students\n\nNew Misguided Policy Created by the Big, Ugly Bill Slashes Amount Many Borrowers Can Receive, Slamming the Door Shut to Professional Advancement\n\nAMHERST, N.Y. \u2013 Joined at Daemen University by educators, professionals, students, and advocates, Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) called for swift passage of his legislation, the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act. With decision time for grad schools coming up in April, Kennedy highlighted the pressing need to provide financial stability and predictability for students seeking advanced degrees. Last week, Kennedy and several colleagues introduced the LEAP Act to rectify a borrowing disparity created by the Republican-led Big, Ugly Bill (H.R. 1). The new legislation aims to restore financial support for advanced degree students, including nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and physicians assistants, whose borrowing limits were significantly reduced while other professional programs remained unaffected. Under Kennedy\u2019s bill, all post-baccalaureate degrees would be eligible to borrow the same $50,000 per year, with a borrowing total of $200,000.\n\n\u201cBecoming an occupational therapist was among the best decisions I ever made,\u201d said Congressman Kennedy. \u201cIt opened new doors for me, changed my worldview, and it\u2019s how I met my wife, a physical therapist. For each of us, access to financing was a challenging burden, but one that we took on knowing that we could make a difference in peoples\u2019 lives. Higher education is about more than just earning potential, it\u2019s about your contribution to the community and helping others. Right now, future grad students are studying their options, figuring out if they can enter the career path they\u2019ve always wanted to. We need to pass the LEAP Act to keep that dream alive for future generations who want to play their part.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe know that one of the biggest barriers to education is financial, and the new limitations on loans will put degree programs out of reach for many. The healthcare graduate programs with new loan restrictions not only prepare students for more responsibility at the bedside, but they are also required to enter Nurse Education. Loan restrictions for advanced healthcare degrees will create new barriers that will limit enrollment and further deepen the healthcare worker shortage, and reduce the number of people qualified to teach healthcare programs,\u201d said Don Fiorilli, Associate Director, 1199SEIU Training & Employment Funds.\n\n\u201cEquitable access to federal student loans is essential if we expect students to pursue advanced degrees in the health professions our communities depend on most,\u201d said D\u2019Youville University President Dr. Lorrie Clemo. \u201cWhen loan limits unfairly restrict fields like nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, we risk worsening workforce shortages at a time when demand is only growing. The LEAP Act restores fairness and ensures that students are not priced out of careers dedicated to caring for others.\u201d\n\n\u201cASHA-certified audiologists and speech-language pathologists in New York thank Rep. Kennedy for his leadership in protecting access to the advanced degrees required to deliver essential communication services,\u201d said Bernadette Mayfield-Clarke, PhD, CCC-SLP, 2025 ASHA President. \u201cDemand for these professionals in New York is projected to grow more than 22% for audiologists and 25% for speech-language pathologists by 2032. Rep. Kennedy\u2019s legislation preserves access to higher federal loan limits, ensuring audiologists and speech-language pathologists can complete their training and meet growing workforce needs statewide.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt Kaleida Health, we are committed to supporting our staff\u2019s career growth. We support the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act and thank Congressman Kennedy for his tireless advocacy for New York State\u2019s healthcare professionals. The LEAP Act will help reduce financial barriers for those seeking advanced healthcare degrees and build a more robust healthcare workforce. It is essential that we continue to provide resources for our dedicated staff to advance in their professions. Not only will these meaningful loans strengthen our workforce, but they will also increase access to high quality health care for patients statewide,\u201d said Don Boyd, President and CEO, Kaleida Health.\n\n\u201cThe LEAP Act is critical legislation to secure the future of our country by ensuring students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in high-demand fields can access the funding necessary to reach their dreams, realize their potential, and support their families and communities with vital services,\u201d said Canisius University President Steve K. Stoute\n\n\u201cI began my career as a registered nurse, and I know firsthand that graduate education is not a luxury in healthcare \u2014 it\u2019s how nurses advance, specialize, and ultimately become the educators who train the next generation,\u201d said Catholic Health CEO Joyce Markiewicz. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Congressman Kennedy for introducing the LEAP Act, which restores fairness and helps ensure the healthcare professionals our patients rely on can afford the education their careers \u2014 and our communities \u2014 depend on.\u201d\n\nUnder H.R. 1, the Grad PLUS program was eliminated and replaced with a two-tiered system. Beginning in July 2026, so-called \u201cprofessional\u201d degrees will be eligible for borrowing up to $50,000 per year, while \u201cgraduate\u201d degrees will only receive up to $20,500 per year, creating a massive disparity and exacerbating ongoing shortages in critical healthcare and other professional fields. Examples of professional degrees include MDs, JDs, and PharmDs, while graduate degrees include a wide variety of other post-baccalaureate degrees such as nursing, therapy, public health, engineering, teaching, and more. Kennedy, the only occupational therapist in Congress, has heard from a wide range of educators and students who are deeply concerned that their access to their desired field of work is being closed off, threatening to make ongoing professional shortages even worse.\n\nThe changes implemented in H.R. 1 are slated to go into effect on July 1, 2026. Kennedy\u2019s legislation, co-led by Reps. Jill Tokuda (HI-2) and Shomari Figures (AL-2) would have the same effective date, ensuring equal access for medical professional students moving forward.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers; American Occupational Therapy Association; American Physical Therapy Association; Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health; Council on Social Work Education; National Association of Social Workers; National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy; National Hispanic Health Foundation; Hispanic Health Professionals Network; National Board for Certified Counselors and Affiliates; Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-demands-answers-from-trump-admin-on-unauthorized-dismantling-of-manufacturing-program", "Senator Baldwin Demands Answers from Trump Admin on Unauthorized Dismantling of Manufacturing Program", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "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-WI) joined a group of her colleagues in demanding answers from the Trump Administration on its decision to withhold and delay congressionally-approved funds to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program\u2019s Centers and why the Administration has repeatedly insisted MEP is inconsistent with their priorities. The MEP program is a public-private partnership that helps small and medium-sized manufacturers grow, make operational improvements, and create jobs. Prior to the Trump Administration\u2019s moves to dismantle the program, the MEP in Wisconsin helped create more than $2.5 billion in economic impact and created or retained nearly 4,000 jobs in just two years.\n\n\u201cOn April 1, 2025, the Administration began withholding and delaying funds Congress already enacted and appropriated for MEP Centers,\u201d wrote Baldwin and the Senators in a letter to Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Craig Burkhardt. \u201cSince then, NIST and the Administration have put the future of the MEP Program in deep uncertainty with its ever-shifting chronology of statements and actions. This uncertainty has already caused roughly 90% of MEP Centers to conduct layoffs or freeze hiring, with some at risk of entirely shutting down. Our offices are also deeply troubled by reports that the Administration has issued Reduction in Force (RIF) and possible separation notices to every MEP employee. These actions disregard Congress\u2019s explicit statutory direction to fully fund the MEP Program and its Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.\u201d\n\nThese actions come despite longstanding broad, bipartisan support from Congress, and the fact that both the House and Senate Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bills provide $175 million for MEP.\n\nThe Administration has also claimed that the goal of the MEP \u2013 to support American manufacturers \u2013 was not aligned with the Administration\u2019s priorities. President Trump has promised an \u201cAmerican manufacturing boom,\u201d but the latest jobs report indicates 67,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since April 2025.\n\n\u201cIt is perplexing why the Administration appears to believe a program specifically designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing would be at odds with its priorities,\u201d concluded the Senators. \u201cWe should not be undermining or eliminating a long-standing program that strengthens innovation, enhances global competitiveness, and creates jobs in U.S. manufacturing.\u201d\n\nSince 1988, the MEP has worked to strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturing through a nationwide network of MEP Centers. The MEP National Network is comprised of 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and over 1,450 trusted advisors and experts at more than 430 MEP service locations that provide any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed.\n\nSenator Baldwin has long championed investing in the manufacturing sector. In addition to helping pass the CHIPS and Science Act, Senator Baldwin worked to secure significant investments to support the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Baldwin is Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee charged with oversight of MEP at the Department of Commerce.\n\nIn addition to Senator Baldwin, the letter was led by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and co-signed by 26 of their colleagues.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Acting Under Secretary Burkhardt,\n\nWe write to seek clarity and information on what appears to be the unauthorized dismantling of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program. If the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) continues its current trajectory of refusing to provide MEP Centers their congressionally mandated funding, 65,000 American manufacturers will lose critical services and resources after December 31, 2025. This is an unacceptable and completely avoidable outcome, and we call on you to rectify this immediately.\n\nOn April 1, 2025, the Administration began withholding and delaying funds Congress already enacted and appropriated for MEP Centers. Since then, NIST and the Administration have put the future of the MEP Program in deep uncertainty with its ever-shifting chronology of statements and actions. This uncertainty has already caused roughly 90% of MEP Centers to conduct layoffs or freeze hiring, with some at risk of entirely shutting down. Our offices are also deeply troubled by reports that the Administration has issued Reduction in Force (RIF) and possible separation notices to every MEP employee. These actions disregard Congress\u2019s explicit statutory direction to fully fund the MEP Program and its Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.