url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-applaud-senate-passage-of-legislation-honoring-medal-of-honor-recipients/,"Young, Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage of Legislation Honoring Medal of Honor Recipients",2023-12-22,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) applauded Senate passage of legislation he helped introduce that would designate U.S. Highway 20 – including the 156 miles in Indiana – as the “National Medal of Honor Highway.” “Our Medal of Honor recipients are some of our nation’s bravest heroes,” said Senator Young. “I am proud to support the designation of U.S. Highway 20 as the ‘National Medal of Honor Highway’ and permanently recognize and celebrate each recipient’s selfless devotion and sacrifice to our country. I look forward to this legislation passing the House of Representatives, and eventually becoming law.” The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor, presented by the president in Congress’ name. U.S. service members who distinguish themselves “through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” can receive the medal. Redesignating U.S. Highway 20— the longest continuous highway in the United States— as the “National Medal of Honor Highway” would honor each state’s current and future Medal of Honor recipients and recipients from any state who travel on it. Legislatures and governors in all 12 states along U.S. Highway 20 have designated their state Medal of Honor Highways covering 100 percent of the 3,365-mile Medal of Honor Highway across America. The 12 states along U.S. Highway 20 accounts for about 62 percent of all 3,516 Medal of Honor awards presented since the Civil War. Designating U.S. Highway 20 as the “National Medal of Honor Highway” would ensure all 3,516 recipients and any future recipients from all 50 states and territories are honored. Following Indiana’s designation, INDOT placed eight commemorative signs along the route through Steuben, LaGrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, LaPorte, Porter, and Lake counties. In addition to Senator Young, Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) also cosponsored the Senate version of the bill. The legislation is supported by the Bend Heroes Foundation, Military Officers Association of America, The American Legion, Legion of Valor, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-introduces-bills-address-cost-and-safety-farm-equipment,Spartz Introduces Bills to Address Cost and Safety of Farm Equipment,2023-12-19,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,IN,Victoria Spartz,S000929,spartz.house.gov,spartz,https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Noblesville, Indiana – Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) introduced a first set of bills for the 2024 Farm Bill reauthorization to improve the safety and cost of farm equipment: the Farm Freedom to Repair Act and the Farm Equipment Safety Act. “Food security is a national security issue,” said Rep. Spartz. “Ever-increasing government regulations have led to significant consolidation in agriculture and material increases in input costs. The Farm Bill should be a time to discuss how we can improve innovation and competition for value in agriculture. The two bills I introduced today will help to significantly reduce cost and improve safety of farm equipment, which is critical for all farmers, but particularly significant for smaller enterprises.” The Farm Freedom to Repair Act would ensure that farmers have the right to repair digital agricultural equipment they own. “Big Ag” manufacturers have been abusing copyright law to deny farmers the right to repair their equipment. The Farm Equipment Safety Act would exempt offroad farm equipment from burdensome emission regulations, which have led to unsafe, expensive, and inefficiently manufactured agricultural equipment. Military equipment is already exempt from such regulations for national security reasons. The legislative text for the Farm Freedom to Repair Act can be read HERE. The legislative text for the Farm Equipment Safety Act can be read HERE. Image ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-youngs-office-helps-record-number-of-hoosiers-in-2023/,Senator Young’s Office Helps Record Number of Hoosiers in 2023,2023-12-19,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and his staff have helped 3,763 constituents resolve cases before federal agencies this year, a 20 percent increase over the number assisted in 2022. The constituent service work resulted in more than $20 million being returned to Hoosier taxpayers. Since joining the Senate in 2017, Senator Young has helped 14,438 Hoosiers recover approximately $87 million from federal agencies. This year, the Young office saw a surge in passport cases as a result of a large backlog at the Department of State that caused travel worries for hundreds of Hoosier families. In 2023, Senator Young’s office helped process 1,076 passports. The vast majority of the money recovered this year and returned to Hoosiers came from IRS cases. Senator Young helped Hoosiers recover nearly $17.4 million owed to them by the IRS. An additional $2.6 million was recovered from Social Security and VA claims. “Helping Hoosiers navigate federal red tape has always been a top priority for me and our team,” Senator Young said. “We take every call that comes in seriously, and our team is committed to helping Hoosiers resolve issues involving federal agencies.” Senator Young’s office also helped eleven families complete international adoptions and aided 26 family groups still stranded in Afghanistan following U.S. withdrawal in 2021.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-youngs-bipartisan-chips-permitting-bill-for-the-second-time/,Senate Passes Young’s Bipartisan Chips Permitting Bill for the Second Time,2023-12-15,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington – Last night, the United States Senate unanimously passed the Building Chips in America Act, bipartisan legislation to streamline review requirements for semiconductor manufacturing projects to maximize the impact of the CHIPS and Science Act. This legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). “The CHIPS and Science Act included manufacturing incentives vital to increasing chip production here in the U.S., protecting our national security interests and boosting our economic security at the same time. However, as implementation proceeds, unnecessary regulatory burdens are threatening to slow down these critical investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and pause construction that has already begun,” said Senator Young. “The Building Chips in America Act will cut red tape and solidify our nation’s ability to successfully onshore chip production as quickly as possible. I’m pleased to see this important legislation pass the U.S. Senate once again as we continue to push to get it enacted.” “Once again, the Senate made clear that streamlining our current permitting system for semiconductor manufacturing projects is an urgent, bipartisan priority,” said Senator Kelly. “ Now the House—where our bill enjoys broad support from Republicans and Democrats—has the chance to take up this bill to maximize the impact of the CHIPS Act, bringing microchip manufacturing and good-paying jobs back to America without delay.” Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-op-ed-antisemitism-is-a-horrible-evil-that-we-must-fight/,Young op-ed: Antisemitism is a horrible evil that we must fight,2023-12-15,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"The following opinion column was originally published on FoxNews.com on December 15, 2023. By Todd Young In 1818, former president Thomas Jefferson wrote that though antisemitism was widespread and ancient, there was a hope against it: America. Our nation, in his words, was “the only antidote to this vice.” Our Constitution protects religious freedoms and places every citizen, no matter their faith, on “equal footing.” Throughout America’s history, millions of Jews have found a home and flourished in our country. Today, though, this historic bond is facing its strongest test since the Greatest Generation defeated Nazi Germany. Antisemitism is rising at rates unseen in living memory, posing a threat to the tolerance and pluralism that define America and make it exceptional. Antisemitism most assuredly cannot merely be stopped but its lies disproven and its adherents defeated. Hamas’ murder of 1,200 Israelis and the Jewish state’s determination to defend itself did not so much unleash a wave of antisemitism, but provided a moment for its believers to bring their hatred into the open. Since that terrible day, antisemitic incidents have increased by nearly 400%, according to the Anti-Defamation League. In October congressional testimony, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray confirmed that threats to Jewish citizens have reached “historic levels.” For sobering context, Jewish Americans constitute just over 2% of our population but are the target for over 60% of religious hate crimes nationwide. In recent weeks, we’ve seen: Swastikas spray-painted on Jewish headstones in Ohio. Synagogues vandalized in New Jersey and New York. Osama bin Laden’s antisemitic rants trending on TikTok. Thwarted attacks on Jews in California, Texas and Michigan. Pro-Israel protesters beaten, and one even killed. Jewish college students targeted, intimidated and assaulted, forced to shelter behind a locked door in New York City’s Cooper Union while protesters banged at the windows chanting “globalize the intifada.” And in Indiana, a woman purposely drove her car through a building she wrongly believed housed a Jewish school. In an age when we are so quick to decry injustices, where is the outrage over these acts of discrimination? Instead of anger, those who make a vocation of demonstrating their own righteousness have gone quiet, indulged in reprehensible moral equivalency regarding October 7, or worse, applauded Hamas’ barbarity. Commentators have sought to contextualize the massacre of Jewish men, women and children, or claimed that we are all complicit in their deaths. Educators have been too slow to condemn antisemitism, downgrading it in some sort of hierarchy of offenses, cloaking mass murder in social justice doublespeak. All while a few irresponsible politicians have mouthed genocidal slogans and repeated lies about Israel. As technology evolves and our understanding of so many natural phenomena increases, it is comforting to hope that our morality inevitably evolves as well. History proves otherwise. Tragically, old hatreds remain ingrained. We are clearly susceptible to the same prejudices Jefferson lamented over two centuries ago. But we still have a uniquely American means of fighting intolerance at our disposal. Jefferson and his peers designed and left us a republic. Our citizenship in it comes with responsibilities. Participation in a democratic society presupposes discernment, judgment against a certain standard of public comportment. And these judgments cannot be limited to Election Day. We have to make judgments every day about what is right and wrong, virtuous and unvirtuous. Now is such a moment. Confronted with the largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust and a wave of antisemitism, Jewish Americans are fighting back. Students are shunning universities that tolerate antisemitism or have refused to condemn Hamas’ killing spree, such as Cornell, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, while some alumni have ended their donations to these same schools. Young and old have marched in support of Israel and against antisemitism, most beautifully evidenced by the peaceful gathering on the National Mall in November. Americans, regardless of their faith, should emulate this resolve. Government cannot change what lives in the hearts of its citizens. Clearly, the classroom is no safeguard against hate. And in America, everyone is free to speak their mind, no matter how abhorrent the thoughts. But in return, we are called upon to judge that speech harshly, to forcefully refute false equivalency between terrorists and their victims. We should not hesitate to condemn those who espouse antisemitic rhetoric and the institutions that harbor them. Nor should we indulge in superficial slogans such as “who am I to judge?” or “both sides are guilty” or forget that evil can never be excused — and that includes the evil of violence and discrimination against Muslim Americans. Biting our tongue in the face of evil may save citizens the hassle and discomfort of subjecting our own views to neighborly scrutiny. But when we fail to defend what is true and right, especially when it is difficult to do so, we are left with an impaired public discourse. Instead of anger, those who make a vocation of demonstrating their own righteousness have gone quiet, indulged in reprehensible moral equivalency regarding October 7, or worse, applauded Hamas’ barbarity. Sadly, over time, our penchant for silence enables an increasingly nihilistic political culture — one, like today, in which morally abhorrent concepts like genocide are able to take root, grow and become normalized as accepted or even acceptable. Lastly, let there be no doubt: our fight against antisemitism requires continued support of Israel in its just war against Hamas. History teaches that, when democratic peoples are seduced into silence in the presence of evil, horrors follow that they later vow to never let happen again. Now, in the aftermath of an attempted genocide in Israel – and in the face of increasing antisemitism at home – we must not remain silent or abdicate our responsibility as citizens, as Americans. If we fail to do so, generations from now, history’s judgment will be upon us all. Republican Todd Young represents Indiana in the United States Senate.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=338,Baird Votes to Proceed with Impeachment Inquiry into President Biden,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) voted in favor of H.Res. 918, which authorizes three House committees to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The legislation directs the committees on Oversight, Ways and Means, and Judiciary to conduct a complete investigation of President Biden’s conduct to uncover the truth regarding allegations against him and determine if his actions warrant impeachment. “The evidence that’s already been uncovered about the Biden family’s business dealings raise serious questions about President Biden’s relationship with foreign powers,” said Rep. Baird. “The existing body of proof has made it abundantly clear that an investigation is warranted to uncover the truth and reassure the American people that their leaders are not profiteering from public service. I’m confident that all three committees will conduct an open and transparent investigation to give the public the answers they deserve.” Background: Earlier this year, the three committees began preparations for an investigation following then-Speaker McCarthy’s announcement of an impeachment inquiry. This legislation allows the three committees to conduct proceedings, question witnesses, issue subpoenas, and produce records deemed necessary to the investigation. In December, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability released evidence that Hunter Biden’s business, Owasco PC, had received payments from Communist China, which were then paid to Joe Biden in three separate installments. In November, the Committee also released bank records showing that Joe Biden received $240,000 in direct payments from his family members who were engaged in multiple influence peddling schemes.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=339,Baird Votes Against Flawed National Defense Authorization Act,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) voted against the Conference Report to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on the grounds that it failed to protect the American people from spying by their own government and included measures that allow taxpayer dollars to fund abortion procedures. “Nobody in Congress is a bigger supporter of the military than I am,” said Rep. Baird. “I was proud to support the House version of the NDAA in July. Unfortunately, this legislation has been watered down to include provisions that allow the Federal government to violate our right to privacy and spy on American citizens. Moreover, I’m disappointed that this legislation failed to include important provisions that prevent our tax dollars from funding abortions and gender reassignment surgeries. It is unacceptable that the House passed an NDAA that fails to uphold our promises to our military personnel and the American people.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-houchin-announces-ninth-district-nominees-united-states-service,Congresswoman Houchin Announces Ninth District Nominees for United States Service Academies,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,IN,Erin Houchin,H001093,houchin.house.gov,houchin,https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) announced nominations for the United States Service Academies. After reviewing applications and conducting interviews, Congresswoman Houchin nominated 18 young men and women from across the Ninth District. “It’s my honor to nominate this impressive group of students to serve in our U.S. Service Academies. These young men and women from Bedford to Rising Sun have demonstrated tremendous potential and would make great additions to the U.S. Air Force, Military, Merchant Marine, and Naval Academies. Indiana’s Ninth District is lucky to have them!” said Congresswoman Erin Houchin. While a nomination does not guarantee admission, nominations are required to be eligible for entrance into a service academy. Students with questions about the academy nomination process can contact Jonathan.Pearce2@mail.house.gov or call (812) 288-3999. Congresswoman Houchin’s Service Academy nomination list is below: United States Air Force Academy Avery Beck (Bloomington, IN) Reagan Bumgardner (Lawrenceburg, IN) Hayden Garten (Charlestown, IN) Lucas Kruer (Sellersburg, IN) Xavier Marnell (Corydon, IN) Emma Martin (West Harrison, IN) Alexander Pinckney (Jeffersonville, IN) Jaymee Reed (Bedford, IN) United States Military Academy – West Point Katherine Barada (Bloomington, IN) Jackson Ehringer (New Salisbury, IN) Emma Martin (West Harrison, IN) Adrian Rheam (Bloomington, IN) Ryan Rheam (Bloomington, IN) United States Merchant Marine Academy Jackson Ehringer (New Salisbury, IN) Lucas Kruer (Sellersburg, IN) Emma Martin (West Harrison, IN) Logan Schott (Sunman, IN) United States Naval Academy Jackson Ehringer (New Salisbury, IN) Hayden Garten (Charlestown, IN) Lucas Kruer (Sellersburg, IN) Emma Martin (West Harrison, IN) Chance Phillipy (New Albany, IN) John Sandford (Georgetown, IN) Morgan Schoen (Georgetown, IN) Logan Schott (Sunman, IN) Connor Southard (Rising Sun, IN)",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-announces-military-academy-nominations-0,Spartz Announces Military Academy Nominations,2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,IN,Victoria Spartz,S000929,spartz.house.gov,spartz,https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – This month, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) announced the names of twenty-three high school seniors across Indiana's Fifth District who have been nominated to attend the United States Military Academies. These academies allow young people to serve our country while receiving full scholarships from some of our world class institutions of higher learning. “It is a privilege to nominate these extraordinary students,” said Rep. Spartz. ""This year’s applicants represented our district’s best and brightest to be considered for these prestigious positions.” Academy at West Point: John Afari-Akins – Culver Academies Reed Alexander – Hamilton Southeastern High School Joseph Del Busto – Carmel High School Chloe De Leon – Carmel High School Maxwell Johns – Noblesville High School Luke Mawbey – Western High School Dominic Moringiello – Guerin Catholic School Paul Sheddy – Cathedral High School Marcus Sherrod – Brebeuf High School Harold Williams, III – Hamilton Southeastern High School Air Force Academy: Chloe De Leon – Carmel High School Layton Dolvin – Heritage Christian School Tillman Etchison – Hamilton Heights High School Christine Hu – Carmel High School Maxwell Johns – Noblesville High School Spencer Luhrs – Carmel High School Luke Mawbey – Western High School Caleb Myers – Fishers High School Jackson Nevil – Tipton High School Jack Roby – Fishers High School Paul Sheddy – Cathedral High School Conner Winchester – Cowan High School Merchant Marine Academy: Tillman Etchison – Hamilton Heights High School Luke Osborne – Home-Schooled Caleb Ritter – Fishers High School Wyatt Wade – Noblesville High School Naval Academy: John Afari-Akins – Culver Academies Chloe De Leon – Carmel High School Tillman Etchison – Hamilton Heights High School Sean Halvorsen - Noblesville High School Christine Hu – Carmel High School Maxwell Johns - Noblesville High School Daniel Leatherwood – Highlands Latin School Luke Mawbey – Western High School Jackson Nevil – Tipton High School Luke Osborne – Home-Schooled Paul Sheddy – Cathedral High School ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-introduces-judges-cristal-brisco-and-gretchen-lund-nominees-for-the-northern-district-of-indiana/,"Young Introduces Judges Cristal Brisco and Gretchen Lund, Nominees for the Northern District of Indiana",2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"**Click here or above to watch Senator Young’s introduction.** Washington – Today, Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced St. Joseph County Superior Court Judge Cristal Brisco and Elkhart County Superior Court Judge Gretchen Lund during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Judges Brisco and Lund have both been nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. During his remarks, Young spoke about the backgrounds of both judges and outlined why he supports their nominations. Senator Young’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Graham, and members of the committee. I have the honor today of introducing two fine Hoosier judges who have been nominated to serve on the District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. I don’t wish to show favoritism, so I’ll go in alphabetical order. The Honorable Cristal Brisco currently serves as a judge on the St. Joseph County Superior Court. She was appointed to that position by Republican Governor Eric Holcomb in 2021. She’s a lifelong Hoosier, growing up in Gary, attending undergrad at Valparaiso, and Law School at Notre Dame. She, her husband, and two daughters have remained in the South Bend area. Judge Gretchen Lund has served as Superior Court judge in Elkhart County since 2015, and has also served as judge in Goshen City Court and a deputy prosecutor in Elkhart County. She’s also a lifelong Hoosier, having attended Butler University and Valparaiso University. She lives in Goshen with her husband and daughters. I’ve recommended many fellow Hoosiers to this committee over the years, but until today I had not had the pleasure of recommending judges from our state superior courts. The judges in our state courts are working incredibly hard every day to administer justice in our local communities. I’m grateful for each and every one of them. But before you today are two of our very best. Judge Lund and Judge Brisco have impressed their colleagues and those who have come before their courts. If confirmed, they will be missed locally, but I trust they will bring the same sense of professionalism to the federal bench. Thank you.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-joins-bipartisan-bicameral-paid-family-leave-working-group-requests-input-on-paid-leave-proposal/,"Young Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Paid Family Leave Working Group, Requests Input on Paid Leave Proposal",2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), along with U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05), joined a bipartisan, bicameral group in requesting information on a bipartisan paid leave proposal. The lawmakers sent a letter to a wide range of individuals, organizations, researchers, policy experts, and others to request suggestions for expanding access to paid parental, caregiving, and personal medical leave in a bipartisan, fiscally responsible, and sustainable way. “Employers across our nation are struggling to fill open positions, and it is imperative that we evaluate how a paid family leave solution can help address this challenge. I have long supported opportunities for the federal government to partner with states and employers to provide greater flexibility for working parents. I look forward to joining with this group to develop a bipartisan, fiscally responsible solution that supports Hoosier families,” said Senator Todd Young. “The United States is the only industrialized nation without any form of national paid leave and it hurts our families, our health and our economy,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The overwhelming majority of Americans support paid leave and believe it’s good for families as well as for business. I am proud to partner with this strong group of bipartisan lawmakers and I look forward to using input from a wide range of experts to shape our proposal.” “Americans often face the impossible choice between caring for a newborn child and returning to work to make a living,” said Senator Cassidy. “We want to hear from parents, experts, and business leaders to help form a solution that works for families without placing a burden on businesses. This request is an important step in that direction.” Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Representatives Colin Allred (D-TX-32), Julia Letlow (R-LA-05), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-02), and Haley Stevens (D-MI-11) also joined the working group. The full letter can be found here and below: To Whom It May Concern: As members of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional working group exploring solutions to expand access to paid leave for all Americans, we write with strong interest in hearing diverse stakeholder input. To inform our efforts, we invite individuals, organizations, researchers, policy experts, and others, to share your suggestions for expanding access to paid parental, caregiving, and personal medical leave in a bipartisan, fiscally responsible and sustainable way. We will closely review submissions to help inform ongoing bipartisan efforts, and individual submissions will be kept confidential. Please note, trustworthy data and research with proper citations will be appreciated. We invite your response to the following:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-votes-for-annual-defense-bill-to-support-troops-address-global-threats/,"Young Votes for Annual Defense Bill to Support Troops, Address Global Threats",2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young applauded Senate passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, which passed the Senate 87-13. The annual defense bill will set policy for the Department of Defense (DoD), establish the national security priorities of Congress, and give U.S. servicemembers a much-deserved pay raise. “The National Defense Authorization Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress considers each year. I’m pleased the final bill includes several critical priorities I’ve worked on, including greater DoD transparency, ensuring our warfighters are equipped with the world’s best capabilities, and supporting Indiana’s defense industrial base and workforce,” said Senator Young. Senator Young worked to secure the following provisions in the Senate-passed NDAA: DoD Audit Deadline, to require the DoD to conduct a full and clean audit within five years. The amendment would hold the Secretary of Defense accountable for any failure by DoD to complete a clean audit. As DoD undergoes an extensive, vital modernization, policymakers must be able to debate and consider the Department’s budgetary priorities in a transparent manner, with all the facts available. Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Disclosure provisions, introduced by Senator Young and a group of Senate colleagues that would increase transparency around UAP and further open scientific research. Language in the NDAA would direct the National Archives and Records Administration to create a collection of records to be known as the UAP Records Collection and direct every government office to identify which records would fall into the collection. The UAP Records Collection would carry the presumption of immediate disclosure. Combatting Global Corruption Act, authored by Senators Young and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), to require the State Department to publish each year a list of countries making good progress on combatting corruption, as well as a classified list of countries making limited or no effort to comply with standards for combatting corruption. Similar language was favorably reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this year. Global corruption is often at the root of conflict, humanitarian suffering, and political crises. In places like Burma, Syria, and Venezuela, corruption has undermined the rule of law and prevented humanitarian aid from reaching those in need. This bipartisan legislation provides tools that will help combat international corruption by standing with the world’s most vulnerable and holding those in power responsible for their actions. Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) Infrastructure, Senate Armed Services Committee report language authored by Senator Young in support of MACH-TB, which is led by Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division (NSWC-Crane) in southern Indiana. The advancement of hypersonic weapons systems is a top priority for DoD, and the ability to test them rapidly and affordably is the key to accelerating their development and delivery to our warfighters. Inclusion of this report language solidifies Crane’s role as the Navy’s Center of Excellence for Hypersonics and its national role in developing and integrating new hypersonic capabilities for both the Navy and DoD as a whole.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-commend-inclusion-of-legislation-to-combat-opioid-related-infectious-diseases/,"Young, Colleagues Commend Inclusion of Legislation to Combat Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases",2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) issued the following statement today after the Senate HELP Committee passed the Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Disease Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ongoing initiative to eliminate the risk of infectious disease caused by substance use disorder to continue through 2028. The legislation was included in the larger SUPPORT Reauthorization Act, legislation that passed the HELP Committee today. “As the opioid epidemic continues to devastate families in Indiana and across the country, we must ensure our communities have the tools necessary to help combat the spread of addiction and disease. This commonsense legislation will support ongoing initiatives focused on eliminating the spread of deadly diseases associated with this epidemic,” said Senator Young. “The opioid epidemic has ravaged communities through overdose deaths and the spread of preventable diseases like hepatitis C and HIV. The federal government has a duty to provide a public health response to this public health crisis. The Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Disease Act will continue to empower health care providers and give them the tools they need to help save lives and prevent the spread of disease,” said Senators Markey and Baldwin.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-sound-the-alarm-on-rapidly-rising-cost-of-servicing-national-debt/,"Young, Colleagues Sound the Alarm on Rapidly Rising Cost of Servicing National Debt",2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), along with a group of their Senate Republican colleagues, sent a letter to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) highlighting their concerns with the rising cost of servicing the nearly $34 trillion national debt. “Driven by out-of-control federal spending and rising interest rates, the U.S. spent $659 billion on servicing the federal debt in Fiscal Year 2023, a $184 billion increase from the previous year and nearly double the cost from just three years ago. Since March 2022, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates eleven times, pursuing such an aggressive rate-hiking campaign in an effort to combat the out-of-control inflation that has hung over the U.S. economy for years as a result of trillions of dollars in reckless partisan spending passed by congressional Democrats and signed into law by President Biden. Future rate hikes and higher-for-longer rates are likely as elevated inflation remains a major concern for American households who continue to see the purchasing power of their wages erode,” the senators wrote. In addition to Senators Young and Daines, Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.),Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) also signed the letter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-call-for-epa-to-reject-regulations-that-would-hurt-hoosier-steelworkers-manufacturers/,"Young, Colleagues Call for EPA to Reject Regulations That Would Hurt Hoosier Steelworkers, Manufacturers",2023-12-11,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and a bipartisan group of colleagues in calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reject three proposed rules that would dramatically undermine America’s steel industry, hurt steel manufacturers and steelworkers, and ship steel jobs overseas. In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the senators urge the agency to reject the proposed regulations as currently written in the interest of American national and economic security and instead work to overhaul the proposed regulations in a way that protects American steelworkers. In addition to Senators Young and Brown, Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) also signed the letter. “We have serious concerns with these proposed rules because they would dramatically undermine the domestic steel industry and national security while driving production overseas likely resulting in no net reduction in emissions from the steel industry globally,” the senators wrote. In the letter, the senators write that the United States is the cleanest major steel producer in the world and that the proposed rules would force American steel production to move overseas to countries with lower pollution standards. The senators specifically wrote about three proposed rules related to steel manufacturing and production: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities (EPA-HQ-EPA-OAR-2002-0083), National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Coke Ovens: Pushing, Quenching, and Battery Stacks, and Coke Oven Batteries. (EPA–HQ–OAR–2002–0085 and EPA– HQ–OAR–2003–0051), and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Taconite Iron Ore Processing Amendments (EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0664). The full letter can be found here or below: Dear Administrator Regan: We write to you today regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) three proposed rules related to steel manufacturing and related supply chains. We have serious concerns with these proposed rules because they would dramatically undermine the domestic steel industry and national security while driving production overseas likely resulting in no net reduction in emissions from the steel industry globally. Reducing the emission of harmful air pollutants should be done based upon sound science and with proven technology that is both technically and economically feasible. The irony is that the United States’ steel industry is world’s cleanest major producer of steel. American steel manufacturers take seriously their commitment to protecting the environment; however, rules that drive production overseas are bad for our economy, bad for national security, and bad for the environment. These rules: 1) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities (EPA-HQ-EPA-OAR-2002-0083), 2) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Coke Ovens: Pushing, Quenching, and Battery Stacks, and Coke Oven Batteries. (EPA–HQ–OAR–2002–0085 and EPA– HQ–OAR–2003–0051), and 3) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Taconite Iron Ore Processing Amendments (EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0664), if finalized as proposed, would require billions of dollars in capital investments and increased annual operating costs for the U.S. steel industry. We support reducing harmful air pollution. We also support rules that are durable, realistic, and based upon proven technology and reflect a consensus view among stakeholders on how to best improve public health while protecting good paying jobs and supporting industries essential to our national and economic security. These rules fail to meet those standards. As you move forward with these rulemakings, we urge you to take an inclusive approach – working directly with major stakeholders in developing technically-sound final rules that achieve further emissions reductions while not harming the competitiveness of our American steel companies. Written properly, regulations can help American steel manufacturers lead the world in clean steel production. Poorly written rules undermine domestic manufacturing and promote reliance upon inputs made by foreign manufacturers – manufacturers that pollute more than their American counterparts. Regulations that cost American jobs, undermine national security, and are likely to result in no net reduction in emissions globally must be rejected. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-recognizes-hoosier-students-who-completed-fall-internship/,Young Recognizes Hoosier Students Who Completed Fall Internship,2023-12-08,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) recognized Hoosier students who participated in the fallsession of his internship program in Washington, D.C. and Indianapolis. The students assisted with daily activities and special projects related to legislation, communications, and constituent services. The Washington, D.C. intern class included (as pictured from bottom left to right) Margaret Pebworth, a recent graduate from Indianapolis who attended Indiana University; Michael Herald, a senior from Fort Wayne at Butler University; and Noelle Dana, a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame. The Indianapolis intern class included Julia SantAnna (top left), a junior from Indianapolis attending Indiana University and Nolan Hemminger-Jones (bottom left), a senior from Greenfield attending Butler University. Senator Young’s office offers internship opportunities year-round, in both his Washington, D.C. and Indianapolis offices. The internship program offers students the opportunity to experience the legislative branch of government and serve Hoosiers. Students interested in applying can visit Senator Young’s internship webpage or call 202-224-5623 to learn more. Senator Young released a video to provide more information about the internship program. ***Full resolution photos available upon request.***",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-fisa-702-reauthorization-we-are-putting-lipstick-pig,Spartz on FISA 702 Reauthorization: We Are Putting Lipstick on a Pig,2023-12-07,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,IN,Victoria Spartz,S000929,spartz.house.gov,spartz,https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) issued the following statement on the proposed FISA reauthorization bills: “Although the Judiciary Committee bill is much better than the Intelligence Committee bill, at least requiring warrants for U.S. persons queries, both of them still fail to address two major risks of 4th Amendment rights violations: specifying independent audits of targeting procedures and scope of U.S persons collections, and requiring preventative system controls to document justifications and approvals for U.S. persons and batch queries.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-urge-biden-administration-to-remove-retaliatory-tariffs-on-whiskey-and-spirits-protect-american-jobs/,"Young, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Remove Retaliatory Tariffs on Whiskey and Spirits, Protect American Jobs",2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) led a letter to the Biden Administration urging quick action to protect the millions of U.S. jobs that rely on American whiskey and spirits producers. Without urgent action, the European Union (EU) will implement a 50% tariff on American whiskey imports on January 1, 2024, and American wine and other distilled spirits imports could see sharp tariff increases by 2026. Retaliatory tariffs by the EU have cost domestic sprits distillers and winemakers billions of dollars since 2018, and the U.S. needs a permanent solution to safeguard over 1.7 million production, distribution, and hospitality jobs that rely on the industry. In Indiana, the distilled spirits industry supports over 26,000 Hoosier jobs and contributes more than $2.9 billion to the state’s economy. Among the top exporting states for distilled spirits, Indiana ranks sixth, with exports valued at approximately $89 million in 2022. The senators’ bipartisan letter urges U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to negotiate a deal to permanently remove retaliatory tariffs on all American-made sprits and wines. “We write today to request an expedited agreement with the European Union (EU) to secure the permanent removal of retaliatory tariffs on spirits and wines,” the senators wrote. “We are deeply concerned that a lack of a permanent solution risks the re-imposition of tariffs.” “Spirits have had a significant cultural impact in our country, and currently have a profound impact on the U.S. economy. In 2022 alone, U.S. distilled spirit exports reached $2.06 billion. But the impact of the retaliatory tariffs was devastating…Our belief is that the imposition of additional tariffs on this industry is detrimental,” the senators concluded. “There are mutual benefits in finding a path forward, and our belief is that spirits and wines are a point where there can be consensus to limit the damage for all parties.” The full letter can be found here. “We thank these Senators for working to protect American jobs by calling on the Administration to quickly reach an agreement with the EU to avoid a 50 percent tariff on American Whiskey exports,” said Distilled Spirits Council President & CEO Chris Swonger. “American Whiskey has rebounded in the EU market over the past two years with these tariffs currently suspended. A return of these debilitating tariffs would be a severe blow to U.S. distillers and bring this positive momentum to a screeching halt.” In addition to Senators Young, Cortez Masto, Kaine, and Paul, Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) also signed the letter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-gop-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-ensure-transparency-in-ccp-activities-in-the-us/,"Young, GOP Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ensure Transparency in CCP Activities in the U.S.",2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the Countering Corrupt Political Influence Act (CCP Influence Act) to increase transparency and reporting requirements of Chinese Communist Party officials in the U.S. conducting government business. The CCP Influence Act would build upon a Trump administration policy to require the State Department to mandate that Chinese foreign missions, including its embassy and various consulates around the United States, notify the Department of State in advance of all official meetings with state officials, official meetings with local and municipal officials, official visits to educational institutions, and official visits to research institutions. The bill also applies to foreign missions in the U.S. from other countries of concern, including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Afghanistan, while under the control of the Taliban. Additionally, this bill would require a monthly report of the notification logs from the State Department to the President, Senate Homeland Security Committee, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee to ensure transparency when foreign governments are conducting business domestically. “Chinese diplomats in the U.S. have access to a wide range of Americans and American institutions, but the Chinese Communist Party limits both the movements and access of U.S. diplomats who are trying to do their jobs in China. This double standard can no longer be accepted. Our bill responds to this imbalance of policy by requiring diplomats to report meetings with certain U.S. entities and individuals to the State Department,” said Senator Young. “For too long, the U.S. has allowed our adversaries like Communist China to operate and benefit from a complete lack of transparency when conducting business on U.S. soil. As individuals and entities tied to the evil government of Communist China continue to buy American farmland, infiltrate our universities and attempt to persuade the decisions of local and state governments, we must take action to protect U.S. interests. Today, I am demanding more transparency. When our diplomats are abroad, we fully expect them to help improve relations in the country they are assigned – that’s their job. It is unacceptable that CCP diplomats stationed in the United States are able to take full advantage of our open society to meet with institutions whenever they choose, yet the CCP doesn’t reciprocate. That needs to change. Until the CCP provides equal treatment of our diplomats, I am urging more transparency in the actions of the CCP in America. That is why I am introducing the CCP Influence Act, and I urge my colleagues to pass this important bill with critical national security implications,” said Senator Scott. “China poses the most significant long-term threat to the national security of the United States. The CCP and other foreign adversaries target American educational institutions for infiltration and influence operations. The United States has inadequate transparency into these activities, and it is critical for Congress to act in order to counter these efforts,” said Senator Cruz. “To effectively counter growing threats from the CCP, we must know how, when, and with whom Chinese diplomats engage on American soil. This legislation would require adversaries like China to disclose their diplomatic activity to the State Department, and I’m glad to support it,” said Senator Cornyn.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=337,Baird Interagency Research Act Passes the House,2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) released the following statement after his bill, the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation Interagency Research Act, unanimously passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Operating in a silo is never the best practice, especially when conducting scientific research,” said Rep. Baird. “I’m pleased the House is prioritizing interagency cooperation at the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation by passing my legislation directing them to coordinate regularly and share their findings. I’d like to thank Congresswoman Stevens for her support in passing this bill, and I urge the Senate to take up this legislation without delay.” Background: The Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation are the vehicle for much of the United States’ scientific research. However, there is no clear directive for these organizations to work together. The Department of Energy and National Science Foundation Interagency Research Act explicitly directs the Secretary of Energy and the Director of the National Science Foundation to coordinate their activities through memorandums of understanding to accelerate research and unlock new opportunities.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-demand-changes-to-biden-administration-rule-endangering-safety-and-wellbeing-of-unaccompanied-alien-children/,"Young, Colleagues Demand Changes to Biden Administration Rule Endangering Safety and Wellbeing of Unaccompanied Alien Children",2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and a group of over 30 Republican senators called on the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to overhaul its harmful and deficient policies governing the agency’s treatment of unaccompanied alien children in the United States. ORR’s Proposed Rule – parts of which the agency is already enforcing – allows vulnerable children to be placed in the custody of unvetted, potentially criminal sponsors and obstructs whistleblowers from reporting to Congress on abuse in the program. The senators are demanding ORR rewrite its policies or face congressional action to overturn the rule. “This Proposed Rule ignores nearly seven years of oversight conducted by Congress and the Office of Inspector General and reveals chronic foot-dragging—if not total reluctance—when it comes to protecting vulnerable children. It provides ample protections to government bureaucrats at the expense of children. Even more concerning, ‘the requirements being [adopted] in this proposed rule are already enforced by [the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)],’” the senators wrote. “…ORR does not even consider a sponsor’s criminal record, current illegal drug use, history of abuse or neglect, or other child welfare concerns ‘necessarily disqualifying to potential sponsorship.’… In effect, ORR accepts a sponsor’s representations almost entirely on face value,” the senators continued. “ORR’s Proposed Rule abdicates the agency’s responsibility for protecting the vulnerable children in its custody from harmful behavior by poorly vetted, potential criminals. For these services, the taxpayer paid ORR $5.5 billion in FY2022. The Proposed Rule is wholly unworkable and ORR should discard it and its current practices. If not, Congress will have no choice but to introduce a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act,” the senators concluded. In addition to Senators Young and Grassley, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) also signed the letter. The full letter can be found here and below: December 4, 2023 VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION Robin Dunn Marcos Director Office of Refugee Resettlement Washington, DC 20201 Jeff Hild Acting Assistant Secretary Administration for Children and Families Washington, DC 20201 Dear Director Dunn Marcos and Acting Assistant Secretary Hild: In September, you approved the “Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule” (“Proposed Rule”), which contains a number of alarming, dangerous, and potentially illegal provisions.[1] This Proposed Rule ignores nearly seven years of oversight conducted by Congress and the Office of Inspector General and reveals chronic foot-dragging—if not total reluctance—when it comes to protecting vulnerable children. It provides ample protections to government bureaucrats at the expense of children. Even more concerning, “the requirements being [adopted] in this proposed rule are already enforced by [the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)].” In FY2021, the Office on Trafficking in Persons saw a more than 140% increase from the previous year in requests for assistance on behalf of foreign national children. The majority of these requests were for unaccompanied alien children between the ages of 13 and 17. Despite the staggering number of unaccompanied children, the Proposed Rule makes most vetting for sponsors of unaccompanied minors simply optional. ORR may require “an investigation of the living conditions,” “verification of the identity and employment of the individuals offering support,” “interviews of members of the household,” “a home visit,” “review of [the sponsor’s] past criminal history,” “fingerprinting,” consulate checks of sponsor identification, or “a background check on the proposed sponsor.” However, these basic checks are not necessary to receive custody of a child. In fact, ORR does not even consider a sponsor’s criminal record, current illegal drug use, history of abuse or neglect, or other child welfare concerns “necessarily disqualifying to potential sponsorship.” “ORR would not disqualify potential sponsors based solely on their immigration status” or “employment status,” even if the sponsor was a complete stranger to the child. In effect, ORR accepts a sponsor’s representations almost entirely on face value. ORR then delivers the child at taxpayer expense and free-of-cost to the un-vetted sponsor, opening up the possibility that a vulnerable child could fall into the hands of a potentially criminal or drug-addicted sponsor. At this point, ORR considers its work largely done. ORR assumes no role or responsibility in preventing a child’s sponsor from giving him or her away after placement. According to the Proposed Rule, “ORR is not proposing to require that the sponsor seek ORR’s permission to transfer custody of the unaccompanied [alien] child.” It simply “retains an interest in knowing this information.” ORR will conduct a home study for “a child who has been a victim of physical or sexual abuse,” if the physical or sexual abuse occurred “under circumstances that indicate the child’s health or welfare has been significantly harmed or threatened.” However, the rule goes on to note that, if ORR checks-up on the child, it will “inform the potential sponsor whenever it plans to conduct a home study.” This would allow a criminal sponsor enough time to destroy evidence and intimidate the child. Worse, the Proposed Rule allows ORR to conduct certain safety and well-being check-ins virtually. ORR also neglects to ensure a sponsor’s legal immigration status. ORR “will not share any immigration status information relating to potential sponsors with any law enforcement or immigration related entity at any time.” ORR appears equally ambivalent to the child’s criminal conduct. Its influx facilities simply “separate … those unaccompanied [alien] children who … have perpetrated sexual abuse.” In fact, “ORR would like to ensure law enforcement is called in response to an unaccompanied [alien] child’s behavior only as a last resort” and “a call by a care provider facility to law enforcement may trigger an evaluation of staff involved regarding their qualifications…” Recognizing its conduct is objectionable, ORR’s Proposed Rule protects the organization from congressional scrutiny by forcing whistleblowers to identify themselves to ORR before going to Congress. ORR’s whistleblower retaliation is so pervasive that the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General recommended mandatory whistleblower protection training in 2022. The Assistant Secretary for Children and Families concurred with this recommendation and acknowledged “whistleblower protections are a key mechanisms for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children in ORR care.” Yet in a shocking reversal, ORR now “proposes that employees, former employees, or contractors … must not disclose unaccompanied [alien] children’s case file records or provide information about unaccompanied [alien] children, their sponsors, family or house hold members to anyone … without first providing advanced notice to ORR.” This advanced notice requirement expressly captures protected whistleblower disclosures and appears designed to keep employees quiet in violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act and other whistleblower protection provisions. ORR’s Proposed Rule abdicates the agency’s responsibility for protecting the vulnerable children in its custody from harmful behavior by poorly vetted, potential criminals. For these services, the taxpayer paid ORR $5.5 billion in FY2022. The Proposed Rule is wholly unworkable and ORR should discard it and its current practices. If not, Congress will have no choice but to introduce a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-urge-biden-administration-to-enforce-iran-steel-sanctions/,"Young, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Enforce Iran Steel Sanctions",2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and a group of over 30 senators sent a letter to President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the Treasury Department to enforce existing sanctions on Iranian steel. In the letter, the senators express the importance of “proactively and continuously” enforcing sanctions and the detrimental consequences of ineffective – or willfully negligent – enforcement. Iran is one of the largest steel producing countries in the world, with the industry generating significant funds via exports. “In 2020, the United States sanctioned Iran’s metals industries and steel producers, massively impacting their exports in 2021. The enforcement of these sanctions decreased Iranian steel exports from 9 million metric tons in 2020 to 4.2 million tons in 2021. However, Iranian steel exports rebounded to 10 million tons in 2022. This correlates to the United States reengaging with Iran to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), along with a decrease in enforcement of existing sanctions by the Treasury Department,” the senators wrote. The senators concluded by warning that relaxed sanctions enforcement only fuels the ability of Iranian-backed terror proxies to continue barbaric attacks on innocent children, women, and men. “In this instance, relaxing sanctions enforcement resulted in economic enrichment for the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. We urge your Administration to enforce all Iran-related sanctions at your disposal, to include secondary sanctions on other countries who seek economic engagement with Iran. We owe it to the innocent children, women, and men who were savagely beaten, raped, tortured, and killed on October 7, 2023,” they wrote. In addition to Senators Young and Britt, Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) also signed the letter. The full letter can be found here or below: The Honorable Joseph R. Biden President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Biden: We write to you just weeks after our nation’s great ally was suddenly and barbarically attacked by Hamas terrorists—proxies funded, trained, and equipped by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The pure evil inflicted on the Israeli people on October 7, 2023, will live in infamy as one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in world history. Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism across the globe, and its stated objective is to wipe Israel off the face of the planet. It is estimated that Iran provides $700 million dollars annually to Hezbollah and $350 million annually to Hamas. Additionally, Iranian-backed terrorist proxies in Syria and Iraq have received substantial new financial support, including double digit percentage increases to the salaries paid to affiliated individuals this year alone. Since 1995, Congressionally enacted laws and Presidential executive orders have provided the Treasury Department with authorities to impose significant sanctions on Iranian proxy groups. However, enacted sanctions are only effective if the Treasury Department proactively and continuously enforces them. In recent years, we have seen the direct consequences of ineffective sanctions enforcement: Iran’s economic productivity rebounded while the regime augmented its on-the-books military spending, and its access to foreign currency reserves increased ten-fold. Steel is one of Iran’s most lucrative export markets. The World Steel Association announced1 in September 2023 that Iran is the 10th largest steel producer in the world. In 2020, the United States sanctioned Iran’s metals industries and steel producers, massively impacting their exports in 2021. The enforcement of these sanctions decreased Iranian steel exports from 9 million metric tons in 2020 to 4.2 million tons in 2021. However, Iranian steel exports rebounded to 10 million tons in 2022. This correlates to the United States reengaging with Iran to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), along with a decrease in enforcement of existing sanctions by the Treasury Department. Sanctions enforcement, when executed properly, is an effective tool against regimes that do not share our values and, as in Iran’s case, have a proven track record of sponsoring terrorism. In this instance, relaxing sanctions enforcement resulted in economic enrichment for the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. We urge your Administration to enforce all Iran-related sanctions at your disposal, to include secondary sanctions on other countries who seek economic engagement with Iran. We owe it to the innocent children, women, and men who were savagely beaten, raped, tortured, and killed on October 7, 2023. Sincerely, Cc: The Honorable Antony Blinken Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20520",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-announces-winner-2023-congressional-app-challenge,Spartz Announces Winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge,2023-12-04,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,IN,Victoria Spartz,S000929,spartz.house.gov,spartz,https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Carmel, IN – Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) announced Jasper Zhu of Carmel High School as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. Jasper’s winning app, ""I Pooped There,"" allows users to find the cleanest public restroom wherever they are located. Jasper and his teammate, Jackie Wei of California, used JavaScript to create their mobile app. “It’s always a pleasure seeing fun and innovative ideas and solutions from our Hoosier youth,” said Rep. Spartz. “Computer science skills play a critical role in the 21st-century economy, and I am proud that IN-05 schools are producing some of our nation’s brightest minds.” “I Pooped There” will be showcased on www.House.gov, and it will also be part of a rotating display in the Cannon House Office Building leading to the U.S. Capitol. Jasper has received an invitation to the Congressional App Challenge’s House of Code winners’ reception on Capitol Hill next Spring, joining other victorious participants from around the nation. A demonstration video of the I Pooped There app can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uru3fx5ewLo. Commencing in 2014 as a collaboration between the U.S. House of Representatives and the Internet Education Foundation (IEF), the CAC is open to middle and high school students. Those interested in participating as judges or students eager to partake in the competition next year can contact our Noblesville office at (317) 848-0201. Image Image ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/youngs-housing-bill-makes-taxpayer-advocacy-groups-no-brainers-list/,Young’s Housing Bill Makes Taxpayer Advocacy Group’s “No Brainers” List,2023-12-04,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young’s (R-Ind) Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act was selected by the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) for its 13th annual “No Brainers” list. NTU is an organization that advocates for responsible tax policy and spending reductions throughout the federal government. Each year, NTU selects ten “no brainer” bills that can bridge the partisan divide. “I’m proud that my Yes In My Backyard Act made NTU’s annual ‘No Brainers’ list for Congress to pass. This bill is a common-sense, bipartisan solution that would eliminate barriers to much-needed housing by requiring transparency in local land use, zoning, and housing decisions,” said Senator Young. Senator Young reintroduced the bipartisan YIMBY Act in May to shed light on discriminatory land zoning policies, encourage localities to cut burdensome regulations, and bring a new level of transparency to the community development process. Instead of adopting inclusive land use policies that allow citizens of all income levels, backgrounds, and identities to live, work, and flourish in their city or town, some communities are building paper walls of regulations that negatively affect and sometimes discriminate against low- and middle-income Americans. In the midst of a nationwide housing affordability crisis, this legislation would ensure localities do their part to make housing more affordable for everyone. Senator Young first introduced the YIMBY Act in 2019. Young reintroduced the legislation with Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) in 2021 and 2023.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=336,Baird Releases Statement After Voting Against Santos Expulsion,2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) released the following statement after voting against expelling former Congressman George Santos (NY-03) from the U.S. House of Representatives. “Only two other Members of Congress have been expelled since the Civil War. In both cases, each Member was convicted of a crime. Congressman Santos’ pattern of deception is incredibly concerning but it is a mistake to remove him before he’s received due process,” said Rep. Baird. “In Congress, transparency and honesty should be a priority. But removing a Member of the House before they’ve been afforded due process sets a dangerous precedent for Congress and the country.” Former Congressman Santos was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 311-114, with two members voting present.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-young-announces-nominees-for-united-states-service-academies-5/,Senator Young Announces Nominees for United States Service Academies,2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced his nominations for U.S. service academy appointments. Applications were received from 150 high school students, and a select group was interviewed by an advisory board chosen by Senator Young. Out of 77 offered interviews, 51 exemplary young men and women from across Indiana received a nomination from Senator Young. A nomination does not guarantee admission to a service academy, but is required in order to be considered. Nominees are chosen based on personal merit. Criteria considered include evidence of character, leadership, academic excellence, physical aptitude, and extracurricular activities. “I had the privilege of recommending a talented group of Hoosiers for admission to the United States service academies this year,” said Senator Young. “These young men and women are highly qualified to serve our country, and I’m very proud of their hard work. I wish them the best of luck in their application process.” Senator Young’s service academy nominees are listed below: United States Air Force Academy Avery Beck Bloomington High School South David Callahan William Henry Harrison High School *Also nominated to the United States Military Academy Daniel David New Palestine High School Andrew Estes Signature School Cael Hickok Bloomington High School North Charles LaRocca Center Grove High School Joshua Lord William Henry Harrison High School Antonio Negron-Carrero William Henry Harrison High School Nicholas Passarelli Brebeuf Jesuit Prepatory School Alexander Pinckney Christian Academy of Indiana Gavin Poteet Roncalli High School *Also nominated to the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Naval Academy Brock Redman Chesterton High School Megan Risewick Evansville Day School Ryan Verkamp Jasper High School Charles Weber Saint Joseph High School *Also nominated to the United States Naval Academy Conner Winchester Cowan High School Andrew Wolfe Carmel High School / Ivy Tech Community College United States Military Academy Elias Backus Brebeuf Jesuit Prepatory School Elijah Cox Forest Park Jr./Sr. High School Meghan Feick Culver Academies Jonathan Jimenez Culver Academies Nathan Keller Tecumseh Jr./Sr. High School Eamon Seeley Culver Academies Thomas Sidel Homestead High School *Also nominated to the United States Merchant Marine Academy Nicholson Trout Pendleton Heights High School Teresa Wojtalik Cathedral High School United States Merchant Marine Academy Audrey Burrell Speedway High School *Also nominated to the United States Naval Academy Luke Kruer Our Lady of Providence High School Emma Martin West Harrison, IN/Home Schooled Lillia Miller Lawrenceburg High School Landon Morales Avon High School Joseph Perkins Leo Jr./Sr. High School John Posner Butler University Christian Wiegmann Carmel High School United States Naval Academy Mary Bellia South Bend Saint Joseph High School Thomas Frazier Zionsville Community High School Henry Gillin Penn High School Emma Gu William Henry Harrison High School Sean Halvorsen Noblesville High School Christine Hu Carmel High School Luke Kaufhold South Bend Saint Joseph High School Fisher Mantooth Columbus North High School Luke Mawbey Western High School Jackson Nevil Tipton High School Benjamin Peters Leo Jr./Sr. High School Rose Peterson Culver Academies John Sandford Naval Academy Prep School Arianna Stieber Western Boone Jr./Sr. High School Elliot Swan Crown Point High School Gabriella Villanueva Northrop High School Caoilinn Welch Greenville, Ind./Assumption High School",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/youngs-resolution-recognizing-november-as-stomach-cancer-awareness-month-passes-senate/,Young’s Resolution Recognizing November as Stomach Cancer Awareness Month Passes Senate,2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Last night, the United States Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution authored by U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) marking November 2023 as Stomach Cancer Awareness Month. “Stomach cancer continues to leave a lasting and tragic impact on the lives of Hoosiers and Americans. Since 2018, I have introduced this resolution to raise awareness about this deadly disease so that we can detect and treat it sooner, and hopefully save more lives,” said Senator Young. The resolution was first introduced in 2018 in memory of Indianapolis Star reporter and columnist Matthew Tully, who lost his battle with stomach cancer that year. Stomach cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed type of cancer worldwide and one of the most difficult to detect in its early stages. The resolution expresses support for more education of patients and health care providers and more research into early diagnosis, screening, and treatment. Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) are also original cosponsors of this resolution.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:56:20Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-call-on-white-house-to-reverse-course-on-digital-trade-and-stand-up-to-china/,"Young, Colleagues Call on White House to Reverse Course on Digital Trade and Stand Up to China",2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and a bipartisan group of senators today called on President Joe Biden to reaffirm America’s global economic leadership by reversing a decision by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to abandon long-held positions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) that allow the free flow of information across borders, protect against the forced transfer of American technology, and promote open markets for digital goods exported by American creators and businesses. For nearly 30 years, the United States, along with democratic allies like the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and others, have supported the internet and free information flows as an engine of innovation and economic growth and a bulwark against authoritarian regimes that seek to dominate international digital rules. U.S. stakeholders have warned USTR’s move will further China’s model for digital protectionism and allow unfair trade practices targeting U.S. employers. “These commitments reflect bipartisan principles that, until now, the United States has strongly supported across political parties, administrations, and the federal government: an open internet that promotes the flow of information across borders to support American exports and American values. USTR’s decision to abandon these commitments at the WTO creates a policy vacuum that China and Russia will fill,” the senators wrote. The WTO e-commerce negotiations have been supported by a wide range of American employers, including manufacturers, automakers, retailers, small businesses, creators in the film, music, and book publishing industries, precision agriculture, logistics, and semiconductor sectors. The senators emphasized that the U.S. can and should advance regulations to protect Americans’ privacy and security, and that the WTO principles involving data flows, intellectual property, and unjustified data localization are compatible with smart regulation of tech and other industries. “Retreating from our longstanding principles without offering a viable alternative does not help U.S. workers, it does not help U.S. consumers, it does not help U.S. businesses, and it does not help U.S. allies; it only helps our adversaries,” the senators wrote. In addition to Senators Young, Wyden, and Crapo, Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tedd Budd (R-N.C.