ICYMI: Sullivan Highlights his Bycatch Reduction Bill, Continued AK LNG Progress on KDLL Radio

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) spoke with Ashlyn O’Hara recently on KDLL Kenai Public Radio about his Bycatch Reduction and Research Act legislation introduced last week to improve marine environmental data collection, enhance electronic fisheries monitoring and reporting, and advance gear and technology that reduce bycatch and protect marine seafloor habitat from contact with trawl fishing gear. The Senator and O’Hara also discussed continued progress on advancing the Alaska LNG project and the future of Venezuela in the aftermath of the removal of the dictator, Nicolás Maduro.

Below is a full transcript of Sen. Sullivan’s interview with KDLL.

Introducing the Bycatch Reduction and Research Act

SULLIVAN: Well, listen, one thing that we just announced today was my – the Bycatch Reduction and Research Act with Senator Murkowski and Congressman Begich. This is legislation. It's building on my previous legislation, where—I legislate a lot in the area of fisheries, especially in the area of getting Alaskans back to what we all want. And on the Kenai, this is a huge issue, but it's a big issue throughout the entire state, and that is getting back to strong salmon runs on all our rivers. We have a pretty giant variability, and salmon runs, some have done really well and continue to do well. Bristol Bay sockeye, for example. By the way, the Kenai River had a very strong Sockeye run this year. But some of the big rivers and runs for kings and chums have been really challenged.

So a couple years ago, Ashlyn, I passed my Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, which was all about bringing the best minds in the state—state, federal, university, tribal—to address the big issue that everybody's focused on, which is, ‘Why do we have this great variability? Why do we have some of these runs doing really well, some of these runs doing very poorly? What are the research gaps?’ I brought together a world class group of Alaskans. I got this bill passed. It’s not easy to get bills passed here in the Congress, but especially on issues that can be contentious, like fisheries. It was very focused on a number of things. It says, ‘What is happening out in the big ocean to our salmon when they're out there for most of their lifetime? Is it bycatch? Is it issues relating to hatcheries? Is it issues relating to smolt mortality?’ That bill, which was very widely supported throughout the state, we were building on that with our bycatch reduction bill, because that was one of the areas that we needed to focus on. What that bill is focused on, that we just introduced, is a few goals: strengthening the science to protect Alaska's fishermen, subsistence harvesters, sport fishermen and coastal communities to reduce bycatch and trawl gear impacts, both at the kind of mid-water level, but also the sea floor habitat level; and understand the changing environments. Increase the use of technology to reduce by catch and start to look at mandating the requirement of that, and increase the transparency and bycatch monitoring. There are some complaints that NOAA doesn't do a good enough job on that. And, very importantly, start the deployment of innovative fishing gear that reduces bycatch and bottom contact. If you saw our press release, there's a lot of widespread support, particularly on the Kenai. I will tell you, and this, by the way, this is something I—it's a great part of the job when you get good ideas from your fellow Alaskans. A lot of the ideas in this came from some fishermen on the Kenai. Captain Bob Candopoulos and I were out fishing. He's one of our great halibut charter captains, and got discussing these kinds of ideas, limiting, for example, how far nets can go down if they're not supposed to be even fishing on the bottom.

So this is an important piece of legislation. It builds on my Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act, and it really builds on another area that I've been really focused on, and that's targeting foreign fleets, particularly the Russians and Chinese and their trawl fleets that have no environmental standards, that ravage the ocean and that undertake what's called IUU fishing. So I have made a very strong point—my bill, the FISH Act, which passed the Senate this past year. That's all about going after the Chinese and Russians and their IUU fishing. I've even had, believe it or not, we were selling this kind of fish in American military bases and commissaries. I just had a bill that passed that said, you can't do that. Why the heck would we be selling Chinese communist fish to American soldiers? Let's make sure they get freedom fish from Alaska. Then, you and I have talked about this, we've been really focused on making sure the trawl fleet from Russia and China can't even import their fish into America. I worked really closely with the Biden administration and now the Trump administration to extend an executive order ban that doesn't allow any of that fish to come into the entire United States of America. When they kind of used the loophole to send it through China, I got an executive order to ban that loophole with the Chinese working with the Russians to bring their trawl fish. So we've been working on this issue for years. This is just the next step, and we think it's an important one that Alaskans will support.

O’HARA: I know that you're a frequent attendee of the Kenai River Sport Fishing Association roundtable that happens here in Soldotna every year. I know you're well aware of the way dwindling Chinook runs especially are impacting Kenai Peninsula fisheries – whether that's sport guides, commercial fishermen, subsistence users, etc. Can you be a little bit more specific about – how much money are we talking about here and how are folks who are fishing on the Kenai going to see the tangible benefits of this legislation in their day-to-day work?

SULLIVAN: I mean, one thing—if you look at the press release that we're proud of, Shannon Martin, who's the executive director of KRSA, was one of the people putting a strong statement out on why this bill will enhance KRSA’s mission, which is the long-term sustainability of the Kenai River and the salmon stocks there. None of these issues are a panacea in terms of immediate impact. One of the most important things that this bill is going to be doing is not only the funding and the transparency, but the pressing on innovation to reduce bycatch. Then, moving forward, to get commercial trawlers to adopt that type of gear. Charter boat captains have gear that they're mandated to use that prevents the harvesting of certain species—when it happens, how you bring them back down, in terms of gear that is mandated. So, we think that having the federal government financially support this kind of technological innovation and make sure that there's transparency. I will tell you, some people think that the NOAA reporting that is part of the bycatch reporting is suspect. So what we've tried to do here is reconstitute my Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act and put experts on it who have a strong interest in making sure that bottom-contact trawling and other halibut and crab experts, who get very negatively impacted by some of those kind of trawl operations, are actually on this task force. So we think that's another element. But it really builds on the good work we've done on the deep research, and the research gaps that we found in terms of salmon and what's happening with salmon. One of the things that came out of my first bill was a deep-dive on bycatch, and that's what we're doing.

Continued Progress on the Alaska LNG Project

O’HARA: Pivoting slightly, but sticking with resource development: The last that I'd heard from your office regarding the Alaska LNG Project was earlier in the summer. You'd mentioned that you were kind of shopping it around the Pentagon to see if there was any interest in federal capital investment. What were the results of those conversations? Did anything come of those talks?

SULLIVAN: I would say, in terms of the Alaska LNG Project, since we talked last summer, we've seen really significant progress. Now, I fully understand when people are going to roll their eyes and say, ‘Oh, come on, Dan. We've been hearing that for 50 years.’ I get the skepticism, but when you see the progress that Glenfarne has gotten in terms of letters of intent, but also what are called heads of agreement—that's the next step in terms of a commitment to buy gas. When you look at the partnership agreements that they've signed with a number of different off-takers from Japan, from Korea, from Thailand, from Taiwan; and when you look at how much the President and his team have been pushing this project—you couldn't have a starker contrast between the Biden administration that was all about shutting down resource development, particularly oil and gas in Alaska, John Kerry, the climate czar, literally going overseas to Japan and Korea, telling them not to buy Alaska LNG, to having the President and his team encouraging countries to do that. I've been doing that as well, with the Koreans, with the Japanese, particularly with the Taiwanese. I think we're seeing some really important progress. Glenfarne is almost done—I'm meeting with the leadership of that company tomorrow—with their FEED (front-end engineering and design) work on the project.

But in terms of the federal government, we were able to get in the budget reconciliation bill a brand new Energy Dominance Financing Program at the Department of Energy. This is a big financing program that's all about American government investment and loans in large-scale transformative energy infrastructure projects. Well, guess who's number one on their list that they are negotiating with as we speak? That's the Department of Energy negotiating with this new authority and new fund that we got into law with the Glenfarne Alaska LNG Project. DOE is definitely working it, Ashlyn. It's a very good question. Lately, we have been pressing this idea, not only of DOD having off-take agreements to essentially help heat the bases. By the way, as Alaskans know, in Interior Alaska, it has gotten really cold. Eielson and Ft. Greeley are approaching 50 below zero temperatures. They need steady supplies of gas. But we are looking at this big move now to start having federal data centers located on military bases throughout the country. My team and I have been starting to work with DoD on that concept, too. That's a great idea that the administration is pursuing: data centers for our military on military bases. Well, guess where would be a great place to do that? It would be in Alaska.

That discussion you and I had on the DOD side is still ongoing, but I will tell you, where we've made the most progress with the federal government in terms of financing our project is in the aftermath of the budget reconciliation bill and the provision that I personally negotiated to get this energy financing program up and running with the Department of Energy. This builds on the provision Sen. Murkowski and I got in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was for loan guarantees for this project. This project has federal loan guarantees that were indexed to inflation, fortunately. It's the only project in America that's backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.