\n\nThe MEP Program under the Department of Commerce (DOC) and NIST has long enjoyed broad bipartisan, bicameral support for its success as a national network of go-to experts that help small and medium-sized manufacturers enhance productivity and adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. Congress first authorized MEP in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act and of 1988 and reauthorized the program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. Recent legislation demonstrates Congress\u2019s ongoing support for MEP Centers, as both the House and Senate Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bills provide $175 million for MEP. The House report specifically supports \u201ccontinuation of current State awards that bolster the local manufacturing economy.\u201d Additionally, the Senate report clearly directs that \u201cno funds are provided to execute or plan for a program that reduces the number of active MEP Centers\u201d and that \u201cany revamp, including the one outlined in the June 2025 renewal documents, should not proceed without consultation and approval from the Committee.\u201d\n\nAdditionally, please provide a briefing to our staff on the status of the MEP Program and the Department\u2019s plans for program continuity no later than January 5, 2026.\n\nWe appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/banks-delivers-for-indiana-constiuents-in-first-year-in-the-senate/", "Banks Delivers for Indiana Constiuents in First Year in the Senate", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Jim Banks", "B001299", "www.banks.senate.gov", "banks", "https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) highlighted his office\u2019s constituent service work over the past year, marking his first year representing Hoosiers in the U.S. Senate.\n\nSenator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): \u201cIn my first year in the Senate, my office delivered real results for Hoosiers. I\u2019m proud of the work we did to help thousands of families and return millions of dollars to Indiana.\u201d\n\nOver the past year, Senator Banks\u2019 office delivered the following for Indiana constituents:\n\nAssisted 1,138 Hoosiers with federal casework requests\n\nHelped return $32,841,023.49 to constituents\n\nResponded to 58,811 constituent inquires\n\nArranged 295 U.S. Capitol tours for Hoosiers visiting Washington, D.C.\n\nArranged 31 White House tours for Hoosiers visiting Washington, D.C.\n\nIn 2026, Senator Banks looks forward to continuing to help Hoosiers who need assistance with a federal agency or who are planning a visit to Washington and want to request tours.\n\nPlease feel free to contact his office for assistance or visit his website linked here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-demands-answers-about-donations-to-trumps-ballroom-presses-new-architect-leading-white-house-project-for-details", "Blumenthal Demands Answers About Donations to Trump's Ballroom, Presses New Architect Leading White House Project for Details", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), today demanded answers from Roblox CEO David Baszucki about his reported contribution to President Donald Trump\u2019s White House ballroom as well as ten other individuals who attended the October 15, 2025 fundraising dinner for the project. As Ranking Member of PSI, Blumenthal has led an inquiry into the use of private donations to fund President Trump\u2019s increasingly expensive ballroom, most recently estimated to cost $400 million, and has repeatedly raised concerns about donors that have deep financial, business, or other personal interests before the Trump Administration.\n\nIn a letter sent today to Baszucki, Blumenthal requested additional information from the Roblox CEO about his donation, following a recent meeting during which Baszucki confirmed that he had contributed to President Trump\u2019s ballroom, \u201cI appreciated your candor and transparency at our recent meeting, in acknowledging that you were among the guests in attendance at that dinner and that you made a $5 million contribution to the ballroom project in your personal capacity.\u201d\n\nBlumenthal continued, \u201cAs an attendee at the October 15 dinner and donor to the project, you possess critical information about the Administration\u2019s solicitation of donations, its management of this project, why your donation was not publicly disclosed, and what President Trump or his representatives may have agreed to provide in exchange.\u201d\n\nIn letters to ten other individuals who attended the October 15 fundraiser, including Frank J. Fertitta II, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Red Rock Resorts, Blumenthal wrote, \u201cA representative of your company was reportedly among the guests in attendance at the October 15 dinner; however, neither you nor your company were on the donor list which the White House released to the public several days later. My office has recently received information that at least one other attendee at the October 15 dinner, who was not listed by the White House as a donor, did in fact contribute to the Ballroom project.\u201d\n\nAs part of his inquiry, Blumenthal has also written to the contractor, engineer, and previous architect leading the construction and design of the ballroom. In addition to demanding answers from Roblox and other potential donors today, Blumenthal is seeking information from Shalom Baranes Associates Architects, which has taken on the project following President Trump\u2019s clash with the previous architect. Blumenthal pressed Founding Principal Shalom Baranes in a letter sent today for information on how his company became involved in the project and the terms of his selection to participate. The full text of Blumenthal\u2019s letter to Baranes can be found here.\n\nThe full text of Blumenthal\u2019s letter to Roblox CEO David Baszucki is available here. A compilation of letters sent today to individuals who attended the October 15 fundraiser can be found here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-democratic-colleagues-introduce-sweeping-veterans-bill-to-reform-and-improve-va-health-care", "Blumenthal, Democratic Colleagues Introduce Sweeping Veterans Bill to Reform & Improve VA Health Care", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is leading a group of his Senate colleagues in introducing the Honor Our Promise to Veterans Act (the Honor Act)\u2014sweeping legislation to invest in the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) aging infrastructure, improve VA\u2019s ability to recruit high quality health care employees, and improve the standards of care veterans receive.\n\nHe was joined by fellow Committee members U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), and Patty Murray (D-WA), and U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).\n\n\u201cDemocrats are pushing sweeping reforms to fix a VA system stretched to its limits. The VA system is underfunded, understaffed, and overdue for reform. We are demanding major capital investments in VA facilities, more money for the staff who deliver health care, and increased standards for community care,\u201d said Ranking Member Blumenthal.\n\nBlumenthal continued, \u201cBuilt on years of feedback from veterans and recommendations from watchdogs, our legislation enacts sweeping historic reforms to ensure veterans receive high-quality, timely care\u2014both at VA facilities and in the community. The Honor Act mandates broad, landmark investments to replace VA\u2019s aging infrastructure and make VA clinicians\u2019 compensation more competitive. It aims to guarantee veterans\u2019 access to well-trained, veteran-informed care no matter where they live.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have an obligation to do more than just thank our veterans for their service. We owe veterans the full, critical benefits they earned through their service,\u201d said Senator Alsobrooks. \u201cThe Honor Act is an important step in fulfilling our obligation by ensuring the VA can easily improve its infrastructure, recruit high quality candidates, and always ensure our veterans are receiving the highest quality health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe owe it to veterans in Maine and across the nation to provide them with the highest standard of care and support,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cA critical part of meeting that responsibility is ensuring the VA has a strong workforce and the infrastructure necessary to serve those who have served us. The Honor Our Promises to Veterans Act does exactly what its name suggests: it helps ensure the VA remains accountable to our veterans and fulfills the commitments our nation has made to them.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Honor Act is a critical investment into the VA that truly prioritizes our Veterans,\u201d Senator Duckworth said. \u201cIt will expedite Veterans' access to much-needed care, hold community practitioners to higher standards and increase oversight into VA infrastructure projects. Further, it will help alleviate the staffing shortages largely caused by the Trump Administration\u2019s extreme measures to push out nearly 30,000 employees this year. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Blumenthal in introducing this comprehensive legislation that upholds the integrity of VA as the medical center home and keeps the care of our Veterans as VA\u2019s highest priority.\u201d\n\n\u201cVeterans are important members of our communities who have risked their lives in service to our country, and they deserve the highest possible quality of care, education, and training,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cInstead of supporting our veterans, the Trump Administration has spent the last year repeatedly attacked our veteran community, gutting VA funding and stripping veterans of care they need. By helping to initiate policy reforms including recruiting high-quality employees, improving infrastructure, and supporting education, this comprehensive legislation is another step in the right direction to ensuring that veterans are prioritized.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s veterans deserve the highest standard of care, and I\u2019m proud to join this commonsense legislation to deliver just that,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cThis bill will make it easier to upgrade old infrastructure and help the VA recruit the highest quality candidates. Together, we can undertake real VA reforms that make a meaningful difference for our veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs part of our commitment to the brave men and women who so bravely served our nation in uniform, this commonsense bill incorporates recommendations directly from experts and veterans across this country to ensure the VA can better serve them and their families,\u201d said Senator Shaheen.\n\nThe Senators\u2019 legislation would implement critical policy reforms based on feedback from veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, labor representatives, VA employees, the Government Accountability Office, and VA\u2019s Office of Inspector General (OIG). It is the most comprehensive legislation to reform VA health care since the MISSION Act.