{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\" and year = 2026 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://ruiz.house.gov/latino-latina-physician-day-2026", "REP. RUIZ INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION DESIGNATING OCTOBER 1st AS NATIONAL LATINO AND LATINA PHYSICIAN DAY", "2026-10-01", "2026", "2026-10", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", "ruiz", "https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On September 28, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), joined by Congresswoman Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar (FL-27), introduced a bipartisan resolution designating October 1st as National Latino and Latina Physician Day.\n\nLatinos make up nearly one in five Americans, yet only 6.7 percent of U.S. physicians are Latino or Latina, and just 2.8 percent are Latina. By 2050, Latinos are projected to represent more than one in four people in the United States and one in three children. At the same time, the nation faces a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.\n\nResearch shows that when patients share the language and culture of their doctors, care and outcomes improve. Growing the Latino and Latina physician workforce means better health for our communities and for the nation.\n\n\"Growing up in a farmworker family taught me what it means to go without care, so I became an Emergency Physician to serve under resourced communities,\" said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz. \"Today, too many Latino families still can't find a doctor who speaks their language or understands their cultures. This resolution recognizes the Latino and Latina physicians working to close that gap, and it challenges us to open more doors for the next generation.\"\n\n\"Trust in medical care is essential. Physicians that understand their community and are a reflection of it are critical when building and establishing that trust,\" said Rep. Salazar. \"As our nation faces a healthcare workforce shortage, I am proud to co-lead this resolution that supports Latino and Latina physicians, who are helping to close gaps in care and serve as a trustworthy pillar of their community.\"\n\nThe resolution supports increasing the number of Latino and Latina physicians and expanding diversity in the medical field. It has earned the support of leading national medical organizations.\n\n\"The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) is proud support National Latino and Latina Physicians Day and thank Rep. Ruiz and Rep. Salazar for their bipartisan work in highlighting the work of physicians critical to improving the health of patients and communities nationwide. As the nation faces a persistent physician shortage, we must support policies that increase to access to careers in medicine for future Latino and Latina physicians, and everyone in the next generation of doctors,\" said Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, chief public policy officer, AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges)\n\n\"The National Hispanic Medical Association supports H.Res. 1589, introduced by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D., recognizing October 1 as National Latino and Latina Physician Day. We need more Latino physicians serving our communities. This day not only highlights the significant underrepresentation of Latinos in the physician workforce but also recognizes the tremendous work Latino physicians do every day to care for patients and communities across our nation. We are proud to support this resolution and its recognition of the Latino physicians who serve our country,\" said Gilbert Burgos, M.D., MPH, President of the National Hispanic Medical Association.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/congressman-amo-kicks-off-second-blue-economy-tour-at-regent-craft-highlighting-rhode-island-jobs-innovation-and-the-future-of-the-ocean-state", "Congressman Amo Kicks Off Second Blue Economy Tour at REGENT Craft, Highlighting Rhode Island Jobs, Innovation, and the Future of the Ocean State", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Providence, RI \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI), Ranking Member of the House Science Committee Subcommittee on the Environment, kicks off his Second Blue Economy Tour with a visit to REGENT Craft, the developer of a first-in-class electric Seaglider based in Rhode Island, as they cut the ribbon on a new factory.\n\nAs Rhode Islanders face high costs and a changing economy, the Blue Economy offers an opportunity to create good-paying jobs, strengthen local businesses, and build the industries of the future right here in the Ocean State. Over the next few weeks, Congressman Amo will travel across Rhode Island\u2019s First Congressional District to meet with the workers, small businesses, researchers, educators, and nonprofits powering the Ocean State\u2019s Blue Economy.\n\n\u201cOur Blue Economy is about more than what happens on the water. It\u2019s about good jobs, new technology, and lowering costs by building more of what we need right here in Rhode Island,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI). \u201cI\u2019m excited to get out across Rhode Island, to listen to the people doing this work every day, and bring their ideas back to Washington. If we want Rhode Island to lead the next generation of ocean industries, we need to make sure our workers have the skills, our researchers have the resources, and our small businesses have a fair shot to grow.\u201d\n\nRhode Island\u2019s Blue Economy directly employs 36,000 Rhode Islanders and contributes over $5 billion to the state\u2019s gross domestic product every year. The tour will highlight the people and industries behind those numbers, from marine trades and aquaculture to ocean research, advanced manufacturing, and maritime technology.\n\nCongressman Amo will tour facilities, convene discussions, and meet with the workers, small businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofits at the heart of Rhode Island's Blue Economy.\n\nBackground\n\nNationwide, the Blue Economy supports 2.4 million jobs and contributes $397 billion to the nation\u2019s gross domestic product.\n\nIn 2024, Congressman Amo toured Rhode Island\u2019s First Congressional District to highlight the Ocean State\u2019s leadership in the Blue Economy.\n\nAs part of the 2024 tour, Congressman Amo convened a roundtable conversation at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI)\u2019s Lincoln campus, participated in a training module at CCRI\u2019s Global Wind Organization Basic Safety Training program, led a conversation with academic leaders from across Rhode Island\u2019s campuses, visited the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, toured VATN Systems in Portsmouth, and visited Flux Marine in Bristol. He concluded the tour speaking at 401 Tech Bridge\u2019s NavalX Annual Program Management Review.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://bell.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bell-announces-over-10-million-workforce-development-funding-st", "Congressman Bell Announces Over $10 Million in Workforce Development Funding for St. Louis Community College", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Wesley Bell", "B001324", "bell.house.gov", "bell", "https://bell.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Bell announced $10,798,968 in federal funds for the Junior College District of St. Louis to expand its workforce training opportunities\n\nThe funding is part of the U.S. Department of Labor's Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program\n\nPreviously, Congressman Bell worked at the Florissant Valley Community College campus, which is part of the Junior College District of St. Louis\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Wesley Bell (D-MO-01) announced over $10 million in federal funding for the Junior College District of St. Louis (St. Louis Community College).\n\n$10,798,968 in funding will go to the St. Louis Community College, helping ensure the effective development and expansion of new workforce development programs.\n\n\"St. Louis Community College does incredible work preparing people for in-demand jobs, and this investment will help them reach even more people. I'm proud to see these resources come to our region,\" said Congressman Bell.\n\nCongressman Bell has long championed workforce development programs and has made it a priority to support such efforts in Congress. Earlier this year, Rep. Bell introduced the Building Reentry and Inclusive Development for Greater Employment (BRIDGE) Act, which aims to strengthen the workforce by expanding pathways to economic mobility and employment for justice-impacted individuals and opportunity youth. Additionally, Congressman Bell has worked to expand workforce pipeline programs across key St. Louis industries, including defense, healthcare, and education.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=9234", "Beyer, Castro, Dean, Casar, Jacobs, Escobar to Introduce Sanctions on Drivers of Settlement Expansion", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Donald S. Beyer, Jr.", "B001292", "beyer.house.gov", "beyer", "https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "On Thursday, Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) will introduce legislation to impose sanctions on individuals and entities building or expanding settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. H.R. 0953, the Stop the Settlements Act would stop the construction of new settlements or expansion of existing Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank and Gaza through the use of sanctions and a prohibition on the importation of goods made in these settlements and outposts. Stopping the construction of new settlements or expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza would protect Palestinians from dispossession of their land and help create a pathway to peace, where both Israelis and Palestinians are able to fully exercise their right to self-determination.\n\n\u201cThe continued expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories illustrates the contempt Israel\u2019s government has for international law and longstanding U.S. policy,\u201d said Rep. Beyer. \u201cBy accelerating this campaign of violence and theft, particularly in the E1 corridor bordering East Jerusalem, the Israeli government is making clear its intent to fatally undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. The U.S. cannot and should not accept this explicit effort of illegal territorial expansion, which would make a negotiated resolution to this intractable conflict forever out of reach. This legislation puts teeth on what has been clear U.S. policy for decades and sends a strong message that we will not tolerate the illegal settlement movement any longer.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnder Netanyahu\u2019s government, settlers are engaged in a violent land grab that\u2019s ripping Palestinians from their land,\u201d said Congressman Castro. \u201cThe record expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank continues to be one of the greatest impediments to peace. Democrats must face this with urgency\u2014act now or watch the prospect of Palestinian self-determination slip away forever. Congress should and can be using every tool we have available, including sanctions. The Stop the Settlements Act gives any person or company looking to take Palestinian land in the West Bank or Gaza a choice: pursue settlements or do business with the United States. The American people have seen the reality on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza, and expect their elected officials to take action. In the coming months and in the next Congress, I will push for the conditions under which security and a lasting peace is possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe continued construction of Israeli settlements and staking of new outposts in the West Bank and Gaza is a violation of international law. They\u2019re also part of a deliberate, expressed strategy by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies to geographically isolate Palestinian communities, block the possibility of a contiguous state, and prevent the Palestinian people from being able to exercise their rights to self-determination,\u201d said Rep. Dean. \u201cSettler organizations and people who illegally push onto Palestinian land, harassing \u2014 and even killing legal residents \u2014 are actively undermining the peace process and prolonging the current violence. These settlers fund their activities in part through the sale of goods abroad, which this legislation would prohibit, while also authorizing sanctions on some of the worst offenders of international law. It is time that the United States joined our allies \u2014 such as the United Kingdom, France, and Canada \u2014 in taking action to help preserve dignity and self-determination for the Palestinian people, which is essential for progress toward peace.\u201d\n\n\u201cSettlement expansion displaces Palestinians, violates international law, and prevents peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,\u201d said Congressman Casar. \u201cThe Stop the Settlements Act would prohibit the construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. Congress must work toward lasting peace in the region by ending the occupation and genocide.\u201d\n\n\u201cPushing Palestinians out of their homes and off their land in Gaza and the West Bank is one of the greatest obstacles to a lasting pathway to peace,\u201d said Congresswoman Jacobs. \u201cAs long as the U.S. stands idly by, we\u2019re knowingly supporting Israel\u2019s coordinated strategy to consolidate Israeli control and prevent Palestinian statehood. We have another choice: use our tools and leverage to help make peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and everyone in the region a reality. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Stop the Settlements Act, which would require the President to sanction individuals and entities that build or expand settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. This is a reasonable and necessary step to uphold international law, protect civilians, de-escalate violence, and preserve the possibility of lasting peace, security, and stability.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSince December 2022, the Israeli government has approved over 100 new settlements in the West Bank, and Israeli settlers have established almost 200 additional outposts. In comparison, only six settlements were approved in the previous three decades. In recent years, senior Israeli officials have openly called for the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza.\n\nThese settlements, built on Palestinian land, are one of the biggest impediments to peace and to Palestinian self-determination.\n\nThe Stop the Settlements Act would address the unprecedented growth of settlements by sanctioning any foreign entity or individual that engages with activity for the establishment of new Israeli settlements or outposts in the West Bank or Gaza, including developing infrastructure, construction the settlement area known as E1, or facilitating Israeli civilians onto settlements. The bill would also put a ban on imports of settlements goods. This would mirror and complement efforts currently being taken by countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain.\n\nIf enacted, the legislation would lead to essentially a defacto settlement freeze with no new settlement construction in the West Bank, while also giving the President the authority to begin going after some of the most problematic and destabilizing settlements and outposts in the West Bank.\n\nThe Stop the Settlements Act has gained support from stakeholders with the shared goal of stopping settlement expansion and ensuring Palestinian self-determination and security for Israel:\n\nJeremy Ben-Ami, President, J Street: \u201cAfter more than 50 years of Israel disregarding American and other international warnings to stop expanding settlements, it is time for action. We are grateful to Congressman Castro and the other cosponsors for sending a clear signal that Israeli efforts to prevent a Palestinian state will be met with material consequences.\u201d\n\nMargaret DeReus, Executive Director of IMEU Policy Project: \u201cThe US government has enabled Israeli settlement expansion for too long without any meaningful repercussions to the detriment of Palestinian lives, including Palestinian Americans that live in Palestine. One of the first things the Trump administration did was reverse previous sanctions, and while they continue to turn a blind eye, this bill would impose real consequences on those who support or engage in settlement expansion, in line with international law and our closest allies. This would include banning anyone from importing any goods produced in any Israeli settlement or outpost. We thank Congressman Castro for being a leader in the fight to protect basic Palestinian rights.\u201d\n\nHadar Susskind, President and CEO, New Jewish Narrative: \u201cThis bill fills a crucial void. The Trump administration has failed to take action that would stop the Israeli government from executing its reckless agenda of land grabs and annexation. Now Congress has the opportunity to step up and close that gap. This is what real American leadership looks like.\u201d\n\nThis bill is also endorsed by American Committee for Middle East Rights; A New Policy; Center for International Policy; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Refugees International; Win Without War.\n\nCo-sponsors of the bill include: Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Derek Tran (CA-45), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Mark Takano (CA-39).", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=9235", "Bipartisan Claiming Age Clarity Act Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Donald S. Beyer, Jr.", "B001292", "beyer.house.gov", "beyer", "https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08) and Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) announced that their bipartisan Claiming Age Clarity Act, H.R. 5284, has passed the Senate and is headed to the President\u2019s desk for signature.\n\nThe lawmakers introduced the legislation to help Americans better understand how the timing of their decision to claim Social Security affects their monthly retirement benefit. The bill previously passed the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cPassage of this bill is a victory for seniors and older workers, who will now be able to make more informed decisions about their retirement benefits,\u201d said Rep. Don Beyer. \u201cThe need for clarity on these issues gets more salient every year as Americans live longer and financial choices become more complex. I thank Rep. Smucker for his leadership on this legislation, and all those who supported the Claiming Age Clarity Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans who have worked their entire lives and earned Social Security benefits deserve clear, straightforward information as they make important decisions about their retirement,\u201d said Rep. Lloyd Smucker. \u201cThe Claiming Age Clarity Act replaces confusing government terminology with language that better explains how the age at which someone claims Social Security affects their monthly benefit. I\u2019m grateful that Republicans and Democrats came together to advance this commonsense reform, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.\u201d\n\nThe Claiming Age Clarity Act would modernize terminology used by the Social Security Administration to better reflect how claiming age affects an individual\u2019s monthly benefit:\n\n\u201cEarly Eligibility Age\u201d would become \u201cMinimum Benefit Age\u201d \u2014 age 62, the earliest age at which an individual can begin receiving retirement benefits, with permanently lower monthly benefits than those received at standard benefit age.\n\n\u201cFull Retirement Age\u201d and \u201cNormal Retirement Age\u201d would become \u201cStandard Benefit Age\u201d \u2014 generally age 66 or 67, depending on an individual\u2019s birth year.\n\n\u201cDelayed Retirement Age\u201d would become \u201cMaximum Benefit Age\u201d \u2014 age 70, the latest age someone can begin receiving benefits. Electing to delay receiving benefits by a year increases an individual's benefits, up to a maximum of 24% more than the standard benefit.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-oregon-delegation-demand-end-trump-administrations-violations-due", "Bynum, Oregon Delegation Demand an End to Trump Administration's Violations of Due Process for Immigrants", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, and Maxine Dexter, along with U.S. senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, demanded the Trump administration end the practice of \u201cmega master\u201d immigration hearings that expedite the review of hundreds of immigrants\u2019 cases in a day, resulting in a fast-track to removing immigrants without due process.\n\n\u201cThis unwarranted blitzkrieg of assaults on justice and fair treatment raises serious constitutional concerns and is unworthy of the oaths you swore to uphold,\u201d the Oregon lawmakers wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and David Venturella, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cOver the past year, your agencies have increased the number of immigrants who must appear on little-to-no notice for so-called \u2018mega master\u2019 hearings on overcrowded dockets in front of Trump\u2019s handpicked judges at courts across the country, all while stripping immigrants of their legal status, ramping up arrests and detention, and limiting their access to legal counsel for representation in court and fast-tracked asylum interviews,\u201dthey wrote.\n\n\u201cThese policy changes confuse and terrify law-abiding immigrants in our communities and prevent them from having a fair day in court.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote that the Portland Immigration Court in Oregon is now holding about two \u201cmega master\u201d hearings every week, in addition to maintaining its previously-scheduled docket hearings and individual merit hearings. That has forced immigrants anticipating court dates in 2027 or 2028 to suddenly show up on extremely short notice and scrambling both to figure out how to get to the court on time, and to find an attorney to represent them.\n\n\u201cAs if the changes at the Portland Immigration Court weren\u2019t bad enough, the neighboring Tacoma Immigration Court has now had judges deciding in mid-August to stop allowing immigration attorneys across Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska from appearing remotely on behalf of their clients detained at the regional detention center,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cPreviously, the Tacoma Immigration Court allowed out-of-state attorneys to represent their clients by making court appearances through video conferencing technology. Now attorneys\u2014and when applicable, expert witnesses\u2014 have to attend these hearings in person.\u201d\n\nThe new requirement for immigration attorneys to represent their clients in person comes as immigration judges allow Department of Homeland Security prosecutors to participate in hearings remotely. In other cases even the presiding judge is attending remotely as well, with attorneys sharing that remote appearances by judges happen in about half the cases that they must attend in-person at the Tacoma Immigration Court.\n\nThese new in-person requirements also come as attorneys share that the court is sending \u201cnotices to appear\u201d and setting hearings for that same morning giving the attorneys little time to prepare or make travel arrangements from out of state. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also been routinely denying immigration attorneys access to their clients at detention centers, and transferring clients thousands of miles away to detention centers across the country.\n\n\u201cImmigration court proceedings must uphold fairness and rule of law and not be politicized to satisfy Donald Trump\u2019s arbitrary detention quotas. We call on the Trump administration to discontinue policies and tactics that undermine constitutional due process. Our legal system relies on accountability; therefore, we demand that you establish fair and meaningful hearings that provide a genuine day in court and uphold the integrity of our nation\u2019s immigration system,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe lawmakers ended their letter demanding a written response by October 15th, 2026 detailing the steps that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will take to achieve the following:\n\nTerminate \u201cmega master\u201d hearings.\n\nProvide immigrants with sufficient notice of their proceedings.\n\nReduce hardships on immigration attorneys.\n\nEnsure that immigration judges hear cases individually, free from political influence.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4983", "Case Statement On The Passing Of Former U.S. Representative Patricia (Pat) Saiki", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=1", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-1st), issued the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Representative Patricia (Pat) Saiki:\n\n\u201cI join all of our Hawai\u2018i in remembering and honoring the life and legacy of U. S. Representative Patricia Saiki,\u201d said U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-1st).\n\n\u201cShe is rightly credited with many specific accomplishments. But above all she was a pioneer who broke barriers, easing the path for others that followed, and her decades of public service were marked by commitment to her country and Hawai\u2018i, determination, accomplishment, example and grace.\n\n\u201cShe was a worthy steward of the office of Hawaii\u2019s First Congressional District, setting a high bar for those that followed and will follow. I join in extending my sincere condolences and appreciation to her beloved family.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-dean-beyer-casar-jacobs-escobar-to-introduce-sanctions-on-drivers-of-settlement-expansion", "Castro, Dean, Beyer, Casar, Jacobs, Escobar to Introduce Sanctions on Drivers of Settlement Expansion", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Castro, Dean, Beyer, Casar, Jacobs, Escobar to Introduce Sanctions on Drivers of Settlement Expansion\n\nLegislation Imposes Sanctions On Individuals And Entities Expanding Settlements In West Bank And Gaza\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2014 On Thursday, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Don Beyer (VA-08), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) will introduce legislation to impose sanctions on individuals and entities building or expanding settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. The Stop the Settlements Act would stop the construction of new settlements or expansion of existing Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank and Gaza through the use of sanctions and a prohibition on the importation of goods made in these settlements and outposts. Stopping the construction of new settlements or expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza would protect Palestinians from dispossession of their land and help create a pathway to peace, where both Israelis and Palestinians are able to fully exercise their right to self-determination.\n\n\u201cUnder Netanyahu\u2019s government, settlers are engaged in a violent land grab that\u2019s ripping Palestinians from their land,\u201d said Congressman Castro. \u201cThe record expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank continues to be one of the greatest impediments to peace. Democrats must face this with urgency\u2014act now or watch the prospect of Palestinian self-determination slip away forever. Congress should and can be using every tool we have available, including sanctions. The Stop the Settlements Act gives any person or company looking to take Palestinian land in the West Bank or Gaza a choice: pursue settlements or do business with the United States. The American people have seen the reality on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza, and expect their elected officials to take action. In the coming months and in the next Congress, I will push for the conditions under which security and a lasting peace is possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe continued construction of Israeli settlements and staking of new outposts in the West Bank and Gaza is a violation of international law. They\u2019re also part of a deliberate, expressed strategy by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies to geographically isolate Palestinian communities, block the possibility of a contiguous state, and prevent the Palestinian people from being able to exercise their rights to self-determination,\u201d said Rep. Dean. \u201cSettler organizations and people who illegally push onto Palestinian land, harassing \u2014 and even killing legal residents \u2014 are actively undermining the peace process and prolonging the current violence. These settlers fund their activities in part through the sale of goods abroad, which this legislation would prohibit, while also authorizing sanctions on some of the worst offenders of international law. It is time that the United States joined our allies \u2014 such as the United Kingdom, France, and Canada \u2014 in taking action to help preserve dignity and self-determination for the Palestinian people, which is essential for progress toward peace.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe continued expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories illustrates the contempt Israel\u2019s government has for international law and longstanding U.S. policy,\u201d said Rep. Beyer. \u201cBy accelerating this campaign of violence and theft, particularly in the E1 corridor bordering East Jerusalem, the Israeli government is making clear its intent to fatally undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. The U.S. cannot and should not accept this explicit effort of illegal territorial expansion, which would make a negotiated resolution to this intractable conflict forever out of reach. This legislation puts teeth on what has been clear U.S. policy for decades and sends a strong message that we will not tolerate the illegal settlement movement any longer.\u201d\n\n\u201cSettlement expansion displaces Palestinians, violates international law, and prevents peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,\u201d said Congressman Casar. \u201cThe Stop the Settlements Act would prohibit the construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. Congress must work toward lasting peace in the region by ending the occupation and genocide.\u201d\n\n\u201cPushing Palestinians out of their homes and off their land in Gaza and the West Bank is one of the greatest obstacles to a lasting pathway to peace,\u201d said Congresswoman Jacobs. \u201cAs long as the U.S. stands idly by, we\u2019re knowingly supporting Israel\u2019s coordinated strategy to consolidate Israeli control and prevent Palestinian statehood. We have another choice: use our tools and leverage to help make peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and everyone in the region a reality. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Stop the Settlements Act, which would require the President to sanction individuals and entities that build or expand settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. This is a reasonable and necessary step to uphold international law, protect civilians, de-escalate violence, and preserve the possibility of lasting peace, security, and stability.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSince December 2022, the Israeli government has approved over 100 new settlements in the West Bank, and Israeli settlers have established almost 200 additional outposts. In comparison, only six settlements were approved in the previous three decades. In recent years, senior Israeli officials have openly called for the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza.\n\nThese settlements, built on Palestinian land, are one of the biggest impediments to peace and to Palestinian self-determination.\n\nThe Stop the Settlements Act would address the unprecedented growth of settlements by sanctioning any foreign entity or individual that engages with activity for the establishment of new Israeli settlements or outposts in the West Bank or Gaza, including developing infrastructure, construction the settlement area known as E1, or facilitating Israeli civilians onto settlements. The bill would also put a ban on imports of settlements goods. This would mirror and complement efforts currently being taken by countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain.\n\nIf enacted, the legislation would lead to essentially a defacto settlement freeze with no new settlement construction in the West Bank, while also giving the President the authority to begin going after some of the most problematic and destabilizing settlements and outposts in the West Bank.\n\nThe Stop the Settlements Act has gained support from stakeholders with the shared goal of stopping settlement expansion and ensuring Palestinian self-determination and security for Israel:\n\nJeremy Ben-Ami, President, J Street: \u201cAfter more than 50 years of Israel disregarding American and other international warnings to stop expanding settlements, it is time for action. We are grateful to Congressman Castro and the other cosponsors for sending a clear signal that Israeli efforts to prevent a Palestinian state will be met with material consequences.\u201d\n\nMargaret DeReus, Executive Director of IMEU Policy Project: \u201cThe US government has enabled Israeli settlement expansion for too long without any meaningful repercussions to the detriment of Palestinian lives, including Palestinian Americans that live in Palestine. One of the first things the Trump administration did was reverse previous sanctions, and while they continue to turn a blind eye, this bill would impose real consequences on those who support or engage in settlement expansion, in line with international law and our closest allies. This would include banning anyone from importing any goods produced in any Israeli settlement or outpost. We thank Congressman Castro for being a leader in the fight to protect basic Palestinian rights.\u201d\n\nHadar Susskind, President and CEO, New Jewish Narrative: \u201cThis bill fills a crucial void. The Trump administration has failed to take action that would stop the Israeli government from executing its reckless agenda of land grabs and annexation. Now Congress has the opportunity to step up and close that gap. This is what real American leadership looks like.\u201d\n\nThis bill is also endorsed by American Committee for Middle East Rights; A New Policy; Center for International Policy; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Refugees International; Win Without War.\n\nCo-sponsors of the bill include: Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Derek Tran (CA-45), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07).\n\nRead the full bill text and one-pager here and here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/following-sustained-push-reps-chu-sherman-sens-schiff-padilla-fema", "Following Sustained Push from Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, Padilla, FEMA Releases $6.6 Million for Wildfire Survivor Case Management", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Judy Chu", "C001080", "chu.house.gov", "chu", "https://chu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Lawmakers had repeatedly pressed FEMA to release already-approved funding as critical recovery program faced funding cliff\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2013 Today, following weeks of sustained pressure from Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $6.6 million in previously approved funding for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) serving survivors of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires.\n\nThe funding represents the second and third installments of FEMA\u2019s original DCMP award and comes on September 30, the same day the program had been facing a major funding cliff. A fourth installment of already approved funding remains pending. The DCMP helps survivors navigate critical recovery resources, including temporary housing, FEMA and SBA loans, insurance claims, and long-term rebuilding plans. Without this funding, the DCMP would have expired a year early today, September 30, 2026, leaving thousands of Californians without their case managers in the middle of their recovery, and over a hundred case managers without a job.\n\nLast week, the State of California also announced an amended agreement with case management providers allowing the program to extend until October 31st. However, additional federal funding is still needed for reimbursement and to ensure the program\u2019s approved 24-month time frame is completed.\n\nRep. Chu, who has led congressional efforts to secure federal disaster assistance, tax relief, and long-term recovery resources for Eaton Fire survivors, repeatedly pressed FEMA to release the outstanding DCMP funding, including through direct calls to the agency.\n\nSeptember 3, 2026: It is announced that DCMP would be forced to terminate on September 30, 2026, over a year early, due to lack of FEMA funding.\n\nSeptember 10, 2026: Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, and Padilla sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton demanding the agency immediately release the pre-approved DCMP funding.\n\nSeptember 24, 2026: After FEMA failed to respond to the lawmakers\u2019 first letter and separately denied California\u2019s request for supplemental DCMP funding, Reps. Chu, Sherman, Sens. Schiff, and Padilla sent a follow-up letter again demanding FEMA release the outstanding installments to stop the DCMP from shutting down.\n\nSeptember 30, 2026: FEMA obligated $6.6 million in previously approved funding, representing the second and third installments of the original DCMP award.\n\nThroughout this period, the lawmakers also personally called FEMA officials to press for the release of the outstanding funding and prevent an interruption in services.\n\n\"I'm relieved FEMA finally released this funding at the eleventh hour. This is a real win for the thousands of wildfire survivors in Southern California who depend on these case managers to navigate the red tape standing between them and rebuilding, and it is exactly what my fellow California colleagues and I have been demanding for weeks,\u201d said Rep. Chu. \u201cFEMA approved this funding because survivors needed it, yet millions of dollars sat unreleased while critical services hung in the balance. We pushed FEMA again and again to act, and today, $6.6 million is finally moving to California. But our work is not finished. Another approximately $3.3 million installment remains outstanding, and FEMA has still not acted on California\u2019s appeal for the additional funding needed to sustain this program. I will keep pressing FEMA for every dollar our survivors need, and I will keep fighting until our families can rebuild and come home.\u201d\n\n\u201cPleased to see that FEMA is paying California the money it owes to the state for providing caseworkers for fire victims through September 30. It is now time for FEMA to approve and fund keeping this program open at least through May of next year,\u201d said Rep. Sherman. \u201cLosing one\u2019s home in a horrendous fire is extremely difficult on families. Working through the morass of governmental and insurance issues without a caseworker would be horrendous for many families.\u201d\n\n\"Californians are still rebuilding and recovering after the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. I'm glad FEMA has finally heeded to our calls to release urgently needed financial assistance through the Disaster Case Management Program,\u201d said Sen. Schiff. \u201cThese families, who have already lost so much in these fires, deserve to have the resources and aid they need to rebuild and recover stronger than before.\u201d\n\n\u201cCalifornians recovering from devastating wildfires and other natural disasters deserve meaningful support to rebuild their lives and communities,\u201d said Sen. Padilla. \u201cThat\u2019s why I fought to secure this federal funding for disaster case management services across California, including communities in Los Angeles County. But this is just one step toward recovery. The work doesn\u2019t stop here, and I\u2019ll keep fighting for the federal resources California needs to recover, rebuild, and prepare for the next disaster.\u201d\n\nLong-Term Federal Disaster Recovery Funding Still Outstanding\n\nWhile today\u2019s release of previously approved DCMP funding is an important step, it does not resolve the broader federal funding shortfall facing communities devastated by the Eaton and Palisades Fires. California has repeatedly requested long-term federal disaster recovery funding to rebuild homes, schools, small businesses, and critical infrastructure. That funding remains outstanding.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-garcia-leads-members-in-effort-to-halt-relocation-of-national-archives-facility-in-chicago", "Congressman Garc\u00eda Leads Members in Effort to Halt Relocation of National Archives Facility in Chicago", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Jes\u00fas G. \"Chuy\" Garc\u00eda", "G000586", "chuygarcia.house.gov", "chuygarcia", "https://chuygarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "CHICAGO \u2014 Congressman Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04) led a letter with 20 members of the U.S. House and Senate to the Archivist of the U.S. Bradford Wilson, expressing strong opposition to the announcement that the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) intends to close the regional archive facility and Federal Records Center (FRC) located in the Congressman\u2019s district since the 1970s, despite the enormous significance of this facility and the records stored therein.\n\nIn the letter, the legislators urge Mr. Wilson to immediately halt the relocation, provide Congress with necessary information about the agency\u2019s plans, and reverse this decision to move the more than 140,000 cubic feet of historical records. The collection stored at this facility includes records related to Abraham Lincoln, Etta James, Fred Hampton, Chicago and Regional History, African American History, the Civil Rights Movement, Native Americans, Immigration and Naturalization, the U.S. Supreme Court, and much more.\n\n\u201cThis hasty, ill-conceived move would have profoundly harmful consequences. It could restrict access to vital records, including for federal agencies that routinely access them to carry out their mission. It would irreversibly damage staff expertise that has been built for decades around this facility and is inseparable from the collections themselves. It could even damage the records themselves, including the expansive microfilm publications stored there,\u201d state the Members in the letter.\n\n\u201cPeople from across our region and nation visit the facility for many reasons: obtaining census and naturalization records to prove citizenship status, finding information about Great Lakes vessels on which they served, examining genealogy records to identify their ancestors, studying major historical events like the 1894 Pullman Strike and Nuremberg War Crime Trials, and much more,\u201d they added. \u201cThe work of agencies, museums, scholars, teachers, and the public continues to depend on access to these records, which are vital to our history and NARA\u2019s mission.\u201d\n\nThe Organization of American Historians, Council of State Archivists, National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, Society of American Archivists, Chicago Area Archivists, Illinois State Historical Society, and others have also expressed alarm over the closure of multiple NARA facilities and the lack of planning and consultation with local stakeholders.\n\nCongressman Garc\u00eda has been leading oversight efforts related to NARA\u2019s facility closures, including by co-leading legislation to prohibit NARA from unilaterally closing its archival facilities.\n\nCosigners of the letter include: Senators Richard Durbin (IL) and Tammy Duckworth (IL), and Representatives Shontel Brown (OH-11), Sean Casten (IL-06), Danny Davis (IL-07), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Bill Foster (IL-11), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Lauren Underwood (IL-14).\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://clarke.house.gov/clarke-issues-statement-on-50-years-of-the-hyde-amendment/", "CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON 50 YEARS OF THE HYDE AMENDMENT", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Yvette D. Clarke", "C001067", "clarke.house.gov", "clarke", "https://clarke.house.gov/category/press-release/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nSeptember 30, 2026\n\nMEDIA CONTACT:\n\ne: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov\n\nc: 202.913.0126\n\nBROOKLYN, N.Y. \u2014 Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cToday marks 50 years of harm, hardship, and uncertainty under the Hyde Amendment. Since its adoption in 1976, the Hyde Amendment has relentlessly and brutally restricted a woman\u2019s right to make her own healthcare decisions. Its vile legacy can be seen in the countless women it has affected over this painful past century, as well as in every regression in this nation that its very existence has made possible. Indeed, the Supreme Court\u2019s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and deny millions of women their right to an abortion could only have arrived in the wake of a post-Hyde America, where women\u2019s autonomy has remained under siege, and our personal medical decisions are offered to all hands but our own.\n\n\u201cWhile there is no shortage of cruelties lurking in the laws of this nation, the Hyde Amendment is particularly sickening because its negative impacts are felt mostly by those with the least. For half a century, it has blocked low-income Americans from having access to insurance when seeking abortion coverage. For Black and brown women, as well as those belonging to rural communities who have long navigated systemic discrimination and contended with trauma and hardship in their struggle to receive care, its impact and consequences have been especially devastating.\n\n\u201cSystemic injustice does not occur spontaneously. It is born in the cruel and controlling hearts of politicians who steal our power and pretend it is their own. As Members of Congress, we have a moral responsibility to stop the Hyde Amendment before it reaches one more year and harms any more women. Now is the time we come together to put an end to this vicious chapter in our history. That starts with passing the EACH Act and ensuring that every American can access affordable abortion care, no matter what.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases/correa-56-colleagues-demand-answers-about-the-quality-of-representation-for-children-facing-deportation-alone", "CORREA, 56 COLLEAGUES DEMAND ANSWERS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN FACING DEPORTATION ALONE", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "J. Luis Correa", "C001110", "correa.house.gov", "correa", "https://correa.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) today led 56 colleagues in demanding the Trump Administration guarantee quality legal services and humane treatment for unaccompanied immigrant children in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Attorney General Todd Blanche.\n\nThe letter follows reports of children as young as two years old showing up in immigration courts nationwide for fast-tracked hearings, many without an attorney. This change has been part of the Trump Administration\u2019s cruel efforts to target immigrant children for removal and deny them legal immigration pathways.\n\n\u201cWe write to demand answers regarding the fairness of the legal process and the quality of representation being provided to unaccompanied children under the new legal services contracts for Our Rescue and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). Congress has shown clear intent through bipartisan passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization that children deserve representation in legal proceedings. However, we have received reports that unaccompanied children are being provided with inadequate representation and that their cases are being moved into expedited judicial proceedings meant to limit the strength of their legal defense and increase deportations. We urge you to follow the law and give children the fair day in court they deserve by ensuring legal service providers do not just collect a paycheck, but vigorously represent those they are paid taxpayer dollars to serve, and that courts give adequate consideration to each child\u2019s case,\u201d the lawmakers write.\n\n\u201cUnaccompanied immigrant children are receiving substandard legal services at a time when the Trump Administration is already trying to prevent a fair hearing of their cases. The Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has reportedly directed immigration judges to limit the length of continuances from months to three weeks, reducing the time children have to find an attorney and prepare for their case. In some jurisdictions, children are given only days of notice to appear in immigration court, which directly violates EOIR policy,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cJudges who attempt to give more time in proceedings are reportedly at risk of being punished. While children are being given less time to prepare for proceedings, the Administration is training immigration judges to deny asylum claims, further stacking the odds against these kids, some of whom have been abused or abandoned and are survivors of violent crime.\u201d\n\n\u201cReports of inadequate representation and EOIR\u2019s efforts to prevent children from having their case fully considered are unacceptable. We urge you to end the prolonged detention of children, give them adequate time to prepare their cases, stop pressuring judges to deny claims, and conduct oversight to ensure new legal services providers effectively represent their clients in exchange for our tax dollars,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nSpecifically, the lawmakers requested answers to the following questions:\n\nHas the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or DOJ conducted oversight into the legal services that USCRI is providing for unaccompanied children? If so, has HHS or DOJ found any instances where legal representatives represented children virtually with cameras off or failed to speak during proceedings?\n\nFor each month of 2026, how many times have unaccompanied children appeared in immigration court without legal counsel?\n\nDo Our Rescue and the USCRI have sufficient lawyers on staff who are barred in all states and can make filings for all unaccompanied children to whom they will be responsible for providing legal services?\n\nIn 2026, how many times has EOIR summoned a child to immigration court without giving the 10 days of notice required for immigration court appearances?\n\nHave immigration judges been given any guidance since January 20, 2025, directing them to deny or change the way they review any type of petition, application, motion, or other filing or request for unaccompanied children? If so, please provide a record of this instruction.\n\nIs there any policy, formal or informal, requiring or encouraging the conclusion of unaccompanied children's immigration proceedings by a certain date or timeframe? If so, please provide a copy of said policy.\n\nIn 2026, have any judges within EOIR been reprimanded, warned, or faced a consequence or warning of consequences for allotting children additional time in their legal proceedings?\n\nThis letter was signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barrag\u00e1n, Suzanne Bonamici, Janelle Bynum, Andr\u00e9 Carson, Greg Casar, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Gilbert Cisneros, Yvette Clarke, Jim Costa, Jasmine Crockett, Jason Crow, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Veronica Escobar, Lizzie Fletcher, Maxwell Frost, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Adelita Grijalva, Steven Horsford, Jonathan Jackson, Henry Johnson, Raja Krishnamoorthi, George Latimer, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Jennifer McClellan, Gwen Moore, Jerrold Nadler, Joe Neguse, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brittany Pettersen, Mark Pocan, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Luz Rivas, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Lateefah Simon, Melanie Stansbury, Greg Stanton, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, Norma Torres, Juan Vargas, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Frederica Wilson.\n\nView the full text of the letter here.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases/costa-joins-three-congressional-caucuses-focused-campus-antisemitism-us-japan", "Costa Joins Three Congressional Caucuses Focused on Campus Antisemitism, U.S.-Japan Ties, and Transatlantic Partnership", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jim Costa", "C001059", "costa.house.gov", "costa", "https://costa.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) announced he has joined three congressional caucuses: the Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus, as a founding member; the U.S.-Japan Congressional Caucus; and the Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus.\n\nThe bipartisan Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus coordinates congressional oversight of how colleges and universities respond to antisemitism, pushes institutions to protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff, and champions efforts to identify and implement effective solutions.\n\n\u201cSince Hamas\u2019 October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, too many Jewish students have been harassed, threatened, or made to feel unwelcome on their own campuses,\u201d said Rep. Costa. \u201cEvery student deserves to learn in a safe environment, free from hate. As a founding member of this caucus, I will work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to hold institutions accountable for enforcing their own policies and to make sure our colleges protect all of their students.\u201d\n\nThe U.S.-Japan Congressional Caucus fosters bilateral collaboration between the United States and Japan on trade, investment, regional stability, military cooperation, energy, technology, and the environment.