{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"DE\" and year = 2026 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-statement-on-senate-passage-of-the-protect-college-sports-act/", "Senator Coons statement on Senate passage of the Protect College Sports Act", "2026-09-28", "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.), an original co-sponsor of the Protect College Sports Act, released the following statement after the Senate voted 77-22 on the bill\u2019s final passage this evening:\n\n\u201cCollege sports are in crisis, and I\u2019m grateful to Senators Cantwell and Cruz for leading this bipartisan effort to save them. Their hard work negotiating with colleges and universities, HBCUs, the NCAA, unions, trial lawyers, players, and others has created a badly needed bill that is a win for student-athletes, schools, and fans. Today\u2019s resounding, bipartisan vote for final passage that won the support of a majority of my Democratic colleagues is proof of their success.\n\n\u201cNo matter which school they attend or what sport they play, this bill will protect the education, health, and compensation rights of all 550,000 NCAA student-athletes. It keeps college sports from collapsing and leaves student-athletes better off than before. I want to thank my colleagues for taking up and passing this bill so swiftly, and I urge the House to do the same.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-tillis-blackburn-schiff-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-protect-u-s-internet-users-from-foreign-online-piracy/", "Senators Coons, Tillis, Blackburn, Schiff introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to protect U.S. internet users from foreign online piracy", "2026-09-28", "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 \u2013U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the Deterring Extraterritorial Foreign Exploitation of Networks Damaging Intellectual Property (DEFEND IP) Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would allow U.S. courts to direct internet service providers to block specifically identified foreign criminals and the piracy sites they operate from gaining access to U.S. internet users. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Ben Cline (R-Va.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cPirating American movies, TV shows, art, and books by foreign websites steals tens of billions of dollars from the U.S. economy each year, costing our creative community hundreds of thousands of jobs,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cThis bipartisan, bicameral legislation will give American creators the tools they need to protect their intellectual property rights, while ensuring the internet remains a vibrant forum for free speech.\u201d\n\n\u201cForeign piracy continues to threaten American creators, putting well-paying jobs at risk, while exposing consumers to malware, identity theft, and other serious online harms,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThe DEFEND IP Act provides a targeted, commonsense tool to shut down these foreign, criminal operations at the source while protecting lawful speech and due process. I\u2019m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to safeguard America\u2019s creative economy and strengthen digital security, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to counter these threats.\u201d\n\nThe DEFEND IP Act would only target foreign-operated websites dedicated to piracy, require a showing of harm and ongoing monitoring, hold service providers harmless for implementing orders, and safeguard legitimate websites and free expression. This legislation was originally introduced as a discussion draft of the Block BEARD Act of 2025.\n\nThe following organizations endorse the DEFEND IP Act: the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL), American Society of Collective Rights Licensing (ASCRL), the Association of American Publishers (AAP), the Recording Academy, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA), the Copyright Alliance, Songwriters of North America (SONA), the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), CreativeFuture, the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP), the Authors Guild, the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM),the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA).\n\n\u201cThe Motion Picture Association commends Representatives Lofgren and Cline and Senators Tillis, Coons, Blackburn and Schiff for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral DEFEND IP Act \u2013 a bill to deliver a long-overdue judicial site-blocking framework to the United States. By enacting this legislation, our country can deploy a highly effective tool to protect creators and consumers from overseas digital piracy, all while safeguarding free speech and preserving the open internet. For more than a decade, similar policies have been used to great effect by democratic allies like the United Kingdom and Australia. We look forward to working with Congress and stakeholders to enact this important measure into law,\u201d said Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of Motion Picture Association.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Senators Tillis, Coons, Blackburn, and Schiff and Representative Lofgren for their bipartisan, bicameral leadership in crafting the DEFEND IP Act, which empowers US federal courts to protect consumers, rightsholders, and markets from large scale foreign piracy,\u201d said Mitch Glazier, chairman and CEO of Recording Industry Association of America. \u201cSimilar tools have proven effective around the world over the last ten years with no harm to speech, Internet infrastructure or security, or participation online, and we look forward to working with the sponsors to create a simple, effective judicial remedy as this bill moves forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe DEFEND IP Act would help protect American creators from foreign actors who steal and profit from their content. The legislation provides important due process protections by entrusting website-blocking authority to the courts, while protecting Internet users by leaving the technical implementation of blocking injunctions to qualified experts rather than judges. This calibrated approach balances the need to protect America\u2019s creative industries with the interests of Internet users,\u201d said Daniel Castro, president of ITIF.\n\n\u201cWe applaud Rep. Lofgren, and Senators Tillis, Coons, Blackburn, and Schiff for their commitment to protecting the millions of Americans working in the creative industries by introducing this site-blocking legislation,\u201d said Ruth Vitale, CEO of CreativeFuture. \u201cOur film and television industry employs 2.01 million workers. The industry is composed of more than 162,000 businesses, 93% of which employ fewer than 10 people. Piracy, most of which is coming from territories beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement, threatens to undermine all of this. The overwhelming evidence from almost 60 countries around the world with site-blocking in place proves that these laws shift traffic away from illegal pirate sites toward the legal marketplace. We look forward to seeing a judicial site blocking law enacted here in the U.S.\u201d\n\n\u201cForeign piracy operators have spent years hiding beyond the reach of American law, profiting from the work of American creators while U.S. courts stood powerless to stop them. The DEFEND IP Act closes that gap. It is the leading compromise on this issue, giving creators a real remedy while fairly balancing the interests of internet providers, users, and the public. Every blocking order must be approved by a federal judge, reaches only sites dedicated to piracy, and includes safeguards for legitimate speech and commerce. We thank Senators Tillis, Schiff, Coons and Blackburn and Representative Lofgren for their bipartisan leadership, and we urge Congress to swiftly take up further consideration of this bill,\u201d said Andrei Iancu and David Kappos, chairmen of the Board of Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP).\n\n\u201cVisual artists should not have to stand by while their work is systematically exploited by foreign piracy sites simply because those sites operate beyond the reach of traditional enforcement tools. The DEFEND IP Act would provide right holders with an important, court-supervised mechanism to protect their creative works and the livelihoods that depend on them,\u201d said James Silverberg, CEO of American Society for Collective Rights Licensing (ASCRL).\n\n\u201cAuthors\u2019 books are pirated at an enormous scale by foreign websites that operate beyond the reach of U.S. law, depriving writers of income they depend on to earn a living. The DEFEND IP Act would give authors and other copyright owners a court-supervised tool to stop these offshore piracy sites, and the Authors Guild thanks the bipartisan sponsors for standing up for American writers,\u201d said Mary Rasenberger, CEO of Authors Guild.\n\n\u201cComposers and lyricists who write music for film, television, and video games routinely see their work exploited by foreign piracy sites that operate beyond the reach of U.S. law. The DEFEND IP Act gives creators a court-supervised tool to stop these offshore bad actors and protect the music, and the livelihoods, that American storytelling depends on,\u201d said Ashley Irwin, president of the Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL).\n\n\u201cThe DEFEND IP Act provides a balanced, court-supervised remedy to address offshore pirate sites that specialize in the mass theft of literary works. AAP applauds the bipartisan sponsors of this legislation for their leadership in protecting the intellectual property of publishers and authors, whose livelihoods directly depend on the protection and enforcement of their rights,\u201d said Maria A. Pallante, president and CEO of Association of American Publishers (AAP).\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/statement-senator-blunt-rochester-opposes-the-protect-college-sports-act/", "STATEMENT: Senator Blunt Rochester Opposes the Protect College Sports Act", "2026-09-28", "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. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today released the following statement on S.4668, the Protect College Sports Act:\n\n\u201cThe landscape of college sports is changing by the day, and Congress undoubtedly has a responsibility to come together to find a path forward. However, while I appreciate the bipartisan work put into this bill, I remain concerned with it \u2014 especially in this moment.\n\n\u201cDespite the bill providing a private right of action for student-athletes, it relies on individual athletes to enforce their rights through litigation. Student-athletes often have limited time, resources, and legal expertise. They should not bear primary responsibility for identifying violations and suing their schools or athletic programs to secure the protections provided by the bill.\n\n\u201cI am also concerned that the bill would codify significant terms governing student-athletes\u2019 compensation, transfers, and eligibility at a time when questions about athletes\u2019 labor rights remain unsettled. Congress should not lock these terms into federal law in ways that could limit student-athletes\u2019 ability to negotiate or collectively bargain over them in the future.\n\n\u201cThe adequacy of athlete protections has raised concerns for student-athletes, their families, civil rights organizations, labor organizations, and other athlete advocates, and should be fully considered as the legislation moves forward. I\u2019m hopeful that Congress can come back together to find a solution that is fair and comprehensive for both universities and the students they serve.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-rep-mcbride-presses-state-department-over-delay-annual-trafficking", "ICYMI: Rep. McBride Presses State Department Over Delay of Annual Trafficking in Persons Report", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WILMINGTON, Del. \u2014 In case you missed it, last week, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led 20 of her Democratic colleagues in writing to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding the immediate release of the 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, an annual report that serves as a key tool in U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking internationally and hold foreign governments accountable for protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers.\n\nThe report, which was due to Congress on June 30, is nearly three months past the deadline. This follows last year\u2019s unprecedented delay of the report by three months. Read the full letter to Secretary Rubio here.\n\n\u201cWe write to raise serious concerns regarding the Department of State\u2019s failure to release the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which is now more than two months past its statutory deadline\u2026The repeated failure to issue this congressionally mandated report on time is unacceptable and raises serious questions about whether the State Department is giving the fight against human trafficking the priority and resources it demands,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThe letter raises concerns about the Trump administration\u2019s commitment to combating human trafficking and the capacity of the State Department\u2019s anti-trafficking office to carry out its mission. The lawmakers pressed the department on staffing levels and permanent leadership in the office, as well as its decision to omit the TIP Report Heroes Program from the 2025 release.\n\n\u201cThe repeated delays in the publication of the TIP Report follow the Administration\u2019s decision to significantly reduce staffing in the State Department\u2019s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office). Reports indicate that fewer than three dozen employees remain to carry out the federal government\u2019s central anti-trafficking mission, including producing reports that assess anti-trafficking efforts across 188 countries. The loss of institutional expertise and lack of urgency in filling these gaps in personnel is deeply troubling,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nThe lawmakers called on the State Department to explain when the 2026 report will be published and to provide answers by September 30 on staffing and leadership in its anti-trafficking office. They also urged the department to restore the staffing and institutional capacity needed to meet its reporting responsibilities and ensure future reports are published on time.\n\n\u201cWe urge the Department of State to immediately release the TIP Report and demonstrate that combating human trafficking remains a serious priority of this Administration. We further urge the Department to promptly appoint permanent leadership to the TIP Office and restore the staffing and institutional capacity necessary to fulfill its statutory responsibilities and ensure the timely publication of future reports,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nRep. McBride has been committed to transparency from the Department of State, specifically regarding the TIP Report. In July 2025, shequestioned Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing about a 71 percent reduction in staff at the TIP Office. That September, Rep. McBride secured bipartisan committee approval of an amendment directing the department to report to Congress on how the cuts affected the TIP Report\u2019s timeliness and accuracy. After Rep. McBride's continued efforts, the State Departmentreleased the 2025 report on September 29, nearly three months late.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-blunt-rochester-ernst-bill-to-strengthen-u-s-manufacturing-passes-senate/", "ICYMI:\u00a0Blunt Rochester, Ernst Bill to Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing\u00a0Passes Senate", "2026-09-25", "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. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) celebrated the unanimous passage of the bipartisan Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act to decrease our reliance on foreign imports for key materials and boost manufacturing in rural America.\n\nThe bill instructs the Secretary of Commerce to identify critical goods that are currently being imported and find ways to help domestic producers manufacture them in rural areas and industrial parks, boosting manufacturing here at home. Blunt Rochester and Ernst were joined by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). The House companion was led by Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa-1) and Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-8).\n\nThe bill now heads to the president\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cSupply chains are critical to global competitiveness and our national security,\u201d said Sen. Blunt Rochester. \u201cI\u2019m proud to see this bipartisan legislation pass into law to help identify where we are over-reliant on foreign imports for critical infrastructure and explore how we can bring that manufacturing back to the United States. These investments will strengthen domestic production, secure our supply chains, and support good-paying jobs right here at home.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy bipartisan bill will identify vulnerabilities in our supply chains and help bring manufacturing back to rural America, where Iowans are ready to roll up their sleeves, get to work, and once again make \u2018Made in America\u2019 the norm instead of the exception,\u201d said Sen. Ernst. \u201cI look forward to President Trump signing it into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cIowa has the skilled workforce, manufacturing expertise, and strong communities America needs to lead the next generation of domestic manufacturing. For too long, critical production has moved overseas, leaving American workers behind and making our country dependent on foreign supply chains,\u201d said Rep. Miller-Meeks. \u201cThis bipartisan bill gives us a roadmap to bring that production home, create more opportunities for Iowa workers, and strengthen our nation\u2019s economic and national security. I\u2019m proud to have led this effort with Senator Ernst and grateful for her partnership in getting it across the finish line.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-blunt-rochester-and-budd-introduce-bill-to-establish-biometrology-laboratory-program-accelerate-development-in-biotech/", "NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester and Budd Introduce Bill to Establish Biometrology Laboratory Program, Accelerate Development in Biotech", "2026-09-25", "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 (D-Del.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) this week introduced the Standards and Collaboration for American Leadership in Engineering (SCALE) Biology Act, legislation that would establish a Biometrology Laboratory Program for the research of engineering biology, biomanufacturing, and biotechnology under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This new program would advance research into the measurement of key units and inputs and promote U.S. competitiveness in biotech development.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s bioeconomy is critical to our economy, national security, and leadership in fields from health care to agriculture. The bipartisan SCALE Biology Act will strengthen the measurement science and technical standards needed to accelerate innovation and bring new biotechnology from the lab to the marketplace. Delaware is home to a robust life sciences and biomanufacturing ecosystem, and I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Budd to strengthen this important sector and ensure the United States continues to set the global standard for biotechnology and biomanufacturing,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester.\n\n\u201cIf the U.S. is going to continue to lead the world in biotechnology innovation, we must ensure that the accepted standards for the most fundamental inputs that these programs will rely on are developed in America,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cWith China\u2019s recent increases in state support for their bioeconomy, I am grateful to Senator Blunt Rochester for her partnership on this effort to facilitate commercial development here in America.\u201d\n\nU.S. Representatives April McClain Delaney (D-Md.-06) and Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.-08) introduced the legislation in the House of Representatives in May.\n\nThe SCALE Biology Act has been endorsed by OpenAI and Google.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-and-representative-brown-introduce-bicameral-bill-to-preserve-existing-affordable-housing/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester and Representative Brown Introduce Bicameral Bill to Preserve Existing Affordable Housing", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. SenatorLisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs,was joined byRepresentativesShontel Brown (D-Ohio-11)and Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.-21) to introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act, which will help tackle the affordable housing preservation crisis. This legislation would improve the quality of existing HUD-assisted housing by providing loans to qualified owners of distressed units to make critical improvements to ensure housing is safe for our most vulnerable families. Additionally, this legislation would increase outreach to support the preservation of distressed properties.\n\n\u201cEarlier this year, the first comprehensive housing legislation became law after more than three decades, but with a nationwide shortage of 4-7 million affordable housing units, it becomes more important than ever to preserve the affordable units that we do have,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this bill alongside Congresswoman Brown to build on the achievements of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act by providing long-overdue support for existing affordable housing units and encouraging investments that contribute to their long-term success.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must address the affordable housing crisis from all angles. This means building more affordable housing, but it also means preserving the housing we already have. I\u2019m proud to partner with Senator Blunt Rochester and Congressman Gimenez on The Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act, which provides needed capital to repair, renovate, and preserve HUD-assisted housing. Cleveland has seen at properties like Rainbow Terrace how serious the consequences can be when federally assisted multifamily housing falls into distress. This bill gives HUD another tool to finance critical repairs, preserve long-term affordability, and, when necessary, help qualified new owners step in before affordable housing is lost,\u201d said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.\n\nThe Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act would:\n\nProvide loans to qualified owners of distressed HUD-assisted housing to make renovations necessary to preserve and improve the property for the long term.\n\nImprove the quality of HUD-assisted housing and, in cases of mismanagement, give HUD new tools to preserve a property without displacing residents from the community.\n\nStrengthen outreach to local stakeholders and residents in the preservation of distressed properties.\n\nThe Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act is endorsed by the American Planning Association, Better Homes of Seaford, Cinnaire Lending, Delaware League of Local Governments, Housing Partnership Network, LeadingAge, Local Initiatives Support Coalition, Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, National Association of REALTORS, National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, National Housing Trust, National Leased Housing Association, Preservation of Affordable Housing, , Wilmington Housing Authority, Wilmington Land Bank, the WRK Group, and YWCA Delaware.\n\n\u201cThe Delaware League of Local Governments supports the Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act. The preservation of existing affordable housing is an important component in providing affordable housing to Delawareans,\u201d said Janelle Cornwell,ExecutiveDirector,DelawareLeague of Local Governments.\n\n\u201cAs Congress continues to focus on increasing the supply of housing, it\u2019s also important to preserve and revitalize existing affordable homes across the country so we don\u2019t lose ground. We greatly appreciate Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s leadership on providing flexible housing preservation strategies so low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans can live in safe, high-quality affordable housing,\u201d Aaron Gornstein, President and CEO, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH).\n\n\u201cAmidst growing demand, preserving America\u2019s affordable housing supply\u2013which includes much-needed homes for low-income older adults\u2013is critical. Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s bill, \u2018\u2018Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act of 2026,\u2019\u2019 addresses this issue by creating an all-important funding source for affordable housing providers to access preservation capital through loans. Funding shortfalls and rising costs force too many affordable housing providers to make difficult choices; if enacted and funded, this bill would help our mission-driven and nonprofit members and other communities make capital improvements and repairs to ensure the long-term viability of affordable homes. We appreciate Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s efforts to help address our country\u2019s housing shortage.\u201d said Katie Smith Sloan, CEO, LeadingAge.\n\n\u201cThe Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is grateful for Rep. Brown and Sen. Blunt-Rochester\u2019s leadership in introducing the Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act,\u201d said Matt Josephs, Senior Vice President of Policy, LISC. \u201cHUD-assisted rental housing properties house some of our nation\u2019s lowest income families and it\u2019s essential the Department has the resources to ensure residents live in safe and decent housing. The Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act would provide owners, sponsors, and purchasers of these properties flexible funding to improve and preserve them for the long-term.\u201d\n\n\u201cPreserving the nation\u2019s existing affordable housing stock is essential to ensuring families have access to safe, quality homes in the communities they call home,\u201d said Shannon McGahn, NAR Executive VicePresidentand Chief Advocacy Officer. \u201cThe Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act would give HUD additional tools to rehabilitate distressed properties, attract qualified owners and protect residents from displacement. The National Association of REALTORS\u00ae thanks Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester and Representative Shontel Brown for their efforts to strengthen affordable housing and help communities preserve these critical resources for the long term.\u201d\n\n\u201cHousing affordability is about more than building more homes. We need to create the systems that make housing remain affordable. National Housing Trust applauds Senator Blunt Rochester and Representative Brown for introducing the Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act. Protecting existing affordable housing is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to preserve opportunity for future generations,\u201d said Priya Jayachandran, CEO, National Housing Trust (NHT).\n\n\u201cSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s bill is an integral part of a strategy to preserve federally assisted housing for low-income seniors and families. Rising operating costs including utilities and insurance are stressing existing properties and affecting the ability to address long term capital needs. The bill would provide necessary financing for properties that are struggling to ensure long term preservation of an already scarce resource,\u201d said Denise Muha, COO of the National Leased Housing Association.\n\n\u201cAffordable housing is the foundation of strong and stable communities. The Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act recognizes that preserving the affordable housing we already have is just as important as creating new opportunities. I commend Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester for her leadership and commitment to ensuring that resources are available to support distressed HUD assisted units so that they continue to be safe and effective options to support families, seniors, and vulnerable residents. The Wilmington Housing Authority supports efforts that protect our nation\u2019s affordable housing resources and strengthen the communities we are privileged to serve,\u201d said Ray Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Wilmington Housing Authority.\n\n\u201cAffordable housing is more than bricks and mortar; it is the foundation of opportunity, stability, and thriving communities. At a time when our nation faces a severe housing shortage, preserving the affordable homes we already have is one of the most immediate and effective steps we can take to protect families, seniors, workers, and children from displacement. Through our work at The WRK Group, we have seen firsthand that housing preservation is about far more than maintaining buildings. It is about protecting communities, preventing displacement, and ensuring residents can remain connected to the schools, services, jobs, and relationships that help families thrive in place. Communities like Riverside in Wilmington demonstrate that when we preserve housing while investing in residents and neighborhoods, we can create the conditions for long-term stability and generational opportunity,\u201d said Logan Herring, CEO of The WRK Group. \u201cThe Affordable Housing Preservation and Protection Act would help ensure that residents are not forced to leave the communities they have helped build because of aging properties or a lack of investment. We applaud Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester for her leadership in advancing legislation that protects affordable housing, strengthens community stability, and advances a vision of equitable revitalization where every family has the opportunity to thrive.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-questions-trump-nominee-for-commissioner-of-the-food-and-drug-administration/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Questions Trump Nominee for Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cWe hope that you will use science if you are confirmed, and we hope that you will stand up if the information is incorrect or wrong because lives are on the line.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s Remarks\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.),a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, today questioned Heidi Overton, MD, PhD, President Trump\u2019s nominee for Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Blunt Rochester\u2019s questions focused on Dr. Overton\u2019s involvement in the Trump administration\u2019s changes to critical vaccine schedules.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s exchange can be found here, and a key excerpt is below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cThe president has also proposed giving babies microdosed vaccines at roughly 20 percent of the current dose. So, wouldn\u2019t that mean that they\u2019d have to have five times the [number] of shots, [and] the parents would have to visit five times with their child\u2026Who pays for that? Is it insurers who pay for it? Is it the parents who pay for it? Is it the taxpayers who pay for it? How does this actually happen?\u201d\n\nDr. Overton: \u201cThe President is aware, and he has talked about it recently. He knows that companies would need to submit an application to the FDA. That this would take time. I believe that he is solving for feedback he has gotten of parents wanting an additional option on the market. It is not taking anything away. The current MMR vaccine is safe and effective. It is our best tool, and right now people should get that.\u201d\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cThe administration is saying they want people to [get] less shots, but then they\u2019re telling them to [get] more shots, and it is not based on science. I\u2019m really concerned about that.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-representative-ross-introduce-legislation-to-protect-seniors-from-surprise-healthcare-bills/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester, Representative Ross Introduce Legislation to Protect Seniors from Surprise Healthcare Bills", "2026-09-24", "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. SenatorLisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee onHealth, Education, Labor, and Pensions,andRepresentativeDeborah Ross(D-N.C.-02), today introduced the bicameral No Surprise Bills for Seniors Act. Medicare beneficiaries\u2014many of whom enroll in zero- or low-cost premiums\u2014rely on prescription drug coverage to access lifesaving medications. However, recipients can lose coverage if they unintentionally fail to pay surprise monthly premium increases, regardless of the amount.\n\nThe No Surprise Bills for Seniors Act would create broader protections for Medicare Enrollees, keeping seniors and individuals with disabilities from losing prescription drug coverage due to accidental payment failures.\n\n\u201cMissing a payment on a surprise monthly premium increase\u2014which can be as little as one dollar\u2014shouldn\u2019t cost someone their access to medication. Yet for thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, it\u2019s a risk they have to take to afford their health care,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the No Surprise Bills for Seniors Act with Congresswoman Ross to bring clarity to our complex healthcare system and help seniors and individuals with disabilities maintain access to their medications.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo senior should lose access to the medications they depend on because their premium increased \u2013often by only a few dollars\u2013 without them realizing it,\u201d said Congresswoman Deborah Ross. \u201cIf a senior is able and willing to pay what they owe, they should not be forced to go months without life-saving medication because of bureaucratic changes within the Medicare system. I\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester to give Medicare the flexibility it needs to make sure a surprise bill does not result in the loss of health care for our seniors.\u201d\n\nThe No Surprise Bills for Seniors Act would give the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to establish protections for Medicare enrollees who lost healthcare coverage after failing to pay unclear or unknown premium increases.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senators-blunt-rochester-budd-introduce-legislation-to-bolster-americas-talent-pipeline-workforce/", "NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Budd Introduce Legislation to Bolster America\u2019s Talent Pipeline, Workforce", "2026-09-24", "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. SenatorLisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions,andU.S. SenatorTedd Budd(R-N.C.) today introduced the bipartisan National Talent Strategy Act, which would direct the U.S. Secretary of Labor, in partnership with a newly established Talent Working Group, to develop a comprehensive federal talent strategy to meet the needs of the American workforce and economy. This legislation would create a strategic planning process for America\u2019s workforce, help to create good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy and national security, and reduce national workforce shortages.\n\n\u201cFor generations, the strength of the American workforce and our entrepreneurial spirit have helped our country thrive. As our economy evolves, we must be strategic. This bill would direct the Secretary of Labor to call together workforce development leaders to create a government-wide strategic plan on the future of our economy,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the bipartisan National Talent Strategy Act with Senator Budd to close workforce gaps, prepare workers for jobs of the future, and ensure the stability and security of our economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring our workforce is prepared for the next generation of American Innovation hinges on strong coordination from our federal government, state and local governments, and educators,\u201d said Senator Budd. \u201cBy establishing the American Talent Working Group, we can ensure that our leaders have the most up to date data and understanding of the challenges both America\u2019s workers and employers face so that they can be addressed swiftly.\u201d\n\nThe National Talent Strategy Act would:\n\nDirect the U.S. Secretary of Labor to lead on the development of a comprehensive federal talent strategy to meet the needs of the American workforce and economy.\n\nEstablish an American Talent Working Group to serve as an interagency forum for aligning federal policy on education, workforce, and talent goals, and proposing related legislative recommendations.\n\nRequire the Secretary of Labor, the American Talent Working Group, and stakeholders from industry and labor organizations to develop a regularly updated four-year government-wide strategic talent plan.\n\nThe federal talent strategy would:\n\nBe grounded in a comprehensive analysis of current federal workforce programs and readiness, including barriers to uptake and success;\n\nFocus on critical sectors, including industries projected to have significant job growth, industries facing shortages, and key industries for industrial capacity, security, and competitiveness; and\n\nBe designed to improve cross-agency coordination and to be responsive to the changing needs of workers amidst technological disruptions.\n\nThe National Talent Strategy Act has been endorsed by Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Center for American Progress, Guild, NAF, and NC Chamber.\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Policy Center\u2019s Commission on the American Workforce built a roadmap for an all-of-society approach to a 21st century talent strategy, which we know is essential for the changing economy. We are grateful to Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Ted Budd (R-NC) for their leadership on the National Talent Strategy Act, which would convene an American Talent Working Group and build the nation\u2019s first comprehensive Federal Strategic Talent Plan, closely tracking the core recommendation of our Commission. BPC is proud to endorse this important first step toward a national talent strategy and look forward to working together with Sens. Blunt Rochester and Ted Budd to advance this important work. We know our economy can\u2019t grow, our country can\u2019t prosper, unless we come together and invest in our most important asset: our people,\u201d said Margaret Spellings, President and CEO, Bipartisan Policy Center.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-britt-schatz-and-lankford-introduce-bipartisan-ai-safety-and-transparency-legislation/", "Senators Coons, Britt, Schatz, and Lankford introduce bipartisan AI safety and transparency legislation", "2026-09-24", "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.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the AI Systems Transparency Act (ASTA) which would require AI companies to be more transparent with the public about what data their models are collecting from users, the safeguards they\u2019ve put in place for children and adults, and the guardrails they\u2019ve created to stop systems from going rogue or being used dangerously by bad actors.\n\nUnder ASTA, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would have the power to enforce these transparency requirements, while ensuring that companies can continue to grow and innovate.\n\n\u201cAI is rapidly evolving in ways that are radically reshaping our society and transforming our world and how we interact with each other, and Americans are rightfully concerned about what AI companies and their government are doing to protect against worst case scenarios,\u201dsaid Senator Coons. \u201cCompanies must not be allowed to hand wave away these doubts without meaningful disclosures, safeguards, and oversight in place. Americans deserve to know what they are actually doing to place safety guardrails on large AI models, and that\u2019s what this bipartisan bill will ensure.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans are understandably concerned with the rapid development of AI, and they deserve straight answers. We know that this technology is not slowing down, which is why it\u2019s critical that AI companies provide transparency to both researchers and parents on how their systems work and address potential risks \u2013 especially risks related to America\u2019s youth. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in this effort to provide the American people visibility into how these systems are built, tested, and secured,\u201d said Senator Britt.\n\n\u201cRecent reports of security incidents with AI models make transparency and oversight all the more urgent. Our bill requires disclosures that help both consumers and evaluators understand both the capabilities of and risks posed by these models and what companies are doing to keep people safe,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n\u201cTrust has to be earned, and right now families are being asked to trust AI companies with very little information,\u201d said Senator Lankford. \u201cThe AI Systems Transparency Act gives parents and consumers the straightforward answers on how these AI models are built and how they interact with America\u2019s children. Transparency on innovation earns the public\u2019s trust.\u201d\n\nASTA would apply to closed and open-source models. Additionally, It would:\n\nEstablish criteria for the size and scope of companies over which the FTC would gain jurisdiction\n\nRequire disclosure of information about structure and policies typically included on \u201cmodel cards\u201d\n\nRequire disclosure of preventative safeguards used for child safety, mental health, privacy, cybersecurity, disaster risk, and autonomous loss-of-control\n\nRequire disclosure of information relating to common violations of policies\n\nRequire companies to update all disclosures with each new model or substantial updates to an existing model\n\nRequire both a consumer-facing disclosure and a disclosure that can be of use to independent researchers and evaluators\n\n\u201cAmericans are increasingly relying on AI in their everyday lives, but the public has no visibility into how those systems are built and tested. We cannot rely on the word of AI companies alone that their products are safe \u2013 there must be evidence to back that up,\u201d said Brad Carson, president of Americans for Responsible Innovation. \u201cThis bill will shed light on the proactive safety measures and potential risks of AI models so users can decide for themselves whether these systems are trustworthy.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople deserve to know what AI companies are doing to keep them safe,\u201d said Sunny Gandhi, co-executive director of Encode AI. \u201cThe AI Systems Transparency Act would require meaningful public disclosures about AI capabilities and safeguards, including whether developers have evaluated serious risks such as loss of control.\u201d\n\nASTA has been endorsed by Americans for Responsible Innovation and Encode AI. It is a third in a trio of bipartisan bills Senator Coons has released this Congress that look to create more transparency into what tech companies are doing, their impacts on our nation and the world, and the potential risks they are creating. The other bills are the AI Whistleblower Protection Act, a bill he introduced with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to protect whistleblowers at AI companies who come forward with information about the risks of AI, and the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act, a bill he introduced with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), that would ensure independent researchers and the public can better study the ways AI is proliferating on social media platforms.\n\nThe introduction of this bill builds upon letters that Sens. Schatz, Britt, Coons, and Lankford sent in December 2025 to OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, Meta, Luka, Character.AI, and xAI, calling on these companies to improve transparency around the capabilities of their models and the risks they pose to users.\n\nA one pager on the bill is available here.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-coons-leads-senior-democrats-accusing-trump-of-failing-to-stand-up-to-china/", "ICYMI:\u00a0Senator Coons leads senior Democrats accusing Trump of\u00a0failing to stand up to China", "2026-09-23", "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 In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) led a group of senior Democratic senators in raising alarm ahead of President Trump\u2019s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting in particular the White House\u2019s failure to halt China\u2019s access to American AI technology. As industry leaders raise concerns about AI\u2019s dangers and China shows increasing aggression toward the United States and our allies and partners, President Trump has refused to take any action to bar China from accessing the American-designed AI chips it needs to sustain its AI innovation pace.\n\nIn the statement, the senators describe the increasing ways China is threatening American security and our economy, helping Iran and Russia, and encroaching on our allies. They contrast those actions with President Trump\u2019s warm welcome of President Xi with an extravagant state visit and lay out a set of priorities President Trump must accomplish during the summit and beyond to protect American interests.\n\nIn addition to Senator Coons, the letter is signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Jack Reed (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance.\n\nThe Hill: Trump failing to block China\u2019s access to American AI technology, say senior Senate Democrats\n\nA group of Senate Democrats on Tuesday said President Trump is failing to block China from accessing sensitive American technology to accelerate its development of artificial intelligence, ahead of the Chinese leader\u2019s state visit to Washington this week.\n\nTrump must close loopholes that China has used to subvert U.S. export bans on sensitive American technology, the lawmakers wrote in a joint statement obtained exclusively by The Hill.\n\nIt was signed by Democrats with senior positions on the Senate panels for the armed services, foreign affairs, intelligence and banking.\n\n\u201cChina is accelerating its drive for AI dominance by exploiting weaknesses in the administration\u2019s export controls to access advanced chips and manufacturing equipment,\u201d they wrote.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump must reverse course. He must end China\u2019s access to the advanced chips and manufacturing equipment it needs to build dangerous AI systems.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\nThe lawmakers also pushed Trump to hold Xi to account for Chinese companies reportedly providing Iran with intelligence to target U.S. troops in the Middle East; confront Xi\u2019s pressure campaign against Taiwan; and punish Beijing for its support to Russia in its war against Ukraine.\n\n\u201cWe can\u2019t let President Xi leave stronger than when he arrived. That is not diplomacy, it\u2019s weakness,\u201d the statement said.\n\n\u2026\n\nIn November, Trump paused for one-year an expanded Commerce Department blacklist of companies prohibited from buying U.S. technology goods, including semiconductor manufacturing equipment, as part of a deal with China when he met Xi in South Korea.\n\nThe expanded blacklist included firms more than 50 percent owned by companies already sanctioned by the U.S., and largely targeting Chinese companies and subsidiary firms located in other countries.\n\nTrump has also granted China permission to buy hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips, Nvidia\u2019s H200, and small batches have reportedly started entering mainland China in August. Opponents of that deal say that the advantage it gives China in technology development is not worth the economic benefit to American companies.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-warren-wyden-gallego-introduce-bill-to-impose-sanctions-on-israeli-settlement-construction-in-the-e1-area-of-the-west-bank/", "Senators Coons, Warren, Wyden, Gallego introduce bill to impose sanctions on Israeli settlement construction in the E1 area of the West Bank", "2026-09-23", "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.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) today introduced legislation to impose targeted sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate the development of Israeli settlements in the E1 area of the West Bank.\n\nLast year, Israel approved construction of more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 area of the 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 have publicly acknowledged the impact E1 settlement expansion could have on a two-state solution. Speaking at a ceremony shortly after his approval of the E1 plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly stated, \u201cWe said a Palestinian state will not be established \u2013 and indeed, a Palestinian state will not be established.\u201d Following the initial announcement of the E1 settlements in August 2025, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly stated: \u201cThe Palestinian state is being erased from the table not by slogans but by deeds. Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.\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 Senator 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 Senator 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\n\u201cBenjamin Netanyahu\u2019s disgraceful policy of expanding West Bank settlements crosses a clear red line and makes Palestinian statehood and lasting peace even more difficult,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cThe United States must stand up against Netanyahu\u2019s campaign of violence and aggression against Palestinian civilians and sanction individuals and companies that are complicit in this unlawful action.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor decades, Democrats and Republicans alike have pushed for a two-state solution. Proposed Israeli construction of new settlement homes in the E1 area would cut off East Jerusalem from the West Bank and threaten a viable Palestinian state. It\u2019s a step in the wrong direction,\u201d said Senator Gallego. \u201cThis legislation sends a clear message to Prime Minister Netanyahu: the United States stands firmly behind a two-state solution as the only path to real peace and security for all.\u201d\n\nThe bill would impose sanctions on any foreign person that the Secretary of the Treasury determines to have been responsible for or complicit in the construction of any 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\nIn addition to Senators Coons, Warren, Wyden, and Gallego, the bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), 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.).", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-blunt-rochester-discusses-housing-affordability-and-ai-at-politicos-policy-outlook/", "ICYMI: Senator Blunt Rochester Discusses Housing Affordability and AI at Politico\u2019s Policy Outlook", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "The conversation can be found HERE soon.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today participated in POLITICO\u2019s \u201cPolicy Outlook: Housing Affordability,\u201d moderated by Victoria Guida. She discussed Congress\u2019s role in addressing the housing crisis and AI\u2019s impact on our nation\u2019s future.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cEvery single member on our committee has constituents who care about this issue, whether they\u2019re young people trying to get their first home, or again, seniors. Every single one of us should have our fingerprints on this legislation.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-questions-experts-on-increasing-public-trust-in-nuclear-energy/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Questions Experts on Increasing Public Trust in Nuclear Energy", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThis is an issue of public safety and public trust.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s Remarks\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today participated in a hearing on America\u2019s nuclear waste policy. Blunt Rochester\u2019s questions focused on the development of small modular reactors and on-site storage of nuclear waste, as well as increasing public trust and safety.\n\nWitnesses:\n\nLake Barrett \u2013 Chair, American Nuclear Society Nuclear Waste Policy Task Force\n\nKatrina McMurrian \u2013 Executive Director, Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition (NWSC)\n\nKathryn Huff, Ph.D. \u2013 Professor and Department Chair, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s exchange can be found here, and a key excerpt is below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cDelaware often ranks last among U.S. states in energy production and produces only a fraction of the energy that we consume. In response, our General Assembly created a 25-member bipartisan task force to look at whether small modular reactors could be developed in the state.\n\n\u201cOne of the main concerns is the lack of a long-term solution for high-level nuclear waste. Despite the fact that there\u2019s been a law on the books for decades that requires the federal government to take ownership over this kind of waste. States like mine then have to weigh whether to invest in nuclear energy against doing it without a long-term solution. It\u2019s a real risk for our communities. This is an issue of public safety and public trust.\n\n\u201cSo, Dr. Huff, what can the federal government do to build trust in communities interested in pursuing nuclear energy?\u201d\n\nDr. Huff: \u201cI think a key component is an independent organization like the one that\u2019s been described. But another is to provide resources for independent technical oversight from those communities. A part of the consent-based system that we put together in the previous administration, and those that have succeeded in other nations like Finland and Canada, includes providing resources directly to communities to help to evaluate those claims and safety assessments, and work together with the government as they plan and design those facilities.\u201d\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cAre there benefits to continuing to pursue new reactors while determining a long-term waste disposal solution?\u201d\n\nDr. Huff: \u201cYes, there absolutely are. As a carbon-free source of energy, we absolutely need more nuclear. Of course, it is reasonable for communities to want to see progress on the front of waste management before they do so.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-schumer-murray-reed-shaheen-warner-warren-kim-statement-ahead-of-president-xi-jinpings-state-visit/", "Senators Coons, Schumer, Murray, Reed, Shaheen, Warner, Warren, Kim statement ahead of President Xi Jinping\u2019s state visit", "2026-09-22", "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.), ranking member for Senate defense appropriations, Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), Senate Minority Leader, Patty Murray (D-Wash.), vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Jack Reed (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance, released the following statement ahead of President Trump\u2019s state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping:\n\n\u201cThe People\u2019s Republic of China presents a greater threat to American security and prosperity than ever before. According to public reporting, Chinese entities are providing the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies with satellite imagery, technology, and battlefield intelligence to target and kill American service members. China is accelerating its drive for AI dominance by exploiting weaknesses in the administration\u2019s export controls to access advanced chips and manufacturing equipment. At the same time, President Trump dismisses the need for commonsense AI guardrails at home while cutting investments in critical research and workforce training. The Chinese military continues its pressure campaign against our vital democratic partner Taiwan as President Trump has retreated from longstanding security commitments. Beijing also serves as the lifeline for Putin\u2019s brutal war machine in Ukraine, providing technology and oil revenue Moscow needs to manufacture the precision missiles and drones that terrorize Ukraine\u2019s cities.