Ross Leads Democratic Women’s Caucus in Demanding that Office of the Inspector General Investigate DOJ’s Failure to Release the Epstein Files

Washington, D.C. — Congresswomen Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Policy Task Force Co-Chairs of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), led 67 DWC members in calling on the Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Don R. Berthiaume, to conduct a thorough investigation into the release of the Epstein files in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The letter also calls on him to intervene using all available authorities to ensure the Epstein files are released in full compliance with the law and in a survivor-centered manner.

DOJ has failed to release even a fraction of the Epstein files more than one month after the deadline required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The agency has also implemented inconsistent and unexplained redactions in the few files that they have released and refused to produce the legally required report to Congress that explains the redactions and identifies any elected officials associated with the investigation. DOJ’s actions to this point have failed survivors and protected abusers.

This letter follows a series of actions that Congresswoman Ross has taken to hold DOJ accountable and support the Epstein survivors—including championing multiple meetings with the survivors and leading her House Judiciary Committee colleagues in demanding that Chair Jim Jordan allow survivors to testify.

In their letter, the Members demanded a thorough investigation into the release of the Epstein files in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act:

“As Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, women’s safety and justice for survivors is our top priority. For years, we have worked alongside survivors to elevate their voices, push for accountability, and advance survivor-centered oversight and reforms. We have met with survivors of Epstein and his associates multiple times and heard their harrowing testimonies firsthand; the continued lack of care and respect shown to them in this process is baffling, disappointing, and deeply immoral. We echo the survivors’ requests and demand a thorough investigation into the release of the Epstein files in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. We also demand that the Office of the Inspector General intervene using all available authorities to ensure the files are released in full compliance with the law and in a survivor-centered manner.”

The Members concluded their letter by imploring the Acting Inspector General to bring to light the misconduct, negligence, and failures of compliance within DOJ and to ensure meaningful corrective action where warranted:

“The survivors of Epstein and his associates have been repeatedly traumatized by this process. First, by the horrific abuse they endured, and again by a government response that has treated their safety, dignity, and right to justice as secondary considerations. DOJ’s failures have compounded this harm. As Acting Inspector General, it is your duty to investigate and bring to light misconduct, negligence, and failures of compliance within the DOJ, and to ensure meaningful corrective action where warranted. Survivors deserve a process that is lawful, survivor-centered, and grounded in accountability. We expect you to fulfill that duty.”

Read the full letter here.

In addition to letter leads Deborah Ross and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, the letter was signed by Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Suzanne Bonamici, Julia Brownley, Shontel Brown, Nikki Budzinski, Kathy Castor, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Suzan DelBene, Debbie Dingell, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Lizzie Fletcher, Valerie Foushee, Lois Frankel, Laura Friedman, Sylvia Garcia, Laura Gillen, Maggie Goodlander, Jahana Hayes, Chrissy Houlahan, Val Hoyle, Sara Jacobs, Julie Johnson, Marcy Kaptur, Summer Lee, Susie Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Zoe Lofgren, Doris Matsui, Lucy McBath, Sarah McBride, April McClain Delaney, LaMonica McIver, Grace Meng, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brittany Pettersen, Nellie Pou, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Hillary Scholten, Lateefah Simon, Melanie Stansbury, Haley Stevens, Marilyn Strickland, Emilia Sykes, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Norma Torres, Lori Trahan, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.

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Rep. Peters Congratulates 2025 Congressional App Challenge Winners

San Diego, CA - Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students in California’s 50th Congressional District. The competition aims to engage students’ creativity and encourage youth participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

“The App Challenge is one of my favorite annual events because these talented students will go on to power our region and our country’s innovation economy,” said Rep. Peters. “The competition gives young people a chance to develop an invaluable STEM education, embrace their creativity, and learn how to apply coding and computer design skills to solve real world problems they see in their communities. Congratulations to everyone who took part in the 2025 competition and to our winners, Kayley, Anika, Mihir, Sathwik, Aditya, Indraneel, Cameron, and Tair.”

The 2025 CA50 Congressional App Challenge 1st place winner, Kayley Xu of the Bishops School, submitted her app “Resperia.” After battling severe pneumonia at age thirteen, Kayley faced weeks of conflicting diagnoses and doctors often disagreed on what they heard through a stethoscope. This highlighted a larger issue in healthcare: breathing sounds are interpreted subjectively, which can delay or miss serious conditions. Respira—from the Latin “respirare,” meaning “to breathe again,” addresses this problem by using AI to analyze uploaded breathing recordings to classify respiratory sounds into one of four categories: normal, crackle, wheeze, or crackle & wheeze, to provide accurate and consistent diagnostic results. Respira also includes an interactive breathing exercise game designed to make recovery more engaging—especially for children. Respira aims to empower patients, assist healthcare professionals, and make accurate respiratory diagnosis and rehabilitation available to everyone, everywhere.

The 2nd place app, Sound Track EDU, was submitted by Anika Marathe of Del Norte High School. Sound Track EDU is an app designed to make K–12 classrooms more inclusive for deaf, hard-of-Hearing, and other students who benefit from real-time access to spoken instruction. The app provides live transcription of classroom speech, peer-to-peer chat with clear speaker identification for group discussions, and discreet teacher alerts that help educators get students’ attention without disruption.

The 3rd place app, CampusQuery, was submitted by Del Norte High School students Mihir Bapat and Sathwik Kintada. CampusQuery is an AI-powered chatbot platform that helps parents, students, and staff quickly find answers on school websites. Instead of searching through long pages or waiting for appointments, users can ask questions and receive instant, accurate responses. Available 24/7, CampusQuery reduces repetitive questions for school staff and provides administrators with insights into the most common user inquiries, making school communication more efficient and accessible.

The 4th place app, Scrapp, was submitted by Aditya Katre and Indraneel Adem of Del Norte High School. Scrapp is a web and mobile app designed to simplify the process of recycling and waste disposal. Instead of guessing which bin to use, users can simply take a photo of any item, and the app instantly identifies it. Scrapp provides clear, location-specific guidance on how to dispose of the item responsibly. After an image is identified, the app guides users to a separate page where they can find verified disposal locations corresponding to their uploaded items.