So, a lot of progress right now, I think it’s an exciting time, certainly for the Kenai because the LNG facility will be built there. But, as I always mentioned to the naysayers—and I get why people are naysayers—but the reason, Ashlyn, I've been putting my shoulder into this for years and years and years is, I always say to the people who are kind of like, ‘Oh, what a waste of time. It's not going to happen.’ Well, what's the alternative? What's the alternative? Unfortunately, we're starting to run out of Cook Inlet gas. The alternative, longer term, when you ask people, it’s, ‘Well, we'll probably have to import gas from Mexico or Canada.’ Count me out on that one. I think we need to solve Alaska's energy problem with Alaskan energy. Here's the final thing. If we have long supplies for 50 to 100 years of clean burning, low-cost Alaska gas running through our state, run into the Kenai Peninsula, there's nothing we can’t do. Our future is going to be so bright. The jobs just to build this thing are in the 15 to 20,000 worker range. But to me, it's an exciting time, and since you and I've talked, the progress has been accelerated. I talked to the President of the United States about this two weeks ago in the Oval Office. His team is still really focused on it. That is another reason that we've seen all this progress. I'm hopeful we'll have a final investment decision sometime in 2026, and I'm meeting with the Glenfarne guys tomorrow and the Secretary of Energy tomorrow, and trust me, I'm going to continue to press this really important project.

O’HARA: Building off of something that you just said, it sounds like you are not supportive of natural gas imports at this time—and please correct me if I'm wrong on that. When I talk to our local leaders on the Kenai—I'm thinking of Sen. (Jesse) Bjorkman and Borough Mayor Peter Micciche—it does seem that there's interest in, even in the short-term, importing resources to meet Southcentral's current energy needs while the Alaska LNG project is coming online. I just want to make sure—did I understand you correctly on that? Where do you stand on natural gas imports?

SULLIVAN: No, Ashlyn, look, by the way – and I don't do this with all reporters—you're very insightful, and you always do your homework. Great question. I've had discussions with former senator, now-Mayor Peter Micciche, who's a very good buddy of mine, and very knowledgeable about these issues. As you know, he ran the export plant on the Kenai—and Sen. Bjorkman as well. So, let me clarify. If there's the need, and maybe there is, for short-term imports to meet Southcentral demands, of course we have to do that. The Alaska LNG Project and proposal actually contemplates that as a potential as we wait, and hopefully not too long, for the full gasline to be up and running. Then the import terminal that they envision being built to enhance the Conoco facility could then be switched to an export facility. So, having that flexibility for short-term imports, I do support. I hope we don't need them for long, if at all. But where I have expressed concern with everybody is that, if you get to that point, what you don't want to do is lose momentum. People say, ‘Hey, well, we've kind of solved our Southcentral energy problem with this Mexican gas. Let's just take our foot off the pedal and don't worry about the big gasline anymore.’ I think that would be a huge mistake. So, short-term imports to meet our needs? Yes. Imports as the long-term solution to declining LNG from Cook Inlet? No.

O’HARA: OK, and then one more thing on Alaska LNG, because I did also want to ask you about Venezuela. As you probably know, Glenfarne did hold a town hall meeting out in Nikiski to talk about project progress. When I talked to a lot of the attendees there, the general sentiment—and this is my characterization—was that people are excited about the progress on this project. They love the idea of the revenue that could come from property taxes, the jobs, what it could mean for our area. But there does seem to be a lot of skepticism about where you get that $44 billion on the upfront to actually pay for it. So, just returning to that idea of capital, do you support any money from the federal government at all right now going to pay for that initial upfront cost?

SULLIVAN: Not only do I support it, I helped write a provision in the budget reconciliation bill that gives the Department of Energy a financing facility that can help with financing the projects. Now, is that in loans? Is that in loan guarantees? Is that in grants? That's kind of the work that they're doing right now. But, not only do I support it, I helped write it. Sometimes you need that upfront boost on a capital project of this size. But I also think that once this is up and running, and we get secure offtake agreements from particularly foreign buyers, or, like you said, maybe data centers or other domestic Alaska purchasers, I think the ability to have private sector financing of this project over the long term is going to significantly increase. But, you're raising another good point, Ashlyn. That first money that gets a big project off the ground like this is often the most difficult to finance, which is why we wrote this provision that's now up and running for the Department of Energy, and Glenfarne has been in numerous discussions with them over the last several weeks on utilizing that very—we call it the Energy Dominance Financing facility—to do exactly what you're talking about. Yes, I support a federal government financing assistance upfront. The budget reconciliation bill, what we're now calling the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, has a very provision that I helped craft, including in discussions with the secretary of energy when we were writing this bill. Now they're looking to implement it. So, absolutely, these are all the different tools that I think can help get this project off the ground. We're not there yet, but I'm glad that you saw the enthusiasm. In my discussions with Alaskans, there's still skepticism, and that's warranted. We've been talking about this project for half a century. However, I do think a lot of people are starting to see, my goodness, this is a huge opportunity. If we can pull this off, it is going to be very, very exciting. That is a really long way to answer your question by saying, yes.

Impact of Venezuela on Global Oil Markets

O’HARA: I know we're nearing the end of our time, and I would like to talk about, of course, the big news of the week. Sticking with the topic of oil, how does the US’ plan to intervene in Venezuela's oil market, do you think, impact oil and gas markets up here in Alaska?

SULLIVAN: I think it's another really important question. I had a top secret briefing with Secretary (Marco) Rubio, Secretary (Pete) Hegseth, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs (of Staff), and the CIA director today about the next steps that they are looking at in Venezuela. They're looking at that in kind of three phases. One is the stabilization. They don't want chaos. They don't want economic collapse. They don't want mass migration, which is why—and I think that's smart—which is why they are taking the approach that they have. The second is to have an economic recovery phase, and that would be focused on the economy, but [also] kicking out our adversaries. Let's face it, Venezuela has been a—I'm not sure cesspool is the right word, but—a convening place of America's adversaries. The Chinese, the Russians, the Iranians, heck, even Hezbollah. So, to have an economy that has a much more Western Hemisphere focus, which would include a reconstitution of their oil and gas sector, I think would be important. Then, finally, the third phase is a transition to conduct free and fair elections, and perhaps install the real winner of the 2022 election there—which was not (Nicolás) Maduro. So, anyways, that's the broad plan laid out.

To your specific question, Venezuelan oil has been subject to sanctions. They are really going to be leveraged in terms of their ability to work with us by our ability to block their export of oil, particularly to countries like China and Russia. That's ongoing, but Venezuela has previously had output at about two and a half million barrels a day before Chavez and Maduro essentially nationalized the oil industry. They kicked out pretty much all the Western companies, with the exception of Chevron. The capital investment and the production there dramatically declined. It's less than a million barrels a day. So, longer term, could that impact the price of oil? Yes, but I think right now, the ability to do capital investments and get them back to those much more significant production numbers, I don't think that's going to happen in the short term, and I don't think you're going to have a capital flight from Alaska to go invest in Venezuela. Here's the other reason why. Venezuela is still very unstable. Capital investment likes stability. There is not political stability in Venezuela, and I don't anticipate it being a politically stable place anytime soon. The idea that there's a huge flush of capital investment there that's going to create very significant increases in production after the socialists, Maduro and Chavez, essentially ruined their industry. I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon, and I think the impact on Alaska is going to be minimal.

# # #


Thune: Republicans Deliver Safer Streets, Secure Border

Clickhereto watch the video.

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

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Good afternoon, everyone.

“We are one year removed, about a year ago at this time, we were preparing for President Trump’s inauguration.

“And I think it’s a good time to kind of reflect on the last year and the things that we’ve been able to accomplish together, working with the president, a Republican majority in the House, a Republican majority in the Senate.

“And it all starts with protecting and defending the homeland.

“And I think that this president made a commitment to the American people when he ran, and as soon as he became president, immediately worked to secure our southern border.

“And we worked closely with him to ensure that they have the resources to do the things that were necessary to get that border secure.

“And I’ve had the opportunity multiple times to visit the southern border – a couple of times during the Biden presidency, at a time when there were literally millions of people who were being released into the country, you know, coming here illegally, being released into the country by the millions.

“And that changed abruptly when President Trump took office.

“And so I had the opportunity, along with Senator Barrasso and some others, last week to go down there again, and I am telling you, folks what a difference it makes.

“The border is secure.

“There are not people being released into the country illegally.

“And the Border Patrol could not be happier to actually be allowed to do the job that they are supposed to do, which is to protect the border rather than dealing with all the other issues with the millions of people who are in this country illegally.

“And so they couldn’t have been happier to have had the resources Congress has provided, to have the leadership that President Trump has provided, and the message it sent to people elsewhere across the border that, you know, you’re not coming here, you’re not coming into this country illegally anymore.

“That has changed dramatically, in a way that the Border Patrol is grateful for.

“And as we think about our priorities here, it is securing that border, keeping the country safe, it’s about more money in people’s pockets, and it’s about new opportunities for American families to get ahead.

“So those are the priorities that we’re going to continue to keep front and center as we proceed into this next year.

“But I think it’s fair to say that, at least in this last year, there has been enormous amounts of progress.

