Grassley-Backed Infrastructure Law Delivers Millions for Iowa to Fund Safer Streets, Trucker Workforce Training and More

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) welcomed announcements from the Department of Transportation (DOT) that Iowa will receive millions in funding to support programs aimed at building safer streets and roads, bolstering public safety and supporting Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) operator training. Funding for each grant comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Grassley supported in 2021.

“Iowans rely on sound infrastructure to stay connected with loved ones and move our world-class agriculture products and manufactured goods to market. These grants are welcome news for Iowa drivers, our state’s economy and Iowans looking to pursue their career goals. I was glad to support the bipartisan infrastructure law, which continues to invest in Iowa and will pay dividends for decades to come,” Grassley said.

The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program was created under the bipartisan infrastructure law and funds initiatives to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries. Iowa is set to receive $17.4 million from DOT, including:

$6,824,000 for Clay, Buena Vista and Pocahontas Counties

This award will be used to implement rural safety upgrades on 26 miles of county roads, three intersections and three curves identified in their Safety Action Plans.

$6,000,000 for the City of Davenport

This award will be used to implement intersection safety upgrades at three high-crash locations identified in the adopted Quad Cities, Kewanee and Muscatine Traffic Safety Action Plan.

$4,620,000 for the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

This award will be used to complete safety studies, a comprehensive safety policy evaluation on existing transportation policies across the region, training development and road safety audits.

The High Priority Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) program provides financial assistance to enhance commercial vehicle safety and implement innovative projects that support CMV safety.Iowa is set to receive $4.41 million from this program, including:

$1,999,856 for the Iowa Department of Public Safety

The proposed project will prioritize work zones for enforcement of CMVs and non-CMVs to alter driver behavior and reduce crashes and fatalities.

$1,999,685 for the Iowa Department of Public Safety

The proposed project will continue the Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies across Iowa, to increase roadside CMV driver/vehicle inspections, as well as related non-inspection traffic enforcement.

$411,150 for the Iowa Department of Public Safety

The proposed project aims to prevent human trafficking from occurring in Iowa by identifying trafficking victims, providing resources to at least 3 potential victims per operation and dismantling human trafficking organizations.

The High Priority Innovative Technology Deployment (HP-ITD) funds innovative and impactful projects to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. Award information follows:

$570,000 for the Iowa Department of Transportation

The award will support Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window (CVIEW) system operations and the Expanded Innovative Technology Deployment (ITD) Operations and Maintenance (O&M) projects.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grants were allocated in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to strengthen the local economy through job creation, enhanced connectivity and supply chain improvements. Iowa will receive $518,134, including:

$79,800 for Eastern Iowa Community College in Davenport

$77,784 for Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs

$74,925 for Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar

$74,925 for Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo

$73,500 for Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny

$70,000 for Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge

$67,200 for Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa

Grassley called for expanded access to Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training in the wake of supply chain constraints following the COVID-19 pandemic.


PASSED THE SENATE: Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan Bill to Increase Job Support for Gold Star Spouses

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to expand access to job counseling services for Gold Star and surviving spouses. The Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act increases access to job counseling services through the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program to spouses of service members who died while serving in the military or of a service-connected disability. The program provides every state with funding to hire dedicated workforce specialists to provide individualized career counseling support with localized knowledge to eligible veterans, and this bipartisan bill expands access to these services to surviving spouses.

“Supporting military families is a commitment that we must honor, especially for those who have lost a loved one in service to our country,” said Senator Hassan. “Expanding access to job counseling services for Gold Star and surviving spouses is one meaningful way that we can honor their sacrifice and help them build stable futures. I’m grateful that the Senate unanimously passed this commonsense legislation, and I urge the House to join us in getting this across the finish line.”

“During the Civil War, President Lincoln said that we the living have the obligation ‘to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.’ The Gold Star Spouse bill fulfills this command in the modern world—that the surviving wife or husband would have access to career services to care for themselves and their family,” said Dr. Cassidy.

“I’m glad the Senate passed this bipartisan bill to stand behind the families of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said Senator Kelly. “Surviving spouses deserve access to job counseling and employment services that help them get back on their feet after an unimaginable loss.”

“The spouses of the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country deserve the very best we have to offer. Expanding access to job counseling services will provide critical support to spouses navigating a devastating loss by helping them secure stable, good-paying jobs. I am proud to join Senator Hassan in this important legislation and am glad to see it pass the Senate and move one step closer to becoming law,” said Senator Schmitt.

“Gold Star families make sacrifices day in and day out for our country, and we owe them our support,” said Senator Kaine. “That includes assistance when it comes to accessing high-quality career counseling services. I’m proud the Senate passed bipartisan legislation I cosponsored to stand with surviving spouses and help ensure that type of support is within reach, just like it already is for many veterans.”

“When a member of our military makes the ultimate sacrifice, we must do everything we can to uplift their loved ones following such unimaginable loss,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would ensure surviving military spouses have access to career services so they can find employment, renewed purpose, and the ability to provide for their families.”

“We have a solemn duty to look after the families of the men and women who gave their lives in service of our country,” said Senator Smith. “This bill is a simple way we can support surviving spouses as they figure out how to navigate their new normal and support their families financially.”

“Those who have worn the cloth of our nation and gave their last full measure of devotion deserve our utmost gratitude. So do the Gold Star families whose loved ones never came home from their service. This bill is a practical way to carry out that responsibility by ensuring surviving spouses have access to career counseling and job support as they care for their families and build their futures,” said Senator Lankford.

“Losing a spouse in military service is a devastating trauma with lifelong consequences,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “These families deserve all the support we can offer, including help finding a stable, good-paying job.”

This bipartisan bill is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing work to support service members, veterans, and their families. Last year, she helped introduce the Military Spouse Hiring Act to help boost hiring of military spouses. Senator Hassan helped develop and pass into law the PACT Act, which fundamentally reforms and improves how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits from the VA. Senator Hassan also helped pass into law comprehensive, bipartisan retirement security legislation, including provisions she authored with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), to help military families save for retirement. Additionally, Senator Hassan introduced and passed into law the bipartisan Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act, which expanded parental leave eligibility for Reserve and National Guard members to cover all new parents.

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Hawley Announces Legislation to Create New Inspector General Following Minnesota Fraud Allegations

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced he is introducing legislation that would create a new inspector general to uncover fraud in federal programs that fund certain social services. The legislation comes after a federal prosecutor revealed half or more of the roughly $18 billion in federal funds spent on social services in Minnesota since 2018 may have been stolen.


Heinrich Announces 2025 Nominees to the United States Service Academies

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced his nominees to the United States Service Academies. A nomination is required to attend the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination. Being nominated is a significant honor. The application process is rigorous, and only the most qualified and meritorious candidates receive a nomination.

“Our nation’s service academies offer a rigorous education and hands-on training that develop future leaders for the armed forces while equipping graduates with skills that last beyond their time in uniform,” said Heinrich. “I’m proud to announce and congratulate my nominees for 2025. These students represent the very best of New Mexico, showing incredible dedication and a strong commitment to service. I applaud their decision to step forward and serve our country.”

The United States Service Academies offer four-year college educations to qualified students. Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy receive commissions in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Merchant Marine, or Coast Guard, and are obligated to serve for at least five years after graduation.

The following students received nominations through Senator Heinrich's office:

United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado

Emily Archuleta of Ranchos de Taos

Samantha Brasher of Las Cruces

James Cruz of Holman

Zachary Eggleston of Cliff

Mia Herrera of Santa Fe

Matthew Johansson of Albuquerque

Michael Kokulis of Albuquerque

Aaron Lopez of Rio Rancho

Alejandro Lucero of Albuquerque

Joshua Marquez of Tijeras

Helen Musolf of Santa Fe

Melissa Orozco of Albuquerque

Mickey Widner Jr. of Albuquerque

Caleb Williams of Las Cruces

Aubrey Ytuarte of Rio Rancho

United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland

Alexis Arellano of Albuquerque

Margaret Collins of Las Cruces

Nathan Duffield of White Rock

Kenneth Graves of Edgewood

Rhys Hodges of Albuquerque

Noah Jackson of Las Cruces

Andrew Kevan of Rio Rancho

Soo Lee of Albuquerque

Danira Madrid of Albuquerque

Abelardo Montoya of Lovington

Isaiah Ocampo of Socorro

Joziah Otero of Tucumcari

Ian Wald of Santa Fe

Dorothy Young of Albuquerque

United States Military Academy at West Point, New York

Luke Brown of Albuquerque

Tyler Colburn of Albuquerque

Hudson Dimas of Ribera

Judah Daffron of Taos

Issac Garcia of Albuquerque

Isabella Jarvis of Rio Rancho

Lance Jayme of Alexandria

Abigail Johnson of White Sands

Quanah Morning-Star of Cochiti Pueblo

Dominic Quintana of Albuquerque

Jack Ritzman of Las Cruces

Luke Sanchez of Albuquerque

Andrew To of Las Cruces

Evani Velasquez of Aztec

Colin Zhang of Albuquerque

United States Merchant Marines at Kings Point, New York

Alexis Arellano of Albuquerque

Luke Brown of Albuquerque

Tyler Colburn of Albuquerque

Margaret Collins of Las Cruces

Hudson Dimas of Ribera

Kenneth Graves of Edgewood

Rhys Hodges of Albuquerque

Soo Lee of Albuquerque

Alejandro Lucero of Albuquerque

Danira Madrid of Albuquerque

Isaiah Ocampo of Socorro

Andrew To of Las Cruces

Aubrey Ytuarte of Rio Rancho

Colin Zhang of Albuquerque

Briggs Szanto of Corrales

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Senator Justice Highlights Rural Health Benefits from Recently Announced Rural Health Transformation Program