The 5th place app, CarbonFlow, was submitted by Cameron Kruger of The Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High and Tair Narynov of High Bluff Academy. CarbonFlow is an online marketplace platform that connects carbon-emitting businesses with buyers who can reuse carbon for several purposes. By turning captured carbon from a costly problem into a valuable resource, CarbonFlow encourages companies to take part in climate action while still benefiting economically. The platform’s analytics help users understand their impact, making sustainability both measurable and profitable for businesses and communities.

The winners were chosen by a panel of local judges who made their decisions based on the app’s purpose, concept, technicality, creativity, and design. The winning app, Resperia, will be displayed on the Congressional App Challenge Website and on a digital display in the Capitol Building. The first-place winner is also invited to the annual #HouseOfCode reception in Washington, D.C.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 30, 2026

Congressman Pete Sessions Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Identity Fraud and Theft

Waco, Texas- Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s digital identity infrastructure and protect individuals, businesses, and government programs from rapidly rising identity fraud and theft. The Stop Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Act establishes a government wide approach to addressing vulnerabilities in online identity verification that are increasingly exploited by organized criminal networks and hostile nation states.

Identity theft and fraud continue to impose massive costs on Americans and taxpayers. In 2023 alone, more than 353 million people were impacted by data breaches. The Government Accountability Office has estimated that federal programs could lose between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud, much of it tied directly to compromised identities. During the COVID era, identity based fraud in unemployment programs alone was estimated between $100 billion and $135 billion. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reporting shows that more than 70 percent of suspicious activity reports filed by banks are now tied to identity fraud, encompassing hundreds of billions of dollars in transactions.

The legislation responds to these growing threats by establishing an identity fraud prevention innovation grant program for states. These grants would help states modernize identity systems, develop secure digital versions of existing credentials where they choose to do so, and protect against emerging risks such as artificial intelligence driven deep fakes. The bill builds on work already directed by Congress for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop voluntary digital identity guidelines, while recognizing that many states and local agencies lack the resources to implement them.

Importantly, the bill does not mandate digital identification, does not eliminate physical credentials, and does not require any individual to obtain or use a digital driver’s license or digital identity. Participation by states and individuals remains voluntary.

“Identity fraud is one of the fastest growing threats facing American families, our financial system, and the integrity of government programs,” said Congressman Pete Sessions. “Criminal organizations and hostile nation states are exploiting outdated identity systems, costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars and putting Americans’ personal information at risk. I am grateful to Congressman Foster for co leading this important, bipartisan legislation, and for his partnership in advancing common sense solutions that strengthen security and protect privacy.”

“It is important that Congress responds to the growing wave of identity theft and fraud in the United States by strengthening our digital identity infrastructure,” said Congressman Foster. “I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Sessions to provide states with the support they need to safeguard Americans’ personal information and strengthen consumers’ ability to protect themselves against identity theft and fraud.”

Jeremy Grant, Coordinator of the Better Identity Coalition, welcomed the bipartisan effort.

“Millions of Americans are victims of identity theft and fraud each year, leading to billions of dollars in losses, because it is far too easy for criminals and hostile nation states to compromise the tools we use to protect identity online,” said Grant. “We’re thrilled to see Congressmen Sessions and Foster come together to recognize the importance of these challenges and put forth common sense legislation to help Americans better protect their security and privacy in the digital world.”

The Stop Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Act is designed to protect consumers, safeguard government benefit programs, and strengthen the integrity of the United States financial system while preserving individual choice and state authority.

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Stefanik Statement on President Trump's Nomination of Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair

SARATOGA, N.Y. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership,released the following statement:

"This is a very smart nomination by President Trump of Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair.

Kevin is a longtime friend and he is a fellow Upstate NY native. He is exactly the right leader at this time to right the ship at the Fed and get our economy back on track for the hardworking families and small businesses across America."


Rep. Summer Lee Delivers $1M in Community Project Funding to Carnegie Library of Homestead for Historic Renovations

Photos (Dropbox)

PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 30, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) presented a $1,015,000 Community Project Funding (CPF) check to the Carnegie Library of Homestead to support critical renovations and restoration of its historic Music Hall and library facilities, preserving a cornerstone of arts, education, and community life in the Mon Valley for future generations.

Library leadership and local officials joined Congresswoman Lee for a tour of the Music Hall and remarks highlighting the importance of federal investment in preserving historic community assets and expanding access to public spaces.

The funding was secured through Congresswoman Lee’s Community Project Funding requests, which allow Members of Congress to advocate directly for community-driven priorities. Congresswoman Lee worked closely with local partners to advance this project through the federal appropriations process, prioritizing investments that strengthen public infrastructure, expand access to education and cultural spaces, and support long-term economic stability in Western Pennsylvania, ensuring the Mon Valley received the investment it deserves.

“I’m proud to bring over $1 million back to the Mon Valley for a place that has always shown up for the people,” said Congresswoman Lee. “The Carnegie Library of Homestead and its Music Hall are where working families, seniors, and young people come to learn, perform, and build community. This building has held generations of memories, milestones, and moments of joy, and it should continue to do so for the next hundred years. This funding is about protecting access to arts and education, creating economic opportunity, and making sure our neighborhoods get the same level of investment and care as anywhere else.”

Carol Shrieve, Executive Director of the Carnegie of Homestead, said: “We are so grateful for this grant and for Congresswoman Summer Lee’s advocacy and support. Investing in the Carnegie of Homestead’s Music Hall means investing in the heart of our community. When we host performances in our Hall, our neighborhood comes alive—driving business to local pizza shops, restaurants, bars, retailers, and hotels. Every dollar we earn in the Music Hall is poured right back into the community, helping us stretch public funding further and bring meaningful programs and services to more families beyond our immediate service area. When people come together to enjoy live music, everyone benefits. As long as our Music Hall brings people together, we’ll continue helping our community thrive.”

The Music Hall serves as a true community house, hosting school concerts and graduations, naturalization ceremonies, church and nonprofit events, local dance recitals, and national touring performers. With intentionally affordable ticket pricing, the Hall ensures access to arts and culture for working families and seniors, drawing more than 40,000 patrons annually from across Western Pennsylvania and beyond.

In addition to cultural impact, the Music Hall functions as a major economic anchor for Homestead and Munhall business districts, generating over $1 million in local economic activity for nearby restaurants, shops, and hotels for every 50 shows held. The investment supports broader revitalization efforts along the Waterfront and Eighth Avenue corridors and strengthens arts-based economic development throughout the region.