\n\n\u201cAs Americans face rising prices for gas, food, housing, and more, President Trump is rolling out the red carpet for President Xi and hosting closed-door dinners so his billionaire friends can strike deals that threaten American jobs and national security. President Xi gets the royal treatment while President Trump hurls threats and wages trade wars on allies like Canada. This is not leadership, and Americans deserve better.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump must reverse course. He must end China\u2019s access to the advanced chips and manufacturing equipment it needs to build dangerous AI systems. He must stand with Taiwan and not let China veto American support for Taiwan\u2019s defense. He must press President Xi to stop supporting Putin\u2019s war in Ukraine. Finally, he must confront President Xi about the resources Beijing has given Iran that have led to the killing of American service members.\n\n\u201cWe can\u2019t let President Xi leave stronger than when he arrived. That is not diplomacy, it\u2019s weakness.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-blunt-rochester-curtis-call-for-ai-hearings-regulation/", "ICYMI:\u00a0Blunt Rochester, Curtis Call for AI Hearings, Regulation", "2026-09-18", "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 (D-Del.) and John Curtis (R-Utah), members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, sent a letter to Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), leadership of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, urging them to convene a hearing with executives from leading AI companies on the capabilities and safety of developing AI systems. The Senators also released a joint statement calling for swift public congressional hearings on potential AI regulatory solutions.\n\nThe letter can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-representatives-adams-ruiz-introduce-bill-to-expand-access-to-community-health-worker-services/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester, Representatives Adams, Ruiz, Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Community Health Worker Services", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-N.C.), Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-25), today introduced the Community Health Worker Access Act, legislation that would improve Medicare coverage for community health worker services and encourage states to cover these services under their Medicaid programs.\n\n\u201cAccessing the right care can feel impossible in our increasingly complex healthcare system, but community health workers help bridge the gap. From connecting people with the right providers to serving as trusted advisors, these community-based navigators drastically improve the quality of life for their neighbors,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the Community Health Worker Access Act to add coverage for community health workers under Medicare and formally acknowledge the vital role they play in keeping our communities healthy and safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne of my core beliefs as a legislator is that healthcare should be affordable and accessible,\u201d said Congresswoman Adams. \u201cCommunity health workers help provide preventative care, basic health screenings, and frontline medical support in our neighborhoods. This bill will strengthen the community health workforce and close long-standing gaps in access to care for underserved communities, especially in rural areas.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommunity health workers are often the first and most trusted connection our communities have to the health care system,\u201dsaidRepresentativeDr. Raul Ruiz. \u201cIn the Coachella Valley, Imperial Valley, San Jacinto Valley, and the Pass area, they close gaps that clinics and hospitals alone cannot. This bill recognizes that work and invests in it, so families get the coordinated, culturally responsive care they deserve.\u201d\n\nCommunity health workers serve as a bridge between patients and the formal health care system, especially for high-risk, high-need, and underserved populations. Their work includes basic health screenings, chronic disease symptom management, health education, and helping patients navigate complex health systems.\n\nThese programs could save Medicaid an average of $4,200 per beneficiary every year. Every dollar invested in community health worker services is worth over double that amount in savings.\n\nThe bill creates two new categories of reimbursable services under Medicare:\n\nPreventive services to avoid illness, reduce physical or mental disability, and restore body function. Educational services and referrals to health care and community-based resources to address health-related social needs, including assistance navigating insurance enrollment, easing transportation barriers, and connecting patients to support services.\n\nThe bill also allows state Medicaid programs to cover the same services with an increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to help offset state costs.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-blunt-rochester-curtis-call-for-ai-hearings-regulation/", "NEWS: Blunt Rochester, Curtis Call for AI Hearings, Regulation", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and John Curtis (R-UT), members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, issued the following joint statement calling for swift public congressional hearings to inform lawmakers on potential AI regulatory solutions:\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve representation in Congress that is not only well-informed on cutting-edge AI development but also has the wherewithal to cross the aisle and overcome political pressures to address the concerns these technologies pose.\n\n\u201cThat is why we are calling for immediate public hearings to bring lawmakers, model makers, and other stakeholders into the same room and work through solutions that maintain America\u2019s competitive edge in development while ensuring that these technologies serve human interests and remain fully under human control. In the meantime, Congress must ensure necessary safeguards are in place.\n\n\u201cAt the end of the day, technology must be wholly designed to improve our lives, further opportunities for rising generations, and let the human spirit prevail. With no clear partisan divide on this issue, there is an opportunity to prove that Congress is functional, cooperative, and that it can deliver on what is becoming the hallmark issue of our time.\u201d\n\nOn August 6, 2026, and August 7, 2026, Senator Blunt Rochester sent letters to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, regarding recent cybersecurity incidents in which the companies\u2019 models gained unauthorized access to the internet, launched direct attacks on people and real-world targets.\n\nThe letters sought information about the circumstances surrounding the incidents, the design and security of the testing environments in which they occurred, the capabilities demonstrated by the models, and the safeguards the companies have implemented or plan to implement to prevent similar incidents. Blunt Rochester received responses from all three companies that identified failures or misconfigurations in testing infrastructure as contributing factors and described steps to strengthen safeguards. OpenAI and Anthropic also identified concerning model behavior, including models pursuing objectives beyond intended boundaries and broader alignment failures. Meta, by contrast, maintained that its model operated within the scope of its assigned task based on the instructions and environment it encountered.\n\nResponse letters from the companies can be found below.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/statement-blunt-rochester-slams-trump-economy-amid-first-interest-rate-hike-in-three-years/", "STATEMENT: Blunt Rochester Slams Trump Economy Amid First Interest Rate Hike in Three Years", "2026-09-16", "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. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today issued the following statement reacting to the Federal Reserve\u2019s decision to raise interest rates for the first time in three years:\n\n\u201cWhile I\u2019m glad Federal Reserve Chair Warsh has stayed true to his word to operate independently, today\u2019s decision to raise interest rates underscores a painful reality: The Trump economy is failing Americans. Everyday essentials like gas and groceries are getting more expensive. Trump\u2019s illegal war in Iran has pushed energy prices higher, while the Trump tariffs are squeezing household budgets even more. Families should not have to suffer the consequences of the president\u2019s poor economic policies. It\u2019s time for President Trump to put the needs of American families first and finally focus on bringing costs down.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-calls-speaker-johnson-keep-house-session-address-ai-risks", "Rep. McBride Calls on Speaker Johnson to Keep House in Session, Address AI Risks", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) joined her Democratic colleagues in calling on Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to keep the House in session until Congress takes immediate and meaningful action to address the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Speaker Johnson previously canceled the House\u2019s final two weeks of scheduled votes in September and canceled the House\u2019s remaining votes this week today, sending members home early.\n\nThe letter comes amid growing warnings from AI industry leaders and researchers about the risks associated with rapidly advancing AI models. Rep. McBride recently released a statement calling on Congress to act, warning that no concentration of such power \u2014 whether in an individual, a company, a nation, or a technology \u2014 can be allowed to go unchecked, unrestrained, or unregulated.\n\nRep. McBride said:\n\n\u201cAI presents potentially the biggest change for humanity since human beings went from nomadic creatures to stationary, community-based societies.\n\n\u201cWhether you think AI will be a fountain of youth or a doomsday technology or something in between, its power - both present and potential - is indisputable. Its capacity to cure diseases or produce bioweapons, to protect against the most advanced cyberattacks or hack the most robust technological fortresses, to foster shared prosperity for the many or to amass unimaginable wealth for the few, are each different sides of the same coin: significant capacity that can lead to superhuman power.\n\n\u201cNo concentration of such power - whether it be in an individual, a company, a nation, or a technology - can be allowed to go unchecked or unrestrained. And it certainly cannot go unregulated.\n\n\u201cSince I entered Congress, I\u2019ve been calling on my colleagues to meet this moment and to marshal our collective power to regulate AI. It\u2019s why, as a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I\u2019m pushing for regulations domestically and, as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I\u2019ve argued for an 'arms control' approach to AI globally. We need human-centric laws that protect our economy, our finances, our privacy, our health, our democracy, and, yes, our existence. We need national and international action. We need it now.\n\n\u201cFor AI to have any good, we must protect against its harm. And the clock is ticking. As we\u2019ve seen with other technologies, the longer we wait, the harder it becomes. We cannot feel too much urgency. We cannot be too imaginative. There is simply no realistic risk in today\u2019s politics that we do too much. The risk is that we do too little \u2013 and that is a risk that is simply too great to bear.\n\n\u201cWhistleblowers are warning us. AI CEOs are requesting it. And the people are demanding it. Congress should not leave until we\u2019ve fulfilled our responsibility to our constituents and to humanity. Future generations expect nothing less.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, Rep. McBride and her colleagues underscore the urgency of the moment and call on the House to remain in session until Congress advances meaningful, bipartisan safeguards for AI.\n\n\u201cWe write to urge you to keep the House of Representatives in session to enable Congress to take urgent action to address the catastrophic risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence. Those risks take any of several forms, separately and in combination\u2014of agentic misalignment, mass cybersecurity breaches, and development of biological or chemical weapons. Reasonable minds may disagree about precisely how Congress should regulate this rapidly evolving technology. We cannot disagree about the imperative for Congress to act. Instead of action, you have announced vacation. After a month-long August recess, the House leadership changed the schedule to announce two more weeks of vacation\u2013immediately prior to yet another month of recess in October,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe letter points to several recent developments and warnings from AI researchers and industry leaders, including:\n\nAn incident involving Hugging Face in which OpenAI models undergoing cybersecurity evaluations caused swarms of agents that circumvented controls designed to isolate them from the internet, exploited vulnerabilities, hacked third-party systems, and altered evidence of their activity;\n\nMore than 1,300 top employees of frontier AI companies calling on the U.S. government to support an international effort to develop tools that can \u201cdeliberately pace the frontier of automated AI development\u201d; and\n\nCases disrupted by Anthropic in which researchers used Claude for biological research that could have aided the development of biological weapons.\n\nDespite these warnings, Speaker Johnson is sending lawmakers home today, and the House will remain out of session until November.\n\n\u201cWhether with these proposals or any other variants, AI experts and leading companies agree that the United States can lead the world in artificial intelligence while establishing reasonable safeguards that protect Americans and our national security. We can\u2014and must\u2014do both. While AI safety experts and Americans increasingly urge action to confront this conflagration of risk, Congress fiddles\u2026After next week, the House resumes its vacation\u2014for another six weeks,\u201d the lawmakers said.\n\nRep. McBride has been working to both harness the potential and mitigate the risks of AI since coming to Congress. As a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, she has pushed for a federal framework for AI and, as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has argued for an \"arms control\" approach to AI globally. She also introduced the READ AI Models Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing transparency around AI models.\n\n\u201cThe House should remain in session until Congress advances meaningful, bipartisan AI safeguards,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-secures-delaware-priorities-water-resources-development-act", "Rep. McBride Secures Delaware Priorities in Water Resources Development Act", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes several Delaware priorities she advocated for during the development of the legislation. WRDA authorizes critical water resources infrastructure projects and studies through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program, supporting flood and storm protection, ports and harbors, and inland waterway navigation across the country.\n\nAs the state with the lowest mean elevation in the country, Delaware faces significant risks from flooding, coastal storms, and shoreline erosion. WRDA is a critical tool for strengthening Delaware\u2019s water infrastructure, protecting communities across the state, and preparing coastal communities in Sussex County and communities along the Delaware River for future flooding.\n\n\u201cProtecting Delaware from flooding and extreme weather starts with ensuring our water infrastructure is built to withstand the challenges of today and tomorrow,\u201d said Rep. McBride. \u201cI\u2019m proud that the House version of the bill, which passed with bipartisan support, includes several priorities I fought to secure for Delaware \u2014 strengthening protections along the Delaware River, advancing flood mitigation in New Castle and along the Assawoman Canal, and increasing support for the Delaware River Basin. WRDA isn\u2019t just an investment in our water infrastructure \u2014 it\u2019s an investment in our economy, our communities, and the future of our state.\u201d\n\nDelaware priorities secured by Rep. McBride include:\n\nAdvancing flood and shoreline protection along the Delaware River by authorizing a study focused on flood risk management, shoreline damage prevention and mitigation, recreation, and ecosystem restoration;\n\nSupporting flood mitigation in the City of New Castle by authorizing a flood-risk-management study;\n\nExploring additional flood protections for the Assawoman Canal through a newly authorized study; and\n\nStrengthening support for water infrastructure across the Delaware River Basin by expanding an existing environmental infrastructure program to cover the entire Basin and increasing its authorization from $20 million to $92.69 million.\n\nThe bill now heads to the U.S. Senate.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-statement-on-senate-vote-to-advance-the-protect-college-sports-act/", "Senator Coons statement on\u00a0Senate\u00a0vote to advance the Protect College Sports Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WILMINGTON, Del. \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Senate voted 74-24 to move forward on the Protect College Sports Act of 2026:\n\n\u201cThe college sports that are beloved by millions of Americans are in a genuine crisis. The bipartisan Protect College Sports Act is a strong compromise that addresses transfer and eligibility issues. That\u2019s a real win for hundreds of thousands of student-athletes in every sport and at every level who will have new scholarship protections, stronger rights around contracts involving their name, image, and likeness, access to tens of millions of new dollars in direct payments from their schools, improved and lasting healthcare guarantees, and a better process to enforce their rights at school and in court. It\u2019s a win for teams, programs, student-athletes, conferences, and fans who want to know that both the schools and those who play for them are on stronger, more stable footing.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad three-quarters of the Senate has recognized the urgency of this issue and moved our bill forward. I regret that primary elections in Delaware prevented me from casting my vote for the bill today, but I look forward to supporting it on the floor in the days to come. I urge my colleagues to keep up this strong, bipartisan support and swiftly pass this bill so we can send a clear message to the House of Representatives that the time for action is now.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-warns-federal-research-cuts-could-undermine-disaster-preparedness", "Rep. McBride Warns Federal Research Cuts Could Undermine Disaster Preparedness for Delaware Farmers", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.), member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, questioned hearing witnesses on how cuts to federal research and disaster preparedness programs could undermine Delaware farmers\u2019 ability to prepare for natural disasters. Rep. McBride\u2019s full remarks and questioning can be found here.\n\nDuring a hearing titled, \u201cInnovation in Disaster Prevention: Advancing Technology for Prediction and Response,\u201d Rep. McBride emphasized the importance of maintaining the federal research, data, and tools that farmers rely on to prepare for extreme weather and natural disasters, especially as Delaware farmers face broader economic pressures.\n\n\u201c... Today I want to focus on the word \u2018prevention\u2019 and how the Administration\u2019s attacks on federal programming are hurting Americans, and specifically farmers in Sussex County within Delaware. Farmers are already suffering due to President Trump\u2019s reckless policies \u2013 from his war of choice with Iran to his nonsensical trade wars. On top of all of that, this Administration has moved to cut funding for essential programs that help communities prepare for and detect disasters,\u201d said Rep. McBride.\n\nIn recent weeks, the Trump administration has moved to dismantle or cut federal research programs that provide scientists and communities with critical weather, climate, and environmental data, including the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Ocean Observatories Initiative. Rep. McBride stressed that, as farmers face economic uncertainty, the federal government should continue investing in the research, data, and resources that help them anticipate and prepare for natural disasters.\n\n\u201cThese continued attempts to dismantle, dissolve, and destroy programs that experts rely on to keep Americans informed and safe is simply disgraceful. At a time when farmers are already under immense pressure, Congress must support the research, data, and tools that help communities not just respond to but prepare before disaster strikes. Farmers in Sussex County face a unique threat \u2013 during hurricane season not only do they see flooding, but they also see saltwater intrusion which poisons crops, harms soil health, and can turn productive land into marsh,\u201d Rep. McBride continued.\n\nRep. McBride raised these concerns with Dr. Ali Mostafavi, Founder and CEO of Resilitix AI, focusing on how specific cuts to the federal data sources used to train AI models could undermine emerging technologies designed to help farmers predict and prepare for disasters.\n\n\u201cPutting technology in farmers' hands is important. A recent report found that 23% of North American farmers use Gen AI, but only 10% of them pay for farm-specific Gen AI tools. So, Dr. Mostafavi, farmers face differing climates and growing conditions. AI models are only as good as the data they're trained on. Consistent data streams are key for improving model performance, yet data collection for key natural hazards has continuously been under attack by the administration. This includes funding that supports USGS sensors for flood monitoring and seismic centers for earthquake and tsunami data. How will the quality and lead time of AI models and predictions be affected if mission-critical data sources are substantially cut?\u201d Rep. McBride asked.\n\nDr. Ali Mostafavi replied, \u201cAbsolutely. I would like to mention that the advancements in frontier AI would not necessarily translate to disaster capabilities for different users. The forward deployment requires domain-specific data, and connected, quality-controlled, and curated data sets are foundational for bringing frontier AI capabilities to disaster domain.\u201d\n\nRep. McBride has been a champion for Delaware farmers. Earlier this year, she hosted Delaware\u2019s first Agriculture Summit where she brought together farmers and stakeholders to strategize how the federal government can better support Delaware\u2019s ag industry. She introduced a bipartisan bill, the SAVE Our Poultry Act, to protect farmers\u2019 livestock from the threat of avian flu. Rep. McBride also introduced a bipartisan bill to encourage transparency for AI models, the READ AI Models Act which passed out of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee with unanimous support.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-coons-urges-congress-to-act-on-ai-risks-in-bloomberg-interview/", "ICYMI:\u00a0\u201cSenator Coons urges Congress to act on AI risks\u201d in Bloomberg interview", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WILMINGTON, Del. \u2013 In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) joined Bloomberg This Weekend yesterday to discuss the growing risks of artificial intelligence and the need for Congress to establish guardrails to protect against the biggest risks that the technology can pose. The interview follows Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei\u2019s call for AI companies to slow the development of their most advanced models, along with warnings about the potential for catastrophic harm, and the resignation of Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who said Anthropic and OpenAI were \u201cgambling with our lives.\u201d\n\nDuring the interview, Senator Coons called for Congress to work together to establish enforceable guardrails. He noted that the U.S. must work with allies and adversaries alike to mitigate the growing risks. He also highlighted the AI Whistleblower Protection Act, his bipartisan legislation with Senator Chuck Grassley to protect AI whistleblowers.\n\nBloomberg This Weekend: Senator Chris Coons on AI and the need for guardrails\n\nSenator Coons: The essay by Dario Amodei says out loud what many of us have known for months, if not years. Especially after the [Hugging] Face hack that happened recently. These models are doing things that their designers didn\u2019t expect, can\u2019t predict, and aren\u2019t able to fully control. And the level of risk for us as a species, as a nation, is gradually accelerating. I have a bill in the Judiciary Committee with Senator Grassley that we are going to try and get passed soon that would protect AI whistleblowers. Because frankly, the main reason we know about these steadily increasing risks is because of whistleblowers. They\u2019re taking career risks, even personal risks, by stepping out and saying this. Now that we\u2019ve got agreement from Elon Musk and Sam Altman and Dario Amodei, we need agreement from Republicans and Democrats in Congress to put aside our partisan pre-election bickering and put in place some real guardrails before AI goes off the rails.\n\n\u2026\n\nI think all of us are concerned about our competition with China, or we should be, and the ways in which AI is accelerating developments in everything, not just positive developments in, for example, finding new treatments and cures for diseases, but developments in the possibility of AI engineering a deadly bio-weapon, AI being used for hypersonic missiles, for cracking codes, for taking down GPS. There are lots of malign applications for AI in warfare. The drones that are being fired at Ukrainian civilians every night by Russia are becoming faster and stronger because Russia and Iran are using AI to improve their targeting. So, yes, there is a real concern on my part and many of my colleagues.\n\n\u2026\n\nI also, frankly, think that this is something that has to be on the agenda when President Trump meets with Xi Jinping. This is as much a threat to China as it is to the United States, and so, even though our competition is fierce, even though our political systems are fundamentally different, I\u2019ll remind you: in the height of the Cold War, when the Soviet Union and the United States were locked in a decades-long conflict, where we threatened each other\u2019s existence with nuclear weapons, we were able to negotiate arms control agreements to reduce the risk we would destroy humanity. This moment requires us to do the same: to look up from our domestic concerns or our partisan concerns and work to find a way that we can come up with some minimal, reasonable guardrails to slow the rapidly accelerating pace of AI development and deployment.", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-murray-shaheen-klobuchar-slotkin-statement-on-president-trumps-trade-war-with-canada/", "Senators Coons, Murray, Shaheen,\u00a0Klobuchar,\u00a0Slotkin statement on\u00a0President\u00a0Trump\u2019s trade war with Canada", "2026-09-09", "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.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) released the following statement in response to President Trump\u2019s continued imposition of new tariffs on Canada:\n\n\u201cThe states we represent rely on Canada as a key trading partner and our primary export market. We have deep ties with our neighbors to the north, and we share one of the world\u2019s most enduring defense partnerships. We have built two powerful nations over many decades by working together, growing our economies together, and securing our homelands together. Our countries have achieved great things by working closely together, and we still can.\n\n\u201cInstead of working with our neighbors, President Trump is doubling down on a pointless trade war. His tariffs will squeeze our states\u2019 small businesses and farmers harder and drive costs up for working families. They will raise the cost of the lumber, plywood, and construction equipment we need to build new housing. They will hurt our workers and businesses who manufacture autos, aircraft, and machinery. They will drive up the prices consumers pay for everyday basics like milk, clothing, and paper products.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s tariffs have already cost American families as much as $5,000 in some states, and his senseless trade war with Canada will only grow that number. While American families and businesses suffer from President Trump\u2019s trade wars, partners around the world, including Canada, are increasingly looking to diversify away from the United States and deepen trade ties with other countries including China. Congressional Republicans need to stand up to the president and do their part to give families and businesses on both sides of the border relief from this insanity.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/photo-release-coons-blunt-rochester-mcbride-celebrate-federal-investments", "PHOTO RELEASE: Coons, Blunt Rochester, McBride Celebrate Federal Investments to Expand Rural Healthcare Access in Sussex County", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GEORGETOWN, Del. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester and U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (all D-Del.) traveled across Sussex County to celebrate more than $5 million in federal investments to expand access to affordable healthcare through La Red Health Center in Georgetown and Seaford and Beebe Healthcare\u2019s Long Neck Health Center in Millsboro.\n\nThe events were part of the delegation\u2019s \u201cDelaware Delivers: Federal Investment at Work\u201d tour highlighting how federal dollars are being put to work to expand access to affordable care and meet the needs of Delaware communities. Photos from the events can be found here.\n\n\u201cAnyone who lives downstate will tell you there simply aren\u2019t enough doctors in Sussex,\u201d said Senator Chris Coons. \u201cIt makes it harder for people to get the care they need, leaving communities here sicker, ER wait times longer, and health care more expensive for everybody. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve taken action in Washington to get millions of dollars to add more doctors and clinics to Sussex County \u2013 because you deserve care no matter where you live.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Delawarean should have access to quality affordable health care, regardless of their zip code or background,\u201d said Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester. \u201cWe will continue to work to close health care gaps and lower rising health care costs, so no Delawarean has to choose between putting food on their table and getting the care they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cSussex County is experiencing significant growth, so it\u2019s imperative that our healthcare system keeps pace,\u201d said Rep. Sarah McBride. \u201cThe federal investments we\u2019re highlighting today will help us do just that \u2014 by expanding critical services, from primary care to substance use disorder treatment, for residents across Sussex County. I\u2019m proud to have worked alongside Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester to bring these resources home and invest in the health of our neighbors. Every Delawarean deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare, no matter their ZIP code or circumstances. Because when more people can get the care they need, when they need it, we lower healthcare costs for everyone.\u201d\n\nThe congressional delegation first toured the La Red Health Center in Georgetown to celebrate the more than $3.7 million in federal funding to strengthen its facilities and services across Sussex County. The investments include $2 million for facility enhancements at La Red\u2019s Georgetown campus, including maximizing administrative space, improving energy efficiency, making structural repairs, and enhancing safety; $720,000 for infrastructure improvements at its Seaford location, including replacing the HVAC system and repaving the parking lot to improve accessibility; and $1 million to strengthen La Red\u2019s Rural Re-Entry Program, which connects formerly incarcerated people with healthcare, treatment, housing, and workforce support.\n\n\u201cThis funding is critical for La Red and our patients,\u201d said Rachel Hersh, President & CEO of La Red Health Center. \u201cEvery year, 15,000 people in Sussex County count on us for their healthcare needs. This funding will allow us to make necessary improvements to our Georgetown and Seaford facilities that will extend the lives of those buildings. It will also allow us to enhance our care for our patients by adding staff to our rural re-entry program.\u201d\n\nThe delegation then traveled to Beebe Healthcare\u2019s Long Neck Health Center in Millsboro to celebrate $1.75 million in federal funding to relocate and expand Beebe\u2019s Coordinated Care Center. The investment will help renovate the Long Neck facility to expand access to primary care, care coordination, and chronic disease management in a rapidly growing area of Sussex County.\n\nBeebe launched the Coordinated Care Center in Lewes in August 2024 to help bridge the gap between hospital care and critical follow-up care for patients who do not have a primary care provider. Patients can leave the hospital with a follow-up appointment already scheduled, helping connect them with continued care and reduce the risk of readmission. The expanded Center will allow Beebe to serve more patients discharged from its emergency departments or inpatient care without a primary care provider.\n\n\"At Beebe Healthcare, we know that access to care is about more than having healthcare options available,\" said David A. Tam, MD, MBA, CPHE, FACHE, President & CEO, Beebe Healthcare. \"The Coordinated Care Center helps bridge the gap between a hospital stay and long-term health, connecting patients to primary care, care coordination, chronic disease management, and other support services that help them stay well. By reducing avoidable hospital readmissions and helping patients access timely follow-up care, the center can help reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization while connecting patients to the right care at the right time. This investment will allow us to expand that proven model, bringing care closer to home while advancing our commitment to value-based care focused on prevention, wellness, and better health outcomes. We are grateful to Delaware's Congressional Delegation for their partnership in helping improve the health of our community.\"\n\nSussex County is growing rapidly, but access to healthcare has not kept pace. These federal investments will help La Red and Beebe expand capacity and services to meet growing demand and connect more Sussex County residents with quality care close to home.\n\nThe funding was secured through the federal appropriations process in the House and Senate.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-blunt-rochester-joined-state-leaders-for-signing-of-key-maternal-health-legislation/", "ICYMI: Senator Blunt Rochester Joined\u00a0State Leaders for Signing of Key\u00a0Maternal Health Legislation", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Newark, DE \u2014 Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, joined Delaware state leaders last week to sign Senate Bill 301 (SB 301)\u2014 requiring in-state hospitals to create discharge plans for pregnant patients experiencing labor symptoms. SB 301 models the Women Expansion of Learning and Labor Safety Act (WELLS Act), brought forth by Senator Blunt Rochester and Congresswoman Robin Kelly.\n\nThe passage of this legislation is one of the most recent collaborations where Delaware Federal and State leaders focus on expanding access to maternal health care. Senator Blunt Rochester has partnered with SB 301 sponsors, State Senator Marie Pinkney and Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, for years, on policies that directly address the maternal health crisis \u2014 including The Momnibus, which was also mirrored and enacted in the First State.\n\n\u201cI was honored to stand by my partners in progress \u2014 Senator Marie Pinkney and Speaker Minor Brown\u2014 to celebrate the signing of Senate Bill 301. This legislation builds off our efforts in Congress to save lives by ending the maternal health crisis,\u201d said U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester. \u201cThe work continues as we strive to give moms and families the support, they need to be healthy, from the first trimester to the fourth trimester.\u201d\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester introduced the WELLS Act, as part of a legislative package aimed to strengthen healthcare services for pregnant and postpartum moms, and reduce inequitable maternal health outcomes.", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-sponsors-billionaires-income-tax-act-to-address-tax-fairness-reduce-nations-deficits/", "Senator Coons sponsors Billionaires Income Tax Act to address tax fairness, reduce nation\u2019s deficits", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WILMINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) announced he would cosponsor the Billionaires Income Tax Act, legislation that would require the wealthiest Americans to pay taxes on income generated by their assets, creating more than $500 billion in new federal tax revenue over 10 years. Senator Coons\u2019 support for the legislation comes following news that the national debt has surpassed $40 trillion for the first time in American history, underscoring the urgent need for Congress to take steps to address the nation\u2019s long-term fiscal challenges.\n\nThe national debt reached $40 trillion earlier this month, adding more than $1 trillion in debt in just five months, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. The federal government is spending more and more tax dollars to pay interest on the nation\u2019s growing debt, putting increasing pressure on the federal budget and limiting the resources available for investments that strengthen the economy and programs that Americans rely on. The national debt has ballooned as tax revenues have fallen in recent decades \u2013 repeated Republican tax cuts for wealthy Americans have caused tax revenue as a percentage of GDP to decline 14% since 2000, according to the Federal Reserve.\n\n\u201cOur national debt is a crisis that we cannot afford to leave to our children, and the problem is driven in large part by the fact that too many Americans aren\u2019t paying their fair share. Right now, some of the wealthiest Americans can defer taxes on enormous gains indefinitely, while middle-class Delawareans see taxes taken out of every single paycheck. This legislation requires the very wealthiest Americans to pay taxes on their gains and slashes our deficit while leaving tax rates the same for nearly every American,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cAs interest costs put growing pressure on our budget, we need to reduce our deficits and protect the investments that keep our economy strong.\u201d\n\nThe Billionaires Income Tax Act would apply to fewer than 1,000 of the wealthiest taxpayers in a country of more than 342 million people. Under the proposal, taxpayers with more than $100 million in annual income or more than $1 billion in assets for three consecutive years would be subject to the tax. By taxing the unrealized capital gains of these individuals, the proposal would raise more than $500 billion over ten years, providing an opportunity to strengthen the nation\u2019s fiscal position and shore up funding for our military, national parks, affordable housing, and many other vital programs.\n\nThe Billionaires Income Tax Act was introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Congressman Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Congressman Don Beyer (D-Va.) introduced companion legislation in the House. The legislation has more than 20 Senate cosponsors.", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-murray-call-for-immediate-independent-investigation-of-extended-deployments-and-unacceptable-quality-of-life-issues-on-aircraft-carriers-as-uss-lincoln-heads-home/", "Senators Coons, Murray call for immediate independent investigation of extended deployments and unacceptable quality of life issues on aircraft carriers as USS Lincoln heads home", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Lawmakers seek answers on glaring quality of life and operational issues aboard not only the USS Lincoln, but the USS Ford and USS Benfold, which recently suffered a dayslong power outage\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) called for the Department of Defense (DOD) to immediately open an independent review of the extended deployments of the USS Ford and USS Lincoln, as well as the USS Benfold\u2019s four-day power loss, in a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. Senator Coons is ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Murray is vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.\n\n\u201cWe are writing to express our deep concern regarding the recent extended deployments of the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln, and the USS Benfold\u2019s recent undisclosed power loss, and what it means for our sailors, Marines, and their families, as well as for the Navy\u2019s overall military readiness,\u201d wrote Ranking Member Coons and Vice Chair Murray. \u201cGiven the serious quality of life and operational concerns that have been documented and the Department\u2019s inability \u2013 or refusal \u2013 to provide the congressional defense committees with full and accurate information, we request that the Navy initiate an immediate independent strategic review of these deployments, and brief Congress on its findings.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers note that a variety of serious quality of life issues have been documented aboard these aircraft carriers, and service members and their families deserve better: \u201cThis administration has tried to downplay or paper over these reports, but the fact is our servicemembers and their families have reported alarming concerns that deserve redress and accountability.\u201d\n\nRanking Member Coons and Vice Chair Murray called on DOD to immediately conduct a review of these issues and to provide additional responses to a series of questions about the extended deployments by September 1, 2026.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth and Acting Secretary Cao:\n\nWe are writing to express our deep concern regarding the recent extended deployments of the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln, and the USS Benfold\u2019s recent undisclosed power loss, and what it means for our sailors, Marines, and their families, as well as for the Navy\u2019s overall military readiness. Given the serious quality of life and operational concerns that have been documented and the Department\u2019s inability\u2014or refusal\u2014to provide the congressional defense committees with full and accurate information, we request that the Navy initiate an immediate independent strategic review of these deployments, and brief Congress on its findings.\n\nWhile the reporting that the Lincoln is now on its way home is welcome news, we still have many unanswered questions about the quality of life issues reported on these ships. This administration has tried to downplay or paper over these reports, but the fact is our servicemembers and their families have reported alarming concerns that deserve redress and accountability. Our military family members with loved ones serving on these ships deserve honest answers, and the Pentagon\u2019s denials to date are an insult to the service of these sailors and Marines.\n\nThese firsthand accounts from the Ford, Lincoln, and Benfold have included mental health and morale concerns, supply issues for basic necessities such as food, clean water and hygiene items, air conditioning, and cleanliness and sewage issues in bathrooms. There have also been reports of long lines at the mess halls and ship stores and disrupted and lost mail service. After working long shifts on duty during combat operations, our sailors and Marines should not have to worry about basic day-to-day functions, whether they\u2019ll have a full meal, or be able to communicate with their family members.\n\nIt also appears that the Navy was inadequately prepared for predictable risks associated with the Iran war, and we are deeply concerned about the implications for future operations or management of a peer conflict. Among these concerns is the availability of replacement carrier groups across the combatant commands and the disruption of the Navy\u2019s supply chain in the Middle East. We are also concerned about the future unbudgeted maintenance costs for the Ford and Lincoln and the length of time required to complete these repairs, which have not yet been outlined to Congress despite our requests.\n\nWe insist you immediately direct an independent strategic review of the extended deployments of the Ford and Lincoln, and the Benfold\u2019s four-day power loss. This review should be conducted by senior civilian executives and former military officers. It should examine readiness issues relating to operations, manning, quality of life, including mental health, and culture on the ships as well as communications with the crews\u2019 families. The review should provide recommendations in these areas to improve future extended deployments for sailors and Marines serving on carriers and all other Department of the Navy vessels.\n\nAs you begin this investigation, please also provide responses to the following questions:\n\nWill the Lincoln make a port call along its voyage home, allowing sailors and Marines to enjoy critical relief from intense combat operations?\n\nWhen is the next town hall and virtual meeting scheduled for families of the sailors and Marines serving on the Lincoln? Will these outreach meetings continue on a regular basis until the carrier arrives home?\n\nWhat homecoming support resources have been provided to the sailors and Marines on the Ford and their families since returning home? Will the same or additional resources be provided to the sailors and Marines on the Lincoln and their families?\n\nWhat mental health and sexual assault prevention and response resources are available to the sailors and Marines on the Ford and Lincoln?\n\nWhen will the congressional defense committees receive the final command investigation report from the extensive laundry fire on the Ford, which destroyed berthing quarters?\n\nWhat actions has the Navy taken to address and prevent future power issues on the Benfold?\n\nWhat steps is the Navy taking to prevent similar quality of life issues on the USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington and other ships currently deployed in the Middle East and globally?\n\nWhat were the Navy\u2019s operational and contingency plans for deploying the Ford first to the Caribbean for Operation Southern Spear and then immediately to the Middle East?\n\nWhat were the Navy\u2019s contingency plans for supply chain disruption and being forced to remain at sea rather than docked at an ally\u2019s port?\n\nWhat is the maintenance schedule for the Ford and Lincoln? What are the costs associated with these repairs?\n\nWhat is the Navy\u2019s contingency plan to meet force requirements, including during any potential conflict, while two carriers are undergoing unplanned maintenance?\n\nWe request a written response to these questions and establishment of an independent strategic review by September 1, 2026. Thank you for your prompt attention to these important issues.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/photo-release-rep-mcbride-lt-governor-gay-convene-delaware-childcare", "PHOTO RELEASE: Rep. McBride, Lt. Governor Gay Convene Delaware Childcare Roundtable on Access and Affordability", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "DOVER, Del. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride and Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay (both D-Del.) brought together advocates, childcare providers, and local leaders for a conversation at Delaware State University on lowering childcare costs, expanding access to care, and strengthening Delaware\u2019s childcare workforce.\n\nRep. McBride was recently selected by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to co-lead the House Democratic Caregiving Working Group, which is charged with helping develop the House Democratic Caucus\u2019s legislative agenda on caregiving. Today\u2019s discussion further informs that work, bringing the experiences and priorities of Delaware families and childcare providers directly into creating bold federal solutions to caregiving challenges facing families in the First State and across the country.\n\n\u201cChildcare costs are increasingly unaffordable for working families in Delaware and across the country,\u201d said Rep. McBride. \u201cAccess to affordable, reliable childcare must be at the center of our economic agenda at both the federal and state levels. Today\u2019s conversation brought together providers, advocates, and local leaders to talk about what it will take to lower costs for families, expand access to care, and recruit and retain the childcare workers our communities need. As we develop a caregiving agenda for the next Congress, I\u2019m going to make sure the voices and experiences of Delawareans are front and center.\u201d\n\nThe discussion focused on four key challenges facing Delaware families and childcare providers: affordability for families; access to and availability of care; financial, operational, and workforce pressures facing providers; as well as state and federal policies that could help address those challenges. Participants also discussed gaps in infant care, care during nontraditional hours, rural childcare, and care for children with disabilities, as well as barriers providers face in recruiting and retaining workers and expanding capacity to meet demand.\n\n\u201cFor too long, we have approached early childhood education in Delaware as a collection of individual programs \u2014 each with its own funding stream, requirements, eligibility rules, and priorities. But parents don't experience government that way. Educators don\u2019t. And children certainly don\u2019t,\u201d said Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay. \u201cWe have an opportunity right now to think differently \u2014 to move from fragmented programs toward an aligned and coordinated system with sustainable investments. We have the opportunity to design a system around the people that we serve. As Chair of the IRMC, I am committed to that work\u2014and to making sure the we have the honest conversations about governance, financing, coordination, and accountability that this moment requires so that our youngest Delawareans have access to the education and care they need.\u201d\n\nAffordability was a central focus throughout the conversation as families continue to face high childcare costs. According to a recent report, the national average annual price of center-based infant care was $15,570. In Delaware, families are paying approximately $17,252 per year for center-based infant care.\n\nJoining Rep. McBride and Lt. Governor Gay were representatives from:\n\nChild Care for Every Family Network\n\nDelaware Association for the Education of Young Children\n\nYMCA of Delaware\n\nDelaware State Education Association\n\nDelaware State University's Early Childhood Center\n\nDelaware Department of Education\n\nDelaware Department of Health and Social Services\n\nRepresentatives shared concerns about workforce infrastructure and the increasing costs of providing care, as well as squeezed bottom lines across the board. Each spoke about challenges facing the affordability of childcare \u2014 reinforcing the broad effects across every aspect of the economy and workforce \u2014 and shared invaluable perspectives about the way families are navigating childcare access and costs across Delaware.\n\nRep. McBride has long worked to strengthen support for working families. In Congress, she is a cosponsor of the Child Care for Every Community Act, which would create a universal childcare program, and the American Family Act, which would increase the value of a monthly Child Tax Credit.\n\nWhile serving as a Delaware State Senator, Rep. McBride passed the Healthy Delaware Families Act with bipartisan support, providing paid family and medical leave to workers across the state. In Congress, she has continued to lead on strengthening the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and expanding paid leave nationwide. She has introduced legislation including the FAIR Leave Act, the Flexible Leave Act, and is an original cosponsor of the FAMILY Act, helping ensure workers and their families can access leave when they need it most.\n\nPhotos from the event can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/photo-release-rep-mcbride-lt-governor-evans-gay-convene-delaware-childcare", "PHOTO RELEASE: Rep. McBride, Lt. Governor Evans Gay Convene Delaware Childcare Roundtable on Access and Affordability", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "DOVER, Del. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride and Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay (both D-Del.) brought together advocates, childcare providers, and local leaders for a conversation at Delaware State University on lowering childcare costs, expanding access to care, and strengthening Delaware\u2019s childcare workforce.\n\nRep. McBride was recently selected by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to co-lead the House Democratic Caregiving Working Group, which is charged with helping develop the House Democratic Caucus\u2019s legislative agenda on caregiving. Today\u2019s discussion further informs that work, bringing the experiences and priorities of Delaware families and childcare providers directly into creating bold federal solutions to caregiving challenges facing families in the First State and across the country.\n\n\u201cChildcare costs are increasingly unaffordable for working families in Delaware and across the country,\u201d said Rep. McBride. \u201cAccess to affordable, reliable childcare must be at the center of our economic agenda at both the federal and state levels. Today\u2019s conversation brought together providers, advocates, and local leaders to talk about what it will take to lower costs for families, expand access to care, and recruit and retain the childcare workers our communities need. As we develop a caregiving agenda for the next Congress, I\u2019m going to make sure the voices and experiences of Delawareans are front and center.\u201d\n\nThe discussion focused on four key challenges facing Delaware families and childcare providers: affordability for families; access to and availability of care; financial, operational, and workforce pressures facing providers; as well as state and federal policies that could help address those challenges. Participants also discussed gaps in infant care, care during nontraditional hours, rural childcare, and care for children with disabilities, as well as barriers providers face in recruiting and retaining workers and expanding capacity to meet demand.\n\n\u201cFor too long, we have approached early childhood education in Delaware as a collection of individual programs \u2014 each with its own funding stream, requirements, eligibility rules, and priorities. But parents don't experience government that way. Educators don\u2019t. And children certainly don\u2019t,\u201d said Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay. \u201cWe have an opportunity right now to think differently \u2014 to move from fragmented programs toward an aligned and coordinated system with sustainable investments. We have the opportunity to design a system around the people that we serve. As Chair of the IRMC, I am committed to that work\u2014and to making sure the we have the honest conversations about governance, financing, coordination, and accountability that this moment requires so that our youngest Delawareans have access to the education and care they need.