“A border that is secure, a Border Patrol that is now doing their job, and American communities and cities that are way safer.”


Thune: Republicans Crack Down on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Clickhereto watch the video.

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

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, recent reports suggest that widespread fraud has taken root in the state of Minnesota.

“Prosecutors say that ‘industrial-scale fraud’ has affected at least 14 federally funded programs in the state.

“And since 2018, $9 billion or more may have been stolen from these programs – stolen from taxpayers and from the people in need that these programs were meant to help.

“There have been nearly 80 indictments related to just one organization that received $250 million by claiming to have served meals to needy people during the pandemic.

“In another case, prosecutors say that a program designed to help people at risk of homelessness was subject to widespread fraud – with its cost ballooning to more than $100 million in just four years.

“In yet another case, prosecutors state that a fraudulent provider stole $14 million from a program to provide therapy to children with autism.

“And I could go on.

“Mr. President, one has to wonder how this could happen.

“And I hope we will soon find out.

“Last week, every Republican senator joined Senator Cassidy’s letter to the governor of Minnesota demanding answers about the large-scale fraud that appears to have happened on his watch.

“The Department of Justice has surged resources to Minnesota to assist in prosecuting these crimes.

“And the Trump administration recently announced it is creating a new position in the Department of Justice focused on investigating instances of fraud across the country.

“Because, unfortunately, Mr. President, cases of waste, fraud, and abuse are not confined to one state.

“The Government Accountability Office estimates that as much as $500 billion in federal funds is lost each year to fraud.

“Not an inconsequential sum, Mr. President.

“And every one of those dollars is a dollar that isn’t going to an American in need.

“Mr. President, Republicans have been working to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs – the same type of abuses now coming to light in Minnesota.

“Our landmark legislation – the Working Families Tax Cuts – included a number of reforms to focus federal dollars on those most in need, guard against abuse of taxpayer funds, and hold states accountable for the federal funding that they receive.

“New measures in the law prevent noncitizens from receiving federal health care and nutrition benefits and refocus those programs to serving American citizens.

“The law also strengthens work requirements for able-bodied, working-age adults without young children.

“And it increases accountability.

“The new law requires states to check eligibility for certain Medicaid enrollees twice per year and to remove ineligible people from their Medicaid rolls more quickly.

“It takes aim at duplicative enrollment in federal health care programs, which CMS estimates is costing taxpayers as much as $14 billion per year.

“And it ensures deceased individuals don’t continue receiving payments from Medicaid as happened in Colorado a few years ago, costing taxpayers more than $7 million.

“Mr. President, we also took steps to hold states accountable for being good stewards of federal funding.

“We’re incentivizing states to reduce their error rates when making SNAP payments.

“And significantly, we took aim at rampant abuse of the provider tax loophole.

“Use of this loophole, which sees states inflate the price of health care services provided through Medicaid in order to garner larger reimbursement from the federal government, has been a problem for quite a while now.

“And thanks to waivers that the Biden administration issued to California and other blue states allowing them to further exploit a similar loophole, taxpayers were on the hook for tens of billions of dollars in new spending.

“So Republicans took action to rein in this abuse and reduce the bills that states are running up for taxpayers.

“Mr. President, ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly and effectively on the people they’re supposed to help ought to be a no-brainer.

“And it should not – not – be a partisan issue.

“But apparently it is.

“While Republicans were working to restore integrity to federal programs, Democrats were panning our commonsense measures as ‘cruel’ and then voted again and again to repeal them.

“We’ve heard little from Democrats condemning the fraud scandal currently engulfing the state of Minnesota.

“And Democrats have shown that they are perfectly willing to allow waste, fraud, and abuse to continue in the Affordable Care Act exchanges.

“That’s right.

“Despite evidence of fraud in the ACA exchanges, Democrats have voted time and again to do nothing about it and have actually tried to repeal Republican-led reforms.

“Mr. President, there is waste, fraud, and abuse in Obamacare.

“And it seems that the Biden COVID subsidies were especially susceptible to fraud.

“A recent report from the Government Accountability Office revealed that the ACA exchanges continue to enroll fake individuals, improperly pay out taxpayer-subsidized health insurance, and fail to ensure payment accuracy.

“The GAO tested 24 fake accounts on the ACA exchanges.

“Twenty-three of them were enrolled with false or no documentation to verify Social Security numbers, citizenship, or reported income.

“And then there’s the growing number of enrollees in the exchanges who filed zero claims.

“In 2024, 40 percent of people who got fully subsidized insurance coverage through the exchanges never filed a claim.

“Forty percent.

“Now there might be some good reasons for that.

“But it might also be because insurance companies are incentivized to sign people up, and these individuals may be signed up and not even know that they have coverage.

“But Democrats have shown they are perfectly fine with the status quo.

“They voted numerous times to extend the enhanced subsidies without a single reform.

“They even shut down the government to try and extend them.

“These are just the beginning of the issues with Obamacare.

“Mr. President, work continues to investigate and prosecute criminals engaged in fraud and to hopefully recover the tax dollars that have been stolen.

“And I certainly hope the individuals in Minnesota and other criminals around the country are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

“But we can’t just hope to prosecute fraud, we need to prevent it.

“We need to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and place guardrails on federal programs to protect against nefarious schemes and bad actors.

“We need to ensure that when we commit taxpayer dollars to a particular program, that money actually goes to the people that program is designed to help.

“Republicans have made progress on restoring integrity to federal programs this past year.

“But we have more work to do.

“And we’ll continue our efforts to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and ensure that federal programs are serving the American people as intended.”


Tillis Applauds Appointment of NC Agricultural Leaders to USDA Farm Service Agency State Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) applauded the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the North Carolina USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee.

“North Carolina’s farmers and producers deserve leaders who understand agriculture from the ground up, and these appointees bring decades of real-world experience to the board,” said Senator Tillis. “I was proud to nominate these outstanding agricultural leaders and appreciate Secretary Rollins appointing them to help ensure USDA programs are delivered fairly and efficiently while supporting rural communities and strengthening North Carolina’s agricultural economy.”

Each FSA state committee is comprised of three to five members including a designated chairperson. The individuals appointed to serve on this committee for North Carolina are:

Jeffrey Claybourne Lee, Chair (Benson) - Lee is the owner, president, and chief executive officer of his farm, where he manages tobacco, sweet potato, and cotton production. He implements conservation tillage, precision guidance, and nutrient banding practices to improve crop quality and land stewardship. Lee previously served on the North Carolina FSA state committee.

Steve Leggett Griffin, Member (Washington) – Griffin is the president and owner of his farm, where he manages a diversified crop and farming operation. He previously served on the Beaufort FSA County committee.

Joseph Brent Leggett, Member (Nashville) – Leggett is the owner and operator of his farm, where he manages a diversified row crop operation that produces tobacco, sweet potatoes, cotton, peanuts, and other crops. He’s responsible for agronomic and strategic management, workforce oversight, and long-term sustainability.

Richard Paul Renegar, Member (Harmony) – Renegar operates a diversified family farm in Iredell and Yadkin Counties, producing beef cattle, tobacco, row crops, and hay. He diversified into farm equipment sales and agritourism with hunting preserves and sporting clays. He is currently president of the Iredell County Farm Bureau Board, a director of the North Carolina State Farm Bureau Board, and a voting delegate to the American Farm Bureau Federation. He previously served on the North Carolina FSA state committee.

Faylene Whitehead Whitaker, Member (Climax) – Whitaker is co-founder and operator of a diversified family enterprise that produces tobacco, corn, wheat, strawberries, vegetables, and greenhouse tomatoes. The operation expanded into agritourism, landscaping, two garden centers, a bakery, and equipment sales. She previously served on the North Carolina FSA state committee for eight years and has also served on her FSA county committee.

Background:

FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect, and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery, and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. Each FSA state committee is comprised of three to five members, including a designated chairperson.

###


PHOTO RELEASE: Tuberville Attends Auditorium Groundbreaking, AUSA Luncheon in Dothan

DOTHAN – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) visited Dothan, where he attended the groundbreaking of the new auditorium at the Wiregrass Public Safety Center (WPSC) and spoke to the Fort Rucker-Wiregrass chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).

Sen. Tuberville helped secure nearly $8 million for the auditorium at the Wiregrass Public Safety Center in the FY2024 appropriations package. Yesterday, City of Dothan officials announced that they will be naming the auditorium in honor of Sen. Tuberville’s father and World War II Veteran, Charles R. Tuberville Jr. During his visit to WPSC, Sen. Tuberville also spoke to a group of policy academy candidates in their first day of training.

“My dad was my hero, and a hero in the military too,” said Sen. Tuberville of the naming announcement. “For the City of Dothan to name something after him here at the Wiregrass Public Safety Center is a great honor for my family. This place will be here for a long time, and I look forward to supporting continued growth of the Wiregrass Public Safety Center and the region as a whole.”

At the AUSA luncheon, Sen. Tuberville spoke to nearly 600 service members, veterans, and local leaders about his work in Washington, D.C.