Since taking office, Congresswoman Lee has delivered more than $2.7 billion in federal funding to PA-12, including major investments in infrastructure, affordable transit, clean energy manufacturing, workforce development, and community spaces. Through her Community Project Funding efforts, Lee has secured direct investments for community-based organizations, including a $1 million CPF award to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, $450,000 to the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, and over $1.5 million in federal support for the Tree of Life rebuilding and healing initiatives as part of more than $24.9 million in Community Project Funding secured during her time in Congress. Congresswoman Lee’s office has consistently directed federal dollars to historically overlooked communities to ensure equitable access to opportunities and long-term regional growth and stability.

To see photos from the event, click here.


Rep. Sykes Hosts Annual Elected Officials Breakfast

Event brings together elected officials, community leaders from across Ohio’s 13th Congressional District

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH — On Thursday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted a roundtable with elected officials from across Ohio’s 13th Congressional District to discuss local issues, foster collaboration between local, state, and federal governments, and provide an update on her legislative activity in D.C.

“Local government leaders have a unique understanding of the issues our constituents face every day. Hosting these roundtable conversations encourages cooperation, collaboration, and information sharing throughout all levels of government, so that our constituents can receive the exceptional service they deserve,” said Rep. Sykes. “I’ll continue hosting events like these to reconnect our communities to Congress and provide essential support to our local governments.”

“Opportunities like the Elected Officials Breakfast are invaluable, bringing local leaders together with Congresswoman Sykes for meaningful dialogue about the challenges facing our communities. These conversations strengthen collaboration across all levels of government and help ensure that we are delivering the best possible service to our residents,” said Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Elected Officials Breakfast with Congresswoman Sykes. As always, Emilia Sykes has made time in her busy schedule to meet with ‘we the people’ to give us an opportunity to express our issues and concerns. The breakfast was delicious and served to show what it means to work across the aisle to listen to the other side,” said Canal Fulton Mayor Joe Schultz.

During the roundtable, participants discussed updates from Washington, the federal appropriations process, and the positive impact federal funds have on the lives of people in our communities. Additionally, participants asked questions about federal funding; ICE activities; attacks on public education; federal resources for infrastructure projects; and how to best work together as elected officials.


Rep. Sykes Demands Full DOJ Accountability for Failure to Release Epstein Files

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, joined her colleagues in calling on the Department of Justice Inspector General to investigate DOJ’s failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, more than a month past the legal deadline.

Rep. Sykes voted for the bipartisan law, cosponsored it, and signed the discharge petition that brought it to the House floor. This vote was about standing with survivors and holding powerful interests accountable. The law requires DOJ to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including flight logs, financial ties, civil settlements, plea deals, and communications about investigations and charging decisions, while protecting survivors’ identities and ongoing investigations.

“DOJ promised transparency and protection, but survivors are being betrayed,” Rep. Sykes said. “Less than one percent of these records have been released, redactions are sloppy and inconsistent, and Congress has been left in the dark. Survivors deserve the truth, accountability, and a process that actually puts them first. DOJ must be held to the full extent of the law.”

Lawmakers are demanding that the inspector general investigate whether DOJ withheld or destroyed records, whether survivors’ safety has been compromised, and whether political influence affected how the files were handled.

Rep. Sykes stands with survivors and will keep fighting to make sure DOJ follows the law and survivors get the truth they deserve.


Rep. Sykes Hosts Reception for Service Academy Nominees

AKRON, OH — On Thursday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted a reception for the students from Ohio’s 13th Congressional District who she nominated to a U.S. Military Service Academy. Rep. Sykes has the honor of nominating the best and brightest youth to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy.

“As your Member of Congress, it is an honor to nominate students from Ohio’s 13th Congressional District to attend our country’s respected service academies,” said Rep. Sykes. “These students represent some of the best and brightest in our community, and I cannot wait to see what each of them goes on to accomplish.”

At the reception, Rep. Sykes presented each nominee with a Congressional Recognition for their accomplishment. Rep. Sykes nominated 21 students to a service academy for the Class of 2030. These students will be reviewed by the service academies they were nominated to for possible admission.

The U.S. Service Academies are among the most highly respected educational programs in the nation. To be admitted to an academy, a prospective applicant must meet stringent academic, physical, and medical requirements specified by public law. Service Academy cadets are provided a fully-funded four-year college education. By law, graduates of service academies are appointed commissioned officers in their respective services and are required to serve at least five years of active duty. For graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the obligation can be active duty for five years in any branch, or eight years in a reserve capacity.


Congresswoman Tenney Leads Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case on Birthright Citizenship

Oswego, N.Y. – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today led an amicus curiae brief filed with the United States Supreme Court in Trump v. Barbara, a major constitutional case addressing the scope of birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment.

The brief was joined by Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Cory Mills (R-FL), John Rose (R-TN), and Barry Moore (R-AL).

The brief was submitted in support of President Trump’s Executive Order 14160, which clarifies that birthright citizenship does not automatically extend to children born in the United States to individuals who are unlawfully present or visiting temporarily.

The case centers on the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, specifically whether the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” applies to individuals who have violated U.S. immigration law or who lack permanent legal status. The amicus brief argues that historical precedent, English common law, and Supreme Court jurisprudence make clear that citizenship at birth was never intended to apply universally without regard to allegiance, obedience, or lawful presence.

Congresswoman Tenney is also the sponsor of the Constitutional Citizenship Clarification Act, legislation that reinforces Congress’s constitutional authority to define the terms of U.S. citizenship consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Trump v. Barbara on Dec. 5, and oral arguments are expected later this year.

“The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified to ensure citizenship for newly freed slaves and their children, not to create a permanent incentive for illegal immigration,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The Constitution requires allegiance and lawful subjection to U.S. jurisdiction. Granting automatic citizenship to the children of those who have broken our laws stretches the amendment far beyond its original meaning and undermines Congress’s authority over naturalization.”

Read the full amicus brief here.

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Tonko Honors 2025 NY-20 Congressional App Challenge Winner at Guilderland High School

GUILDERLAND, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko visited Guilderland High School yesterday to recognize Daniel Joseph, the winning student for the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for New York’s 20th Congressional District. During the visit, Tonko delivered congratulatory remarks and presented Daniel with a Congressional Certificate of Achievement and a letter of recognition for his outstanding work.