\n\nAmong its many provisions, the Honor Act would:\n\nImprove care at VA and in the community for veterans:\n\nImproves scheduling of appointments for veterans by establishing specific timing requirements;\n\nIncreases transparency around access to care for veterans by requiring publicly accessible information on available providers, wait times, and drive times for both VA and the community;\n\nDesignates community care providers as informed on military sexual trauma (MST) if they complete certain relevant trainings, to ensure MST survivors can make informed choices about their care;\n\nRoots out community care providers who have felony connections or who have been been investigated for or confirmed for providing poor care from VA\u2019s list of authorized providers, to ensure veterans are only receiving care at VA and in the community from high quality providers;\n\nEnsures community care providers are held accountable for meeting the training and quality standards required of VA providers;\n\nCodifies VA OIG\u2019s oversight authority for community care providers and facilities so it can review and audit them with the same thoroughness as VA care;\n\nRequires community care providers give VA specific data to determine the quality, safety, and timeliness of the care they are providing veterans; and\n\nDirects VA OIG to investigate life-saving dialysis care provided at VA and in the community, following investigations of community providers uncovering extremely substandard practices.\n\nReform VA\u2019s hiring process to ensure the Department can recruit & retain talented employees, especially for positions facing urgent shortages:\n\nReforms VA\u2019s hiring process by establishing common sense processes and requirements to speed up the current extremely long hiring timeline to fill critical vacancies at VA;\n\nRequires VA to establish staffing models for each service and program in the Department to provide veterans and Congress more transparency on the staffing and resources needed for facilities;\n\nAllows VA to waive certain pay limitations or increase incentive pay to help recruit and retain high-quality in demand health care positions at the Department;\n\nModernizes VA\u2019s telework policy by making it the default for all positions that do not require employees to be onsite;\n\nMakes it easier for VA to hire psychologists, a position facing severe staffing shortages at the Department, and for them to earn higher pay; and\n\nEstablishes additional education programs to make VA more competitive when it comes to hiring and retaining the workforce critical to VA operations, including creating two new education and career growth incentive programs for facilities staff and schedulers.\n\nStrengthen VA infrastructure to increase the Department\u2019s capacity to serve veterans:\n\nAuthorizes the level of funding estimated by VA - approximately $10 billion a year over ten years - to tackle its infrastructure needs for modern medical facilities, renovations, and cemeteries;\n\nAllows VA to purchase land for medical facilities earlier, which will speed up the delivery of new facilities;\n\nDevelops relevant plans and infrastructure workforce hiring strategies to accomplish new facility projects and provide Congress performance data for enhanced oversight;\n\nExamines infrastructure budgeting strategies and identifies what reforms are required, informed by industry best practices; and\n\nProvides annual budget requirements over a 10-year period allowing Congress and the Department to modernize VA\u2019s infrastructure through a strategic, comprehensive approach.\n\nA link to the bill\u2019s full text and section by section can be found HERE and HERE.\n\nThe Honor Act has received support from critical veteran advocates, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Common Defense, Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute, Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, VoteVets, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), Veterans Affairs PA Association (AVAPAA), American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Military Association of America, and Minority Veterans of America.\n\n\u201cAFGE appreciates Ranking Member Blumenthal\u2019s commitment to maintaining the viability of the direct care system and improving compensation for the VA workforce. The \u201cHonor Act of 2025\u201d would help create a more even playing field between direct care and private care by removing the bias against VA telehealth, reinstating telework and requiring private care to meet standards expected of VA. The Honor Act would also ensure that VA police receive law enforcement pensions and expand reimbursement for continuing professional education for clinicians. We look forward to working with Sen. Blumenthal to improve and refine this important legislation,\u201d said MJ Burke, President of AFGE National VA Council.\n\n\u201cThis is the strongest, most veteran-centered VA reform bill we\u2019ve seen in years: it delivers faster appointments, real transparency, tougher standards for private contractors, life changing investments in VA hospitals and clinics, and smarter hiring so we actually have the doctors, nurses, and staff we need. It honors our service by making the care we earned work better, inside the VA and in the community. This is what putting veterans first actually looks like in action,\u201d said Naveed Shah, Army veteran and Political Director of Common Defense.\n\n\u201cThe Honor Act of 2025 fulfills the unmet aspirations of the VA MISSION Act of 2018, which sought to empower veterans with the information needed to make informed healthcare decisions and to guarantee high-quality care regardless of where it's delivered. The Honor Act directly addresses these gaps by providing veterans with transparent, real-time access to wait times at both VA facilities and community providers, as well as publicized information about their providers' specialized training and High Performing designations. It expands telehealth options for veterans who prefer virtual care, assures consistent quality standards across all providers\u2014whether within the VA system or in the community\u2014and broadens the VA Office of Inspector General's authority to investigate care delivery wherever it occurs, ensuring comprehensive oversight that veterans can trust,\u201d said Dr. Russell Lemle, Senior Policy Analyst, Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute.\n\n\u201cThe American Psychological Association applauds the introduction of the Honor Act of 2025 and thanks Senator Blumenthal and his staff for championing veterans and the professionals who care for them. This bill takes meaningful steps to strengthen the VA\u2019s ability to recruit and keep the psychologists it urgently needs \u2014 a pressing issue as more than half of VHA facilities report severe psychologist shortages, the highest among all clinical roles. The Honor Act also creates transparency and parity between VA direct care and community care, helping ensure every veteran receives high-quality care, no matter where they\u2019re served,\u201d said Dr. Arthur C. Evans Jr., Chief Executive Officer, American Psychological Association.\n\n\u201cNOVA strongly supports the \u2018HONOR Act of 2025\u2019 as it mandates training and transparency within the community care network and provides Veterans with the data and information they need to make the best decisions for their unique healthcare. We are happy to see more educational assistance and continuing education funding for nurses, as well as pay increases for nurse leadership along with steps that encourage VA\u2019s \u2018grow your own,\u2019 and mentorship programs. Many of the provisions in the Honor Act directly align with NOVA legislative priority goals and will improve and advance care for Veterans,\u201d said Catherine Giasson, President, Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs.\n\n\u201cThe HONOR Act is a strong, veteran-first investment in the care our nation\u2019s heroes have earned. By modernizing VA infrastructure, strengthening direct-care services, and ensuring the Department can recruit and retain the world-class clinicians veterans rely on, this bill reinforces VA\u2019s ability to keep to keep delivering exceptional care to veterans. Just as importantly, The Honor Act raises the bar for accountability in community care so veterans aren\u2019t left navigating gaps in quality or access. VoteVets is proud to support this legislation that puts veterans\u2019 health and dignity at the center of VA policy. We applaud Senator Blumenthal\u2019s leadership and urge Congress to pass The Honor Act without delay,\u201d said Kayla Williams, Senior Advisor, VoteVets.\n\n\u201cThe Modern Military Association of America supports the Honor Act 2025 as it strengthens the promise our nation makes to every veteran. By holding community care providers to the same training and quality requirements as VA clinicians, and ensuring those who fail to meet them are held accountable and removed, this bill closes dangerous gaps in veteran care. Our veterans deserve consistent, trauma-informed, and respectful treatment wherever they receive services\u2014and the HONOR Act is an essential step toward delivering that standard nationwide,\u201d said Ash Carothers, Executive Director, Modern Military Association of America.\n\n\u201cAAPA appreciates Sen. Blumenthal's work to improve healthcare for veterans and the inclusion of three provisions in his HONOR Act that would be critical steps towards addressing health workforce shortages at the VA and increasing access to care for our nation's veterans. The bill would modernize PA practice by removing collaboration requirements, open job postings to all qualified candidates, and provide support for continuing professional education. VA PAs are trained and qualified to practice in all specialties, including mental health, and we thank Sen. Blumenthal for recognizing the need for improved utilization of PAs at the VA so that veterans are able to better access the high-quality care they deserve,\u201d said Todd Pickard, President, American Academy of Physician Associates.\n\n\u201cVAPAA extends its thanks to Senator Blumenthal for his work and attention to veterans, by ensuring they have access to the high quality healthcare they need and deserve. The HONOR Act of 2025 contains provisions that will modernize PA practice at VA, and improve parity with community healthcare organizations, by removing unnecessary barriers to PA hiring, retention, and education, particularly for PA veterans wishing to serve their fellow veterans .This is especially appreciated as it will improve access to care in rural and remote areas where PAs excel by helping to address workforce shortages of healthcare providers caring for veterans. VA PAs are trained and qualified to practice in all specialties, including Primary Care and Mental Health, so we thank Senator Blumenthal for recognizing the need for increasing utilization of PAs within VA to improve veterans\u2019 access to the high-quality care that they require, demand, and deserve,\u201d said Christopher Lorenc, President, Veterans Affairs PA Association.\n\n\u201cDialysis companies that contract with the VA must provide safe working conditions for dialysis caregivers and the best quality care for our nation's veterans. Senator Blumenthal\u2019s legislation is a critical step toward ensuring worker input and that the private dialysis companies entrusted with veterans\u2019 care are held accountable for meeting minimum standards. We applaud Senator Blumenthal for championing this effort, and we stand ready to work with Senator Blumenthal to make sure dialysis caregivers have the working conditions they need to provide every veteran with the best quality care possible,\u201d said Leslie Frane, Executive Vice President, Service Employees International Union.\n\n\u201cNFFE is pleased to see the HONOR Act come to life and is encouraged by its potential to advance the working conditions and careers of VA healthcare workers and other professional and administrative staff, including VA police officers\u2014all of whom are essential to maintaining a safe, high-quality environment of care for our nation\u2019s veterans. We welcome continued engagement to ensure the bill achieves its full intended impact,\u201d said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM).