Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 1/16/2026-1/23/2026

Demanding Accountability for Secret ICE Policy Ignoring the Fourth Amendment

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), is demanding accountability following whistleblower disclosures detailing a secret U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy permitting agents to circumvent the privacy protections in the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment and enter Americans’ homes without a standard warrant.

Anonymous whistleblowers disclosed a policy memo written by Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons authorizing federal immigration agents to enter American homes without a judicial warrant in order to effectuate civil immigration arrests. This policy is directly contrary to longstanding legal interpretation of the Fourth Amendment and agency practice, which requires ICE agents to obtain a judicial warrant duly signed and executed by a judge in order to enter someone’s home. The whistleblower disclosure and public reporting reveal at least two examples of U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials wrongly entering the homes of American families in the past year.

“Every American should be terrified by this secret ICE policy authorizing its agents to kick down your door and storm into your home. It is a legally and morally abhorrent policy that exemplifies the kinds of dangerous, disgraceful abuses America is seeing in real time. In our democracy, with vanishingly rare exceptions, the government is barred from breaking into your home without a judge giving a green light. Government agents have no right to ransack your bedroom or terrorize your kids on a whim or personal desire. I am deeply grateful to brave whistleblowers who have come forward and put the rights of their fellow Americans first.”

“My Republican colleagues who claim to value personal rights against government overreach now have an opportunity and obligation to prove that rhetoric is real. They must hold hearings and join me in demanding the Trump Administration answer for this lawless policy.”

Blumenthal is demanding DHS Secretary Kristi Noem provide an explanation for the policy and calling for hearings in both the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees. Blumenthal also wrote the Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to determine if instructors have secretly been directed to verbally train newly hired ICE agents to enter people’s homes without a judicial warrant.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW to discuss the secret ICE memo telling agents to disregard the Fourth Amendment.

“What is really terrifying about this memo is not only that it directs agents to engage in blatantly unconstitutional action, but it is also from the Acting Director of ICE, Todd Lyons. The highest levels of ICE, in effect, are saying that agents should break down your door, ransack your home, terrify your children, arrest or detain you without a judicial warrant. Americans ought to be terrified as well as shocked. And it simply means that the law means nothing to these agents. We've seen it on the streets, but now we know that it is authorized at the highest level of ICE,” said Blumenthal on MS NOW.

The full interview can be found here.

Blumenthal also joined CNN to discuss the ICE memo, calling it a “blatant, craven violation of the fourth amendment.” The full interview with CNN can be found here.

Blumenthal is leading an ongoing investigation into the treatment of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents. In October, Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, opened an inquiry into frequent reports of unconstitutional detentions of U.S. citizens by agents of ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), often using disproportionate force.

In December, Blumenthal released a report highlighting firsthand accounts of twenty-two Americans who were physically assaulted, pepper sprayed, denied medical treatment, and detained – sometimes for days – by federal immigration agents. The report, Unchecked Authority: Examining the Trump Administration’s Extrajudicial Immigration Detentions Of U.S. Citizens, was released ahead of a bicameral public forum hosted by Blumenthal and Garcia to receive testimony from five Americans who were unconstitutionally detained by DHS agents.

Last week, following the killing of Renee Nicole Good, an unarmed U.S. citizen, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota Blumenthal wrote Noem seeking information and records regarding ICE training policies. The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Noem is available here.

Blumenthal’s letter to Noem demanding information about the ICE policy is available here.

Blumenthal’s letter to U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and to U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, requesting hearings in those committees is available here.

Blumenthal’s letter to Benjamin Huffman, Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, is available here.

On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Blumenthal released a comprehensive report detailing the harm and impacts of the Trump Administration’s draconian directives and cuts on veterans. The report, Breaking the Pact: Impacts of Trump, DOGE, and Doug Collins’ Ongoing Assault on Veterans, was released ahead of the Committee’s oversight hearing with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins next week.

Blumenthal’s report reveals historic staffing losses at the Department resulting in dire workforce shortages, increasing wait times for life-saving mental health care, and veterans’ care and benefits being put at risk as a direct result of the Trump Administration’s harmful policies. The Committee report—compiled from extensive reporting, firsthand accounts, and ongoing conversations with veterans and VA employees across the nation—details the Administration’s systemic assault on VA over the past year and the tangible impacts its cuts are having on veterans.

“Instead of building on the progress of the Biden Administration and prioritizing veterans’ best interests, the Trump Administration has spent the last year recklessly implementing politically-motivated policies that place veterans’ care and benefits at greater risk than ever before,” said Blumenthal. “The costs of these policies are mounting. VA is hemorrhaging doctors, mental health professionals, nurses, and other frontline providers. Experienced staff are leaving in droves, while recruitment falters amid toxic working conditions and indiscriminate firings. The resulting harm to the quality and timeliness of care will be felt for years. And this growing damage helps explain why the Trump Administration has often refused to provide Congress with even the most basic information about their policies and their impact on veterans.”

Blumenthal continued, “This report—grounded in testimony from veterans and VA employees—seeks to expose that cover-up and document the harm inflicted. The conclusion is unmistakable: Veterans are paying the price for this Administration’s self-inflicted sabotage, while dedicated VA employees are demoralized and exhausted by the incompetence and hostility of their leadership.”

The full report is found here.

Blumenthal held a virtual press conference discussing the comprehensive report detailing the harm and impacts of the Trump Administration’s draconian directives and cuts on veterans. Blumenthal was joined by veterans’ advocates and labor partners at the press conference.

“It is a fight—make no mistake. The Veterans Administration is a great institution. It provides health care to so many of our nation’s heroes, it makes sure they receive compensation and disability benefits, and it provides role models for young people—my two sons, one who served in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan as an Infantry Officer, the other, a Navy SEAL. But this agency really needs support right now, urgently and immediately, because it will be diminished. The trend that we are seeing is frightening. It is frightening and deeply alarming because it will have negative impacts for our veterans,” said Blumenthal at the press conference.

A recording of the full press conference can be found here.

Fighting to Prevent Tragic Roadside Deaths

Blumenthal announced at a press conference new bipartisan legislation he is leading with U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) to reduce the number of roadside and work zone fatalities. The Preventing Roadside and Work Zone Deaths Act would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to collect, analyze, compile, and publish accurate, detailed data on disabled roadside vehicle crashes and work zone crashes to develop a strategic plan to stop these incidents.

“I am proposing legislation that will compel states to do strategic plans—in the way Connecticut has done—but also federal funding for programs to stop these needless preventable deaths. We should be angry as well as grief-stricken. Slow Down, Move Over is designed to protect the good Samaritan among us, who stop to help people change a tire, start an engine, tow truck drivers, first responders when there is a crash, construction workers making the roads better, doing their work. Unacceptable that we continue to lose lives when drivers have failed to slow down and move over,” said Blumenthal at the press conference.

The bill builds on Blumenthal’s annual Slow Down Move Over resolutions inspired by Corey Iodice. In recent years, the resolutions have honored State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, who was struck by a driver during a traffic stop in 2024, Andrew DiDomenico, a ConnDOT worker struck and killed on the job in 2024, and Jose Diaz Nieves, a construction workers struck and killed on a jobsite in Hartford in 2024.

Blumenthal also highlighted the need for his legislation to prevent roadside tragedies on Twitter/X.

“Slow Down, Move Over saves lives—it's that simple. My legislation prevents senseless injuries & deaths for our first responders, tow truck operators, construction workers, & more,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Demanding an Investigation of Fire Truck Monopoly

Blumenthal joined the West Hartford Fire Department and Fire Chiefs from across Connecticut at a press conference to sound the alarm on the rising costs and years-long delays departments are facing when buying new fire trucks. Many Connecticut Fire Departments are seeing steep increases in the cost of fire trucks, years-long delays in delivery of new fire trucks and declining quality of the product. This is caused in part by market consolidation—three companies now have 80% control over the market for fire trucks. This has forced many Connecticut departments to delay purchasing new trucks or continue relying on aging equipment, putting both the public and first responders at risk.