“Every year, I am continually impressed by the talent and pioneering spirit shown by our Capital Region students through their submissions for the Congressional App Challenge,” Congressman Tonko said, “and this year was no exception. With his innovative MedMate app, Daniel Joseph demonstrated not only his excellent coding skills, but also his admirable commitment to helping our health care workers deliver high-quality care to every patient. I’m proud to welcome Daniel into the storied ranks of Capital Region innovators, and I’m grateful to him for his hard work. Congratulations to all the students who participated in this year’s App Challenge!”

Daniel grew up surrounded by health care workers, including his mother, sister, grandmother, and aunts who all worked as nurses. After his sister mentioned that her nursing school assignments lacked the real-world experiences that would be found in an actual medical environment, Daniel set out to create an app that would give care providers and students like his sister a way to practice treating, assessing, and diagnosing patients while receiving valuable feedback.

His winning submission, MedMate, is an immersive medical training application that helps users sharpen their clinical skills by simulating real-life interactions with patients. The app provides users with a patient intake form containing the patient’s past medical history, an interactive AI Avatar that responds realistically to questions, and a diagnostic process that allows the users to ask questions, run tests, make a diagnosis, and receive feedback on their performance — effectively mirroring real-life clinical interactions to help users develop practical diagnostic skills and clinical reasoning.

You can learn more about the app by viewing Daniel’s submission video on YouTube.

This year’s NY-20 Congressional App Challenge winner was chosen by a distinguished panel of local judges including Dr. Mohammed J. Zaki, Professor and Department Head of Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Annmarie Lanesey, CEO and Founder of CanCode Communities, and Tobi Saulnier, CEO of 1st Playable Productions.

The Congressional App Challenge was created by Congress in 2013 to encourage innovation and engagement in coding, computer science, and STEM education. The App Challenge is open to all eligible middle and high school-aged students in New York’s 20th Congressional District, regardless of coding experience.

To view and download photos of Congressman Tonko’s visit with Daniel, see the Congressman’s social media posts HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.


Representative Tran Cosponsors Articles of Impeachment Against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) announced his co-sponsorship of H. Res.996, a Congressional resolution to impeach Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem for high crimes and misdemeanors in response to the pattern of escalating force and lethal violence exhibited by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers under her leadership.

“The nonfeasance by the Trump Administration to rein in ICE’s rogue, inhumane conduct is a betrayal of the American people and our fundamental values. No one is above the law, especially those who are entrusted with enforcing it,” said Representative Tran. “DHS Secretary Noem has repeatedly failed to lead the agency with transparency and accountability. I have no confidence that DHS can be trusted to protect the American people under Secretary Noem’s leadership. If President Trump won’t fire her, then Congress must remove the Secretary from her position, and the veil of secrecy surrounding ICE’s brutal tactics must be stripped away by a full independent inquiry.”

In January 2026, masked federal agents with ICE shot and killed two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, while conducting immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis. Their deaths have sparked widespread criticism about the repeated use of excessive force by ICE, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and oversight measures for rogue agents.

Representative Tran continues to closely monitor ICE activity across California’s 45th district and has cosponsored legislation to place checks on ICE’s conduct, including:

H.R. 4176, the No Secret Police Act, to prohibit ICE agents from wearing non-tactical face coverings while on duty;

H.R. 5973, The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, to scale back the level of force permissible in immigration operations;

H.R. 3172, The ICE Visibility Act, to require ICE agents to wear visible badges or uniforms and clearly identify themselves as such when interacting with the public;

H.R. 944, The Access to Counsel Act, to ensure that U.S. citizens and individuals with lawful status are able to call an attorney or family member to seek legal assistance when they are detained;

H.R. 5941, The Restoring Access for Detainees Act, to require DHS to allow noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families, and;

H.R. 4456, Stop ICE from Kidnapping U.S. Citizens Act, to prohibit ICE from using federal funds to detain or deport U.S. citizens.

Tran voted against H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026, which provides funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without necessary oversight reforms to ensure the agency operates according to common-sense legal boundaries – including preventing U.S. citizens from being detained or deported. Tran, joined by Representatives Cisneros and Judy Chu (CA-28), also led a letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons condemning the agencies for unlawfully denying their entry to the Adelanto ICE Processing Facility during a statutorily-protected oversight visit conducted on June 8, 2025.

Since taking office in January 2025, Tran’s office has opened over 230 cases to assist constituents with the adjudication of their immigration status through federal agencies.

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Congressman Derek Tran represents California’s 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.


Rep. Gabe Vasquez Demands Accountability Following Alarming Rise in Deaths in ICE Custody

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On January 28, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide immediate transparency and answers following a historic surge in deaths of individuals held in ICE custody.

In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Rep. Vasquez and other Members of Congress expressed grave concern over reports that 2025 was the deadliest year in ICE detention in more than two decades, with 31 deaths in custody reported. Six additional deaths have already been reported less than a month into 2026. The lawmakers are demanding detailed information on medical care, mental health services, staffing levels, oversight, and steps being taken to prevent further loss of life.

“Being placed in immigration detention should never amount to a death sentence,” Rep. Vasquez and other lawmakers stated in the letter. “The families of those in detention centers, along with the rest of the American people, deserve transparency and accountability now.”

The letter comes after the third death at Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss in El Paso and follows Rep. Vasquez’s visit to the Otero County Processing Center, where he raised similar concerns about the lack of oversight, increased detentions of individuals with no criminal history, and lack proper conditions and access to medical care.

Rep. Vasquez is a strong advocate for increased transparency and accountability at the Department of Homeland Security to ensure the agency is fully complying with the law.

In January, he also contacted DHS and ICE officials demanding additional information about ICE operations, training, and presence in his district and called for “an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation” into the tragic killing of Renee Good.

His Humane Accountability Act would strengthen reporting requirements around DHS encounters, detentions, and removals, expand congressional oversight of detention conditions, and limit the use of non-traditional detention sites such as military bases.

He led members from border districts in a letter urging DHS to use the $150 billion provided in H.R. 1, the Republican tax law, to increase border security, improve training, and improve oversight and detention standards across the agency,

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Walkinshaw, Duckworth Implore Trump Administration to Expand IVF Coverage for the Millions of Hardworking Americans Enrolled in FEHB Plans

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called on Donald Trump—who has repeatedly failed to deliver on his promise to provide free IVF for all Americans—to prove his self-proclaimed support for IVF by expanding coverage for the millions of hardworking Americans in our federal workforce. In their letter, the lawmakers called on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to require all Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program insurance carriers to cover IVF and other fertility treatments to at least the same level of coverage that Members of Congress and their staff currently enjoy.

