Working Families Tax Cuts Fuel American Manufacturing

Washington, D.C.—The Working Families Tax Cuts, driven in the U.S. Senate by Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), power American reindustrialization through key provisions like immediate research and development expensing, full expensing for new capital investments and full expensing for the construction of new factories. According to a report by the Tax Foundation, these changes are “increasing long-run investment and economic growth” and are giving the manufacturing industry more tax relief than any other industry.

“American companies can feel confident making major investments in new production facilities and other infrastructure now that we have instituted the permanent, pro-growth provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts,” said Crapo. “Manufacturers are already responding accordingly, fueling America’s economic boom and creating good-paying jobs in their communities.”

Key wins:

Full expensing for new capital investments like machinery and equipment.

More than doubles the Section 179 expensing threshold used by small businesses to make capital investments.

Full expensing for new factories and factory improvements.

Full expensing for domestic R&D.

Makes permanent the expanded Opportunity Zone program and incentivizes investment in rural areas.

Since the bill became law, companies all over the country have expanded or announced construction of new factories:

New pipe manufacturing facility in Idaho.

New steel plant in Pennsylvania and expansion of existing one in Indiana.

$2 billion manufacturing plant in North Carolina.

$1.2 billion biologic medicines factory in Pennsylvania.

$500 million investment in a California innovation center.

$223 million rare earth magnet plant in Georgia.

$457 million transformer production factory in Virginia.

New Louisiana steel plant for U.S. auto production.

$3 billion investment in home appliance plants in Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

$400 million chicken processing plant in Georgia.

Doubled capacity at a California air taxi manufacturing plant.

$75 million investment in a South Carolina engine plant.

$4 billion new battery production factory in Kansas.

Click HERE to see how the Working Families Tax Cuts make investments in American industry.

Click HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts.

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Duckworth, Durbin, Release Data on Rising Cost of Living in Illinois Under Trump Administration

Since President Trump took office one year ago, Illinoisans have seen their overall average cost of living increase by $1,781

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) shared data from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) showing that the average Illinois household has paid $1,781 in higher costs since President Trump took office one year ago. Despite numerous claims that the second Trump Administration will lower the cost of living for Americans, President Trump has instead focused his energy on slashing $1 trillion in Medicaid funds, pricing out Americans of their health insurance coverage by allowing the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits to lapse, unleashing chaotic tariffs and instituting haphazard trade wars, and threatening to overtake Greenland in a move that would irreparably harm the United States’ relationship with NATO. Blatantly ignoring the facts, President Trump has falsely claimed that “inflation is stopped” and that prices are coming down.

Since President Trump took office on January 20, 2025, Illinoisans have seen their overall average cost of living increase by $1,781, and housing costs in the state have risen by more than $420 for Illinoisans. Further, Illinoisans have seen their grocery prices rise. On average, Americans are paying $76 more a year for their coffee because of President Trump’s chaotic tariff policy.

“Despite his promises, Donald Trump has made nearly every aspect of our lives more expensive,” Duckworth said. “From reckless tariffs to rising health care costs, middle-class Americans continue to foot the bill while Trump makes his billionaire buddies richer and prices skyrocket. While Trump is more focused on trying to run foreign countries than helping the middle-class families he’s neglecting here at home, Senator Durbin and I will keep fighting on behalf of hardworking Illinoisans.”

“Empty promises – that’s what the first year of President Trump’s second term boils down to. On the campaign trail, he promised, again and again, to address inflation and provide a helping hand to Americans who are facing higher costs. But a year after his inauguration, President Trump has cost Illinoisans an extra $1,781 because of his unnecessary trade wars and petty grudges that dictate both his foreign and domestic priorities,” said Durbin.

Read more about the rising cost of living under the second Trump Administration here.

Read more about the rising cost of groceries under the second Trump Administration here.

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Duckworth Joins Blumenthal, Colleagues to Demand Answers on Pentagon’s Efforts to Politicize Stars and Stripes Military Newspaper

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, along with her colleagues in demanding answers on the Department of Defense’s (DOD) efforts to politicize Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper that has long maintained editorial independence. The letter follows recent reporting on how Stars and Stripes job applicants have been asked to explain how they would advance the Administration’s policy priorities, and comments from the Pentagon’s top public affairs official on the Department’s plans to overhaul the newspaper.

“We write to express our strong and unwavering support for the continued editorial independence of Stars and Stripes, a publication whose credibility rests on its ability to report freely and impartially on matters affecting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces,” wrote the Senators to Secretary Pete Hegseth. “…Any diminishing independence of Stars and Stripes is a blow to the public’s legitimate need for information and disrespectful to our military. The paper’s independence is essential to ensuring the American people understand what is happening in our armed forces, and to provide servicemembers with honest, credible reporting rather than filtered or politicized narratives.”

Stars and Stripes was founded in 1861, and Congress has long affirmed the newspaper’s independence.

The Senators continued, “Congress has been clear for decades that Stars and Stripes must be governed by First Amendment principles and insulated from political influence, regardless of which administration is in power. We urge you to immediately clarify that neither hiring practices nor editorial decisions at Stars and Stripes will be conditioned on ideological alignment or policy advocacy, and to reaffirm, publicly and unequivocally, the newspaper’s statutory independence.”

Along with Duckworth and Blumenthal, the letter was also joined by U.S. Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

The full text of the Senators’ letter is available below and on the Senator’s website:

Dear Secretary Hegseth,

We write to express our strong and unwavering support for the continued editorial independence of Stars and Stripes, a publication whose credibility rests on its ability to report freely and impartially on matters affecting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. We are especially concerned about recent media reports that Stars and Stripes job applicants have been asked to explain how they would advance the President’s policy priorities, as well as recent comments made by the Pentagon’s top public affairs official that the Department plans to “refocus its [the newspaper’s] content away from woke distractions that syphon morale.” These developments represent a troubling departure from the First Amendment principles that have governed the newspaper since its inception in 1861.

Any diminishing independence of Stars and Stripes is a blow to the public’s legitimate need for information and disrespectful to our military. The paper’s independence is essential to ensuring the American people understand what is happening in our armed forces, and to provide servicemembers with honest, credible reporting rather than filtered or politicized narratives.

Congress has been clear for decades that Stars and Stripes must be governed by First Amendment principles and insulated from political influence, regardless of which administration is in power. We urge you to immediately clarify that neither hiring practices nor editorial decisions at Stars and Stripes will be conditioned on ideological alignment or policy advocacy, and to reaffirm, publicly and unequivocally, the newspaper’s statutory independence.

Sincerely,

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Duckworth Reiterates Call for Joint Investigation into ICE Violence in Chicago and Minneapolis

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Nearly 100 days after calling for an independent investigation into the outrageous use of force by ICE federal agents in Chicago, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reiterated and broadened her request to the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Justice (DOJ) Offices of Inspectors General (OIG) asking that the offices establish a joint task force to investigate the disturbing pattern of violent behavior by Trump’s agents in Chicago, Minneapolis and across the country. Her letter comes as the Trump Administration and ICE continue to lie about the details surrounding an ICE agent killing an unarmed, nonhostile 37-year-old mother in Minneapolis—a deceptive practice that DHS and ICE have been repeatedly caught doing by the courts as federal agents continue to terrorize communities across Chicagoland and Illinois. Duckworth’s letter is co-signed by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

In the letter, Duckworth and her colleagues wrote: “…the American people deserve transparency and accountability when Federal officers operate in their neighborhoods, and a joint effort by your offices would ensure that investigations into use of force incidents are impartial and comprehensive, while avoiding problems associated with jurisdictional silos, conflicts of interest or improper interference. That principle was true then and remains true today.”

In addition to the horrific killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Duckworth reiterated the urgent need for this independent investigation into ICE behavior after Gregory Bovino, the commander of the Trump administration’s civil immigration enforcement surge, admitted he provided inaccurate testimony during a federal district court deposition.

The group continued: “Specifically, according to a United States District Court judge, ‘Defendant Bovino admitted that he lied,’ when Bovino claimed that his deployment of tear gas was in response to being hit in the head by a rock—a false claim that Bovino recanted when video evidence demonstrably proved that Bovino was lying about being hit with a rock.”

In the letter, Duckworth and her colleagues call for the independent investigation to assess whether federal officers complied with applicable laws, evaluate the training of officers and recommend corrective actions—including criminal referrals, when appropriate.