Blumenthal is demanding the Federal Trade Commission open an antitrust investigation into the companies and bring enforcement action if necessary.

“Buying a firetruck has become a nightmare. As the Chief outlined for you, costs have doubled, delays have tripled or quadrupled, quality has declined, imperiling public safety and putting fire fighters at risk. And that is unconscionable. What we need is the Federal Trade Commission to intervene here and make sure there is competition in the market—that’s the job of the FTC. But even more, we need federal action from Congress. We can’t rely on the Federal Trade Commission alone,” said Blumenthal at the press conference.

Blumenthal further highlighted the need for intervention from the Federal Trade Commission and Congress to break up the monopoly of fire truck market on Twitter/X.

“Buying a fire truck has become a nightmare. Monopolistic market control by 3 companies causes skyrocketing prices, longer delays & lower quality. I’m fighting for FTC & Congressional action,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal sounded the alarm on USPS delays.

Blumenthal joined Delta Sigma Theta’s 41st annual MLK Scholarship Breakfast.

Blumenthal attended Westport Library’s 20th annual MLK Conversation with champions Jelani Cobb & Trey Ellis.

Blumenthal joined students, teachers, and the Meriden community in celebrating MLK’s ideals and high schoolers who embody them.

Blumenthal attended Norwalk’s Grace Baptist Church’s MLK Day Ecumenical Service.

Blumenthal highlighted the need to protect student athletes and fans with his bipartisan proposal.

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Booker, Shaheen Push for Accountability After Elections in Uganda

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa & Global Health Policy, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee released the following statement after the elections held in Uganda on January 15, 2026.

“Uganda’s elections – like the recent elections in Tanzania - were a hollow exercise, staged to legitimize President Yoweri Museveni’s seventh term and four decades in power.

“But even more so than Tanzania, Uganda is a key regional security partner to the United States. Yet, its ruling regime prioritizes domestic control through political violence, abductions, imprisonment, intimidation of opponents, and the misuse of state resources to maintain its grip on power. Uganda is also linked to destabilizing regional activities, including in South Sudan—making the regime an increasingly problematic exporter of instability. Tanzania and Uganda are moving along similar paths, raising serious concerns about what this portends for other countries with upcoming elections, including Ethiopia and Kenya.

“I applaud how the Trump Administration is pursuing commercial and security gains in the region, but I’m concerned this will be increasingly difficult to do given the current trajectory. As with Tanzania, the administration should reassess the U.S. security relationship with Uganda, beginning with a review of whether sanctions are warranted under existing authorities against specific actors, including General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.”


Booker Announces Legislation Cracking Down on ICE Detention Facilities & Practices Following Tour of Delaney Hall

NEWARK, N.J. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced the reintroduction of the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act alongside U.S. Representatives LaMonica McIver and Rob Menendez and New Jersey immigrant rights advocates. The bill would end the use of private, for-profit detention facilities, prohibit the practice of detaining families, and ensure due process. It would also repeal mandatory detention and increase federal oversight, accountability, and transparency of the immigration detention system.

Ahead of the bill’s announcement, Senator Booker toured Delaney Hall. The tour comes after Senator Booker has repeatedly and forcefully spoken out against the conditions at Delaney Hall, condemned its private operators, the GEO Group, and called for the site’s closure.

Earlier this week, Senator Booker also visited the site of a proposed ICE detention facility in Roxbury, NJ and met with community leaders in Morristown, NJ following an ICE raid outside of a local laundromat earlier this month in which multiple Morristown residents and a high school student were detained. He also expressed his strong objection to any new ICE detention centers in New Jersey in an op-ed published in NJ.com. Senator Booker has also made clear he will not approve more federal funding for “an agency right now that is out of control.”

“Delaney Hall, and every detention center like it, are a moral stain on our country. The conditions are an abdication of the federal government’s responsibility to care for those in its custody. GEO Group was awarded a 15-year, one billion dollar contract by the Department of Homeland Security to warehouse our immigrant neighbors. As taxpayers, we’re footing the bill for a system that is brutalizing those detained within it. Enough is enough,” said Senator Booker. “With the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, we can move away from this system of neglect and cruelty. We can strike a blow against the corrupt for-profit prison model of incarceration. We can guarantee due process for our immigrant neighbors and ban mandatory detentions. Doing this will safeguard our communities and it will bring us steps closer to achieving an immigration system built on dignity and justice that we know is possible.”

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act is proudly endorsed by a nationwide coalition of over 125 organizations. Its current cosponsors in the U.S. Senate include Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA). The bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in late 2025 by Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07) and Adam Smith (D-WA-09).

“Under the Trump Administration, we have seen a shocking surge in the detention of people who have committed no crimes, being locked up in increasingly horrifying conditions, and a dramatic increase in deaths in custody,” said Representative Pramila Jayapal. “People, including children, are being held in squalor, largely in private, for-profit detention facilities, all to pad the bottom lines of prison corporations that donate to Donald Trump and Republicans. As Trump has struck down legal pathways and made it nearly impossible to come to or stay in this country, even for those who have been here for decades, this will only continue to get worse. The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act is a commonsense solution to protect the civil rights of every person in this country.”

"We are witnessing appalling conditions for immigration detention and a clear disregard for basic human rights," said Representative Adam Smith. "No one should be subjected to overcrowded cells, denied medical care, or held in facilities that profit off of human suffering. This legislation establishes the oversight and guardrails needed to end these abuses and ensure that people are treated with dignity."

“We keep coming back to Delaney because what we are seeing from ICE is unjust. Last month, a man detained at Delaney Hall died in ICE custody. Nationwide, our neighbors are being targeted by Trump’s inhumane DHS, detained without any process, denied their basic rights, even killed—all under a system designed to avoid accountability. As an original cosponsor of the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act in the House, I’m proud Senator Booker is reintroducing the Senate companion today. Trump brought this fight into our backyard and he wants to intimidate us, but we will never back down in our communities or in the halls of Congress. With all we have, we will continue standing up to protect people,” said Representative LaMonica McIver.

“What we continue to see at Delaney Hall and in immigration detention centers across the country is a betrayal of the American Dream,” said Representative Rob Menendez. “I was proud to be an original cosponsor for the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act in the House, and I’m proud to stand with Senator Booker today as he reintroduces this critical legislation. This legislation will phase out the use of private detention centers and hold currently open facilities accountable for unsafe conditions. I will continue to fight for dignity, accountability, and the ultimate closure of these detention centers.”

“We’re grateful for Sen. Booker’s leadership in introducing the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act. With each day under the Trump administration, it becomes clearer that ICE is a lawless, rogue agency designed to violently detain and deport people while imposing harm and cruelty. This mass detention system cannot be reformed – it is antithetical to basic human decency, the rule of law, and the spirit of our nation’s founding. We’re calling for the swift passage of this bill as it prioritizes the dignity of all people and offers an important step toward ending the cruel mass detention and deportation machine once and for all,” ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha.

“This bill is called Dignity for Detained Immigrants, but we know there is no such thing under this current administration. Every day there are reports of human rights violations at the hands of ICE. Toddlers are dying in private immigration jails without access to basic medical care,” said Nedia Morsy, Director of Make the Road New Jersey. “We will organize to pass this bill so that one day we can look back and tell the story of how this legislation was the first step to dismantle a brutal system that has caused immeasurable pain and suffering across our country. In this country, presidents come and go but immigrants are here to stay. We thank Senator Booker for introducing this bill and are ready to stand with him to get it passed.”

Additional Information: Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act


Booker, Britt Announce Reintroduction of Bipartisan Resolution Designating January 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Katie Britt (R-AL) announced the reintroduction of a bipartisan resolution to officially designate January 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day. The resolution emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness of maternal health outcomes and promotes initiatives to address and eliminate its disparities.