\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-trump-administrations-latest-attack-on-revolution-wind", "Blumenthal Statement on Trump Administration's Latest Attack on Revolution Wind", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "www.blumenthal.senate.gov", "blumenthal", "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press", "scraper", "[Hartford, CT] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard released the following statement today on the Trump Administration\u2019s latest attempt to stop work on the nearly complete Revolution Wind offshore wind project.\n\n\u201cWhile the Trump Administration plays political games with Revolution Wind, here\u2019s what\u2019s at stake for Connecticut: the loss of good paying union jobs, billions of public and private dollars wasted, and higher electricity prices. This latest attack on Revolution Wind is even more absurd than the first one. The President cites national security risks, but has not been able to prove or demonstrate that such risks even exist. I am standing with our state\u2019s delegation to keep fighting for this project, the workers who deserve to keep their jobs, and the Connecticut consumers who can\u2019t afford to pay more for electricity,\u201d Blumenthal said.\n\nAfter the Trump Administration\u2019s first attempt to stop work at Revolution Wind in late August, Blumenthal wrote to Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum demanding answers regarding Trump\u2019s interference in the project.\n\nA copy of that letter is available here.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-capito-wishes-west-virginians-a-merry-christmas-2025", "VIDEO: Capito Wishes West Virginians a Merry Christmas", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WV", "Shelley Moore Capito", "C001047", "www.capito.senate.gov", "capito", "https://www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or on the image above to watch the video.\n\nCHARLESTON, W.Va. \u2013 Ahead of Christmas, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) released a video message wishing West Virginians a merry Christmas and encouraging them to reflect on what\u2019s most important this holiday season. She also wished everyone a happy new year full of health and happiness.\n\nFull video transcript included below:\n\n\u201cMerry Christmas West Virginia.\n\n\u201cI hope this is a time of great joy and happiness. While you gather with family and loved ones to enjoy the traditions and festivities, I encourage you all to reflect on what\u2019s truly most important during the holiday season.\n\n\u201cThis is such a special time to come together to celebrate the blessings we have and renew our hope for a bright new year ahead.\n\n\u201cWe must also not forget the brave men and women serving overseas, our first responders and law enforcement officers, and our medical professionals who aren\u2019t able to celebrate with their loved ones because of their selfless service to all of us.\n\n\u201cFrom my entire family to yours, Merry Christmas. May your days be merry and bright and the year ahead full of health and happiness for you and your family.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cassidy-legislation-to-improve-veterans-health-care-passes-senate/", "Cassidy Legislation to Improve Veterans\u2019 Health Care Passes Senate", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "LA", "Bill Cassidy", "C001075", "www.cassidy.senate.gov", "cassidy", "https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) applauded the U.S. Senate passage of his Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission (VetPAC) Act. The legislation creates a new VetPAC to facilitate a transparent, expert-driven review process for the Veterans Health Administration\u2019s (VHA) operations. The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.\n\n\u201cOur veterans put their lives on the line in service to our nation,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cWe owe them a health care system worthy of that sacrifice. This legislation moves us closer to that standard.\u201d\n\nThe VetPAC Act creates a Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission made up of medical experts and veterans tasked with evaluating VHA performance, identifying areas for improvement, and issuing regular reports to Congress to ensure transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the VA health care system.\n\nCassidy was joined by U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in introducing the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/local-spotlight-cassidy-highlights-local-artist-andrew-coleman-for-sharing-the-gospel-through-woodworking/", "LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: Cassidy Highlights Local Artist Andrew Coleman for Sharing the Gospel through Woodworking", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "LA", "Bill Cassidy", "C001075", "www.cassidy.senate.gov", "cassidy", "https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "(Click here to watch and here to download)\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), for his monthly Local Spotlight, highlighted Andrew Coleman, a Louisianan following God\u2019s call to ministry by sharing the Gospel through his artistic gifts. After a year in seminary, Andrew discovered his true calling\u2014serving God and his community through woodworking. Each month, Cassidy highlights a local story that truly reflects Louisiana values of humility, respect, and resiliency.\n\nRead his full December 2025 Local Spotlight below:\n\nToday we are recognizing Andrew Coleman of Coleman\u2019s Handcrafted in Baton Rouge.\n\nAndrew has been an artist from a young age, but he felt deeply connected to the church and sensed that God was calling him to a life of ministry. He entered the Seminary to study for the priesthood.\n\nBut after a year, God revealed that his calling takes different shape\u2014that he was not meant to share the Gospel from the pulpit, but through the work of his hands.\n\nBecause of his sensitivity to God\u2019s voice and obedience to his artistic calling, Andrew is now a full-time carpenter and woodcarver, commissioning pieces for churches in and around Louisiana.\n\nAndrew, you remind us of a simple truth: When you follow God\u2019s plan for your life, good things happen.\n\nFirst Peter 4:10 says, \u201cEach of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God\u2019s grace in its various forms.\u201d\n\nKeep using your gifts. You make Louisiana, our country, and the world a more beautiful and more worshipful place.\n\nBackground\n\nIn November, Cassidy highlighted Katie Jenkins, owner of STIR Coffee in Baton Rouge, who primarily employs Louisianans with cognitive disabilities. By providing good jobs for people who may otherwise face barriers to employment, Katie is improving life for those she employs and setting a positive example for businesses across the country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-bill-to-exhume-alleged-serial-murderer-from-fort-sam-houston-national-cemetery-signed-into-law/", "Cornyn Bill to Exhume Alleged Serial Murderer from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery Signed into Law", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "AUSTIN \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after his bill to require the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota, an alleged serial murderer and convicted rapist, from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, was signed into law by President Trump as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026:\n\n\u201cFort Sam Houston National Cemetery is a sacred resting place for more than 170,000 respected veterans and their loved ones, and it would be a slap in the face to each one of them to allow Fernando Cota, a convicted rapist and alleged serial murderer, to remain buried amongst such heroes,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cThis law rightfully directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter Cota\u2019s remains from Fort Sam Houston to be in-keeping with current law and deliver justice for victims\u2019 families.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is a cosponsor of this legislation.\n\nBackground:\n\nSen. Cornyn\u2019s law directs the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter Fernando V. Cota, an alleged serial murderer and convicted rapist, from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. This comes at the request of the son of one of Cota\u2019s alleged victims.\n\nFernando Cota was drafted into the U.S. Army and fought in the Vietnam War. Upon returning to the states and transitioning to civilian life, he faced multiple sexual assault allegations, was the prime suspect in the murders of six women in San Jose, California, and was ultimately convicted of attacking a nurse by binding and raping her in 1975. He was imprisoned for two decades, but was later released on parole in 1983. One year later, he was stopped by police officers while driving erratically, leading him to commit suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police found a wooden box in his van with the corpse of a young woman, later identified as 21-year-old Kim Marie Dunham, who had gone missing the day before.\n\nFollowing Cota\u2019s death, the police received a search warrant for his home, where investigators found a small closet where he would torture his victims. On the walls inside the closet, detectives found many fingerprints, which were sent for examination to identify other potential victims.\n\nFurthermore, investigators found fake ID cards, a false police badge, numerous women\u2019s blouses, six pairs of women\u2019s shoes, and advertisements for tenants, which Cota posted on San Jose State University\u2019s campus to invite local students to rent a room in his apartment. During the investigation, six girls were identified as victims \u2013 all killed by being strangled, stabbed, or beaten to death.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-kelly-bill-to-enhance-u-s-mexico-counternarcotics-efforts-signed-into-law/", "Cornyn, Kelly Bill to Enhance U.S.-Mexico Counternarcotics Efforts Signed into Law", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "AUSTIN \u2013 U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) released the following statements after their Counternarcotics Enhancement Act, which will require elements of the Intelligence Community to assess any direct relationship with an element of the Government of Mexico, develop a strategy to enhance counternarcotics efforts, and make recommendations or request resources required to implement the strategy in furtherance of the national interest of the United States, was signed into law by President Trump as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026:\n\n\u201cOne innocent life lost because of illicit narcotics smuggled into the U.S. by way of Mexico is one too many,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cThis law will ensure our Intelligence Community leverages the U.S.-Mexico relationship to most effectively root out these silent killers and keep Americans safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo win the fight against drug trafficking, the U.S. and Mexico have to work together against the cartels,\u201d said Sen. Kelly. \u201cThis effort with Republicans and Democrats will make our country safer by keeping drugs off our streets through Intelligence Community engagement with the government of Mexico.