A copy of the letter can be found below and on Senator Duckworth’s website:

Dear Inspector General Cuffari and Acting Inspector General Berthiaume:

96 days have passed since you each received a request that the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Justice (DOJ) Offices of Inspectors General (OIG) establish and deploy a DHS OIG-DOJ OIG Joint Investigative Task Force to conduct independent investigations of all reported officer-involved use of force incidents related to Operation Midway Blitz in Illinois.[1]

As the October 17, 2025, letter noted, the American people deserve transparency and accountability when Federal officers operate in their neighborhoods, and a joint effort by your offices would ensure that investigations into use of force incidents are impartial and comprehensive, while avoiding problems associated with jurisdictional silos, conflicts of interest or improper interference. That principle was true then and remains true today.

The horrific deadly shooting of Ms. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, by a Federal law enforcement officer employed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) component—and the Trump administration’s inappropriate, reckless and outright deceptive statements following her killing at the hands of that ICE ERO employee—have only increased the need for independent investigations, without fear or favor, of all officer-involved use of force incidents related to the Trump administration’s violent civil immigration enforcement operations.

Accordingly, we write to reiterate the October 17, 2025, request to DHS OIG and DOJ OIG for a joint investigative task force, and expand the original oversight ask to include Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, and any other massive civil immigration enforcement operations being carried out by Federal law enforcement officers that the Trump administration has diverted from DHS and DOJ criminal investigations to support ICE ERO civil enforcement activities.

The need for independent inquiry is further validated by alarming and deeply troubling developments since October 17, 2025, which include Gregory Bovino, the commander of the Trump administration’s civil immigration enforcement surge, providing inaccurate testimony during a Federal District Court deposition. Specifically, according to a United States District Court judge, “Defendant Bovino admitted that he lied,” when Bovino claimed that his deployment of tear gas was in response to being hit in the head by a rock—a false claim that Bovino recanted when video evidence demonstrably proved that Bovino was lying about being hit with a rock.

Since October 2025, the harmful pattern and practice of masked Federal agents, in unmarked vehicles and wearing plain clothes or military fatigues, engaging in excessive use of force against U.S. citizens, legal immigrants and undocumented migrants, alike, has only deepened.

The nature of Federal law enforcement officers’ use of force during these civil immigration enforcement operations raises serious questions about DHS and DOJ personnel regularly violating each agency’s protocols, policies and regulations, along with Federal law and constitutional protections. Accordingly, we request that your respective offices launch a joint investigative task force to:

Conduct independent investigations of all reported officer-involved use of force incidents related to Operation Midway Blitz in Illinois, Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota and any other DHS and DOJ operations involving the deployment of a large number of officers and agents to a specific metropolitan area;

Assess whether Federal officers complied with applicable laws, regulations and departmental use-of-force policies;

Evaluate the adequacy of training, supervision and command oversight provided to deployed personnel; and

Recommend corrective actions, including policy reforms, disciplinary measures and—when appropriate—referrals to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for criminal prosecution.

The American people still deserve transparency and accountability when Federal officers operate in their neighborhoods. The need for DHS OIG and DOJ OIG to get into the field to conduct independent oversight, provide transparency and ensure accountability, has never been greater.

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Durbin, Duckworth Release Data On Rising Cost Of Living In Illinois Under Trump Administration

Since President Trump took office one year ago, Illinoisans have seen their overall average cost of living increase by $1,781

SPRINGFIELD – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) shared data from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) showing that the average Illinois household has paid $1,781 in higher costs since President Trump took office one year ago. Despite numerous claims that the second Trump Administration will lower the cost of living for Americans, President Trump has instead focused his energy on slashing $1 trillion in Medicaid funds, pricing out Americans of their health insurance coverage by allowing the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits to lapse, unleashing chaotic tariffs and instituting haphazard trade wars, and threatening to overtake Greenland in a move that would irreparably harm the United States’ relationship with NATO. Blatantly ignoring the facts, President Trump has falsely claimed that “inflation is stopped” and that prices are coming down.

Since President Trump took office on January 20, 2025, Illinoisans have seen their overall average cost of living increase by $1,781, and housing costs in the state have risen by more than $420 for Illinoisans. Further, Illinoisans have seen their grocery prices rise. On average, Americans are paying $76 more a year for their coffee because of President Trump’s chaotic tariff policy.

“Empty promises – that’s what the first year of President Trump’s second term boils down to. On the campaign trail, he promised, again and again, to address inflation and provide a helping hand to Americans who are facing higher costs. But a year after his inauguration, President Trump has cost Illinoisans an extra $1,781 because of his unnecessary trade wars and petty grudges that dictate both his foreign and domestic priorities,” said Durbin.

“Despite his promises, Donald Trump has made nearly every aspect of our lives more expensive,” Duckworth said. “From reckless tariffs to rising health care costs, middle-class Americans continue to foot the bill while Trump makes his billionaire buddies richer and prices skyrocket. While Trump is more focused on trying to run foreign countries than helping the middle-class families he’s neglecting here at home, Senator Durbin and I will keep fighting on behalf of hardworking Illinoisans.”

Read more about the rising cost of living under the second Trump Administration here.

Read more about the rising cost of groceries under the second Trump Administration here.

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Durbin Slams Trump’s Child Care Funding Freeze At Rockford YWCA

ROCKFORD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a press conference at the YWCA of Northwestern Illinois in Rockford to call out the Trump Administration’s heartless decision to freeze $10 billion in funding for child care, community programs, and financial support for families in five Democratic-led states—including $1 billion for Illinois.

The YWCA of Northwestern Illinois serves families who qualify for the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program, which is partially funded by federal funding. The YWCA of Northwestern Illinois receives $1.6 million in federal funding through this program to support referral services, which helps low-income families apply and qualify for $17 million in federal child care subsidies that go to child care providers. Illinois mandates that families can only receive a child care subsidy if the parent is employed or in school, despite President Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of fraud.

“Two weeks ago, the Trump Administration announced that it would cut off $1 billion in child care funding for Illinois,” said Durbin. “This federal funding supports high quality, accessible child care for families here in Rockford and across Illinois. I will always stand on the side of Illinois’ families, even if the President and this Administration refuses to.”

“We appreciated the opportunity to speak with Senator Durbin about the real-world impact of the CCDBG funding freeze on Illinois families and child care providers. Child care is essential infrastructure for our workforce and economy, and we look forward to working together to ensure working families continue to have access to safe, affordable, high-quality care,” said Kris Machajewski, President and CEO, YWCA of Northwestern Illinois.

Last week, Durbin joined an Illinois Congressional delegation letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urging the Trump Administration to release the funding. On January 8, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a lawsuit challenging the funding freeze. On January 9, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump Administration. While the order allows federal child care funding to continue flowing to families and child care providers, it expires on Friday.

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Gallego, Colleagues Press Trump Administration Over Chaotic Decisions on Substance Abuse, Mental Health Services

Letter to HHS seeks answers over abrupt termination and reinstatement of Congressionally-appropriated funds for SAMHSA services

WASHINGTON — Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined 18 Democratic Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump administration for answers over its recent plan to cut nearly $2 billion in federal funding for critical substance abuse and mental health services, only to reverse course on its decision one day later, causing mass chaos and confusion for patients and providers nationwide.

“Cancelling these grants would have jeopardized critical work being done on the frontlines of the opioid crisis, which directly contradicts this administration’s own stated goals to tackle the opioid crisis,” the senators wrote in their letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Although HHS has since reversed course, much damage has already been done. Some staff were laid off or put on notice, services were paused, and trust between patients in need of these services and their providers has been permanently undermined.”

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) abruptly announced its plan to cancel over 2,000 active grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Funding for many of these programs was just recently reauthorized by Congress on a bipartisan basis under the SUPPORT Act.

Less than a day later, it was reported that HHS had reversed course on its plan to cancel the grants, retaining current funding levels as appropriated by Congress. Despite this, the immediate cancellation of the grants followed by the unexpected reinstatement caused mass confusion and chaos. Providers were left questioning if they had funding to continue their services, while patients were left unsure if they would continue to have access to the mental health and addiction treatment services they rely on.

The proposed grant cancellations came just months after the administration purged critical staff working on the frontlines of America’s opioid crisis under SAMHSA.

Furthermore, the senators noted in their letter that the abrupt issuance of these grant termination notices without warning, explanation, or apparent statutory basis, as was reported, would be a violation of federal grant law.

Read the full letter HERE.


Gallego, Homeland Security Democrats Call on Chairman Paul to Conduct Urgent Oversight of ICE and CBP Excessive Use of Force & Improper Actions

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in calling on Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) to conduct desperately needed oversight of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) escalating use of excessive force and other improper actions including the continued use of masked agents and unmarked cars as well as threats unrelated to immigration enforcement that appear intended to chill citizens’ protected First Amendment activities.

In a letter, the senators point to increasingly violent actions by federal law enforcement officials, including the use of pepper balls against protestors exercising their First Amendment rights and the fatal shooting in Minneapolis of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen.