“In the richest country in the world, it is unacceptable that giving birth in America remains one of the most dangerous experiences a woman can face, especially for Black women,” said Senator Booker. “The vast majority of maternal deaths are preventable. Addressing the maternal health crisis is not a partisan issue; it is a responsibility we all share. That is why I am proud to work with my Republican colleague to stand up and demand that Congress act quickly to ensure that every mother has access to safe, affordable, and high-quality health care.

“Every mother deserves access to quality care—before, during, and after pregnancy. Maternal Health Awareness Day is an important opportunity to continue our commitment to supporting mothers, championing families, and working to ensure the best possible health outcomes for women and their babies across the nation, especially in rural and underserved areas,” said Senator Britt.

“ACOG is pleased to again support the Maternal Health Awareness Day Resolution led by Sen. Cory Booker that helps bring awareness to maternal health and continued efforts to improve outcomes. The United States still has an unacceptably high maternal mortality rate and what’s worse is that a large majority remain preventable. For this year’s Maternal Health Awareness Day, ACOG has chosen the theme Holding Ground on Maternal Health to give health professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to preventing maternal deaths by continuing to advocate for policies and implement actionable solutions that will save lives. As we face increasing obstacles that threaten to halt the progress already made, we applaud Sen. Booker for continuing to mark the day and raise awareness about this critically important issue,” said Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

"Giving birth should deliver joy — a healthy baby to a healthy mom, both with the promise of a healthy future. But far too often in the U.S., the journey of pregnancy and childbirth is unnecessarily risky, even dangerous, sometimes deadly. Far too many moms, especially moms who are Black, Native, or living in rural communities don’t receive the quality, comprehensive, respectful, responsive and nurturing maternal healthcare they need to deliver that healthy beginning and healthy future to themselves and the babies they love. We can all agree: our moms and babies, all of our moms and babies, deserve better. That’s why the What to Expect Project and I are proud to stand with Senator Booker and Senator Britt in support of the bipartisan Maternal Health Awareness Day Resolution, and to raise our voices in support of moms and babies everywhere,” said Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting and founder of the What to Expect Project.

“The United States remains in the midst of a maternal and infant health crisis, one marked by outcomes that are both unacceptable and largely preventable,” said Stacey Y. Brayboy, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs at March of Dimes. “Each year, more than 600 women die from pregnancy-related causes, tens of thousands experience life-threatening complications, nearly 380,000 infants are born preterm, and almost 40,000 babies are lost to infant death or stillbirth. For the fourth consecutive year, the U.S. has received a D+ on the March of Dimes Report Card, underscoring the urgent need for action.” Brayboy continued, “Raising awareness is a critical first step in addressing the systemic drivers of this crisis. March of Dimes thanks Senator Booker and Senator Britt for introducing this bipartisan resolution to recognize Maternal Health Awareness Day and for their continued leadership in advancing policies that improve outcomes for moms and babies at a time when our nation needs it most.”

Senator Booker’s resolution notes that as many as 60,000 women in the United States suffer from a severe maternal morbidity, which includes unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that can result in significant short- and long-term health consequences, and recognizes community-based maternal health models that have been proven to improve the health of birthing people throughout the country. With one-third of maternal mortality cases occurring between one week and one year postpartum, expanding access to health care after delivery nationwide is a vital step to saving lives.

In 2018, New Jersey led the way by becoming the first state to acknowledge Maternal Health Awareness Day, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Tara Hansen Foundation, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and other essential organizations dedicated to raising awareness and combating maternal mortality. Since this historic recognition, numerous state entities, advocacy groups, community organizations, and others have united on January 23 to elevate awareness surrounding maternal health. This day serves as a platform to educate healthcare providers on maternal mortality, urging birthing individuals, families, and healthcare professionals to identify and discuss potential signs of emergencies.

This resolution builds on the Senators’ ongoing efforts to improve maternal health outcomes. In November 2025, the Senators Booker and Britt introduced the NIH IMPROVE Act, legislation that would provide consistent, long-term funding for research on maternal care and mortality, generating the data needed to save lives and improve outcomes for mothers nationwide.

To read the full text of the resolution, click here.

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Booker, Shaheen, SFRC Democrats Condemn Trump Administration’s Expanded Global Gag Rule

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to dramatically expand the Global Gag Rule to ban U.S. foreign assistance to American and foreign NGOs, other countries, and multilateral organizations that do not adopt the Administration’s prohibitions on reproductive care, “gender ideology,” and diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, even when using their own funds.

“President Trump’s decision to radically expand the Global Gag Rule is a direct assault on all forms of foreign assistance and U.S. global leadership. By blocking U.S. funding to any entity that does not conform to his extreme ideological agenda, the Administration is exporting MAGA culture wars overseas and turning lifesaving aid into a political tool. This order goes far beyond anything we’ve seen before. It will shrink global resources to fight disease, respond to humanitarian crises and protect women and girls from violence, while forcing many of our trusted partners to shut their doors or betray their missions. In doing so, it also leaves Americans more vulnerable to infectious diseases and health threats that do not respect borders. Let us be clear: this rule tells the world to toe their line or lose aid.

"Already, the Trump Administration’s decimation of USAID, including development, humanitarian and global health programs has led to 600,000 deaths and is expected to lead to the deaths of 14 million people over the next five years. Even more troubling, the Trump Administration is attempting to rush these changes through without the public notice-and-comment process laid out by Congress. U.S. foreign assistance should be guided by evidence, informed through consultation with our partners and aligned with our values and national security interests—not dictated by partisan ideology.”


U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Cory Booker Seek to Designate January 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) announced the reintroduction of a bipartisan resolution to officially designate January 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day. The resolution emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness of maternal health outcomes and promotes initiatives to address and eliminate its disparities.

“Every mother deserves access to quality care—before, during, and after pregnancy. Maternal Health Awareness Day is an important opportunity to continue our commitment to supporting mothers, championing families, and working to ensure the best possible health outcomes for women and their babies across the nation, especially in rural and underserved areas,” said Senator Britt.

The resolution notes that as many as 60,000 women in the United States suffer from a severe maternal morbidity, which includes unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that can result in significant short- and long-term health consequences, and recognizes community-based maternal health models that have been proven to improve the health of birthing people throughout the country. With one-third of maternal mortality cases occurring between one week and one year postpartum, expanding access to health care after delivery nationwide is a vital step to saving lives.

In Alabama, over a third of its 67 counties are classified as “maternity care deserts,” areas without access to birthing facilities or maternity care providers. In the fall of 2023, three Alabama hospitals announced closures of their labor and delivery departments, leaving both Shelby and Monroe counties without labor and delivery services. Additionally, Alabama has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation at 59.7 deaths per 100,000 births.

“In the richest country in the world, it is unacceptable that giving birth in America remains one of the most dangerous experiences a woman can face, especially for Black women,” said Senator Booker. “The vast majority of maternal deaths are preventable. Addressing the maternal health crisis is not a partisan issue; it is a responsibility we all share. That is why I am proud to work with my Republican colleague to stand up and demand that Congress act quickly to ensure that every mother has access to safe, affordable, and high-quality health care.

This resolution builds on the Senators’ ongoing efforts to improve maternal health outcomes. In November 2025, Senator Booker joined Senator Britt in reintroducing the NIH IMPROVE Act, legislation that would provide consistent, long-term funding for research on maternal care and mortality, generating the data needed to save lives and improve outcomes for mothers nationwide.