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Counternarcotics Enhancement Act will require elements of the Intelligence Community to submit to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) the following information:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-op-ed-republicans-solution-to-affordability-is-through-tax-cuts-for-working-families/", "Cornyn Op-Ed: Republicans\u2019 Solution to Affordability is Through Tax Cuts for Working Families", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "AUSTIN \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) authored the following op-ed in the San Antonio Express News on the benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cuts, which will put money back into the pockets of hard-working Texans.\n\nRepublicans\u2019 Solution to Affordability is Through Tax Cuts for Working Families\n\nSenator John Cornyn\n\nThe San Antonio Express-News\n\nIn print December 21, 2025\n\nhttps://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/republican-tax-cuts-john-cornyn-21248007.php\n\nAmericans are facing an affordability crisis after 40-year high inflation under the Biden administration. A quarter of U.S. households are living paycheck to paycheck, while 56% of voters say that affordability is their top concern. While there is no silver bullet that can magically erase economic anxiety, Republicans have delivered solutions that will ease the burden of rising costs on Texan families through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\nThis legislation, which President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, helps Americans keep more of what they earn by lowering taxes across the board, with Texans receiving an outsized benefit. We permanently increased the base standard deduction to $15,750 with an annual adjustment for inflation. Without our legislation, the standard deduction would have dropped to $8,300 next year, hurting the more than 12 million Texan families who claim the standard deduction. We also made permanent the lower tax rates from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which were set to expire at the end of 2025. The Tax Foundation estimates that Texans will receive an average tax cut of $3,942 in 2026 from the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\nThe burden of rising costs is particularly acute for families with children, who are often forced to pick between living on one income or budgeting for the increasingly exorbitant cost of child care. Without our legislation, families would have been further pinched next year with the Child Tax Credit scheduled to decrease from $2,000 down to $1,000. The Working Families Tax Cuts prevented this from happening, raising the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 and indexing it to inflation. Additionally, we permanently strengthened the Employer-provided Child Care Credit, which will incentivize businesses to provide child care. These reforms mark a small but important step towards making family life more affordable.\n\nHealth care remains one of Americans\u2019 top concerns as medical costs continue to rise. We helped address this by expanding access to Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs. Our bill extended HSA eligibility to individual market bronze and catastrophic plans beginning in 2026, allowing people with individual market plans to save pre-tax dollars, and use those funds to cover eligible medical costs. It also permanently ensures high-deductible health plans can cover telehealth and other remote services before the deductible kicks in, while remaining HSA-eligible. With wider access to HSAs, families can rest a little easier knowing that they will have resources set aside to rely on in the case of an unforeseen medical emergency.\n\nMonthly car payments have become another stress point as high interest rates translate to higher payments. The Working Families Tax Cuts confront this problem as well. Our law introduced a new source of savings for those earning less than $100,000: Texans can now deduct up to $10,000 for interest paid on a loan for a new vehicle made in the U.S. This new deduction will help individuals and families who need to purchase a new car, while incentivizing manufacturing here in the United States. Whereas the Biden administration subsidized electric vehicles, a luxury household item made from materials that rely on Chinese supply chains, Republicans have rightly prioritized tax relief for purchases of made-in-America-cars for the working middle class.\n\nRepublicans also delivered targeted relief to hourly-wage workers, tipped workers and seniors through new deductions. We delivered a historic win for the working class with our \u201cNo Tax on Tips\u201d and \u201cNo Tax on Overtime\u201d provisions. These allow employees and self-employed individuals to deduct up to $25,000 in tip income for tax years 2025 through 2028. We also created a new deduction of up to $12,500 for single filers for qualified overtime income, as well as a new $6,000 deduction for seniors over the age of 65. The U.S. Department of Treasury estimates that about 6 million workers will benefit from the new \u201cNo Tax on Tips\u201d policy. Through these deductions, the Working Families Tax Cuts ensure that working Texans and seniors have a little more breathing room when Tax Day comes around.\n\nWhile there is no magic wand that will lower prices and end financial uncertainty, Republicans have delivered relief through the Working Families Tax Cuts and put more money back into the pockets of working Texans. Our historic reforms will help families, those struggling with health care costs or car payments, as well as hourly workers, tipped workers, and seniors. Through the Working Families Tax Cuts, the Republican Party has delivered a critical step towards one of President Trump\u2019s most important promises to the American people, and that is to make life affordable again.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-alsobrooks-curtis-merkley-introduce-bill-to-reauthorize-wildlife-crossings-program", "Cramer, Alsobrooks, Curtis, Merkley Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Wildlife Crossings Program", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "www.cramer.senate.gov", "cramer", "https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "BISMARCK, N.D. \u2013 The Wildlife Crossings Program provides grants for infrastructure improvements designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. States and tribes can apply for grants to create safe paths for wildlife to cross roads and highways, often in the form of enlarged culverts, underpasses, and bridges. The program was authorized for five years in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is set to expire next year.\n\nU.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, EPW T&I Ranking Member U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced legislation to reauthorize the program.\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the Wildlife Crossings Program to better protect people and animals from the dangers of vehicle collisions, especially in rural states like North Dakota where the two frequently cross paths,\u201dsaid Cramer. \u201cOur bill reauthorizes and expands the program to support infrastructure projects directly aimed at improving roadway safety. I\u2019m grateful to Senator Alsobrooks for her leadership of this bipartisan effort, which will benefit critters and communities across the nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Wildlife Crossings Program at the Federal Highway Administration provides a unique opportunity to protect both our wildlife and our drivers \u2013 it is a true win-win,\u201d said Alsobrooks. \u201cI am proud of the ongoing work in Maryland to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions across our state and look forward to supporting Maryland\u2019s efforts by reauthorizing this important program. I want to thank Senators Cramer, Merkley, and Curtis for their partnership on this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe North Dakota Department of Transportation supports the reauthorization and improvements to this discretionary grant, as it creates safer connections to communities and provides critical passage for wildlife across North Dakota\u2019s transportation system,\u201d said North Dakota Department of Transportation Director Ron Henke. \u201cThese crossings will enhance year-round recreation by providing safer travel for people of all ages looking to enjoy the outdoor activities that North Dakota has to offer.\u201d\n\n\"Reauthorizing the Wildlife Crossings Program is a priority for state fish and wildlife agencies to enhance the movement of wildlife and ensure safer roads,\u201d said Paul Johansen, Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. \u201cEvery year, more than 1 million wildlife-vehicle collisions are reported across the United States, resulting in human and wildlife fatalities and costing billions of dollars in damages. We know there are proven solutions - such as culverts, bridges and tunnels that allow animals to migrate safely - to reduce these incidents and save lives. We applaud Senators Alsobrooks, Cramer, Merkley, and Curtis for the bipartisan introduction of this important bill.\u201d\n\nAccording to the Federal Highway Administration, each year there are over 1 million wildlife vehicle collisions. These accidents result in tens of thousands of injuries, hundreds of fatalities, and cost over $8 billion.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-kennedy-urge-action-to-protect-us-oil-and-gas-from-eu-methane-mandate", "Sens. Cruz, Kennedy Urge Action to Protect U.S. Oil and Gas from EU Methane Mandate", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "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. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Kennedy (R-La.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and Ambassador Jamieson Greer of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, urging the Trump administration to pressure the European Union to repeal the European Union Methane Regulation (EUMR). The EUMR seeks to regulate oil and gas production within the United States, undermining American energy dominance, infringing on American sovereignty, and potentially harming U.S. energy exports to the European Union.\n\nBelow are highlights and excerpts from the letter:\n\n\u201cWhen fully phased in, the EUMR will set a new, yet-to-be-defined methane intensity standard for U.S. imports of oil and natural gas. This provision, if allowed to go into effect, would mean that regulators in Paris, Berlin, and Brussels would tell operators in Midland and Pittsburgh how, when, and where to produce energy.\n\n\u201cThe insinuation that European countries could directly regulate American producers is a gross overstep and breach of bilateral relations\u2014especially in the aftermath of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, where American LNG exporters helped fend off the worst-case scenarios by surging cargoes to the region. Europe continues to rely on U.S. LNG to keep homes warm, lights on, and factories operating across the continent. In the absence of U.S. LNG, Europe\u2019s reliance on Russian energy would grow, further undermining European security and reinforcing Russia\u2019s strategic grip on the continent.\n\n\u201cAs you meet with your European counterparts to finalize the trade deal implementation action plan, we ask that this administration use all available legal, diplomatic, and economic tools to ensure that the EUMR is repealed in full. Regulating aspects of the EU\u2019s own oil and gas production is within the authority delegated to it by member states\u2014any attempt to extend such regulations to U.S. producers represents a clear and provocative attempt to supersede America\u2019s sovereign right to regulate, through laws passed by the U.S. Congress, its own energy supply.