“One year into the second term of the Trump administration, President Trump has folded in the face of those opposed to IVF, fulfilling their prediction that President Trump’s campaign promise to make IVF free for every American was nothing more than a cynical, deceptive lie,” wrote the lawmakers. “Despite this failure to date, OPM can still make meaningful progress towards making IVF more affordable for families across the country.”

FEHB is the largest employee-sponsored health insurance plan in the world, with more than 8 million beneficiaries. In their letter, Duckworth and Walkinshaw detailed how now is the perfect time for FEHB carriers to widely expand IVF coverage to all its beneficiaries, as these carriers already laid the groundwork for doing so last year when they expanded such coverage to Members of Congress and their staff.

“Since many FEHB carriers also offer plans through the DC Health Link, these insurance carriers have already invested time and resources improving their plan designs to comply with the DC Health Link’s excellent IVF benchmark requirements,” the lawmakers continued. “The bottom line is that OPM setting FEHB’s required IVF benefit at an identical or equivalent level to the DC Health Link IVF benefit requirements would bring fairness to the Federal workforce; strengthen recruitment and retention; and provide clarity, consistency, and improved IVF access across FEHB.”

A copy of the letter can be found below and on Congressman Walkinshaw’s website:

"As the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) prepares to issue its next Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Carrier Call Letter, we write to urge OPM to strengthen family-building benefits for the Federal workforce by requiring FEHB plans to cover in vitro fertilization (IVF), providing access to the same coverage for civil servants that Members of Congress, congressional staff, and private-sector employees already have.

518 days ago, on August 29, 2024, then-candidate Donald Trump promised the American people that if they returned him to the White House:

“Under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for [IVF] that treatment. Or we’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay.”

And just in case there was any misunderstanding, then-candidate Trump explicitly promised the American people that IVF would be FREE if he was elected to a second term:

“Your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IVF TREATMENT [emphasis added].”

Many everyday Americans struggling with the painful challenge of infertility and unable to afford IVF believed Donald Trump. They cast their ballots to return him to office with the explicit expectation that, during his second term, President Trump would make the Federal Government or private insurance companies pay for “all costs associated with IVF treatment” For example, Ryleigh Cooper, a 24-year-old U.S. Forest Service employee in rural Michigan, told The Washington Post that she and her husband were trying to get pregnant, that her doctor said IVF might be their best chance, and that Trump had promised to make IVF free. That is what she thought about in the voting booth when she cast her vote for President Trump. Soon after, Ms. Cooper learned she was likely to be among the probationary Forest Service workers being fired—resulting in the loss of her health insurance and paid maternity leave—even as she was confronting the reality that so many American families face: IVF was her only viable path to parenthood, but it was financially out of reach without coverage.

One year into the second term of the Trump administration, President Trump has folded in the face of those opposed to IVF, fulfilling their prediction that President Trump’s campaign promise to make IVF free for every American was nothing more than a cynical, deceptive lie. While we continue to call on President Trump to fulfill his campaign promise, we recognize the harsh reality that with each passing day, the chance of him keeping his promise to the American people that, “Your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment,” rapidly approaches 0 percent. Despite this failure to date, OPM can still make meaningful progress towards making IVF more affordable for families across the country.

The United States Government administers our Nation’s largest employer-sponsored health insurance program, covering approximately 8.2 million people. With enrollees in virtually every county in the United States, FEHB is a significant player in many local health insurance markets. Since most major insurance carriers and prominent statewide or regional health maintenance organizations (HMOs) offer FEHB plans, policy developments within FEHB have market-setting influence for the wider commercial insurance marketplace. Accordingly, if OPM establishes a clear FEHB-wide requirement for meaningful IVF coverage, that policy signal is likely to accelerate voluntary benefit changes by participating carriers outside FEHB as well, helping normalize IVF coverage and expanding access for millions more Americans.

Over the past several plan years, OPM’s leadership has helped secure baseline fertility protections across the Program and spurred expanded IVF options, including requirements for coverage of artificial insemination and associated drugs and a requirement that all FEHB carriers cover IVF-related drugs for three cycles annually, with a growing number of plans covering IVF services themselves. The latest update for Plan Year 2026 further underscores the expectation that coverage expand. OPM rightfully instructed HMOs with service areas in a State with any IVF coverage mandate that their plans must include benefits that comply with IVF coverage requirements under State law. This incremental progress has been hard won by devoted Members of Congress and the dedicated federal employees in the FEHB office.

The timing has never been better to aggressively expand IVF coverage mandates across FEHB. Since many FEHB carriers also offer plans through the DC Health Link (the DC SHOP exchange), these insurance carriers have already invested time and resources improving their plan designs to comply with the DC Health Link’s excellent IVF benchmark requirements. This recent experience dramatically reduces administrative burden, and if OPM wisely models its IVF coverage mandate on the DC Health Link benchmark, it would be relatively simple for FEHB carriers to extend their existing DC Health Link plan designs to their FEHB plans.

By requiring FEHB carriers to replicate their existing DC Health Link IVF coverage in their FEHB plans, OPM would ensure that dedicated civil servants receive the same IVF benefits that Members of Congress and congressional staff already enjoy. DC law now requires DC individual and group plans to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment including IVF, with a minimum standard that includes at least three complete oocyte retrievals, unlimited embryo transfers from those retrievals, and protections against discriminatory cost-sharing or arbitrary limitations unique to infertility care.

The bottom line is that OPM setting FEHB’s required IVF benefit at an identical or equivalent level to the DC Health Link IVF benefit requirements would bring fairness to the Federal workforce; strengthen recruitment and retention; and provide clarity, consistency, and improved IVF access across FEHB. That is why we strongly urge OPM to include a strong requirement in Page 2 its upcoming Carrier Call Letter that requires FEHB carriers provide IVF coverage that is at least equivalent to what those carriers offer Members of Congress and congressional staff."


