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://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-the-supreme-court-permitting-trump-administration-to-use-expanded-database-for-potential-voter-purges,Congresswoman Nikema Williams’ Statement on the Supreme Court Permitting Trump Administration to Use Expanded Database for Potential Voter Purges,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"ATLANTA, GA – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court permitting the Trump administration to use an expanded federal database to purge voter rolls.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“I led a Congressional letter in December 2025 demanding that DHS not overhaul the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. The Supreme Court’s decision to allow Trump and DHS to use this system to purge voter rolls is a disgrace to our constitutional right to vote. This action is a direct assault on Americans’ right to privacy and an affront to the power of Congress.

Information from the overhauled SAVE system will almost certainly include errors and other inaccuracies, leading to Americans being incorrectly removed from the voter rolls and denied their right to vote for no reason. The use of the SAVE system for the purpose of determining voter eligibility is dangerous and unreliable, and it will be used as a tool against our democracy and free and fair access to the ballot.”

Congresswoman Nikema Williams sent a Congressional Oversight letter in December of 2025 concerning the SAVE system and its use to purge voters. Read more here.",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-reverend-warnock-receives-2026-mpa-industry-champion-award-for-film-advocacy/,Senator Reverend Warnock Receives 2026 MPA Industry Champion Award for Film Advocacy,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock received the 2026 Motion Picture Association’s Industry Champion Award

The award was presented during the 2026 MPA Awards on Wednesday night

Senator Warnock has advocated for film and TV production in Georgia and the U.S. since joining the Senate

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I will continue to work in Washington and across the aisle to ensure Georgia-based film productions continue to be supported and Georgians, whose livelihoods depend on the film industry, have all the resources they need to succeed”

ICYMI: The Power of Storytelling: 2026 MPA Industry Champion Honoree Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock on Georgia’s Production Future

Washington, D.C. – Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) received the 2026 Motion Picture Association Industry Champion Award for his continued work supporting the creative community and strengthening Georgia’s thriving film industry.

“Georgia continues to be a national leader in the arts and entertainment industry. It fills me with immense pride whenever I see Georgia and my constituents’ work represented in a movie or TV show,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I will continue to work in Washington and across the aisle to ensure Georgia-based film productions continue to be supported and Georgians, whose livelihoods depend on the film industry, have all the resources they need to succeed.”

Senator Warnock received the 2026 Motion Picture Association Industry Champion Award from MPA Chairman and CEO Charles H. Rivkin during the MPA Awards on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (Photo Credit: Motion Picture Association)

Senator Warnock is the co-lead of the bipartisan CREATE Act, which would extend the Section 181 tax deduction and increase the incentive to keep production in the United States. Before Section 181 expired, film and TV studios could claim the deduction if they incurred at least 75% of their production costs in the United States. The provision allowed studios to deduct up to $15 million in production expenses but expired at the end of 2025.

The CREATE Act would:

Extend the expiration date of Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 181 from 2025 to 2030.

Make it more financially viable to shoot films and television shows in the United States, rather than moving to lower-cost foreign locations.

Provide predictable long-term planning through annual cost-of-living adjustments starting in 2027 to ensure that the dollar limits keep pace with rising production costs over time.

The CREATE Act is endorsed by the Motion Picture Association, the Independent Film & Television Alliance, the Recording Industry Association of America, the American Association of Independent Music, and the Recording Academy.

Senator Warnock also co-leads the recently-introduced the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which would establish a federal film tax credit.

Senator Warnock has championed workforce development since coming to the Senate, particularly technical colleges and apprenticeship programs that lead to good-paying film industry jobs.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-hosts-two-panels-cbcf-alc-55,Congressman Johnson Hosts Two Panels at CBCF ALC 55,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,"Henry C. ""Hank"" Johnson, Jr.",J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,hankjohnson,https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) held two panel discussions.

His first panel, “Protect The Culture: Stopping the Assault on Black Voices, Talent, and Influence”, explored legislative pathways and industry strategies to end targeted assaults on Black voices, ensuring Black journalists can report freely, Black athletes are protected from plantation exploitation, and Black entertainers can create without fear of their work being weaponized against them.

The event was moderated by media personality Dr. Rashad Richey and included Georgia State Representative (D-108) and Democratic nominee for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, Dr. Jasmine Clark; respected journalist and author April Ryan; and Executive Director of Athletes.org, Brandon Copeland, as panelists.

“Music artists have their lyrics used as evidence in court against them,” said Congressman Johnson, who is the author of the RAP Act that would put guardrails on the use of lyrics in criminal prosecutions. “Journalists receive threats for telling the truth. Black athletes like Colin Kaepernick, who spoke by taking a knee for justice, are blackballed – which sends a message to keep your mouth shut.”

WATCH HERE

His second panel, Judiciary/Justice for All Braintrust, explored that if our democracy is to survive the delicate system of checks and balances that has undergirded our system for 250 years must be restored. Congressman Johnson is the author of several court reform bills, including requiring SCOTUS justices to adhere to a binding code of ethics, setting term limits for justices at 18 years and expanding the court from nine to 13 justices.

“Our democracy is under great threat,” said Congressman Johnson. “In my opinion, the greatest threat is not Donald Trump. It’s not the legislative branch under Republican control. It’s the Supreme Court. Our country was founded on the principles of three co-equal branches of government each operating as a check and balance on the other. This framework worked well for 250 years, but it’s being dismantled by the Supreme Court that is granting itself and the executive branch more power at the expense of the legislative branch.”

The panel discussion was led by moderator The Nation journalist Elie Mystal and included panelists Nikolas Bowie, Louis D. Brandeis Professor of Law at Harvard Law School; Michele Goodwin, Linda D. & Timothy J. O’Neill Professor of Constitutional Law and Global Health Policy at Georgetown Law; and Maya Wiley, President/CEO at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

WATCH HERE

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/24/representatives-mcbath-thompson-and-senators-klobuchar-cassidy-introduce-national-hazing-awareness-week-resolution/,"Representatives McBath, Thompson and Senators Klobuchar, Cassidy Introduce National Hazing Awareness Week Resolution",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, DC – This week, Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and Glen “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) are leading a resolution to recognize September 21-25, 2026 as “National Hazing Awareness Week.” The resolution recognizes the hundreds of students who have died or suffered severe, life-altering injuries because of collegiate hazing and promotes efforts to prevent hazing. A companion resolution has been introduced by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA). This is the fourth year that Rep. McBath has led this resolution to recognize the pain felt by families who have lost a child to hazing.

“I have been honored to work with families and advocates to pass legislation to end campus hazing. I know what it’s like to lose a loved one, and no parent should ever have to bury their child,” said Rep. McBath. “I’m glad to lead efforts once again to spread awareness about the pain of these incidents and am grateful to my colleagues for their continued commitment to protecting our students.”

“Hazing has left countless students with life-altering injuries, and too many families have had to endure the loss of a loved one. I am pleased to introduce this bipartisan resolution to bring awareness, accountability, and transparency to campuses in an effort to help protect students from hazing,” Rep. Thompson said.

“When parents send their kids away to college, they expect they will get a good education and make new friends. They don’t expect them to be harassed and hazed. Hazing is a dangerous — and at times deadly — reality that students are confronted with,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “With this resolution, we honor the students who have died or been severely injured due to hazing and promote preventive efforts. This goes hand in hand with our bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act, which is improving hazing reporting and prevention on college campuses.”

“Students should not have to fear getting physically or emotionally harmed while they are simply trying to find community at college,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Thanks to the tireless work of the Gruver family and other advocates, we passed the Stop Campus Hazing Act last Congress to increase accountability and ensure hazing is never ignored.”

In 2024, the bipartisan bill to stop campus hazing led by McBath, Klobuchar, and Cassidy was signed into law. H.R. 5646, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, combats hazing and dangerous practices towards students on college campuses by ensuring transparency and setting parameters for preventative action.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-warnock-report-finds-save-act-imposes-poll-tax-on-millions-of-married-american-women/,New Warnock Report Finds SAVE Act Imposes Poll Tax on Millions of Married American Women,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock released a new report examining the extra hurdles married women would need to go through to register or update their voter registration if the SAVE Act became law

Senator Warnock’s new report finds that, in Georgia, married women could pay up to $75 in administrative and processing fees to obtain the documents required to vote

Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are attempting to impose a “Marriage Tax” on millions of American women across the country

The SAVE Act disproportionately harms married women who have changed their legal name by requiring them to produce both their birth certificate and marriage license to register or re-register to vote

Senator Reverend Warnock: “They’re not trying to save our democracy. They’re not trying to save our elections. They’re trying to save Donald Trump’s power”

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), one of the Senate’s leading advocates for voting rights, released a new report examining the costly and time-intensive process married women in eight Georgia counties would have to navigate to verify their voter status under the SAVE America Act. The proposed bill requires women who have changed their last names to present their birth and marriage certificates to meet voter verification requirements. The report found women who do not have these documents readily available could pay up to $75 in administrative and processing fees and wait over 3 months to receive the required identification materials.

“This is a poll tax on married women,” said Senator Warnock on MSNOW’s Deadline White House. “They’re not trying to save our democracy. They’re not trying to save our elections. They’re trying to save Donald Trump’s power.”

The SAVE America Act purports to protect election integrity but instead imposes unnecessary restrictions that would disenfranchise over 760,000 Georgians and millions more nationwide through its onerous requirements. While the SAVE America Act disproportionately impacts married women, men and unmarried women are also subject to voter suppression under the proposed bill. For the more than 5.4 million Georgians who do not have a valid passport, they would need to bring their birth certificate, or another federally issued identification document, alongside their photo ID to register to vote.

Despite the Trump administration’s sensationalized and baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, a Republican-led audit of the 2024 election revealed nine non-U.S. citizens out of 8.2 million registered voters in Georgia had cast a ballot in a previous election, with most having voted in elections before 2012.

Senator Warnock is a leading voting rights advocate. Earlier this year, he unveiled a comprehensive policy agenda to repair and strengthen American democracy in the wake of escalating attacks on the right to vote. Following the Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act in April, Senator Warnock argued that voting rights legislation must be the number one priority for Democrats when they regain the majority in the U.S. Senate. He is also a proud proponent of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would strengthen protections against discriminatory voting practices.

###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-working-across-the-aisle-to-improve-sewer-and-stormwater-infrastructure-across-georgia/,Sen. Ossoff Working Across the Aisle to Improve Sewer and Stormwater Infrastructure Across Georgia,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to improve sewer and stormwater infrastructure across Georgia.

Sen. Ossoff is cosponsoring the bipartisan Clean Water Allotment Modernization Act of 2026 to help Georgia communities receive more support to address wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs.

The bipartisan legislation, first introduced by Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), would replace the outdated funding formula for the EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program, which determines how much Federal funding for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure is distributed to different states, with a formula that better reflects states’ population and infrastructure demands.

“Investing in Georgia’s sewer and stormwater infrastructure means protecting our families, homes, and communities. I am working across the aisle to help upgrade Georgia’s water infrastructure to keep communities safe and upgrade quality of life,” Sen. Ossoff said.

Sen. Ossoff continues to upgrade sewer and stormwater infrastructure across the State of Georgia.

In May, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock and Reps. Williams and McBath brought Republicans and Democrats in Congress together to deliver $1,092,000 in Federal funding for key stormwater infrastructure upgrades along Norman Berry Drive in East Point, including a storm water main replacement and headwall restoration to improve stormwater flows and prevent sinkholes in the area.

In April, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock and Rep. McBath brought Republicans and Democrats together to deliver $1,092,000 in Federal funding to help improve South Fulton’s stormwater infrastructure, including the replacement of old stormwater pipes and measures to mitigate the effect of flooding near homes.

Also in April, Sen. Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats in Congress together to deliver $954,000 in Federal funding to help the City of Hampton implement critical stormwater infrastructure improvements and reduce flooding along Woolsey Road.

Last year, Sen. Ossoff passed into law his Georgia Stormwater Management Act, which created a new authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct water infrastructure projects across the Henry County, Clayton County, and Muscogee County. This year, Sen. Ossoff delivered $3,120,000 in Federal funding through the new authority to help upgrade the South Columbus Water Resources facility, which serves the City of Columbus and Fort Benning.

Click here to read the Clean Water Allotment Modernization Act of 2026.

# # #",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/read-here-marriage-tax-report/,READ HERE: MARRIAGE TAX REPORT,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,Senator Reverend Warnock’s report on the “Marriage Tax” that would be imposed on married women under the SAVE Act is available HERE.,1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-britt-push-trump-department-of-justice-for-guardrails-on-state-local-use-of-flock-cameras/,"Warnock, Britt Push Trump Department of Justice for Guardrails on State, Local Use of Flock Cameras",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"In a new bipartisan letter, Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Katie Britt urged Attorney General Todd Blanche to provide state and local law enforcement with guidance on how to prevent the misuse of automatic license plate readers, like Flock Safety cameras

The bipartisan effort follows growing national concern over the misuse of Flock cameras amid reports of law enforcement officers using them to stalk romantic partners, track Americans without warrants, and monitor personal contacts

This is the first bipartisan Senate action on automatic license plate readers, like Flock cameras

ICYMI in Punchbowl News: Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) are urging Attorney General Todd Blanche to provide guidance to state and local law enforcement on how they can prevent “misuse” of Flock cameras

Senator Reverend Warnock, Britt: “We are deeply concerned about the misuse of ALPR systems and believe that appropriate safeguards are necessary to protect against unauthorized access and abuse, including by individuals who might misuse the technology to stalk and harass their victims”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) are urging Attorney General Todd Blanche to provide state and local law enforcement agencies with new guardrails on how to prevent the misuse of automatic license plate readers (ALPR) like Flock Safety cameras. The senators’ new letter follows growing national concern over the misuse of Flock cameras amid reports of law enforcement officers using them to stalk romantic partners, track Americans without warrants, and monitor personal contacts. Increasingly, communities across the country and in Georgia are concerned with law enforcement officials potentially monitoring and tracking their movements without their consent.

“We are deeply concerned about the misuse of ALPR systems and believe that appropriate safeguards are necessary to protect against unauthorized access and abuse, including by individuals who might misuse the technology to stalk and harass their victims. We also want to ensure that funding of these technologies is paired with appropriate oversight to ensure that the funding is not used to facilitate such abuse,” said Senator Warnock and Britt.

Flock Safety cameras are automated license plate readers that capture the plate, make, model, and color of passing cars. The cameras—developed by Flock Safety in Atlanta, Georgia—are used by law enforcement agencies across the country to find stolen vehicles, locate missing people, and investigate other crimes.

In recent months, the debate over privacy and police access has intensified, leading to pushback against the use of Flock cameras in local communities. In Georgia, the debate has taken several forms, from protests to town hall meetings, where Georgians are urging their local leaders to end contracts with Flock Safety.

As the use of artificial intelligence spreads into every aspect of American life, Senator Warnock continues to center the privacy and data protection concerns of Georgians in his work in the U.S. Senate. In August 2025, Senator Warnock introduced bipartisan legislation alongside Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) to provide Georgia taxpayers with greater transparency and stronger protections for their personal data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In August, Senator Warnock traveled to Effingham County to meet with residents and discuss the impact of OpenAI’s new 3.2-gigawatt data center, the largest proposed site in the country. During his visit, Senator Warnock called for a moratorium on data center construction unless certain safeguards around utility bills, transparency, and pollution are in place.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

“Dear Attorney General Blanche,

“We write with great concern over widespread reports regarding the misuse of automatic license plate reader (ALPR) systems, which may be purchased with federal funding. Specifically, reporting indicates that in dozens of cases across the country, police officers have improperly and, in some cases, illegally used ALPR technology to stalk and harass their current, former, or prospective romantic partners. While law enforcement agencies around the country appropriately use ALPR for legitimate public safety purposes including the investigation of violent crime and the location and recovery of missing and abducted persons, misuse of these systems undermines the public’s confidence in the technology. We, therefore, write to request information about the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) funding and oversight of such systems to prevent such misuse and ensure compliance with applicable federal statutes and regulations.

“State and local law enforcement agencies have widely adopted ALPR systems in recent years to conduct traffic enforcement and support criminal investigations. Flock’s ALPR network, the largest in the country, currently contains more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states, with 140,000 monthly active users. ALPRs perform billions of scans of vehicles in the U.S. per month, converting those scans into searchable data on the vehicle’s features, its location, and the time. This data is then uploaded into databases and retained for a certain period depending on state laws and regulations, sometimes as long as several years. In some cases, the agency can also choose to share its local data with other law enforcement agencies across the country.

“ALPR systems thus enable law enforcement officials to identify vehicles associated with criminal activity and comprehensively track them across jurisdictional boundaries for investigative purposes.

“However, law enforcement officers have also faced numerous allegations of misusing ALPR systems. In Georgia, at least 20 law enforcement officers have been arrested after abusing their access to ALPR systems. Law enforcement officers in 11 other states have resigned, lost their jobs, or faced investigations after abusing ALPR systems. In total, at least 50 law enforcement officers to date have been charged with, or accused of, using ALPR systems for unauthorized purposes.

“At least 30 of these cases involve law enforcement officers stalking their current, former, or prospective romantic partners. In one case, a police chief used an ALPR system to stalk a former partner by searching the vehicle tags for her and her daughter around 600 times over the course of thirteen months. These cases demonstrate the importance of strong guardrails and safeguards – such as appropriate access controls, auditing, supervisory review, and meaningful consequences of intentional misuse – to ensure that ALPRs’ tracking capabilities cannot be utilized by rogue bad actors to threaten, manipulate, and inflict harm on unsuspecting victims. Individuals who abuse their law enforcement access to ALPR systems to harass or otherwise harm another person should be held accountable, including through termination and criminal prosecution where warranted. They shouldn’t be permitted to undermine the legitimate use of ALPR technology to protect the public. Furthermore, the misuse of ALPR systems may violate requirements for the implementation of federal funding. This includes a requirement that federal funds and associated programs be “implemented in full accordance with the U.S. Constitution, applicable Federal statutes and regulations,” including provisions protecting public welfare.

“We are deeply concerned about the misuse of ALPR systems and believe that appropriate safeguards are necessary to protect against unauthorized access and abuse, including by individuals who might misuse the technology to stalk and harass their victims. We also want to ensure that funding of these technologies is paired with appropriate oversight to ensure that the funding is not used to facilitate such abuse.

“We urge the DOJ to provide guidance to state and local law enforcement agencies on how they can best prevent the misuse of ALPR technology. We also request responses to the following questions by no later than October 21, 2026.

“How much DOJ funding has supported the purchase of ALPR systems?

What grant oversight and accountability mechanisms does DOJ have in place to address potential misuse and unauthorized access involving federally funded ALPR systems?

What, if any, DOJ training is provided to grant recipients on best practices for retaining and accessing data collected by ALPR systems to prevent misuse or unauthorized data access? Does such training address appropriate auditing, supervisory review, and consequences for intentional misuse?

In order to mitigate misuse or unauthorized data access, does DOJ have policies in place regarding the collection, use, storage, disposal, and access to data collected from ALPR systems operated by federal agencies?

Is DOJ aware of whether any state or local law enforcement officers have been accused of misconduct or illegal activity related to the use of federally-funded ALPR systems?

If DOJ becomes aware of such misconduct, what steps does DOJ take to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations? Do these steps ever include financial penalties or requirements that agencies take corrective, disciplinary, or other remedial action against individuals responsible for intentional misuse?

Does DOJ require applicants for federal funding, for ALPR systems or otherwise, to disclose misuse or abuse of ALPR data? Does DOJ distinguish between misconduct by an individual user and systemic failures by a recipient agency when determining an appropriate response?

Has DOJ audited the use of ALPR systems within federal law enforcement agencies for non-law enforcement purposes, including stalking? What controls are in place to identify unauthorized queries and hold federal personnel accountable for misuse”

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-hernandez-and-wilson-call-on-secretary-robert-f-kennedy-to-expand-access-to-colonoscopy-screenings-to-fight-colon-cancer,"Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Hernandez, and Wilson Call on Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to Expand Access to Colonoscopy Screenings to Fight Colon Cancer",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), Rep. Pablo Hernandez (PR), and Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02) sent a congressional oversight letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand colonoscopy access for individuals with a history of polyps as part of preventative screenings in Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulated health plans.

Members urged the HHS to issue new ACA FAQ guidance, stating that a follow-up surveillance colonoscopy is a “screening” and therefore part of the ACA preventive services benefit. Specifically, they suggest the following language to be included in the FAQ guidance:

If a follow-up, screening colonoscopy is scheduled and performed prior to the 10-year window, is it permissible for a plan or issuer to impose cost-sharing for the cost of the procedure and polyp removal during the colonoscopy?

Members wrote:

“Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the country’s second leading cause of cancer mortality among women and men combined. However, colorectal cancer is unique in that it is largely preventable. Even when found and treated early, the five-year colorectal cancer survival rate is 90 percent; unfortunately, less than 40 percent of colorectal cancer cases are caught early.”

“According to data released earlier this year, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths for Americans under 50 years old — a sobering reality which was not initially projected to occur until 2030. It is also expected to be the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women aged 20 to 49 by 2030.”

“Affordability and patient cost-sharing are demonstrated barriers to colorectal cancer screening. We must make a concerted effort to address this public health crisis and increase screening rates throughout the continuum of care. This includes patients with a personal history of polyps, but who are otherwise asymptomatic.”

“Based on clinical practice and guidance received from the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force (USMSTF) on Colorectal Cancer, a follow-up screening colonoscopy for asymptomatic patients with a personal history of polyps is an integral part of the continuum of care and should be considered a ‘screening.’ The USMSTF recommends that asymptomatic individuals undergoing screening colonoscopy require repeat screenings to evaluate for new polyps at specific intervals based on the findings of their screening exam, ranging from 1 year to 10 years. These procedures should be treated as preventive services and not subject to patient cost-sharing.”

“We hope that the Secretary will join us in this effort to save lives and thwart this public health crisis.”

This letter was co-signed by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09), Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11), Rep. John Mannion (NY-22), Rep. Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Rep. Bill Keating (MA-09), Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-06), Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Rep. Don Davis (NC-06).

This letter was endorsed by American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), Colon Cancer Coalition, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Digestive Disease National Coalition, Fight CRC.",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-working-to-improve-public-transportation-across-georgia/,Sen. Ossoff Working to Improve Public Transportation Across Georgia,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working with Republicans and Democrats to improve public transportation across Georgia.

Sen. Ossoff is cosponsoring the bipartisan Streamline Transit Projects Act, legislation to help reduce transit project delays by streamlining the environmental review process for projects that would have little to no environmental impact.

The bill aims to more quickly deliver critical public transportation improvements and improve transit access and service for riders.

The bipartisan bill was first introduced by Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

“Many Georgians depend on public transportation to get around their communities,” Sen. Ossoff said. “This bipartisan legislation will help expand transit programs across Georgia by cutting back on unnecessary and costly administrative delays.”

Sen. Ossoff continues working to upgrade Georgia’s infrastructure.

Last year, Sen. Ossoff announced grant funding was available for key transportation projects through the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Also last year, Sen. Ossoff delivered Federal resources through the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, created and funded through the bipartisan infrastructure law, to help eliminate blocked railroad crossings across Georgia.

In March 2024, Sens. Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock announced the State of Georgia will receive $122,457,266 in Federal resources for transit infrastructure upgrades across the state in partial Fiscal Year 2024 funding, authorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

In March 2024, Sens. Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock and Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) announced two Federal grants for The Stitch and for a new multi-use trail connecting the Atlanta BeltLine with the Flint River Trail.

Click here to read the Streamline Transit Projects Act.

# # #",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-scott-unveil-bipartisan-effort-to-reverse-fort-gordons-hospital-closure/,"Warnock, Scott Unveil Bipartisan Effort to Reverse Fort Gordon’s Hospital Closure",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Tim Scott introduced an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act bill to reverse the closure of inpatient services at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center

According to reporting by WRDW, the Defense Health Agency confirmed its intent to transition Eisenhower Army Medical Center on Fort Gordon in Augusta to an ambulatory care center

Fort Gordon’s Army Medical Center serves 30,000-40,000 Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families in the Augusta area.The proposed plan would end inpatient care and turn the emergency room into an urgent care facility

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced an amendment last week to the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act bill that would ensure that inpatient services remain active at Fort Gordon’s Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta.

“Fort Gordon military personnel and their families deserve the best care possible. That’s why I’m working across the aisle to stop this shortsighted closure,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “The Defense Health Agency needs to reconsider its proposal and ensure that our military heroes and their families can still get adequate and top-notch medical care at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center.”

“Our men and women in uniform have earned the highest quality of care our nation can provide,” said Senator Scott. “Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon should remain open so South Carolina’s service members, military families, and veterans continue to have access to timely, quality health care. Those who make tremendous sacrifices to defend our freedoms should not have to worry about whether they or their families can get the care they need. We owe them nothing less.”

In May, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) announced that it is proposing to reduce care options at Fort Gordon’s Army Medical Center. Under the proposal, the Army Medical Center would no longer have general inpatient hospital beds and would turn its emergency room into an urgent care facility.

The DHA has already submitted a congressional notification regarding this proposed change. Currently, Fort Gordon’s Army Medical Center serves 30,000-40,000 Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families in the Augusta area.

Shortly after the announcement, Senator Warnock issued a statement about the plans, expressing concern about the impact of this closure on Augusta’s already-strained civilian health care system. Senator Warnock, along with Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), has sent letters to DHA Director Vice Adm. Darin K. Via and the Department of Defense demanding answers on their decision to reduce care options at Fort Gordon’s Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center.

###",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/18/bipartisan-coalition-introduce-resolution-designating-national-adult-education-and-family-literacy-week/,Bipartisan Coalition Introduce Resolution Designating “National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week”,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Resolution promotes adult foundational education, workforce development, and family literacy programs

Washington, DC – Representatives Lucy McBath (GA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Frank Mrvan (D-IN-01), and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07) have introduced H.Res.1550 designating September 13th through September 19th of 2026 as “National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.” The resolution is led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME). It recognizes the importance of adult education, family literacy, and efforts to support an educated population with the literacy skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century.

“Education is the key to opportunity. Our goal is to give all Americans, no matter their age, the chance to create the best possible lives for themselves,” said Rep. McBath. “Low literacy and numeracy rates among adults hinder opportunities not only for themselves, but for their children. By recognizing National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, we are highlighting the need for increased investment in initiatives that help adults build the skills they need to be successful.”

“Adult education and family literacy are the gateway to opportunity, dignity, and a stronger workforce,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “By investing in foundational skills, workforce readiness, and family literacy, we’re closing gaps and unlocking potential. This bipartisan resolution reaffirms our commitment to every adult learner striving for a better future, equipping parents to guide the next generation, strengthening our communities, and securing a more competitive, resilient America for decades to come.”

“Thank you to Rep. McBath and my House colleagues for this bipartisan resolution to support National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. Let us continue to advocate for more life-long educational opportunities that improve literacy rates and empower individuals across the country to thrive in the workforce and succeed in our economy,” said Rep. Mrvan.

“Adult education and family literacy programs help people build the skills they need to succeed,” said Rep. Mackenzie. To highlight the importance of these programs, I’m joining Rep. Lucy McBath and other colleagues in recognizing National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. Learning is a lifelong activity, and this resolution highlights the importance of literacy for our families, workforce, and communities.”

Background

Nearly 59,000,000 adults in the United States struggle with basic literacy; 72,000,000 struggle with numeracy, and one-third of the U.S. adult population struggles with multi-step problem-solving which limits effective decision-making in everyday life. These same individuals experience higher unemployment rates and lower wages, making it harder for them to support their families.Adult education helps Americans gain the skills they need to become employed, advance in their jobs, engage in postsecondary and training programs, and achieve economic self-sufficiency.

The importance of having these skills also extends into life at home. Parental duties among American adults account for a significant portion of the education of our future generation. Whether it is the practice of reading to their child or teaching them everyday skills for later in life, increased parental involvement is a consistent indicator of success for that child later in life.

The resolution will:

Raise public awareness about the importance of adult education, workforce skills, and family literacy.

Encourage people across the United States to support programs that assist individuals in need of adult education, workforce skills, and family literacy programs.

Recognize the importance of these programs.

Call on public, private, and nonprofit entities to support increased access to adult education and family literacy programs to ensure a fully literate society.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/icymi-congresswoman-nikema-williams-speaks-and-introduces-fighting-fifth-small-business-owner-at-fighting-for-an-affordable-america,ICYMI: Congresswoman Nikema Williams Speaks and Introduces Fighting Fifth Small Business Owner at “Fighting for an Affordable America”,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined House Democrats for the “Fighting for an Affordable America” press conference to speak about the affordability crisis and introduce a small business owner from Georgia’s Fighting Fifth who has had to make tough decisions as costs have risen.

Terri-Nichelle Bradley, owner of Brown Toy Box, a company that makes STEAM toys, puzzles, and games, spoke about her insurance premium increasing to more than $1,000 after ACA subsidies expired, leaving her uninsured, and the challenges she faces affording healthcare for her employees.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams said:

“Affordability isn’t just a talking point, it’s not a ‘hoax.’ It’s the gas in your tank, the groceries in your cart, and the doctor’s bill you’re trying to pay. And for small business owners, it’s the rising cost of keeping your doors open, your employees paid, and your business running.”

Terri-Nichelle Bradley, Owner of Brown Toy Box said:

“I used to get my own insurance through the ACA marketplace. When the federal subsidies expired in January, my premiums more than doubled to over $1,000 a month. I held on as long as I could, but by July, I had to drop it. I’m uninsured right now, and at my age, that means skipping preventative care like mammograms that I shouldn’t have to skip.”",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/video-sen-ossoff-celebrates-hispanic-heritage-month/,VIDEO: Sen. Ossoff Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Atlanta, Ga, — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a new video message.

“This is U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, and it is my pleasure to join with Georgians across our state who are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. It is a deep honor to represent Georgia’s Latino community and to join you in honoring the extraordinary contributions that Latinos have made to the State of Georgia, to the United States, and to the world,” Sen. Ossoff said.

Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s Hispanic Heritage Month message.

Please find a transcript of Sen. Ossoff’s message below:

SEN. OSSOFF: “Greetings. This is U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, and it is my pleasure to join with Georgians across our state who are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

“It is a deep honor to represent Georgia’s Latino community and to join you in honoring the extraordinary contributions that Latinos have made to the State of Georgia, to the United States, and to the world.

“And from the moment I took office, my goal has been to be the most visible, the most accessible, and the most responsive and effective Federal representative that Georgia’s Latino community has ever had.

“Whenever and however I can be of service, just reach out at ossoff.senate.gov.

“Again, this is U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, joining you in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.”",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-leads-panel-highlighting-impact-of-fatherhood-engagement-on-black-maternal-health/,Warnock Leads Panel Highlighting Impact of Fatherhood Engagement on Black Maternal Health,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Yesterday, Senator Reverend Warnock convened a panel of advocates dedicated to improving Black maternal health outcomes by promoting fatherhood engagement

The panel included Dr. Lynne Lightfoote, OB-GYN at Washington Wellness Group; Charles Johnson, founder of 4Kira4Moms; Omari Maynard, founder of ARIAH Foundation; and Lamman Rucker, an actor and advocate

Senator Warnock has worked to combat maternal mortality and improve health outcomes for Black families across the country

“BEYOND THE STATISTICS: A Conversation on Black Fathers Protecting Black Motherhood” took place during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference

Senator Reverend Warnock: “There is no reason that in the United States of America—the most powerful and wealthiest country on the planet and in the history of humankind—to have the kind of maternal mortality rate that we have”

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) hosted a panel with prominent community advocates focused on improving Black maternal health outcomes through investing in and creating programs that promote fatherhood engagement. The panel, titled “BEYOND THE STATISTICS: A Conversation on Black Fathers Protecting Black Motherhood,” builds on Senator Warnock’s legislative record addressing maternal mortality and improving health outcomes for Black families. In his opening remarks, Senator Warnock highlighted the need to pass his bipartisan Dads Matter Act, which would direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a public awareness campaign to highlight the importance of father inclusion and engagement in improving maternal health outcomes. Senator Warnock was joined by Dr. Lynne Lightfoote, OB-GYN at Washington Wellness Group; Charles Johnson, founder of 4Kira4Moms; Omari Maynard, founder of ARIAH Foundation; and Lamman Rucker, an actor and advocate. Thursday’s panel follows a panel Senator Warnock hosted earlier this year that emphasized these findings.

“My goal is for all of you to leave feeling compelled to advocate for including dads in maternal and infant health,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “There is no reason that in the United States of America—the most powerful and wealthiest country on the planet and in the history of humankind—to have the kind of maternal mortality rate that we have.”

“We are all about all the clinical and non-clinical risk factors associated with this crisis, but a huge part of our theory of change is we believe that if we can empower a new generation of fathers to understand how to show up, how to advocate, how to demand better, how to support that mother in ways that they weren’t able to, we can quickly make a drastic change and improve maternal outcomes,” said Charles Johnson.

“The primary misconception is that Black men aren’t there, and that they don’t care, and in my experience, both as a father since 17, and as an educator, as an activist, as an artist, advocate, and someone who’s worked in this space, even on the policy side, and who also can reference data, we are there, and we care,” said Lamman Rucker. “Black men have been showing up and have even been raising kids that don’t belong to them for years and years.”

“Pregnancy should be something joyous, and pregnancy should be something that you should not be afraid of, but now we’re afraid to get pregnant, Black women are afraid to get pregnant and that’s not okay,” said Dr. Lynne Lightfoote.

“I need to use my voice. I need to use my heart. I need to use our story in order to help inspire people in order to create change and make sure that you know we all do this together in solidarity,” said Omari Maynard.

Nationwide, Black women are 3.5 times more likely to die during childbirth than white women, and, in Georgia, a recent study revealed nearly 90% of maternal deaths were preventable. In response to these devastating findings, Senator Warnock and the panelists highlighted data showing that father involvement during and after a child’s birth is associated with improved maternal and child health outcomes.

Senator Warnock has long championed efforts to combat maternal mortality and improve health outcomes for Black families in Georgia and across the country. Earlier this year, Senator Warnock joined a bicameral coalition to introduce the Kira Johnson Act, legislation that funds community-based organizations working to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black women.

