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.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-airs-spending-grievances-special-festivus-edition-waste-report/,Dr. Rand Paul Airs Spending Grievances with Special ‘Festivus’ Edition of ‘The Waste Report’,2016-12-21,2016,2016-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul released a special “Festivus: Airing of Grievances for 2016” edition of “The Waste Report,” an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In its second year, Dr. Paul’s Festivus edition features 37 examples of wasteful spending, misplaced priorities, and bad management in the federal government that have cost taxpayers nearly two billion dollars.

Highlights include: over $300,000 on TVs that sat waiting on a renovation project and turned out to be the wrong kind, $594,000 to subsidize Washington, D.C.-area concerts against the National Park Service’s wishes, $1,250,000 to produce a superhero cartoon in Pakistan, and $6,000,000 to renovate a Fort Belvoir cafeteria that closed permanently months later.

Not to mention sea monsters, shady land deals, dating, and selfies. . . you can find all this and more in Dr. Paul’s special Festivus “Waste Report” HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-paul-murphy-franken-lee-applaud-decision-halt-some-military-arms-sales-saudi-arabia-call/,"Paul, Murphy, Franken, Lee Applaud Decision to Halt Some Military Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia, Call for Further Actions",2016-12-15,2016,2016-12,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"Bipartisan group of senators has voiced concerns over U.S. participation in Saudi Arabia’s military actions in Yemen

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Al Franken (D-MN), and Mike Lee (R-UT) applauded a decision by the White House to halt some military arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but urged further action to end military support for a war marked by humanitarian abuses. Saudi Arabia has led a military campaign in Yemen with devastating humanitarian consequences and a security vacuum that has empowered U.S. terrorist enemies, al Qaeda, and ISIS. Senators Paul, Murphy, Franken, and Lee have been outspoken about their concerns that U.S. participation in Saudi Arabia’s military actions in Yemen threatens our own national security interests.

“I’m pleased to see the administration respond to growing pressure over its arms sales to Saudi Arabia,” said Sen. Paul. “Halting this $350 million sale is a positive start, but it is only a drop in the bucket of the administration’s total support. Until President Obama ends his unilateral, unconstitutional involvement in this regional war, our voices will only get louder.”

Sen. Murphy said, “Halting these weapons sales to the Saudis is the right call. But if we are concerned about U.S.-supplied bombs being dropped on civilians, we should also stop refueling the Saudi planes that are flying those missions. Both the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi-Saleh alliance have been responsible for killing innocent civilians and denying vitally needed humanitarian aid. Any further assistance – including weapons deliveries already in the pipeline – should be conditioned on prioritizing civilian protection and a willingness to compromise in political negotiations to end the war.”

“Thousands of civilians have been killed or wounded in the U.S.-backed war in Yemen,” said Sen. Franken. “This is a tragedy that we cannot continue to support. I’m hopeful that this decision begins to send the message that the United States is not going to turn a blind eye to Saudi Arabia’s indiscriminate killing of men, women, and children. This is an important step, one that we called for in Congress, but we need to keep pressing for more action.”

“While this announcement may signal that the administration is finally beginning to understand the contradictions of their policy towards Yemen, our military is still involved in a war without authorization from Congress with no justifiable strategy,” Sen. Lee said. “From day-one Congress should begin to engage the incoming administration on reviewing the international entanglements in which our country has become involved.”

In September, Senators Paul, Murphy, Franken, and Lee introduced a joint resolution of disapproval, S.J.Res 39, to block the $1.15 billion U.S. sale of Abrams tanks and associated major defense articles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In April, Senators Paul and Murphy introduced a separate joint resolution to increase Congressional oversight of military sales to Saudi Arabia by requiring the President of the United States to formally certify that the Government of Saudi Arabia is demonstrating an ongoing effort to target terrorist groups, minimize harm to civilians, and facilitate humanitarian assistance before Congress can consider the sale or transfer of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-icymi-sen-rand-paul-msnbc-you-want-your-chief-diplomat-be-diplomat/,ICYMI: Sen. Rand Paul on MSNBC: ‘You Want Your Chief Diplomat To Be A Diplomat’,2016-11-16,2016,2016-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, U.S. Senator Rand Paul joined MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to continue discussing his opposition to the consideration of former Ambassador John Bolton for Secretary of State. During the interview, he explained the importance of appointing someone with a “realist” point of view on foreign policy, as well as the need for our country’s “chief diplomat to be a diplomat, not a bomb thrower.”

Sen. Paul also discussed the potential selection of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to the position.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. PAUL ON MSNBC’s “MORNING JOE”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:07:19Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-icymi-sen-rand-paul-discusses-consideration-bolton-giuliani-sec-state/,"ICYMI: Sen. Rand Paul Discusses Consideration of Bolton, Giuliani for Sec. of State",2016-11-15,2016,2016-11,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul appeared on CNN’s “Wolf” with Wolf Blitzer to talk about his opposition to the consideration of former Ambassador John Bolton for Secretary of State. Sen. Paul explained why Bolton, a well-known supporter of the Iraq War and regime change, does not represent President-Elect Trump’s promise of change and would be “totally unfit” to be Secretary of State.

Sen. Paul also discussed the potential selection of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to the position.

You can read Sen. Paul’s op-ed from today on this issue HERE.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. PAUL ON CNN’s “WOLF”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:07:19Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-lawmakers-push-feds-clarify-conflicting-rules-growing-and-selling-hemp/,Lawmakers Push Feds to Clarify Conflicting Rules on Growing and Selling Hemp,2016-10-27,2016,2016-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – After new guidance created widespread confusion about when and where farmers can grow, research, and sell industrial hemp in the United States, U.S. Senators Rand Paul, R-Ky., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Representatives Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Jared Polis, D-Colo., Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and 14 other members of Congress today pushed three federal agencies to clarify parts of the guidance that conflict with current laws.

In August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), issued a “statement of principles” to inform the public about industrial hemp grown in the United States. However, the announcement has created confusion for state agriculture departments and universities working to establish pilot programs to study the cultivation and potential commercial uses for industrial hemp.

In addition to establishing a new definition of industrial hemp, the guidance could also have a limiting effect on sales and transportation of products made from hemp in states conducting pilot projects across the country. Currently, federal law prohibits American farmers from growing industrial hemp for commercial profit, but retail sales of products made with hemp are legal, and make up a $570 million industry annually.

The 2014 Farm Bill allowed state agriculture departments and universities to conduct industrial hemp research pilot programs in states that have authorized the growing and production of industrial hemp, including Kentucky, Oregon, Colorado, and twenty five other states.

“We are writing to comment on the recent progress the Administration has made with regards to industrial hemp and to urge further action to ensure that this important industry can thrive,” the members wrote in a letter to the USDA, DEA, and FDA.

“Industrial hemp research and farming have opened doors for students, farmers, and small businesses in our states. At our universities, students and researchers are experiencing new learning opportunities, such as researching hemp for fuel, food, and clothing.”

Paul, Wyden, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act last year to lift the federal ban on domestic farming of industrial hemp. The bill would remove hemp from the Schedule I controlled substance list under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, and would define it as a non-drug so long as it contains less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The bill now has 14 other bipartisan co-sponsors. Massie introduced the House version of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, which now has 74 cosponsors, including Blumenauer and Polis.

The letter was signed by Sens. Paul, Wyden, Merkley, Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Representatives Massie, Blumenauer, Polis, Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Eleanor Homes Norton, D-D.C., Mark Pocan, D-Wis., Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., John Yarmuth, D-Ky., Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and Sam Farr, D-Calif.

Industrial hemp is used throughout the world in thousands of products, including paper, fabrics, lotions, canvas, rope, and construction material.

You can read the full text of the letter here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-selfie-waste/,A Selfie of Waste,2016-10-25,2016,2016-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, chairman of the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee, released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

How often have you wondered how taking a “selfie” and other pictures impacts your happiness? Thanks to a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant, taxpayers helped researchers at the University of California, Irvine find out.

Today’s “Waste Report” details the results. You can find it HERE or below.

***

Selfies, pictures of food, a beautiful sunset … we see them all over social media. While these pictures might make us smile, does taking them actually make us happier? That is a question you paid a group of researchers at the University of California, Irvine to answer.

The study, released earlier this year, found that taking pictures with your smartphone can actually make you happier and, in some instances, more calm.[1] What probably will make you less happy and calm is that this study was partially funded by a $500k National Science Foundation grant – your tax dollars.[2]

Instead of using existing technology, the researchers developed two smartphone apps (one overlaid the other) for participants to take photos and record their moods. This resulted in 17.5 percent of participants dropping out of the study in the first week due to “system incompatibility issues.”[3] That probably made no one happy.

Nonetheless, could it be that pulling out your phone and snapping pictures is the secret to happiness? Well, not so fast. You cannot just take any picture – it seems the key to happy snapping (at least based on this study) is taking pictures of happy things. Who knew?

The study broke participants up into three groups who, for three weeks, took pictures of themselves smiling, things that made them happy, or, for the third group, things they thought would make someone else happy (which they then sent to that person). Not surprisingly, taking happiness-focused pictures showed a positive effect on all three groups’ moods.[4]

One might not expect that if you told someone to drive to a place that makes them happy every day for three weeks, and that person showed an improvement in their mood, you could conclude driving makes people happy. So, what happens when happiness is not in the frame (pun intended)? We do not know. In fact, the study did not include a control group of participants taking random pictures or even selfies where they did not intentionally smile.

Regardless of this flaw in the research, one has to wonder if selfie studies are really the kind of research your tax dollars should be spent on.

So, if this has made you less happy, sit back, smile, and take a selfie…it might help…but probably not.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-named-taxpayers-friend/,Dr. Rand Paul Named ‘Taxpayers’ Friend’,2016-10-24,2016,2016-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) honored U.S. Senator Rand Paul with its 2015 “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” for his commitment to fiscal responsibility, limited government, and lower taxes in the first session of the 114th Congress.

“It’s a privilege to speak out for Kentuckians by saying ‘no’ to deeper debt and higher taxes,” said Dr. Paul. “Every vote against failed status-quo policies is a vote for more opportunity, more growth, and more prosperity for Kentucky, and I’m pleased to be named a ‘Taxpayers’ Friend’ by the National Taxpayers Union.”

“Winning the Taxpayers’ Friend Award is no easy feat,” said NTU President Pete Sepp. “It takes a daily commitment to cast principled votes that put the Americans who pay government’s bills first.”

NTU based its “Taxpayer Score” on 141 Senate and 267 House votes that affected fiscal policy in 2015, with Dr. Paul receiving an “A” rating for his consistent record. Only 57 members of Congress were recognized with the “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” for 2015.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-school-waste/,The School of Waste,2016-10-19,2016,2016-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, chairman of the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee, released the latest edition of “The Waste Report,” an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

This week’s special, two-page Report features a $2.9 million hit to the taxpayers, a land deal where one person became “the seller, buyer, financer, and payer,” and a series of events that a fiction publisher might even reject for being too ridiculous.

You can read the entire, shocking story in this week’s “Waste Report” HERE or below.

***

In 2005, the private, non-profit Hope Academy (Hope) in coastal Mississippi suffered flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge. Hope was eligible for federal Public Assistance grants to rebuild. However, as the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security details in a recent report, with the federal taxpayers footing the bill, Hope wanted more.[1] Through unsupported claims, unethical deals, and multiple appeals, almost 10 years after Katrina, the taxpayer is currently out $2.9 million.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would have paid to mitigate the damages to the Hope Academy and elevate their building. However, Hope claimed rebuilding its original facility would be inadequate for it to service 90 students, its K-12 enrollment prior to the storm. Instead of rebuilding its 5,770 sq. ft. building, Hope claimed it now needed a new 13,319 sq. ft. (about 2.3 times larger) facility.[2] Of course, had the storm not hit, they presumably would have served those students in the old building. Nonetheless, after some back and forth, including appeals to the regional FEMA office, FEMA eventually agreed in 2010 to pay for the larger school.

Upon gaining approval for a larger school building, Hope then claimed its 2/3rds of an acre lot was just too small and asked the taxpayers to pay an additional $1.4 million for a new 16-acre property (we will come back to this).[3]

Were there 90 students?

The larger facility and the new property were all predicated on an enrollment of 90 students at the time Katrina hit, a claim the IG questioned and asserted Hope never sufficiently demonstrated. The IG reviewed the physical profile of the old school building and found it wasn’t “credible that these five separate rooms would be adequate to educate 90 students in 13 different grade levels.”[4] Throughout the process, FEMA had apparently taken Hope’s word on its enrollment.

As part of their investigation, the IG asked Hope to provide some additional proof of its 2005 student population, including student names, tuition receipts, tax filings, payroll checks, etc. Hope claimed all their records were destroyed in the storm, and that the bank no longer kept records from 2005. Hope also said it was not required to file state or federal income tax returns, and that it paid its staff as contractors, so it did not withhold payroll taxes. What is all the more odd is that one document Hope did provide was a canceled check for tax services, which would seem unnecessary for an entity not filing taxes.[5]

As to the student names, Hope could only recall 13 names of its supposed 90 students. Further, one former student from 2005 told the IG they only recalled there being about 40 students at the school.[6]

A Shady Land Deal

We said we’d come back to the land. It turns out the 16 acres Hope needed (for its new building) were about 40 percent wetlands and were owned by the president of Hope’s Board of Directors. In fact, the Board President did not recuse himself from the transaction, and, as the IG reports, “signed as purchaser and seller on the closing documents for the land purchase, as well as the authorized signer on the check used to pay the seller [himself].”[7]

Acting as seller of the land, the Board President hired (although Hope reimbursed the cost) three separate appraisers. The IG questioned the appraisals, noting that “[a]ll three appraisal amounts were very close, with two presenting the exact same value of $1,600,000 [despite using different site descriptions].”[8] Hope itself had no appraisal done and settled (with its own Board President) on a $1.4 million price – or $92k an acre (including for wetland acres).

FEMA disagreed with the $92k-an-acre price (thinking it should be more like $45k) and did not want to pay for unusable wetlands. Hope turned to the Arbitrations Board, which landed between the two prices, awarding $40k an acre for the usable land but also awarding $19k an acre for the wetlands, putting taxpayers on the hook for about $500k. In their review, the IG valued the land at about $26k an acre for the usable portion and $5k an acre for the wetlands – a total of $276k.[9]

Further, in anticipation of being reimbursed by the federal taxpayer for the land purchase, “the seller (i.e., the Board President) financed the loan …. This would make Hope’s Board President the seller, buyer, financer, and payer in this land transaction.”[10] However, the ultimate payers were really FEMA and the federal taxpayer. The IG labeled the whole land transaction as unethical.[11]

A New School, a New Community

The FSO Subcommittee was interested in Hope’s current status, and what we found was pretty amazing.

Those 16 acres Hope bought were nowhere near the original school site in D’Iberville, MS, nor were they just some vacant property. Instead, the new location was about 15 miles away in Gulfport, MS, in a brand-new housing development called Florence Gardens (FG) – “a pristine master-planned community.”[12]

FG is still selling lots, and its website includes a banner link to “Our School,”[13] which is clearly meant to be a selling point for a community branded as family oriented. On the “Our School” page, FG boasts of its new 13,000 sq. ft. building with space to grow, “state-of-the-art technology,” and furniture made of antimicrobial materials.[14] FG’s “Amenities” page also references Hope.

The federal taxpayer probably paid for some of that technology and furniture. Even though Hope officials could only recall 13 students, they were able to produce a 15-page list (from memory) of items destroyed in the storm and asked FEMA for nearly $800k. FEMA lowered the amount to just shy of $500k, but the IG thinks even that number is exaggerated; Hope had an insurance policy for the school’s contents with a maximum payout of just $17,200.[15]

Nonetheless, Hope got a bigger building, more land, and new equipment. The Board President sold some land, and Florence Gardens got a school to support its family friendly, neighborly model. It all only cost taxpayers $2.9 million.

Oh, and one more thing. Care to guess the identity of the CEO of Florence Gardens? Yep, it’s the same Board President who acted as both buyer and seller of the 16-acre property.[16]

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-named-guardian-small-business/,Dr. Rand Paul Named ‘Guardian of Small Business’,2016-10-17,2016,2016-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"LEXINGTON, KY – This morning, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) presented U.S. Senator Rand Paul with its “Guardian of Small Business Award” in recognition of his pro-small business record in Congress. The award was given to Dr. Paul by Tom Underwood, NFIB Kentucky State Director.

“Every day, small business owners do more with less to make big things happen,” said Dr. Paul. “They’re risk-takers and innovators who quietly sacrifice to realize their dreams. I’m honored to receive this award, and I will proudly keep working to ensure Kentucky’s small businesses can thrive free from unnecessary government burdens.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-returns-over-3-million-us-taxpayers/,Dr. Rand Paul Returns Over $3 Million to U.S. Taxpayers,2016-10-17,2016,2016-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul announced today that he saved more than $620,000 from his official FY 2016 operating budget, bringing the total amount Dr. Paul has returned to the taxpayers to over $3,000,000 since taking office in January 2011.

“It’s easy to picture Washington’s out-of-control spending as a massive, untamable beast,” said Dr. Paul. “So I determined to show change is possible by starting in the area under my control, while working everywhere else I could to stop ‘business as usual.’

“I promised Kentuckians I would stand for smaller, more efficient government, balanced budgets, and spending restraint. I’m proud my staff and I have kept that pledge while operating one of the most active federal offices.”

Dr. Paul has also led the way for reform by introducing a five-year balanced budget and issuing a weekly “Waste Report” to shine a spotlight on reckless federal spending.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-epas-bulk-buy-transit-subsidy-gone-wrong/,EPA’s Bulk-Buy Transit Subsidy Gone Wrong,2016-10-12,2016,2016-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, chairman of the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee, released the latest edition of “The Waste Report,” an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

Is a bulk discount always the best deal? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) answered that question the hard way when it recently overspent taxpayer funds by more than $135,000 to buy mass transit passes in bulk.

This waste happened despite the King County Transit Authority issuing a clear caution and even providing a worksheet to check the math. You can get the full story in today’s “Waste Report” HERE or below.

***

Call it the Costco dilemma: you have to buy 36 eggs at once, but the price per egg is less than at the grocery store. Will you eat that many eggs (about 2 a day) before they go bad? If the answer is “NO,” you may actually lose money on the “deal.” In economics, it is called the law of diminishing marginal utility,[1] and, unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) got a lesson in economics when it lost over $135K of taxpayers’ money buying mass transit passes in bulk.[2]

Since 1993, federal agencies have had the ability to provide a mass transit subsidy to employees as a fringe benefit, which is also aimed at reducing pollution and traffic congestion.[3] So it is no surprise that the EPA office in Seattle (a city known for environmental awareness and traffic congestion) would choose to offer this subsidy to its employees.

Unfortunately, according to the Inspector General (IG) for the EPA, in 2014 and 2015, the EPA missed the forest for the trees on bulk purchases of mass transit passes. In an effort to get a bulk-buy discount, the EPA-Seattle bought annual mass transit passes for ALL of its employees, not just the ones signed up for the transit subsidy, resulting in the EPA, even with the discount, paying over $135k more than it would have otherwise.[4]

The King County Transit Authority (from whom the passes were purchased) makes no secret that an employer must buy a “Business Passport” for “every benefits-eligible employee” in order to get the discount.[5] They also include the following caution on their website: “If you already subsidize transportation for some employees, we recommend that you compare your current transportation expenditure to the cost of Passport for all your employees.”[6] King County even provides prospective Passport clients with a worksheet to compare the cost of subsidizing just transit users with purchasing passes for all employees.

So, did someone at the EPA just fill the worksheet out wrong? Forget to carry the one? Not at all, according to the IG. Their report states that the “transit subsidy team did not believe cost calculations were applicable because discounted annual transit passes were only available if passes were purchased for all employees.”[7]

Sure, it cost more in the end, but we got the discount!!!

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-creates-faster-path-treatments-new-fda-legislation/,Dr. Rand Paul Creates Faster Path for Treatments with New FDA Legislation,2016-10-05,2016,2016-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul has introduced S. 3466, the Accelerating New Pharmaceutical Competition Act, to reduce red tape at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by fast tracking FDA approval of medicines and devices that have met safety and efficacy standards in other developed nations. Unnecessary bureaucratic delays have kept more EpiPen alternatives off U.S. markets, contributing toward a virtual monopoly over auto-injected epinephrine and further inflating the treatment’s prices.

“Competition is essential to expanding access to a wider variety of affordable options for patients,” said Dr. Paul. “Treatments proven by rigorous testing in other developed countries to be effective and safe shouldn’t have to jump redundant hurdles to get to U.S. markets. Congress can immediately address the massive spikes in prescription drug prices by passing this legislation.”

You can find the text of the Accelerating New Pharmaceutical Competition Act HERE. You can find a summary of the bill’s provisions below.

The Accelerating New Pharmaceutical Competition Act, S. 3466

Allows sponsors of drugs approved in Europe and other developed countries to be able to show safety and efficacy to the FDA without repeating lengthy and costly clinical trials.

Requires the FDA to act on these foreign-approved applications within 90 days, or the drug product is presumed to be approved and may come to market.

Removes the automatic 30-month stay of market approval for generic drug applications that are the subject of ongoing patent litigation. Rather, the bill would give full authority to the court to determine whether to shorten or lengthen such a stay.

Fast tracks the approval of generic drugs in cases where there is a sole source or limited competition by requiring the FDA to act on those applications within 150 calendar days.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-one-small-step-waste-one-giant-leap-wastekind/,"One Small Step for Waste, One Giant Leap for Wastekind",2016-10-04,2016,2016-10,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, chairman of the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee, released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

We all learned, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” in school, but is that what Neil Armstrong really said during his 1969 moon landing? A recent study drew on two National Science Foundation grants, totaling more than $700,000 of taxpayer money, to find out why we may have heard something different than what Armstrong claimed he actually said.

Today’s Report details if they succeeded and reveals the intended purpose of the grants, which did not even mention Armstrong. You can find ‘The Waste Report’ HERE or below.

***

When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon in 1969, he uttered certainly some of the most famous words in human history: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Or did he? Armstrong said that he was misquoted by having an “a” omitted from his statement, claiming it should have been “step for [a] man.”[1]

Quite the earth-shattering controversy we have on our hands here. Nope? Not interested? Don’t care? Well, maybe you will care about this: the National Science Foundation helped fund a study which brought together researchers from four major universities[2] to find the missing “a.” To explain the mystery, researchers even sought out subjects with dialectal familiarity to Armstrong – people from Ohio.[3]

The study drew on two NSF grants totaling more than $700k.[4] Though the research was just published this month, one of the grants came from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.[5] “Shovel ready” indeed.

So, did they solve the mystery? Well, no. In the end, researchers believe that the speed at which one part of a sentence is said, relative to the rest of the sentence, affects identification of words like “a.”[6] Listeners in experiments did not universally miss the “a” and certainly not to the extent it was apparently missed by listeners of Armstrong’s statement on the moon and in recordings. Thus, “[t]hese results demonstrate that substantial ambiguity exists in the original quote from Armstrong.”[7] Truly groundbreaking.

So, why did NSF think this study deserved your tax dollars? Well, they might not have. As The Waste Report has noted in the past, once a grant goes out the door, there is no further accounting of where that money winds up and how much goes to a given project.

In this case, the intended purpose of these grants was to help improve and understand communications for persons with conditions that may affect speech, such as autism, stuttering, and Parkinson’s disease[8] – not what Neil Armstrong said on the moon. The grant synopses makes no mention of Armstrong, nor does the paper assert that he suffered from a condition that would affect his speech.

Sounds like NSF funds might be getting lost in transmission

###

[1] http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/asset?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155975.PDF

[2] University of Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan State, and George Mason University.

[3] http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/asset?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155975.PDF

[4] NSF award numbers: 0847653 and 1431063

[5] NSF award numbers: 0847653

[6] http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/asset?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155975.PDF

[7] Ibid.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:04:55Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-us-senate-protect-terminal-patients-access-treatment/,Dr. Rand Paul to US Senate: Protect Terminal Patients’ Access to Treatment,2016-09-27,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul called for the passage of U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s (R-WI) S. 2912, the Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act, to prevent the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from interfering with “Right to Try” laws that 31 states have adopted. Right to Try allows patients suffering from a terminal illness to use treatments, under a doctor’s supervision, that have not yet received the FDA’s final approval.

“As a physician, I believe that treatment is decided best between a doctor and a patient and not through a slow-moving bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., especially when every moment matters in facing a terminal illness,” said Dr. Paul. “As we work on streamlining the FDA’s approval process, I urge my colleagues to pass Senator Johnson’s common-sense bill that respects states’ actions on expanding treatment access.”

“Many of us have felt that sense of desperation — of urgency — when we learn that someone we love is fighting for their life,” said Sen. Johnson. “In 2014, I met with a brave Wisconsin woman, Trickett Wendler, who was fighting ALS. Trickett passed away last year, but her spirit and her fight are among the reasons I am passionate about this issue — because I know that today, and every day, millions of Americans are fighting similar life-and-death battles to save themselves and their loved ones. For Trickett, and for countless others facing terminal illnesses, now is the time to give more patients a chance to save their lives — to give them hope. I’m thankful to Senator Paul for his support and hope my colleagues in the Senate will join with their support for this important, bipartisan bill.”

Dr. Paul cosponsored S. 2912 and spoke at a U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) hearing examining the legislation last Thursday. Senator Johnson serves as chairman of the committee.

Below, you can find video of Dr. Paul’s remarks and background information on the bill.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH DR. PAUL AT THURSDAY’S HSGAC HEARING

Background on S. 2912:

Named in honor of Trickett Wendler, who passed away in March 2015 after battling ALS;

Provides a potential lifeline for terminally ill patients without undoing the FDA’s approval process;

Requires physician certification that other options are exhausted or not available, maintaining incentives for patients to seek out and join clinical trials;

Requires products to have completed Phase 1 (safety) testing by the FDA;

Ensures adverse outcomes are not used against a company’s ongoing application for approval;

Prevents additional liability for patients, doctors, and manufacturers.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-aloha-waste/,Aloha to Waste,2016-09-26,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, chairman of the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee, released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In today’s Report, Dr. Paul highlights nearly $10 million in taxpayer funds that the City of Honolulu wasted to beat a “timeliness” deadline and stay eligible for more Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. After searching for a project, the City settled on a grant proposal to purchase the Hibiscus Hill Apartments property, which wasn’t up for sale at the time and eventually cost taxpayers about $1.9 million above the appraised value.

The Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee has established an email address, Report_Waste@HAGAC.Senate.gov, where federal employees can report wasteful end-of-year spending. More information can be found HERE.

You can find ‘The Waste Report’ HERE or below.

***

According to the Inspector General (IG) for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City and County of Honolulu (City) wasted nearly $10 million of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money for no other reason than to just spend federal money fast… so they could remain eligible to receive more federal funds.[1]

The CDBG program is a grant for local governments to help develop affordable housing and economic opportunities primarily for low- and middle-income persons. While grant money can be rolled into the next fiscal year, local governments are not allowed to just sit on this money. By the end of a grant year, available funds cannot exceed 150% of the current year grant award – the timeliness test. If a community breaks this timeliness test two years in a row, they may lose CDBG funding for the next year.[2]

According to the IG, Honolulu’s bureaucratic structure led it to perennially fail the timeliness test every other year. However, in 2013, the City was in risk of breaching the two-year rule and possibly losing CDBG money – until it cooked up a plan to fast track some big spending.

First, the City came up with an alternate process for approving CDBG projects, which, according to the IG, “had few requirements and was subjective.”[3] Then, the City put out a “brief” request for proposals for an acquisition project: high cost in one transaction. They further required the project to move fast – fast enough to prevent the two-year rule from being violated. Ultimately, the City approved a proposal to purchase the Hibiscus Hill Apartments in Waipahu.[4]

Hibiscus Hill was not even up for sale, which of course put the owner in a “name your price” kind of situation. The property ended up selling for about 25% above the appraised value – meaning taxpayers overpaid by about $1.9 million.[5]

Why Hibiscus Hill? Good question. The original proposal stated that rent at Hibiscus Hill had increased 40% over the preceding 3 years, but that claim was not substantiated. However, the appraiser found rents at the apartment complex were at the lower end of the local rental market. Further, since the property acquisition, rents have increased, in some cases “significantly.”[6] This led the IG to conclude, “Therefore, the acquisition apparently did not serve a meaningful purpose and the City did not support that it was necessary.”[7] True, unless the City’s real purpose was just to spend money quickly to preserve their access to CDBG grant dollars.

The grant recipients’ proposal included a promise to spend $1 million (of their money) renovating all 80 units in the complex. Yet, two years later, only eight units were renovated at a cost of just over $146k. Further, 50 units were to be deemed “affordable,” a promise which the City itself decided in 2015 was unmet.[8]

Nonetheless, Honolulu did not breach the timeliness test two years running and is still eligible to receive CDBG money…

And the taxpayer is only out $10 million.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-welcomes-kentucky-honor-flight-washington-dc/,"Dr. Rand Paul Welcomes Kentucky Honor Flight to Washington, DC",2016-09-22,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul yesterday welcomed veterans from Kentucky traveling on their Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

“Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who fought for our freedoms. I have always stood with Kentucky’s veterans and will continue to fight for them in the U.S. Senate. It is a special experience to visit with them as they see their memorials on a day that honors their service and commitment,” said Dr. Paul.

Honor Flight Bluegrass provided a free trip to our nation’s capital for 64 Kentucky veterans, as well as veterans from Indiana and Tennessee. The veterans toured multiple memorials, including the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-us-senate-votes-blocking-saudi-arabia-arms-sale/,US Senate Votes on Blocking Saudi Arabia Arms Sale,2016-09-21,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – By invoking the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Al Franken (D-MN), and Mike Lee (R-UT) forced a vote today in the U.S. Senate on blocking the $1.15 billion U.S. sale of 153 Abrams tanks and associated major defense articles to Saudi Arabia.

Twenty-seven senators voted in support of halting the sale, while seventy-one senators voted to continue providing support to Saudi Arabia.

“Today, a growing coalition of legislators refused to sit idly by while the President inserts America into another war and an escalating arms race in an unstable region without congressional authorization or debate,” said Sen. Paul. “As violent jihadists attack the West, the Saudis continue to fund madrassas that preach hatred and violence against the West. The Founders did not entrust the power to initiate war to the legislature lightly. Today does not mark an end, but an important next step in reclaiming Congress’ rightful constitutional role in foreign policy.”

“Our resolution may not have passed today, but this debate was very important in and of itself. For the first time in recent history, the Senate debated whether continued, unquestioned arms sales to the Saudis serves America’s national interest,” said Sen. Murphy. “We knew going in that this would be an uphill climb, but we sent a clear message today that Saudi Arabia will take to heart if it values our partnership. And we raised awareness among our colleagues about a war inside Yemen that up until this week has been ignored by Congress. U.S. support for their wars cannot be unconditional, especially when civilians are being killed, and terrorist organizations are growing stronger. Congress is watching, and we will not sit on the sidelines.”

“Thousands of civilians have been killed or wounded in the U.S.-backed war in Yemen,” said Sen. Franken. “This is a tragedy, and it’s not one that we should continue to support. Our resolution would have stopped a $1.15 billion U.S. arms sale to the Saudis, and while it unfortunately was not passed, the very fact that we voted on it sends a strong message to Saudi Arabia: that the United States is not going to turn a blind eye to the indiscriminate killing of men, women, and children.”

“Today, the United States Senate squandered a rare and important opportunity to have a substantive and consequential debate about America’s ongoing involvement in the Yemeni civil war,” said Sen. Lee. This was more than just a missed opportunity – it was a gross dereliction of duty. Members of Congress in both chambers have a responsibility to the American people to carefully evaluate our interventions abroad, and to participate in the process of defining America’s national interests and developing a foreign policy to pursue those interests. Senator Paul’s resolution gave us a chance to do our jobs today, and unfortunately, we failed to rise to the occasion.”