“The Department of Homeland Security has deployed an unprecedented number of federal agents throughout the country without appropriate coordination with state and local law enforcement. These federal agents have engaged in numerous operations involving excessive uses of force, including the fatal shooting of an American citizen in Minnesota just last week,” wrote the senators. “The Department, meanwhile, has completely neglected its responsibility to fairly and transparently investigate these federal agents’ actions. We urge you to conduct needed oversight of the Department.”

The senators also raise concerns about federal law enforcement officers’ tactics, such as officers conducting operations while masked, refusing to properly identify themselves, and DHS leadership’s complete failure to enforce appropriate conduct in their officers’ interactions with the public.

The senators continued: “The fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minnesota followed numerous other enforcement actions across the country in which federal agents appear to have engaged in the excessive use of force, in some instances, against American citizens engaged in protected First Amendment activity. Federal agents from the Department fired a pepper ball into a pastor’s head during peaceful protests in Chicago, broke the ribs of a senior citizen in Los Angeles who was wrongfully detained, arrested an Army veteran and U.S. citizen during an immigration raid in California and jailed him for three days without charges, wrongfully detained a U.S. citizen at his workplace on two separate occasions and continued to hold him after he proved his citizenship, fired tear gas and pepper balls at journalists covering protests, and pulled individuals off the streets and into unmarked vehicles for engaging in lawfully protected speech.”

Finally, the senators are also seeking to ensure Chairman Paul will engage in needed oversight of the Administration and DHS by securing information about how DHS has diverted essential resources away from other critical homeland security missions, including investigating sex crimes against children and terrorist financing.

The senators continued: “Further, federal agents are conducting community raids while masked, refusing to properly identify themselves and, as a result, are sowing widespread fear in our communities. In fact, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) felt the need to urge agents to identify themselves as law enforcement officers and to cooperate with individuals who request further verification in light of criminals posing as U.S. immigration officers that have carried out robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assaults in several states.”

The senators are calling for Chairman Paul to issue subpoenas if necessary and to hold a hearing with Administration officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, ICE Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Todd M. Lyons, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks, and U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino to explain the Administration’s disregard for the law.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.


Gillibrand, Schumer Announce $6.3 Million In Federal Funding For New York City Projects

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced that they secured $6,341,000 in federal funding for critical science and public safety projects across New York City in the just-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce-Justice-Science funding bill. The senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending items.

“I am thrilled to bring home $6.3 million in federal funding for critical projects across the five boroughs,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These projects will contribute to public safety and youth outreach programming in addition to furthering scientific innovation in New York. I am proud to deliver these funds, and I will continue working to ensure that innovative projects receive federal funding so New York City and State can thrive.”

“I’m proud to deliver these critical investments to our communities to support youth development programs, provide support services to people impacted by violence, advance research at local colleges, and much more,” said Senator Schumer. “These funds are supporting projects that will make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers, and I won’t stop fighting to deliver the resources needed to better our communities.”

“I established a Conviction Integrity Unit on my first day as the Queens District Attorney in January 2020. The CIU reinvestigates and resolves credible claims of actual innocence, wrongful conviction, or other circumstances of a case which undermines the office’s confidence in a just outcome. More than 100 convictions have been reversed or vacated since the unit was formed, and this funding will help continue its important work. Wrongful convictions not only destroy the lives of those wrongly convicted and their families but also undermine confidence in the criminal justice system. Thank you to Senator Gillibrand and Representative Meng for their efforts in securing this vital funding,” said Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz.

“NYU thanks Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their support for this key investment in quantum research equipment,” said New York University President Linda G. Mills. “This emerging technology will continue to position the state as a national leader in quantum materials and device research, which has attracted industry and academic collaborations that drive job creation throughout the region.”

Queens College President Frank H. Wu said, “We are so appreciative of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their longstanding support of CUNY and Queens College. Scientific research is an invaluable and wise investment that advances humanity. Institutions of higher education are appropriate homes for such endeavors. Our professors and staff do their important work alongside students, benefiting our State, society and future scientists.

“Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has successfully fought for $979,000 in critical CDS funding for the Freshkills Biological Research Station in the FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill,” said Mark Murphy, President of the Freshkills Park Alliance and Administrator of the Freshkills Park for the New York City Parks Department. “Her deep commitment to science, education, and the environment, at a time when all three are under attack, is a testament to her tireless advocacy for Staten Island, New York City, and the entire State of New York. With this funding secured, the Freshkills Park Biological Station and the Freshkills Park Alliance can grow our science and education programs exponentially. Senator Gillibrand’s funding will ensure our team of scientists and educators will hit the ground running in 2026, delivering lasting benefits to the New York City Parks Department and Freshkills Park Alliance for years to come.”

“Safe Horizon, the nation’s largest nonprofit victim services organization, expresses deep gratitude to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for her leadership in securing much needed support for our work with New Yorkers impacted by violence, abuse and exploitation,” said Liz Roberts, CEO of Safe Horizon. “The Senator’s designation will help bolster Safe Horizon’s ability to provide trauma counseling and care to many thousands of individuals and families in crisis, while also advancing our work to build a community where safety is a human right and all people are safe in their communities, homes, bodies, and minds.”

“For more than 110 years, the Police Athletic League has shown up for young people in neighborhoods across New York City—building trust, creating opportunity, and helping kids see what’s possible for their future. We often say PAL is the best friend a kid can have, and this investment reflects a belief in that mission. Investing in PAL is investing in the leaders of tomorrow—not just for New York City, but for communities across the country. We are grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of the young people and families we serve,” said New York City Police Athletic League Chief Executive Officer Carlos Velazquez.

A full list of funded projects is below:

$2,531,000 for the New York Police Athletic League’s (PAL) Youth Development Program

The funding will be used to support the New York City Police Athletic League’s (PAL’s) Crime Prevention through Youth Development Program across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. The project will be a joint partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for 2,500 teenagers at PAL Community Youth Centers serving communities that experience higher than average juvenile crime involvement in New York City. The program will help prevent and mitigate the impact of community violence, crime, childhood trauma, and inadequate recreational, educational, mentorship, and workforce development opportunities.

$1,031,000 for Queens College, CUNY Construction of Microelectronics Nanofabrication Facility

This funding will be used to build a cleanroom facility for nanofabrication teaching and research on the CUNY Queens College campus. The facility will provide capabilities for microlithography and nanodevice fabrication that are not currently offered by any university in Queens, Brooklyn, or Long Island. This facility will provide in-demand microelectronics fabrication skills to a large population of graduate students and undergraduates, including a high proportion of first-generation college students. The project will dramatically stimulate workforce development, since micro- and nanofabrication techniques are essential to the fields of semiconductors, information technology, quantum computing, laser engineering, and photonic devices.

$1,000,000 for New York University Quantum Research Equipment

This funding will be used for the purchase of a Thermal Laser Epitaxy (TLE) system for cutting-edge quantum research at New York University.

$979,000 for Freshkills Park Biological Research Station

This funding will be used for the creation of a research station hosted at the 2,200+ acre Freshkills Park on Staten Island, which is the largest landfill-to-greenspace transformation project in the world. The Freshkills Biological Station will serve as a hub for scientific expertise, education, and community-based participation, working to develop economical solutions to problems like community resilience and natural areas stewardship.

$500,000 for the Safe Horizon’s Services to Survivors of Violence Program

This funding will support services to individuals who have been impacted by crime and violence. These services will be provided in close collaboration with the justice system, local police precincts, and the courts.

$300,000 for the Queens County District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit

This funding will support theOffice of the Queens County District Attorney (QDA) Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU)’s efforts to partner with local, state, federal, and nonprofit criminal justice agencies to undertake thorough evaluations of past convictions where there are credible claims of innocence or wrongful conviction.

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Gillibrand Secures Major Wins For New York In Recently Passed Federal Funding Package

Bill Includes Funding for Environmental Conservation, Science, Technology, Research, Economic Development, and More

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that several of her priorities were included in the just-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Energy and Water Development, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Interior and Environment funding bills. In addition to the $65 million in funding Gillibrand personally secured for New York projects as congressionally directed spending items, she secured the following big wins for federal programs and agencies that invest directly in New York via these appropriations bills.

“This funding package is a huge win for New Yorkers,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These federal dollars will help bolster economic development, aid in efforts to protect our environment, and preserve our state’s historic sites for future generations. I was proud to deliver these funds despite the Trump administration’s opposition to many of these priorities, and I will continue fighting to bring home critical federal funding for New York.”