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/17/mcbath-thompson-klobuchar-cassidy-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-resolution-honoring-connie-clery/,"McBath, Thompson, Klobuchar, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Honoring Connie Clery",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, DC— Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA) and GT Thompson (R-PA) introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to honor the life of Connie Clery during National Campus Safety Awareness Month. After Connie Clery’s 19-year-old daughter Jeanne Clery was murdered on campus in 1986, Clery became the driving force behind the Clery Act, which requires colleges to disclose their campus safety policies and information about crimes that occur on and near their campuses.Connie Clery passed away on June 23, 2026. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced a companion resolution in the Senate.

“I’m proud to lead this resolution in Connie Clery’s name alongside my colleagues. After the horrific assault and murder of their daughter Jeanne, Connie and Howard turned their grief into action and passed the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 into law, which was renamed the ‘Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act’ through the passage of our bill, the ‘Stop Campus Hazing Act’,” said McBath. “Just as I have been for my son Jordan, Connie was committed to honoring her late daughter’s legacy and fighting to make sure that no other families have to go through the pain of losing a loved one. May Connie’s memory serve as proof that there is no force on Earth stronger than a mom.”

“Connie Clery took her family’s tragedy and transformed it into a national movement to make college campuses safer,” said Thompson. “Thanks to her advocacy, numerous state and federal laws were passed to improve student safety. Connie’s vision and legacy will live on through the work of the Clery Center, and I am grateful to her unwavering commitment to this cause.”

“Following the tragic loss of her daughter Jeanne, Connie Clery led a national movement to make campuses safer for students. Her tireless advocacy led to the first federal law requiring colleges to disclose crimes that occur on their campuses, a legacy that to this day provides students and families with transparency about the safety of the campuses they call home,” said Klobuchar. “During the first National Campus Safety Awareness Month since her passing, we are introducing this bipartisan resolution to honor her life and dedication to improving campus safety and protecting victims of crime across the country.”

“Parents everywhere owe a debt of gratitude to Connie Clery,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Following the senseless murder of her daughter at Lehigh University, Connie dedicated her life to improving campus safety. Her advocacy led to the foundational Clery Act and my Stop Campus Hazing Act, protecting students’ lives and giving parents peace of mind as they drop their children off at college.”

“On behalf of Clery Center, we are deeply grateful to the United States Senate for honoring Connie Clery’s extraordinary life and enduring legacy through this resolution. Connie dedicated her life to making campuses safer for all students, transforming unimaginable loss into advocacy, action, and lasting change. I was blessed to have Connie in my life—as a friend, mentor, and fellow mom with whom I shared a very special bond. We were brought together by the unimaginable loss of our children—Jeanne and Gary Jr.—and by the failures in campus safety that contributed to their deaths. Through our shared loss, we found purpose in advocating for safer campuses and working to ensure that other families would not have to experience what we did. Connie and Howard reminded us, ‘The best education in the world is useless if a student doesn’t survive with a healthy mind and body.’ Those words capture so much of what Connie stood for and why her work mattered so deeply. As we honor Connie, we must carry that work forward—moving from awareness to action, from action to accountability, and from accountability to prevention. Her legacy is not simply one to remember; it is a responsibility to continue. For Connie. For Jeanne. For the Clery family. And for every student whose story is still being written, we must remain committed to creating safer campuses where students can learn, grow, and thrive. On behalf of Clery Center, I thank the United States Senate for recognizing Connie’s remarkable life and unwavering commitment to students and for helping ensure that her legacy continues to inspire generations to come,” said Julie G. DeVercelly, Chair, Clery Center Board of Directors.

Full text of the resolution is available HERE and below:

Whereas Constance Benjamin Clery (referred to in this preamble as “Connie Clery”) was born on February 12, 1931, and passed away on June 23, 2026;

Whereas Connie Clery graduated from New Bedford High School in 1949, earned a degree from Barnard College in 1953, and worked as a tri-lingual interpreter;

Whereas Connie Clery married Howard K. Clery, Jr. in 1956, starting a partnership of 51 years until his passing in 2008, and was a devoted mother to Howard III, Benjamin, and Jeanne;

Whereas, following the tragic murder of her daughter, Jeanne Clery, in 1986, Connie and Howard Clery transformed their grief into a national movement, founding the nonprofit organization Security On Campus, Inc., now known as Clery Center, in 1987, to make college campuses safer and protect victims of campus crime;

Whereas, at the time of Jeanne Clery’s death, no Federal standard required institutions of higher education to disclose crimes occurring on their campuses, and prospective students and their families had no reliable means of learning about the safety of the campuses they were considering;

Whereas Connie and Howard Clery helped advance more than 30 State and Federal laws, notably the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–542; 20 U.S.C. 1001 note), which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on November 8, 1990 and added subsection (f) to section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)) (now referred to as the “Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act”) to require institutions participating in title IV student financial assistance programs to disclose campus crime statistics and security policies;

Whereas, in 1992, Connie Clery led efforts to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights, and in 1998, to expand public disclosure, including a daily crime log and a broader definition of campus;

Whereas Connie Clery remained engaged in subsequent efforts to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, including in 2008 to strengthen emergency notification and missing student procedures, in 2013 to require disclosure of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to strengthen prevention programs and victim rights, and in 2024 to require the disclosure and research-informed prevention of hazing;

Whereas Connie Clery was responsible for running the Clery Center until 2003, and spent nearly 4 decades counseling grieving families, training campus safety professionals, and insisting that survivors of campus crime be treated with dignity and compassion; and

Whereas Connie Clery is remembered for her courage, perseverance, compassion, and commitment to protecting students: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of Constance “Connie” B. Clery;

(2) honors the life and legacy of Connie Clery and expresses its deep condolences to her family and loved ones; and

(3) reaffirms its commitment to the implementation and enforcement of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)).",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sens-ossoff-rev-warnock-delivering-12-million-in-federal-funds-to-support-tybee-island-beach-renourishment-project/,"Sens. Ossoff, Rev. Warnock Delivering $12 Million in Federal Funds to Support Tybee Island Beach Renourishment Project",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"In 2022, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock passed into law their “Tybee Island Storm Risk Management Act” to support ongoing renourishment & storm risk management projects

In March, Sen. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock, in separate letters, urged the Army Corps to allocate Federal funding for the Tybee Island project & again urged the Army Corps in June

Tybee Island Mayor West: “Senators Ossoff and Warnock are persistent advocates for Tybee Island and worked with us in our efforts to secure the federal funding to nourish our beach and protect our island.”

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are delivering Federal funding to support Tybee Island’s beach renourishment project.

After successfully pushing the Trump Administration, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock today announced they are delivering $12 million in Federal funding to renourish Tybee Island’s beaches and protect the shoreline.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, after Federal funding cuts, the Trump Administration’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its 2026 work plan earlier this year, which did not include funding for Tybee Island’s project.

In March, Sen. Ossoff Rev. Warnock, in separate letters, first urged Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle to allocate Federal funding needed to help complete the shovel-ready Tybee Island Shoreline Protection Project, noting the project is ready to begin and has already completed its environmental review. Sen. Ossoff again urged the Army Corps in June to allocate the Federal funding for the renourishment project.

“Beach nourishment at Tybee Island has been a successful partnership between the City of Tybee Island and the Corps for nearly five decades,” Sen. Ossoff said. “Senator Reverend Warnock and I are delivering Federal funding to help protect Tybee’s residents and businesses.”

“I’m proud to have secured this funding with Senator Ossoff to ensure Tybee Island’s beaches remain among the best in the country. This funding will not only help restore the beaches and continue to be an economic boost for the region, but will also protect Georgia businesses, families, and the local economy from damaging storm surge and erosion,” Senator Reverend Warnock said. “Coastal Georgia is my home, and I plan to continue to advocate for it in Washington.”

“Senators Ossoff and Warnock are persistent advocates for Tybee Island and worked with us in our efforts to secure the federal funding to nourish our beach and protect our island. They understand that Tybee’s shoreline is not only vital to our residents and visitors, but also to the broader coastal economy and Georgia’s economy,” Tybee Island Mayor Brian West said. “We are grateful for their continued advocacy and for assisting in reallocating $12 million for Tybee’s beach nourishment project. Senator Ossoff first made us aware that funds were available this year from other states for this project. This has truly been a team effort, and I am grateful to both Senators and everyone who stayed at the table, making the calls, asking the questions, and fighting for this project. We are ready to get to work this winter.”

Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect Tybee Island from the effects of sea-level rise and flooding.

In 2022, Sen. Ossoff, alongside Senator Reverend Warnock, passed into law his Tybee Island Storm Risk Management Act as part of the Water Resources and Development Act reauthorization, which extended the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ authority to partner with Tybee Island on beach renourishment and storm risk management projects for 12 years.

In 2023, Sen. Ossoff delivered a new $380,000 Federal grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)’s National Coastal Resilience Fund to help protect residents and homes from flooding on Tybee Island.

Also in 2023, Sen. Ossoff delivered new resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to construct a new hurricane and tornado safe room on Tybee Island, providing a safe area for emergency personnel who must remain on the Island during hurricanes and other disaster situations.

# # #",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-warnock-calls-out-ai-developers-social-media-companies-after-bizarre-health-hoax/,"VIDEO: Warnock Calls Out AI Developers, Social Media Companies, After Bizarre Health Hoax",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Warnock warned about the risk to democracy after AI-generated social media posts with false health news about the Senator went viral

Senator Reverend Warnock: “What if hours before an election, someone created a page with AI-generated images, fake stories about the candidates? How will voters know what’s true and what’s not true?”

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released a video (WATCH HERE) on the dangers of AI for democracy after an AI-generated hoax regarding his health circulated social media. The AI-generated posts claimed that Senator Warnock had collapsed on stage, and another said he had undergone surgery and was recovering from cancer. In response, Senator Warnock stressed the need for congressional action on AI.

“What if hours before an election, someone created a page with AI-generated images, fake stories about the candidates? How will voters know what’s true and what’s not true?” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Social media companies have to move quickly to label this material. Congress needs to act.”

This follows a recent visit by Senator Warnock to the proposed site of OpenAI’s new 3.2-gigawatt data center in Effingham County. After meeting with residents and members of the Protect Effingham Alliance who raised serious concerns about the impact of OpenAI’s plan on their community, Senator Warnock announced his support for a statewide moratorium on data center construction.

Watch the Senator’s video on the dangers of AI to democracy HERE

Additional AI-generated photos showed the Senator with a full head of hair, while one post falsely announced he was the grandparent of twins.

See below for a transcript

Senator Reverend Warnock: ”I recently ran across this Facebook page that was posting tons of fake AI-generated images and stories about me.

“Some of it was funny. This post, for example, says that apparently I have regrown a full head of hair. I should be so lucky. I checked the mirror this morning. Not true.

“Some of it was bizarre, like this post that says I’ve had twin grandchildren.

“But then there were other stories that were scary, suggesting that I was having some major health issues, and had even undergone surgery. Posts like these have received thousands of likes, thousands of views. Some well-meaning constituents and friends, well-wishers, actually called, saying that they were praying for my speedy recovery.

“As these tools become increasingly powerful, it will get harder and harder to distinguish fact from fiction, and there are already bad actors out there who are doing everything they can to divide us and confuse us, and this has huge implications for our democracy.

“What if hours before an election, someone created a page with AI-generated images, fake stories about the candidates? How will voters know what’s true and what’s not true?

“We have a whole lot of work to do where AI is concerned. AI is here; it is a part of our lives. We must deal with issues related to safety and jobs, but this underscores yet another issue: our democracy itself.

“Social media companies have to move quickly to label this material. Congress needs to act. We need guardrails. We need regulations. We need to figure this out. The future is already here.”

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/subcommittee-ranking-member-johnsons-opening-statement-hearing-trumps-0,Subcommittee Ranking Member Johnson’s Opening Statement At Hearing On Trump’s Attacks On American Global Leadership,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,"Henry C. ""Hank"" Johnson, Jr.",J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,hankjohnson,https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 15, 2026)—Today, Rep. Hank Johnson, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, delivered opening remarks at a hearing on the International Criminal Court (ICC), highlighting how President Trump’s attacks on international institutions and America’s closest allies are weakening U.S. sovereignty and global leadership.

Below are Ranking Member Johnson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at today’s hearing.

WATCH Ranking Member Johnson’s opening statement.

Ranking Member Hank Johnson

Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet

Hearing on “The International Criminal Court’s Threat to the Sovereignty of the United States and its Allies”

September 15, 2026

I thank the Chairman for yielding. Normally, I would thank him for holding this very important, very timely hearing, but this is far afield from what the American people want us to be talking about right now.

You know, they’re concerned with paying the bills, groceries, gas, diesel, rent. They’re concerned about living in America and being able to make ends meet. They can’t do it, but yet they look up and they see a few millionaires and billionaires corruptly, you know, soaking their profits—soaking money directly out of the pockets and pocketbooks of regular working people.

And they don’t like what they see, and they don’t like what they’re hearing when they see us addressing issues like the International Criminal Court, which has nothing to do with their cost of living.

America’s commitment to the rule of law should not end at our borders. If we believe accountability is the foundation of justice at home, then we should not undermine or ignore it when the crimes are committed abroad.

But for some reason, that is exactly what we are doing here today. On its face, this hearing serves to benefit Donald Trump and his friends like Vladamir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Bukele. And this all while he leaves the American people to suffer under the consequences of his failed policies.

Because while we are allegedly here today to discuss how the International Criminal Court “threatens” our sovereignty and that of our allies, much like the Trump administration’s other manufactured crises, it is a farce. A smokescreen. A pathetic excuse to mask the true nature behind this hearing: To distract from the corruption and greed of Donald Trump and his cronies here in Congress.

While Trump and MAGA Republicans are here talking about “sovereignty,” American families are worried about how they are going to pay for gas and groceries and everything else that inevitably gets more expensive when war sends energy prices soaring. Over the weekend, the cost of diesel fuel hit an all-time record high, while Trump is encouraging Big Tech to continue building enormous data centers in our backyards, putting unprecedented demands on our already-strained energy grid.

That is the reality for millions of Americans. Not an abstract debate about international law. This hearing will not put gas in the tank or food on the table. It will help my colleagues across the aisle talk about anything other than the consequences of his self-serving policies.

This administration is asking Americans to look abroad and fear an international court that we don’t even belong to, when the American people don’t need another distraction. They need a government focused on making their lives more affordable – not one manufacturing new enemies abroad to distract from the fact that President Trump is increasing the economic pressures facing American families every single day.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle can talk about sovereignty all they want. But I believe the American people deserve a government that understands their actual problems, not one that is only concerned with the president’s ego and helping him get richer on the backs of American workers.

This manufactured attack on international cooperation comes at a time when our world faces threats that no one country can solve alone – from climate change to the increasingly unchecked development of artificial intelligence.

In July, an Open AI test became uncontrollable when agents hacked into the servers of AI company, Hugging Face. Just last week, Anthropic disclosed another instance of one of their models hacking an external system during testing. Nobody instructed the AI to take these actions.

Now, each of these incidents is concerning on its own, and they raise real questions about the soundness of the evaluation setups. But the larger question is what happens when these same capabilities are in the hands of someone who intends harm?

We should be having conversations about robust safety standards here at home. The reason we have not is because Donald Trump has told his cronies in Congress that they cannot regulate AI. That is why this very subcommittee had a hearing last year to try to preempt all state laws that try to regulate AI.

We have a narrow window to get this right. And while we should be collaborating with our allies to address AI augmented cybersecurity and autonomous weaponry concerns, my colleagues across the aisle are instead busy trying to take the ICC apart “brick by brick.” All on Donald Trump’s orders.

Working together with our allies to solve these problems is not a surrender of American sovereignty; it is what responsible leadership looks like. The United States cannot solve these problems alone. We need our allies. We need international institutions that allow nations to work together to confront problems that no single country can solve alone.

Yet it has become clear that Trump and MAGA Republicans are incapable of understanding that distinction.

Instead, they confuse sovereignty with isolation and strength with intimidation. They confuse putting America first with putting America alone.

History has shown that America is strongest when we lead; when we stand with our allies and understand that the choice before us is not between sovereignty and international cooperation.

We can either choose to confront these challenges together, or we can confront their consequences alone. It is my sincere hope that we choose the former.

Thank you to our witnesses for being here today and I yield back the balance of my time.

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/williams-merkley-booker-lead-push-to-close-constitutional-loophole-allowing-for-slavery,"Williams, Merkley, Booker Lead Push to Close Constitutional Loophole Allowing for Slavery",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) today teamed up with New Jersey’s U.S. Senator Cory Booker to reintroduce the End the Exception Amendment. The bicameral resolution would strike the ‘Slavery Clause’ of the 13th Amendment, a constitutional loophole that allows slavery “as a punishment for crime” in the United States.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“Slavery was wrong from day one, and we should have abolished it when the 13th Amendment was ratified. I will keep pushing, no matter how long it takes, for Congress to close the Slavery Loophole in the Constitution, finally ending slavery in America in every form, once and for all. It’s been one hundred sixty years since we passed the 13th Amendment. We’ve waited long enough. The time to pass the End the Exception Amendment is now.”

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley said:

“For over 160 years, the 13th Amendment has sought to ensure our democratic republic lives up to the principles of equality and justice that America was founded on, but our work still remains to fully confront the horrific legacies of slavery and white supremacy. For too long, the sinister Slavery Clause in our Constitution has denied the dream of a more perfect union, stripping millions of people—particularly people of color—of their most basic human rights and preventing true justice and equality for all. We must pass the End the Exception Amendment to eliminate the loophole that drove legal slavery long past passage of the 13th Amendment.”

U.S. Senator Cory Booker said:

“Over one hundred and sixty years after Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude, the law has failed to fully fulfill its promise of freedom for all. A loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment allows individuals to be sentenced to forced labor as ‘punishment for a crime. We cannot claim to be a free country while allowing people to be enslaved—it is a violation of our founding principles that continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans. It is time we eliminate slavery in every form and pass the End the Exception Amendment so we can live up to our country’s foundational principles of liberty, justice, and equality for all.”

Immediately following the 1865 ratification of the 13th Amendment—including the Slavery Clause—Southern jurisdictions passed what became known as “Black Codes,” laws that allowed the arrest of Black Americans in large numbers for minor crimes like loitering or vagrancy. The Slavery Clause was then used by sheriffs to lease out imprisoned Black individuals to work landowners’ fields, which in some cases included the very same plantations where the prisoners had previously been enslaved. The practice grew in prevalence and scope to the point that, for example, by 1898, 73 percent of Alabama’s state revenue came from renting out the forced labor of Black Americans. Throughout the Jim Crow era, the Slavery Clause continued to incentivize minor crime convictions and drove the over-incarceration of Black Americans on infamous prison plantations, like Parchman, in Mississippi, and Angola, in Louisiana.

The End the Exception Amendment would finally correct this historic constitutional loophole and send a clear message: a ban on slavery cannot come with exceptions. While communities across the nation wait for federal action, nine states across the country—including Oregon—have banned slavery as a form of punishment.

The bicameral resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D‑CT), Tammy Duckworth (D‑IL), Dick Durbin (D‑IL), Mazie Hirono (D‑HI), Edward J. Markey (D‑MA), Alex Padilla (D‑CA), Chris Van Hollen (D‑MD), Raphael Warnock (D‑GA), Elizabeth Warren (D‑MA), Peter Welch (D‑VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (RI-01), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Ami Bera (CA-06), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Sanford Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), and Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05) — along with Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Jared Huffman (CA-01), Jonathan L. Jackson (GA-02), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager‑Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Susie Lee (NV-03), Summer Lee (PA-12), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At‑Large), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Scott Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-13), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Mark Takano (CA-39), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25).

Merkley, Williams, and Booker’s End the Exception Amendment is supported by 90 organizations, including Worth Rises, Vera Institute of Justice, and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here.

“Slavery is wrong under all circumstances. Yet more than 160 years after the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, an exception still allows governments and corporations to exploit incarcerated people for their labor. Congress has a moral obligation to finish the work of abolition by passing the End the Exception Amendment. No slavery, no exceptions,” said Celina Chapin, Chief Advocacy Officer, Worth Rises.

A one-page summary of the End the Exception Amendment can be found by clicking here.",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-statement-on-clarity-act-vote/,Warnock Statement on Clarity Act Vote,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released the following statement after voting “NO” on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.3633, the Clarity Act.

“Senate Republicans’ insistence on protecting this president’s rampant corruption killed the Clarity Act. Like many of my Democratic colleagues, I was ready to continue negotiations and make reasonable compromises to provide much-needed regulatory certainty. But I will never look away when it comes to the President illegally enriching himself at the expense of the American people. To make it plain: Senate Republicans gave us no choice.”

“My work is not done today. I look forward to continuing to work with consumers and investors, and with industry stakeholders to pass a market structure bill into law that protects consumers and ensures that there are clear rules for digital asset investors, customers, and businesses so that Americans can innovate and prosper by owning their future in our financial system.”",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/15/mcbath-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-increase-transparency-in-prescription-drug-market/,McBath Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Market,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, DC — This week, Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) introduced the bipartisan Net Effective Cost Transparency and Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2026, legislation to increase transparency and competition in the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) market and help lower prescription drug costs. The bill is co-led by Representatives Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Rick Allen (GA-12), and Carol Miller (WV-01).

PBMs serve as middlemen between health plans, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers and play a major role in determining prescription drug costs. However, rebates, discounts, fees, and other payments can make it difficult for health plans to determine what they are actually paying for prescription drugs.

The legislation introduced this week would require greater transparency around the “net effective cost” of prescription drugs — essentially, what drugs actually cost after rebates, discounts, fees, and other price concessions are taken into account. By allowing PBM bids to be compared on a more consistent basis, the bill would promote greater competition and accountability across Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and employer-sponsored health plans.

“Families in Georgia and across this country are struggling with the high cost of prescription drugs. Convoluted PBM bidding practices have continued far too long without the safeguards in place to protect patients,” said Congresswoman McBath. “This bill would help to simplify a complicated process and allow Americans access to health plans that work for them, not a PBM’s bottom line.”

“Families and seniors in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos deserve real transparency when it comes to what they pay for prescription drugs,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “Our bipartisan legislation will make it easier to understand the true cost after rebates, discounts, and fees are taken into account. By increasing transparency and competition among PBMs, we can help lower costs and ensure patients and health plans are getting a better deal.”

“Healthcare is too complicated and drug pricing is the most complicated of all. This legislation pours sunlight into the inner workings of bids & prices, so that lower prices, not higher rebates, is what wins,” said Congressman Auchincloss.

“The Net Effective Cost Transparency and Prescription Drug Affordability Act is a continuation of our work to hold PBMs accountable and increase drug price transparency for America’s families and seniors. Unfortunately, overly expensive prescription drugs are often a direct result of harmful PBM practices. This bipartisan effort will help address the rising cost of prescription drugs and provide relief for patients who have faced this financial burden for far too long,” said Congressman Rick W. Allen.

“Patients should not have to navigate a maze of rebates, fees, and hidden costs to understand what they are paying for their prescriptions. The Net Effective Cost Transparency and Prescription Drug Affordability Act brings much-needed transparency to the PBM market and helps ensure that competition is driven by lower costs, not complicated pricing arrangements. I am proud to support this bipartisan effort to give patients and health plans greater clarity and help make prescription drugs more affordable for West Virginians,” said Congresswoman Miller.

Read the full bill text HERE.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/after-gops-historic-medicaid-cuts-sen-ossoff-delivering-federal-funding-to-strengthen-georgias-rural-hospitals/,"After GOP’s Historic Medicaid Cuts, Sen. Ossoff Delivering Federal Funding to Strengthen Georgia’s Rural Hospitals",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — After Congressional Republican’s historic cuts to Medicaid last year, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is delivering Federal funding to strengthen Georgia’s rural hospitals.

Sen. Ossoff is delivering Federal funding to 18 rural hospitals across Georgia through the Rural Hospital Provider Assistance Program (RHPAP), a new program created earlier this year that offers Federal funding to rural hospitals to strengthen care and prevent hospital closures.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Ossoff helped pass into law funding for this new Federal grant program as part of the bipartisan government funding bill that became law on February 3, 2026.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awarded hospitals may use this funding to retain physicians, nurses, and other health care providers, allowing hospitals to preserve essential services, including emergency, inpatient, and other critical health care services.

“Georgia’s rural hospitals have been under strain for years, made worse by recent cuts to Medicaid. Bringing Republicans and Democrats in Congress together, I helped pass into law this new Federal funding to combat the GOP’s Medicaid cuts and help strengthen Georgia’s rural hospitals. Now the Federal funding is on its way,” Sen. Ossoff said.

According to HHS and the Federal funding notice, each hospital is expected to receive the same amount of Federal funding, or roughly $187,500 in Federal funding ($24,750,000 split between 132 hospitals).

Please find Federal grant funding below:

Sen. Ossoff continues working to support Georgia’s rural hospitals.

This year, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock brought Republicans and Democrats together to deliver health care upgrades for Southwest Georgia communities, including Federal funding to upgrade hospital infrastructure in Crisp County, deliver a new MRI machine to Irwin County, fund a new CT Scanner, mammogram machine, and ambulance in Clinch County, and purchase new medical equipment for maternal and neonatal care in Valdosta.

Sen. Ossoff also brought Republicans and Democrats together to expand health care services for families across North Georgia, including expanding health care transportation services in Rome, delivering a new Cardiac CT Scanner for a rural hospital in Union County, and delivering new equipment in Calhoun.

In 2024, Sen. Ossoff delivered Federal resources to Crisp Regional Hospital to help construct a new health clinic facility in Warwick, Georgia.

# # #",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-remembers-the-september-11-2001-terrorist-attacks-on-the-united-states,"Congressman Bishop Remembers the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks on the United States",2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,"Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.",B000490,bishop.house.gov,bishop,https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"COLUMBUS, Ga. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement solemnly commemorating the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States:

“Today, we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on our country which claimed the lives of 2,977 people and injured thousands of others. I was in Washington, DC, and I clearly remember that day. I remember the friends who lost loved ones.

“Our solemn commemoration keeps alive the memory of those who were lost and honors the first responders who selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to protect others and save lives. Many died while others were left with lasting wounds, both visible and invisible. We are indebted to them forever.

“Today is also a reminder about what happened in the aftermath of these attacks. Americans came together, recognizing that there is more that binds us together than what separates us. Now, more than ever, we must take this lesson to heart and never let anyone succeed in using their power to stoke fear, anger, uncertainty, and division that only serves to tear us apart and weaken our great nation and its foundations.

“As the smoke and dust cleared in the days, weeks, months, and years following the September 11 terrorist attacks, our country unrelentingly pursued the terrorists involved. In 2011, President Obama solemnly announced that Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of this heinous crime, had been killed in the process of apprehending him.

“Today, we continue to stand tall and reaffirm that those who attempted to wipe away the symbols of our power and greatness ultimately failed. We quickly rebuilt. We continue to grow. We remain resolute in our purpose and strength to uphold and defend the Constitution and the highest ideals upon which our country is based so that we can be a beacon and rampart of good in this world.”

###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/watch-sen-ossoff-commemorates-25th-anniversary-of-september-11th-terrorist-attacks/,WATCH: Sen. Ossoff Commemorates 25th Anniversary of September 11th Terrorist Attacks,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Atlanta, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

“Today, I would like to pause and honor and remember all of those who were killed in New York, in Virginia, in Pennsylvania – all of the extraordinary first responders who lost their lives or put their lives on the line to rescue those who were stranded and wounded,” Sen. Ossoff said.

“We will never forget 9/11. We will never forget the heinous terrorist attack on American soil, and we will never cease our vigilance in defending the United States and the American people,” Sen. Ossoff continued. “Today, we remember those who lost their lives and all the heroes whose service on that day remains an example of American heroism and patriotism that will live on for centuries.”

Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s message for your use on air.

Please find a transcript of Sen. Ossoff’s message below:

SEN. OSSOFF: “It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years, and I know none of us can forget where we were when we first heard the news and saw the shocking images.

“Today, I would like to pause and honor and remember all of those who were killed in New York, in Virginia, in Pennsylvania–all of the extraordinary first responders who lost their lives or put their lives on the line to rescue those who were stranded and wounded.

“We will never forget 9/11. We will never forget the heinous terrorist attack on American soil. And we will never cease our vigilance in defending the United States and the American people.

“Today, we remember those who lost their lives and all the heroes whose service on that day remains an example of American heroism and patriotism that will live on for centuries.

“Thank you so much.”

# # #",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/icymi-congressmembers-nikema-williams-announces-700000-in-federal-support-for-community-schoolyards,"ICYMI: Congressmembers Nikema Williams Announces $700,000 in Federal Support for Community Schoolyards",2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"ATLANTA, G.A. — Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) announced that Atlanta Public Schools has received $700,000 in congressionally directed spending to support future community schoolyard projects in Atlanta.

Congresswoman Williams joined Atlanta Public Schools and Trust for Public Land leaders to celebrate the new federal investment, which will help transform school grounds into vibrant outdoor spaces that support student learning and recreation while expanding neighborhood access to green space beyond the school day.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams said:

“As a proud APS mama, I know how much it means for our children to have places where they can learn, play, explore and just be kids. These projects aren’t just playgrounds and outdoor spaces. They support outdoor education, build climate resilience, connect us to nature and improve park equity — because all children deserve a safe and accessible place to play, no matter their ZIP code or bank account.”

The Schoolyards Program is a national initiative of Trust for Public Land designed to expand community access to schoolyards during non-school hours and increase the percentage of people who live within a 10-minute walk of a park. In Atlanta, the program is implemented in partnership with APS, other non-profit organizations, and city agencies, with additional support from the philanthropic community.

George Dusenbury, Georgia State Director of Trust for Public Lands said:

“Community schoolyards are one of the smartest ways we can expand access to green space in Atlanta neighborhoods. This federal investment will help Atlanta Public Schools create places that support students during the school day and serve families and neighbors after hours, ensuring more Atlantans have safe, high-quality places to play, learn and gather.”

In Atlanta, 18 percent of residents still do not live within a 10-minute walk of a park. Over the past six years, TPL has worked with 14 Atlanta schools to redesign schoolyards so they can serve as parks during non-school hours. The first campus selected for this phase is Crawford W. Long Middle School in the Glenrose Heights neighborhood of South Atlanta. Additional details on sites and timelines will be announced as planning moves forward.

Dr. Bryan Johnson, APS Superintendent said:

“At Atlanta Public Schools, we know schools are more than buildings; they are spaces where lifelong memories are made. This project allows us to welcome all of our neighbors to create memories, friendships, and strong bonds right here on our schoolyards. By transforming these spaces into vibrant, welcoming places for play, learning, and connection, we are strengthening the relationship between our schools and the communities they serve. We are proud to partner with the Trust for Public Land to create schoolyards that are truly for everyone.”",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sens-ossoff-rev-warnock-delivering-nearly-500-million-to-improve-water-infrastructure-damaged-by-hurricane-helene/,"Sens. Ossoff, Rev. Warnock Delivering Nearly $500 Million to Improve Water Infrastructure Damaged by Hurricane Helene",2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff today announced they are delivering nearly $500 million in Federal funding to upgrade water infrastructure impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock are delivering nearly $500 million to upgrade water infrastructure damaged during Hurricane Helene, including nearly $360 million for drinking water upgrades and nearly $125 million for wastewater upgrades.

The Federal grants come through the Federal bipartisan disaster funding package that Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock helped passed in December 2024.

“Bringing Republicans and Democrats together, we are delivering these resources to help improve Georgia’s water infrastructure after Hurricane Helene,” Sen. Ossoff said.

“Hurricane Helene was a wake-up call: our state’s water infrastructure is not ready to handle extreme weather. That’s why I’m proud to work alongside Sen. Ossoff to unlock federal relief funding to help prevent dangerous flooding and keep clean drinking water flowing when the next storm hits,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.

The Federal funding will be delivered to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), who will then distribute the Federal funds to local projects. According to the State and GEFA, the Federal funding is distributed across five funding categories:

HRF (Helene Resilience Funding) for wastewater: $124.9 million

HRF (Helene Resilience Funding) for decentralized wastewater (septic systems): $8.96 million

HRF (Helene Resilience Funding) for drinking water: $359.5 million

Emergency wastewater: $3.3 million

Emergency drinking water: $2.75 million

Sen. Ossoff continues working to upgrade infrastructure throughout the State of Georgia.

In June, Sen. Ossoff delivered over $37 million through the bipartisan infrastructure law to remove lead pipes and conduct essential drinking water infrastructure upgrades across Georgia through the Lead Service Line Replacement Program.

In May, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock and Reps. Williams and McBath brought Republicans and Democrats in Congress together to deliver $1,092,000 in Federal funding for key stormwater infrastructure upgrades along Norman Berry Drive in East Point, including a storm water main replacement and headwall restoration to improve stormwater flows and prevent sink holes in the area.

In April, Sen. Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats in Congress together to deliver $954,000 in Federal funding to help the City of Hampton implement critical stormwater infrastructure improvements and reduce flooding along Woolsey Road.

Also in April, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock and Rep. McBath brought Republicans and Democrats together to deliver $1,092,000 in Federal funding to help improve South Fulton’s stormwater infrastructure, including the replacement of old stormwater pipes and measures to mitigate the effect of flooding near homes.

In March, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock and Reps. Williams and McBath brought Republicans and Democrats in Congress together to deliver over $2.1 million in Federal funding to help the City of College Park upgrade its drinking water infrastructure.

In December, Sen. Ossoff cosponsored the bipartisan Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act to improve water infrastructure systems across rural Georgia.

# # #",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/09/government-watchdog-finds-defense-department-is-robbing-workers-of-fair-wages-and-benefits-in-report-requested-by-mcbath-ranking-member-scott/,"Government Watchdog Finds Defense Department is Robbing Workers of Fair Wages and Benefits in Report Requested by McBath, Ranking Member Scott",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on the Department of Defense’s (DOD) use of Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs) to obtain services from state and local governments and the impact on the workers employed under these contracts.

Requested by House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), the report revealed that the intergovernmental support agreements adopted by DOD are undermining worker protections under the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act and robbing contract workers of fair wages and benefits.

The McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) has long provided protections to ensure that unionized firms are not disadvantaged in competition for federal contracts and that these contracts provide wages consistent with prevailing local standards. GAO found that the military services’ use of IGSAs has increased dramatically in recent years. In 2018, GAO reported that 45 IGSAs had been approved across all DOD installations. That number increased to 316 in 2025.

The report examined at the minimum hourly wages for five positions and found that the minimum wages for three of the five positions under IGSAs were lower than the minimum hourly wage required under SCA, raising concerns that IGSAs are being used simply as a loophole to avoid complying with federal law. The report also found that DOD does not always conduct required cost-benefit analyses for prospective IGSAs.

“The McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) was adopted by Congress to prevent the exploitation of workers by employers looking to win federal contracts by simply offering the lowest bids. Today’s GAO report shows that not only is the Department of Defense using intergovernmental support agreements (IGSAs) to bypass the law, but it is also relying on them,” said Ranking Member Scott. “While the DOD may argue that IGSAs save the government money, it comes at the cost of shortchanging workers of fair wages and decent benefits.”

“After hearing from workers in Georgia, I partnered with Ranking Member Scott to examine the increasing number of Intergovernmental Support Agreements on military bases across the country. 3 out of the 5 of the jobs examined in the report paid workers less than they would have under the Service Contract Act. The Government Accountability Office also found that there was no way to verify the accuracy of cost savings reported by these agreements,” said Rep. McBath. “Working people deserve to be paid what they are owed. The Department of Defense should not exploit legal loopholes to pay workers less. I look forward to doing more with my colleagues in Congress to raise wages for American families.”

“IGSA’s undermine the purpose and goals of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act of 1965, also known as the ‘SCA’. IGSA’s result in substandard wages and benefits to the hardworking men and woman that perform essential installation-support services. We cannot thank the Congresswoman enough for everything she does for working people,” said Jacob Owens, Vice President and Business Agent of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 926.",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-reintroduces-legislation-to-increase-access-to-child-care,Congresswoman Nikema Williams Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Access to Child Care,2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) reintroduced the Care is an Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Act. This legislation would require Economic Development Districts to show in their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies how they will increase access to care-based services, including child care.

3 in 4 families looking for childcare have difficulty finding a spot in a center-based program or a home-based program. Families need a strong care economy because access to care makes every aspect of our lives possible.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“As a mama, I know how critical early education and childcare are to the future of our children and the well-being of our families. We are in the midst of a childcare crisis. Too many working families in Georgia and across the country are struggling to find affordable, high-quality care for their children.

As a Congresswoman, I know it doesn’t have to be this way. Families need a strong care economy because access to care makes every aspect of our lives possible. With the CEDS Act, families can count on their communities to plan for access to care for everyone — no matter their ZIP code, no matter their bank account.”

The CEDS Act is endorsed by: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), First Five-Year Fund, Chamber of Mother, KinderCare Learning Companies, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), and National Children’s Facilities Network (NCFN)

Kristin Bernhard, CEO of GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students said:

“A strong economy depends not only on creating jobs, but also on ensuring people can fill them. In Georgia alone, child care challenges cost our state an estimated $2.5 billion in lost economic activity each year. By incorporating care into regional economic development planning, the CEDS Act helps communities build a stronger workforce and a more resilient economy.”

Patrick Murray, Vice President of Government Affairs at KinderCare Learning Companies said:

“Child care is essential community infrastructure that enables children to learn and develop, parents to work, and local economies to thrive. As the nation’s leading child care provider, KinderCare applauds Representative Nikema Williams for introducing the Care is an Economic Development Strategy Act, which recognizes that expanding access to high-quality child care is a cornerstone of economic development. By encouraging communities to incorporate child care into their long-term planning, this legislation will create lasting benefits for children, families, employers, and local economies.”

Erin Erenberg, CEO, Chamber of Mothers said:

“Childcare is economic infrastructure, and the CEDS Act makes that clear. It requires regional decision-makers to do the obvious thing: account for the childcare that families need to go to work. That’s good planning; it’s good for families, and it’s good for the economy. We need lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to keep building this kind of practical, bipartisan groundwork because moms can’t keep waiting.”

The CEDS Act is co-sponsored by Eleanor Homes Norton (D.C. At Large), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)

Click here to read the text of the Care is an Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Act.",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-meets-with-gullah-geechee-community-members-visits-historic-harrington-school/,"Warnock Meets with Gullah Geechee Community Members, Visits Historic Harrington School",2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Last week, Senator Reverend Warnock met with Gullah Geechee community members at the historic Harrington School in St. Simons Island to discuss environmental health concerns, land ownership, and cultural preservation

Community members discussed high levels of toxic chemicals found in the blood of Glynn County residents living near Brunswick Superfund sites

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Coastal Georgia families should not have to choose between their history or their health”

St. Simons, GA – Last Friday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) met with members of the Gullah Geechee community in St. Simons, Georgia to hear about challenges facing coastal Georgia communities. The Gullah Geechee are descendants of Africans who were enslaved along the coastal regions of the Southeast and have preserved cultural traditions and connections to the land. Senator Warnock discussed environmental health concerns, generational land ownership, and preservation of Gullah Geechee culture.

The meeting was held at the Historic Harrington School, the last remaining African American schoolhouse on St. Simons Island. Senator Warnock toured the schoolhouse, viewing exhibits on the building’s history and Gullah Geechee culture. The schoolhouse, built in 1924, is the last remaining African American schoolhouse on St. Simons Island and a central site of Gullah Geechee heritage. Senator Warnock has requested $233,000 in congressionally directed spending to support the rehabilitation of the Harrington School.

During the meeting, Senator Warnock discussed research examining the health impacts of Brunswick Superfund sites on the community. Research from Emory University found that these superfund sites have contributed to higher levels of toxic chemicals in the blood of Glynn County residents, compared to the general population. Senator Warnock questioned how living near these Superfund sites has affected the Gullah Geechee community’s sense of safety and connection to the local environment.

“Coastal Georgia families should not have to choose between their history or their health,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I’m grateful to the Gullah Geechee community members who shared their experiences and ideas on how we can protect their health while preserving lands that have been passed down for generations.”

The conversation also focused on economic pressures facing community members, as rising property taxes and the cost of living have driven Gullah Geechee families off their ancestral lands. Senator Warnock has made it a priority to lower the rising cost of everyday essentials like housing, gas, groceries, and childcare.

Senator Warnock has been a longtime advocate for the Gullah Geechee community. He has introduced a billto extend authorization for the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and secured over $2.3 million for McIntosh County to improve emergency response following the Sapelo Island dock collapse.

###",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-wyden-open-inquiry-into-trump-administrations-political-targeting-of-non-profits/,"Warnock, Wyden Open Inquiry into Trump Administration’s Political Targeting of Non-Profits",2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"The senators’ probe follows reports that the Trump administration is politically targeting non-profit, non-partisan organizations

Senators Reverend Warnock, Wyden: “Americans of every political persuasion must be able to trust that the IRS applies the tax code objectively under one set of rules”

Washington, D.C. – Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, launched an inquiry into reports that the Trump administration is developing plans to weaponize the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) tax enforcement authority to target perceived ideological opponents.

“Americans of every political persuasion must be able to trust that the IRS applies the tax code objectively under one set of rules,” wrote Senators Warnock and Wyden. “Rather than targeting actual violence, these directives explicitly conflate terrorism with subjective political viewpoints—such as ‘anti-capitalism,’ ‘anti-Christianity,’ and views on race, migration, and gender.”

The senators demand that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano disclose any details about the development of the Trump administration’s directive targeting non-profit organizations for political reasons, any communications to direct IRS employees to conduct prohibited enforcement actions, and to preserve any documents or communications associated with this effort.

This latest effort to target non-profit organizations over baseless claims of impropriety further demonstrates the Trump administration’s willingness to put political interests ahead of the American people and substantiates concerns raised by Senator Warnock during Mr. Bisignano’s appearance before the Senate Finance Committee in April. In a similar hearing earlier this year, Senator Warnock pressed Secretary Bessent on the Trump administration’s continued indifference to the economic concerns of ordinary Americans.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

“Dear Secretary Bessent and Mr. Bisignano:

“We write regarding disturbing reports that senior Treasury officials are developing plans to target left-leaning tax-exempt organizations with IRS enforcement scrutiny and potentially revoke their tax-exempt status. These reports suggest that political considerations—including the timing of the 2026 midterm elections—are influencing that effort.

“The New York Post reported on August 27, 2026, that Treasury officials are reviewing tax-exempt organizations’ tax-exempt status, including the Open Society Foundations, Southern Poverty Law Center, Council on American-Islamic Relations, and other left-leaning ‘anti-corporate’ and labor-aligned organizations. It reported that members of Secretary Bessent’s ‘inner circle’ are developing a ‘blueprint’ for possible revocations of these organizations’ tax-exempt status, and that Administration officials want to complete ‘a good chunk of the crackdown’ before the midterm elections.

“Following the 2013 controversy regarding the IRS’s treatment of conservative organizations’ applications for tax exemption, the Senate Finance Committee conducted a two-year bipartisan investigation. Republican leaders repeatedly argued that tax administration must never be influenced by political bias or viewpoint. That principle should apply equally regardless of the political views of the organizations involved.

“If accurate, the New York Post report raises serious questions about whether political officials are influencing IRS decisions concerning particular taxpayers in ways prohibited by federal law.

“Section 7217 of the Internal Revenue Code makes it unlawful for senior Executive Branch officials to ‘request, directly or indirectly,’ that the IRS conduct or terminate ‘an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer.’ IRS employees who receive prohibited requests must report them to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). A willful violation is punishable by a fine, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

“The New York Post’s reporting fits a wider pattern of the Trump administration actively using national security directives to weaponize the IRS against protected First Amendment speech. In September 2025, President Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7) and an Executive Order directing the IRS and federal agencies to target the financial networks of ‘Antifa’ and domestic terrorists.

“However, rather than targeting actual violence, these directives explicitly conflate terrorism with subjective political viewpoints—such as ‘anti-capitalism,’ ‘anti-Christianity,’ and views on race, migration, and gender.

“Former Attorney General Bondi made this explicit in her December 4, 2025 memorandum, which ordered law enforcement to map the financial sponsors of ‘Antifa-aligned extremists,’ and pursue applicable tax crimes based on those same ideological viewpoints. Consequently, IRS Criminal Investigation is now actively working with the FBI to scrutinize nonprofits in response to these partisan directives.

“The reported ‘blueprint’ targeting left-leaning nonprofits is consistent with the Trump Administration’s campaign against higher education. In the spring of 2025, Trump said ‘Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’’ He also said he is targeting Harvard because he disapproves of its diversity and inclusion admissions programs and claims it has not sufficiently addressed antisemitism on campus.

“In contrast to NSPM-7, the Bondi memo, and Trump’s statements on social media, section 501(c)(3) and longstanding IRS authorities establish the objective standards for non-profit organizations to receive tax-exempt status. While unlawful activity may jeopardize exemption, these authorities do not authorize the government to withdraw tax exemption because it disfavors an organization’s views. Indeed, earlier this year, CEO Bisignano testified before the Senate Finance Committee that IRS has ‘never’ acted on the President’s various statements criticizing his political opponents and that they have ‘no influence’ on the IRS.

“IRS procedures similarly require impartial and consistent examination selection and independent classification review. IRS examiners must evaluate evidence impartially and determine exempt status ‘strictly on the laws that govern qualification.’ Whether an organization complies with section 501(c)(3) cannot properly depend on whether enforcement can be completed before Election Day.

“Finally, auditing specific taxpayers is the IRS’s responsibility, not the responsibility of political officials at Treasury. If Treasury officials have accessed taxpayer-specific tax return information, including audit files or internal enforcement information, they may have violated section 6103, which permits access to protected taxpayer information only when required for an employee’s tax-administration duties.

“Please provide the following information and documents by September 15, 2026:

1. Provide the reported ‘blueprint,’ including all policies, directives, guidance, criteria, and other documents concerning Treasury and IRS implementation of NSPM-7 as it relates to tax-exempt organizations, including criteria for selecting organizations for examination or possible revocation.

2. Identify the Treasury, IRS, White House, and other Executive Branch officials who developed those policies or criteria or recommended particular tax-exempt organizations for review.

3. State whether Treasury, the White House, or another Executive Branch office has identified or recommended particular organizations—including any of those named in the Post report—for IRS examination, investigation, compliance review, or revocation. If so, identify the recommending office and the legal authority and criteria relied upon, without disclosing protected return information.

4. State whether Secretary Bessent, any Treasury political appointee, any White House employee, or any other person covered by section 7217 has communicated directly or indirectly with IRS personnel about an audit or investigation of a particular taxpayer. If so, state whether any IRS employee made a report to TIGTA under section 7217(b). Provide any written request by Secretary Bessent that Treasury contends falls within the exception in section 7217(c)(3)for requests made ‘as a consequence of the implementation of a change in tax policy’ and identify the change in tax policy that Treasury contends gave rise to the request.

5. State whether any Executive Branch official has asked IRS personnel to accelerate, prioritize, complete, or take enforcement action concerning particular tax-exempt organizations before the November 2026 elections.

6. State whether political affiliation, ideological viewpoint, electoral timing, classifications such as ‘Antifa-aligned,’ or any of the ideological concepts identified in NSPM-7 have been used, formally or informally, to identify organizations for IRS scrutiny. If so, identify the statutory or regulatory authority and objective criteria supporting their use.

7. Explain the legal and evidentiary standards Treasury and IRS are applying to determine when a tax-exempt organization has ‘directly or indirectly’ financed political violence or domestic terrorism (as stated in NSPM-7), including the required nexus, knowledge, intent, materiality, and substantiality, and identify the relevant statutes, regulations, published guidance, and judicial decisions.

8. Describe the safeguards in place to ensure that referrals resulting from NSPM-7 are subject to the IRS’s ordinary classification and examination-selection procedures and state whether any official outside the IRS can direct examination of an organization over the objection of career IRS personnel.

9. State whether the President or White House personnel have requested or received return information concerning tax-exempt organizations in connection with this initiative and, if so, whether the requirements of section 6103(g), including applicable reporting and recordkeeping requirements, were satisfied.

10. Given Secretary Bessent’s prior senior roles at Soros Fund Management and Soros Fund Management’s relationship with the Open Society Foundations, describe any ethics review, recusal determination, waiver, screening arrangement, or other measure addressing Secretary Bessent’s participation in matters involving the Open Society Foundations.

“Please also preserve all potentially responsive records, including emails, text and encrypted-message communications, memoranda, notes, calendar entries, meeting materials, and draft documents.

“Americans of every political persuasion must be able to trust that the IRS applies the tax code objectively under one set of rules. Organizations that violate section 501(c)(3) should face appropriate enforcement regardless of their politics—and organizations should never face IRS scrutiny because political officials disapprove of their views.

“We expect your prompt cooperation with this inquiry.

Sincerely,”

###",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/09/03/mcbath-lee-introduce-bill-to-protect-vulnerable-communities-from-violence-and-exploitation-during-disasters/,"McBath, Lee Introduce Bill To Protect Vulnerable Communities From Violence and Exploitation During Disasters",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Representative Lucy McBath (GA-06) and Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) introduced the FEMA for Safe Recovery Act, legislation that strengthens federal disaster response by ensuring it is equipped to protect women, girls, and other vulnerable communities when disaster strikes.

“I’m proud to lead this effort to strengthen how our nation responds when natural disasters strike,” said Rep. McBath. “The FEMA for Safe Recovery Act closes the gaps that leave women, girls, and survivors of natural disasters vulnerable to violence and exploitation. By making disaster response more adaptable to the realities communities face, we can ensure that every survivor is seen, heard, and protected.”

“Fighting human trafficking and exploitation in the wake of natural disasters takes a coordinated response,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “The FEMA for Safe Recovery Act will strengthen our disaster response by ensuring FEMA personnel have the training and guidance to recognize potential violence, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. I am proud to work with Congresswoman McBath on this bipartisan effort to ensure survivors have the support and protection they need when disaster strikes.”

“Natural disasters amplify existing vulnerabilities, leaving women, children, and underserved communities at heightened risk of gendered violence, housing instability, and trafficking. Informed by our Congressional briefing and groundbreaking research with Tagnawa following the Lahaina wildfires, the bipartisan FEMA for Safe Recovery Act turns that evidence into action by making disaster response more gender-responsive and trauma-informed. We’re grateful to Representatives Lucy McBath and Laurel Lee for their leadership in ensuring disaster recovery is safer for survivors and communities nationwide,” said Yasmin Vafa, Executive Director, Rights4Girls.

“The FEMA for Safe Recovery Act is historic because it acknowledges that commercial sexual exploitation is a tragic aspect of U.S. environmental disasters and shows that giving female survivors the space to tell their stories post-disaster matters for national policy change. The findings in the Equality in Flames report, which highlight the critical need for Congressional disaster response reform for women, were only made possible because women in Lahaina bravely chose to come forward with their experiences. We are deeply grateful to Representatives Lucy McBath and Laurel Lee for their bipartisan leadership in introducing this vital legislation to ensure federal disaster response protects the safety and dignity of every survivor nationwide, especially women.” said Khara Jabola-Carolus, Co-Author of Equality in Flames and Co-Founder of Tagnawa

“The FEMA for Safe Recovery Act directly responds to what women in our community endured during the Lahaina fires and what survivors of gender-based violence across Hawaiʻi and nationwide continue to face in every disaster. Our research in Equality in Flames: The Impact of the Wildfire Disaster on Gender Equality and Filipino Women in Hawaiʻi documented that women were systematically overlooked in recovery. This bill changes that by requiring FEMA to embed the very solutions our community has been demanding. As climate disasters escalate across the country, from hurricanes to wildfires to floods, this legislation ensures that the lessons of Lahaina inform a more just and equitable disaster response for women everywhere. We are grateful to Representatives Lucy McBath and Laurel Lee for their bipartisan leadership in turning community testimony into systemic reform for generations to come.” said Nadezna Ortega, Executive Director, Tagnawa Hawaiʻi

The FEMA for Safe Recovery Act:

Directs FEMA to issue new guidance within one year to improve federal-local coordination, strengthen shelter safety, establish reporting protocols, deploy survivor advocates, and provide multilingual information.

Expands crisis counseling and requires FEMA personnel to be trained to identify and support survivors of violence, exploitation, and trafficking.

Ensures FEMA case management explicitly includes assistance for survivors navigating recovery.

Requires FEMA to speak with all adult household members during disaster check-ins, giving women safe opportunities to disclose abuse.

This legislation is supported by Rights4Girls, Tagnawa, World Without Exploitation, SK Sultana LLC, Women’s Equal Justice, Justice and Joy National Collaborative, Global Hope 365, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, Love Never Fails, Roxbury Youthworks, Inc., Sex Trade Survivor Caucus, Survivor Leader Network of San Diego, California Survivor Coalition and SPACE International.",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-backing-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-technical-skills-training-programs/,Sen. Ossoff Backing Bipartisan Bill to Expand Technical Skills Training Programs,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is backing a bipartisan bill to expand housing construction training programs in Georgia.

Sen. Ossoff is cosponsoring the bipartisan Creating Opportunities for New Skills Training at Rural or Underserved Colleges and Trade Schools (CONSTRUCTS) Act of 2025 to help address the affordable housing crisis by helping train more students in housing construction.

The bill, first introduced by Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), would establish a new Federal grant program for residential housing construction programs at technical schools and community colleges.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, the residential housing industry faces a shortage of between 200,000 and 400,000 construction workers in any given month.

“Georgia families urgently need more affordable housing. I am working with Republicans and Democrats to pass this legislation to create good-paying jobs and help build more homes across our state,” Sen. Ossoff said.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to lower housing prices for Georgia families.

In March, Sen. Ossoff helped pass the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, aimed at making housing more affordable in Georgia and across the Nation.

In 2026, Sen. Ossoff delivered $1,005,000 in Federal resources to Habitat for Humanity of Hall County to support efforts to build a new home development in the City of Gainesville, and delivered $1,312,000 to the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners, which plans to work alongside Habitat for Humanity Milledgeville-Baldwin County, to build new affordable housing units in Baldwin County.

Last August, Sen. Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats together to require a Federal watchdog investigation into the housing affordability crisis and to help ID solutions.

In 2025, Sen. Ossoff launched an investigation into large, out-of-state companies purchasing single-family homes across the State of Georgia, raising prices for families and reducing the supply of family homes available for purchase.

Also in 2025, Sens. Ossoff and Ashley Moody (R-FL) introduced the bipartisan Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act of 2025, which would establish a new home loan program under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to help law enforcement, fire fighters, medical first responders, and teachers buy homes in the communities they serve.

In 2024, Sen. Ossoff introduced the Access to Homeownership Act to require landlords that receive financing through the Federal government, including through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, for multifamily properties like apartment buildings to offer tenants the ability to have their on-time rental payments reported to credit bureaus.

Click here to read the CONSTRUCTS Act of 2025.

# # #",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-warnock-calls-for-data-center-moratorium-after-visiting-openai-site-meeting-with-effingham-county-neighbors/,"ICYMI: Warnock Calls for Data Center Moratorium After Visiting OpenAI Site, Meeting with Effingham County Neighbors",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Last week, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock called for a statewide moratorium on all data center construction that can only be lifted for specific projects that adopt comprehensive safeguards around utility costs, transparency, and pollution

Senator Warnock met with residents in Effingham County to discuss the impact of OpenAI’s proposed data center on their community

Guyton, GA – Last week, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) called for a statewide moratorium on all data center construction after visiting the proposed site of OpenAI’s new 3.2-gigawatt data center in Effingham County. Ahead of this announcement, the Senator met with several residents who raised serious concerns about the impact of OpenAI’s massive data center on their community, specifically higher utility costs and more water, light and noise pollution.

Under Senator Warnock’s proposal, the moratorium can be lifted for a specific project only if:

There are no water or electric bill increases because of the data center

There are no sweetheart tax giveaways to data center developers

There are no NDAs

The data center will not cause air and water pollution

There is no ambiguity around noise and light pollution

“The lack of transparency here in Effingham County and in counties across our state and across the country is unacceptable, and that’s why today I’m calling for a moratorium on data centers,” said Senator Warnock.

Earlier this year, Senator Warnock sent a letter calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to provide local communities with tools, resources, best practices, and protections as they negotiate with multi-billion-dollar data center corporations. Specifically, this letter focused on concerns about data centers straining community water supplies, especially while Georgia experiences a historic drought.

More coverage of Senator Reverend Warnock’s call for a statewide data center moratorium below:

WSAV: U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock is calling for a statewide moratorium on data center construction after meeting with Effingham County residents Friday who raised concerns about OpenAI’s proposed Project Camellia.

WTOC: Sen. Raphael Warnock called for a moratorium on data centers Friday during a visit to Effingham County, saying OpenAI’s data center project moved forward without input from the community.

WJCL: Effingham County residents met with U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock on Friday to express concerns about the proposed Camellia Data Center, which would be located near their homes.

WSB-TV: A U.S. senator representing Georgia is calling for a state moratorium on data center construction, starting with one of the largest in the nation in southeast Georgia’s Effingham County.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock had sharp words for Effingham County officials and OpenAI, which recently announced a $20 billion data center there, calling for a moratorium on similar projects in Georgia unless big tech companies and developers can promise specific economic and environmental protections for residents.

CBS Atlanta: U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock has called for a statewide moratorium on data centers in Georgia unless safeguards for the community are put in place.

WABE: U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is calling for a statewide moratorium on data centers after visiting the site where OpenAI plans to build a massive data center in coastal Georgia.

The Current: U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock on Friday called for a moratorium on data center construction in Georgia, describing the secrecy surrounding plans to build a $20 billion data center in Effingham County “unacceptable.”

Effingham Herald: U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., came home to coastal Georgia Friday to visit the proposed site of OpenAI’s $20 billion Project Camellia in Effingham County — and called for a moratorium on data center development until residents have a meaningful voice in whether such projects are built in their communities.

Savannah Morning News: U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock is calling for a statewide moratorium on data centers. The announcement came Friday morning during a press conference at Zion Lutheran Church in Guyton, where Warnock met with residents and stakeholders regarding the planned data center in Rincon. He also laid out the only reasons the moratorium should be lifted if implemented.

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer: Friday, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) pushed for a moratorium on data centers in a video on Instagram after visiting the construction site for OpenAI’s Project Camellia.

The Post-Searchlight: Speaking at the site of a planned OpenAI data center in Effingham County, Sen. Raphael Warnock called for a statewide moratorium on data centers Friday.

WRBL: U.S. Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) met with community stakeholders and media on Friday to discuss concerns related to a planned data center near Savannah.

###",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bishop-mourns-the-passing-of-former-us-rep-charles-hatcher-of-georgia,Congressman Bishop Mourns the Passing of Former U.S. Rep. Charles Hatcher of Georgia,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,"Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.",B000490,bishop.house.gov,bishop,https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) issued the following statement upon the news that former Congressman Charles Floyd Hatcher of Georgia has passed away:

“Today, Georgia lost a true public servant and leader. Former Congressman Charles Hatcher was born in Georgia, served our country in the United States Air Force, and returned to Southwest Georgia after earning his law degree and practicing in Albany.

“He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1973 to 1980 and subsequently in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 through 1993.

“While we competed in the 1992 Democratic Primary for Georgia’s Second Congressional District, which I won, I was glad to have his support and counsel nonetheless as I started my tenure on Capitol Hill.

“He continued to serve Americans as a presidential appointee in the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Clinton Administration and continued to serve the Virginia community in which he resided thereafter, volunteering his time with a number of local charities, including Meals on Wheels, and through his local church, the Washington Street United Methodist Church in Alexandria.

“He leaves behind a legacy of love and compassion through his work and the relationships he built.

“My wife, Vivian, and I extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Krysta, his children, his grandchildren, and loving family as well as all those whose lives he touched and helped make better. We will miss him dearly.”

###",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-johnsons-opening-statement-hearing-protecting-americas,Ranking Member Johnson’s Opening Statement At Hearing On Protecting America’s Patent System And Innovation Economy,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,"Henry C. ""Hank"" Johnson, Jr.",J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,hankjohnson,https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. (September 2, 2026)—Today, Rep. Hank Johnson, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on renewing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) fee-setting authority and protecting a fair, accessible patent system that rewards American innovation and ingenuity.

Thank you, Chairman Issa.

The USPTO’s fee-setting authority has given it the flexibility to move its workers remote, plan its budgets ahead, and tailor fees for small and micro entities. Originally, it was set to expire in just a few days on September the 16th. Yesterday, however, House and Senate Republicans were generous enough to kick the can down the road until after they are reelected. The authority is now set to expire on December 12th, 2026. Failing to reauthorize the USPTO’s fee setting authority risks transforming a traditionally nonpartisan agency into one that serves political ideology over merit.

Ensuring that USPTO remains a beacon of American innovation means not just reauthorizing the fee setting authority but ensuring USPTO advisory committees can continue to advise the USPTO without interference by this administration. Two months after he was inaugurated, Trump’s Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick fired every member of PPAC and TPAC. A year and a half later, they finally swore in the first few new members.

When Congress originally authorized fee setting authority under the America Invents Act, we built in several oversight measures to ensure that this power could not be exercised without transparency but rather with public input and independent expert review. PPAC and TPAC remain a critical part of those guardrails. Their full and independent participation is essential to ensuring that fee-setting remains accountable to all who rely on our patent and trademark systems, the big and the small. That is why these committees must be fully constituted as they are a necessary safeguard for independence.

And that independence matters. If we do not give USPTO the flexibility it needs to set fees, access to our patent system will be taken over by special interests. This will make it even harder for small, independent inventors to protect their inventions and easier for those who can pay-to-play to infringe on those rights.

How do we know? Because we are already seeing this happen in the rest of the executive branch. Every day we learn again how easy it’s become for oligarchs and powerful companies to buy a seat at Donald Trump’s table. Millions of dark money in campaign contributions. Lavish gifts like private jets, and business deals. Rampant insider trading on predictive markets. Access to the Trump White House has transformed into a currency that only the rich and famous can afford.

And while the wealthy are busy buying a seat at the table, Americans across the country are left paying the price. Constituents of Georgia’s 4th Congressional district are struggling to afford rent or pay their mortgage, and the cost of groceries continue to skyrocket. Hardworking families should not struggle to afford healthcare while Elon Musk becomes a trillionaire, and while Donald Trump lines his own pockets through unabashed greed built on the backs of American taxpayers.

Conflicts of interest and self-dealing have become routine features in Trump’s Washington, blurring the line between public service and private financial gain. This was a man who campaigned on draining the swamp, and yet all Trump has done is put it behind a velvet rope and began charging an admissions fee. Because in Trump’s America money buys access. Access buys influence. And influence too often becomes the law for everyone else. Innovation should not be a luxury that only the wealthy can afford. So, I, for one, am determined to not allow USPTO to be sucked in to that swamp.

Reauthorizing this fee setting authority with the transparency, public participation, and independent oversight that Congress intended is essential to keeping our patent system working for all—not just for those with the closest connection to big tech, the aspiring oligarch class, or the Trump White House. We have just a few months to get this done. This is not time for Members or big money special interests to advocate for changes to the way the USPTO operates because they’re not happy with Director Squires’ Patent Trial and Appeals Board actions. I think we are overdue to examine proposals like Rep. Ross’s PREVAIL, which would reform PTAB abuses. I’m sure some of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree with me, just as others disagree. But I’m not trying to make those changes right now. We have a program that everyone agrees has been successful; inserting our own USTPO agendas into the debate will only serve to make this reauthorization controversial.

I want to thank the witnesses for being here today. While I think this hearing is unnecessary and a distraction from the disastrous policies of the Trump Administration, I do believe it is vital that Americans truly understand the importance of allowing this agency the independence and discretion it needs to keep America at the top of our global innovation economy. Because if we want to continue to lead the world in the technological advancements of tomorrow, then we must ensure today that the institution most responsible for protecting those innovations is independent and built to last.

I yield back the balance of my time.",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-reintroduces-the-equal-pay-for-equal-work-act,Congresswoman Nikema Williams Reintroduces the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led 12 members of the House in introducing the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, which will reestablish the National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force.

According to the National Women’s Law Center, women stand to lose $542,800 over the course of a 40-year career. For Black women, Latinas, Indigenous women, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander women, the losses are over $1 million over a lifetime.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“Pay discrimination has been illegal for more than 60 years, yet too many women, especially Black women, are still fighting to be paid equally for the work they do. Black women working full-time, year-round earn just 65 cents for every dollar paid to their white male counterparts. That gap means less money for families, less opportunity to build generational wealth, and less economic security for working people across our state.

The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act is about making sure the laws already on the books actually work — and that workers have a government willing to enforce them. Equal pay for equal work should not be a promise we keep pushing into the future. It should be the standard today.”

The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act is co-sponsored by Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Rep. Donald Beyer (VA-08), Rep. James McGovern (MA-02), Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Rep. André Carson (IN-07), Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)

Click here to read the text of the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-delivering-nearly-50-million-to-upgrade-robins-air-force-base/,Sen. Ossoff Delivering Nearly $50 Million to Upgrade Robins Air Force Base,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Robins AFB, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is delivering Federal funding to upgrade Robins Air Force Base.

Sen. Ossoff, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Military Construction and VA Subcommittee, is delivering nearly $50 million in Federal funding to upgrade infrastructure at Robins Air Force Base.

Sen. Ossoff and his team worked to help ensure Robins AFB got the funding needed for these upgrades, which include repairs to HVAC and fire alarm systems, lighting upgrades, a new decontamination area, sewer system improvements, and new office spaces.

Sen. Ossoff serves as the top Democrat on the Military Construction and VA Appropriations Subcommittee, positioning him to fight for and deliver Federal funding for key Georgia projects impacting national security, military readiness, quality-of-life for servicemembers and military families, and more.

“The team protecting our nation at Robins Air Force Base needs continued support for their heroic efforts. I helped bring Republicans and Democrats together to fund these important projects to help our servicemembers and civilian personnel serving at Robins do their jobs and be safe,”Sen. Ossoff said.

Funding for the projects came through U.S. Air Force’s budget for operations and maintenance projects and the Air Force’s Working Capital Funds, both of which received additional funding in this year’s bipartisan government funding package that became law on February 3, 2026.

Please find more details about the Federal funding for Robins Air Force Base below:

Sen. Ossoff continues working to support Robins AFB.

In May, Sen. Ossoff held a hearing about funding priorities for military construction projects and highlighted the need to improve quality of life on Georgia’s defense installations, including at Robins.

Last June, Sen. Ossoff held a hearing about funding priorities for military construction projects and highlighted key projects in Georgia, including upgrades needed at Robins.

In January 2024, Sen. Ossoff passed into law his Robins Air Force Base Battle Management Enhancement Act through the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorized the first step in construction of the Battle Management Combined Operations Complex. Then in April 2024, Sen. Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats together to deliver $50 million for the new Battle Management Combined Operations Complex at Robins AFB.

In 2022, Sens. Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock brought Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed (D-RI) to Robins AFB to highlight the important role Robins AFB plays in U.S. national security.

# # #",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bishop-supports-bipartisan-funding-bill-protects-vital-services-on-which-americans-rely,"Bishop Supports Bipartisan Funding Bill, Protects Vital Services on Which Americans Rely",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,"Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.",B000490,bishop.house.gov,bishop,https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, voted to support a short-term funding bill that would fund federal departments and agencies at Fiscal Year 2026 levels through December 11, 2026, while Congress continues to negotiate a full-year funding bill for Fiscal Year 2027. The bill was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 370-48, and now goes to the President for his signature.

“Our responsibility in Congress is to make sure that the government is open and working for the people. Today’s bipartisan bill reasserts Congress’s Constitutional authority to direct funding and check the Executive Branch. This bill funds the government through early December, giving Congress time to work towards a full-year funding bill,” said Congressman Bishop. “It also removes the immediate threat of a shutdown that would jeopardize Americans’ healthcare, access to affordable food, quality education, support for local law enforcement, and our country’s national security. I will continue to work hard in Congress to ensure long-term certainty for our federal departments and agencies so that they can best serve Georgians and all Americans.”

