url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/video-kaine-celebrates-legislative-accomplishments-for-virginia-from-2024,Video: Kaine Celebrates Legislative Accomplishments for Virginia from 2024,2024-12-31,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Tim Kaine,K000384,www.kaine.senate.gov,kaine,https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news,scraper,"Video Available Here WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following video highlighting wins for Virginia he secured in 2024. In the video, Kaine discussed various pieces of legislation he introduced that are now law, actions the Biden-Harris Administration took—following Kaine’s urging—to make our communities healthier and safer, and new ways laws he helped enact, like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act, are continuing to bring massive investments and new jobs to the Commonwealth. “I’m proud of everything we’ve been able to accomplish this year, but I know that there’s still so much more work to do,” Kaine said. “… I look forward to building on this year’s progress, traveling around Virginia, showing up for you, listening to you, and then standing up for you in the years ahead. See you on the road in 2025.” Kaine’s 2024 accomplishments include: Legislation he successfully helped pass into law, including: The Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation that enhances Social Security benefits for more than 50,000 Virginians, including firefighters, police officers, and other dedicated public servants; The BOLD Act to help combat Alzheimer’s Disease; The Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act, to honor the diplomats who helped save Jewish people during the Holocaust; The BRIDGE for Workers Act to help more Americans find good-paying jobs; The bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0, alongside Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), to reauthorize a program Kaine helped create in 2014 in honor of Gabriella Miller, a Virginian who spent her life advocating for children with cancer, to advance lifesaving research; And—also alongside Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA)—the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act to help address Parkinson’s Disease. Historic investments that have come to Virginia thanks to legislation Kaine helped pass, including: A $275 million investment in Micron’s Manassas facility, which will create over 1,000 jobs; A $1.35 billion investment from Microporous LLC to build a new manufacturing facility, which will create thousands of jobs in Southside; $380 million in federal funding for the Port of Virginia to become carbon-neutral by 2040; A $681 million investment from LS GreenLink to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which will create hundreds of jobs in Chesapeake; An investment that’s expected to be over $400 million from Topsoe to build a new manufacturing facility, which will create at least 150 new jobs in Chesterfield County; An investment of $208 million by Mack and Volvo Trucks—in addition to a federal grant award of over $208 million for the company—to sustain 7,900 union jobs and create 295 new jobs in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Over $154 million in federal funding for affordable housing across the Commonwealth. Steps Kaine successfully advocated for the Biden-Harris Administration to take to make our country healthier and safer, including: The FDA issuing final guidance to raise the tobacco age to 21; Expanded coverage of IVF and other fertility services for federal workers; The Department of Labor implementing new standards to limit miner’s exposure to silica dust; And the closure of the gun show loophole, enhancing gun safety. A full transcript of the video is below: Hey, everybody, Senator Tim Kaine here. It’s hard to believe 2024 is almost over. As I reflect on the past year, I want to take some time to celebrate some of what we’ve been able to accomplish together. This year, I was able to pass several bills through both chambers of Congress including: The BOLD Act to help combat Alzheimer’s Disease; The Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act, honoring diplomats who helped save Jewish people during WWII and the Holocaust; The BRIDGE for Workers Act to help more Americans find good-paying jobs; And—alongside Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton—the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act to help address Parkinson’s Disease. In 2024, we also had historic investments come to Virginia thanks to legislation I’ve helped pass, including: A $275 million investment in Micron’s Manassas microchip processing facility, which will create over 1,000 jobs; A $1.35 billion investment from Microporous LLC to build a new manufacturing facility, which will create thousands of jobs in Southside in the Danville region; $380 million in federal funding for the Port of Virginia so it can become carbon-neutral by 2040; A $681 million investment from LS GreenLink to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, creating hundreds of jobs in Chesapeake; A new Topsoe manufacturing facility, expected to bring more than $400 million in investments and create at least 150 new jobs in Chesterfield County; Over $154 million in federal funding for affordable housing across the Commonwealth. I’m proud that I was also able to successfully advocate for steps the Biden-Harris Administration took to make our country healthier and safer, including: The FDA issuing final guidance to raise the tobacco age to 21, based on a bill that I authored with Senator McConnell a few years ago; Expanded coverage of IVF and other fertility services for federal workers; The Department of Labor implementing new standards to limit miner’s exposure to silica dust; And the closure of the gun show loophole, enhancing gun safety all across this country. I’m proud of everything we’ve been able to accomplish this year, but I know that there’s still so much more work to do. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. I look forward to building on this year’s progress, traveling around Virginia, showing up for you, listening to you, and then standing up for you in the years ahead. See you on the road in 2025. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-releases-2024-end-of-year-report,Murphy Releases 2024 End of Year Report,2024-12-31,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"HARTFORD–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday released his End of Year Report outlining the work he’s done for the people of Connecticut during 2024. The report details Murphy’s legislative priorities this year, including continuing to implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, building more social connection, fighting for workers, making housing more affordable, and more. Murphy also helped deliver billions of federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act to create good-paying jobs in Connecticut. This year, Murphy and his office: Introduced or co-sponsored 367 pieces of legislation, including 68 bills or resolutions as the lead sponsor. Completed his eighth Walk Across Connecticut: four days, 64 miles, 16 towns, and hundreds of people along the way. Traveled across the state, hosting 117 roundtables, listening sessions and more with Connecticut residents. Responded and reached out to Connecticut residents through over 383,000 calls, emails, and letters. Returned nearly $2 million to constituents, including owed Social Security payments, veterans’ benefits, tax refunds, and other savings from federal agencies. Helped over 3,300 constituents work through federal issues and get their owed benefits. Click here to download Senator Murphy’s 2024 End of Year Report. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-highlights-2024-accomplishments-in-year-end-round-up,Duckworth Highlights 2024 Accomplishments in Year-End Round Up,2024-12-30,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – As 2024 comes to a close, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted several key accomplishments she secured over the last year: “From helping almost 2,600 Illinoisans recover more than $11 million the Federal Government owed them to bringing home hundreds of millions of dollars to get the lead out of our children’s drinking water, and from protecting IVF access for hopeful parents across the nation to helping make flying safer and more efficient for traveling Illinoisans and travelers with disabilities, I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished this year,” Duckworth said. “It’s a true honor to continue serving Illinoisans in the United States Senate and while I know the year ahead may look different than many of us hoped it would, I also know there’s still much we can accomplish to help save working families money, end preventable gun violence, invest in communities that have been ignored for too long, advocate for Illinois on a global stage, support our troops while keeping the promises we’ve made to our Veterans as well as protect and defend our civil and reproductive rights—including guaranteeing access to IVF. I’m eager to get back to work on these goals and so many more for Illinois in 2025.” Over the past year, Duckworth and her office responded to nearly 900,000 emails and other messages as well as assisted more than 2,600 Illinoisans who were experiencing difficulties navigating the federal bureaucracy, helping recover more than $11.6 million in Social Security payments, Veterans’ benefits, tax refunds and more. A select list of Duckworth’s accomplishments from the past year is below. Key Accomplishments: Establishing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot Site as a National Monument: In August, Duckworth joined President Biden as he signed an official declaration to make the site of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot a national monument—a culmination of Duckworth’s more than five years of work to make it happen. Duckworth began calling for national monument recognition in 2018, first introducing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act with U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) in 2019. In October, Duckworth helped commemorate the designation of the site as a national monument in Springfield with other federal and local leaders. Improving Aviation Safety, Growing Jobs And Protecting Travelers: As Chair of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, Duckworth helped author the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, a landmark aviation safety law that includes a number of provisions she successfully championed to help improve safety for consumers, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections and accessibility for travelers with disabilities. Over the past year, Duckworth also pushed to improve safety standards at Boeing and to help ensure FAA strictly and strongly oversees the manufacturer’s production of passenger aircraft. Her efforts included urging the FAA to scrutinize Boeing’s failures, enforce transparency and reject unsafe exemptions. In January, Duckworth’s advocacy led Boeing to withdraw its unsafe petition asking the FAA to certify a new 737 MAX jet variant with a known—and unresolved—safety defect. Securing Key NDAA Provisions to Strengthen Rock Island Arsenal, Support Families and Farmers in Illinois and Beyond: In the recently passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Duckworth secured provisions to help Illinoisans by expanding housing opportunities and surrounding infrastructure at Rock Island Arsenal, supporting school districts near Illinois military bases by helping alleviate state and local tax base funding shortfalls and expanding our military’s use of sustainable aviation fuels, which supports our Illinois farmers, protects the environment and drives economy opportunity throughout the Midwest. Bringing Home Significant Federal Investments: This year, Duckworth secured significant federal funding to drive innovation and improve infrastructure in Illinois. The University of Illinois’s iFAB Hub was awarded $51 million in Tech Hub Phase II funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, positioning it as a national leader in biomanufacturing, creating jobs and transforming underutilized corn feedstocks into high-value products. Additionally, Chicago transportation infrastructure received over $305 million through the DOT Mega Program, including $209.8 million for the CREATE Program to enhance rail efficiency and safety and $95.6 million for the I-290/IL 171 Interchange Project to reduce congestion and flooding. Delivering Clean Water and Replacing Lead Pipes: Thanks to Duckworth's Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which became law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—Illinois received at least $214 million this year to get the lead out of our state’s drinking water, helping improve water quality for families across the state and helping prevent lead poisoning. She also successfully secured several critical provisions for Illinois in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which recently passed the Senate and will head to President Biden’s desk. Helping Illinois Veteran Owned Small Businesses: Duckworth's Veteran Small Business Enhancement Act was signed into law in 2019 to help Veteran entrepreneurs acquire equipment—at little to no cost—that the federal government no longer has a use for but that can help them expand their small businesses. Duckworth’s law is helping Veteran entrepreneurs across the country save money, grow their small businesses, create good-paying local jobs and increase economic opportunity throughout their communities. In Illinois alone, at least 98 Veteran-owned small businesses have taken advantage of the benefits of Senator Duckworth’s law to acquire more than 11,000 items which were worth more than $38 million when originally purchased. Lead Efforts to Improve Police Accountability in Wake of Sonya Massey’s Murder: After the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in her own home by the very sheriff’s deputy she called for help tragically underscored the clear need for crisis intervention and de-escalation tactics among law enforcement officers, Duckworth led her Senate Democratic colleagues in pushing to strengthen police accountability, deliver justice to families and improve de-escalation training. Her Police Training and Independent Review Act would incentivize states to provide law enforcement training on fair policing and de-escalation tactics while promoting the use of independent prosecutors for investigating deadly force incidents through federal grants. Leading Efforts to Safeguard IVF Access: In the wake of Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justices overturning Roe v. Wade, Senator Duckworth led the charge against Republicans’ extreme efforts to take away Americans’ reproductive rights and threaten access to IVF for those looking to start or grow their families. After warning for years that Republicans would seek to ban IVF if they succeeded in overturning Roe, only for Alabama’s Supreme Court to prove her right, Duckworth introduced her Right to IVF Act to protect IVF nationwide. Senator Duckworth forcefully worked to pass her landmark bill as Republicans and Donald Trump actively blocked it from becoming law, all while claiming to support family building through IVF. Helping Bring Illinois Hostages Home and Pushing for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza: With the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza—and the humanitarian crisis it has caused—stretching on for more than a year, Duckworth continued her efforts to secure a for permanent mutual ceasefire that will release the hostages and alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians. She has consistently called for bringing sustained and expanded humanitarian relief into Gaza to address the humanitarian crisis there. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-senators-hassan-and-cornyns-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-border-security,SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Hassan and Cornyn’s Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Border Security,2024-12-30,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The President recently signed into law the DHS Border Services Contracts Review Act, which U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced. The bipartisan legislation requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess contracts for services performed along the U.S.-Mexico border and implement a plan to improve procurement and delivery of those services. “We need to continue working across the aisle to strengthen border security,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation is one additional way to better achieve that mission, and I am pleased that the President has signed it into law. It will help ensure that the Department of Homeland Security and its contractors are operating as effectively as possible at the border.” The DHS Office of Inspector General has previously reported instances when U.S. Customs and Border Protection failed to timely contract for adequate facilities at the Southern border. Senators Hassan and Cornyn’s legislation will mitigate this issue by requiring the DHS Under Secretary for Management to assess contracts valued at a minimum of $50 million for services performed by contractor personnel along the Southern border. DHS will also be required to develop a strategy and implementation plan to improve procurement and delivery of services. As part of the analysis, DHS is required to consider the impact of contracts on the ability of Border Patrol agents to carry out their primary mission responsibilities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-celebrate-inflation-reduction-acts-2000-per-year-cap-on-out-of-pocket-prescription-drug-costs-for-americans-with-medicare,"Warner & Kaine Celebrate Inflation Reduction Act’s $2,000 Per Year Cap on Out-Of-Pocket Prescription Drug Costs for Americans with Medicare",2024-12-30,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Tim Kaine,K000384,www.kaine.senate.gov,kaine,https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) celebrated a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act that will go into effect on January 1, 2025 to cap out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000 per year for Americans with Medicare Part D. The cap will apply to individuals’ combined, total costs for covered drugs—regardless of how many medications they need. Some estimates have shown that Virginians on Medicare will save an average of $440.62 on out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs thanks to this cap. “The Inflation Reduction Act has already made a huge difference in the lives of Virginians. It’s capped the price of insulin at $35 per month for seniors, lowered health care and energy costs, brought millions of dollars in investment to Virginia, and created manufacturing jobs—all while lowering the deficit,” said the senators. “We’re thrilled that beginning in 2025, Americans on Medicare will have a $2,000 per year out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs. Many seniors currently pay thousands of dollars a year for medications they need, so this provision is crucial to saving them money. We will keep working to build on this progress and ensure that Virginia harnesses all the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act.” In 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is also expected to announce 15 more Medicare Part D drugs for negotiation. The IRA allowed CMS to negotiate the price of prescription drugs for the first time—a move Warner and Kaine had long pushed for. This year, the Biden Administration announced negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs for patients covered by Medicare Part D. The negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs, which will go into effect in 2026, will save $1.5 billion for Americans with Medicare Part D and $6 billion in the federal budget in the first year of implementation. Many other provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which the senators voted to pass in 2022, have already gone into effect to lower health care costs and expand clean energy manufacturing in Virginia and across the country. Health Care: Black lung benefits: The law permanently extended the black lung excise tax at a higher rate, providing more certainty for miners, miner retirees, and their families who rely on the fund to access benefits. In Virginia, thousands of miners and their families have received benefits through the trust fund since it was established, including approximately 2,600 Virginians in 2021. Click here to learn more about what this means for miners and miner retirees like Mr. James Gibbs, a Bristol native, the At-Large International Vice President of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and Kaine's guest to the 2023 State of the Union. $35 cap on the cost of insulin: Out-of-pocket costs for insulin—regardless of how much a patient needs—are capped at $35 per month under Medicare. Thanks to the IRA, 36,461 Virginians on Medicare who use insulin now pay no more than $35 per month. Click here to learn how seniors like Mrs. Marguerite Bailey Young of Fredericksburg, who was Warner’s guest to the 2023 State of the Union, are benefiting from the $35 cap. Free vaccines for Medicare recipients: People with Medicare no longer have to pay to receive most vaccines under Medicare Part D, which includes vaccines for shingles, HPV, MMR, diphtheria, and pertussis. In 2023, over 230,000 seniors in Virginia received a recommended vaccine free of cost. Extension of ACA subsidies: During the pandemic, Congress enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help lower health care premiums for millions of Americans. The IRA extended these enhanced subsidies through 2025 to help make Virginians’ health insurance more affordable. 350,008 Virginians with ACA coverage are receiving assistance to lower the cost of their premium. In 2022, Virginians saved an average of $508 per month on their health insurance premium. Lower Premiums for More Than 500,000 Virginians: There are additional provisions that went into effect to limit annual premium increases for Americans, including more than 500,000 Virginians enrolled in Medicare Part D. Penalties on drug manufacturers that increase prices: Manufacturers are required to keep the increase in the cost of their drugs at or below inflation. Clean Energy: Boosts to clean energy investments: Clean energy manufacturers can apply for expanded tax credits that incentivize investment in and production of renewable energy technologies like solar power and offshore wind. The IRA set aside $4 billion in credits for businesses that make these investments in energy communities that have seen closures of coal mines or retirements of coal-fired power plants in recent years. This means that communities in Virginia, especially Southwest Virginia, are well-positioned to benefit from many of these tax credits and funding opportunities. In 2023, Kaine hosted an event at Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap to discuss how Virginia can best harness the clean energy tax credits, economic development, and job creation opportunities created by the legislation. Improvements to home energy efficiency: Homeowners can receive up to 30 percent back through tax credits for making energy efficiency improvements to their home—generally up to a maximum of $1,200 per year but potentially up to $3,200 if improvements include heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, or biomass stoves. Simplified Electric Vehicle (EV) Tax Credits: The IRA allows qualified individuals to get a tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of new EVs or a tax credit of up to $4,000 for certain used EVs and plug-in hybrids purchased through a dealership. Virginians who buy an EV from a participating dealer can now choose to receive their tax credit for that purchase at the point-of-sale instead of after filing their taxes. Federal funding to help low-income and disadvantaged communities more easily access solar energy: The IRA brought over $156 million in federal funding to Virginia to support solar energy development in low-income areas, which will lower energy costs for families and create good-quality jobs while tackling the effects of climate change. The IRA has also expanded clean energy manufacturing in Virginia and brought a series of corporate investments to Virginia, including: A $681 million investment by LS GreenLink to build a state-of-the-art facility in Chesapeake to manufacture high-voltage subsea cables used for offshore wind farms. This will create over 330 jobs. An over $400 million investment by Topsoe to build a new manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County that will manufacture solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOEC), a crucial component for producing clean hydrogen. This will create at least 150 new jobs in Virginia. An investment of over $208 million by Mack and Volvo Trucks and a federal grant award of over $208 million to sustain 7,900 union jobs and create 295 new jobs in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Volvo Trucks is the second largest employer in the New River Valley, sustaining 3,600 jobs in Dublin, including 3,200 United Automobile Workers (UAW) jobs. In September 2024, Warner and Kaine visited Volvo’s New River Valley plant to celebrate the investment. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/over-the-last-year-schatz-secured-more-than-6-billion-to-support-mauis-recovery-build-more-housing-improve-infrastructure-expand-high-speed-internet-and-advance-other-priorities-across-hawaii,"Over The Last Year, Schatz Secured More Than $6 Billion To Support Maui’s Recovery, Build More Housing, Improve Infrastructure, Expand High-Speed Internet & Advance Other Priorities Across Hawai‘i",2024-12-30,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – In 2024, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) helped secure more than $6 billion in federal funding for Hawai‘i as he led efforts to deliver resources to support Maui’s recovery from last year’s fires and advance a range of other priorities for the state. Earlier this month, Schatz announced an estimated $1.6 billion in new funding for Maui’s continued recovery, aimed at building permanent housing for survivors, in addition to almost $500 million to support economic development, small business needs, water infrastructure, and more. The funding was approved following efforts led by Schatz for more than a year to press the need for long-term disaster aid both in Congress and with the Biden administration. “Survivors on Maui are doing everything they can to recover – but they can’t do it alone. That’s why getting funding to build housing – which remains the top priority – was so important,” said Senator Schatz. “People can’t fully recover without stable, permanent housing, and it’s critical that homes now get built as quickly as possible.” Senator Schatz added, “We also delivered significant funding this year to improve infrastructure of all kinds, expand access to high-speed internet, and help people transition to clean energy. Tackling Hawai‘i’s housing shortage is one of the biggest challenges of our time – and the new investments to encourage pro-housing policies and build housing on Hawaiian home lands are just the start. Whether it’s increasing SNAP benefits for families or preserving telehealth access or pushing to strengthen Hawai‘i’s security, we made real progress this year to help people across the state.” Earlier this year, Schatz, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), helped secure more than $6.6 million to build housing across the state by removing regulatory barriers that drive up the cost of housing. The funding came from a first-of-its-kind national program created by Schatz – the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program – for which he secured $100 million in fiscal year 2024. Additionally, as Chair of THUD and Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Schatz delivered record funding to build housing on Hawaiian home lands and in other Native communities. The more than $1.3 billion for Native communities nationwide was an increase of more than $320 million from last year, and is in addition to the $22.3 million he secured to address Native Hawaiian housing needs. Additional highlights include: Helping increase SNAP benefits to reflect food costs in Hawai‘i: Following calls from Schatz to increase SNAP benefits in Hawai‘i in line with the local cost of food, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed a $40 – or 2.3 percent – increase in benefits. Schatz worked directly with USDA Secretary Vilsack to update the Hawai‘i cost analysis. Supporting flood management and environmental restoration projects: As part of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, Schatz secured provisions authorizing feasibility studies for flood risk management projects on Maui, Kaua‘i, and O‘ahu and expediting projects already underway. Improving air tour safety and addressing air noise: Schatz secured several provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to toughen safety requirements for air tour operators and require the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to participate in a state task force on air tour operations. The bill also helps airports in the state adapt to extreme weather and establishes the first-ever, Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection. Extending telehealth coverage: Schatz led a group of 100 lawmakers in calling for telehealth expansion that were set to expire at the end of the year. Schatz continues to push for the passage of his bipartisan bill to permanently extend telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries. Leading the push to strengthen national security and protect Hawai‘i: Along with Senator Eric Schmidt (R-Mo.) and a group of bipartisan colleagues, Schatz – a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to clarify that Hawai‘i would be protected by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) under Article V of its treaty should the state ever come under attack by an adversary. Hawai‘i is the only state in the country that does not have full protections under NATO. Renewing COFA agreements and making medical care accessible to U.S. military veterans living in the FAS: Schatz helped extend the United States’ agreements with the Freely Associated States (FAS) of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia as part of this year’s appropriations process. Additionally, Schatz secured provisions to allow the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide medical care to veterans of the U.S. military living in the FAS. Working to improve evacuation route planning in the event of a disaster or emergency: Following the Lahaina fires, Schatz joined U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to develop guidelines for state and local governments to improve emergency evacuation preparedness. Funding highlights include: Nearly $108 million to rehabilitate bridges on Hawai‘i Island. $74.6 million in funding will help improve Nanue and Hakalau bridges on Hawai‘i Island in an effort to maintain traffic capacity and safety. The funding will also enable the completion of environmental remediation of lead paint under Hakalau Bridge that led to the closure of Hakalau Beach Park. $33 million of the funding will help strengthen the Wailuku River Bridge by making key improvements to reinforce its foundation. Nearly $100 million to improve airports statewide. The funding will help rehabilitate runways at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on Hawai‘i Island as well as enable the construction of a new security screening checkpoint facility at Kahului Airport on Maui. At Daniel K. Inouye Airport on O‘ahu, the funding will help improve the Terminal 2 roadway for the Wiki Wiki Shuttle, expand sidewalks and update lighting to the Diamond Head Concourse, and upgrade fire sprinkler and alarm systems. $89 million to expand high-speed internet access on Hawaiian home lands. The funding will help bring broadband internet access to thousands of households on Hawaiian home lands through building new telecommunications infrastructure, workforce development programs, and digital equity initiatives for DHHL lessees. $68.4 million to conserve and restore watersheds and forests. The funding for the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College program will be used to help conserve and restore watersheds and forests; build natural infrastructure to protect communities and habitats; restore Native Hawaiian fishponds, limu, and coral reefs to reinvigorate habitat; and establish new green infrastructure projects to reduce risk and improve disaster resilience. $62.4 million to deliver solar power to low-income homes statewide. The funding will help finance residential rooftop solar projects as well as storage and community-owned solar systems. $42.5 million to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety on Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu. The funding will be used to reconstruct roadways near Bayfront Highway and Waianuenue Avenue in Hilo to implement a slate of roadway improvements including ADA-compliant sidewalks, pedestrian signals, and traffic management devices. In Honolulu, the funding will be used to add an additional lane and execute a complete redesign of a 1.5-mile segment of Salt Lake Boulevard which includes dedicated bike lanes. $24.4 million to repair roads and structures damaged by storms on Maui and Kaua‘i. The funding will be used to cover the costs of repairs to roadways and structures on Maui and Kaua‘i that were damaged by landslides and severe rain in recent years. $20 million to support Native Hawaiian climate resilience efforts. The funding, awarded to 17 Native Hawaiian Organizations, will help restore native ecosystems and plants and enhance food security while incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=A046445E-BBF0-4B67-AE86-F68A477CFE95,"Warner & Kaine Celebrate Inflation Reduction Act's $2,000 per Year Cap on Out-of-Pocket Prescription Drug Costs for Americans with Medicare",2024-12-30,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Mark R. Warner,W000805,www.warner.senate.gov,warner,https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) celebrated a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act that will go into effect on January 1, 2025 to cap out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000 per year for Americans with Medicare Part D. The cap will apply to individuals’ combined, total costs for covered drugs—regardless of how many medications they need. Some estimates have shown that Virginians on Medicare will save an average of $440.62 on out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs thanks to this cap. “The Inflation Reduction Act has already made a huge difference in the lives of Virginians. It’s capped the price of insulin at $35 per month for seniors, lowered health care and energy costs, brought millions of dollars in investment to Virginia, and created manufacturing jobs—all while lowering the deficit,” said the senators. “We’re thrilled that beginning in 2025, Americans on Medicare will have a $2,000 per year out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs. Many seniors currently pay thousands of dollars a year for medications they need, so this provision is crucial to saving them money. We will keep working to build on this progress and ensure that Virginia harnesses all the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act.” In 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is also expected to announce 15 more Medicare Part D drugs for negotiation. The IRA allowed CMS to negotiate the price of prescription drugs for the first time—a move Warner and Kaine had long pushed for. This year, the Biden Administration announced negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs for patients covered by Medicare Part D. The negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs, which will go into effect in 2026, will save $1.5 billion for Americans with Medicare Part D and $6 billion in the federal budget in the first year of implementation. Many other provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which the senators voted to pass in 2022, have already gone into effect to lower health care costs and expand clean energy manufacturing in Virginia and across the country. Health Care: Black lung benefits: The law permanently extended the black lung excise tax at a higher rate, providing more certainty for miners, miner retirees, and their families who rely on the fund to access benefits. In Virginia, thousands of miners and their families have received benefits through the trust fund since it was established, including approximately 2,600 Virginians in 2021. $35 cap on the cost of insulin: Out-of-pocket costs for insulin—regardless of how much a patient needs—are capped at $35 per month under Medicare. Thanks to the IRA, 36,461 Virginians on Medicare who use insulin now pay no more than $35 per month. Click here to learn how seniors like Mrs. Marguerite Bailey Young of Fredericksburg, who was Warner’s guest to the 2023 State of the Union, are benefiting from the $35 cap. Free vaccines for Medicare recipients: People with Medicare no longer have to pay to receive most vaccines under Medicare Part D, which includes vaccines for shingles, HPV, MMR, diphtheria, and pertussis. In 2023, over 230,000 seniors in Virginia received a recommended vaccine free of cost. Extension of ACA subsidies: During the pandemic, Congress enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help lower health care premiums for millions of Americans. The IRA extended these enhanced subsidies through 2025 to help make Virginians’ health insurance more affordable. 350,008 Virginians with ACA coverage are receiving assistance to lower the cost of their premium. In 2022, Virginians saved an average of $508 per month on their health insurance premium. Lower Premiums for More Than 500,000 Virginians: There are additional provisions that went into effect to limit annual premium increases for Americans, including more than 500,000 Virginians enrolled in Medicare Part D. Penalties on drug manufacturers that increase prices: Manufacturers are required to keep the increase in the cost of their drugs at or below inflation. Clean Energy: Boosts to clean energy investments: Clean energy manufacturers can apply for expanded tax credits that incentivize investment in and production of renewable energy technologies like solar power and offshore wind. The IRA set aside $4 billion in credits for businesses that make these investments in energy communities that have seen closures of coal mines or retirements of coal-fired power plants in recent years. This means that communities in Virginia, especially Southwest Virginia, are well-positioned to benefit from many of these tax credits and funding opportunities. In 2023, Kaine hosted an event at Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap to discuss how Virginia can best harness the clean energy tax credits, economic development, and job creation opportunities created by the legislation. Improvements to home energy efficiency: Homeowners can receive up to 30 percent back through tax credits for making energy efficiency improvements to their home—generally up to a maximum of $1,200 per year but potentially up to $3,200 if improvements include heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, or biomass stoves. Simplified Electric Vehicle (EV) Tax Credits: The IRA allows qualified individuals to get a tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of new EVs or a tax credit of up to $4,000 for certain used EVs and plug-in hybrids purchased through a dealership. Virginians who buy an EV from a participating dealer can now choose to receive their tax credit for that purchase at the point-of-sale instead of after filing their taxes. Federal funding to help low-income and disadvantaged communities more easily access solar energy: The IRA brought over $156 million in federal funding to Virginia to support solar energy development in low-income areas, which will lower energy costs for families and create good-quality jobs while tackling the effects of climate change. The IRA has also expanded clean energy manufacturing in Virginia and brought a series of corporate investments to Virginia, including: A $681 million investment by LS GreenLink to build a state-of-the-art facility in Chesapeake to manufacture high-voltage subsea cables used for offshore wind farms. This will create over 330 jobs. An over $400 million investment by Topsoe to build a new manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County that will manufacture solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOEC), a crucial component for producing clean hydrogen. This will create at least 150 new jobs in Virginia. An investment of over $208 million by Mack and Volvo Trucks and a federal grant award of over $208 million to sustain 7,900 union jobs and create 295 new jobs in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Volvo Trucks is the second largest employer in the New River Valley, sustaining 3,600 jobs in Dublin, including 3,200 United Automobile Workers (UAW) jobs. In September 2024, Warner and Kaine visited Volvo’s New River Valley plant to celebrate the investment. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2024/12/29/bennet-statement-on-passing-of-president-jimmy-carter/,Bennet Statement on Passing of President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the below statement following the death of President Jimmy Carter: “President Jimmy Carter campaigned on telling the truth to the American people, and he kept his promise. He was a devoted family man, principled statesman, and champion for rural communities. His post-presidency set a global standard for dignity and selflessness. Susan and I join Colorado in mourning his loss and recommitting ourselves to the common good he espoused.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-the-passing-of-former-president-jimmy-carter,Blumenthal Statement on the Passing of Former President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released the below statement following the passing of Former President Jimmy Carter: “Jimmy Carter was a public servant for all seasons—leading by example, passionately and unstintingly, over deeply different and sometimes difficult phases of his life and the nation’s. “The diversity and longevity of his public service is staggering—as a military officer, Governor and President, home builder, health care activist, and much more. He certainly showed that leadership in elected office is only one of many ways to give back to our great nation. He believed fervently in the opportunity and obligation of every single person to make a difference and better the lives of others. I’ll always be grateful for his appointing me as U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, which is how I first came to know him. “While some disagreed with his political views or positions, none could doubt his sincerity and decency, his faith and humanity. He built a legacy of giving back—personifying the adage that there’s no limit to the good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Blumenthal was appointed to be the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut by President Carter and served in that role for four years during the Carter Administration. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-on-passing-of-president-jimmy-carter/,Gillibrand Statement On Passing Of President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NY,Kirsten E. Gillibrand,G000555,www.gillibrand.senate.gov,gillibrand,https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement on the death of President Jimmy Carter: “President Jimmy Carter was a devoted public servant, a lifelong activist, and a prolific humanitarian. I am devastated to hear of his passing, but I know that his legacy will live on through the work of the Carter Center and the thousands of people he influenced throughout his life. My thoughts are with his family today. He will be deeply missed.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-on-death-of-former-president-jimmy-carter,Senator Hassan Statement on Death of Former President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement regarding the death of former President Jimmy Carter: “Jimmy Carter dedicated his life to building a more equitable country and world. As President, he strengthened our education system, protected the environment, and helped make possible the historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. In the years following his presidency, he continued to lead international peace-keeping efforts and championed human rights. ""President Carter made it his mission to improve the lives of Americans and people around the world. His commitments to building a more perfect union and advancing peace have helped to leave this world better than he found it. I join with people across New Hampshire, our country, and the world today in mourning his loss, and my prayers are with his loved ones at this time."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-statement-on-president-jimmy-carter,Heinrich Statement on President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NM,Martin Heinrich,H001046,www.heinrich.senate.gov,heinrich,https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in recognition of the life of former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter. “Jimmy Carter devoted his life to serving others, seeking peace, and improving the world around him. “From creating the Department of Energy to protecting our rivers and wildlands in New Mexico, Alaska, and elsewhere, President Carter’s legacy was forward-looking, thoughtful, and visionary. Above everything, he stood tall for working people, never relenting in the fight for a better economic future for all. “At a time of great polarization and partisan divide in our nation, I hope each of us can draw from President Carter’s constant example of compassion, humility, and decency.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=C491D691-7010-4363-8E41-DD985E6D9CBF,Klobuchar Statement on the Passing of President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,klobuchar,https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"MINNESOTA – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement on the passing of President Jimmy Carter. “Today, America mourns the loss of President Jimmy Carter — a husband, dad, grandpa, veteran, farmer, and lifelong public servant. President Carter earned a special place in the hearts of Minnesotans when he invited Senator Walter Mondale to join his presidential ticket. On the wall in the Carter Museum in Atlanta are Vice President Mondale’s words uttered shortly after their 1980 defeat, summing up their four years in office: “We told the truth. We obeyed the law. We kept the peace.” Minnesota will always remember the “Grits and Fritz” ticket, but President Carter gave our nation that and more. Even during a period of economic uncertainty, he made key advancements in protecting the environment, expanding access to health care, bolstering Social Security, and strengthening America’s leadership on the world stage. In the years following his presidency, President Carter showed the world that public service transcends public office. He founded the Carter Center, which to this day is advancing peace, public health, and human rights across the globe. His devotion to serving others continued until the very end — so many of us were moved by the videos of him building homes alongside fellow Habitat for Humanity volunteers in his final years. I was lucky enough to share several wonderful memories with President Carter in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. We prayed together at Maranatha Baptist Church, I watched him teach Sunday school, and we shared pimento cheese sandwiches. Each time, his profound faith was clearly on display. As President Carter reunites with his beloved wife Rosalynn, we should recognize his passing for what it is — the culmination of a life well lived. He will be remembered not as a politician, but as an unrelenting force for good. John’s and my prayers are with Jack, Chip, Jeff, Amy, and the entire Carter family at this time.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-murphy-statement-on-death-of-president-jimmy-carter,Murphy Statement on Death of President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"HARTFORD–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on the death of President Jimmy Carter: “Few people have modeled what it means to live a life dedicated to the service of others more than President Jimmy Carter. He led with compassion, humility, and moral clarity even when it came at a political cost. Helping others was his calling, and President Carter didn’t need the White House to change millions of lives. From his work at the Carter Center to volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, he worked every day to build a more just world. “In a 1979 speech, President Carter warned the nation we have two paths to choose from – one toward fragmentation and self-interest and another toward common purpose. It’s a warning that rings true still today. “My heart is with the Carter family as the nation mourns the loss of a giant.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-statement-on-the-life-and-legacy-of-former-president-jimmy-carter,Reed Statement on the Life & Legacy of Former President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,RI,Jack Reed,R000122,www.reed.senate.gov,jackreed,https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement on the passing of James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr., 100, who served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002: “From the Naval Academy to the White House to Habitat for Humanity, Jimmy Carter led a life of public service and personal integrity. He and his late, beloved wife, Rosalyn, were true champions for human rights, peace, and democracy. Whether it was serving in the Navy or in office, President Carter dedicated his life to public service. He was ahead of his time on issues like climate change, clean energy, and environmental conservation. Jimmy Carter was a man of uncommon principle, compassion, caring, kindness, and faith who truly lived his values and made the world a better place.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-the-passing-of-former-president-jimmy-carter,Schatz Statement On The Passing Of Former President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statement after the death of former President Jimmy Carter: “I join Americans across the country in mourning the loss of former President Jimmy Carter. As president, he worked to protect the environment, expand clean energy, champion human rights, and advance Middle East peace. After leaving office, he spent decades helping the less fortunate, in America and around the world. His legacy of service, kindness, and generosity will live on. My deepest condolences go out to the entire Carter family.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-statement-on-passing-of-us-president-jimmy-carter,Shaheen Statement on Passing of U.S. President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement on the passing of U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States of America: “I’m devastated by the passing of my mentor and friend, Jimmy Carter, and join the nation in grieving the loss of this incredible leader,” said Shaheen. “He led this country with empathy, grace and determination, and I owe my journey in politics to him. From working on his primary presidential campaign in New Hampshire in 1975, I became inspired by his compassion for people and vision to make this country a better place. The values he passionately advocated for inspired my run for office, and I’ve made it my mission in the Senate to take the mantle of fighting for working families and justice. We have lost a titan of American politics, but our country is better for his unwavering service. I join with all Granite Staters in keeping the Carter family in our thoughts. May he rest in peace.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=1B86752D-AA8A-4990-9663-4F0FC6B3E504,Statement of U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner on the Passing of Former President Jimmy Carter,2024-12-29,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Mark R. Warner,W000805,www.warner.senate.gov,warner,https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the following statement on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter: “Jimmy Carter blazed a trail from the peanut fields of Plains, Georgia to the Navy, the Governor’s Mansion, the White House, and to a remarkable post-presidential career – modeling leadership, philanthropy, and love of country every step of the way. We lost a giant. “Jimmy Carter gave me my first job out of law school, and I have deeply admired his service since leaving the Oval Office. His dedication to building homes through Habitat for Humanity has always brought back warm memories of my father, who also volunteered with the organization well into his eighties. Like much of the Greatest Generation, President Carter will be remembered by what he built and left behind for us – a model of service late into life, a tireless devotion to family and philanthropy, and a more peaceful world to call home.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=239A2EF6-9609-4E16-AC9E-671633560D17,Klobuchar Statement on the Passing of State Senator Kari Dziedzic,2024-12-28,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,klobuchar,https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"MINNESOTA – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement on the passing of Minnesota State Senator and former DFL Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic. Kari Dziedzic was an incredible public servant who gave so much to our state. She long served as my state Senator and I got to see firsthand how she listened to and worked with the people in the district and how effective she was. She governed with strength and calm and grace and was able to get big things done without political drama. That earned her the respect of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Our family’s prayers are with Kari’s friends and family during this difficult time. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/icymi-permanent-subcommittee-on-investigations-releases-report-and-supporting-documents-in-coast-guard-sexual-misconduct-cover-up,ICYMI: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Releases Report & Supporting Documents in Coast Guard Sexual Misconduct Cover-Up,2024-12-27,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) Chair Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-WI) released a bipartisan interim staff report on their inquiry into the Coast Guard’s efforts to conceal the investigation into mishandled cases of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy. The report, Coast Guard Efforts to Conceal the Operation Fouled Anchor Investigation from Congress and the Public, includes several newly released documents, among which is an email explaining that then-Commandant Admiral Schultz chose not to affirmatively disclose Operation Fouled Anchor to either Congress or the public based on the continuing nature of the investigation. This email was sent the same day that a briefing by the Coast Guard to Congress on Operation Fouled Anchor was scheduled to take place – effectively engaging in a cover-up. Additional evidence further suggests that the Coast Guard took affirmative steps to remove references to Operation Fouled Anchor from internal Coast Guard communications which Congress had requested as part of an inquiry into harassment, bullying, and retaliation at the Coast Guard Academy. “This report provides additional evidence that the highest levels of Coast Guard leadership engaged in a purposeful and long-term cover-up of widespread sexual assault and harassment allegations at the Coast Guard Academy,” Blumenthal and Johnson said. “The survivors of this misconduct deserve an explanation, and so does the public.” Background on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Inquiry into the Coast Guard In September 2023, PSI opened a bipartisan inquiry into the Coast Guard’s internal review of sexual assault and harassment cases that occurred between 1990 and 2006, which was called Operation Fouled Anchor. The Subcommittee’s inquiry has focused on the Coast Guard’s original mishandling of these cases and the Coast Guard’s failure to reveal the conclusion of Operation Fouled Anchor, and its associated report, to Congress and the public. The Subcommittee is also examining the ways in which the Coast Guard currently handles reports of sexual assault and harassment. Last December, the Subcommittee held a hearing in which four current and former Coast Guard Academy cadets testified about the Coast Guard’s mishandling of their cases. In February 2024, the Subcommittee released additional documents showing that the Coast Guard was concerned that, should Operation Fouled Anchor be made public, it would “risk the initiation of comprehensive Congressional investigations, hearings, and media interest” and that “[t]he rates of sexual assault reporting have not appreciably changed, calling into question impact of Coast Guard actions taken over the past decade to change CGA climate/etc.” Handwritten notes on one document, which according to the Coast Guard were made by then-Vice Commandant Admiral Charles Ray, state, “Problem is one of the past... .” In June, Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the Coast Guard, testified before PSI. In August, Blumenthal released a majority staff report highlighting firsthand accounts of Coast Guard enlisted personnel, officers, and Coast Guard Academy cadets who have experienced sexual assault, harassment, and other forms of misconduct ahead of a field hearing in New London, Connecticut, featuring testimony from two current and three former members of the Coast Guard. The full text of the Senators’ initial letter to the Coast Guard is available here. The letter from December 2023 is available here. Video of the Subcommittee’s hearing in December featuring testimony from survivors can be viewed here. The Subcommittee’s February 2024 letter is available here. The Subcommittee’s hearing invitation to Admiral Linda Fagan is available here, and the video of Admiral Fagan’s testimony in June 2024 is available here. The majority staff report highlighting the testimony of survivors of sexual assault and harassment in the Coast Guard is available here. Video of the field hearing in New London is available here. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-senators-hassan-and-cornyns-bipartisan-bill-to-help-prevent-child-abuse,SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Hassan and Cornyn's Bipartisan Bill to Help Prevent Child Abuse,2024-12-27,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"AUSTIN – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) released the following statements after their Jenna Quinn Law, which would allow current grant funds to be used to train and educate students, teachers, caregivers, and other adults who work with children in a professional or volunteer capacity on how to prevent, recognize, and report child sexual abuse, was signed into law earlier this week. The bill is named for Jenna Quinn, a Texan and child abuse survivor, and is modeled after successful reforms passed by the Texas Legislature in 2009. “Inspired by Texan Jenna Quinn, our landmark legislation modeled after successful reforms in Texas will ensure every student, teacher, and caregiver across the country has the tools to recognize and prevent abuse of vulnerable children,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This law is years in the making, and I want to thank the bill’s namesake, Jenna Quinn, Representatives Moran and McCaul, and all of my colleagues in Congress for their support.” “Members of both parties are united in our mission to find additional ways to keep children safe from sexual abuse,” said Sen. Hassan. “Our bipartisan legislation will help ensure that parents, teachers, and other community members receive evidence-based training to help protect children from sexual abuse."" “Every child deserves protection from abuse. Ensuring all adults, teachers, and caregivers are equipped with the knowledge to identify, prevent, and report child sexual abuse is a necessary and life-saving mechanism,” said Sen. Luján. “Jenna’s Law is implemented across several states – including New Mexico – and should be federally recognized. I’m proud that this legislation was signed into law, bringing us one step closer to providing funding to train and educate students, teachers, and parents on best practices to prevent and report abuse.” Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) also cosponsored this legislation, and Representatives Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Michael McCaul (TX-10), and Susan Wild (PA-07) led the legislation in the House. Background: Jenna Quinn has been an outspoken advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse and was the driving force behind what is now known as Jenna’s Law in Texas. Unanimously passed by the Texas Legislature, Jenna’s Law was the first child sexual abuse prevention law in the U.S. that mandates K-12 trainings for students and school staff and was amended in 2017 to include sex trafficking prevention education in schools. More than half of all states have adopted a form of Jenna’s Law. After Jenna’s Law passed in Texas in 2009, a study found educators reported child sexual abuse at a rate almost four times greater after training than during their pre-training career. The Jenna Quinn Law will: Authorize federal grants to eligible entities for increasing evidence-based or informed training on sexual abuse prevention education and reporting to teachers and school employees, students, caregivers, and other adults who work with children; And ensure these grant recipients coordinate with local educational agencies to train students, professionals, and volunteers who work with students on sexual abuse prevention, recognition, and reporting. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-senators-hassan-and-hyde-smiths-bipartisan-legislation-to-benefit-national-guard-reserve-students,"SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Hassan and Hyde-Smith’s Bipartisan Legislation to Benefit National Guard, Reserve Students",2024-12-27,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, the annual defense bill signed into law earlier this week includes bipartisan legislation from U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) to ensure that students who serve in the National Guard or Reserves will be guaranteed readmission to their schools following a mobilization. “Students in the Reserves and the National Guard sacrifice to serve their communities and our country, and they shouldn’t have to jeopardize their spot in school because they were called to duty,” said Senator Hassan. “I am pleased that the latest national defense bill provides a measure that will ensure that student National Guard and Reserve members who are mobilized for short missions will have the security of knowing that their spot in school will be waiting for them.” “Many Guard and Reserve deployments last fewer than 30 days, putting numerous students who have volunteered to serve our nation at risk of having their educational pursuits derailed,” Hyde-Smith said. “I’m pleased the FY2025 NDAA includes an overdue fix to this problem.” The SERVE Act removes a “more than 30 days” stipulation in the law that only requires colleges and universities to readmit servicemembers who are deployed for more than 30 days. Prior to this bill, National Guard and Reserve members mobilized for fewer than 30 days were not universally entitled to be promptly readmitted. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-hassan-backed-bipartisan-bill-to-support-autism-research,SIGNED INTO LAW: Hassan-Backed Bipartisan Bill to Support Autism Research,2024-12-26,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – A bipartisan bill, backed by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, to support autism education, research, and resources has been signed into law. The Autism CARES Act of 2024 renews and expands federal support for research, services, and training related to autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Senator Hassan, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee, helped advance this legislation through the Senate. “Individuals with autism deserve the best opportunities possible to thrive,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will help advance autism research and education efforts. I am glad that the President has signed this bill into law, and I will continue to work to support people who experience disabilities.” This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to support people who experience disabilities. In May, Senator Hassan’s provision to increase access to universal changing stations in airports was signed into law as part of the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization. Additionally, Senator Hassan helped secure funding to help families of children experiencing disabilities navigate the special education process and better access the resources available for children experiencing disabilities as part of a bipartisan government funding package. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=43C74E92-7898-43A6-9FA1-DC0C2459DB8F,Bipartisan Klobuchar Legislation to Designate the Bald Eagle as the National Bird is Signed into Law,2024-12-26,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,klobuchar,https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith introduced the legislation in the Senate. Representatives Brad Finstad and Angie Craig led companion legislation in the House of Representatives. WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced her legislation to designate the bald eagle as the National Bird of the United States has been signed into law. This legislation was co-sponsored by Tina Smith (D-MN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). Representatives Brad Finstad (R-MN) and Angie Craig (D-MN) led companion legislation in the House of Representatives. “In Minnesota, we know a thing or two about eagles: we are home to one of the largest populations of bald eagles in the country as well as the National Eagle Center in Wabasha,” said Klobuchar. “The bald eagle is a symbol of our country’s freedom and strength and with our legislation now signed into law, the bald eagle is officially our national bird.” “This is an exciting day. The Bald Eagle has symbolized American ideals since its placement on the Great Seal in 1782,” said Preston Cook, Co-Chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center and author of American Eagle - A Visual History of Our National Emblem. “With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity.” The bald eagle has proudly been depicted as the national symbol of the United States since June 20, 1782, when our country’s Founding Fathers at the Second Continental Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States. Since that time, the bald eagle design has gone on to appear on official documents, currency, flags, public buildings, sports teams, and other government-related items. Today, the bald eagle is synonymous with American life and this legislation will officially designate it as the National Bird of the United States. In the Senate, the legislation was led by Klobuchar and Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Brad Finstad (R-MN), Angie Craig (D-MN), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), and Don Beyer (D-VA). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=67A111C6-912D-44A0-BC9E-14484A8C2DAD,Klobuchar Statement on the Passing of Former State Representative Mary Murphy,2024-12-26,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,klobuchar,https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases,scraper,"MINNESOTA – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement on the passing of former Minnesota State Representative Mary Murphy. “Mary Murphy was an incredible Minnesotan who dedicated her life to serving the Northland. As a former teacher, she was a strong advocate for improving education for our children and she also fought to protect victims of domestic violence and stalking. Mary was in so many ways ahead of her time and was often the only woman at the table in northern Minnesota. That’s changed now thanks to her trailblazing legacy. John and I send our deepest condolences to Mary’s friends and family.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2024/12/24/bennet-sends-nine-bills-to-the-presidents-desk/,Bennet Sends Nine Bills to the President’s Desk,2024-12-24,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Bennet-Led Legislation to Protect Kids in Foster Care, Build Affordable Housing, Invest in Rural Communities Included in End-of-Year Packages Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet passed nine pieces of legislation through the House and Senate over the past month and sent them to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. This legislation includes provisions from: Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act Summit of the Americas Act Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act Rural Outdoor Investment Act Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act Coordinating AUKUS Engagement with Japan Act of 2024 Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act In case you missed it, here’s what they’re saying: Colorado Newsline: Colorado Democrats, outdoor recreation groups cheer Senate passage of public lands bill “While chaos in the U.S. House of Representatives threatened to trigger a government shutdown just before the holidays, Colorado Democrats and outdoor recreation advocates cheered the passage of a wide-ranging public lands bill in the Senate on Thursday. “The bipartisan Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences or EXPLORE Act was unanimously approved by the Senate after being passed by the House earlier this year. It now heads to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. “The EXPLORE Act includes a variety of measures aimed at protecting certain recreational uses of federally owned public lands, simplifying permitting procedures for federal land management and ensuring equal access for people with disabilities, military veterans and young people.” … “The Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act, also sponsored by Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, aims to strengthen coordination between federal and state agencies responding to the spread of invasive species, including by giving the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation the authority to fund response programs, improving data sharing and ensuring that “at-risk basins are eligible and prioritized for watercraft inspection and decontamination funding.” Colorado Public Radio: Colorado has tens of thousands of abandoned hardrock mines. Congress just passed a bill to help more groups clean them up “Congress has passed a bill that could make it easier for non-profits or states and local governments to clean up abandoned mines. “The U.S. House on Tuesday approved the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, via voice vote. The bill passed the Senate in July and now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk. “The bill sets up a pilot program under the Environmental Protection Agency to allow “good Samaritans” to clean up and improve water quality around abandoned hard rock mine sites without being subject to liability for pre-existing pollution.” … “Bennet said he was thrilled the bill made it through Congress, finally. ‘It’s 15 years of work by a lot of people, so it will be good to get it done,’ he noted. Bennet co-sponsored past versions of the bill.” Steamboat Pilot & Today: Workforce housing revival for U.S. Forest Service project in Steamboat Springs “U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, who co-sponsored the legislation with U.S. Rep. Neguse and has adamantly pushed for the continuation of the Forest Service leasing authorization, said Friday that he was happy that congress members were able to work together to get the EXPLORE Act passed. “It started out in the 2018 Farm Bill, the expiration was making it difficult for what people had to do on the ground, even in Steamboat, but we were able to get the parties to come together to agree that putting it in the EXPLORE act made sense and I am really glad that we did because we were running out of time,” said Sen. Bennet. “‘It became clear, we had wanted to pass the Farm Bill and I think there was a sense, earlier in the year, that we would pass the Farm Bill, that is a deadline that we usually don’t miss, but we were not able to get to a bipartisan Farm Bill this year so we had to find a different vehicle in the Senate and that is what EXPLORE became,’ he added. “The legislation included in the EXPLORE Act also improves what might have been continued in the Farm Bill by extending the limit for Forest Service lease agreements from 50 to 100 years. “‘We heard from local communities that we needed that extended period of time for them to make sense from a leasing and a financing point of view. So, we were able to double the time, and I think we are going to make that program better and more durable and maybe give us more flexibility on the ground,’ added Sen. Bennet.” FOX31 Denver “Earlier this term, Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet called on a committee to prioritize policies that would help people in Colorado access clean water, and today, they celebrate the successful passage of the bill. “The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 authorizes $20 million for water supply and storm[water] management for El Paso County and $50 million for Fremont County.” Vail Daily: Salt in the Colorado River is causing problems. A bill is now heading to Biden’s desk that would send more money to address the challenge. “Since 1974, the Bureau of Reclamation has supported various projects to reduce salt levels in the Colorado River’s upper and lower basins. Now, a bill to increase the 50-year-old program’s funding is heading to President Joe Biden’s desk after passing both chambers of Congress.” … “Bennet said in a statement that the legislation will ‘support ongoing efforts to keep water from the Colorado River safe for communities, farmers and ranchers and water users throughout the entire Basin.’” Colorado Public Radio: In the final days of a historically dysfunctional Congress, lawmakers sprint to pass a flurry of bills “Last fall the House passed the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act, introduced by Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse and Arizona Rep. Debbie Lesko. The Senate gave its approval to the bill Friday. It places the monument, whose idea came from a constituent in Neguse’s district, on the National Mall… A number of other Coloradans co-sponsored the bill, including Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and Reps. Brittany Pettersen and Diana DeGette.” … “Mesa County could be buying some land from the federal government. The Senate passed the CONVEY Act, which the House passed earlier this year.” … “Hickenlooper, who introduced the bill with Bennet and got the bill through the Senate called it a win-win for locals and for the federal government… Bennet agreed. “Mesa County has made significant strides to secure a vibrant future for Clifton, and our legislation would be one more step towards prosperity for the community,” he said in a statement.” NBC Grand Junction “U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet celebrate passing the Clifton Opportunities Now for Vibrant Economic Yields Act, or CONVEY. “This act allows a 31 acre plot of land to be sold to Mesa County by the Bureau of Land Management. That land would be used for new economic development in Clifton. “Both senators commented on the passing, with Hickenlooper saying it’s a win-win for the federal government and Mesa County, while Bennet says Mesa County has made significant strides to secure a vibrant future for Clifton.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/01/06/2025/signed-into-law-annual-defense-bill-with-key-hassan-backed-provisions,SIGNED INTO LAW: Annual Defense Bill with Key Hassan-Backed Provisions,2024-12-24,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The President signed into law the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, including key provisions that Senator Maggie Hassan secured and supported. Among other measures, the legislation includes a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5 percent raise for all other service members. “Service members sacrifice to keep our country safe, secure, and free, and our bipartisan annual defense bill will further support them in their mission,” said Senator Hassan. “This bill will also strengthen our national security – including by taking on China – and it delivers for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and other New Hampshire priorities.” Key measures to strengthen national security and support service members supported by Senator Hassan: The SERVE Act, introduced by Senators Hassan and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), which will guarantee readmission to colleges and universities for National Guard and Reserve members after a mobilization or deployment A 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all service members Taking on China and Russia by: Prohibiting the Defense Department from contracting with any entity that provides semiconductor products to Chinese telecom company Huawei Strengthening intelligence sharing to help counter Chinese trafficking of fentanyl and fentanyl precursors Increasing investments in the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and establishing the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative Directing the Defense Department to report on its efforts to identify and apply lessons learned from the war in Ukraine in order to strengthen U.S. national security efforts Establishing a counter-UAS (commonly referred to as drones) task force for U.S. military installations; requiring a counter-UAS strategy for Defense Department facilities, assets, and personnel in the U.S.; and providing greater resources for counter-UAS technologies Increasing access to contraception by eliminating co-pays for women covered by TRICARE New Hampshire priorities that are included in the NDAA: Exempting public shipyard employees (including those at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard) from being required to stay in government or preferred housing when traveling for official duty Supporting infrastructure at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, including multi-mission dry dock military construction and power plant resiliency improvement Supporting Virginia Class submarines, which are repaired at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Funding to procure KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers, which are flown by Air Force units, including the New Hampshire Air National Guard at Pease Air National Guard Base Continuing PFAS cleanup and research efforts ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/24/2024/van-hollen-schatz-booker-introduce-bill-to-harden-our-infrastructure-against-impacts-of-climate-change,"Van Hollen, Schatz, Booker Introduce Bill to Harden Our Infrastructure Against Impacts of Climate Change",2024-12-24,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,vanhollen,https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have reintroduced their Federal Flood Risk Management Act, legislation to ensure that federally-funded infrastructure projects are built to withstand the impacts of climate change and flooding. “From increasingly devastating storms to more frequent severe flooding, communities across Maryland and the country are contending with the consequences of the climate crisis every day. This legislation will help ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely on infrastructure that is built to withstand the challenges of climate change as we continue the fight to protect our planet,” said Senator Van Hollen. “As temperatures and sea levels continue to rise, the effects of climate change will be more and more acutely felt across the country. As this happens, we must implement more policies to prepare for extreme weather events, like severe flooding. This bill would ensure that the federal government is fully considering and managing the growing flood risk across our nation, investing in resilient infrastructure, and further protecting communities from the threat of climate change,” said Senator Booker. Understanding the dangerous and costly consequences of flooding, the Obama Administration set standards in 2015 to make sure that federal projects were able to stand up to these risks. The order also took into account how climate change is impacting weather and sea levels. But early on in his first Administration, President-Elect Trump signed an executive order undoing this important work. Throughout the four years of the first Trump Administration, the Senators repeatedly pushed back against this effort and introduced the Federal Flood Risk Management Act to codify the standards set forth by President Obama. As Congress prepares for a second Trump Administration, the Senators are reintroducing this important legislation to ensure that we invest in our nation by making resilient investments that take into account the impacts of climate change. Doing so will protect our nation's infrastructure, save taxpayer dollars, safeguard businesses from flood damage, and keep communities safe. ""Flooding is the costliest disaster facing our country, with billions in taxpayer funds spent to rebuild public infrastructure,” said Joel Scata of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The Federal Flood Risk Management Act ensures federally funded projects, like hospitals, roads, and schools, are built to withstand future floods, protecting people and property. When federal funds are used to build or rebuild, the government has a responsibility to ensure those investments are safe, sustainable, and resilient.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2024/12/23/bennet-cheers-senate-passage-of-bill-to-support-colorado-children-in-foster-care/,Bennet Cheers Senate Passage of Bill to Support Colorado Children in Foster Care,2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"After Passing House, Unanimous Senate Approval Sends Legislation to the President’s Desk Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet celebrated Senate passage of the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act. The bipartisan legislation, which had already passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a strong bipartisan vote, reauthorizes and improves child welfare programs that promote family unity and the safety and well-being of children. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “We have a responsibility to ensure that every kid in America grows up in a loving and supportive home. This legislation cuts through bureaucracy and provides a critical, flexible investment for the welfare of our nation’s children,” said Bennet. “I’m grateful for my colleagues’ strong bipartisan support to pass this legislation so communities in Colorado and throughout the country continue to have the flexibility they need to keep kids safe and families together.” “Creating a safe, healthy, and supportive environment at home is the first step to helping Texas children thrive,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would make strategic and evidence-backed improvements to ensure a 360-degree support system is in place for children in foster care nationwide.” This legislation would reauthorize Title IV-B of the Social Security Act for five years and improve its child welfare programs by: Increasing funding by $75 million a year; Expanding evidence-based services to prevent child abuse and neglect; Increasing access to training for caseworkers and improving recruitment and retention efforts to address caseworker shortage and bolster the workforce; Reducing administrative burden; Providing grant funding for the Court Improvement Program to support child legal proceedings; Streamlining access to funding, including for Indian tribes; and Strengthening support systems for relatives and family transitions, including children entering into kinship diversion, exiting foster care, or transitioning to an adopted family.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2024/12/23/bennet-hickenlooper-celebrate-final-passage-of-bipartisan-water-infrastructure-bill/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper Celebrate Final Passage of Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Legislation Includes Colorado Priorities to Manage Flood Risk, Promote Healthy Waterways Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper celebrated the final passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) which includes Colorado priorities to manage flood risk and promote healthy waterways. WRDA is passed every two years to authorize projects that address water management, flood control, ecosystem restoration, and long-term clean water priorities. The legislation now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. “Colorado and the West are on the front lines of climate change. That’s why it’s more important than ever to invest in water infrastructure that can meet our state’s changing needs,” said Bennet. “I’m grateful for the passage of this important package to protect Colorado’s vital waterways and resources.” “These investments equip our communities with more resilient infrastructure,” said Hickenlooper. “We need to harden our infrastructure to be sure we can handle more erratic weather.” The final legislation includes the following Colorado projects: $20 million authorized for El Paso County to address water supply and stormwater management; $50 million authorized for Fremont County for water supply infrastructure needs; A feasibility study of a project to restore ecosystems along Monument and Fountain Creeks and to rehabilitate the Templeton Gap Levee in Colorado Springs; A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and U.S. Government Accountability Office study to help speed the completion of two projects to promote healthy waterways along the South Platte River and neighboring water systems in the Denver area; and A boost in the federal share for assistance from USACE for Continuing Authorities Programs (CAPs) to allow USACE to participate in smaller-scale projects to reduce flood damages and restore aquatic ecosystems.