Advancing Science, Technology, and Research

$8.75 billion for the National Science Foundation, which will help counter the Trump administration’s proposed cuts, providing support for nearly 10,000 new competitive research awards and more than 250,000 scientists, technicians, teachers, and students.

$157.85 million for the construction of a world-leading Electron Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island.

$111 million for the Laboratory for Laser Energetics Omega facility at the University of Rochester.

$80 million for the National Sea Grant College Program, which will contribute to the research, outreach, and educational work of New York Sea Grant.

Investments in Environmental Conservation, Stewardship, and Remediation

$528 million for geographic programs that help protect, restore, and improve New York watersheds and water bodies. Specifically, this includes:

$369 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

$93 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program

$40.5 million for the Long Island Sound

$25.5 million for the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

Nearly $90 million for the West Valley Demonstration Project to support the clean-up and remediation of nuclear waste at this site in Western New York.

$67 million for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuaries, including the newly created Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Jefferson, Oswego, Cayuga, and Wayne Counties.

$37 million for the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to support growing and maintaining urban forests and green spaces.

$11.75 million for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program to support wildlife, improve water quality, and enhance recreational access to the basin, which includes parts of New York’s Southern Tier, Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, and Capital Region.

$2.55 million for the National Estuary Program to protect and restore some of New York’s most significant estuaries, including:

$850,000 for the Long Island Sound

$850,000 for the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program

$850,000 for the Peconic Estuary Partnership.

Promoting Economic Development and Energy Affordability

$329 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program, of which approximately $28 million is expected to help New York households increase the energy efficiency of their homes and lower their energy bills.

$247 million to support three Federal-State Regional Commissions that operate in New York: the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Great Lakes Authority. These agencies support economic development in Upstate New York via targeted funding and technical assistance for a variety of economic development activities across the state.

$175 million in funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP) nationwide. New York’s ten MEP centers provide crucial technological assistance and support for manufacturing in New York, leveraging federal investment to create or save one manufacturing job for every $1,490 in federal funding. Gillibrand also secured language to barring the Trump administration from defunding New York’s MEP network throughout Fiscal Year 2026.

Promoting Historic Preservation and National Parks

$36 million increase in funding for the Historic Preservation Fund, which provides grant funding and technical assistance to preserve and restore historical and cultural sites likeFort Ticonderoga and the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls. This increase includes a $4.9 million set-aside for grants to preserve historic sites like the many in New York that are related to the nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary in 2026. $4 million for memorial sites that honor the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

$2.2 million for New York’s four National Heritage Areas, including:

$709,000 for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

$500,000 for the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership

$500,000 for the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area

$500,000 for the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.

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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $1.5 Million In Federal Funding On The Way To New Rochelle For Sheldrake River Stormwater Improvement

Schumer And Gillibrand Say This Funding Will Help City Design And Develop Plans To Improve Stormwater Infrastructure Including A New Culvert, Drain Pipes, Catch Basins And More

Schumer And Gillibrand Secured Funding Authorization Two Years Ago And Have Pushed To Clear Final Hurdle To Deliver $$ For New Rochelle

Schumer, Gillibrand: Fed $$ Is Flowing To New Rochelle For Start Planning For Upgraded Stormwater Infrastructure!

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced they have delivered $1,500,000 in federal funding for New Rochelle to design and develop plans for stormwater improvements at Kewanee Road and Stratton Road, including a new culvert, drain pipes, catch basins, and more, which is now thanks to Schumer on its way to being signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 spending bill. This project will help make New Rochelle more storm-resilient while creating good-paying construction jobs. Schumer and Gillibrand previously secured authorization for this federal funding two years ago and pushed for its inclusion in the final spending bill.

“Federal funding will soon begin to flow for critical stormwater infrastructure upgrades in New Rochelle! For years, New Rochelle’s neighborhoods have suffered from flooding during storms. New Rochelle is no stranger to heavy flooding, and after years of working with the city, I am proud to deliver $1.5 million in federal funding so New Rochelle can make plans to improve its stormwater infrastructure,” said Senator Schumer. “This critical investment will support the design and engineering stages of installing a new culvert, drain pipes, and catch basins at the Kewanee and Stratton Road area. Strengthening our water infrastructure systems is fundamental, which is why I fought to authorize this funding two years ago and ensure its inclusion in this year’s budget bill. I will always fight to keep New York’s communities safe.”

“Severe flooding across Westchester has been catastrophic for residents, businesses, and commuters. I was proud to secure $1.5 million in federal funding to ensure New Rochelle can enact critical infrastructure upgrades,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Major flooding can trap cars and slow vital services like first responders, putting New Yorkers in dangerous and sometimes deadly situations. As severe storms and floods become more frequent, it is essential that New York’s infrastructure can keep up. I’m proud to bring these federal dollars back home, and I will keep working to deliver the resources New Rochelle needs to strengthen its infrastructure and build resilience for the future.”

“The City of New Rochelle is grateful for Senator Schumer and Gillibrand’s successful efforts in securing $1.5 million to support design and planning for stormwater drainage improvements along the Sheldrake River. This project will help our residents in the flood-prone area near Kewanee and Stratton Roads reduce roadway flooding and enhance resilience in surrounding residential neighborhoods,” said New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert. “We look forward to working with the Senators and the Congressional delegation to secure additional project funding for our Citywide flood mitigation program.”

The Sheldrake River Stormwater Improvements project will make stormwater drainage improvements at Kewanee Road and Stratton Road, including the installation of a new culvert, drain pipes, and catch basins. These improvements would alleviate flooding on roads and in the surrounding areas. These neighborhoods suffer from flooding during heavy rainfall events, and this project aims to make the area more resilient during storms. The funding Schumer and Gillibrand delivered will help the city with design and engineering efforts, resulting in a completed design effort.

Schumer and Gillibrand helped secure authorization for this federal funding two years ago in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which Schumer led to passage in the Senate. With the funding authorization in hand, Schumer and Gillibrand pushed for this funding to be included in the final FY 2026 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill that passed the Senate earlier this month after passing the House of Representatives. The federal funding will be delivered through the Army Corps of Engineers.

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Grassley, Rounds, Colleagues Push DOJ, FTC to Renew Robinson-Patman Act Enforcement, Protect Small and Medium-Sized Businesses From Economic Discrimination

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to renew Robinson-Patman Act enforcement and prevent economic discrimination against small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the grocery and agriculture industries.

“Small and medium-sized businesses serve as the foundation for local communities from rural America to the inner city and have become the most effective source of new job creation … We have heard concerns that it is increasingly difficult for ordinary Americans to access essential goods and services traditionally provided by local grocers and pharmacies, due to discriminatory behavior by firms or intermediaries with market power,” the lawmakers wrote.

“We urge both the Commission and the DOJ to make enforcement against economic discrimination targeting small and medium-sized businesses a top priority. In particular, we urge the leaders of both agencies to utilize all of the tools at your disposal, including enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act, to investigate, prevent and halt economic discrimination targeting small and medium-sized businesses, so a business of any size has a fair shot to achieve success,” the lawmakers continued.

Grassley and Rounds’ letter has garnered support from the National Grocers Association and local Iowa grocers.

“Independent grocers feel the impact of discriminatory pricing every day, from higher costs to unfavorable package sizing and limited product access that make it harder to compete and harder for American families to find affordable options,” said Greg Ferrara, President and CEO of the National Grocers Association. “We are incredibly thankful for Chairman Grassley’s steadfast leadership in elevating this issue and urging renewed enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act, which is essential to restoring fairness in the grocery marketplace, protecting farmers and ranchers from unfair practices, and ensuring competition is based on service and efficiency rather than size and leverage.”

“The Robinson-Patman Act exists to keep competition fair and strong, and it is time we enforce it again. When big national chains use their size to secure exclusivity of items and special pricing, independent grocers are put at a disadvantage. We should have access to the same products, and if I buy the same product in the same quantities, I should get the same price. Enforcing this law means real and fair competition, and that is good for local businesses, local shoppers, and local communities. We thank Senator Grassley for standing up for fairness in the marketplace,” said Garrett S. Piklapp, President of Fareway Stores, Inc.

Along with Grassley and Rounds, the letter was signed by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).

Read the full letter HERE.

Background:

The Robinson-Patman Act is a powerful antitrust tool that prohibits price discrimination and other unfair trading practices to promote competition and protect consumers. Despite being signed into law in 1936, previous administrations have failed to enforce the Robinson-Patman Act.


Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation to Expand SNAP Eligibility for New Mexico Social Security Recipients

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, reintroduced the COLAs Don’t Count Act, bicameral legislation to exempt annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) from impacting the benefits of those who utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food assistance. This would help ensure participants of SNAP are not losing benefits to the added costs of inflation and allow families to keep food on the table.