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-calls-on-secretary-robert-f-kennedy-to-take-action-on-endometriosis-diagnosis-and-care,Congresswoman Nikema Williams Calls on Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to Take Action on Endometriosis Diagnosis and Care,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) sent a congressional oversight letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy inquiring about what action the Department of Health and Human Services is taking to improve diagnosis and access to care for individuals living with endometriosis.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams wrote:

“Endometriosis is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease affecting millions of Americans and an estimated 200 million people worldwide. Despite its increasing prevalence and substantial health burden, patients continue to face prolonged diagnostic delays, limited access to knowledgeable providers, inconsistent insurance coverage, and barriers to evidence-based care. These barriers contribute to unnecessary suffering, increased healthcare costs, disease progression, and poorer health outcomes.”

“As scientific knowledge continues to evolve, we respectfully seek information regarding how the Department of Health and Human Services is working to improve diagnosis and access to care for individuals living with endometriosis.”

In the letter, Congresswoman Nikema Williams requested answers to the following questions regarding diagnosis and access to care:

What steps has HHS taken to reduce diagnostic delays for individuals with endometriosis? Has HHS established measurable goals or benchmarks to improve timely diagnosis?

Has HHS evaluated the downstream consequences of prolonged diagnostic delay, including disease progression, infertility, repeated surgeries, chronic pain, mental health conditions, organ dysfunction, and preventable healthcare utilization?

Has HHS assessed the economic impact of delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment, including healthcare utilization, productivity loss, disability, and workforce participation?

What initiatives are underway to promote earlier diagnosis through evidence-based imaging, clinical evaluation, and referral pathways?

Has HHS evaluated disparities in diagnosis among adolescents, racial and ethnic minority populations, rural communities, and medically underserved populations?

What actions has HHS taken to improve recognition of endometriosis in adolescents, given evidence that symptoms can begin in childhood and delayed intervention may contribute to disease progression and long-term disability?

Congresswoman Nikema Williams also requested answers to the following questions regarding coding and reimbursement:

Has HHS evaluated whether existing coding accurately captures the full range of endometriosis presentations, including multi-organ disease and multidisciplinary surgical management?

Has HHS evaluated whether current ICD-10 and CPT coding adequately reflects the complexity of diagnosing and treating endometriosis?

What steps has HHS taken to ensure adequate reimbursement for endometriosis diagnostics, including exploratory surgery when clinically appropriate?

What steps has HHS taken to ensure adequate reimbursement for the treatment of endometriosis, including complex excision surgery?

Has HHS evaluated whether current reimbursement policies adequately support multidisciplinary care frequently required for bowel, bladder, ureteral, diaphragmatic, and thoracic endometriosis?

Has HHS evaluated barriers created by prior authorization requirements for advanced imaging, pelvic floor physical therapy, fertility preservation, multidisciplinary surgery, and chronic pain management?

What actions has HHS taken to improve insurance coverage for evidence-based diagnosis and treatmentof endometriosis?

Will HHS work with CMS and relevant stakeholders to improve coding and reimbursement for evidence-based endometriosis care?

The letter was endorsed by American End of Endo Project, EndoBlack, Endo Excision for All, Endometriosis Foundation of America, and Women’s Health Advocates

The letter was co-signed by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC At Large), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Rep. Emily Randall (WA-06), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37).",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/new-report-georgians-report-insurance-companies-are-denying-or-delaying-care-doctors-say-they-need/,NEW REPORT: Georgians Report Insurance Companies Are Denying or Delaying Care Doctors Say They Need,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Click hereto read Sen. Ossoff’s new report on insurance companies denying or delaying Georgians care their doctors say they need

Atlanta, Ga. — A new report from U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff reveals insurance companies are denying or delaying care Georgians’ doctors say they need.

Today, Sen. Ossoff released a new report that details how Georgians are suffering delays or denials of medically necessary health care due to issues with “prior authorization,” where an insurance company can deny care even if doctors prescribe patients the treatment and say they need it.

The report includes dozens of reports from Georgia patients, who have reported that prior authorization issues with their insurance companies have resulted in delays and denials of medically necessary health care, leading, in some cases to untreated life-threatening conditions, and/or severe financial hardship.

In January, Sen. Ossoff launched an investigation into the impacts of rising health care costs and cuts to health care services, and in June, Sen. Ossoff urged Georgians to share stories of insurance companies denying or delaying medically necessary health care.

“No American should be delayed or denied needed health care. It is unacceptable that Americans, who are paying record premiums to insurers making record profits in the world’s richest country, are nevertheless denied medically necessary care,” Sen. Ossoff said. “I will continue exposing these practices and working to ban insurance companies from denying or delaying needed health care.”

Georgia cancer patients and their family members have reported to the Senator’s staff that their medically necessary cancer treatments have been delayed and denied by their insurance companies. As detailed in the report:

Kathy Lemoine, based in Lawrenceville, is a mother whose son, Andrew, was diagnosed at 29 years old with colon cancer and passed away six months later, shortly after turning 30. Ms. Lemoine reported that the process of watching her son deteriorate was “unbearable.” “Many parts of his treatment required prior authorization. And the one thing you don’t have with cancer is time to waste,” Ms. Lemoine observed. During his initial hospital stay after having a colostomy bag, Andrew was given and subsequently prescribed certain medications. However, Ms. Lemoine was unable to initially pick up Andrew’s medication because his prescriptions required prior authorization, meaning their insurance company had not yet approved them. Ms. Lemoine reports, “stopping these medications would have been life threatening for Andrew.” Ms. Lemoine was forced to pay out-of-pocket for the medications. During his chemotherapy, Andrew also suffered from extreme nausea and struggled to eat, and his mother requested that he receive intravenous nutrients. However, his insurance refused to pay for the nutrient solution reportedly because Andrew was still being seen on an outpatient basis. Ms. Lemoine reported that for close to three months, the insurance company still refused to approve the solution, despite her many requests. Even when Andrew transitioned to inpatient care after being unable to eat, the insurance company still would not approve the solution for another month. Ms. Lemoine reports that during those two months Andrew lost 70 pounds and was constantly nauseated. Ms. Lemoine notes, “Andrew would still be gone today because his cancer was so advanced, but he may have lived longer and suffered so much less if he had proper nutrition.”

Georgia parents have reported to the Senator’s staff that, even when their child’s doctor prescribes a specific medication or treatment, insurance companies have delayed or denied medically necessary care, placing their children at unnecessary risk of harm or injury. As detailed in the report:

Julia McCool, based in Buford, is a mother who has a two-year-old son. When he was about one year old, he was wheezing and having difficulty breathing, and Mrs. McCool took him to the ER where he was diagnosed with RSV and was prescribed an albuterol inhaler to force his airways open if he had an asthma attack. About one month later, her son started wheezing again, and Mrs. McCool took him back to the ER where she reported his doctors prescribed Flovent, a preventive medication that would lessen the risk of asthma attacks and wheezing over time. However, a day later, after leaving the hospital, Mrs. McCool had not heard from her pharmacy that the prescription had been filled. She called, only to learn that the medication required a prior authorization, which she said had not been approved. When she called her insurance company, they told her to “get the hospital to prescribe something else.” Even though the company eventually approved the medication, Mrs. McCool reported that she was “desperate” and “making calls to get this done” while her son was sick and still wheezing:“My child was prescribed his doctor’s first choice medication, and that should be what he gets. My insurance company should not decide what medication my child takes.”

Georgia patients, including those with disabilities, have reported to the Senator’s staff that delays and denials of their medically necessary health care have led to untreated conditions, resulting in extreme pain, risk of injury, dangerous symptoms, financial stress, and even suicide. As detailed in the report:

Lindsay Morrison, based in Fayetteville, learned that there was a problem with the discs in her spine in April 2025. She was diagnosed by an orthopedist with degenerative disc disease of the spine and was told she needed an immediate surgery to address one of the discs in her neck. Her doctor told her that if she had the surgery within 15 days, she would be guaranteed not to have nerve issues. The surgery was scheduled for mid-May, and then the day before the surgery, Ms. Morrison said she received a call from her doctor informing her that the insurance company would not cover the surgery because she had not first gone to physical therapy to address the issue. For four months, between May and August, Ms. Morrison said that her insurance company continued to delay and deny her access to the surgery, requiring her to “jump through hoops” to get the approval, including physical therapy sessions and obtaining a third-party opinion from a different doctor. Within two weeks of physical therapy, Ms. Morrison said she was in so much pain that she had to quit therapy and could not even tie her own shoes, take her dog outside, walk around the block, or participate in her daughter’s birthday party. Ms. Morrison finally received approval for the surgery from her insurance company in August. She told the Senator’s office that she now must take daily medication to deal with nerve issues that have emerged in her arm due to the delay in getting the surgery. “Every aspect of my life was affected,” she reports. “Any faith I had in religion or people was completely gone after this experience.”

A Johns Hopkins study found that the practice of prior authorization, where patients must seek approval from their insurance company before receiving care, was “associated with disease exacerbation, preventable hospitalization, prolonged hospital stay, and lower rates of disease-free survival.”

According to KFF, virtually all seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage must obtain prior authorization for some services, and in 2024 over four million of these requests were denied.

Additionally, KFF also found that of the approximately 85 million Affordable Care Act (ACA) in-network denied claims in 2024, less than 1% were appealed, forcing patients either to pay for services out-of-pocket, despite having “coverage,” or forgoing care – solely because of decisions made by insurance companies.

Sen. Ossoff continues to work to ban insurance companies from denying or delaying needed health care.

Last month, Senate Republicans blocked a Senate resolution cosponsored by Sen. Ossoff to stop the Trump Administration from allowing artificial intelligence to improperly deny seniors’ needed health care.

In June, during the Senate’s vote series, Sen. Ossoff offered an amendment to prevent insurance companies from denying or delaying needed health care, but Senate Republicans blocked Sen. Ossoff’s amendment. This followed Senate Republicans blocking Sen. Ossoff’s amendment during a Senate budget debate in April.

In April, Sen. Ossoff launched an inquiry with CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz about insurance practices that lead to denied claims and delayed health care that patients need.

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s new report: Georgians’ Health at Risk: Insurance Companies Denying Necessary Health Care.

# # #",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-visits-future-openai-data-center-site-calls-for-statewide-moratorium/,"Warnock Visits Future OpenAI Data Center Site, Calls for Statewide Moratorium",2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock met with residents in Effingham County to discuss the impact of OpenAI’s proposed data center on their community

In July, OpenAI announced it would construct a 3.2-gigawatt data center in Effingham County, Georgia

Senator Warnock called for a moratorium on data center construction that can only be lifted for specific projects if certain safeguards around utility bills, transparency, and pollution are put in place

VIDEO: Senator Reverend Warnock Calls for Statewide Data Center Moratorium

Senator Reverend Warnock: “The lack of transparency here in Effingham County and in counties across our state and across the country is unacceptable, and that’s why today I’m calling for a moratorium on data centers”

Guyton, GA – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) visited the proposed site of OpenAI’s new 3.2-gigawatt data center in Effingham County. Senator Warnock viewed the site of the proposed project with Effingham resident John Smith who lives across the street from the site. Then, Senator Warnock met with several residents and members of the Protect Effingham Alliance who raised serious concerns about the impact of OpenAI’s plan on their community, specifically higher utility costs and more water, light, and noise pollution.

After speaking with local residents, Senator Warnock announced his support for a statewide moratorium on data center construction.

Under Senator Warnock’s proposal, the moratorium can be lifted for a specific project only if:

There are no water or electric bill increases because of the data center

There are no sweetheart tax giveaways to developers

There are no NDAs

The data center will not cause air and water pollution

There is no ambiguity around noise and light pollution

“Data center developers across the country are not operating in partnership with communities, and that’s why everyday citizens on both sides of the aisle are rightly and equally concerned about this,” said Senator Warnock. “The lack of transparency here in Effingham County and in counties across our state and across the country is unacceptable, and that’s why today I’m calling for a moratorium on data centers.”

Earlier this year, OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, announced plans to construct a new 1,400-acre data center in Effingham County, Georgia. The $20 billion proposal, named “Project Camellia,” will require 3.2 gigawatts, the equivalent of providing power for 2.3 million homes.

Effingham County residents were effectively excluded from the decision-making process, despite well-founded concerns that “Project Camellia” could raise electricity rates, create disruptive light and noise pollution, and otherwise affect the local community and nearby elementary school.

Earlier this year, Senator Warnock sent a letter calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to provide local communities with tools, resources, best practices, and protections as they negotiate with multi-billion-dollar data center corporations. Specifically, this letter focused on concerns about data centers straining community water supplies, especially while Georgia experiences a historic drought.

###",1,2026-08-29T11:31:28Z,2026-08-29T11:32:37Z
https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-honors-local-nonprofits-fourth-annual-week-hope,Congressman Johnson Honors Local Nonprofits at Fourth Annual Week of H.O.P.E ceremony,2026-08-27,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,GA,"Henry C. ""Hank"" Johnson, Jr.",J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,hankjohnson,https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"LITHONIA – On Saturday, August 22, at the Lou Walker Senior Center, Congressman Hank Johnson held his 2026 H.O.P.E. Awards ceremony to close out his 4th Annual Week of H.O.P.E.

The Week of H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Elevate), which centers around National Nonprofit Day, is a celebration of the nonprofit organizations, leaders, and volunteers who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of others throughout Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District.

The honorees: Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR), Habitat for Humanity DeKalb, Kids'-Doc-On-Wheels, Inc., Lady T's Homeless Ministry, Made for Bigger, and Parent to Parent of Georgia (P2PGA).

“From helping low-income residents get access to quality healthcare, building homes, feeding the homeless to supporting our immigrant communities, all six of our awardees tonight are pillars of our community,” said Congressman Johnson.

“You feed, heal, shelter, and nurture people of every age, gender, race, socioeconomic status and political persuasion – but I can’t help but reflect that your impact on young people is most profound. Your work benefits all Georgians by pouring into our next generation, and today we say thank you.”

To watch the ceremony, click HERE. Photos of the winning organizations attached. More photos are available upon request.",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-the-eleventh-circuit-courts-decision-on-georgia-district-maps,Congresswoman Nikema Williams’ Statement on the Eleventh Circuit Court’s Decision on Georgia District Maps,2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"ATLANTA, GA – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement in response to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ordering a review of Georgia’s district maps under new voting rights rules based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“Georgia voters deserve representation, not maps rigged by politicians to protect their own power. For too long, partisan gerrymandering has divided Black communities and diluted the power of Black voters who are central to Georgia’s democracy.

The Eleventh Circuit’s decision means Georgia’s maps will once again be reviewed under the new standards established in Louisiana v. Callais. But no court decision changes this fundamental principle: Black voters deserve the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice, and their political power cannot be erased at the mapmaking table.

Voters should choose their representatives–politicians shouldn’t choose their voters. I will keep fighting against partisan gerrymandering and for fair maps that protect Black representation. We must ensure every Georgian’s voice is heard.”",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-working-across-the-aisle-to-improve-maternal-health-in-georgia/,Sen. Ossoff Working Across the Aisle to Improve Maternal Health in Georgia,2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working across the aisle to improve maternal health in Georgia.

Sen. Ossoff is cosponsoring the NIH Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Act to provide funding for the National Institutes of Health’s IMPROVE Initiative, which conducts research to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity.

The NIH IMPROVE Act, introduced by Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), would authorize $73.4 million annually for the NIH IMPROVE initiative for seven years and would ensure consistent resources for ongoing research to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths and improve health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy.

“The shockingly high maternal mortality rate for women in Georgia is a travesty. It is unacceptable for any mother to suffer or die because she lacks proper care,” Sen. Ossoff said. “I am working to pass this bipartisan bill to reduce maternal deaths and improve health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy.”

Sen. Ossoff continues working to support the health and safety of Georgia mothers and children.

In April, Sen. Ossoff cosponsored the Social Determinants for Moms Act to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce the maternal mortality rate in Georgia and across the country.

Last summer, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Ossoff worked across the aisle to secure key provisions in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services and Education funding bill, including restoring staffing for Safe Motherhood and Infant Health programs; increasing funding for implementation of the Kira Johnson Act, which provides funding for community-based organizations working to advance maternal health; and restoring NIH’s participation in the Safe to Sleep campaign.

In May 2025, Sen. Ossoff released findings from his investigation into the impacts of Georgia’s 6-week abortion ban, in which Georgia OBGYNs revealed they had personally encountered cases in which Georgia’s six-week abortion ban contributed to a health complication or death of the mother.

Last March, Sen. Ossoff and other members of Congress demanded the Trump Administration provide answers on the reported shutdown of a critical Maternal Health data system at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Last February, Sen. Ossoff introduced an amendment to protect children’s and maternal health care through Medicaid that Senate Republicans blocked.

Also in 2024, as Chair of the Senate Human Rights Subcommittee, Sen. Ossoff convened two public hearings at which Georgia women and Georgia OBGYNs testified to the harmful impacts of Georgia’s abortion ban.

Click here to read the NIH IMPROVE Act.

# # #",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/08/26/mcbath-harder-announce-new-legislation-to-scale-up-job-training-programs-across-the-u-s/,"McBath, Harder Announce New Legislation to Scale Up Job Training Programs Across the U.S.",2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Atlanta, GA – Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) and Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced new legislation to scale up local workforce development programs and kickstart a national job training model. The Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act would unlock new federal funding to expand programs which help vulnerable youth build skills and get hired at local businesses, while also building a national workforce development model around proven local strategies.

“I’m proud to lead the Better Jobs Through Evidence and Innovation Act alongside my colleagues, because there is more than one path to a successful career,” said Rep. McBath. “Consider the single parent looking for a more targeted training program to move into a stable, well-paying job. This legislation will modernize our workforce development pipeline, directing resources where they will have the greatest impact and supporting folks from every background chasing every kind of career.”

“Finding a good-paying job to support a family on has gotten way too hard, but Valley organizations have already proven that evidence-based training can bridge that gap,” said Rep. Harder. “What we need now is for the federal government to supercharge these efforts and make sure that the next generation has the training to develop skills, get hired in high-demand jobs, and achieve lifelong career success. My bill takes what’s working in the Valley and jumpstarts efforts to build a national model around these local workforce successes.”

How the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act scales up proven local programs:

New Federal Funding – Three tiers of funding to support the development and expansion of evidence-based employment and training programs that generate demonstrated, long-term economic improvements for jobseekers and employers.

Cuts Red Tape – Makes it easier for proven workforce programs to scale nationally without navigating the eligibility requirements of more than one hundred local workforce development boards.

Local Leadership – Puts funding in the hands of local programs that are already leading the way to identify innovative and cutting-edge practices that would ensure 21st-century workers have access to sustainable, high-demand, and high-wage careers.

The Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act is endorsed by Main Street Youth & Family Services, America Forward, and over 60 workforce development advocacy organizations across the country.

“At Main Street, young people learn to work by working. They staff our café and kitchen, run our shops, and even help run a worker-owned social enterprise, building the skills and the ownership stake that turn a first job into a lasting career,” said Tony Yadon, Chief Executive Officer, Main Street Youth & Family Services. “The Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act would give organizations building models like ours the federal support to grow what works and test what’s promising, helping to move a whole generation toward economic mobility.”",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-denounces-scotus-decision-opening-door-trumps,Congressman Johnson Denounces SCOTUS Decision Opening Door for Trump’s Attacks on Mail-in Ballots Ahead of November Elections,2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,GA,"Henry C. ""Hank"" Johnson, Jr.",J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,hankjohnson,https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, issued the following statement:

“As it did with Trump’s unauthorized and illegal quest to build his golden ballroom, the 6/3 MAGA Supreme Court has used the shadow docket to grant Trump’s emergency petition that allows him to proceed with his nefarious plan to decide who gets to vote by mail. The real emergency is that a hyper-partisan Supreme Court is headed toward allowing Trump to steal the November elections. It is urgent that Congress passes my bill that places term limits on lifetime-tenured, unaccountable Supreme Court justices.

###",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-rev-warnock-upgrading-savannah-hilton-head-international-airport-through-bipartisan-infrastructure-law/,Sen. Ossoff & Rev. Warnock Upgrading Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport Through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff today announced new bipartisan infrastructure law resources to upgrade Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

Today, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock announced they are delivering more than $4 million in Federal funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law to upgrade and help maintain Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

The Federal funding, delivered through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program, will help reconstruct a taxiway at the airport.

“Georgia’s airports are a key driver of job creation and economic competitiveness. That’s why we are pleased to deliver this funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law for Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Our bipartisan infrastructure law will continue to deliver long-overdue upgrades to Georgia’s infrastructure for years to come,” Sen. Ossoff said.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for Georgia, and I’m proud to have worked with Senator Ossoff and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this done,” said Sen. Rev. Warnock. “Georgia is one of the most important aviation states in the nation. I will always champion our airports and aviation community to ensure that our economy and travelers can reach new heights.”

Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock continue delivering resources to upgrade Georgia’s airports and strengthen economic growth.

In May, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock delivered $10 million in Federal funding through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Terminal Program (ATP), authorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law, to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

In September 2024, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock delivered over $60 million in Federal investments for Georgia’s airports through the bipartisan infrastructure law, including over $11 million for taxiway construction at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

In May 2024, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock delivered over $120 million in Federal grant funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law for airport infrastructure upgrades, including nearly $6 million for Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

In 2023, Sen. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock delivered $6.5 million through the bipartisan infrastructure law to support security screening checkpoint expansion projects already underway at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport —adding 23,000 square feet to the south side of the terminal building, and an additional two screening lanes to create a smoother traveling experience for millions of flyers.

In June 2021, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock delivered a new $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to expand the tarmac at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

# # #",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-pushes-federal-reserve-chair-to-include-labor-in-new-federal-reserve-ai-task-force/,Warnock Pushes Federal Reserve Chair to Include Labor in New Federal Reserve AI Task Force,2026-08-20,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock is calling on Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh to include worker perspectives as the Fed assesses the implications of new technologies for the American workforce

All three individuals tapped to advise the Fed on artificial intelligence have financial ties to the industry

Senator Warnock has long championed protections for American workers as automation and AI reshape the workforce and economy

Senator Reverend Warnock, colleagues: “A task force asked to assess AI’s real economic impact on the labor force and the Fed’s mandate to promote maximum employment cannot do so accurately while excluding the very people best positioned to describe how that impact is unfolding: American workers”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, led a Senate coalition demanding that Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh include worker perspectives as the Fed assesses the implications of new technologies for the American workers whose jobs may be displaced by artificial intelligence (AI).

“AI’s potential to reshape work is significant, and the stakes for workers are high: even a partial shift in how tasks are automated could affect millions of jobs across the economy, and workers have the necessary first-hand accounting of how AI is currently reshaping day-to-day tasks,” wrote Senator Warnock and his colleagues. “A task force asked to assess AI’s real economic impact on the labor force and the Fed’s mandate to promote maximum employment cannot do so accurately while excluding the very people best positioned to describe how that impact is unfolding: American workers.”

Last month, Chairman Warsh launched the Federal Reserve’s Task Force on Productivity and Jobs to evaluate how AI and other emerging technologies could affect the economy and the labor market. Yet, in an alarming conflict of interest, all three advisors selected to advise the Fed on AI have financial ties to the industry.

At a Senate Banking Committee hearing in July, Senator Warnock pressed Chairman Warsh on how the Fed would protect American workers from potential job losses and economic disruption as AI reshapes the economy. In February, Senator Warnock introduced the bipartisan Investing In Tomorrow’s Workforce Act to strengthen worker training and help Americans prepare for an economy increasingly shaped by automation and AI.

In addition to Senators Warnock and Warren, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jack Reed (D-RI).

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

“Dear Chair Warsh:

“We write to request that you ensure that the Federal Reserve’s (“the Fed”) newly announced Task Force on Productivity and Jobs includes the perspective of individuals who represents the interests of workers. Congress gave the Fed a dual mandate that includes promoting maximum employment, and Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) potential to disrupt the labor market bears directly on the Fed’s ability to fulfill that mandate. We welcome the Fed evaluating AI’s effects on productivity and jobs, but it is important that the Fed search outside of industry when appointing alternative, diverse viewpoints for this new task force.

“On June 17, 2026, you announced the creation of five task forces to ‘advance the conduct of monetary policy.’ The task forces have been directed to ‘follow the evidence, provide candid feedback, and produce rigorous findings for the Federal Open Market Committee’ (FOMC). This included a Task Force on Productivity and Jobs, which is tasked with ‘assess[ing] the economic impact of new general-purpose technologies, including artificial intelligence, to inform the Federal Reserve’s policy judgments.’ The Fed explained that the task forces would be ‘co-led by external advisers . . . with deep expertise in their fields’ and ‘supported by Federal Reserve Staff.’

“On July 9, 2026, the Fed announced the three individuals who would lead the Task Force on Productivity and Jobs: Marc Andreessen, cofounder and general partner of Andreessen Horowitz; Charles Jones, a researcher at the Anthropic Institute; and Asha Sharma, executive vice president at Microsoft and Xbox CEO. All three have direct financial ties to the AI industry.

“These potential conflicts were raised directly at your press conference on July 29, 2026, where you defended your selection process by explaining that your approach to building each task force was to find ‘the best subject matter experts anywhere in the world and put them together,’ particularly with people who ‘might disagree with them.’ You added that this design was meant to ensure each panel could have its own ‘family fight’ of divergent views. By your standard, however, a task force whose members are all financially tied to the AI industry cannot produce the genuine ‘divergence of views’ that you say you support.

“Multiple members on the Senate Banking Committee, including Senators Warnock and Smith, raised these questions during your hearing before the Committee on July 15, 2026. Senator Warnock asked you, ‘Yes or no, will the Fed include anyone on this task force with an alternative viewpoint on AI? For example, anyone who represents the workers whose lives may be upended by increased adoption of AI tools and technology?’ You replied that a task force member is an academic, yet this member (Professor Charles Jones) is currently on leave at Anthropic.

“We’re glad the Fed is assessing the economic effects of AI, among other emerging technologies, and we generally support your assertion that the Fed must have a ‘divergence of views,’ while undertaking this assessment, including but not limited to perspectives from industry.

“We strongly believe, however, having more viewpoints represented will produce stronger conclusions and support the FOMC in improved policymaking. Additional viewpoints on AI will help better inform the FOMC as key monetary policy decisions are made in order to fulfil the Fed’s dual-mandate. AI’s potential to reshape work is significant, and the stakes for workers are high: even a partial shift in how tasks are automated could affect millions of jobs across the economy, and workers have the necessary first-hand accounting of how AI is currently reshaping day-to-day tasks. A task force asked to assess AI’s real economic impact on the labor force and the Fed’s mandate to promote maximum employment cannot do so accurately while excluding the very people best positioned to describe how that impact is unfolding: American workers.

“AI has the potential to greatly improve American’s lives. It also has the potential to disrupt the labor market across sectors all at once. While reviewing AI’s impact on employment and inflation, the Fed cannot leave out workers and only hear from the people who stand to benefit the most financially from the continued deployment of AI. We therefore urge you to add individuals with no financial ties to the artificial AI industry and who represent the perspective of workers to this task force before it begins issuing recommendations to the Fed.

“We look forward to continued engagement on this issue.

Sincerely,”

###",1,2026-08-21T05:30:57Z,2026-08-21T05:32:22Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-secures-more-than-7-million-in-federal-funding-to-support-georgia-during-hurricane-season/,Warnock Secures More than $7 Million in Federal Funding to Support Georgia During Hurricane Season,2026-08-20,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"This follows Senator Warnock’s most recent announcement, securing nearly $90 million in outstanding Helene payments to Georgia communities

Last year, Senator Warnock released a report finding that the Trump administration was shortchanging Georgia communities more than half a billion dollars in disaster relief aid

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I am proud to announce that funding is coming to Georgia to help our communities be better prepared for hurricane season and other disasters”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) has successfully secured nearly $10 million in federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Georgia communities to keep residents and vital infrastructure safe and secure in the midst of hurricane season.

“The people of Georgia stepped up last year when our communities were devastatingly hit by Hurricane Helene,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I am proud to announce that funding is coming to Georgia to help our communities be better prepared for hurricane season and other disasters. Georgia communities will be more resilient and better prepared for severe weather with new systems to combat flooding and improved emergency communications.”

Earlier this year, Senator Warnock successfully secured an additional $87 million in federal funding for payments owed to Georgia counties and entities following Hurricane Helene. In December 2025, Senator Warnock announced $314 million in federal funding for outstanding payments owed to Georgia communities in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The funding, part of a disaster recovery bill championed by Senator Warnock in 2024, is meant to reimburse local communities for funds spent on recovery.

In 2025, a year after Hurricane Helene made landfall, Senator Warnock released a report finding that the Trump administration was withholding $600 million in promised recovery aid to Georgians. Despite bipartisan Congressional support for the immediate delivery of disaster recovery funds, the distribution of aid has been stifled by bureaucracy, red tape, and chaos in the Trump administration.

A list of Georgia counties and entities receiving federal funding can be found below:

###",1,2026-08-21T05:30:57Z,2026-08-21T05:32:22Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-working-across-the-aisle-to-strengthen-lung-cancer-prevention/,Sen. Ossoff Working Across the Aisle to Strengthen Lung Cancer Prevention,2026-08-20,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working across the aisle to strengthen lung cancer prevention for Georgia families.

Sen. Ossoff is cosponsoring the bipartisan Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act to support lung cancer prevention research in Georgia and across the country.

The bill, first introduced by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Tina Smith (D-MN), would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assess the status of and identify opportunities to accelerate research related to lung cancer in women. The review would include data from HHS, the Department of Defense, and Department of Veterans Affairs with the goal of identifying new opportunities for research and providing recommendations for national cancer screening strategies.

“Early cancer detection saves lives. That’s why I’m helping lead Senators in both parties to support cancer prevention research and better protect Georgians from lung cancer,” Sen. Ossoff said.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to increase Georgians’ access to lifesaving and preventative health care.

Earlier this year, Sen. Ossoff delivered $850,000 to Clark Atlanta University to strengthen prostate cancer research through bipartisan government funding legislation that became law on February 3. Sen. Ossoff also delivered $800,000 to Augusta University to upgrade cancer research equipment.

In March, Sen. Ossoff worked with Republicans and Democrats to expand access to early-detection cancer screenings for seniors in Georgia. The bipartisan Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, cosponsored by Sen. Ossoff, was signed into law on February 3 as part of bipartisan government funding legislation.

In April of 2025, Sen. Ossoff spoke out about proposed cuts by the Trump Administration to federal childhood cancer research funding.

Click here to read the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act.

# # #",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-visits-ice-detention-center-pushes-for-answers-on-lack-of-basic-medical-care/,"Warnock Visits ICE Detention Center, Pushes for Answers on Lack of Basic Medical Care",2026-08-18,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Today, Senator Reverend Warnock toured Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, GA to conduct Congressional oversight of the federal facility

Since January 2025, multiple individuals have died inside Stewart Detention Center, during transport, or shortly after being medically released from the facility

VIDEO: Senator Reverend Warnock Reacts to ICE Detention Center Tour

Lumpkin, GA – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) visited the Stewart Detention Center to push for answers about the lack of basic medical care available inside the facility. The Senator spoke with several detainees, including a pregnant woman, who provided troubling accounts about access to basic medical care. The Senator spoke with immigration officials to demand answers on reports of overcrowding and increases in 911 calls from the facility.

Since January 2025, multiple individuals have died inside Stewart Detention Center, during transport, or shortly after being medically released from the facility. According to reporting, 15 detainees have died since the facility opened in 2006.

“Regardless of your politics, we should all be able to agree on this: everyone deserves to be treated with basic human dignity and respect,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “There are serious concerns in these facilities, particularly around the delivery of basic medical care, and so as a member of Congress, I thought it was important for me, as a voice for Georgia, to spend time speaking directly to those in the facility. I’m going to keep asking questions. I’m going to keep holding people accountable.”

Senator Reverend Warnock praying with family of a detainee

The Senator also visited El Refugio, a nonprofit that supports immigrant families. He met with staff and the family of a detainee, a father whose family says he has no criminal record and has lived in the United States for over 25 years. He was detained on his way to work. The Senator spoke to his family about their fears that he was not receiving adequate medical care; the Senator prayed with the detainee’s family.

###",1,2026-08-18T05:27:41Z,2026-08-18T05:29:06Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-warnock-leads-bipartisan-effort-to-increase-federal-grant-access-for-hbcus/,ICYMI: Warnock Leads Bipartisan Effort to Increase Federal Grant Access for HBCUs,2026-08-17,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year, Senators Reverend Warnock (D-GA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) introduced the bipartisan HBCU Research Capacity Act, legislation that would streamline federal funding opportunities for HBCUs

Senator Warnock has secured more than $265 million for Georgia’s 10 HBCUs, part of $17 billion in federal investments delivered to HBCUs across the nation

Senator Warnock is a proud graduate of Morehouse College

Washington, D.C. – Ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) introduced a bipartisan bill that would streamline federal funding opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The HBCU Research Capacity Act would set up a federally coordinated website that compiles information about HBCU-eligible STEM research and development funding opportunities.

“HBCUs are incubators of diverse excellence and have proven their ability time and again to punch above their weight,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Despite not always having every tool at their disposal, they continue to make massive contributions to the research and development community. This bipartisan bill will make securing federal dollars for their research efforts that much easier, and I am proud to work alongside another champion of HBCUs in Senator Katie Britt.”

The HBCU Research Capacity Act would amend Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to coordinate with federal agencies to create a centralized website listing these grant opportunities. This website would also share best practices for building research capacity, including recommendations from Federal, State, and local organizations.

As the proud graduate of an HBCU, Senator Warnock is deeply committed to doing all he can to ensure these institutions thrive. To date, Senator Warnock has secured more than $265 million for Georgia HBCUs and more than $17 billion in total for HBCU campuses across the country.

Alongside Senators Warnock and Britt, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Coons (D-DE).

Earlier this year, Senator Warnock held a press conference with HBCU student newspapers to announce the bill introduction.

More coverage of Senator Reverend Warnock’s introduction of the HBCU Research Capacity Actbelow:

The Hilltop: Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a graduate of Morehouse College and the only HBCU alumnus currently serving in the U.S. Senate, positioned himself as a leading advocate for these institutions. He introduced the HBCU Research Capacity Act alongside Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), through the legislation designed to streamline federal grant access and expand research opportunities for HBCUs nationwide.

