Senator Murray, Colleagues Demand Answers on Harms of Diverting Federal Agents for Immigration Enforcement

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and 28 senators in sending a letter to President Trump, Secretary Noem, and Attorney General Bondi demanding answers on the impact of the administration’s decision to pull thousands of federal law enforcement agents away from their work keeping dangerous criminals off the streets and reassign them to arrest, detain, and deport primarily non-violent immigrants.

“You have pulled agents away from some of the federal government’s most critical criminal investigations, weakening the very work that ensures public safety. In a world in which we must prioritize the use of limited resources, an agent arresting non-violent immigrants necessarily means one less agent available to catch child predators and drug traffickers,” the senators wrote. “This diversion represents a deliberate choice: a stunning abdication of the basic responsibilities of the executive branch to the American people, and a direct threat to the security of communities across the country.”

Though the majority of immigrants arrested have no criminal background, many agents across the federal government have been pulled off of cases involving child exploitation, drug trafficking, sanctions evasion, cyberattacks, domestic extremism, and foreign adversaries mid-investigation.

There have been reports of reassignments at agencies across the federal government, including nearly 25% of agents at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and 80% of agents at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). These diversions are especially devastating at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – one of the primary agencies responsible for combatting child exploitation, human trafficking, fentanyl smuggling, and cartels. HSI personnel themselves have warned that these reassignments are dismantling one of the country’s most effective child protection and national security forces. To mitigate the damage, some investigators have even tried to work on their cases at nights or on weekends.

“Redirecting these investigators to pad deportation statistics is not simply irresponsible—it is a dereliction of duty with life-or-death consequences that puts the safety of our children in jeopardy,” the senators continued. “No modern administration has ever attempted a reallocation of this scale or recklessness.”

The senators’ letter also calls out the dangerous national security implications of the administration’s decision, including damage to cyber and critical infrastructure defenses that protect the systems Americans rely on every day for necessities like clean water, air conditioning, and electricity.

“Taken together, these actions are more than just a routine shift in administration priorities; they represent a systematic dismantling of the very institutions that protect Americans in their homes, online, and in their communities,” the senators continued. “The fact that the majority of individuals arrested during immigration enforcement operations to date have had no criminal history belies the administration’s claim that it is targeting the “worst of the worst.” Instead, it suggests that federal law enforcement capacity is being sacrificed to fuel a politically orchestrated deportation drive. That tradeoff is indefensible, and it puts Americans at risk to serve a political narrative, not a security strategy.”

The senators requested:

A full accounting of personnel diverted to immigration enforcement from all federal agencies since January 20, 2025, including numbers, assignment duration, and mission details;

A list of all investigations paused, terminated, or reassigned as a result of, in whole or in part, these diversions, including those related to child exploitation, cyber intrusions, human trafficking, drug smuggling, domestic extremism, terrorism financing, and violent crime;

Any threat, risk, or operational assessments informing the decision to divert personnel;

All formal taskings or communications directing agencies to provide personnel for immigration enforcement surge operations;

Any internal objections raised by agency leadership or career investigators regarding the diversions, and how these objections were addressed; and

Any internal assessments completed to gauge the impacts of these diversions, including on investigations into child exploitation, human trafficking, cybercrime, counter narcotics, and national security investigations.

In addition to Murray and Gallego, the letter was also signed by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mark Warner (D-VA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

The full text of the letter is available HERE.

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Padilla, Whitehouse Introduce Bills to Ban Taxpayer Payouts for January 6 Rioters

On five-year anniversary of January 6 Capitol insurrection, the Senators’ bills would prevent the Trump Administration from handing out millions in taxpayer funds to Capitol rioters

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the fifth anniversary of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced a pair of bills to prevent January 6 rioters from receiving payouts from the federal government.

Roughly 400 people who the Trump Administration pardoned or granted clemency to after their involvement in the January 6 attacks are currently seeking millions of dollars in taxpayer funds because they were prosecuted for their criminal actions. Most claimants are seeking $1 million to $10 million from the U.S. government. Leaders of the “Proud Boys” far-right militant organization alone are suing for $100 million, and senior Department of Justice official Ed Martin reportedly supports compensating violent January 6 insurrectionists.

The No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act would broadly prohibit the use of federal funds to compensate any January 6 rioters who were prosecuted for their involvement in the attack on the Capitol and stop the ongoing refunds of fines that were paid as part of their convictions, while the No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act would forbid the federal government from paying out any legal settlements to any January 6 rioters who were convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers during the Capitol insurrection.

“Five years after a violent swarm of insurrectionists stormed our nation’s Capitol, assaulted law enforcement officers, and attacked our very democracy, issuing cash payouts to these rioters is unthinkable,” said Senator Padilla. “These insurrectionists should still be serving their sentences and paying fines for damages they caused to the Capitol — not receiving refunds or cash rewards from the Trump Administration. Our bills would hold these rioters accountable and protect taxpayers by putting an end to Donald Trump’s callous attempt to rewrite history with these illegal cash payouts.”

“Members of both parties who were here on January 6, 2021 remember the chaos and violence of that day, which resulted in police officers’ deaths and injuries. No matter how Trump’s MAGA goons now try to twist it, the January 6 attack on our Capitol was an assault on our democracy. Trump’s blanket day-one pardons for members of the January 6 mob were a slap in the face to the brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect the country. Our bills make clear that no one who stormed the Capitol should get a taxpayer-funded cash giveaway, especially not those who violently assaulted police officers,” said Senator Whitehouse.

The violent mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results, caused roughly $3 million in damages to the Capitol building, injured more than 100 law enforcement officers, and threatened members and their staff. Damage to the building included widespread vandalism, ruined furniture, shattered glass, broken doors, defaced artwork, and the desecration of the halls of Congress. Convicted January 6 insurrectionists paid about $400,000 in court-ordered restitution to cover the damages they caused, which has since been transferred to the Treasury Department, from where the funds can only be withdrawn by Congress.

Last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) took a meeting with a lawyer for January 6 insurrectionists where DOJ was asked to create a victims compensation fund, similar to that used to compensate September 11, 2001 victims, to issue cash rewards for alleged “harms” these rioters faced. Their attorney stated that DOJ official Ed Martin is “100 percent on our side.” Any such fund would be both deeply corrupt and unlawful, as the establishment of a separate fund requires Congressional action, but rioters could seek to “sue and settle” claims and raid the federal Judgment Fund instead, similar to claims that President Trump himself has made for $230 million in compensation.

The No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act would:

Prohibit the use of federal funds to compensate prosecuted January 6 rioters, including by barring the establishment of a victim compensation fund and by prohibiting the Justice Department from entering into settlement agreements;

Prohibit further refunds of restitution payments; and

Authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer the remaining restitution funds to the Architect of the Capitol.

The No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act would:

Apply only to January 6 rioters who were convicted of assaulting a law enforcement officer pursuant to 18 USC 111 or D.C. Code 22-405 on January 6; and

Bar any federal funds being used to pay any legal settlement to any such individuals, if they sue for any claims relating to January 6.

Both bills are endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW); Democracy Defenders Action; Protect Democracy; Sgt. Aquilino A. Gonell, Fr. United States Capitol Police; Officer Harry Dunn, Fr. United States Capitol Police; and Officer Daniel Hodges, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (endorsement in his personal capacity).

“January 6, 2021 was one of the darkest days in American democracy,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “While the president may have the power to pardon individuals who attacked the Capitol for their federal crimes, the idea that these individuals should now be compensated for the so-called ‘harms’ they suffered is as preposterous as it is dangerous. CREW is proud to endorse Senator Padilla’s No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act, which would prohibit the use of federal funds to compensate any individual prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and Senator Whitehouse’s No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act, which would prevent payouts to individuals convicted of attacking law enforcement officers. We call on members of Congress to pass these important bills without delay.”

“All Americans deserve the right to peacefully protest. However, the January 6th insurrectionists who violently stormed the Capitol should be held accountable for their role in this unprecedented attack. It would be unconscionable to reward the rioters who assaulted law enforcement officers that day with payouts from the Trump administration after being pardoned,” said Virginia Canter, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Chief Counsel and Director at Democracy Defenders Action. “We commend Senators Whitehouse and Padilla for their leadership in introducing the No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act and the No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act, and we urge Congress to quickly pass this important legislation.”