\u201d\n\nAffordability was a central focus throughout the conversation as families continue to face high childcare costs. According to a recent report, the national average annual price of center-based infant care was $15,570. In Delaware, families are paying approximately $17,252 per year for center-based infant care.\n\nJoining Rep. McBride and Lt. Governor Evans Gay were representatives from:\n\nChild Care for Every Family Network\n\nDelaware Association for the Education of Young Children\n\nYMCA of Delaware\n\nDelaware State Education Association\n\nDelaware State University's Early Childhood Center\n\nDelaware Department of Education\n\nDelaware Department of Health and Social Services\n\nRepresentatives shared concerns about workforce infrastructure and the increasing costs of providing care, as well as squeezed bottom lines across the board. Each spoke about challenges facing the affordability of childcare \u2014 reinforcing the broad effects across every aspect of the economy and workforce \u2014 and shared invaluable perspectives about the way families are navigating childcare access and costs across Delaware.\n\nRep. McBride has long worked to strengthen support for working families. In Congress, she is a cosponsor of the Child Care for Every Community Act, which would create a universal childcare program, and the American Family Act, which would increase the value of a monthly Child Tax Credit.\n\nWhile serving as a Delaware State Senator, Rep. McBride passed the Healthy Delaware Families Act with bipartisan support, providing paid family and medical leave to workers across the state. In Congress, she has continued to lead on strengthening the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and expanding paid leave nationwide. She has introduced legislation including the FAIR Leave Act, the Flexible Leave Act, and is an original cosponsor of the FAMILY Act, helping ensure workers and their families can access leave when they need it most.\n\nPhotos from the event can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-kennedy-bipartisan-bill-to-update-federal-diversity-jurisdiction-threshold-passes-senate/", "Senators Coons, Kennedy bipartisan bill to update federal diversity jurisdiction threshold passes Senate", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "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.) and John Kennedy (R-La.), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, celebrated Senate passage of their bipartisan Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act, legislation that would update the dollar threshold for certain state-law lawsuits between parties from different states to be heard in federal court.\n\n\u201cFederal courts and judges are already stretched too thin without having to handle low-dollar civil suits that Congress has long intended should be argued in front of state courts,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cFixing outdated thresholds and indexing them for inflation ensure more cases will end up in front of the judges who are best positioned to hear them, streamlining court caseloads and helping justice move faster for every American. I\u2019m grateful to see this measure pass the Senate unanimously and move closer to easing the burden on our busy court system.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal judges already have plenty on their plate, and Congress ought to respect their limited time and resources. Our bipartisan bill updates a 30-year-old threshold, preserves the role of state courts and makes our federal judiciary more efficient. I\u2019m glad the Senate passed this common-sense fix,\u201d said Senator Kennedy.\n\nFederal diversity jurisdiction allows federal courts to hear certain state-law disputes between parties from different states. To prevent federal courts from being flooded with lower-value state-law claims, Congress requires these lawsuits meet a minimum dollar amount, known as the amount-in-controversy requirement.\n\nIn 1996, Congress updated the dollar threshold to $75,000 to account for inflation, but hasn\u2019t changed it since. In 2021, the Judicial Conference of the United States recommended the amount be increased to $150,000, which would be equivalent to $187,000 today.\n\nThe Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act would:\n\nAllow federal courts to hear state-law disputes between parties from different states so long as the amount-in-controversy requirement is satisfied\n\nRaise the amount-in-controversy requirement to $150,000\n\nIndex the amount-in-controversy requirement to inflation every 10 years\n\nImprove judicial efficiency by limiting state-law cases in federal courts\n\nIn addition to Senators Coons and Kennedy, the legislation is sponsored by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-schmitt-celebrate-senate-passage-of-bill-extending-authorization-for-national-ems-memorial/", "Senators Coons, Schmitt celebrate Senate passage of bill extending authorization for National EMS Memorial", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "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.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) celebrated Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to extend the deadline for the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring the nation\u2019s EMS professionals. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this year, now heads to the president\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\nThe legislation would extend the foundation\u2019s authorization through 2032, giving it additional time to complete a memorial honoring the commitment, service, and sacrifice of EMS professionals who provide life-saving care to communities across the country. The memorial will be fully funded by the foundation not taxpayers, and any surplus funds will be returned to the federal government after the project is completed.\n\n\u201cEvery day, emergency medical technicians are the first line of support when lives in their communities are at risk, sometimes throwing themselves into dangerous and deadly situations to begin treatment,\u201d said Senator Coons.\u201cThese first responders deserve to be commemorated in our nation\u2019s capital, and I\u2019ll continue to work to support these efforts so that the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial is completed. This bipartisan law will ensure that EMS organizations have the time they need to build a memorial worthy of them and their service.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t about politics \u2013 it\u2019s about honor. EMS professionals in Missouri, and across the United States work tirelessly, often putting themselves in harm\u2019s way for the communities they serve. Thanks to this bipartisan legislation, the United States is keeping our promise that their fallen brothers and sisters, their courage, and their sacrifices are permanently dignified with a monument deserving of the heroism they\u2019ve shown,\u201d said Senator Schmitt. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have led this effort to ensure that future generations of Americans will never forget the brave men and women who ran towards danger, not away from it.\u201d\n\nThe original bill \u2013 the National Emergency Medical Services Commemorative Work Act\u2013 was introduced in 2017 by Senator Coons and signed into law by President Trump in 2018. That bill authorized the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in Washington, D.C. within seven years of enactment. The foundation\u2019s authorization expired in 2025 before the project could be completed due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. This legislation would extend that authorization through 2033.\n\nThe legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.). A companion bill in the House of Representatives was led by Reps. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.).\n\n\u201cOur country\u2019s paramedics, EMTs and emergency medical service professionals provide patients with life-saving medical care and deserve to be recognized with a memorial in our Nation\u2019s capital. We profoundly appreciate the successful efforts of Senators Schmitt and Coons in steering the passage of legislation to reauthorize the National EMS Memorial. With this victory, we now look forward to the next steps in making the memorial a reality,\u201d said Jamie Pafford-Gresham, president of the American Ambulance Association.\n\n\u201cThis is great news. We are thankful for Senator Schmitt\u2019s and Senator Coons\u2019 strong leadership and support in our effort to reauthorize the National EMS Memorial Foundation. This reauthorization allows us to continue the important work to establish a permanent memorial in the nation\u2019s capital to honor the commitment, service and sacrifice of all of us in EMS. It is an honor to serve our fellow Americans, and we are proud to have maintained their trust as we work through the next steps in the processes outlined in the Commemorative Works Act,\u201d said Bob Morley, president of the National Emergency Medical Service Memorial Foundation.\n\n\u201cNAEMT applauds Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) for securing passage of a foundational bipartisan bill (S. 2546/H.R. 2196) extending the deadline for the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a national memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring America\u2019s EMS professionals. This critical extension ensures the nation\u2019s EMS workforce \u2014 whose courage, sacrifice, and service have protected communities for generations \u2014 receives the long-overdue recognition it deserves in the nation\u2019s Capital. Every year, more than 850,000 EMS professionals respond to over 30 million emergency calls and care for approximately 22 million patients nationwide, often at the most critical moments in people\u2019s lives. As a cornerstone of the nation\u2019s emergency response system, EMS personnel stand on the front lines of public safety and national preparedness, responding without hesitation to local emergencies, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other large-scale crises. Serving in both the public and private sectors as career and volunteer providers, these men and women are an indispensable part of America\u2019s healthcare system, homeland security infrastructure, and national security readiness. Their unwavering commitment to saving lives deserves permanent recognition and honor,\u201d said Chief Chris Way,president of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-rep-mcbride-hosts-info-session-help-delawareans-prepare-retirement", "ICYMI: Rep. McBride Hosts Info Session to Help Delawareans Prepare for Retirement", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GEORGETOWN, Del. \u2014 Last week, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) hosted an informational session, \u201cReady, Set, Retire! Financial Must Knows for Those 55 and Up,\u201d in Sussex County. The event connected Delawareans preparing for retirement with resources and information on everything from aging services and Medicare to financial planning and taxes. Photos from the event can be found here.\n\n\u201cIt can be hard enough to get ahead in today\u2019s economy, let alone think about and plan for retirement,\u201d said Rep. McBride. \u201cI\u2019m proud that my office brought together so many incredible partners to connect Delawareans directly with the information and resources they need to plan for their futures. Our office will continue to be there for Delawareans, and I\u2019ll continue to fight to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid so they can retire with the security and dignity they deserve.\u201d\n\nDelawareans had the opportunity to connect with a number of organizations and agencies, including The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, AARP of Delaware, CLASI Elder Law Services, Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau, Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance, Life Happens, State Long Term Care Ombudsman, Delaware Department of Justice Adult Protective Services, and Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities.\n\nThe \u201cReady, Set, Retire!\u201d informational session is part of Rep. McBride\u2019s commitment to connecting Delawareans with the services and support they need. Since taking office, her constituent advocacy team has returned more than $7.5 million in backlogged federal benefits and refunds to Delawareans and regularly hosts community-centered events, including Mobile Office Hours across the state and the Emergency Preparedness Fair. In June, her office was awarded Best Constituent Service in Congress.\n\nDelawareans experiencing issues with a federal agency are encouraged to visit McBride.house.gov or contact Rep. McBride\u2019s Wilmington office at 302-830-2330 for assistance.\n\nPhotos from the event can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/let-me-be-blunt-its-good-to-be-home/", "Let Me Be Blunt: It\u2019s good to be home!", "2026-08-22", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Dear Friend,\n\nLet Me Be Blunt is back! From a monumental housing celebration to seeing how federal investments are making big changes in the First State, we hit the ground running for the August State Work Period.\n\nI\u2019m spending this month traveling up and down the state to meet with our communities. This week we visited all three counties, checking in on federally funded projects, celebrating legislative wins, and catching up with Delawareans. These visits directly inform my work in D.C., and we have a lot of ground to cover. Keep reading to learn more about what I was up to this week and stay tuned for another busy schedule in the state next week.\n\nCelebrating a New Way Home\n\nAs many of you know, I was heavily involved in the passage of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which was the first comprehensive housing legislation to become law in 30 years. The final package included five of my bills, which will help increase housing supply, lower costs, and cut red tape \u2013 ultimately improving the quality of life for families and strengthening our economy.\n\nThis week we celebrated these bills becoming law with the countless Delaware stakeholders who helped develop them. Almost one year ago on the ground of Imani Village, a new mixed-income family rental complex, we launched my first policy agenda,\u201cNew Way Home Agenda,\u201d to tackle the housing crisis, and this week we came together to see this vision becoming a reality!\n\nI\u2019m so proud to stand with the Delawareans who made these bills possible.\n\nIn the spirit of increasing housing supply, I visited Tharros Village in Lewes. Tharros Village is Delaware\u2019s first self-governed, transitional village for individuals experiencing homelessness. This seasonal shelter provides residents with supportive services as they transition towards permanent housing. We still have work to do to ensure everyone can access affordable housing, but I\u2019m grateful for the Delawareans who have developed innovative solutions that support our neighbors along the way.\n\nTharros Village is a first step in the road to housing.\n\nServing Our Seniors\n\nDelaware\u2019s seniors have charted the path for the First State and it\u2019s on all of us to make sure we support and salute them. This week, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Cape Henlopen Senior Center and the 48th year of service for Linda Bonville \u2013 who went from secretary to executive director \u2013 with the announcement of a $1.49 million Congressionally Directed Spending award. This investment will support the building of a brand-new facility on land that was donated to them years ago.\n\nFrom its humble beginnings serving 30 members to over 1,000 in Sussex County today, this new site will expand its reach in a county with the fastest growing population over 65. Coming in at three times the size of the current building, this expansion will include a two-story activity area, food pantry, expanded physical fitness offerings, and digital literacy center. All in all, it will be a hub to meet the needs of all in the community. I\u2019m so proud to support this expansion and look forward to the grand opening!\n\nI can\u2019t wait to see the continued success of Cape Henlopen Senior Center.\n\n\u201cThe Rise That Catches the Sun\u201d\n\nAs a state that is urban, suburban, rural, and coastal, I\u2019m always in awe of the diversity of our landscapes and believe we must work to protect them. Sussex County Land Trust has been working since the turn of the century to conserve natural resources downstate. I joined them, alongside Congresswoman McBride, Governor Meyer, and a host of partners to celebrate the permanent preservation of Ard na Gr\u00e9ine, an 89-acre family farm in Lewes. This herculean effort was made possible by the donation of the land by the Wells and Miller families and took seven years, 2 executive directors, and funding from the federal, state, and local governments, as well as private entities.\n\nMeaning \u201cthe rise that catches the sun\u201d in Irish Gaelic, Ard na Gr\u00e9ine is an active corn and soybean farm and the last remaining undeveloped area in Lewes. One of the highlights, was the announcement of a master planning process and possible public uses. While preserving the land, Sussex County Land Trust intends to develop a recreational trail on the property and connect it to the Georgetown-Lewes Trail to increase accessibility. The sun was truly shining on Delaware!\n\nI\u2019m grateful this space will be preserved for generations to come.\n\nGathering Places\n\nAs a Member of Congress, it\u2019s always special when we see federal funding poured into projects that bring our communities together. This week, I had the chance to visit two projects that will increase community services and collaboration for First State.\n\nI attended the grand opening of the Community Education Building\u2019s (CEB) new Youth Development Center, which is the newest addition to the CEB campus. This expansion will support learning, creativity, wellness, and community programs for all ages with the addition of new smart classrooms, performing arts spaces, fitness centers, and more. Another day of partnerships with a special note of thanks to the Longwood Foundation. The new center will ensure young people in the city of Wilmington have a positive environment to expand their horizons \u2014 and ultimately succeed from cradle to career!\n\nI also visited the site of the soon-to-be Kingswood Community Center (Grand opening November 6th-7th). I toured what will be a state-of-the-art center that will house a new senior center, health center, and early learning academy. Once completed, this facility will offer opportunities for Delawareans of all ages and increase access to community services.\n\nI can\u2019t wait to see what these developments will do for our community.\n\nInvesting in Care\n\nRising healthcare costs have made many Delawareans question their ability to access and afford care. I\u2019ve been working to strengthen Delaware\u2019s healthcare system with federal legislation and funding to ensure we are healthy and stay healthy. The Eleanor Cain Center, formerly known as the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, is a direct product of these efforts and supported by federal, state, and local funding. Once completed, it will fill a critical gap in Delaware\u2019s long-term care infrastructure. It was great to meet staff and current residents and get an update on the project. Joining our tour was the state\u2019s first Surgeon General, Dr. Neil Hockstein.\n\nEarlier this year, I introduced a suite of maternal health bills to ensure moms have access to quality care throughout pregnancy and postpartum, including my bipartisanOptimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act. This bill would increase Medicaid coverage for pelvic floor therapy for postpartum moms. This week, I toured Bayhealth\u2019s Kent County Campus to visit its pelvic floor therapy program. In addition to seeing birthing suites, babies in the NICU, and discussing their partnership with Nemours as well as ways to dispell misinformation on social media. The team also discussed innovative ways they are preventing maternal deaths, which has been a priority of my work in the House and now in the Senate. The overall goal is to improve postpartum and maternal health education in central and souther Delaware. Thank you to the team at Bayhealth for your lifesaving and inspirational work.\n\nDelaware\u2019s healthcare industry is making great strides.\n\nIn the Lab\n\nAs a member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, I\u2019m following efforts to strengthen environmental conservation and improve our health status, so I was thrilled to stop by Delaware\u2019s new state-of-the-art Environmental Laboratory. The lab opened earlier this summer and was supported by funds from the American Rescue Plan.\n\nDuring my visit, I met with DNREC scientists to learn how the facility is helping Delaware monitor environmental contaminants and protect public health. Throughout my time in Congress, I\u2019ve led on legislation like the Public Health Air Quality Act, which would increase federal efforts to address the connection between environmental and public health, and bills regarding improved water quality. While there we spent time learning about the process for testing PFAS (forever chemicals) and how the lab supports our residents. I\u2019m proud to see Delawareans working on these same issues to protect our state at the local level.\n\nWe\u2019re working to protect our environment and our public health.\n\nA Conversation on Costs\n\nThe current state of affordability is placing a strain on many of us, and I\u2019ve heard from Delawareans looking for relief. I sat down with credit union members and local leaders to discuss the issues. From housing affordability to economic opportunity to expanding financial stability, we talked through potential policy solutions and how we can collaborate to make Delaware and the nation more affordable. A major topic of discussion was around scams and fraud and working together on new legislation to protect consumers. I\u2019m glad to have partners like this and know that the ideas from this conversation will become policy solutions that make life better for all of us.\n\nI\u2019m grateful we could come to the table to solve problems for Delawareans.\n\nA High Note\n\nGrowing up as a dancer and writer, I developed a deep appreciation for the arts, which has continued throughout my life and driven me to further investments that support the arts community. Earlier this week, I visited the historic Smyrna Opera House, which was originally built in 1870.\n\nThe site has been restored through partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts and funding secured by our congressional delegation. Since its restoration, it\u2019s served as a non-profit cultural center and a hub for events like the Delaware Poetry Out Loud and the annual Futures in the Arts Celebration. Sites like the opera house are critical to our cultural legacy. On our tour, we discussed the next phase of enhancements. I am so excited to see the new renovations \u2013 coming soon to a theater near Smyrna.\n\nIt was a pleasure to learn more about the Smyrna Opera House\u2019s legacy.\n\nCatching Up\n\nThe August State Work Period also provides extended time to meet with Delawareans to learn about the issues facing our community and how we can work toward solutions together. These conversations lead to some of our most direct and effective policy proposals.\n\nI sat down with members of the Delaware Federation of National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) to discuss the needs of the federal workers who have dedicated their lives to public service. Our federal workers have faced challenging times, but I\u2019m grateful to have a direct pipeline to their needs and policy priorities through NARFE.\n\nThank you to our federal workers for dedicating your lives to service.\n\nThis week\u2019s Constituent Corner honors Haley and Hope Shiber. Haley is a disability and speech-disorder advocate and the founder of Haley\u2019s Ray of Sunshine, a small business focused on literacy, arts, advocacy, and community inclusion. Haley was born with cerebral palsy and later diagnosed with a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder. Due to her diagnosis, Haley requires around-the-clock assistance to live as independently as possible, but she previously struggled to find reliable care. To bridge the gap, Haley\u2019s sister, Hope, became a specialized home health nurse to support her. Now the two sisters advocate together for the needs of home health care recipients and the caregivers who provide these critical services.\n\nI had the pleasure of meeting Haley, Hope, Hilary, Debbie, and Howard this week to learn about their experiences with Medicaid and Medicare and hear their perspective on how we can increase access to care and support caregivers.\n\nHaley thank you for welcoming me in and sharing your story and incredible artwork!\n\nCapitol Conversations with LBR\n\nMy Washington office will host our next Capitol Conversations on Wednesday, September 23rd at 2 pm. If you find yourself in the D.C. area, drop by to connect with me and my team. CLICK HERE to RSVP.\n\nService Academy\n\nAre you a young person interested in serving our country? Every year, I have the honor of nominating exceptional students to one of our U.S. Service Academies. The 2026 application process is now open through October 15. CLICK HERE to learn more.\n\nPlease head to my website\u2019s Resources for Delawareans page for information about lowering your energy costs, scheduling passport appointments, finding emergency housing, accessing food assistance, paying for prescription drugs, connecting with mental health resources, and more.", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-coons-highlights-4-h-and-ffa-as-a-way-to-take-onyouth-loneliness-in-new-op-ed/", "ICYMI: Senator Coons highlights 4-H and FFA as a\u00a0way to take onyouth loneliness in new op-ed", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cYoung people crave the same two things people always have: community and purpose.\u201d\n\nWILMINGTON, Del. \u2013 In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) published an op-ed in Bay to Bay News highlighting how Delaware\u2019s 4-H and FFA programs are giving young people a sense of community and purpose at a time when young people across the country are facing a loneliness epidemic.\n\nBay to Bay News: Fair offered encouraging view of youth\n\nAt this year\u2019s Delaware State Fair, Senator Coons met dozens of young Delawareans involved in 4-H and FFA who challenged the idea that today\u2019s young people are disconnected and disengaged.\n\n\u201cWhile 4-H and FFA (formerly the Future Farmers of America) both began as farming organizations, they\u2019ve grown far larger, providing opportunities and leadership training for students covering a variety of careers and interests,\u201d Senator Coons wrote. \u201cFor 4-H, programming begins as young as 5, and kids in Delaware can join FFA as early as middle school.\u201d\n\nDelaware has 5,000 FFA members and 36,000 children participating in 4-H programs, roughly one in five kids in the state. These programs give young people a place to belong while helping them develop leadership skills, build friendships, discover their interests, and work on projects that give them a sense of purpose. Senator Coons argues that, on top of that, these programs may offer a solution to the \u201cloneliness epidemic,\u201d providing young people with the kind of connection we all need.\n\nSenator Coons attended the Delaware FFA State Fair awards breakfast, an event organized by students, from programming and speeches to food and contests. Across 4-H and FFA, students take on projects ranging from photography and landscaping to plumbing, electronics, and robotics.\n\n\u201cThese are all skills any employer would want,\u201d Senator Coons wrote. \u201cThey\u2019re also the skills needed to start a small business, and they are the skills artificial intelligence can\u2019t replace.\u201d\n\nSenator Coons also highlighted his bipartisan Youth Lead Act, which he introduced with Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.). The legislation would invest additional federal funding in youth agriculture and service organizations like 4-H and FFA.\n\n\u201cThese are the exact types of community organizations we should be building up: locally driven with proven records of success,\u201d Senator Coons wrote. \u201cThey bring young people together to help their neighbors by using their unique innovations and creativity.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-blunt-rochester-celebrates-passage-of-landmark-housing-legislation/", "ICYMI: Senator Blunt Rochester Celebrates Passage of Landmark Housing Legislation", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Wilmington, DE \u2013 Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined Delaware stakeholders to celebrate the passage of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act \u2013 the first comprehensive housing legislation to become law in over 30 years. Blunt Rochester authored five bills included in the package to lower housing costs, increase supply, and cut red tape. The passage of this legislation comes nearly a year after Blunt Rochester introduced \u201cThe New Way Home Agenda: A Federal Framework to Address America\u2019s Housing Crisis,\u201d her comprehensive legislative agenda to lower housing costs in Delaware and across the nation.\n\n\u201cAs we address the shortage of 4-to-7 million housing units across the country, the passage of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act signifies a bipartisan commitment to making affordable housing a reality for all of us and revitalizing the \u2018American Dream\u2019,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the Delawareans who partnered with me to craft my contributions to this package and am proud to stand with them to celebrate this momentous occasion here in the First State.\u201d\n\nEvent speakers included:\n\nLogan Herring, CEO, The WRK Group\n\nMatt Heckles, Director, Delaware State Housing Authority\n\nSusan Kent, Executive Director, Better Homes of Seaford\n\nBrandy Nauman, Director, Sussex County Community Development\n\nKaren Speakman, CEO, NeighborGood Partners Inc.\n\nChris Neary, Senior Vice President, Policy, Research, and Advocacy, Cinnaire\n\nBlanche Jackson, President & CEO of Stepping Stones Credit Union\n\nMiketia Edmond, a homeowner with Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County at Bennett Point II.\n\nThe five bipartisan Blunt Rochester bills included in the 21st Century Road to Housing Act are:\n\nThe Housing Supply Frameworks Act, which would direct the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop zoning and land use policy frameworks for states and localities.\n\nThe Accelerating Home Building Act, which would help local governments create pattern books \u2013 also known as pre-approved designs \u2013 to accelerate missing middle housing construction.\n\nThe Community Investment and Prosperity Act, which would increase the cap on bank investments for community development projects, unlocking billions of dollars for affordable housing.\n\nThe Credit Union Board Modernization Act, which would save administrative resources by reducing regulatory burdens, allowing credit unions to focus on their mission of helping communities afford housing.\n\nThe Housing Supply and Affordability Act, which would increase affordable housing supply by establishing a grant program for state and local governments to develop and implement housing plans.\n\nA fact sheet outlining the specific ways this legislation will impact Delaware can be found HERE.\n\n###\n\nSenator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-highlights-federal-investment-delawares-first-family-justice", "Rep. McBride Highlights Federal Investment for Delaware\u2019s First Family Justice Centers", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GEORGETOWN, Del. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) highlighted the $2.6 million in federal funding she secured to help establish Delaware\u2019s first Family Justice Centers and toured one of the future sites at the Stockley Center Campus in Georgetown. Photos from the visit can be found here.\n\nThe federal investment will support the development of a coordinated, survivor-centered model that brings legal assistance, counseling, law enforcement support, and advocacy services into one location \u2014 reducing barriers for survivors of domestic violence and related crimes. By centralizing services, the Family Justice Center model is designed to improve survivor safety, strengthen accountability, and deliver more effective support for individuals and families in crisis. The federal dollars will be used for the Georgetown site in Sussex County and two additional sites in New Castle County.\n\n\u201cSurvivors shouldn\u2019t have to recount their stories over and over,\u201d said Rep. McBride.\u201cFamily Justice Centers deliver a centralized hub where safety, resources, and services come together for neighbors in crisis. I am proud to have worked alongside Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester to secure this federal funding, and to bring together partners at the federal and state levels to ensure survivors get the support they need without unnecessary barriers across our state.\u201d\n\nThe Georgetown site will repurpose an underutilized state facility to house one of the Family Justice Centers, helping ensure that Delawareans can access critical services in a single, accessible location. The project reflects coordination between federal, state, and local partners to deliver tangible support to survivors while strengthening community safety.\n\nFamily Justice Centers are a proven, nationally recognized model that bring together legal, medical, counseling, and law enforcement resources under one roof. This approach reduces the need for survivors to navigate multiple agencies or repeatedly recount traumatic experiences, improving outcomes while lowering long-term public costs.\n\n\u201cThis is a monumental moment for Delaware and for survivors across our state,\u201d said Emella Kamara, Executive Director for the Delaware Family Justice Centers. \u201cCongresswoman McBride\u2019s leadership brings us closer to a statewide network of Family Justice Centers, where individuals can access coordinated, trauma-informed services in one safe place. This investment is more than funding for a building, it\u2019s an investment in safety, healing, and hope. We are deeply grateful for her partnership in turning this vision into reality.\u201d\n\nDuring the visit, Rep. McBride joined stakeholders and state and local leaders, including State Representative Krista Griffith, who, alongside State Senator Nicole Poore, sponsored legislation in the Delaware General Assembly that paved the way for the creation of Family Justice Centers in Delaware. The site tour and stakeholder conversation focused on how the federal investment will translate into services on the ground and the role coordinated care can play in breaking cycles of violence and ensuring survivors are met with dignity, safety, and meaningful, community-based support.\n\nRep. McBride secured the $2.6 million federal investment through the Community Project Funding process, which was part of a year-long process in which Rep. McBride\u2019s office received and reviewed applications for vital community projects across Delaware. Rep. McBride secured funding for all 15 of her requests, totaling over $19 million in federal funding for Delaware, through the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations process.\n\nPhotos from the visit can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-22T05:24:59Z", "2026-08-22T05:26:16Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-mccormick-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-nih-mentorship-and-support-next-generation-of-biomedical-researchers/", "Senators Coons, McCormick introduce bipartisan bill to strengthen\u00a0NIH\u00a0mentorship and support next generation of biomedical researchers", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "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) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) introduced the NIH Mentorship Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen America\u2019s scientific workforce by formalizing consistent, evidence-based mentorship standards across National Institutes of Health (NIH) career development and research training programs.\n\nThe biomedical research enterprise depends on a steady pipeline of talent, but too many early-stage investigators leave the field for the private sector before they ever reach an R01 grant \u2013the traditional marker of an independent research career. This attrition point, the gap between early career development awards and R01-level funding, is one of the most vulnerable stages in a researcher\u2019s career and a critical juncture where the nation risks losing its most promising scientific talent. Strong mentorship has been shown to help early-career researchers navigate this gap, stay in the research pipeline, and go on to lead their own research programs.\n\nThe legislation formalizes mentorship as a standard part of NIH-funded career development and training programs, giving young, accomplished researchers the structured support they need to remain in research rather than exit the industry. It builds on existing mentorship practices, preserves flexibility for research institutions, and minimizes unnecessary administrative burden by relying on NIH\u2019s existing reporting requirements.\n\n\u201cThe next generation of scientists will contain the next generation of disease outbreaks and cure the next generation of illnesses, but first those scientists must be properly prepared for their careers,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cMentorship is a powerful way of ensuring we have capable and qualified researchers to keep our nation healthy.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s leadership in biomedical research depends on developing the next generation of scientific talent,\u201d said Senator McCormick. \u201cStrong mentorship helps young researchers succeed, drives innovation, and ensures taxpayer investments in medical research deliver lasting results. As the fourth-largest recipient of NIH funding in the nation, Pennsylvania has a strong stake in maintaining a world-class biomedical research workforce. This bipartisan legislation strengthens that pipeline while giving institutions the flexibility they need to build on what already works.\u201d\n\nStudies consistently show that researchers with engaged mentors are more likely to remain in research careers, secure independent grant funding, publish impactful research, advance professionally, and report greater career satisfaction.\n\nThe NIH supports thousands of early-career researchers through career development and research training awards. While many of these programs include mentored research experiences, mentorship expectations vary considerably across institutions.\n\nIn fiscal year 2024, Delaware researchers received 153 NIH grants totaling $84 million, supporting approximately 650 jobs and generating $201 million in economic activity across the state. Delaware\u2019s broader bioscience industry supports nearly 8,000 jobs across 890 businesses, with leading NIH-funded institutions that include the University of Delaware, Nemours, Delaware State University, and ChristianaCare.\n\nAcross the country, NIH awarded $36.94 billion in research funding in fiscal year 2024, supporting 407,782 jobs and generating $94.58 billion in economic activity nationwide. Every $1 invested in NIH-funded research generates approximately $2.56 in economic activity, underscoring the importance of maintaining a strong pipeline of talented biomedical researchers.\n\nThe NIH Mentorship Modernization Act would:\n\nEstablish evidence-based mentorship standards for designated NIH career development, institutional training, fellowship, research education, and other research training awards\n\nBuild on existing institutional mentorship programs by minimizing duplicative requirements and allowing comparable programs to satisfy NIH standards\n\nRequire institutions to certify compliance with NIH mentorship standards while encouraging the dissemination of evidence-based mentorship practices across the biomedical research enterprise\n\nAuthorize NIH to provide supplemental funding or other institutional support to help institutions implement the mentorship standards\n\nRequire NIH to periodically review and update mentorship standards to reflect evolving evidence-based practices\n\nApply the new framework prospectively, with a two-year implementation period and voluntary early adoption for existing awardees\n\n\u201cScientific breakthroughs depend on talented researchers having the support and guidance they need at critical stages of their careers. This bipartisan legislation underscores that effective mentorship is not incidental to scientific success but essential to it. By supporting the development of early-career investigators, the NIH Mentorship Modernization Act will help strengthen the research workforce and foster innovations that improve lives,\u201dsaid Fabrice Veron, interim vice president for research, scholarship and innovation, University of Delaware.", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-rounds-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-fortify-our-electric-grid-against-emerging-quantum-cyber-threats/", "Senators\u00a0Coons, Rounds introduce bipartisan legislation to fortify our electric grid against emerging quantum cyber threats", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "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.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Quantum Grid Utility Assurance and Resilient Defense Act of 2026 (Quantum-GUARD Act) to strengthen electric grid resilience by proactively addressing cybersecurity threats posed by quantum computing.\n\nQuantum computing technology is rapidly progressing, and powerful quantum computers may soon be able to break widely used encryption standards that protect the cybersecurity of critical systems and sensitive data. In 2024, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards that are more resistant to quantum-enabled decryption.\n\nCritical infrastructure sectors face unique challenges in adopting these new standards. The Quantum-GUARD Act seeks to address those challenges. It directs federal agencies to evaluate quantum-related cybersecurity vulnerabilities, assist electric utilities in transitioning to PQC, and improve coordination between grid operators, cybersecurity experts, and government partners.\n\n\u201cQuantum computing has the potential to create new economic opportunities, but it also presents tremendous cybersecurity risks. We need to make sure essential infrastructure like our electrical grid is secured against this coming wave of quantum cyber threats,\u201dsaid Senator Coons. \u201cAs the technology races forward and our adversaries continue to seek vulnerabilities in our critical systems, we need to pass the Quantum-GUARD Act to ensure our government is using every available tool to meet this threat.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs advances in quantum computing increase cybersecurity threats to the United States, we must continue to strengthen protections for our nation\u2019s most sensitive data,\u201d said Senator Rounds. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to be co-leading the Quantum-GUARD Act, which will codify parts of President Trump\u2019s executive order regarding advanced cryptographic attacks and support our electrical grid\u2019s transition to post-quantum cryptography.\u201d\n\nThe Quantum-GUARD Act:\n\nDirects the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider cybersecurity risks posed by quantum computers within its authority over grid reliability\n\nEstablishes a collaborative testing environment through the Department of Energy\u2019s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (DOE CESER), to identify and address challenges to PQC adoption\n\nRequires DOE CESER to study quantum cybersecurity risks to the bulk electric power system, including vulnerabilities in information technology and operational technology\n\n\u201cQED-C supports efforts to strengthen cybersecurity preparedness and accelerate the deployment of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) across critical infrastructure, including the electric grid. As QED-C reported in QuEnergy Resilience, using PQC to secure communications for monitoring and control of the electric grid is widely recognized as one of the most feasible and highest-impact actions to secure grid operations, with strong alignment across industry, national laboratories, and academia,\u201d said Celia Merzbacher, executive director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), managed by SRI International.\n\n\u201cQuantum computing may seem like science fiction, but it\u2019s only a matter of time before an operationally relevant quantum computer arrives. The cybersecurity impacts of quantum computing will be immense, and the Quantum-GUARD Act would help both government and industry tackle this problem. Prompting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider the reliability risks associated with quantum computing and directing the Department of Energy to create a sandbox to test technology and implementation strategies against quantum capabilities are good steps to take,\u201d said Michael Daniel, president & CEO of the Cyber Threat Alliance.\n\n\u201cQuantum computing will bring great benefits, but it also creates cybersecurity risk. Post-quantum cryptography will help ensure that our nation\u2019s power grids are resistant to quantum attack. The Quantum Industry Coalition supports the Quantum-GUARD Act and thanks Senators Coons and Rounds for their leadership in introducing it,\u201d said Paul Stimers, executive director, Quantum Industry Coalition.\n\n\u201cThe threat quantum computing poses to the systems that run our electric grid is real, and the hardest part of getting ahead of it is not the cryptography itself but migrating the equipment already in the field. This bill gets the approach right. It directs FERC to weigh quantum risk where it matters, and it puts DOE\u2019s convening power behind the practical work of helping utilities and vendors move deployed IT and OT systems to post-quantum cryptography. That focus on real-world adoption, not just research, is what the sector needs,\u201d said Patrick C. Miller, president & CEO, Ampyx Cyber.\n\n\u201cPreparing critical infrastructure for the transition to post-quantum cryptography starts with understanding where and how today\u2019s cryptography is used. The Quantum-GUARD Act creates an important opportunity to help utilities and vendors test cryptographic discovery and migration approaches in realistic IT and OT environments, while giving FERC and NERC better evidence to inform future reliability policy,\u201d said Dr. Allan Friedman, cyber supply chain expert and technologist-in-residence, TPO.group.\n\n\u201cPost-quantum cryptography (PQC) is how we make sure the systems running America\u2019s power grid stay secure in the quantum era, but migrating critical infrastructure takes years of preparation. The Quantum-GUARD Act gets that preparation underway now. American Binary strongly supports the Act and thanks Senators Coons and Rounds for their efforts to codify our country\u2019s necessary PQC migration,\u201d said Kevin Kane, CEO, American Binary.\n\n\u201cAs a leader in quantum technologies, IonQ wholly endorses this significant legislation that addresses the necessary transition to post-quantum cryptography in the energy sector,\u201d said Dean Acosta, chief corporate affairs and government relations officer, IonQ.\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-statement-uss-abraham-lincoln", "Rep. McBride Statement on USS Abraham Lincoln", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WILMINGTON, Del. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement in response to reports of conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln:\n\n\u201cThe reporting about what\u2019s happening aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln is disturbing and underscores just how detrimental the Trump administration\u2019s decision to go to war in Iran has been for our servicemembers and their families.\n\n\u201cThese sailors and Marines haven\u2019t seen land in more than 200 days. They\u2019re facing serious mental health challenges and concerning living conditions, while their families struggle to get answers to basic questions about the safety and well-being of their loved ones. And yet, Secretary Hegseth denies that anything is wrong aboard the ship.\n\n\u201cThis situation cannot continue. These conditions must be remedied immediately and there must be accountability.\n\n\u201cYou cannot play politics with the lives of our servicemembers. Yet that\u2019s exactly what this administration has done \u2014 all while demanding a ballooned defense budget that fails to deliver for the servicemembers it is supposed to support.\n\n\u201cThe American military represents the very best of America. The men and women who serve our country deserve leadership that respects their service, safeguards their well-being, and understands the profound responsibility that comes with being commander-in-chief.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-16T05:26:31Z", "2026-08-16T05:27:49Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-rounds-introduce-bill-to-preserve-records-for-at-risk-afghan-allies/", "Senators Coons, Rounds introduce bill to preserve records for at-risk Afghan allies", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "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.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Afghan Ally Records and Credential Heritage (ARCH) Act, legislation to establish a process at the Pentagon to identify, verify and preserve the service records of certain Afghan allies who served alongside our forces during the war in Afghanistan. The bill is also cosponsored by Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).\n\nUnder the ARCH Act, the Department of Defense would establish a secure online application system through which eligible Afghan allies or their representatives could submit service information and supporting documentation. After reviewing available military, contractor, and biometric records, the department would preserve verified records for future use. The bill also provides applicants with notice of adverse decisions, an opportunity to appeal and the ability to request reconsideration when new evidence becomes available.\n\n\u201cWe owe an enormous debt to the Afghans who supported U.S. forces during their 20-year mission in Afghanistan,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cIn exchange for that huge risk to themselves and their families, we promised them protection. This is a first step to fulfilling that promise by ensuring those who put their lives on the line for our country don\u2019t fall through the cracks.\u201d\n\n\u201cThousands of brave Afghans stood shoulder-to-shoulder with American service members in some of the most dangerous missions of the war,\u201d said Senator Rounds. \u201cMany of these individuals risked everything to support the United States, yet the records documenting their service remain vulnerable to loss or destruction. The ARCH Act creates a secure process to preserve this documentation, making certain that accurate records are maintained.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must keep our covenant with the Afghans who served beside us, risking everything \u2014 often at great personal expense to themselves and their families \u2014 to further America\u2019s mission,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will ensure Afghan allies can be confident their service records will be preserved to help them establish facts about their service in future applications to the U.S. government.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe owe it to our Afghan allies to provide a fair and efficient process to preserve the service records documenting the sacrifices they made while serving alongside U.S. forces,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI\u2019m proud to cosponsor this effort to ensure those records are available for those who stood with our servicemembers in Afghanistan.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the ARCH Act would:\n\nEstablish a Department of Defense Afghan Allies Records Preservation Program\n\nCreate a secure online application portal for eligible Afghan allies outside the United States\n\nVerify applicants\u2019 service using available military, contractor, and biometric records\n\nPreserve validated service records and supporting documentation for future use\n\nProvide applicants with written notice of denials, an appeals process, and an opportunity to reopen applications with new evidence\n\nProhibit application fees and authorize personnel necessary to administer the program\n\nMaintain the application process for at least 10 years, unless the Secretary of Defense later determines that termination is in the national interest\n\nThe legislation recognizes the service of former members of Afghanistan\u2019s special operations forces, the Afghan Air Force, the Special Mission Wing, intelligence personnel, justice-sector officials, female members of the former Afghan security forces and other individuals who supported the United States mission in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021.\n\nThe ARCH Act is supported by AfghanEvac, No One Left Behind, With Honor, REACT DC, the Lamia Afghan Foundation, the Center for Law and Social Policy, the Afghan Scout Relief Fund and Keeping Our Promise Inc.\n\n\u201cFor the men and women who served as commandos, pilots, intelligence officers, and judges alongside American forces, and for all the women who served in the ranks of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, the record of that service is the difference between being recognized and being erased,\u201d said Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac and a U.S. Navy veteran. \u201cWhen Kabul fell, so did easy access to the documents and biometrics that prove who stood with us, and every day those records sit unprotected is a day we risk losing them for good. The ARCH Act makes sure that proof survives, so our allies can still be identified, verified, and protected when it counts. We\u2019re grateful to Senators Rounds, Klobuchar, Coons, and Tillis for their bipartisan leadership, and we urge the Senate to move this bill without delay.\u201d\n\n\u201cRetaining Afghan allies\u2019 service records is a national security necessity, and is vital to supporting our wartime allies,\u201d said Andrew Sullivan, executive director of No One Left Behind. \u201cNo One Left Behind proudly endorses the Afghan Allies Records and Credential Heritage Act, a bipartisan recognition that would document the service and contributions Afghan allies made alongside American service members. Evacuating allies left behind remains a moral obligation, and this legislation is an important step in accomplishing that mission.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States and coalition forces relied on brave Afghan allies for years. In the wake of war and withdrawal, many records of their service were lost,\u201d said Rye Barcott, co-founder and CEO of With Honor. \u201cWith Honor Action is proud to endorse the ARCH Act, which provides a formal process for Afghan allies to document their service alongside U.S. military forces. We are encouraged to see the inclusion of this language in the Senate\u2019s draft of the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act, and urge Congress to preserve this provision as they work to conference this bill. With Honor Action thanks Senators Mike Rounds, Amy Klobuchar, and Thom Tillis for making sure that Afghans who served alongside Americans are never denied recognition simply because of missing paperwork.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-joins-markey-colleagues-to-demand-education-department-withdraw-proposed-rule-gutting-equity-assistance-centers/", "NEWS: Senator\u00a0Blunt Rochester Joins Markey,\u00a0Colleagues\u00a0to Demand\u00a0Education Department Withdraw Proposed Rule Gutting Equity Assistance Centers", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and other colleagues in writing to Linda McMahon, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, to condemn the agency\u2019s efforts to gut the Equity Assistance Centers (EACs), which provide free technical assistance to school districts, states, and communities to prepare, adopt, and implement plans to desegregate public schools in compliance with federal civil rights law.