The Maroon Tiger: Sens. Raphael Warnock ’91 (D-Ga.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced the HBCU Research Capacity Act. The bipartisan bill would create a centralized federal clearinghouse. The system would help HBCUs identify and apply for research grants.

###",1,2026-08-18T05:27:41Z,2026-08-18T05:29:06Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/ms-now-jon-ossoff-has-a-congressional-superpower/,MS NOW: “Jon Ossoff Has a Congressional Superpower”,2026-08-14,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"MS NOW: While some of the most “contentious partisan exchanges get the most attention,” Ossoff argued, the “investigation into corruption and civil rights abuses in our prison system,” the “mistreatment of military families by defense contractors” and the “abuse and trafficking of foster children in Georgia” are “equally important.”

Washington, D.C. — MS NOW is highlighting U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s record of Congressional investigations that have uncovered corruption, abuse, and misconduct, and his legislative work to then solve corruption that his investigations uncovered.

For example, in 2022, while investigating reports of corruption and abuse within Atlanta’s Federal prison as Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), Sen. Ossoff issued a Subpoena for the Biden Administration’s Bureau of Prisons Director, only securing his testimony after issuing the subpoena.

Later in 2022, Sen. Ossoff unveiled the results of another 8-month bipartisan investigation, which uncovered that BOP employees sexually abused female prisoners in at least two-thirds (19 of 29 facilities) of Federal prisons that have held women over the past decade. Survivors of sexual abuse testified that BOP employees assaulted them in areas where they knew there was no camera coverage.

After conducting the numerous investigations into the Federal prison system, Sen. Ossoff then used the evidence he uncovered to pass two bipartisan bills into law to strengthen oversight and accountability.

In December 2022, Sen. Ossoff passed into law his bipartisan Prison Camera Reform Act with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), which required the Federal Bureau of Prisons to upgrade outdated and broken security camera systems, ensuring all facilities have the coverage necessary to protect the safety of incarcerated people and staff.

In 2024, Sen. Ossoff then passed into law his bipartisan Federal Prison Oversight Act to overhaul independent oversight of the Bureau of Prisons by mandating routine inspections of all facilities by the DOJ Inspector General and establishing a new Ombudsman to investigate the health, safety, welfare, and rights of incarcerated people and staff.

In addition, after Sen. Ossoff’s investigation into Georgia’s foster care system uncovered the likely sex trafficking of foster kids, Sen. Ossoff then introduced and passed into law a bipartisan bill to help protect children from sex trafficking.

See key excepts below from MS NOW:

8/13: Inside Jon Ossoff’s congressional superpower: Making oversight go viral

MS NOW // Kevin Fry

In recent years, Ossoff has pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about inconsistencies in the White House’s narrative about the Iran war. He’s pushed Tulsi Gabbard, the former head of national intelligence, to explain why she was present for an FBI search of a Georgia elections office. And he has peppered Louis DeJoy, the former U.S. postmaster general, about widespread mail delays in Georgia, asking him if he had received a letter he sent him.

“As I conduct oversight,” he said, “I am trying to faithfully execute my solemn obligations under the Constitution as a United States senator to conduct vigorous oversight of the most out-of-control presidential administration in American history.”

While some of the most “contentious partisan exchanges get the most attention,” Ossoff argued, the “investigation into corruption and civil rights abuses in our prison system,” the “mistreatment of military families by defense contractors” and the “abuse and trafficking of foster children in Georgia” are “equally important.”

For instance, when Democrats held the Senate majority in 2022, Ossoff led an investigation of corruption and misconduct in the federal prison system — including at a facility in Atlanta.

The effort included subpoenaing the outgoing head of the Bureau of Prisons to appear before his subcommittee — notable, given that Democrats controlled both the Senate and the White House at the time. At the hearing,Ossoff pressed the prison director to acknowledge that he was responsible for everything that occurs in the prison system.

Ossoff credited the investigations with laying the groundwork for passage of bipartisan prison reform legislation.

As chair of a Senate subcommittee on investigations, Ossoff also spearheaded a review of a private military housing company. He released a report finding that the company “failed to properly respond to both repairs and environmental hazards such as mold in homes on two military bases,” including one in Georgia.

# # #",1,2026-08-15T05:23:20Z,2026-08-15T05:24:50Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-leads-inquiry-into-state-department-efforts-to-seek-personal-health-data-in-exchange-for-aid-to-developing-nations/,Warnock Leads Inquiry into State Department Efforts to Seek Personal Health Data in Exchange for Aid to Developing Nations,2026-08-12,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"In a new letter, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock presses the Trump Administration on their efforts to obtain personal health data from African countries in exchange for global health funding

The Trump Administration has requested direct, real-time access to the health data of citizens in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Liberia, and several other Sub-Saharan African countries

The push for the sensitive information is part of the Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy, an initiative that requires countries to sign bilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) agreements to receive global health foreign assistance from the U.S.

Senator Reverend Warnock, colleagues: “State has reportedly demanded that Uganda give the United States direct, real-time access to nine of the nation’s health data systems for seven years… While global health programs have historically included data sharing components, they have never required direct access to privileged electronic systems for U.S. government representatives”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, led several of his Senate colleagues in a new letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior leadership at the State Department (State) regarding the Trump Administration’s efforts to obtain personal health data from African countries in exchange for global health funding. The Administration’s push for the sensitive information is part of its America First Global Health Strategy, an initiative that requires countries to sign bilateral MOU agreements to receive global health foreign assistance from the United States. Traditionally, public health data is shared with the U.S. through anonymized exports. Under the new agreement, the U.S. government is requiring direct log-in access to foreign nations’ national health systems.

“State has reportedly demanded that Uganda give the United States direct, real-time access to nine of the nation’s health data systems for seven years,” wrote the senators. “While global health programs have historically included data sharing components, they have never required direct access to privileged electronic systems for U.S. government representatives.”

Historically, the U.S. has played a pivotal role in the global health space, serving as the main funder and implementer of global health programs. President Trump has moved away from this legacy during his second term in a variety of ways, such as withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) and dismantling the robust foreign assistance ecosystem that has cemented American leadership in the global health space. The Trump Administration has also taken actions to restructure the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a cornerstone global health initiative that is vital for several African nations. In June, Senators Warnock and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) led 23 of their senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging Senate Appropriations committee leadership to oppose the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) work on global HIV/AIDS prevention and surveillance. In April, Senator Warnock led a letter with nine of his Senate colleagues, pushing the Senate Appropriations Committee to prevent PEPFAR from being misused as a tool of economic coercion.

Global health advocacy groups are concerned about the Administration’s new practice of conditioning aid on real time access to surveillance data. For example, in exchange for HIV/AIDS and other global health funding, State has reportedly demanded that Uganda give the U.S. direct, real-time access to nine of the nation’s health data systems for seven years. The new initiative also appears to be at odds with the Administration’s own emphasis on digital freedom and protecting Americans’ data. The letter warns that these new MOUs may set precedents that ultimately harm Americans’ data privacy.

In addition to Senator Warnock, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

“Dear Secretary Rubio,”

“We write with great concern regarding the Department of State (“State”) Data Sharing Agreements (DSAs) negotiated with foreign nations as part of the America First Global Health Strategy. In some instances, these DSAs require U.S. government officials to have direct log-in credentials for highly sensitive nationally-owned data systems. This is unprecedented and at odds with U.S. policy concerning the data of American citizens. We request a briefing and additional information on these developments.”

“In September 2025, State began negotiating Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with foreign governments to structure U.S. global health aid. According to recent reporting, some MOUs are conditioning aid on the establishment of mandatory data access agreements and direct log-in credentials to highly sensitive health data systems.”

“For example, in exchange for HIV and other global health funding, State has reportedly demanded that Uganda give the United States direct, real-time access to nine of the nation’s health data systems for seven years. While the MOU contains some privacy restrictions, the deal requires that the United States have direct access to the Ugandan system responsible for managing individuals’ electronic medical records and laboratory results.”

“We know that Uganda is not alone: 34 countries have signed MOUs, and State has not publicly shared how many include an accompanying DSA. Only eight of these MOUs and only one of the DSAs have been made publicly available, either by State or partner countries. State has not published all of the MOUs and annexes on either their website or in the Federal Register—despite statutory requirements to do so.”

“While global health programs have historically included data sharing components, they have never required direct access to privileged electronic systems for U.S. government representatives.”

“Indeed, these new demands set an alarming precedent that is seemingly contrary to the Administration’s longstanding support for the privacy of U.S. citizens’ data. In this year’s National Cyber Strategy, the Trump Administration affirmed that it “will emphasize the right to privacy for Americans and American data.” The Federal Trade Commission recently reminded U.S. technology companies “to protect the privacy and data security of American consumers despite pressure from foreign governments to weaken such protections.” Likewise, just months ago, a State cable reportedly criticized China for “bundling enticing technology infrastructure projects with restrictive data policies that expand . . . access to international data for surveillance and strategic leverage.” Vice President Vance has even personally urged foreign governments to drop their demands for access to Americans’ personal user data, with U.S. officials citing the importance of “maintain[ing] each country’s sovereignty.”

“We support efforts to protect the privacy of Americans’ data, and we are concerned that requiring U.S. government officials be provided access credentials to other nations’ sensitive health data systems may set international precedents that ultimately harm Americans. Therefore, we request that State provide a briefing to our offices and respond in writing to the following questions by August 31, 2026:

Federal law requires that State make global health agreements publicly available. Why have the text of these MOUs and associated annexes not been published online and in the Federal Register, as required by law and consistent with precedent? If State does not intend to publish the MOUs and all associated annexes, including the data access agreements, what legal authority does State believe justifies withholding them?

We understand that most but not all of the MOUs that have been signed include DSAs. How did State determine which countries would require or be exempted from DSA requirements?

For each DSA, please identify every category of data that may be accessed directly by a U.S. representative, including whether the data may include names, national identification numbers, dates of birth, addresses, telephone numbers, GPS/location information, HIV status, laboratory records, treatment histories, biometric information, pseudonymized identifiers, unique patient identifiers, metadata, or other sensitive health information.

How did State determine the minimum data elements necessary to achieve public health objectives?

Describe the technical architecture for each DSA, including whether data are transferred through bulk exports, application programming interfaces, remote database access, federated queries, or other mechanisms.

Did the State Department consider alternative data collection or access approaches, such as requiring automated exports of pre-aggregated data or encouraging countries to publicly publish data at the necessary levels of aggregation and in accordance with national data safety laws?

Do any of the DSAs contain provisions for accessing and/or exporting data at a more granular level than would have been obtained through PEPFAR’s traditional data collection system?

Does State intend to make the data obtained through the DSAs public in a similar format, granularity, and cadence as PEPFAR’s traditional public reporting? If not, why not, and how do these decisions support oversight and transparency by Congress and the American taxpayer?

What policies, procedures, and safeguards has State established for protecting personally identifiable information?

Will any of the data be shared with U.S.-based third parties for any commercial purpose, including to train any artificial intelligence models? Do data subjects or the relevant countries have a right to object to the use of their data for these purposes?

Are there any limitations on the specific purposes for which data can be shared with third parties?

Which U.S. authority will oversee data transfers and management? How will this authority monitor and supervise use of this data, including any use by third parties?

Who is liable for any misuse of foreign citizens’ personal data?

Reporting suggests that these data transfers may not be consistent with domestic data protection law and the African Union’s Data Policy Framework. If these data transfers are found to violate domestic laws, will foreign nations be able to suspend the data transfers while continuing to access global health assistance?

If the health agreement is terminated, will the data transferred to the U.S. be deleted?

How long will data be retained by the U.S. and associated third parties?

What privacy rights will foreign data subjects have over data that is transferred to the U.S.? How will foreign citizens’ privacy rights be enforced in case of a data breach or other unethical use of their data while it is in the U.S.? What procedures govern notification of foreign governments, affected individuals, Congress, and other stakeholders following a security incident or unauthorized disclosure?

How are these DSAs consistent with the Trump Administration’s priority of elevating digital freedom? Would the Administration object if another country, such as the People’s Republic of China, established similar requirements for a nation to receive foreign development assistance, loans, or other aid?

“Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.”",1,2026-08-13T06:17:16Z,2026-08-13T06:18:13Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/08/11/mcbath-georgia-dems-highlight-governor-brian-kemps-final-opportunity-to-participate-in-summer-meal-program-for-hungry-children/,"McBath, Georgia Dems Highlight Governor Brian Kemp’s Final Opportunity to Participate in Summer Meal Program for Hungry Children",2026-08-11,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Atlanta, GA — Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) is once again leading the Democratic members of Georgia’s congressional delegation in urging Governor Brian Kemp to allow Georgia families to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer EBT program. The members are calling on Governor Kemp to finally accept federal funding that would feed low-income children during the summer months and commit to participating in summer of 2027.

For the third consecutive year, Governor Kemp has declined to enroll Georgia in Summer EBT, making the state one of only 12 nationwide refusing the program. This year represents Governor Kemp’s final opportunity to reverse course before leaving office in January. The letter is signed by Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff and Representatives Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

Summer EBT provides $40 per eligible child per month, totaling $120 over the summer. This support is a lifeline for families struggling to keep food on the table when school meal programs pause. Of Georgia’s 2.8 million children, more than 40% qualify for the program but remain blocked from receiving it due to the Governor’s continued refusal.

“Summer EBT is one of the simplest tools we have to prevent child hunger, yet Georgia continues to reject it,” said Rep. McBath. “Families are facing higher grocery prices and fewer resources, and denying children this benefit only makes life harder. We are urging Governor Kemp to finally allow Georgia to participate and ensure our children have the food they need.”

“Committing to participate in Summer EBT is a basic step to ensuring that every child in our state, regardless of where they live or how much money their parents make, has access to the basic necessity of food when they are not in school,” the members write.

The delegation emphasizes that this need is even more urgent following cuts to Medicaid and SNAP included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These cuts have already reduced access to free and reduced-price school meals, leaving families with fewer resources and children at greater risk of food insecurity. Governor Kemp’s refusal to participate in Summer EBT compounds these challenges and makes food more expensive for families with children in Georgia.

This renewed push underscores Representative McBath and the Georgia Democratic delegation’s ongoing commitment to lowering costs for working families and ensuring that no child in Georgia goes hungry. Governor Kemp has failed to respond to congressional correspondence on Summer EBT since the federal program became permanent in the summer of 2024.

The Georgia General Assembly recently took bipartisan action to allocate $2 million dollars to participate in Summer EBT in 2027. However, those $2 million dollars were inexplicably vetoed from the state budget by Governor Kemp earlier this summer. The Members encouraged the Governor to respect the will and bipartisan consensus of the Georgia General Assembly on this issue and submit all appropriate materials as soon as possible.",1,2026-08-12T06:18:38Z,2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sens-ossoff-britt-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-detect-prevent-colorectal-cancer/,"Sens. Ossoff, Britt Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Detect & Prevent Colorectal Cancer",2026-08-11,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"According to recent studies, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death for Americans under 50

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing a bipartisan bill to expand early detection of colorectal cancer.

Sens. Ossoff and Katie Britt (R-AL) are introducing the bipartisan Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act to help address the recent rise in colorectal cancer rates in youth. According to recent studies, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death for Americans under 50, despite being highly preventable and treatable when detected early.

Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan bill would provide funding to states to help individuals get screened for colorectal cancer, increase public awareness, and support health care professionals.

Nearly 5,200 Georgians are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year, and colorectal cancer cases in Georgians under 50 jumped from around 7 per 100,000 people in the early 2000s to nearly 11.2 in 2022 according to CDC and NIH estimates.

“Early cancer detection saves lives, and too many Georgians have shared heartbreaking stories with me about losing loved ones to colorectal cancer. I’m introducing this bipartisan bill with Senator Britt to expand early detection of colorectal cancer and better protect young Georgians from this devastating disease,” Sen. Ossoff said.

“The staggering rise in colorectal cancer we’re seeing across the country demands action. We know that this especially aggressive cancer is affecting younger Americans now more than ever. We must give states and healthcare providers the resources they need to better inform and treat the public, which is why I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Ossoff,” said Senator Britt.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to increase Georgians’ access to lifesaving and preventative health care.

In June, Sen. Ossoff offered an amendment to prevent insurance companies from denying or delaying needed health care, but Senate Republicans blocked Sen. Ossoff’s amendment. This followed Senate Republicans blocking Sen. Ossoff’s amendment during a Senate budget debate in April.

In May, Sen. Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats together to deliver Federal funding to strengthen Clark Atlanta University (CAU)’s prostate cancer research. Clark Atlanta University plans to use the Federal funding to strengthen their research and education programs that focus on the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer for Black Georgians.

In April, Sen. Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats together to help Augusta University upgrade equipment at the Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University’s cancer research center.

In March, Sen. Ossoff worked with Republicans and Democrats to expand access to early-detection cancer screenings for seniors in Georgia. The bipartisan Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, cosponsored by Sen. Ossoff, was signed into law on February 3 as part of bipartisan government funding legislation.

Click here to read the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act.

# # #",1,2026-08-12T06:18:38Z,2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-secures-two-year-extensions-of-agoa-haiti-hope-help-in-bipartisan-funding-bill/,"Warnock Secures Two-Year Extensions of AGOA, Haiti HOPE/HELP in Bipartisan Funding Bill",2026-08-11,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, helped secure two-year extensions of AGOA, Haiti HOPE/HELP in last week’s bipartisan continuing resolution

The extension of the trade programs maintains duty-free access on more than 1,800 products from AGOA participating nations. It also extends the HOPE and HELP trade programs, which provide duty-free access for apparel and textile products from Haiti

Senator Reverend Warnock: “This extension is a win-win for Georgians and our trading partners in Haiti and Africa. It will lower the cost of everyday goods and improve our national security by helping stabilize the economies of our global partners”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, helped secure two-year extensions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP), and the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership and Encouragement (HOPE) in last week’s bipartisan continuing resolution (CR). The extension of the trade programs maintains duty-free access on more than 1,800 products from eligible countries and extends the HOPE and HELP trade programs, which provide duty-free access for apparel and textile products from Haiti.

“This extension is a win-win for Georgians and our trading partners in Haiti and Africa,” said Senator Warnock. “It will lower the cost of everyday goods and improve our national security by helping stabilize the economies of our global partners. This victory shows what is possible when we center the people in policymaking.”

In the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Congress passed the HELP Act to broaden the types of goods eligible for duty-free status to over 5,000 types of apparel and footwear. The law, which helped rebuild some of Haiti’s domestic industry, expired October 1, 2025. In February 2025, Senator Warnock helped lead the reintroduction of the Haiti HELP Act. The legislation supports stable, safe jobs in Haiti while ensuring U.S. consumers have access to goods free from state-sponsored forced labor.

Senator Warnock uses his oversight role and jurisdiction in the global commerce space as a check against the Trump administration’s reckless trade and tariff policies and their devastating impact on Georgia’s families, farmers, small businesses, and thousands of hardworking Georgians. Last week, Senator Warnock secured a written commitment from the Trump administration that would limit the President’s tariff authorities in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. In March, Senator Warnock joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for a fireside chat on the path forward for AGOA alongside Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE).",1,2026-08-12T06:18:38Z,2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-joins-legislation-to-ban-ice-from-using-tsa-data,Congresswoman Nikema Williams Joins Legislation to Ban ICE from Using TSA Data,2026-08-10,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) co-sponsored the No TSA Data for ICE Act, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), that would prevent the two agencies from coordinating to enforce the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda. In a dramatic violation of privacy rights, the Transportation and Security Administration is sharing passenger names, birth dates, and other data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, leading to a surge of arrests at airports. ICE agents are targeting immigrants in the process of changing status, including those waiting for visa extensions, with employment authorization documents, or recently married to a U.S. citizen.

A Freedom of Information Act lawsuit obtained an information-sharing agreement between TSA and ICE from May 2025, exposing that acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill lied in her testimony before Congress.

“TSA is complicit in ICE expanding its chaos and cruelty to target our communities in our airports and has been openly lying about it,” said Tlaib. “Through an information-sharing agreement signed in 2025, TSA is readily offering up our immigrant residents to suffer at the hands of ICE agents so they can fulfill their daily arrest quota. One source from ICE even said it makes for ‘easy targets’ at airports—a disgusting exploitation of immigrants in status limbo. Immigrants should be able to safely fly in this country without the fear of arrest or deportation.”

The bill would also prevent the Department of Homeland Security from retaliating against critics of ICE and the Trump Administration by revoking their status in trusted traveler programs, including TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. DHS is currently being sued by three U.S. citizens who lost Global Entry status after filming ICE activity.

“When people fly, they should be able to trust that TSA won’t divulge their sensitive information or use it for political retaliation,” said Tlaib. “TSA has broken that trust in a gross violation of people’s First Amendment rights. This data sharing should terrify all of us. It does nothing to make us safer, but rather endangers the basic rights of all Americans and worsens our mass surveillance crisis.”

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest and most efficient airport, is the gateway to the world. That’s only possible when every traveler has confidence in our aviation system. The TSA should play no part in Trump’s and ICE’s terror campaign. It’s exploitative, dangerous, and a violation of people’s privacy. I’m proud to co-sponsor Rep. Tlaib’s No TSA Data for ICE Act to help protect people’s privacy, restore accountability, and ensure our government agencies are focused on keeping travelers safe—not serving as tools for ICE.”

The No TSA Data for ICE Act is cosponsored by 24 other members of Congress: U.S. Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), André Carson (IN-07), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), John B. Larson (CT-01), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).",1,2026-08-11T05:54:29Z,2026-08-11T05:56:25Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sens-ossoff-rev-warnock-again-demand-answers-from-dha-on-reduction-of-services-at-dwight-d-eisenhower-army-medical-center/,"Sens. Ossoff, Rev. Warnock Again Demand Answers from DHA on Reduction of Services at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center",2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Sens. Ossoff, Rev. Warnock launch second inquiry after DHA failed to respond to Senators’ latest questions

Sens. Ossoff, Rev. Warnock to DHA: “Servicemembers, their families, and veterans in Augusta deserve answers and information on how these potential changes could affect their ability to receive quality health care.”

Fort Gordon, Ga. — U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are again pushing back on plans to reduce services at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center (DDEAMC).

Earlier this week, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock again demanded answers from the Defense Health Agency (DHA) and urged the agency to abandon its plan to close all inpatient services at DDEAMC. This new inquiry comes after DHA failed to respond to the Senator’s response deadline in the June 2026 inquiry.

DHA’s plan includes permanently closing inpatient care and transitioning the emergency room to an urgent care center, which could disrupt care for servicemembers, their families, and veterans, and add strain on the local health care system.

However, despite announcing the closure of all inpatient services at DDEAMC, DHA has not yet finalized a list of which inpatient services would be closed upon implementation and questions remain unanswered about the transition to an ambulatory care center.

In this latest inquiry, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock are demanding DHA immediately rescind Congressional notification for those changes in service until more information is received and the potential consequences for service members, veterans, and families in the CSRA are defined.

“Seventeen days have passed since the deadline stated in our letter seeking more information about DHA’s decision to close all inpatient services at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center (DDEAMC) and transition the facility to an ambulatory care center, and we have not received a response,” Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock wrote to Department of Defense (DoD) Assistant Secretary Keith Bass and DHA Director Vice Admiral Darin Via. “This is unacceptable. Servicemembers, their families, and veterans in Augusta deserve answers and information on how these potential changes could affect their ability to receive quality health care.”

“Until more information and clarification is received on this decision, and its potential consequences, DHA must immediately rescind Congressional notification for modification of services at DDEAMC,” Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock continued.

Sen. Ossoff first launched an inquiry last November with the Acting Director of the DHA requesting more information about the plans to reduce services at the DDEAMC.

Click here to read Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock’s new inquiry.

# # #",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watch-warnock-delivers-senate-floor-speech-after-successfully-negotiating-restraints-on-trumps-tariff-authority/,WATCH: Warnock Delivers Senate Floor Speech After Successfully Negotiating Restraints on Trump’s Tariff Authority,2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Today, Senator Reverend Warnock delivered a Senate floor speech reaffirming his commitment to reining in the Trump administration’s costly tariff regime

Earlier this week, Senator Warnock secured a key concession from the U.S. Trade Representative limiting the President’s tariff authority

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, reaffirmed his commitment to reining in President Donald Trump’s reckless and costly tariff agenda in a speech on the Senate floor.

Earlier this week, Senator Warnock successfully negotiated an agreement with the Trump administration to limit the President’s tariff authorities in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.

“These are not normal times. This is not a normal president,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “If you give him an inch, he will take a mile. We don’t have to imagine. We are seeing it in real time, and everyday people, as a result of that, are struggling—struggling to buy groceries, struggling to buy gas, struggling to buy their kids back-to-school supplies. They are the ones who are suffering the consequences of his reckless tariff regime. But this commitment that we were able to get from Ambassador Greer is meaningful, because if the President ignores the law, if he oversteps his power, we will see him in court.”

The non-partisan Tax Foundation found President Trump’s tariffs cost the average American household $1,000 last year. Most American families are on track to lose $1,300 from President Trump’s tariffs in 2026. Last week, Senator Warnock unveiled a new report that found the cost of required school supplies for a 4th grader can cost Georgia families more than $130 per child. Senator Warnock continues to push back against the Trump administration’s reckless tariff policy and the uncertain market conditions it creates for Georgia small businesses and the higher prices it imposes on Georgia families.

Read the full transcript of Senator Reverend Warnock’s remarks below and watch HERE.

“Mr. President, this letter restricts the President’s tariff authority under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. This is a small but meaningful victory for all Americans who continue to suffer under this President’s reckless tariffs.

“Let’s be clear: Putin is a war criminal, and his war machine must be stopped. But we should not have to choose between putting a check on Putin’s aggression and putting a check on this president’s tariff regime. That is a false choice, and it is one that I am not willing to accept, and so I hope in the coming hours that we go further during the amendment process. I hope my colleagues will join me in stripping out any new presidential tariff authorities.

“These are not normal times. This is not a normal president. If you give him an inch, he will take a mile. We don’t have to imagine. We are seeing it in real time, and everyday people, as a result of that, are struggling—struggling to buy groceries, struggling to buy gas, struggling to buy their kids back-to-school supplies. They are the ones who are suffering the consequences of his reckless tariff regime. But this commitment that we were able to get from Ambassador Greer is meaningful, because if the President ignores the law, if he oversteps his power, we will see him in court.

“I hope this week-long process was the first step in Congress reasserting its role and placing guardrails on this president’s tariff regime. I urge my colleagues to go back home and talk to ordinary folks outside of the Beltway, they will tell you that while they support any efforts to protect our national security—and that’s what this is about, this isn’t just about Ukraine; it is about our own national security. But we must do everything to protect our national security while, at the same time, bolstering the economic security of everyday Americans.

“So, as we go back home, ask any parent you meet how much back-to-school shopping cost them this year. I can tell you, as the father of two small children, that it is much more than they wanted to spend. When we come back to Washington, we can fight for those parents and build on this work to check the power of this reckless president. But I’m glad that we’ve gotten as far as we have on this issue.

“I’d like to thank my friend and brother, Senator Cassidy, for your partnership in this amendment process, and I’d like to thank Senator Shaheen and Blumenthal for their efforts to find a solution and a way forward to support Ukraine, to protect our national security and our economic security at the same time. And with that, I yield back.”

###",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-statement-on-dr-erica-schwartzs-nomination-to-lead-the-cdc/,Warnock Statement on Dr. Erica Schwartz’s Nomination to Lead the CDC,2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released the following statement on his decision not to support the nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz to serve as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“As a voice for Georgia, I am honored to represent the hardworking scientists, doctors, and administrative professionals who make up the CDC. These hardworking public servants have consistently put the American people and our country first, despite the attacks Secretary Kennedy and this administration continue to levy against them.”

“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the attack on the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, it was important for me to hear that the next leader of the agency would stand up for the thousands of Georgians who have devoted their careers to protecting the health and safety of our nation.”

“While I appreciated the opportunity to speak with Dr. Schwartz, I am not confident she will be able to serve as a strong enough check on this administration’s most dangerous impulses. Secretary Kennedy has shown again and again that he will pressure even good people to put politics ahead of public health. For that reason, I cannot support her nomination.”

###",1,2026-08-06T07:37:31Z,2026-08-06T07:38:34Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-statement-on-senate-agriculture-committee-farm-bill-markup/,Warnock Statement on Senate Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Markup,2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released the following statement after today’s Farm Bill markup in the Senate Agriculture Committee.

“Today’s Agriculture Committee markup was a missed opportunity to advance a bipartisan Farm Bill that supports farmers and families. Between the president’s tariff policy and his ongoing war in Iran, our farmers and the American people are struggling under the higher costs of everything. I have maintained for months that any deal needs to include a solution that would mitigate the disastrous cuts to SNAP that Senate Republicans enacted in their One Big Ugly Bill in July 2025. Senate Republicans’ current proposal does not go far enough in addressing my concerns.”

“I will continue to work closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reach an agreement that supports Georgia’s farmers and ensures families have the resources they need to buy groceries at the end of the month. There is a path to a bipartisan deal, and I remain hopeful we can get one done.”

###",1,2026-08-07T06:11:19Z,2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-wyden-push-trump-administration-to-cut-red-tape-requirements-in-medicaid/,"Warnock, Wyden Push Trump Administration to Cut Red Tape Requirements in Medicaid",2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Ron Wyden are calling on the Trump administration to withdraw a policy that imposes strict Medicaid eligibility requirements on Americans seeking to obtain and maintain coverage

Senator Warnock is a leading proponent of Medicaid expansion and has long championed efforts to increase access to affordable health care

About 1.75 million fewer kids were enrolled in Medicaid this January, a year after Congressional Republicans cut $1 trillion from the program

Senator Reverend Warnock, colleagues: “Implementing this rule will worsen Americans’ overall quality of health, waste millions of dollars on administrative red tape, and cause preventable health emergencies for all Americans”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Finance Subcommittee on Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, led 47 of their Senate colleagues in demanding the Trump administration rescind new Medicaid work reporting requirements that would severely limit access to lifesaving health care coverage for millions of Americans.

“We urge CMS to withdraw this rule to ensure that Medicaid can continue its mission of providing health coverage to low-income Americans. Implementing this rule will worsen Americans’ overall quality of health, waste millions of dollars on administrative red tape, and cause preventable health emergencies for all Americans,” wrote Senator Warnock and his colleagues. “States are not prepared to implement the agency’s onerous, subjective requirements. It is families who will suffer, especially the sickest Americans, like those with mental health and substance use disorders, cancer, and diabetes, who most urgently need the health care Medicaid provides.”

In the letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz, Senator Warnock and his colleagues underscore that unnecessary restrictions on Medicaid eligibility would increase costs for millions of Americans already struggling with the ongoing affordability crisis.

Senator Warnock is a leading proponent of Medicaid expansion and has long championed efforts to increase Georgians’ access to affordable health care. Last year, he released a report titled “Healthy People, Healthy Economy,” which found that investing in Medicaid stimulates economic growth and promotes access to employment. In June, Senator Warnock forced a vote pushing for the release of data surrounding Medicaid coverage loss nationwide. The Senator’s effort to release the data was blocked by Senate Republicans.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Administrator Oz,

We write to urge you to withdraw the Administration’s interim final rule (IFR) implementing the Medicaid work reporting requirements passed by Congressional Republicans and signed into law by President Trump last year in H.R. 1. These policies will not increase employment and will instead lead to millions of Americans needlessly losing their health coverage. We support full repeal of all of H.R. 1’s Medicaid cuts. In the absence of Congressional action, CMS must delay implementation. States are not prepared to implement the agency’s onerous, subjective requirements. It is families who will suffer, especially the sickest Americans, like those with mental health and substance use disorders, cancer, and diabetes, who most urgently need the health care Medicaid provides.

This rule transforms Medicaid from a health care program into a bureaucratic maze that will fail eligible Americans. It will strip coverage not because people are not already working or refuse to work, but because they cannot navigate a complex web of forms, passwords, and deadlines. Implementing ineffective, exclusionary work reporting requirements will create costly administrative barriers and deny Americans access to health care, resulting in poorer health, higher mortality, and reduced financial security. This rule does little to mitigate anticipated harms and makes exceptionally cruel and arbitrary choices with regard to medical frailty, significantly subverting the Congressional intent of this particular exemption.

Nearly all adults with Medicaid (92%) are already working, going to school, caregiving, or have a disability. Moreover, an extensive body of evidence demonstrates that work reporting requirements do not promote employment but rather increase medical debt, delay care and contribute to poorer health outcomes. In its assessment of H.R. 1, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected an estimated 5.3 million enrollees will lose coverage by 2034, not accounting for the IFR’s even more stringent and burdensome requirements concerning the medical frailty exception. This evidence was not considered in the drafting of the IFR.

Similarly, the IFR fails to acknowledge or account for states’ ineffectual and costly experiences implementing work reporting requirements. When Arkansas implemented similar requirements, 18,000 people lost coverage in just five months. They didn’t lose their Medicaid coverage because they suddenly found jobs with health benefits; they lost it because they didn’t have internet access, never received the notices, or couldn’t log into a glitchy state website. Michigan was poised to implement these work reporting requirements but paused the programs when they received astronomical coverage loss projections of 80,000 enrollees (33 percent of participants). In Georgia, the state spent $91,000,000 in taxpayer dollars to build a “work requirement” tracking system that often experienced technical failures. This translates to $13,000 per enrollee in administrative costs – almost five times higher than total spending on health care benefits for enrollees. Further, a recent study looking at these requirements in Georgia added to the body of evidence that they do not increase employment.

CMS’ Onerous Definition of Medical Frailty Subverts Congressional Intent

H.R. 1 includes explicit exemptions for individuals who are determined to be medically frail, including those with disabling mental disorders, substance use disorders, disabilities, or complex medical conditions. In including these exemptions, the statute provided protections for some of the most vulnerable Americans, while preserving states’ flexibility to determine how medical frailty should be defined and operationalized. However, the IFR impermissibly adds extra-statutory restrictions and requirements to this statutory exemption, limiting it to individuals whose disability or condition significantly impairs their ability to comply with the work reporting requirement. By attempting to rewrite the standard from the existence of a condition to its demonstrated impact on an individual’s ability to work, the IFR establishes a much narrower pathway to the exemption than H.R. 1 permits.