Click HERE to read the joint resolution of disapproval in its entirety.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-va-medical-center-no-tv-you/,VA Medical Center – No TV for You,2016-09-20,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, chairman of the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee, released the latest edition of “The Waste Report,” an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In September 2013, as part of a “use it or lose it” spending rush, the Detroit VA Medical Center spent over $300,000 on televisions and accessories for upgrades to patient rooms. Three years later, the vast majority of the televisions, which turned out to be the wrong model, sit in storage with expired warranties, still waiting for the project to begin construction. Dr. Paul’s Report reveals the full story.

The Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee has established an email address, Report_Waste@HAGAC.Senate.gov, where federal employees can report wasteful end-of-year spending. More information can be found HERE.

You can find “The Waste Report” HERE or below.

***

Waste Report readers will remember an edition from earlier this year, “Veterans Health Administration: It’s Not About Logistics,” where we reported on the VA leaving urology equipment unused for months. Because the equipment was leased, the VA made over $200k in payments for the equipment while it sat in storage. Unfortunately, it seems the VA has outdone that waste – this time spending over $300k on TVs that have been sitting in storage for nearly three years.[1]

The VA Inspector General reports that, in 2013, the Detroit VA Medical Center wanted to upgrade TVs in patient rooms. Probably not a bad idea and certainly a benefit to our veterans in a difficult time. Unfortunately, the project included upgrading the whole TV system, which required some amount of construction. Rather than waiting for construction to begin (or even be scheduled), the VA saw fit in September 2013 to purchase 300 TVs and accessories immediately at a cost of $311k.[2]

Since the facility was not ready for the TVs, they went to storage,[3] where they have sat for nearly three years. The IG’s report even states that “as of June 21, 2016, the facility had not yet awarded the contract to begin construction.”[4] So these TVs will continue to sit for some time. By the way, the warranties expired in January 2015.[5]

What is worse, these dormant TVs are not even the right ones for the planned upgrade. According to the IG, the project plan calls for TVs that use an Ethernet feed, but the ones the VA purchased use an increasingly outdated coaxial feed. So the VA modified the project at an additional cost of $19k – to accommodate the TVs still in storage.[6]

You might ask, how did something like this happen? Well, the culprit seems to be the “Use it or Lose it” paradigm of government spending: spend money before it expires at the end of the fiscal year. Remember, the TVs were purchased in September 2013, just before the end of the federal government’s fiscal year. As the IG reports, “Despite not needing the TVs … the Chief of Volunteer and Community Relations reported the facility purchased them because they had funds available.”[7]

“Use it or lose it” is a big problem. Research indicates that “spending in the last week of the year is 4.9 times higher than the rest-of-the-year weekly average,” while “quality scores for year-end projects are 2.2 to 5.6 times more likely to be below the central value [lower quality].”[8] As in this case, you might end up buying TVs you do not need and which are the wrong model.

Chairman Paul and the FSO subcommittee have worked to bring the perils of “use it or lose it” spending to public attention, both with a hearing on the subject last September and legislation (S.1378)[9] that incentivizes federal employees against end-of-year-spending binges while helping to reduce the deficit.

The IG’s report put it best when it said the unneeded TV purchases “prevented the use of about $292,500 that could have been better spent on other facility priorities.”[10] Of course, the top priority of the VA should be veterans.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sens-paul-warner-applaud-house-action-cost-cutters-legislation/,"Sens. Paul, Warner Applaud House Action on Cost-Cutters Legislation",2016-09-15,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Mark Warner (D-VA) applauded the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for passing U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann’s (R-TN) H.R. 2532, the Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act.

The legislation mirrors S. 1378, which Senators Paul and Warner introduced in May 2015 and passed the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by a bipartisan vote of 12-5 in May 2016.

“I thank Rep. Fleischmann for his leadership in advancing this important legislation in the House, as well as the committee for moving it to the floor,” said Sen. Paul. “Today’s victory is especially timely, with the end of the government’s fiscal year just around the corner. While ‘use it or lose it’ spenders have splurged with taxpayer funds to beat the clock in the past, the full House and Senate can now take a major step toward incentivizing saving and ending business as usual by passing this reform.”

“Congress’ appropriations process can sometimes nonsensically encourage federal agencies to spend down the money they have been allocated as the end of the fiscal year approaches, regardless of whether the spending is needed or even wise. We need to discourage this ‘use it or lose it’ mentality, and instead incentivize federal agencies to be better stewards of taxpayers’ dollars by spending thoughtfully or returning unused funds to the Treasury at the end of the year,” said Sen. Warner. “I applaud the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for following its Senate counterpart to approve this money-saving legislation, and hope we can move soon to pass this commonsense approach to government efficiency and federal spending into law.”

Federal law allows an agency’s Inspector General to pay bonuses up to $10,000 of savings realized when a federal employee identifies waste, fraud, or mismanagement of funds. The Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act would expand these categories to include surplus or unneeded funds. Additionally, S. 1378 would ensure that 90% of the savings be automatically directed towards deficit reduction.

Click HERE to read the text of S. 1378.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-us-senate-passes-sen-rand-pauls-amendment-block-lake-cumberland-user-fees/,U.S. Senate Passes Sen. Rand Paul’s Amendment to Block Lake Cumberland User Fees,2016-09-15,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s amendment to S. 2848, the Water Resources Development Act, to protect Kentuckians that rely on Lake Cumberland as a water source from paying user fees passed the U.S. Senate. S. 2848 went on to pass by a vote of 95 to 3.

For two years after becoming law, Dr. Paul’s amendment would prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from charging eleven cities and businesses a one-time user fee, as well as an annual operation and maintenance fee, to access the water in Lake Cumberland. Currently, the Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a water reallocation study that would determine the fees.

“Taking action on behalf of Kentuckians is one of my most important responsibilities in the Senate, so I am pleased that these actions have yielded a positive result for Lake Cumberland’s surrounding communities that would help protect families from paying higher water bills and prevent government from further hindering our employers’ competitiveness,” said Dr. Paul. “I know how important this issue is for the affected communities, so I will continue working in Congress and with local officials to shield them from these charges.”

“I would like to thank Senator Paul and his staff for working with Somerset and our region to pass legislation addressing our concerns,” said Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler.

Background information on the amendment is available below. Click HERE to read the text.

Amendment No. 5068

This amendment blocks the Army Corps of Engineers from charging a fee for surplus water stored in Lake Cumberland. The Corps is in the process of studying Lake Cumberland/Wolf Creek Dam to determine how much cities and industries will have to begin paying the Corps for using water from Lake Cumberland and for operation and maintenance of the reservoir. Until now, these cities and industries have not had to pay any such user fee.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-amendment-block-user-fees-lake-cumberland-area/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Amendment to Block User Fees on Lake Cumberland Area,2016-09-12,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul introduced an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (S. 2848) on behalf of Kentuckians that rely on Lake Cumberland as a water source. Dr. Paul’s amendment would prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from charging eleven cities and businesses a one-time user fee, as well as annual operation and maintenance fees, to access the water in Lake Cumberland after it completes a water reallocation study.

“After hearing about the water fee issue facing Lake Cumberland’s surrounding counties, I reached out to local officials in those communities and promised to work with them to find a solution to this problem,” said Dr. Paul. “My amendment would ensure that Lake Cumberland’s surrounding communities and businesses would not be overwhelmed with substantial fees from the Army Corps of Engineers. I am hopeful this amendment will pass to help prevent the federal government from placing additional financial burdens on hardworking Kentuckians in this uncertain economic climate.”

Dr. Paul’s amendment would prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from charging the one-time fee and annual fee for ten years after the amendment becomes law.

Legislation to block the reallocation study for one year passed the U.S. House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee in April but has not yet been approved by the entire House.

Background information on the amendment is available below. Click HERE to read the text.

Amendment No. 5025

This amendment blocks the Army Corps of Engineers from charging a fee for water storage in, water supply from, or operation and maintenance costs for Wolf Creek Dam in Lake Cumberland. The Corps is in the process of studying Lake Cumberland/Wolf Creek Dam to determine how much cities and industries will have to begin paying the Corps for using water from and for operation and maintenance of the dam in Lake Cumberland, an intrastate Corps-controlled reservoir. Until now, these cities and industries have not had to pay any such user fee.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-paul-invites-federal-employees-report-use-it-or-lose-it-waste/,Dr. Paul Invites Federal Employees to Report “Use It or Lose It” Waste,2016-09-09,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) invited federal employees to contact his Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee if they see “use it or lose it” spending sprees as the federal government concludes its fiscal year that cause waste, mismanagement, or other abuses of taxpayer funds. “Use it or lose it” spending has become notorious and widespread as agencies use up their existing budget authority to try to justify higher funding levels. The fiscal year ends September 30.

A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that as the fiscal year expires, money even shifts time zones to gain extra hours for last-minute spending.[1]

“In a time of ever-expanding government, ‘use it or lose it’ waste provides us with some of the most outrageous examples of how out of control spending has become,” said Dr. Paul. “Hearing from those witnessing this abuse of taxpayer funds firsthand will help us more specifically target the problem and generate pressure to reform the budget process.”

Current law allows an agency’s Inspector General to pay bonuses up to $10,000 of savings realized when a federal employee identifies waste, fraud, or mismanagement of funds. Dr. Paul is working to expand these categories to cover unneeded or surplus funds through his Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act, S. 1378, which passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs by a bipartisan vote of 12-5 in May.

Federal employees can contact Dr. Paul’s Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee at Report_Waste@HSGAC.Senate.Gov. All emails will be considered confidential, and employees can remain anonymous.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sens-paul-murphy-franken-and-lee-introduce-joint-resolution-block-military-equipment-sale-saudi/,"Sens. Paul, Murphy, Franken, and Lee Introduce Joint Resolution to Block Military Equipment Sale to Saudi Arabia",2016-09-08,2016,2016-09,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Al Franken (D-MN), and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a joint resolution of disapproval to block the U.S. sale of Abrams tanks and associated major defense articles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Pentagon announced the proposed sale, totaling $1.15 billion, in August.

“Selling $1.15 billion in tanks, guns, ammunition, and more to a country with a poor human rights record embroiled in a bitter war is a recipe for disaster and an escalation of an ongoing arms race in the region,” said Sen. Paul.

“Saudi Arabia is an important partner, but their war in Yemen, funded by the U.S., has become a disaster that is making our country less safe every day,” said Sen. Murphy. “Thousands of civilians are being killed, and terrorist groups inside the country, like al Qaeda and ISIS, are getting stronger. Until the Saudis conduct changes, the U.S. should put a pause on further arms sales.”

“The Obama Administration has recently offered over a billion dollars in weaponry to Saudi Arabia, and I think it’s in America’s best interest to call a timeout on this sale,” said Sen. Franken. “In Yemen, a Saudi coalition of fighters is unjustly killing civilians while at the same time not doing enough to address terrorism. This is dangerous for the Middle East, for our other allies, and for our nation, which is why I’m helping to introduce this bipartisan resolution.”

“Unbeknownst to many Americans, their military has been engaged in the civil war in Yemen throughout this year with very little oversight or authorization from their representatives in Congress,” said Sen. Lee. “I am cosponsoring this resolution because I believe it is our responsibility as stewards of our constituents’ interests to have a public discussion and debate on the merits – or lack thereof – of our involvement in this conflict and the broader Middle East. This presents Congress with an opportunity to prove we can do our jobs in a bipartisan manner and put the safety and security of the American people first. It will also allow us to work with the Saudis to recalibrate our alliance towards more productive and enduring achievements.”

In addition to today’s Senate action, 64 members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a letter to President Obama in August urging him to delay the sale.

The Arms Export Control Act of 1976 provides the special procedures whereby a Senator can force a vote on an arms sale by the President. Today’s introduction of the joint resolution of disapproval allows Senators Paul, Murphy, Franken, and Lee, along with other members of Congress, to force a vote on blocking the Saudi arms sale.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:01:54Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-small-business-administrations-disastrous-loans/,Small Business Administration’s Disastrous Loans,2016-08-30,2016,2016-08,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

This week’s Report resembles one you could have seen during the 2007 mortgage crisis, as Dr. Paul highlights millions in lost taxpayer funds in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster assistance loan program. According to the SBA’s own Inspector General, SBA provided loans to applicants lacking satisfactory credit, or, in some cases, even a proven ability to repay the money. Often, workers ignored SBA’s own guidelines, or exploited loopholes, to issue these loans.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

***

Subprime, liar loans, no-doc, income unverified… these sound like terms used to describe the 2007 mortgage crisis. Unfortunately, they can also be used to describe the Small Business Administration’s disaster assistance loans following Hurricane Sandy, which resulted in as much as $4.3 million of lost taxpayer money.[1] In most instances, these loans were made either because SBA guidelines were ignored, or loopholes were exploited.[2]

Part of federal disaster relief includes the availability of low-interest loans to persons in the affected area via the Small Business Administration (SBA), even though these loans are not necessarily for business purposes.[3] According to the SBA’s Inspector General, approximately 500 of SBA’s Sandy loans went into default within 18 months of issuance, though even that number is misleading, as two thirds of these loan recipients made fewer than three payments, and more than half of those made no payment at all.[4]

While these defaults represent just 2.6 percent of all SBA Sandy loans, they tell a troubling story of lax lending practices eerily similar to the 2007 subprime crisis, where persons that never should have gotten loans did. However, unlike with private lenders, in this case loans were made using taxpayer dollars.

The IG estimates that loan approvals totaled nearly $3 million for persons with unsatisfactory credit.[5] Like all lenders, SBA has a minimum creditworthiness standard for a loan approval. However, loans can be approved if a borrower can explain minor or isolated credit blemishes,[6] a loophole you could drive a Mack truck through.

In one instance, SBA approved an over $200k loan, despite the borrower having multiple past-due and charge-off accounts. The explanation that satisfied SBA? The borrower was unaware of one, yes one, of their many delinquent debts. After receiving an initial $14k disbursement, the borrower failed to make even their first payment, and, thankfully, the remainder of the loan was canceled.[7]

More troubling, the IG estimates that $1.46 million in loans went to persons who could not demonstrate an ability to repay.[8] Sound familiar? One borrower never made a payment on their $12k loan. This is probably because, when taking into account their existing obligations, “the borrower’s cash available [to pay the loan] was negative.”[9] Another borrower claimed nearly 30 percent of their income came from rental properties they could not document and did not report on their tax returns. In other words, they either were dodging taxes or lying to SBA. Nonetheless, they received more than $8k on a loan they defaulted on after only four payments.[10]

In another case, one loan was approved for a person who was not a U.S. citizen, which is permissible for some legal residents who provide additional documentation demonstrating their eligibility. Unfortunately, in this case, such documentation was not obtained or even requested, and the borrower defaulted.[11]

Of course, disaster lending might call for some more flexibility than traditional loan making, but such flexibility must be limited, standards (even looser ones) need to be adhered to, and taxpayers’ interests cannot be ignored.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:00:38Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-official-waste/,Official Waste,2016-08-23,2016,2016-08,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In this special, two-page edition, Dr. Paul examines federal employees doing union work on taxpayers’ dime, costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars when member dues should be more than enough to cover representation costs. Many of these employees receive full salary and benefits despite not performing a government function. Though some argue such work is for the “public good,” often the final result runs contrary to taxpayers’ best interests and further enlarges an already bloated government.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

***

Are you a federal employee and in a union? Well, if you answered “NO,” you might be surprised to find out you are paying for union representation for federal employees.

According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), “Official time, broadly defined, is paid time off from assigned Government duties to represent a union or its bargaining unit employees.”[1] That is right. Federal employees get paid by the taxpayers to do union work, and, according to OPM, Official Time (OT) cost taxpayers $157.2 million in salary and 3.4 million hours not performing governmental duties in 2012.[2]

However, a 2014 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) questioned OPM’s methodology in calculating OT costs. GAO indicated that, based on a sample of 10 agencies, OPM had under calculated the cost by 9 percent on average,[3] which, if true across the board, would put the total figure closer to $171.3 million. Even worse, the GAO stated, “OPM said reporting on official time is not a priority at this time…”[4] Maybe that’s why OPM’s FY 2012 report on OT is the most recent available.

GAO’s 2014 report notes that 386 employees were on OT full-time (2/3rds were attached to the VA).[5] Americans for Limited Government used FOIA requests to estimate that number at 490 employees this year.[6] In other words, these are federal employees that perform no government function yet receive full compensation, including federal benefits like health care and retirement.

“Time off,” as OPM says, implies time away. Maybe they’re down at the union hall, using union equipment? Nope. Union contracts (negotiated by taxpayer-funded union reps) often include non-payroll OT expenses such as travel, office space, equipment, etc. Most agencies and OPM do not generally report these costs. The Social Security Administration (SSA), however, does. In FY 2013, non-salary OT cost taxpayers an additional $1.8 million at SSA.[7] That is just one agency.

How did this all come to be? Well, OPM reports that “voluntary membership in Federal sector unions results in considerable reliance by unions on the volunteer work of bargaining unit employees, rather than paid union business agents…”[8] Of course, that is not quite true. These are paid union agents (almost 500 work full-time for the union), only they are paid by the taxpayers they are negotiating against rather than with the dues from the members they are representing.

Why are taxpayers paying union reps when union members pay dues?

Does this voluntary membership system really leave federal employee unions (FEUs) unable to collect enough dues to, you know, represent their members? Well, the FSO subcommittee dug into Department of Labor financial filings of the four largest FEUs, representing about 88 percent of all federal unionized workers. We found that, for just FY 2015, they collectively reported $205 million in receipts for their headquarters operations and over $100 million for the locals. They also reported $117.8 million in net assets.[9] In all, dues should be more than enough to fund union representatives.

With dues money not going to negotiating contracts and addressing grievances, FEUs can put it to work against the taxpayer. In one example, FEUs are currently advocating for a 5.3 percent pay increase for federal employees instead of the 1.6 percent increase President Obama has proposed.[10] Keep in mind that, over the last 12 months, inflation has been just 1 percent,[11] and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found in 2012 that federal employees made on average 2 percent in wages and 48 percent in benefits more than their private sector counterparts.[12] By the way, this pay increase would be in addition to the automatic pay hikes, known as “step increases,” that federal employees also receive.

That example is pretty direct. FEUs, however, are generally less direct, arguing their main focus is the overall public good. As Milton Freidman famously summarized Adam Smith, it is much easier to get a special advantage by framing it as a public good (even when it is not) than to simply ask for special treatment.[13]

Take, for example, the bipartisan effort to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after the recent waiting list scandal, where veterans actually died. The FEU representing VA employees is opposing such reforms, but not because they may adversely affect union members. Instead, the president of the union argued in an op-ed that the VA is working well, and that it would actually hurt veterans to seek reform because of “minor” problems.[14] Minor? PEOPLE DIED. Of course, the op-ed made mention of the VA being understaffed, but it somehow omitted the $31 million and 1.07 million hours the VA spends on OT.[15]

In another example, the FEU representing SSA employees lambasted the House Appropriations Committee for holding operation spending constant.[16][17] In Washington logic, no increase is actually a cut. This FEU warns that this policy will cause almost two lost weeks of work, which will adversely affect benefits (even though the legislation had nothing to do with benefits).[18] But it forgot to acknowledge the $7 million and almost 250,000 hours of OT done on its behalf at SSA. That comes out to about two workweeks for over 3,050 employees.

Corporate Welfare: Now for Fed. Employee Unions, Too!!!

###

[1] https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/labor-management-relations/reports-on-official-time/#url=Overview

[2] https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/labor-management-relations/reports/labor-management-relations-in-the-executive-branch-2014.pdf

[3] http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/666619.pdf

[4] Ibid

[5] Ibid

[6] https://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ALGF-Full-Time-Official-Time-Report_Final_Binder_06.28.16.pdf

[7] http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/666619.pdf

[8] https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/labor-management-relations/reports/labor-management-relations-in-the-executive-branch-2014.pdf

[9] FSO Calculation using DOL data

[10] http://www.nffe.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/109026 & https://www.nteu.org/media-center/heritage-report

[11] http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

[12] http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/01-30-FedPay.pdf

[14] http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/279529-no-the-va-is-not-broken

[15] http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/666619.pdf

[16] https://www.afge.org/article/social-security-is-under-siege-and-no-one-is-talking-about-it/

[17] According to the House Appropriations Committee, relative to FY 2016, spending was reduced due to a one-year building renovation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:00:38Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-weight-waste/,The Weight of Waste,2016-08-16,2016,2016-08,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In today’s report, Dr. Paul takes a look at taxpayers funding a documentary on the International Prototype Kilogram. This $500,000 grant opportunity from the Department of Commerce will focus on efforts to replace “Big K” with a natural constant.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

***

You may recall a Waste Report from last year called “Measuring Waste”, highlighting a $188,000 NSF grant to produce a book on the history of measurement and finally answering the age-old question of why Americans do not like the metric system.

If you have not made the trip to Barnes and Noble to pick up a copy, do not worry. Netflix will soon be able to satisfy your metric system cravings, thanks to the Department of Commerce spending $500,000 to make a documentary on the Kilogram.[1] This is not just any kilogram, but THE granddaddy of all kilos: Big K, the International Prototype Kilogram.

You know, Big K, the metal cylinder stored in a vault in Paris that serves as “the standard for measuring mass in almost every country on Earth.”[2] That is right!! Taxpayers are funding a movie about a metal cylinder. Well, sort of. The movie is actually about the quest to replace Big K with a natural constant.

What is a natural constant? Well, take a meter, for example, which used to be defined by the distance between two marks on an iron bar kept with Big K in Paris. In 1984, a meter was redefined “as the distance light travels, in a vacuum,” in 1/299,792,458 of a second, a natural constant.[3] Certainly, Waste Report readers remember when that change happened, right?

Turns out Big K is the last standard of measurement in the vault. Cracking the nut of how to redefine mass by a standard constant has proven challenging for the international community of measurement scientists, which is why the movie will be titled The Last Artifact. However, after decades of research and debate, it appears an international committee will likely reveal a measure of mass based on something called the “watt balance” in late 2018.[4]

If this Waste Report seems to be getting heavy (pun intended), not to worry. We are sure replacing Big K is of great value to science, but is a documentary about it of great value to taxpayers? Probably not. According to the grant opportunity, “The overriding objective of the documentary is to convey the subject in a compelling and original way to an audience of science-interested viewers.”[5]

But if viewers interested in this kind of science are a broad audience, ticket sales or sponsors should cover the cost of production, making government aid unneeded. If they are a narrow market, then 69 average Americans worked all year to pay for a film about a metal cylinder that only a few people will even care to watch.

How about a Government Waste Documentary?

###

[2] Ibid",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:00:38Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-trapped-waste/,Trapped by Waste,2016-08-08,2016,2016-08,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In today’s report, Dr. Paul turns the spotlight on nearly $600,000 of taxpayer money going to offset some of the Wolf Trap Foundation’s operation and production costs. While Wolf Trap is supposed to be structured to protect taxpayers, the funds are flowing from an earmark many members of Congress may not realize exists – an earmark even the National Park Service has tried to eliminate.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

***

Outside the DC area, few people have probably even heard of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, let alone taken in a concert there. However, for those inside the Beltway (metaphorically speaking[1]), Wolf Trap is a well-known venue for a variety of summer concerts. Unfortunately, whether you have heard of it or not, Wolf Trap is trapping nearly $600,000 of taxpayer money for wasteful, DC-insider hypocrisy.

On its surface, Wolf Trap is structured to protect taxpayers. As a kind of public-private partnership, the National Park Service maintains the park (which includes hiking trails and the like), while the non-profit Wolf Trap Foundation is “responsible for artistic programming, public relations, marketing, box office functions, and providing stagehands and certain other employees who are directly related to the presentation of performing arts.”[2]

It seems like a reasonable and clear division between the national park and its use as a venue for stage entertainment. However, the line seems to have recently been blurred, as the Park Service is handing over $594,000 to the Foundation to offset some of the cost of operations and production.[3]

Do not blame the Park Service! Their hands are tied. This money comes from a $2.2 million earmark for the National Capital Area Performing Arts program, which funds (or subsidizes) a variety of concerts and entertainment around Washington. In fact, the National Park Service has unsuccessfully asked Congress to eliminate this earmark.[4] While Congress ignored those requests, many members may have just not known the earmark was there. You see, the earmark is not in the nearly 900-page text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (H.R. 2029) or the more than 200 pages of committee reports accompanying the bill. The earmark is on page 16 of the 109-page explanatory statement for division G of the Appropriations Act. Vague and hard to find – almost the definition of “snuck in.”

In the case of Wolf Trap, it even gets worse. The purpose of the funds is to “pay a portion of the costs of the union stagehands that work backstage….”[5] So, DC’s most-connected people, many of whom are strong union supporters, are using taxpayer money to alleviate themselves and fellow Washingtonians of paying union prices.

The FSO subcommittee calculates that if concertgoers had to pay the full cost of Wolf Trap concerts with unionized stage hands, ticket prices would increase by only about 4 percent.[6] That comes out to roughly $5 a ticket for the most expensive seats.[7] But even if the increase were 40 percent or 400 percent, that cost should be paid by the patron who chooses to take in a show, not the taxpayer who has no choice whatsoever.

In case you are wondering, about 84 average Americans a year have to turn over their hard-earned money in taxes so Washingtonians can save $5 on concert tickets. By the way, Fairfax County, VA, where Wolf Trap is located, is the second wealthiest county in America, with a median income over $110,000. Bordering Fairfax are the #1 (Loudoun – $117k), #6 (Arlington – $101k), and #8 (Montgomery, MD – $97k) wealthiest counties in America.[8]

###

[1] Wolf Trap is actually a few miles outside the Beltway off the Dulles Toll Rd.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:00:38Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-serving-waste-side-poor-planning/,"Serving Up Waste, With a Side of Poor Planning",2016-08-01,2016,2016-08,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In today’s report, Dr. Paul highlights $6 million in taxpayer funds used to renovate Fort Belvoir’s “Eagle’s Nest” Dining Facility. The project was completed in November 2015, only for the facility to be permanently closed by July 1, 2016. In addition to facing stiff competition from other local dining choices, it became clear during the renovation that the Army would likely close the Eagle’s Nest.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

***

Last November, Fort Belvoir’s “Eagle’s Nest” Dining Facility completed a $6 million renovation, and last month (less than a year later), the facility closed its doors permanently.[1]

According to the base newspaper, Belvoir Eagle, the project “included installing new flooring; ceilings; lights; bathrooms and serving lines; and replacing all of the furniture,” with a representative of the facility even quoted as saying, “[w]e really are a premier dining facility, now.”[2] Seven months later, Fort Belvoir’s website read, “[e]ffective July 1, 2016 the Fort Belvoir Dining Facility will be officially, permanently closed.”[3]

The shocking part is not that the Army is closing the facility after the renovation, but that the renovation was done in the first place. According to the Army, the facility only had less than a 5 percent utilization rate.[4] Of course, Fort Belvoir is just south of Alexandria, VA, next to George Washington’s home at Mt. Vernon. With Starbucks, Subway, and Burger King on base, and numerous restaurants and grocery stores just a short drive in either direction on Route 1 (which bisects the base), it is not surprising that even a remodeled base dining facility would have trouble competing.

To understand why the Eagle’s Nest renovation was such a boondoggle, you first need to understand how the Army feeds personnel on the home front. In addition to their regular pay, military personnel receive one of two types of food assistance: Subsistence-In-Kind (SIK), where a solder walks into an Army cafeteria and receives a meal, and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), a tax-free, additional benefit added to a soldier’s pay for them to purchase food wherever they see fit.

Base dining facilities’ (like the Eagle’s Nest) primary purpose is to serve personnel on SIK plans, although they do take cash customers at reduced rates. But with more and more private food options on base, or in local communities, fewer personnel are taking SIK plans. This is why, last August, the Army decided to explore closing mess halls operating at less than 65 percent of capacity based on SIK users. [5]

This meant certain closure at Fort Belvoir, where not one person is on the SIK plan.[6] That’s $6 million of taxpayer money down the garbage disposal. Imagine the cost if the second phase, a kitchen remodel, had taken place!

Today’s Menu: Waste with a side of poor planning

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T21:00:38Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-panning-waste/,Panning In On Waste,2016-07-25,2016,2016-07,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In today’s report, Dr. Paul uncovers the Department of State offering a grant of $60,000 in taxpayer funds to train television camera operators for Estonia’s ETV+ channel. Since ETV+ is Estonian Public Broadcasting’s third television channel, the American people would be right to ask how all the existing television camera expertise disappeared – and why they have to pay to replace it.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

***

From slowly panning in when things get serious, to the fast-paced pursuit of a running back breaking away, television cameras and their operators play an integral and often unsung role in our TV viewing experience. But operating a TV camera is not easy; it is a technical job that requires advanced training. Thanks to the U.S. Department of State (State), you are paying for some of that special training… in Estonia.

State is currently advertising a $60,000 grant opportunity to train camera operators for ETV+, Estonian Public Broadcasting’s (ERR) Russian-speaking channel. Interested parties are invited to submit proposals, which should include sending an American team of trainers, including a Russian-English translator, to Estonia to conduct training there. Separately, in July or August, “when [the] ETV+ production team is on leave,” the grant recipient is expected to bring five camera operators to the U.S. for a 10-day training session in a “learning-studio.”[1]

Since it is a public broadcasting channel, ETV+ is primarily funded through Estonia’s Ministry of Culture, receiving about €1.8 million in startup cash last year[2] and having a €2.53 million budget for 2015 – in which it planned to air just two hours of original programming daily.[3] ETV+, by the way, is ERR’s third TV channel, so one might expect the technical expertise for camera operation to already exist within the ERR family.[4]

We also should note that since we first discovered this grant opportunity, the original posting has been taken down and replaced with a new posting under a similar, but different, grant opportunity number. The only other change was to take out reference specifically to ETV+. Perhaps someone realized an observer (such as the FSO Subcommittee) might start looking into ETV+ and asking why the U.S. taxpayers are funding this?

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:57:58Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-census-finalize-correct-counting-kentucky-military/,Sen. Rand Paul to Census: Finalize Correct Counting for Kentucky Military,2016-07-21,2016,2016-07,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul has urged the U.S. Census Bureau to finalize a proposed rule change for the 2020 census that would count all deployed service members at the base or port in which they resided prior to deployment instead of by their home of record, an address they gave when they enlisted. The Bureau’s previous method resulted in 2010 census data that improperly represented areas including Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

“As a result of using inaccurate and missing records for the tabulation of deployed service members, the surrounding military communities, which support the families of those service members, were calculated to have a lower population than what should be attributed to the community,” Dr. Paul wrote in a letter to U.S. Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson.

“By counting deployed service members according to where they actually live, the Bureau will receive more accurate reports of population and ensure communities have the needed resources to support these soldiers and their families,” said Dr. Paul.

Since hearing from his constituents about the inaccurate reporting, Dr. Paul has led the effort to enact change, including contacting the Bureau directly and introducing legislation, the “Service Members and Communities Count Act,” in multiple sessions of Congress to ensure all deployed service members are correctly reported.

The Census Bureau is taking comments on the proposed change through August 1. Dr. Paul encourages the public to submit their comments in support of the revised counting method HERE.

You can find the full text of the letter HERE or below.

***

Dear Director Thompson:

I write in regards to the Census Bureau’s Proposed Criteria and Request for Comment on the 2020 Decennial Census Residence Rule and Residence Situations (Docket No: 160526465-6465-01) published in the Federal Register on June 30, 2016, to propose certain changes to the residence criteria used to determine where people are counted during each decennial census. I would like to offer support for the proposed changes specifically Rule 13(f) regarding the counting of deployed service members “at the U.S. residence where they live and sleep most of the time.” This change will insure that my constituents are accurately represented in the upcoming 2020 Census.