\n\nThe Department of Education\u2019s decision to dismantle the EACs with its proposed rule, \u201cRescinding the Equity Assistance Center Program Regulations,\u201d upends a longstanding congressionally funded program and joins similar actions from the Administration in destroying civil rights enforcement infrastructure. As a result, schools, students, and parents will be left without these resources at a time of persistent segregation and growing inequality.\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers wrote, \u201cAs with other efforts to erode federal civil rights oversight and enforcement, ED\u2019s proposed rule is \u2018like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.\u2019 While the rule claims to offer \u2018flexibility\u2019 in desegregation compliance efforts, the Administration\u2019s actions reveal that its goal is to throw away the umbrella, not find a raincoat instead. We urge the Department to withdraw this proposed rule, ensure that the federal government upholds the civil rights of all students, and work to ensure all students can attend schools that are not segregated.\u201d\n\nCo-signers of the letter include Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-schatz-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-restore-press-freedom-at-the-pentagon/", "Senators\u00a0Coons, Schatz, colleagues introduce bill to restore press freedom at the\u00a0Pentagon", "2026-08-10", "2026", "2026-08", "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.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and 13 of their Senate colleagues introduced the Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act to restore press access at the Department of Defense, reversing attempts by Secretary Pete Hegseth to suppress independent reporting at the Pentagon.\n\n\u201cThe First Amendment and a free press aren\u2019t sidelined during a time of war, they become more important than ever. Under Secretary Hegseth, the Pentagon has hidden from the American people and their representatives in the press, denying the public critical information about the war in Iran and our own security here at home,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cCongress must pass this legislation swiftly and restore the press\u2019 ability to accurately and transparently report on the Pentagon\u2019s activity.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time of war, transparency and independent, accurate reporting matter more than ever,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cOur bill will reverse the Pentagon\u2019s effort to shut out the free press and make sure the public gets the information it deserves.\u201d\n\nSince taking office, Secretary Hegseth imposed a series of unreasonable and retaliatory restrictions on credentialed journalists\u2019 access to the Pentagon and their ability to report. These measures go well beyond reasonable rules of conduct and reverse the Pentagon\u2019s longstanding approach to the press, which has been maintained by officials from both parties.\n\nThe Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act would:\n\nRestore press access to areas of the Pentagon that were accessible prior to the 2025 restrictions, including the \u201cCorrespondents\u2019 Corridor\u201d\n\nRenew unescorted press access to areas of the Pentagon that were accessible without an escort prior to the 2025 restrictions\n\nRequire the Secretary to ensure the integrity of the process to issue to reporters a Pentagon credential, ensuring the security review process is conducted by career officials in the Pentagon Force Protection Agency without unnecessary delays or political influence\n\nProhibit any changes to press access at the Pentagon, including the designation of press workspaces, access areas, and press credentials, without prior congressional consultation\n\nIn addition to Senators Coons and Schatz, the bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).\n\nThe Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act is supported by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Reporters Without Borders.", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-blunt-rochester-presses-big-tech-companies-on-recent-autonomous-hacking-incidents/", "ICYMI:\u00a0Senator\u00a0Blunt Rochester\u00a0Presses\u00a0Big Tech Companies\u00a0on\u00a0Recent\u00a0Autonomous Hacking\u00a0Incidents", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent letters to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, regarding recent cybersecurity incidents in which the companies\u2019 models gained unauthorized access to the internet, autonomously hacked third party systems, and even launched direct attacks on people and real-world targets.\n\nThe letters seek clarity on the cybersecurity breaches, development of testing environments, future capabilities of advanced AI models, and the companies\u2019 internal safeguards to prevent additional incidents.\n\n\u201cThese incidents mark the first publicly confirmed instances of a frontier AI model autonomously launching unauthorized attacks on real people and companies, underscoring the urgent need for federal oversight of frontier AI systems,\u201d wrote Senator Blunt Rochester in a letter to OpenAI. \u201cOpenAI models\u2019 repeated attacks on third parties with no knowledge of, or role in, the company\u2019s internal evaluations demonstrate an alarming pattern of malicious behavior. We cannot wait for a more consequential incident before establishing federal testing standards, containment requirements, and disclosure obligations for frontier model evaluations. Left unaddressed, these gaps could allow a future model, potentially one with greater capability or less oversight, to compromise critical infrastructure, financial systems, or sensitive data.\u201d\n\nIn a letter to Anthropic, Blunt Rochesterwrote, \u201cI appreciate Anthropic\u2019s voluntary review of its cybersecurity evaluations and public disclosure of the findings, and I encourage other companies to follow suit. However, these incidents demonstrate the potential risks of deploying pre-release models internally, particularly when safeguards are reduced, even when strictly for testing and evaluation.\u201d\n\nIn a letter to Meta, Blunt Rochester concluded, \u201cIn each scenario, without specific tasking direction, the models gained internet access and independently planned and executed an attack on a live third-party system. This is precisely the kind of emergent, autonomous behavior and offensive cyber capability that Congress, the intelligence community, and experts have repeatedly warned could outpace existing safeguards and could pose a severe threat to the safety and security of all Americans.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-questions-experts-on-increasing-capital-access-for-american-families/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Questions Experts on Increasing Capital Access for American Families", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cCapital markets are ultimately about opportunity.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today participated in a hearing on increasing capital access for everyday Americans. Blunt Rochester\u2019s questions focused on how emerging technologies like AI can increase opportunities and how tokenization will strengthen investor protections.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s questions can be found here, and a key excerpt can be found below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cHelping families build wealth increasingly means understanding how technology is changing the way financial decisions are made. We\u2019re seeing artificial intelligence transform healthcare, our workplace, and now investing. Millions of Americans are already using AI to answer financial questions.\n\n\u201cMr. Dumas, as these tools become more sophisticated, what role should Congress play in making sure they help families build wealth without exposing them to new risks?\u201d\n\nMr. Dumas: \u201cI think AI has an opportunity to transform our economy. It has an opportunity to expand opportunity for everyone. But at the same time, I think that especially in the financial markets, we should be careful using AI without understanding the background. AI has the potential to have certain biases, right?\n\n\u201cSo we need Congress to understand AI, provide certain guardrails, provide some type of protection, and inform investors or people who look to AI for investment advice to see some type of disclosure, some type of information, letting them know that AI could be wrong.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/statement-senator-lisa-blunt-rochester-releases-statement-on-russia-sanctions-vote/", "STATEMENT: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester Releases Statement on Russia Sanctions Vote", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today released the following statement on the Lindsay Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026:\n\n\u201cLet me be clear: I fully support sanctioning Russia and helping the Ukrainian government and its people protect their sovereignty, and I have consistently voted to support Ukraine. However, this bill seeks to solve one problem by worsening another. It dramatically expands the president\u2019s tariff authority at a time when he has demonstrated an irresponsible use of it.\n\n\u201cWhile I don\u2019t support the bill in its current form, it would have received my support if any of the meaningful bipartisan amendments introduced by my colleagues had been adopted. Most notably, the Paul-Wyden amendment \u2013 which I cosponsored \u2013 would have struck the excessive tariff provisions while maintaining the sanctions in the legislation.\n\n\u201cFor over a year, this president has unilaterally leveraged tariff authorities to bully allies and serve himself with no regard for the economic consequences. The reckless, arbitrary tariffs he\u2019s already imposed have dramatically raised prices for families and small businesses. It is evident that if this administration is entrusted with this authority, it will likely be abused. Given this reality, we should consider more narrowly targeted ways to curtail foreign demand for Russian oil and gas and support the Ukrainian resistance without putting the American economy at risk.\n\n\u201cAmerican families are suffering enough in this economy. With them in mind and without proper guardrails on the president\u2019s tariff authority clearly enshrined in the bill, I voted no.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/statement-senator-lisa-blunt-rochester-to-oppose-todd-blanches-nomination-for-attorney-general/", "STATEMENT: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester to Oppose Todd Blanche\u2019s Nomination for Attorney General", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today released the following statement opposing Todd Blanche\u2019s nomination to serve as United States Attorney General:\n\n\u201cTodd Blanche said it himself \u2013 he serves one person: Donald Trump. I have absolutely no confidence that he will respect the rule of law, remain impartial, or honorably serve the American people. Throughout the confirmation process, he has committed to restricting abortion access, restated his blind allegiance to the president, and defended Trump\u2019s slush fund for January 6th rioters. His letter to the committee does not convince me that he will uphold his new position.\n\n\u201cI opposed his nomination as Deputy AG over a year ago, and I will do the same now. Nothing he said throughout the confirmation process gave me confidence that he would not weaponize the Department of Justice to serve the president. The American people deserve an Attorney General who values the rule of law above all else \u2013 that is not Mr. Blanche.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-tillis-introduce-legislation-to-further-protect-law-enforcement-after-targeted-shootings-of-officers/", "Senator Coons, Tillis, introduce legislation to further protect law enforcement after targeted shootings of officers", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Introduction follows killing of Corporal Matthew \u201cTy\u201d Snook in Delaware last December\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), today introduced the Protect and Serve Act of 2026 to deter attacks on law enforcement officers by creating new federal charges against criminals who intentionally target them. The introduction comes in honor of law enforcement officers in Delaware and North Carolina who were killed in targeted attacks.\n\nSenator Coons was inspired to introduce the Protect and Serve Act of 2026 following the tragic shooting of Corporal Grade One Matthew \u201cTy\u201d Snook, who was killed in the line of duty on December 23, 2025, at a Wilmington Division of Motor Vehicles office. Corporal Snook was a father, husband, brother, and friend who died serving and protecting the people of Delaware.\n\n\u201cNo law enforcement officer should have to fear for their lives just because they put on their badge before they go to work each day. Yet too many officers have been killed in targeted attacks designed specifically to take the lives of law enforcement, leaving a gaping tear in the hearts of spouses, parents, children, and communities,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the Protect and Serve Act of 2026 because those who perpetrate crimes like this one should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.\u201d\n\n\u201cLaw enforcement officers in North Carolina and across the country are heroes who risk their lives every day to protect our communities,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThose who commit senseless acts of violence against law enforcement officers must be held accountable for their actions, which is why I am proud to lead the bipartisan Protect and Serve Act of 2026. Officers put their lives on the line to protect us, and we should do the work in Congress to protect them.\u201d\n\n\u201cTargeted violence towards a law enforcement officer is completely unacceptable and anyone who tries to hurt a cop because of their job should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cOur police officers put their lives on the line every day to protect their communities, and this bipartisan bill shows we have their backs.\u201d\n\n\u201cLaw enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cThose who deliberately target officers with the intent to kill must face severe consequences. The Protect and Serve Act would give federal prosecutors additional tools to hold these violent offenders accountable and reinforce our commitment to those who protect and serve.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur members are under fire by individuals motivated by nothing more than a desire to kill or injure a cop. Despite a decrease in the nation\u2019s homicide rate, firearms attacks on law enforcement officers have remained alarmingly high, underscoring a dangerous and persistent trend of deliberate attacks \u2013 too many of which are not spontaneous confrontations, but calculated assaults intended to inflict maximum harm on officers,\u201d said Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police. \u201cWe are deeply grateful to Senators Tillis and Coons, with whom we have been working to develop this \u2018Protect and Serve Act\u2019 to better protect our men and women in law enforcement. The bill they have introduced is a product of true collaboration and we sincerely appreciate their leadership and dedication. We look forward to working with them and with our other Senate allies to get this bill to a vote on the floor.\u201d\n\nThe Protect and Serve Act of 2026 will protect our servicemen and women who put their lives on the line each and every day. It establishes a new federal crime against those who kill or seriously injure law enforcement officers in targeted attacks meant to kill them solely because of their status as law enforcement officers. It has been revised from prior versions to focus federal prosecutors on the most heinous attacks designed to kill law enforcement.\n\nThe Protect and Serve Act of 2026 is endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-presses-openai-and-anthropic-on-recent-autonomous-hacking-incidents/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Presses OpenAI and Anthropic on Recent Autonomous Hacking Incidents", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today sent letters to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, regarding recent cybersecurity incidents in which the companies\u2019 models gained unauthorized access to the internet, autonomously hacked third party systems, and even launched direct attacks on people and real-world targets.\n\nThe letters seek clarity on the cybersecurity breaches, development of testing environments, future capabilities of advanced AI models, and the companies\u2019 internal safeguards to prevent additional incidents.\n\n\u201cThese incidents mark the first publicly confirmed instances of a frontier AI model autonomously launching unauthorized attacks on real people and companies, underscoring the urgent need for federal oversight of frontier AI systems,\u201d wrote Senator Blunt Rochester in a letter to OpenAI. \u201cOpenAI models\u2019 repeated attacks on third parties with no knowledge of, or role in, the company\u2019s internal evaluations demonstrate an alarming pattern of malicious behavior. We cannot wait for a more consequential incident before establishing federal testing standards, containment requirements, and disclosure obligations for frontier model evaluations. Left unaddressed, these gaps could allow a future model, potentially one with greater capability or less oversight, to compromise critical infrastructure, financial systems, or sensitive data.\u201d\n\nIn a letter to Anthropic, Blunt Rochester wrote, \u201cI appreciate Anthropic\u2019s voluntary review of its cybersecurity evaluations and public disclosure of the findings, and I encourage other companies to follow suit. However, these incidents demonstrate the potential risks of deploying pre-release models internally, particularly when safeguards are reduced, even when strictly for testing and evaluation.\n\n\u201cIn each scenario, without specific tasking direction, the models gained internet access and independently planned and executed an attack on a live third-party system. This is precisely the kind of emergent, autonomous behavior and offensive cyber capability that Congress, the intelligence community, and experts have repeatedly warned could outpace existing safeguards and could pose a severe threat to the safety and security of all Americans.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-colleagues-celebrate-unanimous-passage-to-extend-bankruptcy-financial-tools-to-small-businesses-and-american-families/", "Senator Coons, colleagues celebrate unanimous passage to extend bankruptcy financial tools to small businesses and American families", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "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.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) celebrated the unanimous passage by the U.S. Senate of their Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act of 2026, which would restore Americans\u2019 access to critical bankruptcy programs by reinstating modern debt limits for Subchapter V and Chapter 13. The legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).\n\n\u201cAmericans going through one of the most difficult seasons of their lives shouldn\u2019t then be faced with bureaucratic hurdles and outdated rules as they try to restore their financial well-being,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cThis bipartisan bill will make the path through bankruptcy a little easier for families and small businesses struggling to stay afloat.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s bankruptcy code should work for Americans, not against them. By eliminating barriers to reorganization and restoring modern debt limits, the bipartisan Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act would provide American families and small businesses the tools they need to regain their financial footing in a quicker, more streamlined process,\u201d said Senator Grassley. \u201cI thank my colleagues in the Senate for their unanimous support of our legislation, and I urge the House of Representatives to swiftly pass this needed legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cBankruptcy is often a painful last resort for small business owners. This bill makes permanent a quicker and cheaper pathway for entrepreneurs to settle debts, keep the lights on, and keep serving their neighbors. It also expands eligibility for Chapter 13 bankruptcy to help more families manage rising costs, stay in their homes, and get back on their feet. With unanimous passage in the Senate, I encourage the House of Representatives to quickly pass this bill\u2014and for the President to sign it into law,\u201d said Senator Durbin.\n\nIn 2025, Delaware had 568 cases filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act of 2026 offers more support to Delaware families and small businesses who are just trying to make ends meet and fighting rising costs. This legislation will permanently restore the Subchapter V debt limit to $7.5 million and the Chapter 13 debt limit to $2.75 million, so that more families have access to financial tools they need to regain financial security.\n\nSenator Coons has worked hard to make bankruptcy law more fairer throughout his time in the Senate. In 2019, Senator Coons voted to enact the Small Business Reorganization Act into law, which streamlined the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process for small business owners by reducing procedural burdens and lowering filing costs. In 2022, Senator Coons supported the Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Extension Act, extending the $7.5 million debt limit for small businesses filing under Subchapter V and establishing a new debt limit of $2.75 million for individuals and families filing under Chapter 13. When that bill expired in 2024, the debt thresholds for both programs reverted to lower levels.", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-murkowski-celebrate-senate-passage-of-act-for-als-reauthorization-act/", "Senators Coons, Murkowski celebrate Senate passage of ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Bipartisan legislation will preserve access to promising treatments and accelerate research into ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Co-Chairs of the Senate ALS Caucus, celebrated the Senate\u2019s unanimous passage of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies (ACT) for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026. The bipartisan legislation now heads to conference with the House-passed bill to resolve minor differences before being sent to the president\u2019s desk. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) lead the companion legislation in the House.\n\nThe bill reauthorizes ACT for ALS programs through 2031, helping people living with ALS continue accessing promising investigational treatments while advancing research into ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases.\n\n\u201cThis is a step in the right direction to help people living with ALS and their families,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cBy passing this bipartisan reauthorization, we are ensuring this critical research can continue without interruption. I\u2019m grateful to the incredible community of advocates, patients, and caregivers whose relentless courage and determination have made this possible. ACT for ALS will help countless Americans living with this disease and bring us closer to a cure, and I look forward to its swift enactment.\u201d\n\n\u201cALS is indiscriminate and devastating. It can strike any of us, and it will take all of us working together to support those affected and help end this terminal disease,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cThis bill will break down barriers to treatment while accelerating the research and development of therapies for people living with ALS. I\u2019m grateful to partner with Senator Coons and I appreciate that Congress has recognized the importance of this legislation by moving it forward quickly. I look forward to working through the remaining differences in conference so we can get it to the President\u2019s desk before these critical programs expire on September 30.\u201d\n\nThe original ACT for ALS was signed into law in 2021. The reauthorization is supported by I AM ALS, the ALS Network, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the ALS Association.", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-use-temporary-protected-status-to-help-vulnerable-afghans-in-the-united-states/", "Senators Coons, Murkowski introduce bipartisan bill to\u00a0use Temporary Protected Status to help\u00a0vulnerable Afghans in the United States", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "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.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today introduced the Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026, legislation to protect eligible Afghan nationals already living in the United States from being forced to return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan by granting them Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a successful and bipartisan multi-decade program to help immigrants from nations impacted by armed conflict, natural disasters, or other severe humanitarian crises.\n\nSenators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) joined Senators Coons and Murkowski in introducing the legislation. A bipartisan companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.).\n\n\u201cWe owe an enormous debt to the Afghans who supported U.S. forces during their 20-year mission in Afghanistan,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cIn exchange for that huge risk to themselves and their families, we promised them protection, protection that is more important than ever in light of the crises that have been created across their home country by the Taliban\u2019s authoritarian regime. I\u2019m grateful to Senator Murkowski for helping lead this bipartisan bill to ensure properly vetted Afghans are welcomed in the United States and protected from the imminent danger the Taliban would pose to them if they were forced back across the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring the safety of Afghan nationals who bravely fought side by side with U.S. Armed Forces against the Taliban is not only a moral obligation, but also extends to our national security interests. Failing to do so would undermine the credibility of future U.S. commitments to those who stand alongside us in times of strife,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cThat\u2019s why I joined Senator Coons in developing this narrowly tailored legislation, which provides TPS protection only to those Afghans who have already been living in the United States, have cleared rigorous national security background checks, and would require additional security evaluations when necessary. Forcing these individuals to return to the Taliban before it is safe in Afghanistan would be an egregious breach of the trust and commitment to those who risked everything to fight for their freedom.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must keep our covenant with the Afghans who served beside us, risking everything \u2014 often at great personal expense to themselves and their families \u2014 to further America\u2019s mission,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will help ensure Afghan allies can safely remain in the country. It\u2019s important to do what we can to help our Afghan friends find stability, opportunity, and community in their new home.\u201d\n\nThe bill would designate Afghanistan under TPS through July 1, 2029, allowing eligible Afghan nationals already in the United States to continue living and working here temporarily. Applicants would be required to submit biometric and biographic information and complete applicable criminal and national-security background checks. The bill comes upon the fifth anniversary of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and as Afghanistan continues to face a severe humanitarian and human rights crisis under Taliban rule. Many Afghans who have come to America in recent years aided U.S. and NATO troops and would put themselves and their families at great risk if forced to return to the country. However, last year, the Department of Homeland Security terminated Afghanistan\u2019s TPS designation, stripping eligible Afghans of their legal status and work authorization and potentially forcing them to return to a dangerous environment.\n\nFirst created during the George H.W. Bush administration, TPS allows the federal government to grant short-term work permits and a shield from deportation to immigrants from specific, named countries where returning citizens would put them in serious danger. The Trump administration has sought to end most TPS programs, which could lead to the deportation of hundreds of thousands of migrants from four different continents.\n\nThe Afghanistan TPS Act would:\n\nDesignate Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status through July 1, 2029;\n\nAllow eligible Afghan nationals already in the United States to apply for temporary protection and employment authorization\n\nRequire applicants to undergo biometric, biographic, criminal and national-security background checks;\n\nRequire applications to be adjudicated within 90 days, with limited extensions when additional national-security review is necessary; and\n\nPermit eligible applicants to request waivers of associated filing fees.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by AfghanEvac, No One Left Behind, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Global Refuge, Refugees International, Afghan-American Foundation, Afghans for a Better Tomorrow, International Refugee Assistance Project, International Rescue Committee, Church World Service, Human Rights First, HIAS, Refugee Congress, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Team America Relief, The Lamia Afghan Foundation, World Relief; New Life Church, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Center for Refugee Services, International Institute of New England, Afghan Promise, Afghan Community Cultural Center \u2013 Texas, Afghan Labor Advocacy Network, World Hazara Council USA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Austin Jews and Partners for Refugees, California Hazara Community, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, Red T, Refugee Advocacy Lab, REACT DC, New Neighbor Interfaith Alliance, Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Massachusetts Afghan Alliance, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Hearts & Homes for Refugees, New Milford Area Rotary, and more.\n\n\u201cAmerica made a promise to the Afghans who stood with us, and Senators Coons and Murkowski are helping keep it, joined by Senators Cassidy and Klobuchar. This bill is simple and overdue. It shields vetted Afghan allies from deportation to a country run by the Taliban that wants them dead, and it lets them keep working and supporting their families while they\u2019re here,\u201d said Shawn VanDiver, President of AfghanEvac. \u201cThese are people who are already in our communities, already vetted, and already contributing. Temporary Protected Status is a bridge, not a path to citizenship, and it comes with full national-security vetting and a hard deadline for DHS to act. That two Democrats and two Republicans are leading this together shows keeping our word to our allies was never a partisan question. We\u2019re grateful to all four senators, and we urge their colleagues to move quickly, because our allies cannot afford for the Senate to wait.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfghan partners took extraordinary risks on our behalf for twenty years, and the ongoing threats to their lives in Afghanistan are well documented. How we treat them now determines whether America has the same support in the next national security conflict. Sending people who worked and sacrificed for the United States back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan hands our adversaries a propaganda win and unnecessarily puts our allies at risk,\u201d said Andrew Sullivan, Executive Director of No One Left Behind. \u201cThis bipartisan bill, alongside the House companion, promotes national security by enforcing rigorous vetting and thorough security checks while protecting vetted Afghan nationals. No One Left Behind is proud to endorse this legislation, and we thank Senators Coons and Murkowski for their bipartisan work behind it.\u201d\n\n\u201cNewly arrived Afghans are pillars in their communities across the United States. Many of them served alongside American service members during the mission while others fought for democracy and women\u2019s rights. Now, they are under attack and at risk of detention and deportation for no other reason than their country of origin,\u201d said Arash Azizzada, Executive Director for Afghans For A Better Tomorrow. \u201cAfghans deserve much-needed protections and Congress must act to pass this bipartisan, critical and life-saving legislation. Afghans cannot wait a day longer without passage of the Afghanistan TPS Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cIAVA will always stand by our Afghan Allies. We have always said that our national security and credibility as a moral nation depends on how we treat those who saved countless lives of men and women in uniform for over two decades in Afghanistan combat,\u201d said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). \u201cWe are encouraged by Senator Coons and Senator Murkowski joining the fight to uphold our promise to our Allies and for introducing a Senate companion to the Afghanistan TPS of 2026. We\u2019re hopeful this is a meaningful stepping stone towards a lasting pathway to citizenship and thankful to Congress for acknowledging this need, which has remained unanswered for too long.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfghans seeking safety in the United States have endured years of upheaval, displacement, and danger that no family should ever have to navigate. The situation inside Afghanistan has only grown more dire \u2014 widespread hunger, collapsing public services, and the near\u2011total erasure of women\u2019s rights have created one of the world\u2019s most severe humanitarian emergencies,\u201d said Krish O\u2019Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge. \u201cOffering Temporary Protected Status to Afghans who have built their lives here is not only lawful and necessary \u2014 it is a reaffirmation that America does not turn its back on people who sought refuge in moments of crisis. And it does not forget its commitments to its allies and partners. I commend the bipartisan and principled leadership behind this bill and urge Congress to move swiftly to provide the stability and safety these individuals deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaking promises to vulnerable Afghans is the minimum that our country can do to stand alongside those who have supported our country in so many ways. The Afghanistan TPS Act gives vetted Afghans who are already here the stability to work, support their families, and live without the fear of deportation,\u201d said Beth Oppenheim, CEO of HIAS. \u201cHIAS is proud to stand behind this bipartisan bill, because welcoming the stranger and protecting the vulnerable are not partisan values, they are enduring American ones.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Afghanistan of today is a stark departure from the country that so many Afghans and Americans sacrificed to build after 2001. Women and girls have been systematically erased from public life, nearly half the population depends on humanitarian assistance, and a collapsing healthcare system struggles to provide even the most basic care. These are not distortions, they are documented facts,\u201d said Mohammed Naeem, Senior Director for Advocacy Strategy at Refugees International. \u201cWe are grateful to Senators Coons, Murkowski, Klobuchar, and Cassidy for answering the call and introducing this critical bill. Without its passage, we risk sending Afghan families back to conditions defined by dehumanization, deprivation, and despair. That is not the promise we made to our Afghan allies. Congress can instead reaffirm that America is a nation that honors its word\u2014and that our word does not end when the headlines fade.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-young-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-invest-in-startups-and-entrepreneurs-across-the-country/", "Senators Coons, Young introduce bipartisan legislation to invest in startups and entrepreneurs across the country", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "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.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced the Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026, which would reauthorize the Economic Development Administration\u2019s (EDA) Build to Scale program through fiscal year 2030.\n\n\u201cDelaware is a state built on innovation. We know what it takes to turn a good idea into a thriving business: support, investment, and expertise,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cThis bipartisan bill brings those needed pieces to startups and entrepreneurs across the country, so Americans can continue to reach for their dreams, create jobs, and grow our economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s long-term economic strength depends on our ability to turn innovation into opportunity,\u201d said Senator Young. \u201cThe Build to Scale program helps entrepreneurs, universities, investors, and local organizations work together to develop new technologies, launch businesses, and create good-paying jobs. This legislation will ensure Hoosier innovators and communities across the country have the tools they need to compete in the industries of the future.\u201d\n\nSince 2014, the Build to Scale program has strengthened regional innovation ecosystems by supporting entrepreneurs, technology startups, and organizations that connect startups with the capital, infrastructure, and expertise needed to grow. The program has awarded more than $272 million to 426 projects across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, helping support more than 58,600 jobs and 6,200 startups.\n\nBuild to Scale funding is essential to Delaware\u2019s innovation economy. The Delaware Innovation Space (DISI) has received $2.25 million in funds through this program to advance Delaware entrepreneurs\u2019 access to state-of-the-art laboratory spaces. Reauthorizing funding for the Build to Scale programs would mean supporting Delawarean entrepreneurs and innovation.\n\nThe Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026 would:\n\nReauthorize the Build to Scale program through FY2030 at $50 million annually\n\nExpand access to capital for entrepreneurs and technology startups seeking to commercialize new ideas and products\n\nIncrease outreach to rural, trade-impacted, and economically distressed communities to reduce barriers to participation\n\nAuthorize cost-share waivers for certain economically distressed communities to reduce barriers to participation\n\nStrengthen coordination among the Economic Development Administration, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and related federal innovation initiatives\n\nRequire the Department of Commerce to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity within 90 days of enactment to help accelerate grant availability\n\nThe Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in May by Representatives Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Jim Baird (R-Ind.).\n\nThis bill is supported by the Delaware Innovation Space and the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP).\n\n\u201cEDA\u2019s Build to Scale program has played an instrumental role in strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem for scalable, science-based startups,\u201d said William D. Provine, Ph.D., president & CEO of the Delaware Innovation Space. \u201cIts support has helped us build more commercially viable companies that have crossed the \u2018valley of death\u2019 between scientific discovery and successful commercialization. In 2025, The Innovation Space and the companies we support generated an estimated $704 million in economic output and supported nearly 2,500 jobs across the United States. Reauthorizing Build to Scale will help more promising science-based companies reach the market, grow, and contribute to America\u2019s economic competitiveness.\u201d\n\n\u201cDelaware Prosperity Partnership strongly supports the reauthorization of the Build to Scale (B2S) Program. This legislation is an opportunity to strengthen Delaware\u2019s innovation economy by accelerating the commercialization of emerging technologies, expanding access to entrepreneurial resources, and fostering strategic partnerships among industry, academia, local accelerators, and government. With past EDA Build to Scale funding, The Delaware Innovation Space in Wilmington has been able to expand its support of regional and national science and technology startups and early-stage companies. Future B2S investment could enhance the state\u2019s capacity to grow and attract scalable startups, create quality jobs, increase access to capital, and reinforce Delaware\u2019s position as a cradle of innovation,\u201d says Becky Harrington, DPP\u2019s interim president and CEO.\n\nFurther endorsements of the Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026 include: SSTI, the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), Cornell University, Georgetown University\u2019s Office of Technology Commercialization, the Center on Rural Innovation, US Ignite, Launch Tennessee, JumpStart Inc., Rev1 Ventures, Arch Grants, mHUB, BioSTL, the Maryland Clean Energy Center, the Washington Technology Industry Association, and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-rep-mcbride-talks-affordability-bipartisan-employment-opportunity-bill", "ICYMI: Rep. McBride Talks Affordability, Bipartisan Employment Opportunity Bill on The Julie Mason Show", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WILMINGTON, Del. \u2014 In case you missed it, yesterday, Delaware\u2019s U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) joined SiriusXM\u2019s The Julie Mason Show to discuss her new bipartisan bill, the Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act, which would help small businesses offset the costs of recruiting, hiring, and retaining employees with disabilities. Rep. McBride also discussed the affordability crisis and how President Trump's decision to go to war with Iran continues to drive up costs for Delawareans.\n\nBelow are key excerpts from the conversation. A full recording is available here.\n\nOn Expanding Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities:\n\nJulie Mason: . . . So you're working on some legislation ahead of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. That's interesting. Do tell.\n\nRep. Sarah McBride: Sure. Well, I was proud just the other week to introduce the Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act. It's bipartisan legislation that I introduced alongside a Republican colleague of mine to make the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act a reality for more of our neighbors. So your listeners might know that, as you mentioned, 36 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by a Republican president, George H.W. Bush, in order to bring down the walls of exclusion for people with disabilities across society, from employment to their ability to get the goods and services that they need to live and thrive. And as part of the ADA, businesses of 15 employees or more are required to make reasonable accommodations to make their businesses more accessible for both employees and customers.\n\nAnd people often think of this as a ramp to enter or a stall in a restroom that's more accessible. But one of the things that the ADA requires in doing that is those businesses to make those adjustments for employees as well so that we open up employment opportunities for people with disabilities. And to make that something that is more affordable for smaller employers, they passed this tax credit years ago that unfortunately just doesn't cover the full range of needs for employees with disabilities. And so our bill modernizes that tax credit to expand it to include accommodations that folks who are blind or have low vision might need to be able to read screens better to enhance the technology that an office uses for employees who are hard of hearing.\n\nOur bill, which I'm really proud to have introduced with French Hill of North Carolina, would modernize it to guarantee that the full range of reasonable accommodations that smaller businesses have to make to make their spaces more accessible for people with disabilities are truly affordable for those businesses and therefore genuinely available for people with disabilities across our country.\n\nMason: Wow, that's fantastic. And it seems to me, thinking back, Congresswoman, that the ADA really was an important piece of legislation that really changed things.\n\nMcBride: It was life-changing. It fundamentally changed the accessibility of public spaces and private businesses across our country. It has not only opened up goods and services from grocery stores to hotels for people with disabilities, but it also unlocked employment opportunities for people with disabilities. And it's so important that as smaller businesses guarantee that they have accessibility, both physical and other kinds of accessibility, that they're able to do so in a way that is affordable for them and that's why the tax credit was created and it's why we're trying to expand the tax credit so that people with disabilities across different kinds of disabilities, across different accessibility needs are able to have their potential employers or current employers make those accommodations so that they can participate in the workforce and thrive in the workplace.\n\nMason: I think we see it in ways that we just take for granted now. For example, I'm thinking of braille buttons on an elevator, for example. You know, like things that we just take for granted, like that's just part of the elevator, but it is ADA compliant.\n\nMcBride: And you know, when advocates were pushing the ADA in the [1980s] and in 1990, a lot of people, a lot of people said that the ADA was too much too fast. They said that these protections would put too much of a strain on business. They said that it was not necessary. But of course, in the 36 years since it passed, those requirements have become not only everyday realities for us, but they become things that all of us expect. Because when you make a space more accessible for people with disabilities, it becomes more accessible and easier to use for all of us. And so we truly all have benefited from the ADA. And to your point, despite the doomsday scenarios that opponents laid out, it has become so ingrained in our society that the requirements and the expectations laid out in the ADA 36 years ago are just day-to-day obvious expectations that all of us now have.\n\nOn Helping Small Businesses Make Workplaces More Accessible:\n\nMason: As you and I have talked about before, Delaware relies on small business to propel the economy. And it seems to me that over time that that tax credit was insufficient to the needs of small business.\n\nMcBride: That's exactly right. Delaware is, we call ourselves a state of neighbors. We are obviously a small state. Everyone knows one another. But we are also, to your point, a state of small businesses. More Delawareans are employed by small businesses than in many other states. And one of the things that I am always trying to do in making the American dream more affordable and accessible for people is to figure out what more we can do to support small businesses. Many of these businesses are operating on thin margins. And obviously, anything we can do to defray any costs that they need to incur to not only abide by federal laws, but to do the right thing, goes a long way in helping those small businesses thrive and grow.\n\nAnd so this tax credit modernizes that existing tax credit so that it covers things like alternative keyboards or hands-free technology for employees with mobility or dexterity-related disabilities. It allows them to have support if they're making hearing- aid-compatible or amplified telephones for employees who are hard of hearing. And we all benefit when our society is able to tap the talents and full potential of everyone. And so by making it more affordable for these small businesses to employ people with disabilities, not only are they going to benefit by being able to tap the incredible talents that live within our workers with disabilities and communities with disabilities, but allow all of us to benefit from those talents and that potential being tapped by them.\n\nOn the Affordability Crisis, the Iran War, and Rising Gas Prices:\n\nMason: Somewhat along the same lines, I believe you have been traveling around Delaware and talking to the people. And hearing about affordability issues?\n\nMcBride: That's without question. You know, we're on our August in-district work period right now. The joy of being here uninterrupted in Delaware for a month straight means that I get to travel across our state. And there is no question that no matter where I am, whether I'm talking to young families or retirees, whether I'm in a bluer area or a redder area, an urban, suburban or rural area of my state, the first, second and third thing that I'm hearing about is the rising cost of living. And quite frankly, the deep sense of betrayal that many voters in my state, 42% of whom voted for Donald Trump, feel from the broken promises that this president has made and broken over the last two years. You know, he said he was going to lower costs and end forever wars. And over the last two years, not only has he failed to fulfill those promises, he has made decisions that have made those crises actively worse. He has started new forever wars and in so doing raised costs. He's implemented these reckless tariffs that have increased costs on working people across the country.\n\nIn my home state of Delaware, the average price of gas is now around $4.15 a gallon. Delawareans can't afford this reckless, ill-thought-out, and illegal war of choice in Iran that is not only increasing costs on Delawareans and Americans at the gas pump and elsewhere, but it's actually left us less respected in the world and Iran more geopolitically emboldened than they were five months ago. And so it's been an absolute failure. And I have never seen a presidential decision so clearly tied to a person's pocketbook . . . people who didn't necessarily think about the Strait of Hormuz six months ago are bringing it up to me at the grocery store and bringing it up to me at the gas station and bringing it up to me when I'm out to eat and bringing it up to me when I'm going to a local retail store to visit.\n\nPeople are bringing this up because they see that this president's decision to go to war in Iran and subsequent actions that have occurred, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, they understand it has impacted their day-to-day lives and it has raised costs for them.\n\n. . .\n\nBut we do have a responsibility . . . to make sure that we're doing everything within our power to stop the harm and to lay the foundation for progress now and moving forward. And that's been my focus. I'm proud to be a co-lead of a working group that Leader Jeffries has put together to specifically focus on the cost crisis facing caregivers in our society . . . and we are not going to be able to address the cost crisis that young families in my state are facing, that people across our country are facing, if we don't do all we can as a Democratic Congress to lay the foundation for paid family and medical leave, universal child care and home and elder care that's genuinely quality and affordable for everyone that needs it. We're not going to be able to solve that crisis if we don't make progress on those three major buckets.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/photo-release-rep-mcbride-highlights-people-and-projects-strengthening-first", "PHOTO RELEASE: Rep. McBride Highlights the People and Projects Strengthening the First State", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WILMINGTON, Del. \u2014 Over the past several days, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) traveled across Delaware to celebrate the people and projects that help keep the First State strong \u2014 from farmers and students shaping the future of agriculture, to innovative clean energy projects helping build a more affordable energy future, to the servicemembers who protect our nation. Photos from Rep. McBride's visits can be found here.\n\nRep. McBride began her travels in Harrington, where she joined the Delaware Future Farmers of America (FFA) for its Annual Fair Awards Breakfast, bringing together hundreds of FFA members, agricultural educators, and industry leaders to celebrate agricultural education and student leadership.\n\n\u201cAgriculture has always been at the heart of Delaware's story, and our future depends on the next generation of farmers, producers, and agricultural leaders,\u201d said Rep. McBride. \u201cIt was an honor to celebrate the incredible students of Delaware FFA, whose leadership, hard work, and dedication to their communities is keeping the First State's agricultural tradition strong.\u201d\n\nShe then joined neighbors at the Delaware State Fair, touring the Delaware 4-H exhibits and taking in many of the fair's longstanding traditions.\n\n\u201cThe Delaware State Fair is one of my favorite summer traditions because it brings together everything that makes the First State special \u2014 our farmers, small businesses, talented artists, and neighbors from every corner of Delaware. It was wonderful to celebrate our agricultural community and the traditions that bring us together year after year,\u201d said Rep. McBride.\n\nRep. McBride then visited Middletown to deliver remarks at the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation's ribbon-cutting ceremony for Delaware's first floating solar array. The project places solar panels on a treatment pond at the Town of Middletown's wastewater treatment facility, generating renewable energy while preserving land and strengthening Delaware's energy future. Local energy projects like this can also help reduce energy costs for Delawareans over the long term.\n\n\"This floating solar array shows what's possible when local leaders think creatively about solving big challenges,\u201d said Rep. McBride. \u201cBy putting existing infrastructure to work in new ways, Delaware is producing more local energy, preserving valuable land, and helping build a cleaner, more affordable energy future for the people we serve.\"\n\nRep. McBride concluded her travels in New Castle on Sunday, where she joined the Delaware Air National Guard to honor the 158 Airmen of the 166th Airlift Wing ahead of their deployment in support of Operation SPARTAN SHIELD, a mission that serves as a cornerstone of U.S. stability efforts in the Middle East. She addressed the Airmen and thanked them and their families for their service and sacrifice.\n\n\u201cBehind every deployment are families, friends, and communities making sacrifices alongside those in uniform. It was an honor to thank these Airmen for their service and to let them know that all of Delaware is behind them as they embark on this mission. We will be thinking of them and praying for their safe return,\u201d said Rep. McBride.\n\nPhotos from Rep. McBride\u2019s visits can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-slams-trump-administration-attempt-to-dismantle-department-of-education/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Slams Trump Administration Attempt to Dismantle Department of Education", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThis administration\u2019s interagency agreements will harm students with disabilities.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, today participated in a spotlight hearing on the Trump administration\u2019s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education and efforts to move the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Blunt Rochester questioned witnesses on how these attempts will harm students with disabilities.\n\nIn a recent HELP Committee Executive Session, Blunt Rochester offered an amendment to prevent the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Education from being transferred to another Federal Agency. Republicans blocked consideration of the amendment.