“We should be making it easier, not harder, for New Mexicans receiving SNAP benefits to put food on the table. Unfortunately, too many people who rely on both Social Security and SNAP are being punished for annual Cost of Living Adjustments, leading to a decrease or complete elimination of their overall SNAP benefits. I’m proud to join this legislation to right this wrong, protecting eligibility for the thousands of people in our state who depend on this program for their health and well-being,” said Heinrich, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for SNAP, WIC, and other federal nutrition programs.

In New Mexico, more than 450,000 people rely on SNAP each month. This includes more than 65,000 seniors and nearly 200,000 children across the state. The average New Mexican enrolled in SNAP receives $190 in nutrition assistance per month, equivalent to about $6.24 per day per person. SNAP benefits are redeemed at more than 1,650 authorized retailers statewide and generates approximately $1 billion in economic activity for the state.

Typically, the yearly addition of a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to Social Security benefits is viewed positively, as it raises recipients’ monthly benefits to account for rising prices of essential goods and services due to inflation. However, when a recipient receives more money, their SNAP benefits can be reduced or even eliminated.

For instance, in 2023, Social Security recipients saw an 8.7% cost of living increase, the largest in the past 40 years. The average Social Security check rose by more than $140 a month, reaching an average monthly amount of $1,781.63. Due to current law, however, these cost-of-living adjustments led to an estimated 28,000 SNAP households completely losing their eligibility, and 36% of SNAP recipients saw a decrease of an average of $32 a month from their SNAP benefits.

Any reduction in a SNAP beneficiary's access to food assistance exacerbates food insecurity and hardship. Eliminating the impact of Social Security COLAs on SNAP eligibility will help make sure people are able to pay rent, afford health care expenses, or child care, even as the cost of these services rises with inflation.

This bill is co-led by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Alongside Heinrich, the COLAs Don’t Count Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.). The legislation is co-led in the House by U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.).

Read the full bill text here.

Heinrich has fought hard to ensure New Mexicans are able to put food on the table.

Last November, Heinrich cosponsored legislation to stop the Trump Administration from illegally withholding SNAP funds during Trump’s recent government shutdown. To that end, Heinrich also supported the New Mexico state government’s plan to fund SNAP benefits during Trump’s shutdown. Once the federal government reopened, Heinrich joined his colleagues in the New Mexico Congressional delegation in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to refund New Mexico for Trump’s shutdown food stamps lapse.

As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrich fully funded SNAP and increased funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by $603 million.

Last July, Heinrich voted against Republicans’ Big, Bad Bill, which funds Republicans’ tax handouts for billionaires at the expense of working people by cutting SNAP and Medicaid. At that time, Senate Republicans also voted down Heinrich’s amendments to protect funding for food assistance.

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Hickenlooper, Entire Colorado Delegation Support Colorado’s Appeals to President Trump, Urge President Reverse Denial of Major Disaster Declarations for Historic Fires, Flooding

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, along with U.S. Representatives Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank, Jason Crow, Lauren Boebert, Joe Neguse, Gabe Evans, Brittany Pettersen, and Diana DeGette, sent a letter to President Trump in support of Governor Jared Polis’ appeal to the President, urging him to reverse the decision to deny Major Disaster Declarations for the Lee and Elk Fires in August 2025 and the Southwest Colorado flooding in October 2025.

“The State’s appeal underscores a critical and urgent reality: without federal assistance to stabilize river channels and repair damaged infrastructure, these communities face a cycle of repeated flooding and recurring losses,” wrote the Colorado lawmakers. “Failure to address the underlying damage now will virtually guarantee continued destruction during future high-water events, increasing costs to taxpayers while placing residents, businesses, and local economies at ongoing risk. Federal assistance at this stage is not only necessary for recovery, it is essential to prevent foreseeable and preventable damage from disasters in the years ahead.”

The Lee and Elk Fires burned for 27 days in August 2025 and affected more than 150,000 acres. These fires caused widespread destruction to homes, rangeland, transportation infrastructure, and critical energy infrastructure, with FEMA validations of more than $27 million in damages.

In October 2025, La Plata, Archuleta, and Mineral Counties’ record-breaking rainfall caused catastrophic flooding, debris flows, and channel instability. Many homes, businesses, wastewater systems, roads, and drinking water infrastructure sustained extensive damage, with FEMA confirming more than $13.8 million in damages.

These disasters demand urgent action and meet the criteria for a Major Disaster Declaration as well as FEMA’s thresholds for federal assistance. The consequences of continued denial will be severe, long-lasting, and far more costly if left unaddressed.

Colorado lawmakers previously sent letters in support of Governor Polis’ initial requests for Major Disaster Declarations for the Lee and Elk Fires and Southwest Colorado flooding. The letters can be read HERE and HERE.

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Mr. President:

We write in strong support of Governor Jared Polis’s appeals of the Administration’s recent denials of two requests for Presidential Major Disaster Declarations in Colorado: (1) the Lee and Elk Fires in Rio Blanco County, and (2) the historic flooding that impacted La Plata, Archuleta, and Mineral Counties in Southwest Colorado. Each event independently meets the statutory and practical criteria for a Major Disaster Declaration, and the consequences of continued denial will be severe, long-lasting, and far more costly if left unaddressed. Disaster funds are critical for the safety and well-being of some of Colorado’s most rural residents.

Lee and Elk Fires – Rio Blanco County

The Lee and Elk Fires burned more than 150,000 acres between August 2 and August 29, 2025, causing widespread destruction to homes, rangeland, transportation infrastructure, and critical energy infrastructure. FEMA has validated more than $27 million in damages, approximately $4,000 per resident of rural Rio Blanco County.

Due to damage sustained during the fires, oil and gas operators in Rio Blanco County are currently unable to operate at full capacity and are relying on a highly limited contingency system – effectively a “backup of the backup” transmission configuration. This leaves production vulnerable to further disruption and prevents the region from reaching its normal output levels, with ripple effects for local employment, state and local tax revenue, and national energy supply.

Further delay of disaster assistance places the financial burden of repairing damaged electric transmission infrastructure directly on local utility customers. White River Electric Association has a limited ability to absorb these extraordinary disaster-related costs, and ratepayers in this rural community may face significant price increases to cover repairs that would otherwise be eligible for federal Public Assistance. These compounding impacts will result in reduced energy production and higher electricity costs in the region, and pose a serious threat to the long-term economic stability of Rio Blanco County.

Southwest Colorado Flooding – La Plata, Archuleta, and Mineral Counties

From October 11 through October 14, 2025, record-breaking rainfall caused catastrophic flooding, debris flows, and channel instability throughout Southwest Colorado. FEMA has already validated more than $13.8 million in eligible damages, with additional losses still being identified. Homes, businesses, wastewater systems, roads, and drinking water infrastructure sustained extensive damage.

The State’s appeal underscores a critical and urgent reality: without federal assistance to stabilize river channels and repair damaged infrastructure, these communities face a cycle of repeated flooding and recurring losses. Failure to address the underlying damage now will virtually guarantee continued destruction during future high-water events, increasing costs to taxpayers while placing residents, businesses, and local economies at ongoing risk. Federal assistance at this stage is not only necessary for recovery, it is essential to prevent foreseeable and preventable damage from disasters in the years ahead.

A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for each of these events would unlock Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation programs that are indispensable to recovery, mitigation, and long-term resilience. Both disasters meet FEMA’s administrative threshold for federal assistance and demand urgent action.

We respectfully urge you to reconsider your initial denials and approve Governor Polis’s appeals for Major Disaster Declarations for the Lee and Elk Fires and the Southwest Colorado flooding. Doing so will help protect communities, reduce future federal and local costs, and ensure that rural Coloradans are not left to shoulder the financial burden of disaster recovery alone.

Sincerely,

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What They’re Saying: Momentum Builds for Hickenlooper’s Patients Deserve Price Tags Act

WASHINGTON – Momentum continues to grow for U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Roger Marshall’s bipartisan Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, as patient advocates, economists, and lawmakers across the country call for transparency in health care.

This past week, Hickenlooper and Marshall sat down for Spotlight on America, a national award-winning investigative news franchise, to talk about their bipartisan legislation.

“Republicans like it, Democrats like it. There’s a unified effort,” said Hickenlooper during the interview. “The cost of health care now is so high, that I think the American people are shouting to Washington, fix this. Help us.”

Hickenlooper continued: “Take the proven benefits of competition that we see out in the other marketplaces… Once that competition works, the savings will be so dramatic.”

The story aired on TV stations across the country. You can watch part one HERE and part two HERE.