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) also signed the letter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=335,Baird Quantum Science Research Bill One Step Closer to Becoming Law,2023-11-29,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, a landmark bill led by Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act is a bipartisan effort to accelerate research and development in quantum science by making grants available for universities and nonprofit organizations to upgrade their facilities and improve coordination with national labs. “Leading the world in quantum research will have huge implications for America’s economy and national security,” said Rep. Baird. “This legislation will elevate research facilities nationwide and facilitate cooperation that will supercharge the industry. I’m incredibly excited to have such broad support for this bill in Committee, and I’m confident we will enjoy similar consensus on the House floor.” “I am deeply proud that my bipartisan bill, the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act, unanimously passed out of committee today,” said Rep. Salinas. “Quantum science has the potential to change lives for the better and vastly improve our communications capabilities. Investing in more research and building a stronger quantum workforce will allow us to fully harness the benefits of these technologies. I am grateful to Congressman Baird and my colleagues on the Committee for their support, and I will continue working to get this legislation to the finish line.” Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-braun-honor-coach-knights-life-and-legacy/,"Young, Braun Honor Coach Knight’s Life and Legacy",2023-11-28,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Last night, the United States Senate passed a resolution introduced by Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) honoring the life and legacy of Indiana basketball coach Robert Montgomery Knight. The resolution celebrates Coach Knight’s achievements during 29 years at Indiana University, including coaching 11 Big Ten Conference Championship teams, 24 teams to the NCAA tournament, and the last team to go undefeated and win the NCAA tournament during the 1975-76 season. “Some of my best memories growing up in an IU family were watching games with my Dad, from IU-Purdue nailbiters to Big Ten and NCAA title runs. Bob Knight was a basketball genius who made a tremendous impact on the players he coached, the IU community, and the entire state of Indiana. I’m proud to join with Senator Braun to pay tribute to the life and legacy of The General, who will be remembered on and off the court for generations to come,” said Senator Young. “Coach Knight embodied so many Hoosier values: perseverance, accountability, and above all hard work. Coach Knight will always be remembered by Hoosiers, and it was an honor to be able to commemorate his life and success with this Senate resolution with Senator Young,” said Senator Braun.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=334,Congressman Jim Baird and State Representative Beau Baird Hold Agriculture Roundtable in Crawfordsville,2023-11-21,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Crawfordsville, IN – Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) and State Representative Beau Baird (HD-44) held a roundtable discussion on agriculture with concerned stakeholders in Crawfordsville. This meeting brought together local producers eager to learn more about developments at the state and federal levels that will impact their farming operations, especially as Congress completes its work on the Farm Bill. “People are anxious to hear more about what’s being done at every level of government to support our farmers, ranchers, and growers,” said Congressman Jim Baird. “I’m pleased to report that Congress has extended many Farm Bill programs at the Federal level so our producers can continue to rely on them. But these extensions will not replace a full Farm Bill reauthorization. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone for attending this roundtable and sharing their thoughts as we continue our work on the Farm Bill.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=331,Congressman Jim Baird and State Representative Beau Baird Visit South Putnam High School for Veterans Day Convocation,2023-11-20,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Greencastle, IN – Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) and State Representative Beau Baird (HD-44) visited South Putnam High School in Greencastle in observance of Veterans Day and to speak with students about the meaning of service. The two leaders addressed the school to help the students better understand our government and how they can have a positive impact on their community. “Introducing the next generation to the principles of service can be just as impactful as my official responsibilities in Congress,” said Congressman Jim Baird. “Inspiring our students to become informed citizens will strengthen our communities and encourage them to make informed choices about the future. I’d like to thank the entire South Putnam High School community for hosting us, and I appreciate the students for their participation.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-demand-answers-over-biden-administrations-unprecedented-pause-of-firearms-export-licenses/,"Young, Colleagues Demand Answers Over Biden Administration’s Unprecedented Pause of Firearms Export Licenses",2023-11-17,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), and a group of over 40 Republican senators sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo questioning last month’s decision from the Bureau of Industry and Security to pause for 90 days the issuance of export licenses for firearms, ammunition, and accessories to most overseas markets. This unprecedented move is another demonstration of hostility from the Biden Administration towards America’s firearm industry. The letter notes the impact this pause could have on “U.S. commercial and economic interests”, which according to the firearms and ammunition industry has an estimated “direct cost of at least $89 million associated with the 90 day pause and at least $238 million annually should the pause become permanent.” Citing “significant concerns about the justifications for and ramifications of this pause” and concerns that the “unmet demand created by this action will promote opportunities for less scrupulous, professional, or conscientious sources of supply to fill the void, thereby strengthening illicit arms markets,” the Senators are demanding a response to their inquiry by no later than November 30. In addition to Senators Young and Budd, Senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), John Kennedy (R-La.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) also signed the letter. The full letter can be found here or below: Dear Secretary Raimondo: We write regarding the October 27 announcement from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the Department of Commerce (the Department) that “[e]ffective immediately”, the Department “is pausing for approximately 90 days the issuance of new export licenses involving certain firearms, related components, and ammunition” as well as “the provision of new export assistance activities for such products to all non-governmental end users worldwide” with the exception of “those located in Ukraine, Israel, or a country in Country Group A:1 (Wassenaar Arrangement Participating States).” Further, this announcement stated that the Department will, during this “‘pause’ period”, conduct an urgent review of “current firearm export control review policies” in light of “U.S. national security and foreign policy interests” to “enable the Department to more effectively assess and mitigate risk of firearms being diverted to entities or activities that promote regional instability, violate human rights, or fuel criminal activities.” We recognize the crucial need for firearms for civilian self-defense in Ukraine and Israel, which are exempted from this pause, and note the actions by the Ukrainian and Israeli governments to fulfill those needs. For example, in response to the Hamas attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that part of the war against Hamas involves “encouraging civilians and helping civilians to arm themselves for their self-defence.” The Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, promised to distribute 10,000 free weapons, including 4,000 rifles to settlers in the West Bank, and has relaxed rules for permits to allow 400,000 new people to qualify to carry a firearm. Similarly, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on February 24, 2022, that the Ukrainian government “will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country.” By June 2022, Ukraine had distributed “tens of thousands” of firearms to civilians “for national defense”, according to Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky. However, we also recognize the significance of exports that are now put on pause by the Department’s announcement. As you know, firearms exports to non-government users in countries not covered by the exception constitute a significant percentage of overall U.S. firearm exports. This pause puts at stake U.S. commercial and economic interests, as well as those business interests of firearm exporters whose pending exports are now subject to pause, in addition to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. According to a survey conducted by NSSF, the firearm and ammunition industry trade association, this decision would have a severe negative economic impact. As of today, the industry estimates a direct cost of at least $89 million associated with the 90 day pause and at least $238 million annually should the pause become permanent. Furthermore, it is our understanding that the Department has never before imposed such a 90 day pause on such a wide range of firearms exports. We have significant concerns about the justifications for and ramifications of this pause. Finally, we are concerned the unmet demand created by this action will promote opportunities for less scrupulous, professional, or conscientious sources of supply to fill the void, thereby strengthening illicit arms markets. Thus, for the purpose of congressional oversight regarding the Department’s announcement we ask that you respond to the following questions and requests by November 30, 2023: Please explain the reasoning for this pause and identify the specific U.S. national security and foreign policy interests that are part of this reasoning. What specific situations has the Department identified where the current export policies affected U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, and contributed to regional instability, violated human rights, or fueled criminal activities? Did BIS engage with firearm and ammunition industry stakeholders prior to the October 27 announcement to understand the impact this unprecedented decision would have on their industry? Did BIS engage with advocacy organizations prior to the October 27 announcement to provide advance knowledge of this announcement? If yes, then please provide a list of these organizations. Has BIS held a meeting with firearm and ammunition industry stakeholders since making the October 27 announcement? Please provide data on the number of export license applications covered by the Department’s October 27 announcement for all countries (disregarding any exceptions) that were pending on October 27, and the number submitted over the previous six months. Please provide data on export license applications submitted for non-governmental users in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022 that are of the same type covered by the Department’s October 27 announcement. Please provide data on export license applications submitted for non-governmental users in Israel since Hamas’ attacks began in October 2023 that are of the same type covered by the Department’s October 27 announcement. Please provide data on the number of Department employees reviewing export license applications related to the October 27 announcement. Please provide data on the average number of export license applications related to the October 27 announcement reviewed per day. Please provide data on the average time to review export license applications related to the October 27 announcement to non-governmental users in Ukraine. Please provide data on the average time to review export license applications related to the October 27 announcement to non-governmental users in Israel. Are supplemental funds needed to add more Department employees to review applications so that reviews can be completed in a timely manner? If so, what is the needed level of supplemental funding and how many additional employees should the Department add?",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-hassan-lead-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-workforce-training-employee-retention-tools/,"Young, Hassan Lead Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Workforce Training, Employee Retention Tools",2023-11-17,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) reintroduced the Upskilling and Retraining Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen workforce development and ensure job providers have the necessary tools to hire and retrain workers. This legislation would increase the amount of tax-free educational assistance employees can receive from their employers and would cover expenses for education-relation tools, technology, and equipment. “With artificial intelligence influencing every sector of the economy, it’s crucial that our workforce is prepared not just for the jobs of today, but for the AI-driven jobs of tomorrow,” said Senator Young. “Our bipartisan bill would boost an important tax provision to improve workforce development opportunities and provide job creators with the necessary tools to attract and retain a workforce skilled in AI and other emerging technologies. This legislation is a win-win for both workers and employers in the digital era.” “New Hampshire is one of many states experiencing workforce challenges, including employee recruitment and retention. Investing in upskilling and retraining helps businesses and employees alike by increasing the number of qualified workers and opening up better-paying opportunities for these workers,” said Senator Hassan. The rapid pace of AI and other technological advancements underscores the importance of upskilling and training for workers across various sectors. Many businesses currently offer educational and training programs to support their workforce in adapting to these changes. However, the current tax code only allows employers to cover up to $5,250 in educational programs for their workers before workers are required to pay taxes on these benefits. This current limit, which has not been changed since 1986, is far below the cost of most higher education programs and does not cover the costs of the tools and technology required to complete educational programs. The Upskilling and Retraining Assistance Act would update the tax code by expanding the tax exclusion from $5,250 to $12,000 for the next two years. It would also expand the tax exclusion to include the cost of education-related tools and technology, including hand tools, computers and software, internet access, licensure fees, and other items deemed necessary to complete the educational programs. In addition to Senators Young and Hassan, Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) were also original cosponsors.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-applauds-nomination-of-two-hoosier-judges/,Young Applauds Nomination of Two Hoosier Judges,2023-11-15,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) issued the following statement regarding the nominations of Judge Cristal Brisco and Judge Gretchen Lund to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana: “Judge Brisco and Judge Lund are experienced, qualified jurists who have served honorably in state superior courts. I fully expect them to excel on the federal bench, and I anticipate supporting both of them as they enter the confirmation process.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-call-on-fcc-to-halt-digital-equity-plan/,"Young, Colleagues Call on FCC to Halt “Digital Equity” Plan",2023-11-15,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and a group of their Senate Republican colleagues are calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to rescind its draft order on “Digital Discrimination,” which would give the federal government control over nearly every aspect of the Internet while opening broadband providers to expansive, indeterminate, and crippling liability under a “disparate impact” standard. The FCC is set to vote on the final order today. In a letter to FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel, the Senators wrote: “Your Draft Order, which largely follows a Biden administration diktat, will create crippling uncertainty for the U.S. broadband industry, chill broadband investment, and undermine Congress’s objective of promoting broadband access for all Americans. We urge you to adhere to the will of Congress and conform to the plain meaning of [the bipartisan infrastructure bill] to avoid causing serious damage to the competitive and innovative U.S. broadband industry.” While the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) instructed the FCC to “prevent digital discrimination of broadband access based on income level, race, ethnicity, color, religion, or national origin,” the draft rules are untenably broad and inconsistent with the plain meaning of the statute. Moreover, the Biden administration itself has appeared to acknowledged that there’s little to no documented evidence of disparate treatment as it relates to broadband. “Apparently displeased by that result, the Biden administration instructed the FCC to broaden its inquiry under section 60506,” the Senators wrote. “Your recently circulated Draft Order follows suit, perversely worrying that section 60506 would be ‘largely meaningless’ if interpreted by its plain language. The corresponding rules—buttressed by the theory that the lack of actual discrimination somehow authorizes the FCC to redefine digital discrimination to expand its authority—turn section 60506 on its head and constitute a major abuse of the agency’s power.” If adopted, nearly every aspect of the broadband business—including a broadband provider’s deployment decisions, network reliability, network maintenance, the equipment it distributes to customers, pricing, promotional discounts, customer service, language options, credit checks, marketing and advertising, and more—will be subject to potential FCC enforcement actions, including multi-million dollar forfeitures and injunctive orders, under a disparate impact standard. As the lawmakers pointed out, such a standard of liability is unlawful. “Absent effects-based language, agencies cannot expand the?scope of a?statute to impose disparate impact liability. This is for good reason: disparate impact liability must be limited so as not to punish ‘the practical business choices and profit-related decisions that sustain a vibrant and dynamic free enterprise system.’ The FCC has no authority to ignore the plain meaning of the IIJA.,” the Senators wrote. The Senators also argued that the draft order would ultimately hurt broadband deployment in the U.S. “The idea these regulations will not impact rural deployment defies credulity: If practically every business decision is subject to potential liability, companies will inevitably shift resources that would have otherwise been spent on deployment and innovation to hiring more lawyers and asking the FCC ‘mother-may-I.’ Your Draft Order’s sweeping scope, ambiguous, open-ended guidance, extensive enforcement framework, and expansive claimed remedial authority, would prevent providers from making such decisions without risking endless complaints and potential liability untethered from the statute’s objectives.” The Senators concluded by calling on the FCC to reverse course. “As you approach the statutory deadline for issuing rules to implement this section, we strongly urge you to reconsider your Draft Order. Instead, do your job: Follow the statutory text, implement rules that will incentivize rather than deter private investment, and promote rather than undermine the goal of ubiquitous broadband.” In addition to Senators Young and Cruz, Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Katie Boyd Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) also joined the letter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-finance-committee-republicans-press-irs-on-data-security-shortcomings/,"Young, Finance Committee Republicans Press IRS on Data Security Shortcomings",2023-11-15,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – In the wake of continued oversight reports revealing serious data security concerns at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the recent indictment of an IRS consultant for the disclosure of private individuals’ tax information, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Senate Finance Committee Republicans called on the IRS for greater accountability, transparency, and a detailed explanation of specific steps it is taking to address security weaknesses at the agency. From the letter: Preventing illegal access and disclosure of protected taxpayer data is an essential IRS responsibility, one of its highest priorities and one that is statutorily enshrined in the taxpayer’s bill of rights. Unfortunately, it is also one that has been disregarded for far too long. The IRS must take responsibility and account for failures in these duties. As part of this, we call upon the IRS to provide a detailed explanation of: the specific steps it has taken since the beginning of this year to address any security weaknesses; a timeline of when each such step was taken; the current status of each recommendation made by TIGTA or GAO related to data and/or IRS system security since January 2020; the next steps and expected timeline for the IRS to address any open recommendations; and all specific actions the IRS has taken or will take to make impacted individuals whole. For years, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and Government Accountability Office (GAO) have pointed to significant, unaddressed flaws in the IRS’s data security systems and practices. Most recently: In an October 11, 2023 report on “Major Management Challenges” for the IRS for 2024, TIGTA identifies “Protection of Taxpayer Data and IRS Resources” as one of the IRS’s “top management and performance challenges.” In an October 24, 2023 report on “longstanding challenges” at the IRS, the GAO notes the IRS “has struggled with longstanding challenges in . . . safeguarding sensitive information,” with diverse issues still unresolved.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-rosen-resolution-demanding-immediate-release-of-hostages-held-by-hamas-passes-senate/,"Young, Rosen Resolution Demanding Immediate Release of Hostages Held By Hamas Passes Senate",2023-11-10,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, demanding that it immediately release all hostages, and calling on the United States to lead a global effort to free all hostages. It is estimated that Hamas is holding nearly 240 people hostage including children, women, seniors, and American citizens. Senators Young and Rosen were joined by over 40 bipartisan cosponsors. “As part of its terrorist attacks on Israel, Hamas took hundreds of innocent hostages, including children, women, seniors, and American citizens. The Senate unanimously passed our resolution strongly condemning these barbaric actions and calling on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally free all hostages. The United States must continue to pressure Hamas to release all innocent civilians,” said Senator Young. “Since the October 7th terrorist attack, I’ve met with the families of those who were abducted by Hamas, and I promised them I’d keep fighting until their loved ones were returned safely,” said Senator Rosen. “This bipartisan resolution makes it clear that the U.S. Senate stands united in strongly condemning Hamas and calling on them to immediately release all hostages. I will continue working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to see that these innocent people are returned to their families.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-propose-a-commission-to-strengthen-americas-fiscal-health-and-stabilize-our-debt/,"Young, Colleagues Propose a Commission to Strengthen America’s Fiscal Health and Stabilize our Debt",2023-11-09,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) led a group of Senate colleagues in introducing the Fiscal Stability Act, a bipartisan solution to strengthen America’s fiscal health and stabilize our nation’s finances for future generations. The legislation would create a bicameral fiscal commission tasked with finding legislative solutions to stabilize and decrease our national debt, which now exceeds $33.6 trillion—more than double what it was just 10 years ago. Additional original cosponsors of the Fiscal Stability Act include Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). “A bipartisan fiscal commission would examine all federal spending and make meaningful, bipartisan suggestions on how to solve our debt and deficit challenges,” Senator Young said. “Given the highly polarized political environment, this commission structure is the best way to propose and have a chance of enacting the real reforms needed to get our debt under control.” “It is immoral and unacceptable for my generation to keep adding to the national debt, expecting our grandchildren to foot the bill for our benefits for the rest of their lives,” Senator Romney said. “As a country, we must get serious about the national debt, which is why Senator Manchin and I are coming together to propose a new fiscal commission tasked with coming up with legislative solutions to improve the Federal Government’s fiscal health and get a handle on the debt before it’s too late.” “Our fiscal house is not in order, and regardless of party affiliation, it is past time we get serious about addressing the unsustainable path our national debt is barreling down,” said Senator Manchin. “I am proud to introduce commonsense legislation with my friend and colleague Senator Romney that would create a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission to identify comprehensive solutions to bring us back to a sustainable fiscal outlook for our future generations’ well-being. Our national debt weakens our economic and national security as well as jeopardizes our leadership on the international stage. If we cannot come together to rein in this looming crisis, we will be failing the American people and the vital interests of the United States.” “Establishing our bipartisan fiscal commission will help balance our budgets, keep government spending lean and responsible, and protect and strengthen the Medicare and Social Security benefits hard-working Arizonans have earned with every paycheck,” said Senator Sinema. “Since becoming a Senator in 2021, my highest priority has been placing our budget on a sustainable path. We have a moral obligation to future generations to rein in unchecked spending and address our surging national debt, rather than willfully saddling our grandchildren with a bill they cannot afford to pay,” said Senator Lummis. “The people of Wyoming want commonsense solutions to balance our national budget, which is why I am joining Senators Romney and Manchin to establish a bipartisan fiscal commission laser-focused on improving our nation’s financial health.” “Leaving the next generation of Americans with $34 trillion in debt would make the inflation of the last few years look like a joke,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “But if we do nothing, all our federal spending will eventually go to interest payments on our debt and cripple our country. If we do nothing, within 10 years interest payments will exceed federal spending on Medicaid and education. We have to do something now, while we can still preserve a path to prosperity for the American middle-class.” “The biggest threat to America’s national security is our debt and spending on servicing our debt will soon outpace national defense, putting us in an extremely vulnerable position at home and with our adversaries,” said Senator Cornyn. “This bipartisan legislation would help rein in Washington’s out-of-control spending and ensure the legislative process is transparent, efficient, and fiscally responsible.” “This bipartisan, bicameral commission will focus on the best policy options to responsibly reduce our national debt and set our country up for long-term fiscal health while protecting programs like Medicare and Social Security that millions of American rely on,” said Senator Warner. “We must act now, rather than kick the can down the road to the next generation.” “The federal debt now amounts to well over $33 trillion and, as interest rates continue to rise, so too does the cost for the federal government to borrow,” said Senator Tillis. “Congress must halt its dangerous reliance on deficit spending and instead enact economically-sustainable fiscal policies for the American people. I’m proud to co-introduce this bipartisan legislation that would create a bicameral commission and provide a long-term strategy so we can move forward as good stewards of hardworking North Carolinians’ taxpayer dollars.” “We must work together to address our growing national debt to better enhance our national and economic security and to leave the next generation with a strong future,” said Senator Shaheen. “With federal interest payments reaching $659 billion in fiscal year 2023, this bipartisan commission will allow us to consider the best solutions to bring down our deficits and return us to a sustainable fiscal path that allows us to invest in America’s long-term success.” The legislation is the companion to the U.S. House of Representative’s bipartisan Fiscal Commission Act, which was introduced by Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-MI-4) and Scott Peters (D-CA-50). “I am very encouraged by the momentum building in both the House and the Senate to establish a bipartisan and bicameral fiscal commission to address our nation’s crushing debt,” said Representative Huizenga. “Senator Manchin and Senator Romney’s Fiscal Stability Act tracks very closely to the bipartisan Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 which Congressman Peters and I have introduced in the House. Thank you to both Senators Manchin and Romney for putting forward this important and timely proposal to tackle our nation’s unsustainable fiscal trajectory.” “With interest payments on our debt already exceeding the cost of Medicaid and soon our national defense, it would be irresponsible to keep ignoring this problem,” said Representative Peters. “Every cent we spend paying interest on our debt is money that could have gone toward eradicating child poverty with the expanded child tax credit, making college more affordable, transitioning to a green economy, and so many more worthwhile investments. I appreciate Senators Manchin and Romney’s leadership on this issue and the productive updates they have made in their companion bill, including a requirement to consider revenue as part of the solution.” Background: Legislation would establish a 16-member bipartisan, bicameral commission consisting of 12 elected officials and four outside experts. The Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader each appoint four individuals to the Commission, of which three must be members of their respective chambers and one must be an outside expert. The Commission would produce a report and propose a package of legislative solutions to improve the long-term fiscal condition of the Federal Government, stabilize the ratio of public debt to GDP within a 15-year period, and improve solvency of Federal trust funds over a 75-year period. The Commission would be required to vote on approval of the report and legislative language by May 1, 2025. Any report or legislative language produced by the Commission must be approved by a majority of the 12 elected official members, with at least three being from each party. If the Commission approves proposed legislative language, it would receive expedited consideration in both chambers. While 60 votes would be required to invoke cloture prior to final passage in the Senate, only a simple majority would be needed for the motion to proceed, which would be privileged.