\n\nWitnesses:\n\nLaurie VanderPloeg \u2013 Associate Executive Director for Professional Affairs, Council for Exceptional Children\n\nKaty Neas \u2013 Chief Executive Officer, The Arc of the United States\n\nValerie C. Williams \u2013 Former Director, Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education\n\nSeth Galanter \u2013 Senior Fellow, Edley Center on Law & Democracy\n\nElizabeth Tang \u2013 Senior Counsel for Education and Workplace Justice, National Women\u2019s Law Center\n\nStephanie Smith Lee \u2013 Co-Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Down Syndrome Congress\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s questions can be found here, and a key excerpt can be found below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cCan you compare OCR\u2019s model to how the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division processes discrimination cases and say why that difference matters, and specifically why it matters for students with disabilities?\u201d\n\nMr. Galanter: \u201cBoth the roles that DOJ and OCR play are incredibly important, but they are quite distinct. The special role that OCR plays is particularly valuable for parents and students who don\u2019t have access to resources, who don\u2019t have access to lawyers, or who simply have a complaint and need help, and the OCR complaint process is one of the few places in the federal government that they can go in an education setting and get an individualized response.\n\n\u201cDOJ performs an incredibly valuable function at a systems level. They look and they get lots of complaints, and they sift through them, looking for patterns, looking for you know great great facts or you know novel questions of law that they want to establish a new rule on, and they work aggressively to vindicate the rights of kids.\n\n\u201cBut they do it at a macro level. They do it in cases that takes years that lead to settlements that say 90% of kids should get X within you know two years, or you know we want substantial compliance with this by 2030, and that\u2019s great for the system. But for an individual parent who\u2019s part of the 10% who\u2019s not getting the immediate relief, they could always come to OCR.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no plan that they\u2019ve revealed to explain how they\u2019re going to transfer these functions, which requires hundreds of investigators and attorneys experienced in education law, and move it to an agency that, as we know, has already itself been depleted of a lot of its existing expertise, and bringing in a whole new function with a whole different mindset, a different culture that\u2019s needed to reach these individual resolutions in so many individual fact-specific cases.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-remove-asset-limits-blocking-working-families-from-public-assistance/", "Senator Coons, colleagues introduce legislation to remove asset limits blocking working families from public assistance", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "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.) and seven of his Democratic colleagues introduced the Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests (ASSET) Act of 2026, which would protect low-income Americans from losing access to programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other government assistance programs because of arbitrary asset limits by increasing their access to essential public assistance programs. Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nAs inflation skyrockets due to the Trump administration\u2019s harmful policies, government assistance programs are becoming more important than ever. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), SNAP, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) help low-income families, particularly those with children, meet basic needs like food and heating. Social Security\u2019s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program reduces extreme poverty among the elderly and people with disabilities. Families\u2019 eligibility for these programs is often limited by both income and assets.\n\nThe ASSET Act would prohibit states from applying asset tests for TANF, SNAP, and LIHEAP, and raise the asset limits for SSI from $2,000 to $10,000 for an individual and from $3,000 to $20,000 for a couple, with both limits indexed to inflation. Income limits would remain allowable. A delay in implementation is permitted for states that need to pass legislation to adjust to new regulations.\n\nAsset limits penalize Americans who have built savings for education, emergencies, and retirement, or have bought transportation that they need to get to work and earn enough to get out of these programs. Removing asset limits on SNAP alone increases the odds that lower-income adults have at least $500 in their savings by 8% and have a bank account by 5%. It also reduces the number of individuals cycling on and off the program by 26%. Nine states have eliminated TANF asset limits, 37 states and Washington, D.C. have eliminated SNAP asset tests, and only two states have LIHEAP asset tests. SSI is administered by the federal government, and the asset limit has not been updated or adjusted for inflation since 1989. Inconsistencies in how asset eligibility is determined among these programs and across the states can confuse eligible recipients, deterring them from saving or stopping them from accessing assistance programs that they\u2019re entitled to.\n\n\u201cAsset limits on public assistance programs prevent working families from saving for the future or accessing the benefits they rightfully deserve. A savings account or a car are not assets, they\u2019re necessities in every home,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cAs President Trump and Republicans in Congress are making it harder to access essential public assistance programs, we need to fight back, and I\u2019m proud to introduce this bill that will help more working families access the social safety net when they need it.\u201d\n\n\u201cBurdensome eligibility rules make it harder for families to get ahead. The ASSET Act removes outdated savings limits from programs that help families afford food, utilities, and other basic needs. It also updates the savings limit for people with disabilities and the elderly, which hasn\u2019t changed since 1989. That means families can save for an emergency or build toward a better future without losing the support they need,\u201d said Representative Gomez . \u201cI grew up in a family where both my parents worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, we couldn\u2019t even afford health insurance. The idea that federal social programs can punish a family like mine for trying to build savings goes against the core values of these programs.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senator Coons, the ASSET Act of 2026 is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).\n\nThe bill is endorsed by Prosperity Now, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Alliance to End Hunger, the National Women\u2019s Law Center Action Fund, National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR), UnidosUS, The Arc, Grantmakers in the Arts, Americans for the Arts.\n\n\u201cThe ASSET Act recognizes a simple but important reality: families should not have to choose between building a modest emergency fund and accessing the public benefits that help them through difficult times,\u201d said Marisa Calderon, president & CEO of Prosperity Now. \u201cFor decades, Prosperity Now has worked to help families build savings, strengthen financial security, and build long-term financial stability. Yet outdated asset limits continue to penalize responsible saving and leave households more vulnerable to financial shocks. By preserving income eligibility while eliminating outdated asset tests, the ASSET Act ensures that public benefits no longer undermine families\u2019 efforts to build financial stability. No family should be penalized for doing the responsible thing. This legislation brings public policy in line with the basic principle that saving for the future should be encouraged, not punished.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor more than 20 years, LISC has supported a national network of Financial Opportunity Centers\u00ae to enable working families to build prosperity through personalized financial coaching paired with employment and wrap-around support services, including help accessing public benefits. We know from experience that communities thrive when families are empowered to build financial resilience and pursue long-term goals, and that asset tests unfairly penalize low-income homeowners and can discourage savings. We applaud Senator Coons for addressing this issue by introducing the ASSET Act to ensure low-income families can continue to receive the support needed to achieve financial self-sufficiency,\u201d said Matt Josephs, senior vice president of policy, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).\n\n\u201cNo one should have to choose between keeping food on their table today and saving for an emergency tomorrow. By removing outdated asset penalties, the ASSET Act gives our nation\u2019s artists the financial dignity to build a stable future without risking the vital public safety net they need to survive,\u201d said Erin Harkey, CEO, Americans for the Arts.\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-blunt-rochester-joins-20-colleagues-in-urging-trump-administration-to-use-leverage-to-prevent-further-atrocities-in-sudan/", "NEWS: Blunt Rochester Joins 20 Colleagues in\u00a0Urging Trump Administration to Use Leverage\u00a0to Prevent Further Atrocities in Sudan", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), today joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and her Senate Democratic colleagues in pressing the State Department to use its leverage to prevent further atrocities in Sudan and help bring the war to an end. To do so, the Senators urge the State Department to cease certain U.S. arms sales to external actors like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which continues to arm the Rapid Support Forces\u2019 (RSF) in Sudan. The Senators\u2019 letter notes the immediate need for the State Department to take action in light of the impending siege of the city of El Obeid and following the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher last year.\n\nSenators Blunt Rochester and Van Hollen were joined in sending this letter by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).\n\n\u201cWe write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces\u2019 (RSF) impending siege of the city of El Obeid in Sudan, which threatens a repeat of the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher this past October. While we welcome the State Department\u2019s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough. The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end. These actions should include ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to external actors that are fueling this war, including the United Arab Emirates, which continues to arm the RSF,\u201d the Senators begin.\n\nThey continue, \u201cWe have already witnessed what happens when the international community fails to heed warnings of RSF atrocities. The RSF\u2019s siege and devastation of El Fasher bore the \u2018hallmarks of genocide\u2019 according to United Nations investigators.[\u2026] The siege of El Fasher lasted for over 500 days, and the ensuing atrocities were widely foreseen and repeatedly forewarned by the United Nations, intelligence from the U.S. State Department and foreign governments, humanitarian monitors, and researchers. We remain greatly concerned by this administration\u2019s grave failure to act despite the chorus of alarm bells. What occurred in El Fasher is a stark warning of what could unfold in El Obeid and across Sudan if this administration\u2014and the international community\u2014continues this current pattern of inaction.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers go on to warn, \u201cAnd now those alarm bells are ringing once again \u2013 this time in El Obeid. Volker T\u00fcrk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on July 3, \u2018This is not a drill. It is a red alert that needs to land on the desks of heads of state and government around the world. Their phones should be running hot in the coming days and weeks, with ideas on how to prevent atrocity crimes in El Obeid and in other places in Kordofan.\u2019 [\u2026] The State Department has also recognized that this is a critical moment. On June 22, the State Department spokesperson warned of \u2018alarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent\u2019 and said \u2018the RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cThe evidence is clear \u2013 the United Arab Emirates is the primary external backer of the RSF, providing unparalleled military, financial, and technical support to the group,\u201d the Senators note.\n\n\u201cNow, an estimated 500,000 civilians are at risk in El Obeid, including many who have sought shelter there after fleeing RSF attacks across the Kordofan region. The encirclement and systematic crippling of resources in El Obeid increasingly parallels El Fasher, and this administration must use its leverage and influence to prevent a repeat of El Fasher\u2019s horrors in El Obeid before it is too late. We urge this administration to take concrete actions to prevent such mass atrocities in El Obeid, including by ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to the UAE and other external actors that are fueling this war. We also request an update on what other actions the administration is taking, beyond just words, to prevent mass atrocities in El Obeid and to help bring this war to an end,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nSecretary Rubio,\n\nWe write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces\u2019 (RSF) impending siege of the city of El Obeid in Sudan, which threatens a repeat of the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher this past October. While we welcome the State Department\u2019s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough. The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end. These actions should include ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to external actors that are fueling this war, including the United Arab Emirates, which continues to arm the RSF.\n\nWe have already witnessed what happens when the international community fails to heed warnings of RSF atrocities. The RSF\u2019s siege and devastation of El Fasher bore the \u201challmarks of genocide\u201d according to United Nations investigators. A United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission found that \u201cthe Rapid Support Forces steadily squeezed the life out of El-Fasher and surrounding displacement camps, cutting off food, water, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance, while subjecting the city to recurring shelling and ground assaults. Civilians were increasingly trapped, as escape routes were restricted or closed, and forced to endure conditions of life progressively incompatible with human survival.\u201d This 18-month siege culminated in a 3-day rampage in October 2025, where survivors describe the slaughter of civilians, mass executions, and crimes against humanity.\n\nEl-Fasher University \u201cbecame one of the bloodiest execution sites in the city.\u201d According to survivors, over a hundred civilians were gunned down or executed as they sought shelter or attempted to flee. Survivors described notorious RSF commander Abu Lulu, known as the \u201cButcher of El-Fasher\u201d, asking a pregnant woman how far she was in her pregnancy and then firing seven bullets into her abdomen when she replied that she was seven months along. He at one point said, \u201cI was planning to kill 2000 people today, but I lost count, so I will start all over again.\u201d In the case of El-Saudi Hospital, RSF forces stormed the hospital and \u201cproceeded to search the wards and killing those they found, including patients, accompanying persons and medical personnel\u2026it is estimated that over 460 patients and others present were killed.\u201d Flight didn\u2019t bring safety, according to survivors, as \u201cThe Rapid Support Forces pursued fleeing civilians along escape routes\u2026where they had established ambushes and checkpoints\u2026the perpetrators chasing people in open fields, firing at them with automatic rifles and mounted submachine guns, and running over fleeing persons with vehicles, causing mass casualties.\u201d The horrors were visible from space, with satellite images analyzed by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab showing bodies piled up in the streets, pools of blood on the ground, and mass burial sites.\n\nThe siege of El Fasher lasted for over 500 days, and the ensuing atrocities were widely foreseen and repeatedly forewarned by the United Nations, intelligence from the U.S. State Department and foreign governments, humanitarian monitors, and researchers. We remain greatly concerned by this administration\u2019s grave failure to act despite the chorus of alarm bells. What occurred in El Fasher is a stark warning of what could unfold in El Obeid and across Sudan if this administration\u2014and the international community\u2014continues this current pattern of inaction.\n\nAnd now those alarm bells are ringing once again \u2013 this time in El Obeid. Volker T\u00fcrk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on July 3, \u201cThis is not a drill. It is a red alert that needs to land on the desks of heads of state and government around the world. Their phones should be running hot in the coming days and weeks, with ideas on how to prevent atrocity crimes in El Obeid and in other places in Kordofan.\u201d Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said of El Obeid on June 30, \u201cToo often in this brutal war, clear warnings have been ignored. Civilians have paid the price. The international community must make itself heard. We cannot say we were not warned.\u201d\n\nThe State Department has also recognized that this is a critical moment. On June 22, the State Department spokesperson warned of \u201calarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent\u201d and said \u201cthe RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering.\u201d On June 23, State Department Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos said that he spoke with RSF leadership and \u201cstrongly urged them to halt any actions that could endanger civilians in and around El Obeid.\u201d And this Administration has repeatedly affirmed, including in July 2025, that \u201cThe Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have committed genocide.\u201d In November 2025, you yourself said that the RSF is \u201cclearly receiving assistance from outside\u201d and that \u201csomething needs to be done to cut off the weapons and the support the RSF is getting as they continue their advances.\u201d\n\nThe evidence is clear \u2013 the United Arab Emirates is the primary external backer of the RSF, providing unparalleled military, financial, and technical support to the group. In May 2026, a new report by Human Rights Watch found that the UAE trained hundreds of Colombian mercenaries who then \u201ctook part in combat in and around El Fasher and, according to media reports, provided training to RSF recruits\u2013including child soldiers\u201d. In February 2026, a Reuters investigation found that Ethiopia has built a secret camp to train thousands of RSF fighters, and that the UAE financed the construction of the camp and provided military trainers and logistical support. This follows U.S. intelligence from October 2025, including separate reports from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the State Department\u2019s intelligence bureau, that \u201cshow an increase in the flow of materiel from the U.A.E. to the rebel Rapid Support Forces since the spring.\u201d These findings are part of a large and growing body of credible evidence that the UAE is both arming and providing military support to the RSF.\n\nNow, an estimated 500,000 civilians are at risk in El Obeid, including many who have sought shelter there after fleeing RSF attacks across the Kordofan region. The encirclement and systematic crippling of resources in El Obeid increasingly parallels El Fasher, and this administration must use its leverage and influence to prevent a repeat of El Fasher\u2019s horrors in El Obeid before it is too late. We urge this administration to take concrete actions to prevent such mass atrocities in El Obeid, including by ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to the UAE and other external actors that are fueling this war. We also request an update on what other actions the administration is taking, beyond just words, to prevent mass atrocities in El Obeid and to help bring this war to an end.\n\nWe request a response to this letter by August 17, 2026.", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-whitehouse-introduce-carbon-dioxide-removal-bill/", "Senators\u00a0Coons, Whitehouse introduce carbon dioxide removal bill", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "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.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Congressmen Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Paul D. Tonko (D-N.Y.) introduced the Carbon Dioxide Leadership Act to curb climate change by investing in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies.\n\n\u201cInvesting in cutting-edge technology like carbon capture is key to growing our economy and protecting our nation and planet from climate change,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cThis bipartisan, bicameral bill will ensure the United States is the global leader in carbon capture, protecting our communities and creating jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe fight against climate change will not succeed without carbon removal. Our bill would invest in promising carbon removal technologies and help put the planet on a pathway to climate safety,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse.\n\n\u201cWe must use every tool at our disposal to tackle the climate crisis; that includes removing harmful legacy emissions from our atmosphere,\u201d said Representative Tonko. \u201cOur bill takes needed action to address carbon dioxide emissions while also creating good-paying jobs, supporting innovation, and investing in a clean energy economy. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in championing this smart, meaningful legislation.\u201d\n\nThe Carbon Dioxide Leadership Act would leverage federal procurement to create a market for carbon dioxide removal. Specifically, the bill would:\n\nRequire the Department of Energy (DOE) to remove an increasing amount of carbon dioxide for each fiscal year\n\nEnforce the use of direct air capture or other durable technology-based removal solutions\n\nEnsure high standards for measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verifying carbon removals and for robust public engagement\n\nSet a declining per-ton price ceiling to incentivize cost reductions over time\n\nProvide flexibility for DOE to invest in nascent technologies with high potential\n\nCreate a set-side for newer CDR technologies to promote a broad portfolio of technologies\n\nPrioritize domestic job creation, environmental justice, innovative technologies, and community benefits\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-fights-for-civil-rights-protections-in-education/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Fights for Civil Rights Protections in Education", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cWe know that discrimination is not new, and it still persists.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, today participated in a Committee Executive Session to consider key legislation. Senator Blunt Rochester and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) offered an amendment to prevent the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Education from being transferred to another Federal Agency. Republicans blocked consideration of the amendment.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks can be found here and below:\n\nSenator BluntRochester: \u201cThank you, Senator Murray, for her leadership on this issue. I also want to thank Senator Hassan for making it clear that this is about students, families, and businesses. I co-lead this amendment because we know that discrimination is not new, and it still persists.\n\n\u201cI know it as the former Secretary of Labor of Delaware. I know it as the former CEO of the [Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League], where we fought for civil rights and justice, and also as a person who worked for the Institute for Community Inclusion, focused on people with disabilities.\n\n\u201cCreated from the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement, the Office for Civil Rights is tasked with the responsibility of protecting students on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, age, and national origin from discrimination, and making sure all children can go to school and learn. The work of OCR is as important today as it has ever been. The office is receiving increasing complaints of discrimination, while this administration is gutting protections, taking us backwards instead of forward.\n\n\u201cInstead of a system where the Department of Education investigates every claim, this interagency agreement could leave investigations up to the discretion of the DOJ and an administration that has demonstrated it cannot be trusted. We have almost no details about how this would actually work or how cases would be prioritized or addressed. Because of this, I urge my colleagues to join us in a vote of yes on this amendment, and do it for every student, every family, and every business in this country.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-highlights-how-ai-will-impact-digital-divides/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Highlights How AI Will Impact Digital Divides", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThis is the cost of doing business. This is the cost of our healthcare. This is the cost of even connecting to our neighbors.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, today participated in a hearing on how artificial intelligence impacts communications systems. Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s questions focused on how reliable internet access is critical in an increasingly AI economy and questioned how the Trump administration\u2019s funding cuts to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program will impact AI access and digital divides.\n\nWitnesses Include:\n\nJonathan Spalter, President and CEO, USTelecom \u2013 The Broadband Association\n\nDan Watermeier, Commissioner, Nebraska Public Service Commission\n\nBob Everson, Chief Architect of Provider Mobility, Cisco\n\nMr. Asad Ramzanali, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Technology, Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks can be found here, and a key excerpt can be found below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cThe Trump administration has cut [BEAD] funding by about 74 percent. This disproportionately impacts rural communities like those in Kent County and Sussex County, Delaware. Looking ahead, how will lack of access to reliable high-speed internet impact Delawareans\u2019 ability to participate in an increasingly AI-driven economy?\u201d\n\nMr. Ramzanali: \u201cIf we don\u2019t connect those thousands of homes in Delaware that are not connected, it means that they\u2019re missing out on the economic benefits of not just AI, but access to the internet. It means that when their kids have homework assignments that they need to access the internet or to use AI, they don\u2019t have that access. It means when telehealth visits or being able to ask questions of various tools, they don\u2019t have that access either.\n\n\u201cSo, these are real-world limitations that are being put on thousands of people in Delaware, but around the country, we shouldn\u2019t accept that. We shouldn\u2019t accept the state of the country where not every American is connected to high-quality networks.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senators-blunt-rochester-coons-join-colleagues-in-demanding-trump-administration-restore-funding-for-energy-projects-that-were-illegally-canceled-and-politically-targeted/", "NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Coons Join Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Restore Funding for Energy Projects That Were Illegally Canceled and Politically Targeted", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "The letter follows an admission from the Trump administration that the decision to cancel energy project grants in states that did not vote for Trump was \u201cbased solely\u201d on politics\n\n\u201cIt is an attack on the rule of law and the basic democratic principle that the federal government serves the entire country\u2014not merely those who support the President.\u201d\n\nWashington, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Chris Coons (both D-Del) joined Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and 35 of their Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump administration restore funding for the 223 energy projects canceled in October 2025. The Trump administration has since admitted to illegally canceling energy grants because those projects were in states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election.\n\nAlongside Heinrich, Murray, Coons, and Blunt Rochester, a Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, this letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mazie K. Hirono (D- Hawai\u2018i), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Michael Bennett (D-Colo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Angus King (I-M.E.). All 36 Democratic Senators from states with canceled grants and funding signed the letter.\n\n\u201cNow that court documents have confirmed what we knew to be true, we write to demand that you restore previously awarded funding that the Trump administration has weaponized in an attempt to punish perceived political enemies,\u201d the Senators began.\n\n\u201cOnce an administration begins punishing Americans for how they vote, the threat extends far beyond these projects: no state, community, business, or worker can trust that the federal government will apply the law fairly,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThis is not only an attack on jobs, affordable energy, and America\u2019s economic competitiveness. It is an attack on the rule of law and the basic democratic principle that the federal government serves the entire country\u2014not merely those who support the President.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, the administration is hell-bent on political retribution instead of working to bring down costs for millions of Americans. The American people deserve to have a government that works for them\u2014not one that is willing to push energy prices even higher and put the country\u2019s energy security at grave risk,\u201d the Senators concluded. \u201cFor the good of our country, the rule of law, and the American people, we demand that you change course and restore the previously awarded funding.\u201d\n\nCoons and Blunt Rochester previously sent a letter in October 2025 when project grants were initially canceled despite having been approved and appropriated by Congress, demanding the restoration of these funds.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below:", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-colleagues-launch-investigation-into-trump-administrations-campaign-to-kill-offshore-wind-projects/", "Senator Coons, colleagues launch investigation into Trump administration\u2019s campaign to kill offshore wind projects", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Administration\u2019s actions will kill more than 30,000 jobs and raise energy costs\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), and Martin Heinrich (D-M.N.) launched an investigation with eight other Democratic colleagues into the Trump administration\u2019s campaign to kill offshore wind energy projects with a letter to several energy companies who\u2019ve recently canceled offshore wind projects demanding a response about lease buyout agreements.\n\n\u201cThese buyouts have been announced amid a larger effort by the Trump Administration to stall wind and solar projects \u2013 the energy sources that are cheap, clean, and fastest to bring online \u2013 across the country,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cAt a time when gas prices have spiked by an average of more than $1 dollar per gallon due to the President\u2019s war in Iran and electricity prices are rising nearly twice as fast as inflation, clean energy offers a critical opportunity to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and relieve costs for people across the country. Dismantling the burgeoning offshore wind industry now and creating broader uncertainty for investment in cheap, clean energy will have consequences for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese projects were poised not only to advance U.S. leadership in clean energy technology and generation capacity, but also to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and state investment in research and development, port upgrades, workforce development, and community benefit agreements,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cThe two Invenergy projects in the Gulf of Maine were expected to help power more than 2 million homes and support over 18,000 jobs. The Leading Light Wind project in the New York Bight was projected to generate more than $3.7 billion in economic development benefits and over 7,000 jobs. The Golden State Wind project off California\u2019s Central Coast would have powered 1.1 million homes, created more than 8,000 jobs, and delivered a $30 million commitment to workforce development and supply chain initiatives.\u201d\n\nThe letter follows the recent Trump administration decision to pay four offshore wind companies a sum of $2.7 billion in taxpayer funds to shut down critical projects in the East and West Coasts that were devoted to bringing cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient energy to communities. These projects would have created tens of thousands of jobs for Americans.\n\nThe senators ask all companies involved with these projects to turn over their internal communications and posed a series of questions about whether the administration had raised legitimate national security concerns, whether the companies had struck a deal with the Department of the Interior involving a pledge to invest in fossil fuel projects, and whether any conditions were attached to the payouts.\n\nThe letters were also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).\n\nRead the full text of the letter below:\n\nDear [TotalEnergies, Ocean Winds, Duke Energy, Invenergy]:\n\nWe write to express deep concern with your company\u2019s voluntary termination of [nine] leases to develop offshore wind energy in the United States. Over the last few months, President Trump\u2019s Administration has agreed to pay companies, including [TotalEnergies, Ocean Winds, Duke Energy, Invenergy], a total of more than $2.7 billion in taxpayer dollars to abandon projects that could have delivered energy to communities spanning from California to North Carolina to Maine. We are concerned that these decisions will harm grid reliability, job opportunities, and economic development in states across the country, and we request your response to several inquiries.\n\nSince March, 2026, the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have announced agreements to terminate eight leases for offshore wind projects, including TotalEnergies\u2019 leases for Attentive Energy in the New York Bight and Carolina Long Bay; Ocean Winds\u2019 leases for Bluepoint Wind in the New York Bight and Golden State Wind off Morro Bay in California; and Invenergy\u2019s leases in the New York Bight, Gulf of Maine, Morro Bay in California\u2019s Central Coast, and Duke Energy\u2019s lease in the Carolina Long Bay. The Trump Administration agreed to reimburse companies for their leases in exchange for investments in oil, gas, and geothermal projects that, in large part, will be hundreds of miles away from the states that were planning for these offshore wind projects. In total, the Trump Administration\u2019s agreements could result in the loss of more than 15 GW of planned, fixed-price clean energy, which would have helped meet increasing energy demand in regions such as New England and the Mid-Atlantic that are already facing supply constraints.\n\nThese projects were poised not only to advance U.S. leadership in clean energy technology and generation capacity, but also to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and state investment in research and development, port upgrades, workforce development, and community benefit agreements. The two Invenergy projects in the Gulf of Maine were expected to help power more than 2 million homes and support over 18,000 jobs. The Leading Light Wind project in the New York Bight was projected to generate more than $3.7 billion in economic development benefits and over 7,000 jobs. The Golden State Wind project off California\u2019s Central Coast would have powered 1.1 million homes, created more than 8,000 jobs, and delivered a $30 million commitment to workforce development and supply chain initiatives.\n\nSeveral states have already begun making substantial investments to prepare for offshore wind projects to move forward, including over $100 million in investments by California to modernize ports and support planning. By accepting DOI\u2019s buyout deals, you are stranding these investments, undermining job expectations, and disrupting the yearslong process of electricity capacity planning by states and utilities.\n\nThese buyouts have been announced amid a larger effort by the Trump Administration to stall wind and solar projects \u2013 the energy sources that are cheap, clean, and fastest to bring online \u2013 across the country. In December 2025, the Administration paused the construction of five largescale offshore wind projects, claiming \u201cnational security risks.\u201d Secretary Burgum issued a directive requiring his personal review and approval of every wind and solar energy project on public lands, holding up at least 57GW as identified in court documents. The Department of Defense is holding up all new wind projects on private land, a total of more than 30 GW of onshore wind capacity. At a time when gas prices have spiked by an average of more than $1 dollar per gallon due to the President\u2019s war in Iran and electricity prices are rising nearly twice as fast as inflation, clean energy offers a critical opportunity to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and relieve costs for people across the country. Dismantling the burgeoning offshore wind industry now and creating broader uncertainty for investment in cheap, clean energy will have consequences for decades to come.\n\nThere is no law that entitles leaseholders to refunds for voluntarily surrendering a lease, and lease cancellations must be executed according to the law. The Trump Administration has asserted that these payments can be made from the U.S. Department of the Treasury\u2019s Judgment Fund\u2014a position that may not be permissible under statute and that is the subject of ongoing litigation brought by the attorneys general of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. These buyouts risk setting a dangerous precedent that could encourage further misuse of public funds to terminate clean energy projects in certain states in favor of fossil fuel investments that benefit other states.\n\nIn light of these questions and concerns, and to better understand the legal basis for the lease buyout agreements between your company and DOI, we request the following information by August 7, 2026:\n\nPlease state when initial conversations began between your company and the Administration regarding initiating a lease buyout agreement.\n\nPlease state if anyone in the Trump Administration communicated to your company, whether verbal or written, that it would suspend your offshore wind projects if the project moved forward. If communication occurred, please provide responses to the following:\n\nDid your company consider the threat of suspension a viable threat?\n\nDid your company communicate directly that it would file suit for a breach of contract if the Trump Administration suspended your company\u2019s project(s)? Please provide all supporting documentation and communications.\n\nPlease state what national security issues, if any, the Trump Administration raised or identified with your company with respect to the terminated leases.\n\nPlease state if your company or any representative of DOI or the Trump Administration provided notice to the states affected by the lease terminations. If not, why not?\n\nPlease state whether DOI held a hearing related to the planned termination of your company\u2019s leases. If so, please describe.\n\nPlease state which projects your company has agreed to reinvest in and the settled payments amount. In responding to this question, please provide the following information:\n\nThe location of these projects.\n\nIf specific projects have not been identified, how and when will those investments be chosen?\n\nIf the specific projects have been identified, was your company already planning in investing in those projects prior to the settlement, or is the investment contingent on receiving funds from DOI?\n\nIf your company accepted an agreement with DOI in exchange for a pledge to invest in fossil fuel projects, describe the nature of the pledge and note whether any aspects of the pledge are legally binding.\n\nPlease state whether your company currently has other clean energy projects that are pending review by DOI, the Department of Defense, or any other federal government agency. In responding to this question, please provide the following information:\n\nThe name and type of project(s) affected and the location.\n\nThe total generation capacity at risk by ongoing delays.\n\nThe total amount of investment at risk by ongoing delays.\n\nThe total number of jobs supported by the projects that are stalled.\n\nPlease provide all correspondence with DOI, including with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and any email correspondence, papers, books, records, and documents in your possession or under your control relating to these agreements.\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response with the information requested above.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senators-blunt-rochester-marshall-introduce-bill-to-modernize-statewide-data-systems-improving-accessibility-of-education-employment-data/", "NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Marshall Introduce Bill to Modernize Statewide Data Systems, Improving Accessibility of Education, Employment Data", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. SenatorsLisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.)andRoger Marshall (R-Kan.),both members of the Senate Committee onHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions, introduced the bipartisan Reimagining Education and Skills through Unified Longitudinal Talent Systems (RESULTS) Act. This bill modernizes and improves the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) program, to encourage connected insights across early childhood, K-12 education, and the workforce. The RESULTS Act will better equip states to understand and respond to potential education and workforce shifts caused by AI and other emerging technologies.\n\n\u201cAI presents never-before-seen opportunities for education, and our economy. However, we need access to high-quality data to ensure we\u2019re making the best decisions for our communities. Right now, that data is decentralized, making it hard to access, and harder to interpret,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the RESULTS Act alongside Senator Marshall to empower states to build better data systems that will connect education and employment outcomes, making information more accessible to our communities as emerging technologies change the world we live, learn, and work in.\u201d\n\n\u201cArtificial intelligence is a tool\u2014not a replacement for the American worker. Whether it\u2019s in a doctor\u2019s office, on a farm, or in manufacturing, AI can help people work smarter and more efficiently. But if you can\u2019t measure it, you can\u2019t manage it,\u201d said Senator Marshall. \u201cThe RESULTS Act gives states better tools to understand how our workforce is changing so we can prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow and keep America\u2019s workforce the strongest and most competitive.\u201d\n\nThe RESULTS Act would:\n\nModernize the SLDS program to incentivize highly connected state data systems that incorporate early childhood, elementary and secondary education, higher education, workforce and labor market data.\n\nStreamline state funding by starting to consolidate the SLDS program and the parallel Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) at the Department of Labor.\n\nExpand eligibility of SLDS to include a state\u2019s governor as well as a state agency or data governance entity designated by the governor.\n\nImprove access to the National Directory of New Hires, a detailed and underutilized source of wage and employment data for directed use to support statutorily required education and workforce performance reporting.\n\nThe RESULTS Act is endorsed by the Advance CTE, Alliance for Learning Innovation, America Forward, Association for Career and Technical Education, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Credential Engine, Data Quality Campaign, Jobs for the Future, LISC-Kansas City, National Skills Coalition, Results for America, and Rodel.\n\n\u201cEvery day, states make decisions about how to support students without the data infrastructure to know what\u2019s actually working,\u201d said Sara Schapiro, Executive Director of the Alliance for Learning Innovation (ALI). \u201cA state should be able to answer a simple question: did the students who completed that CTE pathway or apprenticeship land jobs that pay a living wage five years later? Today, most can\u2019t. By modernizing and consolidating the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems and Workforce Data Quality Initiative programs, this legislation gives states the tools to connect data across early learning, K-12, postsecondary, and the workforce, so families, educators, and policymakers can see which programs actually lead to good jobs. ALI is proud to support Senators Blunt Rochester and Marshall in this bipartisan step forward for education and workforce innovation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica Forward applauds Senators Blunt Rochester and Marshall for their leadership on the RESULTS Act, which would dramatically accelerate the nation\u2019s data infrastructure. America Forward Coalition members delivering and supporting evidence-based higher education and workforce programs depend on access to high-quality data for performance management, learning, and improvement,\u201d said Deborah Smolover, America Forward Executive Director.\n\nCredential Engine has worked for years with partners to shed light on the credentials, programs, and pathways available to learners and workers. Yet, efforts to increase transparency can only go so far if it is not connected to what happens after someone earns a credential, said Scott Cheney, CEO of Credential Engine. The RESULTS Act gives states the flexibility and resources to link credential and program data with earnings and employment outcomes, so that states, along with the learners and workers they serve, can answer fundamental questions about credential quality and program value. With a modernized, consolidated funding stream and expanded access to critical wage data, this bill helps states build the data infrastructure needed to make these connections real. We are proud to support it.\n\n\u201cConsistent federal investments have been a critical component of supporting states to build statewide longitudinal data systems that provide the backbone for timely, informed decision making by individuals and policymakers alike. But, those investments are currently siloed, placing guardrails around how states can evolve and modernize their systems in ways that enable state leaders to respond to the changing education and workforce needs of policymakers, students, workers, and employers. Students don\u2019t experience their lives in silos\u2014and state data systems shouldn\u2019t either. The RESULTS Act provides a modern vision for federal investment in these data systems that will offer states the flexibility to invest federal funds in ways that meet today\u2019s unique needs. DQC applauds Senators Blunt Rochester and Marshall on the introduction of this critical piece of legislation,\u201d said Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, President and CEO, Data Quality Campaign.\n\n\u201cAs Workforce Pell is implemented, transparent and modern data systems will be essential to ensuring students can identify high-quality programs, policymakers can evaluate outcomes, and employers can find the skilled workforce they need. Strengthening our education and workforce data infrastructure via the bipartisan RESULTS Act will help ensure Workforce Pell delivers on its promise of expanding access to credentials that lead to good jobs and economic mobility,\u201d said Brooke DeRenzis, Chief Executive Officer, National Skills Coalition.\n\n\u201cA student\u2019s journey from early childhood to professional career shouldn\u2019t have to navigate gaps between government agencies,\u201d said Michele Jolin, co-founder and CEO of Results for America. \u201cWhen a state\u2019s early childhood, K-12, higher education, and workforce data systems are siloed, policymakers are forced to make billion-dollar decisions using only a fraction of the picture. The RESULTS Act provides states with the tools they need to build secure, statewide longitudinal data systems that will enable policymakers and practitioners to connect the dots between education and employment outcomes and inform policy that drives results and helps government work better for American families,\u201d said Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder, Results for America.\n\n\u201cFor years, states have had to stitch together data on students and workers using two separate, siloed federal grant programs. The RESULTS Act, led by Sens. Marshall (R-KS) and Blunt Rochester (D-DE), fixes that by giving states one flexible funding stream to build data systems that follow a person from the classroom to the workforce. That reflects a core recommendation of BPC\u2019s Commission on the American Workforce: eliminate data silos so that states can build a single, coherent longitudinal data system rather than managing separate, fragmented funding streams. That\u2019s the kind of practical, cross-agency thinking Congress needs more of, and BPC Action is proud to support it,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, President, Bipartisan Policy Center Action.", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-durbin-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-initiate-congressional-action-to-save-social-security/", "Senator Coons, Durbin, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill to initiate congressional action to save Social Security", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "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.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bill Cassidy (D-La.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Angus King (I-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Alan Armstrong (R-Okla.) introduced the Protecting Retirement and Maintaining Income Security for Everyone (PROMISE) Act. This legislation follows the annual report from the Social Security Board of Trustees, which found that the Social Security Trust Fund will only cover 78 percent of benefits in 2032\u2014meaning that Americans who rely on the program will have their benefits reduced by 22 percent if Congress does not act.\n\n\u201cCongress has talked for years about the need to shore up Social Security so that Americans who have spent decades paying into the program can count on it to be there for their retirement,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cSenator Durbin understands that now is the time to turn that talk into action, and he has created a real, bipartisan process to force Congress to get serious and find a solution. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor this bill and help find a solution to save Social Security.\u201d\n\n\u201cHere is our chance to agree on a bipartisan process to rescue Social Security this year,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cOur bipartisan proposal opens Congress to debate this issue in a transparent, fair, and bipartisan way. We were elected to solve problems\u2014and there\u2019s no greater problem than the solvency and future of Social Security.\u201d\n\n\u201cMillions of Americans rely on Social Security to live. In 6 years, those families will see a 22% cut to their benefits if Congress doesn\u2019t act. Our plan starts the process of preserving promised benefits for current retirees and the next generation of Americans,\u201d said Senator Cassidy.\n\n\u201cFor nearly a century, Social Security has been a lifeline that allows Americans to retire with dignity. Congress should not wait around until the last minute to shore up this critical program and prevent broad-based benefit cuts upon Trust Fund depletion,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m joining a bipartisan group of my colleagues in introducing legislation that will encourage Congress to roll up its sleeves and find a path forward to ensure current and future generations of retirees and their families are able to receive the benefits they have earned and which they are owed.\u201d\n\n\u201cSocial Security is on an unsustainable path that will lead to dramatic benefit cuts for retirees and growing skepticism among workers paying into a program on the brink of insolvency. With each passing year, the menu of options that preserve benefits and limit tax hikes narrows. The modest reforms Congress contemplated in 2010 would have put Social Security on solid footing for 75 years; today, those same reforms would add less than two years to our current runway,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI won\u2019t pretend there\u2019s consensus on how we solve this, but the math is unforgiving: the longer Congress waits to act, the fewer good options remain, which is why I am proud to support this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, we\u2019ve known that Social Security faces serious long-term financial challenges, yet Congress has repeatedly chosen to look the other way,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis legislation creates a bipartisan process to ensure Congress finally does its job. Social Security is a promise millions of Americans have earned through a lifetime of work \u2013 household budgets rely on the timely arrival of these earnings to pay for mortgages, heat, and medications. We have a responsibility to preserve that promise for today\u2019s retirees and for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans have paid into Social Security with the expectation that the benefits they earned would provide the foundation for their retirement, and Congress has a responsibility to keep that promise,\u201d said Senator Cornyn. \u201cI\u2019m proud to support this bipartisan plan of action to address Social Security\u2019s rapidly approaching insolvency before it becomes a bigger crisis so Congress is not caught flat-footed and Texans are not left holding the bag.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor the millions Americans who have worked hard, paid into the system, and simply want the security of knowing they can retire with dignity, this is not an abstract fiscal policy debate. The growing financial strain on Social Security can be easy to ignore until it directly threatens someone\u2019s retirement,\u201d said Senator Armstrong. \u201cI\u2019m proud to stand with a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues to tackle tough challenges head-on rather than rely on short-term fixes, and to put Social Security on a lasting, sustainable foundation for current beneficiaries and future generations.\u201d\n\nMore than 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits. Social Security is a bedrock promise that hard-working Americans paying into the program will earn their retirement and not have to worry about putting food on their table, a roof over their heads, or medicine in their cabinets. However, last month\u2019s Trustees report means that seniors and people with disabilities would have their benefits reduced by $450 per month (based on the average Social Security benefit of $2,071 per month). If Congress does not act, this automatic, across-the-board cut could push more than three million additional seniors and people with disabilities into poverty.\n\nMembers of Congress have introduced several pieces of legislation that would ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds are funded for the next 75 years. Some of these bills have nearly 200 cosponsors, and others are bipartisan and have broad, popular support. However, almost none of them have ever received a vote. Congress should not wait until the Social Security Trust Fund is empty to address this issue when it can act now to protect and strengthen the Social Security Trust Fund for current and future generations.