\n\n\u201cJapan is one of America\u2019s closest allies and one of California\u2019s most important trading partners, buying more than $11 billion in California goods last year, including food grown in the Valley,\u201d said Rep. Costa. \u201cCalifornia is also home to the largest Japanese American community in the nation. Strengthening this partnership means more opportunities for our farmers and businesses, and a more stable Indo-Pacific.\u201d\n\nThe Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus works to deepen the cultural, social, economic, and political ties between the United States and Denmark.\n\n\u201cDenmark is a steadfast NATO ally and a valued partner on everything from agriculture to defense,\u201d said Rep. Costa. \u201cAt a time when our transatlantic alliances are being threatened by President Trump, we must reaffirm our commitment to those partnerships with Denmark and Greenland with respect for their sovereignty.\u201d\n\nRep. Costa serves as Ranking Member of the Transatlantic Legislators\u2019 Dialogue and is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://debbiedingell.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7430", "Dingell, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Honoring 27th Anniversary of Landmark Court Decision Supporting Americans with Disabilities", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Debbie Dingell", "D000624", "debbiedingell.house.gov", "debbiedingell", "https://debbiedingell.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), alongside Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), and Tom Kean (R-NJ-07), introduced a bipartisan resolution marking the 27th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Olmstead v. L.C., which recognized the unjustified institutional isolation of people with disabilities as discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and to reaffirm the right of people with disabilities to live in their homes and communities.\n\n\"It is essential that people with disabilities continue to have the right to live, work, and thrive in their own communities with dignity.\" said Congresswoman Dingell. \"This bipartisan resolution reaffirms that we will not allow hard won progress to be rolled back, and that we will continue to protect and support the rights enshrined by the Olmstead decision for every person whose lives it has changed for the better.\"\n\n\"Although the Olmstead decision was issued more than twenty\u2011five years ago, its significance remains just as strong today. I am pleased to join my colleagues in introducing this resolution, reaffirming our commitment to ending discrimination based on disability,\" said Congressman Kean.\n\n\"For 27 years, the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. has informed the advancement of policies to empower individuals with disabilities to live and work independently in our communities,\" said Congresswoman Scanlon. \"Recent attempts to undermine the Olmstead integration mandate and roll back those policies raises new opportunities for discrimination against our friends and neighbors with disabilities, and harms the larger community. I\u2019m proud to join my House colleagues in recognizing Olmstead\u2019s anniversary and recommitting ourselves to protecting community integration for the good of all.\"\n\n\"Olmstead affirmed a fundamental principle: every American deserves the freedom and opportunity to build a full life in the community they call home. As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, that principle has always been at the heart of my work to break down barriers, strengthen independence, and ensure all Americans with disabilities have the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. Twenty-seven years later, our responsibility is not simply to recognize the progress Olmstead made possible, but to protect it, build upon it, and ensure that progress is never reversed,\" said Congressman Fitzpatrick.\n\n\"The Supreme Court made clear in Olmstead v. L.C. that Americans with disabilities have the right to live in the most integrated setting possible, rather than being unnecessarily institutionalized. That is why earlier this year I wrote to the DOJ urging it to uphold this longstanding precedent and enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act. I am proud to co-lead this legislation commemorating the 27th anniversary of this landmark decision and reaffirming the importance of ensuring individuals with disabilities can continue to live where they choose, alongside their friends, family, and the communities where they grew up,\" said Congressman Lawler.\n\nThe resolution is endorsed by the Caring Across Generations, United Spinal, ANCOR, Autism Self Advocacy Network, National Council on Independent Living, American Association of People with Disabilities, and the National Disability Rights Network.\n\nThis resolution follows an August 2026 effort led by Congresswomen Dingell and Scanlon condemning a Department of Justice (DOJ) legal opinion that was issued in June 2026 regarding Olmstead v. L.C. While the legal opinion does not overturn the decision, it threatens enforcement of the rights afforded by the Court\u2019s decision under a hostile DOJ that has failed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.\n\nA copy of the resolution can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-gillen-langworthy-schrier-introduce-bipartisan-bill-expand-rare-disease", "Reps. Gillen, Langworthy, Schrier Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Rare Disease Screenings for Newborns", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Laura Gillen", "G000602", "gillen.house.gov", "gillen", "https://gillen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GARDEN CITY, NY \u2014 Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), alongside her colleagues Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-WA-8), introduced the bipartisan Surge to Save Newborns Act to provide states with federal funding and resources to conduct newborn screenings for rare health conditions on the national Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). These screenings identify newborns at risk of serious and treatable rare health conditions to prevent irreversible brain damage, lifelong disability or even death.\n\n\u201cNewborn screenings give families a critical opportunity to detect rare and deadly conditions in the first days of a child\u2019s life,\u201d said Rep. Gillen. \u201cCatching rare illnesses and treating them early can be lifesaving and prevent costly, lifelong disabilities. I\u2019m proud to partner with my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to ensure every state has the funding to provide proven, effective newborn screenings and give every child a fighting chance.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne of our most sacred duties as a society is to protect our newborn babies. We already have the technological advancements to detect serious conditions\u2014now we must do everything in our power to ensure that every single newborn has access to them,\u201d said Rep. Langworthy.\u201cAdding a condition to the federal recommended panel is a good first step, but we need to make sure that states have the resources to put the screenings into practice. This bill will literally save lives and help get these precious babies into treatment before it\u2019s too late. We have to get this done.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a pediatrician, I\u2019ve taken care of patients whose conditions were discovered early on their newborn screen,\u201d said Rep. Schrier. \u201cBecause we had the resources to screen for these diseases, we were able to help babies right away and save lives. However, states often lack the resources to screen for each condition listed on the recommended panel, which puts our children at risk. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure that newborns in Washington state and across the country are screened for all of these treatable conditions at birth.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services oversees the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, a national list of rare conditions that experts advise states to include in newborn screening. It includes 40 core conditions with proven, effective screening and treatment options and 26 secondary conditions that may be identified through core screening or follow-up testing. Conditions are added to the RUSP upon rigorous, evidence-based evaluation and confirmation of an effective treatment option.\n\nThe Surge to Save Newborns Act would:\n\nProvide dedicated funding to states: establish a federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to help states implement newborn screening for conditions included on the RUSP.\n\nTarget funding directly to state implementation: allow a state's chief health executive, their designee or a state governmental agency to apply for funding and explain how the grants would be used to implement recommended screenings.\n\nTrack state-level progress: require annual reports to Congress from FY2027 through FY2031 identifying which recommended conditions each state screens for, which have not yet been implemented, the effectiveness of the grants and recommendations for legislative or administrative action.\n\nInvest in newborn screening infrastructure: provide $35 million annually from FY2027 through FY2031, with funds remaining available until expended.\n\nThe legislation is supported by a broad coalition of rare-disease patient advocacy organizations, family foundations and children\u2019s health organizations including the Children\u2019s Hospital Association, ALD Alliance, ALD Connect, Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome Advocacy Association, Association for Creatine Deficiencies, Believing for Bryleigh Foundation, Conner's Crusade, CTX Alliance, Cure ALD, HCU Network America, Hunter\u2019s Hope Foundation, Judson's Legacy, Katelynn\u2019s Butterfly Kisses, Krabbe Connect, Little Hercules Foundation, MLD Foundation, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Project Alive, the RARE Foundation, Remember The Girls, The Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders, United Leukodystrophy Foundation, United MSD Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).\n\nIn Congress, Rep. Gillen has been a strong advocate for children\u2019s health. In 2025, she co-led a letter with a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and National Cancer Institute Deputy Director Douglas Lowy, urging their agencies to reconsider proposed federal funding cuts to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://gluesenkampperez.house.gov/posts/4702", "Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez visits Seafood Processor and Hosts Military Service Academy Info Night", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marie Gluesenkamp Perez", "G000600", "gluesenkampperez.house.gov", "gluesenkampperez", "https://gluesenkampperez.house.gov/press", "scraper", "SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON \u2014 Earlier this month, Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez spent the day in Cowlitz and Clark Counties where she continued working on issues directly affecting Southwest Washington. That afternoon she travelled up to Cowlitz County where she visited a seafood processing center that packages and ships locally-caught seafood across the country. Later that evening, the Congresswoman hosted an information night in Clark County for students interested in military service academies.\n\nFor her first stop of the day, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez toured Pacific Seafood\u2019s Woodland facility and discussed what it takes to distribute locally caught seafood across the country. The processing and distribution center is a critical hub for shipping west coast seafood. Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez also used the time to sit down with employees to discuss the importance of having a predictable permitting environment, supporting working waterfronts, and having strong regional supply chains.\n\n\u201cWorking waterfronts are kitchen table issues for us in Southwest Washington. Nobody wants a waterfront with only yachts and tents, but if we don\u2019t stand up for the people who make their living on the water that\u2019s what we\u2019ll get.\u201d Said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez, \u201cThe generational skill it takes to keep our working waterfronts up and running\u2013and feeding us\u2013is incredible. I\u2019m committed to continuing to support our fishermen in Congress.\u201d\n\nTo hear a recap on the visit directly from the Congresswoman click HERE.\n\nRep. Gluesenkamp Perez at Pacific Seafood\n\nSouthwest Washington is home to some of the most fish-dependent communities in the country. Earlier this year she worked in the appropriations committee to include a provision to prioritize local and regional seafood in the National School Lunch Program. She is also a co-sponsor of the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act, a bill to establish cooperative agreements connecting local farmers and producers with local food distribution organizations \u2013 including for purchases of locally processed food like seafood.\n\nLater that evening, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez headed down to Clark County where she hosted an information night for students interested in attending our nation\u2019s military service academies. Every year the Congresswoman nominates a group of incredible students from Southwest Washington as they begin their careers in public service.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly encouraging to see so many students come out to learn about how they can build a career in public service. Offering students the options to have diverse career paths and paths that let them give back to their communities, \u201d said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. \u201cEvery year I\u2019m so proud to see the young men and women from across Southwest Washington who take this step to serve their country and our community.\u201d\n\n####", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://goodlander.house.gov/media/press-releases/goodlander-wins-fight-to-put-liberty-utilities-service-denials-under-review-by-nh-public-utilities-commission/", "Goodlander Wins Fight to Put Liberty Utilities\u2019 Service Denials Under Review by NH Public Utilities Commission", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Maggie Goodlander", "G000604", "goodlander.house.gov", "goodlander", "https://goodlander.house.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "Goodlander is among the first Members of Congress in America to take the fight to lower utility costs before a public utilities commission. Goodlander secured full party status in this rate case \u2014 and helped persuade the NH PUC to take on the investor-owned utility\u2019s service denials that sparked her involvement.\n\nConcord, N.H. \u2014 The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a written orderthis week granting a petition filed by Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander to intervene in Liberty Utilities\u2019 rate case after Goodlander petitioned the PUC to intervene in this case last month. Following Goodlander\u2019s advocacy, the PUC also agreed to take up Liberty\u2019s decision to deny service to towns across the Lakes Region \u2013 identifying Liberty\u2019s \u201cmoratorium\u201d on new natural gas service in the Lakes Region as an issue that belongs in this PUC proceeding.\n\nIt started with an abrupt decision by Liberty earlier this year to deny service to Lakes Region ratepayers, imposing significant delays on housing construction. In April, Goodlander convened local officials and affected stakeholders in Franklin and in June sent an oversight letter demanding answers from Liberty executives. Liberty has confirmed a permanent fix would require replacing the aging, 22-mile \u201cHigh Line\u201d pipeline serving the Lakes Region, a project Goodlander has spent months investigating. The utility committed to an interim solution with portable liquefied natural gas and Goodlander has continued pressing for a permanent solution and accountability.\n\nLiberty then asked the PUC to raise its annual operating revenues by more than $35.8 million; for a typical residential heating customer, that would mean a 16.54 percent increase \u2014 nearly $26 more every month \u2014 and a non-heating customer\u2019s bill would rise more than $12, a 20.52 percent increase \u2014 according to Liberty\u2019s own customer notice. On August 31, Goodlander petitioned the NH PUC to intervene. She made the case that the Commission should take up the service denials \u2014 and the Commission agreed.\n\nThe NH PUC granted Goodlander\u2019s petition to intervene from the bench and its written order explains that her participation is in the interest of justice and will help develop the record on important issues, finding that her background, knowledge, and interests will help build the record the Commission relies on. The Commission\u2019s initial notice of issues did not list the moratorium. After Goodlander and others raised it and made the case, the Commission will now decide whether Liberty\u2019s moratorium is legal and consistent with its tariffs, whether the underlying capacity problems can be resolved fairly for all ratepayers, and whether Liberty\u2019s proposed temporary solution is legal and appropriate.\n\nAs a full party, Goodlander is able to file testimony, press Liberty in discovery, and question its witnesses at hearings on behalf of constituents who are Liberty ratepayers, through final hearings scheduled for June and July 2027.\n\nIt is a rare step. Goodlander is among the first Members of Congress in America to advocate for her constituents directly before a public utilities commission \u2014 bringing a federal lawmaker\u2019s voice, and the experience of a former Justice Department antitrust lawyer who took on monopolies, into the forum where the utility costs Granite Staters are asked to pay are decided. New Hampshire\u2019s Consumer Advocate Don Kreis has said he had never seen it before. He called it \u201cpleasantly audacious.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo utility should get to jack up rates while leaving New Hampshire families and small businesses wondering if they\u2019ll even have service,\u201d said Congresswoman Goodlander. \u201cWhen Liberty Utilities told people across our Lakes Region it would not serve them, I made the case that our Public Utilities Commission had to take a hard look at that, and I\u2019m very encouraged that the Commission agreed. Granite Staters deserve answers, affordable bills, and reliable service, and I will use every tool I have to get them. When the people I represent are told \u2018no,\u2019 I will never watch from the sidelines.\u201d\n\nADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:\n\nGoodlander has made lower energy costs and investor-owned utility accountability a focus of her work in Congress:\n\nGoodlander urged the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission to reconsiderEversource\u2019s approved 43.4 percent rate increase and helped introduce the Lowering Utility Bills Act to rein in excessive profits at investor-owned utilities.\n\nShe introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to accelerate hydropower production and lower energy costs, launched a bipartisan Hydropower Caucus to do the same, and joined efforts to protect ratepayers from potentially costly utility transactions.\n\nBefore taking office, Goodlander served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Justice Department\u2019s Antitrust Division, where she took on corporate monopolies driving up costs for families and small businesses.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://goodlander.house.gov/media/press-releases/no-utility-giant-should-get-a-blank-check-goodlander-fights-mega-merger-that-would-hand-one-company-all-of-new-englands-nuclear-power-including-seabrook/", "\u201cNo Utility Giant Should Get a Blank Check\u201d: Goodlander Fights Mega-Merger That Would Hand One Company All of New England\u2019s Nuclear Power, Including Seabrook", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Maggie Goodlander", "G000604", "goodlander.house.gov", "goodlander", "https://goodlander.house.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "As Granite Staters face a more than 16% jump in electricity rates, Goodlander and 11 colleagues urge FERC to reject the $66.8 billion NextEra-Dominion deal unless the companies prove it won\u2019t raise costs\n\nConcord, N.H. \u2014 Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), a former top antitrust official at the Justice Department, and a coalition of 11 of her congressional colleagues pressed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this week to block the NextEra-Dominion merger unless the companies can prove it won\u2019t drive up costs for families. The deal would create the world\u2019s largest regulated electric utility and hand a single corporation control of Seabrook Station and New England\u2019s only other nuclear power plant.\n\nFor New Hampshire, the stakes could not be higher. The merger would put Seabrook and Connecticut\u2019s Millstone plant under common ownership, giving one company control over roughly a quarter of New England\u2019s electricity. In the lawmakers\u2019 words, that would mean \u201cconsiderable negotiating leverage over states and the ability to demand abusive terms at the expense of households.\u201d And because neither company is a regulated utility in New Hampshire, the state\u2019s Public Utilities Commission gets no say. FERC is the only regulator standing between Granite State families and a nuclear monopoly.\n\nMeanwhile, the $2.25 billion in bill credits NextEra is offering to win approval would go only to Dominion customers in Virginia and the Carolinas. Not one dollar would go to New Hampshire, which would shoulder the risk and get none of the reward.\n\nGranite Staters can\u2019t afford it. Residential electricity rates in New Hampshire jumped more than 16% over the past year, according to the Energy Information Administration\u2019s July data.\n\nGoodlander\u2019s advocacy comes as governors from five New England states have sounded the alarm and called for \u201cthe highest level of scrutiny\u201d of the deal.\n\n\u201cGranite Staters are already getting crushed by the cost of energy, and no utility giant should get a blank check to get even bigger on their backs,\u201d said Congresswoman Goodlander. \u201cThis deal would put Seabrook and every other nuclear plant in New England under one corporate roof, and New Hampshire wouldn\u2019t get a single vote on it. That\u2019s too much power in too few hands. Federal regulators must look under every rock, test every promise, and block this deal if it would do what so many corporate mergers have done before: stick families with higher bills. I spent years taking on corporate monopolies at the Justice Department. I know a bad deal when I see one, and I will keep fighting to put New Hampshire ratepayers ahead of utility profits.\u201d\n\nThe $66.8 billion deal would be the fourth-largest merger of all time, creating a company worth $420 billion. \u201cOur fundamental concern is that this new entity will be both a gigantic power generator and a gigantic power-providing utility,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. They warn that combining two major regulated utility businesses with extensive electricity-generation assets could allow the merged company to favor affiliates, shift costs to captive ratepayers, weaken competition in power markets, and discourage transmission investments that would bring lower-cost power into New England and other regions.\n\nUnder Section 203 of the Federal Power Act, FERC may approve the transaction only if it is consistent with the public interest and does not pose a risk of harmful cross-subsidization. The letter calls on the Commission to evaluate the merger\u2019s effects on competition, rates, regulation, transmission development, and regulated utility assets across all affected regions, including ISO New England. The lawmakers urge FERC to deny the application unless NextEra and Dominion demonstrate that the deal will have no adverse effect \u2013 now or in the future \u2013 on competition, rates, or regulation, and to remain skeptical of alleged mitigating conditions that have historically failed to protect consumers in past acquisitions. \u201cIf the present record is insufficient to make those findings,\u201d they wrote, \u201cthe Commission should deny the application.\u201d\n\nNextEra has already shown New Hampshire how far it will go to protect its profits, and it did so from Seabrook. In their joint statement, the five New England states pointed to NextEra\u2019s \u201chistory of using its already considerable resources to obstruct new transmission infrastructure projects that New England needs.\u201d The New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project was designed to deliver low-cost Quebec hydropower to ISO New England, and NextEra\u2019s Seabrook nuclear plant and oil-fired generation stood to lose significant revenue as a result. NextEra subsequently spent more than $20 million in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to block the project, in order to deny a competing low-cost resource access to the market. When the company delayed upgrades at Seabrook needed to connect the line, FERC ordered it to act, and a federal appeals court upheld that order in 2024.\n\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t a merger. It\u2019s NextEra buying control of a state-granted monopoly and paying a multibillion-dollar premium for the privilege, and ratepayers shouldn\u2019t be stuck with that bill,\u201d said Marissa P. Gillett, Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project and former Chair of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. \u201cNextEra has promised customer protections to win approval before, in Hawaii and Texas, and regulators rejected both deals. The law puts the burden on the companies to prove this deal won\u2019t raise rates or weaken competition. Bill credits and paper commitments don\u2019t meet that burden. Congresswoman Goodlander and her colleagues are right to hold FERC to that standard.\u201d\n\nA copy of the letter is available HERE.\n\nADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:\n\nGoodlander has made lowering energy and utility costs a central part of her work in Congress:\n\nTaking on utility rate hikes and monopoly power: Goodlander filed a petition to intervene in Liberty Utilities\u2019 pending rate case, called on the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission to reconsider Eversource\u2019s 43.4 percent rate increase, and helped introduce the Lowering Utility Bills Act to rein in excessive profits by investor-owned utilities.\n\nExpanding affordable, reliable power: Goodlander introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to accelerate hydropower production and lower energy costs and has championed bipartisan legislation to support upgrades at existing hydroelectric facilities, strengthen grid reliability, and lower costs.\n\nDemanding utility accountability: Goodlander pressed Liberty Utilities for answers after the company refused new gas connections in the Lakes Region and has urged FERC to crack down on utilities\u2019 attempts to overcharge customers.\n\nBringing antitrust experience to Congress: Before Congress, Goodlander served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Justice Department\u2019s Antitrust Division, where she took on corporate monopolies driving up costs for families and small businesses.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/photo-release-gottheimer-joins-north-jerseys-korean-american-community-at-the-25th-annual-korean-harvest-festival-of-new-jersey", "PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Joins North Jersey\u2019s Korean-American Community at the 25th Annual Korean Harvest Festival of New Jersey", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Josh Gottheimer", "G000583", "gottheimer.house.gov", "gottheimer", "https://gottheimer.house.gov/press", "scraper", "Below: Gottheimer at the 25th Annual Korean Harvest Festival of New Jersey to celebrate Chuseok.\n\nRIDGEFIELD, NJ \u2014 U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) attended the 25th Annual Korean Harvest Festival of New Jersey. The festival brings together New Jersey\u2019s diverse communities to enjoy and experience Korean culture. This year\u2019s festival featured Korean dishes, music, art, games, and more to celebrate Chuseok, a South Korean holiday celebrating the full moon and harvest.\n\n\u201cThe Korean American community is a critical part of North Jersey \u2014 they work every day to make the Fifth District an even better place to live, raise our families, and do business. I\u2019m proud to be able to help celebrate Chuseok and remember that our greatest strength is diversity in the United States,\u201d said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).\n\nGottheimer has worked with Korean American community and business leaders from North Jersey to support small businesses, lower taxes, keep communities safe, help make life more affordable, and combat hate against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.\n\nGottheimer was joined by Bergen County Executive James Tedesco, Bergen County Clerk John Hogan, Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur, Bergen County Commissioner Mary Amoroso, Bergen County Commissioner Rafael Marte, NJ Assemblywoman Ellen Park, NJ Assemblyman Robert Auth, Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna, Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mark Park, Palisades Park Mayor Paul Kim, Palisades Park Councilman Christopher Kwak, Palisades Park Councilman Charlie Shin, Palisades Park Councilman Frank Donohue, the Korean American Association of NJ, The Ko-American Harvest Festival Committee, Korean Produce Association of NY, The Korean NY Daily.\n\nBelow: Gottheimer at the 25th Annual Korean Harvest Festival of New Jersey celebrating Chuseok.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-calls-on-the-u-s-doj-and-nj-attorney-general-to-investigate-lindens-targeting-of-jewish-community", "RELEASE: Gottheimer Calls on the U.S. DOJ and\u00a0NJ Attorney General\u00a0to Investigate Linden\u2019s Targeting of Jewish Community", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Josh Gottheimer", "G000583", "gottheimer.house.gov", "gottheimer", "https://gottheimer.house.gov/press", "scraper", "LINDEN, NJ \u2014 Today, Wednesday, September 30, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced he is working with the U.S. Department of Justice and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport to address serious concerns about the seven-year pattern of discriminatory zoning changes and selective enforcement by the City of Linden against its Jewish community. Gottheimer has now sent a letter to both U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and New Jersey Attorney General Davenport, asking them to work together on a review.\n\n\u201cReligious freedom is one of the cornerstones of our democracy, and any attempt to exclude or harass a certain population based on prejudice, particularly by public officials, is deeply upsetting and disturbing,\u201d wrote Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).\u201dFor more than 35 years prior to the arrival of the Jewish community in Linden, there were no significant changes to the City\u2019s zoning regulations. However, in the seven years since the Jewish community began to settle there, the City has enacted four major zoning changes. Each of these changes directly impacts the Jewish community\u2019s religious life and unique family needs\u2026 I encourage the U.S. Department of Justice and New Jersey Office of the Attorney General to investigate these claims and, if necessary, take legal action to remediate these alarming actions by the City of Linden.\u201d\n\nThe full letter can be found here.\n\nGottheimer\u2019s September 2026 letter asks the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General to look into a seven-year pattern of zoning changes and selective enforcement by the City of Linden (Union County) aimed at its Jewish community. It builds on his May 2025 letter to the Department of Justice. The letter outlines:\n\nHouses of worship: Months after approving a synagogue in May 2017, the City raised the minimum lot size for houses of worship from 25,000 to 75,000 square feet. It then made combining lots effectively impossible.\n\nResidential zoning: Between 2023 and 2025, the City proposed counting basements, attics, and garages toward floor area, requiring garages (which would cut living space by about 29 percent), and barring basement kitchens and bathrooms. After community pushback, the City dropped the basement-counting provision.\n\nThe October 7 sweep: On October 7, 2025, which fell during Sukkot and on the anniversary of the Hamas terror attack, City officials issued more than 34 violations. They allegedly went only to addresses listed in a Yiddish community circular.\n\nServices and infrastructure: In 2025, Mayor Derek Armstead personally blocked dumpsters requested ahead of Passover. School buses carrying Jewish children were ticketed and stopped. The permit for Corner Bite, a kosher pizzeria, was revoked retroactively.\n\nLegal basis: The concerns raise issues under the First and Fourteenth Amendments; Article I, Section 3 of the New Jersey Constitution; the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA); the Fair Housing Act; the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination; and the Open Public Meetings Act. On the last point, the City scheduled meetings during Passover week and turned away Jewish residents on April 18, 2025.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://gray.house.gov/media/press-releases/gray-issues-statement-federal-permitting-reform-agreement", "GRAY ISSUES STATEMENT ON FEDERAL PERMITTING REFORM AGREEMENT", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Adam Gray", "G000605", "gray.house.gov", "gray", "https://gray.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13) issued the following statement after Senate leaders announced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026:\n\n\u201cReaching an agreement on permitting reform is an important and long-overdue first step toward fixing a broken process that has held back our ability to build things again in the Central Valley and across the country. I hear from folks in my district about the need for reforms to environmental laws like NEPA, CWA, and ESA, and this package delivers on all three.\n\nIn my district, we\u2019ve seen firsthand how important projects can take years to get built because they are held up by duplicative environmental permits, litigation, and other procedural delays. The Los Banos Creek Detention Dam Project - which expands an existing reservoir to allow for storage, groundwater recharge, and conveyance - was first proposed in 2012 but construction didn\u2019t begin until the end of 2025. I attended the ribbon cutting at the beginning of this year. No project that takes six months to build should take over a decade to permit.\n\nIt's not just water projects that are being held up. Streamlining regulations and cutting through red tape allows America to remain competitive in infrastructure and energy reliability on the global scale.\n\nGetting a bipartisan deal across the finish line will take continued work, but these types of projects can't wait. Congress needs to take this up immediately upon its return to Washington.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/media/press-releases/grijalva-scott-lee-introduce-bill-to-invest-in-direct-care-workers", "Grijalva, Scott, Lee Introduce Bill to invest in Direct care Workers", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Adelita S. Grijalva", "G000606", "grijalva.house.gov", "grijalva", "https://grijalva.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Direct CARE Opportunity Act helps meet the growing demand for direct care workers, improve working conditions, and support seniors and people with disabilities\n\nTucson, AZ \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva, alongside House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (VA-03) and Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03), announced plans toreintroduce the Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act of 2026, legislation to invest in the training, recruitment, retention, and career advancement of the nation\u2019s direct care workforce.\n\nBetween 2025 and 2035, the direct care workforce is projected toadd more than 886,000 new jobs. Despite this growing demand, direct care workers still earn low wages and experience unstable working conditions. The current median wage for direct care workers is just $17.36 an hour. In addition to low wages, direct care workers also face high injury rates. For example, nursing assistants are nearly five times more likely than the typical U.S. worker to experience workplace injuries or illnesses.\n\nCongressional Republicans and the Trump Administration have made the situation even more dire by cutting Medicaid funding by nearly $1 trillion in the \u201cBig Ugly Bill\u201d and threatening other public assistance that helps many direct care workers make ends meet. As a result, many states are reducing access to home and community-based services, the main source of funding for direct care workers.\n\nThe Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026 strengthens the training, support, and career opportunities that direct care workers need to support millions of older Americans and people with disabilities.\n\n\u201cFor so many families throughout Southern Arizona, direct care workers provide critical support that allows older adults and people with disabilities to live with dignity and age in place. Despite the essential work they do, direct care workers are too often underpaid and lack the support and opportunities they deserve, contributing to a growing shortage of providers. The Direct CARE Opportunity Act invests in these workers by expanding training, strengthening career pathways, and helping recruit and retain the workforce our communities depend on,\u201d said Rep. Grijalva.\n\n\u201cDirect care workers play an essential role in caring for our nation\u2019s seniors and individuals with disabilities,\u201d said Ranking Member Scott. \u201cRegrettably, our investments in this critical workforce have lagged far behind the rapidly growing need for their services. It\u2019s time to address the shortage of care workers and provide them with the resources and support they deserve. By funding innovative strategies to recruit, retain, and support direct care workers, the Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026 helps ensure that our nation\u2019s seniors and individuals with disabilities have access to vital, everyday care.\u201d\n\n\u201cNevada is home to more than 13,000 direct care workers who work tirelessly to support Nevada seniors and those with disabilities every day, and demand for their services is skyrocketing,\u201d said Rep. Lee. \u201cThe Direct CARE Opportunity Act meets that demand by directly investing in the retention, recruitment, and training of our direct care workforce. This practical investment supports caregivers currently in the workforce, strengthens the direct care workforce pipeline, and ensures that those who depend on direct care workers can continue to live securely and with dignity.\u201d\n\nThe Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026 would:\n\nProvide funding to states and eligible entities to invest in strategies to recruit, retain, and advance the direct care workforce.\n\nExpand training, registered apprenticeships, and mentoring opportunities to strengthen the direct care workforce pipeline.\n\nDevelop career pathway models to support retention and advancement within the direct care field.\n\nHelp communities meet the needs of a growing aging population and support older Americans and people with disabilities who want to remain in their communities.\n\nSupport the health and well-being of people who rely on direct care services, helping reduce reliance on more costly institutional care.\n\nTo read the bill text for the Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026, click here.\n\nTo read the fact sheet for the Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026, click here.\n\nTo read the section-by-section for the Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://hernandez.house.gov/media/press-releases/comisionado-residente-presenta-medida-para-proteger-oportunidades-pequenos", "Comisionado Residente presenta medida para proteger oportunidades a peque\u00f1os negocios en contratos federales", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "PR", "Pablo Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez", "H001103", "hernandez.house.gov", "hernandez", "https://hernandez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico \u2014 El Comisionado Residente de Puerto Rico, Pablo Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez, junto al congresista Gil Cisneros, presentaron el PROMISE for Small Businesses Act (H.R. 10622), un proyecto que busca asegurar que compa\u00f1\u00edas que reciben contratos federales cumplan con sus compromisos de ofrecer oportunidades de trabajo a peque\u00f1os negocios.\n\nCuando una empresa recibe determinados contratos del gobierno federal, usualmente de un valor mayor de $900,000, debe presentar un plan de subcontrataci\u00f3n a peque\u00f1os negocios. Estos planes buscan incluir a empresas peque\u00f1as en el trabajo generado por contratos federales. Sin embargo, estos planes rara vez se fiscalizan y muchos no se cumplen. Mi proyecto de ley aumenta las auditor\u00edas para que los peque\u00f1os negocios reciban las oportunidades que les corresponden por ley.\n\n\u201cSi una compa\u00f1\u00eda recibe un contrato federal y se compromete a darle oportunidades a peque\u00f1os negocios, debemos asegurarnos de que ese compromiso se cumpla. En Puerto Rico, eso significa saber si nuestras peque\u00f1as empresas est\u00e1n teniendo una oportunidad real de participar en el trabajo que generan los contratos federales. Queremos que esos compromisos no se queden solamente en papel\u201d, expres\u00f3 el Comisionado Residente.\n\n\u201cLas peque\u00f1as empresas son esenciales para nuestra econom\u00eda y merecen una oportunidad justa en el mercado a nivel federal. Estoy orgulloso de unirme con el Congresista Pablo Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez en la introducci\u00f3n de la llamada \u2018PROMISE for Small Business Act\u2019 para asegurar que no sean excluidas. En el caso de que se establezca, esta legislaci\u00f3n mejorar\u00e1 la supervisi\u00f3n de los grandes contratistas principales para asegurar que cumplan su promesa con los negocios peque\u00f1os, tal cual como indiquen los planes de subcontrataci\u00f3n. El estatuto dirigir\u00e1 la revisi\u00f3n de los planes de subcontratos y requerir\u00e1 el informe al Congreso sobre el cumplimiento normativo, tendencias en faltas de cumplimiento, y acciones tomadas para asegurar el orden. No podemos permitir que impidan que nuestras peque\u00f1as empresas tengan la oportunidad de obtener contratos federales,\u201d expres\u00f3 el congresista Gil Cisneros (D-CA).\n\n\u201cAgradezco la disposici\u00f3n del Comisionado Residente de escuchar las experiencias de los due\u00f1os de peque\u00f1os negocios que buscamos participar en el mercado federal y traducir nuestras preocupaciones en acci\u00f3n legislativa. Fortalecer la fiscalizaci\u00f3n de los planes de subcontrataci\u00f3n y medir sus resultados contribuir\u00eda a que las pol\u00edticas federales dirigidas a los peque\u00f1os negocios se traduzcan en oportunidades reales para las empresas a las que est\u00e1n dirigidas. Estas oportunidades ayudan a las empresas a crecer, crear empleos y contribuir a las econom\u00edas locales, a la vez que fortalecen los servicios del gobierno federal mediante el conocimiento especializado y la agilidad que aportamos los peque\u00f1os negocios,\u201d dijo Carmen A. Cortes Ramos, Legal PM Partners.\n\nLos contratistas federales que cuentan con planes de subcontrataci\u00f3n para peque\u00f1as empresas generalmente son evaluados en funci\u00f3n de si realizaron un \u201cesfuerzo de buena fe\u201d para cumplir con sus metas. Una revisi\u00f3n de la Oficina de Rendici\u00f3n de Cuentas del Gobierno (GAO, por sus siglas en ingl\u00e9s) encontr\u00f3 que rara vez los contratistas recib\u00edan calificaciones inferiores a satisfactorias, incluso cuando no cumpl\u00edan con sus metas de subcontrataci\u00f3n. En el a\u00f1o fiscal 2022, m\u00e1s de $400 mil millones en contratos federales requer\u00edan planes de subcontrataci\u00f3n, mientras que la Administraci\u00f3n de Peque\u00f1as Empresas (SBA, por sus siglas en ingl\u00e9s) realiz\u00f3 \u00fanicamente seis revisiones de cumplimiento durante ese a\u00f1o.\n\nEl impacto para las peque\u00f1as empresas es significativo. El SBA inform\u00f3 que, si los contratistas hubieran cumplido con sus metas de subcontrataci\u00f3n existentes durante el a\u00f1o fiscal 2023, las peque\u00f1as empresas habr\u00edan recibido casi $1,500 millones adicionales en contratos de subcontrataci\u00f3n, incluyendo aproximadamente $850 millones adicionales para Peque\u00f1as Empresas en Desventaja (Small Disadvantaged Businesses).\n\nEl PROMISE for Small Businesses Act requerir\u00eda que la Administraci\u00f3n de Peque\u00f1os Negocios de Estados Unidos (SBA, por sus siglas en ingl\u00e9s) revise cada a\u00f1o al menos el 10% de los contratos sujetos a estos planes en cada agencia federal para verificar su cumplimiento.\n\nAdem\u00e1s, la SBA tendr\u00eda que informar:\n\nsi los contratistas cumplieron con sus compromisos de subcontrataci\u00f3n;\n\ncu\u00e1ntas revisiones de cumplimiento realiz\u00f3;\n\nqu\u00e9 problemas de incumplimiento identific\u00f3; y\n\nqu\u00e9 acciones adicionales tom\u00f3 con relaci\u00f3n a esos contratistas.\n\nEn Puerto Rico, donde los contratos federales apoyan proyectos de infraestructura, reconstrucci\u00f3n y otros servicios, la medida permitir\u00eda conocer mejor si los compromisos de abrir oportunidades a peque\u00f1os negocios locales se est\u00e1n cumpliendo.\n\nEn t\u00e9rminos sencillos, el proyecto busca establecer una revisi\u00f3n m\u00e1s consistente para comprobar que, cuando una compa\u00f1\u00eda grande promete compartir parte del trabajo de un contrato federal con peque\u00f1os negocios, cumpla con ese compromiso.\n\nEl proyecto tambi\u00e9n cuenta con el respaldo de Legal PM Partners, ECONS Group, y The Consulting Lead, peque\u00f1os negocios que apoyan mayores esfuerzos para asegurar que los compromisos de subcontrataci\u00f3n se cumplan.\n\n###\n\nHern\u00e1ndez, Cisneros Introduce Bill to Strengthen Small Business Participation in Federal Contracts\n\nPROMISE for Small Businesses Act would increase oversight of large federal contractors and help ensure promised subcontracting opportunities reach small businesses.\n\nSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez (D-PR) and Congressman Gil Cisneros (D-CA) introduced the PROMISE for Small Businesses Act (H.R. 10622), legislation to strengthen oversight of large federal contractors and ensure they follow through on commitments to provide subcontracting opportunities to small businesses.\n\nWhen large companies or corporations receive certain federal contracts, they are required to establish plans outlining how they will provide subcontracting opportunities to small businesses. These plans are intended to give smaller companies a chance to compete for a share of the work created by federal contracts.\n\n\u201cWhen companies receive federal contracts and commit to working with small businesses, we should make sure they follow through,\u201d said Hern\u00e1ndez. \u201cThese opportunities can help small businesses grow, create jobs, and build experience in the federal marketplace. Our bill strengthens accountability and helps ensure those opportunities reach them.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are critical to our economy and they deserve a fair shot in the federal marketplace. I\u2019m proud to join Rep. Pablo Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez to introduce the PROMISE for Small Businesses Act to make sure they are not being left out. If enacted, this legislation would strengthen oversight of federal contracts to help ensure that large prime contractors keep their promise to small businesses as outlined in subcontracting plans. It would direct reviews of subcontracting plans and require reporting to Congress on compliance, noncompliance trends, and any enforcement actions taken. We cannot allow our small businesses to be pushed out of federal contracting,\" said Cisneros (D-CA).\n\n\u201cI appreciate the Resident Commissioner\u2019s willingness to listen to the experiences of small business owners seeking to participate in the federal marketplace and translate our concerns into legislative action. Strengthening oversight of subcontracting plans and measuring results can help ensure that federal small business policies create meaningful opportunities for the businesses they are designed to support. These opportunities help small businesses build capacity, create jobs, and contribute to local economies while strengthening federal services through the expertise and agility that small businesses bring,\u201d said Carmen A. Cortes Ramos, Legal PM Partners.\n\nFederal contractors with small business subcontracting plans are generally evaluated on whether they made a \u201cgood faith effort\u201d to meet their goals. A GAO report found that contractors were rarely given below-satisfactory ratings even when subcontracting goals were missed. In fiscal year 2022, more than $400 billion in federal contracts required subcontracting plans, while SBA conducted only six compliance reviews that year.\n\nThe impact on small businesses is significant. SBA reported that if contractors had met their existing subcontracting goals in fiscal year 2023, small businesses would have received nearly $1.5 billion more in subcontracting awards, including about $850 million more for Small Disadvantaged Businesses.\n\nThe PROMISE for Small Businesses Act would require the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to review at least 10 percent of contracts subject to these subcontracting plans at each federal agency every year to determine whether contractors are meeting their commitments.\n\nThe legislation would also require the SBA to report:\n\nwhether contractors complied with their small business subcontracting plans;\n\nhow many compliance reviews the agency conducted;\n\nwhat compliance issues were identified; and\n\nwhat additional actions or reviews the SBA took in response.\n\nFor small businesses, subcontracting can provide an important path into the federal marketplace. A small construction company, technology firm, manufacturer, professional services provider, or other local business may not be in a position to compete for a major federal contract on its own, but can perform part of that work as a subcontractor to a larger company.\n\nThePROMISE for Small Businesses Act would strengthen oversight of that process by requiring regular reviews to determine whether large contractors are delivering on the small business opportunities included in their subcontracting plans.\n\nThis legislation is also endorsed by Legal PM Partners, ECONS Group, and The Consulting Lead, small businesses that support stronger accountability for federal contractors and greater access to subcontracting opportunities.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-applauds-democratic-womens-caucus-for-robust-economic-legislative-slate", "REP. HOYLE APPLAUDS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN\u2019S CAUCUS FOR ROBUST ECONOMIC LEGISLATIVE SLATE", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "EUGENE, OR \u2013 Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), released the following statement after joining her colleagues in the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus in launching their slate of economic priorities.\n\n\"Working families deserve financial security, a path to the middle class and economic opportunity,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThis administration is stripping Americans of these opportunities and turning back the clock on progress. We\u2019refighting back with a forward-thinking economic agenda that will close the gender pay gap, protect worker's rights and lower costs, helping Americans thrive for generations to come.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nThis legislative package includes a number of priorities championed by Rep. Hoyle including:\n\nH.R. 4966 \u2013 Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act, which would prohibit price gouging by grocery stores.\n\nH.R. 1700 \u2013 Social Security Expansion Act, which would expand Social Security benefits by $2,400 a year and ensure Social Security is fully funded for the next 75 years by applying the Social Security payroll tax on all income above $250,000.\n\nH.R. 17 \u2013 the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help working women challenge pay discrimination\n\nH.R. 2763 \u2013 the American Family Act, which would permanently expand the Child Tax Credit for middle-class and low-income families\n\nH.R. 5390 \u2013 The FAMILY Act, which would provide workers with up to 12 weeks of partial income when they take time for their own serious health conditions.\n\nH.R.7917 - Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act, which would ensure home care workers receive at least the minimum wage and access to overtime pay\n\nH.R. 3971 \u2013 Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act, extend workplace rights and protections to the 2.2 million domestic workers in the US, who are currently excluded from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).\n\nH.R. 1035 \u2013 Job Protection Act, which extend Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) protections to cover workers in businesses of all sizes", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-salinas-hoyle-dexter-bynum-oppose-trumps-undermining-of-due-process-and-politicizing-immigration-courts", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Hoyle, Dexter, Bynum Oppose Trump\u2019s Undermining of Due Process and Politicizing Immigration Courts", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Oregon lawmakers demand an end to expedited \u201cmega master\u201d hearings in Portland, Tacoma, and other immigration centers.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum, today demanded the Trump administration end the practice of \u201cmega master\u201d immigration hearings that expedite the review of hundreds of immigrants\u2019 cases in a day, resulting in a fast-track to removing immigrants without due process.