The bill has picked up 18 Senators from both sides of the aisle as sponsors of the legislation. In addition to Hickenlooper and Marshall, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Joni Ernst, Chuck Grassley, Jon Husted, Cynthia Lummis, Bernie Moreno, Markwayne Mullin, Rick Scott, Tim Sheehy, Tommy Tuberville, Tammy Baldwin, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Cory Booker, Chris Coons, Maggie Hassan, Andy Kim, and Peter Welch.

“Rising health care costs are crushing Americans. Our bipartisan bill makes health care price tags the law of the land so patients and businesses know what they’re paying for in advance—a commonsense step toward a health care system that works better for American families. Let’s get it across the finish line!” said Hickenlooper.

“Wisconsinites are struggling to afford their health care and we need to do everything we can to lower costs. Our health care system too often puts profits before patients, and we need to pull the curtain back and let families see the true cost of the care they are getting. I’m proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to bring basic transparency so we can foster competition and lower prices for Wisconsin families,” said Baldwin.

“No patient should be forced to make uninformed decisions about their health care. As Americans continue to face rising healthcare costs, the last thing they need is confusion about their medical bills,” said Blunt Rochester.“I’m excited to continue building momentum around the bipartisan Patients Deserve Price Tags Act to increase transparency and affordability in our healthcare system.”

“At a time when health care costs are skyrocketing, patients deserve transparency about the true cost of procedures, medications, and services to make informed decisions about their care and their family’s finances,” said Booker. “The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act is common-sense legislation that promotes price transparency, protects patients from overcharges, and allows them to make informed health care decisions.”

“Transparency brings accountability, and it’s clearly time for more transparency in health care prices. Our bipartisan legislation is a common-sense solution that will hold health care providers accountable, and it will give Americans the timely and accurate information they need to make the best decisions for them,” said Grassley.

“American patients should know up front how much they are going to pay. I’m proud to support the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act to give Ohioans and all Americans greater transparency and certainty about the cost of their care,” said Husted.

“Patients deserve to know costs upfront— it’s that simple. By codifying these transparency requirements, we’re making sure that no future administration can roll back this critical consumer protection. When families can compare prices and make informed decisions about their healthcare, it puts power back where it belongs: in the hands of patients, not bureaucrats or hospital billing departments,” said Lummis.

“The days of hospitals rigging the system to hide prices from patients have to end,” said Moreno. “Ohioans shouldn’t need to break the bank to afford their healthcare and providers must be transparent about costs. This bill is a critical step toward putting American patients first and ensuring the system works for everyone.”

40 economists sent a letter urging lawmakers to join and pass the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, stating that real healthcare price transparency is essential to lowering costs, protecting patients and workers, and saving up to $1 trillion annually.

“By requiring actual prices — a fundamental part of any functional marketplace — this bipartisan bill finally corrects the unacceptable information asymmetry that forces healthcare consumers to pay for care with the equivalent of a blank check,” the economists wrote.

The Patient Rights Advocate is another supporter of this legislation and also found in a separate report that it would have savings up to $1 trillion annually.

“The Marshall/Hickenlooper Patients Deserve Price Tags Act will truly transform healthcare to greatly lower costs through consumer empowerment benefiting from price competition and prices protecting from overcharges making hospital and insurance billing be honest,” said Cynthia Fisher, Founder & Chair of Patients’ Rights Advocate.

In a Washington Post op-ed published January 2, physician Dr. Monique Yohanan argues that the current healthcare system hides costs and delays care for everyday patients — and that true transparency would empower families to compare options, avoid surprise bills, and finally bring accountability to healthcare pricing.

“We applaud Senators Marshall and Hickenlooper for their ongoing commitment to enhancing health care price transparency requirements that will ensure employers have access to information necessary when making decisions on benefit design for the millions of Americans who receive coverage through their employer,” said ERIC President and CEO James Gelfand. “Moreover, strong transparency requirements of providers, including hospitals, and plans will empower workers and their families to select high-quality, affordable health care, drugs, and services, helping ease the ever-growing pressures health care costs have on employers and workers alike.”

“Patients Deserve Price Tags Act is a critical step toward delivering high-quality care at lower costs for patients. Price transparency starts with clear, accessible information and this bill will empower patients to compare prices before they seek care. Real transparency and accountability are essential in helping unions make informed negotiations on behalf of workers and will ultimately help drive down costs. The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act moves us closer to that goal,” said Kevin Lyons, Member Benefits Director for the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association.

“At a time when health care costs are ballooning out of control and Americans continue to make clear that affordability is a top priority, we applaud Senators Marshall and Hickenlooper for introducing the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act. This robust, pro-consumer, bipartisan legislation will ensure that every family in America knows exactly how much a big hospital will charge them before they receive medical care and services,”said Sophia Tripoli, senior director for health policy at Families USA. “As long as big hospital corporations and health care systems are able to keep their prices hidden, they will continue to jack up prices year over year with no transparency or accountability from the public or lawmakers. The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act would bring much needed transparency to hospital pricing and help us hold the health care sector accountable for the unfair price gouging practices that are hurting patients and families.”

When Americans go to the hospital, they often don’t know what services will cost beforehand. This forces patients to rely on their insurance to pay as much as possible and negotiate rates with providers, and robs patients of the ability to shop around for a better deal. There’s also a lack of transparency in agreements between insurance and providers.

The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act would create true transparency for health care pricing by requiring all negotiated rates and cash prices between plans and providers to be accessible.

Specifically, the bill would:

Require machine-readable files of all negotiated rates and cash prices between plans and providers, not estimates.

Require hospitals to post actual prices for 300 shoppable services (and for all services starting in 2026).

Create a requirement for each patient to receive an Explanation of Benefits statement

Require providers or facilities to include a detailed itemized bill of each distinct item or service, or an all-in total price for bundled items if offered to the patient as an option.

For full text of the legislation, click HERE.

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Pregnant Students’ Rights Act introduced in Senate

By Daily Leader Staff

Senate Pro-Life Caucus Chair Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) on Tuesday signed as an original cosponsor of pro-life legislation to support pregnant college students by requiring colleges and universities to actively inform them of their rights and protections.

The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act (S.3627), introduced by Sen. Ashely Moody (R-Fla.) is intended to help pregnant students carry a pregnancy to term without abandoning their academic career, such as modified class schedules, excused absences, and other resources.

“Standing up for life is more than just saying the right words. It means showing up with real support. For women in college, balancing coursework with pregnancy can be especially challenging, and they deserve to fully understand their rights to reasonable accommodations and protection from discrimination,” said Hyde-Smith, of Brookhaven. “As chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, I am proud to support this legislation and policies like it that empower pregnant women with the resources they need to thrive and nurture life.”

“Navigating college can be challenging, and unfortunately women who become pregnant can feel pressure choose between bringing life into this world or academic failure. No one should have to make this decision. My Pregnant Students’ Rights Act ensures students know what resources and support are available to them to stay in school, succeed, and care for their new baby,” Moody said.

S.3627 would amend the Higher Education Act to ensure all college students who are pregnant or may become pregnant know their rights and protections to carry a pregnancy to term. It would also require universities to inform students on how to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if there is a violation of Title IX protections for pregnant students.

In addition, the measure would require universities to disseminate information regarding the rights and protections for pregnant students to carry a pregnancy to term through emails, student handbooks, at orientation, on publicly available websites, and at student health or counseling centers. Information must include a list of campus resources to help pregnant students and new mothers, including school-provided accommodations.

Majority Leader John Thune and U.S. Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) also cosponsored the bill.


Senator Justice Touts $23.9 Million in Grants to Strengthen Affordable Housing Programs

CLARKSBURG, WV – Today, Senator Justice joined with FHLBank Pittsburgh to present $23.9 million in grant funding for Affordable Housing Programs in West Virginia:

“Affordable and abundant housing is the foundation to the American Dream, and we are witnessing that today here in Clarksburg. These grants represent what can happen when government and the private sector pull the rope together to make life better for West Virginia. I’m proud of this effort and everybody involved ought to be really excited for the goodness to come from investments like this,” said Senator Jim Justice.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Justice and FHLBank Pittsburgh presented $23.9 million in grant funding at a presentation ceremony in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

This funding will be utilized for Affordable Housing Programs, which will support more than 250 affordable homes for West Virginians.

This funding will assist with home repairs for seniors, new home construction, adaptive reuse of history buildings, and construction of tiny homes for youth aging out of the foster care system.