A link to all photos from the day can be found here.

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

###


Tuberville Defends Female Athletes as SCOTUS Weighs Future of Biological Males in Female Sports

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-WV), U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Riley Gaines, and other advocates in voicing support for female athletes as the U.S. Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments to decide if states are allowed to ban biological males from competing in girls’ sports.

Sen. Tuberville’s remarks come nearly one year after every Democrat Senator blocked his Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in the Senate. A former high school girls’ basketball coach, Sen. Tuberville has been a leader in preserving Title IX for female athletes since coming to the Senate five years ago.

Excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s remarks can be found below or viewed here.

A link to photos from today’s event can be found here.

“I coached for 35 years. I coached women’s sports. I coached for the right for women to have an opportunity like the men.

Title IX started over 50 years ago. It [was] the greatest thing that ever happened in that building right over there — was giving womenrights in sports, scholarships, facilities, more sports. It used to be — we had one sport, that was girls’ basketball — now we have as many as men. But now, this wacko group over here wants to change it all. They want to give the right of women to a gender group that is a fantasy. It’s a fantasy, it’s a dream, it’s a thought.

We are a Christian people. We are a Christian nation. We believe in male and female, and that’s it. If we ever get it off of that path, it is over. In four months, this group behind us will make a decision about what women in this country. Do they have an opportunity? Or do they just stand in the back of the row while they’re in the play for third, fourth, or fifth. On my watch, that ain’t gonna happen. We are going to give women, the right, just like men have.

Now, I’ve had three votes in that building over there over the last four years — three on the Senate floor about keeping men out of women’s sports. I’ve not got one damn vote from a Democrat. Not one. They voted it down three times. They could care less. They care about power, they care about greed, [but] they don’t care about women. They could care less.

I cannot believe there’s women standing over there. I can’t believe it. Title IX has given people an opportunity. Folks, let me something. If we don’t make a stand now — as Senator Justice said while ago — if we don’t say it now, this country will go down so fast our heads will swim.

Thank you for being here today. Thank you for fighting.

We have to give the women a chance. I’ve got my first grandchild, Rosie Grace. I’ll be damned if she is gonna take a shower with a man.

Thank you for coming [and] keep fighting. Keep fighting against mental illness because that’s what we’re doing. Fight against it every day because that’s what we’re dealing with.

Thank you. God bless.”

BACKGROUND:

Under Joe Biden, more than 900 women lost medals to men competing in women’s sports. The issue of men in girls’ and women’s sports proved to be one of the top concerns of voters during the 2024 Presidential Election. A recent New York Times (NYT) poll found 79% of respondents said men should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports. This number is a 10% increase from a 2023 survey where 69% of respondents agreed that men do not belong in women’s sports. This is a bipartisan issue—the same recent NYT poll found that 67% of Democrats agree that male athletes shouldn’t be allowed in women’s sports.

In February 2025, President Trump signed a historic Executive Order banning men from competing in women’s sports. President Trump has spoken about the need to keep men out of women’s sports on multiple occasions.

Unfortunately, Executive Orders can be reversed. That’s why on Monday, March 3, 2025, the Senate voted on Senator Tuberville’s bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would make President Trump’s Executive Order permanent. All Senate Democrats voted to block the bill from proceeding.

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

###


Tuberville on Radical Islam: “The Enemy is Now Inside the Gates”

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) once again took to the Senate floor to discuss what he believes is the greatest national security threat facing the United States: the rise of Radical Islam and Sharia Law. In the speech, Sen. Tuberville discussed how Democratic elected officials and the legacy media are enabling the takeover of radical Islam in the United States of America.

Read excerpts from his speech below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

“Mr. President, you know, for months, I’ve been raising the alarm over radical Islam infiltrating the greatest country on the face of the earth, the United States of America. You know, some Americans see what’s happening in Europe and they think, would that ever happen in our country? The reality is, yes, it’s happening right now, right before our very eyes. The enemy is now inside the gates.

There are plenty of Muslims that come here, love this country, assimilate into American culture, and they have a duty to join in the fight and speak out against the mainstream media and elected officials who are empowering radical Islam to take a foothold in the United States of America. Governor Kathy Hochul of New York welcomed in the New Year by declaring January as Muslim American Heritage Month. And to red-blooded American patriots’ dismay, Hochul directed state landmarks, including the iconic skyline of New York City, to be lit in the color of Islamic Green. What makes the situation, Mr. President, even worse, is that the One World Trade Center was also lit up in the Islamic Green. […] The exact location where economic tariffs flew planes into the Twin Towers on September the 11th, 2001, killing thousands of innocent Americans.

This was a slap in the face to the families of nearly 3,000 victims who were murdered and thousands injured on a very, very tragic day. I never thought I’d see something like this in my lifetime. But for years, the Radical Left, the Globalists, and the Deep State have colluded to destroy this country and have found a way to flood our communities with third world Muslims whose only goal is not to assimilate, but to destroy the West and create a worldwide Caliphate. If you don’t understand what that looks like, just take a look at Europe. Under Barack Obama and Joe Biden, our federal government imported millions of foreigners who hate America, enabling them to live on welfare and forcing American taxpayers to pay the bills.

New York City’s recent mayoral election reveals how easily a Muslim communist can come to power in our nation’s most iconic city.Foreign-born communist Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, polled 62% of support from foreign born voters in New York. The weren’t born in in the state of New York. […] Only 30% of American born voters voted for him. Under Joe Biden, millions of illegal aliens including terrorists, murderers, and rapists were planted there to completely destroy the freedom-loving voter base, all on purpose. As a result, a foreign-born Muslim communist who hates the greatest nation on earth and wants to change it, is now in power. During his inaugural ceremony, Commie Mamdani used two Qurans for his swearing in ceremony, not the Bible. He used a book that advocates for the killing of all who don’t believe in Islam or refuse to follow Islamic teachings.

He was also sworn in at an abandoned subway station, symbolizing what New York City will soon look like when freedom loving Americans flee for their lives and Sharia Law becomes the rule of law in the five boroughs of New York City. New York City, the symbol of liberty and freedom in the New World, is now turning into the same oppressive hell hole, freedom-loving immigrants have fled from four centuries. […] But now we’re changing into that same situation.

The Deep State hasn’t wasted any time in 2026 to accelerate its globalist agenda to destroy this country. And if we don’t do something to stop this Islamic takeover of our country, we will soon be called the ‘United Caliphate of America.’ That means Christians, Jews, and anyone else who doesn’t convert to Islam will be prosecuted and persecuted. It’ll be acceptable for young girls and women to be raped, and Islamic terrorism and violence will become the norm. Thankfully, President Trump and his administration is working day and night to save this country through mass deportation, revoking immigrant visas, and implementing travel bans on majority Muslim countries who support the radical Islamic crowds who chant ‘death to America.’

We continue to see more evidence come out of Muslim third-world foreigners defrauding [the] American people of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars. You know, thanks to independent journalist Nick Shirley, more and more fraud from Somali immigrants in Minnesota who are pretending to use the money to ‘feed children’ or ‘help people with autism’ Is being exposed— every day now. In a recent hearing in the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, testimony from a Minnesota state representative claimed that U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson estimates that total amount of criminal fraud to this point after five years has reached $9billion. […]

But Minnesota’s Attorney General said this weekend on CNN in an interview that, you know, the fraud estimation is not a serious thing. That’s just political theater. That’s expensive political theater. A statement like that is not only an insult to many, many Minnesotans, but it’s also a slap in the face to the hardworking taxpayers of this country. […]

As more of this comes to light, a couple facts are becoming more and more apparent. Number one, third-world foreigners from predominantly Muslim countries are coming here and stealing American tax dollars while they spew anti-America rhetoric. Number two, Democratic elected officials seem to be complicit in helping foreigners who hate this country steal from their own constituency […] The enemies of our country are robbing American citizens in broad daylight while the cost-of-living standards in our country skyrocket. […] That should make every single American’s blood boil.

But Democrats have invited terrorists from countries that hate us. They steal our benefits. They enjoy our schools, overrun our hospitals, vote in our elections, and then steal our tax dollars and send them back to the country they came from where they can fund terrorism. Thankfully, we have a president who loves this country and he’s going to change it. President Trump and administration are working around the clock to halt immigration [and] to stop fraudulent schemes that were allowed to take place under Joe Biden.

Patriotic Americans are thankful for the work of DHS and ICE and what they’re doing to clean up our streets. At a cost. DHS and ICE agents have been targeted by radicals because they’re enforcing the law. What a thought… And I will continue to support law enforcement until every single illegal is out of this country and comes here the right way. If you’re going to interfere in law enforcement’s ability to do their jobs, folks, in any way, don’t be surprised if you’re arrested and thrown into jail. And you should be. […]

We need to wake up. American citizens need to come together, recognize what’s going on, and say enough is enough. As long as I’m alive, I will fight to ensure that my granddaughter, Rosie Grace, can grow up in the same country that I and a lot of other people had a chance to grow up in—the greatest country on the face of the earth. And what I’m telling people across this country, and what should have happened in Europe years ago, folks wake up.