\n\n\u201cThis unwarranted blitzkrieg of assaults on justice and fair treatment raises serious constitutional concerns and is unworthy of the oaths you swore to uphold,\u201d the Oregon lawmakers wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and David Venturella, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cOver the past year, your agencies have increased the number of immigrants who must appear on little-to-no notice for so-called \u2018mega master\u2019 hearings on overcrowded dockets in front of Trump\u2019s handpicked judges at courts across the country, all while stripping immigrants of their legal status, ramping up arrests and detention, and limiting their access to legal counsel for representation in court and fast-tracked asylum interviews,\u201d they wrote.\n\n\u201cThese policy changes confuse and terrify law-abiding immigrants in our communities and prevent them from having a fair day in court.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote that the Portland Immigration Court in Oregon is now holding about two \u201cmega master\u201d hearings every week, in addition to maintaining its previously scheduled docket hearings and individual merit hearings. That has forced immigrants anticipating court dates in 2027 or 2028 to suddenly show up on extremely short notice and scrambling both to figure out how to get to the court on time, and to find an attorney to represent them.\n\n\u201cAs if the changes at the Portland Immigration Court weren\u2019t bad enough, the neighboring Tacoma Immigration Court has now had judges deciding in mid-August to stop allowing immigration attorneys across Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska from appearing remotely on behalf of their clients detained at the regional detention center,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cPreviously, the Tacoma Immigration Court allowed out-of-state attorneys to represent their clients by making court appearances through video conferencing technology. Now attorneys\u2014and when applicable, expert witnesses\u2014 have to attend these hearings in person.\u201d\n\nThe new requirement for immigration attorneys to represent their clients in person comes as immigration judges allow Department of Homeland Security prosecutors to participate in hearings remotely. In other cases even the presiding judge is attending remotely as well, with attorneys sharing that remote appearances by judges happen in about half the cases that they must attend in-person at the Tacoma Immigration Court.\n\nThese new in-person requirements also come as attorneys share that the court is sending \u201cnotices to appear\u201d and setting hearings for that same morning giving the attorneys little time to prepare or make travel arrangements from out of state. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also been routinely denying immigration attorneys access to their clients at detention centers, and transferring clients thousands of miles away to detention centers across the country.\n\n\u201cImmigration court proceedings must uphold fairness and rule of law and not be politicized to satisfy Donald Trump\u2019s arbitrary detention quotas. We call on the Trump administration to discontinue policies and tactics that undermine constitutional due process. Our legal system relies on accountability; therefore, we demand that you establish fair and meaningful hearings that provide a genuine day in court and uphold the integrity of our nation\u2019s immigration system,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe lawmakers ended their letter demanding a written response by October 15th, 2026 detailing the steps that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will take to achieve the following:\n\nTerminate \u201cmega master\u201d hearings.\n\nProvide immigrants with sufficient notice of their proceedings.\n\nReduce hardships on immigration attorneys.\n\nEnsure that immigration judges hear cases individually, free from political influence.\n\nThe full text of the letter is here.\n\nA web version of the release is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/09/30/leader-jeffries-at-the-capitol-donald-trump-and-republicans-have-broken-the-economy-and-the-american-people-are-paying-the-price/", "LEADER JEFFRIES AT THE CAPITOL: \u201cDONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS HAVE BROKEN THE ECONOMY AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE PAYING THE PRICE\u201d", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Hakeem S. Jeffries", "J000294", "jeffries.house.gov", "jeffries", "https://jeffries.house.gov/category/press-release/page/", "scraper", "Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol, where he highlighted the contrast between Republicans, who have done nothing to end the affordability crisis that is crushing the American people, and House Democrats, who are committed to fighting for an affordable America.\n\nLEADER JEFFRIES: Housing costs are up. Gas prices are up. Mortgage insurance rates are up. Inflation is up. Healthcare premiums are up. Donald Trump and Republicans have broken the economy, and the American people, unfortunately, are paying the price. Republicans have failed to lower the high cost of living in the United States of America. In fact, housing costs, grocery costs, utility costs, child care costs and healthcare costs have all gone in the wrong direction as a direct result of policies enacted by Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress.\n\nThe American people have had enough, and our message to them is that help is on the way. House Democrats are committed to fighting for an affordable America, lowering the high cost of living, lowering the cost of groceries, lowering the cost of gas, lowering the cost of housing and fighting to make healthcare affordable for every single American.\n\nThe American people have understandably had enough with failed Republican policies that actually hurt everyday Americans simply to benefit the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. It\u2019s time for Congress to put the American people first, and that\u2019s exactly what House Democrats intend to do.\n\nFull press conference can be watched here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://juliejohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-julie-johnson-announces-military-pardon-reform-bill", "Congresswoman Julie Johnson Announces Military Pardon Reform Bill", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Julie Johnson", "J000310", "juliejohnson.house.gov", "juliejohnson", "https://juliejohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nSeptember 30th, 2026\n\nContact: Chelsea Roe, Communications Director\n\nChelsea.Roe@mail.house.gov | (469) 323-4184\n\nCongresswoman Julie Johnson Announces Military Pardon Reform Bill\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, along with Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), introduced the Enduring Accountability Act. The legislation would require service branch secretaries to establish conduct review boards for personnel who have received pardons by the President of the United States. Once under consideration, the review boards will recommend to the Service Secretary whether to retain the pardoned service member in the United States Armed Forces.\n\n\u201cOur armed forces have faced constant intimidation from President Trump and his allies to abandon the Constitution and comply with his shortsighted political ambitions,\u201d said Congresswoman Johnson. \"The Enduring Accountability Act gives our armed services an important tool for removing those who violate their oaths of service, regardless of political theater.\"\n\n\"A pardon shouldn't end all accountability,\" said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). \"When a service member is granted a pardon, they should still answer to the same standards as everyone else in uniform. That's how we keep trust and discipline in our military.\"\n\nImmediately after the President grants a federal pardon, the conduct review board will initiate proceedings. The boards will review the pardoned actions, determine whether they violate military standards, and recommend to the Service Secretary whether to retain or discharge the service member. The legislation further directs the Secretary of Defense to provide Congress with the review board\u2019s accepted recommendation, or a justification for rejecting it, within 30 days.\n\nTo read the full text of the legislation, click here.\n\nCongresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas\u2019s 32nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and serves on the Homeland Security Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-applauds-280000-federal-investment-owens-community-college", "Kaptur Applauds $280,000 Federal Investment in Owens Community College", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Perrysburg, OH \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that Owens Community College will receive a $280,000 award through the United States Department of Education. The award will support the college\u2019s TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) in its mission to help adults and US veterans enroll in and complete postsecondary education.\n\n\"Education is a pathway to higher-paying jobs, stronger careers and a more resilient economy,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). \u201cBy supporting non-traditional students in their pursuit of learning we help lay the groundwork for brighter futures and job growth in our region. From application assistance and career counseling to specialized support for veterans, Owens Community College\u2019s EOC meets students where they are on their skills development journey and looks to their future as integral to our region\u2019s success.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful for the continued support in recognizing the impact TRIO has on our region,\u201d said Dr. Dione D. Somerville, president of Owens Community College. \u201cSince 2021, this program has served nearly 2,500 individuals, helping hundreds enroll or re-enroll in college and take real steps toward their education and career goals. Expanding from 850 to 1,000 individuals served each year is not just a number. It represents real people who will now have the guidance and support they need to pursue a better life through education and training. We\u2019re proud to build on five years of work that has already changed thousands of lives, their families, communities and Northwest Ohio.\u201d\n\nTRIO is a Federal program designed to identify and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those who are low-income, first-generation college students, individuals with disabilities, or veterans, in accessing higher education. Its Educational Opportunity Centers program specifically aims to increase the number of adults enrolled in postsecondary education. Owens Community College is home to a TRIO EOC that provides free college readiness support to hundreds of Northwest Ohio adults each year.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-murray-slam-trump-administrations-oil-reserve-release-months-too", "Kaptur, Murray Slam Trump Administration\u2019s Oil Reserve Release as Months Too Late for Families Paying High Energy Costs", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Toledo, OH \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, released the following statement in response to the Department of Energy\u2019s announcement of another release of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.\n\n\u201cFamilies in Washington State, Northwest Ohio, and all across the country are still paying too much at the pump and on their home energy bills \u2014 and this latest release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve woefully comes months too late to bring those high costs down. The Trump Administration says the deal costs taxpayers nothing, yet it has not set aside the money needed to refill the Reserve for the majority of the barrels owed back, which leaves our country less ready for the next emergency. This is a show put on to distract from the fact that this Administration is responsible for sending gas prices skyrocketing, and working families will keep paying for it in the days, weeks, months, and years to come,\u201d said Kaptur and Murray.\n\nOn September 29, the Department of Energy issued a request for proposals to exchange up to 40 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The exchange is part of a 172-million-barrel release the Trump Administration announced in March. Under an exchange, companies borrow oil from the Reserve and must later return it with extra barrels. Because none of the oil is sold, the exchanges bring in no money to pay for transport and other costs associated with moving it back into the Reserve.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/krishnamoorthi-bynum-and-watson-coleman-lead-21-colleagues-demanding-answers", "Krishnamoorthi, Bynum, and Watson Coleman Lead 21 Colleagues in Demanding Answers After EPA Leaves Microplastics Out of Nationwide Drinking Water Monitoring", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Raja Krishnamoorthi", "K000391", "krishnamoorthi.house.gov", "krishnamoorthi", "https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 On Monday, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) led 21 of their colleagues in demanding answers about the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s work on microplastics after the agency left them out of its proposed nationwide drinking-water monitoring rule. In a letter sent on Monday to Acting Comptroller General Orice W. Brown, the lawmakers requested a comprehensive Government Accountability Office review of what EPA has accomplished on micro- and nanoplastics, what work remains, and what constraints are affecting further progress.\n\nEPA\u2019s proposed Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule would require monitoring for 30 contaminants, but not microplastics. The letter notes that EPA said in 2024 it was \u201cin the early stages of developing a microplastics method,\u201d but later cited the absence of a validated analytical method in explaining why microplastics were not included.\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers write:\n\n\u201cNotably, the EPA has not scientifically justified, or even stated, that microplastics are less of a public health threat than any of the 30 other contaminants they included on the draft UCMR.\u201d\n\nLater in the letter, they write:\n\n\u201cAddressing microplastic pollution is critical for protecting the health of Americans and safeguarding our waterways and ecosystems. Our constituents deserve to know what microplastic exposure means for their families\u2019 health, and the requested information above will be critical in informing Congress\u2019s work in tackling this challenge.\u201d\n\nMicroplastics have been detected in drinking water, food, air, and human tissues, including the lungs, brain, placenta, and reproductive organs. Emerging research has raised concerns about possible cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, developmental, and other health effects, while significant questions about the risks associated with microplastics remain.\n\nThe letter follows a previous effort led by Congressman Krishnamoorthi, Congresswoman Bynum, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), joined by 53 of their colleagues, urging EPA to add microplastics to UCMR 6 and establish nationwide monitoring of microplastics in drinking water.\n\nThe letter was also signed by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Dave Min (CA-47), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Judy Chu (CA-28), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Mike Levin (CA-49), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18).", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/krishnamoorthi-responds-new-report-finding-240-rise-anti-south-asian-hate-x", "Krishnamoorthi Responds to New Report Finding 240% Rise in Anti-South Asian Hate on X", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Raja Krishnamoorthi", "K000391", "krishnamoorthi.house.gov", "krishnamoorthi", "https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SCHAUMBURG, IL \u2014 Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today responded to a new report from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, The Rising Tide of Anti-South Asian Hate in the United States, documenting a sharp rise in anti-South Asian hate online. The report identified approximately 542,360 hateful posts targeting South Asians on X between January 2025 and June 2026, with posts portraying South Asians as invaders, job thieves, or a demographic threat accounting for 45 percent of the posts identified. The report identified immigration politics, economic resentment, political rhetoric, and the digital amplification of hate among the factors driving the increase.\n\n\u201cThe 240 percent surge in monthly anti-South Asian hate on X did not come out of nowhere. We have watched politicians demonize South Asians over something as ordinary as attending a college football game and the Trump Administration traffic in racist stereotypes targeting people named Singh. Americans of every background, and leaders of both parties, need to speak out against racism and xenophobia wherever they appear. South Asian Americans are as much a part of the fabric of America as anyone else, and no amount of hate can erase the contributions we have made to this country.\u201d", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases/liccardos-push-federal-approval-helps-santa-clara-valley-healthcare-open-new", "Liccardo\u2019s Push for Federal Approval Helps Santa Clara Valley Healthcare Open New Clinic", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Sam T. Liccardo", "L000607", "liccardo.house.gov", "liccardo", "https://liccardo.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SAN JOS\u00c9, CA \u2014 Today, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) celebrated the opening of Santa Clara Valley Healthcare\u2019s new San Jos\u00e9-Campbell clinic after his office pressed federal officials to act on a long-pending approval.\n\n\u201cFederal red tape shouldn\u2019t delay a new health center or put access to affordable medications and health coverage payments at risk,\u201d Liccardo said. \u201cOur team is proud to have helped move this process forward so Santa Clara Valley Healthcare could open its doors and start serving patients across our community.\u201d\n\nThe new 10-story facility at 1410 South Bascom Avenue is the largest health center in Santa Clara County\u2019s public health system, with 200 exam rooms. The services include primary care, urgent care, OB/GYN, maternal fetal medicine, pharmacy, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory services together at one location.\n\nSanta Clara Valley Healthcare submitted its Change in Scope application to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in October 2025. After months without approval, Santa Clara County asked Liccardo\u2019s office for assistance in July. His team repeatedly contacted HRSA as the clinic\u2019s planned opening approached, and HRSA approved the new site for the County\u2019s federal grant scope on September 22.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/brigadier-general-andrea-gayle-bennett-lynn-announced-winner-2026-peter-j-gomes", "Brigadier General Andrea Gayle-Bennett of Lynn Announced as Winner of 2026 Peter J. Gomes Service Award", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Seth Moulton", "M001196", "moulton.house.gov", "moulton", "https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "SALEM, MA \u2014 Brigadier General Andrea Gayle-Bennett of Lynn was honored last night as the winner of the 11th Annual Peter J. Gomes Service Award. Congressman Seth Moulton presented the award at a ceremony in Salem, where five honorees in total were also recognized for their remarkable contributions to their communities.\n\nThe Peter J. Gomes Service Award recognizes the volunteer work and community contributions of constituents across Massachusetts\u2019 6th District. It\u2019s named after the late Reverend Professor Peter Gomes, who was a Christian minister that served for nearly 40 years at The Memorial Church of Harvard University. Reverend Gomes was a mentor and friend to Congressman Moulton, ultimately inspiring him to serve in the Marines and later to run for Congress.\n\nBrigadier General Gayle-Bennett serves as the Adjutant for Lynn-Swampscott Disabled American Veterans Chapter #64, continuing her dedication to veterans across the district following her post-retirement promotion to Brigadier General by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She works tirelessly on the front lines of veteran care by connecting local heroes with essential housing, food resources, and peer support networks. By spearheading community events and building robust outreach programs, she actively combats isolation and improves the daily quality of life for disabled veterans.\n\n\"Brigadier General Gayle-Bennett embodies the very best of our community and the spirit of service that Reverend Gomes taught us to uphold,\" said Congressman Seth Moulton. \"Her tireless work advocating for our veterans, ensuring they have housing, food, and a strong network of support, is a powerful reminder of what true dedication to community looks like. It is an honor to present her with this year's Gomes Service Award and to celebrate her impact on Lynn and across the Sixth District.\"\n\nInformation about each of the other 2026 honorees can be found here. More information about the Gomes Service Award can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-panetta-secures-over-1-million-san-miguel-emergency-operations-center", "Rep. Panetta Secures Over $1 Million for San Miguel  Emergency Operations Center", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jimmy Panetta", "P000613", "panetta.house.gov", "panetta", "https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. Panetta highlights critical federal funding to\n\ncoordinate emergency response and keep San Miguel residents safe.\n\nTo watch his remarks, click HERE or on the above photo.\n\nFor additional photos and b-roll, click HERE.\n\nSan Miguel, CA \u2013 United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that he secured $1,034,487 in federal funding for the San Miguel Fire Department to construct an Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Community Project Funding, provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s Emergency Operations Center Grant Program, will fund the EOC portion of a new multiuse public-safety facility adjacent to the existing fire station. The facility will provide emergency services and law enforcement agencies with the dedicated space, technology, and resources needed to coordinate responses to large-scale emergencies.\n\nRep. Panetta was joined at the press conference by San Miguel Fire Chief Scott Young, Assemblymember Dawn Addis, and local law enforcement representatives.\n\n\u201cWhen disasters strike, it\u2019s an all-hands-on-deck reaction by our firefighters and law enforcement officers at every level. That\u2019s why coordination, communication, and integration are important for the success of that type of unified response,\u201d said Rep. Panetta. \u201cEmergency Operations Centers can act as a central nervous system for our community during major disasters. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to have secured more than $1 million in federal funding for an Emergency Operations Center to be located at a new firehouse in San Miguel. This investment will give local first responders the dedicated space and resources they need to better react, communicate, and keep our community safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith San Miguel\u2019s continued growth comes the responsibility of enhancing our emergency response services, facilities, and equipment. The proposed fire station expansion is a critical step in preparing San Miguel for the future. The San Miguel community is truly grateful for this support and for the recognition of the need to invest in emergency services, public safety, and community resilience. This funding will help place San Miguel Fire on the path forward, allowing us to better serve the needs of our community, our county, and our state with reliable emergency services well into the foreseeable future,\u201d said Fire Chief Young.\n\n\u201cAs wildfires continue to increase in intensity and winter storms become more aggressive across the Central Coast, a local Emergency Operations Center will give the San Miguel Fire Department the tools and coordination capacity it needs to respond to complex emergencies, from fires and flooding to severe storms and earthquakes. I am proud to support this project and thank Congressman Jimmy Panetta for the critical investment in the resilience of our San Miguel neighbors,\u201d said Assemblymember Addis.\n\nLocated in northern San Luis Obispo County, San Miguel currently lacks a dedicated facility for coordinating a large-scale emergency response. The new multiuse building will strengthen the community\u2019s ability to prepare for and respond to natural or human-caused disasters. When the EOC is not activated, it will provide shared space for emergency services and law enforcement agencies serving the region.\n\nDuring an emergency, the EOC will serve as a central hub for deploying resources, securing additional personnel and equipment, sharing information among responding agencies, and communicating with the media and public.\n\nWhile local agencies can manage most incidents within their own jurisdictions, larger and more complex emergencies often require a multi-jurisdictional response. A dedicated EOC will allow San Miguel\u2019s first responders to work more effectively with North County law enforcement, CAL FIRE, the California Highway Patrol, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff\u2019s Office, and other county, regional, state, and federal partners.\n\nPrimarily staffed by dedicated volunteers, the San Miguel Fire Department serves a population of just over 3,000 residents. This investment will help ensure that the department\u2019s emergency-response capabilities continue to grow alongside the community.\n\nThis funding adds to the millions of dollars Rep. Panetta has secured for emergency services across California\u2019s 19th Congressional District, including $500,000 for the design and construction of a fire and emergency services training facility in Paso Robles, $1 million for a new fire engine and equipment for the Templeton Fire Department, and $935,000 for a new fire engine for the Cambria Fire Department.\n\nFor additional photos and b-roll, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://rivas.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswomen-luz-rivas-veronica-escobar-lead-45-colleagues-demanding-ice", "Congresswomen Luz Rivas, Veronica Escobar Lead 45 Colleagues in Demanding ICE Restore Transparency in Detainee Locator System", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Luz M. Rivas", "R000620", "rivas.house.gov", "rivas", "https://rivas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LOS ANGELES \u2013 Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) led 45 of their colleagues in urging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director David Venturella to restore detainee details to the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). The Members\u2019 letter comes after a disturbing report from the Associated Press revealed that ICE began removing individuals with final orders of removal from ODLS. ODLS allows family members, legal representatives, and members of the public to locate individuals detained by ICE.\n\n\u201cThis is a wholly unprecedented move by the United States government to impede both access and legal representation for people in federal custody,\u201d the Members wrote. \u201cWe urge ICE to restore ODLS location information for all individuals with final removal orders who remain in ICE custody and to provide Congress with the justification underlying this change. The federal government should not be denying any individual access to legal counsel or shielding their whereabouts from loved ones.\u201d\n\nICE has not publicly announced this change in policy and has not communicated to detainees\u2019 families or legal representation where detainees are currently held who have disappeared from ODLS.\n\nThe Members continued: \u201cThe consequences of this change extend beyond public transparency. Immigration attorneys have reported losing track of clients after they disappeared from ODLS, while family members are uncertain whether their loved ones were transferred to another facility or removed from the United States completely. We urge ICE to rescind this policy immediately and restore ODLS location information for all individuals with final orders of removal who remain in ICE custody. ICE should ensure that detainees remain locatable to their families and legal representatives instead of trying to hide these individuals\u2019 whereabouts.\u201d\n\nA full copy of the letter can be found here.\n\nThe Members\u2019 letter is signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Luis Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Lois Frankel (Fl-22), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Henry Johnson (GA-04), William Keating (MA-09), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Norton (DC-At Large), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Derek Tran (CA-45), Gabe Vasquez (NM-2), Veasy Marc (TX-33), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-7), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-15), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).\n\nBackground:\n\nOn September 21, 2026, the Associated Press reported that ICE began removing individuals with final orders of removal from ODLS on September 15, 2026. This change in policy was not publicly announced, and was not communicated to detainees\u2019 families or legal representation. The Washington Post also reported that ICE\u2019s new policy bars immigration officials from sharing information with their attorneys or relatives by phone.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/jacobs-castro-dean-beyer-casar-escobar-to-introduce-sanctions-on-drivers-of-settlement-expansion", "Jacobs, Castro, Dean, Beyer, Casar, Escobar to Introduce Sanctions on Drivers of Settlement Expansion", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Sara Jacobs", "J000305", "sarajacobs.house.gov", "sarajacobs", "https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Reps. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Don Beyer (VA-08), Greg Casar (TX-35), and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced legislation to impose sanctions on individuals and entities building or expanding settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. The Stop the Settlements Act would stop the construction of new settlements or expansion of existing Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank and Gaza through the use of sanctions and a prohibition on the importation of goods made in these settlements and outposts. Stopping the construction of new settlements or expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza would protect Palestinians from dispossession of their land and help create a pathway to peace, where both Israelis and Palestinians are able to fully exercise their right to self-determination.\n\n\u201cPushing Palestinians out of their homes and off their land in Gaza and the West Bank is one of the greatest obstacles to a lasting pathway to peace,\u201d said Congresswoman Jacobs. \u201cAs long as the U.S. stands idly by, we\u2019re knowingly supporting Israel\u2019s coordinated strategy to consolidate Israeli control and prevent Palestinian statehood. We have another choice: use our tools and leverage to help make peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and everyone in the region a reality. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Stop the Settlements Act, which would require the President to sanction individuals and entities that build or expand settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. This is a reasonable and necessary step to uphold international law, protect civilians, de-escalate violence, and preserve the possibility of lasting peace, security, and stability.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnder Netanyahu\u2019s government, settlers are engaged in a violent land grab that\u2019s ripping Palestinians from their land,\u201d said Congressman Castro. \u201cThe record expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank continues to be one of the greatest impediments to peace. Democrats must face this with urgency\u2014act now or watch the prospect of Palestinian self-determination slip away forever. Congress should and can be using every tool we have available, including sanctions. The Stop the Settlements Act gives any person or company looking to take Palestinian land in the West Bank or Gaza a choice: pursue settlements or do business with the United States. The American people have seen the reality on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza, and expect their elected officials to take action. In the coming months and in the next Congress, I will push for the conditions under which security and a lasting peace is possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe continued construction of Israeli settlements and staking of new outposts in the West Bank and Gaza is a violation of international law. They\u2019re also part of a deliberate, expressed strategy by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies to geographically isolate Palestinian communities, block the possibility of a contiguous state, and prevent the Palestinian people from being able to exercise their rights to self-determination,\u201d said Rep. Dean. \u201cSettler organizations and people who illegally push onto Palestinian land, harassing \u2014 and even killing legal residents \u2014 are actively undermining the peace process and prolonging the current violence. These settlers fund their activities in part through the sale of goods abroad, which this legislation would prohibit, while also authorizing sanctions on some of the worst offenders of international law. It is time that the United States joined our allies \u2014 such as the United Kingdom, France, and Canada \u2014 in taking action to help preserve dignity and self-determination for the Palestinian people, which is essential for progress toward peace.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe continued expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories illustrates the contempt Israel\u2019s government has for international law and longstanding U.S. policy,\u201d said Rep. Beyer. \u201cBy accelerating this campaign of violence and theft, particularly in the E1 corridor bordering East Jerusalem, the Israeli government is making clear its intent to fatally undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. The U.S. cannot and should not accept this explicit effort of illegal territorial expansion, which would make a negotiated resolution to this intractable conflict forever out of reach. This legislation puts teeth on what has been clear U.S. policy for decades and sends a strong message that we will not tolerate the illegal settlement movement any longer.\u201d\n\n\u201cSettlement expansion displaces Palestinians, violates international law, and prevents peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,\u201d said Congressman Casar. \u201cThe Stop the Settlements Act would prohibit the construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. Congress must work toward lasting peace in the region by ending the occupation and genocide.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSince December 2022, the Israeli government has approved over 100 new settlements in the West Bank, and Israeli settlers have established almost 200 additional outposts. In comparison, only six settlements were approved in the previous three decades. In recent years, senior Israeli officials have openly called for the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza.\n\nThese settlements, built on Palestinian land, are one of the biggest impediments to peace and to Palestinian self-determination.\n\nThe Stop the Settlements Act would address the unprecedented growth of settlements by sanctioning any foreign entity or individual that engages with activity for the establishment of new Israeli settlements or outposts in the West Bank or Gaza, including developing infrastructure, construction the settlement area known as E1, or facilitating Israeli civilians onto settlements. The bill would also put a ban on imports of settlements goods. This would mirror and complement efforts currently being taken by countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain.\n\nIf enacted, the legislation would lead to essentially a defacto settlement freeze with no new settlement construction in the West Bank, while also giving the President the authority to begin going after some of the most problematic and destabilizing settlements and outposts in the West Bank.\n\nThe Stop the Settlements Act has gained support from stakeholders with the shared goal of stopping settlement expansion and ensuring Palestinian self-determination and security for Israel:\n\nJeremy Ben-Ami, President, J Street: \u201cAfter more than 50 years of Israel disregarding American and other international warnings to stop expanding settlements, it is time for action. We are grateful to Congressman Castro and the other cosponsors for sending a clear signal that Israeli efforts to prevent a Palestinian state will be met with material consequences.\u201d\n\nMargaret DeReus, Executive Director of IMEU Policy Project: \u201cThe US government has enabled Israeli settlement expansion for too long without any meaningful repercussions to the detriment of Palestinian lives, including Palestinian Americans that live in Palestine. One of the first things the Trump administration did was reverse previous sanctions, and while they continue to turn a blind eye, this bill would impose real consequences on those who support or engage in settlement expansion, in line with international law and our closest allies. This would include banning anyone from importing any goods produced in any Israeli settlement or outpost. We thank Congressman Castro for being a leader in the fight to protect basic Palestinian rights.\u201d\n\nHadar Susskind, President and CEO, New Jewish Narrative: \u201cThis bill fills a crucial void. The Trump administration has failed to take action that would stop the Israeli government from executing its reckless agenda of land grabs and annexation. Now Congress has the opportunity to step up and close that gap. This is what real American leadership looks like.\u201d\n\nThis bill is also endorsed by American Committee for Middle East Rights; A New Policy; Center for International Policy; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Refugees International; Win Without War.\n\nCo-sponsors of the bill include: Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Derek Tran (CA-45), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03).\n\nRead the full bill text and one-pager here and here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases/peters-applauds-senate-permitting-package-touts-his-priorities-to-speed-up-clean-energy-and-lower-costs", "Peters Applauds Senate Permitting Package, Touts His Priorities to Speed Up Clean Energy and Lower Costs", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Scott H. Peters", "P000608", "scottpeters.house.gov", "scottpeters", "https://scottpeters.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) released the following statement after the Senate unveiled its bipartisan permitting package, which includes the language of several bills Rep. Peters has championed over multiple sessions of Congress:\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan Senate package released today is a great step toward fixing our broken permitting system. We can't meet our surging energy demand, lower greenhouse gas emissions, or outcompete countries like China if it takes decades to build what we need. A permitting reform agreement with this much support from Republicans and Democrats should pass this Congress.\n\n\u201cI'm glad the text from the Senate is finally public so everyone can dig into the details and tell us what adjustments or clarifications are needed. Profound change is never easy, but today\u2019s problems require it. We have a broad coalition that needs this agreement to be enacted into law. American builders, investors, labor groups, climate activists, and taxpayers want Congress to act, and fixing our old and slow permitting system will require all of us to speak up and pitch in.\n\n\u201cI'm especially encouraged to see so many of my priorities included. I've spent years calling for America to build critical infrastructure faster. My bills that are included in the package will increase energy supply, build more transmission, and make sure the backlog of clean energy projects get built with no more delays.\u201d\n\nIncluded in the package was language from several major bipartisan bills led by Rep. Peters, including:\n\nThe SPEED and Reliability Act, which significantly streamlines the siting and permitting of critical national-interest electric transmission lines. Faster approvals to build more lines would lower costs for consumers and prevent blackouts.\n\nThe CERTAIN Act, which accelerates energy and infrastructure projects by enforcing strict application timelines and stops administrations from canceling permits that were already legally approved. The bill has been supported by nearly 40 organizations representing the people who build, power, and maintain America's infrastructure.\n\nThe CLEAR Act, which speeds the review process for large energy infrastructure projects and establishes clear rules for stalled transmission projects, giving developers and local stakeholders the certainty to plan and giving ratepayers relief from rising costs.\n\nThe BIG WIRES Act, which directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to better coordinate construction of an interregional transmission system, minimizing haphazard, patchwork grid upgrades.\n\nThe ePermit Act, which digitizes the U.S. permitting process, reducing processing times for all federal permits, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews.\n\nSince coming to Congress, Rep. Peters has led some of the largest bipartisan efforts in Congress to streamline the federal permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects. Last week, he urged the Senate to finalize a package this month and to push forward with bipartisan language.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sherman-statement-fema-funding-los-angeles-wildfire-disaster-aid", "Sherman Statement on FEMA Funding for Los Angeles Wildfire Disaster Aid Program", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Brad Sherman", "S000344", "sherman.house.gov", "sherman", "https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "PALISADES, CA \u2014 Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) issued the following statement after FEMA announced funding to continue California\u2019s Disaster Case Management Program for survivors of the Palisades and Eaton fires:\n\n\u201cPleased to see that FEMA is paying California the money it owes to the state for providing caseworkers for fire victims through September 30. It is now time for FEMA to approve and fund keeping this program open at least through May of next year. Losing one\u2019s home in a horrendous fire is extremely difficult on families. Working through the morass of governmental and insurance issues without a caseworker would be horrendous for many families.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://simon.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-simon-announced-new-co-chair-congressional-caucus-black-women", "Congresswoman Simon Announced as New Co-Chair of The Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Lateefah Simon", "S001231", "simon.house.gov", "simon", "https://simon.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) recently announced that Congresswomen Lateefah Simon (CA-12), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and Shontel Brown (OH-11) will take up the mantle as the new Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls (CCBWG) in the 120th Congress.\n\nDespite more than 430 registered Congressional caucuses and Member organizations in 2016, until the creation of the CCBWG, no group on Capitol Hill had sought to make Black women and girls a priority in policy debates. Inspired by the #SheWoke Committee, a collective of seven women leaders with a shared vision of advocacy, equity, and sisterhood; Reps. Clarke, Kelly, and Watson Coleman created the Caucus to advance policies that eliminate barriers and disparities experienced by Black women.\n\nWith Congresswomen Kelly and Watson Coleman departing at the conclusion of the 119th Congress, Congresswomen Simon, McIver, and Brown will take their place alongside Rep. Clarke.\n\n\"I am deeply honored to join the Caucus on Black Women and Girls as a Co-Chair next Congress and pick up the mantle from Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman, Yvette Clarke, and Robin Kelly,\" said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. \"I started my career working with young girls who were impacted by the criminal justice system, and I know intimately that in every aspect of life from school to the workplace \u2014 Black women and girls face unique opportunities and challenges. Congress can and should do more to ensure that our federal policies see and serve Black women and girls equally, and I look forward to working with my Co-Chairs on this caucus to advance these efforts. Thank you to Congresswomen Watson Coleman, Clarke, and Kelly for the pioneering work you have done to advocate for our girls in Congress \u2014 the fight continues.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m incredibly appreciative of the work Congresswomen Clarke and Kelly and I have accomplished over the last decade,\u201d said Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman. \u201cIt has truly been an honor and a privilege having them as partners as we did our best to help further cultivate a sisterhood here in Congress. Forming this caucus was already critical at the time, but its work and impact is exponentially more important today. And while we\u2019ve made great strides in representation over the years, there is much more to do in order to make our voices heard in every facet of our society and to ensure policies don\u2019t have an unintended negative impact on our communities. It feels like the last ten years have flown by, but it is indeed time. I am proud to pass the baton to Congresswomen LaMonica McIver, Lateefah Simon, and Shontel Brown \u2013 three outstanding women who have already demonstrated leadership by fighting for the right things and making sure Black women\u2019s voices are heard. I\u2019ll miss the Caucus, but I\u2019m fully confident that we\u2019re leaving it in great hands and that they will take it to the next level. America is primed for a better future when everyone has a seat at the table. Instead of waiting for a spot to open up, my sisters have brought their own chair.\u201d\n\n\"Over the last ten years, my co-chairs and I, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and Yvette Clarke, have put our hearts into building this Caucus from the ground up to highlight both the extraordinary successes and the ongoing plight of Black women across America, ensuring our voices are heard and represented in Congress,\" said Representative Robin Kelly. \"It has been a true honor to lead alongside them. While leaving this leadership legacy is bittersweet, I am thrilled to welcome Reps. Shontel Brown, LaMonica McIver, and Lateefah Simon as the new co-chairs, alongside Representative Yvette Clarke. They each bring their own powerful vision, passion, and lived experiences to this work, and I know that the mantle we built together is in wonderful hands as they lead our Caucus into its next decade of progress.\"\n\n\"Words cannot fully express my gratitude to my fellow Black Women & Girls Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Robin Kelly, for their years of hard work, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to bringing greater attention to the systemic challenges facing Black women and girls and ensuring their voices are heard and represented in Congress,\" said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. \"While I am saddened to see my sisters depart, I am excited to welcome Reps. Shontel Brown, LaMonica McIver, and Lateefah Simon as the new Co-Chairs. I look forward to working alongside them as we pick up the mantle and continue fighting for the equity, opportunity, and justice our Black women and girls deserve, especially as this administration continues to target Black women in the workplace, threaten equitable access to healthcare, and undermine the support systems our communities rely on. The work continues, and I look forward to advancing this important mission with our new Co-Chairs.\"\n\n\"Black women and girls play a vital role in shaping politics and policy, bringing invaluable perspectives and experience to the table,\u201d said Representative Lamonica McIver. \u201cToo often, that contribution is undervalued and overlooked. We face barriers to entry, and barriers to success. Under the leadership of Reps. Watson Coleman, Kelly, and Clarke, this caucus has done the important work of amplifying our voices and confronting the systemic inequalities that silence us. I am humbled and excited to carry that legacy forward, and deeply grateful to the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls for what they have built. I am also grateful beyond words to Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has been a light to me personally; my co-chairs and I will do all we can to carry on what she has built.\"\n\n\u201cI am honored to become the new Co-Chair of the Black Women and Girls Caucus,\u201d said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. \u201cAs a Black woman and a Black lawmaker, it is incredibly frustrating to watch the current administration weaponize policies designed to help the very communities they have locked out of the conversation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis Caucus has been critical in countering those efforts by shining a national spotlight on the issues that disproportionately impact our community. But our work has to be about more than defense. We have an opportunity to set a forward-looking agenda that expands opportunity, protects the rights of Black women and girls, and makes sure they have a real voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives. I am so grateful for the leadership of Reps. Clarke, Kelly and Watson Coleman in this Caucus, which has led to the advancement of long overdue legislation that supports Black women. From the Crown Act to the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, the Members have shown that they are fighters for meaningful change for our women and girls. The legacy that they leave behind is one that I am proud to carry forward.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-stansbury-jackson-and-mfume-introduce-bill-protect-smithsonian", "Reps. Stansbury, Jackson, and Mfume Introduce Bill to Protect the Smithsonian", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Melanie A. Stansbury", "S001218", "stansbury.house.gov", "stansbury", "https://stansbury.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Ranking Member of the DOGE Subcommittee, Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), and Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) introduced the Smithsonian Integrity and Historical Independence Act of 2026, a bill to protect the independence of the Smithsonian Institution. This bill follows various attacks on the Smithsonian by the Trump Administration including two executive orders, reports, and demands to overhaul exhibits that the Administration claims promote a \u201cpolitical ideology\u201d and \u201cthinly veiled anti-Americanism.\"\n\n\u201cThe Smithsonian is one of our country\u2019s greatest cultural institutions. Its museums are the keepers of our story, in all of its complexity, triumphs, and challenges,\u201d said Rep. Stansbury. \u201cThe President and his allies don\u2019t get to decide who belongs and who doesn\u2019t and whose histories, cultures, and stories matter in this country. This is our history, our country, our Smithsonian, and it belongs to all of us\u2014the American people. This bill is to protect the independence of the Smithsonian and any attempts to try to rewrite our history or compromise its responsibility to tell the story of all Americans and to share our stories with the world.\u201d\n\n\"You cannot tell the story of America without telling the story of the South Side of Chicago, and you cannot tell that story honestly without telling the truth about race, struggle, and progress in this country,\u201d said Rep. Jonathan Jackson. \u201cThe Smithsonian keeps that truth for all of us. This Administration wants to decide which Americans get remembered and which get erased, but that is not their call to make. I am proud to co-lead this bill because our history is not theirs to rewrite, and the people I represent will not be forgotten.\"\n\n\"Our history has been under attack by Donald Trump for a year and a half now, and last week we learned that this administration intends to put up signs outside the Museum of American History to warn the public about the museum's own historians. I never thought I would see the day,\" said Rep. Kweisi Mfume. \"I am proud to stand with Congresswoman Stansbury and Congressman Jackson to co-lead this bill. No federal official, not the Vice President, and not the President himself, gets to walk into a Smithsonian museum and tell the historians what our history is allowed to say. These museums do not belong to one man, and they do not belong to one party. They belong to the American people.\"\n\n\u201cAmericans value museums as trusted, independent sources of information, and regardless of political affiliation, they have made it overwhelmingly clear that they do not support museum censorship,\u201d said Devon Akmon, Chair of the Board of the American Alliance of Museums. \u201cProtecting the Smithsonian\u2019s scholarly independence honors that public trust and affirms a principle fundamental to all museums: scholarship and interpretation must be guided by evidence, expertise, and professional standards, not political influence.