“Five years ago, for the first time in American history, a sitting president tried to overturn the results of a presidential election and block the peaceful transfer of power. Now, without any congressional approval, the President wants to use taxpayer dollars to give payouts to the rioters who stormed the Capitol and violently assaulted police officers. Passing these bills would end this perversion of justice and prevent the encouragement of similar violence in the future,” said Justin Vail, Counsel at Protect Democracy.

“As one of the many injured officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the January 6th attack, it is imperative to me that perpetrators are not seen as heroes and that no one is allowed to deny the reality of the violent events that ended my career in law enforcement,” said Sgt. Aquilino A. Gonell, Fr. United States Capitol Police. “The January 6 rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol, threatened the lives of hundreds of elected officials whom I risked my life to protect, and badly injured me and my colleagues simply because we kept our oath to defend the Capitol and our representative democracy. Those rioters should not be rewarded for participating in the assault. Doing so would be a betrayal to the service and sacrifice made by the January 6 first responders, which is why I support Senator Padilla’s and Senator Whitehouse’s No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act and No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act. Let us stand by the truth as a country.”

“I’m thankful for this legislation being proposed. On the other hand, it’s a shame that it is even being proposed. Just as I thought Americans would never attempt to stop the certification of an election through violence, never would I believe they would be rewarded for those efforts by this administration,” said Officer Harry Dunn, Fr. United States Capitol Police.

“I’m struggling to come up with a short, compelling statement of support for these Acts that doesn’t sound absurd in its obviousness; it’s like trying to write inspiring rhetoric in support of the law of gravity. Sadly it is the political age we live in where such declarations become necessary against the backdrop of a President who suggests we would be better off if the Earth no longer reliably pulled us towards the ground, so here we go: It is a bad idea to reward those who violently attacked law enforcement officers in an effort to coerce, capture, or kill members of Congress, their staff, and the Vice President of the United States of America,” said Officer Daniel Hodges, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (endorsement in his personal capacity). “It is a bad idea to reward those who committed crimes in an effort to stop the peaceful transfer of power and terminate American democracy. These Acts will prevent either of these scenarios from becoming reality and I hope that Congress will vote with recognition that there are countless endeavors and people more worthy of our resources.”

Last year, Senator Padilla, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led seven of their Senate colleagues in demanding that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) abandon any efforts to refund or financially reward convicted January 6 insurrectionists. Padilla, Durbin, and Klobuchar previously led their colleagues in denouncing DOJ’s court arguments that the federal government should refund insurrectionists for the restitution payments they made for damage they caused to the Capitol building. Since then, restitution refund requests have almost all been denied, but in August, a judge ordered the government to refund the restitution a January 6 insurrectionist paid before they were pardoned and their case was vacated.

Senator Padilla has repeatedly condemned the deadly January 6 Capitol insurrection and helped pass legislation to prevent similar attacks from threatening our democracy. He previously cosponsored and applauded the passage of the bipartisan Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, which modernized the outdated Electoral Count Act of 1887 to ensure the electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state’s vote for president.

The No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Full text of the bill is available here.

The No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Full text of the bill is available here.

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Senate Unanimously Passes Padilla, Murkowski Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

NEHRP coordinates federal research, early warning systems, building codes, and preparedness efforts to reduce deaths, damage, and economic losses from earthquakes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through 2028. The bill would authorize lifesaving funding to support research, development, and implementation activities related to earthquake safety and risk reduction.

The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate unanimously passed a version of this bill late last year, but it was not taken up in the House.

The NEHRP Reauthorization Act of 2025 would reauthorize annual funding from FY 2024-2028 across the four federal agencies responsible for long-term earthquake risk reduction under NEHRP: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

“As earthquakes remain a constant threat to lives, infrastructure, and communities, Californians know the importance of staying prepared,” said Senator Padilla. “The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program supports crucial tools like the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System, works to advance scientific understanding of earthquakes, and strengthens earthquake resilience nationwide. The Senate took a crucial step to keep our communities safe, and I encourage my colleagues in the House to reauthorize this critical program as soon as possible.”

“Earthquakes are active threats that have taken lives and damaged property across Alaska in recent years,” said Senator Murkowski. “Our passage of these bills puts us on track to ensure that federal agencies have the resources they need to help keep communities safe both back home and around the country. I thank my colleagues for working cooperatively to pass these measures and urge the House to take them up and send them to the President as soon as possible.”

This NEHRP reauthorization:

Directs state and local entities to inventory high-risk buildings and structures;

Expands seismic events to include earthquake-caused tsunamis;

Provides more technical assistance to tribal governments; and

Improves mitigation of earthquake-connected hazards.

California faces substantial earthquake risks. According to the California Department of Conservation, over 70 percent of Californians live within 30 miles of a fault that could cause high ground shaking within the next 50 years. The state averages two to three earthquakes per year at magnitude 5.5 or higher, risking moderate structural damage. Because of these major earthquake risks, California has become a leader in earthquake research, including through the California Institute of Technology Seismological Laboratory.

The NEHRP Reauthorization Act of 2025 is endorsed by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), International Code Council, National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA), and Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC). Senator Padilla has long been a leader in mitigating earthquake risks. As a California State Senator, Padilla authored Senate Bill 135, signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2013, which required the state to establish the nation’s first statewide early warning system. In 2021, he led five of his U.S. Senate colleagues in requesting details from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on future plans and funding needs for the West Coast Early Earthquake Warning system.

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WATCH: Padilla Leads Senate Floor Push to Set the Record Straight on Fifth Anniversary of January 6 Insurrection

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, held the Senate floor alongside 17 of his Democratic Senate colleagues on the five-year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol insurrection, honoring the more than 100 law enforcement officers who were injured while bravely defending the Capitol, including those who later lost their lives.

Five years after violent rioters, waving Confederate flags and symbols of white supremacy, stormed the Capitol in an effort to block the certification of the 2020 presidential election, Padilla slammed President Trump for inciting the attack by repeatedly lying about the election’s outcome. Padilla and his Democratic Senate colleagues set the record straight on one of the darkest days in American history, warning against the Trump Administration’s continuing attacks on free and fair elections less than a year out from the 2026 midterm elections.

As President Trump today falsely blamed heroic U.S. Capitol Police officers for “deliberately escalating” the insurrection, Padilla also pushed for unanimous passage of a bipartisan resolution to observe the fifth anniversary of the attack and recognize the essential, lifesaving work of United States Capitol personnel, including the Capitol Police. However, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) objected to the resolution, blocking the Senate from honoring Capitol Police officers and reaffirming its commitment to defending democracy and the Constitution.

In his remarks on the Senate floor, Padilla recalled his experience in the lead up to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, serving as California’s Secretary of State and keeping the state’s elections safe and secure. He emphasized that despite Trump’s baseless misinformation, California’s elections ran smoothly with historic voter turnout. Padilla blasted Trump for refusing to concede the election, filing and losing more than 60 frivolous lawsuits that challenged the results, and spreading the “Big Lie” that fueled the January 6 insurrection and threatened the lives of members of Congress and his own Vice President.

Since Trump returned to office, he has repeatedly attacked the right to vote and continued spreading lies about both the 2020 election and the January 6 insurrection. In one of his first acts in his second term, Trump issued a blanket pardon of more than 1,500 defendants charged with attacking Capitol, including more than 1,200 who were convicted.

These rioters caused nearly $3 million in damages to the Capitol, yet now seek millions of dollars in payouts of taxpayer money from the federal government because they were prosecuted for their crimes. Padilla highlighted a pair of bills he introduced today alongside Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to prevent January 6 rioters from receiving refunds or cash rewards from the federal government that they are aggressively seeking from Trump’s Department of Justice.

Five years after January 6, President Trump has already issued an illegal anti-voter executive order to threaten to seize authority over state election administration, much of which has been blocked by federal courts. Padilla sounded the alarm on the Trump Administration’s efforts to pressure states to enact partisan mid-decade redistricting, threats to declare a fake “national emergency” to unlawfully influence state elections, and stacking of senior federal government offices with prominent election deniers. He underscored that he will continue to press the Office of Special Counsel to investigate the Oval Office and Department of Justice’s many brazen Hatch Act violations through their political pressure campaigns to compel states to implement partisan gerrymanders.

Key Excerpts:

The lies continue, the conspiracy theories continue, and the truth must be told. We will not let history be rewritten.