\n\n\u201cThank you for your commitment to maintaining American energy dominance. We stand ready to work together with this administration to protect U.S. energy producers across the country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.daines.senate.gov/2025/12/22/daines-honors-montanan-of-the-month-lieutenant-kirby-dempster/", "Daines Honors Montanan of the Month: Lieutenant Kirby Dempster", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MT", "Steve Daines", "D000618", "www.daines.senate.gov", "daines", "https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. SENATE\u2014 U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Lieutenant Kirby Dempster as Montanan of the Month for his service with the Fergus County Sheriff\u2019s Office and his courage in the face of a daunting diagnosis. Through his \u201cMontanan of the Month\u201d initiative, every month Daines highlights a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress. To recommend a Montanan click HERE. The following is a statement submitted to the Congressional Record:\n\nTRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT KIRBY DEMPSTER\n\nMr. Daines, Mr. President, today I have the honor to recognize Lieutenant Kirby Dempster of the Fergus County Sheriff\u2019s Office in Lewistown, Montana, as Montanan of the Month. For more than eight and a half years, Lieutenant Dempster has served the people of Fergus County with courage, compassion, and integrity. As a supervising officer, he leads both detention and patrol operations and oversees important department initiatives, including cyber-crime prevention efforts focused on protecting children, human-trafficking investigations, and a drone program. Today, we also recognize him for something deeper: his resilience during one of life\u2019s toughest battles. Following a difficult cancer diagnosis, Lieutenant Dempster was confronted with a new fight. However, he and his loved ones did not face it alone. His fellow officers, first responders, and the entire Lewistown community stepped forward without hesitation. Fundraisers were launched, donations poured in, and neighbors showed up to support the Dempster family. This remarkable outpouring of support reflects what Lieutenant Dempster has built in his community over his many years of service. He is known as a strong leader, a mentor, a dedicated public servant, and above all, a devoted family man. Lieutenant Dempster\u2019s commitment to protecting his community, his leadership in the face of hardship, and the community\u2019s support in return embodies the very best of Montana values. His story reminds us of what service truly means and how Montanans stand together when it matters most.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gallego.senate.gov/news/press-releases/gallego-continues-to-push-for-answers-on-trumps-pharmaceutical-deals/", "Gallego Continues to Push for Answers on Trump\u2019s Pharmaceutical Deals", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "AZ", "Ruben Gallego", "G000574", "www.gallego.senate.gov", "gallego", "https://www.gallego.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "In letters to the drug companies who recently inked deals with President Trump, Senator Gallego calls for more details and greater transparency\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 In response to President Trump\u2019s recent announcement that nine drugmakers agreed to direct-to-consumer pricing through the TrumpRx drug purchasing platform, and the implementation of \u201cMost Favored Nation\u201d (MFN) pricing in Medicaid, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) called on the drug manufacturers to clarify the agreement and provide the public with details on the arrangement.\n\n\u201cIt raises concern that to date, the public has been provided with only limited details, despite the significance of this arrangement for millions of patients, and that in return for this arrangement [these companies] will get a three-year exemption from Section 232 tariffs,\u201d Senator Gallego wrote in the letters to the drug manufacturers.\n\nIn the letters, Senator Gallego asks the drug manufacturers the following questions:\n\nUnder the proposed model, which countries and pricing metrics will be used in the MFN formula?\n\nWill [the company] commit to transparency in how MFN prices are calculated, and disclose how the final MFN price is calculated, whether discounts, rebates, or pricing agreements are incorporated?\n\nHow frequently will MFN comparator pricing be updated? Will changes be made automatically as international pricing data changes?\n\nWhat is the full scope of [your company\u2019s] drugs subject to MFN pricing in Medicaid?\n\nHow will MFN pricing in Medicaid affect Medicaid Best Price and the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program?\n\nWill [your company] commit to not shifting costs to other markets? Do you commit to not recoup any revenue reductions by raising prices in private insurance markets, employee-sponsored plans, or Medicare?\n\nAre there plans for [the company] to expand MFN or TrumpRx-style pricing to the commercial insurance or Medicare Part D markets?\n\nGiven that Medicaid beneficiary cost-sharing on prescription drugs is generally limited, please explain how beneficiaries will see savings under this arrangement.\n\nAs currently described, this model would require patients to bypass their insurance and pay cash for medications \u2014 often at high out-of-pocket costs. Given that many insured patients already have lower copays or coinsurance than the proposed TrumpRx discounts, it is unclear how this platform would provide meaningful relief. In fact, it may increase costs for patients,\u201d Senator Gallego concludes the letters.\n\nSenator Gallego sent the letters to the nine companies included in President Trump\u2019s most recent announcement. These companies include:\n\nAmgen\n\nBoehringer Ingelheim\n\nBristol Myers Squibb\n\nGenentech\n\nGilead Sciences\n\nGSK\n\nNovartis\n\nMerck\n\nSanofi", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gallego.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-gallego-gives-back-ahead-of-the-holidays-with-toy-donations/", "Senator Gallego Gives Back Ahead of the Holidays with Toy Donations", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "AZ", "Ruben Gallego", "G000574", "www.gallego.senate.gov", "gallego", "https://www.gallego.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "PHOENIX \u2013 Ahead of the holidays, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) visited Phoenix Children\u2019s Hospital to donate toys as part of the hospital\u2019s annual Toyland Toy Drive, helping ensure every child admitted to the hospital over the holidays receives a gift. The hospital plans to provide gifts to over 400 families this year.\n\nDuring the visit, Senator Gallego delivered toys and spent time with hospital staff, thanking them for their dedication to caring for Arizona\u2019s children, especially during a season that can be particularly challenging for families spending the holidays in the hospital.\n\n\u201cDuring the holidays, it\u2019s especially important that we look out for one another, and as a father of three, I know how much joy this time of year can bring,\u201d said Senator Gallego. \u201cFor kids who have to spend this time in the hospital, even a small moment of joy can make a big difference. I\u2019m grateful for the incredible staff at Phoenix Children\u2019s Hospital for the care and compassion they provide to Arizona families every single day.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-on-job-and-energy-killing-empire-wind-1-and-sunrise-wind-pause/", "Gillibrand Statement On Job And Energy Killing Empire Wind 1 And Sunrise Wind Pause", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement on the brazen attack on New York\u2019s energy economy by Trump\u2019s Department of the Interior:\n\n\u201cThis announcement has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with a political agenda against energy and job creation in New York. There is no justification for a decision that destroys good-paying union jobs and drives up energy costs for hardworking New York families. I urge the Interior Secretary to reverse this reckless pause and allow these projects to power homes, job creation, and New York\u2019s economy.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-nominates-31-iowa-students-to-us-military-academies", "Grassley Nominates 31 Iowa Students to U.S. Military Academies", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Chuck Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", "grassley", "https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA \u2013 U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is announcing his support for 31 Iowa students seeking acceptance to U.S. military academies.\n\n\u201cI am proud to nominate these 31 young Iowans to our nation\u2019s prestigious military academies,\u201d Grassley said. These young men and women have bright futures, and I\u2019m inspired by their leadership, achievements and motivation to serve our country. It\u2019s my honor to nominate them.\u201d\n\nEach year, Grassley nominates Iowa high school seniors for placements at the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. All service academies select at least one of Grassley\u2019s nominees.\n\nLearn more about service academy nominations HERE.\n\nGrassley\u2019s nominees for entrance during the 2026-2027 academic year follow:\n\nUnited States Air Force Academy\n\nJorge Camarena, Council Bluffs\n\nGabriel Conrad, Iowa City\n\nOdin Hankins, Ainsworth\n\nMackenzie McClelland, Grinnell\n\nCharlee DeJong, West Des Moines\n\nCalan Peters, Milford\n\nLydia Weininger, Palo\n\nLuke Miller, Polk City\n\nLydia Meunsaveng, Indianola\n\nAlexis Bogardus, Granger\n\nJackson Goslin, Hiawatha\n\nCamilla McArthur, Atlantic\n\nCarter Mitchell, Des Moines\n\nShae Magley, Cedar Falls\n\nJack Franzen, Urbandale\n\nUnited States Military Academy at West Point\n\nBerit Kallemeier, Urbandale\n\nAvery Schnack, Decorah\n\nNaomi Templeman, Dallas Center\n\nGabrielle Wilker, Saint Olaf\n\nKamryn Wolkenhauer, Danville\n\nAlexis Bogardus, Granger\n\nPatrick Bowser, Urbandale\n\nJackson Goslin, Hiawatha\n\nJackson Lampe, Dubuque\n\nCamilla McArthur, Atlantic\n\nQuentin Moore, Des Moines\n\nMackenzie McClelland, Grinnell\n\nAllie Sackett, Cedar Rapids\n\nDaniel Spooner, Mason City\n\nJack Franzen, Urbandale\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy\n\nJackson Lampe, Dubuque\n\nJack Franzen, Urbandale\n\nUnited States Naval Academy\n\nDane Thomas, Cedar Rapids\n\nJoseph Winland, Cedar Falls\n\nLuke Miller, Polk City\n\nAlexis Bogardus, Granger\n\nPatrick Bowser, Urbandale\n\nCharles Crane, West Des Moines\n\nEllie Hance, Palo\n\nJackson Lampe, Dubuque\n\nCamilla McArthur, Atlantic\n\nQuentin Moore, Des Moines\n\nOwen Powell, Blue Grass\n\nConnor Rash, Ames\n\nAllie Sackett, Cedar Rapids\n\nDaniel Spooner, Mason City\n\nJackson Goslin, Hiawatha", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-kevin-semprini-of-portsmouth-as-decembers-granite-stater-of-the-month", "Senator Hassan Recognizes Kevin Semprini of Portsmouth as December\u2019s Granite Stater of the Month", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "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 Kevin Semprini of Portsmouth as December\u2019s Granite Stater of the Month. Throughout his decades-long law enforcement service, Kevin has helped protect children across New Hampshire and keep our communities safe.\n\nA lifelong Portsmouth resident, Kevin grew up admiring the police officers in his neighborhood who worked to build a strong community. Kevin knew from an early age that he wanted to be a part of that mission. Inspired by their example, he joined the police force and dedicated himself to serving his community.\n\nEarly in his career, Officer Semprini identified a need to strengthen child safety across New Hampshire. Working closely with the Portsmouth police chief, he helped to create a new school safety program. His work took him to local schools where he helped elementary school students learn about tips on how to stay safe. He quickly earned a nickname from students who struggled to pronounce his last name which reflected his warm and reassuring presence: \u201cOfficer Friendly,\u201d a name that would stay with him throughout his career.