CMS asserts authority for this expansion through the statutory phrase “as defined by the

Secretary,” but a limited delegation to define specific conditions is not authority to override the categorical structure Congress enacted. This is legal overreach, not a policy choice. And this legal overreach, if maintained, will have devastating consequences for millions of Americans, states, and health care providers.

States will face significant challenges operationalizing this narrower definition of medical frailty, and individuals will face challenges showing they meet the definition. The new standard will force the Medicaid program to take on completely novel responsibilities that are more akin to workers’ compensation than health insurance. States will not be able to rely on automation nor implement the law in a way that protects individuals with health needs, likely needing to revamp information technology (IT) systems; add new eligibility staff and call center support; modify applications, renewal forms, and educational materials; and train health care providers on how to assess and document whether someone’s condition “significantly impairs” their ability to work, a task that will be brand new to many providers.

The IFR forces vulnerable Americans to quite literally prove they are “sick enough” to deserve health care. In practice, a person in the middle of a mental health crisis or a course of cancer treatment, or someone managing severe substance use disorder, will be forced to secure explicit provider attestations linking their illness to their capacity to work. If they cannot jump through this hoop, the penalty is severe: they are cut off from the very medical care they need to survive.

Unfair Medical Frailty Verification Requirements Burden Sick Patients and Providers

In addition to the limitations imposed by the medical frailty definition put forth by this rule, the verification and self-attestation requirements impose infeasible expectations on individuals. Beginning in 2028, the rule directs states to implement a stricter documentation verification regime that will drive up administrative costs, overwhelm already-stretched eligibility staff, and push people off coverage. The verification requirements in 2027 compared with 2028 function as a bait-and-switch: to the extent that implementation looks potentially manageable in the first year, then procedural barriers and coverage losses spike when the documentation default kicks in. In particular, the rule holds people who should qualify for the medical frailty exemption to a higher standard of evidence than for all other eligibility requirements or exemptions/exclusions (e.g., caregiving, being a veteran, or being incarcerated), requiring significant documentation that goes well beyond self-attestation starting in 2028.

Year-Round Paperwork Requirements Will Exacerbate Coverage Loss

There is a long-standing requirement for states to process an application within 45-days as a patient protection, so people are not waiting for their coverage to kick in. The IFR creates a new exception to this timeliness standard, effectively permitting states to process applications on longer timeframes. In providing this exception to states, CMS is acknowledging that states are unlikely to meet the standard patient protection because of increased paperwork burdens, an implicit recognition of the harm to come. This exception is even more harmful to beneficiaries when combined with the H.R. 1 policy that requires states to reverify eligibility for individuals in the expansion group and comprehensive 1115 waivers every six months, in addition to the fact that the law provides States the option to conduct more frequent verifications of compliance with the work reporting requirement.

CMS acknowledges that the IFR creates a nearly impossible timing problem and offers no solution while barreling on with ill-advised and devastating policies. By combining the six-month eligibility renewal requirement with ongoing work-reporting checks, this rule ensures that families are never not in the process of signing up for health care, effectively setting a structural trap. The red tape gauntlet Americans will have to contend with to maintain health insurance coverage will be constant. A family will barely finish submitting documents for one review cycle before the state triggers the next, creating hurdles that are particularly burdensome for hourly workers with volatile schedules, single parents, and individuals with fluctuating health conditions.

The Rule Requires State and Local Taxpayers to Foot the Bill for Costly System Upgrades

The IFR creates even more administrative barriers and paperwork hurdles for individuals attempting to enroll in or keep their Medicaid coverage than the statute permits. This manifests in both more costly and onerous technology requirements for states as well as unnecessary hoops for individuals to jump through.

In H.R. 1, Congressional Republicans provided a total of $200 million for all 50 states and the District of Columbia in FY 2026 to support the system upgrades they will need to comply with the law. However, in the IFR, CMS itself estimates that each state will spend approximately $15 million on systems changes, totaling nearly $700 million for the 44 states that are required to implement these changes, nearly four times the amount provided to states in the law. Recent reporting shows that state estimates of the costs to implement these requirements are significantly higher; North Carolina, for example, expects it will need to spend an estimated $31.2 million annually to enforce these requirements. While CMS announced in January 2026 that the agency secured deep discounts for states on implementation costs, no details have been released about these arrangements. As the price tag of Medicaid work reporting requirements continues to rise, every dollar spent by states to implement this new red tape is a dollar that could have instead been used to provide health care to vulnerable Americans.

We urge CMS to withdraw this rule to ensure that Medicaid can continue its mission of providing health coverage to low-income Americans. Implementing this rule will worsen Americans’ overall quality of health, waste millions of dollars on administrative red tape, and cause preventable health emergencies for all Americans. This rule does not strengthen Medicaid; it dismantles it, turning a program designed to protect vulnerable Americans into a system that systematically denies them care.

###

Title and affiliation are provided for identification purposes only. A pastor and social justice advocate, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock was elected to the United States Senate in 2021 and reelected for a full term in 2022. The Senator serves on the Senate Agriculture, Banking, and Finance committees, as well as the Senate Aging Committee.",1,2026-08-07T06:11:19Z,2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-secures-key-victory-puts-guardrails-on-president-trumps-tariff-powers/,Warnock Secures Key Victory: Puts Guardrails on President Trump’s Tariff Powers,2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Warnock secured a key concession from the Trump Administration limiting the President’s tariff authority after a week-long pressure campaign

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, secured a written commitment from the Trump Administration that would limit the President’s tariff authorities in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation will help curb Russia’s ability to continue earning billions of dollars from energy exports through third countries.

After weeks of working behind the scenes to limit the President’s tariff authorities in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, Senator Warnock supported the start of debate on the legislation and introduced a series of amendments to improve the bill. To ensure at least one of his amendments received a vote, the Senator successfully used procedural tools to pressure Senate leadership to call a vote on a bipartisan amendment with Senator Cassidy.

After a conversation with United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer earlier today, the Senator secured a written commitment restricting the President’s tariff authority under this legislation. The letter concedes the same limits that would have been established in the Warnock/Cassidy amendment.

“Today is a small but meaningful victory for all Americans who’ve suffered under this President’s reckless tariffs. I continue to reject the idea that we have to choose between putting a check on Putin’s aggression and putting a check on this President’s tariff regime. I hope this is the first step towards Congress reasserting its role in placing guardrails on this President’s tariffs that raise the price of everything.”

The non-partisan Tax Foundation found President Trump’s tariffs cost the average American household $1,000 last year. Most American families are on track to lose $1,300 from President Trump’s tariffs in 2026. This week, Senator Warnock unveiled a new report that found the cost of required school supplies for a 4th grader can cost Georgia families more than $130 per child. Senator Warnock continues to push back against the Trump administration’s reckless tariff policy and the uncertain market conditions it creates for Georgia small businesses and the higher prices it imposes on Georgia families.

###",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-statement-on-cdc-director-confirmation-vote-2/,Sen. Ossoff Statement on CDC Director Confirmation Vote,2026-08-05,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"“I congratulate Dr. Schwartz on her Senate confirmation and sincerely hope her tenure at CDC will be a success for the Nation, the State of Georgia, and the CDC.

“The CDC is currently under political attack by this Administration, which has gutted and demoralized the CDC workforce and disbanded critical CDC offices focused on maternal health and disease monitoring.

“Secretary Kennedy’s reckless and sustained attack on the CDC puts Americans’ health at risk. Against this disturbing backdrop, after speaking with Dr. Schwartz, I lacked sufficient confidence in her independence. Accordingly, I voted against her confirmation.

“I nevertheless stand ready to work with Dr. Schwartz to support the CDC, its vital mission, and the CDC’s workforce.”

###

Your form has been received. Someone from our office will get back to you as soon as possible. Please allow 5–7 business days to process a request. If your request needs immediate attention, please don’t hesitate to call our Washington, D.C. office or Atlanta office.",1,2026-08-06T07:37:31Z,2026-08-06T07:38:34Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/08/04/mcbath-leads-house-introduction-of-bipartisan-read-act/,McBath Leads House Introduction of Bipartisan READ Act,2026-08-04,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) led the House introduction of the bipartisan and bicameral Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act, legislation which will address America’s literacy crisis using evidence-based reading instruction known as the Science of Reading. The legislation is co-led in the House by Representatives Erin Houchin (IN-09), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Josh Harder (CA-09), and Burgess Owens (UT-04). Companion legislation in the Senate is led by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jim Banks (R-IN), and Tim Scott (R-SC). Introduction of this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives follows passage of the READ Act in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in an overwhelming vote of 20-2 last week.

According to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress, 12th-grade reading scores dropped to the lowest average since the assessment was first completed in 1992. Millions of young people in America are leaving school without the ability to read proficiently, significantly impacting their readiness for college, a career, and civic life. It is estimated that low literacy rates in America cost taxpayers an estimated $224 billion annually and nearly $40 billion in lost productivity.

“One of my most treasured memories as a mother was instilling a love of reading in my son Jordan,” Congresswoman McBath said. “Tragically, far too many young people in America are graduating high school without basic literacy skills. The READ Act will affirm our country’s commitment to ensuring that all students can develop the skills needed for success beyond high school. I thank my colleagues for their collaboration on this essential bipartisan legislation.”

“Reading is the foundation of every child’s education, yet too many students are graduating without the basic literacy skills they need to succeed,” said Rep. Houchin. “We cannot accept a system that allows students to move from grade to grade without mastering the fundamentals of reading. The bipartisan READ Act gives educators the tools and training to implement the science of reading, helping ensure every student has the strong literacy foundation needed to thrive in school, the workforce, and throughout life.”

“Reading is foundational to learning, and strong literacy skills set the stage for lifelong success,” said Rep. Bonamici.“Students thrive with evidence-based instruction that helps them develop these core skills. This bipartisan bill will provide critical federal resources for educational practices aligned with the science of reading so students in our highest-need schools and districts have the support they need to succeed.”

“In California and all across the country, millions of students are falling behind when it comes to their ability to read proficiently,” said Rep. Kiley. “Our bipartisan legislation will help reverse this troubling trend through reforms including improved teacher training and early literacy tests that will assure more students gain the proficiency they need for success in school and life.”

“Washington used to believe that improving school was both important and possible, but after years of paralysis, our kids have been paying the price in lower reading scores and worse education outcomes,” said Rep. Harder. “The good news is that states have already proven that evidence-based reforms can reverse years of learning losses. The READ Act is a critical step towards reinvigorating federal leadership in education and accelerating solutions to our nationwide literacy crisis – we can’t let any more time go to waste.”

“When we teach our children to read, we give them the tools to think critically, and a child who can think critically can achieve whatever they set their mind to,” said Rep. Owens. “That’s why it’s so troubling to see literacy rates falling across our country. I’m proud to co-lead the READ Act, which invests in evidence-based literacy instruction and holds states accountable for results, while keeping decisions with parents and local schools where they belong.”

The READ Act will:

Support state implementation of evidence-based reading practices grounded in the science of reading;

Prioritize funding to the lowest-performing states;

Improve teacher preparation and professional development;

Expand early screening, intervention, and parental notification for students at risk of reading difficulties; and

Strengthen literacy research.",1,2026-08-05T07:37:37Z,2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-calls-on-trump-administration-to-improve-access-to-maternal-care-in-georgia/,Sen. Ossoff Calls on Trump Administration to Improve Access to Maternal Care in Georgia,2026-08-04,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is calling on the Trump Administration to improve access to maternal care in Georgia.

Today, Sen. Ossoff is demanding answers from Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General found that the three largest health insurance companies have inaccurate Medicaid Managed Care provider directories.

The independent HHS OIG report found that these directories included some maternal health providers that were not actually in-network, listed incorrect contact information for some in-network providers, and were missing some in-network providers altogether.

These “ghost providers” make it difficult for more than 1.5 million Georgians enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care plan to find an in-network provider and risk further delays for those who need access to crucial prenatal and postpartum care.

“For pregnant women, time is of the essence to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy. It is critical that they be able to find a provider that is in-network and available near them to receive timely prenatal care. I urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to take immediate action to ensure states and Medicaid MCO plans have accurate provider directories, especially for patients seeking prenatal and postpartum care,” Sen. Ossoff wrote to Administrator Oz.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to strengthen health care for Georgia mothers and children.

This year, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock brought Republicans and Democrats together to deliver $476,000 in Federal funding to help Emory University purchase equipment for the NICU at Emory Decatur Hospital and to deliver $1,581,000 in Federal funding to help SGMC Health purchase medical equipment to expand access to maternal and infant care for families across South Georgia through their new Women and Infants Tower.

In April, Sen. Ossoff cosponsored the Social Determinants for Moms Act to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce the maternal mortality rate in Georgia and across the country.

In May 2025, Sen. Ossoff released new findings from his investigation into the impacts of Georgia’s 6-week abortion ban, in which Georgia OBGYNs revealed they had personally encountered cases in which Georgia’s six-week abortion ban contributed to a health complication or death of the mother.

Last March, Sen. Ossoff and other members of Congress demanded the Trump Administration provide answers on the reported shutdown of a critical Maternal Health data system at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Last February, Sen. Ossoff introduced an amendment to protect children’s and maternal health care through Medicaid that Senate Republicans blocked.

In 2024, Sen. Ossoff launched a push to pass the MOMS Who Serve Act of 2024, legislation he co-sponsored to help moms in the armed forces access perinatal health care services.

Also in 2024, as Chair of the Senate Human Rights Subcommittee, Sen. Ossoff convened two public hearings at which Georgia women and Georgia OBGYNs testified to the harmful impacts of Georgia’s abortion ban.

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s inquiry.

# # #",1,2026-08-05T07:37:37Z,2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-ossoff-secure-3-3-million-for-clean-water-emergency-response-in-rural-georgia/,"Warnock, Ossoff Secure $3.3 Million for Clean Water Emergency Response in Rural Georgia",2026-08-04,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"The funding will help protect public health and community water supplies during and after a natural disaster

Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff secured this funding through the American Relief Act of 2025

Senator Reverend Warnock: “After a natural disaster, the last thing Georgians should have to worry about is if their water is safe to drink.”

Senator Ossoff: “We’re delivering these resources to help improve Georgia’s water infrastructure after storms like Hurricane Helene.”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) secured $3.3 million for the Georgia Rural Water Association to respond quickly and effectively to any clean water-related emergencies that may arise after natural disasters.

Clean water-related emergencies can arise after natural disasters or other incidents that disrupt water and sewer systems, posing an immediate threat to public health. Funding secured by Senators Warnock and Ossoff will help communities respond quickly to these emergencies and prevent catastrophic infrastructure issues, such as sewer overflows and backups.

“After a natural disaster, the last thing Georgians should have to worry about is if their water is safe to drink,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I’m proud that federal funding is on its way to Georgians on the ground toprovide the resources they need to deal with any emergencies that could impact access to clean, safe water.”

“Clean, safe, healthy drinking water is not a luxury – it’s a necessity,” said Senator Ossoff. “Bringing Republicans and Democrats together, we’re delivering these resources to help improve Georgia’s water infrastructure after storms like Hurricane Helene.”

The funding is part of the bipartisan American Relief Act of 2025, which passed Congress in December 2024. It provided federal disaster and economic recovery funding for communities across the country, including Georgia.

The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority is expected to use the funding to conduct activities that respond to and alleviate clean water emergencies for systems that ensure clean water. It includes a subaward to the Georgia Rural Water Association to enhance its water and sewer emergency mutual aid equipment program, a critical element in Georgia’s overall emergency response.

The funding is also expected to support emergency response and preparedness, water infrastructure repairs, operations and maintenance of facilities, and the establishment of emergency monitoring capabilities. It will primarily assist communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Senator Warnock has consistently worked to provide and strengthen federal support for communities affected by natural disasters and has championed legislation to help Georgians defend against the impacts of severe weather. In March 2026, Senator Warnock secured over $531 million in federal disaster aid for Georgia farmers who were affected by Hurricane Helene. In March 2025, Senator Warnock led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging it to expedite disaster assistance for Georgia farmers affected by Hurricane Helene. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation also supported the effort.

###",1,2026-08-05T07:37:37Z,2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sens-ossoff-rev-warnock-demand-answers-after-trump-administration-plans-to-outsource-education-departments-civil-rights-enforcement/,"Sens. Ossoff, Rev. Warnock Demand Answers After Trump Administration Plans to Outsource Education Department’s Civil Rights Enforcement",2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are demanding answers as the Trump Administration reportedly ends civil rights enforcement within the Department of Education.

Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock are demanding answers from Education Secretary Linda McMahon after reports the Trump Administration intends to outsource responsibilities of the Department of Education’s civil rights division to the Department of Justice (DOJ), leaving unanswered questions about the status of pending cases of potential civil rights abuses.

Under the new agreements between the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the DOJ, the Justice Department will take on civil rights enforcement, some of which includes “complaint investigation” and “resolution processes.”

This announcement follows the gutting of the Office for Civil Rights last year, when the Education Department closed a total of seven OCR offices across the nation, which impacted “nearly 60,000 public schools” and “over 30 million K-12 students.”

“We write with serious concerns regarding the Department of Education’s potential dereliction of its duty to ensure children in Georgia receive a quality education free from discrimination,” Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock wrote to Secretary McMahon. “Despite this responsibility, the Trump Administration has chosen to fire Department of Education staff and enter into interagency agreements to outsource the agency’s formal duties.”

“We have heard from constituents that have been harmed by these actions, and we are concerned this Department will continue to harm Georgia students. We demand that further action to dismantle the Department of Education be stopped,” Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock continued.

Sen. Ossoff continues to hold the Trump Administration accountable for gutting key civil rights programs.

In June, Sen. Ossoff joined Senate colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to halt changes affecting the Office for Civil Rights and preserve the Department’s capacity to enforce federal civil rights laws.

In October 2025, Sen. Ossoff joined Senate colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to halt illegal efforts to shut down the Department of Education’s administration and enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Click here to read the Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock’s inquiry.

# # #",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-new-warnock-report-finds-required-school-supplies-can-cost-georgia-families-130-per-child/,ICYMI: New Warnock Report Finds Required School Supplies Can Cost Georgia Families $130 Per Child,2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Last week, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock unveiled a new report examining the rising cost of school supplies as families prepare for back-to-school shopping

Senator Warnock’s new report shows how expanding the Child Tax Credit could help Georgia families manage back-to-school costs

The report found that Georgia families can expect to pay more than $130 per child for required school supplies

Common school supplies like colored pencils and lunch boxes increased in price by 31% and nearly 27% in only one year

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Expanding the Child Tax Credit is not only the right thing to do morally, but the smart thing to do economically. I will keep fighting to get this done”

Washington, D.C. – Last week, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, held a press call to highlight the release of his new report, which found that Georgia families can expect to pay more than $130 per child for required school supplies. Additionally, the report examines how expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) could help Georgia families manage back-to-school costs and other everyday expenses. As families prepare to send their children back to school, they face rising costs for school supplies thanks to President Trump’s reckless tariff policies.

The report reviewed 4th grade school supply lists from five schools across Georgia and reveals that common school supplies like colored pencils and lunch boxes increased in price by 31% and nearly 27% in only one year, respectively.

More media coverage of Senator Reverend Warnock’s press conference below:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: As the new school year begins in metro Atlanta, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., is calling for the passage of the American Family Act, which he says will help families with the cost of school supplies and other child-related expenses.

WABE: It’s back-to-school time! And preparing for the upcoming school year is getting more expensive for Georgia families. That’s according to Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, who says tariffs are putting additional pressure on Georgia’s families. A new report from his office shows that Georgia families are spending more to fill up their kids’ backpacks compared to last year.

Cobb County Courier: At a press conference called by Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock, Liz Pancotti with Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation noted that many of these products are produced overseas, and that companies are passing on costs to protect their bottom line. Moreover, “healthy foods cost more, and there have been cuts to government assistance for food security.”

WUGA: U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock says tariffs imposed by the Trump administration mean Georgia families will spend more on school supplies. During a press call on Thursday, Senator Warnock cited a new report by his office which states Georgia families will spend more than $130 per child on fourth grade school supplies.

11Alive: Senator Warnock’s report shows fourth‑grade supplies can exceed $130, with items like pencils and lunch boxes rising 31% and 27% in a year.

WRDW: Hours earlier, Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock painted a different picture, releasing data on the rising cost of back-to-school shopping. According to the report, a basic fourth-grade supply list now tops $130 per child, with staples like lunch boxes and pencils spiking in price. Warnock blamed the administration’s tariff policies for squeezing household budgets.

WGXA: Are tariffs driving up back-to-school costs? U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock unveiled a new report that found Georgia families could spend more than $130 per child on school supplies. Now, he is introducing legislation to expand the Child Tax Credit.

###",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-launches-inquiry-into-app-store-age-ratings-to-help-protect-children-online/,Sen. Ossoff Launches Inquiry into App Store Age Ratings to Help Protect Children Online,2026-07-31,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is pressuring Big Tech companies to crack down on apps that put kids at risk.

Today, Sen. Ossoff launched inquiries with Apple and Google about their app store age rating requirements and urged the tech companies to strengthen the default protections for minors and provide further transparency around staffing, reporting, enforcement, and metrics.

A recent report highlighted that developers play a significant role in determining app store age ratings, with little external review. The report also raises concerns that parental controls are heavily reliant on app age ratings, which can result in minors being exposed to harmful material online.

The same report documented an instance where the app store age rating for an app was quietly downgraded from 17+ to 12+ without clear justification, disrupting parental controls for families relying on the 17+ block to restrict access.

“Incorrect age ratings can pose dangers to minors, by facilitating minors’ use of apps that enable communication with online predators or provide access to inappropriate sexual content or other harmful material. Child safety advocates have raised serious concerns that app store ratings may give parents a false sense of security and encourage minors to access content that many families reasonably expect to be restricted,” Sen. Ossoff wrote.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect children online.

In April, Sen. Ossoff launched inquiries with Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon, and X over tech companies’ advertisement and distribution of “nudifying” apps that allow users to swiftly create explicit images of children and teenagers.

Last December, the U.S. Senate passed Sens. Ossoff and Chuck Grassley (R-IA)’s bipartisan Preventing Child Trafficking Act of 2025 to strengthen coordination between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to better stop child trafficking and protect kids.

In July 2025, Sen. Ossoff cosponsored the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, which would impose new requirements on digital platforms to protect children from being targeted online with harmful content.

In March 2025, Sen. Ossoff cosponsored the bipartisan Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) to limit use of children’s information for individually targeted advertising.

In 2024, Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan REPORT Act with Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) became law, which — for the first time — requires websites and social media platforms to report crimes involving Federal trafficking and enticement of children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Since the law’s enactment, NCMEC has seen a 952% increase in reports of child sex trafficking and a 77% increase in reports of online enticement of children.

In 2023, Sens. Ossoff and Grassley’s bipartisan Preventing Child Sex Abuse Act of 2023 was signed into law, which strengthened Federal protections against the sexual abuse of children, including online exploitation.

Please find Sen. Ossoff’s inquiries here with Apple and Google.

# # #",1,2026-08-01T07:27:26Z,2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-urging-fda-to-protect-families-from-baby-formula-contamination/,Sen. Ossoff Urging FDA to Protect Families from Baby Formula Contamination,2026-07-30,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect families from contaminated baby formula.

Sen. Ossoff is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct stronger oversight of baby formula following recent reports of potential contamination in Nara Organics and ByHeart baby formula products that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned could lead to infant botulism.

According to the CDC’s 2025 Early Childhood Nutrition Report, 27% of Georgia’s breastfed infants born in 2022 were fed formula within the first two days of life.

Sen. Ossoff previously demanded answers from Nara Organics and ByHeart following initial reports of contamination.

“I write to express my concern regarding reports of recent outbreaks of infant botulism. The recalls of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula and Nara Organics’ Powdered Infant Formula mark two outbreaks within the past year, involving reports of Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes infant botulism. Infant formula is a critical source of nourishment for newborns, regardless of whether the formula is used exclusively or as a supplement,” Sen. Ossoff wrote to Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas.

“Every parent wants to ensure that their infants are being fed in a way that is both safe and healthy. As a United States Senator, it is my duty to ensure oversight of the infant formula supply chain is essential to protecting Georgia families,”Sen. Ossoff continued.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect Georgia kids from harmful chemicals and contaminants.

This month, Sens. Ossoff and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan No Lead in Toys Act to help protect children from toxic chemicals in toys after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a February 2026 report in response to a 2024 inquiry from Sen. Ossoff into how the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) conducts testing on products intended for children ages 12 and under for potential lead contamination and other safety hazards.

Last December, Sen. Ossoff urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reinstate a grant made to Emory University to research children’s exposure to lead, heavy metals, and other contaminants in West Atlanta following the discovery of dangerously high levels of lead in some West Atlanta yards in 2018.

Last April, Sen. Ossoff demanded answers from baby formula producers Abbott Nutrition and Mead Johnson about recent reports of toxic chemicals found in formula.

In May 2025, during a U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration hearing, Sen. Ossoff pressed FDA Commissioner Martin Makary on the safety of infant formula, including the reported firings of scientists within the agency who work to prevent infant formula contamination.

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s inquiry.

# # #",1,2026-07-31T07:49:23Z,2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-warnock-report-finds-georgia-families-will-pay-130-for-required-school-supplies/,New Warnock Report Finds Georgia Families Will Pay $130 for Required School Supplies,2026-07-30,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock is unveiling a new report that examines the increased cost of school supplies and how expanding the Child Tax Credit could help Georgia families manage back-to-school costs

Senator Warnock’s report reviewed 4th grade school supply lists from five schools across Georgia, representing urban and rural communities, and found that the cost of required school supplies can cost Georgia families more than $130 per child

Common school supplies like colored pencils and lunch boxes increased in price by 31% and nearly 27% in only one year

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Expanding the Child Tax Credit is not only the right thing to do morally, but the smart thing to do economically. I will keep fighting to get this done”

Above: A year-over-year comparison of the prices of common back to school supplies

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, is unveiling a new report that found the cost of required school supplies for a 4th grader can cost Georgia families more than $130 per child. Additionally, the report examines how expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) could help Georgia families manage back-to-school costs and other everyday expenses. As families prepare to send their children back to school, they face rising costs for school supplies thanks to President Trump’s reckless tariff policies.

The report reviewed 4th grade school supply lists from five schools across Georgia representing urban and rural communities. The review found that the cost of required school supplies can cost Georgia families more than $130 per child. Common school supplies like colored pencils and lunch boxes increased in price by 31% and nearly 27% in only one year, respectively.

“Donald Trump’s economic policies are making life harder for Georgians who are still feeling the pressure at the gas pump, in the grocery store, and in their household budgets,” said Senator Warnock. “Expanding the Child Tax Credit is not only the right thing to do morally, but the smart thing to do economically. I will keep fighting to get this done.”

Above: A comparison of the current child tax credit vs the American Family Act

Under current federal tax law, families receive—at most—the equivalent of $183 per month and can only access it when filing their taxes—not during times like back-to-school. Under the American Family Act, legislation to expand the Child Tax Credit, families would receive up to $360 per month for kids under 6 and $300 per month for kids aged 6-17. That is money Georgia families can use to cover essential costs like school supplies, tutoring, or childcare. In 2021, Congress passed legislation temporarily expanding the CTC, which lifted 165,000 Georgia children out of poverty, 2.9 million children across the country, and cut the national child poverty rate in half. Currently, there are more than 11 million children living below the poverty line in the United States.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for educational books and supplies, such as elementary, high school, and college textbooks and reference books, have increased 8.4% since 2024. According to a recent analysis by the Century Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative, prices for school supplies overall are up 7.7% and lunchbox staples are up 10.9%. Price increases for specific types or brands of items can be even higher.

A copy of the report can be found HERE

###",1,2026-07-31T07:49:23Z,2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-finance-committee-advances-four-bipartisan-warnock-tax-provisions/,Senate Finance Committee Advances Four Bipartisan Warnock Tax Provisions,2026-07-30,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"The Senate Finance Committee advanced four bipartisan tax provisions championed by Senator Reverend Warnock as part of the Tax Administration and Service Act

The bipartisan bill makes an array of commonsense fixes to IRS procedure and administration

The legislation combines proposals recommended by the National Taxpayer Advocate to improve communication between the IRS and taxpayers and ensure taxpayers have timely access to expert assistance

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’m proud to work across the aisle on these bipartisan reforms to make the IRS more responsive, transparent, and accountable to the people it serves”

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Finance Committee advanced four bipartisan tax provisions championed by U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) as part of the Tax Administration and Service Act. The bipartisan bill makes an array of commonsense fixes to IRS procedure and administration. The legislation also incorporates proposals recommended by the National Taxpayer Advocate to improve communication between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and taxpayers and ensure taxpayers have timely access to expert assistance.

“Georgians deserve a tax system that works for them, not one that creates unnecessary confusion or frustration,” said Senator Warnock. “I’m proud to work across the aisle on these bipartisan reforms to make the IRS more responsive, transparent, and accountable to the people it serves.”

A breakdown of the provisions Senator Warnock championed is below.

Taxpayer Privacy: This provision is based on Senator Warnock and John Barrasso’s (R-WY) Taxpayer Notification and Privacy Act. The legislation requires the IRS to notify taxpayers about information requests it plans to make to third parties, giving taxpayers a chance to provide information before the IRS contacts a third party.

Protecting Non-Profits from Politicization: This provision, authored by Senator Warnock and Lankford (R-OK) would codify a right of a nonprofit to appeal denials or revocations of tax-exempt status and also require the IRS to notify nonprofits of these rights.

Digitization of Tax Returns and Correspondence: This provision is based on the Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance Efficiency (BARCODE) Act, which Senator Warnock leads with Sen. Todd Young (R-IN). The bipartisan legislation would expedite the IRS’s digitization of the tax filing process, digitize returns, and correspondence.

Simplifying Filing Deadlines: This provision is based on Senator Warnock and Marsha Blackburn’s (R-TN) Tax Administration Simplification Act, legislation that draws on recommendations from the Taxpayer Advocate Service’s (TAS) to improve customer experience by putting forth clearer deadlines and estimated tax payments, which are especially important for Georgia’s gig workers.

The Tax Administration and Service Act would also upgrade refund tracking tools so taxpayers know when to expect their refunds, expand IRS call back options, and strengthen protections for victims of fraud.

Since joining the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Warnock has championed taxpayer assistance and administration. His bipartisan legislation, the Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act, was signed into law in December 2025 and provides an extension to ensure taxpayers impacted by recent natural disasters have more flexibility when claiming refunds or credits. He has also successfully pushed the IRS to lift its hiring freeze on taxpayer services staff. In July 2026, Senator Warnock also successfully secured an increase in the gas mileage reimbursement rate, putting more money in taxpayers’ pockets.

Senator Warnock’s constituent services team is on pace to receive over 600 requests from taxpayers this year.

###",1,2026-07-31T07:49:23Z,2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-colleagues-pressuring-trump-admin-to-release-hiv-aids-prevention-funding-to-cdc/,"Sen. Ossoff, Colleagues Pressuring Trump Admin to Release HIV/AIDS Prevention Funding to CDC",2026-07-29,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is pressuring the Trump Administration to release funding for HIV/AIDS prevention to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Sen. Ossoff is leading a group of Senate colleagues in urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to approve the transfer of $2 billion in funds meant for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to the CDC.

This inquiry comes as new internal guidance by the State Department would end the transfer of PEPFAR funds to the CDC.

According to former CDC Directors, without this dedicated funding stream, more than 18 CDC outposts could close before the end of the year, reducing the ability for the agency to launch timely and sufficient global health responses to disease outbreaks.

Sen. Ossoff is joined by Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Ed Markey (D-MA).

“The rushed abandonment of a proven and effective structure threatens to increase the risk of future global health pandemics and disease outbreaks,” Sen. Ossoff and the group wrote. “Countries are struggling to maintain the programs set up by USAID and PEPFAR funding, facing more new infections and more deaths.”

“We urge you to immediately rescind any guidance suggesting that State will no longer honor the transfer of $2 billion to CDC and commit to upholding this long-standing transfer that keeps Americans safe,” Sen. Ossoff and the group continued.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect public health, the CDC, and its workforce.

This month, Sen. Ossoff slammed U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for terminating the CDC’s Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) surveillance of Cyclospora cayetanensis, the parasite responsible for cyclosporiasis.

Earlier this year, Sen. Ossoff worked with Republicans and Democrats to ensure the CDC receives crucial funding to protect the American people, successfully defeating the Trump Administration’s proposed 50% cut in funding for the CDC in the FY26 budget.

Last October, Sen. Ossoff led Georgia’s Democratic Congressional Delegation in calling on Secretary Kennedy to answer for the chaos and disruption at the CDC that has marked his tenure, including the firings of CDC employees.

Last June, Sen. Ossoff spoke in the Appropriations Committee markup of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education funding bill about bipartisan efforts to protect the CDC.

Also in June, Sen. Ossoff demanded answers from the Trump Administration following an NPR report that the CDC Program to prevent fentanyl overdoses had been frozen.

In 2025, Sen. Ossoff and other members of Congress demanded that the Trump Administration provide answers on the reported shutdown of a critical Maternal Health data system at the CDC.

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s full inquiry.

# # #",1,2026-07-30T07:32:48Z,2026-07-30T07:34:08Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-joins-bipartisan-effort-to-strengthen-whistleblower-incentives/,Warnock Joins Bipartisan Effort to Strengthen Whistleblower Incentives,2026-07-29,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock joined a bipartisan coalition to enhance protections for whistleblowers

Since taking office, Senator Warnock has championed legislation to protect whistleblowers from retaliation

Senator Reverend Warnock: “This bipartisan bill promotes accountability and bolsters essential protections for people who risk their careers to stand up to fraud and corruption”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the CFTC Whistleblower Protection and Program Improvement Act of 2026 to provide long-term stability for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) whistleblower program, strengthen whistleblower protections, and expedite award processing.

“No one should be punished for speaking out when they see something wrong. This bipartisan bill promotes accountability and bolsters essential protections for people who risk their careers to stand up to fraud and corruption,” said Senator Warnock. “This legislation will benefit every American taxpayer, and I’m grateful to work with my colleagues across the aisle to strengthen this vital program.”