\u201d\n\n\"The people who work at the Smithsonian\u2019s history museums are ordinary people\u2014people from many backgrounds and perspectives. They love history; they bring their own families to enjoy the museums on weekends; they work hard as employees and public servants. And they do that work with integrity-- as historians, curators, educators, conservators, and in many other roles through which they bring knowledge to the American people,\" said Dr. Sarah Weicksel, Executive Director of the American Historical Association.\"When people walk through the doors of the Smithsonian, they are inspired, surprised, excited, moved to tears, by the artifacts and the stories they find there. Preserving the Smithsonian\u2019s independence ensures that visitors can continue to learn from the entirety of the American story and that it continues to be one of the United States\u2019 most beloved institutions.\"\n\n\u201cThe Smithsonian Institution must be allowed to continue operating free from partisan pressure and in accordance with scholarly and museum best practices,\u201d said John Dichtl, President and CEO of the American Association for State and Local History.\u201cOur country\u2019s cultural crown jewel, the Smithsonian helps millions of Americans connect and learn about our shared history, while also serving as a vital model for the nation\u2019s 21,000 history organizations. We urge Congress to act quickly to defend the Smithsonian and the public\u2019s access to a whole and honest story of America\u2019s past.\"\n\nPresident Trump has signed two executive orders directly attacking the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s independence since taking office. Signed in March 2025, the first Executive Order titled \u201cRestoring Trust and Sanity to American History\u201d directs Vice President JD Vance and other Cabinet members to eliminate exhibits, programs, and budgets that they believe portrays American history in a manner the Administration disagrees with.\n\nThe second Executive Order, titled \u201cRestoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution,\u201d signed in July 2026, ordered the placement of signage and warnings critical of the National Museum of American History, alleging that its exhibits present \u201cinaccurate and biased\u201d information. This executive order followed the Administration releasing reports critical of the Smithsonian for allegedly promoting a partisan perspective of American history.\n\nThe Smithsonian Integrity and Historical Independence Act of 2026 is endorsed by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH).\n\nYou can watch a full recording of the presser on the introduction of the bill here. You can read the full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases/suozzi-presses-faa-and-dot-address-persistent-airplane-noise-around-jfk-and", "Suozzi Presses FAA and DOT to Address Persistent Airplane Noise Around JFK and LGA in New Letter", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Thomas R. Suozzi", "S001201", "suozzi.house.gov", "suozzi", "https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2013Congressman Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) last night sent a follow up letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford urging immediate action to reduce persistent airplane noise affecting communities surrounding John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. This letter follows a response Congressman Suozzi received regarding his April 2026 letter to Secretary Duffy, Administrator Bedford, and Regional Administrator Kennington-Gardiner requesting a reduction in airplane noise surrounding both airports. The response failed to adequately address the problem for residents living under flight paths from both airports.\n\n\u201cI appreciate the FAA\u2019s response and willingness to engage, but the problem has not been fixed,\u201d said Congressman Suozzi. \u201cAirplane noise isn\u2019t just an annoyance, it\u2019s a real quality-of-life and public health issue, and my constituents deserve relief. I am again asking the Federal Aviation Administration to do more to reduce airplane noise and protect the quality of life of families in my district. This is a serious issue, and I will not stop pressing the FAA until they bring meaningful relief to my constituents.\u201d\n\nSince coming to Congress in 2017, Congressman Suozzi has made reducing airplane noise a priority, working with federal officials, airlines, and local stakeholders to maintain consistent pressure on the FAA to substantively address noise issues. Congressman Suozzi serves as Vice Chair of the bipartisan congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, where he recently led a bipartisan letter demanding a reduction in airplane noise ahead of the summer months.\n\nRead Suozzi\u2019s full letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford,\n\nThank you for your response to my April 6, 2026, letter regarding aircraft noise surrounding John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). I appreciate the FAA\u2019s efforts to address this ongoing issue with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey airports, airlines, and our communities. Since receiving your response, I have continued tracking aircraft noise complaints and hearing directly from my constituents to determine whether conditions have improved. They have not!\n\nMy constituents are increasingly frustrated. Aircraft noise remains a major quality-of-life concern. Research has linked aircraft noise to sleep disturbance, stress, cardiovascular disease, and poorer learning outcomes in children. This is not just an annoyance, and these grievances are not isolated. It affects the health, well-being, sleep quality, and daily lives of citizens under these flight paths.\n\nI have three specific requests:\n\nRequire arrivals using JFK Runway 22L and 22R to remain at 3,000 feet until they are within 15 miles of the airport at all times. I appreciate the FAA\u2019s decision to begin keeping arrivals into JFK Runways 22L and 22R at or above 3,000 feet until they are within 15 miles of the airport during \u201cnighttime hours\u201d, when conditions allow. But this does not go far enough. In 2018, I brokered a deal with the FAA to do exactly this all day, not only at night. The FAA must honor this agreement and explain why the 3,000-foot procedure is now only being applied during the night. Constituents continue to report a decline in their quality of life and repeated low-flying planes over their neighborhoods. Constituents deserve relief from persistent aircraft noise at all hours of the day, not just at night.\n\nStricter oversight of air traffic rotation of runways 22L and 22R every eight hours when conditions permit.This can help communities under the 22L/22R flight path from shouldering noise pollution constantly, but stricter oversight is needed to ensure these procedures are consistently followed. I respectfully request the FAA provide information on how often this strategy is deployed, and what alternative solutions the FAA considers minimizing noise when airport volume does not allow for runway rotation.\n\nMinimize the use of the TNNIS climb. I also appreciate the FAA\u2019s efforts to minimize use of the TNNIS departure procedure between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. This is a productive step, yet just as residents under JFK flight paths experience noise at all hours, the problem does not end at 8:00 a.m. Residents in Queens are awake, working, going to school, and living their daily lives. In fact, flight activity around JFK and LGA remains substantial throughout the day; the busiest period being afternoon hours when residents are spending time with their families, and simply trying to enjoy their homes and communities. The FAA must consider how to reduce use of the TNNIS climb beyond these early morning hours. I welcome a discussion to understand any barriers the FAA faces.\n\nThere is no single solution to airplane noise. Safety, weather, traffic, and airport operations must always be considered, but these challenges cannot become an excuse for inaction. Residents have dealt with persistent aircraft noise for far too long, and they are rightfully asking when they will see results. Continued delays in addressing this issue only prolong the burden on these communities and undermine Congress\u2019s efforts to address aviation noise. The FAA must move beyond monitoring the problem. It must take action and follow through on the commitments it has made to our communities. My constituents deserve meaningful relief.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-announces-241000-for-university-of-akron-vision-research", "Rep. Sykes Announces $241,000 For University of Akron Vision Research", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced that the University of Akron has received a $241,455 federal grant from the National Eye Institute, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to support research into how cells in the retina communicate. The three-year award, which runs from September 15, 2026 through September 14, 2029, is a Research Enhancement Award for a project titled \u201cSynaptic Architecture and Bidirectional Signaling of Retinal Horizontal and Dopaminergic Circuits.\u201d\n\n\u201cNortheast Ohio is home to researchers who are exploring important questions about the human body, and this federal investment will help the University of Akron continue to be a leader in research,\u201d said Congresswoman Sykes. \u201cVision research leads to better ways to understand, prevent, and treat eye disease, and it gives students hands-on experience that prepares them for careers in science and medicine.\u201d\n\n\u201cDr. Renna's project will provide a detailed map of the neural connections that enable visual adaptation and circadian regulation, two processes central to human health and quality of life,\u201d said Suzanne B. Bausch, PhD, Vice President, Research & Business Engagement. \u201cWe are excited to see University of Akron researchers contributing critical knowledge that will enhance our understanding of the visual system while also informing future approaches to retinal disease and dysfunction.\u201d\n\nThe project will examine the structure and signaling of horizontal cells and dopaminergic circuits in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Horizontal cells help the retina sharpen contrast and adjust to changing light, while dopamine-releasing cells help the eye shift between dim and bright conditions. By studying how these cells signal to one another in both directions, the research aims to improve understanding of how the retina processes visual information and how that process can break down in eye disease. The award will also provide hands-on research training for University of Akron students.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/tokuda-recognizes-hawaiian-history-month-calls-out-trumps-attacks", "Tokuda Recognizes Hawaiian History Month, Calls Out Trump\u2019s Attacks", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=1&", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02), joined by Representative Ed Case (HI-01), introduced a resolution supporting the designation of September 2026 as Hawaiian History Month and reaffirming the Federal trust responsibility to the Native Hawaiian Community. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono introduced a similar resolution in the Senate.\n\n\u201cHonoring Hawaiian History Month is not just about honoring the past, but protecting what generations of Native Hawaiian leaders, historians, scholars, and artists fought so hard to preserve and perpetuate,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cToday, the Trump administration is targeting the very programs and institutions that sustain Hawaiian history, culture, and education. Congress must stand firm in protecting these vital resources and upholding our trust obligations to the Native Hawaiian Community.\u201d\n\nThe \u201cHawaiian History Month\u201d resolution recognizes the history, culture, and contributions of Native Hawaiians, including efforts to revitalize \u02bb\u014dlelo Hawai\u02bbi, cultural traditions, and \u02bb\u0101ina stewardship practices. It also highlights key federal programs that support Native Hawaiian museums, libraries, artists, cultural practitioners, and community organizations. The resolution directly points to recent Trump administration actions that threaten those programs, including proposed cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts.\n\nThe full text of the House resolution is available here.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases/dan-bieu-derek-tran-dong-bao-tro-du-luat-bao-ve-thu-nhap-tu-tien-tip-ho-tro", "D\u00e2n Bi\u1ec3u Derek Tr\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ed3ng b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 d\u1ef1 lu\u1eadt b\u1ea3o v\u1ec7 thu nh\u1eadp t\u1eeb ti\u1ec1n tip, h\u1ed7 tr\u1ee3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng ng\u00e0nh d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Derek Tran", "T000491", "tran.house.gov", "tran", "https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "D\u00e2n Bi\u1ec3u Derek Tr\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ed3ng b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 d\u1ef1 lu\u1eadt b\u1ea3o v\u1ec7 thu nh\u1eadp t\u1eeb ti\u1ec1n tip, h\u1ed7 tr\u1ee3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng ng\u00e0nh d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5\nWednesday, September 30, 2026\nWASHINGTON, DC\n\u2013 D\u00e2n Bi\u1ec3u Li\u00ean Bang Derek Tr\u1ea7n (CA-45) \u0111\u1ed3ng b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3\nH.R.1314\n, D\u1ef1 Lu\u1eadt B\u1ea3o V\u1ec7 v\u00e0 H\u1ed7 Tr\u1ee3 Thu Nh\u1eadp T\u1eeb Ti\u1ec1n Tip (TIPS Act), cho ph\u00e9p ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng trong ng\u00e0nh d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5 \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c kh\u1ea5u tr\u1eeb ti\u1ec1n tip khi khai thu\u1ebf. D\u1ef1 lu\u1eadt s\u1ebd n\u00e2ng m\u1ee9c thu nh\u1eadp g\u1ed9p \u0111i\u1ec1u ch\u1ec9nh t\u1ed1i \u0111a \u0111\u1ec3 ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng ng\u00e0nh d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5 \u0111\u1ee7 \u0111i\u1ec1u ki\u1ec7n h\u01b0\u1edfng kho\u1ea3n kh\u1ea5u tr\u1eeb n\u00e0y t\u1eeb $25,000 l\u00ean $112,500, \u0111\u1ed3ng th\u1eddi \u00e1p d\u1ee5ng thay \u0111\u1ed5i n\u00e0y l\u00e2u d\u00e0i cho ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng ng\u00e0nh d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5 kh\u1eafp to\u00e0n qu\u1ed1c.\n\u201cTrong l\u00fac gi\u00e1 c\u1ea3 t\u0103ng v\u1ecdt do cu\u1ed9c chi\u1ebfn thi\u1ebfu th\u1eadn tr\u1ecdng c\u1ee7a T\u1ed5ng Th\u1ed1ng Trump t\u1ea1i Iran v\u00e0 c\u00e1c ch\u00ednh s\u00e1ch thu\u1ebf quan thi\u1ebfu tr\u00e1ch nhi\u1ec7m, c\u00e1c gia \u0111\u00ecnh lao \u0111\u1ed9ng \u0111ang ph\u1ea3i ch\u1ecbu \u00e1p l\u1ef1c r\u1ea5t l\u1edbn khi ch\u1eadt v\u1eadt trang tr\u1ea3i cu\u1ed9c s\u1ed1ng. \u0110\u1ed1i v\u1edbi ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng ng\u00e0nh d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5, ti\u1ec1n tip l\u00e0 ngu\u1ed3n thu nh\u1eadp thi\u1ebft y\u1ebfu \u0111\u1ec3 lo b\u1eefa \u0103n, chi tr\u1ea3 c\u00e1c kho\u1ea3n sinh ho\u1ea1t h\u1eb1ng ng\u00e0y v\u00e0 ch\u0103m lo cho gia \u0111\u00ecnh. T\u00f4i t\u1ef1 h\u00e0o \u0111\u1ed3ng b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3 D\u1ef1 Lu\u1eadt TIPS v\u00ec s\u1ebd mang l\u1ea1i l\u1ee3i \u00edch kinh t\u1ebf thi\u1ebft th\u1ef1c cho ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng ng\u00e0nh d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5 v\u00e0 gia \u0111\u00ecnh h\u1ecd t\u1ea1i Nam California \u2013 gi\u00fap h\u1ecd gi\u1eef l\u1ea1i nhi\u1ec1u ti\u1ec1n h\u01a1n v\u00e0 gi\u00fap h\u1ecd \u1ed5n \u0111\u1ecbnh t\u00e0i ch\u00ednh l\u00e2u d\u00e0i,\u201d D\u00e2n Bi\u1ec3u Derek Tr\u1ea7n cho bi\u1ebft.\nD\u1ef1 Lu\u1eadt TIPS \u00e1p d\u1ee5ng cho ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng trong c\u00e1c ng\u00e0nh th\u1ea9m m\u1ef9, kh\u00e1ch s\u1ea1n, \u0103n u\u1ed1ng, d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5 \u0111\u1eadu xe v\u00e0 v\u1ec7 sinh, qua \u0111\u00f3 mang l\u1ea1i l\u1ee3i \u00edch cho g\u1ea7n 70,000 ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng ng\u00e0nh d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5 t\u1ea1i \u0110\u1ecba H\u1ea1t 45 c\u1ee7a California. D\u1ef1 lu\u1eadt \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c D\u00e2n Bi\u1ec3u Steven Horsford (NV-04) gi\u1edbi thi\u1ec7u t\u1ea1i Qu\u1ed1c H\u1ed9i kh\u00f3a 119. Kh\u00e1c v\u1edbi \u0111i\u1ec1u kho\u1ea3n trong H.R. 1 \u2013 c\u00f2n \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c g\u1ecdi l\u00e0 \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act\u201d \u2013 d\u1ef1 lu\u1eadt n\u00e0y s\u1ebd duy tr\u00ec l\u00e2u d\u00e0i m\u1ee9c kh\u1ea5u tr\u1eeb thu\u1ebf cao h\u01a1n d\u00e0nh cho ng\u01b0\u1eddi lao \u0111\u1ed9ng ng\u00e0nh d\u1ecbch v\u1ee5, thay v\u00ec \u0111\u1ec3 ch\u00ednh s\u00e1ch h\u1ebft hi\u1ec7u l\u1ef1c v\u00e0o cu\u1ed1i n\u0103m 2028.\nD\u00e2n Bi\u1ec3u Derek Tr\u1ea7n ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c t\u1eadp trung gi\u1ea3i quy\u1ebft cu\u1ed9c kh\u1ee7ng ho\u1ea3ng chi ph\u00ed sinh ho\u1ea1t v\u00e0 kh\u00f4ng ng\u1eebng \u1ee7ng h\u1ed9 c\u00e1c d\u1ef1 lu\u1eadt nh\u1eb1m gi\u1ea3m chi ph\u00ed cho c\u00e1c gia \u0111\u00ecnh lao \u0111\u1ed9ng:\nV\u00e0o Th\u00e1ng N\u0103m, 2026, D\u00e2n Bi\u1ec3u Derek c\u00f9ng c\u00e1c th\u00e0nh vi\u00ean c\u1ee7a Lowering Costs Caucus\ng\u1eedi th\u01b0 k\u00eau g\u1ecdi ch\u00ednh quy\u1ec1n T\u1ed5ng Th\u1ed1ng Trump\nc\u00f3 bi\u1ec7n ph\u00e1p gi\u1ea3i quy\u1ebft t\u00ecnh tr\u1ea1ng gi\u00e1 n\u0103ng l\u01b0\u1ee3ng t\u0103ng v\u1ecdt.\nV\u00e0o Th\u00e1ng B\u1ea3y, 2025, D\u00e2n Bi\u1ec3u Derek gi\u1edbi thi\u1ec7u\nD\u1ef1 Lu\u1eadt Gi\u1ea3m Thu\u1ebf Th\u1ef1c Ph\u1ea9m Tr\u1ebb Em\n, nh\u1eb1m mi\u1ec5n thu\u1ebf quan \u0111\u1ed1i v\u1edbi c\u00e1c s\u1ea3n ph\u1ea9m thi\u1ebft y\u1ebfu ph\u1ee5c v\u1ee5 vi\u1ec7c nu\u00f4i tr\u1ebb nh\u1ecf, nh\u01b0 s\u1eefa c\u00f4ng th\u1ee9c, gh\u1ebf \u0103n cho tr\u1ebb em v\u00e0 b\u00ecnh s\u1eefa, qua \u0111\u00f3 gi\u00fap gi\u1ea3m chi ph\u00ed cho c\u00e1c b\u1eadc ph\u1ee5 huynh lao \u0111\u1ed9ng.\nD\u00e2n Bi\u1ec3u Derek c\u0169ng \u0111\u1ed3ng b\u1ea3o tr\u1ee3\nD\u1ef1 Lu\u1eadt C\u1ea3i Thi\u1ec7n T\u00edn D\u1ee5ng Nh\u00e0 \u1ede Gi\u00e1 Ph\u1ea3i Ch\u0103ng\n, nh\u1eb1m h\u1ed7 tr\u1ee3 t\u00e0i ch\u00ednh cho vi\u1ec7c x\u00e2y d\u1ef1ng th\u00eam nh\u00e0 \u1edf nhi\u1ec1u c\u0103n, v\u00e0\nD\u1ef1 Lu\u1eadt T\u00edn D\u1ee5ng Thu\u1ebf Cho Ng\u01b0\u1eddi Mua Nh\u00e0 L\u1ea7n \u0110\u1ea7u\n, thi\u1ebft l\u1eadp kho\u1ea3n t\u00edn d\u1ee5ng thu\u1ebf c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 ho\u00e0n l\u1ea1i d\u00e0nh cho ng\u01b0\u1eddi mua nh\u00e0 l\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u.\n###\nIssues\n:\nEconomy & Small Business\nWashington DC Office\n1127 Longworth House Office Building\nWashington,\nDC\n20515\nPhone:\n(202) 225-2415\nCypress District Office\n6803 International Ave., Suite 100\nCypress,\nCA\n90630\nPhone:\n(714) 960-6483", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-derek-tran-lawmakers-urge-california-accept-10-million-federal", "Representative Derek Tran, Lawmakers Urge California to Accept  $10 Million in Federal Funding for Orange County Veterans Cemetery", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Derek Tran", "T000491", "tran.house.gov", "tran", "https://tran.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) joined Rep. Lou Correa and a bipartisan group of lawmakers this week to send a letter urging Governor Gavin Newsom to ensure the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) accepts $10 million in federal funding offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon. Representatives Lou Correa, Ken Calvert, Young Kim, Mike Levin, and Dave Min, alongside State Senator Thomas J. Umberg and Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva and Avelino Valencia, joined Tran in signing the letter.\n\n\u201cAfter more than a decade of work, we are closer than ever to fulfilling our promise to Orange County\u2019s veterans and their families,\u201d said the lawmakers. \u201cWe should not allow $10 million in federal funding secured for this purpose to be left on the table.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter HERE.\n\nOn July 27, 2021, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved $20 million for site development for a veterans\u2019 cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, designating more than 200 acres of county-owned land near the 91 Freeway and 241 Toll Road for a public cemetery and a separate veterans\u2019 cemetery. Combined state and local funding for the veterans\u2019 cemetery construction now totals $50 million, including $25 million from prior state budgets and an additional $5 million allocated in the 2024 State Budget Act. The funding allocated has yet to be accepted by the California Department of Veterans Affairs.\n\nAn Army veteran and a member of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, Representative Tran is dedicated to expanding protections and benefits for veterans:\n\nIn July 2025, Representative Tran led a letter with Representative Correa to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), urging federal support for the construction of the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon.\n\nRep. Tran\u2019s first piece of legislation, the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, supports the livelihoods of veterans who were wrongfully removed from their civil service positions and allows them to continue serving their country as part of the federal workforce.\n\nRepresentative Tran introduced the bipartisan Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act to allow veterans the option to receive G.I. Bill information and benefits through electronic messages, reducing unnecessary paperwork and increasing accessibility.\n\nRepresentative Tran also introduced the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans\u2019 Benefits Protection Actto protect veterans\u2019 disability benefits from a change at the Department of Veterans Affairs that would have cut benefits for veterans who rely on medication to manage their disabilities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3538", "Wasserman Schultz Conducts Surprise Miramar ICE Facility Inspection Following Whistleblower Report", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", "wassermanschultz", "https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "\u201cThe conditions we documented during my last surprise inspection got ICE\u2019s attention, so they did their best over the last week to clean things up. Oversight and public pressure work, and we need more of it in our state and across the country,\u201d said Wasserman Schultz. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that the push from the Trump administration to round up as many people as possible has caused this facility, and others, to become overwhelmed. They simply don\u2019t have the capacity to hold this many people humanely, and most of them are law-abiding immigrants who just came here for a better life.\u201d\n\nMiramar, FL \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) made an unannounced visit to conduct oversight at the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Center in Miramar, FL. This was Wasserman Schultz\u2019s second visit to the facility, after a previous inspection uncovered overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, and illegal detention of individuals for days or weeks on end, prompting Democrats on the House Oversight Committee to open an investigation into the facility\u2019s dangerous and unlawful practices.\n\nClick here for video of the press conference and Wasserman Schultz entering the facility.\n\nThe surprise inspection follows whistleblower disclosures detailing horrific conditions in the Miramar facility, including a pregnant woman being detained for three weeks, detainees brushing their teeth outside with water from a hose attached to a jug, lack of proper access to medication or hygiene products, and other abuses. Detainees have been cuffed and chained overnight, forced to use overflowing porta-potties, and denied access to medical care despite more than two dozen emergency calls, including a detainee throwing up blood.\n\n\u201cThe conditions we documented during my last surprise inspection got ICE\u2019s attention, so they did their best over the last week to clean things up. Oversight and public pressure work, and we need more of it in our state and across the country,\u201d said Wasserman Schultz. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that the push from the Trump administration to round up as many people as possible has caused this facility, and others, to become overwhelmed. They simply don\u2019t have the capacity to hold this many people humanely, and most of them are law-abiding immigrants who just came here for a better life.\u201d\n\nWasserman Schultz described the improvements she saw in the facility\u2019s operations as proof that oversight of ICE detention centers remains crucial. People were being processed quicker compared to her first inspection, leading to less overcrowding in the Miramar facility, approximately 20 people per holding room.\n\nBut there is still no consistent policy regarding showers or changes of clothes for individuals detained at the facility. Additionally, Wasserman Schultz saw broken sinks, floors covered in filth, and overflowing dumpsters. There is no medical unit, and Wasserman Schultz saw a woman with a leg injury. Wasserman Schultz also reported that two detainees told her in Spanish that they had been there for six days \u2013 much longer than the 12 hours permitted after a federal court order barred ICE from holding immigrants for three days or longer in temporary processing facilities.\n\n####\n\nRelated News", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-statement-on-sham-stock-trading-bill", "Baldwin Statement on Sham Stock Trading Bill", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after voting against the Stop Insider Trading Act, legislation that fails to adequately prevent current members of Congress from holding stocks and enriching themselves while in office. The legislation also allows the President, Vice President, and White House staff to continue to use inside information and freely trade stocks for personal profit. The bill comes as President Trump made 21,000 stock trades and $2.2 billion in personal wealth in just his first year in office. On the contrary, Senator Baldwin does not trade stocks and has had the management of her financial assets in a blind trust while serving in the U.S. Senate since 2013.\n\n\u201cWe are sent to Washington to do the people\u2019s work and make their lives better, not to use our position of power to turn a profit. That\u2019s why I have led by example \u2013 never trading a single stock since I have been in the Senate. I\u2019ll continue fighting to root out corruption and stop politicians from enriching themselves while in office,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThe bill that the House passed simply falls short of ending this corrupt practice, letting members keep the stocks they have and allowing the President and Vice President to continue trading stocks and enrich themselves while in office. Wisconsinites deserve a real ban on this kind of corruption, and this is just what I support and what we need to become law.\u201d\n\nSenator Baldwin co-sponsors the following bills to ban members of Congress from trading stocks. These bills stand in contrast to the Stop Insider Trading Act, which would not require Members of Congress to divest their current holdings.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-votes-against-voluntary-approach-to-data-centers-vows-to-push-real-reform-to-protect-wisconsin-ratepayers", "Baldwin Votes Against Voluntary Approach to Data Centers; Vows to Push Real Reform to Protect Wisconsin Ratepayers", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) voted against legislation that fails to protect Wisconsin ratepayers and does nothing to ensure that data centers pay for their own energy costs. The legislation only asks that states and regulators \u201cconsider\u201d making Big Tech pay for the energy that the data centers use, failing to put real protections for families from increased energy costs into law.\n\n\u201cThis bill tries to sell the American people a bad bill of goods and take them for fools. This toothless legislation does not protect American families from increased energy costs and allows these huge AI data centers to pass on their energy bills to families and small businesses. Even worse, my colleagues are trying to use this window dressing to dupe the American people into thinking we are acting on an issue that they care deeply about, while not actually protecting them,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cI\u2019m committed to making AI data centers pay their own way and protecting hardworking Wisconsinites from paying a penny of Big Tech\u2019s data center energy bills. The solution must be a mandate, under law, that these costs can\u2019t be kicked to families because we cannot trust these tech giants to just do the right thing. I\u2019ll work with anyone to protect families from yet another bill of theirs from increasing and ensure our communities are the ones in control, not big tech.\u201d\n\nThe legislation, The Ratepayer Protection Act, requires states to \u201cconsider\u201d a standard that would make certain large data centers pay for the costs of grid upgrades necessary to serve them. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this legislation pushes a voluntary standard, saying that state commissions \u201cmay adopt or reject\u201d the federal standard. Therefore, there is no federal requirement preventing energy costs from data centers from being passed along to ordinary ratepayers. Additionally, the legislation does not cover all data centers. The bill only covers data centers with peak demand of 100 megawatts or more, leaving out every other data center that is placing massive new demands on a local grid.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-baldwin-secures-return-of-mental-health-help-on-988-for-lgbtq-kids", "NEWS: Baldwin Secures Return of Mental Health Help on 988 for LGBTQ Kids", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "WI", "Tammy Baldwin", "B001230", "www.baldwin.senate.gov", "baldwin", "https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 After more than a year of pressure from U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), 988\u2019s specialized \u201cPress 3\u201d services for LGBTQ youth resumed today. This news comes after the Trump Administration abruptly canceled \u201cPress 3\u201d over a year ago and has since dragged their feet on following Senator Baldwin's bipartisan law that mandated a return of these services. For more than 14 months, the Trump Administration withheld specialized services for a population that is more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers.\n\n\u201cSuicide and mental health struggles touch every community across our state, and that\u2019s why creating the 988 crisis lifeline to make sure help is there for everyone is one of my proudest accomplishments,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cBut, last year, the Trump Administration decided to make these real struggles a political football and ripped away the specialized line that helped LGBTQ children. This was a deliberate choice. The Trump Administration chose to put children\u2019s lives on the line to score some political points. I\u2019ve fought tooth and nail to restore this lifesaving resource. When I realized the Trump Administration was not going to do it on their own, I wrote it into federal law to require them to restore the Press 3 option. This lifesaving resource never should have gone away in the first place, but I am glad the lifesaving support Press 3 provides is once again there for people who need it.\u201d\n\nSince the first reports of the Trump Administration\u2019s planned shuttering of 988\u2019s specialized services for LGBTQ youth, Senator Baldwin pushed for the reinstatement, including:\n\nMay 2025: Senator Baldwin led her colleagues in slamming the Trump Administration\u2019s plan to take away lifesaving mental health services at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline from LGBTQ youth.\n\nJune 2025: Baldwin condemned the Trump Administration\u2019s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announcement of their plans to shut down the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline\u2019s specialized services for LGBTQ youth in 30 days.\n\nJuly 2025: On the third anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Baldwin highlighted the Trump Administration\u2019s dangerous decision to cut services for at-risk children.\n\nJuly 2025: As ranking member of the Senate Labor-HHS (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee, Baldwin helped write and advance a fiscal year 2026 bill providing $535 million for 988\u2014a $15 million increase\u2014and restored dedicated funding for LGBTQ youth specialized services. The bill also rejected proposed cuts to SAMHSA and preserved it as an independent agency.\n\nSeptember 2025: U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation, the 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Access Act, to codify the 988 lifeline\u2019s specialized services for LGBTQ young people.\n\nJanuary 2026: Baldwin released the LHHS bill that provides $535 million, a $15 million increase over fiscal year 2025, for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to provide additional support for the program as reliance on 988 continues to increase since its launch.\n\nJanuary 2026: The Senate passed Baldwin\u2019s bipartisan bill to fund the Department of Health and Human Services. Included in the bill is language mandating the return of 988\u2019s LGBTQ youth specialized services.\n\nApril 2026: When Secretary Kennedy testified in front of the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Baldwin secured a commitment from Secretary Kennedy to follow the law and restore the 988 \u201cPress 3\u201d option.\n\nJune 2026: Senator Baldwin toured the 988 call center in Green Bay and held a roundtable with 988 Lifeline staff and local stakeholders about the impact the crisis line has had on mental health outcomes.\n\nJuly 2026: Baldwin celebrated the fourth anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which came on the heels of a new study that found that since the launch of the three-digit crisis line, youth suicide deaths dropped 11% below projections, saving 4,372 lives.\n\nSeptember 2026: Senator Baldwin questioned several of President Trump\u2019s nominees for positions within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at a Senate hearing and secured commitments that the Trump Administration will restore the \u2018Press 3\u2019 option for LGBTQ youth at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by the end of September.\n\nSenator Baldwin wrote and passed the legislation to create the three-digit 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and has led the fight to ensure it gets properly funded each year. To support Wisconsin\u2019s implementation of 988, the Senator also secured over $3 million in dedicated federal funding. When it was established, Baldwin and her Republican counterpart incorporated a specialized service for veterans, who disproportionately have suicidal ideation. Baldwin then successfully stood up a pilot program to address higher rates of suicide and mental health challenges among LGBTQ youth.\n\nAs ranking member of LHHS Senator Baldwin fought to secure $535 million for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and to restore dedicated funding for LGBTQ youth specialized services in Fiscal Year 2026 funding legislation.\n\nThe demand for 988 continues to rise, with the volume of calls, texts, and chats 15% higher than a year earlier and nearly 50% higher than two years ago. Since the lifeline launched, it has received over 27 million contacts, including over 18 million calls, 4 million texts, and 3 million chats.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/30/bennet-coons-warren-wyden-gallego-introduce-bill-to-impose-sanctions-on-israeli-settlement-construction-in-the-e1-area-of-the-west-bank/", "Bennet, Coons, Warren, Wyden, Gallego Introduce Bill to Impose Sanctions on Israeli Settlement Construction in the E1 Area of the West Bank", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to introduce legislation that would impose targeted sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate the development of illegal Israeli settlements or related structures in the E1 area of the West Bank, including by submitting a bid for E1 tenders. It would also impose sanctions on those who attempt to organize, direct, finance, or facilitate the transfer of Israeli civilians into E1 settlements.\n\n\u201cBenjamin Netanyahu\u2019s plans for construction in E1 are aimed to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and would gravely threaten prospects for a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cVarious American presidents, both Democrats and Republicans, have long recognized this and pressed Israeli governments not to move forward with this reckless project. Netanyahu and his ultra-right wing ministers, however, continue to prioritize their personal political interests ahead of Israeli and American security interests. The United States must use our considerable financial and diplomatic tools to reinforce its longstanding policy against Israeli annexation of the West Bank. That is why I am proud to sponsor this bill, which sends a clear message that those who facilitate Netanyahu\u2019s latest dangerous settlement expansion in E1 risk losing access to the U.S. financial system.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor decades, American presidents from both parties have warned successive Israeli governments that construction in E1 threatened the viability of a Palestinian state and was unacceptable to the United States,\u201d said Coons. \u201cAs Palestinian civilians face a campaign of devastation and fear from violent extremist settlers, the United States must send a strong message that this behavior is unacceptable and that it remains committed to freedom, security, prosperity, and self-determination for all Israelis and Palestinians.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe E1 settlement project is a move towards de facto annexation of the West Bank, and those who choose to facilitate settlement construction should understand that they risk losing access to the U.S. financial system,\u201d said Warren. \u201cThe United States must use all diplomatic and economic tools available to counter rapid settlement expansion and extremist settler violence in the West Bank, spiraling trends that will only undermine the prospect of lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.\u201d\n\nPrevious Israeli governments initiated plans for settlement construction in E1 in the 1990s, but they have halted them since 2005 amid international pressure. Last year, however, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government approved construction of more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 area, which connects the northern and southern West Bank. In recent weeks, Israel announced tenders to allow companies to bid for construction of these settlements. If completed, these units could sever the West Bank in two, gravely threatening the viability of a future Palestinian state. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have publicly acknowledged \u2013 and spoken positively about \u2013 how E1 settlement expansion will make such an outcome impossible.\n\nIn September 2026, Bennet demanded that Netanyahu take immediate action to address surging Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, in the West Bank. In March 2026, Bennet pressed the Trump administration for an investigation into the death of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, an American citizen who Israeli settlers shot and killed in the West Bank. In October 2025, Bennet urged President Trump to reinforce longstanding U.S. policy opposing any potential Israeli annexation of territory in the West Bank. In August 2025, Bennet introduced the West Bank Violence Prevention Act to deter and prevent destabilizing violence in the West Bank, particularly against civilians, by requiring the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons engaging in violent extremist acts of terror, intimidation, and coercion against civilians in the West Bank.\n\nIn addition to Bennet, Coons, Warren, Wyden, and Gallego, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) cosponsored this legislation.\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/30/bennet-wyden-veasey-colleagues-recognize-september-as-national-voting-rights-month-ahead-of-midterm-elections/", "Bennet, Wyden, Veasey, Colleagues Recognize September as National Voting Rights Month Ahead of Midterm Elections", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Resolution comes amid efforts by Donald Trump and Republicans to upend vote-by-mail and make voting harder for Americans\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee with oversight over federal elections, joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (D-Texas), and 60 congressional colleagues to announce the introduction of a bicameral resolution recognizing September as \u201cNational Voting Rights Month.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis month, we celebrate the fundamental right to vote, and the importance of free, fair, and secure elections,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cThis right lies at the core of our democracy, but President Trump and his administration continue to attempt to undermine it for millions of Americans. We must continue our fight to defend Colorado\u2019s gold standard election system against Trump\u2019s baseless attacks and conspiracy theories.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump is doing everything he can to disenfranchise American voters in this year\u2019s midterms because he\u2019s afraid his platform of jacking up costs is about to lose Republicans the midterms,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cAccess to the ballot and the right to vote are the bedrock of our democracy, and Congressman Veasey and I will continue fighting to protect this fundamental right for all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past year, we\u2019ve seen our fundamental right to vote eroded and access to critical information about the voting process worsen. In my home state alone, we\u2019ve seen efforts to redistrict mid-decade, introduce restrictive voter ID laws, and reduce the number of polling locations available to voters,\u201d said Veasey. \u201cNow more than ever, it is essential for Americans to understand their voting rights, stay informed about what is happening around them, and help to keep their communities informed. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce a resolution alongside Sen. Wyden to designate September 2026 as National Voting Rights Month \u2013 a step towards raising awareness, encouraging civic participation, and ensuring that Americans have the information they need to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard in November.\u201d\n\nSince the start of his second term, Trump has worked to undermine election systems nationwide, from appointing election deniers to key positions, to firing all members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission, and attempting to limit mail-in voting.\n\nThis resolution encourages voter registration in the month of September and calls on Congress to preserve the right to vote by passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the Democracy Restoration Act, and by restoring the Voting Rights Act of 1965.\n\nBennet has consistently fought against blatant efforts from the Trump administration and Republicans to undermine federal elections. In August 2026, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and 26 Senate colleagues to demand the Trump administration adhere to the National Voter Registration Act\u2019s \u201cquiet period\u201d that prohibits large-scale voter purges within 90 days of an election, pushing back against the Trump administration\u2019s ongoing voter suppression efforts. In May 2026, Bennet released a statement following the release of the U.S. Postal Service\u2019s proposed rule that would implement part of Trump\u2019s executive order attacking mail in voting. In April 2026, Bennet joined Padilla and 36 of their colleagues to introduce the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act, legislation that would block Trump\u2019s illegal and unconstitutional executive order that attacks Coloradans\u2019 ability to cast mail-in ballots. In March 2026, Bennet condemned the SAVE America Act on the Senate floor and called out Trump for holding the Senate hostage to pass this legislation.\n\nIn April 2025, he spoke on the Senate floor, calling out the SAVE America Act that would make it harder for millions of American citizens to register and exercise their right to vote, including women and voters in rural communities across the country. In February 2025, Bennet slammed Trump for sowing distrust in elections. In July 2023, Bennet and his Democratic colleagues introduced the Freedom to Vote Act to improve Americans\u2019 access to the ballot, invest in state election infrastructure, strengthen campaign finance disclosure requirements, and ensure our elections are free from interference.\n\nIn addition to Bennet, Wyden, and Veasey, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2019i.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif)., Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2019i), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) as well as U.S. Representatives Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-Ind.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Jonathan Jackson (D-III.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.), Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) cosponsored this resolution.\n\nThe text of the resolution is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-blunt-rochester-coons-colleagues-demand-secretary-mullin-halt-2026-election-interference-efforts/", "Senators Blunt Rochester, Coons, colleagues\u00a0demand Secretary Mullin\u00a0halt 2026\u00a0election\u00a0interference\u00a0efforts", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester, Chris Coons (Both D-Del.), Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senate Rules Committee Ranking Member Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and their Senate Democratic colleagues called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately halt the department\u2019s efforts to assert federal control over the 2026 midterm elections and undermine public trust in them. The senators demanded information substantiating Secretary Mullin\u2019s public claims about noncitizens who registered to vote, called on DHS to rescind new election-related conditions on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) homeland security grants, release the full grant funding to states, and end the alleged \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d disclosed by a recent whistleblower.\n\n\u201cWe write to warn you against continued activities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that seek to undermine the Constitutional authority of both Congress and states to administer elections and defy the directions of federal courts. As Secretary of Homeland Security, you have promoted the President\u2019s conspiracy theories about our elections, pressured states to participate in illegal activities, and explicitly threatened to reduce grant funding and initiate criminal investigations for those states that do not comply with the Administration\u2019s demands,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nIn their letter, the senators raised concerns about Secretary Mullin\u2019s unsupported claim that 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote in four states and criticized DHS efforts to pressure states to provide sensitive voter roll information to be run through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, despite the administration\u2019s acknowledgment of problems with the underlying data. The senators also objected to new election-related conditions on FEMA\u2019s Homeland Security Grant Program, which have been retroactively applied to previously awarded fiscal year 2025 funding and are threatening fiscal year 2026 funding. By threatening to withhold funding that communities rely on to prevent acts of terrorism and other threats, Secretary Mullin is putting Americans\u2019 safety at risk as political leverage.\n\nThe senators also highlighted allegations from a federal whistleblower about an effort referred to as the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative.\u201d According to the whistleblower, USCIS personnel were allegedly directed to use sensitive, personally identifiable information and improperly access state voter registration websites to find non-citizen voters. The whistleblower also alleged that personnel were directed to create law enforcement records using incomplete and unverifiable data for potential referral to law enforcement.\n\n\u201cAccording to the whistleblower, USCIS staff were given a list of names and told to use sensitive personally identifiable information to impersonate voters and access state voter registration websites to verify individuals\u2019 immigration and voter registration statuses. Equipped with incomplete and unverifiable data compiled with \u2018supplemental magic,\u2019 USCIS staff are allegedly being directed to create law enforcement records on individuals, including U.S. citizens, for possible referral to HSI for further investigation,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cIf true, this is just another alarming effort by the Department to use data that USCIS materials admit may be inaccurate, coupled with questionable means to potentially disenfranchise voters.\u201d\n\nThe senators called on Secretary Mullin to immediately provide all information substantiating his July 17, 2026 allegations regarding noncitizens who registered to vote, rescind FEMA Information Bulletin Nos. 569 and 569(a), and release all withheld funds to states without further delay, and provide information about the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d and immediately cease its activities.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-statement-on-court-approval-of-paramount-warner-bros-discovery-merger-settlement", "Booker Statement on Court-Approval of Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Settlement", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) released the following statement after a federal judge approved the settlement between Paramount Skydance and the states that sued to block its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery:\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration picked a winner from the outset and cleared its path. The states stepped in because this merger combines two of the largest film studios and drives concentration to levels the law presumes unlawful. They warned of higher prices, fewer films, and less choice. The settlement does not resolve those concerns.\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve an economy where companies compete for their business, reward talent, and serve the public, not markets controlled by those with the deepest pockets.\n\n\u201cAbove all, I worry about the workers, artists, and moviegoers who always pay the price when studios consolidate, and about the creative expression that disappears when fewer companies decide what gets made. Past entertainment mergers brought layoffs, shelved projects, and higher prices.\n\n\u201cOur country\u2019s origin story begins with a revolt against monopoly: colonists dumped the East India Company\u2019s tea into the Boston Harbor rather than accept a Crown-granted monopoly. Two hundred and fifty years later, that fight continues. I have called, and will continue to call, for the vigorous and fair application of our antitrust laws. I will watch this merger, and others, closely to make sure it does not threaten competition, raise prices, or invite corruption.\u201d", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-celebrates-pinehurst-light-rail-opening", "Cantwell Celebrates Pinehurst Light Rail Opening", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "WA", "Maria Cantwell", "C000127", "www.cantwell.senate.gov", "cantwell", "https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Cantwell Celebrates Pinehurst Light Rail Opening\n\nNew station brings fast, affordable transit to more north Seattle residents\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Finance Committee, issued a statement celebrating the opening of the newest light rail station in north Seattle.\n\n\u201cThis new station gives more north Seattle riders access to fast and affordable public transportation, with service every few minutes to UW, SeaTac Airport, and beyond,\u201d said Sen. Cantwell. \u201cFederal investment in our light rail system pays dividends in driving local economies and helping residents reach jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential services across the region.\u201d\n\nPinehurst Station is an infill station along the Lynnwood Link Extension light rail corridor. From Pinehurst Station, riders can reach the University of Washington and Downtown Seattle in under 15 minutes, with trips to SeaTac Airport taking less than an hour. The station is expected to serve up to 4,200 daily riders with service every 4-6 minutes during peak hours. It is opening to riders years ahead of the originally scheduled target of 2031.\n\nSen. Cantwell is a longtime champion of ongoing investments in Washington state\u2019s light rail system. In March 2023, Sen. Cantwell announced a $79.3 million federal loan for Pinehurst station, also called the NE 130th Street Infill Station. The project included bus and paratransit transfer facilities, as well as sidewalks and bike infrastructure.\n\nAfter finalization of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, Sen. Cantwell celebrated the inclusion of $254 million for the Lynnwood Light Rail Extension \u2013 which fully funded the project three years ahead of schedule \u2013 and $329.14 million for the Federal Way Link Light Rail Extension.