West Virginia is set to receive nearly $200 million after Senator Justice and Senate Republicans inserted language into the Working Families Tax Cuts Act to deliver on healthcare promises for Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the work of Senator Justice and his Senate Republican colleagues, West Virginia is set to receive nearly $200 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. The program is set to deliver a better quality of healthcare in West Virginia and was championed by Justice and his Republican colleagues in the Senate:

“I know full and well the challenges rural hospitals face from my time as Governor, which is why I burned the midnight oil with Senate Republicans to ensure this funding would be included in our final product. Rural hospitals are the lifeblood of our communities, and I am proud to have moved this ball across the finish line because this will truly make a difference across our state. Results like this don’t come easy, which is why I’ll continue fighting in Washington to make life better for West Virginians,” said Senator Jim Justice.

The Rural Health Transformation Program Investment allows West Virginia to:

Attract and maintain healthcare providers in rural areas and regions facing shortages of medical professionals.

Provide education on emerging technologies to enhance healthcare accessibility.

Create initiatives that promote new approaches to patient care.

Expand availability of services for substance abuse treatment and behavioral health support.

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Senators Justice, Hyde-Smith, Bennet, Warnock Introduce the Roll-Over Prevention & Safety Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, Senator Jim Justice introduced the Roll-Over Prevention & Safety Act. A bipartisan effort alongside U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) to protect American farmers:

“I know the needs of our farmers because I am one, which is why we must do everything possible to protect their health and safety. This bill is one simple way we can help decrease the risk of fatal tractor rollovers on farms. I’m proud to support the effort in the Senate and hope that this grant program will encourage more farmers to consider retrofitting their tractors with roll bars to protect themselves and their equipment operators,” said Senator Jim Justice.

“We need to extend this small, but important program that can save lives in rural America. Farming and ranching can be dangerous work, which is made even more perilous because receiving help after an accident in rural areas can take a considerable amount of time. Making retrofitting tractors affordable is worthwhile and I hope this lifesaving legislation finds broad support in the Senate and House,” said Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith.

“Farming is dangerous work, and efforts that help Colorado farmers do their jobs safely and get home at the end of the day matter. I’m glad to join my colleagues in the Senate and House to introduce this bipartisan legislation, which will help our farmers purchase, transport, and install rollover protection structures on their tractors. Legislation like this saves lives and protects our farming communities across the country,” said Senator Michael Bennet.

“Georgia farmers are the backbone of our state’s economy, and they take on tough, often risky work to feed our families every day. This legislation will help prevent overturn accidents and give farmers peace of mind, allowing them to upgrade their equipment without having to make difficult financial decisions to do so. Supporting our nation’s farmers shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and I’m proud to have worked on this bipartisan legislation to deliver for Georgia families,” said Senator Raphael Warnock.

BACKGROUND:

The Roll-Over Prevention and Safety Act would:

Require the Secretary of Agriculture to make cost-share grants for retrofitting older tractors with roll bars and other protections.

Create a federal grant program to help farmers and agricultural schools add rollover protection.

Pay up to 70% of the cost to buy, transport, and install roll bars and seatbelts.

Help reduce injuries and deaths caused by tractor rollovers.

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Kaine, Paul, Schumer & Schiff Announce Senate Will Vote on Venezuela War Powers Resolution Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rand Paul (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that the Senate will vote tomorrow morning at 11:00am on their War Powers Resolution to block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress. The legislation needs a simple majority to pass the Senate.

“Instead of responding to Americans’ concerns about the affordability crisis, President Trump started a war with Venezuela that is profoundly disrespectful to U.S. troops, deeply unpopular, suspiciously secretive, and likely corrupt. How is that ‘America First?’,” said Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. “Trump’s war is also clearly illegal because this military action was ordered without the congressional authorization the Constitution requires. To my Senate colleagues: enough is enough. You were sent here to have courage and to stand up for your constituents. That means no war without a debate and vote in Congress.”

“Current congressional leaders squirm and would like to shift the burden of initiating war to the President,” said Paul. “Less than courageous members of Congress fall all over themselves to avoid taking responsibility, to avoid the momentous vote of declaring war. But make no mistake, bombing another nation’s capital and removing their leader is an act of war plain and simple. No provision in the Constitution provides such power to the presidency.”

“For months, the Trump administration has dodged accountability and obfuscated their intentions and plans in the Caribbean and Venezuela. Now it is time for Congress to stop Trump’s folly, reassert its constitutional authority in foreign conflicts, and pass the War Powers Act,” said Leader Schumer. “Donald Trump seems content to drag our country and American families into an endless war with no plan, no transparency, and nothing but wishful thinking. But Congress can stop this. The next step is clear: tomorrow, Democrats and Republicans must come together to invoke the War Powers Act.”

"Donald Trump’s military action in Venezuela is potentially just the start of a prolonged engagement of U.S. forces in Venezuela and elsewhere. American servicemembers must not be used to secure oil resources from another country for the benefit of U.S. business leaders or for any other purpose not authorized by Congress. If Congress does not exercise its constitutional war powers now, there’s no telling where Donald Trump will send our military next,” said Schiff.

Kaine, Paul, and Schiff previously introduced a bipartisan resolution to prevent the use of military force within or against Venezuela, but it narrowly failed because it did not receive enough Republican votes to pass. Kaine and Schiff also introduced a similar measure focused on repeated strikes in the southern Caribbean Sea that the Trump Administration has carried out without congressional authorization, killing dozens of unknown individuals. The legislation did not gain enough Republican support to pass.

Full text of the resolution is available here.

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Kelly, Hassan’s Bipartisan Bill to Increase Job Support for Gold Star Spouses Passes the Senate

In case you missed it, the Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to expand access to job counseling services for Gold Star and surviving spouses. The Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act increases access to job counseling services through the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program to spouses of service members who died while serving in the military or of a service-connected disability. The program provides every state with funding to hire dedicated workforce specialists to provide individualized career counseling support with localized knowledge to eligible veterans, and this bipartisan bill expands access to these services to surviving spouses.

The Gold Star and Surviving Spouse Career Services Act is cosponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tina Smith (D-MN), James Lankford (R-OK) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).

“I’m glad the Senate passed this bipartisan bill to stand behind the families of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said Kelly. “Surviving spouses deserve access to job counseling and employment services that help them get back on their feet after an unimaginable loss.”

“Supporting military families is a commitment that we must honor, especially for those who have lost a loved one in service to our country,” said Hassan. “Expanding access to job counseling services for Gold Star and surviving spouses is one meaningful way that we can honor their sacrifice and help them build stable futures. I’m grateful that the Senate unanimously passed this commonsense legislation, and I urge the House to join us in getting this across the finish line.”

“During the Civil War, President Lincoln said that we the living have the obligation ‘to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.’ The Gold Star Spouse bill fulfills this command in the modern world—that the surviving wife or husband would have access to career services to care for themselves and their family,” said Cassidy.

“The spouses of the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country deserve the very best we have to offer. Expanding access to job counseling services will provide critical support to spouses navigating a devastating loss by helping them secure stable, good-paying jobs. I am proud to join Senator Hassan in this important legislation and am glad to see it pass the Senate and move one step closer to becoming law,” said Schmitt.

“Gold Star families make sacrifices day in and day out for our country, and we owe them our support,” said Kaine. “That includes assistance when it comes to accessing high-quality career counseling services. I’m proud the Senate passed bipartisan legislation I cosponsored to stand with surviving spouses and help ensure that type of support is within reach, just like it already is for many veterans.”

“When a member of our military makes the ultimate sacrifice, we must do everything we can to uplift their loved ones following such unimaginable loss,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would ensure surviving military spouses have access to career services so they can find employment, renewed purpose, and the ability to provide for their families.”