They’re here. The enemy is inside the gate. We’re in bad trouble. And if we don’t stop it, we will lose this country that has been built for 250 years.”

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

###


Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Sanders Introduce Bill to Ban Presidents from Naming Buildings After Themselves

After the Trump Administration illegally put the president’s name on federal property including the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Kennedy Center, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-Md.) joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to introduce a bill to prohibit the naming of federal buildings after sitting presidents.

Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, and Sanders as cosponsors on the Stop Executive Renaming for Vanity and Ego (SERVE) Act are Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

“Donald Trump doesn’t get to slap his name on any public institution he chooses. We don’t have kings or dictators in America, and this legislation stops him or any future sitting president from creating monuments to glorify themselves – because these landmarks belong to the people, not to self-worshipers,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Our country desperately deserves leaders focused on working for the people – not their own ego or narcissism. This necessary legislation prohibits the naming, or renaming, of any federal building or land in the name of a sitting president. And even more importantly, at a time when Americans can’t afford to put food on the table, pay their rent, or afford health care, this bill prohibits the use of any federal funds for these meaningless vanity projects,” said Senator Alsobrooks.

“It's no secret that President Trump is undermining democracy and moving this country toward authoritarianism. Part of that strategy is to create the myth of the 'Great Leader' by naming public buildings after himself — something that dictators have done throughout history,” said Senator Sanders. “For Trump to put his name on federal buildings is arrogant and it is illegal. We must put an end to this narcissism — and that’s what this bill does.”

On December 4, 2025, the State Department announced it was renaming the U.S. Institute of Peace after President Trump. Two weeks later, President Trump’s appointees to the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted to add the president’s name to the website and the front of the building. Both actions violate the federal laws that named these institutions.

This legislation complements U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney’s (D-Md.) Federal Property Integrity Act, legislation she introduced last month to prohibit the renaming of any federal building, land, or other asset, in honor of a sitting President.

“President John F. Kennedy once stated, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ Sadly, President Trump focuses only on what our country can do for him,” said Rep. April McClain Delaney. ‘Trump's ‘branding’ of our federal landmarks will end with this legislation, and put a stop to such insanity.”

The SERVE Act would:

Prohibit the naming or renaming of any federal building, land, or other asset in the name of a sitting president;

Prohibit the use of federal funds to do so; and

Ensure this applies retroactively to the Kennedy Center and Institute of Peace by returning any federal assets named for the current sitting president to the name given under United States Code.

Senators Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, and Sanders also filed this legislation as an amendment to the government funding minibus being voted on this week in the Senate.


Warner Statement on Senate Republicans Block of CRA Vote to Overturn Trump ACA Rule

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked passage of a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn a Trump administration rule that would raise health care costs and make it harder for Americans to access coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces:

“Today’s vote is the latest chapter in a years-long effort by Republicans to undermine the Affordable Care Act and make health care more expensive and harder to access for American families. By blocking this CRA resolution, Republicans gave the Trump administration rule a green light to raise premiums, increase out-of-pocket costs, add burdensome paperwork, and push as many as 1.8 million Americans off their health insurance.

“This vote follows a series of deliberate Republican actions that have already driven up health care costs. Just weeks ago, Republicans refused to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits, driving premium increases of hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of dollars a month for families who were already stretched thin. They’ve backed cuts to Medicaid, undermined marketplace stability, and now they’ve doubled down by letting this harmful rule stand. Taken together, these actions threaten both coverage and affordability for millions of Americans, deepening a health care crisis that never should have happened.

“This vote was a chance to do the bare minimum – to stop a rule so harmful that it’s already been paused by the courts – and Republicans still said no. I’ll continue fighting to protect affordable health care and to hold this administration accountable for policies that hurt working families.”

The Congressional Review Act (CRA) allows Congress to overturn recently finalized federal rules within a specified timeframe. Today’s resolution, introduced by Sens. Warner, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and 40 other Senate Democrats, sought to nullify a Trump administration rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on June 25, 2025. The so-called “Marketplace Integrity and Affordability” rule would make it harder for Americans to enroll in ACA marketplace plans, reduce covered services, increase premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and impose new bureaucratic hurdles on families and states. CMS projects that if implemented, up to 1.8 million people could lose coverage next year, while millions of others would face higher costs and increased administrative burdens.

Repealing the rule through the CRA would have prevented CMS from issuing a substantially similar policy in the future, protecting more than 22 million Americans who rely on the ACA marketplaces for affordable health insurance. Despite strong Democratic support, Senate Republicans blocked the resolution, allowing the rule to remain in effect.

Prior to the vote, Sen. Warner spoke on the floor, urging his Republican colleagues to support his legislation to protect Americans’ health care. Full video of those remarks is available for download here.

###

* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for downloadhere*


Warner Applauds Congressional Passage of Bill to End Government Payments to Deceased Americans

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) applauds the House of Representatives passage of the bipartisan Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, legislation he sponsored to save hard-earned taxpayer money by curbing erroneous payments to individuals who have passed away. The bill unanimously passed the Senate in September 2025 and now moves to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.

“As Americans struggle to afford the cost of living, Congress should be doing everything in its power to save taxpayer dollars and protect government resources from fraud and abuse. I’m thrilled to see this legislation pass through the House of Representatives – the last step needed in order to send this to the President’s desk for his signature. I will continue working in a bipartisan manner to improve efficiency and ensure that our government is working for the American people,” said Sen. Warner.

The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act would permanently amend the Social Security Act to allow the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File – a record of deceased individuals – with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system. This change would limit the government’s ability to make improper payments to deceased people in the future. This bill would also allow the Treasury’s Do Not Pay working system to compare death information from the Social Security Administration with personal information from other federal entities and to share this information with any paying or administering agency that is authorized to use the Do Not Pay system.

In addition to Sen. Warner, this bill was led by Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Joni Ernst (R-IA).

“The fact that the federal government is sending checks to dead people – often to be cashed by fraudsters – makes me want to reach for the barf bucket. That’s why I wrote this bill to permanently stop this outrageous fraud from happening, and I’m thrilled to see Congress officially on board with this commonsense fix,” said Sen. Kennedy.

“This bill will help save millions of taxpayer dollars by ensuring that the Social Security Administration can permanently share important data with the Treasury’s Do Not Pay system, preventing wrongful payments to deceased individuals. I have long supported this legislation because I believe it is a vital step in safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring the integrity of our payment systems,” said Sen. Peters.

“This bipartisan bill fixes our federal government’s payment systems so that millions of taxpayer dollars are saved every year. As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, I am committed to ensuring that Americans’ hard earned benefits are protected. That’s why I’m supporting this bill to ensure Americans’ personal data and earned benefits from Social Security are protected,” said Sen. Wyden.

“As stewards of our fellow taxpayers, we owe it to them to be sure their hard-earned dollars are well spent and NOT WASTED. Great to see the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, which permanently codifies coordination between the Department of Treasury and Social Security Administration to eliminate payments to dead people, has now passed both the House and the Senate and is headed to the President’s desk. A step in the right direction for ending waste, fraud and abuse running rampant in Washington,” said Sen. Moody.

“Our government has a responsibility to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. I am glad that this bipartisan bill to update existing safeguards and better prevent unintentional payments to deceased people has passed the House, and I encourage President Trump to sign it into law immediately,” said Sen. Hassan.

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) led the companion bill in the House of Representatives.

Full bill text is available here.

###


Warner Welcomes Independent Audit of Citizenship Verification in Immigration Enforcement

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the statement below after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced a new audit to evaluate the processes that DHS law enforcement personnel follow to prevent the arrest of U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement operations.

“As immigration enforcement officers continue to flood American neighborhoods, I’m cautiously optimistic to see DHS’s Inspector General take a hard look at how U.S. citizens are treated during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations. Too often, bystander videos show U.S. citizens and non-citizens swept up in the increasingly aggressive and dangerous enforcement actions of immigration officers who, in some cases, have denied individuals the opportunity to prove their citizenship or legal immigration status. These instances infringe on the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike, and increasingly result in damage to property, injuries, trauma, and death. Now more than ever, as immigration enforcement officers continue to hide their own identities while demanding proof of citizenship from their fellow countrymen and women, the American people deserve to know about the practices and policies that govern these interactions. I’ll be closely following this investigation, including to monitor for its independence and non-partisanship.”

This OIG audit follows strong advocacy by Sen. Warner, who last year pushed the DHS Inspector General to launch an investigation into the Department’s stops, arrests, detentions, and deportations of U.S. citizens, and demanded greater clarity from the Trump administration after a U.S. citizen and Virginia resident was handcuffed and detained despite attempting to prove his citizenship status.