The results of the 2010 Census displayed an anomaly that misrepresented the counting of deployed service members for overseas contingency operations. These service members, despite not having a change in their permanent duty station, and who return to their duty station upon completion of their deployment, were counted in accordance with Rule 9(f) of the 2010 Census Residence Rule and Residence Situations:

(f) U.S. military personnel living on or off a military installation outside of the U.S. including dependents living with them – Count as part of the U.S. overseas population. They should not be included on any U.S. census questionnaire

The Census Bureau attributes U.S. overseas population to the state on an individual’s home-of-record. This practice may work well for members of the Department of State or other government agencies operating outside of the United States, but the Department of Defense fails to properly, and accurately, maintain their records. According to the “2010 Census Federally Affiliated Overseas Count Operation Assessment Report,” dated March 19, 2012, “only 59 percent of the 2010 Department of Defense Records contained a home of record.”

As a result of using inaccurate and missing records for the tabulation of deployed service members, the surrounding military communities, which support the families of those service members, were calculated to have a lower population than what should be attributed to the community.

My constituents residing in the region around Fort Campbell, Kentucky, experienced this first-hand following the 2010 census. Despite record home sales, increased public school enrollment, and other economic indicators supporting population growth, the calculated population remained relatively unchanged from the 2000 Census. The only explanation for the discrepancy is the deployment of service members from Fort Campbell to Afghanistan.

Starting in late 2009 and continuing through 2010, members of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Brigade Combat teams of the 101st, the 101st Sustainment Brigade, the 159th and 101st Combat Aviation brigades were all deployed to sustain the military “surge” in Afghanistan. It is estimated that at least 10,000 service members were deployed at the collection time of the 2010 Census. Those service members then returned to Fort Campbell at the end of their deployment.

I request that the Census Bureau maintain and implement the proposed changes to the “2020 Residence Rule and Residence Situations” as drafted. This will create one consistent and logical method for counting deployed service members. By counting deployed service members according to where they actually live, the Bureau will receive more accurate reports of population and ensure communities have the needed resources to support these soldiers and their families.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration of these proposed changes.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:57:58Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-fox-isolated-island-and-waste/,"A Fox, An Isolated Island, and Waste",2016-07-18,2016,2016-07,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In today’s report, Dr. Paul shines a light on the Department of Defense offering a grant opportunity of nearly $100,000 to monitor the health of the Arctic Fox population on the island of Shemya. The fox is not native to the island, not endangered, and not proven to be successful at achieving the grant’s stated rationale of preventing aircraft-bird collisions. In fact, the Air Force considers foxes themselves to be hazards.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

***

Near the tail end of the Aleutian Islands (farther west than Hawaii), sits Shemya, a two-by-four-mile island that is home to Eareckson Air Station (EAS) and nearly $100,000 of government waste.

The Department of Defense (DOD) recently published a $99,000 grant opportunity to monitor the population of the Arctic Fox on Shemya.[1] The stated rationale for this project is that the foxes appear to be in declining health, and their presence is perceived to reduce the Bird/Aircraft Strike Hazard. It all seems reasonable until you look a little deeper.

Just 200 miles from Russia in the middle of the North Pacific, EAS was an important air strip during WWII and the Cold War, housing both bomber and fighter groups. However, with the fall of the Berlin Wall, that utility diminished quickly, and EAS was basically closed in 1995. Today, the once-vibrant airfield handles about three flights a week.[2]

While avoiding aircraft-bird collisions is certainly an important and worthwhile goal, the use of the Arctic Fox in this endeavor is not proven to be successful. You see, though the fox will hunt sea birds, it much prefers small animals such as rodents, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In addition, according to the Air Force’s own Bird/Wildlife Strike Hazard (BASH) Management Techniques, foxes also present a hazard, and it recommends using “pyrotechnics to frighten these species” or occasionally shooting them to keep them away from airfields.[3]

But maybe there is a reason to spend almost $100k to save the Arctic Fox! Perhaps the fox is endangered? Nope. According to the WWF, there are several hundred thousand Arctic Foxes in the world, earning them the status of “Least Concern.” Interestingly enough, the foxes are not even native to the island, having been introduced decades before the Air Force arrived. In fact, generally the fox “lives inland, away from the coasts.”[4] Getting inland is hard to do on an island where you are never more than a mile from the water.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:57:58Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-statement-disclosure-secured-911-families/,Sen. Rand Paul Statement on Disclosure Secured for 9/11 Families,2016-07-15,2016,2016-07,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul issued the following statement today in response to the declassification and release of the redacted 28 pages from the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 2001.

“Over a year ago, I and a bipartisan group of my colleagues stood with family members of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to demand President Obama release the redacted 28 pages from the 9/11 Congressional Joint Inquiry. For nearly 14 years, these families have endured one roadblock after another to obtain these details, and I am pleased the administration finally responded to their concerns and honored previous promises,” said Senator Paul. “Today’s disclosure is both momentous and long overdue.”

On June 1, 2015, as part of his efforts to obtain the documents’ release, Senator Rand Paul introduced S. 1471, the Transparency for the Families of 9/11 Victims and Survivors Act, to require President Obama to declassify the redacted 28 pages and make them available to the public.

Click HERE to read the newly released documents.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:57:58Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-senator-paul-secures-expansion-access-opioid-addiction-treatment/,Senator Paul Secures Expansion of Access to Opioid-Addiction Treatment,2016-07-13,2016,2016-07,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul praised Senate passage today of the conference report on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), legislation that includes several provisions Dr. Paul has championed to expand access to treatment for those battling opioid addiction. The Senate approved CARA by a vote of 92-2, after the U.S. House of Representatives voted 407-5 to pass the legislation on Friday.

“In a time of deep partisan division, I applaud the U.S. Senate for coming together to do the right thing by ensuring Kentucky families and other Americans devastated by opioid addiction receive the treatment they need to heal,” said Dr. Paul. “As the lead Republican sponsor of the TREAT Act, I have worked with Senator Markey and a bipartisan coalition to speak up for those denied help by arbitrary federal interference. Today’s victory is an encouraging sign of what we can accomplish when we decide to get Washington out of the American people’s way. I urge the President to quickly sign the bill into law.”

Today’s passage marks the second major step in a week toward unshackling doctors to help more patients break free of their opioid addiction. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would extend the cap on the number of patients to whom a doctor can prescribe buprenorphine, a key component in Suboxone, from the current 100-patient barrier to 275 patients. Dr. Paul had earlier joined a bipartisan group of senators in asking HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to raise the cap to the 500-patient level contained in the TREAT Act after learning HHS was planning to extend the cap to only 200 patients.

Now, the CARA conference report would further implement the principles contained in TREAT by expanding the number of providers who can administer treatment, allowing HHS Secretary Burwell to authorize in-office treatment that excludes patients from the cap, and giving states greater flexibility in adjusting their own patient caps.

Below is a summary of TREAT Act provisions included in the CARA conference report:

o Allows nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) to prescribe buprenorphine to treat patients with opioid addiction for the first time, through 2021, following completion of addiction-treatment education.

o Seeks to provide patients with the opportunity to access the full range of available treatment options for their addiction treatment by ensuring providers are educated in addiction medicine and have the capacity to provide, either directly or by referral, all drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of opioid use disorder and any necessary counseling or ancillary services.

o Allows the Secretary to exclude patients from the cap if they are given long-acting versions of buprenorphine that are administered in a physician’s office and not distributed to the patient for at-home use, therefore putting them at a low risk for diversion.

o Grants states the flexibility to adjust their total cap numbers within the parameters set in federal law.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:57:58Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-urges-senate-expand-access-opioid-addiction-treatment/,Dr. Rand Paul Urges Senate to Expand Access to Opioid-Addiction Treatment,2016-07-12,2016,2016-07,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul called on the U.S. Senate to help more Kentuckians and other Americans struggling with opioid addiction find healing by passing the conference report on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved CARA by a wide bipartisan majority of 407-5, with the legislation containing several proposals that Dr. Paul has long been fighting for as lead Republican sponsor of the TREAT Act.

“Counterproductive rules decreed by Washington, D.C. prevent far too many of those battling opioid addiction from obtaining proper treatment,” said Dr. Paul. “Kentuckians have been especially hit hard by this epidemic, and I’m pleased to see Congress finally take many of the common-sense steps Senator Markey and I have been advocating for through the TREAT Act to provide help to those fighting for their lives. I urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead by passing CARA right away.”

“I thank Senator Paul for his partnership in this effort,” said Senator Markey, “and I thank Senators Murray and Alexander, and Reps. Pallone and Upton who helped to get these provisions included in the final legislation. I will continue to work to pass legislation that would make nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other trained medical professionals a permanent part of the opioid treatment workforce.”

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would extend the cap on the number of patients to whom a doctor can prescribe buprenorphine, a key component in Suboxone, from the current 100-patient barrier to 275 patients. Dr. Paul had earlier joined a bipartisan group of senators in asking HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to raise the cap to the 500-patient level contained in the TREAT Act after learning HHS was planning to extend the cap to only 200 patients.

Now, the CARA conference report would further implement the principles contained in TREAT by expanding the number of providers who can administer treatment, allowing HHS Secretary Burwell to authorize in-office treatment that excludes patients from the cap, and giving states greater flexibility in adjusting their own patient caps.

Below is a summary of TREAT Act provisions included in the CARA conference report:

o Allows nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) to prescribe buprenorphine to treat patients with opioid addiction for the first time, through 2021, following completion of addiction-treatment education.

o Seeks to provide patients with the opportunity to access the full range of available treatment options for their addiction treatment by ensuring providers are educated in addiction medicine and have the capacity to provide, either directly or by referral, all drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of opioid use disorder and any necessary counseling or ancillary services.

o Allows the Secretary to exclude patients from the cap if they are given long-acting versions of buprenorphine that are administered in a physician’s office and not distributed to the patient for at-home use, therefore putting them at a low risk for diversion.

o Grants states the flexibility to adjust their total cap numbers within the parameters set in federal law.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:57:58Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-its-bird-its-plane-no-its-waste/,"It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… NO, It’s Waste!",2016-07-12,2016,2016-07,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ Sen. Paul highlights the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), a State Department agency, advertising a grant of $1.25 million in taxpayer funds to cover two seasons of a Pakistani superhero cartoon. This won’t be your traditional Saturday morning show, however. Instead, the program, which will feature a character “who empowers youth in a way that aligns with INL’s mission,” will be aimed at ages 14 to 25.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

***

If there is anything superheroes are known for, it is fighting crime. But could a superhero cartoon be used as a tool to deter terrorists in the real world? Well, Uncle Sam seems to think so and is spending taxpayer money on such an effort… in Pakistan.[1]

That is right!! The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), which is part of the Department of State, is currently advertising a $1.25 million grant opportunity to produce a superhero cartoon in Pakistan.

In total, INL is asking for 292 minutes of animation to be created over two 13-episode seasons, which comes out to $4,280 a minute from American taxpayers. It sounds like our government is again playing the villain in the story of fiscal responsibility.

According to the solicitation, “the goal of the animated TV series is to inform, educate, and positively influence Pakistani youth (ages 14-25) through the creation of a strong role model who empowers youth in a way that aligns with INL’s mission.” Of course, 14- to 25-year-olds are probably less taken in by cartoon superheroes than younger viewers. Nonetheless, INL specifically is seeking to promote a drug-free lifestyle, gender equality, a fair criminal justice system, anti-corruption, and religious tolerance, among other things.

This may be a tall order, considering the superhero we’re paying to create must be fully immersed in Pakistani life and culture – a culture where, though illegal, women can be publicly stoned for dishonoring their family while police look the other way, and where Osama Bin Laden was given safe harbor while the informant that outed him to U.S. personnel was sent to prison for 33 years for doing so.[2]

Of course, Pakistan has something of its own real-life superhero in Malala Yousafzai, the young girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban for having the audacity to go to school. Her story of recovery and unyielding resolve to continue to fight for many of the same goals as INL earned her a Nobel Peace Prize. It is hard to imagine a fictional superhero that could possibly be a better role model to her generation and people than Malala[3]… so why are we spending your money to try to create one?

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:57:58Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-hhs-rule-change-victory-first-step/,Dr. Rand Paul: HHS Rule-Change Victory a “First Step”,2016-07-06,2016,2016-07,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul applauded the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement changes called for by Dr. Paul and a bipartisan Senate coalition to increase access to much-needed treatment for those battling an opioid addiction. The Administration announced today that HHS will raise the number of patients to whom a doctor can prescribe buprenorphine, also known as Suboxone, from the current 100-patient barrier to 275 patients.

“As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand how well-intended but misguided federal interference restrains doctors from providing patients with the help they need. The current patient cap is keeping too many Kentuckians from treatment that could free them from addiction. Today’s rule change is an important first step to unshackling and better empowering physicians to confront the growing epidemic of opioid addiction. Congress should pass the bipartisan TREAT Act to further increase the cap and expand the number of providers who can prescribe these important treatments,” said Dr. Paul.

“This final regulation is a result of Sen. Paul’s common-sense proposal that passed the Senate Health Committee this spring and should be a great help to Kentuckians and Tennesseans alike working hard to beat addiction and lead healthier lives. I was glad to support Sen. Paul’s proposal in committee—and I look forward to soon getting a result on bicameral legislation to provide substantial support to states and local communities on the front lines of America’s opioid abuse epidemic,” Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said.

Dr. Paul is the lead Republican sponsor of the TREAT Act, which, along with increasing the patient cap and number of providers, would give states greater flexibility to adjust their state patient caps and require HHS and the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress about the legislation’s effects on treatment and services. Dr. Paul and Senator Edward Markey originally introduced the TREAT Act in 2015. The TREAT Act unanimously passed the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in March.

When Dr. Paul learned HHS originally intended to only increase the cap to 200 patients, he joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to extend the cap to 500, the limit included in the TREAT Act.

Click HERE to read the TREAT Act in its entirety. Top-line bullet points and background information on the TREAT Act can be found below.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE TREAT ACT

Expands the maximum allowable patient cap from 100 to 500 maximum patients.

Changes the initial (first year) allowable patient load under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) from 30 to 100, and after one year a physician may request to treat up to 500 patients.

Allows certain physicians, after one year, to request to treat up to 500 patients. To be eligible:

Physicians must be substance abuse treatment specialists, as recognized by specific board or society certifications, or

Non-specialist physicians must complete 24 hours of approved training.

Physicians must also maintain records about whether they provide counseling services on site or refer patients elsewhere for such services, and how frequently such patients use those services, and the frequency with which patients terminate treatment against medical advice.

Provides states the flexibility to set the patient cap for their state at higher or lower than the cap under the CSA (but no lower than 30 patients and no more than 500). States may also set requirements about the types of facilities or practice settings physicians can use to treat addiction patients, required education, or reporting requirements.

Allows nurse practitioners (NPs) and physicians assistants (PAs) to be able to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction for the first time. NPs and PAs would be qualified to treat up to 100 patients if they complete 24 hours of education on the treatment of addiction patients.

Requires HHS, after 2 years, and GAO, after 4 years, to issue reports to Congress about the effect of this legislation in terms of availability of treatment, quality of treatment programs, integration with other health care services, diversion, state-level policies, and use of nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants to provide this treatment.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:57:58Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-secures-vital-change-kentucky-soldiers-upcoming-census/,Sen. Rand Paul Secures Vital Change for Kentucky Soldiers in Upcoming Census,2016-06-30,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Census Bureau responded to Senator Rand Paul’s efforts to secure a vital reform in the 2020 census by changing its rules to count all deployed service members at the residence prior to their deployment. Previously, the census instead counted soldiers temporarily deployed for overseas contingency operations by their home of record, an address they gave when they enlisted.

“I applaud the Census Bureau for adopting my proposal to ensure our service members are properly counted in the census. They listened to the people of Kentucky, who experienced the consequences of the census’ inaccurate reporting directly in 2010 and took action,” said Sen. Paul.

“In addition to creating one consistent and logical method for counting deployed service members, today’s change will better enable communities to support our soldiers and their families. This proves what can happen when concerned citizens get involved, and I urge Kentuckians to join me in contacting the Census Bureau in support of this revision before the final comment period expires at the end of July.”

Sen. Paul responded to his constituents’ concerns about the Census Bureau’s reporting by contacting the Bureau and introducing the “Service Members and Communities Count Act” in 2015. Today’s change essentially incorporates Sen. Paul’s legislation into the Census Bureau’s rules. While the region around Fort Campbell, Kentucky, had grown greatly since the 2000 census, the 2010 census did not accurately reflect this growth due to the Bureau’s then-current policy on counting deployed service members.

Kelli Pendleton, President of Kentucky’s Christian County Chamber of Commerce, commented on the importance of the change, noting, “When a census count happens during a division deployment, it has a large impact on our local economy and regional data.” She also thanked Sen. Paul for his leadership on the issue, saying, “Our Chamber has been advocating for this issue for many years, and we appreciate Senator Paul’s support in helping to make this happen.”

Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Mayor Carter Hendricks added that his community is “pleased to see this important change,” and he thanked “Senator Paul’s leadership and the efforts of our Kentucky Congressional delegation.” Mayor Hendricks also said that the revision is “critical, as these are the very communities that provide the support necessary for the men and women of the U.S. Army to succeed in their mission at hand when they deploy.”

The public is encouraged to submit their comments on this issue HERE.

No related posts.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-highlights-ridiculousness-12-billion-dollars-spent-collecting-taxes/,Sen. Rand Paul Highlights the Ridiculousness of $12 Billion Dollars Spent On Collecting Taxes,2016-06-28,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In the latest edition, Sen. Paul highlights the ridiculously high cost of collecting annual taxes. The government spends over $12 billion dollars and employs almost 90,000 workers just to administer and collect taxes. To put that in perspective, over 1.5 million average American taxpayers pay taxes just to pay the cost of running our tax system.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Most people hate taxes, not just paying them, but the arduous, painful process of filing a tax return. No one would argue that the United States’ tax code is simple and easy. But did you know, the government spends over $12 billion dollars and employs almost 90,000 workers just to administer and collect taxes?[1]

To put that in prospective, over 1.5 million average American taxpayers pay taxes just to pay the cost of running our tax system.[2] In fact, we spend $2 billion more on the Internal Revenue Service, to tax money out of the economy, than we do on the Department of Commerce to theoretically promote the economy.

So, why does our tax system require all this? Well, let’s start with a little history. Our current tax system was established 103 years ago with the passage of the 16th Amendment. The first federal income tax under that system had one form that was four pages long: one for income, one for deductions (of which there were six), and one to calculate your tax liability (there were seven brackets with a top marginal rate of 7%). Oh, and one page of instructions. That was all.[3]

Fast forward to today, there are hundreds of forms, worksheets, tables, and schedules. In fact, according to the Tax Foundation, there are over 10 million words in the tax code, and Americans spend 6.1 billion hours a year on their taxes.[4] You suppose they are called schedules because filling them out is going to suck up your day?

The major culprit is special carve outs and rules; as Congress raised rates they also expanded those six basic deductions into hundreds, to help mitigate the higher rates. Weird, huh? In fact the Congressional Research Service issued a more than 1000 page report in 2012 chronicling over 250 deductions and credits. And there is nothing basic about deductions anymore; one that caught our eye at the FSO Subcommittee was “60-40 Rule for Gains or Loss from Section 1256 Contracts.”[5]

We think it either has something to do with trading futures, or is maybe a credit for taxes already paid in the future as a result of time-travel (the McFly-Brown credit?).

Whereas in 1913, anyone with their one page of instructions could fill out a tax return more easily then assembling an Ikea bookcase, today, almost everyone needs help. In fact, 92 percent of filers use some kind of help like a paid professional or tax software. Even about 73 percent of Internal Revenue Service employees (the guys running this system) need help with their taxes.[6]

Of course, not everyone can afford help. In fact Uncle Sam spends around $200 million helping poor and elderly people understand and file their taxes. What is interesting about that is most low income people generally aren’t dealing with Section 1256 Contracts (or time traveling DeLoreans), but the system is so complicated that even a simple return is still pretty hard.

Even after you file, you may not be done – you may have made a mistake. After spending $200 million helping people file their taxes, we spend another $200 million for the Taxpayer Advocate, an office that can help you if the IRS is giving you an undeserved hard time.

1.5 million people paying taxes to support tax collection and $400 million spent trying to help people traverse this goliath. It all seems unnecessarily complicated and wasteful.

###

[1]https://www.treasury.gov/about/budget-performance/CJ17/02-06.%20IRS%20FY%202017%20CJ%201%2022%2016%20v2%20FINAL%20CLEAN.PDF

[2] FSO Calculation based on average tax liability of $7,212

[3]https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/1913.pdf

[4]http://taxfoundation.org/blog/federal-tax-laws-and-regulations-are-now-over-10-million-words-long

[5]https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CPRT-113SPRT91950/pdf/CPRT-113SPRT91950.pdf

[6]https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/auditreports/2012reports/201240001fr.pdf",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-uncovers-50000000-nih-grant-studying-peoples-fondness-spicy-foods/,"Sen. Rand Paul Uncovers $500,000.00 NIH Grant Studying People’s Fondness for Spicy Foods",2016-06-21,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In the latest edition, Sen. Paul uncovers the National Institutes of Health (NIH) spending $500,000.00 to study people’s rejection threshold for spice and bitterness.

“Our government is spending funds like drunken sailors, but at least sailors spend their own money. This is taxpayer money that is just being wasted! No matter what the result from these wasteful studies, one thing is clear, they leave a bitter taste in taxpayer’s mouths” Stated Senator Paul.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found below.

Since 2011, one researcher at the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) has received approximately half a million dollars to study people’s rejection threshold for spice and bitterness. The study found people seeking sensation like spice, but generally personality has no relation to liking spicy foods.

A paper associated with this study explored the correlation between one’s personality and their affinity for spicy foods. Surprisingly, the same paper discovered that “as expected, a strong relationship was found between liking spicy foods and frequency of chili consumption.”

Additionally, similar egregious studies have been uncovered by the office of Senator Rand Paul. One such study sought to determine what level of bitterness was objectionable for chocolate milk consumers. The result: People with a preference for dark chocolate are able to tolerate 2.3 times more bitterness than those who prefer milk chocolate. A third, and also separate study explored the bitterness in wine and how one’s wine expertise predicts willingness to try new wines and foods.

The combined cost for all of these studies? Taxation from nearly 70 average Americans working for an entire calendar year.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-dr-rand-paul-stands-second-amendment-rights-while-keeping-weapons-away-terrorists/,"Dr. Rand Paul Stands Up For Second Amendment Rights, While Keeping Weapons Away From Terrorists",2016-06-20,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Dr. Rand Paul voted to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists while still preserving the constitutional rights of all Americans. Paul voted for the Cornyn Amendment, which notifies the FBI if anyone on the terror watch list tries to buy a gun.

During the 72 hour waiting period, the FBI can arrest the suspect or present the suspect to a judge with probable cause to prevent the purchase of weapons.

When Dr. Paul discovered that the Orlando killer was not on any terror watch list he advocated to change the Cornyn Amendment to ensure that anyone investigated by the FBI would stay on the terror watch list for five years.

Dr. Paul’s advocacy for this change led to the modification of the Cornyn Amendment so that the new system could possibly stop an attacker such as the Orlando killer or the Boston bombers.

In a prepared statement, Dr. Paul explained his vote:

“By all means we should do everything possible to prevent terrorists from buying weapons, but we should never take away any American’s Second Amendment rights without due process. Innocent until proven guilty is the basis of our judicial system. We should not abridge any of our basic rights without due process in a court of law,” Dr. Paul said.

To prevent further massacres such as Orlando we must ask some pointed questions of the FBI.

“I recently asked the FBI Director, why was this investigation closed? The Orlando killer at least twice threatened violence against co-workers, he knew another suicide bomber, he travelled to Saudi Arabia, and five weeks before the massacre a gun store owner reported him to the FBI. The FBI dropped the ball here. To prevent more tragedies like this from recurring, we need to insist that the FBI does more thorough investigations,” stated Dr. Paul.

Dr. Rand Paul will continue to fight to keep America safe from terror, but he will also fight to protect our constitutional rights such as the Second Amendment and advocate for common sense solutions such as more complete FBI investigations.

###

No related posts.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-uncovers-nsf-spending-375000-study-importance-federal-research-funding/,"Sen. Rand Paul Uncovers NSF Spending $375,000 to Study Importance of Federal Research Funding",2016-06-14,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government. In the latest edition, Sen. Paul uncovers the National Science Foundation (NSF) spending $375,000 on a two-year study to determine what effects the availability of federal funding for research has on scientists’ career choices and scientific outcomes.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

It seems kind of circular, getting federal research funding to study the importance of federal research funding. Well that is exactly what the National Science Foundation (NSF) is doing, spending $375,000 on a 2-year study to determine what effects the availability of federal funding for research has on scientists’ career choices and scientific outcomes. One can only imagine what the findings will be…

The grant synopsis reads in part:

Young life science researchers… may elect to begin their careers by either entering academia, or by joining biotechnology or pharmaceutical firms… career choice is also affected by external constraints such as the availability of, and competition for, [federal] research funding. [1]

Though the Waste Report has reported on federal research shenanigans like how to have the perfect first date and the gambling habits of Ugandans (and many more), is it actually budget unpredictability that is putting critical research in jeopardy? Just how volatile is federal funding for research?

We decided to look and what we found makes funding this project all the more unnecessary. Looking at federal research funding, adjusted for inflation, since the year 2000 for NSF, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and overall, we found that since 2000, funding has increased 197%, 198% and 176% respectively. Further, we found that on average, funding for scientific research in these areas increased, again in real terms, 7.23 %, 7.3%, and 6.7% per year.[2]

But since, “Historically the amount of public research funding has changed over time reflecting congressional priorities…” and this project hopes to identify, “reforms that create more certainty in the budget allocation process could generate greater social benefits at lower costs…” We thought we look even farther back, say 50 years, to see just how uncertain federal research funding might be. To find out if there was some real year-to-year volatility we looked at a three and five year moving average.

What we found is, over 50 years, funding for federal research (in real terms) has increased on average about 8.7 percent a year, and the two moving averages both hold within a half a percentage point. Similar results were found for NSF and NIH, which itself saw an average increase of 13.54% and a five year moving average of 12.33%.

In other words, federal research funding does not show uncertainty, in fact it shows stable and constant growth; and it did not take us two years and $375,000 to figure that out.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sens-rand-paul-mike-lee-dianne-feinstein-urge-support-due-process-guarantee-act/,"Sens. Rand Paul, Mike Lee, & Dianne Feinstein Urge Support for Due Process Guarantee Act",2016-06-09,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) joined Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on the floor of the Senate to speak in support of the Due Process Guarantee Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (NDAA).

The transcript and video of the floor speech are available below.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FLOOR SPEECH

TRANSCRIPT

Sen. Lee: Mr. President, I rise today to discuss and to urge my colleagues to support amendment number 4448, the due process guarantee amendment. This amendment addresses a little known problem that I believe most Americans would be shocked to discover even exists.

Under current law, the federal government has proclaimed the power, has arrogated to itself the power to obtain indefinitely without charge or trial U.S. Citizens and lawful permanent residents who are apprehended on American soil. Let that sink in for just a minute.

If you’re a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Green card holder and you’re arrested on American soil because you’re suspected of supporting a terrorist group or other enemy of the United States, the federal government has claimed the power to detain you indefinitely without formally charging you or without offering you a trial.

I’m not talking about American citizens who travel to foreign lands to take up arms against the United States military and are captured on the battlefield. No, I’m talking here about U.S. Citizens who are apprehended right here in the United States of America.

Under current law, even they can be imprisoned for an unspecified, in fact unlimited period of time without ever being charged or being given the benefit – without the benefit of a jury trial to which they are entitled. You don’t need to be a defense attorney to recognize what an outrage this is.

Arresting U.S. Citizens on American soil and then detaining them indefinitely without charge or trial is an obvious deviation from the Constitutional right to due process of law. The last time the federal government exercised such power during the interment of Japanese Americans during World War II without Congressional authorization, Congress responded by passing a law to prevent it from happening again. Of course such legal protection should not need to be codified into federal statute in the first place, but they did it anyway.

The fifth amendment of the Constitution states in no uncertain terms that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. But then again as James Madison reminded us, if men were angels, no government would be necessary.

So in the wake of World War II, Congress passed and President Nixon signed the Nondetention Act of 1971 which states, “no citizen shall be imprisoned or otherwise detained by the United States except pursuant to an act of Congress.”

Those last few words are absolutely crucial, except pursuant to an act of Congress. The Nondetention Act of 1971 recognized as I believe most Americans do, that in some cases, in some grave, treacherous, unfortunate case, indefinite detention of U.S. Citizens may in the eyes of some be deemed necessary.

But the point is that the federal government does not inherently possess the power of indefinite detention. To the extent such power can even be said to exist within our Constitutional framework at all, a question that many of us would regard as at least debatable. Certainly only an act of Congress such as an authorization for the use of military force or AUMF or perhaps a declaration of war can give the federal government that power.

But fast forward 40 years and this important legal protection has eroded. You see, in 2011, 40 years after the passage of the Nondetention Act of 1971, Congress passed its annual national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2012. The predecessor of the bill that we’re considering today.

In that version of the NDAA, there was a provision, section 1021 giving the federal government the power to detain U.S. Citizens indefinitely without trial, even those who were apprehended on American soil. Now, it may sound like section 1021 meets the act of Congress threshold established by the Nondetention Act of 1971, but importantly, it does not.

It does no such thing. Here’s why. The language of section 1021 merely presumes that the 2001 AUMF gives the government the right to detain U.S. Citizens indefinitely without having to prove anything. Even though an explicit grant of such power appears nowhere, nowhere at all in the 2001 AUMF. My amendment would resolve this problem.

In clear and straightforward language, my amendment clarifies that a general authorization to use military force, a declaration of war or any similar authority, on its own shall not be construed to authorize the imprisonment or detention without charge or – detention without charge or trial of a doesn’t of the United States apprehended in the United States.

This means that if Congress believes it’s necessary to have the power to indefinitely detain United States citizens captured in the U.S., then Congress must expressly say so in any authorization it passes. My amendment recognizes that their due process protections of U.S. Citizens are far too important to leave up to implied legal contemplation.

The 2001 AUMF does not expressly state that the federal government has the power to detain indefinitely American citizens on American soil. You will not find that. So if those who believe that it is somehow in the national security interests of the United States for the federal government to have that power, they should file an amendment to the AUMF that says so explicitly.

And then we can see that the American people think and we can find out just as importantly what their elected representatives in the house and in the senate think. Or they can file an entirely new AUMF that provides such authority expressly.

Now, Mr. President, this amendment, the one that I’m discussing today, this should not be controversial. In fact, in 2012, just a year after the initial offending provision that I described a moment ago, was passed, the senate passed this amendment with 67 votes, in large part thanks to the tireless efforts of my distinguished colleague, the senior senator from California, senator Feinstein, who joins me as a cosponsor of the amendment today.

Unfortunately, the due process guarantee amendment was stripped from that version of the NDAA. The NDAA passed in 2012 or 2013 during the conference process. At the time some opponents of the amendment were under the impression that it would extend due process protections to U.S. Citizens apprehended outside the United States, but that, Mr. President, is undeniably false.

The due process guarantee amendment applies only to U.S. Citizens and lawful permanent residents who are apprehended on U.S. Soil. It has been four years since that misunderstanding prevented Congress from passing this commonsense, bipartisan reform.

That is more than enough time for this institution to gain clarity on what this amendment does do, and just as importantly, on what this amendment does not do. And so I.T. Time, Mr. President, that we finally pass this amendment. And I urge each of my colleagues to do so.

Sen. Paul: Will the senator yield for a question?