Baldwin Votes to Keep Government Open and Move to Rein in ICE

Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) voted to pass five bipartisan full-year funding bills, keep the government open, and set a two-week deadline to negotiate a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that delivers accountability and puts commonsense guardrails on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Included in the bipartisan package of funding bills is Senator Baldwin’s legislation to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

“After the tragic shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, thousands of Wisconsinites have called me demanding we act to rein in the masked federal agents being deployed across the country and causing chaos, fear, and violence on American streets. We need to stop ICE’s lawlessness, and this deal puts us on the path to do that,” said Senator Baldwin. “This agreement makes sure our troops are paid, schools are funded, and we avoid a broad government shutdown, all while giving us a two-week deadline to rein in Kristi Noem and ICE. We also passed my bipartisan bill to fund Department of Education, while rejecting the Trump Administration’s deep cuts to cancer and Alzheimer’s research, mental health care, and addiction programs.”

After the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Senator Baldwin announced over the weekend that she would not support any additional funding for DHS without increased transparency, accountability, and stronger guardrails to rein in ICE. On Tuesday, Senator Baldwin also called on Secretary Noem to resign immediately.

Tonight, the Senate advanced a package of five bipartisan full-year funding bills for Fiscal Year 2026, along with setting a two-week deadline to agree on accountability measures and reforms to ICE. The Senate also passed the bipartisan legislation Senator Baldwin helped write as Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS).

In addition to funding critical programs that the Trump Administration has tried to cut or withhold funding from – including Head Start, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), K-12 schools, and Job Corps – the bipartisan bill puts up strong guardrails to ensure funding is invested as intended and without delay. The bill also rejects extreme riders—over three dozen in total—that were included in House Republicans’ draft bill.


Senate Passes Baldwin’s Bipartisan Bill to Fund Labor, Health, and Education Departments for Fiscal Year 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS), released the following statement after the Senate voted to pass her bipartisan, compromise LHHS appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026. The bipartisan bill rejects the Trump Administration’s effort to cut funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), public schools, and addiction and mental health care, while putting up strong guardrails to ensure funding is spent as intended and without delay. The bill also rejects extreme riders—over three dozen in total—that were included in House Republicans’ draft bill.

“This bill sends a clear message to President Trump that the American people do not want to cut funding for cancer research, our students and schools, or for tools to fight the opioid epidemic,” said Senator Baldwin. “Our bipartisan bill puts a check on the President and his continual habit of using the federal government like his slush fund to bankroll his pet projects while slashing programs families rely on. While this bill does not accomplish everything the people I work for are demanding, it will undoubtedly do good for American families. It will help ensure our schools are funded, people get the health care they need, and new cures and treatments for devastating diseases remain within reach. The House needs to pass this bill immediately and send it to the President’s desk.”

Among other things, the LHHS bill:

Protects and Further Invests in Medical Research: The bill rejects the catastrophic 40% cut to NIH proposed by President Trump, and instead of slashing funding for biomedical research, it increases investments in research for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, women’s health, and more. The bill includes a new provision, spearheaded by Senator Baldwin, that prevents implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s misguided multi-year funding scheme that would significantly cut the number of research grants NIH awards — which the Trump administration began implementing in fiscal year 2025, resulting in 2,000 fewer research grants being funded. This new provision is a significant check on the Trump administration’s efforts to harm biomedical research and will ensure that the $415 million increase provided in the bill funds more research for new treatments and cures.

Tackles the Opioid and Mental Health Crises: While the Trump administration tried to cut off funding for programs that support mental health and addiction care, this bill increases investment for those programs. The bill also includes new guardrails to ensure the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) funds are allocated as intended and communities across the country have the tools they need prevent suicide, stop the scourge of fentanyl and opioids, and invest in prevention and treatment.

Rejects Trump’s Proposals to Slash Education Funding: Despite the Trump Administration’s continued assaults on the Department of Education (ED), this legislation specifically funds ED consistent with longstanding education laws and continues to prohibit the Department from transferring its funding to any other federal agency. The bill also rejects proposed cuts to elementary and secondary education and career and technical and adult education, supporting local schools, teachers, and families, and also setting young adults up for successful careers. The bill also includes new measures to ensure ED funds are allocated to states and school districts on time, preventing resources from being withheld and creating chaos for students, teachers, and families.

More information about the Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill for Fiscal Year 2026 is available here.

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Bennet Condemns Cruel DHS Policies on Senate Floor, Demands Accountability and Reform

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet condemned the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) cruel and unconscionable policies on the Senate floor. This follows Bennet’s release of new proposed legislation to impose guardrails and accountability measures for DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

“All of us have read reports of people grabbed off the sidewalk and abandoned hours later, miles away, and every step along the way, Donald Trump’s immigration troops have escalated tension on our streets, with total disregard for the rule of law, basic safety and their own accountability. These events would be terrible enough, but even as communities across the country have struggled to pick up the pieces left in their wake, we have been forced to contend with another injustice, an administration that has tried to convince us time and time again that what we have seen with our own eyes is not the truth,” said Bennet on the Senate floor.

Bennet denounced the violence of DHS agents, and honored the life of Alex Pretti and his parents’ request to “find the truth.”

“Alex Pretti was killed by his own government, and then his government immediately began to lie about him and what had happened. He did not attack the agents. He did not threaten them, and at no point did he pull a gun in the video of that horrific scene, it’s clear that an agent disarmed him before any shots were fired, multiple agents held him to the ground. Three of them beat him. No reasonable person would have believed he posed any threat to the agents or anyone else at the scene, but the agents still shot him,” continued Bennet.

“What happened to Alex Pretti and the lies that followed was an assault on every one of us, on all of our children, on our sense of dignity and our innate understanding of right and wrong. Now is the time for my colleagues to come together and demand that we reassert these principles and demand the return of safety and security to insanity, to our government, rather than the chaos and destruction that we have recently seen, it’s what all Americans expect, Mr. President, and it is what our country deserves,” concluded Bennet.

Bennet has consistently fought the Trump Administration’s punitive immigration policies. Bennet continues to call on Secretary Noem to resign. Earlier this week, Bennet announced he was working on legislation for commonsense reforms to DHS. He also introduced six amendments to the DHS FY26 appropriations bill that would protect children and families, bar enforcement at sensitive locations, and prohibit officers from wearing masks while requiring visible identification. In February 2025, Bennet joined his Senate colleagues to introduce the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would reinstate DHS’s long-standing policies to prevent ICE from making arrests at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship. In August 2025, he joined the Immigration Enforcement Identification Safety (IEIS) Act to prohibit immigration enforcement officials from wearing masks and to require them to wear visible identification. In November 2025, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the bicameral Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure DHS allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. Earlier this month, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the Providing Useful Budgets for Localities to Invest in Cops by Substituting Appropriations from Federal Enforcement To Yield Results (PUBLIC SAFETY) Act, legislation to redirect nearly $75 billion in funding passed in the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) from ICE and send it instead to local law enforcement programs to help hire and train 200,000 local police officers in communities across the country.