“We have a solemn duty to look after the families of the men and women who gave their lives in service of our country,” said Smith. “This bill is a simple way we can support surviving spouses as they figure out how to navigate their new normal and support their families financially.”

“Those who have worn the cloth of our nation and gave their last full measure of devotion deserve our utmost gratitude. So do the Gold Star families whose loved ones never came home from their service. This bill is a practical way to carry out that responsibility by ensuring surviving spouses have access to career counseling and job support as they care for their families and build their futures,” said Lankford.


Klobuchar Statement on Fatal Shooting by ICE Agent in Minneapolis

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement on the fatal shooting by an ICE Agent in Minneapolis this morning:

“I am praying for the family and loved ones of the woman who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis this morning. This tragedy is the result of the administration sending federal agents onto our streets against the wishes of local law enforcement, including our respected Police Chief Brian O'Hara. We need full transparency and an investigation of what happened, and I am deeply concerned that statements made by DHS do not appear to reflect video evidence and on-the-ground accounts. While our immigration enforcement should be focused on apprehending and prosecuting violent criminals to make our communities safer, these ICE actions are doing the opposite and making our state less safe.”


Graham Statement on Russia Sanctions Bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement.

“After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others.

“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent.

“This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil fueling Putin’s war machine.

“This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivize them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine.

“I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week.”


McConnell Comments on Arctic, Allies

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today:

“Arctic security matters. So does the strength of our alliances. These interests are not in conflict. They are inseparably linked.

“Close security cooperation between Americans, Danes, and Greenlanders is a tradition older than NATO, the most successful military alliance in human history. Through the Cold War and still today, cooperation with Arctic allies from Canada to the Nordics already grants the United States sweeping access to positions of strategic importance.

“Threats and intimidation by U.S. officials over American ownership of Greenland are as unseemly as they are counterproductive. And the use of force to seize the sovereign democratic territory of one of America’s most loyal and capable allies would be an especially catastrophic act of strategic self-harm to America and its global influence.

“The northernmost reaches of the globe may well shape our strategic competition with major adversaries like Russia and China for decades to come. But if America behaves as though winning that competition requires trampling the sovereignty, respect, and trust of our allies, we will surely lose it.”


Merkley, Scott Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Fight Opioid Overdose in Schools, Support School Access to Naloxone

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Florida’s U.S. Senator Rick Scott teamed up to reintroduce their bipartisan School Access to Naloxone Act. The bipartisan legislation would ensure school personnel have the training and education to administer lifesaving drugs and devices for emergency treatment in cases of known or suspected opioid overdose.

“As I meet with Oregonians in each of our 36 counties for town hall conversations, I hear about the need to combat the opioid crisis, especially from our younger generations who are demanding effective solutions to this epidemic,” said Merkley. “Naloxone saves lives and helping schools stock and administer it is an important part of what needs to be a multi-pronged effort to tackle opioid overdoses. I’ll keep working to deliver federal resources and support individuals and communities suffering from this crisis.”

“I’m proud to join Senator Merkley on our bipartisan School Access to Naloxone Act, to ensure schools can access the resources they need to recognize and treat opioid overdoses and save lives,” said Scott. “I’ll continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to raise awareness of this crisis and promote access to life-saving tools and I urge Congress to pass this bill to help save lives.”

The number of adolescent overdose deaths in the U.S. has risen in recent years. According to an analysis of data from the CDC, adolescent opioid fatalities—including fatalities from fentanyl—have increased from 143 cases in 2018 to 557 cases in 2023. Most opioid overdose deaths could be avoided by the timely administration of naloxone, a safe and effective opioid reversal medication.

With an increase in addiction and opioid overdoses in American adolescents, it’s critical to ensure schools have the resources, training, and federal support to combat this crisis. The School Access to Naloxone Act aims to reduce opioid overdose deaths in young Americans by encouraging the stocking of naloxone and the training of staff on its safe administration in school settings.

The bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and John Fetterman (D-PA).

The School Access to Naloxone Act is endorsed by the National Association of School Nurses, National Association of School Superintendents, School-Based Health Alliance, Oregon School-Based Alliance, InterMountain Education Service District, La Grande School District, and Umatilla School District.

“Once again, I appreciate Senator Merkley’s consistent effort to improve the lives of Oregonians. Due to the high rate of opium use, schools need support, training and resources to prepare a response to this crisis,” said Mark Mulvihill, Superintendent, InterMountain Education Service District.

“It’s important for Oregon Schools to have access to resources such as Naloxone (Narcan). Opioid overdose prevention is important for staff and student safety and having an intervention plan that allows for Narcan in schools can save lives. Schools need to be prepared to respond to emergencies and provide immediate assistance when necessary. We have staff trained in CPR, first aid, as well as many other school emergencies, we need to be prepared to respond. We need to ensure we have resources to provide a timely response and encourage responsible action for our staff. Making Naloxone (Narcan) available in schools will provide opportunities for educators and staff members to be educated about the dangers of opioids, fentanyl and how the body responds to overdoses. This education promotes greater awareness to staff, students and families and will help safeguard the health and wellbeing of our students and most importantly save lives,” said George Mendoza, Superintendent, La Grande School District.

“Schools are often community hubs. No community is immune from opioid concerns and having access to life saving medications in the event of an overdose is a valuable tool. I hope we never need to use Naloxone in a school facility, but am thankful to have access should the need arise,” said Heidi Sipe, Superintendent, Umatilla School District.

Full text of the School Access to Naloxone Act can be found by clicking here.

This press release has been updated.

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Rep. Mike Levin, Sen. Jeff Merkley to Introduce New Bill to Prevent Taxpayer Dollars from Being Used by Oil Companies in Venezuela

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) announced that he plans to introduce new legislation in the coming weeks that would prevent American taxpayer dollars from being used to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure for the benefit of Big Oil companies. Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley will pursue the Senate companion of this bill.

Following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, President Trump stated that oil companies would go into Venezuela to build out oil production infrastructure and that the United States would “reimburse” their investments. Independent analysts say that under current market conditions oil companies do not have an incentive to invest substantially in Venezuela unless they are subsidized by the American public. At the same time, analysts have found that increased production in Venezuela is unlikely to bring down gas prices in the United States.

The new bicameral legislation would prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to help oil companies turn a profit off of Trump’s military operation in Venezuela. The legislation will be introduced in the coming weeks in both the House and the Senate.

“I will be introducing new House legislation to prevent American taxpayer dollars from being used to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure,” said Rep. Levin. “Americans’ money should never be used for backroom deals or other schemes that help Big Oil companies turn a profit on the Trump Administration’s operation in Venezuela. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for risky foreign oil projects that boost Big Oil profits and won’t lower costs at home.”

“American taxpayers have no business funding oil infrastructure in Venezuela,” said Sen. Merkley. “Congress must stand up to Trump’s reckless vision of making Big Oil even richer at the expense of American families. In fact, Trump’s plans could cost $100 billion to modernize Venezuela’s oil infrastructure to make a big profit for Big Oil. I think every American can think of a lot of issues, including health care, housing, and American infrastructure, where that money can be a hell of a lot better spent.”

In 2024, on the campaign trail, President Trump asked oil industry executives to donate $1 billion to his campaign and in return he would deliver on their wish list. President Trump is intent on keeping his promise to Big Oil.

At a time when millions of Americans can’t afford health care and are struggling to afford basic necessities, President Trump is more interested in regime change, foreign nation building, and giving handouts to his campaign supporters like Big Oil.

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Moreno to Introduce Bill Codifying President Trump’s Ban on Institutional Investors From Buying Single Family Homes

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) announced he would introduce legislation to codify President Donald Trump’s ban on institutional investors from purchasing single family homes into law:


Alaska Delegation Introduce Bycatch Reduction & Research Act

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), have introduced the Bycatch Reduction and Research Act. The legislation would improve marine environmental data collection, particularly in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska; prioritize technology that supports research, bycatch reduction, and protection of marine seafloor habitat; advance, streamline, and enhance electronic monitoring and electronic reporting in United States fisheries; and establish a fund to provide financial assistance for the deployment of gear and technology for reducing bycatch and marine seafloor habitat contact from trawl fishing gear.

“In recent years, Alaskans have witnessed unprecedented declines among some fish and crab species in parts of the state while, in other parts, runs have been strong and historic,” said Sen. Sullivan. “We need to get to the bottom of all potential causes of this increased variability, including concerns about bycatch and trawl gear habitat impacts, to strengthen the sustainability of our fisheries. My Bycatch Reduction and Research Act will continue to close the research gaps—building on the important work that was started by the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, bolster our data collection, monitoring and reporting capabilities, improve the use of electronic monitoring technologies, and rapidly advance the use of equipment that will reduce bycatch. I urge my colleagues to advance this important legislation aimed at deepening our understanding of the unprecedented variability of our fish and crab stocks and reducing the incidence of bycatch.”