Sen. Lee: Yes.

Sen. Paul: Four years ago we passed legislation under the defense authorization that allows the American government to detain an American citizen without a trial. Think about that. One of our basic riots, one of our basic rights, one of our most basic rights is to have a jury of our peers. And you say, oh, well, it’ll never be used.

President Obama recognized this. He said, this is a terrible power and I promise never to use it. Any president who says a power is so terrible he’s not going to use it should not be on the books. As the senator from Utah said, it’s not about having laws that require angels to be in charge of your government.

Someday there will be someone in charge of the government that makes a grievous mistake, like rounding up the Japanese. So we have to be very, very careful about giving power to our government. That’s what the challenge is here. Many will say, well, we are at war and at war you have to have the law of war. What is the law of war also known as? Martial law.

But this is a war that does not seem to have an end. They’re not asking you for a one- or two-year period in which there won’t be trials. They’re asking you to relinquish your right to trial for a war that may have no end. And I want you to imagine this. Who could these enemy combatants be that may not get trials?

Imagine that you’re an Arab-American living in Dearborn, Michigan, and you send an e-mail to someone overseas. May be that person is a bad person. But should not an Arab-American in Dearborn, Michigan, have a right to defend themselves in court and say, I was just sending an e-mail to them, but I am not a terrorist. Shouldn’t they get the right to defend themselves?

We need to be very careful that as we fight this long war that we don’t wake up one day and say, we won the war but we lost what we stood for, we lost the bill of rights, we lost what our soldiers – I know soldiers who have lost two arms and a leg fighting for us, and they come back and they say, they were fighting for the bill of rights. That’s what this should be about, protecting the bill of rights while they’re gone.

And so the question I have for my esteemed colleague is, some will say, well, they get a hearing, they get a habeas hearing, they go before a judge. Isn’t that due process? Is a habeas hearing equivalent to due process?

Sen. Lee: No, no, it may include habeas but some might say habeas corpus is the beginning of due process, not the end of the sometimes it occurs at the beginning, sometimes at the end. But regardless when it occurs, a habeas proceeding does not represent the sum total universe of what due process moons.

Look you can’t read the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth amendments to the Constitution to see what happened in the version of the NDAA that we passed in 2011 was an affront to the Constitutional order. It was an aberration. Now, we’re not asking for anything drastic.

All we are asking here is that before the government takes the type of drastic step you’re describing, that at a minimum that we require Congress to expressly authorize that is. Is that really too much? And for those who would say we’re at war, we’re in danger and I understand the point.

There are those who don’t like our way of life. They perhaps want to do us harm. For those who would say that we are at war and we’ve got to that I can into account and we’ve got to consider that, my response is okay, if that’s the case, then let’s at least do it the way we’re supposed to do T let’s at least have that discussion.

Rather than doing it by subterfuge, rather than doing it under a cloud of uncertainty, rather than doing it by implications. We would to do so expressly. That’s all this amendment does.

Sen. Paul: Let me clarify in a follow-up question. If an American doesn’t goes to Syria and fights with ISIS and is captured on the battlefield, this amendment would not mean that they get a trial?

Sen. Lee: No.

Sen. Paul: They still could be held as an enemy combatant?

Sen. Lee: This would not cover that at all. That person is captured on the battlefield outside the United States. That person wouldn’t be covered by this amendment. Pau, let’s also be clear what we’re talking about. People who have been defined as enemy combatants aren’t always holding a we’ve meant you can a promise began difficulty.

We have had propagandists who were killed overseas who were propagandists for the enemy. So it is conceivable that an American citizen could be exchanging information, and say something derogatory about us or something in favor of the enemy and that could be considered to be – that person is not a propagandist.

Sen. Paul: I guess my point is, soon they have day in court to determine the facts and have representation as opposed to being plucked up and saying, you’re going to Guantanamo bay for the rest of your life because you made some criticism that is now the state has deemed you an enemy?

Sen. Lee: That’s absolutely right. That is why we need these protections. That helps illustrate the slippery-slope nature of this problem. It also emphasizes why it is if there are some in our body who want to make sure this power exists in the government that we must pass legislation affirmatively making it so, expressly providing that power rather than doing it indirectly.

That’s all our amendment does. This is indeed a slippery slope. If all you have to do is indefinitely detain someone without charge, without trial, success their rights under the fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth amendments, if that’s all you have to do is charge them in a certain way, then our Constitutional protections have become weakened indeed, weakened to a dangerous degree.

Sen. Paul: And is it currently true that this amendment is being blocked by one senator from gaining a vote?

Sen. Lee: We’re trying to get a vote. This got a vote in 2012. This received 67 votes from, votes from people of both parties, from members, one person who you may be thinking of who has objections to it now. If we’re going to get on other amendments, this should get a vote.

No has explained to me why this should not, at a minimum, receive a vote. If someone doesn’t like this, fine, let had a them vote again it. This is very relevant to the national defense authorization act. It was the national defense authorization act passed in 2011 that was the vehicle for enacting this into law.

Sen. Paul: I guess were concluding point I would like is we have time in the senate body to vote about which rockets we’re going to use, made in which state, in which country. Shouldn’t we have time to vote about the abrogation of the bill of rights, of the right of a trial by jury?

I think that this is an eminently important issue, should not be pushed under the rug, and that no one should be afraid to take a stand, not everyone will agree, but we should be allowed to take a stand on the senate floor, openly debate and have a vote on whether or not you will have your right to trial by jury or whether or not we are going to abbreviate that right and said we are at war.

But realize if you that I rights can be abbreviated at a time of war, that the people who tell you they are going to abbreviate rights are also telling that you this war has no end. Floss conceivable end to this war and the diminishment of your lint, the loss of your right to trial by jury will go on I understand on without end.

I wholeheartedly support my fellow senator from Utah’s amendment and I advocate for having a vote on the senate floor.

Sen. Lee: I agree, and I’d note the presence of my distinguished colleague from California. I yield the floor so she can address the amendment of.

Sen. Feinstein: I thank the senator, Mr. President.

The presiding officer: The senator from California.

Sen. Feinstein: Thank you very much.

I have listened to this debate and I rise to urge my colleagues to allow a vote on this due process guarantee amendment. Sen. Lee has filed it. I am a cosponsor, and I’m delighted to be a cosponsor. We actually voted on an earlier version of this amendment in the 2012, so this is nothing new.

What members may not recall is that it passed with 67 votes as an amendment to this bill for 2013. I would also note that thanks to then-chairman Leahy, the bill on which this amendment is based had a hearing in the judiciary committee on February 29, 2012. So this bill has come before this body before. It got 67 votes, and it’s had a hearing in the judiciary committee three years ago.

Unfortunately, the amendment was taken out of the NDAA in conference that year. So it’s my hope that the senate will pass this amendment again this year and that the house will support it so that the law will clearly protect Americans in the united STA from indefinite detention from their own government. Now, members may say, well, this isn’t going to happen.

We’re not going to do this. But we have done it. And I remember has a small child going just south of San Francisco to a racetrack called Tanfaran. And it wasn’t a racetrack. It was a detention center for Japanese-Americans during world War II. And there were hundreds of families housed there for years against their will.

To prevent this from ever happening again, congress passed and president Nixon signed into law the non-detention act of 1971, which clearly states – and I quote – “No citizen shall be imprisoned or otherwise detained by the United States except pursuant to an act of congress.” Now, that sounds good, but it didn’t go far enough.

Despite the shameful history of indefinite detention of Americans and the legal controversy since 9/11, some in the senate have advocated for the indefinite detention of U.S. Citizens during debate on the defense authorization bill in past years. These members have argued that the supreme court’s plurality decision in the 2004 case of Hamdi V. Rumsfeld supports their view.

However, the Hamdi case involved an American captured by the United States military on the battlefield in Afghanistan. Yasser Hamdi was a U.S. Citizen who took up arms on behalf of the Taliban. And he was captured on the battlefield in Afghanistan, not on United States soil.

That’s the difference. While the Supreme Court did effectively uphold Hamdi’s military detention, the supreme court did not accept the government’s broad assertions of executive authority to detain citizens without charge or trial. In fact, the Hamdi decision says clearly that it covers only – and I quote – “Individuals falling into the limited category we are considering.” End quote.

And it did not foreclose the possibility that indefinite detention of a United States citizen would raise a Constitutional problem at a later date. Since Hamdi was decided in 2004, decisions by the lower courts have contributed to the legal ambiguity when it comes to the detention of U.S. Citizens apprehended in our very own country.

You can look at the case of Jose Padilla. He’s a United States citizen arrested in Chicago in 2002. Padilla was initially detained by the bush administration under a material witness warrant based on the 9/11 terrorist attacks and later designated as an enemy combatant who allegedly conspired with Al Qaeda to carry out terrorist attacks, including a plot to detonate a dirty bomb inside our country.

Padilla was transferred to a military brig in South Carolina where he was detained for three and a half years while seeking his freedom by filing a writ of habeas corpus in federal court.

Now it’s important to note that Padilla was never charged with attempting to carry out the dirty bomb plot. Instead, he was released from military custody in November 2005 and transferred to civilian federal custody in Florida where he was indicted on other charges in federal court related to terrorist plots overseas.

In a 2003 decision by the circuit court known as Padilla V. Rumsfeld, the court of appeals held that the 2001 authorization for use of military force, which we call the AUMF, did not authorize Padilla’s military detention.

The decision stated – and I quote – “We conclude that clear congressional authorization is required for detentions of American citizens on American soil because 18 U.S.C. 401-a, the Non-Detention Act prohibits such detentions after specific congressional authorization.”

The Padilla case bounced back and forth from the second circuit up to the Supreme Court, then to the fourth circuit and the legality of his military detention was never conclusively resolved. Thus, there remains ambiguity about whether a congressional authorization for the use of military force permits the indefinite detention of United States citizens arrested on United States soil.

So let me repeat 12 years after Padilla was initially arrested and detained, he was finally sentenced to 21 years in prison in 2014. The simple point, Mr. President, is that we can protect national security while also ensuring that the Constitutional due process rights of every American captured within the United States are protected.

That’s what this amendment would do. Like the amendment that passed here in 2012 with 67 votes on this floor, this amendment would prevent the government from using a general authorization for the use of military force to apprehend Americans at home and detain them without charge or trial indefinitely. So no one could be picked up and not charged and held indefinitely, which is now permissible.

It states very simply – this is our legislation. “A general authorization to use military force, a declaration of war or any similar authority on its own shall not be construed to authorize the imprisonment or detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States apprehended in the United States.”

The amendment also modifies the existing subsection a of the Non-Detention Act. So it covers lawful permanent residence of the United States and ensures that any detention is consistent with the Constitution. So new subsection a will read – and I quote – “No citizen or lawful permanent resident shall be imprisoned or otherwise detained by the United States except pursuant to an act of congress that expressly authorizes such imprisonment or detention.

Now let me explain the impact of these changes to the law. First, the United States government will continue to be able to detain U.S. Citizens or lawful permanent residents on a foreign battlefield pursuant to an authorization to use military force, like what we passed after 9/11. That AUMF provides the authority to detain Al Qaeda, ISIL, and affiliated terrorist fires.

In other words, if the government needs to detain an enemy combatant on a foreign battlefield under a post-9/11 congressional authorization to use force, that’s not barred, even if the enemy combatant is in fact a U.S. Citizen. Indeed, the Supreme Court held in Hamdi that the AUMF is – quote – “Explicit authorization” for that limited kind of detention. So the amendment does not disturb the Hamdi decision.

Second, when acting with respect to citizens or lawful permanent residents apprehended at home, the amendment makes clear that a general authorization for use of military force does not authorize the detention without charge or trial of citizens or green cardholders like Padilla who are apprehended inside the United States.

Instead, it should be arrested and charged like other terrorists captured in the United States. Now the simple point is indefinite military detention of Americans apprehended in the United States is not the American way and must not be allowed. In the United States the F.B.I. And other law enforcement and intelligence agencies have proven time and time again that they’re up to the challenge of detecting, stopping, arresting, and convicting terrorists found on United States soil.

Our law enforcement personnel have successfully arrested, detained and convicted literally hundreds of terrorists, both before and after 9/11. Specifically, there were 580 terrorism-related convictions in the federal criminal court between 9/11 and the end of 2014. That’s according to the department of justice.

And more recently, federal prosecutors have charged 85 men and women around our country in connection with ISIL since March of 2014. Suspected terrorists can still be detained within the United States criminal justice system using at least the follow four options: One, they can be charged with a federal or state crime and held.

Two, some can be held for violating immigration laws. Three, they can be held as a material witness as part of a federal grand jury proceeding. Or four, they can be detained under section 412 of the patriot act, which provides that an alien may be detained for up to six months if their release – quote – “Will threaten the national security of the United States or the safety of the community of any person.”

Simply put, there is no shortage of authority for United States law enforcement to take the necessary actions on our soil to protect the homeland. Some may ask why in legislation protects green cardholders as well as citizens. And others may ask why the bill does not protect all persons apprehended in the United States from indefinite military protection.

Let me make clear I would support providing the protections in this amendment to all persons in the United States, but the question comes, there is some political support to expand it, to cover others besides U.S. Citizens and green cardholders. We went through this in 2012, I believe, Mr. President, before you were here.

The overriding situation stop prevent the federal government from moving in and be picking up Americans and holding them without charge or trial as was done with Japanese Americans after World War II. And finally, with the passage of this, we will close out that chapter once and for all.

So this isn’t about whether citizens apprehended in the United States like Jose Padilla or others who would do us harm should be captured, interrogated, incarcerated and severely punished. They should be, to the fullest extent the law allows. But not an innocent American picked up off the street and held without charge or trial.

Not because of somebody’s name or looks or heritage. So what about how a future president might abuse the authority to indefinitely detain people militarily here in the United States? Our Constitution gives everyone in the United States basic due process rights. The Fifth Amendment provides no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

And this is a basic tenet of our Constitution and our values. People are entitled to notice of charges, to an opportunity to be heard, and to a fair proceeding before a neutral arbiter. In criminal cases the accused also has a right to a speedy and public trial by a jury of their peers.

So these protections are really a sacred part of who we are as Americans, and I think it’s something we all take great pride in and that now is once again the time. We did this in 2012 and the 2013 NDAA bill. It received 67 votes on this floor. And I would hope that we would not be blocked from taking another vote on this.

We experimented with indefinite detention during World War II. It’s a mistake we all realized, and a betrayal of our core values. So let’s not repeat it.

I want to thank Sen. Lee, Sen. Tom Udall, Senator Cruz, Sen. Paul and others who have worked with us through the years. And I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. I yield the floor. Thank you very much.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-speaks-out-against-lautenberg-act-and-dangers-new-federal-regulations/,Sen. Rand Paul Speaks Out Against Lautenberg Act and the Dangers of New Federal Regulations,2016-06-08,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the U.S. Senate floor yesterday, Senator Rand Paul delivered the following remarks regarding his opposition to the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act (“TSCA Modernization Act,” H.R. 2576) and the dangers of new, overreaching federal regulations. During the speech, Sen. Paul argued that while some regulations may appear beneficial, in actuality they are unconstitutional and have harmful, long-term consequences.

A transcript of Sen. Paul’s remarks as prepared for delivery and video of his floor speech are available below.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. PAUL’S FLOOR SPEECH

TRANSCRIPT

Sen. Paul: Milton Friedman once said that if we gave the federal government control of the Sahara Desert within five years there would be a shortage of sand.

I tend to agree and it worries me anytime a consensus builds to federalize anything.

I have spent the past week reading this bill, this sweeping federal takeover of chemical regulations and I am now more worried than I was before I read the bill.

Most worrisome, beyond the specifics of the bill, is the creeping infestation of the business community with the idea that the argument is no longer about minimizing regulations but about making regulations regular.

Businesses seem to just want uniformity of regulation as opposed to minimization of regulation. A good analogy is that of how business responds to malingerers who fake slip and fall injuries. Some businesses choose to limit expenses by settling for small amounts. Some brave businesses choose to legally defend themselves against all nuisance claims.

Federalizing the chemical regulations is settling with the slip and fall malingerer and hoping he or she will keep their extortion at a reasonable level.

In the process, though, we will have abandoned principle. We will have given up the state laboratories where economic success and regulatory restraint are aligned. It is no accident that the regulatory restraint occurs in states that host chemical companies and ensures that state legislatures will be well aware of the economic impact of over-bearing regulation.

Federalization of regulations separates the people who benefit from a successful chemical industry from the unelected bureaucrats who will write the regulations. Once that tie is severed, the joint incentive to minimize regulations is lost.

In fact, this legislation explicitly bans the consideration of a regulation’s economic cost when deciding which chemicals will be put in the high risk category. Once a chemical has been labeled high risk, the legal liability and stigma that will attach will effectively ban the substance without the effect on the economy ever being considered. Regardless of what the final regulations actually say, the subsequent public reaction and lawsuits will have the effect of driving the chemical out of the market. If we are to ignore the cost of regulations, if we are to ignore the relationship between regulations and job loss, there is basically no limit to the fervor and ferocity that will be unleashed by bureaucrats whose perpetual mandate is to regulate.

I always thought that we needed more balance not less in deciding on new regulations. I always thought that we should balance the environment AND the economy. Instead of balancing the economic effects and the environmental effects this bill explicitly says to regulators your mandate is to regulate, period. This bill explicitly says that the economic impact of regulations is only considered after the EPA has decided to regulate.

Is this really the best we can do?

Sometimes I wonder, if we deserve the government we have? When the business community gets together and seeks federal regulation, I wonder. Have they not paid any attention to what has been going on in Washington? Are they unaware of the devastating explosion of federal regulations? Are they unaware that today’s overbearing regulations were yesterday’s benign advisories?

Are they unaware that the most benign and well-intended regulations of the 1970’s are now written and re-written by a President mad with regulatory zeal?

For those who are unaware of the devastation the EPA has wreaked upon our people, I request that you come and visit Eastern Kentucky or West Virginia. The EPA’s war on coal has spread a trail of despair amongst a proud people. Many of these counties have unemployment over twice the national rate.

The regulations that are crippling and destroying our jobs in Kentucky were not passed by Congress. These job-killing regulations are monsters that emerged from the toxic swamp of big government bureaucrats at the EPA. The Obama/Clinton War on Coal largely came from regulations that were extensions of seemingly bland well intended laws from the 1970’s.

Laws like the Clean Water Act were well intended – legislating that you can’t discharge pollutants into a navigable stream. I’m for that. But somehow the courts and the bureaucrats came to decide that dirt was a pollutant and your backyard just might have a “nexus” to a puddle which has a nexus to a ditch which was frequented by a migratory bird that might have flown from the ditch to the Great Lakes. Ergo, the EPA can now jail you for putting dirt on your own land. Now, since that craziness has infected the EPA, we have the Feds asserting regulatory control of over the majority of the land in most states.

Will the federal takeover of chemical regulations eventually morph into a war on chemical companies similar to what happened to the coal industry? I don’t know but it concerns me enough to examine this bill closely.

Anytime we are told that everyone is for something, anytime we are told that we should stand aside and not challenge the status quo, I become suspicious that it is precisely the time someone needs to look very closely to what is happening.

I also worry about federal laws pre-empting state laws. Admittedly, sometimes states such as California go overboard and regulate businesses out of existence, or at least, chase them to another state.

However, California’s excess is Texas’ benefit. I grew up along the Texas Coast. Many of my family members work in the chemical industry. Texas became a haven because of its location and its reasonableness with regard to regulation. Because Texas and Louisiana have such a mutually beneficial relationship with the chemical industry it is hard to imagine a time when the Texas or Louisiana legislature would vote to over-regulate or ignore the cost to jobs of new regulations.

But it is much easier to imagine a time when 47 other states gang up on Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma to ratchet up a federal regulatory regime to the point at which it chokes and suffocates businesses and their jobs.

Think it can’t happen? Come and visit me in Kentucky.

How can it be that the very businesses who face this threat support the federalization of regulations? I’m sure they are sincere. They want uniformity and predictability. Admirable desires. They don’t want the national standard of regulations to devolve to the worst standard of regulation. (California regulators . . . We’re talking about you here).

And yet, the bill before us grandfathers in California’s over-bearing regulations. It only prevents them from getting worse.

But everyone must realize, that this bill also pre-empts friendly states like Texas and Louisiana from continuing to be friendly states. As federal regulations gradually or quickly grow, Texas and Louisiana will no longer be able to veto the excesses of Washington. Regulations that never would pass the Texas or Louisiana legislature will see limited opposition in Washington.

Don’t believe me? Come and visit me in Kentucky!

Then why in the world would businesses come to Washington and ask to be regulated?

Nothing perplexes me more or makes me madder than when businesses come to Washington to lobby for regulations. And unfortunately, it is becoming the norm not the exception.

Lately, the call to federalize regulations has become a cottage industry for companies to come to Washington and beg for federal regulations to supersede troublesome state regulations.

Seems like every day businesses come to my office to complain about regulatory abuse and then come back later in the day to say, “Oh, and by the way, can you vote for federal regulations of my business because state regulations are killing me”.

But then a few years later, the same businesses are back now complaining that the regulatory agencies are ratcheting up the regulations.

Food distributors clamor for federal regulations on labeling. Restaurants advocated for menu standards. And now that we have federal menu standards, low and behold, we also have federal menu crimes. You can be imprisoned in America for posting the wrong calorie count on your menu!

With this bill, chemical companies lobby for federal regulations to pre-empt state regulations. None of them seem concerned that the federal regulations will pre-empt not only aggressive regulatory states but also market-oriented, friendly states.

So the “less onerous” federal regulations may initially pre-empt overly zealous regulatory states but when the federal regulations evolve into a more onerous standard there will no longer be any state laboratories left to exercise freedom.

The pro-regulation business community argues that they are being overwhelmed by costly state regulations. What can be done, short of federalizing regulations? What about charging more in states that add costly regulations?

If Vermont mandates GMO labeling, either quit selling to them or jack up the price to pay for the labeling. Do you think the socialists up there might reconsider if their Coke or Pepsi had a $2 surcharge to pay for their costly labeling?

What could chemical companies do to fight overzealous regulatory states? What they already do, move to friendly states. If California inappropriately regulates your chemicals, charge them more and by all means move! We’d love to have your business in Kentucky.

What these businesses, who favor federalization of regulations, fail to understand is that the history of federal regulations is a dismal one. Well-intended, limited regulations morph into ill-willed, expansive and intrusive regulations.

What these businesses fail to grasp is that while states like California and Vermont may pass burdensome, expensive regulations, other states like Texas and Tennessee and Kentucky are relative havens for business growth.

When businesses plead for federal regulations to supersede the ill-conceived regulations of California and Vermont, they fail to understand that once regulations are centralized, the history of regulations in Washington is only to grow.

Just witness regulations in banking and healthcare and the environment. Does anyone remember ever seeing a limited, reasonable federal standard that stayed limited and reasonable?

It is not new in Washington for businesses to lobby to be regulated.

Some hospitals advocated for Obamacare and now complain that it is bankrupting them. Some small banks advocated for Dodd Frank regulation of big banks in Dodd Frank. Now these small banks complain that the regulators are assaulting them as well.

The bill before us gives the Administrator of the EPA the power to decide at a later date how to and to what extent he or she will regulate the chemical industry. In fact, more than 100 times the bill leaves discretionary authority to the EPA to make decisions or create new rules.

Anyone want to hazard a guess as to how many pages of regulations will come from this bill? The current Code of Federal Regulations is 237 volumes and more than 178,000 pages. If Obamacare is any guide, it will be at least twenty pages of regulations for every page of legislation. Using the Obamacare standard, this bill will give us nearly 2000 more pages of regulations. Obamacare was about 1,000 pages. The regulations from Obamacare have morphed into nearly 20,000 pages so far. It is not hard to see how this bill, which requires review of the more than 85,000 chemicals now on the market, could quickly eclipse that lofty total.

No one disputes that this bill increases the power of the EPA. No one disputes that this bill transfers power from the states to the federal government.

The National Journal recognizes and describes this bill as granting extensive new authority to the EPA.

If you don’t think that’s a problem, come to Kentucky and meet the sixteen thousand people the current EPA put out of work. Ask them what they think of Hillary Clinton’s plan to continue putting coal miners out of business. Look these coal miners in the face and tell them to trust you and your bill that increases EPA power.

Is there anything in the recent history of regulatory onslaught that indicates that a reasonable federal standard will remain reasonable?

None.

So, Mr. President, I rise today to oppose granting new power to the EPA. I wish we were here today to do the opposite to vote to restrain the EPA, to make sure they balance regulation with jobs.

I wish we here today to vote for the REINS Act that requires new regulations to be voted on by Congress before they become enforceable.

Instead this legislation will inevitably add hundreds of new regulations.

I rise today to oppose this bill because it pre-empts the Constitution’s intentions for the federal government.

I rise today to oppose this bill because the recent history of the EPA is one that has shown no balance, no quarter, and no concern for the thousands of Kentuckians they put out of business.

I rise today to oppose this bill because I can’t in good conscience as a Kentuckian vote to make the federal EPA stronger.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-amendment-ndaa-restore-congressional-authority-declaring-war/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Amendment to NDAA to Restore Congressional Authority on Declaring War,2016-06-06,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today introduced an amendment to S.2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (NDAA), which finds that the 2001 and 2002 authorizations for use of military force (AUMF) do not give President Obama the authority to maintain U.S. military force in direct or indirect actions against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and that a new authorization is needed.

The full text of the amendment can be found HERE.

Earlier last month, Sen. Paul also introduced six amendments to NDAA, which are expected to be considered when the Senate convenes later today. Below is the list of Sen. Paul’s amendments with summaries for background information.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Amendment No. 4072

Known as the Fort Knox Energy Security Act

Allows the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to continue producing natural gas at Fort Knox in Kentucky, which ultimately would enable Fort Knox to become the only military installation capable of self-sustainment in the country.

Amendment No. 4073

Mandates the Census Bureau count all deployed service members at the base or port in which they resided prior to deployment.

Benefits thousands of U.S. service men and women by creating a consistent and logical method for counting service members deployed overseas in the U.S. Census at their residence at their last duty station.

This legislation will have no effect on a service member’s tax, residence, or voting status; it will only affect counting for census purposes.

Amendment No. 4074

Repeals the Military Selective Service Act and end the military draft in the U.S.

Amendment No. 4075

Known as the Service Members Self Defense Act

Amend permit members of the armed forces to possess firearms on military installations in accordance with applicable state and local law.

Clarifies the carrying of a concealed weapon by a member of the armed forces, on DOD property, is not a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice or 18 USC 930 – Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in federal facilities.

Allowing for the carrying of a concealed weapon by qualified members of the armed forces, with national reciprocity, in accordance with state and local law.

Amendment No. 4076

Known as the Transparency for the Families of 9/11 Victims and Survivors Act

Requires President Obama to declassify and make available to the public the redacted 28 pages from the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 2001.

Amendment No. 4077

Known as the Protecting Gun Rights and Due Process Act

Provides protection for gun owners by ensuring due process rights are upheld in the event an individual’s eligibility is questioned and reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

Within 90 days, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must review and remove from NICS any veteran that has not been adjudicated as mentally incompetent. The Attorney General will certify that the removal of names has taken place.

Prevents the Social Security Administrator from reporting individuals to NICS unless individual has been adjudicated as mentally incompetent. Attorney General will conduct a yearly review to certify reported names have necessary documentation.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-uncovers-247-million-usaid-project-aimed-inform-philippines-climate-change/,Sen. Rand Paul Uncovers $24.7 Million USAID Project Aimed to Inform the Philippines on Climate Change,2016-06-06,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ Sen. Paul uncovers plans for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to invest as much as $24.7 million on a project to help the country of the Philippines adapt to climate change.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Followers of The Waste Report will remember the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) funding for a futuristic climate change video game focused on the impact of Florida communities of sea-level rise. The justification for the game was that high school students, when presented with the catastrophic climate change narrative, were not particularly motivated to act. Well it turns out Uncle Sam wants to act, not in Florida, but in the Philippines.

That’s right!!! The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to invest as much as $24.7 million as part of the “Climate Ready” project to help the Philippines adapt to rising sea-levels and extreme weather caused by climate change.[1] Individual awards are limited to $2 million, so we’ll probably see about 12 different projects across the Philippines.

So what will these projects look like? Turns out we do not know. USAID’s solicitation is an RFP (Request for Proposals) for cost-plus contracts. RFP’s are used at all levels of government to solicit detailed plans of how to achieve stated objectives and working within established constraints. For example, if your local town wanted to build a park on an abandoned lot, an RFP might give general parameters of what kind of park – recreational or passive – and what features are desired and what are not, etc. Kind of a, “given these parameters, what would you do?”

However, where this RFP would normally delineate such parameters, it simply states, “the Contractor’s Performance Work Statement, based on the content of this RFP, will be inserted at the time of award.”[2] In other words, submit any idea to prepare the Philippines for climate change, and if it is accepted, that idea will be the standard we hold that idea to.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-senators-paul-hatch-and-markey-call-hhs-follow-senate-lead-increasing-access-opioid-addiction/,"Senators Paul, Hatch, and Markey Call on HHS to Follow Senate Lead in Increasing Access to Opioid Addiction Treatment",2016-06-01,2016,2016-06,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"Senators lead bipartisan group of 22 Senators in calling on the Department to raise the cap on prescribing buprenorphine to 500 patients

Today, Senators Paul (R-KY), Hatch (R-UT), and Markey (D-MA) led a bipartisan group of 22 Senators in writing to Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to call on HHS to allow for greater access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) in the Department’s proposed rule on the topic published on March 30, 2016.

The proposed rule on MAT would increase the highest limit on the number of patients waivered practitioners can treat with buprenorphine from 100 patients per practitioner to 200 patients. However, in recognition of the huge disparity that exists between those who can prescribe opioids for treatment of pain and those who can prescribe treatments for opioid use disorders, and the large gap between those with opioid use disorders and those recieve treatment for their illness, the Senate is advancing legislation that would raise this patient cap to 500 patients. The letter sent by the group of Senators today urges HHS to take into account the bipartisan work done by the Senate on this legislation, S. 1455, the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT) Act, when finalizing their proposed rule.

“Heroin addiction is on the rise in Kentucky and throughout the country, and government’s solution of locking up people with addiction is not solving the problem. Getting people the help they need to break the cycle of addition and on a path to recovery is extremely important,” Sen. Paul said.

“I’m glad the Department is taking action to expand access to medication assisted treatment under the authority Congress provided through the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000,” said Senator Hatch. “However, if we are going to provide patients with the treatments they need to succeed in their battle against heroin and prescription drug abuse, we must open greater access to medication assisted treatment by setting a more appropriate cap on the number of patients to whom an eligible physician can prescribe buprenorphine.”

“We don’t restrict doctors from prescribing life-saving medication for any other medical condition, so it makes no sense to limit medication-assisted therapies for those suffering from the disease of opioid addiction”, said Senator Markey. “The current artificial caps on treatment not only hurt access, but they also reinforce the stigma that accessing treatment for substance use disorders should be different than for any other chronic illness. I thank the Obama administration for responding to my call to act administratively to address limitations on medication-assisted therapies for opioid addiction, but we must ensure that the final rule addresses this outdated federal restriction in a manner reflects the immense crisis we are currently facing.”