The truth is that five years ago today, insurrectionists stormed the Capitol in an unprecedented attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. The truth is police were beaten, as a violent crowd surged forward. The truth is there were members of Congress literally running for their lives, rushed out of this very chamber and told to hide and barricade themselves. It was an attack instigated and fueled by lies, a coordinated campaign by President Trump to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Online and across the country, President Trump’s Big Lie caught fire, and clearly, it’s still burning. Sadly, many Republicans participated in fanning the flames, spreading false claims of voter fraud for political gain. Others have stood by silently as President Trump radicalized his supporters with these lies. They chose loyalty to Trump over the truth, and our nation paid the price.

The deadly January 6th attack will forever remain an ugly stain on American history. And yes, thanks to the bravery of U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers who risked their lives — including five officers who tragically lost their lives — the assault on our democracy failed. But still, Speaker Johnson refuses to install a plaque required by law, honoring the police officers who defended the Capitol that day.

This is about more than just payouts and pardons. Trump doesn’t believe he’s done anything wrong. The President continues to work to undermine the midterm elections in a desperate attempt to hold onto power. Five years after January 6th, Trump continues to double down on the Big Lie conspiracy.

I refuse to stay silent while Trump tries to rig the next election and continue to lie about the last elections. We will fight for the future of our free and fair elections in this country.

We must defend bipartisan state election administration in this country and take to the floor to warn Americans about the Trump Administration’s efforts to rig election rules ahead of this year’s midterm elections. American democracy was here long before Trump came into power, and it’ll be here long after he’s gone. Because we’ll continue to fight every anti-voter, undemocratic action this White House rolls out.

Video of Senator Padilla’s floor speech can be watched here and downloaded here. His remarks pushing for the passage of his bipartisan resolution observing the five-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection can be viewed here.

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Peters Speaks on Senate Floor to Reflect on the Five-Year Anniversary of the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, took to the Senate floor to reflect on the five-year anniversary of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and its dangerous impact on the nation’s democratic institutions and traditions.

“Today, we mark the fifth anniversary of one of the most shocking attacks on our nation and on our democracy. For the first time in our nation’s history, our longstanding tradition of the peaceful transfer of power was disrupted in a violent and deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol,” said Senator Peters. “In the hours that followed, thousands of our brave law enforcement officers, first responders, and National Guard members took swift action to protect every member of Congress. They put their lives on the line to fend off the violent insurrectionists. Those U.S. Capitol Police officers, the D.C. Metropolitan Police, the National Guard, and all who stepped in deserve our deepest gratitude and recognition for their valiant efforts to defend democracy on that infamous day. We must also remember the legacy of the five heroic officers who lost their lives in the aftermath of that attack.”

To watch the full video of Peters’ speech on the Senate floor, click here.

Peters also highlighted President Trump and his allies’ attempts to rewrite the narrative of the January 6th attacks for their own partisan political benefit, rather than upholding the rule of law.

“Instead of condemning the violent attack and holding the attackers accountable, President Trump called them ‘patriots’ and he pardoned nearly 1,500 individuals who were found guilty of assaulting the very same law enforcement officers that we are honoring today,” said Peters. “There’s no question that President Trump prizes loyalty over the law, but he’s taken that favoritism too far.”

Peters concluded the speech by calling upon all Americans, regardless of partisan affiliation, to come together in unity to condemn political violence of any kind, while upholding the foundational pillars of American democracy.

“Our democracy and our institutions can only endure as long as our elected leaders have the fortitude and the strength to protect and defend them against all threats, no matter their origin,” said Peters. “In the five years since January 6th, we have fallen short of that responsibility. In the darkest times of our nation’s nearly 250-year history we have always found a way to come together to protect our democracy.”

Peters concluded, “And if we continue down this current path that we are on now, I’m concerned that we risk losing our most cherished freedoms for good. We cannot, and must not, ever let that happen.”

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Reed Condemns Hegseth’s Partisan Attacks on Sen. Mark Kelly

WASHINGTON, DC – After Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced he is retreating from his threat to court martial U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a decorated combat veteran, and is instead seeking administrative actions to reduce the retirement rank and pay of Captain Mark E. Kelly, USN (Ret), U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), issued the following statement:

“I laud Senator Kelly’s distinguished and exemplary military service. The political action being taken against him is part of a broader pattern of partisanship being waged by the Trump Administration. Secretary Hegseth’s goal seems to be trying to crackdown on free speech. It is also preposterous given that both Secretary Hegseth and Attorney General Bondi have said the same thing they are denouncing Senator Kelly for stating. This is an affront to all retired servicemembers and no veteran should have their speech chilled. The entire caucus is united behind Senator Kelly.”


Reed Cosponsors Padilla, Whitehouse Bills to Ban Taxpayer Payouts for January 6 Rioters

WASHINGTON, DC -- On the fifth anniversary of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is teaming up with U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on a pair of new bills to prevent taxpayer money from being awarded to convicted and now-pardoned rioters.

The violent mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results, caused significant damage to the U.S. Capitol complex, injured more than 140 law enforcement officers, and threatened members of Congress and support staff.

The violent mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results caused roughly $3 million in damages to the U.S. Capitol building, injured more than 100 law enforcement officers, and threatened members of Congress and their staff. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimated the true cost to taxpayers for the attack was over $1 billion, a figure that includes expenses incurred by the Capitol Police, the District of Columbia, and federal agencies, as well as costs to enhance security.

Convicted January 6 insurrectionists initially paid about $400,000 in court-ordered restitution to cover the damages they caused. But President Trump's blanket clemency of J6 defendants absolved the perpetrators from having to pay taxpayers further restitution.

Roughly 400 people who participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol and were pardoned by Trump or granted clemency are currently seeking millions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer funds because they were prosecuted for their criminal actions. Most claimants are seeking $1 million to $10 million from the U.S. government. Leaders of the “Proud Boys” far-right militant organization alone are suing for $100 million, and senior U.S. Department of Justice official Ed Martin reportedly supports compensating violent January 6 insurrectionists.

Senator Padilla’s No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act would broadly prohibit the use of federal funds to compensate any January 6 rioters who were prosecuted for their involvement in the attack on the Capitol and stop the ongoing refunds of fines that were paid as part of their convictions.

The No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Senator Whitehouse’s No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act would forbid the federal government from paying out any legal settlements to any January 6 rioters who were convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers during the Capitol insurrection.

The No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

“Five years after a violent swarm of insurrectionists stormed our nation’s Capitol, assaulted law enforcement officers, and attacked our very democracy, issuing cash payouts to these rioters is unthinkable,” said Senator Padilla. “These insurrectionists should still be serving their sentences and paying fines for damages they caused to the Capitol — not receiving refunds or cash rewards from the Trump Administration. Our bills would hold these rioters accountable and protect taxpayers by putting an end to Donald Trump’s callous attempt to rewrite history with these illegal cash payouts.”

“Members of both parties who were here on January 6, 2021 remember the chaos and violence of that day, which resulted in police officers’ deaths and injuries. No matter how Trump’s MAGA goons now try to twist it, the January 6 attack on our Capitol was an assault on our democracy. Trump’s blanket day-one pardons for members of the January 6 mob were a slap in the face to the brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect the country. Our bills make clear that no one who stormed the Capitol should get a taxpayer-funded cash giveaway, especially not those who violently assaulted police officers,” said Senator Whitehouse.

“I commend Senators Padilla and Whitehouse for their leadership on this issue and I am proud to support both bills,” said Senator Reed. “Those who were convicted of violently storming the U.S. Capitol should not be financially rewarded for their heinous actions. President Trump wants to whitewash the events of January 6 and his Administration is now using the levers of government to continue the assault on democracy in a way that tries to force law abiding taxpayers to shell out millions of dollars to pay off those who committed serious crimes. Those who marched under Confederate banners and Trump flags, carrying weapons and violently beating law enforcement officers should not reap a financial windfall. They should be required to follow through with their court-ordered restitution.”

Last year, the Trump Administration directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take a meeting with a lawyer for January 6 insurrectionists where DOJ was asked to create a victims compensation fund, similar to that used to compensate September 11, 2001 victims, to issue cash rewards for alleged “harms” these rioters faced. Their attorney stated that DOJ official Ed Martin is “100 percent on our side.” Any such fund would be both deeply corrupt and unlawful, as the establishment of a separate fund requires Congressional action, but rioters could seek to “sue and settle” claims and raid the federal Judgment Fund instead, similar to claims that President Trump himself has made for $230 million in compensation.