\n\nAs the department evolved, Officer Semprini played a key role in expanding youth-focused safety initiatives. He was introduced to the DARE program by a new Chief of Police and worked with state officials to pilot New Hampshire\u2019s first DARE program, which was later expanded statewide.\n\nAfter 46 years of service, Officer Semprini retires with the gratitude of the Portsmouth community and all Granite Staters. His lifelong dedication to protecting children and strengthening public safety exemplifies the Granite State spirit of going the extra mile for one\u2019s community. His lifelong work to support Portsmouth students is why Senator Hassan is proud to name him December\u2019s Granite Stater of the Month.\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 Kevin Semprini of Portsmouth as December\u2019s Granite Stater of the Month for his work to bolster public safety in his community.\n\nGrowing up in Portsmouth, Kevin looked up to the police officers in his neighborhood, admiring the way they worked to foster a strong community. Kevin knew from an early age that he wanted to be a part of that mission and, when he was old enough, he joined the police force.\n\nSoon after joining the force, Officer Semprini saw that there was a need to improve child safety in New Hampshire and worked with the Portsmouth police chief to create a new school safety program. His work took him to local schools where he helped elementary school students learn about safety. Because students had some trouble pronouncing his last name they quickly landed on a nickname for him, a new name that reflected the warmth and comfort he conveyed: Officer Friendly. It\u2019s a nickname that has stayed with him for the rest of his career.\n\nIn the years that followed and as the police department continued to evolve, a new Chief of Police from California introduced Officer Semprini to the DARE program. Officer Semprini worked with the state to pilot the program, which eventually expanded statewide. Officer Semprini also pioneered the school resource officer program at Portsmouth High School and organized local toy drives for the holidays.\n\nAs he retires, Officer Semprini carries with him the thanks of the people of Portsmouth and all Granite Staters for his 46 years of service and his steadfast protection of the children of New Hampshire. Officer Semprini\u2019s commitment to improving children\u2019s safety is a true example of the Granite State spirit of going the extra mile to protect your community. His lifelong work to support Portsmouth students makes me proud to name him December\u2019s Granite Stater of the Month.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-young-secure-lab-test-report-improvement-that-helps-parents-reduce-childrens-exposure-to-toxic-lead", "Senators Hassan and Young Secure Lab Test Report Improvement That Helps Parents Reduce Children\u2019s Exposure to Toxic Lead", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NH", "Margaret Wood Hassan", "H001076", "www.hassan.senate.gov", "hassan", "https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Following a bipartisan push from U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN), major lab testing companies are taking steps to help parents reduce their children\u2019s exposure to toxic lead. Young children who are exposed to lead can develop long-lasting cognitive impairments.\n\nIn November, Senators Hassan and Young wrote to Quest and Labcorp, the nation's two largest lab testing companies, urging the companies to clearly state when providing children\u2019s lead blood test results that there is no safe level of lead in a child\u2019s blood. Both companies are now implementing this change, helping parents act to reduce their children\u2019s toxic lead exposure when blood tests show elevated lead blood levels.\n\nPrior to this change, elevated lead blood levels below a particular \u201creference value\u201d were frequently categorized as \u201cnormal\u201d when patients received their results. As a result, parents looking at these test results may not have understood that their children\u2019s even slightly elevated lead blood levels could cause long-lasting health problems.\n\n\u201cI commend Quest and Labcorp for working quickly to help parents better protect their children from toxic lead exposure,\u201dsaid Senator Hassan. \u201cClearly stating on blood test results that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children will help ensure that parents can take action when lead exposure is putting their children at risk of life-long impairment.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that patients receive accurate and clear information from health care providers \u2013 especially when it comes to kids. I\u2019m pleased that these providers quickly made adjustments to ensure that parents are more aware that any level of lead in their children\u2019s blood can have serious health consequences,\u201d said Senator Young.\n\n\u201cWe welcome the efforts of Senators Hassan and Young to educate the public on the dangers of lead exposure, even at the lowest levels, and the critical role blood lab tests play in illuminating a path to good health,\u201d said Yuri Fesko, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer, Quest Diagnostics.\n\n\u201cWe applaud Senators Hassan and Young for their leadership in raising awareness about the dangers of lead exposure. Labcorp is committed to providing parents with clear, actionable insights to make the most informed decisions about their children\u2019s health and wellbeing,\u201d said Brian Caveney, M.D., Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Labcorp\n\nSenator Hassan has led efforts to help protect the health and safety of children and families. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan successfully led a bipartisan push to improve medication safety labeling for pregnant women.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trumps-assault-on-wind-energy-leaves-permitting-reform-dead-in-the-water", "Trump\u2019s Assault on Wind Energy Leaves Permitting Reform Dead in the Water", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), issued the following statement after the Trump Administration stopped five offshore wind farms that were under construction\u2014adding to the growing number of onshore solar and wind energy projects that are still waiting for approval from the Department of Interior\u2014preventing the delivery of affordable, reliable energy to tens of millions of Americans:\n\n\u201cWe want to thank Chairs Capito and Lee for their good-faith efforts to negotiate a permitting reform bill that would have lowered electricity prices for all Americans. There was a deal to be had that would have taken politics out of permitting, made the process faster and more efficient, and streamlined grid infrastructure improvements nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut any deal would have to be administered by the Trump Administration. Its reckless and vindictive assault on wind energy doesn\u2019t just undermine one of our cheapest, cleanest power sources, it wrecks the trust needed with the executive branch for bipartisan permitting reform. By sabotaging U.S. energy innovation and killing American jobs, the Trump Administration has made clear that it is not interested in permitting reform. It will own the higher electricity prices, increasingly decrepit infrastructure, and loss of competitiveness that result from its reckless policies.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe illegal attacks on fully permitted renewable energy projects must be reversed if there is to be any chance that permitting talks resume. There is no path to permitting reform if this administration refuses to follow the law.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-neguse-hurd-mobilize-bipartisan-coalition-to-protect-ncar/", "Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse, Hurd Mobilize Bipartisan Coalition to Protect NCAR", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representatives Joe Neguse and Jeff Hurd led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to protect funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. They mobilized 76 lawmakers to demand top congressional appropriators include language in the government funding package to prevent the dismantling of NCAR and ensure NCAR can maintain its core capabilities and continue delivering vital Earth system science that promotes public safety and improves national security.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump\u2019s vengeful plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research is not only illegal, it\u2019s indefensible,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cIt will have devastating consequences not only for Colorado, but across the country. Colorado won\u2019t be intimidated by the bully in the White House. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to fight back.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast week, I blocked the Senate appropriations process to demand full funding for NCAR in response to President Trump\u2019s threat to dismantle it,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cNCAR\u2019s work is indispensable for communities, decision-makers, and emergency responders. From predicting extreme weather conditions to supporting disaster preparedness to understanding how wildfires spread, the elimination of NCAR would be catastrophic for public safety and national security. I am grateful to Representatives Neguse and Hurd for their partnership on the effort to protect NCAR. We will explore every avenue to ensure we don\u2019t lose this vital institution.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe work being done at NCAR is vital to our state, our country, and our planet. The breathtaking advancements these scientists and researchers are making every day play a critical role in alerting communities to extreme weather conditions and the advanced modeling systems they are creating are vital to our national security. Any attempt to dismantle this institution is dangerous, reckless, and would, ultimately, put the United States at a very deep competitive disadvantage,\u201d said Neguse. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for taking critical action last week to stand up for NCAR\u2019s continued funding, and I\u2019m proud to work with my Republican colleague from the Western Slope, Jeff Hurd, to carry the baton in the House. As Coloradans, first and foremost, we intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge institution\u201d\n\n\u201cNCAR does critical work in Colorado that helps predict severe weather and keeps America competitive in climate science. The research happening there protects communities and supports our national security. Dismantling this institution doesn\u2019t make sense, and I\u2019m glad to work with my colleagues in both chambers to make sure NCAR has the funding it needs to keep operating,\u201d said Hurd. \u201cThe scientists at NCAR are doing work that matters \u2013 work that helps families prepare for storms, helps farmers plan their seasons, and keeps us ahead on the world stage. Supporting NCAR is a smart investment we should continue to make, not walk away from. I\u2019m grateful to my House colleague, Joe Neguse, for his partnership in protecting an institution that matters to Colorado and the country.\u201d\n\nNCAR is one of the world\u2019s premier research centers and was founded in 1960 by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Its mission is to understand global weather systems and support the capabilities of the university community and broader scientific community, nationally and internationally.