“Since I helped get the CFTC whistleblower program up and running, I’m pleased to see it’s been a big success,” said Senator Grassley. “This program roots out waste, fraud and abuse in the commodities trading industry and operates at no charge to the taxpayer. Now, it’s time for Congress to act so its success can continue. Our bipartisan legislation strengthens protections for patriotic whistleblowers, prevents unnecessary delays in the disbursement of whistleblower awards and ensures the CFTC whistleblower program can operate smoothly.”

“Whistleblowers put their jobs and often their lives on the line to call out the most serious offenses in the workplace. Zero doubt that they should be protected,” said Senator Fetterman. “As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Senator Grassley to protect whistleblowers and improve the CFTC whistleblower program.”

“The Commodity Futures Trading Commission plays a crucial role in protecting American commodity markets, and safeguarding its whistleblower program helps maintain public trust in the integrity of those markets,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would provide long-term stability for the CFTC whistleblower program by strengthening protections for whistleblowers, promoting the timely processing of claims, and eliminating a loophole that can prevent whistleblowers from receiving awards.”

The CFTC Whistleblower Program and Customer Protection Fund (CPF) rewards whistleblowers for reporting allegations of wrongdoing to the CFTC using funds collected through enforcement actions. The CPF also covers the operating expenses and educational initiatives that support the CFTC Whistleblower Program. Since 2014, the CFTC Whistleblower Program has awarded nearly $430 million to whistleblowers and issued over $3.7 billion in monetary sanctions.

Senator Warnock has long championed efforts to bolster protections for whistleblowers. In December 2022, he successfully secured bipartisan support for the Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act, which strengthened and expanded the scope of whistleblower reporting standards and financial rewards. Less than a year later, Senator Warnock introduced the SEC Whistleblower Reform Act of 2023 to ensure timely processing of whistleblower claims and protect against retaliation.

###",1,2026-08-05T07:37:37Z,2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-wicker-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-modernize-tire-safety-standards/,"Warnock, Wicker Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Modernize Tire Safety Standards",2026-07-29,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Roger Wicker introduced the Tire Safety Modernization Act of 2026 legislation to modernize federal tire safety standards

Georgia is a national leader in tire manufacturing and production

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Georgia’s nation-leading tire manufacturing industry helps keep Georgians safe and connected to boundless opportunities”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Tire Safety Modernization Act of 2026, a bill that updates federal tire testing standards to protect passenger safety and reflect modern best practices in tire production.

“Georgia’s nation-leading tire manufacturing industry helps keep Georgians safe and connected to boundless opportunities,” said Senator Warnock. “By modernizing this critical manufacturing sector, we can help foster innovation and keep Americans connected.”

“Tire manufacturing technology has evolved, but federal regulations have not kept pace,” said Senator Wicker. “This legislation would update performance standards—protecting passenger safety and promoting innovation simultaneously.”

The Tire Safety Modernization Act of 2026 preserves a strong focus on safety. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to replace outdated testing requirements with more relevant, modern-day performance standards, clarifying existing safety criteria and aligning high-speed testing with internationally recognized best practices to keep our roads safe.

Senator Warnock has successfully delivered millions of dollars’ worth of federal grant funding to improve roadway safety across Georgia. Last year, he led an effort to improve access to economic opportunity by investing in transportation infrastructure that is essential to keeping communities connected.

The Tire Safety Modernization Act of 2026 is endorsed by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and several tire manufacturing companies with operational hubs located in Georgia, including Pirelli, Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc., Kumho Tire USA, Inc., Continental Tire Americas, and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

“Modernizing federal tire safety standards is essential to ensuring American drivers have access to the safest, most advanced tire technology available,” said Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA). “The ‘Tire Safety Modernization Act’ is an important step toward aligning U.S. regulations with today’s innovations, strengthening road safety and supporting a more competitive tire manufacturing sector. USTMA and its member companies are grateful to Senators Warnock (D-GA) and Wicker (R-MS) for their leadership in championing this critical legislation.”

“Toyo Tire commends Senators Raphael Warnock and Roger Wicker for introducing legislation that will help modernize federal tire safety testing requirements,” said Tatsuo Mitsuhata, Chairman & CEO, Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. “Operating the largest tire factory in Georgia, Toyo understands the importance of maintaining a regulatory framework that supports both consumer safety and continued innovation in American manufacturing. This legislation represents a practical and forward-looking effort to ensure that federal tire standards keep pace with advances in vehicle and tire technology. We appreciate the leadership of Senators Warnock and Wicker in advancing this bipartisan effort and look forward to working with policymakers and industry stakeholders as the legislation moves forward.”

“Kumho Tire USA, headquartered in Atlanta and serving customers through a nationwide distribution network, is grateful to Senators Warnock and Wicker for their leadership in introducing legislation to modernize federal tire safety testing standards,” said Edmund Cho, CEO of Kumho Tire USA, Inc. “With manufacturing and distribution operations, including facilities in Georgia, we support updating FMVSS tire tests to remove outdated requirements and align with global best practices, strengthening public safety and ensuring a fair, level playing field for responsible manufacturers.”

“The introduction of this legislation by Senators Warnock and Wicker represents meaningful progress toward modernizing tire safety regulations,” said Tansu Işık, CEO Continental Tire Americas. “Aligning federal testing requirements with today’s technological advancements will help ensure effective safety oversight while promoting innovation and manufacturing growth in the United States.

“For the Pirelli Group, which has manufacturing facilities in Georgia and is the exclusive tire supplier to the Formula One World Championship™, safety is paramount,” said Pirelli. “Modernizing tire testing requirements will help ensure that federal testing standards continue to foster innovation, recognize the industry’s most advanced tire technologies, and contribute to a lower environmental footprint.”

“We appreciate Senators Warnock and Wicker for introducing legislation to modernize outdated tire testing requirements,” said Brad Heim, Vice President, Product Development — Global Consumer, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. “Tire technology continues to advance rapidly, and federal standards should keep pace with innovation. This legislation will help ensure safety requirements reflect today’s technology while supporting U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.”

###",1,2026-08-05T07:37:37Z,2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/breakdown-warnock-housing-provisions-lead-road-to-housing-act/,BREAKDOWN: Warnock Housing Provisions Lead ROAD to Housing Act,2026-07-28,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"As a leader on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Senator Reverend Warnock secured the defining provisions of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the largest housing package in a generation

The provisions championed by Senator Warnock help increase housing supply by cutting red tape, combating appraisal bias, and reforming legacy housing programs

Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’m proud to have contributed to increasing our nation’s housing supply and lowering costs for hardworking Georgia families”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a leader on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, secured critical provisions in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to help increase housing supply and address the nation’s housing affordability crisis. These provisions include several bills that Senator Warnock has championed for years to address bias in housing appraisals, incentivize local governments and banks to invest more in housing construction, and provide grants for affordable housing construction and local housing growth.

“I hear from Georgians across the state who have been clamoring for action from Washington on the housing affordability crisis, and this legislation is proof that when we center the people instead of the politics, we can get good policy done,” said Senator Warnock. “I’m proud to have contributed to increasing our nation’s housing supply and lowering costs for hardworking Georgia families.”

A breakdown of the provisions Senator Warnock secured is below.

Appraisal Modernization Act: This provision includes a modified version of Senator Warnock’s Appraisal Modernization Act, novel legislation that guarantees homeowners the option to request a second appraisal to combat appraisal bias. This is the only fair housing provision in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. Systemic bias in the appraisal process has disadvantaged families of color for decades. Senator Warnock’s provision gives consumers the tools and resources they need to ensure their homes are fairly valued.

Local Government Housing Innovation Fund: This provision, adopted from Senator Warnock’s flagship American Housing and Economic Mobility Act, authorizes $1 billion in grants to local governments who have demonstrated an improvement in housing supply growth, to incentivize actions and policies that increase housing supply.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Improvements: Senator Warnock championed several provisions that increase federal funding for the construction of new affordable housing and condition portions of this funding on local housing growth. Georgia communities received over $83 million in CDBG funding in FY26.

Permitting Reform and Streamlining: Senator Warnock advanced several provisions that relax federal permitting and environmental review requirements for affordable housing projects, including giving local governments more control over environmental reviews for certain housing projects.

Housing Supply Expansion Act: Georgia, like much of the southeast, has experienced a manufactured housing boom over the past several years. This legislation allows for more innovative and multi-story manufactured housing designs while reducing the purchase price of manufactured homes by as much as $10,000.

In addition to these provisions, the 21st Century Road to Housing Act includes Senator Warnock’s landmark provision banning private equity from mass-purchasing single-family homes. Fines will be imposed on corporations that own more than 350 homes; these fines will go towards new housing construction and financial assistance for first-time homebuyers, inspired by the Senator’s Downpayment Toward Equity Act.",1,2026-07-29T07:41:48Z,2026-07-29T07:42:57Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sens-rev-warnock-ossoff-delivering-resources-to-strengthen-crime-prevention-efforts-in-gwinnett-county/,"Sens. Rev. Warnock, Ossoff Delivering Resources to Strengthen Crime Prevention Efforts in Gwinnett County",2026-07-27,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Norcross, Ga. — U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are delivering resources to strengthen crime prevention coordination in Gwinnett County.

Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock brought Republicans and Democrats together to help establish a central law enforcement command center in Norcross.

According to the Norcross Police Department, the City has seen an increase in property crime, vehicle thefts, and violent incidents in recent years.

To address these crimes, with the help of Federal funding Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock are delivering, Norcross aims to establish a Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) to serve as a centralized command hub that will enable law enforcement to respond more swiftly to incidents and analyze critical public safety data in real-time.

Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock are delivering $450,000 for the project through bipartisan government funding legislation that became law on January 23.

“Coordination between law enforcement is necessary to better prevent crime,” Sen. Ossoff said. “That’s why Senator Reverend Warnock and I brought Republicans and Democrats together to help build a new central law enforcement command center in Norcross.”

“Proper coordination and communication between law enforcement agencies is vital for any effort to combat crime,” said Senator Warnock. “I am proud to have worked with Senator Ossoff to secure nearly half a million dollars for the city of Norcross’s crime prevention center.”

# # #

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https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-statement-on-designation-of-okefenokee-national-wildlife-refuge-as-georgias-first-unesco-world-heritage-site/,Sen. Ossoff Statement on Designation of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge as Georgia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site,2026-07-25,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"In February 2023, Sen. Ossoff led a bipartisan group urging National Park Service to nominate the Okefenokee refuge for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list

Sen. Ossoff has worked for years to protect the Okefenokee

Okefenokee becomes Georgia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site

Washington, D.C. — After years of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s advocacy, UNESCO has designated the Okefenokee as Georgia’s first World Heritage Site.

Following Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan push over the last few years, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced today that the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been designated as Georgia’s first-ever UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This announcement follows a bipartisan effort by Sen. Ossoff, who led a group of Georgia’s Congressional delegation in 2023 urging the Department of the Interior to pursue this prestigious designation. Following the group’s urging, in September 2023, the National Park Service announced it intended to nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list, and then in December 2024, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that it would nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In response to today’s historic announcement, Sen. Ossoff released the following statement.

“For years I’ve worked to protect Georgia’s beloved Okefenokee Swamp from dangerous strip mining, and now, following our bipartisan push, it’s been named Georgia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site,” Sen. Ossoff said. “The Okefenokee is an irreplaceable natural treasure in our state, and this significant designation will help protect this renowned natural treasure for generations to come, promote tourism, and support Southeast Georgia’s economic growth.”

The World Heritage designation places the Okefenokee alongside global landmarks such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. With its inscription, the Okefenokee becomes Georgia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first National Wildlife Refuge in the United States to receive the prestigious designation.

This recognition is expected to boost environmental protection efforts and promote economic prosperity through increased tourism and international recognition. According to a 2024 study, the World Heritage Site designation by UNESCO could double visitation at the Okefenokee Swamp Park, create about 750 long-term jobs, and deliver $60 million in annual economic impact.

Sen. Ossoff has worked for years to protect the Okefenokee.

In February 2023, Sen. Ossoff led a bipartisan coalition urging the U.S. Interior Department to nominate the Okefenokee Refuge for the honor, a crucial step in getting considered by UNESCO.

Following his urging, in September 2023, the National Park Service announced it intended to nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list, and then in December 2024, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that it would nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In April 2024, Sen. Ossoff submitted formal public comments to Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division opposing mining permits near the Okefenokee, citing the threat of “irreversible damage” to the swamp and surrounding ecosystem.

In January 2025, following Sen. Ossoff’s push, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would expand the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s acquisition boundary by 22,000 acres.

In May 2025, Sen. Ossoff pressed the Trump Administration’s Department of the Interior in a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, securing a public commitment from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum that no part of the Okefenokee would be sold.

In June 2025, Sen. Ossoff welcomed the announcement of a land acquisition deal in which The Conservation Fund will purchase roughly 8,000 acres from Twin Pines Minerals, as well as the underlying mineral rights — effectively halting the proposed titanium mine near the swamp.

In August 2025, Sen. Ossoff passed an amendment through the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to encourage greater expanded protection of the Okefenokee Swamp.

# # #",1,2026-07-26T07:35:04Z,2026-07-26T07:36:32Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-legislation-to-increase-access-to-sti-testing,Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Legislation to Increase Access to STI Testing,2026-07-24,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"New legislation to create a more equitable healthcare system

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Equity in STI Testing Act, legislation that would make certain tests for sexually-transmitted diseases free of charge. Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) is co-leading the introduction of the Equity in STI Testing Act.

The Equity in STI Testing Act will require coverage for STI testing without patient cost sharing under Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, CHIP, TRICARE, the Indian Health Service and for veterans.

The Equity in STI Testing Act will make regular STI testing available for millions of Americans, without out of pocket costs. Please join us in supporting this common-sense legislation to protect reproductive and public health.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“For years, I worked on the front lines bringing sexual healthcare to those who needed it most. Far too often, those people were already excluded from our healthcare system. My Equity in STI Testing Act will help ensure that everyone has access to STI testing. This is one step toward creating a more just and equitable healthcare system, and I won’t stop fighting until there are no barriers to essential healthcare, including STI testing.”

Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) said:

“In the Bronx, I’ve seen what happens when people can’t afford the care they need until it’s too late. STIs are common, treatable, and preventable, but only if people can get tested without worrying about the bill. The Equity in STI Testing Act is a simple, common-sense fix: no cost sharing for testing under Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, CHIP, TRICARE, the Indian Health Service, and for our veterans. Public health shouldn’t come with a price tag. I’m proud to co-lead this bill with Congresswoman Williams.”

The Equity in STI Testing Act is endorsed by AID Atlanta, American Academy of Family Physicians, Empowerment Resource Center, Georgia AIDS Coalition, HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute, HIV Medicine Association, Human Rights Campaign, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, & Status:Home

The Georgia AIDS Coalition said:

“The Georgia AIDS Coalition, established in 1989, strongly supports Congress passing the “Support Access to STI Testing Act”. Getting tested for STI’s is important for your health. STIs often have no symptoms, so you may not know you have one. But even without symptoms, infections can cause serious health problems and be unknowingly passed on to others. Untreated STIs can cause severe complications, including premature birth, stillbirth, or transmission of the infection to the baby during childbirth, and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which may cause permanent damage and infertility. Untreated infections can also affect the heart and brain and increase susceptibility to HIV. This legislation will provide access to regular STI testing, saving funds in long-term treatment.”

“Access to STI testing, including HIV testing, without patient cost sharing will significantly reduce barriers and increase the ability of people with Medicaid and other payers to access the sexual health tests they need to remain healthy and link them to appropriate care and treatment .” commented Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. “We thank Reps. Nikema Williams and Ritchie Torres for their leadership and introducing the Equity in STI Testing Act. At a time of rising HIV and skyrocketing STIs, now is the time for the Congress to quickly adopt it.” concluded Schmid.

STI infection is prevalent, and impacts Americans of every walk of life. According to the CDC, more than 2.2 million people reported STIs in 2024. Across the country, twenty percent of Americans have an STI at any given time.

These conditions are often asymptomatic, and may go unnoticed, but when not diagnosed and treated, some STIs can significantly impact patients’ long term wellbeing. Under diagnosis impacts patients’ ability to get the timely care they need, and may contribute to increased transmission of these conditions. Accessible testing is an important component of mitigating the public health impact of STIs.",1,2026-07-25T07:13:44Z,2026-07-25T07:15:09Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-again-presses-hhs-secretary-kennedy-for-failing-to-address-cancelation-of-cdcs-cyclosporiasis-parasite-monitoring/,Sen. Ossoff Again Presses HHS Secretary Kennedy for Failing to Address Cancelation of CDC’s Cyclosporiasis Parasite Monitoring,2026-07-24,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — As cases top 11,000 nationwide, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is pressing HHS Secretary Kennedy on cuts to Cyclosporiasis monitoring.

Today, Sen. Ossoff is again demanding answers from U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. about his decision to terminate the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) required surveillance of Cyclospora cayetanensis, the parasite responsible for cyclosporiasis and is again requesting answers on the progress of Federal efforts to investigate and contain it.

According to recent reports, there are over 11,500 cyclosporiasis cases being investigated across 41 states, including Georgia, with more than 4,100 cases being confirmed, and more than 300 people hospitalized.

Sec. Kennedy failed to respond to Sen. Ossoff’s initial inquiry on the cyclosporiasis outbreak.

“You have failed to address my questions regarding your inexplicable decision to terminate the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) required surveillance of Cyclospora cayetanensis, and the progress of federal efforts to investigate and contain it,” Sen. Ossoff wrote to Sec. Kennedy. “Your silence amidst an ongoing outbreak of diarrheal disease is indicative of the reckless arrogance with which you demolished America’s public health defense.”

Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect public health, the CDC, and its workforce.

In April, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock demanded answers from Secretary Kennedy after reports that the CDC Atlanta Campus is still in need of repairs and improvements following last year’s shooting.

In March, Sen. Ossoff worked with Republicans and Democrats to ensure the CDC receives crucial funding to protect the American people, successfully defeating the Trump Administration’s proposed 50% cut in funding for the CDC in the FY26 budget.

Last October, Sen. Ossoff led Georgia’s Democratic Congressional Delegation in calling on Sec. Kennedy to answer for the chaos and disruption at the CDC that has marked his tenure, including the firings of CDC employees.

Last June, Sen. Ossoff spoke in the Appropriations Committee markup of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education funding bill about bipartisan efforts to protect the CDC.

Also in June, Sen. Ossoff demanded answers from the Trump Administration following an NPR report that the CDC Program to prevent fentanyl overdoses had been frozen.

In 2025, Sen. Ossoff and other members of Congress demanded that the Trump Administration provide answers on the reported shutdown of a critical Maternal Health data system at the CDC.

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s inquiry.

# # #",1,2026-07-25T07:13:44Z,2026-07-25T07:15:09Z
https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bishop-opposes-politicized-house-defense-bill-pledges-to-protect-georgia-military-priorities,"Bishop Opposes Politicized House Defense Bill, Pledges to Protect Georgia Military Priorities",2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,GA,"Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.",B000490,bishop.house.gov,bishop,https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) voted against the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, H.R. 8800. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 216-212, with Congressman Bishop voting no.

“The National Defense Authorization Act should represent Congress at its best—Republicans and Democrats working together to provide for our national defense and support the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform,” said Congressman Bishop. “Unfortunately, Republican leadership took legislation that should unite us and loaded it down with unrelated, divisive provisions that have little to do with military readiness or national security.”

The House-passed bill contains several provisions Congressman Bishop strongly supports, including a 5% to 7% military pay raise, improvements to military housing, childcare and education, and investments in munitions production, advanced technology, and the defense industrial base.

The legislation also includes provisions that could benefit Georgia’s military communities. It would prevent proposed service reductions at the 78th Medical Group at Robins Air Force Base, and it also authorizes investments in Army maneuver units, combat training centers, infantry weapons, next-generation combat vehicles, and short-range air defense capabilities that support the training and modernization missions carried out at Fort Benning.

Congressman Bishop also supported a bipartisan amendment included in the bill that removes the cap on the number of accrued leave days for which separating servicemembers may receive payment.

“These investments matter to military families throughout Middle and Southwest Georgia,” continued Congressman Bishop. “I support providing our troops with a well-earned pay raise, strengthening the readiness and modernization mission at Fort Benning, protecting access to health care at Robins Air Force Base, and ensuring servicemembers receive the compensation they have earned.

“However, House Republican leaders chose to combine the defense bill with the so-called SAVE America Act—unrelated election legislation that would prevent millions of American citizens from voting, along with poison-pill provisions that do nothing to improve readiness, strengthen our installations, or help military families. Their inclusion made this version of the bill impossible for me to support.

“I remain committed to working across the aisle to remove these objectionable provisions in the Senate in order to produce a responsible, bipartisan NDAA. As negotiations continue, I will fight to preserve the pay raise, quality-of-life improvements, Georgia installation priorities, and readiness investments while removing the unrelated political provisions that undermine the longstanding bipartisan tradition of the defense authorization process.”

Ultimately, the House and Senate must reconcile their respective versions of the FY2027 NDAA before final legislation can be sent to the President.

###",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-working-to-expand-market-access-for-georgia-forestry-and-timber-products/,Sen. Ossoff Working to Expand Market Access for Georgia Forestry and Timber Products,2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to expand market access for Georgia forestry and timber products into Europe.

Sen. Ossoff is launching an inquiry with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator Kelly Moore on the status of trade negotiations with the European Union (EU) that could open a major new market for Georgia forestry and timber products.

Sen. Ossoff is encouraging Secretary Rollins and Administrator Moore to help open EU markets to American exporters by supporting EU regulatory approval of US fumigation techniques and working to provide a timeline for EU reviewal of US products.

“Georgia is one of the largest producers and exporters of timber and forestry products, and expanding market access for Georgia forestry and timber products is vitally important to the state’s economy,” Sen. Ossoff wrote. “Expanding opportunities for our timber and forestry products in the EU has been a yearslong effort, and it is of the utmost importance to Georgia’s and the country’s forestry sector that we remain vigorous in these efforts.”

Sen. Ossoff continues working to support Georgia’s forestry and timber industries.

In July, Sen. Ossoff urged the USDA Risk Management Agency to ensure Georgia farmers and growers still struggling to recover from damage from high winds during Hurricane Helene receive the support they deserve.

In May, Sen. Ossoff introduced the Farm Disaster Tax Cut Act to provide eligible farmers with a tax cut after natural disasters, revenue losses, or pest outbreaks.

In 2025, Sen. Ossoff cosponsored the bipartisan Jobs in the Woods Act, legislation that would boost Georgia’s forestry industry by establishing a competitive grant program for forestry career training programs.

That same year, Sens. Ossoff and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act to help Georgia foresters recovering from pine beetle infestations.

Also in 2025, Sens. Ossoff and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the bipartisan Forest Data Modernization Act, which would modernize and improve the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis program to ensure reliable data is available to inform forest management decision making.

Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s full letter.

# # #",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-calls-for-community-protections-from-data-centers/,Warnock Calls for Community Protections from Data Centers,2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Warnock is calling for stronger protections for local communities impacted by the rapid growth of data centers as new data center expansion strains local water supplies

Senator Warnock’s letter comes amid reports that ChatGPT maker OpenAI plans to build “Project Camellia,” a $20 billion data center campus in Effingham County, just outside Savannah, GA

Georgia is the nation’s 6th largest data center hub with 230 facilities located across the state

Data center development in Georgia has been fueled by lucrative state tax incentives

In 2024, the Georgia General Assembly passed a two-year moratorium on the state’s data center tax exemption; that bill was vetoed by Governor Brian Kemp

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Small, rural communities have been left to negotiate on their own with multi-million-dollar corporations whose well-staffed legal teams may negotiate dozens of deals at a time”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) is calling for stronger protections for Georgia communities impacted by the rapid growth of data centers as new construction places increasing demands on the state’s water supplies. Georgia is the nation’s sixth-largest data center hub, with 230 facilities across the state. In a recent survey, 70% of Americans said they oppose constructing data centers for artificial intelligence (AI) in their local area. In a new letter, Senator Warnock calls on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue guidance and best practices to help local communities protect the long-term availability of safe, clean water amid the explosion of data center construction.

“Small, rural communities have been left to negotiate on their own with multi-million-dollar corporations whose well-staffed legal teams may negotiate dozens of deals at a time,” wrote Senator Warnock. “It is past time for the EPA to stand up on the side of our families, communities, and local municipalities as they navigate this new landscape.”

Senator Warnock’s letter comes amid reports that ChatGPT maker OpenAI plans to build “Project Camellia,” a $20 billion data center campus in Effingham County, just outside Savannah, GA. The new data center will require 3.2 gigawatts of power, nearly 70% of the energy produced by all four units at Plant Vogtle.

Data centers for AI and other digital use cases are consuming increasing amounts of energy and water in their communities. According to the Berkeley Lab, data centers directly consumed 17.4 billion gallons of water in 2023—a threefold increase since 2014. This volume is equivalent to the annual water use of roughly 160,000 U.S. households. Studies project that by 2030, data centers could withdraw 80-150 billion gallons of water and consume 60-110 billion gallons annually.

In July 2024, Senator Warnock fought against the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which rolled back financial incentives that spurred 51 new domestic energy projects in Georgia. The GOP legislation is expected to increase electricity spending by up to $110 per year.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

I write to express concern over the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) continued lack of support for public water systems and communities in Georgia as they navigate new water resource challenges posed by the rapid development of resource-intensive data centers. As the nation’s chief regulator responsible for ensuring the availability of safe and clean drinking water across the country, you have a solemn responsibility to ensure data centers are not sacrificing community water supplies under the guise of economic development. Under your leadership, however, the EPA has largely remained on the sidelines, leaving small and often under-resourced communities on their own as they negotiate on behalf of families against giant corporations seeking access to millions of gallons of community water resources per day to support the proliferation of data centers. I urge you to change course and immediately issue guidance and best practices to local communities on how to best protect the long-term availability of safe and clean water for ordinary people amid the explosion of data center construction.

Georgia has quickly become one of the nation’s largest data center hubs, with between 200 and 230 facilities already located across the state. Every estimate suggests this growth is set to continue. On July 22, 2026, OpenAI announced plans for a new data center in Effingham County that will require 3,200 megawatts of power, or over 66 percent of Plant Vogtle’s entire generating capacity. As new data centers are built, they place new demands on Georgia’s limited water resources. Meanwhile, the entire state has been engulfed in a historic drought, with 100 percent of Georgians experiencing severe to exceptional drought earlier this year for the first time in recorded history.

Alarmingly, some of these data centers have made unreasonable demands for water, pitting large corporations against under-resourced, often rural communities that, quite reasonably, want to promote economic development. One data center in Georgia went so far as to request 9 million gallons of water per day, enough to supply nearly 44,000 households or the entire population of the cities of Albany and Rome, Georgia combined.

Thankfully, the local community had the foresight and resources to negotiate this data center’s water withdrawals down to 300,000 gallons per day. Meanwhile, in Fayetteville, Georgia, a data center managed to use nearly 30 million gallons of water without paying for it, in part because it installed a water hookup without the knowledge of the local utility. One reason this data center managed to almost escape a $150,000 bill was because the local community was unaccustomed to large commercial projects of this nature, though the same cannot be said of the data center developer, which is owned by a private equity company and has revenues in the hundreds of millions.

The influx of data centers in Georgia during a record drought has been met with fierce skepticism across the state. Twenty-four cities and counties, ranging from urban DeKalb, Cobb, and Clayton to rural Monroe, Crawford, and Gordon, have adopted data center moratoria. Just south of Atlanta, residents in Coweta County are fighting to become only the third county in Georgia history to stage a referendum, this time in an effort to block the construction of a more than 800-acre data center campus. The reaction to the expansion of data centers in Georgia mirrors the rest of the country. Over 70 percent of Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their area, and many cite a data center’s strain on water and energy resources as a top concern.

Despite these overwhelming and urgent water concerns, the EPA has, at best, largely stood on the sidelines. Instead of focusing on its statutory mandate to ensure the availability of safe and clean drinking water by working closely with local communities to ensure the proliferation of data centers has not introduced new contaminants, stressors, or challenges for community water systems, the EPA has partnered with data center developers to issue guidance and regulations to help these large corporations avoid federal regulatory scrutiny.

As a result, small, rural communities have been left to negotiate on their own with multi-million-dollar corporations whose well-staffed legal teams may negotiate dozens of deals at a time. This pits communities against one another in a race to the bottom that ultimately may harm families.

It is past time for the EPA to stand up on the side of our families, communities, and local municipalities as they navigate this new landscape. I urge the EPA to immediately rectify this failure by collaborating with local governments, water utilities and planning organizations, data center developers, and other interested parties to publish best practices and other resources to help communities protect and preserve the nation’s water supplies while also enabling sustainable, long-term economic development. These resources should include recommended best practices to reduce or minimize data centers’ water consumption and maintain water quality during construction and operation.

In addition to a written response to this letter, please provide an in-person briefing on your progress to publish these resources to my office no later than four weeks after receipt of this letter.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-presses-u-s-trade-representative-on-the-impact-trumps-trade-policy-is-having-on-georgians/,Warnock Presses U.S. Trade Representative on the Impact Trump’s Trade Policy Is Having on Georgians,2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Warnock pressed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on how the Trump administration’s trade policies are affecting Georgia families already struggling with rising costs

90% of the costs from Donald Trump’s tariffs have fallen on American consumers and businesses

Senator Warnock: “You and the president still seem to be in denial that tariffs have raised prices—a fact that study after study confirms and that is just basic common sense”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee’s International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness Subcommittee, pressed U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer on how the Trump administration’s trade policies are affecting Georgia families already struggling with rising costs. Greer’s appearance before the committee comes as President Trump threatens new tariffs amid a worsening affordability crisis.

“You and the president still seem to be in denial that tariffs have raised prices—a fact that study after study confirms and that is just basic common sense,” said Senator Warnock.

President Trump’s reckless tariff strategy has already cost American households more than $1,000 dollars in 2025 and is estimated to cost them another $1,300 this year because of higher prices for groceries and gasoline. An analysis conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that 90% of the costs from President Trump’s tariffs have been paid by American consumers and businesses.

In previous Senate Finance Committee hearings, Senator Warnock has pushed Ambassador Greer for assurances that investments in Georgia’s economy would remain a priority at USTR. Senator Warnock has long demanded that Ambassador Greer consider the devastating economic toll of the Trump administration’s tariff policies on American families already struggling amid the affordability crisis.

Watch the Senator’s full remarks HERE

See below a transcript of Wednesday’s hearing exchange

Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): “Thank you, Chair Crapo.

“Donald Trump promised, ‘on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again.’ Instead, he’s made life more expensive for everybody. That’s even before his illegal war of choice sent energy prices through the roof. According to the Tax Foundation, Trump’s tariffs cost households $1,000 last year, and will cost them another $1,300 this year. The New York Fed found that in 2025, 90 percent of the economic burden from the tariffs were ultimately paid by American consumers and businesses, and a separate Fed study concluded what Americans already know just by going to the grocery store. The tariffs raised prices for families and contributed to core inflation.

“Welcome, Ambassador Greer. Despite this mountain of evidence, you and the president still seem to be in denial that tariffs have raised prices—a fact that study after study confirms, and it’s just basic common sense. Everybody sees it; we’re feeling it.

“So, here’s my question: Has the USTR ever produced any rigorous peer-evaluated study refuting the fact that the president’s tariffs have contributed to inflation, or is your rebuttal to these conclusions just based on vibes, people’s feelings, politics?”

Ambassador Jamieson Greer (JG): “So, no, we don’t do vibes, Senator. So, the Council on Economic Advisers, they’ve done analyzes. We have seen, in fact, in the last month, inflation drop by 0.4 percent, core goods to 2.6 percent. Quite a contrast under Biden time with 9 percent inflation. Eggs have gone down by 28 percent year on year.”

SRW: “My question…”

JG: “Do you want the data, sir?”

SRW: “Yeah, I want an answer to my actual question.”

JG: “Well, I have data. I am trying to give it to you.”

SRW: “My question is: Have you ever produced a peer-evaluated study refuting this evidence?”

JG: “I literally have the data I’m prepared to read to you from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has serious economists. Year on year, the price of eggs has gone down 28 percent. Smartphones have gone down 12 percent. Butter has gone down 8.7 percent.”

SRW: “That’s not my question.”

JG: “I thought you wanted to know about the prices. They’re down.”

SRW: “That’s not my question. The point is, is that tariffs contributed to inflation. Prices are higher than they were when the president came into office, and tariffs made it worse. People all over Georgia know that, businesses know that. And I’m asking you, I guess the answer to that is no. There’s no peer evaluated rigorous study refuting this, giving me item by item what the price of eggs is doesn’t take seriously the situation.”

JG: “That’s what Americans care about. They care about these prices, and they’re down.”

SRW: “So, how about this? Within 60 days, will the USTR—since you seem convinced that this is working and that tariffs have not driven up inflation—can you produce a formal, rigorous study, say within the next 60 days, that disproves what all Americans and economists believe to be true about the clear link between these tariffs and price increases? Can you produce that?”

JG: “Sir, we have substantial data we’ll provide for you. I’m happy to sit with you and talk about this because I don’t think a five-minute colloquy does it justice. I’m happy to come and talk to you. Everything in the grocery cart comes from America produced here or Canada-Mexico duty-free.”

SRW: “So let’s move on to one of the president’s claims. He implemented these tariffs to create what he promised would be a ‘manufacturing boom.’ Meanwhile, we’ve lost at least 75,000 manufacturing jobs since this president has taken office. How many net manufacturing jobs should we expect to see created by the end of this term because of these tariffs? Keep in mind that we’re already at a net negative of 75,000.”

JG: “So, in terms of data, so this year in 2026 we’ve had an average increase per month of 3,000 manufacturing jobs. In 2024, last year of Biden, there was a negative 15,000 jobs on average per month lost. So, we’re already we’ve righted the ship on this, and now we’re in positive territory, which is where we want to be.”

SRW: “How much of that construction is due to data centers?”

JG: “You want to talk about construction now? Okay. So, factory construction has gone up. The employment in factory construction has gone up to 83,000 which is a huge benefit for our construction. A lot of this factory, some is for computing, some is for data, things that that can…”

SRW: “So, do you expect to be at a net positive by 2030? Because right now, we’re at a net negative.”