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/remarks-senator-coons-celebrates-unanimous-passage-of-his-end-tax-penalties-on-american-hostages-act/", "REMARKS: Senator Coons celebrates unanimous passage of\u00a0his\u00a0End\u00a0Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) spoke on the Senate floor tonight ahead of the Senate\u2019s passage by unanimous consent of his bipartisan legislation to protect Americans who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad from facing fines and penalties for failing to pay taxes while in captivity.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s ridiculous that one of the first things an American hostage or wrongful detainee receives from the government when they return home from captivity is a tax bill,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cI\u2019ve been working for years to fix this flaw in our tax code to ensure that Americans currently held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad don\u2019t owe thousands of dollars to the IRS when we finally bring them home. I\u2019m so glad that my colleagues have finally supported this commonsense, bipartisan bill, and I hope the president signs it immediately to bring this cruel practice to an end.\u201d\n\nThe End Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, led by Senator Coons and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), was inspired by Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who was wrongfully detained by the Iranian government for 544 days in 2014. After returning home, Rezaian received a bill for over $20,000 in interest, fines, and other penalties related to tax payments that were due while he was imprisoned in Iran.\n\nThe bill will prevent the IRS from imposing penalties and charging interest on tax payments that eligible Americans were unable to make while held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. The bill will also provide relief for penalties already paid by certain former hostages and wrongful detainees who returned home in recent years. The IRS has previously made clear this tax issue could only be fixed through legislation.\n\nSenator Coons initially introduced this bill in December 2022. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed companion legislation introduced by Reps. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) and Dina Titus (D-Nev.).\n\nA transcript and video of Senator Coons\u2019 remarks on the Senate floor this evening as he sought unanimous consent are available below.\n\nWATCH HERE.\n\nSenator Coons: Mr. President, I wonder if you\u2019ve heard the story of Jason Rezaian. Jason was a Washington Post reporter, an Iranian-American who was stationed in Tehran and reporting for the Washington Post on the goings-on of the Islamic Republic of Iran.\n\nIn 2014, he was arrested by the secret police and disappeared. Months later, it was revealed that he was a political prisoner being held at a notorious prison inside Iran. Jason was ultimately detained for 544 days before he was released, which he recounted in his harrowing tale, \u201cPrisoner: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison.\u201d\n\nWhen Jason returned to the United States at last, having been freed and returned to his family, what was the first thing he got from the U.S. government?\n\nA tax bill. A tax bill for $20,000 for late filing and late payment.\n\nMr. Rezaian is a resourceful guy. He went to the IRS and said, \u201cHey, how can you charge me for late payment, penalties, and fees? I was in prison in Iran.\u201d\n\nThey said, \u201cWell, how are we supposed to know that?\u201d\n\nHe said, \u201cIt was on the front page of the Washington Post.\u201d\n\nThey said, \u201cWell, we can\u2019t just forgive fees and fines for anybody who comes and talks to us.\u201d\n\nThey went through months and months of arguing back and forth, and he managed to get most of the fines and fees reduced, but not all. And so, after I met with him, now, years ago, I drafted and introduced the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. I bet you can guess what this bill does. There is a corollary, a companion in the House: the End Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. And I\u2019m grateful to Congresswoman Titus and Tenney of Nevada and New York for their co-sponsorship. It has passed the House unanimously.\n\nTonight, Senator Rounds and I have an opportunity to ask for unanimous consent that we pass this legislation in the Senate and send it to President Trump\u2019s desk.\n\nIncredibly, when we asked for the score on this bill, it\u2019s positive, because the IRS insists on litigating these cases, and they almost always lose them. They waste staff time and money suing people who were hostages or prisoners overseas. This is simple. It\u2019s common sense. It\u2019s bipartisan, and it\u2019s compassionate.\n\nI want to thank Senators Crapo and Wyden for allowing Senator Rounds and me to pull this bill out of their larger tax package and pass it by unanimous consent tonight. And I want to thank Senator Mike Rounds for being an early adopter, when I explained what happened to Jason Rezaian, he said, \u201cWe should pass that, and pass it right away.\u201d\n\nWell, for better or worse, it\u2019s taken years. But here we are tonight, on the verge of sending it to the president\u2019s desk. And I cannot say how grateful I am for the chance to get this simple, clear, commonsense bill passed to help Americans who might tragically be held hostage or imprisoned wrongfully overseas.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-blunt-rochester-colleagues-demand-secretary-mullin-halt-2026-election-interfernece-efforts/", "Senators Coons, Blunt Rochester, colleagues\u00a0demand Secretary Mullin\u00a0halt 2026 election interfernece efforts", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senate Rules Committee Ranking Member Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and their Senate Democratic colleagues called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately halt the department\u2019s efforts to assert federal control over the 2026 midterm elections and undermine public trust in them. The senators demanded information substantiating Secretary Mullin\u2019s public claims about noncitizens who registered to vote, called on DHS to rescind new election-related conditions on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) homeland security grants, release the full grant funding to states, and end the alleged \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d disclosed by a recent whistleblower.\n\n\u201cWe write to warn you against continued activities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that seek to undermine the Constitutional authority of both Congress and states to administer elections and defy the directions of federal courts. As Secretary of Homeland Security, you have promoted the President\u2019s conspiracy theories about our elections, pressured states to participate in illegal activities, and explicitly threatened to reduce grant funding and initiate criminal investigations for those states that do not comply with the Administration\u2019s demands,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nIn their letter, the senators raised concerns about Secretary Mullin\u2019s unsupported claim that 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote in four states and criticized DHS efforts to pressure states to provide sensitive voter roll information to be run through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, despite the administration\u2019s acknowledgment of problems with the underlying data. The senators also objected to new election-related conditions on FEMA\u2019s Homeland Security Grant Program, which have been retroactively applied to previously awarded fiscal year 2025 funding and are threatening fiscal year 2026 funding. By threatening to withhold funding that communities rely on to prevent acts of terrorism and other threats, Secretary Mullin is putting Americans\u2019 safety at risk as political leverage.\n\nThe senators also highlighted allegations from a federal whistleblower about an effort referred to as the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative.\u201d According to the whistleblower, USCIS personnel were allegedly directed to use sensitive, personally identifiable information and improperly access state voter registration websites to find non-citizen voters. The whistleblower also alleged that personnel were directed to create law enforcement records using incomplete and unverifiable data for potential referral to law enforcement.\n\n\u201cAccording to the whistleblower, USCIS staff were given a list of names and told to use sensitive personally identifiable information to impersonate voters and access state voter registration websites to verify individuals\u2019 immigration and voter registration statuses. Equipped with incomplete and unverifiable data compiled with \u2018supplemental magic,\u2019 USCIS staff are allegedly being directed to create law enforcement records on individuals, including U.S. citizens, for possible referral to HSI for further investigation,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cIf true, this is just another alarming effort by the Department to use data that USCIS materials admit may be inaccurate, coupled with questionable means to potentially disenfranchise voters.\u201d\n\nThe senators called on Secretary Mullin to immediately provide all information substantiating his July 17, 2026 allegations regarding noncitizens who registered to vote, rescind FEMA Information Bulletin Nos. 569 and 569(a), and release all withheld funds to states without further delay, and provide information about the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d and immediately cease its activities.\n\n\u201cThe 2026 midterm elections are already underway. Your unsubstantiated allegations of noncitizen voter fraud, public recitation of unreliable data, and unwarranted conditioning of continued grant funding for state election security measures on compliance with politically motivated requests for voter data appear to be calculated efforts to undermine confidence in our elections and risks wrongly disenfranchising voters,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\nJoining Senators Coons, Blunt Rochester, Peters, Padilla, Durbin, and Schumer in sending the letter were Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cortez-masto-bills-to-bolster-american-geothermal-production-protect-the-energy-grid-clear-key-senate-hurdle/", "Cortez Masto Bills to Bolster American Geothermal Production, Protect the Energy Grid Clear Key Senate Hurdle", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NV", "Catherine Cortez Masto", "C001113", "www.cortezmasto.senate.gov", "cortezmasto", "https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "***VIDEO AVAILABLE***\n\nFTPs for TV stations is available here.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, two of U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto\u2019s (D-Nev.) bipartisan bills, the Next Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act and the Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act(SECURE Grid Act), passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\n\nNext-generation geothermal technology uses the heat (100-400\u00ba+ C) from rocks several kilometers below the surface of the earth to produce electricity. The Next Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, cosponsored by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), would establish next-generation geothermal Research and Development Programs at the Department of Energy. The legislation now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.\n\nStates must submit a State Energy Security Plan (SESP) to receive funds from the State Energy Program. The SECURE Grid Act, cosponsored by U.S. Senators Murkowski and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), would require these state plans to account for additional grid threats \u2013 such as supply chain dynamics, weather-related threats and vulnerabilities, and the potential for physical grid attacks. The legislation has already passed the House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.\n\n\u201cAmerican energy security isn\u2019t a partisan issue \u2013 it touches the lives of every American from Anchorage to Elko,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cToday, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources took an important step toward unleashing geothermal energy and protecting our electric grids. I look forward to the Senate immediately passing these critical bills.\u201d\n\nDuring today\u2019s hearing, Senator Cortez Masto pushed Committee Chairman Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to move forward with her Southern Nevada lands bill, Senator Jacky Rosen\u2019s (D-Nev.) Washoe County lands bill, and Congressman Mark Amodei\u2019s (R-Nev.-02) Northern Nevada lands bill in November.\n\nSenator Cortez Masto has consistently led efforts in Congress to bolster American energy production and secure the electric grid. She has led bipartisan legislation to encourage the production of electric distribution transformers, devices that are critical to the energy grid; to secure America\u2019s energy supply chain; to increase critical mineral production in the American West; and to bolster American hydroelectric power production. Cortez Masto has called on the Trump Administration to take strategic action to protect, invest in, and strengthen America\u2019s critical mineral supply chain.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cortez-masto-statement-on-vote-against-h-r-9340/", "Cortez Masto Statement on Vote Against H.R. 9340", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NV", "Catherine Cortez Masto", "C001113", "www.cortezmasto.senate.gov", "cortezmasto", "https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after her vote against H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, led in the Senate by Jon Husted (R-Ohio).\n\n\u201cI have the same concerns many Nevadans do about the influx of data centers in our communities. I believe that before any data center moves forward, it should have the support of the local community, should be built with union labor, should pay for necessary grid upgrades while prioritizing clean power, and it shouldn\u2019t waste water or raise energy costs for residents.\n\n\u201cIn the Senate, there are a number of bills to protect American families from data center-related energy cost spikes, including Senator Heinrich\u2019s GRID Savings Act, which I support. Senator Husted could have joined Democrats on legislation with real teeth that would force data centers to pay for grid upgrades and ensure costs aren\u2019t passed along to the consumer. Instead, Republican leadership, in an election year stunt, chose to push forward on a bill with only voluntary, ineffective language that won\u2019t hold anyone accountable.\u201d\n\nSenator Cortez Masto is a cosponsor of Senator Martin Heinrich\u2019s (D-N.M.) GRID Savings Act. Instead of the Ratepayer Protection Act\u2019s voluntary framework, the GRID Savings Act would require large load customers\u2014like data centers\u2014to pay for the facilities needed to connect them to the grid. Cortez Masto is also the cosponsor of legislation led by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to demand more transparency from data centers by requiring them to clearly disclose their energy and water usage.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/passed-cortez-masto-rounds-legislation-to-provide-tribal-courts-access-to-electronic-evidence/", "PASSED: Cortez Masto, Rounds Legislation to Provide Tribal Courts Access to Electronic Evidence", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NV", "Catherine Cortez Masto", "C001113", "www.cortezmasto.senate.gov", "cortezmasto", "https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The United States Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation led by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) to provide Tribal courts the same ability to issue warrants for electronic evidence like emails and social media messages as their non-Tribal counterparts. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cDespite facing high rates of violence, Tribal communities are denied access to essential tools needed to solve crimes,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cIt\u2019s past time for Congress to eliminate this hurdle for Tribal law enforcement. I applaud the Senate passage of this legislation, and I urge my House colleagues to immediately send it to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that Tribal law enforcement is able to do their job as efficiently as possible,\u201d said Senator Rounds. \u201cOur legislation would give Tribal law enforcement another tool to crack down on illegal activity on their lands. Cutting out the red tape and allowing Tribal courts to access evidence on their own is a step in the right direction to making every community safer. I\u2019m pleased that the Tribal Access to Electronic Evidence Act has passed the Senate and I look forward to continuing our work to get it signed into law.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan Tribal Access to Electronic Evidence Act would amend current law to:\n\ninclude courts of federally recognized Tribes as \u201ccourts of competent jurisdiction\u201d under the Stored Communications Act;\n\nrequire Tribal courts to adhere to warrant procedures described in the Indian Civil Rights Act to access electronic information; and\n\nrecognize Tribes as a government entity under the federal statute.\n\nThis bipartisan bill has been endorsed by the National Native American Bar Association, the National American Indian Court Judges Association, and the National Native American Law Enforcement Association.\n\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here.\n\nThe Tribal Access to Electronic Evidence Act is part of Senator Cortez Masto\u2019s response to the 2023 Not Invisible Act Commission Report, which gave recommendations to lawmakers and the federal government to combat the MMIP crisis. The commission\u2019s report was mandated by Cortez Masto\u2019s bipartisan Not Invisible Act, which was signed into law in 2020. Following the report, Cortez Masto has pushed both her BADGES for Native Communities Act and her Tribal Warrant Fairness Act,both of which contain Tribal public safety measures endorsed by the commission. The Not Invisible Act Commission Report was removed from the Department of Justice website more than 960 days ago by the Trump administration and has not been restored. Beyond public safety, Cortez Masto has pushed to better health care, maintain voting rights, and deliver tax parity for Tribes.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-us-forces-withdraw-from-iraq-duckworth-calls-on-trump-to-end-his-illegal-war-in-iran", "As U.S. Forces Withdraw from Iraq, Duckworth Calls on Trump to End His Illegal War in Iran", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)\u2014a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) who served in the Iraq War\u2014issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced that the United States has officially withdrawn our military forces from Iraq:\n\n\u201cFor an entire generation of combat Veterans, the weight of this moment as our nation withdraws U.S. forces from Iraq is hard to express. As a former Soldier who volunteered to serve in Iraq, I\u2019m remembering the thousands of warfighters who never made it home and thinking of the heroes whose lives were forever changed because of the last time a President rashly sent our men and women into an unjustified war in the Middle East.\n\n\u201cIn 2004, I deployed to Iraq to fight in a war I did not support on the orders of a President I did not vote for. I didn\u2019t believe our country should be there to begin with. I wanted to take the fight to our enemy harbored in Afghanistan who attacked us on 9/11. I was proud to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom anyway\u2014because that\u2019s what Soldiers do. When our nation calls, our servicemembers always answer. They do what\u2019s asked of them, no matter the cost to their own lives. That kind of selflessness and commitment to the mission demands the highest level of consideration by our nation. We owe it to those brave enough to serve to ensure each mission is worth it before we ever even ask them to sacrifice. And as we withdraw our forces from Iraq, it is baffling that Donald Trump has learned nothing as he plunges our servicemembers further into another forever war in Iran.\n\n\u201cI urge the President and Pete Hegseth to listen to myself and my fellow Iraq War Veterans who have seen firsthand the devastation of a needless forever war. We cannot repeat the same mistakes we made in Iraq. The stakes are too high to not make any attempt to evaluate the lessons learned before reaching for more conflict and destruction. With at least 22 lives lost and hundreds more wounded, it is as urgent and as prudent as ever that Trump brings an end to this disastrous war with Iran before any more lives are lost.\u201d\n\nDuckworth is an Iraq War Veteran who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. On November 12, 2004, her helicopter was hit by an RPG and Duckworth lost her legs and partial use of her right arm. She is a Purple Heart recipient and one of the first handful of Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-padilla-schiff-introduce-legislation-to-protect-regional-national-archives-facilities-from-closure", "Duckworth, Durbin, Padilla, Schiff Introduce Legislation To Protect Regional National Archives Facilities From Closure", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "The lawmakers introduced the legislation following the announced closure of Regional National Archives and Federal Records Centers in Chicago and San Bruno, California\n\n[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), today introduced the National Archives Protection Act, legislation that would require congressional approval before the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) can close or significantly restrict access to existing regional facilities.\n\nIn June 2026, NARA announced plans to close its regional archive facilities and co-located Federal Records Centers (FRC) in Chicago and San Bruno, California, as well as relocate all temporary records from its Seattle facility. The decision has raised concerns from archivists, researchers and constituents about access to public records, many of which are not digitized and can only be accessed in person.\n\nChicago\u2019s FRC houses more than 140,000 cubic feet of historical federal records from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, including federal court and naturalization records, immigration records, Native American and Bureau of Indian Affairs records, maritime records and other materials documenting the history of the Great Lakes region. The closure of Chicago\u2019s FRC eliminates a regional access point serving six states, making it more difficult for Midwesterners and federal agencies to access the records that have yet to be digitized.\n\n\u201cOur National Archives make it possible for families, researchers and communities across the Midwest to access records that tell the story of who we are and where we come from,\u201d Duckworth said. \u201cThis Administration has already shown how willing it is to erase American stories, and closing regional facilities like Chicago\u2019s Federal Records Center would put even more of our history out of reach. Congress must have a say to protect the public\u2019s access to these critical records and ensure our history is not lost.\u201d\n\n\u201cRegional National Archives facilities, including Chicago\u2019s Federal Record Center, ensure that Americans can access public and personal records without having to travel across the country. Closing these facilities without the oversight of Congress risks putting those records further out of reach for our communities,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cThe National Archives Protection Act would ensure that these records, and the history they preserve, remain an accessible resource.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur National Archives are home to the immigration journeys, military service, and family histories of people across the West and the Pacific,\u201d said Padilla. \u201cClosing Federal Records Centers would cut researchers and communities off from our own past. I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Durbin to maintain the public\u2019s access to our nation\u2019s historic documents.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe administration is threatening access to historical and irreplaceable records, including closing down one facility in California that is home to countless photos and family heirlooms. Congress must exercise its oversight power to save decades of regional and national history,\u201d said Schiff.\n\nU.S. Representatives Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Judy Chu (D-CA-28) and Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-IL-04) introduced companion legislation in the House earlier this year.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/09/30/2026/durbin-delivers-opening-statement-during-senate-judiciary-committee-nominations-hearing", "Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Richard J. Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", "durbin", "https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "During his opening remarks, Durbin also reflected on yesterday\u2019s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing featuring testimony from former Special Counsel Jack Smith\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 During today\u2019s Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement in which he outlined the extreme judicial nominees the Trump Administration has nominated, including the nominees before the Committee today.\n\nToday\u2019s Committee hearing considered the nominations of: Lee Rudofsky, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; Robert Long, to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida; Peter Mansfield, to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; and Jesus Osete, to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.\n\nAfter commenting on today\u2019s judicial nominees, Durbin reflected on yesterday\u2019s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing featuring testimony from former Special Counsel Jack Smith.\n\nKey Quotes:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump has made it clear he believes judges appointed by him should be reliable votes for the MAGA agenda. He said, \u2018it\u2019s really OK for them to be loyal to the person that appointed them\u2019\u2026 When judges don\u2019t rule his way, President Trump attacks them, calling them \u2018rogue judges that are criminals,\u2019 and demanding that Republicans pass a \u2018tough crime bill that\u2026cracks down on rogue judges.\u2019 He has repeatedly attacked his own Supreme Court appointees, most recently saying, \u2018they are merely a shell of their original selves.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cFor President Trump, it\u2019s not enough that a judicial nominee be a principled conservative. Nominees must now demonstrate fealty to him and his MAGA agenda. So, President Trump has resorted to nominating ideologically extreme nominees in some cases\u2014regardless of whether they have the qualifications to serve as a lifetime appointee.\u201d\n\n\u201cLook no further than today\u2019s panel. One of the nominees has only been out of law school for a decade and has been practicing for a grand total of seven years. Why should litigants have faith in these nominees that they\u2019ll have the knowledge and expertise to adjudicate the cases? That is not a matter of concern to the President. He only cares if they will be loyal.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat loyalty is particularly important to President Trump at a time when jurists nominated during the first Trump Administration have been ruling against this President, including dozens who have ruled against this Administration\u2019s illegal mandatory immigration detention.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd judges across the country, nominated by Presidents of both parties, have found the Trump Administration is repeatedly defying court orders. As Judge Patrick Schiltz\u2014a George W. Bush appointee who clerked for Justice Scalia\u2014found, ICE violated hundreds of court orders in Minnesota alone.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn rare interviews earlier this month, Judge Schiltz and other judges spoke out about the \u2018grave threat to the rule of law\u2019 posed by this Administration\u2019s attacks. Last week, Chairman Grassley chastised Judge Schiltz and others, claiming that they violated the judicial canons by granting these interviews. In fact, the Advisory Opinion that the Chairman cited specifically permits \u2018the measured defense of judicial colleagues from illegitimate forms of criticism and attacks that risk undermining judicial independence or the rule of law.\u2019\u2026 Judges don\u2019t give up their First Amendment rights when they assume the bench, particularly when it comes to preserving the rule of law.\u201d\n\nDurbin then spoke about yesterday\u2019s hearing, in which former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the Committee.\n\n\u201cI\u2019d like a minute to reflect on yesterday\u2019s hearing. We have been trying for a year to get Mr. Jack Smith, the Special Counsel, to appear before this Committee under oath\u2026Since October of last year, we have been waiting for the chance. Yesterday was that moment. Mr. Smith came before us, took the oath, and submitted himself to questioning from both sides of the aisle for a lengthy period of time.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat I found curious was the underlying charges which he was investigating\u2014the instigation of the January 6 attack on the Capitol of the United States, as well as questioning the results of the 2020 election, together with the disposition of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago in Florida\u2014was never raised on the Republican side of the aisle.\u201d\n\n\u201cThose substantive issues, which led to indictments, were not contested or questioned. Rather, it was Mr. Smith who was on trial for acting as a prosecutor in this case.\u201d\n\nVideo of Durbin\u2019s opening statement is available here.\n\nAudio of Durbin\u2019s opening statement is available here.\n\nFootage of Durbin\u2019s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-questions-judicial-nominees-about-protecting-americans-right-to-vote-during-senate-judiciary-committee-hearing", "Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees About Protecting Americans\u2019 Right To Vote During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Richard J. Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", "durbin", "https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Durbin questioned Judge Lee Philip Rudofsky and Jesus Osete about their views on the Voting Rights Act\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned judicial nominees during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.\n\nDurbin began by questioning Lee Philip Rudofsky, nominated to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, about his view on the Voting Rights Act.\n\n\u201cFor 60 years, under the Voting Rights Act, individuals could bring [private] causes of action under that Act. I imagine the theory behind it, and I think I am right, is that that\u2019s the only way for an individual to have a voice questioning government action which denies or limits a person\u2019s right to vote. Is that your understanding?\u201d Durbin asked.\n\nJudge Rudofsky replied that he believes that the Voting Rights Act did not write an express right of action. Despite precedent, Judge Rudofsky previously ruled in a 2022 case that the Voting Rights Act does not have an implied right of action, and as a result, he diluted the voting power of the Black Arkansans who brought the case.\n\n\u201cIn 2022, and you referred to the case, you presided over a case that challenged Arkansas\u2019 House of Representatives redistricting map for diluting the voting power of Black Americans. In your own words, there was a \u2018strong merits case that at least some of the districts\u2026are unlawful under [Section] 2 of the Voting Rights Act.\u2019 Yet, you claimed you could not reach the merits of the case and instead ruled that private citizens have no private right of action to enforce Section 2,\u201d Durbin said.\n\n\u201cFor 60 years before your decision, courts recognized private plaintiffs, individuals for example, who may have lived in those districts that were being contested, were able to bring cases under Section 2 challenging the policies and practices that made it more difficult for people to vote. To the detriment of voters of color in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, a divided panel of the Eighth Circuit embraced your fringe reasoning. The Eighth Circuit is the only appeals court in the nation to adopt your extreme position. Even the conservative Fifth Circuit declined to stray from precedent. That means state and local politicians can now freely violate the voting rights of their constituents, knowing they will go unchallenged by private citizens and without a doubt be ignored by this Department of Justice,\u201d Durbin continued.\n\n\u201cAs you reflect on the practical impact of denying to individuals, in all the states that I\u2019ve mentioned, an opportunity to use the Voting Rights Act to assert the protection of their right to vote, do you have any misgivings about your ruling?\u201d Durbin asked Judge Rudofsky.\n\nDespite harming Americans\u2019 right to vote, Judge Rudofsky defended his ruling.\n\nDurbin replied, \u201cI have to say that for 60 years, individuals could protect their own right to vote through the Voting Rights Act. Your position is a deviation from that precedent to the detriment of the voters and their rights in the future. I think that is significant.\u201d\n\nDurbin then questioned Mr. Jesus Osete, who has been nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Missouri, about his efforts to weaken voting rights legislation, especially because he now serves as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Justice Department. Notably, in 2016, Mr. Osete authored an article entitled \u201cVoter Suppression Rears Its Ugly Head,\u201d in which he criticized the Supreme Court\u2019s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder for opening the floodgates to voter suppression.\n\n\u201cNow at the Justice Department, you have advocated to further change, and I believe, lessen the Voting Rights Act, building on the first major blow that came over a decade ago in Shelby County v. Holder. The Administration also continues to attack voting rights and undermine confidence in our elections, often under the guise of preventing voter fraud or ensuring so-called election integrity. Where do you stand today as a person working at the Justice Department, having made very clear in your statements in 2016 your feeling about voter suppression?\u201d Durbin asked Mr. Osete.\n\nMr. Osete distanced himself from his 2016 article, instead claiming that he has upheld the law while touting his efforts to defend voter ID laws.\n\nDurbin pushed back, \u201cThere is a genuine concern by many on my side of the aisle, and even some others that do not have a partisan identification, that there\u2019s going to be an attempt to undermine the voting in the next election in November, just a few weeks away. At the Justice Department, can you give me your assurance that you have done nothing and will do nothing to inhibit the right of legal Americans to legitimately and fairly vote?\u201d\n\nMr. Osete said he will enforce voting rights laws.\n\n\u201cWhen we hear from one of the assistant attorneys general that she\u2019s going to send 1,000 observers into the [voting] precincts, what are we to make of that?\u201d Durbin asked.\n\nMr. Osete replied that these observers will ensure election laws are complied with. Notably, in 2022 while at the Missouri Secretary of State\u2019s Office, Mr. Osete objected to the Biden Justice Department\u2019s planned efforts to deploy officials to monitor Americans with Disabilities Act compliance on Election Day, claiming that their presence would be \u201cdisruptive\u201d and \u201conly undermine confidence in our elections and deter Missourians from casting their votes.\u201d\n\nVideo of Durbin\u2019s questions in Committee is available here.\n\nAudio of Durbin\u2019s questions in Committee is available here.\n\nFootage of Durbin\u2019s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-senate-rejecting-republican-messaging-bills", "Durbin Statement On Senate Rejecting Republican Messaging Bills", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Richard J. Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", "durbin", "https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the Senate rejecting Republicans\u2019 Ratepayer Protection Act and Stop Insider Trading Act:\n\n\u201cIn a last-minute gasp before the midterm election, Senate Republicans were hoping to pass a meaningless bill that does nothing to rein in data centers and a voter suppression bill masquerading as an inadequate congressional stock trading ban. Americans need real action, not Republican messaging.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/fetterman-leads-colleagues-in-letter-to-hud-urging-implementation-of-whole-home-repairs-law/", "Fetterman Leads Colleagues in Letter to HUD Urging Implementation of Whole Home Repairs Law", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "PA", "John Fetterman", "F000479", "www.fetterman.senate.gov", "fetterman", "https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/press-release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) led his colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner urging an establishment of a Whole Home Repairs program through the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. The letter was cosigned by U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and U.S. Representative Nikema Williams (GA-5).\n\n\u201cAlmost 7 million Americans live in homes that are in need of significant repair, with deficiencies including leaky roofs, faulty wiring, and mold. This is an issue that disproportionately affects America\u2019s seniors, many of whom would like to downsize but do not want to sell the home at a steep discount due to the updates required. As we saw in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania\u2019s successful Whole Home Repairs program, providing grants for repairs allowed seniors to sell larger homes to growing families,\u201d wrote the members of Congress.\n\nPennsylvania\u2019s program provided grants and forgivable loans to help homeowners and small landlords repair and weatherize their properties. The Pennsylvania program also supported training and pre-apprenticeship programs to create jobs and build a skilled workforce for the future. As the result of a bipartisan and bicameral effort, the Whole-Home Repairs Act was signed into law with the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The Whole Home Repairs pilot program will provide renovation and repair grants to homeowners and small landlords. This will help ensure America\u2019s aging homes do not fall out of the housing supply.\n\n\u201cThe language in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act authorizes you to operate a Whole Home Repairs program through 2031. We want to show the nation that repairing America\u2019s crumbling homes is not a red or blue issue. Creating greater access to housing is an American issue. Any delays will mean millions of American families may never realize the benefit of this program. We were proud to help the Whole Home Repairs bill become law, and we stand ready to support you in making it a reality for Americans,\u201d continued the members.\n\nRead the full text of the letter below and here.\n\n\u2014\n\nDear Secretary Turner,\n\nWe write to urge you to establish a Whole Home Repairs program through the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. We were proud to vote for the historic 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to improve access to affordable homeownership in America. This law includes our bill to create a Whole Home Repairs pilot program, which will provide renovation and repair grants to homeowners and ensure America\u2019s aging homes do not fall out of the housing supply.\n\nAlmost 7 million Americans live in homes that are in need of significant repair, with deficiencies including leaky roofs, faulty wiring, and mold. This is an issue that disproportionately affects America\u2019s seniors, many of whom would like to downsize but do not want to sell the home at a steep discount due to the updates required. As we saw in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania\u2019s successful Whole Home Repairs program, providing grants for repairs allowed seniors to sell larger homes to growing families.\n\nThe language in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act authorizes you to operate a Whole Home Repairs program through 2031. We want to show the nation that repairing America\u2019s crumbling homes is not a red or blue issue. Creating greater access to housing is an American issue. Any delays will mean millions of American families may never realize the benefit of this program. We were proud to help the Whole Home Repairs bill become law, and we stand ready to support you in making it a reality for Americans.\n\nGiven the importance of establishing the Congressionally-authorized Whole Home Repairs program, we request a meeting with the Office of Lead Hazard Control for our staff to discuss how it plans to implement this program. Specifically, we want to discuss how it plans to utilize appropriated funds and manage streamlining and reporting requirements. Thank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.gallego.senate.gov/news/press-releases/gallego-colleagues-question-president-trump-on-invitation-of-vladimir-putin-to-g20-on-american-soil/", "Gallego,\u00a0Colleagues\u00a0Question President Trump on Invitation of Vladimir Putin to G20 on American Soil", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "AZ", "Ruben Gallego", "G000574", "www.gallego.senate.gov", "gallego", "https://www.gallego.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined a bipartisan group of 13 senators in sending a letter to President Trump inquiring about the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Group of Twenty (G20) Leader\u2019s Summit in Miami, Florida this coming December.\n\nIn the letter, the senators question why Vladimir Putin, who has committed atrocities against the people of Ukraine and silenced his own people, has been welcomed with open arms to participate in a G20 meeting on American soil. This comes at a time when the Russian government is ramping up its attacks on Ukrainian civilians and continues to target Americans in Ukraine and around the world.\n\nThe senators make clear that President Putin should not be permitted to take part in G20 events or other similar international forums in the United States and request for Putin nor any sanctioned Russian officials be permitted at upcoming G20 events.\n\n\u201cPresident Putin bears sole responsibility for launching Russia\u2019s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Allowing him to participate in a G20 Summit in the United States raises serious concerns about legitimizing and normalizing a government that continues to attack Ukrainian civilian targets every day,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201cThis invitation also comes at a time when Russia\u2019s intentions are unambiguously clear. Numerous public reports have indicated that Russia is helping Iran\u2019s military target American service members in the Middle East. Russia has also increased its hybrid warfare activities throughout Europe in recent months while simultaneously conducting deadly aerial attacks against Ukraine\u2019s cities and critical infrastructure,\u201d continued the senators.\n\n\u201cThe United States must put strong economic and political pressure on President Putin in order to force him to the negotiating table for serious peace talks. We commend your signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which gives you additional tools to hold the Putin regime accountable. However, if President Putin and his government are not isolated on the international stage, what incentive does Russia have to agree to a ceasefire?\u201d concluded the senators.\n\nIn addition to Senator Gallego, the letter was signed by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Cornyn (R-TX), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Curtis (R-UT), and Alan Armstrong (R-OK).", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-introduces-bill-to-protect-americans-data-from-big-tech-and-ai-companies/", "Gillibrand Introduces Bill To Protect Americans\u2019 Data From Big Tech And AI Companies", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "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 (D-NY) reintroduced the Data Protection Act. This legislation would create a new independent federal agency to protect Americans\u2019 data, ensure fair data practices, and help the government adapt to rapidly evolving digital technologies.\n\n\u201cAs AI continues to evolve, it is more important than ever that we take action to crack down on tech companies that misuse Americans\u2019 data,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cCurrently, Big Tech companies are free to sell individuals\u2019 data to the highest bidder without fear of real consequences, posing a severe threat to privacy and civil rights. My bill would create an independent federal agency to protect data and privacy, equipped with the resources to give Americans the meaningful protection they deserve.\u201d\n\nData privacy is a growing concern in the United States. In 2025 alone, more than 3,300 data breaches exposed over 278 million individuals\u2019 personal information. About 89 percent of Americans are concerned that their data is being accessed and used inappropriately.\n\nAdditionally, the U.S. is one of few democracies in the world that lacks a data protection agency. Senator Gillibrand\u2019s Data Protection Act would create such an agency, strengthening the federal government\u2019s ability to protect Americans\u2019 data and bringing the U.S. in line with peer nations.\n\nSpecifically, the Data Protection Act would:\n\nLimit the collection, use, and sharing of personal data;\n\nOversee high-risk data practices, ensure that data processing and algorithms are fair, and minimize the collection of data for commercial purposes;\n\nExamine the social, ethical, economic, and civil rights impacts of data collection practices;\n\nMaintain a publicly accessible list of data aggregators that collect, process, or share data;\n\nEnforce privacy statutes and rules as authorized by Congress, with a broad range of tools including civil penalties, injunctive relief, and equitable remedies;\n\nDevelop model privacy and data protection standards, guidelines, and policies for use by the private sector and government agencies, and;\n\nAdvise Congress on emerging privacy and technology issues.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Consumer Federation of America, Fairplay, Consumer Action, and National Association of Consumer Advocates.\n\n\u201cThe United States has been ensnared in a data privacy crisis for decades, and putting an end to it will take significant action from Congress,\u201d said Kara Williams, Counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center. \u201cEPIC is proud to endorse Sen. Gillibrand\u2019s Data Protection Act, which would establish a federal data protection agency that would focus exclusively on protecting privacy\u2014a crucial first step to ending the mass overcollection and exploitation of Americans\u2019 personal data.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith an increase in surveillance of every corner of life online and off, the need for a strong and clear privacy law with teeth has never been more urgent,\u201d said Ben Winters, Director of AI and Privacy of the Consumer Federation of America. \u201cThe Data Protection Act is straightforward, administrable, and what we need right now.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommercial surveillance has become Silicon Valley\u2019s economic operating system, yet the United States is the only major industrialized country without a dedicated data protection agency to rein in harmful data practices,\u201d said Asad Ramzanali, Director of Artificial Intelligence & Technology Policy at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator. \u201cThis void leaves Americans exposed and the government underequipped to respond. We\u2019ve long needed a well-staffed watchdog with real authority to enforce privacy rights and hold companies accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cConsumers need an agency that makes data protection its priority. Senator Gillibrand\u2019s plan to create a Data Protection Agency is the right step to ensure that companies use individuals\u2019 data fairly, responsibly and with accountability,\u201d said Ruth Susswein, Director of Consumer Protection at Consumer Action.\n\n\u201cData centers in the U.S. are vulnerable to attack, and as a country we need to do a much better job with data security. That\u2019s why the U.S. needs a data protection agency,\u201d said Bruce Schneier, Fellow and Lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School.\n\nThe full text of the Data Protection Act can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/watch-gillibrand-demands-enabler-hegseth-resign-after-dismissing-uss-lincoln-suicide-attempts-politically-motivated-firings/", "Watch: Gillibrand Demands \u201cEnabler\u201d Hegseth Resign After Dismissing USS Lincoln Suicide Attempts, Politically Motivated Firings", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Kirsten E. Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", "gillibrand", "https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Gillibrand: \u201cThis Is A Secretary Of Defense Who Does Not Know How To Lead Our Country Productively To Keep Americans Safer.\u201d\n\n***Watch Senator Gillibrand\u2019s Full Interview Here***\n\nToday, in an interview on CNN\u2019s The Situation Room, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, called for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2019s immediate resignation following recent revelations that 8 sailors in the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had attempted suicide and that Hegseth plans to cut the number of generals and admirals in the military by 20%.\n\nGillibrand also continued to demand immediate passage of her bipartisan Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA) in light of the allegations in the Cornell University fraternity rape case. The legislation would hold campuses accountable, create a fair process for students, and ensure victims have access to a dedicated advocate to assist in navigating the adjudication process.\n\nFootage of Senator Gillibrand\u2019s interview with Pamela Brown can be found here.\n\nTranscripts of key moments can be found below:\n\nON HEGSETH\u2019S INABILITY TO STAND UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ENSURE OUR MILITARY KEEPS AMERICANS SAFE:\n\nGILLIBRAND: This administration and Pete Hegseth want $1.5 trillion for the military, showing that they want unlimited money for bombs. They have plenty of money for billionaires and ballrooms, but yet not sufficient money for regular people who are working hard for food, for housing, and for healthcare. It\u2019s just deeply demoralizing, the direction the secretary is taking.\n\nBROWN: And you believe he should resign. Is that right?\n\nGILLIBRAND: I\u2019ve called on him to resign many times over almost all of these issues. Most recently, over the hitting of a girls\u2019 school in Iran, the fact that he continues to prosecute a war that the American people have not had a chance to even support. There\u2019s been no congressional approval. And again, asking for unlimited money for his bombs, waging this war when this administration refuses to fund things like Medicaid.\n\nBROWN: But isn\u2019t \u2013 in terms of the war itself, it\u2019s more up to President Trump, right? As the commander-in-chief, and getting that sign-off, right?\n\nGILLIBRAND: President Trump is bringing this country in the wrong direction on all these issues, but Secretary Hegseth is an enabler, and he is unwilling to do his job as the Secretary of Defense to prosecute wars properly, to have civilian harm reduction as part of his military services. He\u2019s firing people not based on qualifications, but how they look, the color of their skin. These are all red flags that this is a secretary of defense who does not know how to lead our country productively to keep Americans safer.\n\nON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION\u2019S LACK OF LEADERSHIP THAT FORCED SERVICE MEMBERS IN THE USS LINCOLN STRIKE GROUP TO SERVE IN DISMAL CONDITIONS:\n\nBROWN: You\u2019re also calling for congressional hearings after the Navy confirmed to you in a letter that eight sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln fleet \u2013 we should note there you have the carrier and then you have the fleet \u2013 that there were attempted suicides. So, what more have you learned about the conditions on board? Not just the carrier itself, which I was an embed on for three days back in July, but also just the other warships around it, where there were attempted suicides as well.\n\nGILLIBRAND: Well, this goes to the lack of leadership of Secretary Hegseth again, and ultimately President Trump, deploying our service members for months upon months, far longer than they expected, not giving them the dwell time, the time at home that they need to recuperate and be ready to continue to go back into combat over and over again. We wrote a letter asking what is the status and well-being of the service members that are deployed, and the answer we got was shocking. Eight people have attempted suicide on these warships. Two threw themselves overboard, which, according to experts, is the most extreme scenario you can imagine being a sailor on a warship. And so I have serious questions about how Secretary Hegseth is leading this military and, ultimately, President Trump.\n\nON THE SERIOUS AND HORRIFIC ALLEGATIONS IN THE CORNELL RAPE CASE AND THE NEED FOR LEGISLATION LIKE THE CAMPUS ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY ACT TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS:\n\nBROWN: I want to turn to another issue, and that is this Cornell rape civil suit that is getting a lot of attention. You have called the allegations \u201cserious and horrific.