The letter to HHS is also signed by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

In August 2015, Senators Hatch and Markey led a group of 13 Senators in urging HHS to use the authority granted to the Department under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 to raise the buprenorphine patient cap. In April 2016, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced the TREAT Act, which was introduced by Senators Markey and Paul and cosponsored by Senator Hatch at the HELP Committee markup of the legislation. In addition to raising the maximum cap for physicians from 100 to 500 patients, the TREAT Act also authorizes nurse practitioners and physicians assistants to provide medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders in accordance with state law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:54:04Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-uncovers-14-million-wasteful-epa-early-retirement-buyout-employees/,Sen. Rand Paul Uncovers $1.4 Million Wasteful EPA Early Retirement Buyout for Employees,2016-05-31,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ Sen. Paul uncovers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spending nearly $12 million on early retirements buyouts for roughly 500 employees to allegedly modernize their workforce. However, of the 500 vacated positions, 12% were not eliminated and refilled without being changed – costing the taxpayers $1.4 million.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Somewhere along the line you have probably heard of early retirement buyouts, where a company offers employees a sum of cash and an early retirement. Often used as an alternative to layoffs, the idea is to get more senior, and thus more expensive, employees off the payroll and then eliminate or restructure their jobs to be less costly. A good deal all around…that is unless you are a taxpayer and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering early buyouts.

According to the EPA Inspector General, in the Fiscal Year 2014, the EPA paid out nearly $12 million on early buyouts for roughly 500 employees. However, a sampling done by the Inspector General showed that roughly 12% of the vacated positions were not eliminated and were refilled without being changed.[1] If this is a representative sample of all EPA buyout, the taxpayer would have unnecessarily spent $1.4 million.

In authorizing agencies to offer early buyouts, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) expressly says the position being vacated must either be eliminated or modified:

(1) having a different job series and/or grade, (2) using the same job series and grade but substantively different duties and responsibilities, (3) having a different full-performance level, or (4) that is no longer supervisory.”[2]

That’s not a really high bar, and since the whole point of buyouts is to streamline the workforce, what got missed? Even the EPA agreed with the finding saying, “we understand how the IG drew their conclusion.”[3] They noted the new hires were budget neutral, meaning they did not cost any more than the people they replaced, but the taxpayer is still out the buyout money.

It is not surprising the EPA looked to early buyouts to modernize their workforce and hopefully save the taxpayer in the process. The federal government is notorious for its job security; many believe to a fault. Less than one half of one percent of federal employees were terminated for performance or laid off last year. The EPA is even worse, only 15 employees or one tenth of one percent were terminated for performance; that is slightly more than the 13 EPA employees who died last year.[4]

They say you have to spend money to make money. Apparently at the EPA, you just have to spend money.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-paul-refuses-support-rushed-legislation/,Sen. Paul Refuses to Support Rushed Legislation,2016-05-26,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"Demands Sufficient Time to Read The Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Rand Paul today stood on the Senate floor and objected to the unanimous consent request passage of H.R. 2576. Senator Rand Paul believes lawmakers should read legislation before voting on it. This legislation today was being unnecessarily rushed without an opportunity for review.

“I promised the people of Kentucky that I would read every bill before voting for or against it. I couldn’t in good conscience today support this significant piece of legislation without being given an opportunity to examine it closely” said Senator Paul.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. PAUL’S FLOOR SPEECH",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-homeland-security-government-affairs-committee-passes-sen-pauls-bonuses-cost-cutters-act/,Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee Passes Sen. Paul’s Bonuses for Cost Cutters Act,2016-05-25,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs passed Sen. Rand Paul’s Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act, a bill with bipartisan support, that encourages federal agencies to return unneeded funds to the taxpayer through bonus incentives. The bill was passed in committee with an affirmative 12-5 vote.

Current law allows an agency’s inspector general to pay bonuses up to $10,000 of savings realized when a federal employee identifies waste, fraud or mismanagement of funds. Senator Paul’s legislation would further incentivize ending wasteful government spending by allowing employees to qualify for these bonuses if they identify unneeded or surplus funds.

Additionally, this legislation would ensure that 90% of the savings be automatically directed towards deficit reduction.

“I am pleased that my legislation has received bipartisan support and is on its way to full passage in the U.S. Senate,” Sen. Paul said. “My bill will incentivize government employees to find, report and eliminate government waste, fraud and abuse throughout our bloated federal government.”

Federal employees are on the front lines of federal spending. Rewarding those employees for saving taxpayer money will create a personal incentive to counter the current end-of-year rush to exhaust all available funds. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, “Spending in the last week of the year is 4.9 times higher then the rest-of-the-year weekly average.”

The full language of this legislation is available HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-amendment-ndaa-requiring-census-bureau-count-all-service-members/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Amendment to NDAA Requiring Census Bureau to Count All Service Members,2016-05-25,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"S. Amdt. #4073 Service Members and Communities Count Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation would mandate the Census Bureau to count all deployed service members at the base or port in which they resided prior to deployment.

In tabulating the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau counted service members deployed for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, at their home of record – an address given at the time of enlistment.

Unfortunately, such a method is not sufficient and disenfranchises many of our service members. In reports following the 2010 Census, the bureau stated, “only 59 percent of the 2010 Department of Defense records contained a home of record.” The use of home of record, provides an inaccurate accounting of populations residing in communities surrounding U.S. military bases.

Amendment No. 4073 benefits thousands of U.S. service men and women by creating a consistent and logical method for counting service members deployed overseas in the U.S. Census at their residence at their last duty station.

“I believe that every deployed service member has a right to be counted by their government when a census is conducted,” Sen. Paul said. “The passage of this amendment will ensures that those who have given so much for our country will be recognized in the communities they live in.”

This legislation will have no effect on a service member’s tax, residence, or voting status; it will only affect counting for census purposes.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-highlights-18-billion-wasteful-spending-through-weekly-waste-reports/,Sen. Rand Paul Highlights $1.8 Billion in Wasteful Spending Through Weekly Waste Reports,2016-05-24,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul this week highlights 52 weeks of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

Over the last year alone, the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management (FSO) under Sen. Paul’s leadership has uncovered over $1.8 billion in wasteful spending on frivolous projects. This level of spending, which equates to nearly $35 million per week, matches the tax liability of approximately 250,000 average American taxpayers.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE.

The most recent edition of ‘The Waste Report’ focused upon the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii. The center, established in 1960, receives millions in federal funding each year to promote diplomacy with Asian and Pacific islands nations. These nations include China and Japan, two of our nation’s two largest foreign creditors already, from which our government has borrowed $3.4 trillion to cover our annual deficit.

Other examples of wasteful government spending uncovered through ‘The Waste Report’ include $8 million spent by the Department of Veterans Affairs to purchase solar panels that were never used and $28 million spent on heavy equipment lost by the Department of Defense in Afghanistan.

To put this in perspective, 250,000 is roughly the number of people living in Durham, NC or Irvine, CA and just below the number of Americans living in Louisville, KY.

In addition to the $1.8 billion spent on the wasteful projects highlighted in ‘The Waste Report,’ the March 7th edition of the report stressed the long-term fiscal dangers posed by the ever-growing national debt.

This year the federal government spent $255 billion for interest on our debt, meaning that every American owes about $800 this year to pay for interest alone. If you consider only those who pay their taxes, this figure rises to $2,700 per taxpayer.

Each week, ‘The Waste Report’ will continue to release examples of wasteful government spending to show taxpayers where their money is going.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-amendment-ndaa-allowing-continuation-natural-gas-production-fort-knox/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Amendment to NDAA Allowing Continuation of Natural Gas Production at Fort Knox,2016-05-24,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation would specifically allow the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to continue producing natural gas at Fort Knox in Kentucky, which ultimately would enable Fort Knox to become the only military installation capable of self-sustainment in the country.

For the past 20 years, Fort Knox has become the first military installation to provide their own power, heat, gas, water, and wastewater elimination all from on-post resources. In May 2015, Fort Knox successfully demonstrated their ability to fully operate without outside assistance.

This self-sufficiency has resulted in nearly $8 million in annual savings. However, if authority is not given, the investments Fort Knox has made to become self-sustainable will cease and energy costs for the DOD will increase.

“Fort Knox is leading the way in cost-effectiveness and ingenuity when it comes to natural gas development and sustainability. While the Department of Interior is usually responsible for the development of federal lands, this amendment would codify an exception for already successfully developed facilities which benefit Fort Knox and the surrounding communities.”

Sen. Paul said.

No related posts.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-senate-unanimously-passes-sen-rand-pauls-amendment-designate-interstate-i-169-western-kentucky/,Senate Unanimously Passes Sen. Rand Paul’s Amendment to Designate Interstate I-169 in Western Kentucky to the Transportation and Housing Appropriations Bill,2016-05-19,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Senator Rand Paul’s amendment to H.R. 2577, the Fiscal Year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The amendment will designate the southern portion Edward T. Breathitt Parkway as Interstate 169, which as a result will increase economic development and opportunities for thousands of Kentuckians.

The Transportation and Housing Appropriations Bill itself, with the inclusion of Sen. Paul’s amendment, passed the Senate earlier this afternoon with a vote of 89-8.

“Many of our nation’s roads and bridges are in deep need of repairs and replacement. I have always made a point to fight against international infrastructure spending and instead to refocus on our needs here in Kentucky. My amendment will designate the southern portion of Edward T. Breathitt Parkway as Interstate 169, which as a result will increase economic development and opportunities for thousands of Kentuckians,” Sen. Paul said.

The amendment has gained support throughout Western Kentucky, including Mayor Carter Hendricks of Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

“We are excited that Senator Paul has led the initiative to help achieve interstate designation for the southern section of the Pennyrile Parkway. For many years, our community leadership has advocated for this very project and we look forward to seeing it come to fruition and to reaping the economic benefits of interstate status for our Parkway,” Mayor Carter Hendricks said.

Sen. Paul also introduced an amendment to the Transportation and Housing Appropriations Bill, which would increase funding for highway projects by approximately $8 billion by reclaiming unspent foreign aid from last year.

Top-line bullet points and background information on the passed amendment can be found below, and the text can be found HERE.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON SEN. PAUL’S AMENDMENTS TO TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING APPROPRIATIONS BILL

Designates the Southern Section of the Edward T. Breathitt Parkway as Interstate 169

The I-69 development project is an important multi-state interstate development project that will be incorporated into the National Freight Corridor system. In November 2015, the Federal Highway Administration designating the northern 40-mile segment of the Edward T. Breathitt Parkway as 169, increasing economic opportunities for thousands of Kentuckians in the region.

The amendment would designate the remaining 34-miles, from Nortonville, Kentucky, south to the Interstate 24 connection, as Interstate 169.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sens-paul-wyden-and-bipartisan-senators-call-congress-stop-massive-expansion-government/,"Sens. Paul, Wyden and Bipartisan Senators Call on Congress to Stop Massive Expansion of Government Surveillance and Hacking Power",2016-05-19,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"Stopping Mass Hacking Act Reverses Disastrous Changes to Warrant Procedures; Congress Must Act or Government Will Be Able to Hack Millions of Americans’ Devices with a Single Warrant, Compromising Security and Privacy

Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., today introduced the Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act to protect millions of law-abiding Americans from government hacking. The Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act prevents recently approved changes to Rule 41 from going into effect. The changes would allow the government to get a single warrant to hack an unlimited number of Americans’ computers if their computers had been affected by criminals, possibly without notifying the victims.

Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., are original co-sponsors of the Senate bill.

“This is a dramatic expansion of the government’s hacking and surveillance authority. Such a substantive change with an enormous impact on Americans’ constitutional rights should be debated by Congress, not maneuvered through an obscure bureaucratic process,” said Sen. Wyden. “Unless Congress acts before December 1, Americans’ security and privacy will be thrown out the window and hacking victims will find themselves hacked again – this time by their own government.”

“The Fourth Amendment wisely rejected general warrants and requires individualized suspicion before the government can forcibly search private information. I fear this rule change will make it easier for the government to search innocent Americans’ computers and undermine the requirement for individual suspicion,” said Sen. Paul.

“Congress must act to prevent this threat to the privacy of law abiding Americans and ensure a rule change of this magnitude has the proper oversight.” said Sen. Baldwin. “I am proud to join this bipartisan effort. We need to stand up to this government intrusion and protect American civil liberties and freedoms.”

“Our law enforcement policies need to be updated to reflect 21st century realities with a process that is transparent, effective and protects our civil liberties,” said Sen. Daines.

“This bill reins in the government’s ability to search and seize our personal electronic information. Our right to privacy doesn’t end when we turn on a computer, send an email, or search the Internet,” said Sen. Tester. “We must ensure that law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to keep us safe while also protecting our civil liberties, and this bill is a first step in that direction.”

A House companion bill is expected to be introduced soon.

At the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ) the U.S. Federal Courts recommended an administrative change to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure which were approved by the Supreme Court last month.

The amendments to Rule 41 would make it easier for DOJ to obtain warrants for remote electronic searches. The amendments would allow a single judge to issue a single warrant authorizing government hacking of an untold number of devices located anywhere in the world. The amendments would take effect on December 1, 2016 absent Congressional action.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-amendments-transportation-and-housing-appropriations-bill/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Amendments to Transportation and Housing Appropriations Bill,2016-05-17,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today introduced the following amendments to H.R. 2577, the Fiscal Year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill currently being considered by the Senate. The first amendment will designate the southern section of the Edward T. Breathitt Parkway in Kentucky as Interstate 169, and the second amendment will prohibit the use of funds to regulate the acquisition, use, transfer, or disposal of certain airport property.

Later this afternoon, Sen. Paul will introduce an additional amendment, which will take back unspent money designated for foreign assistance and transfer those funds to be spent on roads and bridges in the United States.

Top-line bullet points and background information on the introduced amendments can be found below, and the text can be found HERE and HERE.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON SEN. PAUL’S AMENDMENTS TO TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING APPROPRIATIONS BILL

Prohibits the Use of Funds to Regulate the Acquisition, Use, Transfer, or Disposal of Certain Airport Property

States and localities have access to many sources of financing in order to make improvements to their local airports. With the abundant restrictions and regulations that come with acceptance and use of Federal funding, many communities are using these financing options. Despite the lack of use of Federal funding, the Federal Aviation Administration has continued to place restrictions on airport projects until environmental impact analysis are conducted.

The amendment prohibits the Federal Aviation Administration to regulate the acquisition, use, transfer, or disposal of property that is not purchased with Federal funding, so long as the action doesn’t impact safety or efficiency of aircraft operations.

Designates the Southern Section of the Edward T. Breathitt Parkway as Interstate 169

The I-69 development project is an important multi-state interstate development project that will be incorporated into the National Freight Corridor system. In November 2015, the Federal Highway Administration designating the northern 40-mile segment of the Edward T. Breathitt Parkway as 169, increasing economic opportunities for thousands of Kentuckians in the region.

The amendment would designate the remaining 34-miles, from Nortonville, Kentucky, south to the Interstate 24 connection, as Interstate 169.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-highlights-millions-taxpayer-dollars-spent-promote-diplomacy-us-largest-foreign/,Sen. Rand Paul Highlights Millions of Taxpayer Dollars Spent to Promote Diplomacy with U.S.’ Largest Foreign Creditors,2016-05-16,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government. In the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ Sen. Paul draws attention to the federal government spending millions of dollars every year to fund a center, known as the East-West Center, at the University of Hawaii to promote diplomacy with the Asian and Pacific island nations. These nations include China and Japan, our nation’s two largest foreign creditors, from which our government has borrowed $3.4 trillions to cover our annual deficit.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Over time ‘The Waste Report’ has told you various international follies aimed at building good will around the world. Who could forget such things as sending jazz bands to Turkey, Pakistani kids to Space Camp, or fostering better understanding with the UK. But did you know Uncle Sam spends millions of dollars supporting a center at the University of Hawaii[1] to promote better relations with Asian and Pacific island nations?

The East-West (E-W) Center, as it is known, was created by Congress in 1960 to “better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific.”[2] Of course in 1960, Hawaii had just become a state, the U.S. was on the cusp of its third war in the Pacific since 1941, we weren’t even talking to mainland China, no one had the internet, and international travel was rare. No one drove a Kia or wore Nikes, which have always been produced in Asia, and Ninja Warrior wasn’t even a thing. In the last five decades it’s safe to say things have changed a little.

In addition to trade and media, today, China and Japan are our two largest foreign creditors. While the U.S. is borrowing money from China, Japan, and other Asian nations (about $3.4 Trillion[3]), over 600 of those countries’ citizens are attending the E-W Center the U.S. taxpayer is funding.[4] In fact, according to the one paragraph on finances from the E-W Center’s FY 2014 annual report, which is the most recent and is little more than an 8-page pamphlet, the center received about $21 million in federal support, roughly 2/3rds of its entire budget.[5]

So what does fostering understanding on your dime look like? Well in addition to conferences and events, the E-W Center funds research fellowships and scholarships with, “Substantial funding toward education and living expenses, including tuition and fees, graduate residence hall room costs, health insurance, book allowance, and partial living stipend.”[6] This year they are also putting on a 12-day U.S. Presidential Election Reporting Seminar with aim to, “enable participating journalists to report before, during and after the U.S. presidential election from key states in the American electoral system.” Of course they will have to put what they learn to use in 2020 as the seminar conflicts with the actual election this year.

What is most amazing about the E-W Center is that in the FY 2010 budget, President Obama, whose mother was actually an E-W Center student while he was growing up[7], tried to cut the center’s funding in half, “arguing that this would encourage the center to seek other sources for money.” Instead, the then Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Inouye from Hawaii increased funding to his home-state project by $2 million.[8] Year-after-year, including this year, the President’s budget unsuccessfully proposes the same thing, roughly cutting funding in half for the center. At least in this instance Congressional pork is mightier than even the President. Reminds us of Ronald Reagan’s famous quote, “The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-requests-response-office-surface-mining-proposed-stream-protection-rule/,Sen. Rand Paul Requests Response from Office of Surface Mining on Proposed Stream Protection Rule,2016-05-13,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today sent a letter to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) Director Joseph Pizarchik regarding their continued lack of response to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet on the proposed Stream Protection Rule (SPR). In the letter, Sen. Paul requests that OSM fully comply with the Omnibus Appropriations Report language by providing Kentucky with all of the necessary documents, including all drafts relative to the draft and final environmental impact statements that were called for in the report language.

As of today, Kentucky has not received a response from OSM to Kentucky’s Secretary of the Energy and Environment Cabinet Charles Snavely’s February 8th letter requesting a list of all technical reports, data, analyses, comments received, and drafts related to the environmental reviews, and draft and final environmental impact statements related to the proposed SPR rule. This request was sent three months ago, and it is concerning that the request has not been fulfilled or even acknowledged by OSM.

In the letter, Sen. Paul asks that OSM send these materials on or before May 27, 2016, so the Cabinet will have the necessary time to review them before requesting a meeting with OSM prior to SPR finalization. In addition to sending the required documents, Sen. Paul asks that OSM indicate when it plans to reopen the public comment period for the proposed SPR and its associated draft and final environmental impact statements and regulatory impact analyses after having provided meaningful consultation with Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet, and provide that information to his office.

This proposed rule is going to have a major impact on Kentucky and the coal mining industry, and in order to responsibly draft a final rule, OSM will need to consider Kentucky’s state-specific concerns.

The text of both letters can be found below. A copy of the letter to the Department of the Interior can be found HERE, and a copy of the letter to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement can be found HERE.

LETTER TEXT:

May 13, 2016

The Honorable Sally Jewell

Secretary, Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20240

Dear Secretary Jewell:

I have enclosed a copy of a letter I sent to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) Director Joseph Pizarchik so you are aware of my request to OSM and its continued lack of response to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet regarding the proposed Stream Protection Rule (SPR).

As noted in the letter, I respectfully request OSM fully comply with the Omnibus Appropriations Report language by providing Kentucky with all documents, including all drafts relative to the draft and final environmental impact statements, called for in the report language. I ask that OSM send these materials on or before May 27, 2016. The Cabinet will need to receive these documents and have the necessary time to review them before requesting a meeting with OSM prior to SPR finalization. In addition to sending the required documents, I ask that OSM indicate when it plans to reopen the public comment period for the proposed SPR and its associated draft and final environmental impact statements and regulatory impact analyses after having provided meaningful consultation with Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet. I also request any information OSM sends to Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely also be sent to my office.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide on this matter, and I look forward to OSM engaging with Kentucky and other states in a meaningful manner on the proposed SPR.

Sincerely,

Senator Rand Paul

Enclosure: Letter to Director Pizarchik

May 13, 2016

The Honorable Joseph G. Pizarchik

Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

1951 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20240

Dear Director Pizarchik:

I am writing in support of the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s letter dated April 5, 2016, regarding the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s (OSM) refusal to comply with report language accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-113). The language requires OSM to reengage with states in a meaningful way before finalizing the Stream Protection Rule (SPR) by providing the states with certain documents related to the rule and meeting with any state upon the request of the state. (161 Cong. Rec. H10217 (Dec. 17, 2015)).

Regarding the documents, Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely noted in his April 5th letter that Kentucky has not received any response from OSM to Secretary Snavely’s February 8th letter requesting a list of all technical reports, data, analyses, comments received, and drafts related to the environmental reviews, and draft and final environmental impact statements related to the proposed SPR rule. I am incredibly concerned that this request was sent three months ago and, at the time of writing this letter, the request has not been fulfilled or even acknowledged by OSM. This proposed rule is going to have a major impact on Kentucky and our coal mining industry, and I expect that to responsibly draft a final rule, OSM will need to consider Kentucky’s state-specific concerns. Unfortunately, Kentucky cannot provide that feedback until OSM provides Kentucky with the information Secretary Snavely requested of OSM.

Additionally, regarding the meeting, while I appreciate OSM’s offer to meet with states during the Interstate Mining Compact Commission’s annual meeting and regional meetings in April, the Kentucky representatives could not attend the annual meeting over 800 miles away in Lake Placid, NY. The regional meeting in Pittsburgh was a better alternative, but a six-hour meeting for the purpose of addressing all the state-specific concerns of all the attendees from a number of different states is not satisfactory for the purposes of the requirement in the report language, which states that OSM must meet with states individually at the request of the state.

I respectfully request OSM fully comply with the Omnibus Appropriations Report language by providing Kentucky with all documents, including all drafts relative to the draft and final environmental impact statements, called for in the report language. I ask that OSM send these materials on or before May 27, 2016. The Cabinet will need to receive these documents and have the necessary time to review them before requesting a meeting with OSM prior to SPR finalization. In addition to sending the required documents, please indicate when OSM plans to reopen the public comment period for the proposed SPR and its associated draft and final environmental impact statements and regulatory impact analyses after having provided meaningful consultation with Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet. I also request that any information OSM sends to Secretary Snavely, that OSM also send a copy to my office at 167 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510.

I look forward to OSM engaging with Kentucky and other states in a meaningful manner on the proposed SPR.

Sincerely,

Senator Rand Paul

CC: Secretary Sally Jewell

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-resolution-commending-sigar-providing-accountability-taxpayer-dollars/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Resolution Commending SIGAR for Providing Accountability for Taxpayer Dollars,2016-05-12,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul introduced a resolution in the Senate today commending the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) for providing accountability for taxpayer dollars spent in Afghanistan.

In the resolution, Sen. Paul also urges all inspectors general to look to the SIGAR as an example of the vigor and independence the Senate expects of persons given the responsibility to conduct agency oversight. Since the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction’s creation in 2008, the office’s recommendations has resulted in more than $1,000,000,000 in potential taxpayer savings.

“I commend the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction today for being a strong voice and a good steward of taxpayer dollars, as well as urge all inspectors general to look to the SIGAR as an example of the Senate’s expectations of your duty to this country, and not as an exception to the rule,” Sen. Paul said.

To read the resolution in it entirety, click HERE.

Earlier this year in January, Sen. Paul released a special edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which highlighted the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction’s report on the U.S. Department of Defense losing $29 million of heavy equipment in Afghanistan. Click HERE to read the special edition of ‘The Waste Report.’

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-questions-former-obama-administrations-official-and-advisor-foreign-relation/,Sen. Rand Paul Questions Former Obama Administration’s Official and Advisor at Foreign Relation Committee Hearing on America’s Military Role in the World,2016-05-12,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today attended the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to question former Secretary of State James Baker and former National Security Advisor Tom Donilon on our nation’s current role in the world and our priorities for future global engagement. During the hearing, Sen. Paul emphasized the need for the President to always seek congressional approval before engaging in any type of armed conflicts or wars, as well as come before Congress with an exit strategy prior to any combat operations. Additionally, Sen. Paul questioned former National Security Advisor Tom Donilon on President Obama’s failed foreign policy in Libya.

A video of the exchange can be found below.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. PAUL REMARKS AT SFRC HEARING

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-uncovers-70000-nsf-study-investigating-gender-wikipedias-contributors/,"Sen. Rand Paul Uncovers $70,000 NSF Study Investigating the Gender of Wikipedia’s Contributors",2016-05-10,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ Sen. Paul uncovers the National Science Foundation (NSF) spending $70,000 taxpayer dollars to fund a New York University study investigating the gender gap among contributors to the free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Have a question? Often Wikipedia has an answer. But if your question is, “Why is the federal government spending $70k to study gender disparity among Wikipedia contributors,” you might get back, “results not found: did you mean ‘government waste?'”

That’s right! The National Science Foundation (NSF) spent $70,000 funding a New York University study to investigate the gender gap among contributors to Wikipedia. If you are not familiar, Wikipedia is a free on-line encyclopedia where, “[a]nyone with Internet access can write and make changes to Wikipedia articles.”

According to Wikipedia, it is true that only about 13 percent of their regular contributors are female. However, there is no measurement for how much content female Wikipedians contribute or provide.

What is clear is that whether male or female, a small minority of users provide any content to Wikipedia; just 25 percent ever make an edits/contributions and 0.004 percent of users are classified as regular contributors – which still only requires one edit every 30 days. Nonetheless, all users can edit content if they so choose, meaning this is an issue of self-selection.

Even under tighter budgets, NSF has seen a 22 percent increase in funding since President Obama took office. This year’s budget asks for nearly $8 billion to support this agency, stating:

NSF is vital because we invest in basic research and people who make the discoveries that transform our future. Those discoveries are a primary driver of the U.S. economy, enhance our Nation’s security, and give the country the competitive edge to remain a global leader.

One has to wonder where the study of gender disparity among Wikipedia contributors fits in.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-highlights-1-million-taxpayer-funded-variety-show-afghanistan/,Sen. Rand Paul Highlights $1 Million Taxpayer Funded Variety Show in Afghanistan,2016-05-02,2016,2016-05,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

Sen. Paul highlights, in the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ the Department of State spending $1 million taxpayer money to produce 12 episodes of a variety show in Afghanistan. The Department of State claims the main purpose will be to teach English, however, the variety show will still be primarily written and performed using Dari, Afghanistan’s primary language.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Whole generations of Americans have fond memories of tuning in to the Ed Sullivan Show or the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Others might identify more with the late-night derivation of the variety show embodied by Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and Conan O’Brian. Now Uncle Sam is hoping a new generation will fall in love with the variety show…in Afghanistan.

That’s right!!! The Department of State, through the U.S. Embassy-Kabul, recently issued a $1 million funding opportunity to produce 12 episodes of a variety show in Afghanistan with the ultimate purpose of teaching English.[1]

Of course the show will be filmed before a live studio audience and include performances in English. But, “[t]he show should be written and performed using Dari (Persian) as the primary language. Episodes will have a considerable amount of English, but primary communication and explanation should be in Dari.”

So, since the show is mostly in the native language, to reinforce English learning there will be 60-second cutaways with English lessons on such things as how to read a menu or make a contraction.

Taking a page from American late-night, the show will also include an “on-the-street element were people practice their English.” Kind of a Jaywalking, Kabul edition; maybe they will ask Afghanis what they think about The Waste Report or if anyone has used the $43 million gas station Uncle Sam paid for.

But perhaps the most intriguing element of the show is borrowed from another genre of American TV, the game-show. In fact, the grant opportunity is very explicit that the show should include a competition element and notes exactly what should go into these games. Competition, “should involve games played in a team. The team can be two members of our target demographic (15- 25), or one member of the public playing with a local celebrity.” Local celebrities? Perhaps an all-star from the U.S. taxpayer funded cricket league?

While English learning is the primary objective, the Department of State hopes the show will expand its message to other topics. They recommend the competition portion focus on specific themes such as, “environmental preservation, access to education, or volunteerism…” We recommend a theme of not wasting taxpayer’s money.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:51:40Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-uncovers-27-billion-duplicative-climate-research/,Sen. Rand Paul Uncovers $2.7 Billion in Duplicative Climate Research,2016-04-25,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management (FSO), Sen. Paul in the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report’ uncovers thirteen federal agencies spending over $2.7 billion taxpayer dollars to individually research the same issue – climate change. The report goes on to point out that the federal government expended an additional $18 billion to study efforts to mitigate climate change.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Earlier this month the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued its sixth report on government duplication and fragmentation. Most can agree that doing the same thing twice – or 200 times as is the case for federal Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education programs – leads to waste.[1] But one area that seems to have missed the duplication monitors at GAO is climate change research.[2]

The FSO Subcommittee did not have to dig too hard to find that there are at least thirteen federal agencies spending over $2.7 billion to research global climate change; it is all laid out neatly in a 2013 White House report.[3] Let’s be clear, this is just for research on what some call settled science, and that figure does not include the over $18 billion in additional money going to efforts to mitigate climate change.

One would think this kind of research would be limited to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA – of which the National Weather Service is a component), as they are the agency, charged with studying weather and the atmosphere. As it turns out, at over $360 million, NOAA is not even the largest researcher of climate change in the federal government. That title goes to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which spent a whopping $1.5 billion. Wonder why we haven’t gone back to the moon? Perhaps an argument could be made for one of these agencies to do this research, but both? And what of the other eleven?

Well the National Science Foundation chips in $326 million, while the Department of Energy (DOE) spends $220 million. In fact, just last month DOE was accepting applications for a $5.5 million grant for “climate model development and validation.”[4] One would think perhaps they could just use data, research, and models from NOAA or NASA’s instead of reinventing the wheel in-house.

Even more shocking is the Federal Highway Administration, the agency in charge of building and maintaining our crumbling roads, is chipping in on climate research. We do not know the exact amount because it is less than $500,000, but we do know it is something.

Other climate research contributors include: the Smithsonian ($8 million), U.S. Agency for International Development ($14 million), the Department of State ($3 million), Health and Human Services ($15 million), the EPA ($20 million), and the U.S. Department of the Interior ($72 million).

No matter where you fall in the climate debate, one thing everyone should be able to agree on is paying 13 different agencies to do the same thing is pretty darn wasteful.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-floor-speech-sen-rand-paul-urges-colleagues-vote-economic-freedom-zones-amendment-energy-bill/,FLOOR SPEECH: Sen. Rand Paul Urges Colleagues to Vote for “Economic Freedom Zones” Amendment to Energy Bill,2016-04-19,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"Biggest Anti-Poverty Initiative Since the War on Poverty if Passed

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the U.S. Senate floor today, Senator Rand Paul delivered the following remarks urging his colleagues to support his amendment, known as the Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2015 (S.790), to H.R. 2028, the Energy Policy Modernization Act.

The legislation will establish free market enterprise zones and dramatically reduce taxes in order to help facilitate the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, enhance and renew educational opportunities and increase community involvement in bankrupt or economically distressed areas. These zones will apply to any zip code with unemployment greater than one and a half times the national average. Sen. Paul originally introduced the legislation for the 114th Congress in March 2015.

A transcript of Sen. Paul’s remarks as prepared for delivery and video of his floor speech are available below.

Additionally, top-line bullet points and background information on the Economic Freedom Zones Act can be found HERE.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. PAUL’S FLOOR SPEECH

TRANSCRIPT

Sen. Paul: I rise today to introduce the largest, most sweeping anti-poverty legislation since President Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on poverty began. This legislation will provide over $100 billion to communities devastated by chronic poverty.

Communities like Eastern Kentucky that have been devastated by the President’s War on Coal would be rescued. Communities where the water is unsafe to drink like Flint, Michigan, would be restored. Communities like Ferguson, the Southside of Chicago, and the West End of Louisville, will be given a chance to find the American Dream if this legislation is passed.