\n\nThe PROMISE Act would create a procedure to initiate Congressional action on Social Security. Specifically, under the senators\u2019 proposal:\n\nThe Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB), an independent, bipartisan advisory committee established to make recommendations to Congress, would transmit a base bill (which must ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds are funded for at least the next 50 years) to Congress.\n\nThe Majority Leaders of the Senate and House would introduce the base bill. If they do not, any Member of Congress could do so.\n\nThe base bill would be referred to the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways & Means Committee. Both committees would have the chance to hold hearings and amend the base bill.\n\nThe Senate Finance Committee and House Ways & Means Committee would report the base bill (as potentially amended). If the Committees do not report the base bill, it automatically would be discharged and placed on the Senate and House calendars.\n\nThe Majority Leaders of the Senate and House would move to proceed to the base bill (as potentially amended). If the Majority Leaders do not, any Member of Congress could do so.\n\nMembers of Congress could offer substitute amendments (which must ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds are funded for at least the next 50 years) to the base bill (as potentially amended) after the motion to proceed.\n\nThe Senate and House would vote on passage of the base bill (as potentially amended) after 100 hours of consideration. Final passage would require a three-fifths vote in the Senate and a majority vote in the House.\n\nAccording to polling from the Bipartisan Policy Center, 64 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of Republicans agree on the need for bipartisan cooperation to protect and strengthen the program. 67 percent of those polled want Congress to take near-term action to solve Social Security\u2019s impending challenges. Specifically, 47 percent say that they want Congress to address Social Security\u2019s financial shortfall as soon as possible, with both parties working together, and an additional 20 percent say that they want a bipartisan commission created to develop a comprehensive plan\u2014and for Congress to approve that plan.\n\nThe PROMISE Act is endorsed by the following organizations: Bipartisan Policy Center, Third Way, and Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s current and future retirees deserve a Social Security system that is financially strong and able to meet its financial commitments to seniors. With the trust funds nearing insolvency, Congress cannot remain in entrenched partisan positions. BPC Action endorses the PROMISE Act and commends Senators Durbin (D-Ill.), Cassidy (R-La.), Kaine (D-Va.), Tillis (R-N.C.), and King (I-Maine) for creating a serious bipartisan process to break the status quo of inaction. Their leadership should spur other members\u2014and advocates committed to Social Security\u2019s future\u2014to come to the table, confront difficult choices, and help secure Americans\u2019 earned benefits for generations to come,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.\n\n\u201cThe longer Congress waits to address Social Security\u2019s looming insolvency, the more expensive and narrow the eventual reforms become. This legislation will help Republicans and Democrats debate and craft a credible, bipartisan solution that keeps Social Security sustainable for decades,\u201d said Jessica Riedl, Fellow of Economic Studies at Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-questions-experts-on-how-to-protect-american-workers-in-the-new-ai-economy/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Questions Experts on How to Protect American Workers in the New AI Economy", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cI\u2019m a person who is generally a very hopeful person, and the conversations around AI a lot today are very fear based.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, today participated in a subcommittee hearing on how AI will impact the American workforce. Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s questions focused on ensuring proper data collection to understand AI\u2019s impact and ensuring protections for workers in AI-vulnerable jobs.\n\nWitnesses Include:\n\nKen Clark, President and CEO, EmployIndy\n\nCarol Rogers, Director, Indiana Business Research Center\n\nDr. Liya Palagashvili, Director of the Labor Policy Project, Mercatus Center at George Mason University\n\nJonathan Liebert, CEO, BBB of Southern Colorado\n\nDr. Justin Heck, Senior Director of Research and Data Production, Opportunity@Work\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks can be found here, and a key excerpt can be found below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cLast year, Black women experienced one of the steepest one-year employment declines in the past century, past quarter of a century. And last week, we marked Black Women\u2019s Equal Pay Day, which indicates the amount of time that it takes a Black woman to earn equal her white counterparts since last year.\n\n\u201cAnalysis from the National Partnership for Women and Families found that women make up over half of workers that are in the most AI-vulnerable occupations, with women of color making up nearly a third of workers in AI-vulnerable jobs.\n\n\u201cDr. Heck, in your testimony, you focus on worker mobility. What can you share with us about how the economic mobility of women and people of color in the workforce might be impacted by AI.\u201d\n\nDr. Heck: \u201cI want to introduce a concept of adaptive capacity. It\u2019s this idea of how well any worker can weather an involuntary job loss. And so, in the moments where AI exposure does lead to job loss, not all workers can handle that to the same degree. Some workers will find it harder to see their skills transfer and to be able to weather out that financial storm.\n\n\u201cThe workers who are in gateway roles are often women and workers of color, and those are often among the most exposed roles. Women are 93% of secretaries and administrative assistants. 49% of customer service representatives are workers of color. Nearly half, 46% of Black women are earning median wages or higher are in gateway occupations.\n\n\u201cWe need to think about these pathways and how we can strengthen them and think about the new ones that we\u2019ll build alongside them.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/new-report-delaware-families-costs-up-3000-under-president-trump/", "NEW REPORT: Delaware families\u2019 costs up\u00a0$3,000\u00a0under President Trump", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Housing, groceries, gas, electricity, and health care have all become more expensive for Delawareans\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today highlighted a new report from the congressional Joint Economic Committee (JEC) which found that rising prices have cost the average Delaware household more than $3,000 since President Trump took office.\n\nThe JEC report found that President Trump\u2019s reckless tariffs, war of choice in Iran, and overall economic agenda have increased the cost of everyday essentials, despite his repeated campaign promises to \u201cend inflation on day one\u201d and lower prices. Nationally, the average household has spent more than $3,500 in additional costs under the Trump administration. With gas prices continuing to rise this week as a result of fighting in the Middle East and a new round of tariffs imposed by President Trump last week on 60 countries, it seems unlikely that Delawareans can expect relief any time soon.\n\n\u201cDelawareans work hard, but too many are struggling to afford essentials, and President Trump\u2019s policies are making the situation worse,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cIt\u2019s our job in Washington to make sure you and your family have the financial security you need to build a good life. Instead, through his disastrous tariffs, failed war in Iran, and brutal \u2018Big, Beautiful\u2019 budget bill, Delawareans are paying thousands of dollars more because of this administration. Instead of working on bringing costs down, President Trump has put himself and his ultra-wealthy donors ahead of Delaware families time and again.\u201d\n\nAccording to the JEC report, Delaware families have faced:\n\n$654 more in housing costs, including rent and mortgage payments, since President Trump took office\n\n$535 more for gasoline since the beginning of President Trump\u2019s war in Iran, with Delawareans collectively spending an additional $202 million at the pump\n\n$110 more for electricity in 2025 than in 2024, with families expected to spend another $101 more during the first six months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2024\n\n$310 more on groceries during President Trump\u2019s first year than in 2024.Basic household staples are especially pricey, including ground beef at more than $7 per pound and coffee at nearly $10 per pound\n\nIncreases in health care costs after President Trump and congressional Republicans refused to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits last year. Monthly premiums for ACA plans increased by more than 50% on average in 2026, while deductibles rose by more than $1,000 on average", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-blunt-rochester-bennet-reintroduce-bill-to-connect-workers-with-higher-wages/", "NEWS: Blunt Rochester, Bennet Reintroduce Bill to Connect Workers with Higher Wages", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "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 (D-Del.) and Michael Bennet(D-Colo.) reintroduced the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act to expand funding for evidence-based and innovative workforce development programs to ensure that workers have the skills needed to compete in a 21st-century economy.\n\n\u201cAs we address a changing economy and the widespread adoption of AI, we must ensure pathways to good jobs are available,\u201d said Blunt Rochester. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead the Better Jobs Through Evidence and Innovation Act to meet the moment by both investing in what works when it comes to workforce training and supporting the development of promising new strategies to prepare our future workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cI hear from veterans and single parents in Colorado who want to provide for themselves and their families but do not have the skills to earn a living wage,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cThey want to build sustainable careers that pay living wages, we have the programs to train them, and Colorado\u2019s economy needs the skills and talent they can provide. The last piece of the puzzle is to invest in the workforce training programs that are proven to create economic mobility for workers of every background.\u201d\n\nPrograms that upskill workers support long-term economic mobility for individuals, including those without a college degree. These programs are ready and able to serve workers and employers but remain severely underfunded. The Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act would establish the Workforce Development Innovation Fund in the U.S. Department of Labor to test and scale proven innovative strategies to improve employment outcomes for American workers.\n\nThe Workforce Development Innovation Fund would make three tiers of funding available to evidence-based employment and training programs that generate demonstrated, long-term economic improvements for jobseekers and employers, and produce high-quality evaluations of their effects.\n\n\u201cAmerica Forward applauds Senators Michael Bennet and Lisa Blunt Rochester for championing the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act, which would invest in evidence-based workforce development programs delivering real, long-term economic mobility for workers and employers in a rapidly-changing economy,\u201d said Deborah Smolover, Executive Director of America Forward. \u201cAs the pace of change in our labor market accelerates, this legislation ensures that the high-impact organizations driving economic mobility, many of which are members of the America Forward Coalition, have the support they need to grow and meet the evolving needs of workers and communities nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many Americans are completing workforce programs only to find themselves without a job or a path to higher earnings, and that\u2019s simply not good enough,\u201d said David Medina, co-founder and COO of Results for America. \u201cThe Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act would address this challenge by finding, funding and implementing workforce programs with proven track records of success, while continuing to build the evidence base for the next generation of solutions. We applaud Sens. Bennet and Blunt Rochester for their leadership in ensuring that workforce investments deliver real, measurable and lasting results for jobseekers and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Bennet\u2019s Better Jobs Through Evidence and Innovation Act represents exactly the approach our workforce development system urgently needs,\u201d said Roger Low, CEO & Founder of the Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative. \u201cBy creating a tiered evidence fund, the legislation directs limited federal upskilling and reskilling dollars toward the two priorities that matter most: building strong evidence of effectiveness across promising training and credentialing pathways, and scaling the approaches that work.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere are training programs across the country with a proven record of moving people into quality careers \u2014 and they could achieve so much more with additional investment. Senator Bennet\u2019s Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act would channel federal support to the models that work,\u201d said Plinio Ayala, CEO of Per Scholas. \u201cFor organizations like Per Scholas, that means reaching more learners, connecting employers with the skilled talent they need, and opening durable, demand-driven pathways to economic mobility.\u201d\n\nThis bill is supported by over 60 organizations: America Forward, Results for America, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, ActivateWork, Aliento Education Fund, Appetite For Change, AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation, Arnold Ventures, BluePrint Geneva, Inc., Braven, CEEMI, Center for Employment Opportunities, Chrysalis, Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, Colorado Succeeds, ConnectED Workforce, CrossPurpose, EDGE Partners, Education Partnerships Coalition of Minnesota, Elevate Teaching, FutureFit AI, Goodwill of Colorado, Jobs for the Future, Join FreeWorld Inc., JVS Bay Area, JVS Boston, Knowledge Alliance, LIFT Inc, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Main Street Youth & Family Services, Merit America, Metro Alliance of Career Readiness Organizations, National Association of Workforce Boards, National Skills Coalition, NPower, Oakland Promise, Opportunity@Work, Per Scholas, Project Evident, Project QUEST, Propel America, RecycleForce, Redefine Alliance, Second Chance Center, Servicios de La Raza, Servicios Sigue, STRIVE International, StriveTogether, TeamHWH, The Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, The Master\u2019s Apprentice, Third Sector, Third Way, United Way of Salt Lake, Vehicles for Change, Women\u2019s Bean Project, Workforce, Inc., Yakima Valley Partners for Education, Year Up United, YouthBuild Global, and YUPRO Placement.", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senators-blunt-rochester-coons-join-colleagues-in-introducing-resolution-to-uplift-disability-community-and-honor-36-years-of-the-ada/", "NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Coons Join Colleagues in Introducing Resolution to Uplift Disability Community and Honor 36 Years of the ADA", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) joined Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and 27 Senate Democratic colleagues in introducing a resolution ahead of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to honor the disability community, uplift the impact of the historic legislation, and call for continued commitment to increasing inclusivity and accessibility.\n\nThe Resolution recognizes: \u201cThe importance of independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities made possible by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and calling to protect the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities.\u201d\n\nIn the resolution, the Senators outline the ADA\u2019s long-success ensuring individuals with disabilities have the right to live, work, and participate as members of their communities and receive necessary care and support through access to Medicaid home and community-based services. The Senators condemn a June 18th Department of Justice opinion that has since threatened this hard-won progress toward full integration of individuals with disabilities into society and commit to working to stop attempts to dismantle the ADA.\n\n\u201cThe Americans with Disabilities Act represents the floor, not the ceiling, of efforts needed to dismantle barriers to full participation, equal opportunity, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities,\u201d reads the Resolution.\n\nIn addition to Coons, Blunt Rochester, and Kim, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Christopher Van Hollen (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).\n\nIt\u2019s been 36 years since the ADA was signed into law on July 26th, 1990:", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senators-blunt-rochester-justice-introduce-bill-to-support-farmers-faced-with-flood-risks/", "NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Justice Introduce Bill to Support Farmers Faced with Flood Risks", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "SenatorsBlunt Rochester, JusticeIntroduce Bill to Support FarmersFaced with Flood Risks\n\nCompanion Legislation was Introduced by Representatives Panetta, Feenstra in the House of Representatives\n\nToday, U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Jim Justice (R-W. Va.) were joined by Congressmen Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19) and Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa-04) to introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Farmers Lifeline Options for Overcoming Disasters Act, or the FLOOD Act. This legislation would help farmers place floodplain easements on their property to mitigate flooding before a weather event occurs.\n\nBy adding the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Emergency Watershed Program to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, this bill would increase access to resources for rural community members seeking to reduce the impact of flooding on their land through the purchase of voluntary easements.\n\n\u201cAs the lowest lying state in the nation, Delawareans know the risk of flooding all too well,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cOur farming communities are key to both our culture and economy. Which is why I\u2019m proud to introduce the FLOOD Act to ensure farmers in the First State and across the country have the resources they need to protect their properties, their crops, and their livelihoods.\u201d\n\n\u201cWest Virginia knows all too well the devastation that flooding can bring \u2013 tearing through communities, damaging homes, threatening farmers\u2019 livelihoods, and leaving families picking up the pieces. Farmers contend with the weather every day and face threats from natural disasters every year \u2013 putting their operations and way of life at risk. I\u2019m proud to join this legislation to help make sure that there are tools and resources available to safeguard lives, farms, and other property in watersheds from natural disasters, including floods,\u201d said Senator Jim Justice.\n\n\u201cMore farmers more often are facing devastating floods, which are the second-most damaging natural disaster to agricultural production worldwide,\u201d said Rep. Panetta. \u201cOur bipartisan, bicameral FLOOD Act would make it easier for farmers to create voluntary easements to mitigate future damage, restore native habitat, and produce the flood-compatible tools that they need to protect their livelihoods. That\u2019s the least that we can do in Congress as farmers continue to strengthen our food supply and keep putting food on America\u2019s tables.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepresenting one of the most rural congressional districts in the nation, I know firsthand how devastating floods and other natural disasters can be for our farmers and rural communities,\u201d said Rep. Feenstra. \u201cOur agricultural economy is the backbone of our country, and those communities deserve the resources they need not only to recover quickly, but to emerge stronger and more resilient after disaster strikes. I\u2019m proud to help lead this commonsense legislation to ensure the USDA can deliver timely assistance to disaster-impacted communities and support our farmers, small businesses, and rural communities when they need it most.\u201d\n\nThe FLOOD Act has been endorsed by the following organizations: The Nature Conservancy, American Rivers Action Fund, Delaware Department of Agriculture, Delaware Rural Water Association, National Association of Conservation Districts, American Floodplain Coalition, National Association of Counties, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, Farm Aid, American Sustainable Business Network, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Iowa Environmental Council, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Coastal Prairie Conservancy, Center for Rural Affairs, Socially Responsible Agriculture Project, Indiana Conservation Voters, Extreme Weather Survivor, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Choose Clean Water Coalition, Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the University of Delaware, and American Flood Coalition Action.\n\n\u201cThis legislation would create a commonsense, cost effective and proactive tool for reducing flood impacts before disaster strikes,\u201d said Jenny Conner, director of legislative affairs for The Nature Conservancy. \u201cCommunities across the country face growing flood risks and mounting recovery costs related to floods. The FLOOD Act would benefit American farmers, taxpayers, and local communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe thank Senators Jim Justice and Lisa Blunt Rochester and Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Randy Feenstra for introducing The FLOOD Act and recognizing the value of protecting both people and rivers through smart conservation investments,\u201d said Tom Kiernan, President, American Rivers Action Fund. \u201cFloodplain restoration and easements are proven tools that support landowners while conserving flood-prone land. These USDA programs store floodwaters, improve water quality, create wildlife habitat, and help rivers reconnect with their natural floodplains\u2014making communities more resilient to increasingly severe floods and storms.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll my life as a farmer, we as a nation have been unprepared for disasters that we know will happen, responding in an ad hoc manner with funding that is usually too little, too late,\u201d said Wm. Donald Clifton II, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture. \u201cFinancial assistance has been appreciated by those who received it, but it is rarely enough to fully mitigate the detrimental impact. Each time, a few farms fold under the financial pressure. We needed this bill decades ago. It is essential now and we should insist upon its passage.\u201d\n\n\u201cCounties play a critical role in building flood-resilient infrastructure across our nation\u2019s rural communities,\u201d said Matthew Chase, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties. \u201cThe FLOOD Act provides targeted technical assistance and financial support for watershed resilience and flood protection, helping county leaders better protect their communities. Counties urge Congress to swiftly pass this bipartisan legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cFarm Aid endorses The FLOOD Act because farmers and local governments need every available tool to respond to evolving environmental conditions and strengthen farm resilience,\u201d said Hank Tremblay, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Farm Aid. \u201cFarmers are increasingly impacted by more frequent and severe storms, and this legislation will help reduce flood risks and restore floodplains.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural communities, farmers, and local businesses are facing growing risks from flooding and aging infrastructure,\u201d said Liza LaManna, Manager of Agriculture and Water Policy, American Sustainable Business Network. \u201cThe FLOOD Act is a strong bipartisan step toward strengthening resilience, modernizing watershed infrastructure, and supporting economic opportunity in rural communities. American Sustainable Business Network supports investments that are good for businesses, farmers, and communities alike.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the U.S. faces increasing climate risks and more frequent extreme precipitation, communities need stronger tools to prepare for flooding,\u201d Jeff Diamond, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. \u201cWe strongly support The FLOOD Act because it provides states, local governments, Tribal Nations, and territories with the resources they need to strengthen flood resilience on an expedited timeline.\u201d \u2014\n\n\u201cIowa\u2019s rural communities and farmers are experiencing more frequent and intense flooding, increasing costs, reducing yields, and damaging critical infrastructure,\u201d said Cody Smith, Director of Climate Initiatives at the Iowa Environmental Council. \u201cThe FLOOD Act is a key step toward helping communities and farms better prepare for weather extremes through stronger planning, strategic infrastructure investments, and streamlined permitting.\u201d\n\n\u201cFlood warnings save lives, but they don\u2019t stop floods,\u201d Jennie Smith, Executive Director, West Virginia Rivers Coalition. \u201cThe FLOOD Act invests in proactive solutions\u2014restoring floodplains and strengthening watershed infrastructure before disaster strikes. That\u2019s a smarter, more cost-effective way to protect West Virginia\u2019s communities.\u201d \u2014\n\n\u201cFlood resilience begins long before floodwaters rise. Conserving and restoring natural floodplains and working landscapes reduces downstream flooding, improves water quality, supports agricultural productivity, and strengthens rural economies,\u201d Mary Anne Piacentini, President and CEO, Coastal Prairie Conservancy. \u201cThe Coastal Prairie Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust that has conserved more than 36,000 acres of wetlands coastal prairie, farms and ranches in southeast Texas, is pleased to support the bipartisan FLOOD Act and its emphasis on preventive, nature-based watershed solutions.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo build flood resiliency and help rural communities mitigate flooding, we must work directly with local farmers and landowners throughout a watershed,\u201d said Cynthia Farmer, Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) Iowa State Policy Manager. \u201cThat\u2019s why we support integrating Emergency Watershed Program measures into the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, giving producers more opportunities to implement projects that reduce flood risk and strengthen rural community preparedness.\u201d\n\n\u201cSocially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP) supports the FLOOD Act to encourage watershed resilience in regions with industrial livestock operations,\u201d said Cole Dickerson, Water Rangers Program Manager. \u201cFlooding that impacts CAFOs can cause significant negative downstream impacts to public health, the environment, personal property, and local economies. The FLOOD Act provides safeguards to support responsible watershed management that can mitigate these downstream impacts.\u201d\n\n\u201cIndiana\u2019s farmers manage nearly 14.6 million acres of farmland, and 94 percent of Indiana farms are family-owned or operated. These producers are on the front lines of flooding and extreme weather, and they need tools that help them recover while making their land and communities more resilient. Indiana already leads the nation in cover crop adoption, and voluntary floodplain and watershed solutions build on that conservation leadership to reduce disaster costs, protect water quality, conserve habitat, and keep Indiana\u2019s working lands productive,\u201d said Desi Rybolt, Conservation Policy Director of Indiana Conservation Voters. \u201cWe are proud to support this legislation because it offers a practical, cost-effective way to protect Indiana\u2019s farms, and families from flooding.\u201d\n\n\u201cFlooding and extreme weather are putting enormous strain on families, farmers, and taxpayers. By supporting voluntary flood mitigation, watershed restoration, and resilient land management, this bill helps communities reduce future damage instead of relying only on costly disaster recovery after the fact,\u201d said Chris Kocher, co-founder and co-executive director of Extreme Weather Survivors (EWS). \u201cExtreme Weather Survivors supports this legislation because investing in resilience is a practical, responsible way to protect people, property, and local economies.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen disasters strike, rural communities often wait months to begin recovery because the USDA disaster programs they depend on lack funding. That\u2019s why AFCA strongly supports the bipartisan, bicameral Farmers\u2019 Lifeline to Overcoming Disasters Act,\u201d said Julie Seger, FederalAdvocacy and Policy Director, American Flood Coalition Action (AFCA). \u201cWe thank Senators Blunt Rochester and Justice and Representatives Panetta and Feenstra for championing this important legislation to give USDA the ability to quickly get money to disaster-impacted communities to drive faster recoveries.\u201d\n\n\u201cRecent climatic events impacting agricultural production and fish and wildlife habitat conservation call for pragmatic solutions,\u201d said Taylor Schmitz, Senior VicePresidentand COO of the Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Foundation. \u201cVoluntary conservation easements provide significant benefits for fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, and flood mitigation. By including the Emergency Watershed Program as a covered program under the Farm Bill\u2019s increasingly important Regional Conservation Partnership Program, the bipartisan FLOOD Act will help expand these conservation efforts, and CSF commends this commonsense approach.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senators-blunt-rochester-sheehy-introduce-bill-to-expand-participation-in-ai-education-research-and-workforce/", "NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Sheehy Introduce Bill to Expand Participation in AI Education, Research, and Workforce", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "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 (D-Del.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), both members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, introduced the bipartisan Expanding AI Voices Act, which codifies and expands the National Science Foundation\u2019s ExpandAI program to help more institutions build AI research capacity. The legislation will broaden the range of institutions and communities involved in AI research and workforce development, including first-generation college students, Minority-serving Institutions (MSIs), and rural colleges and universities. The House companion is led by Representatives Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa).\n\n\u201cAI offers tremendous opportunities for our communities and economies, but as this technology changes the way we live, we must guarantee that our students and our workforce still have the chance to succeed,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the Expanding AI Voices Act alongside Senator Sheehy to ensure that no matter where we come from, we can all achieve our goals in the economy of the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s AI leadership depends on finding talent in every corner of the country. That\u2019s why I\u2019m introducing the Expanding AI Voices Act with Senator Blunt Rochester, which helps ensure students and researchers in Montana and other rural states have the opportunity to contribute to the future of AI innovation,\u201d said Senator Tim Sheehy. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation invests in people and institutions that have too often been overlooked, strengthens our workforce, and maintains America\u2019s competitive edge by supporting critical innovation. Let\u2019s get it done.\u201d\n\nThe Expanding AI Voices Act would:\n\nExpand AI research capacity by authorizing competitive NSF grants for emerging research institutions, including institutions outside the top 100 in federal R&D expenditures, Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and eligible institutional consortia.\n\nExpand AI research infrastructure by supporting access to advanced computing resources, high-speed networking, data facilities, and software engineering support needed to conduct cutting-edge AI research.\n\nBuild the AI workforce pipeline by supporting AI education, faculty recruitment and professional development, workforce training, and bridge programs that prepare students for graduate study and careers in artificial intelligence.\n\nAccelerate AI innovation through partnerships by fostering collaboration among colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, industry, Federal laboratories, state, local, and Tribal governments, and NSF AI Research Institutes.\n\nExpand opportunity nationwide by encouraging geographic diversity, supporting institutions with limited AI research capacity, and increasing opportunities for students\u2014including first-generation college students\u2014to participate in AI research and education.\n\nPromote safe, secure, and responsible AI by integrating safe, secure, and responsible AI practices and principles into AI education and workforce development programs.\n\nProtect Taxpayer Dollars by requiring NSF to ensure awards complement\u2014not duplicate\u2014existing federal AI research programs.\n\n\u201cIf we want to win the AI race, we can\u2019t rely on a small handful of schools and people. SeedAI has experienced this first-hand during our AI Across America tour \u2014 it\u2019s imperative that we go beyond the coasts and draw from the experiences and ingenuity of all Americans,\u201d said Austin Carson, Founder and CEO of SeedAI. \u201cThe Expanding AI Voices Act will help build the AI research capacity needed to make that a reality. SeedAI thanks Senator Blunt Rochester and Senator Sheehy for their bipartisan leadership to strengthen American competitiveness.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s AI economy is moving faster than our workforce can keep up, and that gap will only widen without action. The Expanding AI Voices Act, introduced by Sens. Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Sheehy (R-MT), meets that challenge head-on by giving students and teachers the tools to compete in an economy being reshaped by AI in real time. This bill also recognizes that opportunity shouldn\u2019t be limited to those who can already afford a foothold. Its focus on first-generation undergraduate students ensures the next generation of AI talent includes voices from every background. BPC Action applauds Sens. Blunt Rochester and Sheehy for their leadership and urges the Senate to move quickly to pass it,\u201d says Michele Stockwell, president, Bipartisan Policy Center Action.\n\n\u201cFor America to lead on AI, we need to expand the pipeline of talent that\u2019s fueling innovation,\u201d said ARI President Brad Carson. \u201cBy investing in education, research, and workforce development across a broader range of institutions and communities, the Expanding AI Voices Act helps ensure the future of AI is shaped by the full scope of American talent. It\u2019s exactly the kind of bipartisan, forward-looking policy the U.S. needs to maintain its edge in AI.\u201d\n\nThe Expanding AI Voices Act is endorsed by the American Mathematical Society, Americans for Responsible Innovation, Association of Community College Trustees, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Google, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Hispanic Health Foundation, SeedAI, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, IBM, Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), Thurgood Marshall College Fund.", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/statement-senator-blunt-rochester-opposes-trump-cdc-nominee/", "STATEMENT: Senator Blunt Rochester Opposes Trump CDC Nominee", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today released the following statement announcing her opposition to President Trump\u2019s most recent nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Erica Schwartz.\n\n\u201cWhile qualified on paper, Dr. Schwartz did not convince me that she would prioritize science and the health of Americans over the erratic whims of Secretary Kennedy and the Trump Administration.\n\n\u201cThis appointment could not come at a more important time. We are in the middle of the largest Measles spread in decades \u2013 including two cases in Delaware. Dangerous parasites are contaminating our food. Parents are unsure about what vaccines their children need, and flu shots are no longer mandatory for all our troops, reversing a policy that\u2019s been in place since WWII meant to secure our military readiness. We are over 500 days into the Trump administration, and we\u2019ve had a confirmed CDC director for a total of 29 days. We must get this right.", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-blumenthal-graham-colleagues-introduce-landmark-bipartisan-legislation-with-60-cosponsors-to-apply-greater-economic-pressure-on-russian-oil/", "Senator Coons, Blumenthal, Graham, colleagues introduce landmark bipartisan legislation with 60+ cosponsors to apply greater economic pressure on Russian oil", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Before he passed, Senator Lindsey Olin Graham (R-S.C.) championed an agreement with President Trump to employ critical sanctions against Russian allies\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Darlene Graham (R-S.C.), and more than 60 of their colleagues introduced the Senator Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 to apply greater economic pressure on enablers of Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine.\n\nU.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was a fierce advocate for the Ukrainian cause. Just this past week, Senator Coons attended the NATO summit with Senator Graham and a bipartisan delegation, where Lindsey had a breakthrough meeting with President Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He worked tirelessly with the White House to allow for a bill that imposed greater costs and sanctions on the buyers of Russian oil and gas. Lindsey first introduced a bill in April of 2025 to bring primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia\u2019s war of aggression in Ukraine. He spent the last year garnering support for his bill, which has been picked up with bipartisan effort to honor his service to our nation.\n\n\u201cUkraine is winning on the battlefield against Russian invaders, and there\u2019s much more the United States can do to strangle Russia\u2019s war machine without putting ourselves at risk. Curbing Russian revenue by sanctioning the foreign buyers of their oil that are keeping Russia\u2019s economy and military afloat will strengthen Ukraine, weaken Moscow, and hasten a just and lasting end to this war,\u201d said Senator Coons.\n\n\u201cUkraine is at a critical crossroads \u2014 and we must meet this pivotal moment with a powerful sanctions bill. As Ukraine turns the tide on the battlefield, our Russia sanctions bill would be historically impactful in stopping Russia\u2019s murderous slaughter,\u201d Senator Blumenthal said. \u201cWhen Senator Graham and I last spoke, he was absolutely exultant, calling from Kyiv with news that President Trump would support this bill to impose scorching tariffs and sanctions on purchasers of Russian oil and stop them from fueling Putin\u2019s war machine. Now is the time to push Russia toward peace. Ukraine is gaining net territory and reaching deep into Russia with its drones and missiles. Sanctions provide a path toward peace. Our bill is the product of lengthy, detailed, difficult bipartisan work, and now has broad bipartisan support. Passing this legislation right now would be a fitting tribute to Senator Graham\u2019s fierce support for Ukraine\u2019s freedom.\u201d\n\n\u201cUntil the very day he passed, Lindsey remained focused on passing the Russia sanctions bill. Passing this legislation would honor my brother\u2019s steadfast commitment to our national security and it would provide President Trump with additional leverage to bring this war to an end. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation and send it to President Trump\u2019s desk,\u201d said Senator Darline Graham.\n\nU.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was a fierce advocate for the Ukrainian cause. Just this past week, Senator Coons attended the NATO summit with Senator Graham and a bipartisan delegation, where Lindsey had a breakthrough meeting with President Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He worked tirelessly with the White House to allow for a bill that imposed greater costs and sanctions on the buyers of Russian oil and gas.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.); U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.); U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus; U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee; U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.); U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.); U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.); U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Chair of the Senate Banking Committee; U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine); U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Majority Whip; U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.); U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.); U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.); U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.); U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.); U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa); U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.); U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.); U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii); U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas); U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.); U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.); U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.); U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-Utah); U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.); U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska.); U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.); U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.); U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.); U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.); U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.); U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.); U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.); U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.); U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.); U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.); U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.); U.S. Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio); U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.); U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.); U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-W. Va.); U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.); U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas); U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.); U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.); U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska); U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.); U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.); U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.); U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.); U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.); U.S. Senator Alan Armstrong (R-Okla.); and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.).\n\nThe Sanctioning Russia Act would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine. The sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Russian Shadow Fleet.\n\nThe legislation also directs the president to impose up to 100 percent tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy the majority of Russian oil, gas, and enable Russian sanctions evasion. The new text limits these tariffs to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil and gas.\n\nRead a one-pager of the bill here.", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-budd-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-heighten-worldwide-nuclear-energy-cooperation/", "Senators\u00a0Coons, Budd introduce bipartisan legislation to heighten worldwide nuclear energy cooperation", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "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.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) introduced the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Act to codify the U.S. State Department\u2019s FIRST program advocating for the responsible deployment of civil nuclear energy around the world.\n\n\u201cNuclear energy is a source of clean and abundant power, and its growth in the U.S. and around the world will lower costs for consumers and combat climate change,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cRight now, too many nations that want to embrace nuclear power need to buy Chinese and Russian technology at huge cost, trapping them in debt. The United States should offer an alternative that keeps us on the cutting edge, strengthens our relationships around the world and keeps Americans safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe responsible development of civil nuclear energy, on an international scale, contributes to U.S. national security and bolsters our economy. The FIRST program has been a productive way for our nation to partner with good-faith actors who are building their nuclear arsenals, and continuing to leverage these public and private partnerships will help us advance our own energy dominance. Since North Carolina is a leader in next-generation nuclear technology, I am proud to partner with Senator Coons to bring this bipartisan solution forward and codify this program that will expand markets for our great innovators into law,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\nLaunched in 2019, the FIRST program has worked to leverage U.S. public-private partnerships and expand our nuclear energy programs to bolster the United States\u2019 position as a nuclear energy industry leader with partner countries. Currently, the State Department\u2019s FIRST program partners with over 50 countries that are working towards exploring civil nuclear energy solutions and looking to achieve energy security through small modular reactors. The program also helps establish sustainable financial partnerships that support reactor financing to avoid debt-trap influence. This bill will solidify the goals of the FIRST program as a priority for the Department of State to build a better, safer, and cleaner infrastructure for nuclear energy.\n\nThe FIRST ACT would:\n\nPromote responsible deployment of civil nuclear energy internationally\n\nAdvocate bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements and forums for civil nuclear energy projects\n\nEngage in diplomacy with partner governments prioritizing the highest safety, security, and nonproliferation standards\n\nProvide consultation to partner countries regarding best practices of licensing, legal, and regulatory frameworks\n\nSupply early-stage commercial project development support critical to launching United States commercial civil nuclear projects abroad\n\nCooperate with partner countries in the areas of training programs, technical resource sharing, and potential coordination of codes and standards\n\nIn addition to Senators Coons and Budd, the bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).\n\nThe FIRST Act is supported by the following organizations: NEI, ClearPath, BTI, and Third Way.\n\n\u201cA nuclear reactor is a hundred-year partnership, and America is ready to lead,\u201d said ClearPath Action CEO Jeremy Harrell.\u201dThe FIRST Act opens markets across allied nations, building the foundation for responsible reactor deployment and driving demand for American technology. We build the best reactors in the world, and this bill ensures that America, not China, writes the rules for the next generation of global nuclear deployment.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Breakthrough Institute commends Senators Budd and Coons for introducing the FIRST Act,\u201d said Dr. Adam Stein, director, nuclear energy innovation at the Breakthrough Institute. \u201cAs countries around the world make nuclear infrastructure decisions, the United States needs to be a durable, credible partner. The FIRST program has operated since 2021 through executive discretion alone. Placing FIRST in statute gives partner governments the certainty they need to choose American nuclear technology and signals that the United States is serious about competing in this market for the long term. It also codifies FIRST as an instrument of commercial statecraft as much as nonproliferation, mandating engagement on technology partnerships and nonproliferation equally. Strengthening U.S. leadership in nuclear energy deployment abroad and supporting the safe, secure expansion of nuclear power globally are a natural extension of the American nuclear industry\u2019s growth, and should be prioritized for energy security, clean energy goals, and national security alike. This legislation is a meaningful step in advancing American competitiveness in civil nuclear exports.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen the US partners with another country on nuclear energy exports, it represents a relationship that will last 100 years with huge economic and security commitments. Our international competitors are trying to secure those partnerships for themselves. In the face of that pressure, we commend Senator Coons and Senator Budd for introducing the FIRST Act. By strengthening the FIRST program, their legislation would ensure that American nuclear engagement is proactive, responsible, and durable,\u201dsaid Josh Freed, senior vice president for climate and energy, Third Way.\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-senators-coons-blunt-rochester-celebrate-nearly-1-million", "Rep. McBride, Senators Coons, Blunt Rochester Celebrate Nearly $1 Million Investment in Affordable Housing for Kent and Sussex Counties", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride and U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) celebrated a $940,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant for Milford Housing Development Corporation. The funding, awarded through the USDA Rural Development\u2019s 523 Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grant program, will support the construction of two dozen new, energy-efficient homes for low-income families in rural communities throughout Sussex and Kent Counties. Over a two-year period, the grant will help Milford Housing Development Corporation continue its self-help housing program and expand access to affordable homeownership in rural Delaware.\n\n\u201cEvery Delaware family deserves access to a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home,\u201d said U.S. Representative Sarah McBride. \u201cThis grant will help Milford Housing Development Corporation build 24 energy-efficient homes, continuing their work to make homeownership more attainable for working families in Kent and Sussex counties. I am proud to join Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester in celebrating this investment to expand affordable housing opportunities in rural Delaware, and I look forward to continuing to work together to bring down housing costs across our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cAffordable housing is about more than building homes, it\u2019s about creating opportunity. Thanks to this $940,000 investment, the Milford Housing Development Corporation will help more Delaware families realize the dream of homeownership in our rural communities,\u201d said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for USDA\u2019s continued partnership in creating safe, decent, affordable housing that strengthens neighborhoods, lowers energy costs, and builds a brighter future for the next generation.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood homes are the foundation of strong communities \u2014 because without a roof over your head, the promise of good-paying jobs and high-quality education are out of reach,\u201d said U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester. \u201cThat is why I\u2019m so excited for communities in Kent and Sussex Counties, who will be receiving two dozen new energy-efficient homes through this grant. Alongside Senator Coons and Representative McBride, I am committed to making housing more attainable and expanding opportunity for all Delawareans.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are incredibly grateful to continue our long-standing partnership with USDA Rural Development in expanding access to affordable homeownership opportunities\u201d said David Moore President/CEO Milford Housing Development Corporation. \u201cThrough the Self-Help Housing Program, individuals and families who might otherwise be unable to achieve homeownership invest their own \"sweat equity\" by working together to build not only their own homes, but also those of their neighbors. This unique approach fosters a strong sense of community while making homeownership attainable and affordable. Along the way, participants gain valuable construction experience, financial education, and the confidence needed to become successful, informed homeowners, creating lasting benefits for themselves, their families, and their communities\u201d.\n\nThis $940,000 investment represents an ongoing effort by Coons, Blunt Rochester, and McBride to secure more federal investment to address the cost-of-living crisis and to expand access to affordable housing opportunities, especially in rural and low-income areas across Delaware. Recently, the congressional delegation voted to pass the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in their respective chambers \u2013 the first comprehensive housing affordability bill to pass Congress in three decades. The congressional delegation will continue working to secure resources that increase housing supply, strengthen rural communities, and help more families achieve the stability of homeownership.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mcbride-hill-introduce-bipartisan-bill-expand-employment-opportunities", "Reps. McBride, Hill Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Ahead of the 36th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), U.S. Representatives Sarah McBride (D-Del.) and French Hill (R-Ark.) introduced the bipartisan Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act, legislation to help small businesses \u2014 in Delaware and across the country \u2014 hire people with disabilities, expanding access to employment, the dignity of work, and that opportunity to fully participate in our economy.\n\n\u201cEvery Delawarean deserves the opportunity to work and build a career with dignity, including people with disabilities,\u201d said Rep. McBride. \u201cBy equipping small businesses with the support they need to provide reasonable accommodations, this bipartisan legislation will empower more Delawareans with disabilities to enter and thrive in the workforce. Thirty-six years after the ADA became law, we have an opportunity to build on its legacy by ensuring all Delawareans can fully participate in our economy and our communities. I\u2019m glad to be partnering with Rep. Hill on this important legislation.