Additionally, DOJ reached a $4.975 million settlement last June with the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Capitol Police Officer while attempting to enter the Speaker’s Lobby through a broken window on January 6.

Both bills are endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW); Democracy Defenders Action; Protect Democracy; Sgt. Aquilino A. Gonell, Fr. United States Capitol Police; Officer Harry Dunn, Fr. United States Capitol Police; and Officer Daniel Hodges, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (endorsement in his personal capacity).

President Trump's blanket clemency of J6 defendants absolved the perpetrators from having to pay taxpayers restitution for the millions of dollars in damages they caused during the insurrection.


Reed Statement on 5th Anniversary of Brutal January 6 Insurrection

WASHINGTON, DC – On the five-year anniversary of the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, during which a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol following Trump’s 2020 electoral defeat and injured over 140 heroic police officers, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:

“January 6, 2021 was a dark day in U.S. history.

“When President Trump pardoned those who were convicted of planning and coordinating the brutal assault on law enforcement officers who were defending the U.S. Capitol that day, it was a gross miscarriage of justice. It was a corrupt move. And it cut against the key American value that we are a nation of laws.

“The American people are strong and our democratic institutions are resilient. Together, we will uphold the Constitution and defend our democracy from all threats, both foreign and domestic. It is up to each of us as citizens -- individually and collectively -- to ensure our unified democratic republic survives and thrives.”


SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $7 MILLION FOR MOUNT KISCO TO STRENGTHEN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AT NOTORIOUSLY DANGEROUS CROSSINGS AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO NORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL

New Grant Will Improve Notorious Roadways In Mount Kisco, Which According To Project Application Sustained 790 Crashes, 98 Injuries & 13 Serious Injuries Between 2018 and 2022

Senators Say Fed $$$ Funded Through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Will Help Save Lives In Westchester And Make For Safer Commutes With Added Lighting, Wider Lanes, And More

Schumer, Gillibrand: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Is Paving The Way For Safer Streets In Mount Kisco!

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $7,000,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law in Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) grant funding for the Village and Town of Mount Kisco to upgrade major roadways throughout Mount Kisco. Schumer and Gillibrand said this job-creating funding will improve traffic flow and increase pedestrian safety on the notoriously dangerous West Main Street, Main Street, and Lexington Avenue while improving emergency access to Northern Westchester Hospital.

“For years, Northern Westchester families have worried about notoriously dangerous roads and high accident rates in Mount Kisco. I visited Mount Kisco and heard firsthand from local leaders on the immediate need for these safety upgrades to improve traffic flow and improve emergency access to Northern Westchester Hospital. Now, I am proud to deliver this $7 million investment from our Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law will help give Mount Kisco the tools it needs to improve street safety and add more safety features to keep pedestrians safe,” said Senator Schumer. “This grant will help improve road safety for generations to come and save lives by preventing accidents before they happen. I will continue fighting to deliver funding to pave the way for safer and more pedestrian-friendly streets in every corner of New York.”

“Westchester residents have long known about the need for safer streets and roads,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This grant will not only deliver on safer streets for the Village and Town of Mount Kisco, but will also give peace of mind to families across Westchester and create new jobs for New Yorkers. I am thrilled to have worked with Senator Schumer to deliver this critical funding.”

“Senator Chuck Schumer is no stranger to Mount Kisco. A few years ago, we met on the streets in the village’s business district and discussed the many challenges facing small municipalities. I learned today of a $7 million dollar grant funding awarded to the Village of Mount Kisco. Funds targeting our efforts to make our streets safer and more pedestrian friendly. The hard work of the village board and community volunteers over the past two years should be proud that Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand recognized their efforts. I find it humbling, with all the turmoil in our country that Senator Schumer remembered Mount Kisco. Thank you Chuck!” said Mount Kisco Mayor Mike Cindrich.

“Mount Kisco is a vibrant community and a major commercial center in Northern Westchester. This federal funding ensures it stays that way for generations to come. These infrastructure investments will make Mount Kisco’s streets safer for residents and visitors. Thank you to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for helping us build a safer, more connected New York,” said New York State Senator Pete Harckham.

"My thanks to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for securing funds for these greatly needed infrastructure improvements. These roads have seen far too many accidents and injuries, and the upgrades will make for safer streets for drivers, pedestrians, and those accessing Northern Westchester Hospital. As an elected official who not only represents Mount Kisco, but whose office is headquartered in this terrific town, I am so pleased to see these funds put to such an important purpose," said New York State Assemblymember Chris Burdick.

Schumer and Gillibrand explained that the federal grant will fund major upgrades along 1.85 miles on West Main Street, Main Street, and Lexington Avenue, which according to the project application had 690 crashes, 98 injuries, and 13 serious injuries between 2018 and 2022, while improving emergency access to Northern Westchester Hospital. The senators said Mount Kisco will add more lighting, wider lanes, curb extensions, a pedestrian island, and more safety features. In addition, a new sidewalk on Lexington Avenue and a pedestrian hybrid beacon or rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at St. Marks Place will improve crossings, consistent with federal standards. This project also includes Planning and Demonstration funds to pilot quick-build neighborhood traffic calming on West Hyatt Avenue, Gregory Avenue, Smith Avenue, Moore Avenue, and Grove Street in preparation for a 25 mile per hour village-wide speed limit.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Schumer led to passage as Majority Leader, established the SS4A discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over 5 years, 2022-2026. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law more than doubled funding for surface transportation programs that improve roadway safety.

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SCHUMER SLAMS TRUMP FREEZING $10 BILLION FOR CHILD CARE & VITAL SERVICES, PUNISHING INNOCENT CHILDREN AND HARDWORKING FAMILIES IN NEW YORK AND ACROSS AMERICA

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released the following statement on reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cruelly freezing $10 billion in funds for poor families in five blue states, including New York, jeopardizing child care and critical social services for thousands of American families and innocent children:

“To threaten to rip away billions for child care and other critical support for working families and their kids for political gain is beyond disgusting. Trump is pulling the rug out from millions of parents who now could be left high and dry with no option for child care. What kind of heartless person uses innocent kids as political pawns? This goes beyond targeting blue states. It is upending the lives working families and making our children pay the price for the sake of political games.”

“Instead of using children as political pawns, President Trump should be focused on lowering costs and making child care more affordable for hardworking American families, not taking away what is many parents’ only option for support.”

“President Trump must immediately unfreeze this funding to ensure that children, families, and child care providers who rely on this funding to keep the lights on can continue to operate without delay.”

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Thune: Relief Is Here for Working Families

Clickhereto watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, last year Republicans followed through on our promises to the American people.

“The cornerstone of that was the Working Families Tax Cuts and the rest of that landmark legislation.

“A bill that helps deliver safer streets.

“Put more money in Americans’ pockets.

“And create new opportunities to get ahead.

“Mr. President, I’ve said that we did 10 years of legislating in this bill – there’s a lot in it.

“It’s generational in terms of its content and its impact.

“And this year, hardworking Americans will start to see the benefits of what Republicans delivered.

“Mr. President, at the top of that list is the permanent tax relief in this bill.

“For too many Americans, affordability remains a challenge.

“And affordability begins with how much money you have in your budget and in your pocket.

“Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, hardworking Americans will see bigger paychecks this year.

“And that’s breathing room that families can count on this year and in the years to come because Republicans’ tax reform is permanent.

“And as the W-2s go out this month and Americans prepare to file their taxes, they can also expect to see benefits from the Working Families Tax Cuts in their tax returns.

“They will be able to take a larger standard deduction – and seniors will be able to take a new bonus deduction on top of that.

“The child tax credit is now worth $2,200 per child, and it’s linked to inflation so it will never lose its value.

“Workers who earn tips and overtime won’t have to pay federal taxes on that income either.

“And all of that adds up to bigger refunds come April.

“Mr. President, the Working Families Tax Cuts provide much-needed relief after a years-long inflation crisis that is still – still – straining families’ budgets.

“And passing this bill – and delivering an average $3,700 tax cut to hardworking Americans – was a priority for Republicans.

“But that’s not the only thing this bill did.

“Far from it.

“We also made generational investments in health care, national security, and public safety.

“Mr. President, since 2005, more than 100 hospitals in rural parts of this country have closed their doors.

“And it’s important that we support and strengthen critical health care access points for Americans who live in rural areas.