My legislation is not a gift or a grant. My legislation simply allows over a $100 billion to remain in the hands of those who earned it. My legislation will provide the incentive for businesses and capital to return to areas overwhelmed by chronic poverty and unemployment.

We are just past the 50-year mark of the War on Poverty. Sadly, 50 years later we are still fighting that war, and every one of our states has areas of high poverty, high unemployment, and shaky finances.

I think it is time we try a different approach, an approach that harnesses the ingenuity and hard work of individuals, families, and businesses in our most afflicted communities, an approach that invites new investment to these communities, an approach that is free from government bailouts and bureaucrats picking winners and losers, an approach that provides hope and opportunity.

Economic Freedom Zones would the largest anti-poverty program since the War on Poverty.

Economic Freedom Zones are areas of reduced taxes and regulations, and increased incentives for businesses. This legislation is much more than a government stimulus or handout. This legislation will empower communities by leveraging the human capital, natural resources, and business investment opportunities that already exist. Reducing the taxes in economically depressed areas is a stimulus that will work because the money is returned to businesses and individuals who have already proven they can succeed.

Cities and counties will be designated as Economic Freedom Zones if local unemployment is 50 percent above the national average, or if 30 percent of the population is below the poverty line. Localities that are bankrupt or are in danger of bankruptcy are eligible too, in order to attract new investment and economic activity that will help shore up the local finances without the need for a bailout.

By slashing the federal tax rate to five percent for a 10-year period, we can finally incentivize more businesses to locate in our struggling communities and provide more jobs and opportunities. And my plan leaves the hard earned dollars of those in a community right there in the community. It doesn’t go to Washington, where politicians pick winners and losers, it stays with the community, where the consumers decide who succeeds.

Economic Freedom Zones will work where Big Government has failed because the money will remain in the hands of people that local consumers have voted most able to run a business. Whereas big government programs often send money to people unable to run a profitable business, Economic Freedom Zones return the money to businesses and individuals that have already proven they can run a successful business.

The President’s big government stimulus plan was funded by debt. It didn’t work because government always fails to identify profitable uses for capital whereas returning capital to those who originally earned it will provide a stimulus exponentially greater.

In the Eastern part of Kentucky, this legislation would provide over half-a-billion dollars each year in much needed capital. In West Louisville, this legislation would provide more than a $200-million infusion each year. More importantly this legislation will provide hope and opportunity where today little optimism exists.

For Detroit, it would mean an extra $368 million stays in the community this year, in the hands of the families who earned it and can spend it locally and businesses that have demonstrated success in the local economy so they can hire new employees. Businesses that move to the area and hire local workers will be able to take advantage of the tax rates, bringing new jobs and opportunity.

Flint will see an immediate cash infusion of $124 million this year. As business returns to Flint, as the local economy begins to grow, so too will the ability of local government to finance their infrastructure. This legislation will help the city’s economy recover and its families have more of their own money to spend on their needs.

For Baltimore, Economic Freedom Zones will mean an extra $452 million this year left in Baltimore. For Chicago, $1.5 billion left in Chicago.

Those economic effects will be real and will be felt immediately. But Economic Freedom Zones will provide other reforms that set the stage for medium and long-term growth as well.

Economic Freedom Zones will lift some of the most anti-growth regulatory burden, without jeopardizing the health and safety of the public or the environment.

Federal permitting requirements for construction projects will be streamlined.

Regulations that artificially drive up labor costs will also be suspended.

And foreign investment that brings jobs to the community will be encouraged.

Outside investment into local education and social services will be encouraged by Economic Freedom Zone Tax Credits.

And to set the stage for continuous growth and opportunity for the next generation, education reforms will allow parents to move their children out of failing schools and into the school of their choice.

The War on Poverty has been going on for over fifty years and often it seems like poverty is winning. They say the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Big government programs haven’t cured poverty. In fact, some argue, they’ve just made the problem worse. Isn’t it time we tried something different.

Today, the Senate will have a chance to try something different. Today the Senate will have an opportunity to begin the rebuilding of America. I urge my colleagues to vote for Economic Freedom Zones.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-senate-votes-sen-rand-pauls-economic-freedom-zones-amendment-energy-bill/,Senate Votes on Sen. Rand Paul’s “Economic Freedom Zones” Amendment to Energy Bill,2016-04-19,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"Biggest Anti-Poverty Initiative Since the War on Poverty if Passed

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today voted on Senator Rand Paul’s amendment, known as the Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2015 (S.790), to H.R. 2028, the Energy Policy Modernization Act. The legislation will establish free market enterprise zones and dramatically reduce taxes in order to help facilitate the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, enhance and renew educational opportunities and increase community involvement in bankrupt or economically distressed areas. These zones will apply to any zip code with unemployment greater than one and a half times the national average. Sen. Paul originally introduced the legislation for the 114th Congress in March 2015.

The vote, which needed 60 to pass, was 35-62.

Prior to the vote, Sen. Rand Paul delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to support the Economic Freedom Zones Act. A video and transcript of Sen. Paul’s floor speech are available below.

Additionally, top-line bullet points and background information on the Economic Freedom Zones Act can be found HERE.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. PAUL’S FLOOR SPEECH

TRANSCRIPT

Sen. Paul: Jack Kemp and others who have looked and examined the issue of poverty have often found that we haven’t done a great job alleviating poverty. We’ve tried government programs in my state. We’ve tried them in rural Appalachia for 40 years, and yet we still have persistent poverty.

Many of us believe that we would have a better chance with poverty if we would lower taxes in these areas, lessen regulation and instead of sending the money to Washington, leave it where the poverty is.

My bill alone would leave $500 million in eastern Kentucky, $200 million in Louisville. We’ve had much discussion of Flint, Michigan, and the water problem there.

My bill would leave $124 million in Flint, Michigan next week. My bill would leave over $1 billion in Detroit. If there are those in this body who can come together and say that we have a unified presence and a unified ability and desire to combat poverty, this is the bill to do it.

It’s called Economic Freedom Zones, and I hope we’ll get bipartisan support in favor of leaving money in these impoverished communities to help them get started again. Thank you.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-announces-senate-vote-economic-freedom-zones-amendment-energy-bill/,Sen. Rand Paul Announces Senate Vote on “Economic Freedom Zones” Amendment to Energy Bill,2016-04-18,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"Biggest Anti-Poverty Initiative Since the War on Poverty if Passed

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today announced plans for the Senate to vote this week on his legislation, known as the Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2015. The legislation, S.790, will be voted on as an amendment to H.R. 2028, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

The Economic Freedom Zones Act will establish free market enterprise zones and dramatically reduce taxes in order to help facilitate the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, enhance and renew educational opportunities and increase community involvement in bankrupt or economically distressed areas. These zones will apply to any zip code with unemployment greater than one and a half times the national average. Sen. Paul originally introduced the legislation for the 114th Congress in March 2015.

“Economic Freedom Zones would be the largest anti-poverty initiative since the War on Poverty. There are many communities in our country, and throughout Kentucky, still waiting and praying for economic recovery and opportunity,” said Sen. Paul.

“The Economic Freedom Zones Act will allow impoverished areas to remove the shackles of big government by reducing taxes, regulations, and burdensome work requirements. By taking drastic, meaningful action, my legislation will create new jobs, get these communities back to work, and give Americans in these areas the chance to succeed. I am proud to have secured a vote on my proposal this week,” Sen. Paul continued.

Top-line bullet points and background information on the Economic Freedom Zones Act can be found HERE or below.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Economic Freedom Zone legislation will provide the following:

Immediate Relief – The quickest way to spur economic recovery is to allow residents and successful businesses to keep more of the money they earn so they can more fully engage in economic activity. Economic Freedom Zones achieve this by:

Reducing the individual and corporate income tax to a single, flat rate of 5 percent;

Reducing payroll taxes by 2 percent for both the employer and employee, at no cost to the trust funds.

Mid-Term Reinvestment – The quickest way to spur economic recovery is to allow residents While tax cuts provide immediate relief, economic recovery also requires new investment in communities. Economic Freedom Zones empower both business and local government to make these critical investments by:

Attracting Business

Double the amount of 100 percent expensing of all business investment costs;

Suspending eligible capital gains taxes;

Suspending EPA non-attainment designations in Economic Freedom Zone areas; and

Providing municipalities option to waive certain land use restrictions.

Freeing Municipalities to foster growth

Exempting eligible municipalities from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System requirements;

Streamlining National Environmental Policy Act requirements for construction projects; and

Suspend Davis-Bacon wage requirements.

Long-Term Revitalization – For communities to thrive over the long-term, they need to develop and attract the best human capital possible. Economic Freedom Zones help build a 21st Century workforce made up of local talent while attracting new workers.

Providing states with school choice options with Dept. of Education Title I portability funding for areas designated Economic Freedom Zones;

Providing a new $5,000 per child educational tax credit to parents or guardians;

Establish new Economic Freedom Zone Charitable Tax Credit for entities in eligible areas for –

Religious organizations or institutions;

Educational entities, including educational scholarships;

Homeless shelters and food banks.

Establishing new Economic Freedom Zone Visa (at the State’s discretion) –

Entrepreneurial investment: for qualified immigrants creating a new business and employing 5 U.S. citizens; and

Education performance needs: for qualified immigrants with a specialty degree or higher education qualification meeting Economic Freedom Zone needs.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-exposes-2-million-state-department-project-sending-filmmakers-worldwide-promote/,Sen. Rand Paul Exposes $2 Million State Department Project Sending Filmmakers Worldwide to Promote Diplomacy,2016-04-18,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ Sen. Paul draws attention to the U.S. Department of State expending $2 million taxpayer dollars, in the last year alone, to send filmmakers to various countries across the globe to show their documentaries in order to foster “understanding and cooperation, dialogue and debate.” Since the project’s beginning over 4 years ago, the government has spent nearly $5 million and has reached roughly 25,000 individuals worldwide – meaning the U.S. taxpayer has paid just over $200 a person.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Documentaries often give us insight into some subject with which we were previously not familiar. What you might also not be familiar with is how last year Uncle Sam spent over $2 million of your tax money to send filmmakers around the world showing their documentaries in the name of diplomacy.[1]

The American Film Showcase, a partnership between the University of Southern California and the U.S. Department of State (State) “highlights the value of film in fostering understanding and cooperation, dialogue and debate.”

According to the Showcase’s overview video, people’s perception of the U.S. is often drawn from blockbuster movies, said while panning past a Captain America shield. The Showcase aims to spread a more realistic view of America around the world, but also “[t]o encourage American filmmakers and film experts to learn about life and culture in selected host countries.” Thus, the taxpayer has paid to send these film-makers on 7-10 day trips to foreign countries, screening their and others’ works.

In fact, over four years, the Showcase has sent filmmakers to 73 countries “reaching” roughly 25,000 people worldwide according to the programs figures.[2] With approximately $5 million in grants from State over that time, the U.S. taxpayer is paying just over $200 a person “reached” by film.

To fund this project just this year would require the entire tax liability of 277 average American taxpayers.[3] Of course, this year’s federal deficit, according to President Obama’s most recent budget, will be $616 billion.[4] Meaning instead, Uncle Sam is more likely borrowing money from countries like China, and you’re paying the interest, to send filmmakers and their movies around the world.

So what kinds of movies reach people around the world, fostering healthy relationships? As you might or might not expect, there are films like Trash Dance, which tells of a woman’s journey to choreograph sanitation workers and their equipment in a dance; Top Spin, telling the tale of American teenagers’ quest to become table tennis champions; and Spellbound, a story about the U.S. National Spelling Bee.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-statement-ustr-and-commerce-hearing-advocating-ak-steel/,Sen. Rand Paul Statement at USTR and Commerce Hearing Advocating for AK Steel,2016-04-18,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul released the following statement, on behalf of AK Steel’s unemployed workers in the Ashland community, at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Commerce hearing last week regarding the global steel industry and its impact on the U.S. steel industry and market. Ashland Mayor Chuck Charles and Tim Gibbs, President of the Ashland Alliance, also testified before the USTR and Commerce representatives.

Following AK Steel’s announcement of major layoffs at the Ashland Works plant in October 2015, Sen. Paul has worked closely with the Ashland delegation and community leaders to monitor the situation and has made several official inquiries into the U.S. Department of Labor to grant Trade Adjustment Assistance on behalf of the Ashland community.

The full text of the statement can be found below.

STATEMENT TEXT

Mr. Jim Sanford

Assistant U.S. Trade Representative

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Washington, DC

Dear Mr. Sanford,

I write to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in regards to the the global steel industry situation and its impact on U.S. steel industry and market (Docket No: 2016-04857) published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2016. I know this is an issue incredibly important to the hard-working families in Ashland, Kentucky, as well many other communities in this great nation.

World wide demand for crude steel has decreased significantly in recent years. In countries like China domestic consumption has decreased so significantly that they and possibly other countries have resorted to exporting large amounts of steel far below fair market value, and drastically impacted U.S. steel producers. One such steel producer is AK Steel, which has a facility in Ashland, Kentucky. In October 2015, AK Steel announced the company would temporarily layoff close to 700 employees at its Ashland Works facility and, potentially, idle the plant. The company stated that one of the reasons for the temporary layoffs was the “onslaught of unfairly traded imports,” a situation more commonly known as “steel dumping”.

After AK Steel’s announcement, I had many conversations with local and industry officials, including AK Steel’s former CEO, James Wainscott, Ashland’s Mayor Chuck Charles, and other Ashland community leaders. Following these conversations, I sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and to the International Trade Administration (ITA) urging an expedited ruling to determine which country – China, India, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan, is responsible for artificially depressing the price of foreign steel introduced into U.S. markets. Congress has already taken legislative steps to help protect the U.S. steel industry. With my support, Congress passed and the President signed into law, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. The Trade Enforcement Act will significantly mitigate future attempts of “dumping” imports in the U.S. In addition, I, along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), sent a bipartisan and bicameral letter to President Obama requesting an expedited presidential investigation into accusations of steel dumping.

I made a promise to the Ashland Community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky to closely monitor this situation and aid in any way possible. The Department of Commerce’s hearing on this topic is greatly needed to give a voice to the employees, communities and businesses affected by “dumping”. I will continue to strongly advocate for those impacted by unfair trade practices.

I request that the that you take all necessary steps to support the U.S. steel industry in upcoming and ongoing trade cases. As well as continue to enforce current trade laws to defend our nations’ industries from dumping of cheap foreign steel.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration.

Sincerely,

RAND PAUL

UNITED STATES SENATOR

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-protecting-gun-rights-and-due-process-act/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Protecting Gun Rights and Due Process Act,2016-04-14,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today introduced the Protecting Gun Rights and Due Process Act, which would provide protection for gun owners by ensuring due process rights are upheld in the event an individual’s eligibility is questioned and reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

“The Obama administration is at it again, and this time they are unilaterally stripping gun rights from our nation’s veterans and seniors. The Protecting Gun Rights and Due Process Act will provide necessary protection for gun-owning Americans, and ultimately ensure that the Second Amendment is not infringed upon,” Sen. Paul said.

The Protecting Gun Rights and Due Process Act has gained support from the following organizations: the Gun Owners of America and the National Association of Gun Rights.

“Senator Paul’s ‘Protecting Gun Rights and Due Process Act’ will do much to block President Obama’s ability to strip the Second Amendment rights from law-abiding gun owners, veterans, and senior citizens without due process. Furthermore, it would restore rights for thousands of law-abiding gun owners, veterans, and senior citizens who were stripped of their Second Amendment rights without getting their day in court. Once again this bill shows that Senator Paul is one of Washington’s leading advocates for gun owners and the Second Amendment,” said the National Association of Gun Rights.

To read the legislation in its entirety, click HERE. Top-line bullet points and background information on the Protecting Gun Rights and Due Process Act can be found HERE or below.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE PROTECTING GUN RIGHTS AND DUE PROCESS ACT

Prohibits the sale or disposition of a firearm or ammunition to an individual that has been adjudicated as mentally incompetent or committed to a psychiatric hospital. Adjudication requires findings by a judicial officer or court and the individual receives notice to participate with counsel.

Within 90 days, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must review and remove from NICS any veteran that has not been adjudicated as mentally incompetent. The Attorney General will certify that the removal of names has taken place.

Prevents the Social Security Administrator from reporting individuals to NICS unless individual has been adjudicated as mentally incompetent. Attorney General will conduct a yearly review to certify reported names have necessary documentation.

Attorney General must certify a state’s report indicating a person had been adjudicated as mentally incompetent prior to inclusion to NICS.

All individuals considered to no longer be adjudicated as mentally incompetent will be notified and have their rights restored.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sens-paul-murphy-introduce-legislation-set-new-conditions-us-military-support-saudi-arabia/,"Sens. Paul, Murphy Introduce Legislation to Set New Conditions For U.S. Military Support to Saudi Arabia",2016-04-13,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"Bipartisan legislation will suspend certain munitions transfers to Saudi Arabia until President of the United States certifies Saudi Arabia’s demonstrated commitment to fighting terror & protecting civilians in Yemen

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, today introduced new legislation to prevent the United States from continuing to support Saudi-led military campaigns in places like Yemen where Saudi Arabia’s year-long campaign has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis and a security vacuum that has empowered our terrorist enemies al Qaeda and ISIS. The Murphy-Paul bipartisan legislation will require the President of the United States to formally certify that the Government of Saudi Arabia is demonstrating an ongoing effort to target terrorist groups, minimize harm to civilians, and facilitate humanitarian assistance before Congress can consider the sale or transfer of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia.

“Saudi Arabia is an important partner, but we must acknowledge when a friend’s actions aren’t in our national interest. I have yet to see evidence that the civil war we’re supplying and supporting in Yemen advances our national security. The more it drags on, the clearer it becomes that our military involvement on behalf of the Saudi-led coalition is prolonging human suffering in Yemen and aiding the very groups that are intent on attacking us,” said Murphy. “As the humanitarian crisis continues to deteriorate, anti-American sentiment is spiraling as the local population blames the U.S. for the thousands of civilian deaths resulting from the Saudis’ bombing campaign. This will come back to haunt us. And worse, our Gulf state partners have scaled back their anti-ISIS activity in order to focus on fighting Iran in Yemen. It’s time that we put real conditions on our military aid to the Saudis, including the requirement that their proxy wars with Iran not distract them from the fight against violent extremist groups like ISIS.”

“For too long the Obama administration has not been holding countries receiving U.S. military munitions accountable in the Middle East. It is no secret that Saudi Arabia’s record on strictly targeting combatants and legitimate military targets in Yemen has been questionable. I believe, along with Sen. Murphy, that the U.S. should halt the sale of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia until Congress has conducted proper oversight and ensured that such munitions are being used in a way that is consistent with our country’s national security strategy and values,” Paul said.

Under current law outlined in the Arms Export Control Act, the sale or transfer of arms to foreign governments by the United States must be proposed by the U.S. State Department and then approved by Congress. If Congress approves the sale, the Administration is then permitted to finalize and implement the transfer. The Murphy-Paul legislation will add a step to the approval process by requiring the President of the United States to attest that Saudi Arabia is concretely demonstrating its anti-terror efforts and protection of civilians before Congress can consider the sale. The President’s certification will assess whether Saudi Arabia has used U.S.-origin munitions in attacks against civilians in Yemen, how that affects U.S. credibility in the region, and how defense sales to Saudi Arabia contribute to U.S. national security objectives.

Murphy has repeatedly expressed concern that U.S. participation in Saudi Arabia’s military actions against Houthi rebels in Yemen threatens our own national security interests. In an address at the Council on Foreign Relations earlier this year, Murphy noted the positive and cooperative components of the United States’ alliance with Saudi Arabia, but specifically criticized their support for spreading intolerance and called for our nation to suspend supporting Saudi Arabia’s military campaign in Yemen until we are sure it does not distract from the fight against ISIS and al Qaeda. March 26, 2016 marked the one-year anniversary of the Saudi Arabia-led war in Yemen.

Under this joint resolution, the President’s certification must attest the following conditions are met:

1. The Government of Saudi Arabia is not providing funding, materiel support, or lethal aid to designated foreign terrorist organizations;

2. The Government of Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners are taking all feasible precautions to reduce the risk of harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, in the course of military action undertaken in their self-defense as described in section 4 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2754).

3. The Government of Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners are making demonstrable efforts to facilitate both humanitarian assistance and commercial goods, including commercial fuel and commodities not prohibited by UN Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015).

4. The Government of Saudi Arabia is taking all necessary measures to target designated foreign terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and affiliates of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as part of its military operations in Yemen.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-holds-hearing-fema-examine-waste-and-identify-solutions/,Sen. Rand Paul Holds Hearing on FEMA to Examine Waste and Identify Solutions,2016-04-12,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management for the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) held a hearing entitled, “FEMA: Assessing Progress, Performance, and Preparedness.” Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the subcommittee, and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) also participated in the hearing.

During the oversight hearing, Sen. Paul assessed the effectiveness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) preparedness grants programs, and highlighted examples of wasteful spending by grant recipients. Sen. Paul also sought additional details on FEMA’s lack of progress in implementing recommendations from the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

Witnesses testifying in the hearing included: Timothy W. Manning, Deputy Administrator for Protection and National Preparedness for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security; John Roth, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Christopher Currie, Director of Emergency Management, National Preparedness, and Critical Infrastructure Protection for the Homeland Security and Justice Team and U.S. Government Accountability Office; and John Drake, Deputy Administrator and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for the U.S. Department of Transportation

The video of Sen. Paul’s opening remarks at the committee hearing can be found below.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. PAUL’S OPENING REMARKS AT THE COMMITTEE HEARING ?

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-highlights-veterans-health-administration-neglecting-care-veterans-top-wasting/,"Sen. Rand Paul Highlights Veterans Health Administration Neglecting Care of Veterans on Top of Wasting $217,000 on Unused Medical Equipment",2016-04-11,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ Sen. Paul highlights the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System knowingly allowing $217,000 taxpayer dollars’ worth of medical equipment to sit idle for over four months preventing veterans from getting the medical care they deserve and need.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

You might have heard some new terms lately, things like: supply-chain, just-in-time inventory, Lean Six Sigma, and even some old words like efficiency and logistics have gotten new pep. It is all part of a collective realization in business that letting supplies sit idle is wasteful; even the best tools and products do no good if they are misused or allowed to sit.

Unfortunately, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) seems to have missed this trend and allowed 360 pieces of medical equipment to sit idle for months, costing taxpayers $217,000.[1]

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (IG), the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System took delivery of $1.8 million worth of leased urology equipment in October 2014, and then let it sit idle for nearly half a year. Unlike purchased equipment that presumable has life based on usage, this equipment has a fixed time lease of three years, meaning the taxpayer pays for it whether they are using it or not.

The VHA tried to justify this delay in two ways – that any new equipment must go through an onboarding process, cataloging, cleaning, training, etc., and that the contracting officer suddenly retired and was not able to coordinate the onboarding process.

However, it was a whistleblower that brought this issue to the IG, indicating even within the VA there was a sentiment that this equipment was being ignored. So how arduous is the onboarding process? While it does include a number of things like tagging and inventory and even staff training, from the time the whistleblower brought it to the VA’s attention to the time the equipment was deployed was roughly one month.

The rapid response to oversight also makes it hard to believe that even a sudden personnel change would cause months of delay. In fact, the procurement process was only six months to begin with, from April to October in 2014. The lease itself was signed just one month before delivery. In other words, there was a fairly short window for this sudden retirement to have caused such trouble in the onboarding process but not to derail the whole procurement.

Even recognizing that receiving and deploying equipment may take some amount of time, the IG found that this equipment sat idle of four months, costing the taxpayer $217,000. Wasting taxpayer’s money is always wrong and troubling, but the IG made another important observation: “wasted expenditures reduce the availability of funds necessary to treat veterans…”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-amendments-faa-reauthorization-act/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Amendments to FAA Reauthorization Act,2016-04-07,2016,2016-04,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"The “Arming All Pilots Act” Amendment and a Bipartisan Amendment with Sen. Edward Markey

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul this week introduced two amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016. The first amendment, known as the Arming All Pilots Act (S.1594), would increase training opportunities to encourage pilots to participate in the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program. Sen. Paul’s second bipartisan amendment, introduced alongside Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA), would protect an individual’s right to privacy against unwarranted governmental intrusion through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones.

Specifically, the Arming All Pilots Act as an amendment would expand the number of training facilities used for initial and recurrent training, including firearms requalification. Additionally, the bill will require a five-day initial training, with two days of in-person classroom attendance and additional on-line training options. Recurrent training for officers would be set at two days every five years. Sen. Paul originally introduced the Arming All Pilots Act in June 2015.

“The Federal Flight Deck Officer Program is an important element in our continued efforts to ensure the safety of airline passengers, and my amendment will make it possible for more pilots to get trained and protect flyers. Pilots regularly tell me they’ve experienced problems with the availability of training under the current program; my amendment addresses those concerns and ensures that participants in the program have the critical training they need,” Sen. Paul said.

The second bipartisan amendment would prohibit law enforcement from using a drone to surveil or collect evidence pertaining to a violation of a law or regulation without a warrant. While the use of drone aircraft and technology continues to expand in all areas of the government, the amendment will ensure the protection of every American citizen’s right to constitutional privacy protections.

“The use of drone surveillance may work on the battlefields overseas, but it isn’t well-suited for unrestrained use on the streets in the United States. Congress must be vigilant in providing oversight to the use of this technology and protection for rights of the American people. I will continue the fight to protect and uphold our Fourth Amendment,” said Sen. Paul.

“Just as we have rules of the road for manned vehicles, we now need rules of the sky for unmanned ones,” said Sen. Markey, a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FAA. “Requiring that law enforcement obtain a warrant before using a drone ensures we reap the economic and educational benefits of drones while ensuring the privacy of Americans is protected. I thank Senator Paul for his partnership on this amendment, and I look forward to fighting to ensure that Americans are guaranteed strong personal privacy protections as these new vehicles take flight.”

To read the Arming all Pilots in its entirety, click HERE. Top-line bullet points and background information on the amendment introduced with Sen. Markey can be found below, and the text can be found HERE.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON BIPARTISAN AMENDMENT INTRODUCED WITH SEN. MARKEY

Prohibits the use of drones owned or funded by the federal government in an evidence-collection or surveillance capacity unless a warrant authorizing the action has been obtained.

Includes the following exceptions:

Patrol of national borders;

When there is imminent danger to life;

High risk of a terrorist attack.

Specifies that no evidence obtained or collected in violation of this amendment can be used/admissible as evidence in a criminal, civil, or regulatory action.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:49:20Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-statement-department-labor-allow-taa-assistance-ak-steel-ashland-layoffs/,Sen. Rand Paul Statement on Department of Labor to Allow TAA Assistance for AK Steel Ashland Layoffs,2016-03-29,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Labor’s announcement to grant Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program eligibility to the unemployed personnel at AK Steel’s Ashland Works plant in Ashland, Kentucky.

“After making several official inquiries on behalf of the unemployed workers and families in the Ashland community, I am extremely pleased today to hear of the Department of Labor’s decision to grant AK Steel’s Ashland Works plant eligibility to obtain TAA benefits and services. I made a commitment to the community to monitor this situation and aid in any way possible, and will continue to do so,” Sen. Paul said.

Following AK Steel’s announcement of major layoffs at the Ashland Works plant in October 2015, Sen. Paul has worked closely with the Ashland delegation and community leaders to monitor the situation and has made several official inquiries into TAA assistance on behalf of AK Steel’s unemployed workers. Benefits of the TAA program will include: reemployment services to help workers obtain new employment, weekly income support payments, and eligibility for tax credits to cover health insurance premiums.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-uncovers-national-park-services-150000-grant-study-alaskan-natives-beliefs/,"Sen. Rand Paul Uncovers National Park Service’s $150,000 Grant to Study Alaskan Native’s Beliefs of the Supernatural",2016-03-29,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

In the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ Sen. Paul uncovers the National Park Service (NPS) funding a $150,000 grant to conduct a three-year study where the primary objective is to investigate Alaska’s Bering Strait Inuit tribe’s experiences with the supernatural in Alaska. According to NPS, the supernatural occurrences the study explores will be unexplained lights, sea monsters, invisible sea birds, animals with transformative powers, a variety of other non-human persons, and so on.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Honestly, we did not make this up and we did not find this one in the Onion; but someone must have been really excited about Fox’s reboot of the X-Files because the National Park Service is spending $150,000 of taxpayer money to investigate supernatural events in Alaska.[1]

Yes, you read that right. Last month, the National Park Service announced a $150,000 grant to Kawerak, Inc., who has no cost-sharing obligation, to conduct a three-year study under the title, “Knowledge, Experience and Beliefs of the Supernatural Environment.” By the way, this is the same Park Service that reports it has an almost $12 billion maintenance backlog.[2]

You might think this is simply cataloging historical and traditional beliefs of indigenous peoples of Alaska. To be sure, part of the project is to conduct archival research, but there is more. According to the announcement, “The primary objective of this project is to investigate Bering Strait Inuit residents’ beliefs and knowledge about (and experiences with) the supernatural environment…”

Experiences with the supernatural? Yes. In fact, according to the announcement, Kawerak is expected to, “[d]ocument community members’ personal experience with the supernatural…”[3] This will include community meetings where all ages are expected to participate, children are especially known for their insight and experience with supernatural events. In pre-award advertising for these meetings Kawerak noted this is meant to be a “serious and meaningful” collaboration on the supernatural. Serious, indeed, the advertisement also promises participants an honorarium.[4]

So, what constitutes supernatural? Well, “elements in and aspects of the environment such as little people, unexplained lights, sea monsters, invisible sea birds, animals with transformative powers, a variety of other non-human persons, landscape features with special powers, and other similar phenomena as defined by participants.”

In addition to direct funding, the National Park Service has committed to help with logistical support including to, “assist making agreements on using government housing,” promoting the project on Facebook, and to “have the project products translated into Russian.”[5] Back in the natural world, we know this project translates into more than 20 average taxpayers’ total one-year tax liability.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-announces-champion-interactive-waste-report-bracket/,Sen. Rand Paul Announces Champion of the Interactive ‘The Waste Report’ Bracket,2016-03-21,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today announced “helped deported illegal immigrants start businesses in their home country” as the overall champion of the interactive bracket of ‘The Waste Report,’ known as the Tournament of Government Waste. On Friday, the last two groups standing that went head-to-head in the finals were: Helped deported illegal immigrants start businesses in their home country and Allow millionaires to live in taxpayer-subsidized public housing.

The interactive tournament bracket, consisting of four rounds over the span of five days, commenced on Tuesday, March 15th and concluded Friday, March 18th. Results for the tournament were counted at midnight at the end of each day and announced the following day.

To read Sen. Paul’s wrap-up of the Tournament of Government Waste, view HERE or below. The results for the bracket can also be viewed below.

WRAP-UP OF THE TOURNAMENT OF GOVERNMENT WASTE

Illegal Immigrants’ Business Plans!!!! After four intense rounds of voting, Illegal Immigrants’ Business Plans emerged as the Champion of Government Waste. After surviving a close second round matchup against the Afghan Cricket League, Illegal Immigrant’s Business Plans easily knocked off #1 seed, Paying to Send Pakistani Kids to Space Camp, to advance to the finals. In a back and forth, barn burner of a final round, Illegal Immigrants’ Business Plans prevailed 52% to 48% over Millionaires in Public Housing.

This was the first year of The Waste Report’s, Tournament of Government Waste, where we pitted 16 of the worst examples of government waste against each other, and let you decide which was the most egregious.

The champion, Illegal Immigrant Business Plans was the subject of the January 4th, 2016 Waste Report. You will recall that the Inter-America Foundation spent $50,000 in El Salvador to help aid returning deportees start businesses there. The Inter-American Foundation sought to clarify that the program was not “intended” to aid criminal deportees (those convicted of crimes in the U.S.) but did not rule out the possibility. It is no wonder such a program was chosen by the voters as the best (or maybe worst) example of government waste in this year’s tournament.