\u201d\n\nUnder the ADA, employers with 15 or more employees are required to provide \u201creasonable accommodations\u201d to employees with disabilities. However, the cost of providing workplace accommodations \u2014 while essential to ADA compliance \u2014 is not explicitly covered under the Disabled Access Credit (DAC) in its current form.\n\nThe Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act would address this oversight by adding \"reasonable accommodations\" as a qualifying expenditure under the DAC. By expanding eligible expenses, the legislation would help small businesses provide the accommodations employees need while expanding access to employment opportunities for people with disabilities.\n\n\u201cWhen the ADA was passed, accessibility was largely limited to physical access, like ramps, elevators, and bathrooms,\u201d said Rep. Hill. \u201cToday, as more disabled Americans look to join the workforce, it means screen readers, adaptive software, and modified equipment that let people thrive in a modern workplace. This practical bill simply brings the spirit of the original law into the modern era. It gives employers a real incentive to provide the accommodations that matter today and gives more disabled Americans a genuine path into the workforce. I am pleased to work with Representative McBride on this commonsense solution.\"\n\nIn Delaware, small businesses make up 98% of the state\u2019s total businesses and are the backbone of the First State\u2019s economy. However, providing workplace accommodations comes with added costs, and many small businesses currently lack the resources to pay additional expenses. At a time when small business owners are already navigating workforce shortages and the impact of the administration\u2019s tariff policies, this legislation would help make providing \u201creasonable accommodations\u201d more affordable for small businesses while expanding employment opportunities for workers with disabilities.\n\nMcBride and Hill\u2019s legislation is endorsed by a broad coalition, including The Arc, American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), Autism Speaks, CEO Commission for Disability Employment, Chimes International, Easterseals National, Melwood Inc., National Down Syndrome Society, SourceAmerica, Community Legal Aid Society of Delaware, Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council, Easterseals Delaware, and the University of Delaware Center for Disability Studies.\n\n\"People with disabilities represent one of our nation's most underutilized talent pools, but for too long outdated policies have stood in the way of opportunity. That is why Melwood is proud to support the Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act, which offers a meaningful step toward removing barriers to employment and creating more inclusive workplaces that benefit all of us. By helping small businesses provide reasonable accommodations, this legislation opens more pathways to economic independence for people with disabilities who are ready to work, contribute, and strengthen our nation's workforce,\" said Larysa Kautz, President & CEO of Melwood.\n\n\u201cANCOR is grateful to Representatives McBride and Hill for their leadership in expanding the Disabled Access Credit (DAC), which supports small businesses to employ people with disabilities. By increasing the eligible expenses covered by this important tax credit, more small businesses will have the resources they need to make their workplaces accessible and meet the needs of today\u2019s workforce. Especially on the eve of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act becoming law, ANCOR is proud to support this important legislation that seeks to ensure the promise of community inclusion is a reality for workers with disabilities,\u201d said Barbara Merrill, ANCOR\u2019s chief executive officer.\n\n\u201cReasonable accommodations are more than an accessibility tool; they are a talent strategy. They unlock the full potential of the talent employers hire by ensuring employees have the resources they need to perform at their highest potential. The Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act helps small businesses invest in that talent, strengthening businesses, expanding employment opportunities, and growing our economy,\u201d said Rob Snow, Executive Director of the CEO Commission for Disability Employment.\n\n\u201cToo many people with disabilities who are ready and eager to work still face unnecessary barriers getting or keeping a job if they need reasonable accommodations for their disability, such as modified workplace rules, special technology, interpretation, or other supports. While making accessibility changes like these can greatly benefit both employers and workers, the upfront cost can be challenging for small businesses operating on tight margins to stay afloat. Modifying the Disabled Access Credit to include reasonable accommodations would be a significant extension of the benefits of the program for businesses and workers alike, helping employers attract and retain talented employees and expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In addition to helping to pay for necessary accommodations, giving businesses the flexibility to go beyond the minimum requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act is a practical, commonsense way to support successful outcomes for employers and workers and strengthen our economy by ensuring that workers with disabilities are fully included in the workforce. We thank Representative McBride for introducing this important legislation and for her leadership in advancing policies that promote equal opportunity for people with disabilities,\u201d said Marissa Band, Esq., Project Director of Disability Rights Delaware of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.\n\n\u201cAt Easterseals, we believe meaningful employment is key to independence, dignity, and community inclusion for people with disabilities. Small businesses have long been valued partners in creating employment opportunities, and this legislation will give them additional support to hire and accommodate even more talented individuals with disabilities. By expanding tax incentives for workplace accommodations, this bill removes barriers for employers while advancing a more inclusive workforce. We proudly support its passage,\" said Ken Sklenar, President/CEO of Easterseals Delaware & Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore.\n\n\u201cPeople with disabilities have the right to work, contribute, and succeed. Accessibility and reasonable accommodations are not expenses; they are investments in people, businesses, and stronger communities. The Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act recognizes that by helping small businesses offset the cost of accommodations, it will remove barriers to employment, expand opportunity, and strengthen our workforce. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council Thanks Representative McBride for introducing this important legislation and for her continued leadership in advancing policies that promote equal opportunity, economic inclusion, and a workforce where everyone has the chance to thrive,\u201d said Maitri Campbell, Chair of Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council Policy and Law Committee.\n\n\u201cGood workers don\u2019t come with a uniform set of needs. Rep. McBride\u2019s bill, the Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act, expands the disability access credit for small businesses and makes it possible for them to provide accommodations\u2014a modified telephone, alternate access to a computer, or a tablet that converts speech into text\u2014that result in an employee who thrives and returns long-lasting benefits to the business,\u201d said Dr. Beth Mineo, Director for the University of Delaware\u2019s Center for Disabilities Studies.\n\n\u201cAutistic people can and want to work, yet too many face employment barriers that don\u2019t reflect their skills, talents or desire to contribute. The Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act would help small businesses provide reasonable accommodations that can make workplaces more accessible and inclusive for employees with autism, while also helping employers meet their workforce needs. We are grateful to Representatives Sarah McBride and French Hill for championing this bipartisan legislation and moving us closer to the promise of the ADA: equal opportunity for all,\u201d said Keith Wargo, President and CEO of Autism Speaks.\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-blunt-rochester-slams-trump-administrations-repeal-of-temporary-protected-status-for-haitian-immigrants/", "ICYMI: Senator Blunt Rochester Slams Trump Administration\u2019s Repeal of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian Immigrants", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cDelaware is a state of neighbors, and we are losing neighbors.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today spoke on the Senate floor about the Trump administration\u2019s repeal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants. Following the Trump administration\u2019s decision to terminate TPS for Haitians, Senator Blunt Rochester has worked to reverse this policy. Yet, despite passing the House in a bipartisan fashion, Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s legislation, which she led with Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to extend TPS for Haitians, was blocked on the Senate floor.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks as delivered can be found here, and below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cLet me begin by thanking Senator Ed Markey for your leadership, for your compassion, for your brilliance on this issue, as well as the great Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who we are proud to have in the room today\u2026\n\n\u201cI think what we proposed here, that Congresswoman Pressley was able to pass in the House on a bipartisan basis. She was doing what we need to get done here in the Senate, and what we wanted to do was clear and simple. We wanted a bill that would extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants.\n\n\u201cWhy is that so important? TPS is a designation the Department of Homeland Security can give to a foreign country to indicate that it\u2019s unsafe for its citizens to return home. \u201cHome,\u201d They weren\u2019t fleeing here because they don\u2019t want to be home.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s unsafe, and there are many reasons that a country could receive this designation. Ongoing conflicts like a civil war or gang violence, a natural disaster like a hurricane or an earthquake, or temporary conditions like civil unrest.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, at this time, Haiti meets all three requirements. Yet, the Trump administration, with the help of the Supreme Court decision, as well as colleagues here, has decided to terminate TPS status for Haiti. This policy decision is driven by cruelty and xenophobia, and it has real consequences.\n\n\u201cThe decision to uproot your entire life and start again in a different country isn\u2019t something someone takes lightly. The reality for many Haitians is this: decades of corrupt governance was ended by a political assassination five years ago. The country has been in political turmoil ever since. Daily life is characterized by civil unrest, violence, kidnappings by armed gangs. On top of that, earthquakes and hurricanes have left the country with limited access to healthcare, food, and public services. There are real, tangible reasons that 350,000 Haitians have fled to the United States in pursuit of a better life. Real reasons, reasons that your own families could not withstand.\n\n\u201cIn my home state of Delaware, this is deeply personal. Delaware is called a state of neighbors, and over 5,000 of those neighbors are Haitian immigrants with TPS status, and at this moment, they are scared. They are terrified that they will lose their status and be unable to work, and ultimately be deported back to Haiti. Families are worried that they won\u2019t be able to make ends meet, or worse, be forcibly deported from a country they have grown to call home. These are real people with a real stake in the decisions that we make here in this body.\n\n\u201cPeople like Marie, who came to Delaware with her family when she was 12, her memories of growing up are full of Sundays spent at church, going to mass in the morning, spending the day with her family at the pastor\u2019s house, and then going back to afternoon service. Now an adult, Marie became one of the very first Haitian realtors in our state, where she helps families buy their first homes, establish roots, and get one step closer to the American dream.\n\n\u201cOr people like Anne. She received a deportation letter last April. Everyone in her family received the letter, including her one-year-old niece. Her one-year-old niece. Anne and her family fled to Delaware after a gang war broke out in Haiti following the assassination of the president in 2021. Receiving deportation letters left them depressed and scared. They were sent into a tailspin and faced a devastating choice. Do you stay here illegally? They don\u2019t want to do that. Do you stay here illegally? Do you try to figure it out and go back to a country with danger and chaos with a small child, or do you flee? As I said before, Delaware is a state of neighbors, and we are losing neighbors. Anne and her entire family have fled.\n\n\u201cNow, if the moral imperative doesn\u2019t convince you, I\u2019ll try the economic. Hundreds of thousands of Haitian TPS recipients are in our workforce. These are good, hardworking people. They work in healthcare and agriculture. They are small business owners, realtors, pastors, and more. They are necessary contributors to our economy.\n\n\u201cThey provide over 800 million dollars in taxes every year and generate over $5.9 billion for our economy. The loss of Haitian TPS workforce would impact and cause harm to multiple industries, from the ag sector to education to healthcare, including nursing homes, hospitals, and senior centers. My office has already heard reports from private employers who are being forced to let these employees go, whose authorizations are tied to TPS.\n\n\u201cToday, we had a chance to set things right. We had a chance to extend these protections to our Haitian neighbors. We had a chance to do the right thing. But I\u2019m here to tell you, yes, elections have consequences, and people are watching, and we\u2019re not giving up.\n\n\u201cThank you to all of the individuals who are supporting these families. Thank you to our staff who are receiving the phone calls. Thank you to the pastors who are praying. Thank you to all who are fighting for our neighbors. As I said, we won\u2019t give up, and I yield back.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-secures-wins-for-nursing-workforce-in-help-committee-markup/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester\u00a0Secures Wins for\u00a0Nursing Workforce\u00a0in\u00a0HELP Committee\u00a0Markup", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThis is a great day for nurses in this country.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.),a member of the Senate Committee onHealth, Education,Labor, and Pensions, today participated in Committee Executive Session to consider key health legislation. Senator Blunt Rochester offered portions of her National Nursing Workforce Center Act as amendments to the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 and the EMPOWER for Health Act.\n\nThe amendments create a 3-year pilot program to support state nursing workforce centers and enable the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a federal nursing-focused Health Workforce Research Center. The amendments were both adopted.\n\nAn excerpt of Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks can be found here and below:\n\nSenator BluntRochester: \u201cThank you to my colleagues who have worked with us on this legislation. I\u2019ve been working on this bill since we were in the House, and it stemmed from what we saw during the pandemic and the impact on our nurses. So, to be able to see us move forward with this, it is a great day for nurses in this country.\n\n\u201cMy amendment to Title Seven is a commonsense fix that would give HRSA the clear authority to establish a federal nursing focus research center, something they are currently prohibited from doing. This would ensure consistent federal data collection on the nursing workforce, data which will help policymakers and healthcare leaders create strategies for alleviating the nursing workforce shortage.\n\n\u201cAs I said before, we have bipartisan, bicameral support and support from others across our country. The nurse supply and demand in the United States has always moved in cycles, but we haven\u2019t been able to see the changes coming, and what we want to do with this amendment is fix that. And so, again, thank you so much for the support of my colleagues, and again, we salute our nurses in this country. Thank you, and I yield back.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-release-rep-mcbride-presses-un-ambassador-trumps-broken-promise-end-war", "VIDEO RELEASE: Rep. McBride Presses U.N. Ambassador on Trump's Broken Promise to End the War in Ukraine", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, questioned U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz about President Trump's repeated promise to end Russia's unjustified war in Ukraine on day one, highlighting how the administration has failed to deliver and pressing him on U.S. votes at the United Nations.\n\nRep. McBride's full exchange with Ambassador Waltz can be found here. Key excerpts are below.\n\nOn Trump\u2019s Broken Promise to End the War in Ukraine:\n\nRep. McBride: \u201cWe are well over four years into a war Vladimir Putin started by invading Ukraine. And during the course of the 2024 election, the president promised at least 53 times to end the war on or before day one. On January 20th, 2025 as the sun set and the president pardoned more than a thousand January 6th insurrectionists, when the sun set, the president failed to deliver on his promise that he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Ambassador Waltz, why did the president fail to deliver on his promise to end the war?\n\nAmbassador Waltz: \u201cThe president is doing everything he can to end the war. To date, neither Vladimir Putin with Russia or President Zelensky has seen fit to enter into the final deal. However, the president has put significant pressure \u2013 this administration \u2013 by sanctioning Lukoil, by sanctioning Rosneft, and is doing everything he can to stop the killing.\u201d\n\nRep. McBride: \u201cSo I guess we're in agreement 538 days into the administration that the president has not delivered on his promise that he made at least 53 times during the course of the campaign to end the war on day one.\u201d\n\nAmbassador Waltz: \u201cThe president has found, despite incredible efforts from him and his team, to be a very frustrating effort\u2026\u201d\n\nRep. McBride: \u201cWell, maybe he shouldn't have made those grandiose promises.\u201d\n\nOn U.S. Votes at the United Nations on Ukraine:\n\nRep. McBride: \u201c\u2026On February 24th, a month after the president failed to deliver on that promise, U.S. representatives at the United Nations voted no on a resolution advancing a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine. Earlier today, Representative Titus brought up this vote, and you incorrectly stated that the U.S. abstained from voting on the February 2025 resolution. That's not true. The U.S. voted no alongside Russia, Belarus, and North Korea. Really, really great company. Would you like to correct the record that the U.S. indeed voted no?\u201d\n\nAmbassador Waltz: \u201cI understood and perhaps I misunderstood her to be talking about a General Assembly resolution just this past summer where the United States abstained.\u201d\n\nRep. McBride: \u201cMy understanding, the words that she specifically used\u2026was referring to the February 2025 resolution, which the U.S. did indeed vote no on. Then on February 18, 2026, over a year after President Trump failed to deliver on his promise to end the war on day one, U.S. representation at the U.N. under your leadership refused to vote on a resolution expressing support for lasting peace in Ukraine. Ambassador, I'm curious why the United States is scared to call out and stand up to Vladimir Putin at the United Nations?\u201d\n\nAmbassador Waltz: \u201cThe United States, under this administration, has put more pressure on Russia to come to the table. Their economy is reflective of that, and this administration sanctioned their top two oil producers and the dark fleet, not the last administration.\u201d\n\nRep. McBride: \u201cWell, they're now getting more money because of the Strait of Hormuz, but that's neither here nor there. Why did the United States vote no and refuse to vote to denounce Vladimir Putin's illegal war in Ukraine?\u201d\n\nAmbassador Waltz: \u201cI'll have to come back to record that prior vote was obviously before my time, so I'll have to look at the wording and the resolution\u2026\u201d\n\nRep. McBride: \u201cApparently, the only other countries that objected to any of the specific language in that resolution, at least in February 2025, were Belarus, North Korea, and Russia. So not very good company\u2026\u201d\n\nAmbassador Waltz: \u201cMy memory is we were shifting to a more neutral mediator position. As we try to end this war unlike the ill-defined victory so-called of the last one\u2026\u201d\n\nRep. McBride: \u201cA strategy that did not work, has not worked\u2026\u201d\n\nAmbassador Waltz: \u201cHas worked a lot better than the last administration's.\u201d\n\nRep. McBride: \u201cWell, I don't think that that's true.\u201d\n\nAmbassador Waltz: \u201cThey\u2019re at least in the room talking which is the art of diplomacy.\u201d\n\nRep. McBride: \u201cThere was a photo op in Alaska that the president gave Vladimir Putin, and I think these votes\u2026no votes, only send a message to Vladimir Putin that we are not there.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-discusses-the-future-of-quantum-emerging-technologies/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Discusses the Future of Quantum, Emerging Technologies", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThis connects to our ability to be competitive.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness, today participated in a hearing on the United States\u2019 scientific advancement and global competitiveness. Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s questions focused on emerging technologies, like quantum computing, and how it will enable new research and workforce opportunities.\n\nWitnesses Include:\n\nThe Honorable Walter Copan, Vice President Emeritus for Research and Technology Transfer, Colorado School of Mines\n\nDr. Drew Endy, Director of Bio-Strategy and Leadership, Hoover Institution\n\nDr. Robert Atkinson, Founder and Senior Fellow, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation\n\nDr. Julia Phillips, Member, Board of Trustees, Oregon State University\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks can be found here, and a key excerpt can be found below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cDelaware is also home to a world-class biopharmaceutical industry, and our University of Delaware\u2019s National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, also known as NIIMBL. So, I\u2019m particularly interested in the technologies that will shape the future of biotechnology and biomanufacturing. From your perspective, what advances in sensing, measurement, or instrumentation will empower the U.S. to better compete in biological research and biomanufacturing over the next decade?\u201d\n\nDr. Endy: \u201cWe have to get better at measuring biology, modeling biology, and making biology, tinkering, and testing and prototyping, measure, model, make\u2014all of those are of paramount importance. The challenge we\u2019ve got, and it\u2019s a particular challenge for a democratic society, is that everybody wants the applications of biology delivered right away, because the applications are so urgent, starting with human health and disease. Because of that, we risk underinvesting in the foundational tools that make it easier to measure biology, make sense of it, model it, represent it, and try the new thing, right? And we need a whole investment across the portfolio of tooling, right? And whoever holds those\u2014the reason Silicon Valley sustains a technology lead is not only because of our venture capital community; it\u2019s because we have a culture of tool developers who are always developing the next generation of better tools for prototyping, testing, and making sense. If we do not have world-leading tools, we will have no chance of being world-leading.\u201d\n\n###\n\nSenator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate, where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-leads-entire-senate-democratic-caucus-in-resolution-recognizing-black-womens-equal-pay-day/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester\u00a0Leads\u00a0Entire Senate Democratic Caucus\u00a0in Resolution Recognizing Black Women\u2019s Equal Pay Day", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) led all 47 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus in introducing a resolution honoring Black Women\u2019s Equal Pay Day. In the United States, Black women in the workforce are paid just 63cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men. If current trends continue, Black women will wait nearly 200 years to achieve equal pay. The House companion resolution is led by Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12).\n\n\u201cEven in the \u2018land of opportunity,\u2019 Black women must work 55 percent longer to achieve the same earnings as white men,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cThis resolution sheds light on the challenges facing minority communities across the country and reaffirms our commitment to closing the pay gaps. I\u2019m proud to see all my Senate Democratic colleagues join me in making a concerted effort to improve the quality of life and economic power of Black women everywhere.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, we confront an unacceptable wage disparity facing Black women, and recommit ourselves to correcting it,\u201d said Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Ranking Member, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. \u201cFor generations, Black women have been compelled to work twice as hard for half the reward. They have faced entrenched barriers, systemic discrimination, and a persistent denial of opportunity. We cannot ask another generation of Black women to wait months, even years, for the pay they rightfully deserve. I am proud to introduce this resolution, and I call on this Congress to act with the urgency this injustice demands.\u201d\n\nTo better understand the economic well-being of Black women, Senator Blunt Rochester will be requesting a study from the Government Accountability Office on how federal workforce programs support opportunities for Black women. Additionally, Blunt Rochester continues to champion policies to improve Black women\u2019s economic well-being through various means:\n\nIntroduced a suite of bills to improve Black maternal health.\n\nCo-led a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to investigate its decision to end the collection of EEO-1 data, which includes an employee\u2019s job category, race, and sex, and is used to enforce workplace discrimination laws.\n\nCo-led the Working Women\u2019s Bill of Rights, which recognizes Congress\u2019s obligation to address recent executive and administrative actions that have caused disproportionate harm to women\u2019s workplace rights, freedoms, and protections, by safeguarding workers from unequal treatment.\n\nPassed five bills in the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which will improve Black women\u2019s access to affordable housing.\n\nLed the TIKES Act, ENACT Act, and Data Mapping to Save Moms\u2019 Lives Act, which have passed into law. These bills improve Black women\u2019s access to proper healthcare treatment options.\n\nCosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act to increase economic mobility for working women.\n\nCosponsored the American Family Act to expand the child tax credit and increase opportunity for families.\n\nThe following organizations have endorsed Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s resolution: A Better Balance, AFL-CIO, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Arab American Family Services, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Clearinghouse on Women\u2019s Issues Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, Equal Rights Advocates, ERA Coalition, Family Values @ Work, Feminist Majority Foundation, FL National Organization for Women, Gender Equality Law Center, Gender Justice, Greater Orlando National Organization for Women, Institute for Women\u2019s Policy Research, Justice for Migrant Women, Legal Momentum, the Women\u2019s Legal Defense & Education Fund, MANA, A National Latina Organization, Minnesota Indian Women\u2019s Resource Center, Mississippi Black Women\u2019s Roundtable, MomsRising, NAACP, National Action Network, National Asian Pacific American Women\u2019s Forum, National Black Worker Center, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation\u2019s Black Women\u2019s Roundtable, National Council of Jewish Women, National Council of Negro Women, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, National Organization for Women (NOW), National Partnership for Women & Families, National Urban League, National Women\u2019s Law Center Action Fund, Oxfam America, Public Justice Center, Saving Ourselves Foundation, Ujima, The National Center on Violence Against, Women in the Black Community, Women Employed.\n\nThe full text of the resolution can be found HERE.\n\n###\n\nSenator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate, where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-murkowski-representatives-peters-salazar-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-reinforce-federal-response-to-climate-hazards/", "Senators\u00a0Coons, Murkowski,\u00a0Representatives\u00a0Peters, Salazar reintroduce bipartisan bill to reinforce federal response to climate hazards", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "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.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Scott Peters (D-Calif.), and Mar\u00eda Salazar (R-Fla.) reintroduce the National Coordination on Resilience for Security (NCRS) Act of 2026. The NCRS Act establishes a federal response to climate hazards that threaten communities, businesses, and national security.\n\n\u201cWe can\u2019t leave Americans to face extreme weather events \u2013 from winter storms to weeks of record-high heat \u2013 alone,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cAs the lowest-lying state in the nation, Delaware is no stranger to how climate change can impact homes and businesses. This bill will create a national, coordinated strategy to bring together government and the private sector to protect communities, our economy, and our national security from the potentially devastating effects of climate change.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaskan communities continue to face an increasing number of damaging natural disasters, including catastrophic flooding, coastal erosion, severe storms, landslides, wildfires, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and permafrost thaw. Over the past year alone, communities across our state have endured multiple disasters that damaged critical infrastructure, disrupted essential services, and put lives at risk,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cI\u2019m glad to once again partner on bipartisan, bi-cameral legislation to develop and implement a unified National Resilience Strategy, with input from federal, state, Tribal, local, and private-sector partners. Alaska\u2019s unique geography and exposure to every type of natural hazard underscore the need for a coordinated federal approach that helps communities prepare for, adapt to, and recover from disasters more effectively.\u201d\n\n\u201cSan Diegans know first-hand the consequences of climate change, from destructive wildfires and prolonged drought to dangerous heat waves and rising seas that threaten our coastline. My constituents can\u2019t afford more delays,\u201d Representative Peters said. \u201cThe NCRS Act would streamline resources, improve coordination, and hold agencies accountable so we can better prepare for and respond to the growing climate threats our communities face. I\u2019m glad to once again have bicameral, bipartisan support as we move this commonsense legislation forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cMiami is ground zero for rising waters, and our neighborhoods cannot afford more delay. Every year we wait to plan for natural disasters, the costs go up and the damage gets worse,\u201d said Representative Salazar. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to co-lead the National Coordination on Resilience for Security (NCRS) Act. This legislation will help us build stronger infrastructure, improve coordination across the federal government, and keep our people safe for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe NCRS Act would:\n\nImplement a national adaptation and resilience strategy and an implementation plan with federal, state, local, private sector, and non-profit partners\n\nEstablish a Chief Resilience Officer in the White House to enforce the plan\n\nCreate interagency working groups to streamline efforts and ensure accountability\n\nInstitute a federal information hub to streamline resilience resources to communities\n\nThis legislation is in response to the increasing prominence of weather-related catastrophes in Delaware and across the nation. Since 1980, Delaware has recorded 35 climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion dollars each.\n\nIn the United States, a reported $217.8 billion was spent in 2024 responding to natural disaster damages. 2024 was the 14th consecutive year with 10 or more separate billion-dollar-related disaster events. As the climate crisis continues, these numbers are only expected to continue rising.\n\nAccording to FEMA, each dollar invested in resilience saves roughly six dollars when disaster strikes. Delaware\u2019s shorelines are especially vulnerable to slow-onset climate hazards like sea level rising and coastal floodings. Especially during the summer months, we must be prepared to respond to weather-related disasters.\n\nSenator Coons has been a stark advocate for making Delaware a hub of new, clean energy technology that will create jobs and keep costs down for families while reducing emissions. In 2023, Senator Coons secured $750 million for the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub that produces cleaner and cheaper energy for Delaware. Senator Coons also founded the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation in 2022 to accelerate innovative clean energy technology to combat the climate crisis.\n\nThis bill was also introduced in 2023 and 2022.\n\nThe bill is supported by the Woodwell Climate Research Center, the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, the American Flood Coalition Action, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, the American Public Works Association (APWA), the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, City Parks Alliance, the Environmental Council of the States, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Federation of American Scientists, the Geos Institute, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the International Code Council, Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, the National Association of Counties, the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the National Recreation and Park Association, the Reinsurance Association of America, Taxpayers for Common Sense, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), The Pew Charitable Trusts, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Union of Concerned Scientists, World Wildlife Fund.\n\nRead a one-pager of the bill here.\n\nRead a section-by-section summary of the bill here.", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-marks-anniversary-congressman-john-lewis-passing-call-defend", "Rep. McBride Marks Anniversary of Congressman John Lewis' Passing with Call to Defend Voting Rights and Democracy", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 This week, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) took to the House floor to commemorate the sixth anniversary of Congressman John Lewis' passing, honoring the civil rights icon's legacy. In her remarks, Rep. McBride urged Congress to continue the fight to protect voting rights and strengthen American democracy amid renewed efforts to disenfranchise Americans.\n\nA video of Rep. McBride's remarks is available here. The full transcript of her speech as delivered is below:\n\nMr. Speaker,\n\nI rise today to mark both the anniversary of a profound loss and the reminder it serves at this moment in our nation\u2019s story.\n\nSix years ago, Congressman John Lewis passed away. A titan of the Civil Rights Movement who worked tirelessly to deliver justice, expand equality, and secure the right to vote for every American \u2014 including Black Americans.\n\nToday, however, we are navigating a moment where the work he devoted his life to is increasingly under threat. We have seen executive actions that would make it harder for Americans to vote. We have witnessed renewed attempts to undermine confidence in our elections and intimidate those who administer them.\n\nRight now, in this very Congress, we are facing a renewed push to establish what amounts to a modern day poll tax on Americans.\n\nMost recently, the Supreme Court has facilitated the dismantling of Black political representation in this chamber and greenlit racial discrimination in voting, so long as the proponents simply say it\u2019s for \u2018partisan purposes.\u2019\n\nCongressman Lewis often spoke of his hopefulness for the future, because he was adamant that tomorrow could be better and more just than today.\n\nIt is our job to pick up that mantle and continue that work.\n\nIn 2020, while commemorating the anniversary of Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Congressman Lewis reminded us of his important rallying call: to get into what he called \u201cgood trouble\u201d to help redeem the soul of America.\n\nThroughout his miraculous life, he never lost faith in the central ingredient of change \u2014 the necessary foundation of democracy, his belief in the capacity for other people to change and, therefore, for our country to change.\n\nHe reminds us that hope is not reserved for moments when progress feels inevitable or easily attainable \u2014 we must harness it, most especially, in moments like this one: when the reasons for hopelessness seem greatest, that is when the legacy of \u2018good trouble, necessary trouble\u2019 is most essential.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-statement-on-president-trumps-oval-office-address/", "Senator Coons statement on President Trump\u2019s Oval Office address", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WILMINGTON, Del. \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) put out the following statement in response to President Trump\u2019s prime time speech:\n\n\u201cTonight\u2019s address from President Trump was a tantrum of sinister innuendo, conspiracy theories, and misdirection. Americans who tuned in tonight heard no new concrete or proven claims about foreign interference in our elections. There is unanimous agreement within the intelligence community that foreign adversaries did not succeed in interfering with the vote in the 2020 election. President Trump and his allies have filed dozens of lawsuits, launched countless investigations, and even sparked an insurrection to try to find voter fraud in the 2020 election. They have failed to do so every single time because none exists.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, these lies are no longer about one election President Trump lost six years ago. Since retaking the White House, President Trump has moved National Guard troops into our cities, repeatedly floated the possibility of deploying ICE agents at polling locations, and said the Postal Service won\u2019t deliver mail-in ballots in states that don\u2019t turn over sensitive information to his administration. Tonight\u2019s speech is his latest effort to exert partisan control over the 2026 elections because he knows Republicans can\u2019t win on their own record.\n\n\u201cShould President Trump try to interfere in November\u2019s election through illegal, un-American means, I believe he will fail. I will support every effort to defend our democracy, and I will not stop working to ensure every eligible vote will be counted.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-lankford-introduce-bill-to-help-unemployed-workers-start-small-businesses/", "Senators Coons, Lankford introduce bill to help unemployed workers start small businesses", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "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.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Jon Husted (R-Ohio) introduced the New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency (NO BOSS) Act today, legislation that would modernize the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program so that laid off workers can more easily receive their normal unemployment insurance even while working full-time to start a new business.\n\nArtificial intelligence will likely reshape America\u2019s economy and disrupt or displace jobs across many sectors. However, even as AI is expected to contribute to job losses, it will also lower barriers to entrepreneurship, making it easier than ever for workers to start a small business. The NO BOSS Act would ensure that workers experiencing a job transition don\u2019t have to sacrifice their unemployment insurance payments to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.\n\nCurrent law allows states to operate SEA programs, which allow eligible unemployment insurance beneficiaries to continue receiving benefits while working full-time to launch a business rather than searching for traditional employment. However, outdated federal rules unnecessarily limit who can participate, leaving fewer workers with a meaningful opportunity to choose business ownership over traditional employment.\n\n\u201cEvery small business began with someone taking a chance on a new idea, and new AI tools will make it easier than ever to turn those ideas into business plans, sales, and storefronts,\u201dsaid Senator Coons. \u201cAmericans shouldn\u2019t have to choose between the safety net of unemployment benefits that they\u2019ve paid into and the all-American opportunity to chase their entrepreneurial dream. As artificial intelligence reshapes the nature of work, this bill will help support American entrepreneurs, keep food on families\u2019 tables, lift up small businesses, and keep our economy strong.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf you lose your job, the government shouldn\u2019t tell you the only way forward is to go work for somebody else. Some folks have a business idea they\u2019ve been dreaming about for years, and losing a job might be the push to finally chase it. Right now, an outdated federal rule forces people on unemployment to spend their time applying for jobs they don\u2019t want instead of building the business they do want. Our bill fixes that. If you\u2019re willing to put in the work to start a business, hire your neighbors, and build something in your community, we should cheer you on, not stand in your way,\u201d said Senator Lankford.\n\nThe NO BOSS Act would update the SEA program by:\n\nCreating new opportunities for unemployment insurance beneficiaries and encouraging small business formation\n\nEliminating the requirement that SEA beneficiaries must be \u201clikely to exhaust benefits,\u201d which implies the program can only be used by workers unlikely to find another job\n\nClarifying that developing a business plan and conducting market feasibility studies count as entrepreneurship work\n\nMaking it easier for more states to establish SEA programs modeled on the most successful state programs\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the Center for American Entrepreneurship, the Foundation for American Innovation, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, the R Street Institute, Shopify, Block, the Bipartisan Policy Center Action, and the Coalition to Protect America\u2019s Small Sellers.\n\n\u201cMore Americans want to build something of their own than ever before, but too many can\u2019t get past the cost and red tape of just starting. That\u2019s the real shame, because 90% of entrepreneurs say they\u2019d do it again if given the choice. The NO BOSS Act would tear down the hurdles standing between people and their ideas, making entrepreneurship a real choice for anyone, not just the ones who already have a safety net,\u201d said Alexandra Clark, Shopify vice president of public affairs.\n\n\u201cThe American economy continues to evolve rapidly. According to our research on the Rise of the Modern Earner Economy, approximately a third of Americans \u2013 117 million people \u2013 are now earning income from multiple sources, and a growing number of adults, especially younger, Gen Z workers, are seeking out opportunities to become independent entrepreneurs. At Block, we\u2019re committed to understanding the needs of modern earners and creating tools to help underserved populations achieve success in today\u2019s vibrant economy. We\u2019re proud to support the bipartisan NO BOSS Act, as it\u2019s a desperately needed step to help ensure federal policy keeps pace with changing realities for the American worker,\u201d said Melissa Netram, US public policy and government affairs, Block.\n\n\u201cNew business filings and interest remain healthy, but Congress can help turn more of these entrepreneurial intentions into business launches by advancing practical reforms and measures that provide support to individuals through the transition period and time it takes to get a business off the ground. The NO BOSS Act provides such support,\u201d said Karen Kerrigan, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council president & CEO.\n\n\u201cEntrepreneurs and the new businesses they launch are disproportionately responsible for the innovations that drive economic growth and account for virtually all net new job creation,\u201d said John Dearie, president of the Center for American Entrepreneurship. \u201cThe NO BOSS Act will improve and modernize UI by leveraging the power of entrepreneurship. The bill is a powerfully pro-innovation and pro-entrepreneurship reform to an important aspect of America\u2019s employment policy apparatus. CAE thanks Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and James Lankford (R-OK) for their leadership and looks forward to working with them to ensure swift passage of the legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe NO BOSS Act is a commonsense proposal that empowers workers, improves our social safety net, and creates new opportunities. While self-employment rates and business start up rates remain lower than they were 30 years ago, the post-pandemic period has seen a movement towards more people pursuing their dreams and starting new businesses. This proposal can help the nation continue this positive momentum. The R Street Institute is pleased to support it,\u201d said Eli Lehrer, R Street Institute president.\n\n\u201cIt has never been easier for one person with a good idea to start a business \u2013 but outdated restrictions still stand in the way. The NO BOSS Act removes these obstacles so more Americans can work for themselves,\u201d said Luke Hogg, Foundation for American Innovation senior fellow.", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-questions-acting-director-vought-on-cuts-to-cfpb-impacts-on-consumer-protection/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Questions Acting Director Vought on Cuts to CFPB, Impacts on Consumer Protection", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThis is supposed to be a watchdog agency. People should be able to go there and find information that helps them.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s Remarks\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today questioned Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Russell Vought, on the Trump administration\u2019s cuts to the Bureau and potential impacts on consumers. Acting Director Vought has attempted to cut CFPB staff capacity by over 50 percent and has paused much of the Bureau\u2019s ongoing rulemaking and enforcement activity.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester focused her questions on efforts to protect servicemembers from predatory lenders, cuts to guidance that improves background screening, and limitations to consumer protection.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks can be found here, and a key excerpt can be found below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cIs a Military Lending Act violation against an active-duty service member actual consumer harm by your definition?\u201d\n\nActing Director Vought: \u201cOf course and we prioritize it in our guidance.\u201d\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cCan you tell me, since you\u2019ve been in the position, has the enforcement increased, decreased, or stayed the same?\u201d\n\nActing Director Vought: \u201cWell, it\u2019s specific in terms of enforcement versus supervision and how we deal with \u2014 We take it very seriously.\u201d\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cYou say you take it seriously. It\u2019s in your humility pledge. Has it increased, decreased, or stayed the same since you\u2019ve been there?\u201d", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-champions-water-affordability-program-as-senate-considers-key-water-resources-infrastructure-bills/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Champions Water Affordability Program as Senate Considers Key Water Resources, Infrastructure Bills", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThere\u2019s no question that clean, safe, reliable, and affordable water is a basic right and is essential to public health.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today participated in a Committee Business Meeting to consider the Water Resources Development Act. Senators Blunt Rochester and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) discussed the need for a program to expand affordable drinking water access.\n\nThe Water Resources Development Act passed out of committee with unanimous support.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks can be found here and below:\n\n\u201cWhile I support this legislation wholeheartedly, I think there is an area where it falls short, and that is meeting our country\u2019s growing affordability crisis. Americans are seeing higher costs everywhere, from the gas pump to housing, and they shouldn\u2019t have to choose between their groceries and utility bills.\n\n\u201cThis is why Senator Padilla and I, with the support of utilities and community organizations, have been working on [a] water affordability program modeled after the highly successful LIHEAP program.\n\n\u201cWater affordability has been a mounting crisis for years, and it\u2019s only getting worse. From aging infrastructure to higher operational cost, water rates are skyrocketing, and Americans are struggling to pay their bills. This water affordability program would provide much-needed relief to families and give our water utilities the reliable revenue stream they need for regular maintenance.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no question that clean, safe, reliable, and affordable water is a basic right and is essential to public health. Chairman Capito, I hope that you will continue to work with me and Senator Padilla on this very important effort, and I yield the remaining of my time to my colleague and partner in this very, very important work.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-questions-federal-reserve-chair-warsh-on-fed-modernization/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Questions Federal Reserve Chair Warsh on Fed Modernization", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cI hope that there will be the inclusion of other voices beyond economic experts and tech individuals, but actually families, businesses, people that are both consuming and impacted by AI\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today questioned Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh during a hearing on the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report. This report is shared with Members of Congress to provide updates on monetary policy and economic development efforts. Senator Blunt Rochester followed up on her questions from Warsh\u2019s confirmation hearing, seeking clarity and specificity on his strategy for Fed modernization and the Fed\u2019s plan to protect families as AI continues to develop.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks can be found here, and a key excerpt can be found below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cOne of the things that you shared in your testimony was about the task forces that you have established, which I think is a really good idea. And I think the choices of things that you\u2019re focused on, from communication to AI and the influence, all of those things are really important. On the AI [task force] in particular, I hope that there will be the inclusion of other voices beyond economic experts and tech individuals, but actually families, businesses, people that are both consuming and impacted by AI.\n\n\u201cIf you could talk a little bit more about the makeup of that one in particular, and how you will include people both in the task force, and how you will include Main Street in your ongoing work at the Fed?\u201d", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-senator-blunt-rochester-questions-trump-cdc-nominee/", "NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Questions Trump CDC Nominee", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Lisa Blunt Rochester", "B001303", "www.bluntrochester.senate.gov", "bluntrochester", "https://www.bluntrochester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cI am very, very concerned that even qualified people have either had to change their positions or quit.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Senator Blunt Rochester\u2019s remarks.\n\nU.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, today questioned Dr. Erica Schwartz, who President Trump nominated to serve as Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).\n\nAs Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to dismantle critical Health and Human Services (HHS) programs and pursue policies that contradict science-backed research, Senator Blunt Rochester questioned Dr. Schwartz on her commitment to scientific evidence and her ability to maintain independence under Secretary Kennedy.\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester\u2019s exchange can be found here, and a key excerpt is below:\n\nSenator Blunt Rochester: \u201cIn January, Dr. Oz, Dr. Bhattacharya, and Dr. Makary presented a memo to then-Acting CDC Director Jim O\u2019Neil recommending the U.S. adopt a narrower childhood vaccine schedule, based primarily on a comparison with Denmark. Do you agree with the memo\u2019s recommendation to no longer universally recommend all 17 vaccines?\u201d\n\nDr. Schwartz: \u201cI agree with the president of the United States, who asked HHS to take a look at that memo and to find out if those recommendations are sound or if they are not sound. So, if I\u2019m confirmed as the CDC Director, you have my commitment to take a look at that said memo to understand whether comparing to Denmark makes sense or doesn\u2019t make sense\u2026\u201d", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-presses-attorney-general-nominee-todd-blanche-on-independence-from-trump-during-confirmation-hearing/", "Senator Coons presses Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche on independence from Trump during confirmation hearing", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "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.) questioned Todd Blanche, President Trump\u2019s nominee for Attorney General of the United States, at his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing today, where he pressed Blanche on whether he would stand up to the president and highlighted Blanche\u2019s past support for President Trump\u2019s mass pardons for January 6 rioters who attacked Capitol Police officers.