\n\nFollowing the Trump admin announcement to dismantle NCAR in Boulder, Hickenlooper has led the fight against their effort by blocking a Senate funding package, which did not fully protect NCAR funding, and joining a rally to save NCAR in Boulder.\n\nFull text of the letter available HERE and below.\n\nDear Chair Collins, Ranking Member Murray, Chair Cole, and Ranking Member DeLauro:\n\nWe write to express our bipartisan bicameral support for continued funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) as the FY 2026 appropriations process moves to conference. As the Committees finalize the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill, we believe NCAR represents a sound, forward-looking federal investment that delivers tangible benefits to communities, industries, and public agencies across the nation, particularly in weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, agriculture, and water management.\n\nWe agree with the President\u2019s FY 2026 National Science Foundation Budget Request regarding the importance of NCAR as a national research and infrastructure asset. As the Budget request states:\n\n\u201cThe National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is an NSF-sponsored Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) guided by the vision: \u2018a world-class research center leading, promoting and facilitating innovation in the atmospheric and related Earth Systems sciences.\u2019 NCAR addresses this vision with integrated research and facilities organized around\n\nthree overlapping areas of activity: cutting-edge airborne and ground-based observational facilities; community weather and climate models with thousands of users worldwide; and petascale high-performance computing.\u201d\n\nNCAR\u2019s integrated approach ensures that federal investments in weather and Earth-system science translate into practical, usable tools. Its community weather and seasonal forecast models underpin forecasting systems used by federal agencies, the military, state and local governments, universities, and private-sector partners. These models support a wide range of real-world applications, including agricultural planning, drought and water management, wildfire behavior analysis, flood forecasting, aviation safety, and emergency preparedness. Their research in the Earth-sun system is invaluable for understanding and predicting solar weather. Solar weather storms threaten satellites in orbit that provide crucial GPS and communications capabilities,\n\nposing a risk to our military, emergency responders, and banking systems.\n\nIn agriculture, NCAR-supported modeling and data tools help producers anticipate seasonal variability, manage water resources, and mitigate weather-related risk. In wildfire-prone regions, NCAR research improves understanding of fire behavior and smoke transport, supporting more\n\neffective preparedness and response. For emergency managers, improved modeling and data integration contribute to earlier warnings and better coordination during extreme weather events\u2014saving lives and reducing economic losses.\n\nAs the President\u2019s Budget further recognizes, continued operation of the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputer Center is essential for the integration, analysis, and modeling of large and complex data sets. This computing capacity enables more accurate forecasts and supports the growing demand for data-intensive applications across government and industry, including defense, aviation, and critical infrastructure planning, ensuring the United States remains competitive in weather and Earth system science.\n\nAs an NSF-sponsored FFRDC, NCAR serves as a shared national resource that promotes efficiency and collaboration. By providing common infrastructure and open modeling frameworks, NCAR reduces duplication, strengthens partnerships, and ensures that federal research dollars are leveraged across states and sectors.\n\nAs conferees complete the FY 2026 bill, we respectfully request sustained funding for NCAR. Continued investment will ensure that NCAR can maintain its core capabilities and continue delivering practical, high-value outcomes that support economic resilience, public safety, and informed decision-making nationwide. Funding for NCAR is essential to maintaining America\u2019s\n\nleadership in global weather forecasting and to protecting our economy, our communities, and the everyday livelihoods of families across the nation.\n\nThank you for your consideration and for your leadership throughout the appropriations process.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/hyde-smith-wishes-mississippians-hope-love-peace-2025-christmas-message", "HYDE-SMITH WISHES MISSISSIPPIANS \u2018HOPE, LOVE & PEACE\u2019 IN 2025 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Cindy Hyde-Smith", "H001079", "www.hydesmith.senate.gov", "hydesmith", "https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/newsroom", "scraper", "VIDEO: Senator Hyde-Smith Issues 2025 Christmas Message\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today issued her 2025 Christmas message, in which she encourages Mississippians to \u201cslow down, take stock of our blessings, and remember the light that guides us to seek peace even when we face uncertainty.\u201d\n\nRead Senator Hyde-Smith\u2019s Christmas message below:\n\nMerry Christmas, Mississippi!\n\nThis season reminds us of the simple, yet profound, gifts that we are given \u2013 love, peace, and hope.\n\nChristmas invites us to slow down, take stock of our blessings, and remember the light that guides us to seek peace even when we face uncertainty.\n\nAcross Mississippi, I see that light every day: in neighbors lending a hand, in communities standing strong together in good times and bad, and in the unwavering spirit that makes the Magnolia State such a remarkable place to call home.\n\nAs Christians, we also pause to reflect on the incredible gift God gave us through the birth of His Son.\n\nIn Him, we find perfect love, enduring hope, and the promise of peace that the world cannot offer. His life teaches us to love others, as He first loved us.\n\nChrist\u2019s example calls us to comfort the hurting, support the weary, and serve those in need.\n\nAs we dwell on the wonders of this season, let\u2019s remember to express gratitude for the men and women in uniform who are spending this season far from home and their families to protect the freedoms we hold dear.\n\nWe are also thankful for our first responders and healthcare professionals who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe and healthy.\n\nMy prayer for every Mississippian is that your Christmas is filled with hope, love, and peace. And may God bless you in the year ahead.\n\nFrom my family to yours, I wish you a blessed Christmas and a new year full of promise.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.justice.senate.gov/press-releases/senators-justice-warner-introduce-bipartisan-bill-child-care-supply-tax-credit-act-of-2025", "Senators\u00a0Justice, Warner Introduce Bipartisan Bill,\u00a0Child Care Supply Tax Credit Act\u00a0of 2025", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "WV", "James C. Justice", "J000312", "www.justice.senate.gov", "justice", "https://www.justice.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Recently, Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced S.3534, the Child Care Supply Tax Credit Act of 2025, to address the nationwide childcare shortage and increase childcare supply for families across the country:\n\n\u201cChildcare providers simply can\u2019t afford to pay their workers enough without passing those high costs on to parents. Families in West Virginia and across the country are spending thousands of dollars just to secure reliable childcare \u2013 it must be addressed. By creating a targeted tax credit tied directly to caregiver wages, we can pay the people who take care of our kids what they deserve while giving our hard-working families some breathing room,\u201d said Senator Jim Justice.\n\n\u201cFrom health care premiums to groceries to utility bills, life is only getting more and more expensive for American families, and for many, the math simply doesn\u2019t work without affordable child care. Child care is the foundation that allows parents to earn a living while providing kids with the head start they deserve. I\u2019m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to address the workforce challenges contributing to our nation\u2019s child care crisis,\u201d said Senator Mark Warner.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nChildcare providers operate on razor-thin margins; therefore, they typically can\u2019t pay their workers well. But families can only afford to pay so much for childcare, meaning providers can\u2019t raise their prices to offer competitive wages. Poor pay leads to high turnover, difficulty attracting qualified staff, centers operating below licensed capacity, and even facilities permanently closing\u2014only adding to the childcare shortage. In West Virginia alone, families need an additional 20,000 childcare spots.\n\nThe Child Care Supply Tax Credit Act of 2025 creates a new tax credit for eligible childcare providers to help offset the cost of employee wages, allowing providers to increase worker wages, retain talent, and increase childcare supply.\n\nThe general business tax credit is equal to five percent of their childcare worker base wage\u2014meaning all wages paid to employees that provide direct care to children. In rural regions\u2014practically all of West Virginia\u2014centers would be eligible to receive a tax credit worth seven percent.\n\nThe bill allows the credit to be paid directly to nonprofit providers, like churches, and in-home daycares.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-crack-down-on-pharmacy-benefit-managers-price-gouging", "Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Pharmacy Benefit Managers\u2019 Price Gouging", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and colleagues introduced the bipartisan, bicameral PBM Fiduciary Accountability, Integrity, and Reform (FAIR) Act, legislation that would establish fiduciary responsibilities for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)\u2014the middlemen of drug pricing\u2014and require PBMs to act in the best interests of employees relying on employer-sponsored health plans, while keeping plan costs low.\n\n\u201cPharmacy benefit managers should be held accountable for their role in raising costs of prescription drugs,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation is critical to ensuring that PBMs are doing what\u2019s best for Americans who rely on lifesaving medication.\u201d\n\nCurrently, PBMs that provide drug benefits for employer health plans often get away with price-gouging because they are not legally required to put employees\u2019 interests first. The PBM Fair Act would ensure PBMs are classified as fiduciaries under law\u2014thereby helping to curb hidden fees and end practices that drive up what employees pay for their medications.\n\nTo ensure employer-sponsored health care plans are affordable and accessible to all families, this bill would specifically rein in bad PBM practices, such as:\n\nMarking up generic drugs at prices hundreds of times higher than actual cost;\n\nLimiting patient choice; and\n\nDenying claims with no or misleading explanations.\n\nIn addition to Kaine, this bill is introduced by U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Companion legislation is led in the House by U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04) and Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07).\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 18576, "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": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": 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