\u201d You and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley have introduced legislation to combat sexual assault on college campuses, but that bill was never passed. What role can Congress play here?\n\nGILLIBRAND: Well, we should pass our legislation immediately. What it does is create rules of the road so that every student is protected on campus. We have to make sure that there\u2019s a person who\u2019s highly trained to receive these allegations in the first instance to tell a survivor what his or her rights are, what opportunity she has to report either through a civilian system, through a college system, or through a criminal system. She or he is given just the basic tools of advocacy about what\u2019s going to happen to their lives and whether the school will provide accommodations. And then you need a process that is a highly informed process, that is legitimate, and doesn\u2019t pit one student against another unfairly in a circumstance that doesn\u2019t actually resolve to justice. And so we need reform on all of these college campuses. It\u2019s not right that kids go off to school and are not safe. It\u2019s not right that what happened in this instance doesn\u2019t appear to have been assessed properly. So I\u2019m grateful that the DA is looking at it again.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/fact-sheet-heinrich-outlines-how-bipartisan-american-affordability-and-jobs-act-will-deliver-cheaper-energy-more-jobs-and-responsible-growth", "FACT SHEET: Heinrich Outlines How Bipartisan American Affordability & Jobs Act Will Deliver Cheaper Energy, More Jobs, and Responsible Growth", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released a new fact sheet outlining key provisions of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, legislation that he unveiled with U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The landmark legislation will deliver cheaper energy, more jobs, and responsible growth across the United States.\n\nText of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act can be found here.\n\nHeinrich\u2019s press release announcing the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act can be found here.\n\nHeinrich\u2019s fact sheet can be found here and below.\n\nBipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act\n\nThe Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will deliver cheaper energy, good-paying jobs, and responsible growth, while protecting important environmental review and historic preservation processes.\n\nCheaper Energy\n\nAs demand increases, America needs more electricity, and we need it cheaper and faster. This deal will increase supply, expand the grid, and drive costs down for families and businesses.\n\nBuilds more transmission, faster by strengthening the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission\u2019s (FERC) \u201cbackstop\u201d siting authority \u2014 giving the federal government more authority to approve major interstate power lines \u2013 and allowing transmission applications to be processed simultaneously with state reviews, helping needed projects move through permitting faster.\n\nGets more energy onto the grid by:\n\nRequiring regional and interregional transmission planning that accounts for where new transmission is needed and plans ahead for future electricity demand, helping to get more electricity to the places that need it and putting downward pressure on electricity costs.\n\nRequiring grid-enhancing technologies and automated systems to speed up the process of connecting new energy projects to the grid and making better use of the grid we already have, increasing the supply available to consumers.\n\nRequiring wholesale electricity markets to allow distributed generation sources and virtual power plants to participate, helping meet growing demand with more available supply.\n\nForces data centers pay their fair share by requiring data centers to pay for all of their associated transmission costs, rather than relying on a voluntary structure, preventing costs from being passed on to American families or small businesses.\n\nGood-Paying Jobs\n\nAmerica has enormous energy and infrastructure needs, but we cannot create the jobs that come with building those projects if projects spend decades stuck in the permitting process.\n\nCreates jobs across the energy supply chain by boosting the build out of more transmission, clean energy, supply manufacturing, and other grid infrastructure.\n\nCreates greater certainty for projects permitted and financed across administrations by prohibiting any administration from delaying or blocking permitting of a class of energy projects \u2013 meaning no administration can block all solar, wind, or other class of energy project permits without facing legal action and fines.\n\nResponsible Growth\n\nGetting to a \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d on permitting faster does not mean eliminating environmental protections, Tribal consultation, or the ability to challenge projects in court. This deal keeps important safeguards in place, while creating clear timelines and rules for permitting projects.\n\nSets clear deadlines for environmental reviews \u2014 including a two-year deadline for Environmental Impact Statement reviews and a one-year deadline for Environmental Assessment reviews, with consequences for agencies that miss those deadlines. That means environmental reviews still happen, but not indefinitely.\n\nEstablishes a new National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) consultation process that runs alongside National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews with a defined time limit, securing a statutory role for Tribes in determining how projects affect historic and cultural resources and protecting Tribes\u2019 rights to formally consult during the processes \u2014 two things the Section 106 reforms attempted to eliminate.\n\nLimits the types of impacts that projects are required to mitigate, creating clearer boundaries around which effects a project must mitigate or minimize.\n\nSets clear limitations on when and how a project may be legally challenged.\n\nSets a 150-day deadline for legal challenges under the Clean Water Act (CWA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), NEPA, and NHPA.\n\nGenerally limits who can bring a legal challenge to people or groups that participated in the relevant comment period or Tribal consultation process.\n\nLimits when a court can temporarily stop a project from moving forward, while preserving the existing ability to seek that relief under the Administrative Procedures Act.\n\nAllows states to handle endangered species consultations if they have demonstrated staffing, expertise, and resource capacity to do so.\n\nClarifies the limits on state water-quality reviews (under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act) by limiting state certifications to water pollution directly caused by a specific source for gas pipelines and transmission lines and prohibiting use of the process to address unrelated issues.\n\nPrevents the federal government from changing the rules after the fact for certain wetlands and waterwaysby stopping the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from preemptively or retroactively removing areas of land from the federal water-quality certification process.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-lee-capito-and-whitehouse-introduce-bipartisan-american-affordability-and-jobs-act-of-2026", "Heinrich, Lee, Capito, and Whitehouse Introduce Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 to reform the federal environmental review and permitting process. This groundbreaking agreement will deliver cheaper energy, more jobs, and responsible growth across the United States.\n\nThe Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act provides certainty that permitted energy and infrastructure projects will retain their permits absent extraordinary circumstances, violations of law, or court order, as well as targeted reforms for various energy projects. This legislation reflects input from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and from a diverse group of stakeholders. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act also forces data centers to pay their fair share by requiring them to pay for all of their associated transmission costs.\n\n\u201cAmerica is entering a new era of energy demand. We have an enormous opportunity to build big things again to meet this moment \u2013 to build more generation, expand our grid, create more jobs, lower energy costs, and make sure we have the energy we need to compete. It should not take decades to build the infrastructure our country needs,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cOur Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will help us get to \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019 on energy projects faster, while protecting important environmental safeguards and protecting the ability of Tribes to formally consult during these processes. It will mean more energy on the grid, more good-paying jobs, and lower electricity costs for families and businesses. And as data centers drive demand for more power, it will ensure they pay their fair share of the grid upgrades they require \u2013 not leave that bill to American families. Our bill puts teeth behind that principle.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe once built projects like the Hoover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Empire State Building in years, not decades,\u201d said Lee. \u201cAmerica still has the resources and the talent, but what too often stands in the way is a permitting system that takes too long and costs too much. After years of work in Congress and many months of negotiations, I\u2019m proud we\u2019ve reached a bipartisan agreement to fix this broken process and get America back to building.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, our broken and outdated federal environmental review and permitting processes have stood in the way of energy reliability, secure jobs, modern infrastructure, and economic growth. The bipartisan reforms we secured in this deal will transform our nation\u2019s ability to power our economy and fuel future growth, while continuing to protect the land, water, and wildlife we all cherish. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate and the House, and President Trump to get this essential legislation signed into law so we can build the infrastructure America needs to grow and thrive,\u201d said Capito.\n\n\u201cThe American people want lower energy bills, and they want more clean energy. Our permitting reform plan gets us a long way toward both of those goals. If we can pass this bill, we will flood the grid with clean, affordable energy and make data centers start paying their fair share,\u201d said Whitehouse. \u201cLike all major pieces of bipartisan legislation, this bill is a compromise. We believe it is a compromise that will result in a brighter, cleaner, more affordable future.\u201d\n\nThe bill text is available here.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-statement-on-vote-against-husted-backed-bill-that-fails-to-make-data-centers-pay-for-grid-upgrades", "Heinrich Statement on Vote Against Husted-Backed Bill that Fails to Make Data Centers Pay for Grid Upgrades", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", "heinrich", "https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement after voting against advancing U.S. Senator Jon Husted\u2019s (R-Ohio) Ratepayer Protection Act, legislation that fails to make AI data centers to pay their fair share of the grid upgrades they require \u2013 burdening American families with higher electricity costs.\n\n\u201cThe Ratepayer Protection Act is exactly what Congress is known for: all message and no substance. If voluntary pledges and suggestions worked, families and small businesses wouldn\u2019t be staring down rate hikes right now.\n\n\u201cI want Congress to pass legislation with real teeth that will require data centers to pay their fair share of the grid upgrades they require and doesn\u2019t shift costs onto American families. Husted\u2019s bill fails to do both.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pushing for legislation that will actually hold AI data centers accountable for their energy usage and lower electricity bills for Americans.\u201d\n\nLast week, Heinrich blocked Husted\u2019s attempt to pass the Ratepayer Protection Act via a Unanimous Consent (UC) agreement and urged his Senate colleagues to instead pass his GRID Savings Act, which forces large load customers \u2014 like data centers \u2014 to pay for the facilities needed to connect them to the grid.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-celebrates-committee-passage-of-his-bipartisan-energy-bills/", "Hickenlooper Celebrates Committee Passage of His Bipartisan Energy Bills", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Hickenlooper led the Geo POWER Act and co-led the Earth MRI Act\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper celebrated the Senate Energy and Natural Resource (ENR) Committee\u2019s passage of two Hickenlooper-led bipartisan bills.\n\nThe committee passed Hickenlooper\u2019s Geo POWER Act, as amended, which would help accelerate geothermal technologies and deliver clean, reliable electricity across the country, and the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) Reauthorization Act, which he co-leads with Senator Murkowski, to fund the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth MRI program. A program that improves our understanding of critical mineral, geothermal, and other subsurface resources across the country.\n\n\u201cAmerica is an energy powerhouse, but our energy needs are growing rapidly,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cTo meet our energy demand, we need to invest in activities that make it possible to further unlock our full potential. If we do, we can secure lower energy costs for Americans, shore up our national security, and build tomorrow\u2019s energy infrastructure today.\u201d\n\nThe Geo POWER Act\u2019s committee passage comes on the heels of Colorado\u2019s National Laboratory of the Rockies being chosen as the launch point for the Geothermal Center of Excellence earlier this month. The Act provides a significant $800 million investment in unlocking geothermal energy here in the U.S.\n\nSpecifically, the Geo POWER Act would:\n\nRequire the Department of Energy to provide innovative financing to projects that are planning or enabling new aggregate electricity generation of at least 30 megawatts in multiple states with limited to no existing geothermal electricity generation;\n\nGenerate public data to de-risk future geothermal projects in new geologies and regions;\n\nEnsure fiscal accountability by requiring projects to achieve milestones to access additional financial support; and\n\nAccelerate the commercialization of next-generation geothermal technologies in new regions across the United States.\n\nThe Earth MRI Act would:\n\nReauthorize Earth MRI for an additional five years at levels similar to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\nExpand the program to include natural hydrogen, an emerging domestic energy resource.\n\nHickenlooper is also a cosponsor of the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, which passed the ENR committee today as well. The bill would fund critical cybersecurity grants and technical assistance for public power utilities across Colorado.\n\nHickenlooper, a former geologist, is a strong supporter of an all-of-the-above energy approach, which he helped move the U.S. towards in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, investing billions in clean energy generation.\n\nHe\u2019s also called for a \u2018Project Mercury\u2019 for critical materials, arguing that America needs to take back the reins on critical minerals production to secure energy independence. In the 119th Congress, Hickenlooper has led and co-sponsored multiple other critical minerals related bills, including:\n\nThe bipartisan STRATEGIC Minerals Act to foster critical minerals trade with our international allies;\n\nHis bipartisan Unearth Innovation Act to establish a DOE program for sustainable critical mineral research innovation and recycling; and\n\nHis bipartisan Critical Materials Future Act to establish a pilot program for the Department of Energy to financially support domestic critical material processing projects.\n\nHis bipartisan National Critical Minerals Council Act to coordinate strategy for critical minerals across Federal agencies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-republicans-sham-effort-to-shield-americans-from-data-centers-driving-up-energy-costs/", "Hickenlooper Statement on Republicans Sham Effort to Shield Americans from Data Centers Driving Up Energy Costs", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Democrats pushed to strengthen the so-called Ratepayer Protection Act and require data centers to pay for grid updates\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 As the Senate considers the Ratepayer Protection Act, today U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper criticized the measure as lacking teeth after\n\nRepublicans refused to work with Senate Democrats to amend the legislation to actually protect Americans from paying increased energy prices for the energy needs of data centers. Democrats remain ready to stop data centers from raising costs.\n\n\u201cData centers use large amounts of electricity. And families shouldn\u2019t be forced to pay for their new infrastructure needs. Republicans say their bill fixes that. It doesn\u2019t,\u201d said Hickenlooper in a video statement today. \u201cIt asks states to consider protections for ratepayers. It doesn\u2019t require them. This isn\u2019t complicated. If Big Tech wants a data center. Big Tech should pay for it. Congress needs to get serious and actually protect ratepayers.\u201d\n\nWatch Senator Hickenlooper\u2019s full video here.\n\nAmericans have already paid $100 billion in additional energy costs because of the war in Iran.\n\nThe so-called Rate Payer Protection Act only asks states to study the idea of requiring data centers to pay for necessary grid updates for their large energy demands. However, Senate Democrats pushed to include their provision that would have actually required the largest new power users to pay their fair share to connect. It would mandate data centers follow the same rules that power plants have followed for 20 years.\n\nCurrently, power plants must go through a detailed review process, pay for the upgrades needed to connect safely and reliably, and put up financial commitments to show it\u2019s serious about moving forward.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-republicans-trojan-horse-voter-suppression-tactic/", "Hickenlooper Statement on Republicans\u2019 \u201cTrojan Horse\u201d Voter Suppression Tactic", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "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. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after blocking a Republican bill that would restrict voting and allow insider trading to continue.\n\n\u201cWe blocked Republicans\u2019 thinly veiled voter suppression bill outright earlier this year. Today, they ripped a page out of Homer and tried to sneak it through like a Trojan Horse,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cWe will continue to block their efforts to insulate the president from voters who are furious with MAGA\u2019s corrupt agenda and cost-of-living emergency.\u201d\n\nHickenlooper has consistently fought back against Trump and MAGA Republicans\u2019 voter suppression bill and stood up to their attacks on mail-in-voting, a safe and secure voting method. As governor, Hickenlooper created the gold-standard mail-in-voting system in the country, providing millions of Coloradans with easier access to the ballot box.\n\nThe vehicle for the Republicans\u2019 voter suppression provision, the Stop Insider Trading Act, fails to adequately stop members of Congress profiting off insider information. The bill also ignores any restrictions for the president and cabinet officials.\n\nHickenlooper, who has had his assets in a blind trust since he was Mayor of Denver, co-sponsors the more comprehensive Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act that would force all members of Congress to place their stocks into a qualified blind trust so that they can\u2019t use insider information to inform their portfolio decisions and turn a profit.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-applauds-senate-passage-of-his-legislation-to-improve-financial-security-for-americans", "Kaine Applauds Senate Passage of His Legislation to Improve Financial Security for Americans", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) celebrated Senate passage of the Claiming Age Clarity Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Susan Collins (R-ME), to help Americans make better-informed decisions that help them live a more financially-secure retirement. Specifically, it would change language to make it clearer to Americans about the impact that claiming Social Security benefits at different ages would have on their benefit amounts.\n\n\u201cAmericans pay into Social Security their entire working lives, and it\u2019s important that they understand what benefits they\u2019re entitled to so they can make informed decisions about their retirement,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will make that vital information clearer. I\u2019m glad that both chambers have now passed this bill, and I urge the President to sign it.\u201d\n\nSocial Security benefits are available to Americans starting at age 62, but those who choose to receive their benefits later receive greater monthly payments, with the highest payments available to those who wait until age 70 to begin claiming benefits. Many Americans do not begin claiming benefits at the age that will maximize their total income in retirement, and research has shown that the terminology the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses often leads to confusion. To take steps toward alleviating this problem, this legislation would clarify the Social Security Administration\u2019s (SSA) terminology, ending the use of the confusing terms \u201cearly eligibility age,\u201d \u201cfull retirement age,\u201d and \u201cdelayed retirement credits,\u201d and replacing them with \u201cminimum monthly benefit age,\u201d \u201cstandard monthly benefit age,\u201d and \u201cmaximum monthly benefit age,\u201d respectively.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-holds-hearing-on-nicaraguas-political-crisis", "Kaine Holds Hearing On Nicaragua\u2019s Political Crisis", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "VIDEO FROM THE HEARING IS AVAILABLE HERE.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)\u2014a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women\u2019s Issues\u2014held a subcommittee hearing titled \u201cNicaragua\u2019s Political Crisis: Ortega\u2019s Assault on Democracy.\u201d In July, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega declared that Nicaragua would no longer hold competitive elections.\n\n\u201cThis is timely and urgent because the human rights challenges perpetrated by the current regime in Nicaragua have to be taken seriously, both for the sake of Nicaraguans but also for the entire region,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cI know very well the signs of autocratic government, the actions that they take, the human toll they inflict on everyday citizens.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is happening in Nicaragua is a reminder that democracy doesn't always die from a coup or a military takeover, as was the case in Honduras. The erosion starts when an authoritarian leader systematically undermines the foundations of free society, press, independent judiciary\u2014weaponizing government against dissidents and weakening other independent institutions,\u201d Kaine continued.\n\n\u201cAs a longtime member of the subcommittee and more recently the Chair and Ranking of the Subcommittee, I think Congress has a responsibility to authorize the necessary tools to put pressure on regimes,\u201d Kaine said. \u201cBut we do have tools that we ought to be using to pressure those who are violating the human rights of others.\u201d\n\nDuring the hearing, Kaine asked the witnesses about the status of the 222 Nicaraguan political prisoners who are living in the United States, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) detention of six of them. He also asked about impact of illicit gold mining in Nicaragua and the region and raised concerns about religious persecution.\n\nThe panel witnesses included:\n\nMr. Eddy Acevedo, Vice President for Policy & Government Relations, National Endowment for Democracy\n\nMr. Gil Guerra, Fellow, Hudson Institute\n\nMs. Deborah Ullmer, Regional Director for Latin America and Caribbean Programs, National Democratic Institute\n\nMr. Juan Sebasti\u00e1n Chamorro, Coordinator, Ciudadanos por la Libertad\n\nKaine recently introduced bipartisan legislation to renew and expand sanctions on Nicaraguan officials responsible for corruption, human rights abuses, religious persecution, election manipulation, and political repression.\n\nKaine\u2019s opening remarks are below:\n\nI want to thank the Chairman and thank his staff for working so hard to bring this hearing together. This is a very important topic, and you framed it well, Mr. Chairman, in your opening comments.\n\nThis is timely and urgent because the human rights challenges perpetrated by the current regime in Nicaragua have to be taken seriously, both for the sake of Nicaraguans but also for the entire region.\n\nI know very well the signs of autocratic government, the actions that they take, and the human toll they inflict on everyday citizens. I also know that most autocratic governments are not stable and that eventually they do fall. Justice and accountability ensue, but often not as quickly as we would hope.\n\nI know this because I experienced it firsthand as a missionary in Honduras in 1980 and \u201981. Living in a military dictatorship, I saw the abuses perpetrated by an authoritarian regime in that country. They opened my eyes to democratic backsliding wherever it occurs.\n\nThat year\u2014in 1980 and \u201981\u2014was the only time in my life that I visited Nicaragua, and it was shortly after the effort to depose a dictatorship.\n\nThe dictatorship of Antonio Somoza had succeeded, and it was very early in that chapter. And so there were really high hopes about Nicaragua finding a positive path forward following decades of dictatorship.\n\nThat\u2019s what makes this hearing and the need to have it so sad\u2014because it's horrifying to see that many of the conditions in the in the country today sort of mirror what was seen back in those days when everyday Nicaraguans who dreamed of a an ability to shape the destiny of their nation were instead being pushed around.\n\nA key lesson that I took from my time in Honduras was that instability, weak governments and governance, and regional security are all threatened when ordinary people can't choose their leaders, express themselves freely, worship freely, or hold their governments accountable.\n\nThe return of Daniel Ortega to power in 2007 has started a path of gradually weakening democratic institutions, the consolidation of power in the executive branch, and the setting of a foundation that we now see as critical today to today's authoritarian regime.\n\n2018 marked a significant point, as the chairman mentioned. The violent repression that came about as a controversial pension reform plan was being pushed through the country's legislature. Protesters filled the street, and they were met with severe repression. Hundreds were killed. Thousands were injured or detained. Widespread human rights violations were documented. Then, it led up to a fraudulent 2021 presidential election, where additional semblances of democratic governance were weakened.\n\nPresident Ortega knew that he was deeply unpopular with the Nicaraguan people and that he would be likely to lose in a free and fair election. So, what did he do? Instead of letting the people speak, he eliminated his opposition.\n\nBeginning in June of 2021, seven presidential aspirants were arrested, including Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, F\u00e9lix Maradiaga, Miguel Mora, Medardo Mairena, Noel Vidaurre, and Juan Sebasti\u00e1n Chamorro.\n\nWe're privileged to have Juan Sebasti\u00e1n Chamorro here with us today. He and his colleagues were not defeated; they were not even allowed to compete. Instead, they were detained, imprisoned, convicted in a sham proceeding that lacked due process, stripped of their nationality, and ultimately expelled from the country.\n\nUnfortunately, the story of the witness we'll hear from in a few minutes is not unique. In February 2023, the regime released 222 political prisoners and transported them all to the United States. In Virginia, we were proud to welcome them to the U.S. via a flight that they made into Dulles Airport.\n\nNow, in America, these political prisoners released from Nicaragua thought they would be safe, but they're not. They currently exist in a state of legal limbo, facing active threats of deportation by the Trump Administration.\n\nAnd I urge the Administration to evaluate whether legal protections from removal can be extended to former political prisoners. That would be the right thing to do. It would be in accord with our values, I believe, and I hope to work with the Chairman and my colleagues to elevate this issue with the Administration. It is it is difficult to be a harsh critic where criticism is warranted, and at the same time, possibly deport people back into conditions which we're complaining are inhumane and violate rights.\n\nWhile the current regime has dismantled any semblance of democratic governance in Nicaragua, the regime has turned to Russia and China and others, as was indicated by the Chair, for assistance.\n\nAnd so, what is happening in Nicaragua is a reminder that democracy doesn't always die from a coup or a military takeover, as was the case in Honduras. The erosion starts when an authoritarian leader systematically undermines the foundations of free society, press, independent judiciary\u2014weaponizing government against dissidents and weakening other independent institutions.\n\nAs a longtime member of the Subcommittee and more recently the Chair and Ranking of the Subcommittee, I think Congress has a responsibility to authorize the necessary tools to put pressure on regimes. We are not perfect. We have our own challenges to solve. And frankly, the best way to do anything like this is not try to lecture somebody else, but to recognize our own imperfections and strive to get better.\n\nBut we do have tools that we ought to be using to pressure those who are violating the human rights of others. And that's why Senator Cruz and I have recently introduced the Restoring Electoral Fairness and Opposition Rights Through Mandates of Accountability Act, the Reforma Act, which would provide the U.S. with greater authority to sanction Nicaraguan officials responsible for human rights violations. We've got to continue to work with allies and partners.\n\nI want to conclude my opening statement and move into the most important part of this, which is hearing from our witnesses and asking them questions. And to again, to the Chair, I certainly appreciate the opportunity to have a hearing on this important topic.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-slams-congressional-republicans-for-ignoring-need-to-fund-landmark-infrastructure-law", "Kaine Slams Congressional Republicans For Ignoring Need To Fund Landmark Infrastructure Law", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement regarding the expiration of funding for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation Kaine helped pass that brought over 12.6 billion in federal funding to Virginia for over 900 specific infrastructure upgrades:\n\n\u201cVirginians and Americans across the country deserve top-notch infrastructure, including roads, bridges, drinking and wastewater systems, and more. That\u2019s why Democrats, Republicans, and the Biden Administration worked together to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\u2014legislation that brought $12.6 billion in infrastructure investments to the Commonwealth. But starting today, funding for this landmark law officially expires\u2014all because congressional Republicans wasted valuable time in the Senate schedule on everything from crypto to college sports legislation, instead of things that would actually make a meaningful difference for a majority of Americans.\u201d\n\nSome examples of projects in Virginia funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law include:\n\nA nearly $400 million investment for Virginia\u2019s airports\n\nA $150 million investment for the City of Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management Project\n\nA $72 million investment for the Norfolk Harbor Deepening and Widening Project\n\nA $729 million investment to support the Long Bridge Project, which will alleviate bottlenecks and expand rail capacity in Northern Virginia\n\nA $100 million investment to improve congestion through a Northern Virginia rail corridor\n\nA $25 million investment for high-speed internet in Wise, Lee, and Norton counties\n\nA $18.4 million investment to replace a 79-year-old bridge that carries Ashe Boulevard over CSX railroad tracks\n\nA nearly $3 million investment to reconnect communities by improving transportation infrastructure in Norfolk and Richmond\n\nA $100 million investment to support the construction of Microporous\u2019 new manufacturing facility at the Southern Virginia Megasite\n\nA $1.5 million investment for the Virginia Beach and Vicinity Coastal Storm Risk Management Study\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-4-million-to-support-veteran-suicide-prevention-efforts-across-virginia", "Warner, Kaine Announce $4 Million To Support Veteran Suicide Prevention Efforts Across Virginia", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $4,144,835 in federal funding to strengthen veteran suicide prevention efforts across Virginia. The funding will support eight community organizations that connect veterans and their families to mental health resources, outreach programs, suicide prevention services, and other critical support.\n\nThe grants are being awarded through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, which was created by bipartisan legislation that Sen. Warner wrote and Sen. Kaine supported to expand prevention efforts and better connect veterans with resources available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and local communities.\n\n\u201cVeterans deserve to know that help is there when they need it. It is our responsibility as lawmakers to make sure that those who have sacrificed for our country are not left to suffer silently and have the support and resources that they\u2019ve earned and are owed,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to have helped create this program, which is delivering critical resources to organizations on the ground working with veterans. These federal dollars will help expand lifesaving suicide prevention efforts and ensure more Virginia veterans and their families can get the support they\u2019ve earned.\u201d\n\nThe Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program was created through the IMPROVE Wellbeing for Veterans Act, bipartisan legislation led by Sen. Warner in 2019 to improve the coordination of veteran mental health and suicide prevention services and to better measure the effectiveness of these programs. The legislation was signed into law as part of the broader Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, which passed the Senate unanimously in August 2020. In February 2025, Sen. Warner introduced bipartisan legislation to renew and expand the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. In June 2025, Sen. Warner testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs to advocate for this program\u2019s extension.\n\nThe grant awards include:\n\n$750,000 for EveryMind, Inc. to serve regions including Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, and Manassas Park.\n\n$750,000 for Volunteers of America Chesapeake to serve Arlington, Augusta, Chesterfield, Culpeper, Cumberland, Fairfax, Fauquier, King and Queen, King George, Loudoun, Prince William, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties, as well as the cities of Alexandria, Bristol, Chesapeake, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Norton, Staunton, Virginia Beach, Waynesboro, and Winchester.\n\n$750,000 for Blue Star Families Inc. to serve regions including the city of Norfolk.\n\n$725,000 for Boulder Crest Foundation to serve regions including Clarke, Frederick, and Loudoun counties.\n\n$512,053 for Westcare Kentucky Inc. to serve regions including Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise counties.\n\n$357,782 for Mountain Valor Veteran Services to serve Patrick, Wythe, Floyd, Montgomery, Carroll, Pulaski, and Franklin counties, as well as the city of Radford.\n\n$200,000 for United States Veterans Initiative \u2013 U.S. VETS D.C. to serve regions including Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren counties.\n\n$100,000 for Western Tidewater Community Services Board to serve Accomack, Essex, Isle of Wight, King and Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Sussex, Southampton, and Washington counties, as well as the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long worked to improve high-quality health care and mental health services for Virginia\u2019s veterans. Earlier this year, the senators urged the administration to significantly boost funding for VA facilities, warning that years of underinvestment will increasingly leave Virginia veterans without the care access they\u2019ve earned. In addition to his legislative efforts, Sen. Warner recently welcomed a new Chesapeake VA facility and has repeatedly met with senior leadership at the Richmond VA Medical Center and Hampton VA Medical Center to discuss suicide prevention and other issues affecting the local veteran community. Sen. Kaine has led legislation to protect veterans from housing discrimination and address homelessness and cosponsored legislation to improve veteran transition programs aimed at reducing veteran suicide. He has also been outspoken against the Trump-Vance administration\u2019s cuts at the VA and the mass layoffs of federal employees, which disproportionately affect veterans.\n\nIf you\u2019re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7, confidential support. You don\u2019t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kelly-tillis-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-reaffirming-u-s-nuclear-deterrence-commitments-to-allies/", "Kelly, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Reaffirming U.S. Nuclear Deterrence Commitments to Allies", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "AZ", "Mark Kelly", "K000377", "www.kelly.senate.gov", "markkelly", "https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan Reaffirming Extended Nuclear Deterrence Act, legislation reaffirming U.S. extended nuclear deterrence commitments to allies and the military exercises, planning, and consultations that make those commitments credible.\n\nThe legislation comes soon after Kelly and Tillis pressed the Trump administration to reverse its decision to substantially reduce joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea and urged the Administration to maintain the training necessary to preserve the readiness of the alliance.\n\n\u201cDeterrence only works if adversaries believe you mean it. China and Russia are expanding their nuclear arsenals. North Korea keeps pushing. This is the wrong moment to leave allies confused about where we stand. We need to make clear that Congress is committed to maintaining the capability and credibility our allies are counting on,\u201d saidKelly.\n\n\u201cOur adversaries are increasingly testing the strength of our alliances and seeking opportunities to undermine the stability and security we have preserved for decades,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cIt\u2019s critical that we work with our allies to maintain a credible deterrent, strengthen our collective defense, and ensure the continued peace of the Western world and the values we share.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nOne of the stated goals of U.S. nuclear weapons policy for the past 75 years has been to extend its nuclear deterrent to key allies in Europe and Asia. Extended deterrence has been foundational to U.S. alliances, and today, this commitment remains steadfast.\n\nHowever, credibly reassuring allies that the U.S. will come to their aid is a challenge. Today, that credibility is under greater strain as U.S. actions have raised questions about the durability of American commitments. At the same time, NATO countries have shown interest in nuclear-sharing or alternative nuclear arrangements.\n\nThe Reaffirming Extended Nuclear Deterrence Act is a clear congressional reaffirmation that strengthens assurance, reinforces deterrence, protects U.S. national security, and restates that extended nuclear deterrence remains consistent with U.S. nonproliferation objectives, providing a signal of continuity and resolve at a time of growing uncertainty about America\u2019s commitment to the defense of its allies.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-in-sasc-strategic-forces-kelly-questions-if-golden-dome-will-trigger-another-arms-race/", "WATCH: In SASC Strategic Forces, Kelly\u00a0Questions if Golden Dome Will Trigger Another Arms Race", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "AZ", "Mark Kelly", "K000377", "www.kelly.senate.gov", "markkelly", "https://www.kelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "During a Senate Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on Golden Dome for America, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly questioned experts on whether the administration\u2019s proposed missile defense system could actually make the United States less safe by pushing Russia and China to build more nuclear weapons and develop new ways to defeat U.S. defenses, potentially fueling an arms race. Kelly also expressed concerns over whether the program\u2019s extraordinary cost is worth it if Russia and China simply build more weapons to defeat it in the near future.\n\nSen. Kelly questions David J. Trachtenberg.\n\nKelly opened by questioning whether Golden Dome would push Russia and China to build up their arsenals rather than deter them: \u201cDeterrence is about perception. And this administration might see Golden Dome as a defensive system. But what also matters here for strategic stability is how does China and Russia see this? For decades, U.S. nuclear strategy has recognized the relationship between strategic offensive and defensive forces. They\u2019re connected. The basic concern is pretty straightforward. If one side builds defenses that could substantially reduce the effectiveness of the other side\u2019s nuclear deterrent, the other side has an incentive to build more or better offensive weapons with more countermeasures. And that dynamic was part of the rationale behind negotiating limits on offensive and defensive systems during the Cold War.\u201d\n\nKelly expressed that his biggest concern with Golden Dome is that America would be spending an outsized amount of money for a system that would become irrelevant as Russia and China build up their arsenals to defeat it: \u201cSuddenly, they\u2019re building thousands of more ICBMs. The Chinese are building thousands of more ICBMs. This system isn\u2019t sized to handle it. We spent $1.2 trillion on a system that then becomes irrelevant\u2026People don\u2019t have health care coverage. They can\u2019t afford their lives anymore. We\u2019re investing trillions of dollars into the defense industry. And what we get out of it is, we get five, ten years down the road even after this thing is built. And we got a system that doesn\u2019t even provide us what the level one requirements for the system was in the beginning on the piece of paper that the President signed.\u201d\n\nClick here to download a video of Kelly\u2019s opening remarks. Click here to download a video of Kelly\u2019s questions. See the transcript below:\n\nSenator Kelly:\n\nMr. Trachtenberg. I\u2019ve got some major issues on the physics of this system, especially the space-based interceptor part of this. The physics favors the offense in a big way. Interceptors can be defeated by countermeasures. And often when we test these things, we don\u2019t account for those. But the other issue here is deterrence is about perception. And this administration might see Golden Dome as a defensive system. But what also matters here for strategic stability is how does China and Russia see this? For decades, U.S. nuclear strategy has recognized the relationship between strategic offensive and defensive forces. They\u2019re connected. The basic concern is pretty straightforward. If one side builds defenses that could substantially reduce the effectiveness of the other side\u2019s nuclear deterrent, the other side has an incentive to build more or better offensive weapons with more countermeasures. And that dynamic was part of the rationale behind negotiating limits on offensive and defensive systems during the Cold War. We considered this very seriously. So, we need to understand what the response and expansion of U.S. strategic missile defense could generate. If Russia and China believe that the goal that Golden Dome could reduce the effectiveness of their retaliatory forces, they could respond by expanding their arsenals, developing new ways to penetrate our defenses, or seeing the United States as willing to take a lot more risk if we\u2019re in a crisis. So, Mr. Trachtenberg, what do you assess Russia and China are thinking about Golden Dome today?\n\nHonorable David J. Trachtenberg:\n\nThank you, Senator. I appreciate your comments. I think Russia and China have been moving out, irrespective of what the United States plans to do or may do in the future. As I said, both Russia and China have been modernizing their own nuclear systems, and I believe that they\u2019re doing that because their goals and objectives don\u2019t align with ours. I do think Russia and China will oppose Golden Dome, just as they have opposed all U.S. missile defense efforts.\n\nKelly:\n\nBut you sound like it sounds like you think they\u2019re on a path, regardless of any steps we take, as I think, Senator King pointed out. The Chinese are watching this today.\n\nTrachtenberg:\n\nYeah, sure. What I\u2019m saying, Senator, is that there is no mechanistic action-reaction formula. And historically, the belief that the United States generates reactions on the part of adversaries has not been proven to be so. And I go back, you mentioned the Cold War\u2014\n\nKelly:\n\nBut isn\u2019t it logical that if we were to build, let\u2019s just say\u2014when you study math, right, you look at things at the limit. If we were to build a system that they perceive is able to take out, let\u2019s say, a large salvo of ICBMs, what would it be? What would the logical thing for them to do? What would be a logical response?\n\nTrachtenberg:\n\nI think the logical thing for them to do would be not to consider attack in the first place.\n\nKelly:\n\nYou don\u2019t think the logical thing would be a larger salvo in nuclear weapons? This is going to be sized for something.\n\nTrachtenberg: Sure, sure. But, Senator, again, if you look at history.\n\nKelly:\n\nSo you think that is logical that if let\u2019s say just theoretically\u2014\n\nTrachtenberg:\n\nNo, no. If you if you look at the historical record, I think you see the Russians and the Chinese moving out based on their own considerations, irrespective of what the United States has or has not done. You may recall\u2014\n\nKelly:\n\nOn all kinds of things, and we do exactly the same thing.\n\nTrachtenberg:\n\nYou may recall the ABM Treaty of 1972 was intended to prevent the Soviet Union at the time from building up its offensive capabilities because we issued defense of the national territory, so they had no defense to counter. In reality, what happened was the greatest increase in Soviet ICBM weapons and warheads occurred after the signing of the ABM Treaty. So, their reaction suggests\u2014\n\nKelly:\n\nThe greatest increase after the signing of the treaty of the ABM Treaty. And how many ICBMs does the Russians have today as a percentage of compared to what they had previously?\n\nTrachtenberg:\n\nThe Russian, the Russians put most of their nuclear capability on large land-based missiles,\n\nKelly:\n\nBut isn\u2019t it true that because of treaties that we have signed, we have reduced the size of our nuclear arsenal and the Russians have reduced considerably the number of nuclear weapons that they have today?\n\nTrachtenberg:\n\nIt is true that we have reduced as a result of arms control treaties, the number of nuclear weapons in our arsenal. It is also true that we currently really don\u2019t know what the Russians have, because the Russians suspended inspections under the New START Treaty years ago and have refused to allow them to continue. And without on-site inspections, it\u2019s very difficult to know whether the Russians have continued to MIRV missiles or build up their capabilities. What we do know, Senator, is that they have been aggressively working to modernize their own nuclear capabilities for many, many years while the United States has not.\n\nKelly:\n\nWell, we\u2019re in the process of doing that as we should.\n\nTrachtenberg:\n\nWe\u2019ve been thinking about doing well.\n\nKelly:\n\nWell, we\u2019ve got a program to modernize Minuteman III. And we\u2019re building more ballistic missile submarines, and we should be modernized our forces. My biggest concern here is that this system, because they have\u2014their perception of this matters, and that this sets off another arms race. And suddenly we\u2019re having to build\u2014they\u2019re building thousands of more ICBMs. The Chinese are building thousands of more ICBMs. This system isn\u2019t sized to handle it. We spent $1.2 trillion on a system that then becomes irrelevant. Let\u2019s just say, theoretically, not what the real numbers are. I don\u2019t like to talk about those. Let\u2019s say we could shoot down 100 ICBMs while they fire another 100. Or maybe they fire 500. And then our system was we spent $1.2 trillion. People don\u2019t have health care coverage. They can\u2019t afford their lives anymore. We\u2019re investing trillions of dollars into the defense industry. And what we get out of it is, we get five, ten years down the road even after this thing is built. And we got a system that doesn\u2019t even provide us what the level one requirements for the system was in the beginning on the piece of paper that the President signed.\n\nTrachtenberg:\n\nSenator, I appreciate your perspective, I do. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s an accurate reflection of how history has evolved throughout the Cold War and the post-Cold War period in terms of U.S. actions driving some kind of an armed.\n\nKelly:\n\nBut, Mr. Trachtenberg, you said after the ABM Treaty that that\u2019s when the Russians accelerated their development of ICBMs. I\u2019m way over my time. Thank you, Madam Chair.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=844818B8-AAE5-46D1-86B2-E81EF7047535", "Klobuchar, Cassidy Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Taxpayer Advocate Passes Senate, Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", "klobuchar", "https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "Bipartisan bill will help taxpayers resolve IRS problems\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) released the statements below after the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act. The legislation strengthens the independence of the National Taxpayer Advocate by allowing the Advocate to hire and consult its own legal counsel rather than relying on attorneys who report to the IRS Office of Chief Counsel. The bipartisan legislation, which passed the House in 2025, now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThe National Taxpayer Advocate plays a critical role in helping taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS, but currently the attorneys supporting that office are selected by the IRS Chief Counsel, undermining the Advocate\u2019s ability to provide fully independent advice and representation,\u201d said Sen. Klobuchar. \u201cOur bipartisan bill will ensure that the Advocate has the independence needed to effectively do its job by allowing its attorneys to report directly to the Advocate and owe their loyalty to taxpayers, not the IRS. This will help the Advocate stand up for taxpayers, assist our constituents, and improve our tax system, and I urge the President to swiftly sign this bill into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019re having to deal with the IRS, odds are, you\u2019re having difficulty doing so. This bill helps improve that experience for the honest taxpayer,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy.\n\nThe Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve problems with the agency, identifies systemic problems taxpayers encounter in dealing with the IRS, and recommends administrative and legislative changes to address those problems. Currently, TAS attorneys report to the IRS Office of Chief Counsel rather than directly to the National Taxpayer Advocate. The National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act would allow the National Taxpayer Advocate to hire and consult its own attorneys, strengthening TAS\u2019s independence and its ability to advocate on behalf of taxpayers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-heinrich-kelly-cantwell-call-on-states-to-stop-data-centers-from-passing-rising-costs-on-to-ratepayers/", "Luj\u00e1n, Heinrich, Kelly, Cantwell Call on States to Stop Data Centers from Passing Rising Costs on to Ratepayers", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Luj\u00e1n is one of only two U.S. Senators, and the only Democratic Senator, to have served as a state utility commissioner\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, called on Ann Rendahl and Jehmal Hudson, President and First Vice President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, to protect residential and small-business ratepayers from the cost of serving large data centers. Specifically, the senators urged state utility commissions to adopt a dedicated mechanism that applies to large data centers in its jurisdiction, so that data centers pay the full cost of the generation, transmission, and distribution built to serve them.