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Senator Justice Visits Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg

PARKERSBURG, WV – Senator Jim Justice released the following statement after his visit with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg, where he met with staff and students:

“I spend a lot of time with kids, whether that’s in schools, with my basketball team, or with my grandkids. I’ve said it over and over again, our children are our most precious resources, which is why I’m so proud of the work the Boys & Girls Clubs does with our youth. Each and every faculty member is contributing to a foundation for our future by giving these kids a safe place where they can learn and grow — that’s about as important as it gets in my book,” said Senator Jim Justice.

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Warner & Kaine Statement on Lindsey Halligan’s Departure from EDVA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding Attorney General Pam Bondi’s announcement that Lindsey Halligan—whom a federal judge ruled was unlawfully appointed to her position—was leaving the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA):

“Virginia Senators of both parties have always worked closely with presidential Administrations, regardless of party, on Virginia nominations. That fair and deliberate process has always included at least one meeting with the nominees to discuss their qualifications—until now. It has been over 16 weeks since the Trump Administration nominated Lindsey Halligan, but neither she nor the White House ever reached out to meet with us or even introduce herself. It’s clear this Administration never expected her to be confirmed by the Senate given her lack of qualifications to serve as a U.S. Attorney, and instead wanted to end-run around the Senate and the Judiciary Committee.”

On January 21, 2025, the Trump Administration appointed Erik Siebert as the interim U.S. Attorney for the EDVA. In April of 2025, after an extensive interview process that included the input of a bipartisan panel of former Virginia U.S. Attorneys and other well-respected members of the Virginia legal community, Kaine and Warner sent a letter to the White House recommending Siebert for the U.S. Attorney position. In May of 2025, the White House announced that Siebert was formally nominated for the role. Siebert was serving in an interim capacity because he had not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. On May 9, 2025, the District Judges of the Eastern District of Virginia unanimously voted for Seibert to continue as the interim U.S. Attorney. On September 22, 2025, Kaine slammed the Trump Administration’s forcing-out of Siebert because of his refusal to indict James Comey and Letitia James.

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Senator King Releases Statement on Administration’s Widespread Defiance of Constitutional Norms

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement amidst President Trump’s current range of threats to constitutional norms:

“President Trump’s recent actions—sending armed and masked ICE agents into our cities, including here in Maine, threatening peaceful protesters with a military response, insisting on taking control of Greenland with no rational basis for doing so, alienating our allies with unjustified and illegal tariffs, and weaponizing the government against his perceived enemies—all add up to the most dangerous assault on our economy, our democratic system, and our people since the Civil War.

“Stopping this will require meaningful engagement across the board—in the courts, the Congress (particularly the Republican majority), and, of course, the public.

“For my part, I intend to fight back by moving to curtail the budget of ICE until such time that they respect our Constitutionally-guaranteed rights (and take off the masks), stop his dangerous and illegal international adventurism, and rein in a government which seems to be based upon whim and vengeance rather than law and common sense.”

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Klobuchar, Marshall Urge DOJ and FTC to Investigate Consolidation of Firefighter Software

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) are urging U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Gail Slater and Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson to investigate the consolidation of critical services and products that fire and public safety departments across the country rely on to keep Americans safe. This includes incident reporting and data management software solutions used by fire departments.

Recent reports indicate a single company, backed by private equity, has acquired multiple fire service software businesses and now controls the software used by nearly two-thirds of the nation’s 30,000 fire departments to effectively do their jobs.

As this company has consolidated its market position, some fire departments have reported steep price increases, from $795 per year to over $5,000. At the same time, the company has also removed some of the more cost-effective options previously used by small and volunteer fire departments – effectively forcing fire departments to adopt more expensive software options that they neither need nor want simply because consolidation has reduced choices and competition.

“We write to express our concern about the growing consolidation of critical services and products that public safety departments nationwide depend on, including incident reporting and data management software solutions used by fire departments,” wrote the Senators. “Recent reports document that one company, ESO Solutions, backed by private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, has acquired multiple fire service software businesses and now controls the software used by approximately 20,000 of the nation’s 30,000 fire departments.”

“These companies appear to be taking advantage of the fact that communities depend on specialized products and services that are essential to first responders’ ability to do their jobs,” the Senators continued. “Smaller emergency agencies, including the thousands of volunteer fire departments across the United States, should not be forced to purchase more expensive products that they neither need nor want simply because consolidation has reduced choice and competition. We urge you to investigate consolidation in the markets for products and services relied on by public safety agencies to ensure that local communities, and the first responders that protect them, are not victims of anticompetitive conduct and consolidation.”

The full letter is available here and below.

Dear Assistant Attorney General Slater and Chair Ferguson:

We write to express our concern about the growing consolidation of critical services and products that public safety departments nationwide depend on, including incident reporting and data management software solutions used by fire departments.

Recent reports document that one company, ESO Solutions, backed by private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, has acquired multiple fire service software businesses and now controls the software used by approximately 20,000 of the nation’s 30,000 fire departments. As the company has consolidated its market position, some fire departments have reported steep price increases, from $795 per year to more than $5,000. Reports also note that ESO has removed some of the most cost-effective options previously used by small and volunteer fire departments, effectively pushing fire departments to adopt more expensive, albeit more modern, software.

More broadly, fire departments, and other public safety agencies across the nation, have experienced cost increases as markets consolidate, affecting everything from fire engine manufacturing and emergency radios to fire retardants and other essential equipment.

These companies appear to be taking advantage of the fact that communities depend on specialized products and services that are essential to first responders’ ability to do their jobs. This market dependence has allowed companies to increase prices without the risk of losing business, especially in communities and local governments that lack alternatives. Smaller emergency agencies, including the thousands of volunteer fire departments across the United States, should not be forced to purchase more expensive products that they neither need nor want simply because consolidation has reduced choice and competition.

We urge you to investigate consolidation in the markets for products and services relied on by public safety agencies to ensure that local communities, and the first responders that protect them, are not victims of anticompetitive conduct and consolidation.

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Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $2.1 Million Grant for Postsecondary Manufacturing Education at Central Oregon Community College

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that $2,187,923 in federal funding is coming to Central Oregon Community College to boost its manufacturing postsecondary education program, expanding the pipeline of skilled workers to meet the needs of local employers while supporting long-term regional economic growth.

“Access to postsecondary education is essential to building the skilled workforce that Central Oregon’s manufacturing and business communities rely on to grow and compete. By investing in community colleges and expanding workforce training, we can create more affordable pathways to good-paying jobs and a better future for folks across Central Oregon,” said Merkley.

“In my town halls last week in Central Oregon and throughout the state this week, I’ve heard from Oregonians all over our state how people need more good-paying jobs and Oregon businesses need a trained workforce,” said Wyden. “I’m gratified this grant will be an avenue leading to success for students and for the local business community in Central Oregon.”

“These funds will enable us to expand hands-on training at the Redmond Campus in our Manufacturing Technology program, which includes fields like welding, fabrication and CNC machining – all of which are critical to the future of manufacturing in Central Oregon. By developing short-term, industry-aligned certificates, Central Oregon Community College will increase the number of skilled workers ready to meet local employer needs, while offering students affordable pathways into high-wage, in-demand careers. This targeted, workforce-driven investment strengthens our community and supports long-term regional growth,” said Dr. Greg Pereira, President of Central Oregon Community College.

The federal funds were awarded to Central Oregon Community College from the U.S. Department of Education’s Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Special Projects Program to support Central Oregon Community College with hiring faculty and staff, purchasing equipment and technology, strengthening employer partnerships, and improving data systems for Pell Grant eligibility and student outcome tracking. The FIPSE Special Projects Program funds grants to support innovative projects concerning one or more areas of national need that have been identified by the Education Secretary, including supporting capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs.

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Murkowski Proud to Announce U.S. Military Service Academy Nominee Class of 2030

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was proud to announce the young Alaskans she is nominating to the U.S. Military Service Academies for the class of 2030.

“These young Alaskans exemplify what it means to lead – and it is an honor to nominate them to our nation’s military service academies as they take their next steps,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “I offer them my heartfelt congratulations and can’t wait to see how they serve their communities as they become the next generation of leaders in Alaska and around the country.”

U.S. Military Service Academy nominees are selected based on their academic record, extracurricular activities, and leadership capabilities. Senator Murkowski’s nominees will now compete against other candidates nationwide for a spot in the entering class. Though a congressional nomination to a service academy is an accomplishment within itself, it does not guarantee admission; service academies will make final decisions.