Bennet’s full remarks can be watched HERE.

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Blackburn Slams Democrats for Jeopardizing Winter Storm Recovery Resources to Let Criminal Illegal Aliens Off the Hook

“It is appalling that Democrats would force federal agencies to shut down and jeopardize winter storm recovery resources from FEMA because of their political vendetta against DHS and ICE for enforcing the rule of law,” said Senator Blackburn. “More than a dozen Tennesseans lost their lives because of Winter Storm Fern, but Democrats chose to put critical aid at risk for families in need of assistance because they are upset President Trump is keeping his promise to remove rapists, pedophiles, murderers, drug traffickers, and other heinous criminals from our country. It’s time for Democrats to start siding with law-abiding American citizens instead of criminal illegal aliens, and I urge our colleagues in the House to send this package to the President’s desk as soon as possible. I look forward to seeing President Trump sign this into law to end the Biden-era bloated budgets and put us on a path to curbing out-of-control spending.”

BACKGROUND

Tonight, the Senate passed an appropriations package to fund the U.S. Departments of War, Treasury, State, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Education, and other federal agencies through September 30, 2026.

President Trump negotiated a government funding deal to maintain current funding levels at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a continuing resolution instead of caving to the Democrats’ radical demands to defund DHS.

As a consequence of Senate Democrats’ obstruction, funding will lapse for federal agencies at midnight tonight as the appropriations package passed by the Senate returns to the House for another vote before going to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.

Last year, Democrats forced the longest government shutdown in history, inflicting needless pain on the American people to appease the radical left.

RELATED

Blackburn Leads Tennessee Delegation in Urging Swift Approval of Major Disaster Declaration Request in Wake of Winter Storm Fern


Blackburn, Schiff, Grassley Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Care for Veterans with Hearing Loss

“Every veteran deserves to receive the benefits and care they earned in a timely manner,” said Senator Blackburn. “Unfortunately, we know that veterans experiencing hearing loss often face long wait times when attempting to access the care they need, especially in rural and high-demand areas. Our bipartisan Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act would position the VA to more efficiently serve the 400,000 veterans who call Tennessee home without compromising the quality of care they receive.”

“Hearing loss limits a person’s ability to participate in conversations, work productively and even travel safely,” said Senator Grassley. “That’s why I helped spearhead the effort to enact the bipartisan Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act that enhances access to high-quality, effective hearing aids. However, the millions of Americans who suffer from hearing loss, including veterans, need better access to hearing care. Our bill will help cut red tape so more veterans can access hearing aids.”

BACKGROUND

Hearing loss is by far the most prevalent service-connected disability among American veterans.

In 2017, President Trump signed into law legislation directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a category of over-the-counter hearing aids for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

While FDA-cleared OTC hearing aids are intended to expand access to hearing care options, manyveterans experience long wait times for audiology appointments, particularly in rural or high-demand areas.

VETERANS HEARING AID IMPROVEMENT ACT

The Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act would establish a two-year pilot program to evaluate the use of FDA-cleared OTC hearing aids for veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, subject to clinical supervision and VA oversight.

The Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act would:

Require the VA Secretary to select at least two VA medical facilities in different Veterans Integrated Services Networks to conduct the pilot; and

Require an interim report after the first year and a final report to Congress evaluating the program’s findings, effectiveness, and fiscal impact of the program on the VA.

Click here for bill text.

ENDORSEMENTS

This legislation is supported by the Hearing Loss Association of America, American Legion, Consumer Technology Association (CTA), and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP):

“The Hearing Loss Association of America is proud to support the Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act. Hearing loss and tinnitus are the most common service-connected disabilities, yet far too many veterans face obstacles when seeking the hearing health care they need. By allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate the use of FDA-approved, self-fitting over-the-counter hearing aids, this legislation offers a practical solution that could expand access, reduce costs, and empower veterans to take an active role in managing their hearing health. We commend Senator Blackburn for her leadership and look forward to working together to get this legislation passed,” said Barbara Kelley, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America.

“The American Legion is proud to support the Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act. This legislation establishes a two-year pilot program to expand access to over-the-counter, self-fitting hearing aids for veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. By modernizing outdated VA processes and reducing barriers to care, this bill ensures that veterans can obtain the hearing support they need quickly and affordably… On behalf of our 1.5 million members, The American Legion thanks the sponsors of this bipartisan legislation for advancing practical, cost-effective solutions that enhance veterans’ health care and independence,” said Cole Lyle, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation (VA&R) Director, The American Legion.

“CTA strongly supports the Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act because it puts affordable, over-the-counter innovation to work for veterans,” said Kinsey Fabrizio, President, CTA. “CTA has long championed policies that expand access to safe, effective OTC hearing aids, and this legislation builds on that commitment by cutting red tape, reducing costs, and delivering faster access to hearing care for veterans—while also saving taxpayer dollars.”

“Establishing a demonstration program in the Veterans Administration to test coverage of over-the-counter hearing aids will improve the quality of life for numerous veterans. This demonstration project will also provide data and insights into how access to self-guided hearing technologies can bring value to the VA by improving health outcomes at lower costs,” said Megan O’Reilly, Vice President of Government Affairs, AARP, in a letter to Senator Blackburn. “The demonstration project created by this bill will test the benefit of professional-fitted prescription hearing aids compared to self-guided over-the-counter hearing aids. Learnings from this two-year demonstration will help guide policy and coverage decisions so that more Americans can have access to affordable, high-quality hearing health care. AARP applauds your bipartisan leadership in caring for our nation’s military service members and your interest in improving hearing health for all Americans.”

RELATED

Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Introducing Bicameral “Veterans’ Bill of Rights Act”

Blackburn, Rosen Introduce Legislation to Cut Red Tape for Providers to Take Care of America’s Service Members and Veterans

Blackburn, Tuberville Support Expanding Veterans’ Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids


Blumenthal Statement on Spending Package

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement after voting to avert a government shutdown by passing legislation separating five bipartisan, full year appropriations bills from a short-term, two-week continuing resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security:

“This deal gives us an opportunity to impose real restraints on the Department of Homeland Security – lasting, enduring legislative reform to rein in an agency that is absolutely out of control. It also funds critical health, transportation, housing, and defense programs, denying Republicans the chance to make this issue about a government shutdown – about failing to pay military families or making air passengers safe.”