“So in our legislation, Republicans created the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund to bolster rural health care.

“To expand access, modernize care, and strengthen the rural health care workforce.

“Our landmark legislation also addresses pressing security needs.

“In the months since this bill passed, not a single illegal immigrant has been released into the United States.

“And that’s thanks in part to the generational investment that we made to sustain the Trump administration’s border security policies.

“Our bill invests in hiring more border agents.

“Increasing detention capacity.

“And providing the technology and resources needed to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and illegal drugs across our borders.

“And then, Mr. President, there’s national security.

“After four years of the Biden administration and Democrats putting defense spending on the backburner, Republicans made a historic investment to help rebuild our military so that it can deter and defeat today’s threats – and tomorrow’s.

“Our legislation boosts shipbuilding and defense production capacity.

“It grows our Air Force fleet.

“Protects the homeland with the Golden Dome missile defense system and modernization of our nuclear deterrent.

“And more.

“And we’re continuing our efforts with the kind of sustained investment that’s needed to keep America’s military strong for the long term.

“Mr. President, our landmark legislation also makes a serious investment in public safety here at home.

“That starts by supporting the police.

“There’s funding for state and local law enforcement agencies in this bill, including boots-on-the-ground efforts to combat violent crime.

“Our legislation supports efforts to combat drug trafficking and target precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl.

“And it provides resources for state and local law enforcement to assist federal officers in enforcing immigration laws.

“Mr. President, I’m also proud of the investment this bill makes in modernizing America’s air traffic control system.

“The systems being used in air traffic control towers today are in desperate need of an update.

“And our legislation provides the support needed to deploy state-of-the-art technology across America.

“And I’m glad that the modernization efforts this bill supports are now underway.

“Mr. President, there’s a lot more I could talk about when it comes to our once-in-a-generation legislation.

“Its support for small businesses, farmers, and ranchers.

“Its provisions addressing waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs to save taxpayer money.

“Or its support for the next generation through more educational choice and investment accounts for a secure future.

“But I’ll leave it here, Mr. President.

“Republicans delivered a big win for the American people last year with our bill.

“And in 2026, the American people are going to feel its impact.

“And I look forward to that story unfolding, literally, Mr. President, in every corner of America.”


Thune: Working Families Tax Cuts Provide Bigger Paychecks, Permanent Relief

Clickhereto watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“The good news for the American people as they start their new year is that they’re going to have, on average, $3,700 more money in their pocket as a result of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act that we passed this last summer.

“Not only do you get the permanent increase in the standard deduction, you get the permanent increase in the child tax credit.

“You get all kinds of business incentives for businesses to invest, make capital investments in this country – whether that’s bonus depreciation, interest deductibility, R&D, expensing the 199A deduction, permanent death tax relief, something that I worked on.

“Those are all investments that’re going to pay off, because what they’re going to lead to is higher-paying jobs, better wages for people in this country, more money in their pocket to take care of themselves and their families.

“And the other thing that was included in that – and you’re starting now to see as a result of some of the things that we did – the reforms taking place, dealing with, for example, Medicaid, SNAP program work requirements, eligibility checks, making sure that illegal immigrants are not getting the benefit of some of these programs.

“Those were all things that were also included in that piece of legislation that we passed last summer, and that’s really coming into focus now because of what’s happening in the state of Minnesota.

“We are seeing up close and personal a real example of how some of these government programs are taken advantage of and benefits delivered to people who are not eligible.

“Our whole goal in that legislation last summer was to make sure that the people who are supposed to benefit from government assistance actually do benefit and it’s not being abused and gamed by states and people around this country.

“So we think there are just benefits that’re going to continue to play out the course of this next year for the American people.

“And we think this year, when they start filing their tax returns, it’s going to be a good day for them, because they’re going to have a lot more money in their pocket than they would have if the Democrats had had their way and we weren’t able to get the … Working Families Tax Cuts bill passed into law.”


Tuberville Honors Pat Downing of Mobile as January “Veteran of the Month”

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video honoring U.S. Army Colonel Patrick Downing as the January “Veteran of the Month.”

Excerpts of Sen. Tuberville’s remarks can be found below, and complete remarks can be found here.

“The military will take you all over the world, but Sweet Home Alabama has a way of bringing people back. That’s true for Mobile native Colonel Patrick Downing, who found his way back to the Bay after 36 years of military service.

The son of a World War II Marine, Pat enlisted in the Army at just 17 years old. In 1961, he signed up to be a part of the Special Forces unit, where he’d serve for the next three decades—including two tours in Vietnam. Before he left, Pat married his high school sweetheart, Patricia, in a chapel at Fort Bragg. Upon arriving, Pat and his team were met with a mortar attack and told their unit had a bounty on their heads just for being in the country. But Pat wasn’t deterred from his mission.

[…]

After retiring in 1996, Pat and Patricia knew that it was time to bring their family back to the Yellowhammer state for good after 19 moves over the years. He then used his passion for education to give back to his hometown, working at the University of South Alabama for more than 20 years until his retirement in 2015. He directed one of South’s satellite campuses for 15 years and wrapped up his time directing transportation for the main campus and the Springhill campus.

[…]

He and his wife are proud grandparents to 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. After traveling far and wide to protect our freedoms, I am glad Pat planted his roots down in Mobile.

It is my honor to recognize him as the January ‘Veteran of the Month.’”

Constituents can nominate an Alabama veteran and submit their information to Sen. Tuberville’s office for consideration in the 2026 “Veteran of the Month” series by emailing press_office@tuberville.senate.gov.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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Tuberville Objects to Democrats’ Attempts to Re-Write History About the January 6th Hoax

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) took to the Senate floor to object to Democrats’ attempts to re-write history about the January 6th hoax. Over the past five years, Democrats have tried everything they can to blame the events that took place at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 on Republicans when, in reality, it was Nancy Pelosi and Democrats who were responsible for the security failures that day.

Read excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

“January 6th was my first day on the job here in the United States Senate. Come to think of it. It was first day of the year and started a huge disaster the next four years. I sat right over there. And again, it was my first time on the Senate floor.

One of the first things I heard from my Democrat colleagues after we returned to the floor that same night after being taken and hidden out for a few hours was this was the worst disaster and was even worse than Pearl Harbor. By the way, that was a real attack that killed 2,403 Americans. And I thought at that time, ‘Are you kidding me? What are we talking about here?’ Then almost immediately afterwards, those same Democrats that said this about Pearl Harbor, they came after all of us Republicans [and] said this January 6th attack was ‘racist.’ And, you know, I didn’t understand that. Being my first day here, I thought, ‘Wait a minute. I mean, I thought we’re all in this together.’ They know dang well this wasn’t a ‘racist’ attack, but it was just something that they wanted to use. But they never miss an opportunity to paint somebody a racist, you know, when it comes to the Democrats. So, January 6th had nothing to do with racism.

Let’s be clear what happened that day: Democrats and the deep state hate Donald Trump so much that they helped orchestrate a coup against our government. It’s been looked at, vilified, and the information that we found today is just amazing.

And it first started with the tampering of the 2020 presidential election results to oust president Trump and to install a different type of government. As a result, great American patriots gathered in Washington to peacefully protest the illegal tampering of the election of 2020. When the leader of the Democratic Party at that time, Nancy Pelosi, and the deep state learned of Trump supporters coming to Washington, D.C., […] they got an idea. Now, again, this has all been proven. They decided to infiltrate the crowd with Antifa and intelligence community members who would stir up trouble. The FBI has confirmed that there were 274 FBI agents in plainclothes in the Capitol here that day. Then they set up Capitol Police by failing and refusing President Trump’s offer to bring in National Guard as back up. They turned it down.

I interact with the Capitol Hill police here every day. They’re brave men and women who work tirelessly to help keep us all safe, but they were set up to fail by the Democrats that day. And then, of course, Democrats placed all the blame on President Trump and the Republicans for everything that happened that day and afterwards. They had the majority. Nancy Pelosi spearheaded the true insurrection that day. This has all been proven true and she even admitted responsibility for the massive security failures of that day.