“Giving birth should deliver joy — a healthy baby to a healthy mom, both with the promise of a healthy future. But far too often in the U.S., the journey of pregnancy and childbirth is unnecessarily risky, even dangerous, sometimes deadly. Far too many moms, especially moms who are Black, Native, or living in rural communities don’t receive the quality, comprehensive, respectful, responsive and nurturing maternal healthcare they need to deliver that healthy beginning and healthy future to themselves and the babies they love. We can all agree: our moms and babies, all of our moms and babies, deserve better. That’s why the What to Expect Project and I are proud to stand with Senator Booker and Senator Britt in support of the bipartisan Maternal Health Awareness Day Resolution, and to raise our voices in support of moms and babies everywhere,” said Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting and founder of the What to Expect Project.

“The United States remains in the midst of a maternal and infant health crisis, one marked by outcomes that are both unacceptable and largely preventable,” said Stacey Y. Brayboy, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs at March of Dimes. “Each year, more than 600 women die from pregnancy-related causes, tens of thousands experience life-threatening complications, nearly 380,000 infants are born preterm, and almost 40,000 babies are lost to infant death or stillbirth. For the fourth consecutive year, the U.S. has received a D+ on the March of Dimes Report Card, underscoring the urgent need for action.”Brayboy continued, “Raising awareness is a critical first step in addressing the systemic drivers of this crisis. March of Dimes thanks Senator Booker and Senator Britt for introducing this bipartisan resolution to recognize Maternal Health Awareness Day and for their continued leadership in advancing policies that improve outcomes for moms and babies at a time when our nation needs it most.”

You can read the full text of the resolution here.

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Senator Capito Participates in Investiture Ceremony for Moore Capito

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today delivered remarks at the Investiture Ceremony for Moore Capito. U.S. Senator Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), along with Senator Capito’s support, recommended Moore Capito to President Trump who announced the decision to nominate him in 2025 for a judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

“Today was an incredibly meaningful moment,” Senator Capito said. “Moore is stepping into an office defined by public trust, the rule of law, and a long legacy of integrity in the Southern District of West Virginia. The U.S. Attorney holds one of the most consequential responsibilities in our justice system, and I know Moore will approach that duty with the fairness, humility, and commitment it demands.”

BACKGROUND: Senator Justice, along with Senator Capito’s support, recommended Moore Capito’s nomination to President Trump. Moore Capito was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2025 to serve as a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Moore Capito previously served in the West Virginia Legislature, where he was elected to four terms in the House of Delegates representing the 35th District in Kanawha County. As a legislator, Moore Capito served as Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary and as a member of the Banking and Insurance Committee, the Technology and Infrastructure Committee, and on the Joint Committee on Natural Gas Development. Moore Capito also served on the Legislature's Commission on Special Investigations and on the interim committees on Economic Development, Government and Finance, and Redistricting. Moore Capito established and served as Co-Chair of the Legislature’s bipartisan Tech Caucus, which focuses on issues related to entrepreneurship and innovation, and served on the Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia Advisory Council and as the Co-Chair of the joint West Virginia Law Institute Committee.

Moore Capito has substantial experience in corporate and energy law, including all phases of complex corporate, commercial, and real estate transactions. Prior to taking office, Moore Capito practiced law with the Babst Calland law firm. He represented publicly traded and privately held clients in corporate mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures as well as business structuring, governance, commercial contracts, and real estate transactions. Moore Capito also advised and counseled companies in navigating the complex legal landscape of emerging technologies, including data center development.

Moore Capito was raised in Charleston, West Virginia, where he graduated from George Washington High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree at Duke University and his law degree from Washington and Lee University.

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Cramer Commends March for Life

Cramer Commends March for Life

BISMARCK, N.D. — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) expressed his gratitude today for the thousands of marchers who traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 2026 National March for Life to support the unborn, the sanctity of God’s greatest creation, and call attention to the ongoing moral decay hidden by the falsehood of choice.

“These pro-life warriors are doing God’s work as they raise the banner of life and step forward to defend the defenseless in the incessant war on the unborn,” said Cramer. “This is what peaceful assembly looks like. Their support for life at all stages gives us hope, but this march also drives home the magnitude of what we have lost. It is not just for the 63 million children who will never be born, but also for their mothers and fathers, for families who will forever be incomplete. I will never stop fighting for them. Thank you to all who march in support of the most fundamental right we have – the right to life.”

Cramer introduced the Unborn Child Support Act to give mothers the ability to receive child support payments while they are pregnant. He joined U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) to introduce the More Opportunities for Moms (MOMS) Act, which aims to provide critical support to women during typically challenging phases of motherhood – prenatal, postpartum, and early childhood development – with resources and assistance necessary for mothers and their children to succeed and thrive. The MOMS Act includes Cramer’sUnborn Child Support Act.

Cramer also cosponsored the following pro-life bills and supported measures to ensure federal policy is consistent with pro-life principles:

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith’s (R-MS) Support and Value Expectant (SAVE) Moms and Babies Act: Reinstates the in-person dispensing requirement for chemical abortion drugs and improves reporting requirements for complications.

U.S. Senator Ashley Moody’s (R-FL) Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act: Creates new federal crimes for transporting a minor across state lines for an abortion.

U.S. Senator James Lankford’s (R-OK) Born-Alice Abortion Survivors Protection Act: Adds clear expectations of care, hospital transfer requirements, mandatory reporting, private rights of action for moms, and reasonable criminal penalties for healthcare professionals who violate the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act passed in 2002.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker’s (R-MS) No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act: Prevents all federal funds from being used to pay for abortion or health benefits that include abortion, which would make the Hyde Amendment and other current abortion funding prohibitions permanent and government-wide. It would also ensure the Affordable Care Act faithfully conforms to the Hyde Amendment.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-IA) Protecting Funding for Women’s Healthcare Act: Bans federal funding of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, in addition to all affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, or clinics.

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts into law, which restricts federal Medicaid funding for one year to prohibited entities like Planned Parenthood clinics.

Senator Ernst’s Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act: Requires states to report abortion data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on an annual basis as a condition of receiving federal Medicaid payment.

U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ (R-MT) Protecting Life on College Campus Act: Prohibits federal funds from going to any institution of higher learning which hosts or is affiliated with a student-based service site that provides abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees of the institution, such as an on-campus clinic or a campus partnership with an entity which provides abortions in any form.

Senator Daines’ Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act: Protects the rights of individuals with down syndrome by federally prohibiting doctors from knowingly performing abortions in cases where a baby received a prenatal diagnosis of down syndrome, as well as bans anyone from forcing a woman to have an abortion due to a prenatal down syndrome diagnosis.

U.S. Senator Mike Lee’s (R-UT) Abortion is Not Healthcare Act: Ends the tax deductibility of abortions and clarify that this gruesome practice is not healthcare.

Senator Lee’s Protecting Life in HSAs Act: Ends the preferential tax treatment of abortion in health savings accounts (HSAs).

Senator Lee’s Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act: Codifies and expands the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA) policy which was implemented by President Trump in his first term.

Senator Hyde-Smith’s Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act: Ends federal support for research involving human fetal tissue obtained from abortions and outlaws trafficking of such tissue.

On January 22, the Trump administration announced the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will no longer fund research of human fetal tissue derived from abortions.

Senator Schmitt’s Standing with Moms Act: Creates a federal clearinghouse of federal, state, and local pro-life resources and services for pregnant and parenting mothers.

Senator Lankford’s Conscience Protection Act: Codifies an expanded version of the Weldon Amendment, and prevents any federal, state, or local government from penalizing or discriminating against a healthcare provider who does not facilitate, perform, refer for, pay for, or participate in abortion, including providing or sponsoring abortion coverage.

U.S. Senator Tom Cotton’s (R-AK) Helping Equal Access to Leave and Investing in Needs for Grieving (HEALING) Mothers and Father Act: Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include spontaneous loss of an unborn child a qualifying medical condition for FMLA leave, as well as establishes a tax credit for a woman that suffers the loss of a child in the womb.

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds’ (R-SD) Life at Conception Act: Declares the right to life guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) Letter to HHS & FDA regarding Approval of New Generic Brand of Abortion Pill: Urged U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary RFK Jr. and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Martin Makary to restore critical safeguards and halt the distribution of these drugs without proper medical oversight.