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-honors-hoosier-veteran-frederick-knefler-in-floor-speech/,Young Honors Hoosier Veteran Frederick Knefler in Floor Speech,2023-11-09,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Click here or above to watch Senator Young’s floor speech. WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) spoke on the Senate floor about the life and legacy of Hoosier General Frederick Knefler, the highest-ranking Union officer of Jewish descent during the Civil War and an instrumental leader in the construction of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis. In his remarks, Young praised Knefler and Hoosier veterans for their service and commitment to freedom’s cause. To watch the full floor speech, click here. Senator Young’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery: Days before he died, Frederick Knefler composed a letter of instruction to be read once he was gone. There was, he wrote, to be no memorial service or expensive coffin. His funeral should be private and simple, attended only by a handful of his fellow Hoosier veterans. And when it was lowered into the ground, his body should be wrapped in an American flag. **** Republics such as ours are uncommon; it is of great value for us, its citizens, to recall our blessings. And it is our heroes who provide the reminder. Though he was born an ocean away from America, Frederick Knefler dedicated his life to defending those blessings. He was one of those heroes. As a contemporary remarked after his death, “No descendent of a Mayflower Pilgrim was ever more wholly and more intensely American than he.” As we mark Veterans Day, his story is worth sharing. He was a Jewish immigrant, one of the soldiers who saved our Union, a private citizen who spent his final days building a still-inspiring monument to their example. Before he ever set foot in America though, as a teenager he had already fought in a civil war: the Hungarian Revolution. Its failure, and the sorry state of liberty across Europe, inspired Knefler to look elsewhere for freedom. He found it across the Atlantic. He and his family arrived in New York and then settled in Indiana in 1850. There, they were among the earliest members of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, the city’s first and today its oldest synagogue family. Knefler fell in love with America. He embraced it laws, customs, and institutions. He even taught himself English by reading Shakespeare. Then he moved on to military history and tactics. In 1861 when the southern states deserted the Union, Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to form an army to bring them back. Knefler, whose adoration of America was equaled only by his hatred of slavery, answered the call. He vowed he would not do a days’ work until the war was over and the nation reunited. True to his word, he left his job as a clerk and enlisted in the spring of 1861, after the bombardment of Fort Sumter and did not return to civilian life until the summer of 1865, after the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. He joined Indiana’s 11th Regiment, serving as a lieutenant to Lew Wallace and then was later promoted to colonel of the 79th Indiana Infantry. Knefler’s language was notoriously gruff: Governor Oliver Morton was so offended by his profanity that he was hesitant to offer him a military appointment. He was man of strong opinions. “A talk with him was like a stiff breeze” a friend said. His men labored greatly under relentless discipline and constant drilling but came to admire their leader. And he whipped the 79th into a formidable fighting machine. From their organization in Indianapolis in 1862 till they mustered out in Nashville in 1865, as part of the Armies of the Ohio and then the Cumberland, these Hoosiers saw action: … at the deadly Union victory at Stones River, which emboldened Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation… …at the disaster at Chickamauga, which sent a damaged Army of the Cumberland into retreat… …with William Tecumseh Sherman as he marched through Georgia, captured Atlanta, and cut off Confederate supplies…leading to Lincoln’s reelection and the South’s defeat. But it was in November 1863 from the foot of Missionary Ridge that the 79th ascended into history. At that time, the Army of the Cumberland was cornered and cut off in Chattanooga. Winter neared, rations were low, soldiers were starving and disheartened. The Confederate Army arrayed its artillery and waited for the Yankees to surrender. Jefferson Davis himself even arrived to take in the scene and predicted that victory was near. As Knefler recalled, the “gift of prophecy” was not the Confederate president’s “strong point.” Desperate to break the siege, General Joseph Hooker’s men climbed and took Lookout Mountain on November 24th. On following afternoon, the 25th, Union soldiers mounted an offensive and cleared the rebels from the base of Missionary Ridge. Then, without orders, they spontaneously – Knefler said they were guided by a “mighty impulse” – followed the retreating enemy up the steep ridge. When the Confederates looked down, they saw a flood of blue rising up. The Rebels unleashed shells, shot, and rifle balls down the mountain. Soon the entire ridge was enveloped in a cloud of gray smoke shooting off lightning bolts of musket fire. The 79th, joined by another Indiana regiment, the 86th, charged up through it. Through fierce fighting and incredible determination, they took Missionary Ridge, sent the enemy into retreat, and broke its lock on Chattanooga. The defeat heralded, a rebel lamented, the death knell of the confederacy. General Ulysses S. Grant later recalled that Frederick Knefler was the first field officer to reach the top of Missionary Ridge. At the conclusion of the conflict, Knefler was breveted a Brigadier General, the highest-ranking Jewish officer to fight in the Civil War. He returned to Indianapolis and settled into private life, practiced law and advocated for his fellow veterans. Fittingly, the final years of his life were dedicated to the construction of a monument to them in Indianapolis. In 1895, when the long-discussed project reached an impasse, Indiana appointed Knefler to lead the board of regents responsible for rescuing the project. He threw himself obsessively into the work, raising money, scrutinizing design plans, fixating on details, dealing with temperamental artists. When a sculptor complained the model of a figure representing “peace” was not wearing an overcoat, as he had intended, Knefler reminded him that when the Union men came home in 1865, it was summer. “Whoever heard of a soldier wearing a big overcoat in July?” he snapped at the sculptor. Because of his exertions and urgency – he desperately wanted the monument finished while veterans of the Civil War remained – the Soldier and Sailors Monument was dedicated on May 15, 1902. On that day bands played, battle flags waived, soldiers marched, statesmen delivered speeches, and crowds wept at the foot of a towering column–built of Indiana limestone, of course. Among the thousands of attendees, Knefler was absent: He had died the year before. But in the days leading up to his death, stricken with disease, he worked to honor his promise that the monument would be “as great a work of art as the world ever saw.” He did not live to see it complete, but that work of art would have been neither great nor completed without him. **** We do not celebrate Veterans Day in order to venerate war but rather to reflect on its horrible costs. But we also honor our veterans like Frederick Knefler on this holiday for the same reason we build monuments to them. Doing these things remind us what is precious and that what is precious is fragile. For over two centuries, this nation, however imperfectly, has been a rare outpost of freedom and tolerance in a world where both, throughout history, were the exception, not the norm. Look to the monument Knefler worked so hard to raise, the focal point of Indiana’s capital city. On its crown sits a bronze statue of Lady Victory, her arm outstretched, the torch of liberty in her hand. Below stand statues of the Hoosier soldiers and sailors who risked and gave their lives to protect it, to preserve the sacred pledge that all men are created equal. This nation, with its singular values, has endured thanks to our veterans…men and women, to use Knefler’s words, of “heroic mold” who have “held it with fire and steel.” On Veterans Day we give them our deepest gratitude and pledge to do our part to guarantee what they have held is never lost.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-kaine-introduce-bill-to-end-legacy-admissions/,"Young, Kaine Introduce Bill to End Legacy Admissions",2023-11-07,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced the Merit-Based Educational Reforms and Institutional Transparency Act (MERIT Act), legislation to end the practice of colleges and universities giving “preferential treatment” in the admissions process based on an applicant’s relationship to alumni or donors of the deciding institution. The MERIT Act would amend the Higher Education Act to add a new standard for accreditation in order to prevent accredited colleges and universities – institutions that are recognized for maintaining a certain level of educational quality – from giving “preferential treatment” during the admissions process. “America is a land of opportunity, not a land of aristocracy,” said Senator Young. “Legacy admissions restrict opportunities for many bright and talented young Americans and provide unmerited advantage to the most connected individuals in our society. Our bill will end legacy preferences in the admissions process and promote upward mobility for Americans of all backgrounds.” “A student’s acceptance into a college should not hinge on whether their parents attended that school or donated a large sum of money,” said Senator Kaine. “This legislation would help bring more fairness to the higher education admissions process, and ensure that first-generation and low-income students are not put at a disadvantage because of their parents’ educational histories or incomes. I will continue to do all that I can through my work on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to expand access to high-quality, affordable education.” Text of the legislation can be found here. Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-reduce-burdensome-health-care-reporting-requirements-for-employers/,"Young, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Reduce Burdensome Health Care Reporting Requirements for Employers",2023-11-06,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in introducing two pieces of bipartisan legislation that would protect Americans’ privacy and remove burdensome and bureaucratic reporting requirements in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) by allowing certain communications to be electronically filed. The two bills, the Employer Reporting Improvement Act and the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously earlier this year. “Under current law, overreaching compliance requirements create uncertainty and stress for employers in Indiana and across the nation. Our bipartisan bills will help reduce these unnecessary burdens and increase efficiency,” said Senator Young. “The Affordable Care Act was a seismic achievement in expanding access to health care, but it’s still incumbent on Congress to make sure it’s working as smoothly as possible for the Americans and businesses that it serves. These two bipartisan bills will take important steps forward to modernize and streamline compliance requirements while protecting privacy, so that more Americans and employers can access and deploy benefits without getting entangled in red tape,” said Senator Warner. “Small businesses in South Dakota and across the country have been forced to comply with overly burdensome administrative requirements from the Affordable Care Act. These bills would eliminate convoluted paperwork and streamline the current reporting requirements to ensure businesses can focus their resources on serving their customers and employees,” said Senator Thune. “We need to make it as easy as possible for Nevada businesses to provide workers with high-quality health care without forcing them to jump through unnecessary hoops. Our bipartisan bills will reduce unnecessary paperwork burdening businesses, and I will continue working to cut through red tape and help Nevadans access high quality health care,” said Senator Cortez Masto. The Employer Reporting Improvement Act would protect Americans’ privacy and ease compliance burdens on employers. Among other steps, it would modernize communication by allowing employers to electronically file certain documents. It would also protect privacy by clarifying that the IRS can accept full names and dates of birth in lieu of dependents’ and spouses’ Social Security numbers. In addition, it would ease compliance burdens by extending the time period (from 30 days to 90 days) during which an applicable large employer can appeal a penalty for not offering adequate, affordable health insurance to all full-time employees. Finally, it would enact a six-year statute of limitations for the IRS to levy penalties under the Employer Shared Responsibility provision of the ACA. The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act would reduce the number of physical forms that employers have to mail to employees as part of complying with the ACA. Currently, employers and health insurance providers that provide minimum essential coverage must report this information to the IRS for each covered individual and provide a copy of this information to the covered individual (through 1095-B or 1095-C tax forms, depending on the coverage type) by January 31 of each year. Current IRS regulations allow employers to provide only 1095-B forms electronically. The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act would codify the current IRS policy by allowing the 1095-B to be provided electronically and would extend this to 1095-C, limiting unnecessary physical paperwork. “The Partnership for Employer-Sponsored Coverage (P4ESC) applauds introduction of the Employer Reporting Improvement Act and the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act in the Senate. We thank the bill’s bipartisan sponsors, Senators Warner, Thune, Cortez Masto, and Young. We are particularly grateful to Senator Warner, who has championed this issue ever since the Affordable Care Act became law. P4ESC hopes that 2023 finally will be the year ACA reporting gets fixed,” said Neil Trautwein, P4ESC’s Executive Director. “We commend Senators Thune, Warner, Young, and Cortez Masto for introducing the Employer Reporting Improvement Act in the Senate. This is a breath of fresh air that small businesses desperately need. By allowing electronic filing of essential documents and promoting flexibility, this legislation slices through bureaucratic barriers, protecting small businesses from being overly exposed to unwarranted fines. It’s not just about reducing unnecessary paperwork; it’s about empowering small business owners with the flexibility they need to better support their valued employees. The Paperwork Reduction Act, introduced by Senators Warner, Young, Cortez Masto, and Thune, takes a significant step towards providing relief for small business owners from unnecessary red tape. By offering alternative reporting methods, this legislation reduces cumbersome red tape and drives efficiency. This legislation promotes badly needed flexibility and streamlines operations, lowering costs and helping small employers focus on what they do best, running their businesses and supporting their employees,” said Josselin Castillo, Manager of Federal Government Relations, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-gop-colleagues-introduce-bill-forcing-biden-admin-to-make-catch-and-release-data-public/,"Young, GOP Colleagues Introduce Bill Forcing Biden Admin to Make Catch-and-Release Data Public",2023-11-03,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine), along with a group of their Senate Republican colleagues, introduced the Southern Border Transparency Act, which would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to accurately report how it is handling migrants encountered at the border and ensure the American people have a full accounting of the number of migrants being released into the United States by the Biden administration along with information detailing where they are coming from. “Our bill would bring much-needed transparency to the American people about the true nature of the crisis at our southern border,” said Senator Young. This legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.). Full legislative text can be found here. Background: The Biden Administration’s strategy for handling the influx of migrants at the border has been to funnel them into so-called “parole” or unlawful release programs, including the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan parole program, an expanded Central American Minors program that now includes adults, and the likely widespread use of parole at Ports of Entry (POEs). These migrants are eligible for work authorization, and there is limited visibility into whether they ultimately depart the United States. Right now, there is currently only limited public data available on the total number of people who have been released into the U.S. under these programs, whether they are even making asylum claims before they are released, what screenings are taking place, or whether these migrants ever depart the United States. The Southern Border Transparency Act would require DHS to fully report on how it is handling migrants encountered at the border, including: The number of migrants paroled at each POE and in each Border Patrol sector; The number of migrants apprehended at each POE and in each Border Patrol sector and how many were granted voluntary departure, placed into expedited removal, or simply released into the interior; The number of petitions for parole received and granted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); and The total number of migrants paroled into the United States each fiscal year, whether they are granted work authorization, and whether they ultimately depart the United States when their parole expires. Earlier this year, the Biden Administration acted without Congress’ consent to create programs that allow for hundreds of thousands of migrants to be paroled and released into the United States annually. One allows migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to legally remain in the U.S. for two years and offers work authorizations to up to 360,000 people a year. The administration has also released more than 266,000 migrants who scheduled immigration appointments with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the CBP One app, including individuals from Iran, China, and Russia. These practices result in decreased apprehensions, but do not decrease the number of migrants with unrealistic asylum claims who are entering and remaining in the United States. Separately, the administration is releasing an unknown number of individuals under the label of “humanitarian release,” although it is unclear who qualifies. Although some migrants are placed into expedited removal proceedings, most are released into the interior of the U.S. before DHS even determines whether they will make asylum claims, let alone whether those claims are even credible on their face.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=330,Baird Votes in Favor of Supporting Israel and Protecting American Citizens in the Middle East,2023-11-02,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) voted in favor of the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act to send military and humanitarian assistance to Israel and protect American lives in the wake of the unprovoked attack by Hamas terrorists. “The attack on Israel represents an existential threat to the safety and security of our greatest ally in the Middle East,” said Rep. Baird. “America’s enemies are watching our reaction carefully. It is crucial that we demonstrate our unwavering support to Israel and send a clear message to our adversaries that we will not be intimidated.” “This bill is consistent with my commitment to fiscal responsibility by reallocating funds that were intended to strengthen the IRS’ ability to audit working Americans. Instead, this money will be used to protect our allies. House Republicans have also included provisions requiring the Administration to send regular updates to Congress on how this money is spent, ensuring it is used as intended. Crucially, it will also allocate funding to evacuate American citizens, protect our diplomats, and save innocent lives. The people of Israel must know they have our support in times of crisis – I’m proud to say this bill does exactly that.” Background: The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act redirects funding that was originally intended to strengthen the IRS' ability to audit working Americans. Instead, this funding will be used to enhance security at U.S. diplomatic facilities in the Middle East and to evacuate American citizens. The bill passed the full House with a vote of 226 to 196, with 11 Members abstaining.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-call-for-strengthened-economic-ties-with-israel/,"Young, Colleagues Call for Strengthened Economic Ties with Israel",2023-11-02,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a group of Senate Finance Committee members to introduce a bipartisan resolution calling for the strengthening of economic ties between the U.S. and Israel. The resolution comes amid Israel’s war against Hamas in response to the terrorist group’s gruesome assault on southern Israel on October 7th, which has stunted Israel’s economy. “The United States must use every tool available to support Israel following Hamas’ reprehensible attacks. Our bipartisan resolution reaffirms the strength of the U.S.-Israel economic relationship and America’s commitment to standing with the people of Israel,” said Senator Young. “Ever since the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement was instituted in 1985, the strong economic relationship between Israel and the U.S. has flourished,” said Senator Blackburn. “While Israel faces an unprecedented war against Hamas, we must have their back. It is essential that we further trade and investment between our two countries in order to help boost Israel’s economy during this turbulent time.” “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution to support Israel and demonstrate our commitment to working together to strengthen our two economies,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Let me be clear: the U.S. stands with Israel, and I will continue working across the aisle to combat terrorism and bolster our alliance with our strongest ally.” In addition to Senators Young, Blackburn, and Cortez Masto, Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) also joined the resolution. The full resolution can be found here. Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:49:58Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=328,Baird Meets with Future Conservative Leaders at Zionsville High School Young Republican Club,2023-10-31,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Zionsville, IN - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) met with members of the Zionsville High School Young Republicans to discuss challenges facing Indiana’s youth and listen to their perspective on the issues facing our country. “It is a privilege to meet so many dedicated students eager to make an impact on their state and their country,” said Rep. Baird. “These young Americans represent the next generation of leaders who will one day inherit our country. It is vital to mentor young Hoosiers and cultivate their interest in government. But more importantly, we must also listen to their concerns. America will have a bright future if students like these decide to make a career in public service.” Zionsville High School Young Republicans have hosted several prominent Indiana Republicans over the past year, including former Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Mike Braun. The Indiana Federation of Young Republicans provides a unique opportunity for conservatives to develop their leadership skills, meet key public figures, discuss their shared interests, and shape public policy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-houchins-jeffersonville-office-returns-more-13-million-hoosiers,Congresswoman Houchin’s Jeffersonville Office Returns More Than $1.3 Million to Hoosiers in First Year,2023-10-31,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,Erin Houchin,H001093,houchin.house.gov,houchin,https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Since taking office in January 2023, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) and her district staff in Jeffersonville have helped 475 constituents resolve cases with federal agencies. These efforts have allowed more than $1.3 million dollars to be returned to Hoosiers in the Ninth District so far this year. Additionally, during a season of unprecedented passport requests, Congresswoman Houchin’s office was able to help over 100 Hoosiers receive a passport. In July, Congresswoman Houchin advocated for opening a passport agency in the region. Currently, the Chicago, Illinois passport agency is the closest option for in-person appointments for Indiana residents. “Families, workers, and veterans have enough on their plate with the rising cost of living and inflation under the Biden Administration. Our office in Jeffersonville is working every day to take the burden off hardworking taxpayers needing assistance with federal agencies. I’m proud of our team’s accomplishments this first year and look forward to helping even more constituents in the coming months,” said Congresswoman Houchin.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-houchin-introduces-resolution-recognizing-october-national,Congresswoman Houchin Introduces Resolution Recognizing October as National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month,2023-10-30,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,Erin Houchin,H001093,houchin.house.gov,houchin,https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) and Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26) announced the introduction of a resolution recognizing October as National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. According to a report published by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, one in five children in the U.S. have a learning disability. Only one in 16 public school students have individualized learning accommodations for their learning disabilities, while millions of children with learning issues are not properly identified. These staggering statistics often lead to children not only facing challenges in school but also lifelong struggles that can lead to unemployment and trouble with the law. This resolution is helping to bring awareness to the learning disabilities that impact millions of children and adults and reaffirm support through advocacy and education for all individuals affected by learning disabilities across the United States. “As a parent to a child with dyslexia, I have experienced this issue first-hand and have been contending on behalf of students with learning disabilities to ensure none of them fall through the cracks. I’m proud to continue this important work in Congress by recognizing the significance of National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month alongside dyslexia champion Congresswoman Julia Brownley. This resolution affirms what advocates have been saying for years – we should be screening students for specific learning disabilities as early as possible and should be relying on research on the Science of Reading to inform effective instructional methods to teach reading. It’s why I led universal screening legislation in Indiana and why I will continue to support students with disabilities every day as a Member of Congress,” said Congresswoman Houchin. “I began my career in public service to ensure that individuals with learning disabilities, like my daughter who has dyslexia, have the resources and positive learning environments they need to live up to their fullest potential,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “In recognizing October as National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, we are bringing much needed awareness to the challenges people with learning disabilities face and, more importantly, reaffirming the support they need to thrive. I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to raise awareness and help all those with learning disabilities to succeed.” “We express our deep gratitude to Representative Brownley and Representative Houchin for their commitment in introducing a resolution acknowledging October as Learning Disabilities Awareness Month,"" says Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. “Every October, we celebrate and honor the millions of individuals with learning disabilities throughout the nation who actively engage and contribute to our education system and society. We stand alongside Representatives Brownley and Houchin in recognizing and championing the identities of all individuals with learning disabilities."" The resolution is endorsed by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, a leading non-profit organization focused on building community, sharing resources, and shaping policy to help individuals with learning and attention issues.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-houchin-publishes-new-op-ed-dyslexia,Congresswoman Houchin Publishes New Op-ed on Dyslexia,2023-10-30,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,Erin Houchin,H001093,houchin.house.gov,houchin,https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09), a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the bipartisan House Dyslexia Caucus, released the following op-ed. “As a lawmaker who happens to be a parent of a Dyslexic child, I find myself uniquely positioned to tackle this problem. I have worked on this issue in my own home, and both at the state and the federal level legislatively. I know this from a personal and a policy perspective,” said Congresswoman Houchin. The op-ed follows last week’s introduction of the21st Century Dyslexia Act to modernize Dyslexia identification to avoid the chance of the learning disability going unidentified in students. FULL OP-ED: October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month and Dyslexia Awareness Month. It is a time for both awareness and action. As a parent of a son with Dyslexia, I understand the difficulties many children face. When my son began to struggle in school, our family felt frustrated and confused. Like many parents to children with learning disabilities, we navigated the complex network of specialists and started to do our own research. Teachers and educators, while well-intentioned, were also overwhelmed by what our son was experiencing. Understanding and action are far too difficult to come by. Such difficulties have serious consequences. Falling behind in reading can affect students in the long term. Dyslexic students are more likely to face reduced graduation rates, lower income, and increased involvement in the criminal justice system. With as many as twenty percent of Americans suffering some degree of Dyslexia, this is a widespread, national problem. We have the potential, though, to mitigate these adverse results, reverse these troubling statistics, and bring positive change to people’s lives. As a lawmaker who happens to be a parent of a Dyslexic child, I find myself uniquely positioned to tackle this problem. I have worked on this issue in my own home, and both at the state and the federal level legislatively. I know this from a personal and a policy perspective. That is why I’m taking the initiative right now to contend for children with Dyslexia. We can do this in two ways, by raising awareness and by enacting legislation. I proudly supported resolution H. Res 814 that recognizes October as “National Dyslexia Awareness Month.” This effort was in conjunction with other members of Congress engaged in confronting Dyslexia, including Representative Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.-04), who is the lead sponsor of the resolution in the House of Representatives. Awareness is a potent instrument that empowers educators and aids parents in their efforts to assist students. Awareness is not enough, however. That is why I have also introduced legislation alongside another parent of a child with Dyslexia, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), to offer important policy solutions. The 21st Century Dyslexia Act, which we introduced in a bicameral and bipartisan fashion, would modernize how we screen for Dyslexia by removing it from the overburdened “Specific Learning Disabilities” (SLD) section in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This legislation will also provide a definition of Dyslexia to better help educators and parents identify what Dyslexia is and how it manifests in different students. Adopting this change allows us to expedite the allocation of resources and essential support for students, preventing them from falling behind in the first place. While we are good at assisting diagnosed students, accelerating the process to reach that stage is paramount. Literacy stands at the core of student success. It is central to how students begin to excel in other academic endeavors. Proficient early reading opens doors for our children to discover their God-given talents. We must contend for these students. I will persist in collaboration with advocates, parents, and partners nationwide to ensure that Dyslexia and other learning disabilities never hinder children from reaching their full potential. By raising awareness and making these policy changes, we can look forward to a brighter future for all American children.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-urge-president-biden-to-address-rise-in-terrorists-crossing-southern-border/,"Young, Colleagues Urge President Biden to Address Rise in Terrorists Crossing Southern Border",2023-10-30,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, led a group of Republican senators in sending a letter to President Joe Biden expressing deep concern about the rise in terrorists crossing the southern border and asking for plans to bolster border and internal security measures. In addition to Senator Young, Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined the letter. The senators wrote in the their letter, “Our Southern border is a matter of deep national concern and insecurity. With rising violence and economic crises around the world pushing many people towards our borders, the record levels of illegal crossings and the spike in Border Patrol apprehensions of individuals matching the U.S. terror watchlist are alarming. In fiscal year 2023 alone, 169 migrants with positive terrorism watchlist matches were apprehended along our Southern border. This represents a tenfold increase from the figures reported in fiscal year 2021. Although the exact affiliations and identities of these individuals remain classified, the marked increase is alarming. Even if these apprehensions represent a minority, the potential devastation from a single individual with malign intentions cannot be overstated.” The full letter is available here and below: Dear President Biden, The recent brutal and reprehensible attacks by Hamas against Israel underscore the importance of vigilance against global terrorist groups both internationally and domestically. As President of the United States, we expect you to take every necessary step to ensure the protection of the homeland and to both prioritize and resource this task accordingly. However, the nature of the foreign challenge, combined with vulnerabilities at home—starting at our Southern border—warrant a proactive and comprehensive assessment. Our Southern border is a matter of deep national concern and insecurity. With rising violence and economic crises around the world pushing many people towards our borders, the record levels of illegal crossings and the spike in Border Patrol apprehensions of individuals matching the U.S. terror watchlist are alarming. In fiscal year 2023 alone, 169 migrants with positive terrorism watchlist matches were apprehended along our Southern border. This represents a tenfold increase from the figures reported in fiscal year 2021. Although the exact affiliations and identities of these individuals remain classified, the marked increase is alarming. Even if these apprehensions represent a minority, the potential devastation from a single individual with malign intentions cannot be overstated. Given the current geostrategic challenge and potential threats, we request that your Administration provide Members of Congress a senior-level classified briefing to discuss your plan and intentions to support the security of the homeland, including clarification to the following: 1. Given the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and the possibility that Hamas or other regional terrorist organizations may seek to expand the conflict and incite further violence against the United States, how have you assessed any changes in threats to the homeland? 2. What proactive initiatives are underway to bolster the security protocols at our Southern border, especially in light of the increased apprehensions related to the U.S. terror watchlist and threats of violence by leaders of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations? 3. With the possibility of hundreds of thousands of individuals having entered the country undetected in the past two years, what measures are being implemented to address this significant blind spot and to ensure that potential threats are identified and neutralized? 4. How are key national security agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), being primed to preemptively detect and counteract threats from designated terrorist organizations, especially those that stem from potential border vulnerabilities? 5. Are there plans to conduct a comprehensive review of current security protocols to identify potential loopholes or areas of improvement? 6. What collaborative steps is the Administration taking with our neighbors to enlist their support in sharing information and intelligence against designated terrorist organizations, given mutual security objectives and possible vulnerabilities? 