But Democrats’ plans to destroy President Trump and his supporters didn’t end on January 6th 2021. For the next four years, Joe Biden and the Democrats did everything they could do—everything—to arrest, harass, bankrupt, de-platform, and kill President Trump. Not to mention the hundreds of innocent patriotic Americans who sat behind bars for the past five years over this made-up witch hunt. That is one of the most embarrassing things that I’ve seen since I’ve been here. Thankfully, most of them now have been released. You know, conveniently, the Biden DOJ neglected to investigate members of the intelligence community for their treasonous involvement in the events of January 6th. That was very convenient. As a matter of fact, they never brought the guy in who was in charge of Capitol Hill police for an interview. They never wanted to talk to him. […]

Still today, Democrats are trying to rewrite the true events of that history. They keep mentioning all of these Capitol Police who supposedly died on January 6th. Now, don’t get me wrong, we have brave people that work in this building, but this was made up and it continues to be made up.

The only person who died on January 6th was Ashley Babbitt, an unarmed Air Force veteran who was shot that day in this building. Recently, Senate Democrats attempted—think about this—attempted to strip Ashley Babbitt of her military funeral honors. Now, why would they do that? Ashley Babbitt was wrongfully killed on January 6th, 2021. The federal government admitted it and they paid money to her family as part of a legal settlement. Interesting. Democrats, they don’t care about the truth.

Today is a reminder that radical Democrats and the deep state, they don’t like our country the way we run it too much, and they will do whatever it takes to try to make the Republican Party and President Trump look bad. Unfortunately for them, the American people aren’t buying it. 77 million people came to the rescue of our country a year ago. […] 77 million people. And that is why President Trump is back in the White House—and thank God he is.

So no, we don’t need a resolution condemning the ‘attack’ on the Capitol on January 6th. In fact, the only thing we should be do doing is condemning Nancy Pelosi’s role in setting up the government-orchestrated hoax of January 6th.”

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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ICYMI: Warnock Embraces Monks in Decatur During Their 2,300-Mile Peace Walk to D.C.

Last week, Senator Reverend Warnock greeted nearly two dozen Buddhist Monks in Decatur, Georgia, during their 2,300-mile journey from Texas to Washington, D.C., to promote peace and unity

Senator Warnock delivered brief remarks commending them for putting their faith into action

The monks have already walked over 1,000 miles

Senator Reverend Warnock: “It’s not enough to simply pray for peace with our lips. We must pray with our legs. We have to put our faith into action”

Above: Senator Reverend Warnock and lead Monk, Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra

Photo by: Daniel Schwartz

Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) greeted nearly two dozen Buddhist monks in Decatur, Georgia, during their 2,300-mile walk from Texas to Washington, D.C., to promote peace and unity. During the monks’ stop in Decatur, Senator Warnock delivered remarks commending the monks for putting their faith into action.

“These monks understand, as did Georgia’s greatest son, Martin Luther King, Jr., and co-pastor of the church where I still serve, Ebenezer Church, that it’s not simply enough to pray for peace with our lips,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “We must pray with our legs. We have to put our faith into action. We must pray with our legs, our hands, and our feet.”

Senator Warnock also took a moment during his remarks to recognize one of the monks, a Georgia resident, who had been struck by a car earlier in their journey and was forced to amputate his leg due to the accident.

“Those of us who live in Georgia and in Decatur in the Atlanta metropolitan area, we know about the tradition that puts your body in the struggle. And while we are excited by their arrival, so happy to meet them. Let us not forget that this journey has not been easy. They are all in, and we are especially keeping Venerable Phra-Ajarnh Maha Dam Phommasan in our prayers while he recovers at home in Snellville. He is a son of Georgia, and we pray for his continual healing and peace,” continued Senator Warnock.

Since 2005, Senator Warnock has served as Senior Pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is the youngest pastor selected to serve in that leadership role at the historic church. Additionally, Warnock has long believed his ministry of service doesn’t stop at the church doors and has vehemently supported prayer in the form of organizing and protesting.

Watch excerpts from Senator Warnock’s remarks HERE.

See below Senator Warnock’s speech:

“When I arrived here just a few minutes ago, I heard anew in my mind and in my spirit, a text that I have preached many times, heard many times, but thanks to these spiritual leaders who are with us, I heard it anew.

The prophet Micah says ‘He has shown you, oh mortal, what is good and what does the Lord require but that you do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God’.

All of us who are gathered here, I believe, will agree that we could use some more justice, because, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Peace is not the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice’. We could certainly use a lot more kindness, and they’ve taught us how to walk humbly, literally walking humbly. And so it’s great to be here with Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra and the courageous Buddhist monks. And of course, I’m especially glad that walking alongside them is Aloka, the peace dog.

They are embarking on a 2,300-mile journey for peace. These monks understand, as did Georgia’s greatest son, Martin Luther King, Jr., and co-pastor of the church where I still serve, Ebenezer Church, that it’s not simply enough. It’s not enough to simply pray for peace with our lips. We must pray with our legs. We have to put our faith into action. We must pray with our legs, our hands, and our feet.

Those of us who live in Georgia and in Decatur in the Atlanta metropolitan area, we know about the tradition that puts your body in the struggle. And while we are excited by their arrival, so happy to meet them. Let us not forget that this journey has not been easy. They are all in, and we are especially keeping Venerable Phra-Ajarnh Maha Dam Phommasan in our prayers while he recovers at home in Snellville. He is a son of Georgia, and we pray for his continual healing and peace.

But that’s the righteous struggle these monks embarked on 65 days ago, and with every step they are taking, they are drawing attention to the steps that people of conscience must take to end violence.

We need peace in Israel and in Gaza. We need peace in Haiti, we need peace in the Congo. We need peace in Ukraine. We need peace on our own streets. We must end also the violence of poverty. Poverty is its own violence that is brought upon so many children in the urban streets of Atlanta and the rural towns of Appalachia, because in the words of Dr. King, ‘We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.’ In other words, we are all in this together on this cold night, we’re all standing here together. I wish you could see you the way I see you right now. You look beautiful. Give yourselves a quiet applause just for being here.

But the work of creating Dr. King’s beloved community, a world where every child is safe from violence, does not rest solely on the shoulders of the Monks here today. All of us must do our part. I know that many folks have been able to spend some time with their family over the holiday season. I’ve enjoyed the days that I’ve had the quiet moments with my own two children. But as we all put our children to sleep, our grandchildren to sleep tonight, let us remember that our children cannot really be safe until other people’s children are safe. In other words, we all have moral work to do.

So I just want to say thank you to these courageous monks who have embarked on a 2,300-mile journey from Texas to Washington, D.C. God knows we could use them in Washington, D.C., but we all have a role to play, and so we renew our commitment to this moral work, to this holy work. We can’t all walk 2,300 miles, but we can all do something. Doctor King said, ‘If you can’t fly, run, if you can’t run, walk, if you can’t walk, crawl, but by all means, keep moving forward.’

God bless you all. Keep the faith. Keep Looking Up.”

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ICYMI: Welch Discusses Health Care Tax Credit Fight on NPR’s Morning Edition

“There’s common ground here to do something that’s beneficial to all Americans, so we’re determined to keep trying.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) recently joined National Public Radio’s Morning Edition to discuss his efforts to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Premium Tax Credits, which expired on January 1. The enhanced premium tax credits help more than 24 million Americans—including nearly 30,000 Vermonters—afford health care. So far, Republican leadership in the Senate and House has refused to work with Democrats to avoid the coverage cliff, and now millions are forced to go without health care coverage.

Without health care tax credits, a Vermont family of four making $130,000 a year that currently pays $1,195 a month for a baseline health care plan can expect to pay $3,035 a month for that same plan—a $22,080 annual increase. A Vermont family of four making about $64,000 a year will pay 920% more. Ultimately, Republicans’ actions will kick 15 million Americans off their health insurance, including about 4 million people who will no longer be able to afford an ACA health plan.

Listen to the interview and read key quotes from Senator Welch’s interview with host Leila Fadel:

Senator Welch on how the sticker shock of health care costs is devastating families nationwide:

“Well, the most significant is anybody—a small business, a farmer—whether they’re in a Republican or a Democratic district, is going to get hammered. So a farmer in Vermont, their premium is going to go from $900 a month to $3,200 a month. So they’re going to really face sticker shock. There’s going to be a secondary impact because the hospitals, particularly in rural areas, are going to lose revenue because folks are going to show up to get care and not have any way to pay for it. So there’ll be a ripple effect here, both immediate on the families who have to make a tough call—do they try to scrape together the money that they don’t have?—and then on the institutions in our rural communities that are so important to us.”