Senator Lee’s Letter to OPM regarding Abortion Coverage in Congressional Health Plans: Urged the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor to stop administering government contributions for Members of Congress and Congressional staff in connection with health insurance plans that cover elective abortion, in violation of the longstanding Smith (NJ) Amendment (1984).

Senators Hyde-Smith and Lankford’s Letter to Trump regarding Pro-Life Initiatives: Demonstrated support for reinstating the life-affirming victories of President Trump’s first term.

Senator Wicker’s Letter to Trump regarding Eliminating Funding for hESC Research: Requested elimination of funding for human embryonic stem cell research (hESC) and expressed Members’ serious moral objections to hESC, which relies on the death of young human beings.

Senators Hyde-Smith and Lankford’s Congressional Comment Letter to VA Secretary Collins regarding Rescinding VA Abortion Rule: Supported the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposed rule to rescind the Biden administration’s final “Reproductive Health Services” rule, which allows abortion on demand at VA facilities.

On December 23, 2025, the VA finalized this reversal, prohibiting abortions at VA facilities, except when the mother’s life is at risk.


Cramer Visits Yuma Proving Ground, Showcases Innovative Military Testing and Technology

***Click here for media resources.***

YUMA, AZ – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R–ND) got an up-close look at next generation technology the U.S. Army is developing at the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) in Arizona. The Army’s premier large-scale test and evaluation center is a cornerstone of America’s national security. From artillery systems and aircraft to cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies, YPG’s expansive, isolated ranges allow rapid testing of a wide spectrum of military equipment designed to keep America safe.

Cramer observed how YPG’s testing operations quickly analyze emerging threats to develop counter measures to keep American troops safe. The center is at the forefront of counter–unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) testing and maintains a strong partnership with Joint Interagency Task Force 401. Established last August, the task force was created to consolidate resources and accelerate the delivery of affordable counter-drone capabilities designed to protect U.S. personnel and facilities both at home and abroad.

***Click here to watch Cramer’s remarks. Click here for audio.***

“This was a great day with the leadership and the folks here at Yuma Proving Ground, which is probably not well known, but a very, very important testing site for all things innovative that the Army leads but does for the joint force,” said Cramer. “Kudos and thanks to Col. Nelson and his team. My main interest in coming here was being the chairman of the Airland Subcommittee, the fact that counter-UAS technologies are probably as important right now to warfighting as anything that’s happening in the world today. It’s probably an area of some vulnerability, and they’ve really been tasked with doing a lot of the counter-UAS and UAS testing here at Yuma. I wanted to come down and see it firsthand, particularly given that Grand Forks Air Force Base has been named by Air Combat Command to be their lead on Defense Battle Lab which does similar things. It looks out for the technologies and tries to advance the technologies to protect our military bases from unmanned aerial systems, small drones, swarms of drones, all the things that we’ve seen happening in places like Iran and Ukraine.”

“This was an important mission for me, and an important educational opportunity for me,” continued Cramer. “I was very, very encouraged, I am very encouraged by what I’m seeing, and I tried to provide a little encouragement to the folks on the ground here. I’ll take back what I’ve learned here and bring it to my colleagues and bring it back to North Dakota.”

The center plays a key role in supporting the delivery of new capabilities to the Army, joint services, and international partner forces. Its ranges, state-of-the-art technology, and expertise in evaluating military systems make it a unique asset in advancing the nation’s defense and security priorities.


Crapo Joins Rounds to Introduce the Life at Conception Act

Washington, D.C.--On the day of the annual March for Life, U.S. Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo, along with 10 of his Republican Seante colleagues, joined U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) to introduce the Life at Conception Act, which would legally recognize the right to life by extending 14th Amendment protections to unborn children.

The Life at Conception Act clarifies in statute that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life. This is defined as the moment of conception, or any other moment at which an individual comes into being.

“We have a moral responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us,” said Crapo. “By recognizing life at conception, we affirm that the right to life is fundamental and universal.”

“Life at all stages is a gift from God and should be treated with dignity,” said Rounds. “The Life at Conception Act would protect the right to life in the Constitution to human beings at all stages, including in the womb. I’m pleased to be leading this legislation in the Senate with the support of my colleagues to protect the sanctity of human life.”

This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Jim Banks (R-Indiana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Steve Daines (R-Montana) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas). Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri) is leading companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill is endorsed by the National Pro-Life Alliance, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Students for Life Action, the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee and the Family Research Council.

“For more than twenty years, members of the National Pro-Life Alliance have championed the Life at Conception Act,” said Martin Fox, President at National Pro-Life Alliance. “We are honored that Senator Rounds is taking the lead on a bill that is now more important than ever due to the many loopholes that abortionists are using to get around state protections for the unborn. The Life at Conception Act reaffirms the original intention of the writers of the 14th Amendment by declaring that the word ‘person’ includes all persons from the moment of conception.”

“The Life at Conception Act affirms a simple, foundational truth backed by science and designed by God - from the moment of conception, a unique human life is formed,” said Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. “Our laws should recognize the dignity, humanity, and inherent worth of every unborn child. Thank you, Senator Rounds for your steadfast pro-life leadership to defend the most vulnerable Americans.”

“Recognizing that a unique human being begins at the moment of conception, the Life at Conception Act implements equal protection for every human being from their first moments of existence,” said Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life Action & Students for Life of America. “What makes this measure the gold standard for recognizing the value of every life is the acknowledgement that the legal rights of preborn children are rooted in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This profound truth is echoed in the 2024 GOP Platform and is a message that Students for Life Action (SFLAction) celebrates and recommends in legislative findings across the board. Arbitrarily leaving some human beings outside of the protections of the law is a mistake that this nation does not need to make again. SFLAction gives this legislation our strongest endorsement and will score both votes and sponsorships of the bill.” ?

“The Declaration of Independence stated that all people have a fundamental right to life; it is time for Congress to recognize that that truth extends to children in the womb,” said Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee. “The Life at Conception Act declares what most Americans believe and what science has long known - that life begins at conception and, therefore, preborn babies are entitled to the protection offered by the 14th Amendment. Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee is proud to endorse this legislation that affirms and protects the unique dignity of every life."

Click HERE for full bill text.

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Daines Celebrates March for Life: “All Life is Created with Dignity”

Introduces Slate of Pro-Life, Pro-Family Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the below statement today celebrating the 53rd Annual March for Life. Daines also joined his colleagues in introducing a slate of bills that advance life and family values.

“To all those marching for life today—thank you for using your voice to protect the voiceless. It is a Biblical truth that we are formed by God in our mothers’ wombs, and created with dignity from the moment of conception. It’s also a Constitutional principle that we are all created equal, inside and outside of the womb. Every life is a gift that should be celebrated. But it takes courage to stand for life in this day and age. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for marching today and for fighting for what’s right. Let’s continue to stand up for the unborn, for the sanctity of life and for the dignity of our most vulnerable. Thank you again, and God bless you all.”

Watch his video statement HERE.

Leading up to the March, Daines cosponsored several bills to support life:

The Life at Conception Act:

The bill declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested to each human being at all stages of life, beginning from the moment of fertilization.

The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act:

This bill requires universities to inform students who are pregnant of their rights and protections that would allow them to carry a pregnancy to term without abandoning their academic career, such as modified class schedules, excused absences, and resources.

The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act:

This legislation makes it a federal offense to knowingly transport a minor across state lines without complying with parental consent and notification laws.

As the founder of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, Daines has always been a strong advocate for life. Read more of his work HERE.

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Duckworth, Durbin, Secure Support for Illinois Priorities in Recently Passed Package of Three Government Funding Bills

The package included Commerce, Justice, and Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment government funding bills

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the various priorities for Illinois they secured in the recently passed package of government funding bills for Commerce, Justice and Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26).

“Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families—and that’s what these bipartisan funding bills do,” Duckworth said. “Appropriating federal funding is the primary role of Congress, and it’s critical this responsibility remains in the legislative branch. I’m proud we were able to come together and pass these bills in a bipartisan manner, and I urge my colleagues to work together to pass funding bills that actually help the American people.”

“This government funding package had a strong showing of bipartisan support, a step in the right direction as Congress works to complete the appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2026,” said Durbin. “The bills include significant investments in the future of Illinois, providing the resources for national, regional, and state programs to better serve the people of Illinois.”

The three funding bills include the following Illinois priorities secured by Congressionally Directed Spending requests:

Commerce, Justice, Science

Crisis Intervention Initiative, Aurora, Illinois: $128,000 to the City of Aurora to train and certify law enforcement personnel in crisis intervention training to help these personnel better understand and appropriately handle encounters with citizens experiencing mental health issues.

Defy Ventures, Chicago, Illinois: $271,000 for additional programming and training dedicated to Defy Ventures' efforts to reduce recidivism in Illinois.

Equipment Upgrades, Chicago, Illinois: $500,000 to the City of Chicago to enable the Chicago Police Department to expand its forensic investigation capacity through modifications to cargo trucks and the purchase of mobile forensic equipment.

Equipment Upgrades, Kane County, Illinois: $1.031 million to the Kane County Coroner’s Office to update equipment of the Kane County Forensic Laboratory. Acquisition of new equipment would enable more rapid generation of leads in investigations, the streamlining of obtaining information related to pending cases, and the ability to determine cause of death in a timely manner for grieving families.

Equipment Upgrades, Oak Park, Illinois: $185,000 to the Oak Park Police Department to improve training of police officers through acquisition and use of a virtual training simulator. This simulator would place police officers in real-world scenarios focusing on de-escalation, less lethal options, community engagement, and officer wellness with a goal of increased positive outcomes.

Equipment Upgrades, Springfield, Illinois: $750,000 to the City of Springfield to procure a new mobile command center for the Springfield Police Department. The Department needs to replace an outdated command center with a vehicle with updated technology.

Instrumentation and Equipment Upgrades, Peoria, Illinois: $1 million to Bradley University to provide advanced instrumentation and equipment for its Drop Tower, allowing the tower to become fully operational for use in NASA-related experiments, research, and STEM education.

Police and Community Violence Intervention Initiative, Chicago, Illinois: $600,000 to the University of Chicago Crime Lab to expand a training program focused on violence reduction and building community trust through the Community Safety Leadership Academies. This program brings together data and behavioral science insights of academics and practitioners with real-world success in reducing violence, improving public trust, and building leadership capacity.

Reentry Initiative, Chicago, Illinois: $650,000 to the Safer Foundation to implement a program to reduce recidivism and increase employment for justice-involved citizens of Chicago. These efforts will assist individuals with arrest and conviction records connect with housing, workforce development, healthcare and education.

Reentry Initiative, Sangamon County, Illinois: $300,000 to SING (Shifting Into New Gear Reentry Program) to expand a reentry program that facilitates connections for ex-offenders to employment, social and peer support, and counseling in order to reduce reincarcerations in the community.

Technology Upgrades, Freeport, Illinois: $600,000 to the City of Freeport to purchase equipment to assist law enforcement in addressing and reducing gun violence in the community.

Urbana School District 116, Urbana, Illinois: $336,000 to develop a community school initiative to decrease community violence in Urbana School District 116.

Violence Prevention Initiative, Cook County, Illinois: $1.5 million to Youth Advocate Programs to expand a juvenile justice program serving at-risk youth in Cook County to increase access to programming tailored to youth who are no longer consistently attending school and those who are already in contact with the justice system.

Violent Crime Data Sharing Initiative, Chicago, Illinois: $1.665 million to Rush University System for Health to build, develop and maintain a violent crime injury registry in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health and Chicagoland hospitals and regional trauma centers. This project aims to prevent and break the cycle of violence by utilizing hospital injury data to improve service delivery coordination and interrupt instances of perpetrating or falling victim to violence.

William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, Illinois: $765,000 to support the development of a quantum workforce education and training network at William Rainey Harper College.

Youth Mentoring Initiative, Chicago, Illinois: $250,000 to the Save One Life Foundation for a community intervention and prevention program for youth in Northern Illinois. This program will provide peer mentoring, support, and pair youth participants with credible messenger mentors, facilitate networking, and increase access to youth wrap around resources in the community.

Energy and Water Development

Cook County and Lake County, Section 219, Illinois: $2.223 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) for environmental infrastructure projects in Cook County.

East St. Louis & Vicinity, Madison and St. Clair Counties, Illinois: $500,000 to the Army Corps for a General Reevaluation Report that will study recurring flood risk in a study area that encompasses 10 economically disadvantaged communities, including Cahokia Heights, East St. Louis, Washington Park, Caseyville, Madison, Venice, Brooklyn, Fairmont City, Pontoon Beach, and Granite City.

Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, Regional, Illinois: $3 million to the Army Corps to fund a comprehensive study of the Great Lakes coastline.

Upper Miss River - Illinois WW System, IL, IA, MN, MO, & WI (Regional): $18 million to the Army Corps to advance Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) restoration projects.

Madison and St. Clair Counties (Cahokia Heights East Interceptor System), Illinois: $7.29 million to the Army Corps of Engineers to help fund sanitary infrastructure improvements in Cahokia Heights.

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Bonnie Brae Forest Manor Sanitary District, Lockport, Illinois: $250,000 for water main infrastructure improvement projects in the Bonnie Brae Forest Manor Sanitary District.

City of Chester, Illinois: $1.2 million for the Route 150 water main replacement project.

City of Markham, Illinois: $1.5 million for water infrastructure improvements in the City of Markham, Illinois.

City of Paris, Illinois: $500,000 for wastewater improvement initiatives in Paris, Illinois.

Lead Service Line Replacements, Chicago, Illinois: $2 million to the City of Chicago to replace more than 200 lead service lines. Chicago has more lead service lines than any other municipality in the country and the majority of properties in Chicago receive their water from lead service lines.

Lead Service Line Replacements, Macomb, Illinois: $1 million to the City of Macomb to replace lead drinking water service lines in various locations throughout the City.

Stormwater and Flooding Mitigation Project, Carbondale, Illinois: $1.5 million for the City of Carbondale to replace storm sewer piping.

Water Main Extension, Winnebago County, Illinois: $600,000 to Winnebago County to extend a water main to provide water to additional areas of the County.

Water Main Improvements, Park Forest, Illinois: $1.45 million to the Village of Park Forest to replace the highest priority water main.

Water Main Replacement, Springfield, Illinois: $900,000 to the City of Springfield to replace a water main on South Seventh Street in downtown Springfield. The water main was installed in 1931 and is need of replacement. The main serves the historic downtown Springfield area, including Lincoln’s Home National Historic Site Visitor Center, the Illinois State Police Memorial Park, Springfield Clinic, and the Elijah Iles House.

Well Reconstruction and Water Treatment, Machesney Park and Roscoe, Illinois: $1 million to North Park Public Water District for the reconstruction of Roscoe and Machesney Park’s well to accommodate PFAS treatment. This funding will ensure continued access to a reliable source of safe, plentiful, and affordable drinking water for the communities of Machesney Park and Roscoe in Winnebago County, Illinois.

Winnebago County, Rockford, Illinois: $700,000 for PFAS remediation in Rockford.

The three funding bills include additional Illinois priorities secured through the programmatic appropriations process:

Commerce, Justice, and Science

Department of Commerce

Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs: $41 million for the Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hub Program, which funds 31 designated Tech Hubs, two of which are located in Illinois.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Scientific and Technical Research and Services: $1.2 billion for research at NIST. This continues Durbin’s decades-long goal to secure five percent growth in funding each year for scientific research agencies.