###

* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for downloadhere*


Warner Statement on Administrator Isaacman's Visit to NASA Langley and Wallops

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s visit to Langley Research Center in Hampton and Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island:

“I am greatly encouraged to see NASA Administrator Isaacman visit Langley Research Center and Wallops Flight Facility. In multiple meetings with then-nominee for NASA Administrator Isaacman, I stressed the importance of NASA Langley and Wallops for both the local communities and U.S. leadership in aerospace research. Any proposed changes to the missions of these facilities must take into account the critical scientific capabilities that our talented workforce in the region provides. As Administrator Isaacman takes on the responsibilities of his new position, I look forward to coordinating with him to ensure no harmful changes are carried out.”

###

* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for downloadhere*


New Warren-Markey Report Details Impacts of Trump Admin’s Clean Energy Attacks on Massachusetts

Trump’s war on clean energy has cost Massachusetts more than $8.6 billion in investments and more than 16,700 jobs

Massachusetts residents will pay higher energy prices and miss out on clean energy innovation

Text of Report (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) released a new 19-page report today laying out how the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy are hurting Massachusetts residents, including through higher energy costs, thousands of lost jobs, and billions of dollars of investments withdrawn from the Commonwealth’s economy.

“Donald Trump promised to lower prices on Day One — but one year later, his reckless policies have jacked up families’ electricity bills and ripped away tens of thousands of good jobs,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “As a clean energy leader, Massachusetts has felt the brunt of these attacks. I won't stop fighting to protect our local economy and record of innovation.”

In the last year, the Trump administration has stalled or killed 324 clean energy projects across the country, costing more than 165,000 clean energy jobs and $53 billion in private investment. Massachusetts is a leader in clean energy, and as a result, has been disproportionately impacted by these attacks: over $8.6 billion in investments and more than 16,700 jobs have been lost or delayed since President Trump took office, and the administration has targeted federal funding to Massachusetts research institutions for clean energy projects.

In late December 2025, the Trump administration took the extreme step of suspending leases for all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the United States, putting at risk a further $25 billion worth of projects that were expected to power more than 2.5 million homes along the East Coast, including in Massachusetts.

Before the Trump administration’s attacks, Massachusetts was home to over 7,500 clean energy businesses and 115,000 clean energy workers, contributing nearly $16 billion to the Gross State Product (GSP). Now, these jobs and economic contributions are at risk.

The senators’ offices spoke with 13 labor leaders, clean energy experts, and industry representatives to learn how the administration’s moves are impacting Massachusetts residents. The senators’ investigation found that the administration’s attacks on clean energy:

Raise electricity and other utility costs across the country, including in Massachusetts. According to an industry association member, the administration’s actions are “handcuffing people to rising energy costs and limiting their ability to make their bills affordable.”

Hurt the state’s economy, costing jobs and slowing innovation. One labor advocate remarked that because of Trump, there are “not enough jobs to go around.”

Hurt economic growth by sowing executive and investor doubt about the future of the clean energy sector across the country and especially in the state. Industry executives reporting project financing concerns are left wondering, “Is this worth it? Do I need this?”

Threaten clean energy research excellence, including at Massachusetts institutions, while ceding vital ground, information, and talent to global competitors. One researcher at a top institution shared that they “don’t know day to day whether they are going to have a job.”

“The clean energy sector is vital to Massachusetts’ present and future, paving the path towards higher-paying jobs, lower energy prices, and economic growth…Americans nationwide deserve reliable and affordable clean energy,” the senators concluded.

###


Warren, Democrats Press Trust for the National Mall on Trump Ballroom Donations, Role in Fundraising Process

Lawmakers call Trust’s previous response “woefully inadequate,” seek additional information

“You owe Congress and the public answers about your role in managing funds for President Trump’s ballroom.”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) pressed the Trust for the National Mall on its “woefully inadequate” responses to the lawmakers’ October 2025 letter, pushing for more information on the organization’s role as the fundraising conduit for President Donald Trump’s $400 million ballroom. According to reports, the Trust for the National Mall could earn as much as $10 million in fees for its role in managing the contributions.

“The Trust for the National Mall is a 501(c)(3) chartered non-profit tax-exempt charity and, as such, enjoys substantial taxpayer-subsidized benefits — as do its donors. But these benefits come with responsibilities,” wrote the lawmakers. “You owe Congress and the public answers about your role in managing funds for President Trump’s ballroom.”

In October, the lawmakers pressed President and CEO of the Trust, Catherine Townsend, and National Park Service Comptroller Jessica Bowron about the exact agreements in place regarding the building of the ballroom, the source and amount of donations, whether the donations are tax-deductible charitable deductions, and more.

In the Trust’s response, Townsend confirmed the Trust is “managing the private donations gifted to support the [ballroom] project,” but refused to answer questions regarding the agreements between President Trump, the White House, and the Trust with regard to funding and building the ballroom. Townsend also declined to release details about the donations made to date or any terms and conditions related to each of these donations and directed the Senators’ additional questions about the project to the National Park Service and the White House.

Now, as the ballroom project moves forward, the lawmakers are pressing the Trust for critical information — particularly given press reports indicating that the organization is earning millions of dollars from serving as a pass-through for ballroom funds.

In the Trust’s previous response to the lawmakers, it indicated that it is “not soliciting donations for the Ballroom and has no role in the planning, design, or construction of the new Ballroom.” However, the lawmakers note, the Trust appears to be playing a key role in the project as the organization receiving — and presumably disbursing — the funds to pay for the ballroom. Sen. Warren this week released responses from corporate donors to the ballroom confirming that at least one donor had been solicited for a ballroom donation. The Trust is also reportedly retaining 2.5 percent of each donation made in connection with the ballroom project.

“If the Trust raises $400 million or more for the ballroom — the President’s latest cost estimate — the Trust could collect $10 million in fees, a substantial windfall for the Trust,” wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers highlight relevant donation rules, specifically one barring donations that carry either “an actual [or] an implied commitment to take an action favorable to a donor.” This requires the National Park Service and its philanthropic partners — in this case, the Trust for the National Mall — to avoid any appearance of endorsement, preferential treatment, or influence over federal decision-making.

“Your response fails to provide information about how the Trust is ensuring compliance with these rules while accepting what could be hundreds of millions of dollars in donations for President Trump’s ballroom from corporations that have significant matters pending before federal agencies controlled by the President,” wrote the lawmakers.

“Moreover, while you cite donor confidentiality obligations, that assertion does not relieve the Trust of its responsibility to account for its fee structure, revenue expectations, internal approvals, compliance with applicable policies, communications with the White House, and more — particularly when the Trust may be profiting from its role in a highly politicized and self-enriching project,” the lawmakers added.

This week, Sen. Warren, Representative Dave Min (D-Calif.), and colleagues published responses from giant corporations regarding their donations to the ballroom. Microsoft revealed that the company was solicited for ballroom donations by fundraisers. Meta and Nvidia did not deny possible quid-pro-quo arrangements. Some corporations reported their donations were given to the Trust with the condition that the donation be spent on the ballroom, while Comcast said they donated with no conditions or restrictions.

In November, Sen. Warren and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, introduced the Stop Ballroom Bribery Act to root out apparent bribery and corruption involving President Trump’s ballroom, one of the first pieces of legislation addressing the ballroom that would impose donation restrictions.


Wyden Applauds House for Passing His Bill on Ending Government Payments to Deceased Americans

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously passed a bill by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. D-Ore., to save hard-earned taxpayer money by curbing incorrect payments to individuals who have died.

The Senate passed the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act in October and the legislation now goes to the White House for the president’s signature.

“This bipartisan bill fixes our federal government’s payment systems so that millions of taxpayer dollars are saved every year,” said Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. “I am committed to ensuring that Americans’ hard earned benefits are protected. That’s why I’m supporting this bill to ensure Americans’ personal data and earned benefits from Social Security are protected.”

Joining Wyden in leading the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act were U.S. Senators John Kennedy, R-La., and Gary Peters, D-Mich. U.S. Representative Clay Higgins, R-La., led the U.S. House of Representatives companion bill.

In 2023, the Social Security Administration (SSA) began sharing its list of deceased individuals with the Treasury Department to reduce improper payments to these individuals. This data exchange, which was established by Congress on a three-year pilot program, let the federal government generate substantial savings. In its first five months, the Treasury Department announced it recovered $31 million in fraud and improper payments. The department also projected it would reduce more than $215 million in improper payments by 2027.

Wyden’s bill made this data-sharing agreement permanent to prevent agencies from making improper payments to deceased people.

Wyden also authored a provision in the bill to prohibit the SSA from listing any individual in its records as ‘deceased’ unless it has clear and convincing evidence that the individual is in fact deceased. This provision was developed in response to news reports that the SSA was falsely declaring certain immigrants as ‘deceased’ to pressure legal U.S. residents to leave the country. Following these concerning reports, Wyden demanded the SSA stop this illegal, unconstitutional action and launch a full investigation. In June, the SSA informed Wyden that it stopped this practice. Wyden’s provision in this bill would ensure the SSA can no longer weaponize its data to take away Americans’ earned benefits or inflict irreparable harm on people who are alive.