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Senator Welch on how the expiration of ACA premium tax credits will exacerbate the nationwide affordability crisis:

“The affordability issues that every American is facing—with rising utility bills, health care bills are a big part of it, groceries—this is really one where, in addition to the expense, it imposes an immense amount of insecurity. You know, a mother that I was talking to, with two kids, said she doesn’t know what to do. She feels totally irresponsible not to have health care, but it’s totally impossible for her to afford it. So I think this is really tough. And frankly, it’s not whether you’re politically oriented towards Trump or the Democrats. It’s really everybody trying to take care of their families. So this is really a bipartisan catastrophe in the making.”

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Senator Welch on working across the aisle to pass a retroactive extension of the enhanced tax credits:

“There’s a determination on both sides of the aisle to do every single thing we can to avoid this catastrophe. And there’s some practical things we could do to make that happen. You know, we could extend the credits for a couple of years. We could reform it. You could put an income cap. You could have a copay. You could have penalties on insurers who commit fraud, or insurance agents. And you actually could introduce some cost-saving reductions that have bipartisan support, and if we were successful in that, it actually could bring down health care premiums by about 11%. So there’s common ground here to do something that’s beneficial to all Americans, so we’re determined to keep trying.”

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Senator Welch on the urgency of getting President Trump to the negotiating table to extend APTCs:

“It would require that President Trump play a major role in this because he has such influence over the Republican majority in the House and even in the Senate. But where I have some optimism is that there’s a number of Republican and Democratic Senators who are seeing what a disaster this will be for families that they represent. That’s the common ground here, and it’s a doable thing. And the one thing that’s totally unacceptable is that people who have no control over how these premiums have increased—and these are the families, the small businesses, the farmers—they should not be the ones that pay the price here.”

“But we need President Trump, and I think he’s the one who can make this happen…My Republican colleagues can be speaking to him, and some of them are. So that’s really going to be the burden they bear. And my colleagues on the Republican side that are really intent on trying to get an extension are doing their best to engage with the President. But he’ll be critical.”

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Welch Joins Bills to Ban Taxpayer Payouts for January 6 Rioters

On five-year anniversary of January 6 Capitol insurrection, the Senators’ bills would prevent the Trump Administration from handing out millions in taxpayer funds to Capitol rioters

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the fifth anniversary of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in introducing a pair of bills to prevent January 6 rioters from receiving payouts from the federal government.

Roughly 400 people who the Trump Administration pardoned or granted clemency to after their involvement in the January 6 attacks are currently seeking millions of dollars in taxpayer funds because they were prosecuted for their criminal actions. Most claimants are seeking $1 million to $10 million from the U.S. government. Leaders of the “Proud Boys” far-right militant organization alone are suing for $100 million, and senior Department of Justice (DOJ) official Ed Martin reportedly supports compensating violent January 6 insurrectionists.

The No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act would broadly prohibit the use of federal funds to compensate any January 6 rioters who were prosecuted for their involvement in the attack on the Capitol and stop the ongoing refunds of fines that were paid as part of their convictions, while the No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act would forbid the federal government from paying out any legal settlements to any January 6 rioters who were convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers during the Capitol insurrection.

“President Trump and his Administration have blatant contempt for our democracy and traditions of free and fair elections. When the President issued blanket pardons and commuted sentences for the January 6 rioters, he turned his back on justice, police officers, and the American people. Now, President Trump wants to give illegal, taxpayer-funded cash giveaways to the violent rioters who attacked hallowed democratic institutions,” said Senator Welch. “President Trump’s plan to give illegal, taxpayer-funded cash handouts to violent insurrectionists is outrageous and a direct insult to everyone still recovering from that harrowing day. We refuse to let taxpayer dollars get tangled up in the President’s attempt to rewrite history.”

“Five years after a violent swarm of insurrectionists stormed our nation’s Capitol, assaulted law enforcement officers, and attacked our very democracy, issuing cash payouts to these rioters is unthinkable,” said Senator Padilla. “These insurrectionists should still be serving their sentences and paying fines for damages they caused to the Capitol — not receiving refunds or cash rewards from the Trump Administration. Our bills would hold these rioters accountable and protect taxpayers by putting an end to Donald Trump’s callous attempt to rewrite history with these illegal cash payouts.”

“Members of both parties who were here on January 6, 2021 remember the chaos and violence of that day, which resulted in police officers’ deaths and injuries. No matter how Trump’s MAGA goons now try to twist it, the January 6 attack on our Capitol was an assault on our democracy. Trump’s blanket day-one pardons for members of the January 6 mob were a slap in the face to the brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect the country. Our bills make clear that no one who stormed the Capitol should get a taxpayer-funded cash giveaway, especially not those who violently assaulted police officers,” said Senator Whitehouse.

The violent mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results, caused roughly $3 million in damages to the Capitol building, injured more than 100 law enforcement officers, and threatened members and their staff. Damage to the building included widespread vandalism, ruined furniture, shattered glass, broken doors, defaced artwork, and the desecration of the halls of Congress. Convicted January 6 insurrectionists paid about $400,000 in court-ordered restitution to cover the damages they caused, which has since been transferred to the Treasury Department, from where the funds can only be withdrawn by Congress.

Last year, DOJ officials took a meeting with a lawyer for January 6 insurrectionists where the department was asked to create a victims compensation fund, similar to that used to compensate September 11, 2001 victims, to issue cash rewards for alleged “harms” these rioters faced. Their attorney stated that DOJ official Ed Martin is “100 percent on our side.” Any such fund would be both deeply corrupt and unlawful, as the establishment of a separate fund requires congressional action, but rioters could seek to “sue and settle” claims and raid the federal Judgment Fund instead, similar to claims that President Trump himself has made for $230 million in compensation.

The No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act would:

Prohibit the use of federal funds to compensate prosecuted January 6 rioters, including by barring the establishment of a victim compensation fund and by prohibiting the Justice Department from entering into settlement agreements;

Prohibit further refunds of restitution payments; and

Authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer the remaining restitution funds to the Architect of the Capitol.

The No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act would:

Apply only to January 6 rioters who were convicted of assaulting a law enforcement officer pursuant to 18 USC 111 or D.C. Code 22-405 on January 6; and

Bar any federal funds being used to pay any legal settlement to any such individuals, if they sue for any claims relating to January 6.

Both bills are endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW); Democracy Defenders Action; Protect Democracy; Sgt. Aquilino A. Gonell, Fr. United States Capitol Police; Officer Harry Dunn, Fr. United States Capitol Police; and Officer Daniel Hodges, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (endorsement in his personal capacity).

“I’m thankful for this legislation being proposed. On the other hand, it’s a shame that it is even being proposed. Just as I thought Americans would never attempt to stop the certification of an election through violence, never would I believe they would be rewarded for those efforts by this administration,” said Officer Harry Dunn, Fr. United States Capitol Police.

“I’m struggling to come up with a short, compelling statement of support for these Acts that doesn’t sound absurd in its obviousness; it’s like trying to write inspiring rhetoric in support of the law of gravity. Sadly it is the political age we live in where such declarations become necessary against the backdrop of a President who suggests we would be better off if the Earth no longer reliably pulled us towards the ground, so here we go: It is a bad idea to reward those who violently attacked law enforcement officers in an effort to coerce, capture, or kill members of Congress, their staff, and the Vice President of the United States of America,” said Officer Daniel Hodges, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (endorsement in his personal capacity). “It is a bad idea to reward those who committed crimes in an effort to stop the peaceful transfer of power and terminate American democracy. These Acts will prevent either of these scenarios from becoming reality and I hope that Congress will vote with recognition that there are countless endeavors and people more worthy of our resources.”

In addition to Senators Welch, Padilla, and Whitehouse, the No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act is cosponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Read the full text of the No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act here.

The No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act is also cosponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

Read the full text of the No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act here.

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Welch Reflects on Five-Year Anniversary of January 6th Insurrection

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, insurrection, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt) released the following statement:

“The attack on the Capitol itself happened five years ago, but the threat to our democracy continues today. Whether our democracy will endure is still an open question.

“Donald Trump caused the insurrection. He invited rioters to come to Washington; he encouraged the mob to attack the Capitol; he was the major instrumental cause in bringing them to the Capitol that day. Now, President Trump is rewriting history and erasing the insurrection. His enablers in Congress turned their backs on justice, standing with the President as he pardoned and commuted sentences for the rioters who attacked police officers and spread lies about the outcome of the 2020 election.