“Alaska’s fisheries are facing unprecedented challenges as our marine ecosystems are changing faster than ever before,” said Sen. Murkowski. “The Bycatch Reduction and Research Act of 2025 builds on the important work already underway by closing critical data gaps, strengthening research, and investing in practical tools that help fishermen reduce bycatch while protecting critical habitat. This thoughtful, science-based approach brings together researchers, managers, and industry to better understand what’s happening in our waters and ensure Alaska’s fisheries remain sustainable for generations to come.”

“The Bycatch Reduction and Research Act is an important first step toward putting Alaska fisheries on a more sustainable path by addressing the lack of abundance and impacts of trawl bycatch,” said Congressman Begich. “This legislation reflects what Alaskans have asked for: greater transparency, better monitoring, and practical solutions that involve fishermen and their expertise. By modernizing electronic monitoring, improving real-time genetic stock identification, and investing in new gear and technology that reduce bycatch and habitat impacts, this legislation supports innovation without placing additional burdens on small operators. Importantly, this bill helps fishermen be part of the solution - testing new gear and providing financial assistance to reduce bycatch and habitat. This legislation focuses on what must come first: better data and better tools. While this legislation does not solve every challenge facing Alaska fisheries overnight, by strengthening transparency and technology, this bill lays the groundwork for smarter management decisions and stronger future action to restore abundance and sustain our fishing families and communities.”

Alaska Stakeholder Support

“The Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association supports this legislation as a vital step to address significant data and research deficiencies, particularly within the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska,” said Serena Fitka, executive director for the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association (YRDFA) and an Arctic Yukon Kuskokwim Working Group member of the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force. “This action is essential due to the critically low abundance of salmon stocks returning to western Alaska to spawn. By investing in the necessary science and monitoring tools to close existing research gaps, we can effectively address the concerns facing our wild salmon populations. This benefits not only the people of Alaska who rely on these resources but also the entire fishing industry.”

“I applaud Senator Sullivan for introducing this Bycatch Reduction and Research Act,” said Captain Bob Candopoulos, Alaskan sportfish and charter leader and owner of Saltwater Safari Company. “Last summer, I raised my concerns with him about our state’s bycatch challenges, and we had a productive discussion about using innovative technologies including improved fishing gear designs, sensors, and other tools to help reduce bycatch and protect the ocean floor. I appreciate how he took my ideas seriously and moved quickly to incorporate them into this legislation. It is encouraging to see my concerns reflected in this bill, and how he proactively continues to address bycatch by taking meaningful steps to ensure the long-term sustainability of our fisheries.”

“There is clear and growing concern across Alaska about the impact of bottom trawling on seafloor habitat and the fisheries important to Alaskans,” said Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association. “Senator Sullivan's bill responds to that concern by providing funding for research and technology to reduce these impacts. Our members applaud Senator Sullivan's investment in reducing bycatch and the impacts of bottom trawling.”

“Senator Sullivan's bycatch bill takes action to address research gaps, prioritize technology advances, and provide funds for bycatch reduction and habitat protections,” said Gabriel Prout, third generation Bering Sea crab fisherman and president of Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers. “These actions are exactly the types of things needed to keep Alaska's fisheries healthy.”

“As the largest and leading advocacy organization for sportfishing in Alaska, we work closely with the angling community and we see firsthand the importance of gathering the best available science to inform policy decisions,” said Shannon Martin, executive director of Kenai River Sportfishing Association. “This legislation would provide much needed funding to bridge critical data and research gaps and would meaningfully benefit Alaska’s fishery resources, the marine environment, and all fishing industry user groups. In particular, we appreciate that this bill provides measures for salmon tagging and genetic sampling research in the Gulf of Alaska, along with enhanced observer coverage in the commercial fishery through electronic monitoring. These provisions directly enhance KRSA’s mission to ensure the long-term sustainability of Alaska’s fisheries by strengthening data collection and management tools and represent a critical step forward in responding to the ongoing decline of Alaska Chinook salmon stocks.”

“As both a commercial fisherman and a salmon scientist, I see the consequences of changing ocean conditions and management uncertainty on the water and in our communities,” said Michelle Stratton, executive director of the Alaska Marine Conservation Council and a member of the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force in 2023. “This legislation comes at a pivotal time. Our coastal communities and food systems need thriving fisheries, and for that we need thriving ecosystems. The Act is a bridge between the two, supporting marine research, improved transparency, and practical tools for necessary reductions in bycatch and habitat impacts. By directly linking improved data and monitoring to fishery management decisions, this legislation helps ensure sustainable salmon fisheries while protecting fishing livelihoods and food security across Alaska.”

Background

Several fish and crustacean species that spend all or part of their life in the marine environment have been experiencing increased variability in their productivity and abundance. The legislation builds on recommendations identified by the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force, which sought to disentangle environmental and human-caused factors that may be contributing to species declines and survivability, including bycatch in the marine environment. The task force was originally convened as a result of legislation authored by Sen. Sullivan, which was signed into law in December 2022.

Among other specific provisions, the Bycatch Reduction and Research Act would:

Reconstitute the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force (ASRTF) and expand it to include groundfish and invertebrate ecology experts to create a Bycatch Reduction and Research Task Force that would review all research and reports published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Alaska salmon life history and Alaska trawl gear impacts on marine seafloor habitat, and provide priority recommendations for future research;

Create a satellite tagging research initiative to better understand Alaska salmon life history and migrations in the marine environment;

Create a genetic sampling grant program to support the genetic stock identification and age composition of Alaska salmon caught as bycatch in federal commercial fisheries;

Designate a clearer timeline and process for NOAA-approved exempted fishing permits (EFPs), including EFPs that aim to reduce bycatch and marine habitat disturbances, as long as they do not interfere with fishery conservation objectives;

Improve the public transparency of existing observer coverage in federal fisheries managed by NOAA;

Construct a flume tank to test technology or fishing gear aimed at reducing or mitigating bycatch and impacts to seafloor habitat contact from non-pelagic and pelagic trawl gear;

Provide non-federal financial support for the purchase or modification of fishing gear, equipment, and innovative technology to reduce or mitigate bycatch and seafloor habitat contact from non-pelagic and pelagic trawl gear.


Co-Chairs of Arctic Caucus Comment on Trump Administration’s Greenland Posturing

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME), co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus, released the following statements following members of the Trump Administration’s recent comments on Greenland.

“I continue to hope the administration’s rhetoric on Greenland is nothing more than posturing for a new era of cooperation, because any effort to claim or take the territory by force would degrade both our national security and our international relationships,” said Senator Murkowski. “We have a long history of close cooperation with Greenland, dating back to World War II and continuing today with the Pituffik Space Base, and have always been able to achieve our mutual goals through strong diplomacy with its people. As Greenland charts its future, we must see it as an ally, not an asset, and focus on continued partnership rather than possession.”

“America is an Arctic nation, and our strength for decades in the High North has been the collaborative relationships we share with our allies in the Arctic community,” said Senator King. “I’ll bottom line it: there is absolutely no national security reason for us to own, occupy or control Greenland. We have had an Air Force base – which is now a Space Force base – in Greenland for 75 years. Based on my bipartisan work with Senator Murkowski, I know for a fact that the Danes and the Greenlanders do not want to sell their territory, and would certainly be willing to accommodate whatever we believe is necessary to advance and protect our national security and the security of the Arctic region. The fact is we do not need to own the real estate to develop and deploy national security assets in friendly countries.”

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Murphy On Trump's Plan To Run Venezuela: Nobody Asked For This

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), ahead of a vote to block unauthorized military action in Venezuela, on Wednesday took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to expose President Trump’s plans to waste billions of taxpayer dollars on nation-building in Venezuela while ignoring the American people who are facing massive health insurance premium increases and skyrocketing costs. Murphy ripped apart the Trump administration’s shifting public justifications for the military actions in Venezuela, and argued Congress should reject Trump’s corrupt efforts to plunge the United States into another foreign intervention to make his oil industry donors rich.

Murphy emphasized Americans want the federal government to be focused on the real issues at home: “Venezuela isn't terribly relevant for the people I represent who are worried about an economy that seems to be stagnant, health care premiums that are doubling, tripling for many people in my state, prices that are going up on all the stuff that you need to afford to live… It is an enormous distraction from what actually matters to the people of this country… Nobody in the state of Connecticut was asking me for an invasion of [Venezuela] prior to the Christmas break. Everybody in my state knows that this has nothing to do with their interests. Lives are going to be lost in this country when millions of people lose their insurance in the coming weeks.”