\n\nPresident Trump fired former Attorney General Pam Bondi in April, barely a year after taking office, amid reports that he had grown frustrated that the DOJ was not doing enough to prosecute his political opponents. Blanche, President Trump\u2019s former personal attorney and Bondi\u2019s deputy, took over as acting attorney general and is now seeking Senate confirmation to lead the department permanently.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re in charge of a Department of Justice I don\u2019t recognize: prosecuting the president\u2019s political enemies, firing rank-and-file prosecutors and FBI agents because of the cases they were assigned to, slashing grants for law enforcement and public safety,\u201d said Senator Coons.\n\nSenator Coons also pushed Blanche on the proposed $1.8 billion \u201cweaponization fund\u201d he has tried to create for President Trump to reward political allies and President Trump\u2019s blanket pardons of individuals charged in connection with the January 6 attack, including rioters who were convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers. Blanche struggled to answer questions about the pardons after Senator Coons confronted him with his own remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference where Blanche \u201ctrumpeted [the pardons] as an achievement.\u201d\n\nA video and full transcript of Senator Coons\u2019 comments are available below.\n\nWATCH HERE.\n\nSenator Coons: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member. Acting Attorney General Blanche, thank you for your service and for appearing here. And thank you to your family and to the men and women of the Department of Justice who work tirelessly to fight crime and to make our nation secure, I\u2019m grateful for their service.\n\nI\u2019m sorry that your schedule apparently didn\u2019t permit us to meet before this confirmation hearing, but I hope and expect we\u2019ll find time to meet soon after today.\n\nBlanche: Absolutely.\n\nSenator Coons: Thank you. As I consider your nomination, like all other nominations to similar cabinet positions, I need to know you\u2019re qualified to serve. You demonstrably are. That you have the policy views to serve well. We will discuss that today. And, most importantly in this role, that you have the independence to serve as the attorney general for the American people.\n\nAnd that last question has troubled me the most. You\u2019re in charge of a Department of Justice I don\u2019t recognize: prosecuting the president\u2019s political enemies, firing rank-and-file prosecutors and FBI agents because of the cases they were assigned to, slashing grants for law enforcement and public safety.\n\nThese are some actions that, in your previous confirmation hearing before us, you said you would not take. Now, I appreciate your statement walking back the $1.8 billion \u201cweaponization fund\u201d that you created, but I question how it got that far, and we\u2019ll get into that.\n\nYou sat in an appropriations hearing earlier this year before me and defended it at that time. In fact, if I remember correctly, you told me I was wrong for criticizing it. But following questions by Senators Durbin and Cornyn, I\u2019m concerned it\u2019s not dead yet, and I think we should talk that through.\n\nOverall, this is not what I believe the American people expect or deserve from the Department of Justice.\n\nHaving spent critical parts of January 6 in this room taking shelter from the mob, I just wanted to open with some questions. How many people were convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers on January 6?\n\nBlanche: I believe around 120, approximately, but I could be off a few more.\n\nSenator Coons: You are. The answer is more than 200. And how many of those individuals had their sentences commuted or were pardoned by President Trump?\n\nBlanche: President Trump either commuted or pardoned every defendant from the January 6 events.\n\nSenator Coons: That\u2019s correct. And in this room right now, and outside this room, are Capitol Police officers protecting us in this hearing room. How many of them do you think might have friends or colleagues who were attacked by supporters of the president on January 6?\n\nBlanche: I don\u2019t know the numbers, but I\u2019m sure many of the Capitol Police officers who are here today worked, either were working on January 6th, or knew people who were.\n\nSenator Coons: I\u2019ll just say that I consider a shameful slap in the face of the men and women of law enforcement for those convicted of assaulting police officers to have been pardoned.\n\nI know you were not serving as deputy attorney general when President Trump pardoned those folks, but you said just a few moments ago that you were not celebrating this decision by the president. He was exercising his constitutional power.\n\nBut earlier this year, in front of CPAC, a conservative event, I would say, from the transcript, you actually trumpeted it as an achievement. And I quote, saying, \u201cIf you look at what happened to the men and women convicted because of January 6, by 5 p.m. on January 20, every one of them was either pardoned or had their sentence commuted by President Trump. So, when folks say you\u2019ve done nothing, I say you have a very short memory.\u201d\n\nWould you say that you\u2019re proud of President Trump\u2019s decision to pardon individuals who assaulted law enforcement?\n\nBlanche: No, that\u2019s not what I was saying there at all, Senator. So, I was responding to inquiries around why more hadn\u2019t been done by the Department of Justice with respect to January 6 defendants. And so, my answer was that the January 6 defendants and some of their lawyers had a short memory because a lot had already been done. Indeed, by the end of the day on January 20, they had all been pardoned or commuted. So, I wasn\u2019t celebrating it. I was merely stating a fact, which is that the January 6 defendants did receive a very generous pardon or commutation from President Trump. Every one of them on January 6.\n\nSenator Coons: A generous \u2013 and in my view, for those who had assaulted police officers \u2013 unwarranted, unjustified, ahistorical, and a terrible precedent.\n\nLet me move on to questions I\u2019ve asked in previous hearings. Is President Trump, just as a simple matter of constitutional law, eligible to run for another term as president in 2028?\n\nBlanche: I don\u2019t believe he is. No.\n\nSenator Coons: That is correct, in my view, reading of the plain language of the 22nd Amendment. Why do you think several of the judicial nominees of this administration have refused repeatedly to answer that question simply and clearly, as you just did, when I put it to them?\n\nBlanche: I have no idea why they answer questions.\n\nSenator Coons: Me neither. It was confounding.\n\nBlanche: You are asking me to speculate about something I don\u2019t know.\n\nSenator Coons: Is the Department of Justice that you are running independent from the White House?\n\nBlanche: The Department of Justice, like every single department in the executive, is part of the executive. I mean, Article II of the Constitution gives the power of the executive to President Trump.\n\nSo, we certainly operate with integrity. We certainly operate in the single mindset to serve the American people and do the right thing.\n\nBut I am a member, if confirmed, I will be a member of the cabinet. I\u2019m serving in the acting capacity that way now, just like the other cabinet members. And President Trump can fire me whenever he wants, so\u2026\n\nSenator Coons: Do you have a sense why he fired your predecessor?\n\nBlanche: I have no idea. President Trump, we all serve with the pleasure of President Trump in this administration.\n\nSenator Coons: Did President Trump ever post on Truth Social directing your predecessor to get at it, to prosecute his perceived political enemies?\n\nBlanche: I don\u2019t think those were his exact words, but no.\n\nSenator Coons: Those were not his exact words, but I thought it was the intention.\n\nIt is my impression, sir, that you are here rather than your predecessor because the president was unhappy with her failures to actually secure convictions of folks like Attorney General Tish James or former FBI Director Jim Comey.\n\nIf you\u2019re confirmed and you\u2019re asked to take an action you believe to be illegal or unethical, would you resign?\n\nBlanche: That will never happen. But yes, if it were to happen, I\u2019m not going to violate my oath to the Constitution.\n\nSenator Coons: I appreciate that answer.\n\nYou did answer a question by a colleague about input that you gave to the president. Did you ever say no to the president on the slush fund, the anti-weaponization fund? Did you advise him against this?\n\nBlanche: I am not, will not, talk about communications I have with the president. I served as his lawyer for a couple years before he was elected. I\u2019m the deputy attorney general and the acting attorney general, so I\u2019m not going to talk about communications that I have with him.\n\nBut, Senator, I will say that President Trump trusts me to give him counsel. Counsel does not mean a recognized man, and so that\u2019s, and that\u2019s true in my case, like it should be in any attorney general\u2019s case.\n\nSenator Coons: Let me just, for a minute, bear down on the anti-weaponization fund.\n\nYou\u2019ve testified to the House: \u201cWe are not moving forward with that fund, period.\u201d But you\u2019ve repeatedly refused to put that commitment in writing or to submit a declaration to the court.\n\nYou\u2019re an officer of the court, a member of the bar. You should be able to make that assertion in a court filing or even in a letter submitted to this body.\n\nOn May 19, you testified before the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, \u201cSince the case had been dismissed, there was no judge and no mechanism for judicial review.\u201d\n\nBut in an opinion this week, a federal judge wrote, and I\u2019m quoting, that your testimony was \u201cat best misleading and at worst disingenuous,\u201d explaining the court remained available to review this agreement had you sought relief.\n\nWhy not seek review of the settlement agreement or submit some record, some writing, given that the president continues to publicly champion this weaponization fund, and given your previous answer to me in another hearing that you wouldn\u2019t say whether or not those who assaulted cops on January 6 would be eligible for multimillion-dollar payouts?\n\nBlanche: So, there\u2019s a lot of questions there.\n\nFirst of all, we have put it in writing. It\u2019s in repeated court filings in EDVA and D.C. So, this narrative that you won\u2019t put it in writing happens not to be true.\n\nThe reason why neither myself nor Secretary Bessent agreed to put a declaration in is because there\u2019s long-standing precedent that judges cannot ask cabinet secretaries or people like me to put in declarations. It has nothing to do with whether the fund is alive. I\u2019m under oath today, and I\u2019ve said it\u2019s dead repeatedly. I said it to the House Oversight Committee, and I am happy to say as many times as necessary.\n\nAs far as what the judge said in Florida, just the last question you asked about Florida, that judge disagreed with what I said. I still believe that 11th Circuit precedent, which I\u2019ve studied, I am right. So, we\u2019ll see.\n\nSenator Coons: You did say earlier, \u201cThis is the most transparent Department of Justice in American history. We have nothing to hide.\u201d And you started by saying, \u201cWe\u2019re here to rebuild trust.\u201d\n\nTwo decisions, or two OLC opinions, I\u2019m very interested in. I\u2019m the senior Democrat on defense and intelligence appropes. I\u2019m the most senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee on my side who\u2019s currently serving on this committee.\n\nI\u2019m curious as to why the most transparent department has refused to release the OLC opinion that justifies the 66 strikes the military has conducted on boats in the Caribbean, which have killed more than 220 people, either a redacted version or in a classified setting to me and others who are in relevant decision-making positions.\n\nBlanche: Well, Senator, we made the head of OLC available on multiple occasions to explain that to you and other members of the committee, and that is extraordinarily transparent and unprecedented that we\u2019ve done that. Whether an OLC opinion is released, there\u2019s a lot of process that goes into that. But the idea that we were not transparent about our legal basis there is absolutely not true.\n\nSenator Coons: Okay, another chance to be transparent: The FISA court in March certified your Section 702 proceedings but found compliance deficiencies. This is an important power of the federal government that will soon be up again for vote, and you have not declassified that opinion.\n\nSenators Cotton and Warner, Republican and Democratic leads on Intelligence, in April wrote the administration saying that they expected declassification of this March opinion within two weeks. Yet it remains classified. You have a bipartisan request from the leadership of Intel. Will you declassify it or make it available to us?\n\nBlanche: We\u2019ll continue to look at that. I agree with you that that\u2019s a very important issue, and we need 702 reauthorized.\n\nSenator Coons: Thank you. Last question, if I could.\n\nThe Safer Supervision Act is co-sponsored by Senators Lee, Cornyn, Tillis, and Lankford, and it gives a path forward to making sure that federal probation and parole is more effective. We\u2019ve discussed it before. Will you meet with me to talk about ways that this important criminal justice reform, supported by federal law enforcement, could move forward?\n\nBlanche: I think it\u2019s, yes, absolutely. I very much agree with what you\u2019re trying to do there, Senator.", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-blunt-rochester-colleagues-send-letter-to-trump-administration-calling-for-answers-on-green-card-application-changes/", "Senators\u00a0Coons, Blunt Rochester,\u00a0colleagues send letter to Trump administration calling for answers on green card application changes", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "In a letter to USCIS, senators and representatives question the new requirements for green card applicants to apply abroad and demonstrate their presence is in the ill-defined \u201cnational interest\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), and dozens of their colleagues demanded an explanation from the Trump administration on the recent changes to the green card application process.\n\nIn a letter to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, the lawmakers cited a recent USCIS memorandum that requires noncitizens seeking a green card to apply abroad, as well as \u2013 for the first time \u2013 establish their presence in the United States as \u201cin the national interest.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote: \u201cWe write to object to your new policy memorandum regarding adjustment of status. Adjustment of status is the statutory process by which immigrants may apply for lawful permanent residence, often called a \u2018green card,\u2019 from within the United States. On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum (PM-602-0199) with guidance claiming that adjustment of status is an \u2018extraordinary form of relief.\u2019 Without any basis in the law and in a departure from decades of precedent, this guidance creates a policy preference for consular processing abroad over adjustment of status in the United States, requiring applicants to meet new, undefined discretionary criteria to be processed domestically. We urge you to reverse this new policy and restore adjudications of adjustment of status applications in a manner consistent with the law, longstanding practice, and congressional intent.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers continued: \u201cPM-602-0199 states that adjustment of status \u2018is a matter of discretion and administrative grace not designed to supersede the regular consular processing of immigrant visas.\u2019 This is simply incorrect. There is no statutory preference for consular processing, and legislative history shows that Congress has long maintained a strong preference in favor of allowing eligible noncitizens to adjust status in the United States. Adjustment of status was first introduced into law over 70 years ago, in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. The practice was introduced and later expanded in recognition of the significant number of eligible individuals seeking green cards who resided in the United States. In the limited circumstances in which Congress intended to restrict adjustment of status, statutory text has been amended to prevent certain classes of noncitizens from using the process. When individuals are in the United States and eligible for adjustment of status, legislative history shows that Congress has a strong preference that such individuals have an opportunity to adjust their status while remaining in the U.S.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers concluded, before making a series of requests for information: \u201cBy directing adjudicators to treat adjustment of status as an \u2018extraordinary form of relief\u2019 and by creating a policy preference for consular processing, the memorandum undermines the very purposes Congress sought to advance when enacting and amending section 245 of the INA. Congress established adjustment of status as a cornerstone of the modern immigration system to promote family unity, administrative efficiency, and economic stability. Any effort to dismantle that statutory framework through internal agency policy is unacceptable.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Coons, Blunt Rochester, Durbin, and Padilla, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)\n\nIn addition to Raskin and Jayapal, the letter is also signed by U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-Calif.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Donald Beyer (D-Va.), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-Ind.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr. (D-Calif.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), James Walkinshaw (D-Va.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garcia (D-Ill.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Christian Menefee (D-Texas), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Analilia Mejia (D-N.J.), Dave Min (D-Calif.), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Derek Tran (D-Calif.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.).\n\nRead the full letter below:\n\nDear Director Edlow:\n\nWe write to object to your new policy memorandum regarding adjustment of status. Adjustment of status is the statutory process by which immigrants may apply for lawful permanent residence, often called a \u201cgreen card,\u201d from within the United States. On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum (PM-602-0199) with guidance claiming that adjustment of status is an \u201cextraordinary form of relief.\u201d1 Without any basis in the law and in a departure from decades of precedent, this guidance creates a policy preference for consular processing abroad over adjustment of status in the United States, requiring applicants to meet new, undefined discretionary criteria to be processed domestically. We urge you to reverse this new policy and restore adjudications of adjustment of status applications in a manner consistent with the law, longstanding practice, and congressional intent.\n\nPM-602-0199 states that adjustment of status \u201cis a matter of discretion and administrative grace not designed to supersede the regular consular processing of immigrant visas.\u201d This is simply incorrect. There is no statutory preference for consular processing, and legislative history shows that Congress has long maintained a strong preference in favor of allowing eligible noncitizens to adjust status in the United States. Adjustment of status was first introduced into law over 70 years ago, in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.2 The practice was introduced and later expanded in recognition of the significant number of eligible individuals seeking green cards who resided in the United States.3 In the limited circumstances in which Congress intended to restrict adjustment of status, statutory text has been amended to prevent certain classes of noncitizens from using the process.\n\nWhen individuals are in the United States and eligible for adjustment of status, legislative history shows that Congress has a strong preference that such individuals have an opportunity to adjust their status while remaining in the U.S. When expanding adjustment of status, Congress has often raised concerns with forcing noncitizens in the United States to use consular processing.5 A 1960 House Report accompanying legislation expanding adjustment of status expressed congressional dissatisfaction with \u201cthe fallacious procedure known as \u2018preexamination\u2019 . . . consisting of round trips to Canada for the sole purpose of obtaining an immigrant visa.\u201d6 In the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act of 2000, Congress enacted into law transitional protection for individuals stuck in the employment-based green card backlog.7 The accompanying Senate report noted that the provision \u201cenables these individuals to remain in H-1B status until they are able to receive an immigrant visa and adjust their status within the United States, thus limiting the disruption to American businesses.\u201d\n\nPM-602-0199 would also create new criteria that do not exist in law\u2014and are not supported by the law\u2014for individuals to be processed for a green card from within the United States. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently noted: \u201cThis policy will have no noticeable impact on highly qualified applicants and skilled professionals who have followed the law. These aliens benefit the national interest and provide economic benefits to the United States and will continue to merit the favorable exercise of discretion.\u201d9 However, for decades, adjustment of status has ordinarily been granted to eligible individuals unless there are adverse factors weighing against a favorable exercise of discretion.10 This is consistent with the law\u2014if noncitizens are otherwise eligible for a favorable exercise of discretion that would result in a grant of adjustment of status, there is no legal or statutory basis to make an additional discretionary determination of \u201cnational interest\u201d to allow them to be processed within the United States. Thus, the policy memorandum imposes what amounts to a new substantive standard\u2014requiring applicants to affirmatively demonstrate that their adjustment serves the national interest or provides economic benefit\u2014without any congressional authorization for such a test. Worse still, it does so without any effective date, explanation of how pending applications will be adjudicated, transition period, or clear guidance as to which categories of applicants would be affected.\n\nThis is a major policy shift. USCIS has long recognized Congress\u2019s preference for allowing eligible noncitizens to obtain lawful permanent residence through adjustment of status in the United States.11 For decades, USCIS and its predecessor agencies have adjudicated millions of adjustment applications pursuant to section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Since 1980, more than half of all individuals granted lawful permanent residence have obtained that status through adjustment of status in the U.S. rather than consular processing abroad.12 If individuals are forced to pursue immigrant visas through consular processing abroad, many will face months or years of separation from spouses, children, parents, and other family members due to extensive visa appointment backlogs at U.S. consulates worldwide.13 And as discussed above, Congress has expressly weighed in against processes that would push individuals from within the United States to consular processing abroad.\n\nFor individuals who have built lives in the United States\u2014including those who have children who are U.S. citizens, have stable employment, pay taxes, and participate in their communities\u2014this forced separation will impose significant hardships on their U.S.-citizen family members and communities.15 The policy also threatens substantial economic disruption. Skilled workers, entrepreneurs, medical professionals, researchers, students transitioning to permanent residence, and employees sponsored by U.S. businesses may be forced to depart the country for extended periods while awaiting immigrant visa processing abroad.16 Such disruptions would impose significant costs not only on affected individuals and families, but also on American employers and the broader U.S. economy.\n\nBy directing adjudicators to treat adjustment of status as an \u201cextraordinary form of relief\u201d and by creating a policy preference for consular processing, the memorandum undermines the very purposes Congress sought to advance when enacting and amending section 245 of the INA. Congress established adjustment of status as a cornerstone of the modern immigration system to promote family unity, administrative efficiency, and economic stability. Any effort to dismantle that statutory framework through internal agency policy is unacceptable. As such, please provide responses to the following questions:\n\nWhat is the effective date of this policy? Is USCIS applying this policy to adjustment of status applications that were filed and pending before the memorandum\u2019s release date of May 21, 2026?\n\nTo which categories of adjustment of status applicants does the policy apply?\n\nTo how many applicants does USCIS estimate this will apply?\n\nHas USCIS issued any formal written guidance or training to adjudicators regarding implementation of this policy? If so, please provide those materials.\n\nWhat standards or criteria are adjudicators being instructed to apply when exercising discretion under this policy? What supervisory review mechanisms are in place to ensure consistency in adjudication? Please provide any related materials.\n\nThe memorandum appears to establish a new standard requiring applicants to demonstrate that their adjustment of status serves the \u201cnational interest,\u201d and DHS spokespersons have suggested this may include persons who provide an \u201ceconomic benefit.\u201d What are the criteria for \u201cnational interest\u201d and \u201ceconomic benefit\u201d that would merit a favorable exercise of discretion to permit processing domestically?\n\nGiven that this policy will substantially increase demand for immigrant visa processing at U.S. consulates abroad, did USCIS consult with the Department of State in developing this policy?\n\nHow does USCIS intend to provide a viable pathway to lawful permanent residence for individuals who are subject to the immigrant visa consular processing pause, travel bans, or who cannot access consular processing due to the absence of a functioning U.S. consulate in their country of nationality?\n\nThe memorandum makes reference to noncitizens with \u201cdual intent\u201d as an exception, but includes a footnote stating that \u201cmaintaining lawful status in a dual intent nonimmigrant category is not sufficient, on its own, to warrant a favorable exercise of discretion.\u201d How will this new policy be applied to individuals with dual intent seeking to adjust status within the United States?\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response to our inquiries.", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-one-year-after-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-rep-mcbride-urges-investment", "ICYMI: One Year After Trump\u2019s \u201cBig Beautiful Bill,\u201d Rep. McBride Urges Investment in Sussex County Health Care, Not Cuts", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 In case you missed it, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) penned an op-ed in the Cape Gazette about the need to strengthen healthcare in Sussex County one year after President Trump's \"One Big Beautiful Bill\" was signed into law. Read the full op-ed here.\n\nThe piece, titled \"Care in Sussex County Needs Investment, Not Cuts,\" details how the \"One Big Beautiful Bill\" pushed healthcare out of reach for millions of Americans through the largest cut to Medicaid in American history and explains what those cuts mean for Delaware families.\n\n\u201cAcross the country, fewer people have health insurance, hospitals and clinics are shutting down, and there\u2019s growing concern about access to care, especially in rural communities,\u201d wrote Rep. McBride. \u201cFor my neighbors across Sussex County, access to quality, affordable healthcare is about more than convenience \u2013 it's about the security and dignity that come from knowing the care you need will be there when you need it.\u201d\n\nRep. McBride also highlighted how Sussex County's rapid population growth is placing additional strain on an already stretched rural healthcare system, from workforce shortages to long drives for specialty care.\n\n\"Trump and congressional Republicans\u2019 'Big Beautiful Bill' aims to cut as much as $4 billion in federal Medicaid funding to Delaware over the next decade. More than 30,000 Delawareans are projected to lose their Medicaid coverage, Marketplace enrollment in Delaware has already declined by 16%, and more than 18,000 of our neighbors have lost food assistance because of this heartless law. These aren\u2019t just numbers \u2014 they are our parents, grandparents, coworkers, friends, and neighbors, all seeking the same thing: the chance to stay healthy, care for their families, and age with dignity,\u201d continued Rep. McBride.\n\nShe also detailed how Delaware families are facing higher healthcare costs as a result of Trump's law, illustrating how federal policy decisions are affecting our communities here at home.\n\n\u201cHere in Sussex County, where providers are already working to keep pace with rapid growth and an aging population, residents are feeling the weight of cuts to Medicaid and federal healthcare funding,\u201d wrote Rep. McBride. \u201cThey show up here at home \u2013 with longer wait times, fewer providers accepting patients, higher healthcare costs for all of us, and more strain on the hospitals and clinics our communities rely on.\u201d\n\nRep. McBride emphasized her support for investing in rural healthcare and meeting the pressing needs of Sussex County residents. In Congress, she has brought together Democrats and Republicans to protect nearly $1 billion for home healthcare to keep seniors safe at home and support home health workers who make that care possible. She\u2019s also introduced bipartisan legislation to address the national nursing shortage that\u2019s impacting care in Delaware and across the country.\n\n\u201cWe know what works: investing in rural hospitals, supporting our federally qualified health centers, strengthening the healthcare workforce, protecting Medicaid, expanding access to mental healthcare, and ensuring that where you live never determines whether you can get the care you need. We must never accept a status quo where ZIP codes serve as barriers to treatment,\u201d wrote Rep. McBride.\n\nRep. McBride closed the piece with her commitment to the reality that every resident in Sussex County deserves: to be able to get care and be treated with dignity, no matter their zip code.\n\n\u201cNo family should have to cross county lines to welcome a child into the world. No cancer patient should have to spend hours on the road for reliable, lifesaving care. And no one seeking mental healthcare should be forced to wait months for treatment. That is the future Sussex County deserves,\u201d concluded Rep. McBride.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mcbride-budzinski-urge-omb-rescind-proposed-rule-threatens-agricultural", "Reps. McBride, Budzinski Urge OMB to Rescind Proposed Rule That Threatens Agricultural Research", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Sarah McBride (D-Del.) and Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) led 15 of their colleagues in calling on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to rescind a proposed rule that would politicize the federal grant-making process, threatening research and innovation in critical sectors like agriculture, Delaware's leading industry.\n\nIn a letter sent to OMB, McBride and Budzinski raise concerns that the proposed rule would broaden the Trump Administration's authority to suspend or terminate federal awards, make it more difficult for researchers \u2014 including those at land-grant universities \u2014 to collaborate with international partners, and further politicize the federal grant-making process.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our deep concerns regarding the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) proposed revisions to the current guidance governing federal financial assistance. OMB\u2019s proposed rule contains more than 120 changes to the current Uniform Guidance, including revisions that risk destabilizing research innovation, cutting out international partners, and injecting partisan politics into the grant review process. Furthermore, we are concerned that the proposed changes could weaken the federal research partnerships foundational to America\u2019s global leadership in agriculture, science, and innovation,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nLand-grant universities play a critical role in translating federally funded research into practical tools for farmers and have been responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. The University of Delaware, one of the nation's leading public land-grant universities, is a vital partner for Delaware farmers through its agricultural research and Cooperative Extension. Reforms to the grant-making process that destabilize federal funding could jeopardize the research and extension work that helps Delaware producers respond to emerging diseases, improve productivity, and remain globally competitive.\n\n\u201cGroundbreaking scientific discoveries have emerged from U.S. research institutions working in partnership with the international agricultural community, like developing large-scale penicillin production in a United States Department of Agriculture lab using research started abroad. We are concerned the proposed rule cuts out international partners, creates unnecessary red tape, and risks slowing agricultural innovation. In a global marketplace, international cooperation strengthens domestic agriculture and helps keep grocery prices lower for American consumers,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nMcBride and Budzinski also warn that expanding political control over the federal grant-making process would undermine Congress' constitutional power to appropriate federal funds while adding unnecessary government red tape to what should be a straightforward, merit-based process.\n\n\u201cCongress exercises its constitutional power of the purse through the appropriations process, and establishes priorities for federal investments on behalf of the American people. Expanding the powers of agencies and political appointees to terminate grants subjects the power of America\u2019s research dollars to changing political winds. Agricultural and scientific research has proven to have a high payoff, yet often takes decades to yield results. Funding decisions should not be based on the shifting priorities of political appointees. Introducing this uncertainty into the grant-making process risks slowing research, discouraging participation in federal programs, and weakening the investments in the American farmer,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nMcBride and Budzinski conclude by urging OMB to work with Congress, federal agencies, research institutions, and agricultural stakeholders on any reforms to the grant-making process so they strengthen accountability without undermining the research enterprise or the international collaboration that supports American agriculture.\n\n\u201cWe therefore urge OMB to rescind the proposed rule and work with Congress, federal agencies, research institutions, and stakeholders to ensure that any changes to the Uniform Guidance strengthen accountability without undermining the long-standing federal research partnerships that support American agriculture and innovation,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-hickenlooper-colleagues-pressure-white-house-to-reverse-proposed-political-rule-change-harming-american-science-research-and-innovation/", "Senator Coons, Hickenlooper, colleagues pressure White House to reverse proposed political rule change\u00a0harming\u00a0American science, research, and innovation", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cWe cannot afford to export American innovation and American jobs because of partisan games.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and 9 of their colleagues called on White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought in a new letter to reverse a proposed rule, broadly titled \u201cRegulation for Federal Financial Assistance,\u201d that negatively affects how nearly all federal agencies administer grants and financial agreements. The OMB\u2019s rule change grants the White House political control over how awards are administered, further enabling corruption, undermining U.S. scientific investments and competitiveness, and blocking funding for critical life-saving research and collaboration.\n\n\u201cThe proposed changes solidify federal grant-making as an unprecedented partisan power-grab that eliminates transparency of how taxpayer dollars are spent. This rule would derail American innovation and competitiveness at the local and national levels, kill good-paying American jobs, drive up costs for families, and halt essential projects in local communities,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cInstead of supporting data-driven investments that pay dividends for the American people, this guidance facilitates partisan ideals and cronyism, leaving Americans in the dark.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cWe share the goals of improved transparency, accountability, and oversight; clarification of regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden\u2013all in pursuit of continuing America\u2019s global leadership in science and innovation. However, these regulations would act in opposition to these goals. They would undermine our country\u2019s competitiveness, erode our scientific ecosystem, increase unwanted bureaucracy, enable corruption, and perpetuate uncertainty across our local communities. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule.\u201d\n\nThe OMB\u2019s proposed rule change would rework how federal agencies award and administer grants and cooperative agreements. Changing how funding is administered affects the primary mechanisms through which the country funds basic research, applied science, and scientific workforce development. These agencies also fund local projects including but not limited to infrastructure, public health, resource conservation, and rural development, which have been consistent targets of the Trump Administration. The proposed rules formalize an August 7, 2025, Executive Order that directed OMB to expand political oversight over all federal awards.\n\nIn addition to Senators Coons and Hickenlooper, the letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Angus King (D-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-statement-on-passing-of-senator-lindsey-graham/", "Senator Coons statement on\u00a0passing\u00a0of Senator Lindsey Graham", "2026-07-12", "2026", "2026-07", "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.) released the following statement on the passing of his friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.):\n\n\u201cI traveled the world with Lindsey, visiting dozens of countries across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. We argued, advocated, and legislated together for more than fifteen years, and I am stunned by his sudden passing. We had dinner to celebrate his birthday at the NATO summit this past week, and one of my last memories of him will be of his irreverent wit, as well as his patriotism and love of freedom. Lindsey believed in the fundamental goodness of an America that uses its might to support the fight for freedom globally. His passionate advocacy for Ukraine and his tireless fight to impose greater costs on Putin for his war of aggression inspired many of us in the Senate. We should promptly pass his bill with Senator Blumenthal to impose greater sanctions and tariffs on the buyers of Russian oil and gas in his memory.\n\n\u201cWhile we disagreed fiercely on many policy issues, he was complicated and could not be pigeonholed. I will never forget that at the height of the hearings over Justice Kavanaugh\u2019s confirmation in 2018, one of the ugliest and most partisan fights we ever had, he was also quietly working hard to save American foreign aid. Several of my most important bills I have passed were with Lindsey, from conservation in Africa to promoting balanced American engagement with fragile states. I will miss having him as a partner in the Senate.\n\n\u201cOf my colleagues, few have been able to frustrate and anger, amuse and engage me in a single conversation the way Lindsey could. I will deeply miss his humor, his global view, and his tireless optimism. Annie and I are keeping his family, including his beloved sister Darline, in our prayers.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-13T08:14:37Z", "2026-07-13T08:15:42Z"], ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mcbride-celebrates-2026-congressional-art-competition-winners", "Rep. McBride Celebrates 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winners", "2026-07-10", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WILMINGTON, Del. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.) celebrated Delaware's winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition, an annual nationwide competition sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives that recognizes outstanding student artwork from every congressional district.\n\n\u201cDelaware\u2019s students are using art to express who they are and connect with the world around them,\u201d said Rep. McBride. \u201cI\u2019m so grateful to everyone who submitted their work \u2014 your creativity speaks to the incredible talent across our state.\u201d\n\nThis year\u2019s first-place winner is Daniel Qi from Archmere Academy, whose piece, The Soloist, is on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside winning artwork from congressional districts across the country. Second place was awarded to Onna Parrish from Appoquinimink High School for Forever My Sun, and third place to Cereniti Johnson from The Tatnall School for Feel the Beat. Both pieces will be displayed in Rep. McBride\u2019s Wilmington office for the next year.\n\nA panel of five local artists and creatives reviewed more than 60 submissions to Rep. McBride\u2019s office and selected the winning pieces. In total, 20 Delaware students were named finalists. This spring, Rep. McBride hosted a reception in Wilmington to celebrate the finalists' work \u2014 ranging from acrylic paintings to photography \u2014 and recognize the top three winners.\n\nPhotos of the winning art are available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-11T07:10:48Z", "2026-07-11T07:14:29Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-coons-legal-experts-warn-against-supreme-courtattempts-to-strip-power-from-congress-in-new-essay/", "ICYMI: Senator Coons,\u00a0legal experts\u00a0warn\u00a0against\u00a0Supreme Court attempts to strip power from Congress in new essay", "2026-07-09", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Christopher A. Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", "coons", "https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThe framers never intended the legislative branch to bend to the will of the president or the court.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) published a joint op-ed in SCOTUSblog yesterday with Albany Law School Associate Dean Ray Brescia and David Beier, former Chief Domestic Policy Adviser to Vice President Al Gore and former House Judiciary Committee counsel, warning that the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts is systematically stripping authority from Congress, weakening the power of the American people\u2019s directly elected representatives to write the laws, allocate funding, and set federal policy.\n\n\u201cEvery day, Americans are witnessing the most significant expansion of presidential power in modern times,\u201d the authors wrote. \u201cJust as important, and less obvious, is the other significant shift that is occurring in our system of government: the Roberts Supreme Court is systematically stripping away power from Congress, the directly elected representatives of the people.\u201d\n\nSenator Coons, Beier, and Brescia look back at the court\u2019s decisions from recent years, from attacks on the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder and Louisiana v. Callais, to overturning Chevron deference and giving federal judges greater authority over complex regulatory issues in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, to allowing the president to fire the heads of previously independent agencies like the FTC in last week\u2019s Trump v. Slaughter decision. While these decisions have garnered mass outcry for their conservative lean and their embrace of the \u201cUnitary Executive\u201d theory that has given President Trump vast new powers, less attention has been paid to where this power has been drawn from. As the authors note, many of these new powers that the court has bestowed on itself and the executive branch have been taken away from Congress; in many cases, Congress has held these powers for decades.\n\n\u201cTaken together, these efforts are a transfer of power from the first branch of government to the third within our constitutional system,\u201d they wrote. \u201cWhile the framers conceived of three, co-equal branches, what the court has done is to declare that all branches are equal, but some branches are more co-equal than others.\u201d\n\nSenator Coons, Beier, and Brescia also point to Congress\u2019 history of responding to Supreme Court decisions that narrowed federal law with new legislation, including the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991. They argue Congress must reassert its constitutional oversight role by passing stronger legislation such as the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act and use its annual budget authority to give more specific guidance to agencies.\n\n\u201cWhile the Supreme Court has increasingly centralized power at Congress\u2019 and everyday Americans\u2019 expense, this trajectory is not inevitable,\u201d they concluded. \u201cAs our nation marks its 250th anniversary, Congress must find the political will to restore the constitutional balance of power. The framers never intended the legislative branch to bend to the will of the president or the court. By executing rigorous oversight and aggressively asserting its authority over war powers, spending, and civil rights, at a minimum, Congress can \u2013 and must \u2013 reclaim its rightful constitutional role.\u201d\n\nFrom SCOTUSblog: The Supreme Court\u2019s quiet coup\n\nEvery day, Americans are witnessing the most significant expansion of presidential power in modern times. Just as important, and less obvious, is the other significant shift that is occurring in our system of government: the Roberts Supreme Court is systematically stripping away power from Congress, the directly elected representatives of the people.\n\nThis erosion of congressional authority is not happening by accident; it is the direct result of steady, calculated intrusions into Congress\u2019 constitutionally designated role \u2013 to write the laws, allocate funding, and set federal policy for the nation.\n\nWhat the court has accomplished is something subtler and potentially far more permanent than a sudden coup: it has radically narrowed Congress\u2019 ability to shape how laws are interpreted, implemented, and defended after they are enacted.\n\n\u2026", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-streamline-distribution-of-cost-saving-energy-initiative-funding/", "Senator Coons,\u00a0colleagues\u00a0introduce bipartisan legislation to streamline distribution of cost-saving energy initiative funding", "2026-07-09", "2026", "2026-07", "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.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced the Investing in State Energy Act, which will ensure grant funding from the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP) are distributed without delay to state agencies and local partners that implement these cost-saving energy initiates from both programs.\n\nThis bipartisan bill comes as the U.S. Department of Energy continuing to delay the distribution of more than $400 million in grant funding from both WAP and SEP even as energy costs rise.\n\n\u201cDelawareans are struggling under the weight of rising energy bills,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cPresident Trump\u2019s war in Iran has only made energy more expensive. This bipartisan legislation will give Delawareans \u2013 and Americans across the country \u2013 relief from spiraling costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cRight now, the cost of everything is up, and energy prices are no exception. It\u2019s critical that federal funding from these two programs be distributed quickly so that families can make energy efficiency upgrades to lower their utility bills and states can invest in efforts that make energy more reliable and affordable,\u201d said Senator Shaheen. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation would ensure that the Department of Energy is making this funding available in a timely manner, delivering much-needed certainty to states and localities and financial relief to American households.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Weatherization Assistance Program and the State Energy Program are proven, cost-effective ways to permanently reduce energy usage and lower home energy bills for low-income Mainers,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cBy preventing unnecessary delays in the distribution of these funds, this bipartisan bill would give states the certainty they need to plan effectively and help more families affordably weatherize and heat their homes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration is driving up energy prices and throttling back federal aid. These bipartisan programs provide real relief and have a proven track record of success. The Investing in State Energy Act would put a stop to needless delay and get this critical funding out the door to help all fifty states lower energy costs,\u201d said Senator Reed.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump has made the cost of energy skyrocket and American families and businesses are paying the price,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cThese two programs are essential, cost-effective ways to conserve energy and advance clean energy practices. Our bill would ensure the Department of Energy is making funding available to lower utility bills, conserve energy, and provide much needed financial relief to Americans across the nation.\u201d\n\nThe Investing in State Energy Act would:\n\nDirect DOE to provide application guidance for WAP and SEP programs\n\nPublish expected WAP and SEP allocations to states within 60 days of enactment\n\nDistribute funding to states and other recipients within 30 days of receiving a completed plan\n\nRequire the publication of expected WAP and SEP awards\n\nEnsure states, tribes, and other entities have the information they need to effectively plan for expected funding\n\nFor more than 40 years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)\u2019s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP) have provided technical and financial assistance to states, tribal governments, and U.S. territories to encourage the adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency practices and technologies. WAP enables income-eligible families, older adults, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, freeing up limited resources for other essentials like food and medicine. SEP provides cost-shared resources directly to the states for allocations by the governor-designated State Energy Office to support energy projects, such as energy emergency planning and response, private sector innovation in clean energy and state-driven energy infrastructure modernization. Encouraging local high-impact projects through the Investing in State Energy Act will serve families in need and continue to push greater efficiency in energy use to meet state goals.\n\nSenator Coons has long been an advocate for lowering energy costs through the Weatherization Assistance Program. Last August, he introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize WAP through 2030 and increase funding limits to help more families upgrade their homes, and led the last successful reauthorization effort in 2020. He also introduced the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, which would increase funding for the program and also create a Weatherization Readiness Fund to repair structural issues and prepare homes for weatherization assistance. He has also secured increased funding for WAP through the appropriations process and as part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill.\n\nThe Investing in State Energy Act is endorsed by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), the Building Performance Association (BPA) and the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP).\n\n\u201cThey continue to show leadership on energy policy. The 56 State and Territory Energy Offices utilize U.S. State Energy Program (SEP) funds provided by Congress to help accelerate their governors\u2019 policy actions aimed at addressing rising electricity costs and bringing more power on the grid. The Investing in State Energy Act would direct the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to move far more rapidly delivering SEP and WAP formula funds to states. Over the past several years, the delays in DOE moving bipartisan appropriated SEP and WAP funds to the states have more than doubled \u2013 forestalling energy cost savings and economic benefits to consumers and businesses in every state. We fully support the bipartisan Investing in State Energy Act and efforts to bring a greater sense of urgency on this important issue,\u201d said David Terry, President of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO).\n\n\u201cThe Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program are critical to energy affordability, reliability and security,\u201d said Steve Skodak, CEO of the Building Performance Association (BPA). \u201cBPA member contractors perform home upgrades for WAP projects across the country, lowering energy bills and improving home health, safety, and comfort. Ensuring the prompt delivery of these funds through the Investing in State Energy Act will benefit both low-income American households and the home performance contractors who serve them.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 274, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "DE", "p1": "2026"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DE&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 274, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DE&year=2026&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DE&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 201, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DE&year=2026&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}, {"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 73, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DE&year=2026&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DE&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "DE", "label": "DE", "count": 274, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2026", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DE&year=2026", "results": [{"value": "2026", "label": "2026", "count": 274, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DE", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2026-07-09,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecoons~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fsenator-coons-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-streamline-distribution-of-cost-saving-energy-initiative-funding~2F", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DE&year=2026&_next=2026-07-09%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecoons~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fsenator-coons-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-streamline-distribution-of-cost-saving-energy-initiative-funding~2F&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 113.43321297317743, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}