\n\n\u201cWe write to ask NARUC and its member commissions to act now to protect residential and small business ratepayers from the cost of serving large data centers. Specifically, we ask that every state utility commission adopt a dedicated rate rider \u2014 a separate tariff mechanism \u2014 that applies to every large data center in its jurisdiction, so that data centers pay the full cost of the generation, transmission, and distribution built to serve them, as well as the cost of their use of existing generation, transmission and distribution,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201cThe authority to set retail rates was delegated by Congress to the states. That is why we are writing to you. It is clear that unless states implement data center rate riders, consumers and small businesses will experience rate increases,\u201d concluded the senators.\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear President Rendahl & First Vice President Hudson:\n\nWe write to ask NARUC and its member commissions to act now to protect residential and small business ratepayers from the cost of serving large data centers. Specifically, we ask that every state utility commission adopt a dedicated rate rider \u2014 a separate tariff mechanism \u2014 that applies to every large data center in its jurisdiction, so that data centers pay the full cost of the generation, transmission, and distribution built to serve them, as well as the cost of their use of existing generation, transmission and distribution. Furthermore, such a tariff should cover \u201cripple\u201d costs borne by all ratepayers, such as increased costs associated with ensuring the planning reserve margin and other grid stability requirements.\n\nData centers are the largest, fastest-growing electric load in the country. A single campus can require as much power as a mid-sized city, and utilities are proposing billions of dollars in new plants and lines to serve them. Under traditional cost-of-service ratemaking, much of that cost is spread across all customer classes. Without clear rules laying out cost responsibility, families, small businesses and other industry customers in New Mexico, Arizona, Washington and every other state will pay for infrastructure they did not ask for and may never use \u2014 including stranded assets if a data center scales back or leaves.\n\nWe ask NARUC and its member commissioners to turn their attention to this issue with the utmost priority and ask that NARUC develop model tariff language, technical support and resolutions to help members adopt data center riders that, at a minimum, include:\n\nFull cost recovery from the data center for any generation, transmission, or distribution investment made to serve it as well as the cost share of existing generation, transmission and distribution serving them;\n\nMinimum-bill or take-or-pay provisions \u2013 provisions that ensure data centers pay for the cost of infrastructure as it is constructed \u2013 with contract terms long enough to cover the life of the assets built for the load;\n\nCollateral, exit fees, and creditworthiness requirements so that other customers are not left with stranded costs;\n\nRules to include transparency, including public reporting of contracted load, energy use, and actual bills paid;\n\nRules that prevent a data center from shifting costs to other customers through selfsupply arrangements, including standby customers, or by contracting around the rider; and\n\nLanguage that requires data centers to, at minimum, comply with state clean energy and climate policies.\n\nSeveral of your member commissions \u2014 including Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, and Indiana \u2014 have already approved large-load tariffs that are directionally consistent with these principles. Because this is an area that is evolving rapidly and is of great complexity, NARUC is uniquely positioned to ensure that all state commissions have the resources and tools they need to make informed decisions on large load tariff design.\n\nThe authority to set retail rates was delegated by Congress to the states. That is why we are writing to you. It is clear that unless states implement data center rate riders, consumers and small businesses will experience rate increases. There is also precedent for this kind of action from NARUC. Therefore, we ask that NARUC take this up at its Annual Meeting in November and report back to us on the steps you and your members have taken.\n\nThank you for your leadership and for your partnership with the states in protecting the Americans we all serve.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-shares-doj-documents-regarding-dea-fentanyl-practices-whistleblower-reports/", "Luj\u00e1n Shares DOJ Documents Regarding DEA Fentanyl Practices, Whistleblower Reports", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "June AP Report Found that DEA Allowed Mass Amounts of Fentanyl Pills onto New Mexico Streets\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, shared the following documents for New Mexicans to read for themselves regarding the Drug Enforcement Agency\u2019s (DEA) fentanyl practices.\n\nSenator Luj\u00e1n led the N.M. Delegation calling on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to expand its review of federal fentanyl investigations to examine Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) practices dating back before 2024, with a specific focus on the DEA\u2019s fentanyl practices in New Mexico.\n\nFollowing the Associated Press report that the DEA allowed fentanyl pills onto New Mexico streets, Senator Luj\u00e1n has been briefed by DEA and DOJ officials and continues to press the federal government for more information to be released to the public.\n\nThe following documents are available through the U.S. Department of Justice website:\n\nNovember 2023: New Mexico DEA agent files complaint\n\nA New Mexico DEA agent filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that federal prosecutors had discouraged or prevented agents from stopping suspected fentanyl shipments during investigations, allowing large quantities of fentanyl to reach New Mexico communities.\n\nDecember 22, 2023: Office of Special Counsel (OSC) refers allegations to DOJ\n\nThe OSC found the allegations serious enough to require a DOJ investigation. OSC said there was a \u201csubstantial likelihood\u201d that the alleged conduct could involve violations of rules, abuse of authority, or a danger to the public.\n\nLink: https://www.osc.gov/~assets/cases/osc-file-no-di-24-000207-referral_redacted.pdf\n\nSeptember 3, 2024: DOJ investigation rejects allegations\n\nDOJ\u2019s Office of Professional Responsibility found no misconduct, finding that prosecutors and agents have discretion to let suspected drugs move rather than immediately seize them. It found the specific decisions it reviewed were reasonable under DOJ policy.\n\nLink: https://www.osc.gov/~assets/cases/osc-file-no-di-24-000207-agency-report.pdf\n\nSeptember 17, 2024: Whistleblower disputes DOJ\u2019s findings\n\nThe New Mexico whistleblower rejected the conclusions by the DOJ, arguing that important evidence was omitted from the report and that the authorities could have stopped the drugs without compromising larger investigations. He said that hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills were allowed to be distributed.\n\nLink: https://www.osc.gov/~assets/cases/osc-file-no-di-24-000207-whistleblower-comments_redacted.pdf\n\nSeptember 4, 2025: OSC closes review\n\nAfter reviewing DOJ\u2019s investigations and the whistleblower\u2019s objections, OSC told President Trump that DOJ\u2019s report met the legal requirements and that its findings \u201cappear reasonable.\u201d OSC accepted DOJ\u2019s conclusion that the allegations were not substantiated.\n\nLink: https://www.osc.gov/~assets/cases/osc-file-no-di-24-000207-letter-to-the-president-redacted.pdf\n\nJanuary 2026: DOJ Inspector General flags broader fentanyl challenge\n\nDOJ\u2019s Inspector General warned that chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl remain a major enforcement problem. While fentanyl-related substances have been scheduled, precursors, pre-precursors, and \u201cpre-pre-precursors\u201d remain unregulated, and the Inspector General said DOJ should pursue additional legislation and enforcement resources.\n\nLink: https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/2026-01/TMPC-2025.pdf\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-statement-on-senate-passage-of-the-taxpayer-assistance-and-service-act/", "Luj\u00e1n Statement on Senate Passage of the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NM", "Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n", "L000570", "www.lujan.senate.gov", "lujan", "https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "Several Luj\u00e1n Authored Provisions Included in Bipartisan Tax Package\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, which included several provisions authored by Senator Luj\u00e1n:\n\n\u201cThe Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act is a commonsense bipartisan legislative package that will strengthen taxpayer rights, reduce unnecessary burdens, and make our tax system fairer. I\u2019m proud to have authored several provisions in this package to improve transparency, strengthen taxpayer protections, and help ensure the IRS works more efficiently for the American people.\n\n\u201cNow, with Senate passage, we are one step closer to delivering a tax system that better serves taxpayers with fairness, transparency, and accountability.\u201d\n\nIn July, Senator Luj\u00e1n introduced the Strengthening Taxpayer Advocacy Act, bipartisan legislation to empower the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) to better serve Americans navigating challenges with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Senator Luj\u00e1n also introduced a bipartisan package of three bills to improve transparency, fairness, and simplicity in the federal tax system. These pieces of legislation, led by Senator Luj\u00e1n, were included as provisions in the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-releases-new-report-detailing-epa-capitulation-to-big-tech-dangerous-easing-of-regulations-to-build-data-centers-at-the-expense-of-transparency-and-communities-health", "Senator Markey Releases New Report Detailing EPA Capitulation to Big Tech, Dangerous Easing of Regulations to Build Data Centers at the Expense of Transparency and Communities\u2019 Health", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MA", "Edward J. Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", "markey", "https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cThe EPA's Data Center Disaster\u201d Report (PDF)\n\nWashington (September 30, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee, today released a report titled, The EPA\u2019s Data Center Disaster: How the Trump Administration is Destroying Environmental Protections and Selling Out Communities for Big Tech, detailing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\u2019s campaign of reckless deregulation to dilute environmental and public health guardrails in direct service of Big Tech\u2019s race to build data centers.\n\n\u201c75% of Americans do not want a data center in their backyard, yet Trump\u2019s EPA has chosen to facilitate data center construction at the expense of our health, our pocketbooks, and our bedrock environmental laws. In what they have coined as \u2018the largest deregulatory agenda in American history,\u2019 President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin have issued rollbacks of air, water, and toxic chemical regulations that make it easier to build data centers and fossil fuel infrastructure to power them,\u201d said Senator Markey. \u201cInstead of subverting the EPA to Big Tech\u2019s control, Trump and Zeldin should act in the interest of the American people and hold accountable the industries they are obligated to regulate. The public deserves an EPA that lives up to its name.\u201d\n\nSenator Markey\u2019s report pulls back the curtain on the EPA\u2019s abuse of power and failure to fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment. Since January 2025, Trump\u2019s EPA has proposed and finalized rollbacks to undermine longstanding public health guardrails, explicitly and repeatedly naming data centers as a key beneficiary. And beyond these individual regulatory rollbacks, Zeldin has refused to contemplate any nationwide standards for data centers, despite increasing evidence of the harm that data centers and their related power infrastructure inflict on U.S. communities.\n\nThe cost of unfettered data center buildout is a real, present danger to the public. Air pollution associated with data centers in the United States caused an estimated $6.7 billion in public-health costs in 2023 and is projected to reach $20 billion by 2028. The EPA\u2019s deregulatory blitz will only exacerbate this harm as communities have less protection and less input.\n\nSenator Markey has been the leading voice against irresponsible and unregulated data center buildout at the expense of public health and the environment.\n\nIn July, Senator Markey released a discussion draft of his Protecting Communities Against Data Center Impacts proposal, a bill that would create a national framework to prevent increased energy costs, pollution, and adverse health harms related to the rapid buildout of data centers and associated fossil fuel infrastructure.\n\nIn June, Senator Markey wrote to EPA Administrator Zeldin to demand the withdrawal of a proposed rule that undermines Clean Air Act permitting standards to facilitate the buildout of data centers and associated fossil fuel infrastructure.\n\nIn June, Senator Markey reintroduced his Artificial Intelligence (AI) Environmental Impacts Act, legislation that would require data center operators to report the full range of their facilities\u2019 environmental impacts.\n\nIn November 2025, Senator Markey wrote to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the agency to ensure that increased and projected energy demand from data centers does not result in unjust or unreasonable rate hikes for American households.\n\nIn September 2025, Senator Markey wrote to the EPA in opposition to the agency\u2019s initial announcement of plans to roll back the NSR program for data center buildout.\n\nIn July 2025, Senator Markey hosted a roundtable discussion titled The Data Center Next Door: Hidden Costs and Harms of Artificial Intelligence and Cryptomining to highlight the adverse environmental, health, climate, and energy cost impacts of data center proliferation in communities across the United States, and to condemn the deregulatory actions set forth in President Trump\u2019s AI Action Plan. On the day of the roundtable, Senator Markey also released a storybook to spotlight the experiences of American families living with data centers in their backyard.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/senate-unanimously-passes-merkley-curtis-bipartisan-wildfire-emissions-prevention-act/", "Senate Unanimously Passes Merkley-Curtis Bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Bipartisan legislation would remove regulatory burden on proactive forest management, lower net emissions\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Curtis (R-UT), members of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA).\n\nMerkley and Curtis\u2019 bipartisan legislation would streamline states\u2019 use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner.\n\n\u201cAs climate chaos fuels longer, hotter, and more dangerous wildfire seasons, our communities need to have all the necessary resources to mitigate wildfire threats. Prescribed fire and cultural burning on the landscape are one such tool by reducing hazardous fuels,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would streamline the use of prescribed burns and includes my provisions to establish the Smoke Ready Communities Program. With our Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act passing the Senate, we are on the way to supporting more prescribed fire on the landscape\u2014an essential forest management activity\u2014while giving our communities the resources to plan and prepare for smoke events, protecting public health and saving lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cUtah has faced a devastating fire season, and we know that preventing catastrophic wildfires starts with giving land managers the tools to reduce hazardous fuels before they burn,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cPrescribed fire works, and states should not be penalized for responsibly using it to protect communities, forests, and air quality. I\u2019m grateful the Senate unanimously passed this commonsense, bipartisan bill, and I urge the House to act quickly so we can get it to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nThe Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act would:\n\nMake it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fire to prevent wildfire emissions;\n\nProtect ecosystems and wildlife habitats;\n\nProvide certainty that states won\u2019t be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires;\n\nPromote the efficient use of state air quality resources; and\n\nMake our forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner.\n\nThe bill passed the EPW Committee with a vote of 19-0 on September 16, 2026.\n\nA one-page summary of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act is available by clicking here, and the full bill text of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act is available by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-bonamici-salinas-hoyle-dexter-bynum-oppose-trumps-undermining-of-due-process-and-politicizing-immigration-courts/", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Hoyle, Dexter, Bynum Oppose Trump\u2019s Undermining of Due Process and Politicizing Immigration Courts", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Oregon lawmakers demand an end to expedited \u201cmega master\u201d hearings in Portland, Tacoma, and other immigration centers.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum, today demanded the Trump administration end the practice of \u201cmega master\u201d immigration hearings that expedite the review of hundreds of immigrants\u2019 cases in a day, resulting in a fast-track to removing immigrants without due process.\n\n\u201cThis unwarranted blitzkrieg of assaults on justice and fair treatment raises serious constitutional concerns and is unworthy of the oaths you swore to uphold,\u201d the Oregon lawmakers wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and David Venturella, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cOver the past year, your agencies have increased the number of immigrants who must appear on little-to-no notice for so-called \u2018mega master\u2019 hearings on overcrowded dockets in front of Trump\u2019s handpicked judges at courts across the country, all while stripping immigrants of their legal status, ramping up arrests and detention, and limiting their access to legal counsel for representation in court and fast-tracked asylum interviews,\u201d they wrote.\n\n\u201cThese policy changes confuse and terrify law-abiding immigrants in our communities and prevent them from having a fair day in court.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote that the Portland Immigration Court in Oregon is now holding about two \u201cmega master\u201d hearings every week, in addition to maintaining its previously scheduled docket hearings and individual merit hearings. That has forced immigrants anticipating court dates in 2027 or 2028 to suddenly show up on extremely short notice and scrambling both to figure out how to get to the court on time, and to find an attorney to represent them.\n\n\u201cAs if the changes at the Portland Immigration Court weren\u2019t bad enough, the neighboring Tacoma Immigration Court has now had judges deciding in mid-August to stop allowing immigration attorneys across Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska from appearing remotely on behalf of their clients detained at the regional detention center,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cPreviously, the Tacoma Immigration Court allowed out-of-state attorneys to represent their clients by making court appearances through video conferencing technology. Now attorneys\u2014and when applicable, expert witnesses\u2014 have to attend these hearings in person.\u201d\n\nThe new requirement for immigration attorneys to represent their clients in person comes as immigration judges allow Department of Homeland Security prosecutors to participate in hearings remotely. In other cases even the presiding judge is attending remotely as well, with attorneys sharing that remote appearances by judges happen in about half the cases that they must attend in-person at the Tacoma Immigration Court.\n\nThese new in-person requirements also come as attorneys share that the court is sending \u201cnotices to appear\u201d and setting hearings for that same morning giving the attorneys little time to prepare or make travel arrangements from out of state. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also been routinely denying immigration attorneys access to their clients at detention centers, and transferring clients thousands of miles away to detention centers across the country.\n\n\u201cImmigration court proceedings must uphold fairness and rule of law and not be politicized to satisfy Donald Trump\u2019s arbitrary detention quotas. We call on the Trump administration to discontinue policies and tactics that undermine constitutional due process. Our legal system relies on accountability; therefore, we demand that you establish fair and meaningful hearings that provide a genuine day in court and uphold the integrity of our nation\u2019s immigration system,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe lawmakers ended their letter demanding a written response by October 15th, 2026 detailing the steps that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will take to achieve the following:\n\nTerminate \u201cmega master\u201d hearings.\n\nProvide immigrants with sufficient notice of their proceedings.\n\nReduce hardships on immigration attorneys.\n\nEnsure that immigration judges hear cases individually, free from political influence.\n\nThe full text of the letter is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-bynum-announce-100000-for-central-oregon-wildfire-recovery/", "Wyden, Merkley, Bynum Announce $100,000 for Central Oregon Wildfire Recovery", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum, today announced $100,000 in federal awards to support displaced Oregonians and wildfire recovery efforts for Central Oregon communities that lost homes in the 2026 wildfires.\n\n\u201cAs wildfires in central Oregon and statewide set new records every year in size and intensity, the rural communities on the front lines of these fights are the most in need of resources for recovery efforts,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI applaud this federal award that will support Central Oregon communities including Warm Springs residents who were forced to flee from their homes, and I will continue to fight for more resources to support wildfire prevention and recovery across Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen disaster strikes, Oregon\u2019s communities show up to help each other. These federal funds will help NeighborImpact provide critical support to Warm Springs families recovering from the devastating July wildfires, including emergency shelter, relocation assistance, and essential household supplies,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cI\u2019ll keep fighting to bring federal resources home to Oregon so our communities have the support they need to recover and rebuild.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo where to sleep. Only the clothes on your back. Food to go is the only option. All in the matter of one day,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cI\u2019ve heard that story too many times from my constituents. People need help after an emergency, and the faster that help comes, the better shot they have of rebuilding what was lost. And by help I mean money to get the basics. That\u2019s the difference this funding can and will make.\u201d\n\nThe $100,000 in federal awards from the NeighborWorks Disaster Grants program will be distributed to NeighborImpact, a central Oregon nonprofit that serves economically disadvantaged residents of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Thousands of Warm Springs residents were forced to evacuate and several homes were lost in the July 2026 fires. The grant will support the Wildfire Recovery Fund that is used to provide emergency shelter, relocation assistance, provide/replace personal items such as baby supplies, hygiene products, houseware items, laundry and cleaning supplies.\n\n\u201cWarm Springs deserves to be included in the regional response to wildfire and other needs on an equal basis with counties. Too often, tribal communities are a place to drive through, not a place to drive to. NeighborImpact values all our neighbors, including tribal neighbors, and the fires that burned at Warm Springs this summer, while devastating, were respond to and will continue to be responded to vigorously and thoroughly with resources, support for displaced people and empathy from our organization and, I hope, neighboring communities. The congressional appropriation funded through NeighborWorks America is a much-appreciated and critical tool enabling us to help in a time of need,\u201d said Scott Cooper, Executive Director of NeighborImpact.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-pushes-for-senate-passage-of-bill-protecting-children-from-ice", "Murphy Pushes for Senate Passage of Bill Protecting Children from ICE", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Wednesday went to the floor of the U.S. Senate to ask for unanimous consent to pass his bill to prevent ICE, Border Patrol, and all DHS agents from carrying out enforcement actions at school bus stops. A Senate Republican blocked the bill, allowing the Trump Administration to continue conducting aggressive enforcement operations in full view of children.\n\nICE recently conducted a week-long operation in Connecticut resulting in 118 arrests, which included an arrest of a parent who just dropped their child off at their bus stop. When reports surfaced, Sen. Murphy immediately joined elected officials and immigration rights advocates, as well as thousands of protestors in Danbury, to denounce the operation. Videos released to CT Insider by Danbury Public Schools under a Freedom of Information Act request documented the scene.\n\n\u201cI am [\u2026] just asking my colleagues: can we come to an agreement that school bus stops should be off limits? Can we decide to have compassion for that six-year-old child who got on the bus for his second day of school, and when he got back off the bus, was abandoned?\u201d said Murphy.\n\nMurphy chronicled the horrors witnessed by children in Danbury during their first week of school: \u201cOn the morning of August 26, the second day of school for most school districts in Connecticut, in Danbury, Connecticut, bus drivers began reporting to the school district that they had noticed the presence of ICE agents in and around school bus stops. At one of them, a constituent of mine, a father, was waiting at the school bus stop with his six-year-old son, and just moments after saying goodbye to his son for the second day of school, and even before the school bus had fully driven away, ICE arrested and detained him.\u201d\n\nMurphy pleaded with his Republican colleagues to consider the trauma ICE is inflicting on innocent children: \u201cFor parents in this body, you know how anxious that first day of school is, how kids are just brimming with nervous anxiety about that first day, and you know what that feels like to watch your kid walk onto that school bus. Well, what do you think it does to those kids on that first and second day of school to see ICE officers at the school bus stop? Imagine that six-year-old who boarded the school bus, and when he got back from school that day and got off, his parent wasn't there. A six-year-old feeling like he had been abandoned. In this case, he may or may not have seen the arrest because it happened almost immediately after he got on.\u201d\n\nMurphy emphasized that ICE blatantly lied when they denied carrying out arrests at school bus stops: \u201cWhile that practice is bad enough, it is important to note that ICE tried to cover up the practice. When they were presented with these stories from Danbury, DHS doubled down and said any claim that ICE targeted parents at a school bus stop is false. Then just days afterwards, we had the video evidence. This often happens\u2014ICE says something didn't happen, and then we have the video proving that it did. And in Danbury's case, we have two separate videos taken from the school bus showing ICE operating at the school bus stop and detaining this parent.\u201d\n\nMurphy also revealed that several Republicans have voiced opposition to Trump\u2019s heartless deployment of ICE to sensitive locations: \u201cWe came close to getting an agreement on a similar proposal before negotiations broke down over DHS funding. Senator Blumenthal, my colleague, has a piece of legislation that is even broader than the three bills I'm proposing. The idea is that there should just be a ban on the operation of ICE at sensitive locations, which would include places where children gather but also would include other sensitive locations like churches. I know my Republican colleagues were close to agreeing to that before these negotiations broke down.\u201d\n\nAfter a bizarre objection from Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Murphy hammered Republicans over how dishonest they are being about the terror ICE is inflicting on communities like Danbury: \u201cI will be honest with you, I did not anticipate that one of the arguments against this bill would be that it would lead to the development of \u2018sanctuary bus stops.\u2019 But what do we imagine here? People are going to live at bus stops? We're going to have encampments around bus stops of people who are here without documentation? I just think it's an example of how this whole debate has gone way off the rails. It is just fundamentally detached from the reality.\u201d\n\nA full transcript of Murphy\u2019s remarks is available below. You can watch Murphy\u2019s remarks here.\n\nMurphy:\n\nMr. President, there is a pretty significant divide right now between Democrats and Republicans on the issue of the way that ICE is enforcing our immigration laws in the interior. Democrats believe that what is happening today is both illegal and immoral, and that is why right now these operations are being funded through reconciliation, because we believe that it's our constitutional obligation to refuse to fund an agency that is out of control and not in compliance with the law. Republicans broadly have supported the actions of this administration as they target both immigrants without documentation and legal immigrants for arrest and detention.\n\nI'm going to offer a request to pass a bill by unanimous consent that does not seek to repair that divide. Instead, it seeks to try to bring us together on a very narrow question\u2014a question that arises from a set of incidents that have happened in my state of Connecticut over the course of the last month and a half. On the morning of August 26, the second day of school for most school districts in Connecticut, in Danbury, Connecticut, bus drivers began reporting to the school district that they had noticed the presence of ICE agents in and around school bus stops. At one of them, a constituent of mine, a father, was waiting at the school bus stop with his six-year-old son, and just moments after saying goodbye to his son for the second day of school, and even before the school bus had fully driven away, ICE arrested and detained him. This practice was reported all around the state: ICE gathering at school bus stops, waiting until a young child had boarded the school bus, and then detaining and arresting the parents.\n\nFor parents in this body, you know how anxious that first day of school is, how kids are just brimming with nervous anxiety about that first day, and you know what that feels like to watch your kid walk onto that school bus. Well, what do you think it does to those kids on that first and second day of school to see ICE officers at the school bus stop? Imagine that six-year-old who boarded the school bus, and when he got back from school that day and got off, his parent wasn't there. A six-year-old feeling like he had been abandoned. In this case, he may or may not have seen the arrest because it happened almost immediately after he got on. To me, it's pretty obvious that the intent here, with this new practice of ICE showing up at school bus stops, is to traumatize the children. But you don't have to agree with me that the intent is to traumatize the children to just come to the conclusion that ICE does not need to be at school bus stops in order to enforce the law. There are a myriad of other settings in which ICE can operate to carry out arrests while staying clear of school bus stops, where the intent or at least the result of those operations is to leave little kids in trauma.\n\nI've introduced three pieces of simple legislation to say that ICE should not operate at daycare centers, they shouldn't operate at children's playgrounds, and that they shouldn't operate at school bus stops. I am asking unanimous consent today for only one of those pieces of legislation that I think is the most urgent, and while I don't expect the results to be agreement, I hope that we could find agreement on this narrow question: that ICE should just stay away from school bus stops. They shouldn't be traumatizing children at school bus stops and taking parents in the middle of the school day because there are so many other ways that ICE could operate so as to detain the people that they feel they need to detain without it being done in this deeply traumatic way.\n\nIn fact, we came close to getting an agreement on a similar proposal before negotiations broke down over DHS funding. Senator Blumenthal, my colleague, has a piece of legislation that is even broader than the three bills I'm proposing. The idea is that there should just be a ban on the operation of ICE at sensitive locations, which would include places where children gather but also would include other sensitive locations like churches. I know my Republican colleagues were close to agreeing to that before these negotiations broke down. And so today, I am taking a small slice of that broader proposal and just asking my colleagues: can we come to an agreement that school bus stops should be off limits? Can we decide to have compassion for that six-year-old child who got on the bus for his second day of school, and when he got back off the bus, was abandoned?\n\nThe last point I'll make is this: while that practice is bad enough, it is important to note that ICE tried to cover up the practice. When they were presented with these stories from Danbury, DHS doubled down and said any claim that ICE targeted parents at a school bus stop is false. Then just days afterwards, we had the video evidence. This often happens\u2014ICE says something didn't happen, and then we have the video proving that it did. And in Danbury's case, we have two separate videos taken from the school bus showing ICE operating at the school bus stop and detaining this parent. So my hope is that we can come together and just make a decision that while we have big differences over the broader issue of ICE enforcement, ICE should stop preying upon our kids at sensitive locations, and in particular, school bus stops.\n\nMy motion is this: notwithstanding Rule 22 and as if in legislative session, I would ask unanimous consent that the committee on the judiciary be discharged and the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S 5435. I further ask consent that the bill be considered to be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered, made, and laid upon the table.\n\nBanks:\n\nLook, this is just another attempt after many other attempts by Democrats to stop ICE from doing their job and enforcing our immigration law. As you're seeing today, Democrats will do anything that they can to stop ICE\u2014our men and women who are in federal law enforcement\u2014from securing our nation and keeping families safe.\n\nIn my state of Indiana, just over this last weekend, an illegal with an ICE detainer, drunk and behind the wheel of a vehicle, killed an innocent 33-year-old woman, Tamara Thomas, who was walking near a gas station in downtown Indianapolis. Tamara unfortunately is not the first Hoosier who lost her life because of an illegal immigration crisis in this country. In February, an illegal ran a red light and killed 64-year-old Terry Schultz in Avon, Indiana. In the same month, an illegal semi truck driver who entered our country using Joe Biden's CBP One app swerved into oncoming traffic and killed four Amish men near my hometown in Jake County in Northern Indiana. A couple of months ago, Indianapolis police arrested an illegal from Mexico who now faces 30 separate charges, including rape, sexual assault, and kidnapping, and this illegal came into our country under the Biden administration. Last year, a 35-year-old illegal who was living in Indianapolis was sentenced to 35 years in prison after he sexually exploited and abused a 15-year-old girl. Hoosiers are going to keep getting killed and harmed by illegals unless we let ICE officers do their job.\n\nThe madness has to end and it needs to end right now. We need to support our ICE officers. ICE needs to be allowed to do their job without Democrats getting in their way. I've been in the Senate for two years and over and over again the Democrats have tried to obstruct ICE from doing their job. This bill that I'm about to object to today will prohibit ICE from operating near school bus stops. But we know that illegal aliens are often at or near bus stops. So here's the deal Mr. President: in Virginia last year, ICE arrested a 36-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, a convicted pedophile, who exposed himself to a child at a school bus stop. How can anyone hear a story like that and think that the answer is to block ICE officers from doing their job at a school bus stop? Mr. President, if we prohibit ICE from operating at school bus stops, you know what will happen: we'll just create sanctuary school bus stops. All the illegals, the criminals, the pedophiles will end up at school bus stops because they know they'll be protected there. All those illegals in this country will hide out at bus stops, and knowing that ICE won't be allowed to touch them, you'll see more stories like what you saw happen in Virginia last year. It's just crazy to me to think that we would prevent ICE officers from going wherever they need to go to do their job, even if that means at a bus stop, on those rare, very rare, circumstances and occasions. ICE needs to be allowed to operate wherever the job takes them, especially at places where illegal aliens can harm our children.\n\nAnd look, ICE is not the enemy. Democrats are trying to make our ICE officers out to be the enemy, and they are not. Just a couple of weeks ago, ICE conducted a five-day operation in my home state which resulted in the arrest of 426 illegals. These criminals included people who were charged with robberies, drug trafficking, sex crime, sex crimes, and more. And ICE also arrested an illegal from Guatemala who illegally voted in national elections in Indiana. Mr. President, the Democrats all say that never happens, but they arrested an illegal just a few weeks ago in Indiana who did that. So here we go again with another attempt by Democrats to obstruct our federal law enforcement. Instead of giving ICE more resources to do the job that they need to do, instead of doing anything that we can to deport illegals from our country, Democrats are here asking for unanimous consent to tie ICE's hands behind their backs and prevent them from doing their job. I won't let that happen. That's why I came to the floor today, Mr. President. ICE needs to be allowed to enforce the law and do their job, and for that reason, Mr. President, I object.\n\nMurphy:\n\nJust three final points. I think Senator Banks articulates the Republican position which is that immigrants are, by definition, a safety threat to the United States of America, and that is just not true. I don't draw issue with the fact that there are immigrants who commit crimes but there are natural-born citizens that commit crimes at higher rates than immigrants do. The fact of the matter is that immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate than people who were born here in the United States. We should just keep people safe in this country no matter the country of origin or birth of the perpetrator.\n\nSecond, I think you can make the decision that I should be able to operate in the interior while keeping certain sites off limits. In fact, this was the Trump administration policy in the first term. So Republican administrations in the past have come to the decision that certain sites should be off limits for ICE. And in fact, when I talk to Trump supporters in Connecticut, who broadly do support the president's immigration policy, they also believe that they went too far in Connecticut. There were a lot of Republicans who showed up at our big rally the day after this incident happened, so it is not true that you can only support robust enforcement operations in the interior if you support ICE being at school bus stops.\n\nFinally, I will be honest with you, I did not anticipate that one of the arguments against this bill would be that it would lead to the development of sanctuary bus stops. But what do we imagine here? People are going to live at bus stops? We're going to have encampments around bus stops of people who are here without documentation? I just think it's an example of how this whole debate has gone way off the rails. It is just fundamentally detached from the reality. You want to support Trump's immigration policy. You can do that while still saying that we shouldn't have ICE officers patrolling school bus stops with the purpose of traumatizing little children. That could be a consensus position, and we could choose to still disagree over the broader Trump immigration policy.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-kaptur-slam-trump-administrations-oil-reserve-release-as-months-too-late-for-families-paying-high-energy-costs/", "Murray, Kaptur Slam Trump Administration\u2019s Oil Reserve Release as Months Too Late for Families Paying High Energy Costs", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "WA", "Patty Murray", "M001111", "www.murray.senate.gov", "murray", "https://www.murray.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, released the following statement in response to the Department of Energy\u2019s announcement of another release of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.\n\n\u201cFamilies in Washington State, Northwest Ohio, and all across the country are still paying too much at the pump and on their home energy bills \u2014 and this latest release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve woefully comes months too late to bring those high costs down. The Trump Administration says the deal costs taxpayers nothing, yet it has not set aside the money needed to refill the Reserve for the majority of the barrels owed back, which leaves our country less ready for the next emergency. This is a show put on to distract from the fact that this Administration is responsible for sending gas prices skyrocketing, and working families will keep paying for it in the days, weeks, months, and years to come,\u201d said Murray and Kaptur.\n\nOn September 29, the Department of Energy issued a request for proposals to exchange up to 40 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The exchange is part of a 172-million-barrel release the Trump Administration announced in March. Under an exchange, companies borrow oil from the Reserve and must later return it with extra barrels. Because none of the oil is sold, the exchanges bring in no money to pay for transport and other costs associated with moving it back into the Reserve.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.murray.senate.gov/new-trump-sets-over-230-million-for-rural-housing-on-fire/", "NEW: Trump Sets Over $230 Million for Rural Housing on Fire", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "WA", "Patty Murray", "M001111", "www.murray.senate.gov", "murray", "https://www.murray.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "As fiscal year ends at midnight, Trump admin is on track to let $230M+ in federal funding to help low-income Americans in rural areas afford to buy a home\n\nPOLITICO: $230 million in federal rural housing funds set to expire this week\n\n***STATE-BY-STATE DATA HERE***\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 As the fiscal year ends at midnight tonight, the Trump administration is on track to not spend nearly half of the $1 billion Congress has allocated for the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans program, which helps low- and very-low-income Americans in rural areas get the financing they need to afford a home to call their own. Each year, the program finances roughly 5,500 mortgages.\n\nOver $230 million in funding that could have helped families hit by the housing crisis will expire tonight. That funding could have helped approximately 850 more rural households realize their dream of homeownership.\n\n\u201cThis theft is an attack on rural America. President Trump and Secretary Rollins are lighting funding on fire that should have helped families in rural areas fulfill their dreams of owning a home to call their own,\u201d said Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. \u201cThere\u2019s no excusing the fact that as the housing crisis hits rural America, this administration\u2019s incompetence and intentional sabotage are denying help to families who need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when Americans are struggling to find housing they can afford, we should be doing everything possible to help families put a roof over their heads\u2014especially in the most rural parts of our country where affordable housing options can be few and far between,\u201d said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. \u201cBy letting this funding expire, the administration is sending a clear message: addressing sky-high housing prices isn\u2019t one of their priorities.\u201d\n\nAs of today, USDA has only spent $518 million of $1 billion in available funding for the program. While $250 million of the nearly half billion in unspent funds can be used in the next fiscal year, over $230 million cannot, and the Trump administration\u2019s failure to properly manage this program and get the funds out this fiscal year means families across the country will be denied assistance while many more will have to wait longer for help they should have been able to get this year.\n\nPresident Trump proposed eliminating this important program in fiscal year 2026\u2014a cut Congress rejected\u2014and the Trump administration has imposed harmful new red tape on the program. There is no recent precedent of any administration failing to tap this program\u2019s funding to help Americans in rural areas get help buying a home.\n\nThe housing affordability crisis is hitting rural America hard. As a 2025 White House Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) report noted: \u201creal rural house prices have risen at faster than 6x the pace of homeowner incomes, which is pushing homebuying further out of reach for young families.\u201d\n\nA state-by-state breakdown comparing funding the Trump administration has gotten out to help rural families buy homes this year versus the prior-year average is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.murray.senate.gov/republicans-block-democrats-bill-to-stop-trump-from-robbing-the-american-people-with-pocket-rescissions/", "Republicans Block Democrats\u2019 Bill to Stop Trump from Robbing the American People with \u201cPocket Rescissions\u201d", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "WA", "Patty Murray", "M001111", "www.murray.senate.gov", "murray", "https://www.murray.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "***WATCH: Senator Murray\u2019s remarks***\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, in seeking unanimous consent to pass a commonsense bill to stop President Trump from robbing the American people through illegal \u201cpocket rescissions.\u201d\n\nBut Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) blocked the bill, which would (1) nullify the illegal \u201cpocket rescission\u201d that President Trump announced on Friday and (2) prevent the president from attempting to use a \u201cpocket rescission\u201d again by forbidding any president from submitting rescissions requests under the Impoundment Control Act with fewer than 90 days before the funds expire. This ensures Congress can act on the request and presidents cannot try to simply run out the clock.\n\nDemocrats have repeatedly sought to bar the Trump administration from so much as attempting this illegal maneuver\u2014when marking up draft Senate spending bills, in votes on the floor, and in negotiations over spending packages, including negotiations over the continuing resolution that was recently signed into law. But Republicans have rejected every Democratic attempt over the last 18 months to enact new protections against pocket rescissions.\n\nSenator Murray\u2019s remarks ahead of the attempt to pass the bill, as delivered, are below:\n\n\u201cThank you to my colleague from Oregon for setting out what is going on here because, as he said, on Friday night, President Trump announced that he was stealing more money from the American people. Trump and his budget director Russ Vought call it a \u2018pocket rescission.\u2019 Well, whatever you call it, it\u2019s illegal.\n\n\u201cTrump is taking the bipartisan funding that we passed\u2014funding that Democrats and Republicans agreed on, that he signed into law\u2014and he is now ripping out the pages he doesn\u2019t like. Forget about ideas like Congress and the law.\n\n\u201cLook, this is theft from the American people\u2014plain and simple. In this case, Trump is tearing away funding to help Americans buy a home, he\u2019s cutting off funds for health care research which would prevent things like dangerous hospital infections that are dangerous or saving taxpayers literally billions of dollars.\n\n\u201cBut you know what, Trump could not care less. While he blows your tax dollars on an illegal war, Trump is illegally cutting off funding for health research, housing, and more.\n\n\u201cAnd I guess that\u2019s no surprise given how this President is constantly out-of-touch with American families, saying \u2018tariffs\u2019 is his favorite word, ore saying he loves inflation, or saying he wants housing costs to go up\u2014he said that.\n\n\u201cBut where are my Republican colleagues who helped pass these funds that Trump is now stealing? Because this didn\u2019t come out of left field. No one can pretend to be surprised by what is happening now.\n\n\u201cWhen Russ Vought was nominated as Trump\u2019s budget chief, he was pretty darn transparent about the fact that he planned to break the law, he planned to tear up our bills, and he dared us to stop him. But that didn\u2019t stop every Republican Senator from voting for him\u2014and when his deputy was nominated and told us this summer that pocket rescissions were very much still on the table, what happened? Once again, every Senate Republican voted to confirm him too.\n\n\u201cAnyone watching could see this coming from a mile away\u2014Trump used this scheme to unlawfully impound $5 billion last summer, for heaven\u2019s sake. That\u2019s why Democrats have fought again, and again, and again, to prevent the president from being able to use this illegal tactic, including in recent negotiations over the CR that\u2019s now law.\n\n\u201cBut Republicans have refused to work with us to prevent Trump and Russ Vought from stealing from the American people. Time, after time, after time, they have shot down our attempts to stop this administration from defying Congress and robbing our constituents.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s talk more about this \u2018pocket rescission\u2019 scheme for a minute and what\u2019s at stake. President Trump and Russ Vought are saying: \u2018Hey, we can ignore the law, we can ignore bipartisan deals, and just make our own decisions, as long as we do it last minute.\u2019\n\n\u201cEveryone knows that is ridiculous and illegal. Congress would never have created a system that gave any President the ability to decide to just ignore or bypass a law.\n\n\u201cIt makes no sense. And in fact, GAO has looked at what this President has done and has said it\u2019s clearly illegal\u2014twice. Now, my Republican colleagues know some of this, some of them have even said so. But whenever they have had the chance, they have not joined us to put an end to this. Democrats had language Republicans could have let us put in the last CR, or the CR before it.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve taken vote after vote on versions of this language\u2014on the floor, and in committee\u2014and, of course, we had the vote where Republicans confirmed the un-abashed architect of Trump\u2019s illegal scheme as Budget Director.\n\n\u201cWell now they are getting one more chance. Senator Merkley and I and others have a bill to help Congress re-assert its authority\u2014our authority\u2014and head off Trump\u2019s completely illegal pocket rescission scheme.\n\n\u201cWe should be clear: Trump isn\u2019t just illegally robbing our constituents through this pocket rescission. There are a whole lot of other funds that he is refusing to get out the door: more health research funding, grants to prevent teen pregnancy, funding to protect Americans from global health threats, and even a quarter of a billion dollars to help families in rural areas get the financing they need to finally achieve their dream of owning a home.\n\n\u201cHundreds of families in rural America will be denied the shot to buy a home as Trump lights this money on fire tonight.\n\n\u201cSo, it\u2019s not just the pocket rescission\u2014it\u2019s all the rest of the money this administration is holding up or misspending. And Republicans have been pretty quiet about it.\n\n\u201cRuss Vought has always made his message to Congress painfully clear: he thinks the votes that we all take here don\u2019t count. He thinks the laws we pass are optional.\n\n\u201cNow is the time for our Republican colleagues who said they would never let this happen to help us pass a bill that makes our message to Russ Vought equally clear: stop stealing from our constituents and start following our laws.