Murphy exposed Trump’s broken promises to keep the United States out of doomed nation-building wars: “[Nation-building] is the business we thought we were getting out of. Donald Trump promised the country that he wasn't going to repeat the mistakes that had been made in the past, in which we tried to impose our will on a foreign country through military intervention or the threat of military intervention. But what they are proposing to do is exactly that. It comes in a slightly different form than what we did in Afghanistan and Iraq, but it is from the same playbook. Here's their plan: they are going to seize control of Venezuelan oil under the threat of gunpoint. And then they are going to use that oil as leverage to micromanage the government and economy of Venezuela.”

Linking Trump’s Venezuela plan to our disastrous regime change efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, he continued: “So we are essentially encircling Venezuela with the American military and telling them that, if they don't do what we want, we are going to stop and board their ships. We are going to attack their country again…Donald Trump has said this is the plan, that if they don't do what we want, we'll be right back inside Venezuela. This doesn't work! It has never worked in the past. It is the essence of the quagmire that we got ourselves in in Iraq and Afghanistan - the belief, this myopic belief that neocons, that hawks have, that warmongers have, that the United States can use its military to impose our will on a foreign country.”

A full transcript of Murphy’s remarks is below.

Mr. President, I come down to the floor in support of the resolution, but I'm hoping to use my few minutes to step back from the dizzying torrent of news that we have been delivered, often contradicting sources of news from the President and his advisors and just ask some basic questions about the wisdom of this extraordinary military endeavor and the administration's future plans in Venezuela.

I think the basic question that people are asking in my state, and I imagine the same is true all over the country, is why did we invade Venezuela? Why is our entire national conversation today seized by this question of Venezuela? Why does Senator Kaine have to come to the floor and offer a very simple resolution to clarify that the President doesn't have the authority unilaterally to take military action overseas without the consent of the people.

Because for people in Connecticut, they haven't been spending a lot of time over the last twelve months thinking or talking about Venezuela. Venezuela isn't terribly relevant for the people I represent who are worried about an economy that seems to be stagnant, health care premiums that are doubling, tripling for many people in my state, prices that are going up on all the stuff that you need to afford to live, and all of a sudden the President is talking only about Venezuela. So why did we invade Venezuela? Why are we still talking about Venezuela?

Well, let's rule out the reasons we know don't hold water. It is not because Venezuela presents a security threat to the United States. There was a reason we went into Afghanistan - however badly that occupation ended - there was a reason we went into Afghanistan. They were harboring a terrorist group that had attacked the United States. Venezuela is not harboring any non-state actors that have plans to attack the United States. The Venezuelan government is not a security threat to the United States of America. So you can cross off that reason. It's not because Venezuela is a security threat to the United States, and everybody basically understands and knows that. Now the administration spent a lot of time talking about drugs. Their initial forays, with respect to military intervention in and around Venezuela, were targeting these boats that they claimed were carrying drugs. And that makes a little bit more sense to the American people, because there are thousands of Americans that are dying every year due to overdose. But those overdoses, as people know, are mainly from a drug called fentanyl. Well, Venezuela doesn't produce any fentanyl. What Venezuela produces in ships is cocaine. Now, cocaine can kill you, but that cocaine isn't even coming to the United States. Reports are that 90% of that cocaine is going to Europe. So to the extent we were targeting drug boats off the coast of Venezuela, to the extent that any of the rationale for the action against Maduro had to do with the drug trade, that drug trade doesn't really have anything to do with the American epidemic of overdoses. That will continue unabated no matter what we're doing in Venezuela.

And then it doesn't have anything to do, apparently, with the restoration of democracy in Venezuela or the best interests of the people of Venezuela. Because immediately after the action was taken against Maduro, the Trump administration lined up behind Maduro's second in command, who is, as we speak, ramping up the repression of political speech and political activity in Venezuela. All the bad actors in the Maduro regime, with the exception of Maduro and his wife, are still there running a kleptocracy, stealing from the Venezuelan people, shipping drugs out of the country while continuing to destroy the Venezuelan people's ability to protest. So this doesn't have to do with the security threat to the United States. It doesn't have to do with the flow of drugs to the United States. It doesn't have to do with restoring democracy inside Venezuela. And so in those moments and days after the invasion of Venezuela, we were left to wonder, what is it all about?

And Donald Trump basically told you. I mean, he did tell you. He said it was about oil. He said that he wants access to Venezuela's oil. He wants the companies that are close to him to have access to Venezuelan oil. Remember, there was this meeting in Florida, in which the oil companies came down to see him during the 2024 campaign. And they told him - this is a report, this is not an allegation, this is a mainstream media report - the oil companies said they'd give him a billion dollars for his campaign in exchange for favorable treatment when he became president. Now he's already given them a lot of favorable treatment. But boy, this would be a coup: the oil industry having full access to the world's largest petroleum reserve.

But today, this morning, in our briefing, we did learn that there is another objective. Yes, Trump wants control of the oil for his friends. But today in our briefing and also in public remarks, so there is no issue with me sharing this with you, the administration made clear that there is another purpose for seizing the oil - and that is nation-building. This is the business we thought we were getting out of. Donald Trump promised the country that he wasn't going to repeat the mistakes that had been made in the past, in which we tried to impose our will on a foreign country through military intervention or the threat of military intervention. But what they are proposing to do is exactly that. It comes in a slightly different form than what we did in Afghanistan and Iraq, but it is from the same playbook. Here's their plan: they are going to seize control of Venezuelan oil under the threat of gunpoint. And then they are going to use that oil as leverage to micromanage the government and economy of Venezuela. Let me say it again. We are going to seize Venezuelan oil by gunpoint. We are going to use control of that oil to micromanage the country.

That is nation-building. That is nation-building.

And as much as it should worry you that there is not a good national security justification, and the only justification for this invasion is to get control of their oil, it should worry you more that now the plan is not just to seize the oil for the purposes of enriching Wall Street and the oil industry. The purpose is to seize the oil so the United States can manage and run the country of Venezuela.

Why should regular Americans care about that? Well, first, it is this perpetuation of the same Bush-Cheney fantasy that America can impose its will on a foreign nation through the power of American military force. Now, for now, this looks and feels different than Iraq or Afghanistan, because there aren't hundreds of thousands of troops inside Venezuela. But let's make it clear, this is just a different kind of military force. Because the only way that we get the oil is through a military blockade, that is absolutely an act of war, and the threat of another invasion, if the leader - whoever it turns out to be, today, it's Delcy Rodriguez, who knows who it will be tomorrow - doesn't comply with our wishes. So we are essentially encircling Venezuela with the American military and telling them that, if they don't do what we want, we are going to stop and board their ships. We are going to attack their country again. And again, this is not speculation. Donald Trump has said this is the plan, that if they don't do what we want, we'll be right back inside Venezuela. This doesn't work! It has never worked in the past. It is the essence of the quagmire that we got ourselves in in Iraq and Afghanistan, the belief, this myopic belief that neocons, that hawks have, that warmongers have, that the United States can use its military to impose our will on a foreign country. And let me tell you, every country is unique and difficult to micromanage from afar, but Venezuela is a complicated country. We're talking about 30 million people. We're talking about active armed insurgency groups. What happens when you try this Iraq/Afghanistan strategy is that in the short term, it breeds resentment and extremism. That's what we saw with the growth of ISIS and the regrowth and reconstitution of the Taliban.

And in the long run, the country essentially just decides to wait you out. They knew in Afghanistan we were going to tire at some point and leave. So will the kleptocrats in Venezuela. They'll play ball with us. But at some point, the warships are going to leave. At some point, America can't devote one-third of its navy to the waters around Venezuela. And as soon as we leave, the kleptocrats, the corrupt leaders, will be right back in charge. If they don't want to change their country from within, if there isn't a viable mechanism to do that domestically, it is almost impossible to impose that from the outside.

The second reason that Americans should care is that it's illegal! And that's the subject of the resolution, it's illegal. An embargo is an act of war. Repeated military strikes, followed on by an invasion, is an act of war. And this engagement is not just a hostile act against Venezuela. It will inevitably draw increased frictions with Russia and China. Now we shouldn't be afraid of friction with Russia and China as a principle. They are our adversaries. But the reason that the Constitution says the people should be in charge of the decision as to whether to enter into military activity in a far off nation, no matter whether it is a big nation or a small nation, is because there are often spillover impacts and effects. And if we are going to run a long-term naval blockade of Venezuela, if we were going to be running the economy of Venezuela from the White House, the American people have to have a say in that. The founders, in fact, required it.