JG: “Yes, because after COVID, manufacturing jobs went back up as one would expect when the economy opened back up, and then it plummeted. By 220,000 jobs under Biden, we stabilized it last year. Now we’re net positive again. So, I expect that trend to continue if these policies continue.”

SRW: “We’re out of time, brother. Chair, let me just say why this is important. I’m talking to business leaders all across Georgia, talking to consumers. One example is a company where they’ve had to lay off folks because they need a special type of steel that we don’t make, and that steel is now subject to a 50 percent tariff. I could go on and on. I’m all for manufacturing jobs, but these tariffs are raising costs, and everybody seems to know that except the Trump administration. Thank you.”

###",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnocks-35-insulin-cap-voted-out-of-committee-heads-to-senate-floor/,"Warnock’s $35 Insulin Cap Voted Out of Committee, Heads to Senate Floor",2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"The INSULIN Act of 2026, which caps out-of-pocket costs of insulin at $35 a month for private insurance users and ensures access to affordable insulin for uninsured diabetics, passed out of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee with bipartisan support

Over 12%of Georgia’s population has diabetes, and tens of thousands more remain undiagnosed

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, legislation led by U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) titled the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act of 2026 passed out of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee with bipartisan support. The INSULIN Act of 2026 legislation caps out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month for private insurance holders across the country and helps ensure uninsured diabetics have access to insulin that is $35 or less. The bipartisan bill builds on Senator Warnock’s legislation that capped insulin costs for seniors and was signed into law in 2022. This legislation, co-led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Susan Collins (R-ME), now heads to the Senate floor for a vote.

The INSULIN Act of 2026 includes a Senator Warnock-negotiated provision that would establish a 10-state pilot grant program that awards funding to community health centers to help provide affordable insulin to uninsured patients and get them connected to care. The legislation also establishes an insulin resource center and hotline to help connect uninsured people with diabetes to resources they need to obtain insulin.

“After years of effort, my bill to cap insulin at $35 a month for everyone is one step closer to becoming law,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “No one should be forced to put their health or life in danger because they can’t afford insulin or don’t know where to get it.”

Senator Warnock has long been a champion of lowering insulin costs for Georgians since joining the Senate. Since 2022, Senator Warnock has introduced legislation each Congress to lower insulin costs and help make prescription drug prices more affordable for Georgians. He first spearheaded legislation that was included in the Inflation Reduction Act and capped insulin costs for seniors at $35 per month. In 2023, Senators Warnock and Kennedy introduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act of 2023, to cap the cost of insulin for everyone who needs it at $35. Later in 2023, Warnock and Kennedy released a report analyzing county-level data across the country to examine counties with both high rates of uninsured people and high rates of diabetes — which the Senators termed “Insulin Deserts”.

Costs to treat diabetes have continued to rise for many Americans. According to the Health Care Costs Institute, insulin prices nearly doubled from 2012 to 2021, with the average price for a 30-day supply of insulin increasing from $271 to $499 during that span. According to the American Diabetes Association, medical costs and lost work and wages for people with diagnosed diabetes total $412.9 billion each year, and has asserted that diabetics account for $1 of every $4 spent on health care in the U.S.

Cosponsors of the Insulin Act of 2026 include Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Angus King (I-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jim Justice (R-WV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jim Banks (R-IN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), David McCormick (R-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Mark Warner (D-VA).

Read full text of the bill HERE

###",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-scott-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-support-young-parents-in-foster-care/,"Warnock, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Young Parents in Foster Care",2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"The Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act provides necessary resources for healthy pregnancies, stable parenting, and successful transitions into adulthood

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Together, we are putting foster youth front and center by expanding access to the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program through Chafee and providing the resources they and their children need to build brighter, more secure futures”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the bipartisan Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act, legislation that would help young parents in the foster care system access the resources they need for healthy pregnancies, stable parenting, and a successful transition into adulthood.

“Too many vulnerable youth in our foster care system are forced to contend with early parenthood while facing the complexities of the foster care system,” said Senator Warnock. “That is why I am proud to partner with Senator Scott on this crucial bill. Together, we are putting foster youth front and center by expanding access to the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program through Chafee and providing the resources they and their children need to build brighter, more secure futures.”

“Every child deserves the key to opportunity no matter his or her walk of life,” said Senator Scott. “I am proud to introduce the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act, which ensures young parents from the foster care system can create stable homes for themselves and their children. By investing in these young parents and providing them with ample resources, we are strengthening families, investing in America’s future, and ensuring the door to opportunity remains open for all.”

The Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act would improve coordination between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood and the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV). The bill would require states to have process in place to provide eligible foster youth who are expecting or parenting information about services that can improve maternal health, child development, parenting skills, and long-term family stability.

Senator Warnock has long championed legislation to help protect mothers and improve outcomes for families. The senator previously introduced the Kira Johnson Act, a bill to provide funding to community-based organizations leading the charge to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black women. In November 2023, Senator Warnock introduced legislation that would help keep kids out of foster care and promote healthy families by creating an alternative to incarceration for eligible parents and caregivers.

###",1,2026-07-28T07:37:32Z,2026-07-28T07:38:50Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-slams-hud-for-curtailing-fair-housing-enforcement/,Warnock Slams HUD for Curtailing Fair Housing Enforcement,2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Warnock questioned Housing and Urban Development Acting Chief Financial Officer Irving Dennis over HUD’s refusal to distribute fair housing grants

Earlier this month, HUD announced sweeping changes to a federal grant program that supports fair housing efforts

The decision makes it more difficult to identify and adequately investigate violations of housing discrimination, and provide relief for Americans

Senator Reverend Warnock has championed bipartisan legislation to boost housing supply by cutting red tape, investing in local innovation, and reforming legacy housing programs

Senator Reverend Warnock: “HUD is reserving zero dollars for these organizations that are actually experienced in addressing these issues around fair housing”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee’s Economic Policy Subcommittee, questioned Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Acting Chief Financial Officer Irving Dennis over HUD’s decision to drastically reduce the number of fair housing grants and deliberately exclude experienced fair housing organizations from the latest round of funding. Earlier this month, HUD announced sweeping changes to a federal grant program that supports fair housing efforts and stopped distributing funds to non-profit organizations that investigate and address housing discrimination.

“HUD is reserving zero dollars for these organizations that are actually experienced in addressing these issues around fair housing,” said Senator Warnock. “They’re the first line of defense; they’re the ones who see it, and none of them will receive anything. How is this consistent with the law, which requires funds to be made available to experienced non-profit, fair housing enforcement organizations?”

Experienced non-profit organizations are often the primary enforces of fair housing protections for Americans facing housing instability, including people with disabilities, seniors, and veterans. Three in four housing discrimination complaints are first handled by these organizations, yet they rely on federal funding to investigate complaints and educate renters about their rights. HUD’s decision to gut the congressionally authorized grant program that supports these efforts will have a devastating impact on Georgians already being squeezed by the ongoing affordability crisis.

Since coming to the Senate, Senator Warnock has worked to expand access to affordable housing and promote a fairer housing market. In July, Senator Warnock secured the inclusion of his provision to ban private equity firms from mass purchasing single-family homes in 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the largest housing reform and affordability legislation in a generation. The housing package also included the Senator’s Appraisal Modernization Act, a provision to combat appraisal bias. It is the only fair housing provision included in the legislation.

Watch the Senator’s full remarks HERE

See below for a transcript of Thursday’s hearing exchange

Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): “The Fair Housing initiative program helps local governments and nonprofit organizations enforce the nation’s fair housing laws. In fact, nearly three in four fair housing complaints are first heard by these organizations, which use federal funds to investigate complaints and conduct education about renters’ rights.

“Mr. Dennis, you are nominated to be the Chief Financial Officer at HUD, but you are basically doing the job right now. I would imagine you are aware that HUD recently announced they are making $83 million available under this fair housing initiative. How many of these dollars will go to these experienced non-profits who help so many Americans with their fair housing complaints?”

Acting HUD CFO Irving Dennis (ID): “I’m not sure how those dollars will flow. That is a program decision within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. We’re responsible for making sure the funds are available and properly accounted for once they leave HUD and reported.”

SRW: “Let me tell you the answer is zero. HUD does not reserve funding for these organizations, and it explicitly disqualified prior recipients from certain funds. So, HUD is reserving zero dollars for these organizations that are actually experienced in addressing these issues around fair housing. They’re the first line of defense; they’re the ones who see it, and none of them will receive anything.

“How is this consistent with the law, which requires funds to be made available to experienced non-profit, fair housing enforcement organizations?”

ID: “Again, these are program decisions, and they are done in consultation with general counsel. I assure you that we are following the law; we will not do anything to violate the law.”

SRW: “I assure you that it’s not consistent with the law, and it’s bad practice. To just disqualify the organization that is actually experienced with doing this work. I hope you will rethink this if confirmed to this position.”

###",1,2026-08-01T07:27:26Z,2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-introduces-bill-to-make-the-ballot-box-more-accessible,Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Bill to Make the Ballot Box More Accessible,2026-07-22,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"New legislation would ensure voters have access to a polling location in their area for federal elections.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Polling Place Standards Act that would provide a minimum number of polling places for voters to cast a ballot in an election for Federal office and to ensure that such polling places are not concentrated in a specific area, and for other purposes.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“Voting is a constitutional right, and no one should have to wait for hours or travel miles just to cast a ballot. Yet for decades, polling place closures have been used to make voting harder and silence communities.

As Trump and his allies continue trying to undermine our democracy ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Congress must ensure every eligible voter has a fair opportunity to cast a ballot and have their voice heard. That’s why I’m introducing the Polling Place Standards Act to establish a national standard to polling place access ensuring where you live never determines whether you can exercise your constitutional right to vote.”

The bill is endorsed by Democracy Defenders Action.

What the Bill Does

The Protecting American Homes from Hedge Funds Act would require states and local governments to provide 1 polling place or vote center (a polling place that accepts a ballot cast for a Federal Election from any voter regardless of the precinct of such voter), for every 2000 registered voters.

This formula allows for a clear standard across the country, in rural and urban areas alike. And these new polling places would be required to be located in geographically diverse areas and not be concentrated in a certain part of a locality.

Click here to read the text of the Polling Place Standards Act.",1,2026-07-23T07:31:02Z,2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-warnock-effort-irs-increases-mileage-reimbursement-rate/,"Following Warnock Effort, IRS Increases Mileage Reimbursement Rate",2026-07-22,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Last month, Senator Reverend Warnock urged the Internal Revenue Service to increase the standard mileage reimbursement rate and give a bigger tax deduction to Georgia’s gig workers and independent contractors

This adjustment benefits millions of independent contractors and gig workers who often drive thousands of miles a year for work

The average gas price in Georgia is $3.77 a gallon, largely resulting from President Trump’s Iran War

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) secured a mid-year adjustment to the 2026 optional standard business mileage reimbursement rate after pressuring U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano last month. The Senator made the request after hearing directly from Georgia workers suffocated by the high price of gas.

“I’m pleased that my efforts will provide relief to the millions of Americans who’ve been squeezed by the surge in gas prices,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I will continue to focus on making the livelihoods of hardworking Georgians a little better. If the President wants to fix the problems at the pump, he should end this illegal war with Iran”

In a July 13 bulletin, the IRS announced that the standard mileage rate will increase by 3.5 cents per mile to 76 cents for the optional mileage rate for automobiles driven for business. The new rates will apply on or after July 1, 2026, and will be reflected on 2026 federal income tax returns filed next year.

The price of gas has risen exponentially since President Trump began the war in Iran just over 140 days ago. In January 2026, when the current mileage reimbursement was set, the average retail cost of gasoline nationally was $2.93 a gallon. By May 2026, the cost rose to $4.60 per gallon, placing a significant burden on small business owners and workers.

The IRS is authorized to set the standard business mileage rate every year. In years past, the IRS has made mid-year adjustments to the mileage rate, including in 2005, 2008, and 2011, when higher business, medical, and moving rates were applied mid-year “in recognition of recent gasoline price increases.” In 2022, the IRS made a mid-year adjustment to mileage rates due to “recent increases in the cost of fuel.”

###",1,2026-07-23T07:31:02Z,2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-unveils-comprehensive-plan-to-protect-and-expand-voting-rights-in-america/,Warnock Unveils Comprehensive Plan to Protect and Expand Voting Rights in America,2026-07-22,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"In a new framework released today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock called for Congress to investigate state politicians who rushed to gerrymander maps and eliminate Black majority districts following the Supreme Court’s Callais decision

The investigations would seek to determine if lawmakers illegally discriminated based on race when drawing Congressional maps

The Senator’s plan also includes a nationwide ban on partisan gerrymandering, stopping billionaires from buying our elections, and guaranteeing the right to vote for all Americans

ICYMI from ABC News: Sen. Warnock urges Democrats to investigate officials who redrew maps

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Voting rights are preservative of all other rights. They are the context in which all other debates take place. Democracy is the very house we live in. It is the whole game.”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), one of the Senate’s leading advocates for voting rights, today unveiled a comprehensive policy agenda to repair and strengthen American democracy in the wake of escalating attacks on the right to vote.

In this new policy paper, Senator Warnock argues that Congress must launch investigations into state politicians who redrew the maps after the Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act earlier this year.

“Across the Deep South, partisan actors have manipulated their maps to silence the voices of Black voters. Their names and stories are virtually unknown across the country, and that is one way they escape accountability,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.

“Even this Supreme Court has made clear that intentional racial discrimination remains illegal. We owe it to voters to root out whether any illegal actions or discrimination occurred,” added the Senator.

Senator Warnock’s plan outlines actions Congress should take in the short, medium, and long term. The plan includes:

Launch Congressional investigations into state politicians who have manipulated maps to silence voters’ voices after the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v Callais. Determine if there is any evidence that these officials broke any laws in their race to gerrymander and silence Black voices.

Ban partisan gerrymandering nationwide. If some partisan Republicans refuse to ban this egregious practice, we should put them on record, and we must make them explain why on the floor of Congress and to the American people.

Stop billionaires from buying our elections. We need billionaires to spend less on elections and more in taxes.

Expand American democracy. Grant statehood to the District of Columbia and self-determination for U.S. territories.

Amend the Constitution. Enshrine the fundamental right to vote once and for all.

Senator Warnock also framed the push as a call to action for his colleagues in Congress and in the Democratic Party to urgently prioritize the issue of voting rights saying, “No more excuses: As soon as Democrats hold a trifecta, protecting voting rights must be at the top of the agenda.”

He also argues that fixing voting rights is a critical step towards addressing affordability and the cost of living saying, “Voting rights are preservative of all other rights. So even as we talk about affordability, as we talk about growing wealth inequality, billionaires getting tax cuts while everyday people can barely afford their lives, all of that brokenness reflects the brokenness of the democracy itself. We have to repair it, and we have to do so with urgency.”

Read the full plan HERE.

###",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://mcbath.house.gov/2026/07/21/rep-lucy-mcbath-announces-cobbworks-inc-will-receive-1-5-million-department-of-labor-grant/,"Rep. Lucy McBath Announces CobbWorks, Inc. Will Receive $1.5 Million Department of Labor Grant",2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,GA,Lucy McBath,M001208,mcbath.house.gov,mcbath,https://mcbath.house.gov/category/press-releases/,scraper,"Atlanta, GA — Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) announced that CobbWorks, Inc. will be the recipient of a $1.5 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild program. This training program will be implemented in partnership with Construction Ready as the primary construction training provider and Cobb Adult Education as the education and GED preparation provider. In February, McBath wrote a letter to Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer in support of CobbWorks’ application.

“Today’s grant announcement is a reaffirmation of the transformational impact CobbWorks has on young jobseekers in our community,” said Rep. McBath. “I was proud to voice my support for this collaborative grant application, and I look forward to seeing how CobbWorks uses this investment to expand upon their mission. So much of my work in Washington focuses on making sure that every Georgian can get a good job and keep it. I look forward to continuing to do my part at the federal level.”

“We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Lucy McBath for her unwavering support in securing this YouthBuild grant,” said Sonya Grant, Executive Director, President, and CEO of CobbWorks. “This investment represents more than funding, it is a commitment to the future of our young people and the strength of our community. Through this program, we will expand access to hands-on training, education, and career pathways for youth who need it most, helping them build sustainable, in-demand careers. The impact will be felt not only in the lives of participants, but across our local economy—strengthening our workforce, supporting business growth, and advancing economic development throughout Cobb County and beyond.”

“This grant is a significant step forward empowering our youth and enhancing workforce development in Cobb County,” said Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid. “I want to express my deep gratitude to Congresswoman Lucy McBath for her generous support in making this funding a reality. CobbWorks has a proven track record of connecting individuals with the skills they need to succeed in today’s job market, and I am excited to see the positive impact this funding will have on our community.”",1,2026-07-22T07:34:13Z,2026-07-22T07:35:16Z
https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/posts/congresswoman-nikema-williams-statement-on-republicans-proposed-blank-check-to-ice,Congresswoman Nikema Williams’ Statement on Republicans’ Proposed Blank Check to ICE,2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,GA,Nikema Williams,W000788,nikemawilliams.house.gov,nikemawilliams,https://nikemawilliams.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement on the latest Continuing Resolution by House Republicans that could continue funding Trump’s lawless Border Patrol and ICE:

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said:

“Trump’s violent ICE operations continue to terrorize communities, and families are living in fear after ICE’s latest deadly shootings. Instead of demanding accountability, House Republicans want to hand Border Patrol and ICE a blank check.

I won’t vote to fund Trump’s campaign of fear and violence. Not one penny.”",1,2026-07-22T07:34:13Z,2026-07-22T07:35:16Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-colleagues-demand-more-fema-assistance-for-wildfire-prevention-and-response/,"Warnock, Colleagues Demand More FEMA Assistance for Wildfire Prevention and Response",2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"In a new letter, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock joined his Senate colleagues in demanding more assistance from FEMA for wildfire prevention and response

Senator Reverend Warnock and colleagues: “It is imperative that FEMA helps communities quickly respond to wildfires and increase their resilience to future wildfire disasters”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined eight of his Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that all communities receive the federal resources they need to prevent and respond to wildfires. An analysis conducted by the Joint Economic Committee found that the annual economic burden of wildfires on the U.S. economy ranges from $394 billion to $893 billion, often forcing states to bear the brunt of disaster response and recovery costs.

Currently, states can request financial assistance from FEMA through Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) to help cover emergency-related costs, firefighting activities, and administrative expenses. After an FMAG is declared, states can request assistance to help impacted communities rebuild and mitigate future wildfire disasters through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire. However, many communities are still waiting for HMGP Post Fire funds from previous wildfires, leaving them vulnerable to current and future disasters.

“Unfortunately, over 3.1 million acres have already burned across the country since the beginning of this year, which is the second largest number of acres burned in a January to July period in the past 10 years,” wrote Senator Warnock, colleagues. “Given these recent fires, the persistent drought across multiple states, and the expected above normal wildfire activity, it is imperative that FEMA helps communities quickly respond to wildfires and increase their resilience to future wildfire disasters.”

Earlier this year, Georgia experienced the two most destructive fires in the state’s history, the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch and Echols County and the Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County. Together these fires burned over 50,000 acres, cost the state of Georgia $35 million, and destroyed 110 homes. Comprehensive and timely FEMA assistance is vital to ensuring Georgians have the adequate resources to recover from the devastating effects of these wildfires.

Senator Warnock has consistently worked to provide and strengthen federal support for communities affected by natural disasters. In March 2026, Senator Warnock secured over $531 million in federal disaster aid for Georgia farmers who were affected by Hurricane Helene. In April 2025, Senator Warnock championed legislation that provided tax relief to victims of the South Georgia wildfires.

Senator Warnock was joined by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Mr. Fenton:

Wildfires are one of the most frequently recurring disasters that, while once common only to western states, have recently become a major threat to communities across the country. The Canadian wildfires in 2023 and 2024 produced smoke and harmful air pollutants that were dispersed across the eastern United States. In 2024 and 2025, the Cottonwood Peak wildfire in Nevada, the Smokehouse Creek wildfire in Texas and Oklahoma, and the Los Angeles wildfires in California burned millions of acres across the west. 2024 also proved to be the worst wildfire season in Oregon, and in 2026, Georgia faced the most destructive fire in the state’s history. These wildfires can be lethal and destroy critical infrastructure and entire residential communities, negatively affect public health through harmful smoke and air pollutants, and place large economic burdens on urban and rural communities.

Unfortunately, over 3.1 million acres have already burned across the country since the beginning of this year, which is the second largest number of acres burned in a January to July period in the past 10 years. According to the National Interagency Fire Center’s July National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook report, western and southeastern states are forecasted to experience above normal wildfire activity this summer as major drought conditions continue to persist. Given these recent fires, the persistent drought across multiple states, and the expected above normal wildfire activity, it is imperative that FEMA helps communities quickly respond to wildfires and increase their resilience to future wildfire disasters.

Fortunately, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) to help communities manage and control wildfire disasters. There were 67 FMAG declarations in fiscal year 2025 alone, which shows how valuable these grants are to helping communities combat wildfires. Therefore, FMAGs must continue to be available to all communities, especially for rural communities, as we prepare to enter the upcoming wildfire season.

Communities can also increase their resilience after a wildfire disaster by participating in FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire (HMGP Post Fire) for FMAG declarations, which helps develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild in ways that reduce future disaster impacts. For example, in Nevada, HMGP Post Fire grants are primarily used for hazardous fuels mitigation in and around their communities with the intent of decreasing future wildland fire effects. However, we are very concerned that many states in 2025 and 2026 were not awarded HMGP Post Fire funding after an FMAG declaration. In fact, since March 18, 2025, HMGP has not been approved for any major disaster declaration. Additionally, a leaked memo from FEMA to the Office of Management and Budget from April 2025 suggested not automatically approving HMGP, and the recently released FEMA Review Council Report recommends replacing HMGP with a two-phase funding structure. These actions make the future of HMGP uncertain and leave communities without access to this critical funding.

As we approach the summer months and prepare for above normal wildfire activity, we urge you to ensure FEMA can quickly respond to future wildfires and that FMAG and HMGP Post Fire funds are promptly approved and distributed to communities, including those in rural areas. We appreciate that FEMA recently started dispersing some HMGP funds to projects that were approved as far back as 2020. However, while addressing the backlog of HMGP projects is important, we urge you to ensure that more recent HMGP and HMGP Post Fire requests are also promptly reviewed and funds disbursed so that communities can prepare for future disasters. In addition, we request responses to the following questions by no later than July 31, 2026:

1. How does FEMA plan to ensure that it can promptly review and approve FMAG funds to provide vital assistance to communities during the upcoming wildfire season? Does FEMA’s plan include the recommendations provided by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding FMAG implementation, many of which FEMA concurred with and committed to finalizing?

2. Rural communities are no stranger to large and catastrophic wildland fires that place large economic impacts on local industries, but rural communities are rarely eligible for these programs because of low population densities. Considering that wildfires often start in rural areas and then expand into areas with higher population densities, mitigation efforts in rural areas may help protect the higher populated areas. How is FEMA addressing any potential eligibility barriers that impact rural communities and may prevent them from accessing FMAG assistance?

3. From March 2025 to June 2026, how many HMGP requests did President Trump or the FEMA Administrator approve or deny? For requests that were denied, what were the reasons?

4. From March 2025 to June 2026, how many HMGP Post Fire requests did FEMA or FEMA Regional Administrators approve or deny, and for what reasons were these decisions made? Are FEMA Regional Administrators still empowered to approve HMGP Post Fire grants?

5. General feedback from state and local entities is that HMGP Post Fire, while amazing in concept, is rarely used because it is known to be an extremely cumbersome and bureaucratic process with limited and lengthy results. With this perception in mind, how many FMAGs have been approved since 2020 without a corresponding HMGP Post Fire application submitted?

6. Many state and local agencies have waited multiple years for approval to start work, and multiple years for reimbursement for work approved and performed under HMGP Post Fire. From January 2020 to June 2026, what is the total dollar amount of HMGP Post Fire funds waiting to be reimbursed to state agencies?

7. What has caused or is causing FEMA to delay or not disperse HMGP and HMGP Post Fire funds, and how are these issues being addressed? Does FEMA plan to include the GAO’s recommendation to provide assistance for immediate post-wildfire mitigation, which is necessary to prevent post-wildfire flooding, erosion, and debris flows?

8. Has the policy or practice for approving HMGP and HMGP Post Fire requests changed at all in the past 18 months? If so, please provide justification for the changes.

9. With HMGP’s future seemingly uncertain, what are FEMA’s plans for this program and how will the agency keep Congress informed on its status?

We look forward to your swift response and working with FEMA to ensure the safety of all Americans from wildfire disasters. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-07-22T07:34:13Z,2026-07-22T07:35:16Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/sen-ossoff-statement-on-4-servicemembers-killed-in-action-in-iran/,Sen. Ossoff Statement on 4 Servicemembers Killed in Action in Iran,2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election.

Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here.",1,2026-07-23T07:31:02Z,2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-johnson-introduces-historic-bill-prevent-judges-justices,"Congressman Johnson Introduces Historic Bill To Prevent Judges, Justices From Trading Stocks",2026-07-20,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,GA,"Henry C. ""Hank"" Johnson, Jr.",J000288,hankjohnson.house.gov,hankjohnson,https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Johnson leads House effort requiring judges and justices to place financial assets into blind trusts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced The Justice is BLIND Act, which would prevent judicial conflicts of interest by requiring federal judges and Supreme Court justices to place their financial assets into blind trusts.

Under this bill, all federal judges, Supreme Court justices, magistrate judges, and bankruptcy judges, as well as their spouses and dependent children, must place covered financial interests into a qualified blind trust within 90 days of enactment or being sworn into office. Judges must provide a written compliance attestation within 15 days of establishing the trust, which the Administrative Office of the United States Courts will publish on a searchable public database.

In the Senate, this legislation is led by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and is co-sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). In the House, the bill is cosponsored by Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), and Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03).

“Transparency and accountability are at the heart of the public’s trust in government,” said Rep. Johnson, Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet. “Americans deserve to know that officials in every branch of government — including the judiciary — are acting honorably and in the interest of the people, not their bank accounts. The Justice is BLIND Act would go a long way in preventing any conflicts of interest that might arise and help restore trust in our judiciary by requiring judges and justices to place their financial assets in blind trusts.”

“The federal judicial system is desperately in need of reform to prevent further ethical lapses. The Supreme Court, and our federal judiciary at large, must be held to the highest standards, but time after time, judges have engaged in troubling acts, putting personal interests above the law and Constitution. I have long called for necessary reforms to regain trust in our system. We must hold judges to the same ethical standards as other federal officials, enhance transparency within the court system, and ensure cases are decided based on merit, not profits. Americans deserve nothing less,” said Senator Schiff.

In the wake of an unprecedented Supreme Court term defined by historic rollbacks of the Voting Rights Act and other democratic guardrails, Johnson is supporting a legislative package that includes bills to restore faith in the federal judiciary and address abuses of power, including by Supreme Court Justices. The bills would apply conflict of interest ethical standards to federal judges and Justices, and require judges and Justices to place financial assets into blind trusts.

Background:

A steady stream of alarming revelations in recent years has severely undermined public faith in the independence and integrity of the federal judiciary, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Investigative reports have uncovered a pervasive culture of undisclosed luxury gifts and glaring conflicts of interest, all while Justices refuse to recuse themselves from major cases tied directly to their benefactors' financial or political advantage.

To regain the American people’s trust in our courts, Congress must pass rigorous, binding statutory guardrails that ensure no federal judge can operate above the ethical standards expected of other public servants.

Read The Justice is BLIND Act: here

Ranking member Johnson’s slate of court reform legislation include: The Judiciary Act: Expands SCOTUS to make it more responsive to our growing country; The Supreme Court Ethics Act: Requires justices follow a binding code of ethics; The Judicial Accountability Act: Requires courts to protect their employees from workplace harassment; The 21st Century Courts Act: Enhances accountability & transparency of the federal judiciary by instituting a comprehensive suite of reforms & modernizes our courts for the 21st century; District Court Judgeships Act: Alleviates case backlog by creating 203 new district court judgeships; AMICUS Act: Brings transparency to amicus-based judicial lobbying for the first time; Open Courts Act: Modernizes the federal judiciary’s court records system (called CM/ECF) & makes court records freely available to the public (PACER); The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act: Requires justices of the Supreme Court to adopt and follow a code of ethics, places transparency standards on gifts and travel, codifies recusal standards and requires the court to disclose lobbying and dark money interests before it; The Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act: Would establish term limits for Supreme Court justices while preserving constitutional protections for judicial independence in decision making.

###",1,2026-07-21T07:32:02Z,2026-07-21T07:33:33Z
https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/amidst-cyclospora-parasite-outbreak-sen-ossoff-slams-hhs-secretary-kennedy-for-canceling-cdcs-monitoring-of-cyclosporiasis-parasite/,"Amidst Cyclospora Parasite Outbreak, Sen. Ossoff Slams HHS Secretary Kennedy for Canceling CDC’s Monitoring of Cyclosporiasis Parasite",2026-07-20,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Jon Ossoff,O000174,www.ossoff.senate.gov,ossoff,https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Amidst the current parasite outbreak, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is slamming HHS Secretary Kennedy for canceling the CDC’s required surveillance of the Cyclosporiasis parasite.

In a new letter, Sen. Ossoff slammed U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for terminating the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) surveillance of Cyclospora cayetanensis, the parasite responsible for cyclosporiasis.

According to recent reports, cyclosporiasis has been identified in more than 1,600 confirmed cases, with more than 100 people hospitalized and thousands of cases being investigated across 34 states, including Georgia.

“Last year, you terminated the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) required surveillance of Cyclospora cayetanensis, the parasite responsible for cyclosporiasis. And now a cyclosporiasis outbreak sweeps the nation,” Sen. Ossoff wrote to HHS Secretary RFK Jr.“Your foolish and self-indulgent demolition of critical public health programs puts Americans at risk. The Trump Administration is actively undermining food safety.”

Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect public health, the CDC, and its workforce.

In April, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock demanded answers from HHS Secretary RFK Jr. after reports that the CDC Atlanta Campus is still in need of repairs and improvements following last year’s shooting.

In March, Sen. Ossoff worked with Republicans and Democrats to ensure the CDC receives crucial funding to protect the American people, successfully defeating the Trump Administration’s proposed 50% cut in funding for the CDC in the FY26 budget.

Last October, Sen. Ossoff led Georgia’s Democratic Congressional Delegation in calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to answer for the chaos and disruption at the CDC that has marked his tenure, including the firings of CDC employees.

Last June, Sen. Ossoff spoke in the Appropriations Committee markup of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education funding bill about bipartisan efforts to protect the CDC.

Also in June, Sen. Ossoff demanded answers from the Trump Administration following an NPR report that the CDC Program to prevent fentanyl overdoses had been frozen.

In 2025, Sen. Ossoff and other members of Congress demanded that the Trump Administration provide answers on the reported shutdown of a critical Maternal Health data system at the CDC.

Click here to read Sens. Ossoff’s inquiry.

# # #",1,2026-07-21T07:32:02Z,2026-07-21T07:33:33Z
https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-warnock-atlanta-mayor-dickens-councilmember-boone-celebrate-warnock-led-provision-that-will-keep-homes-in-the-hands-of-georgia-families/,"ICYMI: Warnock, Atlanta Mayor Dickens, Councilmember Boone Celebrate Warnock-Led Provision That Will Keep Homes in the Hands of Georgia Families",2026-07-20,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,GA,Raphael G. Warnock,W000790,www.warnock.senate.gov,warnock,https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock’s provision to ban large corporations from mass purchasing single-family homes is federal law

The provision is part of the historic 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the largest housing reform and affordability legislation in a generation

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Housing is dignity, housing is stability, housing is hope”

Atlanta, GA – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) held a press conference in the Adamsville neighborhood of Atlanta with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta City District 10 Councilmember Andrea Boone, and prospective first-time homebuyer Jacob Parcel to celebrate the enactment of Senator Warnock’s landmark provision prohibiting private equity firms from mass-purchasing single-family homes.

The provision, and many other provisions championed by Senator Reverend Warnock, are included in the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, thelargest housing reform and affordability legislation in a generation. Despite passing the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, President Donald Trump declined to sign the bill within the constitutionally designated 10-day timeline, prompting formal enactment to occur without the president’s signature.

In addition to the ban on private equity, the 21st Century Road to Housing Act also includes provisions from Senator Warnock’s Appraisal Modernization Act, the only fair housing provision in the legislation, and several bills Senator Warnock has championed for years to reform rural housing programs, penalize local governments for failing to meet housing goals, incentivize local governments and banks to invest more in the construction of housing, and provide grants and forgivable loans to help homeowners repair and weatherize their properties.

More media coverage of Senator Reverend Warnock’s press conference below:

WANF: Warnock authored the section of the bill that caps the number of homes corporations can own at 350 per investor group, with a fine of $1 million or three-times the price of a home’s value for every property they own over the cap.

WABE: U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock celebrated a bipartisan housing affordability package becoming federal law this weekend, which includes a provision he championed capping corporate ownership of single-family homes.

Atlanta Voice: Warnock said there was still work to be done. The act doesn’t apply to homes that have already been purchased by corporations. Asked what the act means for the corporations or private equity that might remain involved in the Georgia housing market. Warnock said, “I want to stop the spread. They are picking homes like you, and I pick tomatoes in the grocery store.”

Courier Georgia: During a press conference Monday, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) celebrated the legislation. He wrote several key provisions, including the limit on the number of additional homes private equity can buy and the measure making discrimination in the appraisal process illegal. “Let’s be clear, if you’re a single mom,” he said, “you cannot compete with Wall Street. They will outbid you every time, and so this is about fairness.”

AJC: Standing in front of a three-bedroom Adamsville rental owned by a private equity firm, the Democratic senator was joined by Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta City Council member Andrea Boone, both of whom grew up in the Westside community. “They are picking houses the way you pick tomatoes at the grocery store,” said Warnock, calling Atlanta “ground zero” of corporate homeownership.

###",1,2026-07-21T07:32:02Z,2026-07-21T07:33:33Z