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2024/12/23/bennet-hickenlooper-welcome-341-million-to-cut-methane-emissions-in-colorado/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper Welcome $341 Million to Cut Methane Emissions in Colorado",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed $850 million from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Methane Emissions Reduction Program to fund methane emissions reduction projects and combat climate change, including $341 million for six Colorado-based projects led by Colorado State University and Pioneer Energy, Inc. This funding is part of $1.36 billion from EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) to reduce methane emissions provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, which Bennet and Hickenlooper helped pass into law. “Colorado has been a national leader in addressing methane pollution from the oil and gas industry,” said Bennet. “This funding helps ensure Colorado will continue leading the way towards cutting dangerous air pollution, slowing the rate of climate change, and growing our clean energy economy.” “Methane emissions are driving our climate crisis and putting Coloradans’ health at risk,” said Hickenlooper. “As governor, we set the global standard on methane regulations. Now Colorado will lead the fight to stop these emissions at the source – all thanks to our Inflation Reduction Act.” In total, the EPA announced over $850 million for 43 projects, with over $341 million allocated to multiple projects led by two Colorado organizations: Over $324 million to Colorado State University to reduce methane emissions from existing wells, improve data monitoring of methane emissions; and $17 million to Pioneer Energy, Inc. to deploy technologies that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production. Bennet and Hickenlooper have consistently worked to cut methane emissions and strengthen federal oil and gas methane rules modeled on Colorado’s. In 2021, Bennet and Hickenlooper led members of the Colorado congressional delegation to push the EPA for stronger methane regulations for the oil and gas sector. In 2023, both senators sent multiple letters to the EPA urging them to track methane emissions more accurately. Bennet and Hickenlooper joined members of the Colorado congressional delegation in a letter of support for Pioneer Energy’s funding application.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-secures-key-ndaa-provisions-to-strengthen-rock-island-arsenal-support-families-and-farmers-in-illinois-and-beyond,"Duckworth Secures Key NDAA Provisions to Strengthen Rock Island Arsenal, Support Families and Farmers in Illinois and Beyond",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), secured several important provisions to support our state in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed Congress this week. Some of priorities Duckworth secured to help Illinoisans include expanding housing opportunities and surrounding infrastructure at Rock Island Arsenal, supporting school districts near military bases by helping alleviate state and local tax base funding shortfalls and expanding our military’s use of sustainable aviation fuels, which supports our Illinois farmers, protects the environment and drives economy opportunity throughout the Midwest. “The brave Illinoisans who serve our nation in uniform at home and abroad deserve to know that our country fully supports them as they and their families sacrifice to defend our country,” said Senator Duckworth. “While I do not support every provision in this bipartisan compromise, I’m proud I was able to secure critical provisions that benefit our state by strengthening Rock Island Arsenal, helping ensure our schools serving communities around our military bases have the support they need and expanding our military’s use of renewable aviation fuels. I voted to pass this legislation because our troops deserve each of those improvements and because it’s the right thing to do for our national security. I hope the President signs it as soon as possible.” Key Duckworth provisions secured in this year’s Committee-passed NDAA aimed at supporting Illinoisans include: Support a Strong and Ready Total Force by: Building More Inclusive Playgrounds by authorizing a pilot program) to build or upgrade inclusive playgrounds at one military installation within each of the military departments to directly support Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) families. Illinois military bases, including Scott Air Force base, Rock Island Arsenal and Naval Station Great Lakes, could potentially be selected as a part of the pilot program for new, accessible playgrounds. Expanding Veteran Medical Care by working with Senator Durbin to secure a one-year extension of the Joint Medical Facility Demonstration Fund. This U.S. Treasury account supports the operations of the North Chicago-based Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC), ensuring continued access to vital services for military families and Veterans in the area. Supporting Community Schools and Kids by authorizing an additional $50 million for school districts to receive critical Impact Aid from the DoD, rectifying state and local tax base funding shortfalls due to the presence of federal property in their district. For Illinois school districts with large populations of students living on military bases, this funding will be critical in ensuring our schools, teachers and students have the resources needed and budget shortfalls are addressed. Build the Logistics Enterprise for a Combat-Credible Deterrent by: Supporting the Army’s Real Estate Management Cost Savings Tools by authorizing a one-year extension of the Army’s Real Property Management program, which helps identify housing opportunities for military installations, like Rock Island Arsenal. Advancing USTRANSCOM by increasing the cap on the DoD's authority to buy used sealift vessels, which is a major priority for Belleville-based U.S TRANSCOM. Tackle Climate Change and Defend the Environment by: Enabling the Military’s Use of Sustainable Fuel by lifting restrictions on the DoD purchasing bulk renewable fuel, allowing them to utilize new fuel technology that is beneficial to operations, the environment and servicemembers' health. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supports our Illinois farmers, protects the environment and drives economic opportunity throughout the Midwest—while decreasing our emissions and dependence on foreign oil. Restore American Competitiveness by: Building Stronger Local Communities by allowing the DoD to provide grants to local communities to improve infrastructure around military bases that benefit local communities and the DoD. This could assist communities that surround military installations, like Rock Island Arsenal. A full list of Duckworth’s priorities included in the FY25 NDAA can be found here. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-confirms-david-capozzi-to-amtrak-board-of-directors-duckworth-created-disability-advocate-seat,Senate Confirms David Capozzi to Amtrak Board of Directors’ Duckworth-created Disability Advocate Seat,2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and author of the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act—celebrated the United States Senate voting by voice vote to confirm David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak’s Board of Directors as the Boards’ designated disability advocate—a seat created by a provision Duckworth authored and successfully included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. On Amtrak’s Board, Capozzi will help ensure senior Amtrak leadership hears the voices of individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated histories or experience with accessibility, mobility and inclusive transportation in passenger rail or commuter rail. “I worked hard to create this position on Amtrak’s Board of Directors because it is important that the disability community is represented at the table, and I’m proud that the Senate confirmed David Capozzi to serve in this important role,” said Senator Duckworth. “It’s long past time for Amtrak to prioritize the voices of the disability community and ensure the more than 70 million Americans living with a disability are heard by our nation’s premier passenger rail service. I look forward to Mr. Capozzi swiftly beginning his work with the rest of the Amtrak Board and other stakeholders to implement policies that do more to protect the dignity of passengers with disabilities.” David Capozzi is a retired federal senior executive. He was the Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board from 2008-2020 and was the Director of the Board’s Office of Technical and Information Services from 1992-2008. Prior to joining the Access Board, Capozzi was Director of Project ACTION and Vice President of Advocacy for Easter Seals, as well as the National Advocacy Director for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. He was a member of the legal team and lobbying captain for the disability community that helped craft the Americans with Disabilities Act. Capozzi was the lead negotiator on the Department of Transportation’s Federal Advisory Committee, whose work resulted in proposed regulations implementing the Air Carrier Access Act. He also chaired the Urban Mass Transportation Administration’s (UMTA) ADA Federal Advisory Committee. Capozzi serves on the United Spinal Association’s Board of Directors, Mobility Fitness’ Advisory Committee and Access Living’s Program Committee. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/fetterman-colleagues-applaud-senate-passage-of-bill-honoring-d-day-hero-henry-parham/,"Fetterman, Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage of Bill Honoring D-Day Hero Henry Parham",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,John Fetterman,F000479,www.fetterman.senate.gov,fetterman,https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/press-release/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Senator John Fetterman celebrated the Senate’s unanimous passage of a bipartisan bill to name the new Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, as the Henry Parham VA Clinic. The legislation, introduced in the Senate by Senators Fetterman and Bob Casey, now awaits President Biden’s signature. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) also supported this legislation. The bill, co-led in the House by Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-PA) and Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), honors the extraordinary legacy of Private First Class Henry Parham, a Black World War II veteran and member of the historic 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. Mr. Parham’s service on D-Day and decades of volunteer work for fellow veterans exemplify his lifelong commitment to his country and community. “Honoring our veterans is about action—not just words. Henry Parham’s courage on D-Day and his years of service to veterans in Pittsburgh make him a true American hero,” said Senator Fetterman (D-PA). “Naming this clinic after Henry is a small but meaningful way to ensure his legacy lives on and reminds us of the sacrifices made by so many who were denied equality at home while fighting for freedom abroad.” “Henry Parham’s story reminds us that history is shaped by the courage of individuals who fought for freedom, even when denied it at home,” said Congresswoman Lee (D-PA). “To see this bill pass unanimously through both the House and Senate is a testament to the unifying power of his legacy. It’s also a reflection of what we can achieve when we work across the aisle for justice and recognition.” “When he stormed the beaches of Normandy as part of the only all-Black combat unit to land on D-Day, Henry Parham believed he was simply doing what he was ‘supposed to do as an American.’ When Henry came home, he continued serving his fellow veterans and his Nation, giving his time and energy at the VA in Pittsburgh,” said Senator Casey (D-PA). “To call Henry a hero only begins to describe his selflessness and commitment to serving others, and renaming the VA clinic in Monroeville in his honor is one small way to ensure his actions are never forgotten.” “Henry Parham is an American hero—fighting the Nazis on the beaches of Normandy as a member of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion,” said Congressman Reschenthaler (R-PA). “The longtime Pennsylvanian’s courage and strength in the face of adversity should live on as a shining example for future generations. I am proud to introduce legislation renaming the VA clinic in Monroeville after Henry Parham in honor of his service and commitment to America.” Private First Class Henry Parham served in the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only all-Black combat unit to land on D-Day. Under heavy enemy fire, Mr. Parham and his unit secured barrage balloons on Omaha Beach, protecting Allied forces and supply routes from low-flying German aircraft. For two months, his battalion’s efforts helped safeguard the success of the Allied invasion. After the war, Mr. Parham continued his service by volunteering at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center and his local American Legion post for decades. He was recognized as a chevalier of the French Legion of Honor in 2013 for his heroism during World War II. Henry Parham passed away on July 4, 2021, at the age of 99. Naming the Monroeville VA clinic in his honor ensures his story of bravery, resilience, and dedication will inspire generations to come.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/icymi-senator-gillibrand-on-nyts-the-daily-on-leading-the-charge-to-certify-the-equal-rights-amendment-enshrine-equality-in-the-constitution/,"ICYMI: Senator Gillibrand On NYT’s “The Daily” On Leading The Charge To Certify The Equal Rights Amendment, Enshrine Equality In The Constitution",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NY,Kirsten E. Gillibrand,G000555,www.gillibrand.senate.gov,gillibrand,https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/,scraper,"ICYMI: Senator Gillibrand On NYT’s “The Daily” On Leading The Charge To Certify The Equal Rights Amendment, Enshrine Equality In The Constitution Dec 23, 2024 In case you missed it, Senator Gillibrand was featured on the New York Times podcast “The Daily” about her efforts to persuade President Biden to direct the national archivist to certify and publish the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would enshrine equality and reproductive rights in the Constitution. Listen here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-biden-signs-hirono-cruz-legislation-into-law-to-maintain-access-to-the-federal-courts,"President Biden Signs Hirono, Cruz Legislation Into Law to Maintain Access to the Federal Courts",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Mazie K. Hirono,H001042,www.hirono.senate.gov,hirono,https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Joseph R. Biden signed the Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act into law. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation led by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, transitions 10 temporary federal judgeships—including one in Hawaii—to permanent status in order to maintain the current level of access to the federal court for millions of Americans across the nation. “It was heartening to see broad bipartisan consensus on this bill to make the temporary district court judgeships around the country permanent, and I am glad that President Biden signed it into law,” said Senator Hirono. “This legislation will ensure that people in Hawaii, Texas, and across the country can continue to rely on these longstanding temporary judgeships. I thank Senator Cruz for his partnership, and all of the Senate and House cosponsors of this legislation for their support.” The Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act grants permanent status to all 10 currently-existing temporary federal district court judgeships in the following federal district courts: U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama U.S. District Court for the Central District of California U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina The full text of the legislation is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-biden-signs-hirono-tokuda-bill-to-study-designating-lahaina-as-national-heritage-area-into-law,"President Biden Signs Hirono, Tokuda Bill to Study Designating Lahaina as National Heritage Area Into Law",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Mazie K. Hirono,H001042,www.hirono.senate.gov,hirono,https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI). The bicameral legislation directs the National Park Service, in coordination with Maui County and other state and local partners, to study the suitability and feasibility of a National Heritage Area designation for Lahaina. The bill passed the House and unanimously passed the Senate last month. “The historic, natural, and cultural resources found in Lahaina tell a nationally significant story and the devastating August 2023 wildfires shed light on how special this town is to our communities and to the country,” said Senator Hirono. “I am proud President Biden signed the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act into law, as this bill will place Lahaina under consideration to become a National Heritage Area, helping to ensure that this town is celebrated and appreciated for generations to come.” The Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act was also cosponsored by Representative Ed Case (D-HI). The National Park Service currently oversees 62 National Heritage Areas across the country, none of which are in Hawaii. In 2022, the House passed Senator Hirono’s Kaena Point National Heritage Area Act to study designating Kaena Point on Oahu as a National Heritage Area. The full text of the legislation is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bill-to-rename-fort-mchenry-visitor-and-education-center-after-senator-paul-sarbanes-passes-congress,Bill to Rename Fort McHenry Visitor and Education Center after Senator Paul Sarbanes Passes Congress,2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,vanhollen,https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Last week, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 6826, legislation designating the Visitor and Education Center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine as the ""Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center."" This bill was crafted and led in the U.S. House by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), while Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) introduced an identical, companion bill in the U.S. Senate. H.R. 6826 is cosponsored by the entire, bipartisan Maryland delegation in the United States House of Representatives who spearheaded its passage in the House on December 3, 2024. With passage of the measure in the Senate, it will be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. “During his time in the House of Delegates, the U.S. House of Representatives, and as our state’s second-longest serving United States Senator, Paul Sarbanes was a tireless advocate on behalf of all Marylanders. Fort McHenry, a powerful symbol of Maryland’s pride and patriotism, is a fitting place to honor his legacy, and Congress’s passage of this legislation will help pay tribute to all that Paul did for our state and our nation,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen. “The late Senator Sarbanes was a champion of Fort McHenry, and he firmly believed that the site is critical to understanding and appreciating our national heritage and our national identity,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “I am overjoyed that this bill has been triumphantly passed out of the Congress, and I am thankful for the partnership of the bipartisan, Maryland congressional delegation whose unified front made this bill’s advancement attainable,” he concluded. “Senator Paul Sarbanes was known for his strong commitment to his principles, to public service and to the people of Maryland. He had a long and distinguished career, but he never forgot his Baltimore roots. He saw Fort McHenry as a national treasure in the city and a site worth celebrating. This legislation acknowledges his long-term advocacy for the preservation of the site and the improvement of the visitor experience. He left an indelible mark in the Senate and in Maryland, and the ‘Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center’ at Fort McHenry will be a symbol of his long-standing legacy,” said Senator Ben Cardin. ""For decades, my family has cherished Fort McHenry's rich history and its tremendous vistas of the Chesapeake Bay. My father, Paul Sarbanes, deeply understood Fort McHenry's role as the beating heart of Baltimore, and he worked tirelessly for many years to lift up and preserve this treasured site,"" said Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD-03). ""Among my father's proudest achievements was securing a new visitor center for the fort to better welcome growing crowds and ensure it remained accessible to all. There is no finer tribute to his legacy than naming the visitor center at Fort McHenry in his honor. The Sarbanes family is deeply grateful to Rep. Mfume for his leadership in the House, to Senator Cardin for his leadership in the Senate, and to the entire bipartisan Maryland delegation for their support in making this possible."" Background: H.R. 6826 H.R. 6826 would name the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (Fort McHenry) in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ""Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center.'' Fort McHenry is known as the site of the 1814 attack by British troops against 1,000 American soldiers. The resistance of Baltimore's Fort McHenry during bombardment by the Royal Navy inspired the poem ""Defence of Fort M'Henry,"" which later became the lyrics to ""The Star-Spangled Banner,"" our national anthem. The Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes served the State of Maryland in the House of Representatives for six years and in the U.S. Senate for three decades. During his tenure, Senator Sarbanes helped secure funding for construction of the new visitor center at Fort McHenry, increasing capacity and visitor access. Senator Sarbanes worked to introduce numerous bipartisan bills that eventually established the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail as the 26th such trail in our nation. It covers Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, telling the stories of the events, people, and places that led to the birth of our national anthem. Naming the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry would honor Senator Sarbanes' long history of service to Maryland and his connection with the Fort McHenry site.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-800000-to-improve-railroad-safety,"Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $800,000 to Improve Railroad Safety",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,vanhollen,https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $800,000 in federal funding to improve safety on railroads and at train crossings across the state. This investment will allow the Maryland Department of Transportation to perform an assessment of incidents on active railways across the state and develop a program designed to reduce injuries and fatalities associated with trespassing on railroad property. Together, these investments will increase the overall safety of the state’s train transit system. “Improving rail safety can both save lives and reduce costly, time consuming delays that impact travelers and commuters. With this funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Maryland will have the tools to do just that. These federal dollars will help our state increase rail safety, prevent tragic incidents, and improve rail service for all,” said the lawmakers. ""Saving lives is MDOT’s top priority and these funds will enable the Department to prioritize high-impact safety projects at highway crossings with railroads and local governments,"" said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. ""We appreciate the continued leadership of Team Maryland in securing this critical funding to further enhance safety in Maryland."" The funds are provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which the lawmakers fought to fund at $5 billion over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-mfume-bill-to-rename-post-office-in-honor-of-elijah-cummings-passes-congress,"Van Hollen, Cardin, Mfume Bill to Rename Post Office in Honor of Elijah Cummings Passes Congress",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,vanhollen,https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Last week, the United States Senate passed legislation (H.R. 9544) to designate a Baltimore United States Post Office (USPS) as the ‘‘United States Representative Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building."" The bill to rename the post office at 340 South Loudon Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, in honor of Congressman Cummings will now be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. H.R. 9544 was crafted and led by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) in the U.S. House, and the companion legislation to this bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.). Maryland Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) all cosponsored the U.S. House legislation when it was introduced. “Congressman Elijah Cummings was a man of principle and dignity. His life was shaped by a commitment to serve others, and nowhere did he work harder to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for all than in his beloved Baltimore community. Congress’s passage of this legislation is an important recognition of all that Elijah did for his city, his state, and his country,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen. ""Congressman Elijah Cummings was a person of deep intellect, unlimited compassion, and a champion for working people everywhere. This House and our nation still feel his loss, which makes the renaming of this post office in his honor a fitting tribute to our dear friend,"" said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. ""I am elated that this legislation has prevailed out of the Congress. It is a small but important gesture to say thank you to Congressman Elijah Cummings for the work he did, for so many years, for the people of Baltimore and the state of Maryland. Elijah was a trailblazer, consensus builder, peacemaker, and friend. His name and his image will now be a part of this building for all to see,"" he concluded. “Elijah’s talent for building consensus, as well as his work ethic and dedication to his constituents, propelled him early on to positions of leadership. He never for a moment forgot that his purpose was to represent the people back home in his district and to be a voice for the many who were silenced,” said Senator Ben Cardin. “He once said that while it was his ‘constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the executive branch,’ it was his 'moral duty' to fight for his constituents. For this reason and so many others, this is a fitting tribute to our friend and colleague Elijah Cummings and his love for Baltimore and the community he cherished and fought for year after year.” “On behalf of the Cummings family, we thank Congressman Mfume and Senators Cardin and Van Hollen for keeping alive the legacy of my father, their friend, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings. We are deeply grateful for all of their work to rename a district post office in recognition of his commitment to public service, including his work on postal issues that came before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee,” said Jennifer Cummings, the late Congressman's eldest daughter upon the legislation's introduction. The introduction of this legislation was an effort in partnership with the Cummings family, who wrote to Congressman Mfume in August 2024. Their letter expressed the Cummings family’s support to honor Congressman Cummings with the renaming of a post office after their father. On November 20, 2024, this bill was passed unanimously by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. On December 4, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill, sending it to the U.S. Senate.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-moran-introduce-legislation-to-empower-individuals-with-disabilities,"Van Hollen, Moran Introduce Legislation to Empower Individuals with Disabilities",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,vanhollen,https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D- Md.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced legislation that would direct the Social Security Administration to change the way it calculates Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to not penalize individuals with disabilities who chose to marry. The Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act would exclude a spouse’s income and resources when determining eligibility for (SSI) and disregard marital status when calculating the SSI benefit amount for an adult who has a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability. “Supplemental Security Income is critical to allowing people with disabilities to strengthen their financial security and independence,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This legislation will ensure that these Americans won’t be financially penalized simply for marrying.” “Our policies should support and empower individuals with disabilities to live a full and independent life, including the option to get married,” said Senator Moran. “This is sensible legislation that would change how disability payments are calculated to make certain the benefits we provide to individuals with disabilities aren’t diminished because they choose to get married.” This legislation is endorsed by the National Down Syndrome Society, National Down Syndrome Congress, Autism Speaks, Autism society of America, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-renews-fight-to-address-chronic-underfunding-and-barriers-to-sovereignty-in-indian-country,Warren Renews Fight to Address Chronic Underfunding and Barriers to Sovereignty in Indian Country,2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MA,Elizabeth Warren,W000817,www.warren.senate.gov,warren,https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Warren Renews Fight to Address Chronic Underfunding and Barriers to Sovereignty in Indian Country Bill Text (PDF) | Bill One-Pager (PDF) Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) reintroduced the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act. The bill is designed to implement recommendations from the report Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans, published by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in December 2018. The report was drafted with extensive input from Tribal governments and citizens and other stakeholders, concluding that federal programs designed to support the social and economic wellbeing of Tribal Nations and Native peoples remain chronically underfunded and often inefficiently structured. While the federal government has substantial trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations, it has repeatedly failed to honor these obligations. The report put it bluntly: “The United States expects all nations to live up to their treaty obligations and it should live up to its own.” This bill reaffirms the relationship between the federal government and Tribal nations and would strengthen federal programs for Native communities. The bill lays out a path to ensure the United States meets its promises to Tribal nations. Provisions in the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act include: Criminal Justice and Public Safety: Grants full Tribal jurisdiction modeled on the Violence Against Women Act’s special tribal criminal jurisdiction, with funding to implement it if tribes choose; provides funding for Tribal justice systems, Tribal law enforcement, and detention facilities; requires Tribal consent before a federal execution of a Tribal citizen; establishes grants to support Native victims of crime; victim advocates for Native victims of all crimes; Health Care: Provides full, mandatory, inflation-adjusted funding for the Indian Health Service; funding for the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program; provides funding for the Special Diabetes Programs for Native Americans; permanent FMAP for Urban Indian Health Programs; Medicaid coverage of any services provided by Indian health care providers; strengthens Native Hawaiian health care programs; provides funding for Tribal Epidemiology Centers; Medicaid reimbursement for substance use disorder facilities; requires conferring with Urban Indian Health Programs; Medicaid work requirement exemption; clarification of Medicaid policies. Education: Provides full funding for Tribal Colleges and Universities, expanding TCU instruction and outreach, and TCU construction, modernization, & repair; full funding for Bureau-funded schools, including construction, modernization, and repair; support for Native language revitalization, and address shortage of Native teachers and of teachers in Native-serving schools (based on Senator Tester’s legislation); Johnson-O’Malley funding; support for culturally inclusive education; support for Alaska Native education programs; Every Student Succeeds Act implementation; funding for local Tribal educational agencies and offices; strengthen TCU graduate and Native language programs. Housing: Provides full funding for the Indian and Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Programs; set aside of USDA rural housing funding; allow Tribal housing authorities to administer their own voucher programs; funding for the Indian Community Development Block Grants, Section 184 Indian and Native Hawaiian Home Loan Guarantee Programs, and Native American Direct Loans; Tribal HUD-VASH (based on Senator Tester’s bill); Housing Improvement Programs; establishes a Coordinated Environmental Review Workgroup. Economic Development: Provides funding for Tribal roads, transit, and transportation programs; funding for Native CDFIs, funding for water pollution control; water and waste disposal program funding; additional funding for fractionated land buybacks; funding for a Tribal Broadband Fund; strengthen the FCC Office of Native Affairs and Policy; establishes an FCC Tribal Spectrum Market, and affirm Tribal ownership of spectrum over their lands, in line with Senator Warren’s DIGITAL Reservations Act; E-rate expansion; Tribal Connectivity Fund; funding for USDA Office of Tribal Relations funding for broadband support. “This bill will help restore the relationship between our government and Tribal nations and empower them by providing significant, long-term funding for Native communities,” said Senator Warren. “I remain committed to ensuring the U.S. government honors its promises.” “The National Congress of American Indians continues to support and applaud the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act, and NCAI is pleased that Senator Warren has reintroduced it. As NCAI did in 2022, we stand ready to support the understanding of the legislation. The Act is predicated upon upholding the promises made by the U.S. and would address the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights that our federal government provides ‘steady, equitable, and non-discretionary funding’ to Tribal Nations. To reiterate NCAI’s prior statements, the U.S. has not lived up to the trust responsibility to Tribal Nations and there is indisputable evidence that a crisis of need exists throughout Indian Country on many fronts. The Act provides for needs in health care, public safety, housing, education, economic opportunities, and critical touchstone infrastructures, such as broadband. All of these, and others, are essential needs in Indian Country every day, necessary to the fundamental quality of life in Tribal communities. The same quality of life that every American expects in their own community,” said Larry Wright, Jr., Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians. “As the Federal-Tribal trust relationship endures into this 21st Century and beyond, this Act represents a necessary evolution of the trust relationship. The Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act breathes life into a fundamental tenet at NCAI, that Indian Country is a non-discretionary part of our national society.” “American Indians and Alaska Natives are this Continents’ First Peoples, yet we remain last in health care status and in accessing robust public health and clinical health services. Despite the sacred promises the United States negotiated with us, we continue to live sicker and die sooner than every other group in America. This must change. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Broken Promises report exposes the often desperate and largely invisible struggles our Nations, communities, and the health systems that serve us endure because the United States continues to break its promises to Tribes. The National Indian Health Board applauds the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act, and any other congressional efforts to turn this around and honor the Trust and Treaty obligations of the United States to Tribal Nations,” said Chief Bill Smith, Chairman of the National Indian Health Board, and Vice President of the Valdez Native Tribe. “The Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act is a pivotal step in the right direction to ensure that total funding is needed for Native education and empowering our Native youth both in and out of the classroom. We look forward to working with Senator Warren, Representative Kilmer, and all other members of Congress to advance educational opportunities for Native students,” said the National Indian Education Association. “The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and the Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) have been beacons of hope for Tribal Nations by offering culturally relevant, place-based Tribal higher education. We endorse the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act to address and rectify the dark passages of Native American history. The failure of the U.S. Government to live up to their treaty promises is not simply a thing of the past but an ongoing legacy that our children have inherited, and they live with the burden of these failures,” stated Ahniwake Rose, AIHEC’s President & CEO, “We applaud Senator Warren’s and Representative Kilmer’s efforts to acknowledge the past and address these broken promises. We encourage Congress to offer our future generations a new legacy and pass this act as it is a path toward growth and sustainability of Tribal Nations, including through excellence in Tribal higher education.” “The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is pleased to endorse the CDC Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act which would provide Tribes access to funds to prepare for public health emergencies. We are grateful that this bill includes Urban Indian Organization input on the development of public health plans. Equitable access to critical preparedness funds ensures Indian Country is prepared to respond to future public health emergencies,” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin) J.D., CEO, NCUIH. ""The National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC) supports the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act, which seeks to hold the federal government to its trust and treaty obligations, empower Tribal governments, and improve the lives of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people,"" said Lucy R. Simpson, Executive Director, NIWRC. “Historical underfunding has continued to remain an issue for Indian Country. We need federal legislation that reaffirms our important nation-to-nation relationship with the federal government. We thank Senator Warren and Congressman Kilmer for their most recent legislation, The Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act, to address these critical issues,” said the Native American Finance Officers Association. “The Native CDFI Network (NCN) wholeheartedly supports the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act, and we commend Senator Warren and Congressman Kilmer for refining the language of this emerging legislation to authorize the appropriation of unspent Treasury dollars for the benefit of Indian tribes, in particular to Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs),” said Pete Upton, Interim CEO of NCN. “Increasing the flow of federal resources to Native communities in this way represents an important step in righting the longstanding wrongs perpetrated against our communities, and Native CDFIs are uniquely equipped to transform these resources into positive, lasting outcomes for Native consumers, small business owners, and homeowners.” “Our Broken Promises report underscored the federal government’s failure to meet its trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations, perpetuating inequities in funding and services. This legislation represents a critical opportunity to reverse this trend and provide Native communities with the resources they need to thrive. The federal government must prioritize equitable, steady, and mandatory funding to empower Tribal Nations to exercise self-governance and build stronger futures for their people. Under Secretary Haaland’s leadership, progress has been made on the Commission’s recommendations, but we cannot stall. Congress must act to honor trust obligations and secure lasting change for Indian Country,” said Chair Rochelle M. Garza, USCCR. “USET SPF welcomes and is encouraged by the introduction of the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act. The problems caused by centuries of failure in the delivery of trust and treaty obligations are deep-seated and complex. Accordingly, this legislative initiative will require sustained and thoughtful effort on the part of Congress and Tribal Nations to properly address the findings of the Broken Promises Report. We commend Senator Warren, Representative Kilmer, and their staff for their courage and diligence in ensuring that meaningful action is taken in response to Broken Promises. We look forward to further collaboration to refine and strengthen the bill,” said Chief Kirk Francis, President, United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF). “In its Broken Promises report, the U.S. Civil Rights Commission urged Congress to honor the federal government’s trust obligations and pass legislation that would finally provide steady and equitable funding to address unmet needs and support the public safety, health care, educational, housing, and economic development of Native tribes and people,” said former USCCR Commissioner Debo P. Adegbile. “We are grateful that Senator Warren and Congressman Kilmer transformed the Commission’s recommendations into actionable and meaningful legislation with the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act. The bill would deliver on promises too long deferred.” Senator Warren has worked to protect and advance tribal sovereignty, to emphasize the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations, and to affirm Washington’s government-to-government relationship with Tribal Nations: In May 2023, Senator Warren reintroduced the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (S. 2907), which would establish a commission to formally investigate, document, and acknowledge the Federal Indian Boarding School Policies. In August 2021, she and Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), the House lead for this legislation, sent a letter to the Indian Health Service (IHS), urging the agency to ensure that culturally appropriate supports are in place for those affected by the