And lastly, the reason that the American people should care about this new plan, the nation-building of Venezuela through the threat of military force, is because it is an enormous distraction from what actually matters to the people of this country. And so I will just end where I began. Nobody in the state of Connecticut was asking me for an invasion of [Venezuela] prior to the Christmas break. Everybody in my state knows that this has nothing to do with their interests. Lives are going to be lost in this country when millions of people lose their insurance in the coming weeks. There are kids who are going hungry, who are being fed lunch and dinner but not breakfast, or just dinner and not lunch and breakfast, because of the nutrition cuts that have been imposed by Republicans. The problems that Americans are facing require a White House that is intent on running the United States of America. But this White House, under the plan that they have revealed today, is going to be running the country of Venezuela. And it is just true that when we were involved in the quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan, it occupied an enormous amount of time at that White House. The amount of time that the President and his team spent worrying about Baghdad and worrying about Kabul, it was a distraction from the job of running the United States.

And so maybe more than any of the other reasons that people should care about this plan to nation-build in Venezuela is that it's just even more reason to doubt that this President is sincere at all about doing what he said he was going to do, which is lower costs for people. Costs are going up. Health care insurance is disappearing. And the President is telling you that for the foreseeable future, he is going to be spending just as much time thinking about running Venezuela as he is about running the United States. Finally, I will just say if the Energy Department bill does make it to the floor of the Senate, it's being debated this week in the house, I will offer an amendment to that bill to prohibit the requisition of Venezuelan oil for the purposes of nation-building. That will, of course, be an endeavor that the Energy Department will be involved in. They will likely have to spend millions of dollars, enormous amounts of resources to take control of that oil, to sell it on the open market. That's a disastrous plan, as I've outlined, for America and for the world. And so I will just tell you that we will have a chance to debate this plan if that appropriations measure reaches the Senate, and I would commend my colleagues to take a look at it and support it. Thank you, Mr. President.


Murphy Statement on DOJ's Meritless Suit Against Connecticut

HARTFORD, CT–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement in response to the Department of Justice’s meritless lawsuit against Connecticut after the state refused to provide voters’ private information to the Trump administration:

“This lawsuit has nothing to do with election security – it’s just another power grab by a president who thinks he’s above the law. Connecticut is not going to be bullied by this administration and their bogus claims about voter fraud. I’m glad to see our state stand up to protect the privacy of Connecticut voters and hope the courts recognize that this lawsuit is completely meritless.”


Padilla, Schiff, Calvert, Lofgren Lead Full California Congressional Delegation Push for Federal Disaster Funding One Year After Devastating Eaton and Palisades Fires

On one-year anniversary of LA fires, CA Delegation reaffirms bipartisan call to Trump for essential federal disaster recovery aid

LOS ANGELES, CA — On the one-year anniversary of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) and the Chairs of the Republican and Democratic Congressional Delegations — Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) — led the entire bipartisan California Congressional delegation in urging President Trump to provide overdue federal disaster relief funding and resources to help Los Angeles County communities rebuild and recover.

Fueled by wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour, the Los Angeles County fires last year burned more than 40,000 acres — an area over three times the size of Manhattan. The fires destroyed over 16,000 structures, forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, and claimed at least 30 lives.

Due to the catastrophic scale of the Palisades and Eaton Fires, the lawmakers emphasized the urgent need for additional federal disaster assistance, coordination, and funding. They pushed President Trump to continue supporting impacted areas and provide additional disaster relief, just as the federal government has done for other disaster-stricken communities across the country. Although the Administration worked with California state and local leaders to complete the fastest wildfire debris cleanup in U.S. history, President Trump has not yet approved California’s request for additional disaster relief necessary for long-term recovery.

The lawmakers highlighted California’s record cleanup with the help of the Army Corps of Engineers, clearing hazardous debris from more than 9,000 properties in under 30 days and removing over 2.5 million tons of ash, metal, concrete, and contaminated soil in the first nine months. They also expressed their appreciation for aid provided so far by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration to help residents and small businesses begin to recover.

“As the recovery process continues, additional federal support is needed, and our entire delegation looks forward to working cooperatively with your administration to ensure the communities of Southern California receive their fair share of federal disaster assistance,” wrote the bipartisan group of California lawmakers.

“Just as the federal government has come to the aid of communities impacted by wildfires across the western United States, tornadoes in the Midwest, ice storms in Texas, or hurricanes in the Southeast, we should once again support the recovery of the impacted families, businesses, and communities in Los Angeles County,” continued the lawmakers. “Therefore, as we mark the one-year anniversary of this tremendous disaster, we urge you to ensure Los Angeles County has the resources it needs to recover and rebuild.”

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, Calvert, and Lofgren, the letter was also signed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11) and Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Ami Bera (D-Calif.-06), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Vince Fong (R-Calif.-20), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Adam Gray (D-Calif.-13), Josh Harder (D-Calif.-09), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.-48), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.-03), Young Kim (R-Calif.-40), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.-05), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.-23), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.-38), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), David Valadao (R-Calif.-22), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43), and George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27).

Senator Padilla has fought relentlessly to secure and protect access to desperately needed disaster relief aid for families in Southern California. In the immediate aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) led 47 bipartisan members of the California Congressional delegation in successfully urging President Biden to grant Governor Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration to expedite timely relief to Los Angeles County residents impacted by these disasters. Early last year, Padilla, Schiff, Calvert, and Lofgren also led the entire bipartisan California Congressional delegation in urging Senior Congressional leadership to provide additional disaster relief funding and resources to help Los Angeles County communities rebuild. Padilla previously delivered remarks on the Senate floor and on the six-month anniversary of the fires urging his Republican colleagues and President Trump to provide essential disaster recovery aid to California without conditioning it on the passage of partisan legislation.

In the aftermath of the catastrophic Southern California fires, Senator Padilla has introduced more than a dozen bills to help prevent and respond to future wildfires, including the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, bipartisan legislation to combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive. Padilla and Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore FEMA as an independent, cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear President Trump:

At the one-year anniversary of the devastating Palisades and Eaton Fires in Los Angeles County, we write to highlight the historic response, the ongoing recovery, and to urge continued and additional support. In the initial weeks after wildfires, thanks to the decisive action of your administration, the Army Corps of Engineers conducted hazardous debris cleanup that was concluded in record time – clearing more than 9,000 properties of hazardous materials in under 30 days. Large-scale structural debris removal followed—over 2.5 million tons of ash, metal, concrete, and contaminated soil were removed in the first nine months. The billions in aid provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration have also been incredibly helpful in supporting residents and small businesses to get back on their feet. As the recovery process continues, additional federal support is needed, and our entire delegation looks forward to working cooperatively with your administration to ensure the communities of Southern California receive their fair share of federal disaster assistance.

Fueled by wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour, the Palisades and Eaton fires burned over 40,000 acres, destroyed over 16,000 structures, forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, and killed more than two dozen people. These wildfires have caused widespread damage across Los Angeles County, including federal and state highways and roads, critical public infrastructure, homes, and buildings. Both state and city officials have pushed policies to cut red tape on permitting and rebuilding regulations to speed up reconstruction of homes and essential infrastructure. But the historic destruction caused by these wildfires requires continued federal funding and support. Just as the federal government has come to the aid of communities impacted by wildfires across the western United States, tornadoes in the Midwest, ice storms in Texas, or hurricanes in the Southeast, we should once again support the recovery of the impacted families, businesses, and communities in Los Angeles County. Therefore, as we mark the one-year anniversary of this tremendous disaster, we urge you to ensure Los Angeles County has the resources it needs to recover and rebuild.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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Padilla, Sheehy Announce Bipartisan Bill to Create New Community Wildfire Resilience Grant Program

LOS ANGELES, CA — On the anniversary of the catastrophic Southern California fires, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Wildfire Caucus, announced bipartisan legislation to establish a new grant program to help local communities defend themselves from the growing danger of wildfires. The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act would invest $1 billion annually to empower communities to implement additional science-based methods like home hardening for mitigating wildfire damage by funding new Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Plans developed in coordination with community members, first responders, and relevant state agencies.

Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02) and Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.-23) are leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“One year ago today, Pacific Palisades and Altadena families lost loved ones, homes, businesses, places of worship, and so much more as their neighborhoods were reduced to rubble. These catastrophic disasters serve as a stark reminder that megafires can devastate both forested and urban areas,” said Senator Padilla. “That’s why I’m working across the aisle with Senator Sheehy to deliver lifesaving federal support to help mitigate the growing risk of catastrophic wildfires and harden our communities and critical infrastructure against disasters.”

“To keep American cities and towns from burning to the ground and save lives, we must be proactive in aggressively hardening communities against the year-round threat of catastrophic wildfire,” said Senator Sheehy. “The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act delivers the tools needed to better safeguard people, homes, and property from disaster, and I’m proud to support this bipartisan, commonsense effort to make America more wildfire resilient.”