Coastal Zone Management Grants: $81.5 million to support grants to states with approved coastal zone management plans for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of coastal zone areas, including those in the Great Lakes region.

Regional Climate Centers (RCC): $6.1 million to support regional climate centers, which provide climate information to government agencies, farmers, water resource managers, businesses, emergency managers, and the public.

Economic Development Assistance Programs: $400 million to provide grants to states, localities, non-profit organizations, and others to create jobs in economically challenged areas.

Sale and Export of Tobacco Programs: Includes language prohibiting the use of federal funds to promote the sale or export of tobacco products, or to seek the reduction/removal of foreign restrictions on tobacco marketing.

International Trade Administration: $562 million in funding for the agency, with $16.4 million, directed specifically at preventing China from dumping cheap products that undercut U.S. businesses.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Bureau of Prisons: $8.1 billion for the administration, operation, and maintenance of federal correctional institutions and $279.7 million for planning, acquisition of sites, and construction of new facilities; purchase and acquisition of facilities; and constructing, remodeling, and equipping buildings and facilities at existing penal and correctional institutions.

First Step Act: $409.5 million for the programs and activities authorized by Durbin’s First Step Act of 2018.

Prosecutor and Public Defender Student Loan Repayment: $2.5 million to provide student loan repayment assistance for state and local prosecutors and public defenders through the John J. Justice Program.

Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative: $50 million to provide grants to support evidence-based community violence intervention programs. The bill includes Durbin’s report language encouraging DOJ to develop a grant opportunity for an accredited research university that delivers programming for the next generation of community violence interrupters, leaders, and law enforcement.

Combatting Hate Crimes: $17 million for grants to state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to conduct outreach and training on hate crimes and to investigate and prosecute hate crimes; $9 million for grants to prevent hate crimes through conflict resolution and community empowerment and education; and $9 million for programs combatting hate crimes authorized under the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE ACT.

Project Safe Neighborhoods: $13 million to provide grants to support evidence-based, data-driven, trauma-informed, and focused intervention, deterrence, and prevention initiatives aimed at reducing violence.

Community Relations Service: $20 million for necessary expenses of the Community Relations Service to address community conflicts and violence prevention.

Children Exposed to Violence: $9 million for a grant program that supports hospital-based trauma recovery/violence prevention programs at Lurie Children’s and University of Chicago.

Crime Victims Fund (CVF): The bill makes $1.95 billion from the CVF available in FY26.

Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Programs: $800 million for COPS initiatives, to be provided to various grant programs.

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant: $964 million for the Byrne-JAG program.

United States Parole Commission: $13 million for necessary expenses of the Parole Commission as authorized.

Preventing Violence Against Women: $720 million for grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and rejects President Trump’s proposal to combine OVW with the Office of Justice Programs.

Missing and Exploited Children Program: $105 million to support the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the AMBER Alert system.

Civil Rights Violations in State and Local Prisons and Jails: Includes Durbin’s report language to investigate and address violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.

Legal Orientation Programming: $27.5 million for services and programming intended to provide relevant information on immigration court procedures to detained undocumented immigrants.

Immigration Judge Staffing: Durbin secured language in the Senate bill to push for greater transparency with respect to immigration judge firings, including immigration judges who accepted a deferred resignation offer or early retirement, and immigration judges terminated and the reason for termination. The Joint Explanatory Statement for the final bill reduced the reporting requirements to a quarterly accounting of detailees serving as immigration judges and required the Executive Office of Immigration Review to retrain all judges currently on a probationary period or on detail.

Upholding Constitutionally Required Due Process: Directs the Executive Office of Immigration Review to refrain from incentivizing any immigration judge to close or dismiss a case without adjudicating the merits of the case.

Tobacco: Includes report language expressing concern about the widespread availability of unauthorized e-cigarettes and expresses support for the interagency task force with FDA to enhance enforcement activities.

Investigation and Prosecution of Human Rights Crimes: Includes Durbin’s report language requiring DOJ to increase efforts to investigate and prosecute human rights crimes, including genocide, torture, use or recruitment of child soldiers, and war crimes, particularly to support the War Crimes Accountability Team’s efforts to respond to ongoing atrocities in Ukraine and the added responsibilities of the Criminal Division to prosecute war criminals under the Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act.

U.S. Marshals Service: $1.7 billion to support the U.S. Marshals Service, including their work protecting federal judges and courthouses.

Protecting Federal Judges: $7.5 million for the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act grant program to support state and local law enforcement efforts to protect judges and their families.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Science Directorate: $7.25 billion to fund the work of more than 10,000 scientists at universities, industry, and government laboratories across the U.S. through competitive research grants and mission-critical technology development and support.

Space Technology: $975 million to fund space technology research and development, including new propulsion systems to explore deep space and compete with increasingly aggressive Chinese space endeavors.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): $143 million to support several key programs, including the Minority University Research and Education Project; Space Grant, which funds education and research through a national network of university-based consortia; and Next Gen STEM, which provides awards for informal educational institutions and sustains a national network of museums and science centers.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF: $8.75 billion to fund scientific research at NSF. In 2025, Illinois institutions received more than $382 million in NSF awards.

National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot: $30 million for the NAIRR pilot program.

Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT): $30 million for NSF to advance priority astronomy facilities, including GMT, a telescope that will be constructed in part by Rockford’s Ingersoll Tools and supported by the University of Chicago.

Energy and Water Development

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Brandon Road: $28 million, which is enough to fully fund the project for FY26, and includes Durbin’s report language requiring the Army Corps to provide a quarterly report on status updates and any change in cost for the Brandon Road Project.

Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program: $52 million in funding for the program, which conducts long-term monitoring of the Upper Mississippi River and habitat restoration.

Quincy Bay: Includes Durbin’s report language encouraging the Army Corps to prioritize the environmental restoration project at Quincy Bay under the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program.

Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Electric Dispersal Barrier: $12.9 million for operation of an electric barrier preventing movement of invasive carp toward the Great Lakes.

Bubbly Creek: Includes Durbin’s report language encouraging the Army Corps and EPA to continue interagency discussions to allow the Army Corps to move to construction on environmental remediation and restoration of Bubbly Creek. The bill also includes Durbin’s language directing the Army Corps to brief Congress on the status of its pilot project within 30 days of enactment.

Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund: Includes Durbin’s report language encouraging the Army Corps to use the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to invest in the Great Lakes Navigation System, which has more than 175 million tons of commodities carried though its waters each year.

Department of Energy (DOE)

DOE Office of Science: $8.4 billion to support basic science research, Illinois’ Argonne and Fermi National Labs, and the development of critical technologies.

High Energy Physics: $1.235 billion to support basic, discovery science in DOE’s highest priority physics projects, including physics projects led by Fermilab.

LBNF/DUNE: $260 million to continue construction of Fermilab’s LBNF accelerator and for the installation of neutrino detectors and necessary lab infrastructure in South Dakota’s DUNE.

Proton Improvement Plan II: $114 million to upgrade Fermilab’s accelerator complex with the cutting-edge technology needed to enable LBNF/DUNE.

Argonne Leadership Computing Facility: $238 million to support the development, maintenance, and operation of Argonne’s supercomputing complex, including its Aurora Exascale Computing System and new testbeds for AI development.

Post-Exascale Computing Report Language: Includes Durbin’s report language directing DOE to brief Congress on its plans to build on the success of the exascale computing program, which funded the construction of Argonne’s Aurora supercomputer.

Light Source Operations: $867 million for the operation of DOE’s five light sources, including Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source.

Quantum Information Science: $255 million, including for the continued operation of DOE’s five national quantum centers, two of which are located at Fermilab and Argonne. The bill also includes Durbin’s report language requiring DOE to provide a report on the energy usage of various quantum technologies.

Batteries and Energy Storage Hub: $26 million, including for the continued operation of Argonne’s Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, which performs cutting edge battery research and development.