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-leads-final-pre-midterm-effort-to-defeat-anti-voter-save-act-condemns-trump-corruption/", "Padilla Leads Final Pre-Midterm Effort to Defeat Anti-Voter SAVE Act, Condemns Trump Corruption", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "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.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, took to the Senate floor in opposition to Republicans\u2019 so-called Stop Insider Trading Act, which would allow members of Congress who already own stocks to keep trading and does nothing to prevent the President and Vice President from trading stocks, and includes a voter identification provision from the SAVE Act that would require eligible voters to include photo identification in their mail and absentee ballots, among other provisions. If enacted, this requirement would have been stricter than all 50 states. Once again, Padilla led his Senate colleagues in defeating this anti-voter provision and underscored the importance of holding President Trump accountable for his ongoing corruption, this time, just over a month before Election Day.\n\nThe Senate failed to advance the bill by a party-line vote of 53-47, with 60 votes required to pass the bill.\n\n\u201cHere we are, 34 days before Election Day, or, as I like to suggest, 34 days before the final day to vote because we\u2019re encouraging people to cast their ballot early if they can, or vote by mail if and where they can,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cBut instead of talking about the issues that are most on the minds of American families, Republicans are here again trying to distract from those issues and to, frankly, create confusion amongst voters in order to protect the President and the party from your failed policies.\u201d\n\nWhile Republicans claim to express concern over insider stock trading, Padilla exposed Trump\u2019s own corruption and highlighted his previous efforts to prevent it, including the fact that President Trump traded more than 21,000 times in his first year in office, more than every member of Congress combined, increasing his net worth by $4-5 billion. Padilla also called out Trump\u2019s Truth Social service, which sells early inside access to presidential announcements to hedge funds and Wall Street firms. He further detailed the impacts of attaching the voter ID provision to the bill and emphasized MAGA Republicans\u2019 efforts to provoke election chaos.\n\n\u201cThe American people deserve to have confidence that their elected representatives are making decisions in the best interest of the American people, and not in your bank account or in your stock investments. But that\u2019s not what this bill will do,\u201d continued Senator Padilla. \u201cThis bill does not ban members of Congress from holding stocks or trading stocks, and it exempts the most powerful elected official of all \u2013 the President of the United States \u2013 from a stock trading ban.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday is not a serious attempt to address the kind of corruption here in Washington that the American people may care about,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cAnd to add further proof to that point, this isn\u2019t just a sham attempt to ban members of Congress from trading stocks, because it includes a voter ID poison pill in it. This so-called \u2018Voter ID\u2019 bill would impose a far stricter and more burdensome federal standard than all 50 states.\u201d\n\nPadilla sounded the alarm on Republicans\u2019 baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, emphasizing their efforts to distract from their failed leadership and policies that are raising costs on American families. Padilla raised concerns about issues that Trump and MAGA Republicans should focus on instead of spreading election and voter disinformation.\n\n\u201cWhen families are struggling with rising inflation, the rising costs of health care and housing, groceries, mortgages, gas prices, an unauthorized war in Iran. Instead of actually addressing those issues with the real proposals, they\u2019re seeking to distract and confuse. The American people deserve better than this,\u201d Senator Padilla concluded.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, which has oversight over federal elections, Padilla has led the charge opposing Trump\u2019s overreaching anti-voter SAVE Act. Last month, Padilla led his Senate colleagues in once again defeating MAGA Republicans\u2019 efforts to advance Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio)\u2019s voter ID bill, a provision of the SAVE Act. In July, Padilla tried twice to call up a bipartisan bill that would ban members of Congress and their family members, as well as the President and Vice President, from trading stocks \u2013 but Republicans blocked it both times. In June, Padilla led his Senate Democratic colleagues in defeating Republicans\u2019 efforts to include the SAVE Act in their anti-immigrant reconciliation bill twice in one night. During the failed March 2026 \u201ctalking filibuster\u201d attempt, Padilla took to the Senate floor four times as a leader in the Democratic opposition to the SAVE Act. Padilla has also led legislation to prohibit the president from monetizing his office by selling inside early access to official announcements to investors.\n\nVideo of Padilla\u2019s remarks is available here.\n\nTranscript of Padilla\u2019s remarks is available below:\n\nMr. President, here we are, 34 days before Election Day, or, as I like to suggest, 34 days before the final day to vote because we\u2019re encouraging people to cast their ballot early, if they can, or vote by mail if and where they can.\n\nBut instead of talking about the issues that are most on the minds of American families, Republicans are here again trying to distract from those issues and to, frankly, create confusion amongst voters in order to protect the president and the party from your failed policies.\n\nNow, Senate Democrats, Senate Democrats agree that something real needs to happen to rein in the ability of elected officials, especially members of Congress, from making decisions that impact the companies in their stock portfolios.\n\nThat is true. The American people deserve to have confidence that their elected representatives are making decisions in the best interest of the American people, and not in your bank account or in your stock investments.\n\nBut that\u2019s not what this bill will do.\n\nThis bill does not ban members of Congress from holding stocks or trading stocks, and it exempts the most powerful elected official of all \u2013 the president of the United States \u2013 from a stock trading ban.\n\nNow let\u2019s be clear, colleagues, because we\u2019ve seen this time and again. When the president makes announcements or posts on Truth Social, he has the potential to move markets, shift the economy. And that\u2019s truly an awesome power, one that nobody should be able to exploit for their own profit.\n\nBut that\u2019s exactly what Donald Trump has done and has done over and over again.\n\nThat\u2019s why, since returning to office last year, his net worth has grown some 4 to 5 billion dollars, billion with a B, Mr. President.\n\nNow, ABC News showed us that just last year, he made over 21,000 stock trades across 8 accounts \u2013 in a matter of 80 \u2013 with the average of about 85 trades per day. 85 trades per day!\n\nDoes that sound like someone who is singularly focused on improving the quality of life for the American people?\n\nI don\u2019t think so.\n\nBloomberg News found that President Trump has traded stocks more than every member of Congress combined.\n\nThink about that for a minute.\n\nOne person, Donald Trump, the president of the United States, the trader-in-chief, made more stock trades in one year than all 535 members of Congress.\n\nNow, NBC News found that 327 of these were made exactly one day before he rolled back his, quote, \u201cLiberation Day,\u201d tariffs. Was that a coincidence? I think not.\n\nHow much grift from his own decision-making? The American people deserve to know.\n\nBut the president\u2019s corruption goes even further.\n\nHis social media company is literally selling access to hedge funds and Wall Street brokers, early access to his major market-shaping announcements.\n\nLet that sink in for a moment.\n\nTrump has been making more stock trades than all of Congress combined while backing a ban that excludes him.\n\nThat\u2019s what the bill before us does. Is it any surprise that the president supports a bill that does nothing to rein him in?\n\nHow can we possibly go home and tell the American people with a straight face that we\u2019re stopping the corruption in Washington when the biggest exploiter is the president and he is immune from these \u2013 from this bill?\n\nThe authors of this bill refuse to put any restrictions or guardrails on the biggest, most corrupt federal stock trader of all.\n\nNow, don\u2019t take that to mean that Democrats don\u2019t want to do anything in this space. We do.\n\nIn fact, the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee last year put out a bipartisan bill that would actually address this issue.\n\nBut folks watching at home should recognize that that bipartisan bill, with teeth, is not what Republicans have chosen to put on the floor today, 34 days before Election Day.\n\nInstead, it\u2019s this sham bill that doesn\u2019t have the teeth and doesn\u2019t rein in the trader-in-chief.\n\nI\u2019ve tried to bring up that bill, by the way, repeatedly in this Senate, and Senate Republicans have blocked it on multiple occasions.\n\nSo, today is not a serious attempt to address the kind of corruption here in Washington that the American people may care about.\n\nAnd to add further proof to that point, this isn\u2019t just an a \u2013 a sham attempt to ban members of Congress from trading stocks because it includes a voter ID poison pill in it.\n\nThis so-called \u201cVoter ID\u201d bill would impose a far stricter and more burdensome federal standard than all 50 states.\n\nYou know, some states have voter ID, some states don\u2019t. Those that do have laws at the state level that require an ID, but it allows tribal IDs or student IDs, if issued by the state government or a state entity, to count.\n\nBut the federal provisions in this bill do not.\n\nAnd it goes even worse for the one-third of American voters that prefer to vote by mail and they have that option in their state.\n\nAnd 80% of Californians, by the way.\n\nThis requirement that you have to have a copy of your ID in the envelope with your ballot for it to count eviscerates the secret ballot that we value so much.\n\nHere\u2019s what the Republican lieutenant governor of Utah had to say \u2013 in Utah, the lieutenant governor is also the state election official \u2013 when it was included in the SAVE Act, and now it\u2019s in the measure before us:\n\nQuote, \u201cThe SAVE America Act requires a vote to include a photo copy of their ID, violating our constitutional right to a secret ballot.\u201d\n\nSo, don\u2019t just take my word for it. Republican governor of Utah.\n\nAnd she\u2019s not the only Republican opposed to this kind of legislation.\n\nThe Republican governor of Ohio vetoed a similar state bill, saying, quote, \u201cThe measure would not discourage fraud, would not add any real security, and would create additional and significant burden for Ohioans who vote by mail.\u201d\n\nAll for what? For the, uh, in pursuit of the Big Lie?\n\nThe president\u2019s been claiming for, what, a decade now about massive voter fraud, while every expert, every study has found the same thing. Despite the conspiracy theories \u2013 voter fraud is already illegal \u2013 let\u2019s establish that, it\u2019s already on the books as illegal. But it\u2019s also extremely, extremely rare.\n\nSo what is this bill truly about, anyway? It\u2019s not cracking down, as Republicans claim it is.\n\nIt\u2019s not going to, you know, address the massive voter fraud that does not exist. Again, it\u2019s misdirection. It\u2019s a distraction. And it threatens to suppress the vote. 34 days before the election.\n\nAnd, all of a sudden, Republicans realize that the only thing they have to show for their control of government for the last two years, right \u2014 you\u2019re the majority in the Senate, you\u2019re the majority in the House. Your party occupies the White House.\n\nWhen families are struggling with rising inflation, the rising costs of health care and housing, groceries, mortgages, gas prices, an unauthorized war in Iran.\n\nInstead of actually addressing those issues with the real proposals, they\u2019re seeking to distract and confuse.\n\nThe American people deserve better than this.\n\nAnd I urge all my colleagues to vote no on this cynical measure. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-schiff-durbin-duckworth-introduce-legislation-to-protect-regional-national-archives-facilities-from-closure/", "Padilla, Schiff, Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Legislation to Protect Regional National Archives Facilities from Closure", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Alex Padilla", "P000145", "www.padilla.senate.gov", "padilla", "https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "The Senators introduced the legislation following the announced closure of Regional National Archives and Federal Records Centers in San Bruno, California and Chicago, Illinois\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), introduced the National Archives Protection Act, legislation that would require congressional approval before the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) can close or significantly restrict access to existing regional facilities.\n\nIn June 2026, NARA announced plans to close its regional archive facilities and co-located Federal Records Centers (FRC) in San Bruno, California and Chicago, Illinois, as well as relocate all temporary records from its Seattle facility. The decision raised concerns from archivists, researchers, and constituents about access to public records, many of which are not digitized and can only be accessed in person.\n\n\u201cOur National Archives are home to the immigration journeys, military service, and family histories of people across the West and the Pacific,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cClosing Federal Records Centers would cut researchers and communities off from our own past. I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Durbin to maintain the public\u2019s access to our nation\u2019s historic documents.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe administration is threatening access to historical and irreplaceable records, including closing down one facility in California that is home to countless photos and family heirlooms. Congress must exercise its oversight power to save decades of regional and national history,\u201d said Senator Schiff.\n\n\u201cRegional National Archives facilities, including Chicago\u2019s Federal Record Center, ensure that Americans can access public and personal records without having to travel across the country. Closing these facilities without the oversight of Congress risks putting those records further out of reach for our communities,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cThe National Archives Protection Act would ensure that these records, and the history they preserve, remain an accessible resource.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur National Archives make it possible for families, researchers and communities across the Midwest to access records that tell the story of who we are and where we come from,\u201d said Senator Duckworth. \u201cThis Administration has already shown how willing it is to erase American stories, and closing regional facilities like Chicago\u2019s Federal Records Center would put even more of our history out of reach. Congress must have a say to protect the public\u2019s access to these critical records and ensure our history is not lost.\u201d\n\nThe San Bruno facility specifically holds immigration, naval, geological, and tribal records from as far back as the 1850s that are integral to researchers in California, Nevada, Hawai\u2019i, Guam, American Samoa, Navy bases in the Pacific, and the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Records within the holdings increase understanding of immigration history through Angel Island and the impacts of enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The original case file of United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed birthright citizenship as outlined in the 14th Amendment, is also one of the irreplaceable historical records in the records at San Bruno.\n\nU.S. Representatives Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), and Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-Ill.-04) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-committee-advances-bipartisan-padilla-bill-to-support-desalination-and-safe-drinking-water/", "Senate Committee Advances Bipartisan Padilla Bill to Support Desalination and Safe Drinking Water", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "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, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced U.S. Senator Alex Padilla\u2019s (D-Calif.) bipartisan bill to reauthorize desalination projects and research. Padilla\u2019s Desalination Reauthorization Act cleared committee by voice vote, along with a bipartisan amendment that was also adopted by voice vote.\n\n\u201cAccess to safe and clean drinking water is a human right, and investments in desalination projects provide promising pathways to meet our water needs,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cThe bill will help strengthen investments into desalination research and development so that every American can access safe, clean water. This is a critical step in addressing California\u2019s water crisis and building new pathways for water security across the country.\u201d\n\nThe legislation would extend the programmatic approval of the Bureau of Reclamation to fund desalination projects, which would otherwise expire this year. If the programmatic approval expired, Congress would need to pass a separate bill in order to authorize each new desalination project, which could substantially delay desalination projects and increase their costs. These projects, including the Doheny desalination plant in Orange County, help the Southwest counter drought by providing a drought-proof contribution to our water supply.\n\nIn addition, the legislation would authorize Reclamation to support advanced pilots to test new desalination technologies like OceanWell, which uses the ocean pressure at depths of approximately 1,400 feet to reduce the energy costs of desalination, and can also minimize desalination\u2019s effects on marine life. OceanWell is working with Las Virgenes Water District in Ventura County to test its technology off the Southern California coast.\n\nSpecifically, this bill would:\n\nReauthorize the Bureau of Reclamation\u2019s authority to provide grants for desalination projects, which is on track expire this year;\n\nAmend the programmatic approval to extend to public/private partnerships to build desalination projects;\n\nDirect that Reclamation cannot administratively impose a maximum funding amount that each desalination project can receive, which would allow large desalination plants to receive the full 25% federal cost-share; and\n\nAmend the desalination and water purification research program to advance pilot projects, which cover the gap in developing new technologies known as the \u201cValley of Death\u201d between small-scale pilots that test a laboratory concept and commercially viable projects.\n\nThe bipartisan amendment that the committee adopted would increase the maximum level of federal grants for desalination research to institutions of higher education like the University of California from $1 million to $2.5 million.\n\nIn addition to Padilla, the bill is cosponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas).\n\nPadilla has long been a strong advocate for ensuring access to safe, reliable water throughout California and across the country. Earlier this year, as severe droughts, warming temperatures, limitations on groundwater pumping, and outdated infrastructure compound California\u2019s water scarcity issues, Padilla introduced a pair of bills to help address growing water supply challenges in California and the American West. His MORE WATER Act advanced out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by voice vote and now heads to the Senate for a full vote.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-senator-peters-reflects-on-proudest-accomplishments-for-michigan-takeaways-from-congress-during-detroit-economic-club-exit-interview", "ICYMI: Senator Peters Reflects on Proudest Accomplishments for Michigan, Takeaways from Congress During Detroit Economic Club Exit Interview", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "DETROIT, MI \u2013 U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) reflected on his proudest accomplishments and takeaways from his 18 years in Congress during an \u201cExit Interview\u201d with the Detroit Economic Club. In a conversation moderated by Local 4 Detroit\u2019s Jason Colthrup, Peters highlighted his long-term efforts to support Michigan\u2019s auto industry, protect the Great Lakes, and secure long-term missions at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.\n\nBelow are highlights from Peters\u2019 remarks:\n\nAdvocating for the 2009 Auto Rescue, Making the Case to Congress:\n\n\u201cWe had a lot of members of Congress that were around the country that were saying, \u2018Yeah, let them go bankrupt. You know, that\u2019s okay. That\u2019s capitalism, if they go under, that\u2019s it.\u2019 And I\u2019m like, \u2018No, you can\u2019t have a manufacturing sector in America if you don\u2019t have an auto sector that\u2019s healthy and vibrant. This impacts everybody,\u2019 and we made the case aggressively.\u201d\n\nSecuring a Strong Future for Selfridge Air National Guard Base, including:\n\nDelivering a New Squadron of KC-46A Refueling Tankers: \u201cI blocked the Air Force Secretary from getting confirmed under the Biden Administration. He wasn\u2019t going to get confirmed until I got some sort of commitment. And we worked together, and our delegation worked together, and then they said, \u2018Well, we\u2019ll get you these tankers.\u2019\u201d\n\nEstablishing the Northern Border Mission Center: \u201cNow, we have this mission center which coordinates all of the border security from Maine to Washington state, all of the northern border, and it\u2019s going to happen at Selfridge, which gives it a major Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mission.\u201d\n\nTo watch Peters\u2019 full interview at the Detroit Economic Club, click here.\n\nSecuring Investments for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Protecting Our Waterways:\n\n\u201cThe Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which was passed in [20]10, has been a major game changer. Billions of dollars have been going in, if you just think of the Detroit River area and up into Port Huron, I think $250 million to make sure we\u2019re cleaning up the old toxic sites that were here from our industrial heritage. The watersheds are clean. And that happens all around the Great Lakes Basin. That has been major.\u201d\n\nCreating the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise in Michigan:\n\n\u201cIt now has state of the art equipment there to train crews on how to clean up oil spills, so we don\u2019t have to wait two weeks for a submersible. It can be there like in an hour and a half, it\u2019s very close. We\u2019re gaining the expertise there to make sure we\u2019re cleaning up oil spills not just in the Great Lakes, but all of freshwater.\u201d\n\nThe Detroit Economic Club (DEC) was formed in 1934 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization that promotes discussion and debate of important business, government, and social issues.\n\nWhen the 2008 financial crisis rocked Michigan\u2019s automotive industry, Peters was instrumental in advocating for the rescue of the Big Three automakers, which saved more than 1 million automotive industry jobs in Michigan and across the country.\n\nPeters served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for 12 years, rising to the rank of Lt. Commander. During that time, he drilled at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County. As a U.S. Senator, Peters has worked tirelessly to secure the future of Selfridge as Michigan\u2019s premier military installation to maintain its role in our nation\u2019s defense and as an economic driver for the state. He led the Michigan delegation to secure a full squadron of next generation KC-46A aircraft tankers, which will operate at Selfridge for the next 50 years. He also established and secured funding for the Northern Border Mission Center to be located at Selfridge.\n\nThroughout his career in public service, Peters has been a champion for protecting the Great Lakes and Michigan\u2019s drinking water from threats like oil spills and PFAS contamination. Peters\u2019 efforts have helped protect our most precious source of drinking water and an economic engine for our state from the devastating consequences of pollution. He authored a provision signed into law to create the U.S. Coast Guard National Center of Expertise (NCOE) for the Great Lakes, and secured $1.5 million to launch the center. Headquartered at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, the Great Lakes National Center of Expertise will examine the impacts of oil spills in freshwater environments and help develop effective responses that currently don\u2019t exist.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-cassidy-lead-bipartisan-colleagues-in-designating-september-2026-as-national-literacy-month", "Reed, Cassidy Lead Bipartisan Colleagues in Designating September 2026 as \u201cNational Literacy Month\u201d", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of literacy, boost literacy support programs, and encourage more Americans of all ages to read, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) are teaming up on a bipartisan resolution to designate September 2026 as \u201cNational Literacy Month.\u201d\n\nThe measure is being cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Susan Collins (R-ME).\n\n\u201cReading unlocks opportunity, and education is a lifelong pursuit. By strengthening literacy for Americans and doing a better job of reaching learners of all ages where they are, we can help people reach their full potential and build a stronger society,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with Senator Cassidy and our colleagues to introduce this important resolution that amplifies the need for more effective literacy instruction for all students, regardless of their age or background.\u201d\n\n\u201cLiteracy opens the door for children to achieve the American Dream,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cCongress must prioritize fixing our broken K-12 education system, so all children learn how to read proficiently.\u201d\n\nReading is a cornerstone for personal growth, economic opportunity, and a strong society. Reading proficiency by third grade is one of the most important predictors of whether a student will graduate high school and succeed in a career, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.\n\nThe Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies estimates that 28% of American adults perform at the lowest literacy proficiency level. Low levels of adult literacy in the U.S. are estimated to cost the nation as much as $2.2 trillion annually, According to a 2020 study by Gallup in partnership with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.\n\nIn recognition of National Literacy Month, throughout the month of September, schools, libraries, non-profits, and other organizations will host a variety of activities, events, and free workshops highlighting the importance of building and strengthening literacy skills and the benefits of reading on healthy development.\n\nSenator Reed is the author of the Right to Read Act (S.3365) which would ensure the nation\u2019s school libraries are fully-stocked and staffed by surging federal investments in support of increasing student literacy. Additionally, he helped write the bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act (S.1400) to strengthen and expand access to adult education services aimed at increasing literacy rates and growing the economy.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.rosen.senate.gov/2026/09/30/video-amid-trump-trade-war-and-rising-prices-rosen-pushes-back-on-trumps-hostile-actions-against-canada/", "VIDEO: Amid Trump Trade War and Rising Prices, Rosen Pushes Back on Trump\u2019s Hostile Actions Against Canada", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NV", "Jacky Rosen", "R000608", "www.rosen.senate.gov", "rosen", "https://www.rosen.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Senate Republicans Blocked Rosen Resolution Condemning Trump\u2019s Actions Against Canada\n\nWatch Senator Rosen\u2019s Full Remarks HERE.\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senate Republicans blocked Senator Jacky Rosen\u2019s (D-NV) attempt to pass her resolution denouncing Donald Trump\u2019s hostile actions against Canada that are increasing prices for consumers and harming Nevada\u2019s economy. The resolution calls for the removal of Trump\u2019s new 50 percent cost-raising tariffs on Canadian products and demands that the President stop taking inflammatory actions that needlessly harm the U.S. relationship with Canada. Nevada has already felt the impact of President Trump\u2019s reckless actions, with tourism from Canada to Las Vegas down 17 percent in the last year and tariffs causing prices to skyrocket across the board. Canada is Nevada\u2019s second-largest export market, accounting for $1.6 billion in goods every year.\n\nSenator Rosen has been an outspoken critic of Trump\u2019s attacks on Canada and their impact on Nevada. Earlier this month, Senator Rosen released a statement denouncing Trump\u2019s trade war with Canada. She also helped introduce a bill that would repeal Trump\u2019s new 50 percent cost-raising tariffs on Canada. Senator Rosen also met with the Consul General of Canada to discuss the relationship between Nevada and Canada, as well as the importance of Canadian visitors and products to Nevada\u2019s economy.\n\nBelow are Senator Rosen\u2019s full remarks:\n\nToday, I rise to speak up against Donald Trump\u2019s reckless trade war against Canada and the impact it is having on my state of Nevada.\n\nBecause of Trump\u2019s childish fight with our neighbor, tourism is down, prices are up, and Canada is rethinking its relationship with our country.\n\nLet me tell you why this matters for my state.\n\nCanada is the number one source of international visitors to Las Vegas.\n\nIn 2024, nearly 1.5 million Canadians visited Nevada to help boost our tourism economy and the small businesses that depend on it.\n\nAnd Canada is also one of Nevada\u2019s top trading partners.\n\nIn fact, Nevada exports approximately $1.6 billion worth of goods to Canada.\n\nThink about it: $1.6 billion of revenue coming to businesses in my state of Nevada to further contribute to our economy.\n\nThis is exactly why a good, healthy relationship between Canada and the United States is important for Nevada, Nevada\u2019s economy, Nevada\u2019s families.\n\nBut Donald Trump is doing everything in his power to harm our relationship with Canada. He\u2019s hurting Nevada families; he\u2019s hurting Nevada businesses along the way.\n\nOne of the first actions Trump took since returning to the White House was beginning a reckless and erratic trade war that has resulted in higher prices for American businesses. For American families, for all of us. Every single one of us.\n\nTo date, he has imposed tariffs on many items we buy from Canada, with higher rates on products like building materials, brand-name prescription drugs, alcohol, and paper products.\n\nI\u2019ve heard from restaurant owners paying more for paper towels and homebuilders paying more for materials. These costs not only make it impossible for our business owners to plan ahead, but they also get passed on to families.\n\nMost recently, Trump utilized a never-before-used trade authority- I want to emphasize this- a never-before-used trade authority to target Canada, applying 50 percent tariffs on a wide array of Canadian goods.\n\nIn retaliation, Canada recently imposed their own tariffs on goods they import from the United States, including from my state of Nevada.\n\nRemember the $1.6 billion in Nevada goods we export to Canada? That number will likely be reduced because of these retaliatory tariffs.\n\nAnd just yesterday, Trump\u2019s ban on the import of many Canadian goods has gone into effect, restricting Americans\u2019 freedom, restricting our freedom to buy what we want to buy, and making all of our prices go up.\n\nThe back-and-forth tariffs are a disaster, but they only tell one side of the story of Trump\u2019s hostilities towards Canada.\n\nTrump\u2019s childish attacks on Canada have included threats to annex it as the United States\u2019 \u201c51st state,\u201d and references to the Canadian Prime Minister as \u201cGovernor.\u201d\n\nHe\u2019s tried to rename Lake Ontario to \u201cLake America.\u201d\n\nTrump even canceled trade negotiations because a Canadian television ad hurt his feelings.\n\nAfter a year and a half of this nonsense, where has Trump gotten us?\n\nWell, I can tell you where: last year, Canadian tourism to Las Vegas declined by 17 percent.\n\nThis contributed to an overall decline in tourism that made 2025 the worst non-pandemic year for Las Vegas since we began tracking data.\n\nWhen we see a decline like this, it isn\u2019t just a data point for us. Hospitality employs nearly a third of all the workers in Nevada.\n\nSo this means fewer guests in our hotel rooms, which leads to fewer shifts for housekeepers.\n\nIt means fewer visits to our restaurants and less tip money for servers and bartenders, and it trickles down to mean less money in our hospitality workers\u2019 pockets, and when they go home to the neighborhoods they live in, that\u2019s less money they can spend there.\n\nIt\u2019s not only Nevada that\u2019s feeling this. According to the Canadian government\u2019s own data, total spending by Canadians in the United States declined by over $3 billion\n\nAnd Canadians themselves are pointing to Trump\u2019s hostility as a reason for this decline.\n\nThey\u2019re still traveling and spending money, Canadians are. They\u2019re just not coming to the United States. This situation was 100% avoidable. None of this had to happen.\n\nNo one can argue with the facts: tourism is down because of Trump\u2019s trade war with Canada. Less money is being invested in our economy, and our small businesses are struggling to navigate expensive and constantly-changing conditions.\n\nThat\u2019s why I\u2019m here today to pass a simple resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that Trump\u2019s trade war against Canada must end. It must end to get our economy and the relationship with our neighbor back on track.\n\nI hope my colleagues can look at the facts and agree.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hirono-lead-senate-resolution-honoring-hawaiian-history", "Schatz, Hirono Lead Senate Resolution Honoring Hawaiian History", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i) introduced a Senate resolution designating September 2026 as \u201cHawaiian History Month.\u201d The resolution recognizes the rich history and culture of Native Hawaiians and Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u201cHawaiian cultural traditions and values are an essential part of what makes Hawai\u2018i special. Hawaiian History Month is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the culture, history, and contributions of the Native Hawaiian community and recommit to protecting Native Hawaiian rights,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n\u201cHawai\u2018i\u2019s story is rooted in the wisdom, leadership, and enduring heritage of Native Hawaiians. As we celebrate our state\u2019s rich culture, I am proud to honor the immeasurable contributions Native Hawaiians have made\u2014and continue to make\u2014across our islands and nationwide,\u201d said Senator Hirono.\n\nThe full text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-schiff-colleagues-fight-department-of-educations-new-rule-weaponizing-higher-education-accreditation-process/", "NEWS: Schiff, Colleagues Fight Department of Education\u2019s New Rule Weaponizing Higher Education Accreditation Process", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Adam B. Schiff", "S001150", "www.schiff.senate.gov", "schiff", "https://www.schiff.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThese changes set a dangerous precedent by forcing accreditors and, in turn, institutions, to answer to the political whims of the executive branch.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 After the Department of Education\u2019s new regulations enabling new accreditors to enter the market more quickly, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) led his colleagues in a comment letter to urge the Department to rescind the rule \u2013 warning of the implications to academic freedom and upholding the quality of higher education.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to ensure any reforms to the accreditation system prioritize what is best for students and taxpayers not partisan, political actors\u2026 The provisions outlined in the Department\u2019s proposed rule threaten this system by inserting undue influence from the executive branch into the higher education accreditation process. Such changes place the academic freedom and intellectual diversity of our nation\u2019s higher-education institutions in jeopardy,\u201d the Senators wrote in a new comment letter to Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent.\n\nThe Senators warn that the provisions go against Congressional intent and will threaten academic freedom, invite inexperienced accreditors to enter the market quickly potentially leaving students vulnerable to fraud, impose ideological requirements on accreditors, and reduce guardrails around educational institution\u2019s ability to switch accreditors \u2013 enabling those who have defrauded students.\n\n\u201cSuch a politicization of faculty hiring and tenure gives the executive branch undue political influence over who institutions hire and what research their faculties produce. These provisions will narrow the scope of future research and dissuade faculty from producing findings that might be unpopular with the corporate or political forces which can influence hiring and firing decisions at institutions. This rule will have a negative downstream effect on the pipeline of future innovation that drives economic growth and improves the lives of all Americans,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cAs the Department joins its counterparts across the executive branch of this administration in taking drastic steps to exert its influence within higher education, the proposed rule contains several policies which go against the statutory intent meant to give institutions and accreditors independence in setting and enforcing standards and protection against undue political influence\u2026 In light of these concerns, we urge you to rescind the elements of the proposed rule which increase executive-branch involvement and influence in higher-education accreditation and invite lower-quality, inexperienced, and potentially unscrupulous actors to the market of millions in taxpayer dollars,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Schiff, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).\n\nBackground: Senator Schiff has prioritized holding the administration accountable for its weaponization of higher education. Most recently, Schiff and U.S. Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39) introduced new legislation, the Higher Education Accreditation Accountability Act, to prevent the administration from using accreditation as a \u201csecret weapon\u201d against higher education.\n\nEarlier this year, Schiff and 43 other California Democrats demanded the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescind its proposed regulation that would politicize federal grants. In April, Schiff led several Senate Democrats in urging the Department of Education to reverse its efforts to weaponize the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), the bipartisan and independent committee that advises the Secretary of Education on the accreditation process.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Secretary McMahon and Under Secretary Kent:\n\nWe write to provide our comments on the Department of Education\u2019s (Department) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published on August 20, 2026, that would overhaul accreditation and higher education. We urge you to ensure any reforms to the accreditation system prioritize what is best for students and taxpayers not partisan, political actors.\n\nAccreditation from a Department-recognized agency assures students and taxpayers of an institution or program\u2019s quality and enables students to participate in financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA), like Pell grants and Direct Loans. To preserve academic and institutional independence, federal law prohibits the Department from establishing specific accreditation standards, including those relating to curricula, faculty, admissions, and student support. Instead, the Department\u2019s primary role within the accreditation system is to recognize individual agencies and ensure that they are applying rigorous standards consistently, affirm those standards promote program quality, and provide robust due process procedures in the recognition process.\n\nThe provisions outlined in the Department\u2019s proposed rule threaten this system by inserting undue influence from the executive branch into the higher education accreditation process. Such changes place the academic freedom and intellectual diversity of our nation\u2019s higher-education institutions in jeopardy. Additionally, elements of the proposal meant to loosen regulations around the accreditation process will lower the standards for new accreditors and enable institutions to escape accountability and sanctions more easily. These provisions will make accreditation a race to the bottom, leaving students and taxpayers vulnerable to fraud and misrepresentation.\n\nSeveral components of the NPRM take positive steps to support program quality such as efforts to streamline transfer of credit policies, strengthen conflict of interest controls and student achievement standards. However, we urge the Department to consider the consequences other elements of this proposal will have on accreditors\u2019 ability to assess institutional quality objectively and safeguard students and taxpayers from waste, fraud, and abuse on the part of predatory or unscrupulous institutions.\n\nBelow, we provide more detailed input on the regulations proposed by the Department.\n\nAcademic Freedom, Intellectual Diversity, and Institutional Policies\n\nThe Department is proposing that accreditors must, among other requirements, \u201cestablish a policy that is designed to support, promote, and appropriately prioritize intellectual diversity and the free exchange of ideas amongst faculty\u2026.\u201d By mandating that accreditors create standards for the \u201cintellectual diversity\u201d of faculties\u2014a term which the rule never defines\u2014the Department can dictate who institutions can hire and continue to employ under the guise of correcting any perceived ideological imbalance amongst faculty at our nation\u2019s institutions.\n\nAdditionally, the Department is proposing that accreditors require institutions to have policies which ensure \u201csufficient flexibility in instructional staffing policies to respond to persistent material changes in student demand, program viability, or financial conditions.\u201d This language could enable accreditors to force institutions to reduce faculty tenure protections. Tenure is a crucial safeguard for academic freedom, allowing faculty to conduct research, publish findings, and exercise freedom of speech without the threat of losing their position due to outside pressure.\n\nSuch a politicization of faculty hiring and tenure gives the executive branch undue political influence over who institutions hire and what research their faculties produce. These provisions will narrow the scope of future research and dissuade faculty from producing findings that might be unpopular with the corporate or political forces which can influence hiring and firing decisions at institutions. This rule will have a negative downstream effect on the pipeline of future innovation that drives economic growth and improves the lives of all Americans.\n\nThe proposal includes a requirement for accreditors to assess whether institutions allow \u201ca range of academic perspectives\u201d to be expressed \u201cwithout adverse action based on lawful viewpoints unrelated to professional or academic competence\u2026.\u201d This language could be easily weaponized to suppress free speech or discourse on campus based on what the executive branch interprets to be a \u201clawful\u201d viewpoint. Similarly, the Department is proposing that accreditors assess whether institutions adequately protect First Amendment rights and refrain from allowing institutions to \u201cviolate any Federal or State law,\u201d including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. Institutions are, of course, already required to follow these laws and are subject to legal action if they are accused of violating them. The Department\u2019s rule will mandate that accreditors, which do not have the expertise of federal civil rights or First Amendment law, arbitrate on these matters.\n\nThe provision which includes Title VI and Title IX rights concludes that such a mandate means that \u201cagencies must not have policies that require institutions or programs to provide unlawful preferences to students, faculty, staff, contractors, or any employees based upon their race, color, national origin, or sex, including in admissions, hiring, and the selection of contracts.\u201d Such language parallels the Department\u2019s attempts to purge diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and protections for transgender students from college campuses based on the current administration\u2019s interpretation of civil rights law, whether through conducting politically charged civil rights investigations or, within the accreditation space, threatening accreditors\u2019 recognition by pressuring them to drop their DEI policies.\n\nBeyond forcing accreditors to adhere to this administration\u2019s interpretation of civil rights law and protections, the Department\u2019s proposals around institutional policies and academic freedom exceed the authority exceed the Department\u2019s authority under the HEA and the Department of Education Organization Act of 1979. The HEA grants accreditors the authority to set their own standards on assessing an institution\u2019s faculty, curriculum, and admissions practices independent of the Department\u2019s regulations, while limiting the Department from prescribing accreditor standards. The Department of Education Organization Act prohibits the Department from exercising \u201cany direction, supervision, or control\u201d over the \u201ccurriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel\u201d of any institution or accrediting agency.1Such prescriptions on accreditors\u2019 policies, which in turn affect the policies of their constituent institutions, trample the Congressionally mandated independence of accreditors from the executive branch, jeopardizing accreditors\u2019 role as a safeguard for taxpayer dollars and setting a dangerous precedent accelerating this administration\u2019s politicization of higher education.\n\nNew Accrediting Agencies\n\nThe HEA requires that accreditors seeking Department recognition \u201cdemonstrate the ability and the experience to operate as an accrediting agency or association\u2026,\u201d have a pool of voluntary members, consistently apply and enforce standards, and carry out regular accrediting activities like on-site inspections. The Department\u2019s proposal to \u201cstreamline\u201d the process for new accreditors to earn recognition, however, subverts the HEA by striking the regulations governing how much experience a prospective accrediting agency must demonstrate, instead, requiring no experience accrediting at all. The Department proposes that an agency can apply for recognition when it demonstrates that it can legally operate in the relevant jurisdiction, has adopted accreditation standards, operating procedures, and institutional applications consistent with federal regulations, and has at least one institution or program which has applied for accreditation.\n\nThe current regulation builds out the HEA\u2019s requirements by having prospective accreditors accredit at least one institution or program and carry out other typical accreditor duties for at least two years before seeking recognition from the Department. This waiting period enables the Department to examine whether a prospective accreditor is consistently and rigorously applying quality standards before it receives the ability to gatekeep federal funds for new institutions.\n\nBy striking the two-year requirement and allowing application and review without ever having accredited an institution, the Department\u2019s proposal will enable unproven and inexperienced accreditors to enter the market. Loosening these standards risks institutions actively seeking out accreditors who do not have the expertise necessary to hold them accountable to high standards, while creating perverse incentives for longstanding accreditors to scale back their own oversight efforts to remain competitive. A cost estimate produced by the Congressional Budget Office, when considering legislation that would open the accreditation marketplace, made assumptions that federal spending would increase as a result because new institutions would become accredited and existing accrediting agencies would be less likely to remove accreditation from existing institutions in a competitive market. The Department has not considered these potential outcomes in its reasoning or cost estimates. The accreditation landscape this provision creates could give unscrupulous institutions a clear path to defrauding students and increasing costs for taxpayers. In fact, officials from the defunct accreditors of predatory for-profit institutions, which shuttered after investigations and left thousands of students in debt and with worthless degrees, are primed to establish new accrediting agencies under these new regulations.\n\nChanging Accreditors\n\nThe Department\u2019s proposal strikes the requirement that institutions be in good standing with their accreditors for the 24 months prior to changing accrediting agencies. As written, the Department\u2019s proposal would direct the Secretary to automatically approve a change in accreditor, unless the Secretary determines that the institution is seeking the change to evade federal law, avoid enforcement from its current accreditor, or obtain Title IV eligibility through some other form of misrepresentation.\n\nCurrent regulation forbids colleges from changing accreditors if their accreditation has been withdrawn, revoked, terminated, or placed on probation in the two years prior to the switch. Under the Department\u2019s proposal, the Secretary would have to uncover evidence that the institution\u2019s intent in changing accreditors was to evade accountability. This shift in a discretionary approach will lead to institutions switching accreditors or maintaining multiple accreditors to escape oversight or sanctions from an accrediting agency, especially in light of the personnel cuts at the Department. We are concerned that the Department will not have adequate staffing to properly review and evaluate institutions\u2019 applications to switch accreditors.\n\nThis laxing of standards around accreditation switching is compounded by the provision directing the Secretary to \u201cnot determine the cause of having multiple accrediting agencies to be unreasonable due to a withdrawal, revocation, other termination of accreditation, probation or equivalent, show cause order, or suspension order.\u201d2 This means that the Secretary will not consider an institution seeking multiple accreditation while sanctioned by its current accreditor to be evading accountability. Such a provision incentivizes institutions to pursue or maintain multiple accreditation to protect against a loss of accreditation and eligibility for federal funds. This provision therefore puts students and taxpayer dollars at risk by allowing colleges who have rightfully been sanctioned for not meeting quality standards to continue receiving federal funding.\n\nWe urge the Department to reinstate the current regulations to maintain critical guardrails for students and to remain good stewards of taxpayer funds. The current regulation remains in line with Congressional intent and will ensure that the Department gives proper scrutiny to institutions attempting to evade accountability or sanctions by switching accreditors.\n\nConclusion\n\nAs the Department joins its counterparts across the executive branch of this administration in taking drastic steps to exert its influence within higher education, the proposed rule contains several policies which go against the statutory intent meant to give institutions and accreditors independence in setting and enforcing standards and protection against undue political influence. These changes set a dangerous precedent by forcing accreditors and, in turn, institutions, to answer to the political whims of the executive branch. Simultaneously, the provisions around new accrediting agencies and institutions\u2019 switching of accreditors will dilute higher education with inexperienced or hyper-ideological accreditors, incentivizing established accreditors to relax their standards and grant more opportunities for low-quality institutions and programs to escape accountability. Ultimately, taxpayer dollars will continue to flow to institutions which saddle students with extreme debt and worthless degrees.\n\nIn light of these concerns, we urge you to rescind the elements of the proposed rule which increase executive-branch involvement and influence in higher-education accreditation and invite lower-quality, inexperienced, and potentially unscrupulous actors to the market of millions in taxpayer dollars.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 22965, "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, 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