These and many more examples of federal boondoggles can be found at Senator Paul and the Federal Spending Oversight Subcommittee’s websites, where we’ve chronicled 46 federal boondoggles totaling more than $1.12 billion. To put that number in prospective, it took the total one-year tax liability of 155,700 average Americans to fund this waste.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-announces-results-final-matchup-interactive-waste-report-bracket/,Sen. Rand Paul Announces Results for the Final Matchup of the Interactive ‘The Waste Report’ Bracket,2016-03-18,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul announced the results for the final two groups left competing for the Tournament of Government Waste, which is a special interactive bracket of ‘The Waste Report.’ The last two groups standing that will go head-to-head in the finals will be: Helped deport illegal immigrants start businesses in their home country and Allow millionaires to live in taxpayer-subsidized public housing.

The interactive tournament bracket, consisting of four rounds over the span of five days, is featured on Sen. Paul’s official website and Facebook page, and commenced on Tuesday, March 15th and will conclude Friday, March 18th. Results for the tournament will be counted at midnight at the end of each day and announced the following day. The overall champion of the tournament will be announced on Monday, March 21st.

The next round of the Tournament of Government Waste bracket can be viewed below. To access and participate in ‘The Waste Report’ tournament on Sen. Paul’s website and Facebook page, click HERE and HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-announces-second-round-results-special-interactive-waste-report-bracket/,Sen. Rand Paul Announces Second Round Results of Special Interactive ‘The Waste Report’ Bracket,2016-03-17,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today announced the second round results for the Tournament of Government Waste, which is a special interactive bracket of ‘The Waste Report.’ The second round of the tournament was comprised of 8 head-to-head lineups of egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government, previously released from Sen. Paul’s ‘The Waste Report.’

The winners of the second day that will advance to the next round include: Sending Kids to Pakistan on a trip to Space Camp, Helped deport illegal immigrants start businesses in their home country, Allow millionaires to live in taxpayer-subsidized public housing, and Built a gas station in Afghanistan that nobody uses.

The interactive tournament bracket, consisting of four rounds over the span of five days, is featured on Sen. Paul’s official website and Facebook page, and commenced on Tuesday, March 15th and will conclude Friday, March 18th. Results for the tournament will be counted at midnight at the end of each day and announced the following day. The overall champion of the tournament will be announced on Monday, March 21st.

The next round of the Tournament of Government Waste bracket can be viewed below. To access and participate in ‘The Waste Report’ tournament on Sen. Paul’s website and Facebook page, click HERE and HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-help-committee-passes-sens-rand-paul-and-edward-markeys-bipartisan-treat-act/,HELP Committee Passes Sens. Rand Paul and Edward Markey’s Bipartisan “TREAT Act”,2016-03-16,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee today unanimously passed the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT Act), originally introduced by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA). The bipartisan TREAT Act would expand specialized treatment for prescription painkiller and heroin addiction.

As a physician by trade for over 20 years, Sen. Paul has been leading the fight to provide greater treatment opportunities for patients struggling with drug addiction by eliminating Washington’s overreaching and misguided restrictions on patients’ access to treatment. Specifically, the TREAT Act would expand the ability of addiction medical specialists and other trained medical professionals to provide life-saving medication-assisted therapies such as buprenorphine, also called Suboxone, for patients battling heroin and prescription painkiller addiction.

“I am encouraged today by the HELP Committee’s passage of the TREAT Act. All across Kentucky, I have heard time and time again from families and medical professionals how the federal government’s arbitrary patient caps are blocking access to effective and proven treatments for those who want help, and ultimately, harming both the addicted person and their loved ones. The TREAT Act will remove a roadblock to getting people the help they need to break the cycle of addition and get on a path to recovery,” said Senator Paul.

“We need to remove the barriers to effective treatment for opioid addiction, including outdated federal restrictions on medication-assisted therapies like buprenorphine. Unlike any other treatment regimen for any other disease, physicians are severely limited in the number of patients they can treat with medication-assisted therapies, contributing to long waitlists and the inability of patients to get treatment for their addiction when they need it. Approximately 2.5 million Americans who abused or were dependent on opioids in 2012, fewer than one million received treatment for their condition, partly because of these misguided federal restrictions. If we are going to reduce the supply for heroin and illicit prescription drugs we have to reduce the demand through treatment. I thank Senator Paul for his partnership on this effort, and I urge Senate leadership to bring this important legislation to the floor for a full Senate vote,” Senator Markey said.

Click HERE to read the TREAT Act in its entirety. Top-line bullet points and background information on the TREAT Act amendment can be found below.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE TREAT ACT

Expands the maximum allowable patient cap from 100 to 500 maximum patients.

Changes the initial (first year) allowable patient load under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) from 30 to 100, and after one year a physician may request to treat up to 500 patients.

Allows certain physicians, after one year, to request to treat up to 500 patients. To be eligible:

Physicians must be substance abuse treatment specialists, as recognized by specific board or society certifications, or

Non-specialist physicians must complete 24 hours of approved training.

Physicians must also maintain records about whether they provide counseling services on site or refer patients elsewhere for such services, and how frequently such patients use those services, and the frequency with which patients terminate treatment against medical advice.

Provides states the flexibility to set the patient cap for their state at higher or lower than the cap under the CSA (but no lower than 30 patients and no more than 500). States may also set requirements about the types of facilities or practice settings physicians can use to treat addiction patients, required education, or reporting requirements.

Allows nurse practitioners (NPs) and physicians assistants (PAs) to be able to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction for the first time. NPs and PAs would be qualified to treat up to 100 patients if they complete 24 hours of education on the treatment of addiction patients.

Requires HHS, after 2 years, and GAO, after 4 years, to issue reports to Congress about the effect of this legislation in terms of availability of treatment, quality of treatment programs, integration with other health care services, diversion, state-level policies, and use of nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants to provide this treatment.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-announces-first-round-results-special-interactive-waste-report-bracket/,Sen. Rand Paul Announces First Round Results of Special Interactive ‘The Waste Report’ Bracket,2016-03-16,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today announced first round results from his special interactive bracket of ‘The Waste Report,’ known as the Tournament of Government Waste. For the first round of the tournament, the bracket was comprised of 16 head-to-head lineups of egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government, previously released from Sen. Paul’s ‘The Waste Report.’

The winners of the first day that will advance to the second round include: Sending Kids to Pakistan on a trip to Space Camp, Pitched in for a Hollywood museum about the Oscars, Started a professional cricket league in Afghanistan, Helped deport illegal immigrants start businesses in their home country, allow millionaires to live in taxpayer-subsidized public housing, studied the gambling habits of Ugandans, gave FEMA assistance for losses already covered by private insurance, and built a gas station in Afghanistan that nobody uses.

The interactive tournament bracket, consisting of four rounds over the span of five days, will be featured on Sen. Paul’s official website and Facebook page, and commenced on Tuesday, March 15th and will conclude Friday, March 18th. Results for the tournament will be counted at midnight at the end of each day and announced the following day. The overall champion of the tournament will be announced on Monday, March 21st.

The Second Round of the Tournament of Government Waste bracket can be viewed below. To access and participate in ‘The Waste Report’ tournament on Sen. Paul’s website and Facebook page, click HERE and HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-help-committee-vote-sens-rand-paul-and-edward-markey-treat-act/,HELP Committee to Vote on Sens. Rand Paul and Edward Markey “TREAT Act”,2016-03-15,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tomorrow, March 16th, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to vote on the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT Act), originally introduced by U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA). The bipartisan TREAT Act would expand specialized treatment for prescription drug and heroin addiction.

As a physician by trade for over 20 years, Sen. Paul has been leading the fight to provide greater treatment opportunities for patients struggling with drug addiction by eliminating Washington’s overreaching and misguided restrictions on patients’ access to treatment. Specifically, the TREAT Act would expand the ability of addiction medical specialists and other trained medical professionals to provide life-saving medication-assisted therapies such as buprenorphine, also called Suboxone, for patients battling heroin and prescription drug addiction. This amendment would also allow qualified nurse practitioners and physician assistants the ability to prescribe this medication for the first time.

“All across Kentucky, I have heard time and time again from families and medical professionals how the federal government’s arbitrary patient caps are blocking access to effective and proven treatments for those who want help, and ultimately, harming both the addicted person and their loved ones. The TREAT Act will remove a roadblock to getting people the help they need to break the cycle of addition and get on a path to recovery,” said Senator Paul.

Click HERE to read the TREAT Act in its entirety. Top-line bullet points and background information on the TREAT Act Manager’s amendment can be found below.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE TREAT ACT MANAGER’S AMENDMENT

Expands the maximum allowable patient cap from 100 to 500 maximum patients.

Changes the initial (first year) allowable patient load under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) from 30 to 100, and after one year a physician may request to treat up to 500 patients.

Allows certain physicians, after one year, to request to treat up to 500 patients. To be eligible:

Physicians must be substance abuse treatment specialists, as recognized by specific board or society certifications, or

Non-specialist physicians must complete 24 hours of approved training.

Physicians must also maintain records about whether they provide counseling services on site or refer patients elsewhere for such services, and how frequently such patients use those services, and the frequency with which patients terminate treatment against medical advice.

Provides states the flexibility to set the patient cap for their state at higher or lower than the cap under the CSA (but no lower than 30 patients and no more than 500). States may also set requirements about the types of facilities or practice settings physicians can use to treat addiction patients, required education, or reporting requirements.

Allows nurse practitioners (NPs) and physicians assistants (PAs) to be able to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction for the first time. NPs and PAs would be qualified to treat up to 100 patients if they complete 24 hours of education on the treatment of addiction patients.

Requires HHS, after 2 years, and GAO, after 4 years, to issue reports to Congress about the effect of this amendment in terms of availability of treatment, quality of treatment programs, integration with other health care services, diversion, state-level policies, and use of nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants to provide this treatment.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-unveils-special-interactive-waste-report-bracket/,Sen. Rand Paul Unveils Special Interactive ‘The Waste Report’ Bracket,2016-03-15,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today unveiled a special interactive bracket of ‘The Waste Report,’ known as the Tournament of Government Waste. The bracket will be comprised of head-to-head lineups of egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government, previously released from Sen. Paul’s ‘The Waste Report.’

The interactive tournament bracket, consisting of four rounds over the span of five days, will be featured on Sen. Paul’s official website and Facebook page, and will commence Tuesday, March 15th and conclude Friday, March 18th. Results for the tournament will be counted at midnight at the end of each day and announced the following day. The overall champion of the tournament will be announced on Monday, March 21st.

The Tournament of Government Waste bracket can be viewed below. To access and participate in ‘The Waste Report’ tournament on Sen. Paul’s website and Facebook page, click HERE and HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-highlights-90000-taxpayer-dollars-spent-department-state-promote-peaceful/,"Sen. Rand Paul Highlights $90,000 Taxpayer Dollars Spent by the Department of State to Promote Peaceful Relations between the U.S. and the United Kingdom",2016-03-11,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

The latest edition of ‘The Waste Report’ uncovers the U.S. Department of State expending $90,000 of taxpayer dollars to promote peaceful relations between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. All the while, the same Department of State considers the U.S. to have “no closer ally than the United Kingdom.”

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

No lead-in needed for this one. The U.S. Department of State is spending $90,000 to promote better understanding between the U.S. and….wait for it….the United Kingdom (UK).

According to the grant solicitation, the successful recipient shall make sub-awards between $250 and $40,000 to facilitate, among other things, student and faculty exchange, speakers, and film and art programs.[1] We do not recommend sharing The Patriot.

The U.S. Embassy in London justifies this grant under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, quoting, “to enable the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries… and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations between the United States and other countries of the world.”[2]

Promoting peaceful relations? While it is true that the United States and the United Kingdom had a rocky start to our relationship, after more than a century of alliance it is probably safe to say we are on pretty good terms with our friends across the pond. You might even say we have a “special relationship,” as Winston Churchill did in his famous 1946 “Iron Curtain” speech and has been repeated by leaders from both countries ever since.[3]

Don’t take our word for it, according to the same Department of State that is funding this project, “The United States has no closer ally than the United Kingdom… Bilateral cooperation reflects the common language, ideals, and democratic practices of the two nations.” In other words, they are our best friend and we have a lot in common.

In fact, Britons seem to already have a favorable opinion of our two nations’ relationship. A 2010 survey found 66 percent of Britons had a favorable opinion of the U.S. and 62 percent consider us to be their strongest ally.[4] This is pretty remarkable when you consider that Canada and Australia are still Commonwealth Realms – autonomous nations that still recognize the Queen of England as their monarch.

With the internet, YouTube, and 24-hour news, if anything, we probably understand each other more now than ever before. Not to mention that approximately 4 million Brits (6 percent of their population) visit the United States each year[5] and 3 million Americans visit the UK.[6] Heck, even the NFL is playing American football in the UK and talking about a team being based there.[7]

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-supports-state-lawmakers-legislation-bring-charter-school-kentucky/,Sen. Rand Paul Supports State Lawmaker’s Legislation to Bring Charter School to Kentucky,2016-03-11,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the following statement in support of legislation by Kentucky State Senator Mike Wilson and State Representative Brad Montrell to adopt new laws to bring charter schools to the Commonwealth. Both Sen. Wilson’s and Rep. Montrell’s bills were introduced earlier last week.

“I firmly believe school choice is the great equalizer. All children, no matter who they are or where they live, deserve an equal chance to develop their skills and intellect. I commend Sen. Mike Wilson and Rep. Brad Montrell today for taking the initiative to push for the entrance of charter schools in our Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Sen. Rand Paul said.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-senate-votes-sen-rand-pauls-joint-resolution-disapproval-halt-sale-advanced-military-aircraft/,Senate Votes on Sen. Rand Paul’s Joint Resolution of Disapproval to Halt Sale of Advanced Military Aircraft to Pakistan,2016-03-10,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – By invoking the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, U.S. Senator Rand Paul forced a vote today in the Senate on S.J.Res.31, a joint resolution of disapproval to halt U.S. arms sales to the government of Pakistan. Prior to the vote, Sen. Paul delivered remarks urging his colleagues to support the joint resolution of disapproval, which would have stopped the sale of 8 F-16s and additional technical gear to the Pakistani government.

24-71 voted in support of Pakistan not receiving F-16s.

“The U.S. and Pakistani relationship has been a troubled one. Though the government of Pakistan has been considered America’s ally in the fight on terrorism, Pakistan’s behavior would suggest otherwise. While we give them billions of dollars in aid, we are simultaneously aware of their intelligence and military apparatus assisting the Afghan Taliban,” said Sen. Paul.

“In addition to Pakistan’s duplicitous nature, it also has a deplorable human rights record. Pakistan often isolates and unjustly jails religious minorities and Christians to include Pakistani Christian Asa Bibi. Only after an international outcry did Pakistan commutes Asa Bibi’s death sentence. In addition to Pakistan’s support of terrorism and deplorable human rights record, it continues to imprison Dr. Shakil Afridi, who helped the U.S. locate and kill Osama Bin Laden,” Sen. Paul continued.

Click HERE to read the joint resolution of disapproval in its entirety.

The video and transcript of Sen. Paul’s remarks can be found below.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. PAUL’S FLOOR SPEECH

TRANSCRIPT

Sen. Paul: Pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, I move to discharge the Foreign Relations Committee from further consideration of S. J. Resolution 31 relating to the disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the government of Pakistan.

Presiding Officer: The motion is debatable for up to one hour.

Sen. Paul: Madam President, I rise in opposition to the American taxpayers being forced to pay for fighter jets for Pakistan. Over $300 million from the American taxpayer will be designated to go to Pakistan to pay for eight new F-16s for Pakistan.

We’ve got a lot of problems here in our country, my friends. We’ve got a lot of things going on in our country that need to be taken care of, and we don’t have enough money to be sending it to Pakistan. I can’t in good conscience look away as America crumbles at home and politicians tax us to send the money to corrupt and duplicitous regimes abroad.

When I travel across Kentucky and I see the look of despair in the eyes of out of work coal miners, when I see the anguish in the faces of those who live in constant poverty, I wonder why the establishment of both parties continues to send our money overseas to countries that take our money, take our arms and laugh in our face.

We’ve given $15 billion to Pakistan, $15 billion over the last decade. And yet their previous president admits that Pakistan armed, aided, and abetted the Taliban. You remember the Taliban in Afghanistan that harbored and hosted bin Laden for a decade? Pakistan helped them. Pakistan was one of only two countries that recognized the Taliban.

Why in the world would we be taxing the American people to send this money to Pakistan? You remember when bin Laden escaped? We chased him and he escaped. Where did he go? To Pakistan. He lived for a decade in Pakistan. Where? About a mile away from their military academy. Somehow they missed him there in a 15-foot high walled compound, bin Laden stayed in Pakistan while we funnel billions upon billions of dollars to them.

Pakistan to this day is said to look away, to not look at the Haqqani network. In fact, it is accused that many members of their government are complicit with the Haqqani network. Who is the Haqqani network? It’s a network of terrorists that kill Americans. We have American soldiers dying at the hands of Pakistani terrorists that the government looks the other way.

General John F. Campbell testified to Congress that the Haqqani network remains the most capable threat to U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, and yet you are asked to send F-16s and good money after bad to a government in Pakistan that looks the other way.

Pakistan is at best a frenemy, part friend and a lot enemy. If Pakistan truly wants to be our ally, if Pakistan truly wants to help in the war on radical Islam, it should not require a bribe. It should not require the American taxpayer to subsidize arms sales. They already have 70 F-16s. They’ve got an air force of F-16s. What what would happen if we didn’t send them eight more that we’re being asked to pay for? Maybe they’d listen. Maybe they would help us. Maybe they would be an honest broker in the fight against terrorism.

We are $19 trillion in debt. We borrow a million dollars a minute. We don’t have any money to send to Pakistan to bribe them to buy planes from us. We don’t have the money. We have problems at home. Our infrastructure crumbles at home. We have longstanding poverty at home. We’ve got problems in America. And we don’t have money to borrow the money from China to send it to Pakistan.

In my state, in Kentucky, we have a dozen counties with unemployment nearly double the national rate. In Magoffin county, Kentucky, 12.5% of people are out of work. Those who today will vote to send money to Pakistan need to come with me to Kentucky and they need to come to Magoffin county and they need to look people in the face who are out of work in America and explain to them why we should send money to Pakistan.

We’ve got people hurting here at home. In Harlan county, the President’s war on coal has led to long-standing, double-digit unemployment. In Harlan, Kentucky, people are out of work. People live in poverty, and they don’t understand why Congress is sending money to Pakistan.

In Leslie county, high unemployment prompts their citizens to ask, “why is the government spending billions of dollars for advanced fighter jets for foreigners?” They don’t understand it. They can’t understand, when they live from day to day, why the government is sending money to Pakistan.

As I travel Kentucky, I ask my constituents, should America send money and arms to a country that persecutes Christians? I’ve yet to meet a single voter who wants their tax dollars going to countries that persecute Christians.

In Pakistan, it is in their constitution that if you criticize the state religion, you can be put to death. Asia Bibi has been on death row for nearly five years. Asia Bibi is a Christian. Her crime: She went to the well to draw water, and the villagers began to stone her. They beat her with sticks until she was bleeding. They continued to stone her, as they chanted “Death! Death to the Christian!” The police finally arrived, and she thought she’d been saved, only to be arrested by the Pakistani police, and there she sits on death row for five years.

Is it an ally, is it a civilized nation that puts Christians to death for criticizing the state religion? I defy any member of this body, go home, talk to the first voter, go outside the beltway, leave Congress and drive outside the beltway and stop at the first gas station, stop at the first grocery store and ask anybody, Republican, Democrat, Independent, you ask anybody, should we be sending money to a country that persecutes Christians?

Asia Bibi sits on death row for criticizing the state religion, and your money goes to support her government. What will happen to Pakistan if they don’t get eight more F-16s. They’ll only have 70 F-16s. Most of the politicians here simply don’t care. They don’t care whether Pakistan persecutes Christians. They only know one way. The one way is to open our wallet and bleed us dry and hope that someday Pakistan will change its behavior.

Well, guess what? If you’re not strong enough to vote for this resolution, if you think that some kind of cajoling and flattery and nice talk with empty words is going to change the behavior of Pakistan, you’ve got another thing coming. It’s been going on for decades.

When I forced a vote in the Foreign Relations Committee the to say that countries that put Christians to death for criticizing the state religion – there’s about 34 of these countries, a couple dozen of them who receive money from us, American tax dollars going to countries that persecute Christians – when I introduced the amendment to say, guess what? Let’s not do it anymore. Any country that has a law that compels a Christian and puts a Christian to death, that country would no longer receive our money.

You know what the vote was? 18-2 from Washington politicians that keep sending good money after bad, because they say, oh, the moderates there are going to change their minds someday. Well, after they bleed us dry, we’ve given them $15 billion, and I have seen no evidence of a change of behavior.

Insolence, arrogance, and people who laugh as they cash our check. Is Pakistan our ally in the war on terror? Well, not only did they help the Taliban that hosted bin Laden for a decade, when finally got bin Laden, we got him with evidence that was given to us by a doctor in Afghanistan. Where is he now? Pakistan has locked him away in a dark, dank prison from which he will probably never arrive out of, from which he will probably never be released.

Shakil Afridi has essentially been given a life sentence by Pakistan for the crime of helping the United States and helping all civilized nations get to bin Laden. He sat under the noses of the Pakistani government for a decade. We finally got him when Shakil Afridi helped us. People aren’t going to continue to help America if we don’t help them, if we don’t protect our human intelligence, if we don’t protect those who are willing to help America. He sits and rots in a prison.

What message do we send to Pakistan if we send them eight more F-16s and we tell you, the American taxpayer, you’re paying for it? What message does that send to Pakistan? The message is Pakistan is, we’ll just keep thumbing our nose to America. And we’ve laugh all the way to the bank as we do nothing to release the Christians on death row or to release the doctor who helped us.

Should we give planes to a country that imprisons these heroes, heroes who helped and put their life on the line? Today we will vote on whether the American people should foot the bill. I have yet to meet a voter in my state of Kentucky or across America that thinks it’s a good idea to send more money to Pakistan.

We have a $19 trillion debt. We borrower $1 million a minute. We have no money. It’s not even a surplus. They say, oh, we’re going to influence Pakistan. Or they may rise up. The revolution won’t stop the money. The heck it won’t. If my resolution becomes law, the eight jets will not go to Pakistan and be subsidized and not one penny of American tax dollars will go to Pakistan.

We have to borrow money from China to send it to Pakistan. Such a policy is insane and supported by no one outside of Washington. You go anywhere in America and ask them, should we give money, should the taxpayer be forced to give money to Pakistan, a country that persecutes Christians, nobody is for it.

And yet the vast and out-of-touch establishment in Washington continues to do it. Is it any wonder people are unhappy with Washington? Is it any wonder that Americans are sick and tired of the status quo? Sick and tired of people not listening to them.

We have no money in the treasury. We are all out of money. This influences nothing other than to tell the Pakistanis they can continue doing what they want.

I urge my colleagues to vote against subsidized sales of fighter jets to Pakistan, and I reserve the remainder of my time.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sens-paul-king-introduce-legislation-support-local-meat-processing/,"Sens. Paul, King Introduce Legislation to Support Local Meat Processing",2016-03-08,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"The PRIME Act would boost local foods movement by easing burdensome federal regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced legislation that would make it easier for small farms and ranches to provide locally-produced meats to consumers. The Processing Revival and Instrastate Meat Exemption Act, or PRIME Act, would give individual states the freedom to permit intrastate distribution of custom-slaughtered meat such as beef, pork, goat or lamb to consumers, restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, and grocery stores.

“In Maine, a growing number of consumers are looking to buy locally-produced meats. But as farmers try to match that increased demand, the most significant barrier is the capacity to have meat processed,” Senator King said. “It simply defies logic that a Maine farmer has to send their animals halfway across the state when they just want to sell the meat next door. By providing states with the option to regulate the processing and local sale of meats, the PRIME Act will restore a measure of commonsense to the process, support Maine’s farmers, and bolster the local foods movement, all while protecting consumer safety.”

“The PRIME Act will make it easier for farmers to sell and consumers to buy locally produced meat,” Senator Paul said.

Under current law, the custom slaughter of animals is exempt from federal inspection regulations only if the meat is slaughtered for personal, household, guest, or employee use. That means in order to sell individual cuts of locally-raised meats, farmers and ranchers must first send their animals to one of a limited number of state or USDA-inspected slaughterhouses, which are sometimes hundreds of miles away, adding substantially to transportation costs and stress on the animals.

According to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, there are five USDA-inspected and eight state-inspected meat processors in Maine. The PRIME Act would provide states with the option to develop and implement regulations creating a third Custom processor category for meats to be sold in-state. Doing so would help relieve the significant shortage of processing capacity and allow small farms, ranches, and slaughterhouses to thrive.

The legislation, which was introduced in the House of Representatives last year by Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), is supported by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund and the Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-scrutinizes-255-billion-federal-debt-interest-payments-costing-us-citizens-800/,Sen. Rand Paul Scrutinizes the $255 Billion in Federal Debt Interest Payments Costing U.S. Citizens $800 Each,2016-03-07,2016,2016-03,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

The latest edition of ‘The Waste Report’ scrutinizes the federal government’s $255 billion federal debt interest payment, which costs every American individually $800 dollars, just this year. The staggering amount of interest payments alone could fund Congress, the Federal Court System, and over 11 major government departments and agencies, but instead it buys absolutely nothing.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

You probably have heard about the $19 trillion balance on the federal government’s credit card and maybe even know your share is just over $60,000. However, you may not know about the interest on that debt. This year alone interest payments will be around $255 billion, which comes out to about $800 for each American alive today.[1] The President’s budget anticipates $303 billion in interest next year, raising your share to $938, an increase of $148.[2]

It is worth noting what we could be doing with that money. Our $255 billion interest payment this year COULD have been used to fund the Departments of: Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, State, the EPA, NASA, NSF, the Small Business Administration, Congress and the U.S. Federal Courts – COMBINED.[3]

Some think that perpetual deficits, and the debt they create, do not matter. John Maynard Keynes famously said, “[t]he long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead.”[4] But even if we can perpetually put off paying for what we borrow, we cannot outlive or otherwise avoid paying interest. It is not due in the far off future, it is due right now, and will be due tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that, and it will never go away until the debt is paid off entirely. It is not left to our kids and grandkids; it is a burden, here, today.

Worse still, interest payments do not pay for any things, not one salary, not one paperclip. The first $800 dollars you pay in taxes this year will simply buy nothing, and because our debt keeps growing, our interest burden keeps growing. This year alone, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects interest payments will jump 14 percent and will more than triple by the 2026.[5]