Wyden Presses Nonprofit Over Fundraising Scheme for Trump’s White House Ballroom

The Trust for the National Mall Could Earn Up to $10 Million for its Role Managing Trump’s Ballroom Contributions

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he is pressing a nonprofit on its involvement in fundraising for Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom.

“The Trust for the National Mall is a 501(c)(3) chartered non-profit tax-exempt charity and, as such, enjoys substantial taxpayer-subsidized benefits — as do its donors. But these benefits come with responsibilities,” Wyden and other senators wrote to Trust President and Chief Executive Officer Catherine Townsend. “You owe Congress and the public answers about your role in managing funds for President Trump’s ballroom.”

Today’s letter follows a failure of the Trust to respond to a letter sent in October of last year, in which lawmakers raised concerns over the agreement struck between Donald Trump and the Trust to serve as the primary fundraising vehicle for his ballroom, for which it could earn up to $10 million in profits.

“Your response fails to provide information about how the Trust is ensuring compliance with these rules while accepting what could be hundreds of millions of dollars in donations for President Trump’s ballroom from corporations that have significant matters pending before federal agencies controlled by the President,” wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers highlighted donation rules that the Trust must follow to avoid any appearance of endorsement, preferential treatment, or influence over federal decision-making.

The letter was led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Joining Wyden in signing the letter are Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass.


Young, Colleagues Urge Action on Chinese Nationals Accessing American Research Laboratories

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and a group of Senate Republican colleagues sent a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright urging action against Chinese foreign nationals accessing our DOE national laboratories and compromising American innovation in artificial intelligence, especially after the creation of the Genesis Mission on federal AI research.

In their letter, the senators wrote:

“Genesis Mission was launched to help the U.S. win the race with China for AI supremacy by harnessing untapped prowess in this space at our national laboratories. Continuing to give access to the cutting-edge work performed at these laboratories to Chinese nationals who will turn everything they know over to the CCP directly undermines the purpose of Genesis Mission. Therefore, we respectfully recommend that you mitigate threats to Genesis Mission by promulgating a policy prohibiting the national laboratories from granting Chinese nationals access to any national laboratory site, information, or technology.”

In addition to Senator Young, U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jim Justice (R-W. Va.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) also signed the letter.

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

January 13, 2026

The Honorable Chris Wright

Secretary, Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, D.C. 20024

Dear Secretary Wright:

We applaud President Trump for his continued commitment to ensuring American dominance in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). America’s long-term scientific advancements and national security depend on the U.S. winning the global race for technology. The “Genesis Mission,” a modern-day Manhattan Project the President launched last November via executive order, is necessary to achieve this victory, and harnessing the deep expertise found across the Department of Energy’s seventeen national laboratories is key to Genesis Mission’s success. We are concerned, however, that the thousands of Chinese foreign nationals who are granted access to, or work at, our labs could compromise Genesis Mission, and we urge you to take the necessary steps to protect it.

China is our main competitor in the race for AI dominance, a position it occupies only because it has stolen American intellectual property and technologies and co-opted them over the years. This is widely accepted and well-documented, and yet for decades we continue to give Chinese national scientists access to our national laboratories, which employ America’s best and brightest scientists who work on critical military, economic, and scientific technologies. In fiscal year 2024, approximately 3,200 Chinese nationals were approved for access to national laboratory sites, information, or technologies. This number does not include those with legal permanent resident status, which means there are likely hundreds, perhaps thousands, more individual Chinese citizens working in our labs.

As you may know, simply requiring these individuals to be properly vetted prior to granting them access is not a sufficient safeguard. First, the sheer number of Chinese nationals coming to the labs outpaces the capacity of the Department of Energy’s Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence to vet them. Second, efforts to vet will likely fail to yield affiliations with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) because of China’s efforts to obfuscate them. Lastly, scientists and researchers who might not directly work for the Chinese government can be compelled in one way or another by the regime to turn over what they have learned during their time at a national laboratory.

Genesis Mission was launched to help the U.S. win the race with China for AI supremacy by harnessing untapped prowess in this space at our national laboratories. Continuing to give access to the cutting-edge work performed at these laboratories to Chinese nationals who will turn everything they know over to the CCP directly undermines the purpose of Genesis Mission. Therefore, we respectfully recommend that you mitigate threats to Genesis Mission by promulgating a policy prohibiting the national laboratories from granting Chinese nationals access to any national laboratory site, information, or technology.

The best way to protect Genesis Mission, and the rest of the important work done throughout the labs, is to put an end to Chinese national scientists and researchers working at them.

Sincerely,


Reps. Kim, Bera Lead DOMINANCE Act to Break China’s Chokehold and Secure America’s Energy Future

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chair Young Kim (CA-40) and Ranking Member Ami Bera (CA-06) introduced the Developing Overseas Mineral Investments and New Allied Networks for Critical Energies (DOMINANCE) Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen U.S. energy security, reduce reliance on the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and build resilient critical minerals supply chains with trusted allies and partners around the world.

Critical minerals are essential to U.S. national security, advanced manufacturing, and next-generation energy technologies. Yet today, the PRC controls roughly 70 percent of global rare earth mining and nearly 90 percent of processing—giving Beijing outsized leverage over supply chains that underpin America’s economy and defense industrial base. The DOMINANCE Act confronts this challenge head-on by aligning U.S. diplomatic, development, and financing tools to secure diversified, transparent, and reliable critical minerals supply chains outside of the PRC’s influence.

“Critical minerals power everything from our national defense to cutting edge technologies that drive American innovation. We can no longer cede control of the very supply chains that determine our economic competitiveness to the Chinese Communist Party.” said Rep. Young Kim. “The DOMINANCE Act addresses this challenge head on by aligning our diplomacy, financing, and partnerships with our allies to build trusted, resilient supply chains. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort and work alongside the administration as we unleash the next generation of American energy dominance.”

“We cannot let China weaponize its chokehold over critical minerals against the United States and our allies,” said Rep. Ami Bera. “The DOMINANCE Act takes a thoughtful approach to strengthen our national security and economic resilience by building secure, diversified supply chains with our allies and partners. It aligns our diplomatic and development tools, formalizes U.S. leadership in the Minerals Security Partnership, establishes high-level leadership at the State Department to drive energy diplomacy, and expands educational fellowships to train the next generation of experts in mining and energy. I’m proud to work with Congresswoman Kim on this bipartisan effort to reduce our dependence on China and put the United States on a path toward long-term energy security.”

“For too long, China has had a chokehold on the global critical mineral supply chain. This is an unacceptable threat to our economic and national security,” said House Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast (FL-21). “I am proud to co-sponsor the Dominance Act, which will give the U.S. the tools it needs to end Chinese coercion over these essential resources. This is a must-win for the U.S. and our allies throughout the globe.”

“For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has maintained a strategic chokehold on the minerals essential to our national security—controlling 92% of global rare earth processing—while our own mining workforce faces a 50% retirement cliff,” said Rep. Huizenga (MI-04). “I am proud to be an original sponsor of the DOMINANCE Act, which includes my bill, the Critical Mineral Mining Educational Act, to transform the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs into a front line for our national security. By leveraging the Fulbright program to invest in American human capital and allied expertise, we will finally break our reliance on China and secure the talent needed for a resilient, 21st-century supply chain.”

“Energy security is national security. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the DOMINANCE Act, which strengthens America’s diplomatic, financial, and technical tools to ensure that we are leaders in shaping the world’s energy future and its supply chains,” said Rep. Olszewski (MD-02). “I am particularly gratified that it includes my bipartisan legislation to build a sustainable critical mineral workforce, helping to ensure we can compete with global adversaries in the 21st century.”

“China has a chokehold on critical minerals, and it’s not shy about weaponizing that leverage,” said Rep. Shreve (IN-06). “The DOMINANCE Act strengthens America’s security by mobilizing U.S. tools and trusted allies to build reliable, diversified supply chains—so Beijing can’t hold our economy or defense base hostage.”

“China’s monopolization of critical mineral markets poses serious economic and national security risks to the US,” said Rep. Wittman (VA-01). “I am proud to support the DOMINANCE Act, which will unleash U.S. critical mineral production and ensure that our domestic critical mineral supply chain is competitive and secure.”

“The PRC has a stranglehold on the global critical mineral supply chain and has demonstrated a willingness to weaponize that control—threatening America’s semiconductor industry and putting Arizona’s economy at significant risk,” said Rep. Stanton (AZ-04). “The bipartisan DOMINANCE Act will strengthen U.S. partnerships with allies to diversify and secure the critical mineral supply chains our nation depends on.”

“As President Trump threatens our energy resiliency with tariffs and unnecessary conflicts, the DOMINANCE Act will diversify our supply chains abroad, strengthen our infrastructure, and invest in educational opportunities,” said Rep. Titus (NV-01). “Formalizing U.S. participation in the Minerals Security Partnership and designating an Office of Energy Security Compacts at the State Department will also enable a more streamlined decision-making approach with our closest allies, as we import, export, and invest in key minerals and other materials, ensuring that the United States maintains its global leadership in energy expertise and production.”