Indian Boarding School Policies. Senator Warren also led a request that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hold a hearing on this bill. The Committee did so, and Senator Warren delivered remarks calling for passage of the bill. She originally introduced this bill in 2020 with then-Congresswoman Haaland. In June 2023, the legislation was unanimously reported favorably out of the Indian Affairs Committee. Senator Warren delivered an opening statement at a business meeting of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs which considered her bill, highlighting the need for a truth and healing commission to reckon with the trauma and suffering caused by the federal government’s Indian Boarding School policies In December 2022, Senator Warren and Representative Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) introduced the Honoring Promises to Native Nations Act, historic legislation to address chronic underfunding and barriers to sovereignty faced by Indian Country as a result of the federal government’s failures to meet its trust and treaty responsibilities. The legislation would hold the federal government accountable for honoring the country’s legal promises to Native peoples. In April 2021, Senator Warren reintroduced the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act (S. 1368), which invests more than $2.5 billion to build or rehabilitate homes for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, and allows tribal housing authorities to administer their own voucher programs. NAIHC adopted a resolution supporting this bill when it was reintroduced in the last Congress. She has long been outspoken about the need to address Indian Country’s housing challenges. Senator Warren fought to ensure that sovereign Tribal Nations have the resources needed to protect the health and well-being of their citizens during this pandemic. She has introduced a number of bills and taken other steps to advance the health and welfare of Native peoples, including: the American Indian and Alaska Native Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (S. 1868) (provisions of which were included in the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Reauthorization Act of 2021); the Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act (S. 3444), legislation that would guarantee that the IHS tribal health authorities, and urban Indian organizations have access to the Strategic National Stockpile of drugs and medical supplies; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act (S. 3968), which would ensure tribal nations have equal access to funding through the CDC to prepare for public health emergencies; the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (S. 3418), which would provide nearly $1 billion a year directly to tribal governments and organizations to combat the substance use epidemic—building on insights she gleaned at roundtables in which she participated with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and at the Choctaw Nation; the Native American Suicide Prevention Act, a version of which was enacted in December 2020 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law No. 116-260); the Coronavirus Containment Corps Act (S. 188), which would require contact tracing collaboration with Tribal health authorities and funding for the IHS; the Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act (S. 4769, 116th Congress), which would ensure that the federal response to the pandemic, including vaccine development, considers and addresses the specific challenges faced by Native women; the Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act (S. 3850, 116th Congress), which includes funding for Tribal data collection, and IHS consultation with Tribal Nations; the COVID-19 Emergency Manufacturing Act (S. 3847, 116th Congress), which would provide COVID-19 products at no cost to federal, state, local, and IHS and Tribal health programs; the COVID Community Care Act (S. 4941, 116th Congress), which would provide emergency funding for community organizations in medically underserved communities, including Native communities; delivering floor speeches urging the swift nomination of an IHS director during the Trump administration, and highlighting the toll of the 2019 government shutdown on workers and families in Massachusetts, including those who rely on urban Indian health programs; writing op-eds with other champions for Indian Country on health challenges facing Native communities; and cosponsoring more than a hundred pieces of legislation to benefit Indian Country. The Department of the Interior launched a process to review and remove derogatory names—including those containing slurs against Native Americans—from federal lands, consistent with Senator Warren’s bill with Representative Al Green, the Reconciliation in Place Names Act (S. 2400). Senator Warren helped push for the establishment of an Office of Tribal and Native Affairs at the Treasury Department. She led a bipartisan group of senators urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to establish the Office, echoing longstanding calls from Indian Country. In June 2022, the Treasury Department established a new Office of Tribal and Native Affairs, per Senator Warren’s request. Senator Warren stood with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in their successful fight to save their reservation in Massachusetts. The Trump administration attempted to disestablish the Tribe’s reservation and litigated the matter. Senator Warren twice cosponsored legislation to provide a fix to the 2009 Supreme Court case Carcieri v. Salazar, so that Tribal Nations’ lands—like those of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe—can be taken into trust and protected. Senator Warren objected to the Trump administration’s efforts, and worked with colleagues and the Tribe to fight the disestablishment. Senator Warren joined then-Congresswoman Haaland in filing a bicameral, bipartisan amicus brief opposing the disestablishment. The Biden administration withdrew the Trump-era legal challenges, preserving the trust status of the Tribe’s homeland and ending the legal challenges it had faced from the executive branch. Last December, the Department of the Interior conclusively reaffirmed the trust status of the Tribe’s reservation, thus securing its future. Senator Warren has been a leader in the push to rescind the Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. soldiers who perpetrated the Wounded Knee Massacre. She has twice introduced the Remove the Stain Act (S. 1073), pushed for the bill’s inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act, and urged President Biden to use his executive authority to rescind the medals. Senator Warren has pushed to expand Tribal connectivity. She introduced the DIGITAL Reservations Act (S. 4331, 116th Congress) to affirm Tribal Nations’ and Native Hawaiian organizations’ ownership of broadband spectrum over their lands. And she twice introduced the Extending Tribal Broadband Priority Act (S. 1365), to extend the Federal Communication Commission’s 2.5 GHz Tribal Priority Window. Senator Warren has worked for Tribal sovereignty on cannabis, including twice introducing the bipartisan STATES Act, which would keep states, territories, and Tribal Nations safe from federal overreach when deciding the best approach to marijuana. Senator Warren has been outspoken in her support of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). She was an original cosponsor of a resolution marking the 40th Anniversary of ICWA, and has joined two amicus briefs in support of the law. For years, Senator Warren has fought back against threats to Tribal lands and waters. She joined efforts to resist the Trump administration’s assaults on Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. And she applauded the Biden administration’s decision to reinstate protections for the monuments. Senator Warren also opposed efforts to advance the Keystone XL, Dakota Access, Line 3, and other pipelines. She joined two amicus briefs to support Tribal Nations’ efforts to halt operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). And she questioned Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works nominee Michael Connor regarding the DAPL and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ relationship with Tribal Nations during his confirmation hearing. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-urges-ftc-to-protect-patients-scrutinize-cardinal-gi-alliance-deal,"Warren Urges FTC to Protect Patients, Scrutinize Cardinal-GI Alliance Deal",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MA,Elizabeth Warren,W000817,www.warren.senate.gov,warren,https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Warren Urges FTC to Protect Patients, Scrutinize Cardinal-GI Alliance Deal Merger of Big Drug Wholesaler, Gastroenterology Service Provider Threatens Competition, Cost Increases, and Health Risks to Patients By allowing wholesalers to control physician practices, wholesalers could pressure doctors to prescribe medicine that is most profitable for them, even if it’s not in the best interest of their patients Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan, urging the agency to closely scrutinize pharmaceutical wholesaler Cardinal Health’s $3.9 billion proposed acquisition of a majority stake in GI Alliance, the country’s largest gastroenterology management services organization. “This deal threatens to limit competition by expanding Cardinal Health’s control of physician practices, while giving Cardinal an incentive to restrict those practices from contracting with Cardinal’s rival wholesalers,” wrote Senator Warren. Cardinal Health has a long history of leveraging its dominant market power in a way that negatively impacts patients and health care providers. The company controls 28% of the prescription drug wholesale market, making it one of the three biggest wholesalers in the country. Along the way, Cardinal has pursued an aggressive vertical acquisition strategy, buying up companies to solidify its dominance in the wholesaler market , including acquiring a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO), a data analytics firm, medical device lines, specialty pharmacies, and physician practices. These acquisitions are part of a broader trend of health care conglomerates operating as both seller and buyer of prescription drug services. “Cardinal has consistently locked its customers into restrictive contracts, blocked out rival wholesalers, and squeezed generic drug manufacturers, leading to more frequent drug shortages, higher drug costs, and poorer health outcomes,” wrote Senator Warren. In October, Senator Warren sounded the alarm about another one of Cardinal’s proposed acquisitions: Cardinal’s acquisition of Integrated Oncology Network (ION), an MSO that oversees over 50 physician practices spanning 10 states. With this acquisition, Cardinal would be able to force its affiliated practices to enter into sole-source or prime vendor agreements, locking them in and effectively blocking competing wholesalers from offering their services — while introducing conflicts of interest that could raise drug costs. The FTC did not act, and the acquisition was completed earlier this month. The new Cardinal-GI Alliance deal is even larger in scope, posing a bigger threat. “In addition to the concerns I outlined in my October letter, the acquisition of GI alliance introduces further opportunities for self-dealing, as Cardinal serves as the primary supplier of pharmaceutical products for Gastrologix GPO — the only gastroenterology-focused GPO in the nation,” wrote Senator Warren. “Accordingly, I urge FTC to closely scrutinize this deal, including under Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which prohibits any acquisition that may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly.” Senator Warren has long highlighted the negative consequences of vertical integration in the health care industry on patients, providers, and taxpayers. Senator Warren recently introduced her Patients Before Monopolies Act (PBM Act), bipartisan and bicameral legislation to prohibit joint ownership of PBMs and pharmacies, a gross conflict of interest that enables these companies to enrich themselves at the expense of patients and independent pharmacies. Senator Warren has led efforts to use every tool available to the government to lower drug prices and fight anticompetitive business practices in the health care industry: In October 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) urged the FTC to closely scrutinize the Novo Nordisk-Catalent merger and to block it if it violated antitrust law. In September 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) wrote to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra asking him to lower the cost of vital weight-loss drugs by using the agency’s existing legal authority to issue generic licenses for semaglutide, a prescription drug sold under the names Ozempic and Wegovy. In August 2024, Senators Warren and King and Representative Doggett wrote to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo reiterating their agencies’ clear legal authority to use “march-in” rights under the Bayh-Dole Act to lower drug prices for Americans. In June 2024, Senator Warren and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) sent letters to eight pharmaceutical companies urging them to voluntarily de-list over 100 patents that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has determined may be improperly or inaccurately listed in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Orange Book, which would open opportunity for more competition and lower drug prices for Americans. In May 2024, Senator Warren and Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, and Under Secretary Laurie Locascio, highlighting the lawmakers’ new review of public comments on the agency’s Draft Interagency Guidance Framework for Considering the Exercise of March-In Rights and urged them to strengthen and finalize the guidance. In May 2024, Senators Warren, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote to the Chamber of Commerce expressing concern and demanding an explanation for the organization’s opposition to the Biden administration’s proposal to boost competition and lower drug prices for American families and businesses by allowing agencies to consider price when deciding to exercise their “march-in rights” under the Bayh-Dole Act. In April 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the leadership of Novo Nordisk (Novo), slamming the company for its decision to discontinue production of Levemir (detemir) insulin, one of only three long-acting insulins on the market, and asked the company to commit to continue producing Levemir until a biosimilar is made available. In March 2024, Senator Warren sent a letter in response to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) discontinuing the brand-name version of Flovent HFA, the go-to inhaler for children, blasting the company for its price-gouging strategy that may cause millions of children to lose access to one of the few drugs that is appropriate to treat their asthma and allergies. In February 2024, Senators Warren and Angus King (I-Maine) and U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) led 75 lawmakers in sending a letter to the Biden administration in support of strengthening and finalizing its draft guidance to protect taxpayers and reduce prescription drug prices. The lawmakers submitted a public comment supporting the “Interagency Guidance Framework for Considering the Exercise of March-In Rights” and calling for changes to ensure increased transparency, oversight, and accessibility of medical products invented through taxpayer-funded research and development. In February 2024, Senator Warren and Representative Jayapal announced that three drug manufacturers pulled their sham patents after warnings, and urged the FDA to continue fighting against Big Pharma’s patent abuse. In December 2023, Senator Warren published an op-ed in Newsweek commending the Biden administration’s announcement that price can be considered in the government’s decision to march-in on a drug, effectively lowering drug costs, and calling on Americans to fight back against an industry that has been taking advantage of them for decades. In December 2023, Senator Warren issued a statement after the Biden administration announced it would issue guidance to federal agencies that would allow the government to seize patents of certain expensive drugs developed with taxpayer support to create more competition and lower prices. In December 2023, Senator Warren and Representative Jayapal sent letters to the CEOs of 8 pharmaceutical companies urging them to voluntarily remove sham patent claims improperly included in the FDA’s Orange Book and end their unlawful practices that delay competition and drive up costs for patients and taxpayers. In December 2023, Senator Warren and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) reintroduced the Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act, legislation that would radically reduce drug prices through public manufacturing of prescription drugs. In September 2023, Senator Warren and Representative Jayapal sent a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan urging the FTC to issue a policy statement about the improper listing of drug-related patents in the FDA’s Orange Book. In August 2023, Senator Warren and Representative Jayapal sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf, urging him to close loopholes that pharmaceutical companies have exploited to block generics from entering the market, keeping drug prices high and maximizing profits. ### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-baldwin-votes-to-avert-a-government-shutdown,Senator Baldwin Votes to Avert a Government Shutdown,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,WI,Tammy Baldwin,B001230,www.baldwin.senate.gov,baldwin,https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement after voting to avoid a government shutdown: “While a government shutdown may not be bad for the billionaires like the ones who were rooting for it, a shutdown would have been disastrous for Wisconsin families, the economy, and our troops. Shutting down the government would have left men and women in uniform working without pay, farmers without critical support, and children without the nutrition programs they rely on. Early this morning, I voted to keep our government open, support our farmers and rural communities, and narrowly avoid disaster for millions ahead of the holidays – but this was far from perfect. These short-term, kick-the-can-down-the-road bills are no way to govern and we have to pass a real Farm Bill and responsible annual funding bills that meet the needs of families, farmers, and businesses. Time to get to work.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-spending-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown,Blumenthal Statement on Spending Bill to Avert Government Shutdown,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) issued the following statement after the Senate passed an end-of-year spending deal that would extend government funding until March 2025: “This stopgap spending bill averts a government shutdown’s devastating human consequences reaching every corner of Connecticut and the country. Connecticut’s economy benefits from smart, targeted investments in our future—not from repeated budgetary brinksmanship. This agreement will provide essential disaster aid for local farmers impacted by extreme flooding, safeguard Connecticut’s submarine industry, and fund essential nutrition and public health programs on which so many Connecticut families depend. I pledge to continue the fight to fund vital programs that serve the American people, lower prescription drug costs, and promote economic growth and opportunity.” The Continuing Resolution (CR) includes a number of provisions that would benefit Connecticut, including a topline of $2.94 billion in post-disaster investments. Specifically, the CR includes: Disaster Aid for Connecticut Farmers: The CR includes $20.78 billion in disaster aid for farmers for necessary expenses related to losses of revenue and quality or production of crops. Extreme weather events, including severe floods and unprecedented droughts have devastated Connecticut farms in recent years. In the wake of these events, Blumenthal has authored legislation to improve access to disaster assistance programs and crop insurance for small-sized farms. The CR includes an estimated $22 million in disaster payments and an estimated $1 million in economic assistance payments for Connecticut. Support for the Virginia Class Submarine Program: The CR provides $5.69 billion in emergency funds for the Virginia Class Submarine Program, including wage increases for non-executive workers. Blumenthal has fought for increased funding to safeguard Connecticut’s submarine industry and continue steady production of the Virginia Class program. Relief for Recovering Small Businesses: The CR includes $2.249 billion for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans Program Account to provide relief for small businesses recovering from natural disasters. Currently, 77 disaster loan applications from Connecticut are pending at SBA totaling $6.71 million in aid. Funding Repairs to Local Roads and Bridges: The CR invests $8.08 billion in the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program at the Department of Transportation to help communities recovering from natural disasters make necessary repairs. Connecticut could benefit from at least $48 million for emergency funding. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-applaud-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-ensure-public-employees-receive-full-social-security-benefits,"Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Help Ensure Public Employees Receive Full Social Security Benefits",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Senate passage of the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act to ensure public sector workers and their families are able to receive full Social Security benefits after two previous statutes reduced them. The legislation—whose Senate companion Duckworth and Durbin helped cosponsor alongside U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and 58 other U.S. Senators—would repeal the Social Security Act’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which significantly reduced benefits for nearly 3 million Americans, many of whom are teachers, police officers and state, county and local government workers. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Full text of the legislation can be found on the Senator’s website. “Millions of Americans have worked their entire lives, paying into Social Security paycheck after paycheck,” said Duckworth. “It’s a well-earned benefit, and I’m proud the Senate passed our bipartisan bill to help us uphold our commitment to building on this critical safety net and protecting it for the folks who teach our children, protect our communities and keep our towns and cities running. I hope President Biden signs it swiftly into law so it can finally begin helping working Americans who depend on it.” “Our letter carriers, teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, and others dedicate years of service to improving the lives of their neighbors and caring for their communities. As they retire, hard-working public servants should have access to their full Social Security benefits,” said Durbin. “I voted in support of the Social Security Fairness Act today to ensure that workers receive the Social Security benefits they’ve earned after a career in public service.” -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-votes-to-avert-another-harmful-trump-shutdown,Duckworth Votes to Avert Another Harmful Trump Shutdown,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed legislation to keep our government open and spare working families the pain of a shutdown, sending it to the President’s desk to be signed into law: “With tonight’s vote, we’re avoiding yet another needless and harmful Trump government shutdown, supporting our farmers and delivering critical emergency disaster relief to help working Americans in red and blue states alike, including $2.3 billion in aid that Illinoisans struggling in the wake of natural disasters urgently need. “I remain, however, deeply disappointed that—at the behest of an unelected billionaire—Republicans once again went back on their word and tanked their own government funding legislation earlier this week. As a result, we were not able to include my bipartisan bill to protect our children from being poisoned or pass my provision to allow the year-round sale of E15 gasoline nationwide—which my Republican colleague Senator Fischer and I have led the charge on for years because we both recognize how it would help lower gas prices, protect our farmers and drive economic opportunity throughout the Midwest. I will continue working to pass these important policies in the months ahead. “After the last 48 hours of the same sort of needless chaos we grew accustomed to during the first Trump Administration, I’m relieved House Republicans finally remembered the only way to effectively govern is through compromise. I hope Speaker Johnson and MAGA Republicans take this lesson with them into the new year.” -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-on-averting-a-shutdown,Senator Hassan Statement on Averting a Shutdown,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statement on the vote last night to continue government funding and avert a shutdown: “Government shutdowns have real and severe impacts on the American people, including by risking our national security and threatening livelihoods – which is why it is important that we voted on a bipartisan basis to avert a shutdown. The legislation we passed also includes vital disaster relief funding and economic assistance for farmers. “But I want to be clear – the only reason that we were on the brink of a shutdown is because House Republicans caved to President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who at the last minute opposed a bipartisan deal reached after months of negotiations. That bipartisan agreement included crucial measures that were left out of the bill we passed last night, including ones that would have lowered health care costs and strengthened efforts to prevent and treat addiction. Moving forward, I urge my colleagues to work in good faith to find common ground and deliver for the American people.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-lujan-legislation-to-fully-restore-social-security-benefits-for-law-enforcement-officers-firefighters-and-public-servants-heads-to-presidents-desk-to-be-signed-into-law,"Heinrich, Luján Legislation to Fully Restore Social Security Benefits for Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters & Public Servants Heads to President’s Desk to be Signed into Law",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NM,Martin Heinrich,H001046,www.heinrich.senate.gov,heinrich,https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) secured Senate passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, legislation they cosponsored to restore full Social Security benefits for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other state and local public servants by repealing two provisions of current law that unfairly reduce the Social Security benefits that public employees receive. The Social Security Fairness Act passed the House in November and, following today’s Senate passage, now heads to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. “Our police officers, firefighters, bus drivers, and teachers deserve to receive the Social Security benefits they’ve earned after a lifetime of hard work,” said Heinrich. “No American should have to worry about affording basic necessities like food or safe housing after paying into Social Security their entire lives. I’m proud to advance this legislation to ensure all Americans get the benefits they are entitled to and can retire with the dignity and peace of mind they were promised.” ""I was proud to help pass the Social Security Fairness Act for the good of thousands of New Mexicans. This important bipartisan legislation will help ensure that New Mexicans are getting the benefits they have earned and deserve,"" said Luján. ""I’m honored to stand with the millions of dedicated public servants — police officers, teachers, firefighters, and other local and state employees — who tirelessly serve our communities, trusting that they will receive the benefits they’ve been promised. I have always fought to protect New Mexicans' Social Security, and I will always continue to do so.” Over 15 ,000 New Mexicans who have dedicated their lives to public service are prevented from receiving the full Social Security benefits they have earned due to two laws from the 1970s and 1980s. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), enacted in 1983, reduces the earned Social Security benefits of a worker receiving their public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. For example, some educators who do not earn Social Security in public schools but who work part-time or during the summer in jobs covered by Social Security have reduced benefits, even though they pay into the system for enough quarters to receive benefits. Likewise, the Government Pension Offset (GPO), enacted in 1977, reduces spousal benefits of people who work as federal, state, or local government employees — including police officers, firefighters, and educators — if the job is not covered by Social Security. The GPO reduces by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension — often offsetting benefits entirely. The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal both of these laws, ensuring law enforcement, firefighters, teachers, park rangers, and other public sector workers and their families receive the full Social Security benefits they’ve earned. The legislation is led by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bob Casey, D-Pa.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D- Conn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jon Ossof (D-Ga.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Deb Fisher (R-Neb.), Chuck Schumer, (D-N.Y.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.). In the House, the legislation is led by U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Garret Graves (R-La.). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-applauds-senate-passage-of-social-security-fairness-act,Kaine Applauds Senate Passage of Social Security Fairness Act,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Tim Kaine,K000384,www.kaine.senate.gov,kaine,https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) applauded the Senate passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation he cosponsored to strengthen Social Security benefits by eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). “Virginia’s firefighters, police officers, and other dedicated public servants deserve the full Social Security benefits they’ve earned,” said Kaine. “I’m glad to have cosponsored and voted for this legislation to help deliver on that principle, and encourage President Biden to sign it into law as quickly as possible.” The Social Security Fairness Act will enhance retirement benefits for more than 50,000 Virginians, primarily those who worked for state and local government, whose benefits were unfairly reduced by the WEP and GPO provisions. Companion legislation is led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-statement-on-congressional-passage-of-legislation-to-keep-government-funded-until-march-14,Warner & Kaine Statement on Congressional Passage of Legislation to Keep Government Funded Until March 14,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Tim Kaine,K000384,www.kaine.senate.gov,kaine,https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after voting to pass legislation to prevent a government shutdown and extend government funding at Fiscal Year 2024 levels until March 14. The legislation also includes $110 billion in disaster relief to support communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which the senators advocated for: “We are relieved Congress passed legislation to avert a government shutdown, which would have had disastrous consequences for federal employees, government contractors, and millions of Americans who rely on government services. We are also glad that it included federal funding we pushed for to help communities in Southwest Virginia recover from Hurricane Helene and additional support for the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs. However, we are disappointed that Republicans turned their backs on an original bipartisan proposal that would have included provisions to lower prescription drug costs. We are also frustrated that the majority of our Republican colleagues did not want to fully fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025 and instead kicked the deadline into the new year. Short-term continuing resolutions create unnecessary harm for federal departments and agencies—particularly those in the national security space—because they don’t allow them to meet today’s challenges and plan for the future. In the coming months, we will continue working to pass Fiscal Year 2025 government funding legislation that supports Virginians and includes funding for community projects across the Commonwealth.” This is the second time that Congress has failed to pass a full-year government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2025. On September 25, the senators voted to pass legislation to temporarily fund the government through December 20. Warner and Kaine have previously introduced legislation to prevent government shutdowns. The continuing resolution (CR) includes $110 billion in funding for disaster relief to support communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, including Southwest Virginia. Warner and Kaine have been vocal about the need for significant federal resources to support Virginia’s recovery from Hurricane Helene and have repeatedly urged Congress to pass a supplemental funding package. The disaster supplemental provides full federal funding to rebuild the Virginia Creeper Trail, which is currently estimated to cost approximately $660 million. The bill also includes full funding of $125 million to conduct necessary repairs at Radford Army Ammunition Plant. Additionally, the bill includes $2.2 billion to allow the U.S. Small Business Administration to continue paying out disaster assistance loans to small businesses, a priority that Warner long advocated for. In October, they successfully urged the Biden Administration to submit a supplemental funding request to cover the costs associated with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The senators also successfully pushed for the disaster supplemental to include robust funding for public lands to address damage to the Creeper Trail and other federal lands in Southwest Virginia. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, they also successfully advocated for an Emergency Declaration and an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia. Warner and Kaine met with Virginians impacted by Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia. It also includes $5.69 billion in funding for the Virginia-class submarine program and provides the necessary incremental funding for the Columbia-class submarine program. While Congress has already invested significant federal funding in the submarine industrial base in recent years, the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs face significant delays brought on by residual workforce challenges and supply chain disruptions. The on-time completion of Virginia-class submarines, which are built in Virginia and Connecticut, is critical to the fulfillment of the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, through which the U.S. will sell at least two Virginia-class submarines to Australia to boost security in the Indo-Pacific. Kaine, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, has led efforts in Congress to address submarine production and other shipbuilding delays. Finally, it includes an extension of COVID-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities through March 2025, ensuring that many seniors can continue receiving telehealth services. Warner and Kaine advocated for this extension. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-short-term-deal-to-keep-the-government-open-2024,Murphy Statement on Short-Term Deal to Keep the Government Open,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Christopher Murphy,M001169,www.murphy.senate.gov,chrismurphy,https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement after voting for a short-term deal to keep the government open and deliver disaster aid to impacted communities in Connecticut and across the country. “The government almost shut down because the only thing co-presidents Elon Musk and Donald Trump care about is making themselves and their billionaire friends richer – it’s that simple. The past 48 hours were a hostage-taking exercise that put millions of families in the lurch just days before Christmas, all in the name of raising the debt ceiling so Trump can finance a giant tax break for billionaires in January. And now that Trump and Musk didn’t get their way, they’ve hatched an even more shameful plan to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits by $2.5 trillion instead. This ‘Billionaire First’ agenda is what we have to look forward to next year.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-peters-votes-to-help-pass-the-social-security-fairness-act,Senator Peters Votes to Help Pass the Social Security Fairness Act,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MI,Gary C. Peters,P000595,www.peters.senate.gov,garypeters,https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S Senator Gary Peters (MI) helped the Senate pass the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act to ensure that public sector workers, such as teachers, postal workers, police officers, and firefighters, receive the full Social Security benefits they have paid into and earned. The bipartisan legislation, which Peters cosponsored and pushed for, will restore the full Social Security benefits of tens of thousands of Michigan workers and retirees. The bill previously passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support and now heads to the President to be signed into law. “Folks who dedicate their careers to the public good, whether it’s teaching our kids or keeping our communities safe, deserve to receive the full Social Security benefits that they paid into and earned once they retire,” said Senator Peters. “I was proud to help pass this commonsense bill that will restore and protect the benefits of thousands of hardworking Michiganders.” The Social Security Fairness Act will repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), two provisions that reduced Social Security payments for certain retirees who also received pension income. The WEP currently impacts about 2 million Social Security beneficiaries and the GPO impacts nearly 800,000 retirees across the country. Peters has long fought to protect Americans’ hard-earned benefits and ability to retire with dignity and security. Earlier this year, Peters urged the Social Security Administration to address mistaken overpayments that placed undue financial burdens on social security recipients. Peters is also a proud cosponsor of, and has urged Congress to pass, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen the federal laws that protect workers’ right to form a union to collectively bargain for better wages and benefits. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-backed-bill-to-protect-social-security-benefits-for-public-workers-approved-by-senate,Reed-backed Bill to Protect Social Security Benefits for Public Workers Approved by Senate,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,RI,Jack Reed,R000122,www.reed.senate.gov,jackreed,https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate voted 76-20 to pass the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R.82/S.597) to correct a long-standing penalty that unfairly impacts millions of public servants and surviving spouses across the nation. The bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and in the U.S. House by Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-7) and Garret Graves (R-LA-6). Senator Reed is an original cosponsor of the Senate bill, which had 62 cosponsors. The bipartisan legislation, which previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives in November with a vote of 327-75-1, repeals the government pension offset (GPO) and windfall elimination provision (WEP) that reduce Social Security benefits for some firefighters, police officers, public school teachers, postal workers, and other public workers and their spouses. “Thousands of hardworking Rhode Islanders who have dedicated their lives to serving our communities deserve the reassurance that they won’t be short-changed on their Social Security benefits. I’ve worked with my colleague Sherrod Brown for years to pass this legislation in order to ensure that millions of teachers, postal workers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other dedicated civil servants get the benefits they have earned,” said Senator Reed. “I’m glad we were able to finally deliver this correction for millions of hardworking Americans and I’m committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security to ensure all Americans are able to retire with the dignity and financial security they have earned.” According to the Congressional Research Service, the WEP and GPO provisions have limited Social Security payouts for approximately 2.8 million Americans. Now that the legislation has been approved by the Senate, it will be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-more-than-2-billion-in-new-disaster-aid-funding-for-maui-passes-senate-set-to-be-signed-into-law,"Schatz: More Than $2 Billion In New Disaster Aid Funding For Maui Passes Senate, Set To Be Signed Into Law",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to pass more than $110 billion in new long-term recovery funding for disaster-impacted communities nationwide. Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked to include an estimated $1.6 billion in new Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for housing on Maui and an estimated $480 million more for economic development, small business loans, and water infrastructure, among other things. The funding bill is expected to be signed into law by the president today. “The $1.6 billion in CDBG-DR funding is for three things: housing, housing, and housing,” said Senator Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “For the past 16 months, the people of Lahaina have done everything in their power to recover as quickly as they can. But they were never meant to do it alone. As disaster response gives way to disaster recovery, building housing is the top priority. People can’t fully recover without permanent, stable housing, and that’s why getting this funding now is so important.” In addition to the estimated $1.6 billion in CDBG-DR funding for housing, about $480 million more will be heading to Maui, including: At least $22 million to support economic recovery, agriculture, and conservation effort At least $12 million to provide loans to impacted small businesses $33 million to repair roads $350 million to build critical water infrastructure $19 million for child care Since the Maui fires in August 2023, Schatz has continually led efforts in Congress to deliver relief for survivors, including securing $16 billion for the national Disaster Relief Fund last year and most recently co-sponsoring the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act which passed the Senate unanimously last week. The bill exempts survivors of the fires from having to pay federal income tax on their settlement money or pay tax on attorney fees included in the settlement. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-statement-on-passage-of-the-continuing-resolution-to-keep-the-government-open-provide-disaster-funding-to-support-new-hampshire-farmers,"Shaheen Statement on Passage of the Continuing Resolution to Keep the Government Open, Provide Disaster Funding to Support New Hampshire Farmers",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, today issued the following statement after Congress passed a continuing resolution that will keep the government funded through March 14, 2025, and provide $110 billion in disaster supplemental funding to help farmers and communities: “I’m relieved we came to a deal to keep the government open and provide disaster funding for communities and farmers. It’s unfortunate that a billionaire and President-elect Trump came in at the 11th hour to reject the deal Democrats and Republicans had spent months working on that would have not only kept the government open and provided disaster aid, but also would have funded critical services that Granite State families rely on and reformed pharmacy benefit managers that are responsible for skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs. “In the future, I hope that we can get back to this bipartisan agreement that included provisions to improve our health care system, support workforce development and provide for our seniors. “Americans want us to work together to make their lives better. I’m glad we’ve worked to avoid a disastrous government shutdown, and moving forward, I hope both parties can work together to avert such unnecessary crises in the future.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-statement-on-vote-to-ensure-full-federal-funding-for-key-bridge-replacement-avert-government-shutdown,"Van Hollen Statement on Vote to Ensure Full Federal Funding for Key Bridge Replacement, Avert Government Shutdown",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,vanhollen,https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on his vote to pass a continuing resolution to keep the federal government running through March 14. This stopgap funding package includes the provisions of Team Maryland’s Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act to ensure 100 percent federal funding for the replacement of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and guarantee that all litigation and insurance proceeds stemming from the collapse are returned to federal taxpayers. Additionally, it replenishes the Department of Transportation’s Emergency Relief Fund, through which Maryland will continue to receive funding for the bridge replacement. “After a months-long push, a united Team Maryland has secured 100 percent full federal funding for the cost of replacing the Key Bridge – and provided the necessary funds our state needs to move full steam ahead with the reconstruction. This is a major victory for our state, and I’m proud that we were able to deliver the resources that Baltimore and Maryland need to rebuild stronger following the Key Bridge disaster. “Despite the Republican chaos that brought us dangerously close to a government shutdown just before the holidays, I’m glad we were able to reach an 11th hour bipartisan agreement. This legislation will move the Key Bridge replacement forward while providing relief to other communities across the country hit by disasters. It also ensures that federal employees can continue to provide the country with the vital services we rely on and receive paychecks for the work they do on behalf of the American people.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-votes-to-pass-bill-ensuring-full-social-security-benefits-for-public-employees,Van Hollen Votes to Pass Bill Ensuring Full Social Security Benefits for Public Employees,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,vanhollen,https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation he cosponsored to ensure public sector workers and their families can receive full Social Security benefits. This bill repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act, both of which significantly reduced benefits for nearly 3 million Americans – including over 54,000 Marylanders – many of whom are federal employees, teachers, police officers, and state, county, and local government workers. Having previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives before passing the U.S. Senate today, the Social Security Fairness Act advances to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. “From firefighters to teachers to food safety inspectors, we count on the services that public employees provide every day. Our passage of this bill is a critical step toward ensuring all public workers and their families can retire with dignity, receiving the full Social Security benefits that they have paid into – and earned – after years of hard work,” said Senator Van Hollen. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), enacted in 1983, reduced the Social Security benefits of workers who receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government for employment not covered by Social Security. The Government Pension Offset (GPO), enacted in 1977, reduced Social Security spousal benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers whose spouses receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government. Together, these provisions reduce Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million Americans – including many teachers and police officers. The Social Security Fairness Act repeals both the WEP and GPO statutes, ensuring public sector workers and their families receive their full Social Security benefits. This legislation has been endorsed by a diverse array of labor leaders, including the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, International Association of Firefighters, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=1806A917-C1FF-4C33-8EE4-D6EE94935F66,Warner & Kaine Statement on Congressional Passage of Legislation to Keep the Government Funded Until March 14,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Mark R. Warner,W000805,www.warner.senate.gov,warner,https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after voting to pass legislation to prevent a government shutdown and extend government funding at Fiscal Year 2024 levels until March 14. The legislation also includes $110 billion in disaster relief to support communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which the senators advocated for: “We are relieved Congress passed legislation to avert a government shutdown, which would have had disastrous consequences for federal employees, government contractors, and millions of Americans who rely on government services. We are also glad that it included federal funding we pushed for to help communities in Southwest Virginia recover from Hurricane Helene and additional support for the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs. However, we are disappointed that Republicans turned their backs on an original bipartisan proposal that would have included provisions to lower prescription drug costs. We are also frustrated that the majority of our Republican colleagues did not want to fully fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025 and instead kicked the deadline into the new year. Short-term continuing resolutions create unnecessary harm for federal departments and agencies—particularly those in the national security space—because they don’t allow them to meet today’s challenges and plan for the future. In the coming months, we will continue working to pass Fiscal Year 2025 government funding legislation that supports Virginians and includes funding for community projects across the Commonwealth.” This is the second time that Congress has failed to pass a full-year government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2025. On September 25, the senators voted to pass legislation to temporarily fund the government through December 20. Warner and Kaine have previously introduced legislation to prevent government shutdowns. The continuing resolution (CR) includes $110 billion in funding for disaster relief to support communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, including Southwest Virginia. Warner and Kaine have been vocal about the need for significant federal resources to support Virginia’s recovery from Hurricane Helene and have repeatedly urged Congress to pass a supplemental funding package. The disaster supplemental provides full federal funding to rebuild the Virginia Creeper Trail, which is currently estimated to cost approximately $660 million. The bill also includes full funding of $125 million to conduct necessary repairs at Radford Army Ammunition Plant. Additionally, the bill includes $2.2 billion to allow the U.S. Small Business Administration to continue paying out disaster assistance loans to small businesses, a priority that Warner long advocated for. In October, they successfully urged the Biden Administration to submit a supplemental funding request to cover the costs associated with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The senators also successfully pushed for the disaster supplemental to include robust funding for public lands to address damage to the Creeper Trail and other federal lands in Southwest Virginia. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, they also successfully advocated for an Emergency Declaration and an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia. Warner and Kaine met with Virginians impacted by Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia. It also includes $5.69 billion in funding for the Virginia-class submarine program and provides the necessary incremental funding for the Columbia-class submarine program. While Congress has already invested significant federal funding in the submarine industrial base in recent years, the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs face significant delays brought on by residual workforce challenges and supply chain disruptions. The on-time completion of Virginia-class submarines, which are built in Virginia and Connecticut, is critical to the fulfillment of the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, through which the U.S. will sell at least two Virginia-class submarines to Australia to boost security in the Indo-Pacific. Kaine, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, has led efforts in Congress to address submarine production and other shipbuilding delays. Finally, it includes an extension of COVID-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities through March 2025, ensuring that many seniors can continue receiving telehealth services. Warner and Kaine advocated for this extension. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=1A87814E-7CEB-4704-960B-21B2543813EF,"Wexton, Warner, and Kaine Applaud Senate Passage of a Bill to Designate George C. Marshall House as a National Park Service Affiliated Area",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Mark R. Warner,W000805,www.warner.senate.gov,warner,https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) and U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of legislation to designate the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, known as Dodona Manor, as an affiliated area under the National Park Service (NPS). The lawmakers have advocatedfor years for an official designation, which would provide new resources to preserve and celebrate General Marshall’s legacy at the site, including technical assistance to support restoration efforts, accessibility improvements, and new programming. “Dodona Manor has a clear historic value to our nation and turning it into an affiliated area under NPS is a fitting way to honor General Marshall’s life and legacy,” said the lawmakers. “We’re glad our legislation to help make that happen was passed by the Senate today and hope to see this designation come to fruition.” General Marshall led a lifetime of public service, serving as Chief of Staff to the Army during America’s entry into World War II, as Secretary of State where he orchestrated the historic Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe following the war, and as Secretary of Defense after the onset of the Korean War. Dodona Manor is currently registered as a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior and has been designated by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Virginia Landmark. The Marshall House has been an integral part of the Leesburg community for over two centuries. General Marshall and his wife Katherine purchased the property in 1941 as a weekend retreat house, and regularly spent time at the property throughout General Marshall’s tenure as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. Today, the property hosts international exchanges, historical exhibits, community events, and educational programming about the life and legacy of the Marshall family. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=BA4B418B-C0DC-4797-BE27-4C1D363BDB12,"Wexton, Warner, and Kaine Applaud Passage of their Bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Mark R. Warner,W000805,www.warner.senate.gov,warner,https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) and Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) celebrated the Senate passage of their bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0. The bill reauthorizes federal funding for the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First), which the senators helped create to support lifesaving research of treatments and cures for childhood cancer since 2015. The bill was included in a draft government funding agreement that was reached earlier this week, but was later torpedoed by Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and President-elect Donald Trump. The legislation is named in honor of Gabriella Miller, who lived in Virginia’s 10th District and was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and passed away in 2013 at the age of 10. Her passionate advocacy for lawmakers to “stop talking, start doing” led to the passage of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and creation of Ten-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund in 2014. “For as long as I have been serving in Congress, I’ve been fighting to pass the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 and extend critical funding for childhood cancer research,” said Wexton. “I’m so proud that we’ve finally gotten this lifesaving bill through Congress and on its way to be signed into law. This bipartisan bill will build on the groundbreaking work of the Kids First program and deliver much-needed resources to better understand, treat, and hopefully one day cure childhood cancer. No family should have to face the fear and pain of their child’s cancer diagnosis, and I’m grateful for the partnership of Senator Tim Kaine and the remarkable advocacy of Ellyn Miller and the Miller family in honor of Gabriella and her fight, to build support for this bill.” “Gabriella Miller was a courageous Virginian who gave her all to advocating for those whose lives have been touched by childhood cancer,” said Kaine. “I’m honored to have worked with the Miller Family and Congresswoman Wexton on this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize a crucial pediatric cancer research program that was created in her honor. I’m glad the Senate passed it today and urge President Biden to sign it into law as quickly as possible.” “By reauthorizing the research program bearing Gabriella Miller’s name, we are helping to honor her memory, giving hope to families facing devastating diagnoses, and ensuring that future generations have access to the life-saving treatments they deserve,”said Warner. In 2014, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which the senators championed, was signed into law by President Obama, establishing the Ten-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund and authorizing $12.6 million in annual funds for childhood disease research through Fiscal Year 2023. Since then, Kids First has taken tremendous steps towards understanding childhood cancer, such as establishing the Gabriella Kids Resource Center—a comprehensive data resource for research and patient communities meant to advance discoveries. The language included in the bill reauthorizes the Kids First program for five years. Cancer continues to kill more children in the United States than any other disease. Over 15,000 children a year are diagnosed with cancer, with that number tragically having gradually risen in recent decades. Pediatric cancers often differ from adults in the type, how they spread, and how it is treated, and many children do not respond well to conventional adult treatments, which frequently cause long term health issues and disabilities even in circumstances where the cancer is successfully cured. Yet while children face special hurdles when it comes to fighting cancer, less than 8% of current government funding for cancer is geared specifically towards developing treatments and cures for childhood cancer and other rare diseases. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2024/12/20/bennet-cortez-masto-cassidy-cornyn-announce-bipartisan-effort-to-help-train-more-doctors-and-address-health-care-workforce-shortages/,"Bennet, Cortez Masto, Cassidy, Cornyn Announce Bipartisan Effort to Help Train More Doctors and Address Health Care Workforce Shortages",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet alongside U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) — members of the Senate Finance Committee and the bipartisan Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) Working Group — released draft legislation to improve the Medicare GME program, which makes payments to teaching hospitals for training residents and fellows in approved training programs. Their bipartisan proposal aims to help increase the supply of physicians and meet the growing needs of communities across the country. “Rural Coloradans shouldn’t have to travel long distances to see a doctor,” said Bennet. “This bipartisan effort will help teaching hospitals train and retain providers in rural and underserved communities. All Americans deserve access to quality health care – no matter where they live.” “Workforce shortages are straining our health care system, especially in rural areas, and we must do more to recruit, train and retain doctors in communities across Nevada,” said Cortez Masto. “That’s why I’ve been working across the aisle on this bipartisan proposal to address critical gaps in our physician workforce. I’ll continue working to ensure Nevada families in every corner of our state can access the care they need.” “Doctors often practice where they do a residency. If it helps to get doctors to practice in rural and low-income areas, let’s put training programs in these areas!” said Cassidy. “By creating new graduate medical education slots, our bill would expand access to and improve the quality of behavioral health and primary care in rural communities across the Lone Star State,” said Cornyn. “The physician workforce shortage is threatening the health of Americans, particularly those in rural and underserved communities with fewer primary care doctors, psychiatrists, and other health care providers,” said U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. “I’m pleased that members of the Finance Committee are taking this challenge head-on in a bipartisan way. I will continue to work with them to ensure aspiring physicians are being put on the fast track to work in the places that need them most.” In 1996, Congress capped funding for physician training through Medicare based on residency numbers, fearing a surplus. Nearly 30 years later, the Health Resource and Services Administration now projects a shortage of over 187,130 physicians by 2037 — including more than 87,000 primary care doctors and over 50,000 psychiatrists. By modernizing Medicare GME, this proposal aims to ensure that every state has the workforce it needs to provide the care every American deserves. This bipartisan draft legislation would: Expand Medicare-supported residency positions in areas and specialties with critical shortages, like primary care and psychiatry. Support rural hospitals in building residency training infrastructure. Improve federal data collection to better allocate GME funding and address workforce gaps.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2024/12/20/bennet-neguse-daines-celebrate-final-passage-of-bills-to-help-colorado-communities-address-housing-shortages-stop-invasive-species/,"Bennet, Neguse, Daines Celebrate Final Passage of Bills to Help Colorado Communities Address Housing Shortages, Stop Invasive Species",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"After Unanimous Passage in Congress, Legislation Heads to President’s Desk Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), celebrated unanimous House and Senate passage of their Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act and Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act. Their bipartisan legislation will strengthen the authority of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to lease underutilized administrative sites to address local needs, including for building affordable housing, and slow the movement of aquatic invasive species, like zebra and quagga mussels, into Colorado, Montana, and other Western States. Both pieces of legislation now head to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. “Colorado and the American West face multiple challenges – from invasive species in our rivers, lakes and waterways, to a housing crisis that makes it impossible for working families to make ends meet,” said Bennet. “I’m grateful for the strong bipartisan support to pass these bills that will invest in our mountain communities and protect Colorado’s precious natural resources. The Flexible Housing Partnerships bill especially will help open up more opportunities for housing projects in our mountain communities who face a dire housing crisis.” “It’s as simple as this — in Colorado, the preservation of our public lands and the strength of our outdoor recreation economy is not only integral to the spirit of our state but to the success of our people,” said Neguse. “I am proud to see these bills through to the finish line—and even more excited for the ways in which they will deliver for our communities.” “I’m glad to see these commonsense, bipartisan bills to help address the housing shortage in rural Montana and across the west and to protect our Montana wildlife from invasive species heading to the president’s desk to be signed into law! Protecting our Montana way of life will always be my top priority,” said Daines. In the 2018 Farm Bill, Bennet authored legislation in partnership with Colorado communities and helped secure the authority for the Forest Service to lease administrative sites to localities in exchange for in-kind contributions, including housing construction and improvement or maintenance of federal facilities. To provide towns and counties with greater certainty, the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act lengthens the site’s lease authority to up to 100 years and allows it to be renewed at the end of its term. As a result of the housing crisis in the West, the Forest Service currently experiences a severe staffing shortage. This legislation will also help the agency provide more housing for its workforce and better serve Colorado communities. Aquatic invasive species pose a significant threat to Western rivers and reservoirs. Once established, these intruders are nearly impossible to eradicate and wreak havoc on crucial water infrastructure, limit recreation opportunities, and harm ecosystems and local economies. As invasive mussels spread across the West, preventative measures – like watercraft inspection and decontamination stations – are key to limiting their spread. The Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act will strengthen prevention efforts, provide all federal agencies the authorities they need to limit the movement of invasive species into and out of U.S. waters, and ensure that all at-risk basins are eligible and prioritized for watercraft inspection and decontamination funding. Support for Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act: “The passage of the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnership Act will allow for continued partnerships among local governments, private industry, and the Forest Service as we work together on very complicated but much-needed workforce and affordable housing projects. CAST thanks Senator Bennet and Congressman Neguse for their leadership to pass this important legislation into law,” said Margaret Bowes, Executive Director, Colorado Association of Ski Towns. “Federal lands comprise 84% of Eagle County. With very little private lands for affordable workforce housing development, this is a problem Eagle County will struggle to fix on its own. The creative solutions in the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act will help relieve this pressure. Authorizing the Forest Service to lease appropriate parcels for housing will greatly benefit our workforce and our mountain resort economy. We are excited about the improvements this legislation will now make to the existing Flexible Partnerships Authority and we thank Senator Bennet for his efforts on our behalf to get this bill passed into law,” said Kathy Chandler-Henry, Commissioner, Eagle County. “On behalf of the Aspen community, I thank Senator Bennet for his steadfast support in making affordable housing happen. The bill’s passage is a critical milestone for Aspen and our partners, including the dedicated staff of the USFS White River National Forest,” said Torre, Mayor, City of Aspen. “San Miguel County is thrilled to learn of the passage of the Flexible Partnership Act and deeply grateful to Senator Bennet and his team for stewarding this common-sense legislation to the finish line. Like many resort communities, San Miguel County faces a shortage of affordable land appropriate for workforce housing. Governmental entities in our county have already been in conversation with local USFS representatives about opportunities to collaborate on workforce housing, while waiting for this bill to pass and allow us to move forward. We are excited to now roll up our sleeves and get to work on building housing that will benefit our whole community, including the Forest Service and other local employers,” said Anne Brown, Commissioner, San Miguel County. “Summit County is proud to have signed the first lease agreement in the country using the authority provided by the Flexible Housing Partnerships Act,” said Tamara Pogue, Commissioner, Summit County. “Thanks to the leadership of Senator Bennet, more communities will have the opportunity to build the affordable housing they desperately need.” “La Plata County is delighted to hear that this important legislation has been passed into law. As we struggle with the affordable housing crisis we need every tool in the toolbox we can to help our mountain communities. Often having land available for housing projects is the deal breaker for providing new opportunities. This legislation opens up more possibilities for underused federal land that can be used for community housing in collaboration with the Forest Service, who also desperately needs housing for their employees that can be provided by projects under this legislation as well. These can be win-win projects for our communities and federal agencies to work together,” said Marsha Porter-Norton, Commissioner, La Plata County. The Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act is supported by Summit County, Grand County, Eagle County, Aspen, Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST), and Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-connolly-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-protect_expand-national-scenic-trails,Blumenthal & Connolly Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Protect & Expand National Scenic Trails,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced legislation to preserve and expand America’s national trail system. The Complete America’s Great Trails Act gives a tax credit to landowners who voluntarily make land contributions towards the completion of National Scenic Trails, expanding the trail system and protecting the land from development. Connecticut is home to two of the 11 National Scenic Trails—the Appalachian Trail, which extends 52 miles across the state from Salisbury in the north to Sherman in the south, and the New England Trail, which extends 117 miles across the state from Suffield in the north to Guilford in the south. “The system of National Scenic Trails provides access to truly extraordinary landscapes—accessing the beauty of nature and recreational opportunities,” said Blumenthal. “The Complete America’s Great Trails Act incentivizes landowners to help close gaps in our national trail system, ensuring we protect habitat from encroachment of development while expanding the trails themselves. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to preserve these treasured spaces.” “The Complete America’s Great Trails Act will enhance, expand, and protect trails in America’s most treasured places, from Mt. Vernon to Mount St. Helens, by providing landowners with incentives to protect public access and natural landscapes along America’s National Scenic Trails,” said Connolly. “I am proud to lead this effort with Senator Blumenthal and look forward to our continued work together to protect these American treasures for generations to come.” The Complete America’s Great Trails Act provides landowners who make a voluntary land contribution towards the completion of the National Scenic Trails with a tax credit equal to the fair market value of the portion of the land, furthering the goal of strengthening the connectivity and improving the maintenance of the trail system. The legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). The legislation is supported by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. “Walking and hiking in nature is a wonderful experience that brings with it many benefits, including good health, time with friends and family, and conserving the environment,” said Andy Bicking, Executive Director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, the state’s oldest conservation organization that manages the 825-mile network of Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails. “We’re grateful for Senator Blumenthal’s leadership in reintroducing the Complete America’s Great Trails Act. The legislation will help protect national trail resources for future generations and secure access to the outdoors for all people.” The full text of the bill can be found here. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-480-million-for-sikorsky-helicopters,Blumenthal Statement on $480 Million for Sikorsky Helicopters,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,CT,Richard Blumenthal,B001277,www.blumenthal.senate.gov,blumenthal,https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press,scraper,"[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement applauding four awards totaling $480,294,997 for Sikorsky to support the manufacturing of CH-53K and VH-92A helicopters. “These blockbuster contracts, providing newest model helicopters, are crucial to key defense capabilities. They are also a boost for Connecticut’s economy and good-paying jobs in our state. They are a testament to the highly skilled Sikorsky workers and supply chain companies who build the world’s finest helicopters. There is an ever increasing urgency to the need for such aircraft. I will continue fighting to deliver contracts to Connecticut’s expert defense manufacturers,” said Blumenthal. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-van-drew-celebrate-renaming-of-two-usps-post-offices-in-cape-may-county,"Booker, Van Drew Celebrate Renaming of Two USPS Post Offices in Cape May County",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ 2nd District) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of two bills, H.R. 7606 and H.R. 7607, renaming two United States Postal Service (USPS) post offices in Cape May County, New Jersey, in honor of Carlton H. Hand and George Henry White, respectively. The bills passed in the House of Representatives in June 2024 and now head to President Biden to be signed into law. “This is a special moment for New Jersey. By renaming these post offices, we honor two exceptional New Jerseyans—Carlton H. Hand, a decorated World War II veteran, and George Henry White, a pioneering Congressional representative—who devoted their lives to serving others. In doing so, we preserve their invaluable contributions for future generations,” said Senator Booker. ""I am proud that our bills honoring two great American heroes will soon be signed into law,” said Congressman Van Drew. “Lieutenant Hand and Dr. White embody the courage, service, and determination that define the very spirit of America. By renaming these post offices in South Jersey, we are honoring their legacies and ensuring future generations remember their incredible contributions to our country."" Located at 1087 Route 47 South in Rio Grande, New Jersey, the Rio Grande, NJ, Post Office will be renamed the ""Carlton H. Hand Post Office Building."" Located at the Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in Township of Middle, Cape May County, New Jersey, the Whitesboro Post Office will be renamed the ""George Henry White Post Office Building."" Carlton H. Hand U.S. Army Lieutenant Carlton H. Hand was a life-long resident of Rio Grande, New Jersey. He received a Silver Star, Purple Heart, and battlefield commission for his valor and bravery while fighting in Italy during World War II. He passed away in 1961. George Henry White George Henry White was the last Black Reconstruction-Era Congressman, representing North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district between 1897 and 1901 and having served in the state legislature throughout the 1880s. Following his political career, White and his family moved to New Jersey where he co-founded Whitesboro as a planned residential community for African Americans.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-capito-molinaro-payne-bipartisan-bill-to-promote-accessibility-at-amtrak-stations-passes-house-set-to-become-law,"Duckworth-Capito-Molinaro-Payne Bipartisan Bill to Promote Accessibility at Amtrak Stations Passes House, Set to Become Law",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)—both members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—applauded the House passage of their bipartisan legislation to help break down unnecessary barriers for Americans with disabilities at Amtrak rail stations across the country. Building on Duckworth’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act, which became law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is already helping improve transportation accessibility nationwide, the bipartisan Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act would help bring Amtrak stations up to standards enshrined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by requiring the rail agency to submit annual reports to Congress on its compliance with accessibility standards set by the ADA. The bill now awaits President Biden’s signature. “When the ADA was signed into law, it promised that intercity passenger rail would become accessible within 20 years, yet—more than 30 years later—too many Amtrak stations still fail to live up to that promise,” said Senator Duckworth. “After unanimously passing the Senate earlier this month, I’m proud that our bipartisan bill—which builds on the progress that my ASAP Act in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already making toward improving transit accessibility—is heading to the President’s desk. This bill sends the message that it’s long past time to ensure our rail stations are accessible for everyone. Whether on transit, rail or a plane, all Americans with disabilities should be able to safely and easily access the transportation systems they need to get around—and I’m proud that this legislation will help make that goal a reality for more Americans.” “Disabled passengers should not be a disadvantage when wanting to use passenger rail, which is why Senator Duckworth and I introduced the Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act, which was spearheaded in the House by Rep. Molinaro,” said Senator Capito. “I am glad to see our legislation pass the House and look forward to this being signed into law so every Amtrak station across the country is equally accessible to passengers.” This legislation builds on the language of the bipartisan Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act originally introduced by U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19) and cosponsored by U.S. Representative Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ-10). “Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act is set to become law thanks to our bipartisan leadership. Amtrak has repeatedly failed to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and this bill will hold them accountable to comply with ADA requirements,” said Congressman Molinaro. “Every person, of every ability, deserves access to stations and trains. No one should be left on the sidelines and this bill ensures that. I’m glad to see this crucial legislation headed to the President’s desk and thankful for Senator Duckworth’s partnership and leadership.” Amtrak serves over 28 million riders per year—however, the ADA requiring intercity passenger rail to become accessible within a 20-year time frame is not yet implemented across all Amtrak stations. From 2017 to 2021, Amtrak received $275 million in federal funds to continue making accessibility upgrades and will continue to receive federal funding to do so through 2025 as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As of July 2023, Amtrak has only made 30% of its 385 stations accessible to those with disabilities. Duckworth has long advocated that Americans with disabilities should receive the dignity and respect they deserve while traveling. Duckworth authored the ASAP Act provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provide $1.75 billion over a five year period to help build ramps, install elevators and make other improvements to help ensure our nation’s transit systems are actually, finally usable for those with disabilities. As Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, Duckworth helped author the landmark FAA reauthorization that was signed into law in May to extend FAA’s funding and authorities through Fiscal Year 2028. The reauthorization included several of her provisions to improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities. Additionally, building on legislation that Duckworth helped write, the Department of Transportation recently finalized a rule to ensure airlines meet more stringent standards for accommodating Americans who use mobility devices, requiring more comprehensive training for relevant airline staff and demanding proper accountability for airlines when something goes wrong. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-colleagues-applaud-senate-passage-of-their-bipartisan-bill-to-provide-tsa-precheck-to-veterans-with-a-disability,"Duckworth, Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage of Their Bipartisan Bill to Provide TSA PreCheck to Veterans with a Disability",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) applauded Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to provide Veterans with service-connected disabilities with expedited screening under the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck program. While TSA PreCheck is already offered to active duty, Reserves and National Guard servicemembers at no cost, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act would expand this program to include Veterans who are amputees, paralyzed or blind who often experience challenges when passing through airport security. The bill passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent earlier this month and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities—for those of us who rely on prosthetics and wheelchairs for mobility, air travel and passing through airport security can be a challenge,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud the Senate passed our bipartisan bill to make TSA PreCheck available at no cost to these Veterans and make flying and passing through airports easier and less intrusive. I hope President Biden swiftly signs it into law.” “Airports can be a dreaded experience for veterans with service-connected disabilities because of the invasive screenings they may endure at security checkpoints. Once it becomes law, this bill will provide dignified travel to thousands of wounded warriors by ensuring PreCheck benefits are easily available to them,” said Senator Young. “Ensuring wounded veterans have little difficulty getting through airport security is a simple but impactful way to honor these heroes sacrifices for our country. I’m proud we delivered this victory before the end of this Congress,” said Senator Marshall. “For veterans who have already overcome extraordinary challenges in service to our country, navigating airport security should not be another hurdle,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation recognizes the unique challenges that many disabled veterans face and helps to better ensure that their travel experience reflects the dignity of their service.” Under the VETS Safe Travel Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to certify that a Veteran is eligible. TSA would then process the Veteran’s application, granting access to TSA PreCheck at no cost, provided they successfully pass the background check and interview process. Additionally, TSA advises that these Veterans use TSA PreCheck in conjunction with calling the TSA Cares hotline 72-hours prior to departure to ensure expedited screening. Full text of the legislation can be found on the Senator’s website. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-43-million-in-federal-funding-fro-math-education,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce $4.3 Million in Federal Funding for Math Education",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $4,338,911 in federal funding going to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research grant program. This award will support professional development for school principals and math educators to increase math proficiency of students. “When we invest in our children’s education, we help set them on a path to succeed both inside and outside the classroom,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to announce this significant federal funding alongside Senator Durbin that will help provide our state’s principals and math educators with the resources they need to strengthen their students’ proficiency in math and help more kids reach their full potential.” “With today’s announced funding, our schools and teachers will be better supported to educate students and improve their proficiency in math,” said Durbin. “I’ll continue working with Senator Duckworth to ensure Illinois schools have the resources they need to help students succeed.” -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-illinois-delegation-urge-epa-to-fund-cleanup-of-chicago-area-waterway-system,"Duckworth, Durbin, Illinois Delegation Urge EPA to Fund Cleanup of Chicago Area Waterway System",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The lawmakers sent a letter to the EPA Region 5 Administrator to ask that federal funds immediately be allocated to efforts to clean up the Chicago Area Waterway System, including the pollution at Bubbly Creek [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), today sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore urging her to immediately allocate funds under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to begin the process of characterizing contaminated sediment in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). As the lawmakers note in their letter, if these funds are allocated to clean CAWS, EPA could begin cleaning up the pollution that has plagued the south fork of the south bend of the Chicago River, known as Bubbly Creek. “We are writing to urge you in your capacity as Great Lakes National Program Manager to immediately allocate funds under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to begin the process of characterizing contaminated sediment in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS),” the lawmakers wrote. “For more than 100 years, the CAWS has suffered from pollution; specifically, the south fork of the south bend of the Chicago River, known as Bubbly Creek. This area’s name comes from the bubbles generated from sanitary sewage, industrial waste, and animal waste that were disposed of in the creek for more than 100 years from the adjacent Union Stockyards and other local industries. While the stockyards no longer line this portion of the river banks, the sediment remains highly contaminated, preventing the CAWS’ ecosystem from being restored,” the lawmakers continued their letter. The lawmakers explained that GLRI funds can be used to support efforts to clean up CAWS, citing the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which stated, “The Committee encourages Agency funds for Great Lakes projects to be made available for projects in the historic Great Lakes Basin, which includes the Chicago River Watershed.” The lawmakers emphasized that while immediately allocating GLRI funds to the clean up is a step forward, they acknowledged that a more long-term solution is critical to cleaning up Bubbly Creek. “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can begin to address contamination in the CAWS using GLRI funds, but a long-term solution to clean up the area and restore the ecosystem will require a partnership between EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local partners, including the City of Chicago,” the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers continued on, underscoring that allocating these funds will not impede investments in the region. “Using the GLRI to invest in CAWS remediation will not distract from other important investments in the region. Sediment contamination characterization can begin on areas of the CAWS such as Bubbly Creek, the North Branch, North Shore Channel, Collateral Channel, or other segments of the South Branch, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Little Calumet River or Cal-Sag Channel at modest expense. Initiating this effort by the end of 2024 would allow adequate time for EPA to plan for expanded CAWS efforts in the coming years,” the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers concluded their letter by renewing their commitment to work with federal, state, and local partners to address the pollution in CAWS. “The Chicago Area Waterway System has suffered from pollution and neglect for the last century. Thank you for your efforts in addressing this issue and creating a new legacy for the region. We look forward to continuing to partner with EPA and other federal, state, and local agencies to deliver a cleaner waterway for the community,” the lawmakers concluded their letter. A copy of the letter is available here and below: December 20, 2024 Dear Regional Administrator Shore: We are writing to urge you in your capacity as Great Lakes National Program Manager to immediately allocate funds under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to begin the process of characterizing contaminated sediment in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). The CAWS is a vital part of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The more than 100-mile network of rivers, canals, and locks in Chicago and Northwest Indiana provides a navigation connection between the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River. Contaminated sediment within the CAWS is negatively impacting our constituents, fish, wildlife, development, recreation, and many other ecosystem services throughout the Chicago metro region. For more than 100 years, the CAWS has suffered from pollution; specifically, the south fork of the south bend of the Chicago River, known as Bubbly Creek. This area’s name comes from the bubbles generated from sanitary sewage, industrial waste, and animal waste that were disposed of in the creek for more than 100 years from the adjacent Union Stockyards and other local industries. While the stockyards no longer line this portion of the river banks, the sediment remains highly contaminated, preventing the CAWS’ ecosystem from being restored. For the past two decades, members of the Illinois Congressional delegation have worked to restore the CAWS’ ecosystem and address these contamination issues. Despite disputes about liability that have slowed cleanup efforts, we remain committed to addressing the contamination in the CAWS. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42) included the following report language: “The Committee encourages Agency funds for Great Lakes projects to be made available for projects in the historic Great Lakes Basin, which includes the Chicago River Watershed.” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can begin to address contamination in the CAWS using GLRI funds, but a long-term solution to clean up the area and restore the ecosystem will require a partnership between EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local partners, including the City of Chicago. The Great Lakes Legacy Act (P.L. 107-303), now part of the GLRI, was established to address contaminated sediment attributable to historical sources using an important cost-share system to allow municipalities, states, tribes, local water resource agencies, businesses, and the federal government to share in bearing the cost. We encourage EPA to implement this model as it begins to address pollution in the CAWS. Using the GLRI to invest in CAWS remediation will not distract from other important investments in the region. Sediment contamination characterization can begin on areas of the CAWS such as Bubbly Creek, the North Branch, North Shore Channel, Collateral Channel, or other segments of the South Branch, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Little Calumet River or Cal-Sag Channel at modest expense. Initiating this effort by the end of 2024 would allow adequate time for EPA to plan for expanded CAWS efforts in the coming years. The Chicago Area Waterway System has suffered from pollution and neglect for the last century. Thank you for your efforts in addressing this issue and creating a new legacy for the region. We look forward to continuing to partner with EPA and other federal, state, and local agencies to deliver a cleaner waterway for the community. Sincerely, -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-meeting-with-japanese-ambassador-duckworth-touts-how-ndaa-provisions-she-secured-will-help-bolster-our-nations-alliance,"In Meeting with Japanese Ambassador, Duckworth Touts How NDAA Provisions She Secured Will Help Bolster Our Nations’ Alliance",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—this week met with Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shigeo Yamada to discuss some of the ways the two countries could build on their shared priorities and strengthen their bilateral alliance. During the meeting, the Senator shared how the modified version of her Access to Care for Overseas Troops Act that was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the Senate this week would help increase cooperation between Japan and the U.S. while ensuring American servicemembers and their families have access to quality patient care throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Photos from the meeting are available on the Senator’s website. “Whether it’s through trade, business investment or national security, Japan is one of our nation’s closest allies and strongest partners in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Senator Duckworth. “It was a pleasure to meet with Ambassador Shigeo Yamada to share some of the provisions I secured in this year’s bipartisan defense bill that would help strengthen strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region while improving medical readiness for U.S. servicemembers. I look forward to continuing working together to strengthen our longstanding relationship while promoting democracy, security and economic cooperation throughout the region.” Duckworth is a proven leader when it comes to strengthening our relations with Indo-Pacific nations and improving security in the region—which she has done while successfully securing significant international investments in Illinois. Last year, Duckworth led an official visit to Japan and Indonesia as part of her continuing efforts to strengthen ties and reinforce support between allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and the United States. Following the official visit, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy. Additionally, in July of this year, Duckworth made an official visit to Laos and Vietnam to reinforce America’s commitment to our partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), strengthening U.S.-ASEAN economic ties and building on the foundations of the U.S.-Laos relationship. In May, she also led a bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation to Taiwan to underscore and reaffirm our nation’s strong bipartisan support for the Taiwanese people. Last year, Duckworth visited the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia to meet with government and business leaders and discuss opportunities that would increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as economic investments, regional stability and national security. -30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/landmark-bipartisan-bicameral-infrastructure-package-delivers-50-million-for-pennsylvania/,"Landmark Bipartisan, Bicameral Infrastructure Package Delivers $50 Million for Pennsylvania",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,PA,John Fetterman,F000479,www.fetterman.senate.gov,fetterman,https://www.fetterman.senate.gov/press-release/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) celebrated the Senate’s passage of key legislation, including the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration (EDA), and provisions for regional commissions. The package, which passed 97-1, includes major wins for Pennsylvania’s communities with new programs and funding that will create jobs, address environmental challenges, and invest in critical infrastructure. “I’m proud to see the Senate come together in a nearly unanimous vote to deliver these transformative investments to communities across Pennsylvania and the country. This legislation addresses critical needs in Pennsylvania—revitalizing our communities, safeguarding our environment, and spurring economic growth,” said Senator Fetterman. “This is how we show working people that the government can deliver real results that build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities. The people of Pennsylvania and our nation are counting on us to deliver these critical investments and I’m proud to bring it home.” This legislation reflects a major step forward in supporting Pennsylvania’s working families, rebuilding critical infrastructure, and fostering regional economic development. WRDA and the EDA reauthorization are designed to tackle long-standing challenges including flooding, pollution from legacy industries, and economic stagnation in transitioning communities. Together, these investments will position Pennsylvania for growth while protecting and improving the quality of life for its residents. Key Wins for Pennsylvania in WRDA: New Acid-Mine Drainage Program: dedicates $50 million to clean up legacy pollution from mining in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio to benefit both the environment and public health Johnstown River Walls Project: enables the repair and enhancement of the Johnstown river walls to mitigate flood risks South Wetlands Park: authorizes the development of a wetlands park in South Philadelphia, enhancing environmental conservation and providing recreational opportunities for residents in an underserved area Expedited Completion of the Williamsport Levee: accelerates the completion of critical flood control measures to protect residents and businesses from flooding Increased Water Infrastructure Authorization: provides new funding for Pennsylvania and authorizes funding for specific projects upgrade water infrastructure, helping communities make necessary improvements without imposing rate increases on residents, including: $25 million authorized funding for a new statewide environmental infrastructure program across the commonwealth $38.6 million for water and wastewater infrastructure across the commonwealth $7 million for water and wastewater infrastructure in Berks County and Chester County, $2 million for Franklin Township, $50 million for the boroughs of Telford, Franconia, and Lower Safford, and $5 million for Pen Argyl $50 million increase in funding for water and wastewater infrastructure for Northeast Pennsylvania $1.4 million increase in funding for Philadelphia and a change in the authorization to allow the Army Corps to assist with needed water supply infrastructure and prevent rate increases $7.6 million increase in funding for Phoenixville Allegheny River Lockage Levels of Services: affirms the importance of the Allegheny River and establishes that the current lockage levels of service on the river should be preserved as the Army Corps performs a study on a navigation and ecosystem restoration Key Wins for Pennsylvania in EDA Reauthorization: New Mid-Atlantic Regional Commission: drives investment and economic growth in Pennsylvania and neighboring states, covering Pennsylvania counties that had not previously been included in a regional commission Economic Adjustment Assistance Program: includes new provisions to support and support and invest in Pennsylvania’s steel communities Assistance to Coal Communities Program: offers targeted assistance to communities transitioning from coal-based economies The reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time Congress has reauthorized the agency in 20 years. The bipartisan legislation will modernize the EDA and other regional commissions whose mission is to foster economic growth in communities across the country. Since 1965, the EDA has led impactful programs to strengthen public works and infrastructure, job creation and workforce development, disaster recovery, and industry advancement. From January 2021 through November 2024, the EDA directed nearly $6 billion in investments across 3,393 projects, creating or saving over 554,700 jobs and generating $67.7 billion in private investment. These investments include hundreds of construction projects, creating thousands of good-paying jobs while supporting resilient economic growth across Pennsylvania and the nation. The package also includes provisions to reform the General Services Administration (GSA) to improve federal property management and operational efficiency. These provisions are designed to address critical needs in Pennsylvania, including environmental remediation, infrastructure improvements, and economic development, aligning with the objectives outlined in the press release. With the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 now passed by both Chambers of Congress, Senator Fetterman called for the president’s swift action to sign these transformative programs into law. The full text of the bill is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-announces-passage-of-key-provisions-of-her-legislation-to-address-epidemic-of-traumatic-brain-injuries-in-service-members-and-veterans/,Gillibrand Announces Passage Of Key Provisions Of Her Legislation To Address Epidemic Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Service Members And Veterans,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NY,Kirsten E. Gillibrand,G000555,www.gillibrand.senate.gov,gillibrand,https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Senate Armed Services Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, held a video press conference announcing that major provisions of her legislation to protect service members from traumatic brain injuries are included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA passed the Senate this week. “For years, our service members have been sustaining severe and crippling brain trauma as a result of firing their own weapons, but the Department of Defense has failed to properly investigate or address their injuries,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m proud to have fought to get the core of my Blast Overpressure Safety Act included in this year’s NDAA to finally get service members the care they need. These provisions will require the DoD to investigate the prevalence of blast overpressure brain injuries, standardize care across the Department of Defense, and take steps to mitigate service members’ blast exposure. I look forward to seeing President Biden sign it into law.” Gillibrand introduced the Blast Overpressure Safety Act following a disturbing report showing that service members are sustaining crippling traumatic brain injuries as a result of repeated exposure to explosions from their own weapons and explosives – otherwise known as blast overpressure. These brain injuries can cause depression, anxiety, cognitive problems, hallucinations, panic attacks, violent outbursts, suicidal tendencies, psychiatric disorders, dementia, and a variety of other serious health problems. Specifically, the provisions of the Blast Overpressure Safety Act included in the NDAA would: Minimize exposure to blast overpressure by: Requiring the Secretary of Defense to establish limits for blast exposure and overpressure. Requiring modification of existing weapons systems to reduce blast exposure. Requiring performance parameters to minimize exposure to blast overpressure when drafting requirements for new weapons systems and new acquisitions programs. Improve treatment and access to care by: Establishing a standardized treatment program for blast overpressure and programs to encourage service members to seek TBI treatment. Establishing a brain health and trauma program to provide evaluations and treatment to service members who have been exposed to blast overpressure. Establishing a Defense Intrepid Network for TBI and Brain Health, which will provide care, standardize care, and support research related to TBI and brain health. Requiring a report on the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative that includes information on resources spent, number of impacted service members, and number of service members receiving treatment. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-statement-on-exclusion-of-provision-for-world-trade-center-health-program-funding-in-end-of-year-spending-package/,Gillibrand Statement On Exclusion Of Provision For World Trade Center Health Program Funding In End-Of-Year Spending Package,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NY,Kirsten E. Gillibrand,G000555,www.gillibrand.senate.gov,gillibrand,https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/press-releases/page/,scraper,"Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement on the exclusion of a provision to fund the World Trade Center Health Program in the end-of-year health extenders package: “I am deeply disappointed by the decision to not include the World Trade Center Health Program in the government funding bill. 9/11 responders and survivors are real people, not political chess pieces. Thousands of Americans risked their lives to protect our country in its darkest hour, and it is now our responsibility as members of Congress to be there for them as they continue to battle the horrific health ramifications from that day and the many days after.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-david-bugbee-of-concord-as-decembers-granite-stater-of-the-month,Senator Hassan Recognizes David Bugbee of Concord as December’s Granite Stater of the Month,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized David Bugbee of Concord as December’s Granite Stater of the Month. David has been regularly donating blood since he was 17 years old, helping countless Granite Staters through his donations. David was first inspired to donate blood by his father, who donated regularly when David was a child. When David was 17, he saw a flyer at his Manchester college and, remembering his father’s frequent donations, decided to go. After his first donation, David knew that this would be a meaningful way in which he could help others – and now, at 71, he has given blood more than 200 times. Blood donations can be used for many different purposes in a hospital or emergency setting, and hospitals rely on volunteers like David to collect enough supply for patients in need. Donating blood is David’s way of giving back to his community and he says that he has gotten used to the sensation of giving a pint of blood. He regularly visits his donation center in Concord to give blood, and he appreciates the Red Cross workers who run the center. David’s selfless commitment to regularly donating blood is a great example of the Granite State spirit of helping other people in any way possible. Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here. To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below. I am honored to recognize David Bugbee of Concord as December’s Granite Stater of the Month. David, who is 71 years old, has been donating blood, regularly, since he was 17, helping countless Granite Staters and others in our region through this precious gift. David was first inspired to donate blood by his father. As a child, David remembers going with his dad to regular blood donation appointments, although at the time he didn’t realize that’s what his father was doing. Eventually he grew curious about the little square bandage he noticed his dad sporting after these appointments and asked what the appointments were. When he was 17 years old, David saw a flyer for a blood drive at his Manchester college, and, remembering his dad’s frequent donations, decided to go. After his first donation, David knew that this would be a meaningful way in which he could help others – and since then, he has given blood more than 200 times. Donating blood is David’s way of giving back to his community. Blood donations can be used for many different purposes in a hospital or emergency setting, and hospitals rely on volunteers like David to collect enough supply for patients in need. David has said that he counts himself lucky to have had jobs that have always allowed him to leave for blood donation appointments during the day. He does not find it a bother at all to give a pint of blood and has gotten used to the sensation, even saying that the period of rest that is required after donating can give him a little break in his day to sit down afterward and eat a snack. A lifelong Granite Stater, David regularly visits his donation center in Concord to give blood, and he appreciates the Red Cross workers who run the center. He has especially noticed that they always show their gratitude to those who donate. David’s selfless commitment to regularly donating blood is a great example of the Granite State spirit of helping other people in any way possible. As we celebrate the holiday season and reflect on ways in which we can support our fellow Granite Staters, I am proud to name David December’s Granite Stater of the Month. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-boozman-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-make-it-easier-for-veterans-to-schedule-medical-appointments,Senators Hassan and Boozman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make it Easier for Veterans to Schedule Medical Appointments,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Boozman (R-AR), members of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced the Improving Veteran Access to Care Act, bipartisan legislation to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) health care scheduling process so that veterans can easily schedule multiple visits at once through one phone call or online. Currently, veterans do not have access to one centralized platform to schedule appointments for many types of VA-based specialty care. Veterans often prefer to schedule various specialist appointments that they need for the same day – in order to avoid multiple trips to the VA – but they must call individual clinics to set up appointments for specialty care. Attempting to coordinate multiple appointments through multiple phone calls and trips places a burden on all veterans, but particularly on those who must travel a long distance for appointments. The Senators’ Improving Veteran Access to Care Act would address this issue by requiring the VA to create a streamlined scheduling system where veterans can either call or go online to view and schedule appointments for all types of VA care. “After all they’ve given to our country, veterans should be able to get VA care that serves their needs and that respects their time – but the current VA system for scheduling multiple appointments is complicated and burdensome. This is especially true for veterans in rural areas who often must travel long distances to receive care,” said Senator Hassan. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will create a more streamlined and user-friendly scheduling process, and will make it easier for veterans in New Hampshire and across the country to access the health care they have earned and deserve.” “Ensuring the VA can provide the resources and care our servicemembers earned and expect must always be a priority,” said Boozman. “By streamlining the medical appointment scheduling process for our veterans, we can remove inefficiencies that hinder this critical mission so they get the help they need in a timely fashion.” The bipartisan legislation is supported by Veterans Service Organizations including Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). “By establishing an integrated project team, the 'Improving Veteran Access to Care Act' aims to revolutionize the scheduling process for health care appointments within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This initiative focuses on timely delivery of care, enhanced access, improved customer experience, and greater efficiency, ultimately providing our veterans with the quality care they deserve. DAV would like to thank Senator Maggie Hassan and Senator John Boozman for introducing the 'Improving Veterans Access to Care Act,' which creates a team to improve the scheduling process for health care appointments and ensure our veterans receive timely access to care they have earned and urgently need,” said Jon Retzer, Deputy National Legislative Director for Health for Disabled American Veterans. The Improving Veteran Access to Care Act would require the VA to create an integrated project team that would coordinate with existing VA projects to improve appointment scheduling, with a focus on the following objectives: Creating a system that enables VA personnel and patients to view available appointments for all VA-based care; Creating a self-service online scheduling platform that allows VA patients to find and schedule VA health care appointments; and Creating a telephone process through which VA patients can make a single call to find and schedule VA health care appointments. This bipartisan bill is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing work to support service members, veterans, and their families. She helped develop and pass into law the bipartisan PACT Act, a historic bill that fundamentally reforms and improves the ways in which veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits from the VA. Earlier this year, the VA expanded health care eligibility under the PACT Act so that more veterans can get care. Senator Hassan also introduced and helped pass into law bipartisan legislation to strengthen the Solid Start program, through which VA employees contact every veteran three times by phone in the first year after veterans leave active duty service to check in and help connect these new veterans to VA programs and benefits. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-boozman-secure-final-passage-of-bipartisan-every-kid-outdoors-extension-act,"Heinrich, Boozman Secure Final Passage of Bipartisan Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NM,Martin Heinrich,H001046,www.heinrich.senate.gov,heinrich,https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Bill heading to President Biden’s desk extends the wildly successful Every Kid Outdoors Program that Heinrich helped establish in 2019 to provide all American fourth graders and their families free national park access WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) secured the Senate’s passage of their bipartisan Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act as part of the larger Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, recreation legislation that already passed the House and will now go to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. “As a father and a former outdoor educator, I know how much of a difference getting outside can make for our kids,” said Heinrich. “Since we passed my original Every Kid Outdoors Act into law five years ago, thousands of children and their families have been inspired to visit our public lands in New Mexico and all across the country. By keeping this program going, our public lands can continue serving as outdoor classrooms with endless opportunities for children to learn and families to make new memories.” “Our youth deserve the opportunity to learn about and explore our national parks and develop an appreciation for the lands and resources that help define our nation. I am proud to see my colleagues recognize the benefits of facilitating outdoor adventure and education for children and families. I look forward to the extension of this significant program,” said Boozman. Starting in 2015, the U.S. Department of the Interior has offered fourth graders and their families free entrance to all federally managed public lands. Heinrich led the original bipartisan effort in Congress, alongside then-U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) to codify the Every Kid Outdoors program into law. Heinrich and Alexander’s Every Kid Outdoors Act passed in 2019 as part of the larger John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The authorization under Heinrich’s original legislation is currently scheduled to expire in 2026. Once President Biden signs it into law, Heinrich and Boozman’s Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act will now extend free access to national parks and other public lands to all American fourth grade students and their families, through 2031. The Every Kid Outdoors program has been wildly successful at encouraging tens of thousands of children and their families to explore America’s public lands, waters, and historic sites, including national parks – more than 2,000 sites in all. In 2023, Every Kid Outdoors vouchers helped create free admission for 11,805 visits to New Mexico public lands, including 879 visits to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 295 visits to Bandelier National Monument, and 396 visits to White Sands National Park. The Every Kid Outdoors Extension Act garnered widespread support, including endorsements from The Wilderness Society, the Sierra Club, and the Outdoor Alliance for Kids. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-capito-celebrate-final-passage-of-bipartisan-simplifying-outdoor-access-for-recreation-act,"Heinrich, Capito Celebrate Final Passage of Bipartisan Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NM,Martin Heinrich,H001046,www.heinrich.senate.gov,heinrich,https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), celebrated the Senate’s passage of their bipartisan Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, legislation to improve the permitting process for outfitters, educational organizations, and community groups to access public land. The legislation was included in the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, recreation legislation that already passed in the House and will now go to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. “Our public lands are where we go to camp under the stars, chase elk, and fish for trout in mountain streams,” said Heinrich. “As a former guide myself, I know from experience how paperwork and bureaucracy can get in the way of getting outside. I’m proud that we have passed my bipartisan legislation to cut red tape to help small businesses and outdoor enthusiasts enjoy our public lands and continue growing economic development through outdoor recreation. We just made it easier for families, schools, and community groups to get outside and enjoy our public lands.” “Making it easier to explore and enjoy the incredible beauty of our public lands is a key priority, especially at home in West Virginia,” said Capito. “I’m thrilled our SOAR Act has passed as part of the EXPLORE Act and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. Once officially law, it will reduce bureaucratic red tape and make commonsense changes to current permitting requirements that can discourage outfitters from utilizing our public lands and in turn, constrain economic development. These changes to federal public lands regulations will help support the outdoor recreation industry and benefit the local communities and economies that they serve.” The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act streamlines and improves the recreational permitting process for federal agencies: The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act was supported by a wide range of organizations, including the Wilderness Society, American Mountain Guides Association, The Mountaineers, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, and the Outdoor Industry Association. The bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Angus King (I-Maine), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Steven Daines (R-Mont.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-kennedy-bipartisan-legislation-to-restore-wetlands-and-migratory-bird-habitats-passes-senate-and-heads-to-presidents-desk,"Heinrich, Kennedy Bipartisan Legislation to Restore Wetlands and Migratory Bird Habitats Passes Senate and Heads to President’s Desk",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NM,Martin Heinrich,H001046,www.heinrich.senate.gov,heinrich,https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, and U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) announced that their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) through 2030 has passed the Senate, as part of the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024. The bill now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “This reauthorization will continue to support our most successful public-private conservation partnership, and I'm proud to see it head to the President’s desk,"" said Heinrich. ""The bipartisan North American Wetlands Conservation Act helps conserve New Mexico’s unique waterfowl and the wetlands they depend on for our future generations while investing in our flourishing outdoor recreation economy. The President should sign this bill immediately.” “Louisiana’s wetlands are a big part of our state’s outdoor sportsman culture and geographical beauty. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is an important step to preserve our wildlife and protect our environment’s natural defense system,” said Kennedy. NAWCA was originally enacted in 1989 to provide federal matching grants—in partnership with funding from state and local governments, private industry, and non-profit organizations—for projects that conserve North America’s wetlands, waterfowl, and wildlife. New Mexico has 14 NAWCA projects either completed or underway, which have conserved 22,632 acres of wildlife habitat. NAWCA funding of more than $5.7 million stimulated partner contributions of over $14 million in the state. About NAWCA: Wetlands secure freshwater supplies, recharge aquifers, and mitigate soil erosion and flooding. In addition, waterfowl, migratory birds, fish, and other wildlife depend on wetlands for habitat, food, and migration stopovers. This wildlife also supports a multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy, including fishing, wildlife viewing, and photography. NAWCA funding has been critical to acquiring, restoring, and enhancing wetlands in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico. In total, more than 3,300 NAWCA projects have contributed to the conservation and restoration of more than 32 million acres of wetlands all across North America. NAWCA has provided a great return on investment, generating, on average, two additional dollars for every federal dollar. Over the program’s history, federal grants totaling more than $2.28 billion have spurred $4.53 billion for NAWCA projects through matching funds. NAWCA funds have also supported an average of 7,500 jobs each year and more than $5 billion in annual economic activity. The legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is endorsed by Ducks Unlimited, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Delta Waterfowl, Boone and Crockett, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Audubon, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Outdoor Industry Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Restore America’s Estuaries. A one-page summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/heinrich-votes-to-keep-government-open-secures-additional-15-billion-for-hermits-peak/calf-canyon-recovery,"Heinrich Votes to Keep Government Open, Secures Additional $1.5 Billion for Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Recovery",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NM,Martin Heinrich,H001046,www.heinrich.senate.gov,heinrich,https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to pass a continuing resolution that will keep federal agencies funded through March 14, 2025. In addition to avoiding a disastrous Republican-caused government shutdown, the Continuing Resolution funds critically needed disaster assistance for communities across New Mexico and the country, delivers an additional $1.5 billion for New Mexicans recovering and rebuilding from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, extends the period that victims may start claims with the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office, delivers necessary disaster relief for farmers, and extends the 2018 Farm Bill for one more year while Congress continues work to pass a new farm bill that best supports working families, the farmers that produce our food and fiber, and our rural communities. “Despite Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s best efforts, Democrats came together to avert a government shutdown that would’ve devastated our economy, hurt working families, and thrust our government into chaos right before Christmas. “I’m pleased we secured a number of my top priorities, including $1.5 billion aimed at helping New Mexicans recover and rebuild from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. While we got this done on behalf of working families, this was far from a success. “If the last two days proved anything, it’s that Republicans are willing to use working people as pawns, bending to the whims of an unelected billionaire and his puppet — even if it means risking YOUR paycheck, YOUR health care, and YOUR family’s well-being. “My North Star has and continues to be passing serious appropriations bills and delivering for New Mexico and the American people. That’s who I fight for.” Heinrich will continue pressing House and Senate leadership to take up and pass full-year appropriations bills that the Senate Appropriations Committee passed on a bipartisan vote. In total, those bills contain over $300 million for New Mexico and more than $124 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for 138 local projects across the state. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrich helped secure the following in the Continuing Resolution passed today: $1.5 billion for Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Relief Heinrich, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) successfully secured an additional $1.5 billion to help New Mexicans recover from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. The Continuing Resolution also extends the period that victims may file claims with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office to March 14, 2025. The lawmakers are continuing to call for the passage of their Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Extension Act, legislation they introduced last year to extend the period a victim can file a claim with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office through the end of 2027. The New Mexico Congressional Delegation has now secured a total of $5.45 billion in federal resources to help New Mexicans recover and rebuild since the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire started in April 2022. Last month, Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández announced that President Biden’s disaster supplemental request included transfer authority for $1.5 billion to help New Mexicans recover from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández also sent a letter urging the FEMA Director of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office and the FEMA Director of the New Mexico Joint Recovery Office to address concerns from New Mexicans about the process for receiving compensation from the Claims Office and help families get the relief and compensation needed to recover. Key Public Health Extensions Among other health provisions, Heinrich secured an extension of the special diabetes program for Type I diabetes, including an extension of funding for special diabetes programs for Native Americans. Critical flexibilities for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics providing telehealth in health shortage areas — including mental health and substance use disorder treatment — will now be extended. This will allow for continued patient care without the hurdle of the Medicare in-person requirements for treatment maintenance. Additionally, there will be a delay to hospital payment cuts in New Mexico for disproportionate share hospitals. These vital hospitals continue to serve predominantly uninsured and underinsured New Mexicans. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/video-wexton-kaine-and-warner-applaud-senate-passage-of-gabriella-miller-kids-first-research-act-20,"VIDEO: Wexton, Kaine & Warner Applaud Senate Passage of Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Tim Kaine,K000384,www.kaine.senate.gov,kaine,https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) and Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) celebrated the Senate passage of their bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0. The bill reauthorizes federal funding for the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First), which the senators helped create to support lifesaving research of treatments and cures for childhood cancer since 2015. The bill was included in a draft government funding agreement that was reached earlier this week, but was later torpedoed by Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and President-elect Donald Trump. The legislation is named in honor of Gabriella Miller, who lived in Virginia’s 10th District and was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and passed away in 2013 at the age of 10. Her passionate advocacy for lawmakers to “stop talking, start doing” led to the passage of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and creation of Ten-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund in 2014. “For as long as I have been serving in Congress, I’ve been fighting to pass the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 and extend critical funding for childhood cancer research,” said Wexton. “I’m so proud that we’ve finally gotten this lifesaving bill through Congress and on its way to be signed into law. This bipartisan bill will build on the groundbreaking work of the Kids First program and deliver much-needed resources to better understand, treat, and hopefully one day cure childhood cancer. No family should have to face the fear and pain of their child’s cancer diagnosis, and I’m grateful for the partnership of Senator Tim Kaine and the remarkable advocacy of Ellyn Miller and the Miller family in honor of Gabriella and her fight, to build support for this bill.” “Gabriella Miller was a courageous Virginian who gave her all to advocating for those whose lives have been touched by childhood cancer,” said Kaine. “I’m honored to have worked with the Miller Family and Congresswoman Wexton on this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize a crucial pediatric cancer research program that was created in her honor. I’m glad the Senate passed it today and urge President Biden to sign it into law as quickly as possible.” “By reauthorizing the research program bearing Gabriella Miller’s name, we are helping to honor her memory, giving hope to families facing devastating diagnoses, and ensuring that future generations have access to the life-saving treatments they deserve,” said Warner. Broadcast-quality video of Kaine calling for the bill’s passage on the Senate floor is available here. In 2014, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which the senators championed, was signed into law by President Obama, establishing the Ten-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund and authorizing $12.6 million in annual funds for childhood disease research through Fiscal Year 2023. Since then, Kids First has taken tremendous steps towards understanding childhood cancer, such as establishing the Gabriella Kids Resource Center—a comprehensive data resource for research and patient communities meant to advance discoveries. The language included in the bill reauthorizes the Kids First program for five years. Cancer continues to kill more children in the United States than any other disease. Over 15,000 children a year are diagnosed with cancer, with that number tragically having gradually risen in recent decades. Pediatric cancers often differ from adults in the type, how they spread, and how it is treated, and many children do not respond well to conventional adult treatments, which frequently cause long term health issues and disabilities even in circumstances where the cancer is successfully cured. Yet while children face special hurdles when it comes to fighting cancer, less than 8% of current government funding for cancer is geared specifically towards developing treatments and cures for childhood cancer and other rare diseases. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-celebrate-passage-of-bills-to-name-post-offices-after-madeleine-albright-and-john-mercer-langston,Warner & Kaine Celebrate Passage of Bills to Name Post Offices after Madeleine Albright and John Mercer Langston,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Tim Kaine,K000384,www.kaine.senate.gov,kaine,https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today celebrated the Senate passage of bills they introduced to rename two United States Postal Service (USPS) offices in Loudoun County and Petersburg. “Madeleine Albright and John Mercer Langston were trailblazers who overcame tremendous barriers in their respective fights for human rights and social justice. We are thrilled to see these bills get full congressional approval, which brings us one step closer to enshrining these important legacies in Loudoun County and Petersburg. We look forward to seeing President Biden sign these bills into law,” said the senators. The first bill would designate the Loudoun County post office, in Purcellville, as the ""Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building.” The bill, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), honors Secretary Albright, the first female Secretary of State and former Ambassador to the United Nations. The second bill would designate the Petersburg post office as the ""John Mercer Langston Post Office Building."" The bill, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), honors the Louisa County native and 19th century abolitionist and attorney, who served as one of the first Black Americans to hold elective office in the United States. These post office facilities are located at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia and 29 Franklin Street in Petersburg, Virginia. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/wexton-warner-and-kaine-applaud-senate-passage-of-bill-to-designate-george-c-marshall-house-as-a-national-park-service-affiliated-area,"Wexton, Warner & Kaine Applaud Senate Passage of Bill to Designate George C. Marshall House as a National Park Service Affiliated Area",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Tim Kaine,K000384,www.kaine.senate.gov,kaine,https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) and U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of legislation to designate the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, known as Dodona Manor, as an affiliated area under the National Park Service (NPS). The lawmakers have advocated for years for an official designation, which would provide new resources to preserve and celebrate General Marshall’s legacy at the site, including technical assistance to support restoration efforts, accessibility improvements, and new programming. “Dodona Manor has a clear historic value to our nation and turning it into an affiliated area under NPS is a fitting way to honor General Marshall’s life and legacy,” said the lawmakers. “We’re glad our legislation to help make that happen was passed by the Senate today and hope to see this designation come to fruition.” General Marshall led a lifetime of public service, serving as Chief of Staff to the Army during America’s entry into World War II, as Secretary of State where he orchestrated the historic Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe following the war, and as Secretary of Defense after the onset of the Korean War. Dodona Manor is currently registered as a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior and has been designated by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Virginia Landmark. The Marshall House has been an integral part of the Leesburg community for over two centuries. General Marshall and his wife Katherine purchased the property in 1941 as a weekend retreat house, and regularly spent time at the property throughout General Marshall’s tenure as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. Today, the property hosts international exchanges, historical exhibits, community events, and educational programming about the life and legacy of the Marshall family. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/at-peters-urging-senate-passes-bipartisan-legislation-to-prevent-authorities-to-address-drone-threats-from-expiring,"At Peters’ Urging, Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Authorities to Address Drone Threats from Expiring",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MI,Gary C. Peters,P000595,www.peters.senate.gov,garypeters,https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters?(D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to prevent the current authorities used by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to disable drones that pose a security threat from expiring tonight at midnight. Peters’ Counter-UAS Authority Extension Act, which he introduced with U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), extends the counter-drone authorities through September 30, 2025. “As we near the deadline to fund the government tonight without a clear path from my Republican colleagues in the House, it appears that we're once again on the brink of a government shutdown. And when the clock runs out at midnight, the current authorities that the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have to safely disable drones that pose a security threat will also expire, and we simply cannot let that happen,” said Senator Peters. “I just received unanimous consent to pass a bill that will extend the current authorities for one year. I appreciate my Senate colleagues for joining me in passing this legislation so that our federal law enforcement agencies can continue to protect against dangerous drones while giving us additional time to work on bipartisan legislation that Senator Johnson and I have authored to strengthen counter drone efforts.” To watch video of Senator Peters’ remarks, click here. There are currently more than 1 million drones registered in the United States. This rapidly growing number of drones create a higher risk of both unintentional disasters and malicious activity from foreign adversaries or criminal organizations that seek to weaponize drones or engage in illegal activities. Recent reports of menacing drones in New Jersey and communities across the country have highlighted the need to pass and expand the ability of law enforcement agencies to be able to safely disable drones that pose a risk to public safety. Drones have also posed serious safety risks to airports, critical infrastructure and large public gatherings like football games. Peters has been fighting to expand authorities to ensure our nation is prepared to address public safety threats from drones. Earlier this week, he pressed his colleagues to pass long overdue, bipartisan legislation he authored that would address the growing safety threats posed by drones – including by providing technology that safely disables a threatening drone to state and local law enforcement so they can protect their communities. Peters’ legislation is supported by a wide range of stakeholders including the National Football League, airports and law enforcement organizations. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-peters-urges-commerce-department-to-finalize-new-rule-to-protect-national-security-and-secure-us-automotive-supply-chains,Senator Peters Urges Commerce Department to Finalize New Rule to Protect National Security and Secure U.S. Automotive Supply Chains,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MI,Gary C. Peters,P000595,www.peters.senate.gov,garypeters,https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to finalize its recently announced rule that would protect American consumers and companies against the national security threats posed by allowing vehicles and technologies controlled by Chinese Community Party-backed (CCP) companies to be imported or sold in the United States. The letter underscored the significant national security concerns associated with key Chinese-controlled vehicles and connected technologies in vehicles. This rule would also help to secure the U.S. automotive supply chain and protect the United States’ global leadership in automotive innovation as China seeks to flood the global automotive market with highly subsidized Chinese vehicles. “We cannot allow technologies from foreign entities of concern on our roads that can store and share Americans’ personal data, commit espionage, and even manipulate our cars,” Peters wrote. “The Department of Commerce, and your Office in particular, is at the forefront of the Administration’s effort to protect and defend Americans from vehicles that could compromise our national security. I welcomed the work of your team in recent months to propose a comprehensive rule that protects against the urgent and significant national security threat posed by the sale and import of vehicles and vehicle technology controlled or vulnerable to manipulation by our adversaries. This rule would help improve the security of the U.S. automotive supply chain, keep the United States at the forefront of global mobility innovation, and create more good-paying jobs here at home.” The letter continued: “Now that the public comment period for the proposed rule has closed, I urge you to quickly consider stakeholder input and take the necessary steps to finalize this rule. I look forward to our continued work together to secure our supply chains and support American manufacturing on a level playing field. Peters has consistently worked to combat the national security and economic threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles. Peters applauded the Commerce Department’s decision to open an inquiry into the development of this regulation in March, and then wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and the United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai reiterating his support for the Department’s investigation. Peters also urged Secretary Raimondo to ensure the Commerce Department takes further action to combat threats posed by vehicles and high-risk technologies controlled by Chinese Communist Party-backed companies during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing earlier this year. Peters applauded the Commerce Department’s decision to raise tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and other goods across numerous key sectors, including steel and aluminum imports, lithium batteries, critical minerals, solar cells, semiconductors, and medical equipment. Peters additionally sent a letter to several Chinese automakers in September pressing for more transparency into their ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Peters has also consistently worked to boost American development of connected vehicles and other critical roadway safety technologies to support Michigan’s auto industry and create good-paying jobs for Michiganders. Last year, Peters – who Chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports – called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow the deployment of safe, secure Cellular Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X) technology in order to accelerate the use of this lifesaving mobility safety technology and ensure the U.S. does not fall behind other countries in its development and adoption. Following this bipartisan call from Peters, the FCC approved the deployment of C-V2X technology – which is an intelligent transportation system (ITS) technology that enables data sharing between vehicles, the infrastructure they operate on, and nearby road users – improving roadway safety and efficiency. In 2022, Peters welcomed the U.S. Department of Commerce’s $52.2 million investment in the Global Epicenter of Mobility to drive and advance mobility innovation across Michigan’s automotive sector. Peters secured this funding through the American Rescue Plan he helped enact. Text of the letter can be found here and below. Alan F. Estevez Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security U.S. Department of Commerce Dear Under Secretary Estevez: I write to urge the Bureau of Industry and Security to work quickly to evaluate comments, make any necessary revisions, and finalize your proposed rule banning certain vehicles and technologies controlled or vulnerable to manipulation to our adversaries to be imported or sold in the United States (Docket No. 240919-0245). I applaud the Administration for its important work to protect American citizens and critical infrastructure from the serious national security threat posed particularly by Chinese and Russian vehicles and their enabling technologies. We cannot allow technologies from foreign entities of concern on our roads that can store and share Americans’ personal data, commit espionage, and even manipulate our cars. As identified by the Bureau and other sources, finished vehicles manufactured or controlled by Chinese Communist Party-backed companies present a heightened national security risk, adding to longstanding concerns about how China’s unfair trade practices threaten U.S. economic competitiveness, intellectual property, and automotive manufacturing. Experts have sounded the alarm regarding the control of data for connected vehicles manufactured by companies incorporated in China, particularly when it comes to the potential for these vehicles to enable the unauthorized collection, transmission, and storage of Americans’ data, as well as serve as potential vectors for espionage or disruption of critical infrastructure here in the United States. Furthermore, the CCP has made clear that they intend to make the 21st century a “Chinese Century,” with domination of the global automotive market being a key piece of their strategy. The United States has a responsibility, for the sake of the next generation of Americans and the world at large, to ensure that does not become a reality. The Department of Commerce—and the Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services in particular—is at the forefront of the Administration’s effort to protect and defend Americans from vehicles that could compromise our national security. I welcomed the work of your team in recent months to propose a comprehensive rule that protects against the urgent and significant national security threat posed by the sale and import of vehicles and vehicle technology controlled or vulnerable to manipulation by our adversaries. This rule would help improve the security of the U.S. automotive supply chain, keep the United States at the forefront of global mobility innovation, and create more good-paying jobs here at home. Now that the public comment period for the proposed rule has closed, I urge you to quickly consider stakeholder input and take the necessary steps to finalize this rule. I look forward to our continued work together to secure our supply chains and support American manufacturing on a level playing field. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/reed-and-whitehouse-steer-extra-9m-to-ridot-in-bipartisan-water-infrastructure-bill,Reed & Whitehouse Steer Extra $9M to RIDOT in Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,RI,Jack Reed,R000122,www.reed.senate.gov,jackreed,https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to bolster Rhode Island’s water infrastructure, help the state tap into transportation dollars, and promote Ocean State economic development, U.S. Senators Jack Reed, a leading member of the Appropriations Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse, the next Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, helped pass the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. This legislation authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out projects that enhance our nation’s ports, harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other critical water infrastructure. This year’s bill also includes provisions to help states, including Rhode Island, unlock unused transportation funds that have accumulated under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. The bill directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (USDOT) to transfer $1.8 billion in unused TIFIA funding to the states through the existing Surface Transportation Block Grant program, which provides flexible funding to states for key transportation projects. It also directs USDOT to redistribute 75 percent of any future unused amounts out of the $250 million provided to TIFIA annually in each of FY 2025 and 2026. As a result, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will receive an additional one-time allocation of roughly $9 million that the state may use toward key transportation priorities. This year’s WRDA also reauthorizes the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to help spur development in distressed local communities across the country. Through its grant programs, EDA helps local communities plan for economic development activities, construct ‘last-mile’ infrastructure, and mitigate the effects of short- and long-term economic challenges and disasters. “WRDA invests in our waterways and help keeps commerce flowing. I worked on a bipartisan basis to help unlock an estimated $9 million in transportation funding for RIDOT this year and ensure more upfront money is going to states so they can better plan and budget for the future. This provision will help state transportation agencies effectively allocate federal dollars while advancing key transportation projects,” said Senator Reed. “This year’s water resources package will help Rhode Island advance long-term climate resilience and transportation priorities, while supporting economic development,” said Senator Whitehouse, who serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee where the WRDA bill was crafted, and will be its Ranking Member next year. “This bill also provides an avenue to deploy more funding to the Ocean State in the future to rehabilitate old or unsafe dams.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/ri-delegation-applauds-final-passage-of-legislation-creating-a-southern-new-england-regional-commission,RI Delegation Applauds Final Passage of Legislation Creating a Southern New England Regional Commission,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,RI,Jack Reed,R000122,www.reed.senate.gov,jackreed,https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representatives Seth Magaziner (D-RI) and Gabe Amo (D-RI) today cheered the final passage of legislation establishing a Southern New England Regional Commission to spur region-wide economic growth and attract more federal investment to Rhode Island. The legislation passed as part of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which authorizes improvements to our nation’s harbors and waterways, invests in coastal resiliency efforts, and supports U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects nationwide. The Senate cleared the bill by a vote of 97 to 1, and the measure passed the House last week by a vote of 399-18. The legislation now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. “This is good news for Rhode Island, as is the fact that Senator Whitehouse is ascending to the top of the Environment and Public Works Committee. He’s always been a strong advocate for the Ocean State with an outstanding record of delivering for working families. The inclusion of this provision is a credit to him, as well as former Congressman David Cicilline, who worked the issue for many years as part of the Democratic leadership on the House side during his term in office,” said Reed. “Today’s bipartisan passage of WRDA has some big wins for Rhode Island, but none bigger than the establishment of a Southern New England Regional Commission. During his years in the House, my former colleague Congressman Cicilline was the driving force behind this effort, which will leverage partnerships between local, state, and the federal government to boost the regional economy across state lines and bring home additional federal funding to Rhode Island. I’m proud to have helped secure this long-fought victory for Congressman Cicilline and for Rhode Island,” said Whitehouse, who in the next Congress will be the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, where WRDA is drafted. “The establishment of a Southern New England Regional Commission is a huge win and a longstanding goal for Rhode Island, and would not have been possible without the advocacy of former Congressman Cicilline and my colleagues in the congressional delegation,” said Magaziner. “This is the first step to unlocking more federal funding for Rhode Island, attracting economic development, and investing in projects that support workforce training and protect the environment.” “Working as part of the Rhode Island delegation, I’ve seen firsthand how teamwork makes the dream work,” said Amo. “The Southern New England Regional Commission will increase collaboration between Rhode Island and our neighbors to unlock widespread prosperity for our region. As we celebrate the milestone of Senate passage, it is important to recognize that this moment wouldn’t have been possible without former Congressman Cicilline and Senator Whitehouse’s tenacious leadership. As the co-lead of the Southern New England Regional Commission Act, I’m excited to see my first piece of legislation on the path to being signed into law.” There are currently eight Regional Commissions, and the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 would authorize two more: the Southern New England Regional Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Commission. Regional Commissions are federal and state partnerships with a federal co-chair appointed by the President and state co-chairs appointed by governors. The Southern New England Regional Commission will include Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and six counties in Connecticut. The Southern New England Regional Commission will integrate federal and state economic development priorities with regional and local considerations, and will support economic growth by developing basic infrastructure and energy investments, supporting projects to conserve the environment and natural resources, expanding workforce training, and promoting business development and entrepreneurship. The delegation secured several other key provisions benefitting Rhode Island in the comprehensive Water Resources Development Act of 2024, including measures to improve climate resiliency along Rhode Island’s coastline, support Blue Economy projects in future federal grant opportunities, reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program, and establish a Workforce Training Grants program at the Economic Development Administration.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-extension-of-buy-america-provisions-for-stainless-steel-flatware-in-annual-defense-bill-boosting-made-in-america-flatware-like-at-sherrill-manufacturing-in-oneida-county,"SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE EXTENSION OF BUY-AMERICA PROVISIONS FOR STAINLESS STEEL FLATWARE IN ANNUAL DEFENSE BILL, BOOSTING ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ FLATWARE LIKE AT SHERRILL MANUFACTURING IN ONEIDA...",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NY,Charles E. Schumer,S000148,www.schumer.senate.gov,schumer,https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Schumer And Gillibrand Deliver On Key Legislation Directing The Department of Defense (DoD) To Procure Stainless Steel Flatware and Dinnerware From Domestic Sources, Helping Drive New Growth At American Flatware Producers Such As Oneida County’s Sherrill Manufacturing Senators Say Extension Of ‘SPOONSS Act’ In Annual Defense Bill Will Restore Long-Standing Domestic Sourcing Requirements, Protecting Good-Paying Jobs In The Mohawk Valley Schumer, Gillibrand: The Bipartisan ‘SPOONSS Act’ Will Put A Fork In Unfair Foreign Competition From Countries Like China By Requiring Our Military To Purchase American-Made Dinnerware & Flatware From Companies Like Sherrill! U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced they secured a key victory for Upstate New York in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) that will extend the Support Procurement of our Nation’s Stainless Steel (SPOONSS) Act, reinstating the Berry Amendment’s long-standing Department of Defense domestic sourcing requirement for stainless steel flatware and dinnerware. Following Schumer’s and Gillibrand’s successful efforts to secure this extension in the Senate NDAA, they tirelessly worked to ensure it was included in the final bill which passed the Senate on December 18. Now that it’s been included in the must-pass legislation, SPOONSS is headed to the president’s desk before the year’s end. “Sherrill Manufacturing has produced the very finest, American-made flatware and dinnerware in Oneida County for generations, which is why I’ve long pushed for the United States government to use its buying power to support Sherrill’s world-class workers in the Mohawk Valley. Today, I am proud to say we’ve delivered on a genuine kitchen table issue for Mohawk Valley residents while also sticking a fork in unfair foreign competition from countries like China by requiring our military to purchase utensils and flatware from American manufacturers in this year’s national defense bill,” said Senator Schumer. “This is a win-win: our military will have the highest quality silverware available, made by hardworking Americans while boosting America’s only remaining flatware maker and the Mohawk Valley economy.” “I’m proud to have fought to get the SPOONSS Act included in this year’s NDAA to boost our domestic flatware manufacturers, who are truly a cut above. including Sherrill Manufacturing in the Mohawk Valley. I will continue fighting to ensure that our service members have the best equipment available and to support American manufacturing,” said Senator Gillibrand. Greg Owens, cofounder and CEO of Sherrill Manufacturing said, “We at Sherrill Manufacturing are grateful to Senator Schumer for his longstanding support of our company and this big win for our employees. Inclusion in the Berry Amendment will provide us with an opportunity to expand our government sales, increase employment, and continue to grow our American-made flatware business.” “The SPOONSS Act is key to unlocking new growth in the United States dinnerware and flatware manufacturing industry, which is proudly led by longtime MACNY member Sherrill Manufacturing in the Mohawk Valley,” said MACNY Executive Vice President Michael Frame. “As we focus on revitalizing and reshoring all facets of American manufacturing, we need legislation like SPOONSS to protect New York State companies from unfair competition. On behalf of the NYS manufacturing community, I extend my sincere appreciation to Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for renewing SPOONSS and supporting MACNY and its members.” According to Schumer and Gillibrand, Sherrill Manufacturing has long been a key supplier of stainless steel flatware for the United States Military, and their biggest government customer is currently the Navy. Unfortunately, in recent decades, the influx of cheap alternatives from state-subsidized foreign competitors in countries like China has made it difficult for domestic producers to compete on cost. Thanks to SPOONSS, Schumer and Gillibrand explained that the table is now set for Sherrill Manufacturing to ramp up their business with the feds, which the company hopes will drive new growth, investment, and jobs. In particular, the senators said the company has expressed interest in increasing sales of their stainless steel flatware to other branches of the military. The Department of Defense (DoD) was previously required to procure American-made stainless-steel flatware, but the requirement was repealed in the FY2007 NDAA due to supply chain shortages that proceeded to force the DoD to procure their flatware from foreign sources, namely China. However, domestic production of stainless-steel flatware and dinnerware has since bounced back, as demonstrated by the success of Oneida County’s Sherrill Manufacturing, located in Sherrill, NY, which produces several lines of flatware under the Liberty Tabletop brand and continues to grow its American workforce and revenue. To address this, Schumer and Gillibrand reinstated this requirement with the inclusion of the SPOONSS Act in the FY2020 NDAA, which expired in 2023. The senators said this new extension is a critical next step for the continued growth and success of American-made dinnerware and flatware produced by companies like Sherrill Manufacturing. With this most recent extension secured by Senators Schumer and Gillibrand that will go into effect one year after passage and sunset in 2029, DoD will once again be required to purchase American-made flatware for the Armed Forces. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-warns-against-impacts-of-republican-manufactured-shutdown-urges-colleagues-to-pass-bipartisan-agreement-to-keep-government-open-and-provide-disaster-relief,"Shaheen Warns Against Impacts of Republican-Manufactured Shutdown, Urges Colleagues to Pass Bipartisan Agreement to Keep Government Open and Provide Disaster Relief",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to warn against the impacts of a possible Republican-manufactured government shutdown on Granite Staters, and called for her colleagues to pass the bipartisan agreement to keep the government open and provide disaster relief, including for funding that would go to New Hampshire farmers impacted by crop losses last year and to repair the Coast Guard’s Portsmouth station. You can watch the Senator’s full remarks here. Key quotes from Senator Shaheen: “President-elect Trump hasn't even been sworn in office yet and already he's thrown the government into chaos. That's really unfortunate because the people who are going to be hurt the most are the ones that we serve as representatives, as senators right here in Congress, and that's the American people.” “Shutting down the government just days before Christmas means that thousands of federal workers will be forced to work without pay. In New Hampshire, our farmers could lose out on disaster aid that they need to recover from devastating crop losses last year. The health clinics that are vital to Granite Staters will shutter. The Coast Guard wouldn't get the funding it needs for repairs at the Portsmouth station.” “The WIC program—women, infants and children—helps feed more than 12,000 people in New Hampshire, and if we don't act now, funding to continue to support thousands of women and newborns will be at risk. So, let me say it again: this harm is being inflicted on women, children and families, and it is avoidable.” “Democrats and Republicans negotiated in good faith. We agreed to keep the government open through a negotiated process. We agreed to provide disaster relief and to support critical needs for working families. We were ready to vote so we could keep the lights on here, so we could turn the Christmas lights on at home for so many working people across this country. And now because the world's richest man, Elon Musk, doesn't understand what this bill actually does or how government works, we're facing a shutdown that is going to force Americans to work without pay during the holidays. It’s going to leave communities in the lurch without the funding they need to rebuild from the recent natural disasters.” Remarks as delivered can be found below. I come to the floor today because the funding for the government is going to run out at midnight tomorrow night. And what’s happening right now in the House is a manufactured crisis that's been created by Donald Trump, President-elect, and his billionaire friend, Elon Musk, and the Republicans in the House of Representatives. Now, President-elect Trump hasn't even been sworn into office yet and already he's thrown the government into chaos. That's really unfortunate because the people who are going to be hurt the most are the ones that we serve as representatives, as senators right here in Congress, and that's the American people. Shutting down the government just days before Christmas means that thousands of federal workers will be forced to work without pay. In New Hampshire, our farmers could lose out on disaster aid that they need to recover from devastating crop losses last year. The health clinics that are vital to Granite Staters will shutter. The Coast Guard wouldn't get the funding it needs for repairs at the Portsmouth station, and that's particularly important because what those Coast Guard ships do is to escort in nuclear submarines to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. And everyone in Congress should know that one of our most fundamental responsibilities as elected officials is to keep the federal government open and operating. Instead, we're here today facing our fifth lapse in funding in 11 years all because there are a few extremists, who are being egged on by an unelected billionaire, are refusing to do their duty, and Speaker Johnson is allowing them to push us to the brink. We have seen repeatedly now that these shutdowns hurt the country. They hurt our states, they hurt our constituents. The 2019 shutdown cost the American economy more than $10 billion. And this shutdown, if it occurs, is likely to cost more than $2 billion a week. So, again, let me repeat that because for an incoming administration that claims to be focused on fiscal responsibility, that claims to be looking for efficiencies in government, what Elon Musk, the head of this commission that's supposed to look for efficiencies, what he's doing, is going to cost our country $2 billion each week. That doesn't sound like fiscal responsibility to me. And in New Hampshire, the effect of these shutdowns is felt across the state. If government shuts down, small businesses across New Hampshire may be unable to sign new contracts, start new projects. Just last year, 845 companies in New Hampshire received contracts from the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, and during a government shutdown, these small businesses and their employees will be adversely affected. They won't be able to plan for the future—that would cause real uncertainty on the business owners and on their employees. Now, the supplemental emergency disaster funding would have addressed a number of critical needs that we have in New Hampshire. Like many other states, New Hampshire’s been hit by a number of disasters over the last few years. Now, we've been more fortunate than some of the states that our colleagues represent because we haven't been hit in the same way that Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia were by the hurricanes. But we still have very serious recovery needs. The disaster funding that's been paired with the continuing resolution would address some of New Hampshire's recovery needs. As I mentioned earlier, this unnecessary crisis would block disaster relief from getting to the farmers in New Hampshire and across the country who urgently need it. For example, in New Hampshire, our farmers experienced extreme losses in 2023 due to natural disasters from frost and flooding. I've heard from many apple growers from our stone crops—apples, peaches—that some of those farmers lost from 80 to 100 percent of their crops in 2023. While it doesn't seem like a lot of money, and not huge farms like we have in some parts of the country, for those farmers who are affected, it is their livelihood. And, unlike large single-crop farms in many other states, our small fruit and vegetable growers in New Hampshire typically don't have access to other federal agricultural support programs. More than 90 percent of our farmers in New Hampshire don't have crop insurance because crop insurance doesn't work for our farms. That's why this emergency disaster relief is just so critical. Another example for us in New Hampshire is our Coast Guard station in New Castle. It was severely damaged during January's storms. The seawall was breached in a number of places and the boathouse was wrenched from its mooring. As a result, the station is in need of significant repairs. The bill that's been negotiated and agreed to by Republicans and Democrats, the bill that the House now is saying they're not going to support, it would provide over $210 million to repair Coast Guard facilities around the country, including the New Castle station in New Hampshire. Now, unless these supplemental funds are appropriated, the station in New Hampshire will be more susceptible to future storm damage, it will need more extensive and expensive repairs in the future. Again, that doesn't sound like government efficiency to me; sounds like somebody’s not paying attention. And like almost every other state in the country, New Hampshire has been hit by a number of storms that have led to Presidential disaster declarations. Communities in our state are still rebuilding. So, the $29 billion that's in the disaster relief fund, are important for New Hampshire to ensure that this fund is solvent when cities, counties and towns submit reimbursements. The package that is on hold in the House also includes funding to address an emergency outbreak of spruce budworm that threatens forests in Maine and New Hampshire. And just to be clear, Mr. President, New Hampshire is the second most heavily forested state in the country, after Maine. We know that this outbreak is coming from Canada. It's affecting our states, and it could have a major impact on our timber industry if we don't do something about it now. The funding in the bill would allow us to address this before it wipes out significant portions of our timber stand. Last year I met with a group of housing stakeholders—homebuilders, realtors, housing developers, tenant advocates—to hear how a shutdown would worsen New Hampshire's existing housing crisis. We currently have a rental vacancy rate of .6 percent. We know that a healthy housing market usually has about a 5 percent vacancy rate. So, at .6 percent, we desperately need more housing. A shutdown will slow progress on construction. It will risk hundreds of housing units that are under construction now at a time when we really urgently need them. And for those low-income households who depend on mortgages that are backed by the Federal Housing Administration or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they may miss out on buying their first homes because they won't be able to get a loan. Now, we've also heard from nonprofit organizations in New Hampshire who have shared that 44 percent of adults that they serve are reporting food insecurity, even at our current funding levels for women, infants and children. The WIC program—Women, Infants and Children—helps feed more than 12,000 people in New Hampshire. If we don't act now, funding to continue to support thousands of women and newborns will be at risk. So, let me say it again: this harm is being inflicted on women, children and families. And it is avoidable. Our colleagues in the House, the Republican majority, could end this today. They could end it right now if they would pass the deal that they negotiated—that has been months in negotiations, that both Democrats and Republicans, in both the House and Senate, have agreed to. Furthermore, in terms of the federal government, it employs more than two million Americans in civilian activities it across the country. Eighty percent of those federal workers are outside of Washington, D.C. In New Hampshire, there are about 5,000 federal workers—and a quarter of them are veterans. They're air traffic controllers, they’re Forest Service rangers, they’re Customs and Border Control agents, they’re safety inspectors. We have more than a million uniformed military, including 1,100 in New Hampshire, who may be affected. They'll be forced to work in defense and protection of our nation without getting paid. It is shameful and it is unacceptable. During the last shutdown, federal employees had to visit food banks to help get meals when they missed paychecks. And there is no guarantee that the employees of federal contractors will be able to get back pay. As we remember, the last time, we had to pass specific legislation to ensure that those people who lost their pay were able to get reimbursed. Now, I've also had the honor of serving as Chair of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee for the past year. Small businesses are the lifeblood of New Hampshire's economy. In fact, they account for more than 99 percent of all the businesses in our state. Two-thirds of the jobs that are created, not just in New Hampshire, but across this country, come from small businesses. And yet the SBA has been unable to give out disaster loans for more than two months now. That leaves more than 10,000 hurricane survivors with approved loans that they're not going to get the funding for unless we pass this disaster funding. And this isn't a partisan issue. Thousands of families and businesses in Virginia, in North Carolina, in Florida, in Georgia, are waiting for these funds. They're in limbo. And here we are not even a week—less than a week before Christmas—and we're saying to all of those people who have been waiting for months, “I'm sorry, we're not going to fund you because billionaire Elon Musk said, ‘don't pass this legislation because it's too expensive.’” Well, he needs to look at what the cost is of not passing that legislation. And should the federal government close, it is not hyperbole to say that we will be leaving our most vulnerable without proper care this Christmas. I recently met with community health center leaders from New Hampshire. They talked about what they do in their communities. We know that our community health centers provide daily care for uninsured patients, for those who can't afford expensive health insurance, who live with terrible diseases like diabetes and cancer. Our community health centers are the cornerstone of our health care safety net and they rely on federal funding to keep their doors open and provide lifesaving care to Americans. But about 70 percent of community health center funding is going to expire if we don't pass the spending package. Should that funding disappear, health clinics across the country will be forced to close, and the communities they serve will suffer the consequences. The people who President-elect Trump promised to protect are the people who are going to get hurt. And if the shutdown drags on, inspections and enforcement that prevent air and water pollution will cease—that puts public health at risk especially in our most vulnerable communities. With a lapse in appropriations, the Forest Service has to stop issuing contracts, including for timber sales, which in New Hampshire, even for a short period of time, can have ripple effects through our local economies because we have towns that depend on that timber economy. A shutdown also leaves forest ranger stations in New Hampshire closed right as we're starting the winter recreation season. A prolonged government shutdown will lead to delays for food assistance to Meals on Wheels, where in New Hampshire, we have more than 20,000 seniors who are currently experiencing hunger if they don't get Meals on Wheels. Nationwide, more than 1.5 million meals are provided in states each year. So, a shutdown needlessly risks health and well-being. And we know the other thing that's in the package that the House is objecting to is the extension of telehealth benefits for people who need it. Again, an effective, efficient way to provide health care and they're objecting to it. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Departments of Commerce and Justice as well as our science agencies, I'm also concerned that 84 percent of Department of Commerce employees—about 44,000—will be furloughed if we can't get a continuing resolution done to keep the government open. This includes National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees who protect life and property on the job. Also, we have 84 percent of Department of Justice staff who would be considered essential workers but would be forced to work without pay. We have a federal prison in northern New Hampshire that is very important. It's a medium security prison. And what we would be asking those correction officers, those other employees of the prison, is to work without pay, to take an IOU, until the government is funded again. So, I think this is actually very simple. Democrats and Republicans negotiated in good faith. We agreed to keep the government open through a negotiated process. We agreed to provide disaster relief and to support critical needs for working families. We were ready to vote so we could keep the lights on here, so we could turn the Christmas lights on at home for so many working people across this country. And now because the world's richest man, Elon Musk, doesn't understand what this bill actually does or how government works, we're facing a shutdown that is going to force Americans to work without pay during the holidays. It’s going to leave communities in the lurch without the funding they need to rebuild from the recent natural disasters. So, I urge speaker Johnson to do the right thing. Stick to the agreement he made just this week. Let's bring this deal to the floor. Let's get this done, and let's help the people across the country who need the support that we promised. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/graham-and-van-hollen-introduce-bipartisan-sanctions-against-turkey,Van Hollen and Graham Introduce Bipartisan Sanctions Against Turkey,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,vanhollen,https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced bipartisan sanctions legislation following concerns about military action by Turkey or Turkish-backed groups in northern Syria. The Senators released the following statement upon introduction: “Today, we introduced the Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2024 while stressing that the United States should work with Turkey – through diplomatic means – to facilitate a sustained ceasefire and demilitarized zone along the border between Turkey and Syria, particularly the city of Kobani. These sanctions seek to prevent further Turkish or Turkish-backed attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which risk the reemergence of ISIS, threatening the national security of the U.S. and the rest of the globe. “We remain hopeful that there will be a peaceful resolution to the problems that plague Syria.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-celebrate-senate-passage-of-historic-92-million-reauthorization-of-the-chesapeake-bay-program-and-other-key-watershed-conservation-measures,"Van Hollen, Cardin Celebrate Senate Passage of Historic $92 Million Reauthorization of the Chesapeake Bay Program and Other Key Watershed Conservation Measures",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MD,Chris Van Hollen,V000128,www.vanhollen.senate.gov,vanhollen,https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) celebrated passage this week of America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act in the U.S. Senate. The legislation reauthorizes important habitat and wildlife conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and throughout the country. The bipartisan legislation builds on previous efforts to protect and preserve ecosystems from evolving threats such as invasive species and wildlife diseases. “A healthy Bay is central to the health of our communities and our local economies. That’s why we fought to pass this legislation that includes key investments in protecting and preserving the Bay -- including through the Chesapeake WILD program, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the Chesapeake Gateways. These resources will strengthen our efforts to improve water quality, restore the Bay, and enhance public access to Maryland’s natural treasures,” said Senator Van Hollen. “The America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE) of 2024 is a victory for the Chesapeake Bay. Collaborative conservation has always been at the heart of the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort and the ACE Act of 2024 reaffirms the federal government’s role in the stewardship of the Bay and provides the program stability during this dynamic period in the restoration effort,” said Senator Cardin. The comprehensive wildlife package includes a provision to reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program at $92 million each fiscal year through fiscal year 2030. The EPA Chesapeake Bay Program is the linchpin of the restoration effort, which coordinates the unique multi-state and federal partnership. Other key reauthorizations include: The Chesapeake Watershed Investment for Landscape Defense (WILD) Act which will allow the program authored by Senator Van Hollen and supported by Senator Cardin to continue to serve the region. It provides resources to conserve, steward, and enhance fish and wildlife habitats in addition to advancing related conservation values like public access and community engagement. The legislation authorizes the program at $15 million each year until 2030. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program. Gateways Network is a system of 200 natural, cultural, historical, and recreational sites, trails, museums, parks, refuges that provide a broad range of entry points or “gateways” to experience the Chesapeake Bay. The program is administered by the National Park Service, which provides $3 million each year for five years The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, known as NFWF. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a core partner of the Chesapeake Bay Program, helping to target federal conservation dollars and match investments with private funds. In addition to Cardin and Van Hollen, the ACE Reauthorization Act is co-sponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.)., Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Linsdey Graham (R-S.C.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Angus King (I-Maine), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). The legislation is endorsed by Ducks Unlimited, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Sportfishing Association, the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and the National Audubon Society.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=E69F3865-BBDF-4F51-A933-79F13FCE3372,Warner & Kaine Celebrate Passage of Bills to Rename Post Offices after Madeleine Albright and John Mercer Langston,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,VA,Mark R. Warner,W000805,www.warner.senate.gov,warner,https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today celebrated the Senate passage of bills they introduced to rename two United States Postal Service (USPS) offices in Loudoun County and Petersburg. “Madeleine Albright and John Mercer Langston were trailblazers who overcame tremendous barriers in their respective fights for human rights and social justice. We are thrilled to see these bills get full congressional approval, which brings us one step closer to enshrining these important legacies in Loudoun County and Petersburg. We look forward to seeing President Biden sign these bills into law,” said the senators. The first bill would designate the Loudoun County post office, in Purcellville, as the ""Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building.” The bill, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), honors Secretary Albright, the first female Secretary of State and former Ambassador to the United Nations. The second bill would designate the Petersburg post office as the ""John Mercer Langston Post Office Building."" The bill, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), honors the Louisa County native and 19th century abolitionist and attorney, who served as one of the first Black Americans to hold elective office in the United States. These post office facilities are located at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia and 29 Franklin Street in Petersburg, Virginia.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-clarke-reintroduce-bill-to-establish-consistent-robust-medical-research-funding,"Warren, Clarke Reintroduce Bill to Establish Consistent, Robust Medical Research Funding",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MA,Elizabeth Warren,W000817,www.warren.senate.gov,warren,https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Warren, Clarke Reintroduce Bill to Establish Consistent, Robust Medical Research Funding Bicameral bill would protect NIH, FDA funding from Washington funding fights Text of Bill (PDF) | One Pager (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) reintroduced their National Biomedical Research Act, a bill to provide the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with predictable, robust funding for medical research and development. Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) are cosponsors of the bill. The National Biomedical Research Act would create the Biomedical Innovation Fund, a new funding stream of $10 billion per year for select initiatives at the NIH and the FDA. The legislation specifies that the Biomedical Innovation Fund should supplement — not supplant — existing appropriations for the agencies; funds would only be available during years when Congress increases discretionary appropriations for NIH and FDA, thus ensuring that funding for medical research never falls below Fiscal Year 2024 levels. Fund dollars will also be available through interagency transfer to support research conducted jointly by the NIH or the FDA and other federal agencies. “The United States leads the world in biomedical innovation, and so much of that innovation happens in Massachusetts. Big federal investments in medical research and development help make this progress possible,” said Senator Warren. “Our bill would save lives by making sure our researchers have the resources to keep delivering lifesaving breakthroughs and treatments — regardless of who’s in charge in Washington.” “I am proud to partner with Senator Warren to reintroduce the National Biomedical Research Act. This legislation would provide researchers with the vital resources they need to continue diagnosing, treating, and preventing a myriad of diseases – many of which disproportionately impact communities of color. We must always remember sufficiently funding medical research is paramount to the health and safety of the American public,” said Rep. Clarke. “Re-establishing our commitment to supporting scientists and doctors dramatically improves their ability to safeguard our communities against the devastating effects of health care disparities. Let me be clear: this legislation is an opportunity to protect American families proactively, and I believe it is incumbent on us, as members of Congress, to ensure it happens.” Specifically, the Biomedical Research Fund established by the bill would supplement yearly appropriations for: Basic Research: research on the underlying basis of disease to better address disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment; Disruptive Innovation: breakthrough research on diseases with unmet medical needs or for which current treatments are limited, inadequate, or burdensome; Addressing Burdensome Diseases: research on chronic, degenerative diseases that disproportionately contribute to spending under Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, TRICARE, or the Veterans Health Administration; Early Career Scientists: grants to young scientists and research institutions supporting these scientists, which lead to earlier research independence and enhance employment opportunities; Improving Diversity: research conducted by investigators from traditionally underrepresented groups, research in labs of varying sizes, and research at institutions in states that could improve the geographic diversity of funding; Regulatory Science: research to improve the predictability, consistency, and efficiency of the review of medical products and regulatory decision-making; Medical Product Surveillance: the development, regulatory review, and postmarket surveillance of new medical products. The National Biomedical Research Act has been endorsed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Heart Association, Fenway Health, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, Society for Behavioral Medicine, Association for Clinical Oncology, Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals, Public Citizen, UMass Chan Medical School, and ZERO Prostate Cancer. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-hawley-merkley-push-automakers-on-their-opposition-to-car-owners-right-to-repair-their-own-vehicles,"Warren, Hawley, Merkley Push Automakers on Their Opposition to Car Owners’ Right to Repair Their Own Vehicles",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MA,Elizabeth Warren,W000817,www.warren.senate.gov,warren,https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Warren, Hawley, Merkley Push Automakers on Their Opposition to Car Owners’ Right to Repair Their Own Vehicles Bipartisan Letter Criticizes Auto Industry Fearmongering “The industry has raised concerns about data sharing with independent repair shops to justify opposing right-to-repair, while earning profits from sharing large amounts of personal data with insurance companies.” Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote to the leaders of each of the top 10 U.S. automakers with concerns about the companies’ fierce opposition to car owners’ right to repair the vehicles they own in the way they choose. The letters were sent to General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Hyundai Group, Stellantis, Honda, Nissan, Tesla, Subaru, and Volkswagen. The letters denounce automakers’ actions to prevent vehicle owners from taking their vehicle to the mechanic of their choice by blocking vehicle owners’ ability to access or share information necessary for repair, like diagnostic data. These repair restrictions are an example of companies’ opposition to “right-to-repair,” which refers to a person’s ability to choose where they repair the products they own, including vehicles, consumer electronics, household appliances, agricultural equipment, and other goods. Without restrictions on right-to-repair, a vehicle owner can go to a local mechanic of their choice and is not forced to go to the manufacturer or car dealer for maintenance and repair of their vehicle. By restricting right-to-repair, equipment manufacturers like car companies can create a monopoly on vehicle repairs, allowing them to raise prices. Customers consistently rate independent repair shops better on price (as well as overall satisfaction) than dealerships, which nearly all receive the worst possible ratings from car owners on price. Right-to-repair is also crucial for local economies, with more than half of independent repair shops reporting difficulty in making repairs on a daily or weekly basis because of auto manufacturers’ repair restrictions. “As the gatekeepers of vehicle parts, equipment, and data, automobile manufacturers have the power to place restrictions on the necessary tools and information for repairs, particularly as cars increasingly incorporate electronic components,” wrote the senators. “This often leaves car owners with no other option than to have their vehicles serviced by official dealerships, entrenching auto manufacturers’ dominance and eliminating competition from independent repair shops.” Now, auto manufacturers are trying to claim that they restrict independent repairs as a matter of cybersecurity. However, according to a study by the FTC, as well as analysis from cybersecurity experts, these concerns have no legitimacy. Rather, experts have found that cyberattacks on connected devices are due to “the poor quality of deployed software and the poor state of device security – not the availability of diagnostic and repair tools and information.” “Car manufacturers should not hide behind a false dichotomy of cybersecurity and consumer choice in order to avoid their legal obligations to facilitate independent vehicle repair,” wrote the lawmakers. “Cybersecurity experts have forcefully pushed against manufacturers’ fearmongering.” The lawmakers note that the automakers’ cited concern with sharing data with independent repair shops to facilitate repairs appears to conflict with their practice of selling large amounts of sensitive consumer data with insurance companies and other third parties — often without clear consumer consent. “The industry has raised concerns about data sharing with independent repair shops to justify opposing right-to-repair, while earning profits from sharing large amounts of personal data with insurance companies,” wrote the lawmakers. “It is clear that the motivation behind automotive companies’ avoidance of complying with right-to-repair laws is not due to a concern for consumer security or privacy, but instead a hypocritical, profit-driven reaction. This kind of anti-consumer, anti-repair practice must come to an end in all industries.” The lawmakers are urging the car companies to comply with all right-to-repair laws while protecting consumer privacy interests and are requesting information from the companies regarding their data sharing practices. Senator Warren has repeatedly sought to bolster competition and fight back against costly restrictions on repairs for cars, military equipment, agricultural equipment, and other goods: In December 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative arie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) introduced the Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act to increase military readiness and cut costs by allowing servicemembers to repair their own equipment, including in austere environments. In October 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Deere & Company (John Deere), accusing the company of undermining its own “right-to-repair” agreements and evading its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act by failing to grant its customers the right to repair their own agricultural equipment. In September 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent two letters denouncing the costly restrictions imposed by Pentagon contractors on the Department of Defense (DoD) that bar the military from repairing its own military equipment and instead force it to pay billions of dollars extra to contractors. In July 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren included a provision in the Senate Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA that would require Pentagon contractors to provide DoD with “fair and reasonable” access to repair materials. In August 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), celebrated the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reversing course and allowing enforcement of Massachusetts’ pro-consumer Right to Repair law. In June 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reverse its course after it sent a recent letter to auto manufacturers, advising them not to comply with Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-smith-renew-fight-to-strengthen-us-pharmaceutical-manufacturing-capacity-and-end-over-reliance-on-foreign-countries-for-life-saving-drugs,"Warren, Smith Renew Fight to Strengthen U.S. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Capacity and End Over-Reliance on Foreign Countries for Life-Saving Drugs",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,MA,Elizabeth Warren,W000817,www.warren.senate.gov,warren,https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Warren, Smith Renew Fight to Strengthen U.S. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Capacity and End Over-Reliance on Foreign Countries for Life-Saving Drugs Bill Text (PDF) | Bill One-Pager (PDF) Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) reintroduced the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Defense and Enhancement Act, a bill to reinvigorate the United States' manufacturing capacity and end the nation's reliance on foreign countries for critical drugs used by millions of Americans. 77% of the facilities that manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in drugs consumed by Americans are located overseas. As demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this overreliance leaves Americans vulnerable to supply chain shocks that result in extreme shortages of critical medicines, harming patients and health care professionals across the nation. The United States must take steps to counter this overreliance and ensure that reliable and high-quality drugs can be produced at home. The Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Defense and Enhancement Act would: Require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Defense Department to develop a confidential list of ""critical drugs"" essential for public health and national security. Lower the cost of domestic production by providing $1 billion a year for 5 years to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, to dramatically upgrade domestic manufacturing capacity of “critical drugs.” Require the Defense Department, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services, and Federal Bureau of Prisons to purchase American-made drugs and provide funding to subsidize the purchase of these drugs, creating a market for domestically-produced pharmaceuticals. Boosts supply chain transparency by requiring drugmakers to annually report to the FDA information about the source of APIs and starting materials used to make drugs consumed in the United States; requiring drugmakers to report information on foreign manufacturers in their supply chain to any federal agency to which they supply drugs; and requiring the FDA to issue both public and classified reports to Congress on the strength of the U.S. supply chain. Requires the Federal Trade Commission and the Treasury Department to study the role of foreign investment in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry within one year of the Act’s passage. ""A strong, reliable supply chain for life-saving drugs will prevent shortages and protect American families,"" said Senator Warren. ""This bill will end our overreliance on foreign countries and give us the tools we need to produce the critical drugs that millions of Americans depend on here at home."" ""Addressing the vulnerabilities in our pharmaceutical supply chain is a matter of public health and national security,"" said Senator Smith. ""I'm glad to work with Senator Warren on this bill that strengthens our country's capacity to manufacture critical drugs on U.S. soil and closes gaps in our supply chain. This will help lessen our over-reliance on other countries and make sure Americans can get the drugs they need."" Senator Warren also secured a provision in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to address DoD’s overreliance on foreign drug manufacturers. The provision requires the Department of Defense to establish a plan to ensure access to safe, high-quality pharmaceutical products and eliminate or mitigate risks in the pharmacy supply chain, including the feasibility of establishing a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility owned and operated by the Department of Defense (DoD). For years, Senator Warren has worked to end the United States’ overreliance on foreign countries for critical drugs and to boost the nation's domestic manufacturing capacity: In October 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) reintroduced the United States Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Review Act, legislation to require the Federal Trade Commission, in consultation with the Department of Commerce, to produce a report on the impacts of foreign investment in the United States’ pharmaceutical industry. In March 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) wrote to the Department of Defense requesting an update on the Department’s efforts to address risks to the military pharmaceutical supply chain. In December 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted the need for the public manufacturing of generic drugs to address critical drug shortages and ensure access and affordability of prescription drugs for consumers. In December 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Jan Schakowsky reintroduced the Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act, to address the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs and increase competition in the generic pharmaceutical market. In June 2022, during the NDAA negotiations, Senator Warren prioritized her bills to help prevent civilian harm, electrify the military's vehicle fleet, prevent conflicts of interests and corruption at the Department of Defense, prohibit price gouging by defense contractors, expand medical care for military families, lower the costs of prescription drugs, and reduce America's reliance on foreign countries for critical drugs. In December 2021, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Gregory Kausner, who was performing the duties of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment at the Department of Defense (DoD), urging him to address DoD’s overreliance on pharmaceuticals produced abroad. In November 2021, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Marco Rubio introduced the Strengthening Supply Chains for Servicemembers and Security Act to address the national security risk posed by the United States’ reliance on foreign entities for pharmaceuticals. In April 2021, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith reintroduced the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Defense and Enhancement Act -- comprehensive legislation that takes bold steps to reinvigorate the United States' manufacturing capacity and end the nation's reliance on foreign countries for critical drugs used by millions of Americans. In September 2020, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) wrote to President Donald Trump raising questions about the failure of his recent Executive Order to address the nation's overreliance on foreign nations for key drug products, and asking that he support their legislation, which would address this serious problem. In March 2020, Senators Warren and Rubio introduced bipartisan legislation to combat America's supply chain risk and dependence on China for pharmaceuticals. In December 2019, Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with Senators Tom Cotton, Mitt Romney, and Tim Kaine, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper raising concerns about the national security risks posed by U.S. reliance on foreign-manufactured pharmaceutical products. ### Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/erkley-wyden-197-million-in-federal-housing-funding-coming-to-oregon-for-statewide-tribal-initiatives,"Merkley, Wyden: $19.7 Million in Federal Housing Funding Coming to Oregon for Statewide, Tribal Initiatives",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $19,742,170 to revitalize and modernize manufactured housing and eligible manufactured housing communities across Oregon. “As communities and Tribes in every corner of the state face their biggest housing affordability crises in decades—with rents dramatically outpacing incomes—we must do everything we can to invest in solutions to the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis,” Merkley said. “At my town halls in all 36 Oregon counties, I hear about housing challenges in communities big and small across our state. This $19.7 million federal award will support affordable and safe manufactured homes to help more families have a safe, decent place to live.” “Manufactured housing plays a significant role in making the cost of a home less expensive throughout Oregon,” Wyden said. “That’s what makes this federal investment such a welcome development in the battle to keep designing an affordability housing blueprint statewide for communities and Tribes. I’m glad these resources have been secured, and will keep working to build out similar housing opportunities for Oregonians in every nook and cranny of our state.” The funding comes from HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development, which is awarding Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) grants, to preserve long-term housing affordability for residents of manufactured housing and manufactured housing communities (MHCs), to redevelop MHCs, and to primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents. PRICE grants support manufactured housing across America— providing a home to over 22 million Americans and helping to solve our nation’s housing affordability crisis. The PRICE grants awarded to Oregon are as follows:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-over-33-million-for-southern-oregon-critical-wildlife-crossing,"Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $33 Million for Southern Oregon Critical Wildlife Crossing",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is receiving $33,182,188 in federal funding to construct the Mariposa Preserve Wildlife Crossing over I-5 in Southern Oregon through the heart of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Once complete, the wildlife crossing will be among the largest in the nation to significantly improve the movement of a wide-array of animals, while increasing the safety of drivers traveling on I-5 between Ashland and the California border. This historic investment comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highways Administration Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program—made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act—and builds off the $400,000 community-initiated project that Merkley and Wyden secured earlier this year for the design and engineering phase of the project, which was needed to reach today’s milestone. “What a huge win for Southern Oregon! This first-ever I-5 wildlife crossing in Oregon will be instrumental in safeguarding all the special species that call the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument home, while protecting drivers from dangerous wildlife collisions and costly damages to their vehicles,” said Merkley. “I’ve long championed efforts to strengthen the Cascade-Siskiyou area, and this latest federal investment I pushed to secure will certainly go a long way toward protecting drivers and the diverse wildlife that are entwined with this spectacular landscape that’s unlike anywhere in the world.” “Ensuring that native species have safe access across I-5 not only protects sensitive ecosystems affected by large roadways, but it also helps increase safety for motorists,” said Wyden. “This investment in wildlife crossing infrastructure that serves both the environment and Oregonians is exactly what I fought for in the Inflation Reduction Act, and I will continue to advocate for more resources that support these important projects across Oregon.” “With this significant investment of federal funding, ODOT can now provide a new connection for wildlife in an ecologically diverse area. This will improve safety for drivers on I-5 by reducing wildlife collisions. I want to thank our federal partners for making this project possible by fully funding ODOT’s grant request,” said ODOT Director Kris Strickler. The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument protects a wealth of biodiversity and connectivity for wildlife—including deer, bear, elk, cougars, and many small animals—which all face great risk as I-5 bisects the connectivity of this monument. The Mariposa Preserve Overcrossing, which will be located at approximately milepost 1.7 within the monument, will reconstruct a previously naturally occurring wildlife corridor to increase habitat connectivity and allow the animals to adapt to changing climate conditions. This will drastically reduce harm to wildlife, protect drivers, and improve public safety in the region.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-over-4-million-for-high-speed-broadband-infrastructure-headed-to-lane,"Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $4 Million for High-Speed Broadband Infrastructure Headed to Lane",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today a $4,419,306 grant for high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in Lane County. This federal investment for Pioneer Telephone Cooperative will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit 75 people, 12 businesses, and eight farms in Lane County. The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ReConnect Program. “Access to high-speed internet is critical for individuals, families, small businesses, and farms across Oregon,” Merkley said. “Yet many areas still lack reliable service, creating challenges for staying connected in the 21st century economy. This federal investment will expand broadband in Lane County, helping residents strengthen their economies and enhance their quality of life.” ??",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-critical-water-infrastructure-bill-headed-to-the-presidents-desk,"Merkley, Wyden: Critical Water Infrastructure Bill Headed to the President’s Desk",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that critical projects and policy initiatives for Oregon included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 have passed Congress and now head to the president’s desk to be signed into law. Their authorization sets the stage for Oregon to secure essential water infrastructure funding. “Water is the lifeblood of our state. Updating and modernizing aging water infrastructure – including ports, levees, dams and much more – will better prepare Oregonians and their communities for droughts and floods, and give them access to safe, reliable drinking water,” said Merkley, who helped write the bill as a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “This critical bill is indispensable to waterways across Oregon and ensures water infrastructure is maintained and improved for generations to come.” “Oregon’s ports, harbors, waterways and more generate jobs statewide that are a must to keep our economy flowing,” Wyden said. “All of that vital infrastructure requires investments just like these to keep it modern, safe and effective so Oregonians can count on clean drinking water and reliable transport of goods.” WRDA 2024 includes several projects and policy initiatives in Oregon including: Port of Portland Dredging Vessel: Includes authority to replace the Dredge Oregon vessel at the Port of Portland. Oregon Statewide Environmental Infrastructure Authority: Authorizes $200 million in funding for water infrastructure efforts across Oregon such as water conservation projects, ecosystem restoration projects, stormwater management, surface water protection, and environmental restoration. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Projects: Includes a technical correction regarding CTUIR projects in the Walla Walla River. Columbia and Willamette River Pile Dike Maintenance Definition Clarification: Clarifies and directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Portland District to maintain the pile dikes in the Lower Columbia River. Harmful Algal Bloom Demonstration Program (HAB) for Willamette River: Authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ HAB Demonstration Program—which occurs when certain environmental conditions intensify algae growth and harm ecosystems and human health—to include a focus on the Willamette River. Study on Microplastic Pollution: Requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prepare a report to identify measures that could be implemented to reduce the release of microplastics associated with the Corps’ civil works mission into the environment. Aquatic Invasive Species Cost-Share Program Cost-Share Modification: Modifies the cost-share percentage for the federal program to help state, Tribal, and university partners meet the needed cost-share requirement. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Funding Capability Report: Authorizes a report on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers capability versus Annual Funding in each Army Corps District. Funding for Emerging Harbors: Includes language allowing for additional uses of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for activities at emerging harbors. Additionally, WRDA 2024 included the reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-announce-nearly-46-million-for-drought-and-resiliency-programs-in-the-klamath-basin,"Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $4.6 Million for Drought and Resiliency Programs in the Klamath Basin",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The Bureau of Reclamation award will benefit projects by The Klamath Tribes, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Modoc Nation, Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People, and Yurok Tribe. Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $4.6 million for six Klamath Basin Tribes to support 14 projects aimed at combating drought and building resilience in Tribal communities across the region. “Resiliency in the face of drought is essential for rural communities to thrive like those that depend on the Klamath Basin,” Wyden said. “This investment is critical to combat persistent drought caused by the climate crisis, and maintaining the progress local Tribes have achieved with ecosystem restoration projects. I will continue to fight for additional resources to support recovery and resilience in the Klamath Basin and across Oregon.” “Prolonged drought is having severe impacts across the Klamath Basin, harming our Tribal and rural communities, fish, and wildlife,” said Merkley. “These federal investments for Klamath Basin Tribes to build greater drought resilience, improve water infrastructure, and boost ecosystem restoration will make this unique region’s water go farther for the people and delicate ecosystems that rely on it. I will continue to champion recovery efforts in the Basin and for all of Oregon to prepare and respond to the more frequent and devastating droughts caused by climate chaos.” This investment from the Bureau of Reclamation will go to projects developed by The Klamath Tribes, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Modoc Nation, Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People, and Yurok Tribe. Of the 14 projects, eight will help Tribes conduct environmental and ecosystem analysis and data collection to prepare for drought, restore ecosystems, and build resilience. The remaining projects will focus on general drought preparation, capacity building, outreach, and infrastructure improvements. “We extend appreciation and offer our thanks to the Oregon Congressional Delegation, Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Congressman Cliff Bentz for much needed Drought and Resiliency Program funding through the USDI Bureau of Reclamation. These investments represent another critical step necessary to address climate change, the effects of decades of drought in the Klamath River and Upper Klamath Watersheds in order to better understand the effects on water quality, wetlands, watershed and head waters functions and health. The funding will support critical data collection, monitoring and restoration projects that build resiliency. The Tribes are praying will rapidly improve water quality to prevent the C’waam and Koptu Mullet species from going extinct, and to ensure the cultural liberation of the C’yaal’s (salmon), the aquatic species, first food plants, upland and big game ecosystems,” said William Ray, Jr, Chairman of The Klamath Tribes Tribal Council.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z