Fermilab Utilities Infrastructure Project: $18 million to support key improvements to water, power, and transportation infrastructure supporting Fermilab’s scientific experiments.

Argonne Utilities Upgrade: $2.25 million to support laboratory infrastructure and eliminate the deferred maintenance costs on Argonne’s campus.

Bioenergy Research Centers: $118 million to support four centers working to establish a sustainable bioenergy industry, including the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Fast Reactor Program: $12 million, including for Argonne’s Fast Reactor activities.

Vehicle Technologies Office: $397 million, to continue research and development of advanced transportation technologies, including improvements to electric vehicles and charging, energy storage, battery recycling, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Argonne National Lab leads the nation in vehicle technologies research.

Weatherization Assistance Program: $329 million to reduce energy costs for low-income households by implementing energy efficiency and weather resilience measures in homes.

Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains: $17 million to support the supply of critical energy technologies, including distribution transformers.

Indirect Cost Rates: Includes Durbin’s requested bill language directing DOE to continue using its 2024 indirect cost rates for federal research projects instead of the 15 percent flat rate imposed by the Trump Administration.

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management (BLM): $1.26 billion in total funding.

Plant Conservation Activities: $20.6 million and includes Durbin’s language supporting BLM’s continued support of the Seed Strategy, the interagency Native Plant Materials Development Program, the Seeds of Success program, the Plant Conservation Alliance, and regional native plant materials development programs.

Urban and Community Forestry (Chicago Region Trees Initiative): Includes Durbin’s language prioritizing multi-organizational collaborations to support conservation and offset climate change for urban and community forestry grants.

Migratory Bird Management Program, Incidental Take: Includes Durbin’s language supporting an incidental take authorization program for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which will help bird species that are experiencing population decline.

National Park Service: $3.27 billion for NPS and $2.87 billion for the operation of the Park Service.

New Philadelphia National Historic Site: Includes Durbin’s language directing the National Park Service to ensure park operation begins in a reasonable timeframe for the newly established New Philadelphia site.

Springfield Race Riot Site: Includes Durbin’s language directing the National Park Service to work with the community to complete the Foundation Document for the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument and provide for park planning.

Land and Water Conservation Fund: $900 million in total funding.

Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge: Includes Durbin’s language supporting federal land acquisition by the National Fish and Wildlife Service for the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF): $1.6 billion to provide critical investments that create jobs, repair crumbling wastewater infrastructure, and protect public health and environmental quality. Ten percent of CWSRF may be used as grants to address lead exposure.

Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF): $1.12 billion to help water systems and states to ensure clean and safe drinking water is reliably delivered to communities. Fourteen percent of DWSRF may be used as grants to address lead exposure.

EPA Compliance: $106.4 million to enable EPA and co-regulators to undertake inspections and other monitoring activities to determine if regulated entities are complying with environmental statutes as well as applicable regulations and permit conditions.

EPA Enforcement: $368.3 million to ensure consistent and fair enforcement of all major environmental statutes and numerous regulations implementing each of those statutes. Includes Durbin’s report language supporting EPA in addressing PFAS contamination.

Bubbly Creek: Includes Durbin’s report language on the inclusion of the restoration Bubbly Creek in EPA’s Lakewide Management Plan (LAMP) and directs EPA to maximize its partnerships and resources to ensure no further delays.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI): $369 million for the initiative. It also includes Durbin’s report language to allow funds from the program to be used for projects in the Chicago River Watershed. Congress established the GLRI to provide funding to states, tribes, local governments, and federal agencies to protect the Great Lakes. The program has provided $4 billion since 2010 to fund projects that restore habitat, fight invasive species, clean up toxic pollution, and reduce pollution runoff.

Lake Explorer II Support Vessel Decommission: Includes Durbin’s language regarding the importance of EPA replacing the Great Lakes research vessel Lake Explorer II so the agency may continue uninterrupted water quality and biological monitoring of the Great Lakes.

Coal Combustion Residual Permit Program: Includes $9 million for federal and state permitting programs for coal combustion residuals.

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Duckworth Statement on House-Passed Government Funding Bills

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced she will oppose the latest “minibus” of appropriations bills passed by the House of Representatives that includes funding for Trump’s unfocused, reckless and deadly immigration enforcement operations:

“Donald Trump’s lawlessness is spiraling out of control. He is marching us closer to more illegal, forever wars, deploying our troops to intimidate their fellow Americans in their own communities and enabling ICE and Border Patrol to attack—and even kill—citizens with zero accountability.

“There should be a bipartisan majority to rein in this blatant authoritarianism—and the appropriations process should be used to check the President and set up guardrails to protect hardworking Americans, their families and our servicemembers. But instead, Republicans are jamming multiple appropriations bills into a single package—including even more funding for ICE and CBP after they already handed them each over $70 billion slush funds in their Big, Beautiful Betrayal.

“Bottom line: I cannot vote for legislation that authorizes even more funding for Trump’s lawless agents to terrorize our communities in my home state of Illinois and across the country. Not after 2025 was the deadliest year on record to be in ICE custody in two decades. And not after one ICE agent killed a 37-year-old mom in broad daylight with absolutely no accountability in sight.

“I’ve heard from Illinoisans in every corner of my state who are outraged by the Trump Administration’s pattern of abuse. If this funding package remains as is, I cannot vote to bankroll more of Trump’s worst instincts at the expense of the American people.”

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During Official European Visit, Duckworth Celebrates Illinois National Guard’s Work to Support Our Allies & Partners in Poland and Portugal

[LISBON, PORTUGAL] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week traveled to Poland and Portugal to reinforce support for the Illinois National Guard’s State Partnership Programs (SPP) with our European allies and underscore America’s bipartisan support for NATO. Duckworth first visited Poland and met with defense and foreign affairs officials to discuss the success of ILNG’s longstanding SPP that dates back to 1993. Duckworth then traveled to Portugal to meet with defense and legislative leaders to celebrate ILNG’s new SPP, which was signed into effect earlier this month. Photos from Duckworth’s visit are available on the Senator’s website.

“The work of the Illinois National Guard is vital to our strength and safety both at home and abroad,” Duckworth said. “With decades of a strong and successful State Partnership Program with Poland, I’m proud to see the Illinois National Guard expanding and adding a new State Partnership Program with Portugal. This is exactly the kind of work our Illinois National Guard Members have trained for and enlisted to do. After a week of great meeting with defense leaders to ensure these partnerships can be as strong and beneficial as possible, I look forward to seeing the longterm efforts of our Guard members working to keep our allies safe.”

Duckworth led a series of engagements in Poland including:

Meeting with in-country Illinois National Guard Battalion Leadership. The 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion is currently stationed in Forward Operating Site Karliki, Poland. 65-66 personnel were mobilized from Springfield last June.

Meeting with Polish Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski

Meeting with Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Kupiecki

Meeting with Major General Ronald Ragin, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, and Brigadier General John B. Mountford, Deputy Commanding General for Readiness, U.S. Army V Corps

Visiting the Ukraine-Poland border region to reinforce support for the people of Ukraine and our NATO Allies

Duckworth led a series of engagements in Portugal including:

Meeting with Assembly of the Portuguese Republic Members Pedro Pessanha and Jose Cesario

Meeting with Vice Chief of Defense, Air Force Lieutenant General Rui Freitas

Meeting with Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Major General Joao Goncalves.

Meeting with Director-Coordinator of the Army General Staff Major-General António José Ruivo Grilo

Meeting with Ministry of Defense State Secretary Nuno Pinheiro Torres

The work of the Illinois National Guard to train and mentor foreign troops is a critical effort in helping allies and partners develop stronger, more capable militaries. Since 1993, Illinois National Guard has facilitated a State Partnership Program with the Polish Armed Forces and now is expanding their successful work with the new partnership program in Portugal.

Duckworth is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She is an Iraq War Veteran who served in the Reserved Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

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