7. How is the Administration working to track and block financial channels that may support terrorist activities and infiltration at our Northern and Southern Borders and ports of entry? Hamas’ devastating attack, combined with its ties to entities such as the Iranian government and Hezbollah, underscores the necessity for a comprehensive assessment of its potential to reach targets beyond the immediate region. Its active publication of digital propaganda, reminiscent of ISIS strategies, further complicates this picture and potentially expands its scope of influence. These narratives, capable of reaching audiences beyond the Middle East, have the potential to inspire or influence disaffected individuals within our borders and those of our allies and partners. In addition, FBI Director Christopher Wray has commented about the challenges posed by “copycat” actors, noting on October 13, “[I]n this heightened environment, there’s no question we’re seeing an increase in reported threats, and we’ve got to be on the lookout, especially for lone actors who may take inspiration from recent events to commit violence of their own.” Indeed, numerous acts of terror on U.S. soil, reminiscent of the ISIS-driven attacks in San Bernardino, Orlando, and New York from 2015 to 2017, have primarily been executed by domestic individuals or lawful immigrants, rather than foreign infiltrators. The call for a “Day of Rage” by Hamas leadership must be seen as an incitement to violence, and underscores the need to remain vigilant against “copycat” actors or radicalized individuals. International terrorist organizations likely recognize that their effectiveness is increased by inspiring individuals already within our borders as opposed to breaching them. Given these considerations, we urge you to reassess, reinforce, and bolster our border and internal security measures. In light of the seriousness of these potential threats and the likely need for additional resources, we request that you ensure senior administration officials brief Members of Congress no later than November 8 with any findings and recommendations, to ensure a coordinated and informed response. The consequences of lapses in security can be catastrophic. We must be proactive and not wait for tragedy to strike before taking decisive action. We stand ready to support any measures and initiatives that prioritize the safety and well-being of our nation and its citizens. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-urge-dhs-fbi-to-prioritize-prevention-of-antisemitic-violence/,"Young, Colleagues Urge DHS, FBI to Prioritize Prevention of Antisemitic Violence",2023-10-27,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) led a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray to request their immediate attention on resources that help protect the safety and security of Jewish Americans, religious institutions, and organizations in our nation that are vulnerable to increased threats and violence as a result of the terrorist attack in Israel on October 7. In addition to Senators Young, Lankford, and Rosen, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also joined the letter. The senators wrote in the their letter, “Free speech is always protected in the public square, but speech inciting violence, as well as threats and acts of terrorism and violence, must be taken seriously. Given these pressing threats, we support an increase in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) in any upcoming supplemental funding legislation. While we appreciate the joint public safety notice issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to faith and community leaders on October 10, government agencies have a responsibility to continue to prioritize the safety and security of individuals and organizations vulnerable to violence, especially violence motivated by antisemitism, in real time, as the threat landscape evolves…” The full letter is available here and below: Dear Secretary Mayorkas and Director Wray: As members of the Senate and House Bipartisan Task Forces for Combating Antisemitism, we write to express our concern about the increase in antisemitic threats and incidents targeting Jewish Americans and Jewish organizations here in the United States. Unfortunately, following Hamas’ recent terrorist attacks in Israel, antisemitism is on full display in cities around the country, as well as on college and university campuses. Free speech is always protected in the public square, but speech inciting violence, as well as threats and acts of terrorism and violence, must be taken seriously. Given these pressing threats, we support an increase in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) in any upcoming supplemental funding legislation. While we appreciate the joint public safety notice issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to faith and community leaders on October 10, government agencies have a responsibility to continue to prioritize the safety and security of individuals and organizations vulnerable to violence, especially violence motivated by antisemitism, in real time, as the threat landscape evolves. As this effort continues, it is vital to prioritize information sharing to the maximum extent possible with targeted communities as well as state and local law enforcement partners. As you will recall, in May 2021, as violence perpetrated by Hamas against Israel escalated, antisemitic violence rose across the country. It is imperative that we work to prevent further targeted, antisemitic violence in the wake of the current conflict. As such, we urge you to continue the work you have been undertaking to ensure the physical safety and security of Jewish Americans, religious institutions, and organizations, including synagogues, schools, and Jewish community centers. This includes taking additional steps to allocate sufficient resources toward and generate increased awareness of DHS’ NSGP. As you know, NSGP provides critical funding to support physical security and planning enhancements to keep at-risk nonprofits, including religious organizations and houses of worship, safe from violence. Ensuring the safety of Jewish Americans also requires increased coordination to prevent and respond to threats of violence. Such coordination is not only necessary between federal law enforcement agencies like DHS and the FBI, but also other federal agencies, including the National Security Council and the Department of Education, as well as local governments, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders. Many individual agencies play a role in countering antisemitism, and close coordination between them is needed now more than ever to ensure that they can share data, intelligence, and best practices. Increasing federal interagency coordination and collaboration underscores America’s firm commitment to fighting antisemitism. We believe that implementation of Pillar 2 of the US National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism released earlier this year should be focused on the principal threats to the safety and security of Jewish communities, particularly incitement to violence. We believe this is the time to work together to implement several important aspects of this strategy. We appreciate the critical role that your agencies play in protecting our nation. We stand ready to work with you to safeguard the physical safety and security of Jewish Americans who are facing increased threats. To support this work, it is important that Members of Congress are made aware of the current threat landscape, and any specific antisemitic threats and acts of violence. As such, we request an unclassified member briefing no later than October 31, 2023, detailing the current threat assessment, interagency coordination efforts, and preparedness and resilience measures your agencies have in place to prevent and respond to such violence. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-finance-committee-colleagues-condemn-biden-administrations-decision-to-cede-us-digital-leadership-to-china/,"Young, Finance Committee Colleagues Condemn Biden Administration’s Decision to Cede U.S. Digital Leadership to China",2023-10-27,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), all Republican members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to end U.S. support for combatting China’s predatory practices in international digital trade negotiations. “We have warned for years that either the United States would write the rules for digital trade or China would. Now, the Biden Administration has decided to give China the pen. “The USTR announced in Geneva that it will abandon support for proposals made during the Trump Administration to allow free data flows between countries. In so doing, USTR, which touts a ‘Worker-Centered Trade Policy,’ is choosing to side with China over the 8 million Americans who work in the digital economy and generate 10 percent of U.S. GDP. China made clear it opposes free data proposals precisely because it wants the right to require all data be stored under whatever terms China’s laws or regulations may dictate, including forcing data to undergo government security reviews. China’s laws and regulations routinely facilitate technology theft, human rights abuses and the loss of American jobs. “The Biden Administration’s claim that it wants to ensure ‘policy space’ is spurious. The Trump Administration’s proposals—supported by a number of U.S. allies—explicitly permit legitimate public policy regulation of how companies might handle customer data. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which passed Congress overwhelming, also includes these commitments. Unfortunately, the only party getting any ‘space’ here is China, and that space allows China to assume the leadership role formerly held by the United States. “USTR not only failed to consult with Congress, before reversing its policy on free data flows, but misled it. As recently as this weekend, USTR officials told congressional staff that they had not abandoned support for negotiating the free data flow commitments at issue. “Regrettably, we are not surprised. This is simply one of the many instances where USTR fails to engage with Congress—even though Congress has the constitutional responsibility for trade. Moreover, Ambassador Tai makes clear in her speeches and through her actions that foreign countries are free to discriminate against U.S. companies and workers as long as these countries and USTR can concoct an excuse. Failing to stand up for America and against foreign discrimination—particularly from China—is contrary to the USTR mission. We, however, will work, through Congress, to ensure the American people have the agency they need and deserve.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-joins-bipartisan-bicameral-letter-urging-inclusion-of-chips-permitting-reform-in-ndaa/,"Young Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Inclusion of Chips Permitting Reform in NDAA",2023-10-27,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with a group of over 100 bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers, sent a letter to Senate and House Armed Services Committees leaders urging them to preserve the language based on the Building Chips in America Act in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The chips permitting bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support as an amendment to the Senate NDAA in July, streamlines National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review requirements for semiconductor manufacturing projects to maximize the impact of the CHIPS and Science Act. Senate and House leaders are preparing to negotiate a final, compromise version of the NDAA that could pass both chambers and be signed into law. The letter urges Senate and House leaders to maintain the Senate-passed microchip permitting reforms in that final version. “Historically, NEPA reviews apply to projects that receive a significant portion of federal funding, giving the Federal government sufficient control over the project’s outcome. This is not the case for the CHIPS program,” the lawmakers wrote. Federal funding for CHIPS and Science Act projects will comprise a minimal share of the cost, but they would still be deemed “major federal actions” according to Commerce Department officials overseeing the program. “This could halt or delay commencement of new projects, impacting the United States’ ability to bolster its national security interests, economic growth, competitiveness, and technological leadership,” the lawmakers continued. “Interruptions and delays to semiconductor manufacturing projects would undermine the goals of the CHIPS Act and exacerbate risks to our economic and national security, without providing additional benefits for environmental protection. Therefore, we urge you to retain Section 1090G of S. 2226 in the final FY24 NDAA,” they concluded.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=326,Baird Releases Statement After Voting for Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House,2023-10-26,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) released the following statement after casting his vote for Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04) for Speaker. Speaker Johnson subsequently won the election and will go on to serve as the 56th Speaker of the House. “I’m very pleased that our Conference came together to elect Speaker Johnson,” said Rep. Baird. “Now that Republicans have united to select a Speaker, it is time to get our legislative priorities back on track and deliver on the promises we made to the American people.” Speaker Johnson was selected by a vote of 220 – 209.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-reed-bill-to-boost-civic-engagement-and-strengthen-national-service-advances-to-senate-floor/,"Young, Reed Bill to Boost Civic Engagement and Strengthen National Service Advances to Senate Floor",2023-10-26,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 11-1 to advance the bipartisan Unity through Service Act (S.2150), which was introduced earlier this year by U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.). This legislation is based on the recommendations of the bipartisan National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service to review the military selective service process and consider methods to increase participation in military, national, and other public service to address the needs of the nation. The Commission published its final report and recommendations just as the pandemic hit American soil, setting off a decline in the rates of volunteerism from 30 percent to 23.2 percent according to data from AmeriCorps. The Commission called for a ten-year goal for five million Americans to begin participating in military, national, or public service each year. Additionally, the Commission set targets for ensuring there are more than enough qualified individuals seeking to serve in the Armed Forces and for modernizing government personnel systems to attract and enable Americans with critical skills to enter public service. The Unity through Service Act (S. 2150) would provide the architecture and focus to mobilize a whole of government approach to achieving these goals. “Civic engagement and giving back to one’s community are woven into the fabric of the American spirit. Service brings forth positive change and promotes unity across the nation. The Unity through Service Act would modernize our current federal programs to better match Americans with service opportunities that target community-specific needs, while also appropriately stewarding taxpayer dollars. I am pleased to see this bill move forward in the legislative process,” said Senator Young. “This bipartisan bill will create the conditions we need to mobilize Americans that are ready and willing to answer the call to serve. It is critical that we come together to meet the challenges we face as a nation and I am proud to join Senator Young in advocating for the Unity through Service Act and reaffirming our national culture of service,” said Senator Reed. The Unity through Service Act would elevate all forms of service, making it easier for Americans to identify service opportunities that align with their skills and goals. This bill would establish an Interagency Council on Service to coordinate and lead initiatives that extend across military, national, and public service. The Council will be tasked with preparing and submitting to the President a national strategy on service, including a review of current programs, initiatives, and online content. Furthermore, the Unity through Service Act would authorize a joint advertising, market research, and recruiting program with the Department of Defense (DOD), the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), and the Peace Corps to identify successful strategies and efficiently share this information across agencies. The bill would require a quadrennial report to Congress on initiatives to integrate military, national, and public service programs. Now that the Unity through Service Act has passed through committee, the bill must pass the full U.S. Senate. This legislation is endorsed by the Voices for National Service, Service Year Alliance, and America’s Service Commissions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-houchin-introduces-21st-century-dyslexia-act,Congresswoman Houchin Introduces 21st Century Dyslexia Act,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,Erin Houchin,H001093,houchin.house.gov,houchin,https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09), a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the bipartisan House Dyslexia Caucus, introduced the 21st Century Dyslexia Act. The bill would modernize Dyslexia identification to avoid the chance of the learning disability going unidentified in students. As a mom to a now-high schooler with Dyslexia, Congresswoman Houchin has been contending on behalf of students with learning disabilities since her son’s diagnosis in the third grade. “I’ve been continually disappointed in how students with Dyslexia are left to fend for themselves in our education system. I remember the years of sleepless nights and wrong information that delayed my own son’s diagnosis, and ultimately delayed his ability to receive appropriate accommodations. Our family’s story isn’t unique, which is why the 21st Century Dyslexia Act is necessary,” said Congresswoman Houchin. Congresswoman Houchin introduced this legislation alongside Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who introduced the same legislation in the Senate today, making the bill bicameral. “We know how to teach a student with dyslexia and help them reach their full potential. Unfortunately, a student is often not screened for dyslexia until after they have already fallen behind, if at all,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This legislation brings a 21st century approach to dyslexia based on science that allows children with dyslexia to achieve their God given potential.” In addition to Senator Cassidy, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.-08), Eric Burlison (R-Miss.-7), Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.-1), and Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.-04). “Students with dyslexia face unique challenges and should have access to the resources and supportive learning environments they need to live up to their fullest potential,” said Rep. Julia Brownley, co-chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus. “By reclassifying dyslexia as its own category within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, this legislation raises the much-needed awareness of the most common learning disability among American students and provides the proper accommodations and services for these students. As the mother of a child who struggled with dyslexia when she was in school, I know the importance of this issue all too well. That is why I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus to ensure that all individuals living with dyslexia can thrive and succeed.” “My experience as a father of a child with dyslexia has taught me that despite its commonality, this condition is often difficult to detect and treat,” said Dr. Larry Bucshon. “I’m honored to cosponsor the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, which aims to provide the proper support to children with dyslexia, allowing them to overcome the challenges they face to succeed in school and in their professional careers. This legislation will help emphasize the valuable contributions individuals with dyslexia can make, brightening our nation’s future.” “For far too long, students with dyslexia have faced a mountain of obstacles to learn in a way that’s best suited to them. Educators weren’t properly trained and parents often felt powerless to help their children who struggled with dyslexia. I’ve been honored to meet many of these students and parents during my time as the co-chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus, and I know that their futures are bright when we equip them with the tools they need for success. I’m proud to once again lead this important legislation alongside Congresswoman Houchin and Dyslexia Caucus Co-Chair Brownley, and I hope it serves as a roadmap for raising dyslexia awareness and giving schools across the country the right resources to educate the next generation,” said Chairman Bruce Westerman, co-chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus. Sally Shaywitz, the co-founder director of the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity said, “With this new act, dyslexic boys and girls are truly and finally able to enjoy the benefits of 21st century science – somethings they unfortunately have been deprived of for far too long. Beginning with the evidence-based definition of dyslexia as unexpected, dyslexic students can now know their condition has a name “dyslexia,” that they are part of a community and importantly, they can be very smart. At last, scientific evidence is leading the way for educating--screening, identifying and teaching--students who are dyslexic, resulting in a better, much deserved future for these dyslexic boys and girls. We possess the knowledge. Now, we must act to translate this knowledge into policy and practice. The critical issue now is acting on this knowledge – what we have is an Action Gap!! Our children have waited long enough, we must ACT!” “I’ve been working with Sally and Bennet Shaywitz, the co-founders directors of the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, since my time in the Indiana General Assembly on universal screening laws and drafting our state definition of Dyslexia in Indiana. I’m grateful for their support of this legislation and their continued fight for our students,” said Congresswoman Houchin. Currently, Dyslexia is included as one of many neurocognitive differences under “Specific Learning Disabilities” (SLD) in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Despite Dyslexia being the most prevalent neurocognitive difference within SLD, students are rarely tested. This prevents them from getting the services and accommodations necessary to assist dyslexic students learning to read. When children are not identified with Dyslexia, evidence shows lifelong harm can occur, including lower career wages, reduced graduation rates, and increased rates of incarceration. This legislation helps students by pulling Dyslexia out of the overly broad definition of SLD and including it in the list of disabilities that define a “child with a disability,” thus classifying Dyslexia as its own category within IDEA.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-houchin-joins-colleagues-introduce-resolution-recognizing,Congresswoman Houchin Joins Colleagues to Introduce Resolution Recognizing October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,Erin Houchin,H001093,houchin.house.gov,houchin,https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09), member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, joined Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, to introduce a resolution recognizing October 2023 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month. Earlier today, they introduced the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, legislation that works to incorporate the modern, scientific understanding of dyslexia into federal statute and prevent the harm unidentified dyslexia can inflict on young students. “Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, but it often goes unnoticed or misdiagnosed for years. I know this firsthand as my own son struggled in school without answers. It’s our job to provide tools to help identify Dyslexia and to show students that their Dyslexia diagnosis is impacted by their accommodations, not their intelligence. As I work to address Dyslexia and other literacy related issues on the Education and Workforce Committee, I’m proud to introduce a resolution to mark October as National Dyslexia Awareness Month and continue working towards legislative solutions,” said Congresswoman Erin Houchin. “Dyslexia doesn’t affect intelligence but impacts an individual’s ability to read. Research shows it impacts 1 in 5 Americans,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This National Dyslexia Awareness Month, we work to educate the nation on dyslexia and ensure these bright children have the resources to achieve their dreams just like any other student.” In addition to Congresswoman Houchin, Representative Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.-04) joined to introduce the companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Millions of students have faced social stigmas and learning challenges due to dyslexia for far too long,” said Representative Westerman. “This important resolution brings congressional awareness to a critical issue and urges support for proper resources so that students impacted by dyslexia can learn and succeed. No student should be held back from success simply because they learn differently. I am honored to support this resolution, and I want to thank Senator Cassidy and my fellow Dyslexia Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Brownley, for making it a bicameral and bipartisan issue.” Despite the prevalence of dyslexia, students are rarely tested. This prevents them from getting the services and accommodations necessary to assist dyslexic students learning to read. When children are not identified with dyslexia, evidence shows lifelong harm can occur, including lower career wages, reduced graduation rates, and even increased rates of incarceration.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-commerce-committee-colleagues-want-tech-companies-to-preserve-documentary-history-of-hamas-atrocities/,"Young, Commerce Committee Colleagues Want Tech Companies to Preserve Documentary History of Hamas’ Atrocities",2023-10-24,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with a group of Republican members on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, sent a letter to tech companies X, Meta, TikTok, and Google seeking information on their content moderation policies during the Israel-Hamas war and asking the companies to commit to fully preserving a documentary history of Hamas’ atrocities. The senators wrote: “On October 7th, the world witnessed the largest mass murder of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust. Israelis and nationals from more than thirty countries, including the United States, have been kidnapped, tortured, and brutally executed by the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas and its affiliated militant groups. “Many of the horrors perpetrated by Hamas have been documented in real time on social media platforms, including by victims, the media, the Israeli government, and the terrorists themselves. While steps should be taken to curb attempts by Hamas to weaponize social media for its own ends, it is indisputable that social media platforms have already played a critical role in exposing the international community to the genocidal atrocities committed against Israel. Much of this content is graphic and violent, and under normal circumstances it might be removed under your company’s content policies. “We believe it is imperative that we preserve a full documentary history of Hamas’s atrocities. Ordinarily policies limiting the distribution of disturbing content might make sense, but videos and images uploaded by soldiers, law enforcement, citizens, journalists, and those with real time access to acts of terrorism need to be preserved to aid in prosecuting war crimes, intelligence gathering, media reporting, and the historical record. The role of social media in documenting war crimes and chronicling what happens in times of war is relatively new but highly consequential. Google has a responsibility not to permanently delete any of this content but to preserve it in such a way that the public record and historical record can accurately document the horrific atrocities being carried out.” In order to understand these platforms’ approach to moderating content from the Israel-Hamas war, including acts of terrorism carried out by Hamas, the Senators requested a number of pieces of information, including content policies relevant to the dissemination of content from the Israel-Hamas War, including any updates and exceptions, data related to the number of pieces of content that have been removed systematically without human review, and an explanation of how these policies are affected by international laws. The Senators are also asking how these tech companies are complying with sanctions programs that require the blocking of property or interests of Hamas, specifically how these companies are preventing their platforms from being used to provide material support to Hamas. In addition to Senators Young and Cruz, Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) also joined the letters.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-schatz-introduce-new-legislation-to-strengthen-nations-labor-laws-protect-children/,"Young, Schatz Introduce New Legislation to Strengthen Nation’s Labor Laws, Protect Children",2023-10-23,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced new legislation to help stop illegal child labor. The bipartisan Stop Child Labor Act would increase maximum fines for violations, establish new criminal penalties, allow victims harmed by violations to file private lawsuits, and encourage collaboration between employers and government to stop child labor violations before they occur. “Recent data shows that child labor exploitation is not a thing of the past or a problem limited to the developing world. This bipartisan bill would strengthen our nation’s labor laws to better protect our children,” said Senator Young. “Right now, our laws are allowing some of the worst employers to get away with exploiting kids for labor with nothing more than weak fines,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill will strengthen our child labor laws, hold bad employers accountable, and protect kids from this illicit practice.” To stop child labor and hold bad employers accountable, the Stop Child Labor Act would: Increase child labor violation civil penalties to $5,000 minimum – $132,270 maximum for routine violations; $25,000 minimum – $601,150 maximum for each violation that causes the death or serious injury of a minor; Create criminal penalties for a repeat or willful violation of child labor laws to include a fine of up to $50,000 and a year in jail; Allow children harmed by violations of the law to seek compensation; Start a grant program aimed at helping employers recognize, avoid, and prevent child labor violations; and Permanently establish a National Advisory Committee on Child Labor. The full legislative text can be found here. Background: This week, the Department of Labor (DOL) released new data showing child labor violations at their highest level in two decades. In fiscal year 2023, violations soared to 5,792, an 88 percent increase from 2019. This is due to companies increasingly circumventing child labor laws to fill positions due to the tight labor market. Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) imposes weak fines for violations, making it financially easier for companies to skirt child labor laws. Earlier this year, it was revealed that migrant child labor is being used for hazardous jobs in factories making products for well-known brands. In addition, DOL announced this year that it found more than 100 children across eight states cleaning dangerous meat processing equipment using hazardous chemicals for a contractor of major meat producer. While several child workers were injured on the job, DOL levied its maximum fine, just $15,138 for each count.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-tech-hub-announcement-another-major-win-for-hoosiers/,Young: Tech Hub Announcement “Another Major Win for Hoosiers”,2023-10-23,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) released the following statement regarding the announcement by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration that Indiana-based Heartland BioWorks, a consortium led by the Applied Research Institute, has been designated as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hub): “When I authored the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs program, my goal was to spur more innovation in technologies of the future in places like Indiana, rather than just Silicon Valley and a few coastal cities. Today’s announcement to designate Heartland BioWorks as a Tech Hub is a recognition of Indiana’s leadership in biotechnology and synthetic biology research and manufacturing, and another major win for Hoosiers. This designation could lead to millions in federal investment and will open the floodgates for more private capital in biotech R&D across the state,” said Senator Young. Senator Young introduced the Tech Hub concept in the Endless Frontier Act of 2020, which eventually became law as a key pillar in the CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law in 2022. Today’s designation is the first phase of the Tech Hubs program, which will invest directly in high-potential U.S. regions and aim to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers in specific key technology focus areas outlined in the law. Designation is an endorsement of the region’s strategy to supercharge their respective technology focus area to create jobs and strengthen U.S. economic and national security. Heartland BioWorks will now compete against other designated hubs for implementation grants of up to $75 million in the coming months. Being chosen as a Tech Hub solidifies Indiana’s position as a leader in biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, and synthetic biology. Earlier this year, Young led the Indiana congressional delegation in a letter supporting the Heartland BioWorks application. The delegation support letter is available here. In addition to the Heartland BioWorks designation, a number of other Indiana wins were included in EDA’s Tech Hubs announcement:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-helps-introduce-bill-to-freeze-6-billion-payment-to-iran-immediately/,Young Helps Introduce Bill to Freeze $6 Billion Payment to Iran Immediately,2023-10-20,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), lead Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, cosponsored legislation this week to block Iran from accessing the $6 billion in funds that the Biden Administration released in August and to immediately reinstate sanctions against Iran. “The terrorist attacks in Israel are a warning about how dangerous the world is becoming. If American power and will recede, bad actors will feel empowered to fill the vacuum,” said Senator Young. “Iran facilitates the actions of Hamas, as well as other groups intent on destroying Israel. The Biden Administration must freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets currently held in Qatar and hold Iran accountable for its violent and destabilizing actions, including support of Hamas. Additionally, the United States also must reimpose all sanctions against Iran. The Biden Administration’sdecision to ease enforcement of these sanctions has given Iran tens of billions of dollars to finance Hamas, Hezbollah, and its other terrorist proxies.