“We can’t afford to lose out to China and Russia in the race to control critical minerals and our energy security,” said Rep. Panetta (CA-19). “The DOMINANCE Act addresses critical U.S. strategic vulnerabilities by reducing our dependence on resources controlled by our adversaries with a coherent strategy for critical minerals within our foreign policy. This is a commonsense step towards protecting our economic and national security interests by prioritizing critical minerals.”

Specifically, the DOMINANCE Act will:

Strengthen U.S. and allied critical minerals supply chains while reducing dependence on strategic competitors, including the PRC;

Formalize U.S. participation and leadership in the Minerals Security Partnership and related international coordination mechanisms;

Authorize Energy Security Compacts to align tools across agencies including the State Department, Department of Energy, Development Finance Corporation, Export-Import Bank, and Department of Commerce;

Establish a Bureau of Energy Security and Diplomacy and a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary to lead U.S. international energy and critical minerals diplomacy;

Expand mining and critical minerals education through a new Fulbright fellowship and visiting scholar programs.

Organizations supporting the DOMINANCE Act include: American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF), American Critical Minerals Association (ACMA), American Energy Leadership Institute (AELI), Atlantic Council, Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action), ClearPath Action, Climate Leadership Council, DZYNE Technologies, and SAFE’s Center for Critical Minerals Strategy. Read their quotes of support HERE.


Rep. Al Green Questions Witness on Legislation Preempting Discriminatory Land Laws

(Washington, DC) — On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, shared remarks in a Financial Services Hearing entitled, “Evaluating the Operations of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)."

You can access and listen to Congressman Al Green's remarks by clicking here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).


Rep. Green and Rep. Chu Reintroduce H.R. 7053 – the Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act

(Washington, DC) - On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Congressman Al Green and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) reintroduced H.R. 7053 – the Preemption of Real Property Act. This bill seeks to address current and future efforts by state legislatures around the country to restrict or prohibit individuals from purchasing real estate based on their country of citizenship. A copy of the bill is accessible by clicking here.

“A foundational part of the American Dream for many of our immigrant families is the ability to purchase a home. Unfortunately, state legislatures across the country are seeking to undermine this right for nationals from the People’s Republic of China, Iran, North Korea, and other countries. Asian Americans and people of Asian descent now must endure unwarranted suspicion and racial profiling by realtors and lenders,” said Rep. Judy Chu. “Banning individuals from purchasing property on the basis of their citizenship, national origin, race, ethnicity, or immigration status is a blatant assault on civil rights and a betrayal of the core values on which America was founded. The Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act will make sure that we do not repeat the shameful Alien Land Laws of the past and preempt these xenophobic state laws at the federal level.”


Amo Calls for Impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

“Secretary Kristi Noem is not fit to lead. During her tenure, she has failed in her most basic duty: upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. She has willfully obstructed Congressional oversight, undermined public safety and due process, and abused her office for personal gain. These serious offenses demand accountability.

This moment is about whether public servants entrusted with power respect the rule of law, the Constitution, and the people they are sworn to serve. The killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis at the hands of an ICE agent is just the latest in a series of egregious actions within her department. Secretary Noem has made our communities less safe and sowed discord and distrust.

Americans deserve leadership that protects public safety, respects due process, and operates within the bounds of our Constitution. That’s why I joined Representative Robin Kelly and 69 of our Democratic colleagues to introduce articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem. Because, no public official is above the law.”


Amo, Meeks Challenge Trump, Secretary Lutnick Plan to Sell Advanced AI Chips to China

WASHINGTON, DC – On January 12, House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) challenged U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick over President Donald Trump’s dangerous decision to loosen export controls and approve the sale of advanced AI chips to China. The move is expected to hand a strategic advantage to a global rival, threaten U.S. national security, and undermine America’s edge in the AI race.

The Members write:

“For years, the United States maintained strong export controls on advanced technology to China and other adversarial nations to ensure the United States’ military and technological superiority over competitors. One result of this longstanding export control policy is that China cannot currently produce the advanced AI chips needed to support its burgeoning AI industry and relies on American exports of lower grade chips to power its AI programs. National security experts support robust export controls, saying that China’s lack of access to the most advanced AI chips, including H200 chips, is “the one thing holding China back in AI.”

“Mere hours after the DOJ clearly stated the national security imperative of preventing China from receiving advanced AI chips, including Nvidia H200 chips, President Trump announced that he approved the sale of Nvidia H200 chips to China. In return, 25% of Nvidia’s revenue from H200 chip sales would go to the United States. This decision will erode the edge the United States maintains over China’s AI program and threaten our national security. The announced 25% revenue collection on the sale of H200 AI chips is likely illegal as the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) prohibits the federal government from charging fees in connection with the approval of export licenses. Furthermore, the revenue collection creates a perverse incentive for more chips to be approved than is in the best interest of our national security to raise additional funding.”

“Given the national security dangers of allowing the sale of advanced AI chips to China and outstanding questions about why this decision was made…The United States must continue to ensure that we prevent China from accessing advanced AI chips to maintain our superior AI capabilities.”

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

Background

On December 8, 2025, President Trump’s Department of Justice bragged about catching a “major China-linked AI tech smuggling network,” and seizing over $50 million worth of Nvidia technologies.

On December 8, 2025 (the same day), President Trump announced that he was approving the sale of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China and that 25% of the revenue from the sale of H200 chips to China would go to the American government.

On January 13, 2025, Trump’s Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security formally eased its export license review policy to approve the sale of Nvidia’s H200 and equivalent AI chips to China, despite repeated warnings about the threat to national security.

###


Rep. Ansari Hosts First Shadow Hearing on Housing Affordability

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari, Chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Lowering Costs Taskforce, hosted the Taskforce’s first shadow hearing, titled “Building the New American Dream: Lowering Housing Costs for All.”

The shadow hearing brought together Members of Congress, housing policy experts, and frontline advocates to confront the housing affordability crisis impacting families in Arizona and across the country. Joining Rep. Ansari as co-hosts were Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05).

“Housing costs are crushing working families in Phoenix and across America,” said Rep. Ansari. “Teachers, nurses, students, seniors, and service workers are being priced out of the communities they helped build. This crisis is not inevitable—it is the result of policy choices. Today, we are making clear that we can and must choose a different path.”

WATCH

Rep. Ansari convened the shadow hearing as the first major act of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’s new Lowering Costs Task Force that she chairs. That Task Force will bring together lawmakers, advocates, and experts to build a bold, progressive agenda to lower costs across the economy, starting with housing–because nothing impacts a family’s budget more.

“Whether it is paying rent or a mortgage, for millions of Americans, housing costs are just too damn high,” said Rep. Omar. “If we want to bring costs down, we must build more homes: homes that people can actually afford, in the neighborhoods where they want to live, and in a country where real economic opportunities are abundant. That is why I will be reintroducing my Homes for All Act, which embodies the North Star of what public housing should look like in this country.”

Representatives Becca Balint (VT-00), Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Delia C Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Mark Takano (CA-39), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) also joined Ansari’s shadow hearing.

The Lowering Costs Task Force will continue to organize shadow hearings, roundtables, and listening sessions on a variety of ways to lower costs for all Americans—from utility bills to childcare and groceries—while building the progressive affordability agenda for 2026 and beyond.

###


Congressman Baird Secures Wins in Financial Services and National Security Appropriations Package

Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 7006, the Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026:

“I was pleased to support this bill that capitalizes on our promise to codify over $9 billion in federal spending cuts, restore fiscal sanity, eliminate woke programs that do not advance our national interests, and finally return the House to regular order. I was glad to see that some of my priorities were included in this package, including funding for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to support economic growth in rural communities, as well as for food security and agricultural development programs. These programs provide critical investments in agricultural research and allow farmers to sell more of their goods abroad. I look forward to sending this bill to President Trump’s desk soon to deliver on our commitment to a strong national defense and a prosperous economy.”

###


Rep. Becca Balint Backs Impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

“Kristi Noem has proven to be an unqualified leader in charge of what has become a rogue army of ICE agents. Americans have been stunned by the cruelty and callousness of agents under her leadership, and she has been unaccountable to members of Congress who have rightly demanded answers on behalf of our constituents. Over the past year, Secretary Noem has endangered our communities, disregarded due process, and undermined the legal immigration system. Now, with her botched handling of the Renee Nicole Good shooting investigation, she has further eroded public trust by lying to Americans and telling us that we can’t believe our own eyes.

“Good was a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, and it’s clear she was not a domestic terrorist. Renee, her family, and her community deserve full accountability, and justice must be served. That includes holding Secretary Noem accountable for her role in creating and condoning an environment in which unchecked force and disregard for our constitutional rights have become routine. Secretary Noem should be impeached and held responsible for her actions.”