“I was in the House Chamber on January 6th. I heard the shot ring out and saw the mob shatter the glass of the chamber doors. Even though I was there, I couldn’t believe it was happening—that it could happen in America. Members of Congress, Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers, Capitol Hill staff, and the Capitol Press Corps are still haunted. So, too, are Americans across the country who witnessed their Capitol building desecrated and saw our law enforcement attacked and beaten.

“Five years later, the aftershocks of January 6th continue to ripple across our society and our democracy. Today, as we honor the police officers who defended our Capitol and those who died as a result, elected leaders must resist efforts to re-write history. Our democracy still hangs in the balance. I am determined to do everything I can—as I know all Vermonters are—to protect it.”

On January 6, 2021, then-Representative Welch was in the House Gallery as the Capitol was breached by a violent mob and the chamber was put into lockdown. The House of Representatives was in the process of certifying President Joe Biden as the elected winner of the 2020 election. He recently joined NPR to discuss his experience five years ago today.

In October, Senator Welch invited Daniel Hodges, a Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer who responded to the January 6th insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, to the Senate to push back on Republicans’ false narrative on political violence. Senator Welch has condemned President Trump’s blanket pardons of January 6 rioters and subsequent retaliation against investigators and prosecutors. The Senator has also criticized continued attempts of Trump loyalists, such as Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, to rewrite the history of the insurrection and defend the rioters.

Senator Welch is a cosponsor of the No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act and No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act, legislation that would prevent the Trump Administration from handing out millions in taxpayer funds to Capitol rioters.

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Welch Speaks on the Senate Floor About January 6th Insurrection, Calls for Accountability

Tuesday marks the five-year anniversary of the Capitol riots

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) tonight joined his Senate Democratic colleagues in holding the floor to honor the law enforcement who protected the Capitol during the January 6, 2021 insurrection, and warn against the Trump Administration’s continued attack on our democracy.

“This day is a day of commemoration for those who served us, but it’s also got to be a day of accountability and assessment about what happened and how. And it can’t be whitewashed, because the current President has support and was elected—he does, we’ve accepted that, those of us who didn’t vote for him. But that does not whitewash, it doesn’t exonerate, it doesn’t erase what he did to cause this insurrection. He played the major role in this, and it’s forever going to be a stain on that President,” said Senator Welch.

Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below:

“I want to express today what I think all of us feel. That is a deep appreciation for the men and women who serve on the Capitol police force, the Metropolitan police force, and other authorities who came to the assistance…,” Senator Welch began.

Welch continued, “This is the United States of America. We have a peaceful transfer of power. We win elections, we lose elections. But it’s the people of this country who decide who the winner is—not politicians, not a mob attacking the Capitol. And this is a blessing that all of us have been bequeathed by those who came before us: the peaceful transfer of power…Two things happened that have never happened: an assault on the Capitol, and the effort to overturn the results of an election and thwart the peaceful transfer of power. That’s on Donald Trump—and I want to say that explicitly, uncomfortable as that may be.

Earlier today, Senator Welch reflected on the fifth anniversary of the insurrection, saying in-part:

“The attack on the Capitol itself happened five years ago, but the threat to our democracy continues today. Whether our democracy will endure is still an open question. Donald Trump caused the insurrection. He invited rioters to come to Washington; he encouraged the mob to attack the Capitol; he was the major instrumental cause in bringing them to the Capitol that day. Now, President Trump is rewriting history and erasing the insurrection. His enablers in Congress turned their backs on justice, standing with the President as he pardoned and commuted sentences for the rioters who attacked police officers and spread lies about the outcome of the 2020 election.”

Senator Welch also attended a bicameral roundtable alongside Reps. Norma Torres (D-CA-35), Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), and former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn to reflect on five years since the January 6th insurrection.

Senator Welch is a cosponsor of the No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act and No Settlements for January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act, legislation that would prevent the Trump Administration from handing out millions in taxpayer funds to Capitol rioters.

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Wyden, Colleagues Demand Answers on Harms of Diverting Federal Agents for Immigration Enforcement

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to demand the Trump administration explain the impact of its decision to pull thousands of federal law enforcement agents away from their work keeping dangerous criminals off the streets and reassign them to arrest, detain and deport primarily non-violent immigrants.

“You have pulled agents away from some of the federal government’s most critical criminal investigations, weakening the very work that ensures public safety. In a world in which we must prioritize the use of limited resources, an agent arresting non-violent immigrants necessarily means one less agent available to catch child predators and drug traffickers,” the senators wrote to Trump, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. “This diversion represents a deliberate choice: a stunning abdication of the basic responsibilities of the executive branch to the American people, and a direct threat to the security of communities across the country.”

Though the majority of immigrants arrested have no criminal background, many agents across the federal government have been pulled off mid-investigation from cases involving child exploitation, drug trafficking, sanctions evasion, cyberattacks, domestic extremism, and foreign adversaries.

There have been reports of reassignments at agencies across the federal government, including nearly 25% of agents at the FBI and 80% of agents at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. These diversions are especially devastating at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – one of the primary agencies responsible for combatting child exploitation, human trafficking, fentanyl smuggling, and cartels. HSI personnel themselves have warned that these reassignments are dismantling one of the country’s most effective child protection and national security forces. To mitigate the damage, some investigators have even tried to work on their cases at nights or on weekends.

“Redirecting these investigators to pad deportation statistics is not simply irresponsible—it is a dereliction of duty with life-or-death consequences that puts the safety of our children in jeopardy,” the senators continued. “No modern administration has ever attempted a reallocation of this scale or recklessness.”

The senators also called out the dangerous national security implications of the administration’s decision, including damage to cybersecurity and critical infrastructure defenses that protect the systems Americans rely on every day for necessities like clean water, air conditioning, and electricity.

“Taken together, these actions are more than just a routine shift in administration priorities; they represent a systematic dismantling of the very institutions that protect Americans in their homes, online, and in their communities,” the senators continued. “The fact that the majority of individuals arrested during immigration enforcement operations to date have had no criminal history belies the administration’s claim that it is targeting the “worst of the worst.” Instead, it suggests that federal law enforcement capacity is being sacrificed to fuel a politically orchestrated deportation drive. That tradeoff is indefensible, and it puts Americans at risk to serve a political narrative, not a security strategy.”

The senators requested the following documents and information no later than January 19, 2026:

A full accounting of personnel diverted to immigration enforcement from all federal agencies since January 20, 2025, including numbers, assignment duration, and mission details;

A list of all investigations paused, terminated, or reassigned as a result of, in whole or in part, these diversions, including those related to child exploitation, cyber intrusions, human trafficking, drug smuggling, domestic extremism, terrorism financing, and violent crime;

Any threat, risk, or operational assessments informing the decision to divert personnel;

All formal taskings or communications directing agencies to provide personnel for immigration enforcement surge operations;

Any internal objections raised by agency leadership or career investigators regarding the diversions, and how these objections were addressed; and

Any internal assessments completed to gauge the impacts of these diversions, including on investigations into child exploitation, human trafficking, cybercrime, counter narcotics, and national security investigations.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. In addition to Wyden, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Gary Peters, D-Mich., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Chris Coons, D-Del., Angus King, I-Maine, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Mark Warner, D-Va., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.


Babin’s Birthright Citizenship Act Included in Republican Study Committee Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) announced today that his Birthright Citizenship Act has been included in the Republican Study Committee’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, marking a major step forward in the effort to restore the rule of law and protect the integrity of American citizenship.

The Republican Study Committee (RSC), serves as the conservative caucus of House Republicans and a leading policy force on the Right. Inclusion in the RSC budget reflects strong support among House conservatives for ending the misuse of birthright citizenship.

The Birthright Citizenship Act aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to make birthright citizenship reform a national priority and restore the 14th Amendment to its original intent.

This legislation ensures that automatic U.S. citizenship applies only to children born in the United States with at least one parent who is:

A U.S. citizen or national;

A lawful permanent resident residing in the United States; or

A lawful immigrant serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“America’s citizenship laws must reflect fairness, sovereignty, and respect for the rule of law,” said Congressman Babin. “This legislation closes a dangerous loophole that encourages illegal immigration and exploits one of the most valuable privileges our nation offers. Citizenship should be protected, not abused.”

With its inclusion in the RSC budget, the Birthright Citizenship Act continues to gain momentum as Republicans advance policies that secure the border, uphold the Constitution, and put American citizens first.