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-reed-introduce-bipartisan-adult-education-works-act-to-strengthen-and-expand-programs-for-adult-learners/,"Young, Reed Introduce Bipartisan Adult Education WORKS Act to Strengthen and Expand Programs for Adult Learners",2023-10-19,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – For millions of Americans, adult education programs can make the difference between earning a family-sustaining wage and struggling to make ends meet. According to the Department of Education, at current funding levels, adult education programs reach less than one million Americans out of 43 million adults that are low-skilled in literacy and 63 million that are low-skilled in numeracy. In an effort to address the long-standing adult education crisis affecting quality of life for individuals and their families and holding our economy back, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) introduced the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success (WORKS) Act to reauthorize adult education programs and expand upon the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). “It’s critical that all Hoosiers have the tools necessary to succeed in the modern economy – and that starts with strengthening adult education,” said Senator Young. “Our bipartisan bill would bolster critical services for adult learners, while also making important updates that ensure participants are prepared for the 21st century workforce.” “When I travel around Rhode Island and ask business owners about challenges they face, more often than not, they tell me how hard it is to find the workers they need. Strengthening adult education programs is the key to unlocking opportunities for people looking to gain new skills and business owners searching for qualified workers and for bolstering America’s workforce and economy,” said Senator Reed. “The Adult Education WORKS Act will help ensure that more Americans can access educational programs that will equip them with in-demand skills to take the opportunities that are available to them.” A study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation estimates that getting all American adults to the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level would add $2.2 trillion to the country’s annual income. Without the opportunities provided by adult education programs, like numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, soft skills, work readiness, high school equivalency, and other wraparound services, many adults will be left on the sidelines of an economy that needs more qualified workers in order to grow. The Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis by updating WIOA and by strengthening and expanding access to adult education services. Specifically, the legislation calls for nearly doubling the authorized funding for adult education by 2029 to $1.35 billion while making significant changes to the adult education system. Critical for achieving success in modern workplaces and for navigating everyday life, the bill calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy. Furthermore, the legislation will help to enhance the role of adult education providers by ensuring representation in the workforce planning process, with a focus on college and career navigators in public libraries and community-based organizations. The bill also invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening state certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators. Investments will enhance innovation and provide increased accountability through pilot projects that test new approaches to measuring program performance and outcomes for adult learners. The Adult Education WORKS Act would amend Title I and reauthorize Title II of theWIOA, which was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA was designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed WIOA with a wide bipartisan majority and it was the first legislative reform of the public workforce system since 1998. The legislation is supported by American Library Association (ALA), Coalition for Adult Basic Education (COABE), National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), National Skills Coalition, ProLiteracy, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), and TESOL International Association. “Jobseekers look to the library for information and services to equip them to compete in an evolving job market and changing economy. Librarians are ready with resources for them to gain the skills they need for better paying jobs and new career opportunities,” said ALA President Emily Drabinski. “ALA is proud to support the Adult Education WORKS Act. A fresh, bipartisan approach to workforce development is what the country needs now, and it’s exactly the kind of legislation that a divided Congress can get behind.” “The Adult Education WORKS Act would strengthen adult education and fulfill its promise of helping millions of American adults gain the literacy, numeracy and digital and information literacy skills needed for high-demand jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. Each provision is designed to fill gaps in the WIOA system and expand opportunities for adult learners and their families, ensure employers have a pool of skilled workers to fill open jobs and increase our global competitiveness. COABE is greatly appreciative of the Senators’ engagement with the adult education field to develop this bill and is proud to announce its strong support of the bill,” said CEO of COABE, Sharon Bonney. “The Adult Education WORKS Act will reinforce the fabric of American society by increasing access to education in foundational literacy, numeracy, and digital skills for the millions of adults who need them,” said Executive Director of the National Coalition for Literacy, Deborah Kennedy. “By promoting greater coordination between adult education and workforce development programs, supporting increased professionalization of the adult education field, and providing for college and career navigators who can guide adults in pursuing further education and viable career paths, the Act will build on the proven strengths of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act while expanding access to educational opportunity for a larger proportion of the adults who can benefit from it.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-demanding-safe-release-of-hostages-from-hamas/,"Young, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Demanding Safe Release of Hostages from Hamas",2023-10-18,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas’ brutal terrorist attacks on Israel and demanding that Hamas release all hostages and allow for their safe return home. It is estimated that Hamas is holding close to 200 people hostage including children, women, seniors, and American citizens. “As part of its terrorist attacks on Israel, Hamas took hostage innocent Americans and Israelis, including children and the elderly,” said Senator Young. “We strongly condemn these barbaric actions and call on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally free all hostages. The world must join together and pressure Hamas terrorists to release these innocent civilians.” “In Israel, our bipartisan delegation met with the family members of those who were abducted by Hamas. As the only Jewish mother serving in the Senate, these conversations were gut-wrenching, and I promised them I’d lead the efforts to ensure these hostages were returned safely to their families,” said Senator Rosen. “This bipartisan resolution cements our support for the Israeli people, strongly condemns the atrocities carried out by Hamas, and demands the immediate release of the hundreds of hostages, including Americans, being held by this terrorist organization. The Senate must use its voice to call for the swift release of these innocent people.” In addition to Senators Young and Rosen, Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) also cosponsored the resolution. “Hamas must immediately and unconditionally release all hostages, including American citizens,” said Senator Booker. “The United States must continue working with our Israeli and regional partners and offer whatever support necessary to get these hostages safely out of harm’s way.” “Following the barbaric attacks of terrorism by Iran-backed Hamas in Israel, this bipartisan resolution sends a clear message of our support to our most important ally in the Middle East and to the Americans who are currently held captive in Gaza,” said Senator Rubio. “We have a moral duty to ensure these hostages return home, to deter future hostage-taking, and not reward Iran’s international support of terrorism by releasing billions of dollars to them.” “Hamas’ abduction of 199 innocent civilians – including American citizens, Israeli children, and Holocaust survivors – was an act of pure evil,” said Senator Cardin. “Their safe return is my paramount concern, and we are engaged with our regional partners to press Hamas for their immediate release and return to safety. “The most powerful meeting we had in Israel was talking with the families of hostages being held by Hamas,” said Senator Cassidy. “Those being held hostage, and their families, need our support now more than ever. American and Israeli families are hurting.” “No innocent civilian—not Israelis, not Palestinians, not Illinoisans, not anyone—deserves to suffer the violence, terrorism, hate and abject heartbreak that too many human souls have faced since last Saturday’s Hamas terrorist attacks,” said Senator Duckworth. “Our bipartisan resolution today sends a message to all hostages—and all families experiencing the agony of having to wonder about the safety and wellbeing of their loved ones—that the United States sees them and is with them. There is never any excuse for terrorism and Hamas must immediately allow those in need of urgent medical care to receive it. I will continue doing everything in my power to ensure the safe release of those being held in Gaza so they can be reunited with their loved ones.” “Meeting with the families of hostages during my trip to Israel is something I will never forget, and my heart aches over the horrors they have experienced at the hands of Hamas terrorists,” said Senator Romney. “I’m proud to join my friend Senator Rosen in introducing this resolution to condemn Hamas and call on them to release all hostages. We also urge the United States to work with our friends and allies to ensure that everyone taken hostage is returned to their loved ones.” Full text of the resolution can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-we-must-stand-with-israel-oppose-antisemitism/,"Young: We Must Stand with Israel, Oppose Antisemitism",2023-10-18,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"**Click here or above to watch Senator Young’s floor speech.** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), lead Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, today spoke on the Senate floor about the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, why the United States must support the Israeli people, and the importance of denouncing antisemitism. “At the core of Hamas burns an age-old sickness: antisemitism…The worldview of Hamas must be added to the roll call of evil ideologies that failed to destroy the Jewish people…We must also stand vigilant against and always oppose antisemitism,” said Senator Young. To watch the full floor speech, click here. Senator Young’s full remarks, as delivered: Throughout their history, the children of Israel have known persecution and sorrow. They have lived in exile and enslavement. They have faced bigotry and violence. Entire nations and civilizations have sought to extinguish them and vanished, but the Jewish people remain. And against all odds, millions of their descendants gathered together in the Holy Land and founded a nation. Today, Israel is a vibrant democracy in the Middle East and a strong ally of the United States of America. Many people of faith would say the existence and perseverance of the State of Israel is itself evidence of divine Providence. Yet even today, even today, Israel faces existential threats. On October 7, Hamas terrorists carried out the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The slaughter of 1,400 people…the decapitation of babies…the execution of grandmothers…and the taking of nearly 200 hostages, including children, women, seniors, and American citizens. Thirty Americans were among the murdered. Thirty Americans. Many of our fellow citizens have friends and family in Israel. Regardless of our faith, we are all, I know, heartbroken for the loss, sickened by the cruelty. And on behalf of the Hoosiers I represent, I want to express my deepest condolences to the people of Israel as they mourn and pray and bury the dead. As it has since its founding, against alliances of far larger nations and armies, this country – which is four times smaller than Indiana – will defend itself. And America will be here for Israel and support its right to confront this violence, this barbarism. We will do this because our values are the same – dedication to liberty and order, to tolerance and human dignity. The days ahead will be difficult. As members of this body know too well, Israel is still under threat, and the risk of additional fronts opening up is real. Over the past several days, I’ve been heartened by the strong, bipartisan support in the United States Senate for the people of Israel. During this time of peril, this body cannot succumb to isolationism; we cannot abandon Israel any more than we can abandon our friends in Ukraine or Taiwan. On urgent matters of national security, we are stronger when we stand together. And in the difficult days ahead, we will work to support the people of Israel. I know we will continue that spirit. Relatedly, I call on the Biden Administration to consult and closely work with Congress to quickly fulfill – quickly fulfill – any urgent Israeli requests for assistance and do all we can to fully support Israel. Now colleagues, the Constitution of the United States lays out our responsibilities. Congress has an important Constitutional role in determining how the United States will respond to any additional acts of aggression. As we support and stand with our allies, we also must be crystal clear about what has happened. The attacks on the people of Israel orchestrated by Hamas were barbaric, depraved, they were evil. Long supported by the Iranian regime, Hamas’ stated mission is to destroy the Jewish people. That’s right, at the core of Hamas burns an age-old sickness: antisemitism. It was the twisted inspiration for their massacre. This broken thinking, this horrific ideology, liberates not a single life. Instead, tragically it will cost only more, including those of innocent Palestinian civilians. For the past 15 years, many peace-keeping Palestinians in Gaza have had their lives upended and exploited by the Hamas terrorist group. We acknowledge their suffering. We hope for change. Those in our media, on our college campuses, or even those serving in government who ascribe the actions of Hamas to anything else other than hatred… …those who are so quick to decry injustices elsewhere but place murder and rape in some sort of perspective …those who provide context for savagery… …those who sigh that “both sides are guilty”… To all of you, I say you are providing cover for monsters. The worldview of Hamas must be added to the roll call of evil ideologies that failed to destroy the Jewish people. And that is why we must stand with Israel. But that alone is not enough. The murder of thousands of Jews brought reminders of the Holocaust, and echoes of Russian pogroms, and so many centuries of trials and tragedies. So, we must also stand vigilant against and always oppose antisemitism, wherever it appears, whatever movement it is attached to, whatever banner it marches underneath. In these difficult days, we echo the old prayer sung across synagogues for the Jewish people: “May God have mercy on them and remove them from distress to relief, from darkness to light, from subjugation to redemption, now, speedily, and soon.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-statement-on-bipartisan-resolution-supporting-israel/,Young Statement on Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Israel,2023-10-17,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), lead Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, released the following statement following introduction of a bipartisan resolution in support of Israel: “The United States stands with our ally Israel. Following the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, this bipartisan resolution reaffirms the unwavering support for Israel in the United States Senate. In the weeks and months ahead, Congress and the Biden Administration should quickly approve and fulfill any urgent Israeli requests for assistance and do all we can to fully support Israel,” said Senator Young. Read the resolution here. In addition to Senator Young, the resolution secured the support of nearly all other members of the U.S. Senate, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ben Luján (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Erick Schmitt (R-Mo.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Angus King (I-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-issues-statement-jim-jordan-vote,Spartz Issues Statement on Jim Jordan Vote,2023-10-16,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,Victoria Spartz,S000929,spartz.house.gov,spartz,https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) issued the following statement on the speaker vote: Since politics is complicated with many things happening behind the scenes, I owe my constituents and all Americans an explanation of my position on the current situation with the speaker’s race. I dedicated most of my adult life to Republican politics, since my kids were in strollers, and probably more energy to it than to family and businesses. Therefore, I care dearly for my party to lead and succeed for the American people against a very powerful and oppressive Democrat machine. I did vote for Kevin McCarthy, reluctantly, in January after moving to “present” to express my dissatisfaction when he tried to intimidate conservatives on the floor into voting for him. I also reluctantly decided not to vacate him regardless of how I felt about his policy failures. I did not support Steve Scalise in conference, but publicly said I would support him on the first vote if goes to the floor. I also asked Steve not to act tyrannically as Kevin did if he cannot get the vote in conference, which he graciously did. I voted to support Jim Jordan in conference, but what happened Friday night is not acceptable. After undermining Steve and appearing to make some kind of a deal with Jim, Kevin forced the conference to adjourn and announced that Jim Jordan was going to be our speaker next week. Unfortunately, Jim did not object to Kevin, as also on a few other occasions as the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I hate to remind Kevin, but we fought a war not to have kings with successors. I am willing to give Jim another chance and assess his wisdom of governing to allow conference, not floor, deliberation on his nomination to proceed tomorrow as he promised during the conference debate. I would also like to remind Jim that Republicans are not sheep and will refuse to support him if he will try to use the same McCarthy intimidation techniques on members on the floor, even if I have to run again, so McCarthy and his friends have a chance to primary me. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-carper-urge-us-trade-representative-to-set-the-ground-rules-for-the-digital-economy/,"Young, Carper Urge U.S. Trade Representative to Set the Ground Rules for the Digital Economy",2023-10-16,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) led a letter to United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai urging her to set the ground rules for the emerging digital economy. The digital economy – broadly defined as the exchange of information via the purchase of goods and services online – plays a critical role in the future of trade. In the letter, the Senators advocate for these rules to advance the interests of small and medium-sized businesses, and specifically outline four principles that each offer to shape the rules of the road on digital trade, including free flows of data across borders and the establishment of privacy standards. “Through our ongoing trade engagements, the United States should begin to build on the high-standard digital commitments in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement (US-J DTA). […] [T]he United States will be best served by advancing trade policies with our partners in the Asia-Pacific region and across the globe that build on the success of these existing pacts, while adding new features to further promote digital inclusiveness, strengthen consumer confidence and trust, and protect personal information and privacy,” the Senators wrote. “Ultimately, it is critical that the United States assume a leadership role in digital trade, as it is a fundamental catalyst for American competitiveness. Doing so presents a real opportunity to counter efforts by our trading partners, including China and the European Union, to pursue digital sovereignty policies that restrict or prevent American companies from operating in their markets. It also presents a real opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to export and reach customers globally, allowing them to thrive and grow. For example, a notable development has been the expansion of e-commerce platforms, which create commercial opportunities for everyday Americans by providing integrated payment solutions, trust mechanisms, and effective dispute settlement procedures. The digital economy is a major source of existing and future U.S. jobs and growth, and strong digital disciplines can unlock new global opportunities to benefit America’s manufacturers, workers, and small businesses,” the Senators continued. The full letter can be found here or below: Dear Ambassador Tai: As the Administration continues negotiating the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) and other international trade initiatives—including the recently announced United States-United Kingdom trade pact—we write to urge you to advance common principles that should serve as a baseline for new data governance and digital trade rules. From general manufacturing to artificial intelligence, the role of digital trade in the global economy has never been more consequential. It is a shared understanding throughout the global community that establishing digital policies to regulate the transfer and use of information, data, software, and technology will drive the future of international trade. Fortunately, the digital initiatives within IPEF—if effectively negotiated in close coordination with Congress—present the United States with an opportunity to lead the development of guiding principles for the future of trade and global commerce. As such efforts progress, it’s crucial to collaborate closely with IPEF partners, and engage proactively with other multilateral forums such as the G20, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. Through our ongoing trade engagements, the United States should begin to build on the high-standard digital commitments in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement (US-J DTA). As affirmed by the inclusion of bipartisan digital trade principles in S. 2226, the National Defense Authorization Act, as passed by the Senate on July 27, 2023, the United States will be best served by advancing trade policies with our partners in the Asia-Pacific region and across the globe that build on the success of these existing pacts, while adding new features to further promote digital inclusiveness, strengthen consumer confidence and trust, and protect personal information and privacy. Ultimately, it is critical that the United States assume a leadership role in digital trade, as it is a fundamental catalyst for American competitiveness. Doing so presents a real opportunity to counter efforts by our trading partners, including China and the European Union, to pursue digital sovereignty policies that restrict or prevent American companies from operating in their markets. It also presents a real opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to export and reach customers globally, allowing them to thrive and grow. For example, a notable development has been the expansion of e-commerce platforms, which create commercial opportunities for everyday Americans by providing integrated payment solutions, trust mechanisms, and effective dispute settlement procedures. The digital economy is a major source of existing and future U.S. jobs and growth, and strong digital disciplines can unlock new global opportunities to benefit America’s manufacturers, workers, and small businesses. In particular, there are a number of key principles that the United States should pursue—in IPEF as well as in other current and future negotiations—to make any new digital trade standards transparent, inclusive, interoperable, and beneficial, particularly for SMEs. First, the free flow of data is essential for fueling the digital economy. Today, the adoption of data localization requirements is becoming a major barrier for businesses of all sizes, with nations worldwide adopting excessively stringent regulations to confine data within their borders. The impacts of these policies are especially harmful for e-commerce and internet-enabled services within countries as they increasingly depend on cross-border data flows. To unleash the potential of digital trade for economic growth and job creation, the United States must advocate for policies promoting the unencumbered flow of data, including a prohibition on data localization and a permanent moratorium on custom duties for electronic transmissions. Second, the United States should build a trusted framework with our trading partners and allies to align on digital policies and develop a unified set of standards, enabling more seamless data flow across borders. The most articulate concept of such a framework was put forward by Japan at the World Economic Forum in Davos: “Data Free Flow with Trust,” which suggests a multilateral approach where countries agree to raise privacy standards to facilitate cross-border data flows. We strongly urge the Administration, in close consultation with Congress, to pursue a mechanism for facilitating cross-border data flows as early as possible. Third, the IPEF and future negotiations must ensure that the benefits of digital trade extend to SMEs, working to bridge the digital divide. One of the greatest impacts of the digital economy is its ability to help small businesses establish and expand, both domestically and internationally. A starting point for such an effort could draw inspiration from the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), a partnership among New Zealand, Chile, and Singapore that spotlights SMEs and enhances the information and tools available to them. For instance, DEPA provisions on e-invoicing should encourage the growth of small businesses and enhance their global reach. Fourth, establishing basic privacy standards specifying what data can be collected and retained by companies will help protect personal consumer information and other sensitive data. The scope of potential cybersecurity threats crosscuts the digital space—including cybertheft of intellectual property and personal data and manipulation of online information—as well as the physical space—including critical infrastructure and the “Internet of Things” (IoT), which relies on interconnected software to network services. The United States should consider reasonable domestic stakeholder concerns about potential risks related to the transmission of sensitive data and work with our partners to appropriately mitigate global cybersecurity and data privacy risks. These principles are foundational for developing multilateral and more robust digital trade arrangements. Further, it is imperative that the digital chapters in the USMCA and US-J DTA serve as a floor, not a ceiling, in crafting enforceable digital trade rules, and the Administration should take immediate action to prioritize the establishment of ambitious and binding obligations. Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and we look forward to continuing this critical work with you.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=325,Baird Introduces Bill to Award Grants for Advancement in Quantum Science,2023-10-13,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act. This legislation will direct the National Science Foundation to award grants to universities and nonprofit organizations to upgrade their research facilities and improve access to research resources in quantum science. The bill will also improve coordination between universities, private research facilities, and national labs by facilitating information sharing, education, and training. “Quantum science is one of the world’s fastest-growing areas of scientific research and has the potential to fundamentally change how we approach many aspects of academia, business, and national security,” said Rep. Baird. “The United States has been innovating in this field for years, but we must invest more in quantum research to encourage innovation. By providing new grants for our research institutions, we can maintain our competitive advantage and ensure America doesn’t fall behind in this crucial area of scientific development.” “Quantum science has the potential to vastly improve computing speeds and performance, sensing capabilities, and secure communications. Yet much more research is needed before we can fully realize the benefits of these technologies,” said Rep. Salinas. “This bipartisan bill invests in upgrades to research facilities and expands access to resources. It also builds the quantum workforce by encouraging universities to collaborate with community and technical colleges to provide meaningful hands-on learning experiences for their students. Ultimately, our legislation will help secure America’s position at the cutting-edge of quantum research and development for decades to come.” “Increasing access to key equipment and instrumentation for faculty and students is key to maintaining U.S. leadership in quantum science,” said Karen Plaut, Executive Vice President for Research at Purdue University. “We support the aim of the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act to invest more resources to advance the field and prepare the next generation of quantum scientists.” “Indiana University appreciates the focus on helping institutions upgrade research resources, including equipment and instrumentation, to help advance our knowledge in this exciting field,” said Dr. Dave Baxter, Executive Director of the Indiana University Quantum Science and Engineering Center. “IU commits to working with Rep. Baird to ensure this promise is realized.” “The University of Oregon applauds the introduction of the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act,” said Anshuman “AR” Razdan, Vice President of Research and Innovation at the University of Oregon. “The partnership between the federal government and research universities is the foundation for much of our nation’s prosperity from innovation. UO’s Oregon Center for Optical, Molecular, and Quantum Science and Lokey Labs provide education, research, and commercialization opportunities to students, faculty, and stakeholders.” “Quantum research and technology innovation is an exciting arena for university scientists and engineers, but there are real barriers to access the necessary state-of-the-art labs and instrumentation required to do this work,” said Dr. Irem Tumer, Vice President of Research at Oregon State University. “We know from experience that investment in NSF to support the needed instrumentation and facilities for university-led research, as well as shared access to these resources, is critical to accelerate science and to grow the community of scientists who are able to contribute their expertise. OSU applauds Representative Salinas for introducing the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act to directly address these barriers.” Background: In 2018, President Trump signed the National Quantum Initiative Act to accelerate research and development in quantum science and computing. This law authorized significant R&D development projects at several federal agencies, especially the National Science Foundation. However, this legislation did not make funds available for universities, start-ups, and private research facilities and failed to help such institutions coordinate with federal labs. This legislation will help American facilities upgrade their equipment while facilitating information sharing that will unlock innovations in quantum science.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-issues-statement-speaker-vote-i-rescind-my-support-jordan-now,Spartz Issues a Statement on Speaker Vote: I Rescind my Support for Jordan for Now,2023-10-13,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,Victoria Spartz,S000929,spartz.house.gov,spartz,https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) issued the following statement on the speaker vote: ""Today, I voted to support Jim Jordan for speaker. He is a great American with strong conservative values, but I am not sure if he truly is the independent thinker and visionary leader we need to deliver for the American people. After witnessing all of the behind-the-scenes politics, backstabbing, undermining, top-down attitude and statements made by former Speaker McCarthy and his allies in conference today, I will have to assess on Monday if Jim is the right person who will be held accountable to the same standard as Kevin was, or just another puppet for the swamp with a better bio. I am also very disappointed that we were sent home without reconciling this issue.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-bipartisan-group-of-senators-push-biden-administration-to-officially-freeze-iranian-assets/,"Young, Bipartisan Group of Senators Push Biden Administration to Officially Freeze Iranian Assets",2023-10-13,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and a bipartisan group of senators urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to make it the official policy of the United States to freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets in the wake of Hamas’s deadly terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. In September of this year, the State Department announced its intention to release these assets to Iran. However, given Iran’s long-standing material and financial support for Hamas, the senators are pushing the Biden Administration to officially reverse its decision. Senator Young was joined by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) in sending a letter to Secretary Blinken. “Given Iran’s history of supporting acts of terrorism through Hamas, the United States must do everything in its power in the wake of this brutal attack to ensure that Iran is not in a position to continue funding Hamas’ terrorist activities in Israel and throughout the Middle East,” wrote the senators. “As you know, the State Department’s 2021 Country Report on Terrorism found that Hamas received weapons systems and other direct support from Iran, allowing the group to carry out deadly attacks against Israel. In 2022, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, stated publicly that the terrorist organization had received $70 million in assistance from Iran that year, and that it used the money to build rockets.” “While the U.S. intelligence community continues to assess Iran’s role in the October 7 terrorist attacks, it is clear that Iran’s support for Hamas has sustained the terrorist group, ensuring that Hamas had the means to carry out their abhorrent attack on Israel.” they continued. “We therefore strongly urge you to make it official U.S. policy to freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets currently held in Qatar, and continue to hold Iran accountable for its violent and destabilizing actions, including direct support of Hamas.