As bad as it is, it gets worse!!! Suppose we balance our budget, surely that would curtail wasteful interest spending. Not necessarily. As CBO notes, “[i]nterest rates [which are near record lows] on federal borrowing are also expected to rise steadily over the next few years…”[6] As we all learned from the 2008 housing crisis, if you are just paying interest, even a modest rise in rates can blow up your budget. The only way to accommodate this is with higher taxes or reduced services, or worse still, borrowing more just to pay the interest on what we have already borrowed. In other words, taking a cash advance on one card to make the payment on another – at some point it all crashes down.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:47:03Z
http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-continues-push-national-guard-unit-congress,Kilili continues push for National Guard unit in Congress,2016-03-06,2016,2016-03,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Saipan Tribune- As members of the U.S House Armed Service committee craft a Defense budget for 2017, Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) submitted testimony last week asking that the budget authorize a National Guard unit in the CNMI and provide language the would require the Department of Defense to produce a report on the unit’s its implementation and funding needs.
Sablan, in his March 1 testimony, pointed to the National Guard Bureau report last August that found a unit feasible in the NMI. The study was mandated in the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act.
Sablan said establishing a National Guard in the NMI would support the military’s goal of “rebalance” to Asia, increasing U.S. military presence in the “first line of U.S. soil in the Western Pacific.”
Sablan said the National Guard unit would also give the NMI governor additional capacity to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.
“Ours is one of only two jurisdictions nationwide that does not have its own National Guard,” Sablan said, “a deficient sorely apparent in August of last year, when Typhoon Soudelor caused widespread damage and led the President to declare a major disaster in the islands.”
Sablan added the “groundwork” for establishing a National Guard unit was already in place at the local level, pointing to a 2002 public law to authorize such.
“What we need now is federal action,” Sablan said.
Sablan said, H.R. 3649, his bill to authorize National Guard units in the NMI would not require any funding nor impose any new requirements on the National Guard Bureau or the Department of Defense. It would simply include the Northern Marianas Island in the definitions sections of current law of what constitutes the Natioanl Guard, he said
On his second request—to have the DoD produce a report on how it will implement this National Guard unit—Sablan called this “proper next step” to the 2015 report, which found a guard unit in the NMI feasible.
Sablan believes the Defense secretary should report to the Armed Services committee its implementation plan, a report that should include details on force structure allocation, recruiting, and funding requirements.
This would enable the committee to “better understand how the Department would stand up a new National Guard unit, and how Congress could help,” Sablan added.
Sablan closed his testimony by thanking the committee for its “keen eye” on the expansion of military activity in the NMI and for working with him as these plans develop.
“The military buildup and presence in the Marianas region will have long-term consequences for the people I represent,” Sablan said, “and I appreciate the partnership of this committee in managing these developments in the best interest of my constituents and of the national security needs of our nation.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sablan.house.gov/making-case-nmi-national-guard,Making the case for an NMI National Guard,2016-03-06,2016,2016-03,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"At the House Armed Services Committee Member request day this year, I submitted testimony to help set up a Northern Mariana Islands National Guard unit. I asked that my bill, H.R. 3649, authorizing an NMI Guard unit, be made part of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.
I also requested that the 2017 NDAA require the Department of Defense to submit a plan following up on last year’s report that an NMI Guard unit is a realistic goal, given our population and other factors. I included an order for the report in the 2014 NDAA as a necessary step in making the case for our own Guard unit. Now, the challenge will be getting the unit approved at a time when the Guard is actually downsizing nationwide.
Despite that, an NMI Guard unit is needed to help the Governor respond to natural disasters, such as Typhoon Soudelor, as well as to provide jobs for island residents. Besides, every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands all have their own National Guard. The Northern Marianas should, too.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sablan.house.gov/nmi-questions-are-focus-secretary-jewell,NMI questions are the focus for Secretary Jewell,2016-03-06,2016,2016-03,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Last week I questioned Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on her Department’s FY17 budget proposal, focusing on what is important for the Northern Mariana Islands.
Close Up, the program that brings island students to Washington every year to learn about their government, has been dropped from any mention in the budget. I wanted the Secretary to make a commitment to fund Close Up; and she said there would be $1 million for the program.
I also asked about the Rota National Park study, which I had authorized in law in 2015. The study is on schedule and fully funded, but I wanted the Secretary to know it is a priority for the NMI and especially Rota.
I brought up the slow pace of cleanup at American Memorial Park after Typhoon Soudelor that has been a concern of many constituents, so the Secretary will make sure the Park gets more attention.
And I asked for a report on the Interagency Group on Insular Areas, which Governor Torres attended last month. Is IGIA working? Are the Governors satisfied with the outcomes? The last report on the IGIA website is from 2008.
I got a commitment from the Secretary to provide something more recent. This opportunity for direct communication with Department heads is why the annual budget hearings are so important.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-march-7-2016,"THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - March 7, 2016",2016-03-06,2016,2016-03,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"In this issue:
 NMI questions are the focus for Secretary Jewell 
	Making the case for an NMI National Guard 
	Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs for/in the Marianas 
	Highlights in the Legislative Program 
 __________________________________________________________________________
 NMI questions are the focus for Secretary Jewell. 
This week I questioned Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on her Department’s FY17 budget proposal, focusing on what is important for the Northern Mariana Islands. Close Up, the program that brings island students to Washington every year to learn about their government, has been dropped from any mention in the budget. I wanted the Secretary to make a commitment to fund Close Up; and she said there would be $1 million for the program. I also asked about the Rota National Park study, which I had authorized in law in 2015. The study is on schedule and fully funded, but I wanted the Secretary to know it is a priority for the NMI and especially Rota. I brought up the slow pace of cleanup at American Memorial Park after Typhoon Soudelor that has been a concern of many constituents, so the Secretary will make sure the Park gets more attention. And I asked for a report on the Interagency Group on Insular Areas, which Governor Torres attended last month. Is IGIA working? Are the Governors satisfied with the outcomes? The last report on the IGIA website is from 2008. I got a commitment from the Secretary to provide something more recent. This opportunity for direct communication with Department heads is why the annual budget hearings are so important.
 Making the case for an NMI National Guard.  
At the House Armed Services Committee Member request day this year, I submitted testimony to help set up a Northern Mariana Islands National Guard unit. I asked that my bill, H.R. 3649, authorizing an NMI Guard unit, be made part of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. I also requested that the 2017 NDAA require the Department of Defense to submit a plan following up on last year’s report that an NMI Guard unit is a realistic goal, given our population and other factors. I included an order for the report in the 2014 NDAA as a necessary step in making the case for our own Guard unit. Now, the challenge will be getting the unit approved at a time when the Guard is actually downsizing nationwide. Despite that, an NMI Guard unit is needed to help the Governor respond to natural disasters, such as Typhoon Soudelor, as well as to provide jobs for island residents. Besides, every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands all have their own National Guard. The Northern Marianas should, too.
 Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs for and in the Marianas: 
Grants:
 Senior Medicare Patrol Program – Senior Medicare Patrol Program projects actively work to disseminate fraud prevention and identification information through the media, outreach campaigns, community events and also working with beneficiaries who present with complex cases such as compromised Medicare numbers. Current closing date is April 25, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281363.
	Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services – The goal of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program is to expand the availability of high quality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents in communities across the nation. Current closing date is April 22, 2016. For more information, go tohttp://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281833.
	Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction – The goal of the Citizenship Instruction grant is to provide support to community-based organizations in their efforts to establish new citizenship instruction programs or expand the quality and reach of existing citizenship instruction programs. Current closing date is April 22, 2016. For more information, go tohttp://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281832.
	Technology Innovation for Public Safety – There are two categories under this solicitation: (1) innovative technology implementation to address precipitous increases in crime and (2) training and technical assistance to assist grantees in project implementation and collection of data to assist BJA in identifying promising practices. Current closing date is April 20, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281935.
	WaterSMART: Cooperative Watershed Management Program – The objective of this FOA is to invite States, nonprofit organizations, existing watershed groups, and local and special districts to submit proposals for Phase I activities to establish or further develop a watershed group. Current closing date is May 4, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281889.
	Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities: Community Parent Resource Centers – The purpose of this program is to ensure that parents of children with disabilities receive training and information to help improve results for their children. Current closing date is April 11, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281791.
 Jobs:
 Commissary Officer – The Defense Commissary Agency is accepting applications for a Commissary Officer in Guam. Incumbent is responsible for managing all of the activities and functions of the commissary to include a full range of managerial and supervisory responsibilities. Position is open untilMarch 8, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/430616000/.
	Western U.S. Pathways-Student Trainee (Store Associate) – The Defense Commissary Agency is accepting applications for a Student Trainee (Store Associate) in Guam. As a Pathways Intern, the trainee will actively participate in on-the-job training and progressively challenging assignments that relate to your academic program, career goals, and the needs of the agency. Position is open until April 30, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/430358300/.
	DoDEA Americas Community Superintendent – The Department of Defense Education Activity is accepting applications for a Community Superintendent in Guam. The Community Superintendent serves as an assistant to the District Superintendent, sharing the full level of supervision for the schools in a predetermined geographical area as delegated by the Superintendent. Position is open until August 25, 2016. For more information, go tohttps://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/430602300/.
  Highlights in the Legislative Program 
THIS WEEK
On the floor 
 H.R.3716 – Ensuring Removal of Terminated Providers from Medicaid and CHIP Act (Passed, 406-0)
	H.R.4557 – Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns Act of 2016 (Passed, 238-163)
	H.R.4583 – To promote a 21st century energy and manufacturing workforce (Agreed to by voice vote)
	H.R.4238 – To amend the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act to modernize terms relating to minorities (Passed, 376-0)
	H.R.1471 – FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015 (Agreed to by voice vote)
 The House is in recess for the District Work Period.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-grills-interior-secretary-fy%E2%80%9917-budget-close-rota-park-study-amp-cleanup-focus,"Kilili grills Interior secretary on FY17 budget: Close Up, Rota park study, AMP cleanup the focus",2016-03-03,2016,2016-03,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Saipan Tribune - WASHINGTON, D.C.—Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Ind-MP) got Northern Mariana Islands-specific with Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell yesterday, as the House Natural Resources Committee held its annual hearing on the U.S. Interior Department budget.
Sablan said he was particularly concerned that the budget submitted to Congress by Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs did not include any funding expressly for the Close Up program.
“The Close Up program brings island students to Washington each year to learn how their government works,” Sablan said. “It is a valuable use of federal funds. In fact, several of my colleagues in the Northern Marianas congressional office got interested in government through Close Up.”
In 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 the Office of Insular Affairs budget identified Close Up as a program that is “necessary on an ongoing basis for the insular areas” and that should be funded “because there was no other source of funds in the Federal budget.
Close Up had a specific line item of $1.1 million in Interior’s FY16 proposal. But for FY17 Interior dropped any reference to Close Up.
“I’m not sure what to make of that,” Sablan told Jewell. “But it is troubling.” Jewell said she believed there was $1 million in the budget for the Close Up program, but that she would have to check to get more specifics.
The secretary also promised to report back to Sablan, when asked for a status report on the Rota National Park study. Sablan was able to include authorization for the study in the FY16 omnibus appropriation and Park Service personnel have already met with Rota officials and begun work on the three-year project.
“This is something I worked to achieve since my very first year in Congress,” the Congressman explained to Jewell.
“So, I would just like to hear from you that you have the money you need in your FY17 proposal to keep the Rota Park study moving forward and on schedule.”
Another park issue the congressman raised was getting the American Memorial Park back in service. The congressman said he had visited twice himself and that he has been hearing from constituents that the Park Service has been slow to clean up debris, repair damage, and get the park fully open to the public.
“Is it a money issue? Is it because the park is supervised from Guam and that means an extra layer of decision-making? What can we do to speed things up?” Sablan asked.
“We will follow up with the Park Service directly,” Jewell replied. “We are constrained for resources, but I was not aware of that until you just brought it up.”
Packing a fourth question into the five minutes given to each committee member during almost three hours of hearing, Sablan then turned to the work of the Interagency Group on Insular Areas, which Jewell co-chairs.
“I think the concept of a White House-led response to the needs of the insular areas is great,” Sablan told the Secretary.
“But I am concerned about results. I have never seen a report on what the outcome of these IGIA meetings has been.
“Are the problems the island governors raise being addressed? Are the governors satisfied with the results? Is the IGIA process working? I don’t know.
“So, I would like to ask if your office could provide me with a report on the problems the Governors have raised at IGIA over the last seven years and what the outcomes have been. Have we gotten results?”
“I’ll be happy to ask Insular Affairs to do that,” Jewell said.
The last report by the Interagency Group, available on its website, is from 2008.
As vice ranking member of the committee, Sablan was also one of the four members allowed by committee rules to make an opening statement.
Sablan used the opportunity to call for action on approval of the 15-year extension of the Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and the Republic of Palau. The original Compact was negotiated by the administration of President Ronald Reagan.
Sablan has introduced legislation to approve the Compact extension; and the Interior Department has included funding in its FY17 budget proposal.
“Today, with the expansion of China in the Pacific, Reagan’s foresight in assuring that Palau would be an ally of the United States is more clear than ever,” Sablan told the Committee.
“China certainly understands how important islands can be. Right now China is actually creating islands, where none existed before.”
Sablan asked Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) for a hearing on the Palau bill, H.R. 4531.
“China is not sitting back on its heels doing nothing,” Sablan said. “Neither should we.” (Office of the CNMI Delegate)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-proposes-improvement-medicaid-implementation-earned-income-tax-credit-program-nmi,"Kilili proposes improvement of Medicaid, implementation of Earned Income Tax Credit program in NMI",2016-03-01,2016,2016-03,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Marianas Variety -- U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan says Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis is a chance to improve Medicaid and implement the Earned Income Tax Credit program in the CNMI.
In a statement during a committee hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives regarding the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s analysis of the situation in Puerto Rico, Kilili noted that the Caribbean island “is defaulting on its debt, something that has not occurred in my district, the Northern Mariana Islands, or other U.S. insular areas.”
But he said the CNMI government has recently “had to scrape together $1.8 million to pay its retirees after cutting their bimonthly pensions by 25 percent…. [And] there remains an unfunded pension liability in the hundreds of millions of dollar.”
Puerto Rico has more than $70 billion in outstanding debt.
According to Kilili, “What is happening now in Puerto Rico should be a warning of what could happen in other U.S. insular areas. And it would be wise policy and an exercise in foresight to address root causes of the fiscal problems in all the islands, when we address the problem in Puerto Rico.”
Kilili said the Treasury and the Obama administration have already put one idea on the table that would help with solvency in all the insular areas.
“The idea is to bring the islands closer to the national Medicaid program in which the federal government pays more of state healthcare costs, depending on the proportion of low income persons in that state.
“The islands bear a disproportionate share of those Medicaid costs and this burden contributes to fiscal stress and reduces the quality of health care in the insular areas.
“Treasury proposed in its Puerto Rico roadmap last fall that Congress remove the cap on Medicaid and increase the federal Medicaid match for Puerto Rico. And the president confirmed in his budget submission this month that it is intended that this Medicaid reform apply to all the U.S. insular areas. I support that proposal.”
The congressman said there is one other policy reform that would improve the fiscal situation in all the islands and this is the extension of the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC.
“There is broad agreement on both sides of the aisle that the EITC is a policy that supports economic growth and thus, improves the fiscal health of a community. [Republican] Speaker [Paul] Ryan is a fan, because the EITC, unlike conventional welfare programs, rewards work. It encourages those who are unemployed to get a job, support themselves and their families, and become contributing members of society.”
Kilili said this has been proposed by the administration both in the Treasury roadmap and in the president’s budget for fiscal year 2017 using the EITC to bring people into the workforce in Puerto Rico but not in any of the other insular areas.
Recently, “at the annual meeting of the Interagency Group on Insular Affairs, the administration explained that extending the Earned Income Tax Credit to the Northern Marianas, American Samoa, Guam and the Virgin Islands was not necessary because those areas are not in dire straits,” Kilili said.
“I ask you, do we have to see an insular area in fiscal collapse before we take action? Or do we help avoid the kind of problem we now have in Puerto Rico by taking action to treat U.S. citizens living in all the insular areas more like they would be treated if they lived in any U.S. state?
“My fellow delegates from American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands are co-sponsors of my legislation, H.R. 4309, that would provide federal support for the Earned Income Tax Credit in our jurisdictions. And I strongly recommend that this committee assure that in any legislation addressing the fiscal crisis in Puerto Rico and including reform of the Medicaid program and extension of EITC to Puerto Rico, all of the Insular areas we represent be equally included.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sablan.house.gov/obama-zika-plan-includes-471-m-insular-relief,Obama Zika plan includes $471 m. in insular relief,2016-02-29,2016,2016-02,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Obama Zika plan includes $471 m. in insular relief                                            
              Feb 28, 2016      		        	    
      	            
                    
                                            
          
        
        
            
    
  
    
    
    In a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan last Monday, President Barack Obama proposed emergency spending to deal with the spread of the Zika virus, including $246 million for Medicaid in the U.S. insular areas.
Zika is transmitted by mosquito bite and cases have already been reported in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Infection of pregnant women is associated with microcephaly, a birth defect, and some deaths have been reported. We should be grateful we have not yet seen a case of Zika in the Northern Mariana Islands. But tropical areas, such as our islands, are at risk.
So, the President recommended lifting the federal share of Medicaid for insular areas from the current 55 percent to 65 percent for one year at a cost of $246 million. He also wants another $225 million set aside for grants and technical assistance to insular areas, where the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the virus can thrive. All are proposals I support.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sablan.house.gov/puerto-rico-crisis-chance-improve-medicaid-eitc,"Puerto Rico crisis a chance to improve Medicaid, EITC",2016-02-29,2016,2016-02,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"A hearing that brought Treasury Department officials to the Hill last Thursday to help develop a legislative response to Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis was also an opportunity for me to promote reforms in how insular areas are treated under Medicaid and expansion of the earned income tax credit. Read my statement here.
Treasury proposed last fall and the President’s fiscal 2017 included funds for lifting the cap on Medicaid payments to the insular areas and moving towards the same federal/local cost-share as states enjoy.
The President also proposed extending the earned income tax credit to Puerto Rico—though not to the Northern Marianas and the other insular areas, as my legislation, H.R. 4309, would do.
The EITC is a direct payment to low-income families with a working parent. Unlike traditional welfare, the EITC rewards employment and could bring U.S. citizens into the workforce in the NMI, helping with our labor shortage. But the program is too expensive for the Commonwealth government to pay for. My bill requires a cover over to the CNMI from the U.S. Treasury, similar to the way the Child Tax Credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit now work.
Puerto Rico is already defaulting on some $70 billion in debt it took on and Speaker Ryan has set a deadline of March 31 for legislation to address the fiscal crisis. This crisis could be an opportunity for the other islands, as well.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-february-26-2016,"THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 26, 2016",2016-02-29,2016,2016-02,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"In this issue:
 Puerto Rico crisis a chance to improve Medicaid, EITC
	Obama Zika plan includes $471 m. in insular relief
	Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs for/in the Marianas
	Highlights in the legislative program
 ____________________________________________________________________________
 Puerto Rico crisis a chance to improve Medicaid, EITC. 
A hearing that brought Treasury Department officials to the Hill on Thursday to help develop a legislative response to Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis was also an opportunity for me to promote reforms in how insular areas are treated under Medicaid and expansion of the earned income tax credit. Read my statement here. Treasury proposed last fall and the President’s fiscal 2017 included funds for lifting the cap on Medicaid payments to the insular areas and moving towards the same federal/local cost-share as states enjoy. The President also proposed extending the earned income tax credit to Puerto Rico—though not to the Northern Marianas and the other insular areas, as my legislation, H.R. 4309, would do. The EITC is a direct payment to low-income families with a working parent. Unlike traditional welfare, the EITC rewards employment and could bring U.S. citizens into the workforce in the NMI, helping with our labor shortage. But the program is too expensive for the Commonwealth government to pay for. My bill requires a cover over to the CNMI from the U.S. Treasury, similar to the way the Child Tax Credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit now work. Puerto Rico is already defaulting on some $70 billion in debt it took on and Speaker Ryan has set a deadline of March 31 for legislation to address the fiscal crisis. This crisis could be an opportunity for the other islands, as well.
 Obama Zika plan includes $471 m. in insualr relief. 
In a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Monday, President Barack Obama proposed emergency spending to deal with the spread of the Zika virus, including $246 million for Medicaid in the U.S. insular areas. Zika is transmitted by mosquito bite and cases have already been reported in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Infection of pregnant women is associated with microcephaly, a birth defect, and some deaths have been reported. We should be grateful we have not yet seen a case of Zika in the Northern Mariana Islands. But tropical areas, such as our islands, are at risk. So, the President recommended lifting the federal share of Medicaid for insular areas from the current 55 percent to 65 percent for one year at a cost of $246 million. He also wants another $225 million set aside for grants and technical assistance to insular areas, where the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the virus can thrive. All are proposals I support.
 Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs for and in the Marianas: 
Grants:
 Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program – BJA is accepting applications for financial and technical assistance to develop and implement drug courts that effectively integrate evidenced-based substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, sanctions and incentives, and transitional services in a judicially supervised court setting with jurisdiction over substance-abusing offenders. Current closing date is April 19, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281717.
	Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program – The AANAPISI Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have an undergraduate enrollment of at least 10 percent Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander students to allow such institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals. Current closing date is April 22, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281701.
	Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement – The purpose of this grant is to provide guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. Current closing date is May 2, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency.
	Clean Diesel National Grant – The program is soliciting proposals nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced by diesel engines and diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas. Current closing date is April 26, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-national-grants.
	TIGER Grant Program – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced $500 million will be made available for transportation projects across the country under an eighth round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program. Current closing date isApril 29, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.transportation.gov/TIGER.
	National Significant Freight and Highway Projects (NSFHP) Grant Program– The NSFHP Grant Program, which the Department of Transportation will refer to as the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-Term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grants, includes $800 million in funding to address many of the challenges outlined in the Department’s Beyond Traffic report and draft National Freight Strategic Plan. Applications for FY 2016 are due on April 14, 2016. The Notice of Funding Opportunity can be found at: https://www.transportation.gov/FASTLANEgrants.
	Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant – Small matching grants, between $5,000 and $25,000, available from USDA Rural Development in support of non-profit schools, day cares, fire protection, public safety, medical facilities and other rural community-based initiatives. Grants can be used to purchase items such as equipment, furniture, computers, appliances, and vehicles. For more information, go to http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-program/hi.
 Jobs:
 Aircraft Pilot – The Army National Guard Unit is accepting applications for an Aircraft Pilot in Guam. The position is located in the office of the State Army Aviation Office and serves as the primary staff officer for the management of aircrew standardization and training programs, among other related duties. Position is open until March 21, 2016. For more information, go tohttps://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/430281900/.
	Administrative Assistant – The Army National Guard Unit is accepting applications for an Administrative Assistant in Guam. The purpose of this position is to provide technical and administrative assistance for programs within the United States Property and Fiscal Officer’s area of responsibility. Position is open until March 17, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/429972600/.
	Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic – The Air Force Personnel Center is accepting applications for an EMT/Paramedic. Incumbent will provide initial care, respond to accidents, and perform basic emergency treatment, among other related duties. Position is open until April 30, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/430025700/.
  Highlights in the Legislative Program 
THIS WEEK:
On the floor
 S.2109 – Directing Dollars to Disaster Relief Act of 2015 (Agreed to by voice vote)
  H.R.3584 – Transportation Security Administration Reform and Improvement Act of 2015 (Agreed to by voice vote)
  H.R.4408 – National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel Act of 2016 (Passed, 392-0)
  H.R.4398 – DHS Acquisition Documentation Integrity Act of 2016 (Agreed to by voice vote)
  H.R.4402 – Foreign Fighter Review Act of 2016 (Passed, 397-0)
  H.R.3624 – Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2016 (Passed, 229-189)
  H.R.2406 – Sportsmen Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act (Passed, 242-161)
 NEXT WEEK:
On the floor
 H.R.4238 – To amend the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to modernize terms relating to minorities
  H.R.4583 – To promote a 21st century energy and manufacturing workforce
  H.R.4401 – Amplifying Local Efforts to Root out Terror Act of 2016
  H.R.1471 – FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act of 2015
  S.1172 – Edward “Ted” Kaufman and Michael Leavitt Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015
  S.1580 – Competitive Service Act of 2015
  H.R.3716 – Ensuring Terminated Providers are Removed from Medicaid and CHIP Act
  H.R.4557 – Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns Act of 2016
 Committee Hearings
March 1
 Committee on Natural Resources Oversight Hearing on “Examining the Department of the Interior’s Spending Priorities and the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Proposal”
  Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Legislative Hearing on H.R.4576 - Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-highlights-16-million-federal-grant-flawed-dc-streetcar/,Sen. Rand Paul Highlights $1.6 Million Federal Grant to Flawed D.C. Streetcar,2016-02-29,2016,2016-02,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul today released the latest edition of ‘The Waste Report,’ which is an ongoing project cataloguing egregious examples of waste within the U.S. government.

The latest edition highlights the federal government awarding the D.C. streetcar $1.6 million in grants to help facilitate the expansion of the initial line. However, during the time the grants were given, the D.C. streetcar’s initial leg of the project was already showing glaring signs of trouble and experiencing unprecedented delays.

‘The Waste Report’ can be found HERE or below.

Last week the District of Columbia finally opened its calamitous streetcar to the public, years behind schedule and at a cost of $200 million.[1] Thankfully, ådespite repeated attempts to get federal funds, the D.C. streetcar was built without federal taxpayer assistance. But not to worry, with this kind of boondoggle right in the federal government’s back yard, Uncle Sam still found a way to waste your tax dollars.

D.C.’s District Department of Transportation was unsuccessful in getting federal dollars for the 2.2 mile line – of a whopping 37 mile plan – that opened last week, however, they did receive about $1.6 million from Uncle Sam to study expansion of the line in either direction. What makes this even more mindboggling is that the federal government awarded these grants in 2010 and 2012, when just the initial leg of the system had glaring signs of trouble.[2]

Only the federal government would shy away from investing in a troubled venture, while at the same time providing funding to help expand the same troubled venture. Lest you think it was two separate arms of the behemoth federal government not knowing what the other was doing, it was not. The same U.S. Department of Transportation that said “no” with one hand was cutting checks with the other.

While streetcars are the current transportation fad, one must wonder why D.C. needs one in the first place. Some cities that lack rail transit systems have turned to streetcars, but D.C.’s streetcar overlays its existing subways system, the Metro, which boasts approximately 40 stops within the district’s boundaries, the Metro goes on to service VA and MD.[3]

While the federal government was contributing to potential expansion of the streetcar above ground, serious safety issues were mounting literally under its feet. Uncle Sam first put money toward streetcar expansion just a year after the Metro’s Fort Totten crash, which killed six and injured 70. And, as was noted in a Washingtonian exposé last year, Metro suffers from systemic safety problems, which continue today.[4]

The $1.6 million could have been better used for Metro instead of expanding an already troubled and unneeded streetcar. And, while it is not the federal taxpayer’s responsibility to fix Metro, Uncle Sam ponied up $150 million to the troubled system in last year’s omnibus appropriations.[5]

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:44:24Z
http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-february-19-2016,"THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 19, 2016",2016-02-25,2016,2016-02,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 19, 2016                                           
              Feb 25, 2016      		        	    
      	            
                    
                                            
          
        
        
            
    
  
    
    
    In this issue:
____________________________________________________________________________
Keeping the Northern Mariana Islands free of invasive species of plants and animals and helping us get rid of those that have already infested our islands is an important responsibility of the federal government. This week, those of us representing the Pacific in Congress emphasized this by asking for a status report from the National Invasive Species Council on implementation of the Regional Biosecurity Plan for Micronesia and Hawaii. The Regional Biosecurity Plan sets out the strategy for dealing with the anticipated increase in invasive species activity resulting from the military buildup in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Joining in the request were Hawai’i Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D) and Brian Schatz (D) and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D) and Mark Takai (D), as well as Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D). Now that we have the plan, we want to make sure that the Council remains committed to putting it to work protecting our region from the environmental and economic damage caused by invasive species.
The White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders is asking for your nominations of AAPI musicians, poets, and storytellers who are Champions of Change. If you know someone who uses their art to increase awareness of Asian and Pacific issues or encourages our inclusion in American society, the White House wants to hear from you. As part of AAPI Heritage Month in May, the Initiative will highlight the accomplishments of Champions from around our nation. Nominate a Champion of Change by March 9, 2016. Read more here.
Grants: 
 Smart Policing Initiative – This grant program seeks to build upon analysis-driven, evidence-based policing by encouraging state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to develop effective, economical, and innovative responses to crime within their jurisdictions. Current closing date is April 12, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281577.
	Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry Program – The Community-Based Reentry Program Utilizing Mentors will provide awards for a three-year grant period to private non-profits to provide comprehensive, community-based reentry services to formerly incarcerated individuals with moderate to high risk of recidivating. Current closing date is April 12, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281593.
	National Criminal History Improvement Program – This program is intended to improve the nation’s safety and security by enhancing the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information used for criminal justice and noncriminal justice background checks. Current closing date is April 28, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281524.
	NICS Act Record Improvement Program – The NICS Improvement Amendments Act seeks to address the gap in information available to NICS about prohibiting mental health adjudications and commitments and other prohibiting factors. Current closing date is May 10, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281498.
	Community Development Financial Institutions – The CDFI Fund provides awards of up to $2 million to Certified Community Development Financial Institutions to build their financial capacity to lend to their Target Markets, and TA grants to build Certified, Certifiable, and Emerging CDFIs’ organizational capacity to serve their Target Markets. Current closing date is March 18, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281557.
	Homeland Security Grant Program – The HSGP provides funding to implement investments that build, sustain, and deliver core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. Current closing date is April 25, 2016. For more information, go tohttp://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281548.
	Emergency Management Performance Grant Program – The purpose of the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program is to provide funds to assist in preparing for all hazards. The Federal Government, through the EMPG Program, provides necessary direction, coordination, and guidance, and provides necessary assistance to support a comprehensive all hazards emergency preparedness system. Current closing date is March 18, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281565.
	Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response – SAFER grants provide financial assistance to help fire departments increase frontline firefighters, rehire firefighters that have been laid off, retain firefighters facing imminent layoffs, or filling of positions that were vacated through attrition. Current closing date is March 25, 2016. For more information, go tohttp://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281571.
	Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance in Retail Food Specimens – This program protects and promotes public health by enhancing, strengthening and sustaining antibiotic resistance surveillance in retail food specimens within the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System program. Current closing date is May 1, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281542.
 Jobs: 
 Medical Technologist – The Department of the Navy, Naval Medical Command is accepting applications for a Medical Technologist in Guam. The selectee will serve as a Quality Assurance Technologist responsible for the administration of the Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement unit of the Laboratory Division. Position is open until February 25, 2016. For more information, go tohttps://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/429879100.
	Sales Store Checker – The Defense Commissary Agency is accepting applications for a Sales Store Checker in Guam. Incumbent manages the self-check-out registers assisting customers in the correct processing of their purchases. Position is open until February 29, 2016. For more information, go tohttps://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/430050000.
	Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic – The Department of the Air Force, Air Force Personnel Center is accepting applications for an Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic in Guam. Incumbent will provide prompt initial care to increase survivability, respond to accidents, perform basic emergency medical treatment, provide transportation, and other related duties. Position is open until April 30, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/430025700.
	Administrative Assistant – The Department of the Army, Army National is accepting applications for an Administrative Assistant in Guam. The purpose of this position is to provide technical and administrative assistance for programs within the United States Property and Fiscal Officer’s area of responsibility. Position is open until March 17, 2016. For more information, go tohttps://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/429972600.
 
THIS WEEK: 
The House is in recess for the District Work Period.
NEXT WEEK:
On the floor 
 S.2109 – Directing Dollars to Disaster Relief Act of 2015
  H.R.3584 – Transportation Security Administration Reform and Improvement Act of 2015
  H.R.2406 – Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act
  H.R.4408 – National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel Act of 2016
  H.R.4398 – DHS Acquisition Documentation Integrity Act of 2016
 Committee Hearings 
February 24
 Committee on Education and Workforce Hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education”
  Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Hearing on “The 2016 California Water Supply Outlook During the El Niño and Three Years of Restricted Water Deliveries”
  Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs Legislative Hearing
 February 25
 Committee on Education and Workforce Hearing on “Next Steps for K-12 Education: Upholding the Letter and Intent of the Every Student Succeeds Act”
  Committee on Natural Resources Hearing on “The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Analysis of the Situation in Puerto Rico”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-joint-resolution-disapproval-halt-arms-sales-pakistan/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Joint Resolution of Disapproval to Halt Arms Sales to Pakistan,2016-02-25,2016,2016-02,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul yesterday introduced S.J.Res.31, a joint resolution of disapproval to halt U.S. arms sales to the government of Pakistan. The joint resolution of disapproval, if passed, would stop the sale of 8 F-16s and additional technical gear to the Pakistani government.

“The U.S. and Pakistani relationship has been a troubled one. Though the government of Pakistan has been considered America’s ally in the fight on terrorism, Pakistan’s behavior would suggest otherwise. While we give them billions of dollars in aid, we are simultaneously aware of their intelligence and military apparatus assisting the Afghan Taliban,” said Sen. Paul.

“In addition to Pakistan’s duplicitous nature, it also has a deplorable human rights record. Pakistan often isolates and unjustly jails religious minorities and Christians to include Pakistani Christian Asa Bibi. Only after an international outcry did Pakistan commutes Asa Bibi’s death sentence. In addition to Pakistan’s support of terrorism and deplorable human rights record, it continues to imprison Dr. Shakil Afridi, who helped the U.S. locate and kill Osama Bin Laden,” Sen. Paul continued.

Click HERE to read the joint resolution of disapproval in its entirety.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:44:24Z
http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-obama-zika-plan-includes-insular-medicaid-relief-0,Kilili: Obama Zika plan includes insular Medicaid relief,2016-02-24,2016,2016-02,Independent,Senate,MP,Gregorio Sablan,S001177,sablan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Marianas Variety — WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate) — President Obama has proposed $1.9 billion in emergency spending to deal with the spread of the Zika virus, including improvements in the Medicaid program in the U.S. insular areas.
The president sent his proposal in a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Monday. The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquito bite and cases have already been reported in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Infection of pregnant women has been associated with microcephaly, a birth defect.
“We should be grateful we have not yet seen a case of Zika in the Northern Mariana Islands,” said U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan. “But clearly tropical areas of the United States, such as our islands, are on the front line of risk.
“I thank the president for taking steps now to stop the spread of this disease and help keep the Marianas safe. I will certainly be supporting his proposal.”
Among the president’s recommendations to the U.S. Congress is $246 million to cover the cost of increasing the federal share of Medicaid in the insular areas. Currently, the federal government pays 55 percent of the cost of this health insurance program for low-income people. The president’s Zika proposal lifts the federal share to 65 percent for one year.
Although the total amount of federal spending for Medicaid in the insular areas is capped, the extra federal share the president proposes would not count against the capped amount. The $246 million would be additional, new money.
The president also wants $828 million for the Centers for Disease Control to prevent, detect, and respond to the Zika virus and other emerging infectious diseases. $225 million would be specifically set aside for grants and technical assistance to the insular areas, where the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the virus are known to occur. CDC would also support active surveillance for Zika virus infections in pregnant women.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-introduces-fort-knox-energy-security-act-amendment-senate-energy-bill/,Sen. Rand Paul Introduces “Fort Knox Energy Security Act” Amendment to Senate Energy Bill,2016-02-24,2016,2016-02,Republican,Senate,KY,Rand Paul,P000603,www.paul.senate.gov,paul,https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rand Paul yesterday introduced the Fort Knox Energy Security Act as an amendment to S.2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016. The legislation would specifically allow the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to continue producing natural gas at Fort Knox in Kentucky, which ultimately would enable Fort Knox to become the only military installation capable of self-sustainment in the country. Sen. Paul previously introduced the legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in June 2015.

For the past 20 years, Fort Knox has worked to become the first military installation to provide their own power, heat, gas, water, and wastewater elimination all from on-post resources. In May 2015, Fort Knox successfully demonstrated their ability to fully operate without outside power assistance. However, if authority is not given, the investments Fort Knox has made to become self-sustainable will cease and energy costs for the DOD will increase.

“While the development of natural gas resources underlying federal lands is generally the responsibility of the Department of the Interior, the amendment would provide an exception for previously existing natural gas development at Fort Knox. Allowing the Department of Defense to produce natural gas at Fort Knox would not only be cost-effective for the government, but beneficial for the Fort Knox community,” Sen. Paul said.

Click HERE to read the text of the Fort Knox Energy Security Act in its entirety.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T20:44:24Z