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

Ainsworth, Morgan Colleen – Palmer, AK

Barrett, Kelsey Joy – Eagle River, AK

Beall, Noah Everard – Maryland*

Burrill, Audra Renee – Chugiak, AK

Forth, Rylan Landon – Anchorage, AK

Hillyer, Lane Bryan – Soldotna, AK

Hillyer, Luke James – Soldotna, AK

Johnson, Austin Reid – Eielson, AFB

Larsen, Knud Emil – Chugiak, AK

Marquez, Bryant Kelani – Ketchikan, AK

McGaughan, John Patrick – Maryland*

Morgan, Alexis Sachie Nakai – Washington*

Smith, Aiden Anthony – North Pole, AK

Thorpe, Samantha Joan – Kodiak, AK

Waitman, Elias Spencer – Anchorage, AK

U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

Andrysiak, Maximillion Burchard – Germany***

Austin, Gabriel David – Hoonah, AK**

Baisden, Sarah Jane – Kenai, AK

Benedict, Rick Reagan Del – Wasilla, AK**

Bennett, Keena Liberty – Anchorage, AK**

Boring, Nicholas Stephen – Anchorage, AK

Burke, Mary Faulkner – Hawaii***

Carstens, Nina Ani Rose – Bucharest***

Harper, Macey Marie Lima – Anchorage, AK

Limauro, Isabelle Skye – Eagle River, AK**

Nakada, Aodhan Eijin – Anchorage, AK**

Nelson, Joshua Leroy – Anchorage, AK**

Porter, Michael Joseph – Eagle River, AK**

Simoneau, Henry Duff – Fairbanks, AK

Tunney, Elayna Grace – Anchorage, AK**

U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY

Andrysiak, Maximillion Burchard – Germany***

Austin, Gabriel David – Hoonah, AK**

Benedict, Rick Reagan Del – Wasilla, AK**

Bennett, Elodie Anastasia – Anchorage, AK

Bennett, Keena Liberty – Anchorage, AK**

Burke, Mary Faulkner – Hawaii***

Carstens, Nina Ani Rose – Bucharest***

Hansen, Alyssa Chase – Fairbanks, AK

Koontz, Aidan Seth – Eagle River, AK

Nakada, Aodhan Eijin – Anchorage, AK**

Nelson, Joshua Leroy – Anchorage, AK**

Porter, Michael Joseph – Eagle River, AK**

Reeder, Abigail Virginia – Maryland*

Smith, Ansley Katherine – Colorado*

Tunney, Elayna Grace – Anchorage, AK**

U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY

Austin, Gabriel David – Hoonah, AK**

Benedict, Rick Reagan Del – Wasilla, AK**

Bennett, Keena Liberty – Anchorage, AK**

Dash, Evan James – Ketchikan, AK

Houser, Benjamin Dennis – Wrangell, AK

Johnson, Scott Levi – Ketchikan, AK

Limauro, Isabelle Skye – Eagle River, AK**

Mahoney, Donovan Josef- Eagle River, AK

Nelson, Joshua Leroy – Anchorage, AK**

Porter, Michael Joseph – Eagle River, AK**

*Active Duty Military Dependent

**received multiple nominations

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Murray Visits King County Sexual Assault Resource Center After Securing $1.75 Million to Support Their Work, Discusses Record Funding She Secured in Spending Bills to Prevent Violence Against Women

ICYMI: PASSED: Murray Secures Over $5 Billion for WA Priorities in Three-Bill Funding Package; Historic Funding for Hanford, $190 Million for Howard Hanson Dam, Rejecting Trump Cuts

As Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray secured record funding for the Office on Violence Against Women, boosted critical grant programs to prevent sexual assault in funding bills expected to soon be signed into law

***VIDEO OF PRESS CONFERENCE HERE, PHOTOS AND B-ROLL HERE***

King County, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hosted a roundtable at the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) on the heels of securing record funding to prevent violence against women—and bringing home $1.75 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for KCSARC—in the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2026, which passed the Senate last week and is expected to soon be signed into law.

Senator Murray visited KCSARC and heard from staff and survivors about how the $1.75 million in funding she secured will support survivors of sexual assault, provide comprehensive services, expand therapy offerings, and support a prevention-focused “Train-the-Trainer” program to meet growing demand. The Train-the-Trainer program allows educators and community-based leaders to meet the growing demand for support and prevention education across King County, especially in schools.

Joining Senator Murray for the roundtable discussion today were: Kate Garvey, Chief Executive Officer at King County Sexual Assault Resource Center; Steffanie Fain, King County Councilmember; Minu Ranna-Stewart, Director of Harborview Abuse and Trauma Center; Hannah Pepin, Prevention Education Specialist at KCSARC; Claudia Godina, Bilingual Legal Advocate Supervisor at KCSARC; and Andy Sampson, a survivor and member of KCSARC’s “Empowered Voices.”

“Supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault has always been a huge priority for me. I’ve spoken personally with so many women and survivors who struggled to get the help they needed after an assault, and I carry their stories with me in the other Washington. I’ve even worked with survivors here in Washington state to write and pass bills like the Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act, and to create the Access to Sexual Assault Nurse Exams program,” said Senator Murray. “So I was outraged when the Trump Administration proposed devastating cuts to support for survivors—and even wanted to consolidate the Office on Violence Against Women with other programs. This is not a federal initiative that can be some afterthought or get lost in D.C. bureaucracy. As the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, I fought tooth and nail to make sure we rejected Trump’s painful cuts—and instead secured a record increase for the Office on Violence Against Women. And I’m especially pleased I was able to secure $1.75 million for the work here at the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center. I will continue listening to survivors, and the people who serve them, about what the federal government can do to support their work.”

In the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2026, Senator Murray secured a record $720 million—the highest funding level ever—for the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, rejecting steep cuts proposed by President Trump. That funding supports multiple competitive and formula grant programs that support training for police officers and prosecutors, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, rape prevention programs, lethality assessment and homicide reduction initiatives, domestic violence hotlines, women’s shelters, transitional housing, and rural support services. Senator Murray also secured in the bill a record $12 million for a program she established to increase access to sexual assault nurse exams, which will support grants for regional Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training, salaries for SANEs and Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFEs), technical assistance, and resources to increase access to SANEs and SAFEs. The bill also includes $10 million in continued funding to incentivize states to adopt laws that protect the rights of sexual assault survivors.

For survivors of sexual assault who decide to disclose their assault, accessing medical and forensic exams from a trained SANE or SAFE is a crucial part of how they can seek justice. But hospitals often don’t have the resources or the appropriately trained staff to administer these vital exams and survivors often face steep and difficult challenges in getting the care and exams they need to hold perpetrators accountable.

The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2026 Senator Murray negotiated also provides $50 million to support the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, which supports multidisciplinary community response teams tasked with developing and implementing comprehensive reform regarding sexual assault, including reducing the backlog of rape kits at law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the bill provides increased funding for other programs that are critical to assisting survivors, including: $79.5 million for the Sexual Assault Services Program; $55 million for Legal Assistance for Victims grants; and $51 million for Transitional Housing Assistance grants. The legislation also makes available $1.95 billion from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), a $600 million increase from fiscal year 2024.

“As we celebrate our 50th year of service to survivors and our community, we face considerable funding challenges that risk our ability to immediately respond to the 4,500 survivors and families who seek our help each year. We can’t be more grateful for Senator Murray’s leadership and action that will help prevent loss of staff and their expertise, and keep our response to victims strong,” said Kate Garvey, CEO, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center.

As the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray also negotiated the bipartisan, bicameral Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2026 which provides additional resources to support survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. That includes $5 million to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health to support grants to states and Tribes to collect data and report on access to medical exams for sexual assault survivors, as part of implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This was funding and language Senator Murray championed to direct HHS to continue implementation of her Survivors’ Access to Supportive Care Act (SASCA).

Senator Murray has long prioritized passing policies to help prevent sexual assault and support survivors. She has helped author major provisions and additions to the Violence Against Women Act over the years. Murray first introduced SASCA in 2016, after her constituent, Leah Griffin, shared her personal story of surviving a sexual assault and then getting turned away from a hospital when it was unable to administer a rape kit—ultimately contributing to prosecutors declining to file criminal charges. Since then, she has fought to pass the critical legislation, and ultimately succeeded in including key provisions of the bill in the March 2022 reauthorization of VAWA to develop national standards of care for survivors of sexual assault, strengthen the sexual assault examiner workforce, and expand access to sexual assault examination services. The reauthorization of VAWA also included provisions that expand special criminal jurisdiction of Tribal courts to cover non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, and sex trafficking on tribal lands. The reauthorization also increased services and support for survivors from underserved and marginalized communities—including LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. VAWA also supports survivor-centered, community-based restorative practice services, including culturally specific services and services in rural communities. Senator Murray also leads the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) for Survivors Act to establish provisions that promote the safety and security of survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence, and stalking. Additionally, Senator Murray is a cosponsor of the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act, bipartisan legislation which would bolster the Crime Victims Fund to support state victim compensation and assistance programs.

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