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-mrvan-statement-on-selection-of-midwest-alliance-for-clean-hydrogen-machh2/,"Young, Mrvan Statement on Selection of Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2)",2023-10-13,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (D-IN-01) welcomed the announcement that the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) to develop a regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub (H2Hub). “Today’s announcement is a win for Indiana and the entire Midwest. This investment in Indiana’s hydrogen ecosystem will mean more opportunities for our Hoosier workforce and higher education system. This is exciting news and another example of how Hoosiers are leading the way in innovation, and I congratulate the entire MachH2 team,” said Senator Young. Congressman Mrvan stated, “Given the historical generations of Northwest Indiana’s incredible workforce and members of organized labor, manufacturing prowess, and ability to collaborate, we have known the inherent value of this application since day one and its impact to create intergenerational jobs opportunities for our workforce. We would not have achieved this success without the dedicated initiative of Governor Holcomb, Senator Young, all the members of our Indiana Congressional delegation, and all of the industry partners. Let us continue to move forward with all urgency to build upon this historic achievement to grow our economy with new clean-energy jobs.” The Indiana Congressional delegation sent a letter of support for MachH2’s proposal in April. Background: This morning, the DOE announced the recipients of $7 billion in federal grants for the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs funding opportunities across America. MachH2 is comprised of more than 70 public and private entities committed to growing the Midwest regional hydrogen value chain. This funding will allow MachH2 to develop a regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-urges-middle-east-allies-stand-israel-and-restore-stability,Spartz Urges Middle East Allies to Stand with Israel and Restore Stability,2023-10-09,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,Victoria Spartz,S000929,spartz.house.gov,spartz,https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) issued the following statement in response to Hamas’s recent attack on Israel: “Acts of terror committed against Israeli civilians this weekend cannot be tolerated by the international community. I urge our allies in the Middle East to stand with the people of Israel and not allow Teheran and Moscow to destabilize the Middle East using Hamas terrorists as a tool, and destroy the lives of millions. The United States will stand with the people of Israel in their fight to defend themselves and their nation.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=324,Baird Releases Statement After Two Bills He Promoted Signed into Law,2023-10-06,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) released the following statement after two bills he promoted were signed into law by President Joe Biden. Among several bills signed by the president were H.R. 5110, the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, and S.112, which strengthens benefits for the children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida. “I’m pleased to report that during a time of intense gridlock in Washington, we are making progress on my legislative priorities and delivering on the promises made to Hoosiers,” said Rep. Baird. “These bills passed both chambers unanimously, confirming we can secure legislative victories without resorting to unproductive political games. I would like to thank my colleagues who helped shepherd these bills through Congress and get them on the president’s desk. Together, we are delivering much-needed victories for the American people.” Background: On June 7th, Congressman Baird introduced H.R. 3888, the House companion to S.112, to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida. The children of Vietnam veterans have an increased risk of spina bifida, a neural tube defect in the spine, due to their parent’s exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides. This legislation will strengthen existing benefits for Vietnam veterans and establish a plan to contact eligible individuals. The full text of S. 112 can be found here. President Biden also signed H.R. 5110, a bipartisan and bicameral bill to restore Federal funding for hunting, archery, and sport shooting classes in schools. On July 31st, the Department of Education (ED) confirmed they had prohibited the use of Federal funds for these programs under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) signed in 2022 by the Democrat-controlled Congress. H.R. 5110 clarifies that ED cannot withhold funds from schools that offer these programs under the authority granted to them by the BSCA. Congressman Baird is a proud cosponsor of this legislation. The full text of H.R. 5110 can be found .",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-oppose-the-fccs-internet-takeover/,"Young, Colleagues Oppose the FCC’s Internet Takeover",2023-10-06,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), along with more than 40 of their colleagues, sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel urging her to abandon her proposal to reinstate the failed, heavy-handed Obama-era regulations on the internet. In their letter, the senators note that following the repeal of the Obama-era rules in 2017, partisan claims – most notably that Americans would get the internet one word at a time – were debunked and proven to be completely false. “Re-imposing heavy-handed, public-utility regulations on the internet would threaten the progress our country has made since 2017, and it would steer our country out of the fast lane and into a world of less competition, less choice, less investment, slower speeds, and higher prices,” wrote the senators. “Further, the FCC lacks this statutory authority over broadband internet access. Any attempt by the FCC to reinstate net neutrality regulations and the onerous rules of Title II on internet service providers will not survive judicial review. The FCC has pushed net neutrality and already lost in court – more than once – and two of President Obama’s former solicitors general have warned that reclassification by the FCC cannot survive the major questions doctrine.” In addition to Senators Young and Thune, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). The full letter can be found here and below: The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel Chairwoman Federal Communications Commission We write regarding our strong opposition to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC’s) proposal to reinstate the heavy-handed, public-utility regulations of Title II of the Communications Act on the internet. Doing so would be an historic mistake. When the FCC rescinded the Obama-era Title II order almost six years ago, partisans argued that it was the “end of the internet as we know it,” that “you’ll get the internet one word at a time,” that consumers would have to pay by the tweet, and that online access would slow to a crawl. All such hyperbolic claims have proven false, as even FCC Democrat commissioners have admitted. The growth of the internet continues to be a great American success story. Broadband investment has increased, deployment has increased, speeds have increased, and high-speed internet access has become more affordable than ever. American networks, freed from obtrusive regulations, easily handled the surge in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, Europe’s heavily regulated internet providers were forced to actively slow down speeds to maintain connectivity. Indeed, America is now a leader in adopting next-generation telecommunications services like 5G and Wi-Fi 6e while Europe struggles to keep pace. Re-imposing heavy-handed, public-utility regulations on the internet would threaten the progress our country has made since 2017, and it would steer our country out of the fast lane and into a world of less competition, less choice, less investment, slower speeds, and higher prices. Further, the FCC lacks this statutory authority over broadband internet access. Any attempt by the FCC to reinstate net neutrality regulations and the onerous rules of Title II on internet service providers will not survive judicial review. The FCC has pushed net neutrality and already lost in court – more than once – and two of President Obama’s former solicitors general have warned that reclassification by the FCC cannot survive the major questions doctrine. Given the lack of any policy or legal rationale for moving forward with such a proposal, the FCC should not pursue a hyper-partisan, politicized rulemaking. Our country faces real challenges. A lack of public-utility regulations for the internet is not one of them. Instead, the FCC and the Biden administration should be focusing on bipartisan efforts to address real problems, such as addressing rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government’s broadband subsidy programs, and regulatory and permitting obstacles to broadband deployment, both of which divert funds and resources from the goal of connecting unserved Americans. We urge you to end this charade and shelve this fifth attempt to adopt so-called “net neutrality” regulations.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-call-for-state-department-to-step-up-efforts-to-combat-ccps-growing-military-footprint/,"Young, Colleagues Call for State Department to Step Up Efforts to Combat CCP’s Growing Military Footprint",2023-10-03,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) called on the State Department to step up efforts to combat the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) growing military footprint around the world. The senators, who all serve on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, outlined how the CCP’s “ambitious project to develop overseas naval facilities and logistical hubs to fuel potential future operations” threatens U.S. national security interests. The senators called for a “whole-of-government” approach and asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken to explain how the State Department was working to advance American diplomatic interests on this topic. “We write to raise serious concerns regarding the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its growing military footprint across the Indo-Pacific and around the world,” the senators wrote. “As you know, the PLA Navy now has the world’s largest naval fleet, with at least 340 warships, and is increasingly focused on projecting this force beyond the region. This could pose a direct threat to United States and allied interests in a number of ways. Therefore, we request an update on the Department of State’s efforts to diplomatically address and counter the PLA’s growing military expansion.” “While tracking these developments and reporting on them publicly, as DoD is required by Congress to do, is an important first step to identify the challenges we face, the United States Government must now employ a whole-of-government approach to proactively engage partner countries to warn them of the risks of PLA expansion to their sovereignty and stability,” the senators continued. “The United States maintains the world’s most robust and talented diplomatic presence, and we must use the Department of State’s resources to advance our interests in countering PLA expansion.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-will-consider-resigning-congress-if-no-debt-commission-passed-year,Spartz Will Consider Resigning Congress if No Debt Commission Passed this Year,2023-10-02,2023,2023-10,Republican,House,IN,Victoria Spartz,S000929,spartz.house.gov,spartz,https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) issued the following statement: “I’ve done many very difficult things being one woman standing many times with many very long hours and personal sacrifices, but there is a limitation to human capacity. If Congress does not pass a debt commission this year to move the needle on the crushing national debt and inflation, at least at the next debt ceiling increase at the end of 2024, I will not continue sacrificing my children for this circus with a complete absence of leadership, vision, and spine. I cannot save this Republic alone.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-demand-accountability-on-iran-linked-dod-official/,"Young, Colleagues Demand Accountability on Iran-Linked DoD Official",2023-10-02,2023,2023-10,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss), and a group of Senate Republican colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding a full accounting of actions taken by a senior Pentagon official who has close links to the Iranian government. Ariane Tabatabai, the chief of staff to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, was reportedly formerly engaged in an Iranian government-linked initiative to bolster the Iranian government’s image and reinforce Tehran’s national security views. Leaked emails show Tabatabai asking the Iranian government for input on her speaking engagements and offering to consult with the Iranian government on a congressional briefing that she was invited to give. In the letter, the senators suggested that it is “unconscionable” for Tabatabai to continue holding a sensitive national defense-related position and called for the immediate suspension of her security clearance, pending further investigation. “Iran continues to threaten U.S. military personnel in the Middle East and remains intent on assassinating American citizens here in the United States. Given these facts, we find it simply unconscionable that a senior Department official would continue to hold a sensitive position despite her alleged participation in an Iranian government information operation,” the senators wrote. “While we note that Assistant Secretary of Defense for SOLIC Christopher Maier, who is Ms. Tabatabai’s current supervisor, testified before the House on Thursday that the Department is ‘actively looking into whether all law and policy was properly followed in granting my chief of staff top secret special compartmented information,’ we urge you to suspend Ms. Tabatabai’s security clearance immediately pending further review, as the State Department did with her former supervisor, Robert Malley.” The senators also posed a range of questions related to the nature and extent of Tabatabai’s involvement with the Iran-backed initiative, demanding answers within a week of transmitting the letter. In addition to Senators Young and Wicker, Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-La.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and John Thune (R-S.D.) also signed the letter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:43:12Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-introduce-resolution-calling-for-evan-gershkovichs-release/,"Young, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Calling for Evan Gershkovich’s Release",2023-09-29,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) today joined with a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution calling for the immediate release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from Russia. “The Russian Government has wrongfully detained American journalist Evan Gershkovich for six months,” said Senator Young. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan resolution calling for Evan’s immediate release. Americans are not political pawns, and we must ensure Evan, Paul Whelan, and all other United States citizens return safely home.” In addition to Senators Young, cosponsors include Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and James Lankford (R-Okla.).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-oversight-of-us-china-science-and-technology-agreements/,"Young, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Strengthen Oversight of U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreements",2023-09-28,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined with a group of Republican senators to introduce the Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act. The bill would strengthen oversight of science and technology agreements (STAs) between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by requiring the Secretary of State to provide comprehensive details to Congress about any new, renewed, or extended agreement. It also would establish a minimum 30-day congressional review period. “The Chinese Communist Party’s continued efforts to steal our intellectual property and disregard rules to gain a technological advantage must be addressed. Our bill would give Congress more tools to hold China accountable for its malign actions,” said Senator Young. In addition to Senator Young, the bill was introduced by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The legislation includes thorough national security risk assessments, human rights considerations, and consistent monitoring mechanisms. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Secretary of State from renewing or extending the STA until he has provided Congress with at least 30 days to review: The full text of the agreement, A detailed justification for the STA, including an explanation as to why such agreement is in the national security interests of the United States, An assessment of the risks and potential effects of such agreement, including any potential for the transfer under such agreement of technology or intellectual property capable of harming the national security interests of the United States, A detailed justification for how the Secretary intends to address human rights concerns in any scientific and technology collaboration proposed to be conducted under such agreement, and An assessment of the extent to which the Secretary will be able to continuously monitor the commitments made by the PRC under such agreement. Upon enactment of this legislation, the Secretary has 60 days to provide Congress with the necessary reporting requirements listed above or any existing STA with the PRC will be revoked. Bill text can be found HERE. Background: The U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement, originally signed in 1979 and renewed about every five years since, is the framework that facilitates research cooperation between the governments of the United States and PRC and academic institutions in both countries. The STA was last renewed in 2018 and was set to expire last month. However, the Biden administration recently extended the STA for another six months. There are ongoing concerns that research partnerships organized under the STA could strengthen the PRC’s military-industrial complex and be used to develop technologies that could later be used against the U.S. For instance, in 2018, under the STA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) organized a project with China’s Meteorological Administration to launch weather balloons to study the atmosphere. Just a few months ago, similar balloon technology was used to surveil U.S. military sites on U.S. territory.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-sustain-high-level-us-engagement-for-stability-in-israel-and-the-middle-east/,"Young, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Sustain High-Level U.S. Engagement for Stability in Israel & the Middle East",2023-09-28,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the bipartisan Middle East Security Coordination Act to strengthen and protect a key U.S. military and diplomatic post in the Middle East. The bipartisan bill would authorize new funding for the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, coming after threats to downgrade its rank last year. “Strengthening this key diplomatic role is critical to the U.S.-Israel relationship and our shared national security interests,” said Senator Young. “Our bipartisan bill will promote stability in the Middle East and ensure robust American engagement in the region.” “The U.S. Security Coordinator in Jerusalem plays a crucial role in protecting American interests and deescalating conflict in Israel and Palestinian territories,” said Senator Ossoff. “With tensions rising in this area, these efforts are essential. That’s why I’m leading this bipartisan legislation to support U.S. National Security and peace in the Middle East.” “In the face of recent unrest in the West Bank, I’m proud to play a role in leading this important measure that invests in returning stability to the situation on the ground and builds towards a two-state solution. The United States Security Coordinator (USSC) plays a central role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East,” said Senator Booker. “We must provide the necessary resources and support to the USSC to ensure its continued effectiveness at fostering cooperation and security coordination between Israelis and Palestinians.” The USSC is a joint, international, interagency office with Department of Defense servicemembers assigned to the State Department. Based in Jerusalem, the USSC serves as a crucial liaison between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and leads international coalition efforts in support of peace and stability. The bill would strengthen Congressional oversight over any future effort to reduce the USSC position and require the U.S. Secretary of State and USSC to produce a report for Congress about the Coordinator’s work in the Middle East.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-young-welcomes-terre-haute-air-national-guard-chaplain-to-deliver-senate-prayer/,VIDEO: Young Welcomes Terre Haute Air National Guard Chaplain to Deliver Senate Prayer,2023-09-27,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"**Click here or above to watch Lt Col Lundy’s opening prayer.** WASHINGTON – This morning, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) welcomed Chaplain (Lt Col) Kent Lundy, Wing Chaplain for the 181st Intelligence Wing in Terre Haute, to deliver the opening prayer in the United States Senate. Young nominated Chaplain Lundy to serve as the Senate’s Guest Chaplain for the day. “Chaplain Lundy has devoted his life to God and to meeting the spiritual needs of his fellow Hoosiers and the men and women who serve our country,” said Senator Young, in remarks on the Senate floor. “I do not know if he found the U.S. Senate as big of a thrill as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he has offered prayers, but we are privileged to have had Chaplain Lundy deliver today’s invocation.” An Airman-pastor, Lt Col Kent Lundy has long served his country and the communities he has called home. He wears the uniform of the Air Force as a member of the Indiana National Guard and is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. Chaplain Lundy has been a member of the Indiana Air National Guard for 16 years, 12 of which were with the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne as a Chaplain. He was deployed overseas twice and for the last four years has been on active duty with the 181st Intelligence Wing in Terre Haute. As Wing Chaplain, he supports the physical, social, mental, and spiritual needs – the four pillars of Airman Fitness – of his fellow guardsmen as they provide our military with critical assistance for missions and rescue efforts during natural disasters. He also is an advocate for Hoosier veterans and has worked to destigmatize and increase access to mental health care for those who have served.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-combat-opioid-related-infectious-diseases/,"Young, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases",2023-09-26,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), today reintroduced the Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases Act. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ongoing initiative to eliminate the risk of infectious disease caused by substance use disorder to continue through 2028. In 2018, Senators Young, Markey, and Baldwin secured the passage of legislation to expand the CDC’s initiative to collaborate with states to improve education, surveillance, and treatment of opioid use-related infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C. The connection between HIV, hepatitis C, and injection drug-use is well-documented. This follows the CDC reporting an increasing number of hepatitis C infections over the past decade, most of which is due to injection drug-use. The high rates of transmission, especially among young people, highlights the continued need for these targeted programs to stop the spread of preventable diseases. “As the opioid epidemic continues to devastate families in Indiana and across the country, we must ensure our communities have the tools necessary to help combat the spread of addiction and disease,” said Senator Young. “This commonsense legislation will support ongoing initiatives focused on eliminating the spread of deadly diseases associated with this epidemic.” “The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis, and infectious diseases compound the health challenges faced by Americans suffering from substance use disorder,”said Senator Markey. “Our federal government has a duty to empower providers serving on the frontlines so they can treat every impact of this epidemic, including the spread of infectious diseases. The Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Disease Act gives Americans access to life-saving treatment through commonsense programs based on science. We need to lead with care that is compassionate to end this opioid and overdose crisis once and for all.” “The fentanyl and opioid epidemic has far-reaching and deadly public health impacts, including spreading infectious diseases like hepatitis and HIV,” said Senator Baldwin. “While I am fighting to stop these drugs from coming into our communities and boost treatment and recovery efforts, Washington also needs to step up to help states curb the spread of diseases related to this crisis. Our bipartisan bill will give communities the tools they need to help save lives and fight this public health crisis on all fronts.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-cheer-organ-transplant-legislation-becoming-law/,"Young, Colleagues Cheer Organ Transplant Legislation Becoming Law",2023-09-22,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today celebrated the signing into law of H.R. 2544, the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act. The legislation passed Congress unanimously at the end of July. “This is an important day for thousands of Americans who are in need of life-saving transplants. The bipartisan Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act includes necessary reforms that will help ensure accountability and transformation in the organ donation and transplant system. I’m glad to see this life-saving bill signed into law,” said Senator Young. “This is a banner day in the effort to improve the organ transplant system in the United States,” said Senator Wyden. “For too long, thousands of families have had to watch a loved one struggle while waiting for an organ transplant because the system has been inefficient and unaccountable. With this law, that starts to change: there is going to be accountability, know-how, and improvements to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network so more Americans are connected with a life-saving transplant. I want to thank my bipartisan partners on the progress made so far and look forward to continuing our work to improve this system so it meets the high standard American families expect.” “In my nearly two decades spent fighting for U.S. organ donation reforms, I’ve heard far too many stories of patients who have lost their lives due to negligence and abuse of the system. Today’s bill signing opens a new chapter in our nation’s organ donation system by addressing the many failures that have plagued the organ procurement network, with disastrous consequences. This law will help bring positive outcomes for thousands of patients, including the nearly 600 Iowans currently waiting to receive an organ transplant,” said Senator Grassley. “Signing the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act into law moves the country toward a more transparent and equitable system that will save lives,” said Senator Cardin. “I’m proud of the effort of the Senate Finance Committee and the work of my colleagues to pass meaningful, bipartisan legislation that will improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Now, more patients, particularly those in underserved communities, will be able to access transplants safely and efficiently.” “The management of the U.S. organ transplant system needed serious reform,” said Senator Cassidy. “Breaking up this monopoly increases competition and saves lives. Proud to see our legislation become law.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=323,Baird Applauds Announcement of New CHIPS Funding for Indiana Facility,2023-09-21,2023,2023-09,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) applauded the recent DoD selection of Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub in Bloomington and its coordinating body, The Applied Research Institute, as one of eight Microelectronics Commons regional innovations hubs under the CHIPS Act. “I’m incredibly excited to hear Hoosiers will be leading the microelectronics and semiconductor revolution,” said Rep. Baird. “Rebuilding our semiconductor manufacturing capacity will strengthen our economy, reinforce America’s chip supply chain, and fortify our national security. I’m proud to have played a role in promoting semiconductor manufacturing and am thrilled to see how Hoosiers will innovate in this field.” Background: The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act is a nationwide network of facilities dedicated to strengthening domestic semiconductor manufacturing and provides funding for the creation of Microelectronics Commons regional innovation hubs. The DoD’s recent announcement awards $238 million in funding for the selected facilities, of which $32.9 million has been awarded to The Applied Research Institute in Bloomington. On March 1st, Rep. Baird sent a letter to DoD Under Secretary Heidi Shyu, along with the rest of the Indiana delegation, expressing his support for The Applied Research Institute’s candidacy. Read the full letter to Under Secretary Shyu .",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/decatur-county-congresswoman-houchin-host-academy-day-hoosier-students,Decatur County: Congresswoman Houchin to Host Academy Day for Hoosier Students,2023-09-21,2023,2023-09,Republican,House,IN,Erin Houchin,H001093,houchin.house.gov,houchin,https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"GREENSBURG, Ind. – Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) invites middle and high school students and parents to attend Academy Day on Saturday, September 23 in Decatur County. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear from representatives from the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Additionally, an overview of the application and nominating process will be provided. The Academy Day event will be hosted at North Decatur Jr./Sr. High School at 3172 IN-3, Greensburg, Indiana, 47240. Registration will start at 9:30 AM, and the program will run from 10:00 AM until noon.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-applaud-house-passage-of-va-spina-bifida-bill/,"Young, Colleagues Applaud House Passage of VA Spina Bifida Bill",2023-09-21,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, a bill to strengthen the VA Spina Bifida Program to benefit the children of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a unanimous vote. The bill previously passed the Senate unanimously in July. The bipartisan bill was led by U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and a group of Senate colleagues. “This bill will support the children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida due to their parents’ exposure to Agent Orange and ensure they have access to better resources and care. I’m pleased to see it pass Congress and head to the President’s desk,” said Senator Young. “This legislation will ensure that the children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida due to a parent’s exposure to Agent Orange will get the care and benefits they deserve for the rest of their lives. I’m proud to have led this valuable bipartisan bill through the Senate and the House and look forward to it being signed into law for these veterans’ kids,” said Senator Braun. “Vietnam veterans sacrificed significantly for our country, and it is up to us to ensure that their children who were born with spina bifida receive the care that they need,” said Senator Hassan. Background: The OCC Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program Guide states, “This program provides services and supplies for enrolled beneficiaries for all covered medical conditions, not simply those related to Spina Bifida.” This assistance includes instrumental activities of daily living (i.e., cleaning a house or apartment, showering, cooking, etc). The VA Inspector General (VAOIG) reported serious problems with the administration of the Spina Bifida program in their 2021 report, including failure to deliver benefits appropriately and to conduct proper oversight, leading to waste of taxpayer dollars. It is estimated over 1,500 Veterans’ children suffer from Spina Bifida in the U.S. and yet fewer than half of those are enrolled in the program.