The new community hardening grant program would be housed within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The bill would also add home hardening as an allowable project under the U.S. Forest Service’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant program.

Specifically, the bipartisan Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act would invest $1 billion per year to:

Establish guidelines for communities to conceptualize new Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Plans (CPWRP) that are developed in coordination with community members, first responders, and relevant state agencies. CPWRPs will focus on implementing strategies and activities relating to:

Improving early detection technology, public outreach and education, alerts and warnings, evacuation planning, evacuation execution, and access for first responders;

Addressing vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with disabilities;

Hardening critical infrastructure and homes;

Applying community-scale defensible space across contiguous areas;

Building local capacity to implement and oversee the plan;

Deploying distributed energy resources like microgrids with battery storage;

Implementing strategic land use planning;

Educating community members; and

Coordinating with existing wildfire plans like a Community Wildfire Protection Plan;

Provide grants of up to $250,000 to develop a CPWRP and grants of up to $10 million to implement a CPWRP;

Grants will be prioritized for low-income communities that are at high risk for fire or wildfire and communities recently impacted by a major wildfire.

Complete a report on all federal authorities and programs to protect communities from wildfires;

Study how a CPWRP could be used as certification for insurance companies assessing community resilience;

Continuously update wildfire hazard maps;

Assess impediments to emergency radio communications across departments and agencies; and

Allow for structure hardening to be covered under existing community wildfire protection programs.

The bill is endorsed by CalWild, Earthjustice, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Silvix Resources, Trust for Public Land, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Wilderness Society, John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute, Los Padres ForestWatch, Wild Heritage, Unite the Parks, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Feather River Action!, Forests Forever, Heartwood, Tahoe Forests Matter, Eco-Integrity Alliance, Friends of the Clearwater, SoCoCAN!, and Climate Communications Coalition.

“The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act will promote community resilience in the places most at-risk from wildfire. We are pleased to see Representative Huffman and Senator Padilla take decisive action to address the challenges posed by climate change and fire management. We hope other members of Congress will follow their lead,” said Ryan Henson, Senior Policy Director for CalWild.

“Climate change is exacerbating wildfires, and we need to protect homes, families, and communities across the country,” said Addie Haughey, Legislative Director at Earthjustice Action. “This legislation understands that mitigating wildfire risks must be grounded in the soundest science-based methods available while providing impacted communities with the resources they need to prepare for wildfire threats. In the face of worsening wildfires, we thank Sen. Padilla for making investments in community resiliency efforts.”

“The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act is common sense legislation that encourages communities to work together to reduce wildfire risk near homes and communities. In particular, prioritizing wildfire risk reduction that utilizes local workers and contractors will ensure that the economic benefits of resilience treatments flow to local communities, resulting in a win-win for people and the forest,” said Susan Jane Brown, Principal, Silvix Resources.

“The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act puts the safety of lives, homes, and communities first,” said Garett Rose, Forest Project Senior Attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Instead of relying on ineffective strategies like widespread backcountry logging, this bill prioritizes proven, practical solutions such as defensible spaces, home-hardening, and community resilience efforts that meaningfully reduce wildfire risks. Ranking Member Huffman and Senator Padilla are advancing an important bipartisan science-based bill that protects communities, supports healthy ecosystems, and prepares us for the increasing challenges posed by climate change.”

“Senator Padilla’s legislation provides a real solution to the complex challenges of addressing wildlife in an era of climate chaos,” said Brett Hartl, Government Affairs Director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It is imperative that both sides of the aisle come to the table with science and factually based solutions.”

“With the effects of the climate crisis only becoming more serious, it’s vital that we create and support fire-smart communities. From education and funding to community-scale planning, we need to make sure that the most at-risk places have the resources to help. The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act will go a long way towards making our communities safer and protecting first responders,” said Anna Medema, Associate Director of Legislative and Administrative Advocacy, Forests and Public Lands at Sierra Club.

“This bill would help communities adapt to extreme wildfire, a crisis supercharged by climate change,” said Bart Johnsen-Harris, Director of Federal Climate Change Policy at Trust for Public Land. “We applaud Senator Padilla’s focus on bolstering resilience, which is critical to protecting people’s lives, their homes, businesses and communities.”

“The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act is the smart, science-based approach we need to address the increasing threat of wildfire to keep our forests and communities safe,” said Michelle Gullett, Senior Government Relations Representative at The Wilderness Society. “This bill reflects the urgently needed recommendations from the 2023 Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission and offers a clear roadmap to meaningfully addressing the wildfire crisis. We thank Senator Padilla for his leadership in empowering local communities, strengthening stewardship of our shared lands, and ensuring future generations inherit forests that are safer, healthier and more resilient.”

“The Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act embodies the crucial shift our agencies must take—moving from broad, misguided forest management strategies deep in the wildlands to a focus on defending communities and safeguarding lives. True wildfire preparedness starts with protecting homes, infrastructure, and the people who live there, not with logging far-off forests. This is the science-backed approach that saves lives and homes by emphasizing defensible space, home hardening, early detection, and community-driven planning,” said Jennifer Mamola, Advocacy and Policy Director for John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute.

In the aftermath of the catastrophic Southern California fires, Senator Padilla has introduced more than a dozen bills to help prevent and respond to future wildfires, including the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, bipartisan legislation to combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive. Last January, Padilla introduced a suite of bipartisan bills to strengthen wildfire recovery and resilience, including the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, the Fire Suppression and Response Funding Assurance Act, and the Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act. In February, Padilla introduced bipartisan legislation to create a national Wildfire Intelligence Center to streamline federal response and create a whole-of-government approach to combat wildfires. He also announced another package of three bipartisan bills to bolster fire resilience and proactive mitigation efforts, including the Wildfire Emergency Act, the Fire-Safe Electrical Corridors Act, and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act. Additionally, Padilla and Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore FEMA as an independent, cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.

A one-pager on the Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 6, 2026

Contact: HSGACPress_Paul@hsgac.senate.gov, (202) 224-4163

Chairman Paul Releases Biden-Era FBI Files: An Unverified Tip Led to Nearly Two Years of Surveillance of an Innocent Catholic School Teacher

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) released new documents detailing Biden-era Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s 23-month investigation into Christine Crowder, a Texas Catholic school teacher who was in Washington, D.C. to exercise her First Amendment rights and attend President Trump’s rally on the Ellipse on January 6, 2021. The documents reveal the FBI labeled Crowder, the wife of a Federal Air Marshal, a domestic terrorist solely based on an unverified tip submitted by a former friend despite early investigative results showing negative facial recognition and geolocation search results and no previous criminal or extremist activity.

Even after initially failing to confirm her identity, the Biden-era FBI subjected Mrs. Crowder to physical surveillance, federal watchlisting, continuous airport surveillance while traveling, and referred her case for prosecution. That referral was made before the FBI could positively identify her and ultimately rested on what proved to be a case of mistaken identity.

These documents were obtained as part of Chairman Paul’s ongoing investigation into the weaponization of federal watchlists and aviation security programs. Last year, the Committee held a hearing on the now-terminated Quiet Skies Program, during which Mrs. Crowder’s husband, Mark Crowder, a Federal Air Marshal whistleblower, testified that his own colleagues were ordered to surveil his wife and family minute-by-minute as they traveled.

Key Findings of the FBI Records Released by Chairman Paul:

The FBI opened the investigation into Crowder based on a tip from a former friend. Initial findings indicated negative geolocation, negative facial recognition, and no criminal history or extremist activity.

Though the FBI acknowledged a need to interview Crowder, they claimed she illegally entered the U.S. Capitol and recommended her for watchlisting and Expanded Selectee status.

The FBI physically surveilled Crowder’s house at least four times for the purpose of identifying her and her property.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office accepted the case for prosecution solely based on the tip without fully verifying her identity and then recommended the FBI conduct a social media analysis.

Nearly two years into the investigation and over a month after a photo from a confidential human source confirmed the case of mistaken identity, the FBI investigation was closed.

“A free society cannot tolerate a system in which programs and authorities intended to keep the public safe are instead weaponized against them due to mere suspicion,” said Chairman Paul. “The records released today show how an unverified tip that the FBI failed to substantiate led to nearly two years of surveillance of an innocent American. I am grateful for FBI Director Kash Patel’s cooperation in producing these records, and I appreciate Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem for ending the Quiet Skies program. The conduct revealed by these documents underscores the need to limit the power of faceless bureaucrats who have too often infringed on the rights of the people.”