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-urge-epa-to-rescind-unattainable-air-pollution-standard/,"Young, Colleagues Urge EPA to Rescind Unattainable Air Pollution Standard",2023-09-21,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind) joined with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and 21 other senators in urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rescind its proposed particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). “The EPA’s proposal fails to consider several important factors that will make implementation of a lower annual standard extremely difficult, or in some cases impossible, to no measurable benefits to public health, the environment, or the economy. The EPA should not finalize a discretionary reconsideration of a PM2.5NAAQS that is unattainable and will likely lack an accompanying, detailed implementation plan,” the senators wrote in a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan. In addition to Senators Young and Capito, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), JD Vance (R-Ohio), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) also signed the letter. The full letter is available here and below: Dear Administrator Regan: On December 18, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed its comprehensive review and published a final decision to retain the Obama Administration’s 2013 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM). Thirty-three days later, the Biden Administration issued an executive order directing the EPA to undertake a reconsideration of that decision. On January 27, 2023, the EPA published a discretionary proposal to revise the primary annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standard by lowering the level from 12 µg/m3 to between 9-10 µg/m3, an up to 25-percent reduction. Additionally, the EPA sought comment on an alternative standard as low as 8 µg/m3 – as much as 33 percent lower than the current standard. According to the World Health Organization our nation enjoys some of the cleanest air in the world. The EPA’s own figures report that direct emissions of PM2.5 are down 40 percent from 1990 levels and annual ambient PM2.5 concentrations have decreased 43 percent between 2000 and 2019. Considering this progress in improving our air quality and the limited percentage of PM emissions from stationary point sources subject to the relevant regulation, the EPA should heed the advice of experts that it is neither necessary nor advisable to revise the primary annual PM2.5 standard and rescind the proposed reconsideration. Establishing a lower NAAQS does not directly limit emissions. Rather, it establishes a level of ambient pollution that the Administrator determines is “requisite to protect the public health” with “an adequate margin of safety” and it falls to the states to implement procedures and pollution controls to attain and maintain the standards. However, as the PM2.5 standard is approaching natural background levels, there are fewer sources available to regulate in order to achieve compliance. According to the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies, wildfires and miscellaneous sources accounted for over 70 percent of domestic PM2.5 emissions in 2022. The EPA’s Policy Assessment for the PM NAAQS reconsideration estimated that only 16 percent of PM2.5 emissions come from power plants and industrial sources, while the vast majority of the emissions are from non-point sources, such as wildfires, construction, road dust, and international transport. Many of these non-point sources are exceedingly onerous or impossible to control, or like wildfires, are beyond the scope of the Clean Air Act’s regulatory authorities. In light of this, sharply lowering the current PM2.5 annual standard would increase nonattainment levels across the country. This would increase permitting and regulatory burden on manufacturers, energy producers and several other key industries to our economy without a feasible path to attainment given the high costs and diminishing returns of additional control technologies. This would result in Americans inheriting all of the negative consequences of nonattainment: offshoring of our domestic manufacturing, job loss, electric reliability concerns, higher prices, reliance on China, energy insecurity, and slow economic growth. At the same time, it would produce little to no measurable public health or environmental benefits. This proposal, particularly with its confounding inclusion of a request for comments on a standard as low as 8 µg/m3 that the EPA attests it is not even considering, is already causing uncertainty in the business community. This uncertainty is negatively impacting investments that would create good-paying jobs, including in the renewable energy sector the Biden Administration professes to support. The EPA’s proposal fails to consider several important factors that will make implementation of a lower annual standard extremely difficult, or in some cases impossible, to no measurable benefits to public health, the environment, or the economy. The EPA should not finalize a discretionary reconsideration of a PM2.5 NAAQS that is unattainable and will likely lack an accompanying, detailed implementation plan. With that, I urge the EPA to rescind its proposed reconsideration of the PM2.5 NAAQS, and review the NAAQS under the Clean Air Act’s regular five-year review schedule. At that time, the EPA must set standards that follow the science and operate within the bounds of what is technologically and economically feasible.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-senate-finance-republicans-irs-document-destruction-harmed-taxpayers/,"Young, Senate Finance Republicans: IRS Document Destruction Harmed Taxpayers",2023-09-21,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following reports that provide troubling evidence of taxpayers who were directly harmed by the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) destruction of 30 million unprocessed tax returns, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined Senate Finance Committee Republicans in sending a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel urging the IRS to provide information on new and previously unanswered questions. “Recently reported information demonstrates the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) March 2021 decision to destroy 30 million unprocessed tax year 2019 taxpayer information returns has indisputably harmed taxpayers,” the senators wrote. “For example, one of the recent reports provides troubling evidence of specific taxpayers who were directly harmed by the destruction of these information returns. For these taxpayers, the IRS denied their earned income tax credit (EITC) claim based upon the mistaken belief that the taxpayers had insufficient earned income,” the senators wrote. “Meanwhile, the IRS still officially maintains that ‘[t]here were no negative taxpayer consequences as a result of this action’,” the senators wrote. “[However], it appears that ‘relief’ was not provided by the IRS to at least some, and potentially thousands of, taxpayers who claimed the EITC in 2019; the destruction of these unprocessed information returns was unnecessary and its direct and indirect harm is disproportionate to whatever storage costs the IRS would have incurred; to date, the IRS is systemically denying/challenging EITC claims that rely upon income reported by these destroyed information returns rather than evaluating documentation in each case; and the IRS has not responded to diverse substantive issues arising from this episode,” the senators continued. In addition to the unanswered questions from a previous request for information in May 2022, the senators request new information from the IRS on the impact the document destruction had on taxpayers, especially low-income taxpayers who claimed the earned income tax credit (EITC). The full letter is available here. Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-microelectronics-commons-selection-shows-hoosiers-are-leading-the-way/,Young: Microelectronics Commons Selection Shows “Hoosiers are leading the way”,2023-09-20,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) released the following statement regarding the announcement that the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics (ME) Commons Hub, as well as its coordinating body the Applied Research Institute (ARI), has been selected by the Department of Defense (DoD) to serve as one of eight Microelectronics Commons hubs: “Today’s announcement is the first major CHIPS and Science Act funding decision for our country, and the selection of the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub shows that Hoosiers are leading the way,” said Senator Young. “As we collectively work to grow the nation’s microelectronics base, Indiana will play a key role in the development of these critical national security technologies and capabilities. More broadly, this announcement shows how the CHIPS and Science Act will connect more of America, including the industrial Midwest, to the innovation economy. This is an exciting day for all who partnered on this effort across Indiana.” Background: This morning, DoD announced the award of $238 million in “Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act” funding for the establishment of eight Microelectronics Commons regional innovation hubs. The Microelectronics Commons is a CHIPS and Science Act-funded national network for onshore, microelectronics hardware prototyping, lab-to-fab transition of semiconductor technologies, and semiconductor workforce training. The Microelectronics Commons initiative was launched in 2022 by the DoD. With $2 billion in funding for Fiscal Years 2023 through 2027, the Microelectronics Commons program will offer opportunities to leverage these hubs to accelerate domestic development and use of cutting-edge microelectronics capabilities for the warfighter. The Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub consists of participating state and local governments, academia, small business, federal labs, and other partners from Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) will administer the ME Commons program. Senator Young and the Indiana congressional delegation sent a letter of support for Indiana’s Applied Research Institute’s submission.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=321,Senate Companion to Rep. Baird's Spina Bifida Bill Passes U.S. House,2023-09-19,2023,2023-09,Republican,House,IN,James R. Baird,B001307,baird.house.gov,baird,https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C.—Today, Jim Baird (IN-04) voted in favor of S. 112, a bill that will strengthen benefits for the children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida. The children of Vietnam veterans have an increased risk of spina bifida, a neural tube defect in the spine, as a result of their parent’s exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides during their service. S. 112 is the Senate companion to H.R. 3888, introduced by Congressman Baird in June. “The children of Vietnam veterans are encouraged to take advantage of the benefits available to them due to their parent’s service, but many are unaware that these benefits exist,” said Congressman Baird. “This legislation will strengthen the benefits available to the children of Vietnam veterans who suffer from spina bifida and establishes a plan to contact eligible individuals. I hope President Biden will sign this bill into law without delay.” Background: The Office of Community Care (OCC) Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program Guide states, “This program provides services and supplies for enrolled beneficiaries for all covered medical conditions, not simply those related to spina bifida.” This assistance includes instrumental activities of daily living (i.e., cleaning a house or apartment, showering, cooking, etc.). VAOIG reported serious problems with the administration of the spina bifida program in their 2021 report, including payments to deceased beneficiaries and significant numbers of participants not receiving all the benefits for which they are eligible. It is estimated over 1,000 Veterans children suffer from the disease in the United States, and yet less than half of those are enrolled in the program. The lack of social workers and case management services is particularly worrisome because this condition often leaves beneficiaries without the capacity to arrange their own care. The bill passed unanimously with 422 yeas and 11 members not voting. Text of the bill can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-introduce-senate-companion-to-house-passed-secure-the-border-act/,"Young, Colleagues Introduce Senate Companion to House-Passed Secure the Border Act",2023-09-19,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined with Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and a group of Senate Republican colleagues to introduce the Secure the Border Act of 2023. This bill passed the House of Representatives as H.R. 2 earlier this year. The Secure the Border Act will resume construction on the wall, tighten asylum standards, criminalize visa overstays, increase the number of Border Patrol Agents, defund Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) receiving tax dollars to help traffic illegal aliens throughout the heartland, and prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using its app to resettle illegal aliens. “The Biden Administration’s open border policies have created a national security and humanitarian crisis on the U.S. southern border. This legislation will better protect our country by resuming construction of the border wall, reinstating proven border security policies, and increasing resources for our Border Patrol agents,” said Senator Young. In addition to Senators Young and Cruz, Senators Mitch McConnell (R- Ky.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) also co-sponsored this legislation. Background: The Secure the Border Act would enact effective border security solutions, including: Requiring DHS to resume border wall construction; Increasing the number of Border Patrol Agents; Tightening asylum standards by restricting asylum to only aliens who present at ports of entry and by requiring aliens to prove they are “more likely than not” to qualify for their asylum claim; Narrowing DHS’s power to unilaterally grant parole to illegal aliens; Criminalizing visa overstays by making the first offense a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and the second offense a felony punishable by up to a $2,000 fine and up to two years imprisonment; Stopping NGOs from using tax dollars to transport or lodge illegal aliens and provide illegal aliens with lawyers; Restricting DHS from using its CBP One app to welcome illegal aliens into the country; Requiring employers to use E-Verify; and Ensuring U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has access to the criminal history databases of all countries of origin and transit so that CBP is aware of the criminal history of illegal aliens encountered at the southern border.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases/spartz-issues-statement-opposing-lack-leadership-mccarthy,Spartz Issues a Statement Opposing Lack of Leadership by McCarthy,2023-09-18,2023,2023-09,Republican,House,IN,Victoria Spartz,S000929,spartz.house.gov,spartz,https://spartz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) issued the following statement on her opposition to the proposed CR deal: ""Unfortunately, real leadership takes courage and willingness to fight for the country, not for power and a picture on a wall. The Republican House is failing the American people again and pursuing a path of gamesmanship and circus. Neither Republicans nor Democrats have the backbone to challenge the corrupt swamp that is bankrupting our children and grandchildren. It is a shame that our weak Speaker cannot even commit to having a commission to discuss our looming fiscal catastrophe. Our founding fathers would be rolling over in their graves to see how this institution is betraying our Republic for personal political ambitions and our children will be ashamed of another worthless Congress.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/published-op-ed-im-mom-3-school-aged-children-and-we-need-protect-parents,Published Op-Ed: “I’m a mom of 3 school-aged children and we need to protect parents’ rights inside the classroom”,2023-09-14,2023,2023-09,Republican,House,IN,Erin Houchin,H001093,houchin.house.gov,houchin,https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) had an op-ed published in Fox News on the urgent need to protect Hoosier parents’ rights inside the classroom. “Now more than ever we need to protect parents’ voices inside the classroom. I know I join parents across southern Indiana, and across our country, in feeling increasingly worried as soon as we send our children off to school,”Congresswoman Houchin writes. Read Congresswoman Houchin’s full op-ed here and below. I’m a mom of 3 school-aged children and we need to protect parents’ rights inside the classroom Let me cut to the chase: Now more than ever we need to protect parents’ voices inside the classroom. I know I join parents across southern Indiana, and across our country, in feeling increasingly worried as soon as we send our children off to school. It wasn’t always like this. However, as a mother to three school-aged children, I have experienced it myself throughout the years. Conversations surrounding education have evolved, especially conversations about a parent’s voice when they are advocating for their children. Recently, it feels like the communication lines have been strained, or even severed, between home and school – where our children spend most of their day. Some changes became painfully obvious to parents during the pandemic, as our living rooms became classrooms. Quickly, parents came to realize exactly what their children’s days looked like. Many parents have told me that they were surprised and disappointed by what they learned about their children’s educational experience. And when parents vocalized these concerns in school board meetings, they were often met with silence or dismissed. As I said on the floor of the House of Representatives, sending a child to a public school does not terminate the parents’ rights at the door. When I worked in child services, I assisted with the care of children in foster care. I saw how the process worked firsthand. When foster parents are caring for children in custody of the state, they can’t give those kids a haircut without permission from the child’s biological parents. Why shouldn’t the same rules apply to our students’ well-being in the classroom? Here in southern Indiana, we’re lucky. Most of our school districts go above and beyond to communicate with parents and inform them about, and empower them in, their children’s education. Tragically, this is not a universal experience across our country. In fact, one father in Virginia had to learn his daughter was assaulted in a high school bathroom from his child, not the school. Just last month, a New Jersey judge ruled to block multiple school districts from notifying parents of a child’s gender identity change. Stories like these shouldn’t become the new normal. That is exactly why House Republicans made commitments to address this problem and pushed for legislation that culminated in H.R. 5, the ""Parent’s Bill of Rights."" We heard the pleas of parents across America and knew we couldn’t stand by as parental rights are being eroded in our public schools. I was proud to be an original champion of H.R. 5 and support its swift passage in the House. This bill reaffirmed the fundamental relationship that had long existed between parents and teachers in America – that parents have the right to make informed decisions about their children’s education. As we highlighted extensively during the House Education and Workforce Committee’s consideration of the bill, The ""Parents Bill of Rights"" contains five basic principles to ensure: that parents have the right to know what their children are being taught; that parents have the right to be heard; that parents have the right to see the school budget; that parents have the right to protect their children’s privacy; and that parents have a right to keep their children safe. Furthermore, I was happy to add to this legislation during the committee process with an amendment to require notification of parents when their student isn’t reading at a grade-level proficiency by the end of third grade – an important time when kids start to transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Our child literacy rates are falling behind, and the more parents can help the better. But to help they must be informed. Years ago, we had no need for this kind of legislative action. But unfortunately, in today’s world this bill is necessary because school districts across the country have failed to deliver on these basic principles. The American education system is failing us. This debate has inspired my colleagues and me to continue to take steps to strengthen our schools and empower parents. For me, this includes actions to expand choices for parents. This is why I will always be a strong supporter of school choice and education savings accounts, which keep parents squarely in the driver’s seat. Parents know what is best for their student. As members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce say, it’s time to apply our most fundamental principle, freedom, to our most fundamental system, education. This bill reaffirmed the fundamental relationship that had long existed between parents and teachers in America – that parents have the right to make informed decisions about their children’s education. Now, as a member of the committee, I have a seat at the table for parents inside the committee room. It’s important that we protect and restore parents’ original role in their children's education, because in the vast majority of cases, no one will be a better advocate for their children than parents. And I, along with my House Republican colleagues, won’t stop until we achieve this mission. Thankfully, we fought for and delivered a bill to put parents, not bureaucrats, in charge of their children’s education by ensuring access to information, but the fight doesn’t stop there. We will continue to look for partners in our Senate colleagues and other opportunities to restore educational excellence in every school in America. I won’t stop contending on behalf of my fellow parents because the rights of parents don’t stop at the classroom door.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-young-joins-cnbcs-squawk-box-to-discuss-ai-insight-forum/,VIDEO: Young Joins CNBC’s Squawk Box to Discuss AI Insight Forum,2023-09-14,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"**Click here or above to watch Senator Young’s interview on Squawk Box.** WASHINGTON – This morning, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss the first bipartisan AI Insight Forum, which focused on key policy issues, opportunities, and threats related to artificial intelligence. Young joined Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to host the kickoff event for the series of Forums on Wednesday. Excerpts of Senator Young’s comments are below: “We want to make sure the United States leads the way so that our values are embedded in this technology, not the values of anyone else that might leap ahead of us, say the Chinese Communist Party.” — “I would emphasis that we want to focus on use case and assess the need to regulate accordingly.” — “I think we need both open source models and more proprietary closed source models… It’s also worth noting that, if you have an open source system, that does democratize artificial intelligence. We want that to happen — democratize its use and development… so, it’s a balance. I think the real key is making sure the United States and our companies and innovators and investors stay ahead of those in the rest of the world, so that we have the innovations to counter any bad effects of the next successive wave of AI.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-murphy-statement-on-humanitarian-crisis-in-libya/,"Young, Murphy Statement on Humanitarian Crisis in Libya",2023-09-14,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, today released the following statement in support of humanitarian access to areas of Libya affected by catastrophic storms. “We are distressed by the continuing reports out of Libya that thousands of lives have been lost due to catastrophic floods, with thousands more still missing. In Derna, we are particularly concerned by the failure of critical infrastructure that has challenged both the rescue and recovery efforts and hindered a full assessment of the extent of this disaster. “We are heartened by early reports of humanitarian aid deliveries from Tripoli to eastern Libya, and support the emergency funding provided by the United States to relief organizations working on the ground. The United States has regularly called for free and fair elections in Libya to allow the Libyan people to chart the course of their own future and hold their leaders accountable. All parties to this conflict must provide full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access to Derna and other affected cities and regions of eastern Libya. We oppose any effort to restrict or politicize the delivery of aid to Libyans who desperately need support,” said Senators Young and Murphy. Background: Eastern Libya remains under the control of Khalifa Haftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA) attempted to seize the capital, Tripoli, in April 2019. The Government of National Unity is based in Tripoli and seeks to maintain control over Western Libya. On September 10, 2023, Mediterranean storm Daniel devasted Eastern Libya, causing extreme flooding in Derna and surrounding areas. More than 6,000 people have died with thousands more still missing.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-supports-taiwan-tax-legislation/,Young Supports Taiwan Tax Legislation,2023-09-14,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), a member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, today supported the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act during a Finance Committee executive session. The legislation would relieve double taxation on investment between the United States and Taiwan, strengthening our nations’ partnership. The legislation passed the committee and now heads to the full Senate for consideration. During the session, Young delivered the following remarks: “Thank you, Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Crapo, for holding today’s markup. Our relationship with Taiwan is of critical importance for both economic and national security reasons. Taiwan is a friend who we must support, and it is imperative that we work to deepen and broaden the economic ties between our two countries. “However, currently, U.S. and Taiwanese businesses are double-taxed. This prohibitive tax policy creates unnecessary burdens for U.S. and Taiwanese businesses alike and acts as a deterrent for our Taiwanese partners looking to invest in the United States and our skilled workforce. “As we partner with our allies, including Taiwan, to counter China’s efforts to dominate the 21st Century global economy, we must continue to evaluate where our own policies undermine U.S. competitiveness and find better solutions that will propel the U.S. economy forward. “This must include both policies that allow for greater economic cooperation and investment with our foreign partners, including Taiwan, but also domestic policies that prioritize investment in the U.S. workforce – policies like R&D expensing which incentivize U.S. companies to re-invest in innovative technologies critical to our national competitiveness and which supply American workers with greater opportunity. “Unfortunately, the expiration of Section 174 has left many small businesses facing challenging decisions about the future of their company. Some of these employers are now unable to make payroll and are looking at closing their doors as a result of Congress’s failure to act. We’re talking about people losing their jobs because businesses are no longer able to expense their R&D costs. “I am encouraged that the Committee is taking this step to ensure that our tax structure reflects the strength of our relationship with Taiwan, and I encourage my colleagues to similarly take action on critical tax provisions, such as Section 174 R&D expensing, to ensure that we continue to support the U.S. workforce and further incentivize innovation here in the U.S. “I look forward to continuing to work with members of the Committee to address these issues this year.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-host-first-ai-insight-forum-with-tech-leaders/,"Young, Colleagues Host First “AI Insight Forum” with Tech Leaders",2023-09-13,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"Inside the AI Insight Forum WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined with Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to host the first bipartisan “AI Insight Forum” focused on key policy issues, opportunities, and threats related to artificial intelligence. The all-day event was open to the entire Senate and featured CEOs of leading tech companies, including X’s Elon Musk, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Google’s Sundar Pichai, NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, as well as leaders in defense, research, education, and civil society. Senator Young with X’s Elon Musk “I want to thank all of our experts for participating in our AI Insight Forum’s kickoff event,” said Senator Young. “The breadth of expertise across a range of disciplines that gathered today was immense, and my colleagues and I learned a great deal during the event. An AI-enabled society holds incredible promise, but AI’s potential benefits are accompanied by potential risks. As Congress explores key policy issues related to AI, we should identify areas where existing law does not address potential AI-specific vulnerabilities, but we also must ensure policymakers don’t overregulate and limit AI’s benefits to our society, economy, and national security. I look forward to working with my colleagues on these issues over the next few months.” Today’s event is the first in a series of AI Insight Forums organized by the senators that will take place throughout the fall. With the help of experts and stakeholders, the forums will examine a wide range of topics while keeping Senate committees of jurisdiction and their members in the driver’s seat when it comes to the legislative outcomes.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-coons-reintroduce-judges-act-to-address-judicial-emergencies/,"Young, Coons Reintroduce JUDGES Act to Address Judicial Emergencies",2023-09-12,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to address the judicial emergencies occurring in district courts across America in a non-partisan manner. The Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act would address these judicial shortages by increasing the number of federal district judges in the most overworked regions of the country, including the Southern District of Indiana. Courts across the country are overburdened and facing a shortage of federal judges. As of March 31, 2023, there were 686,797 pending cases in federal district courts across the country, averaging 491 filings per judgeship over a 12-month period. Earlier this year, the Judicial Conference of the United States, a nonpartisan policy-making body for federal courts, recommended that Congress create 66 new district court judgeships, including one in the Southern District of Indiana, to help alleviate this crisis. “Too many Americans are being denied access to our justice system due to an overload of cases and a shortage of judges,” said Senator Young. “These judicial emergencies are affecting Indiana and a number of other states across the country. Our bipartisan bill will help address this shortage and ensure all Americans have the opportunity to have their day in court.” “Congress has a responsibility to ensure that the federal judiciary is able to give every litigant their day in court and that the justice system is accessible to all. In Delaware and across the country, however, district courts face a crisis of judicial resources and overburdened dockets. That is why I’m working across the aisle on my JUDGES Act, which would create two new judgeships in Delaware and bolster our federal judiciary in the most overburdened districts across America,” said Senator Coons. This bipartisan bill would act on the findings in the 2023 Judicial Conference of the United States report by creating the recommended judgeships after future presidential elections – half on January 21, 2025, and half on January 21, 2029. Congress bears the constitutional responsibility of establishing judgeships in the district courts of the United States. However, the last comprehensive authorization of new judgeships, which established 11 additional circuit court judgeships and 74 district court judgeships across America, occurred in 1990. Since then, targeted legislation enacted between 1999 and 2003 created 34 additional district court judgeships. It has now been two decades since Congress last authorized additional district judgeships. The JUDGES Act was first introduced in 2020 and reintroduced in 2021. Senator Young also penned an op-ed on the need for this legislation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-colleagues-investigate-organ-donation-system-for-potential-self-dealing-and-financial-conflicts-of-interest/,"Young, Colleagues Investigate Organ Donation System for Potential Self-Dealing and Financial Conflicts of Interest",2023-09-11,2023,2023-09,Republican,Senate,IN,Todd Young,Y000064,www.young.senate.gov,toddyoung,https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) are continuing their years-long push for accountability in the U.S. organ procurement and transplant system. Last week, the senators led letters to crack down on potential financial conflicts of interest and abuse of taxpayer money by several organ procurement organization (OPO) executives and current and former board members of the Association of Organ Procurement Organization (AOPO). The senators asked eight OPO executives about instances in which they potentially abused their positions for monetary gain. The letters to each executive are linked below. Letter to Barry Massa, LifeCenter Organ Donor Network in Cincinnati, Ohio Letter to Jan Finn, Midwest Transplant Network in Westwood, Kan. Letter to Colleen McCarthy, Versiti Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wis. Letter to Jennifer Prinz, Donor Alliance in Denver, Colo. Letter to Jeffrey Orlowski, LifeShare Network in Oklahoma City, Okla. Letter to Rick Hasz, Gift of Life Donor Program in Philadelphia, Pa. Letter to Marty Sellers, Tennessee Donor Services in Nashville, Tenn. Letter to Wayne Dunlap, New Mexico Donor Services in Albuquerque, N.M. The senators also wrote the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) after a recent audit report found that OPOs misspent taxpayer dollars by using Medicare to reimburse inappropriate expenditures. The senators are urging CMS to implement reforms to address glaring problems with the current reimbursement system for organ procurement. The full text of the letter to CMS is here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-houchin-wraps-august-18-county-tour-across-ninth-district,Congresswoman Houchin Wraps Up August 18-County Tour Across the Ninth District,2023-09-08,2023,2023-09,Republican,House,IN,Erin Houchin,H001093,houchin.house.gov,houchin,https://houchin.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – This August, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) visited all 18 counties in the Ninth District during her first August work period. “My top priority was to visit every county in the Ninth District during my first August work period. During the 18-county tour, we heard from educational institutions, business owners, employees, first responders, farmers, local leaders and community members from Lawrence to Dearborn County and every place in between about how we can be most helpful in our service in Congress. “I heard ways that legislation can make a real impact. Bills like my Prioritizing Evidence for Workforce Development Act at places like Prosser in Floyd County, and ways we can strengthen drug transparency in family-owned pharmacies like Family Drug in Jackson County. Every single visit offered a new perspective on how we can take ideas from places like Washington County to Washington, DC,” said Congresswoman Houchin. During the tour, Congresswoman Houchin, a member of the House Education Workforce Committee, focused on ways to strengthen the workforce at schools and businesses. Education visits included Jeffersonville High School, South Decatur High School, Switzerland County School Corporation, Education Center of Rising Sun, Batesville School Corporation, and an education roundtable with leaders in Scott County. During her visit to Prosser Career and Education Center in Floyd County, Congresswoman Houchin shared her recently introduced bill to prioritize evidence-based programs like Prosser. She also visited Family YMCA’s in Washington County, Scott County, and Southeastern Indiana. Business visits included Cummins in Jackson County, Honda in Decatur County, Gaylor Electric in Clark County, Family Drug in Jackson County, Brown County Music Center and Brownie’s Bean Blossom Family Restaurant in Brown County, Williams Brothers Pharmacy in Monroe County, Novaparke in Floyd County, Amazon in Clark County, Baxter in Ripley County, and Lucas Oil in Harrison County. Congresswoman Houchin also used the tour as an opportunity to thank first responders at visits including the Decatur County Memorial Hospital’s EMS Department, Floyd County Baptist Health Hospital, Floyd County Jail with Sheriff Bush, Georgetown Fire Station with Chief Banta, and the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department with Sheriff McHenry. In the News: The Tribune | Congresswoman visits Jackson County Corydon Democrat |Rep. Erin Houchin visits Corydon WBIW | Erin Houchin Speakers on Veteran Access to Healthcare News and Tribune | Congresswoman Erin Houchin visits Jeffersonville WDRB | Indiana congresswoman Erin Houchin visits Family & Children's Place in Jeffersonville WRBI | Local representative visits area as part of multi-county Congressional District tour Town of Clarksville | Clarksville Boy Scout Meets with 9th District Congresswoman Erin Houchin The 812 Now | Congresswoman visits Batesville, Franklin County Friday",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z