“This case is an example of misplaced priorities and everything that went wrong with federal law enforcement in the aftermath of January 6,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “When a Catholic kindergarten teacher from Texas can be surveilled for more than two years simply for being in Washington, D.C., without entering the Capitol, without committing a crime, we have crossed from legitimate investigation into political overreach. That is not equal justice under the law. Senator Paul is right to demand accountability, transparency, and an end to investigations that target Americans for their beliefs or proximity rather than evidence.”

“In June, I ended Quiet Skies and called for a Congressional investigation to unearth further corruption at the expense of the American people and the undermining of US national security. It is clear that the Quiet Skies program was used as a political rolodex of the Biden Administration—weaponized against its political foes and exploited to benefit their well-heeled friends. The Trump Administration is returning TSA to its true mission of being laser-focused on the safety and security of the traveling public,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

You can see a summary and timeline from Chairman Paul, along with original FBI documents here.

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SIGNED INTO LAW: Peters’ Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Fishery Research and Management

WASHINGTON, DC – Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to enhance Great Lakes fishery research and management efforts has been signed into law. The Great Lakes Fisheries Research Reauthorization Act?reauthorizes funding for the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center for another five years, helping to ensure the center is able to continue conducting critical research that supports Great Lakes fisheries. Peters’ effort to pass this bipartisan bill into law came in response to previous attempts to drastically reduce staffing?at the Great Lakes Science Center headquartered in Ann Arbor.

“The Great Lakes support a robust fishing industry that helps generate billions of dollars in economic activity across the region. It's essential that the Great Lakes Science Center continues to have the resources it needs to protect the freshwater fisheries and habitats our communities depend on,” said Senator Peters, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “With this bill signed into law, we help ensure that the Center’s dedicated staff can continue working to strengthen our fisheries and Great Lakes for future generations.”

Peters introduced the legislation with U.S. Senator Jon Husted (R-OH). Activities carried out by the Great Lakes Science Center include:

Conducting surveys of both native and invasive fish populations in the Great Lakes. This data helps USGS, along with tribal, state, and local partners, to develop effective strategies for protecting and managing fisheries.

Development of reintroduction plans for culturally and ecologically significant fish populations, which are essential for the long-term health of the Great Lakes.

Testing and development of technologies that assist in research.

Peters has been a steadfast supporter of the Great Lakes, advocating for policies that safeguard Michigan waters, support local economies, and enhance environmental protections. In 2019, Peters?led the effort?to secure the authorization for the Great Lakes Science Center that the?Great Lakes Fisheries Research Reauthorization Act?now extends. Earlier this Congress, Peters also introduced the?Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025?to reauthorize and expand resources for the GLRI program, which has?carried out the most significant investment?ever made to restore our Great Lakes.

As Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Peters plays a key role in uniting Great Lakes Basin states to coordinate legislative initiatives, funding priorities, and oversight efforts to address the most important issues facing the Great Lakes, such as invasive species, environmental contamination, shoreline erosion, water quality, infrastructure needs, and more.

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Crapo & Reed Lead Successful Passage of the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act

WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to cut bureaucratic red tape and expedite the process to get more struggling veterans off the streets and into housing or other supportive services they need, Congress passed the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act (S.1714).

The bipartisan bill exempts veteran disability benefits from being included as income when determining eligibility for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing and CDBG-funded programs. It also requires the Trump Administration to examine how service-connected disability compensation is treated across all programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary and issue a report to Congress identifying any instances of inconsistency in the treatment of service-connected disability compensation and provide recommendations on how to better serve veteran populations and underserved communities within HUD programs.

Co-led by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Jack Reed (D-RI), the bipartisan bill was unanimously approved by the full U.S. Senate and previously passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk for signature.

“Disabled veterans should not have to worry about securing a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Crapo. “Veterans have sacrificed so much in service to our nation, and this legislation ensures they are not unfairly penalized when seeking access to affordable housing.”

“I was pleased to work with Senator Crapo to pass this bipartisan bill. We have a duty to assist struggling veterans and provide them with the benefits and support they earned. Passing this bipartisan law is a step in the right direction. It will help cut red tape to get more wounded and disabled veterans safely and stably housed. And that goes a long way to providing them with dignity and opportunity and building community. America must keep its promise to veterans and leave no one behind,” said Senator Reed, who has pressed the VA to improve access to housing programs, health care, behavioral health services, and VA benefits for all eligible veterans.

Currently, HUD’s income guidelines include disability compensation received by veterans as part of the calculation to determine eligibility for federal housing and other assistance funded through the CDBG program. This practice has disproportionately impacted those who rely on disability benefits as their primary source of income, often making it more difficult for them to access affordable housing and further contributing to veteran homelessness.

This legislation removes that barrier for CDBG-funded programs by explicitly excluding service-connected disability compensation from HUD’s income eligibility requirements for CDBG. By doing so, it will increase the ability of wounded veterans to secure housing assistance they would have otherwise not qualified for.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act on February 10, 2025. U.S. Representatives Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15) and Brad Sherman (D-CA-32) led the House version of the bill.


Ricketts Highlights Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Thanking Officers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, ahead of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on January 9, 2026, Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) thanked law enforcement officers who work hard to prevent crime and keep our streets safe.

“Officers across Nebraska work hard to prevent crime and protect families. They face danger and serve with courage. That’s why I fight every day to support Nebraska law enforcement,” said Senator Ricketts. “Nebraska’s women and men in blue are a model for the rest of the nation.”

“Please join me in expressing our gratitude for their important work — on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and every day,” said Senator Ricketts.

Watch the video here.

TRANSCRIPT:

Senator Ricketts: “This Friday, January 9th, we recognize Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

“It’s a time to thank the police officers who keep us safe.

“Officers across Nebraska work hard to prevent crime and protect families.

“They face danger and serve with courage.

“That’s why I fight every day to support Nebraska law enforcement.

“In 2026, I will work to make our streets safer by supporting law enforcement heroes.

“Nebraska’s women and men in blue are a model for the rest of the nation.

“For example, the Omaha Police Department keeps us safe by achieving a 100% homicide clearance rate each of the last two years.

“Meanwhile, the national clearance rate sits below 60%.

“Omaha continues to see murder rates decrease every year.

“In fact, the number of murders in Omaha has decreased in each of the last four years.

“Their success is a testament to their commitment to excellence.

“This commitment to excellence is also seen with federal law enforcement in Nebraska.

“This year, Senate Republicans confirmed the new U.S. Attorney for Nebraska, Lesley Woods.

“She has been hard at work prosecuting crimes in Nebraska.

“In August, she announced the arrest of five individuals for sex and human trafficking, visa fraud, and money laundering.

“These individuals trafficked minors and illegal immigrants across hotels and salons that they owned.

“All five are present in the country illegally.

“Last month, U.S. Attorney Woods indicted 54 defendants for a massive fraud scheme involving the Venezuelan terrorist cartel Tren de Aragua.

“Throughout 2025, U.S. Attorney Woods also announced arrests of hitmen and leaders of the violent MS-13 cartel.

“That includes one drug kingpin who was a top “most wanted” fugitive from El Salvador.

“Inter-agency cooperation between Nebraska law enforcement and federal officials has been key to these arrests.

“I am grateful for the work Nebraska law enforcement officers do to keep deadly drugs like fentanyl off our streets.

“When the drug situation at our nation’s southern border turned into a catastrophe, the Nebraska State Patrol stepped up.

“In my last year as governor, state troopers confiscated two times as much methamphetamine, three times as much fentanyl, and ten times as much cocaine as they did in just the prior two years.

“They did this work despite the Biden Administration’s terrible open border policies.

“As Senator, I’m working with President Trump to secure the border and ease the burden on local law enforcement.

“We passed the HALT Fentanyl Act.

“The law permanently classifies fentanyl and its analogues as Schedule I substances.

“It leads to harsher sentences for fentanyl traffickers.

“Less fentanyl means fewer overdose deaths, like the tragic loss of Taryn Lee Griffith.

“I’m also leading efforts to combat nitazenes, which is a class of drug that is even deadlier than fentanyl.

“By cracking down on drug dealers and cartels, we’re making our streets safer.

“I’m also fighting for policies that will deter anti-cop attacks.

“I am a member of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus.

“I am currently co-leading the Thin Blue Line Act and am a co-sponsor of the Back the Blue Act.

“These bills would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers.

“It would provide new tools for officers to protect themselves.

“They would deter violent criminals from targeting our law enforcement officers.

“Police groups support them.

“I’ll keep working to send these important bills to the President’s desk.

“Police officers don’t ask for praise.

“They just ask for the tools and resources to do their jobs with excellence.

“Every badge represents someone ready to serve and protect.

“These women and men stand between danger and our communities.

“They protect our homes, our families, and our future.

“Their bravery and service should be celebrated.

“We must back the blue.

“Please join me in expressing our gratitude for their important work — on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and every day.

“If you see an officer, say thank you.”