“I share the anger and outrage I have heard from my constituents, which is why I am demanding action like body cameras on, masks off; identification; accountability for lawless officers; and judicial warrants. We cannot allow this pseudo paramilitary force to continue acting with impunity, and if these demands are not met, I will not vote for another penny of funding for DHS.”

On Tuesday, Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, will hold a bicameral public forum to receive testimony on the violent tactics and disproportionate use of force by agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

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Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 1/23/2026-1/30/2026

Honoring VA Nurse Killed by ICE in Minneapolis

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released a statement on the killing of Alex Pretti, a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Intensive Care Unit nurse who worked at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.

“I am deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic death of Alex Pretti— a VA nurse who served Minnesota veterans in one of the most demanding VA health care jobs. He loved his job, his family, and his country. He was on the streets of Minneapolis Saturday morning peacefully protesting brutal, illegal ICE policies. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and coworkers at this painful moment. Alex’s service at VA deserves to be honored and elevated.

“Congress must demand an independent investigation immediately. We need bipartisan calls for justice—now.”

At a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, Ranking Member Blumenthal took a moment to remember and honor the life and service of Alex Pretti.

“Alex Pretti loved his job. He loved his family. He loved his country. At today’s Veterans’ Affairs hearing with Sec. Collins, I took a moment to recognize & honor Alex’s legacy,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Demanding Total ICE Overhaul to Stop Violence & Lawlessness

At a press conference in Hartford on Monday, Blumenthal demand accountability from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the killing of Alex Pretti.

“Some basic, clear, straightforward reforms—such as requiring body cameras and visible identification, protections of individuals in sensitive spaces, elimination of street sweeps and indiscriminate mass arrests, requirements for visible identification and a legal recourse for individuals who are harmed by wrongdoing, civil action, redress in courts. These kinds of basic protections of civil rights and civil liberties are mandatory—absolutely required—at this point in our history, because the pattern of violations of rights comes from the top. Last week, I revealed a secret memo from the acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, that authorized ICE agents to kick down doors and storm into homes, terrorize children, ransack living rooms and bedrooms, arrest and detain individuals—all without a judicial warrant. The pattern of abuse is sickening,” said Blumenthal at the press conference.

Blumenthal further called for a stop to ICE’s lawlessness and brutal tactics on Twitter/X.

“ICE’s lawless violence must be stopped. Republicans should join in restraining this out of control agency. A moral moment for all America. Sweeping reforms that stop these abuses are absolutely necessary in the DHS funding bill,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal also demanded accountability from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and called for her removal from her position on Twitter/X.

“Noem needs to go. Resign. Be fired. Or be impeached. Her craven lies, complicity in lethal lawless violence, & corrupt mismanagement—& much more—have totally disgraced & discredited her. Steps to impeach should begin immediately,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee

After multiple requests from Congress for information and months of stonewalling from the Trump Administration, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Blumenthal demanded data from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins at a Committee oversight hearing.

Blumenthal started his questioning by pressing the Secretary for a full accounting of $6 billion VA was given to spend on health care costs, which was reportedly instead used to cover the cost of cuts in staff—including the Administration’s deferred resignation program and voluntary early retirements: “Can you provide this Committee with a full accounting of the six billion dollars, which I think is very important because apparently it was used to push out essential VA health care providers—rather than sustaining VA medical operations as intended?...[R]ather than going into the rhetoric—I want the numbers.”

Blumenthal continued by asking for information surrounding VA’s staffing losses under the Trump Administration: “Talking about numbers, my understanding is that more than 40,000 employees have left the VA since last January. Can you provide this Committee with a detailed, updated workforce compilation of data? The number of staff who have left VA since January 2025, broken down by facility and position? And the list of positions and vacancies each facility plans to cut based on the caps you set late last year?...I want numbers…I want the breakdown. We’ve asked for it repeatedly, sir. We have not received it. I’m asking again in this forum—I shouldn’t have to do so.”

The hearing follows Blumenthal’s release last week of a comprehensive report, Breaking the Pact: Impacts of Trump, DOGE, and Doug Collins’ Ongoing Assault on Veterans, detailing the harm and impacts of the Trump Administration’s draconian directives and cuts on veterans. Among its many findings, the report revealed a historic loss of staff, dire health care staffing shortages, and spiking VA mental health care wait times. Based on these findings, Blumenthal asked Secretary Collins for updated facility-by-facility data for wait times on mental health care access—noting that his data shows nearly one-third of states have wait times for new patients exceeding 40 days.

The video of Blumenthal’s remarks at the hearing is available here.

Blumenthal further demanded answers from Collins on Twitter/X.

“Facts about VA job cuts. Facts about VA mental health care delays. Facts about $6 billion in misallocated VA funding. Today, Sec. Collins made commitments to releasing the data that his agency has withheld for far too long,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal introduced a Congressional Review Act Resolution to overturn the Trump Administration’s rule ending life-saving abortion care for veterans.

Blumenthal honored International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Blumenthal slammed social media posts from the Trump Administration for echoing white supremacist messaging.

Blumenthal called for accountability from the FAA after the National Transportation Safety Board found that the deadly collision above Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport last January was preventable.

Blumenthal celebrated more than $250 million in improvements for Bradley International Airport.

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Booker Joins Welch, Colleagues in Demanding Noem’s Immediate Resignation as DHS Secretary

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined his colleagues in calling on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to immediately resign, citing her deplorable leadership of the department. In a letter led by Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), Booker and U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) emphasized how the horrifying conduct of immigration agents in Minnesota has led to a complete loss of confidence in Secretary Noem’s ability to serve as DHS Secretary.

“Immigration enforcement plays a central role in securing our border and ensuring non-citizens convicted of violent offenses are removed from our country. At your direction, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become entirely unmoored from this mission,” wrote the Senators. “The Department’s violent immigration enforcement in Minnesota underscores just how far the agency has strayed. This month, immigration agents fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The shootings of these two U.S. citizens were made possible by the culture—devoid of leadership or training—that you have created at DHS.”

The Senators continued: “Under your management, immigration agents’ behavior has been consistently brutal and overzealous. Since September 2025, ICE agents have shot 12 people, resulting in four deaths. You have presided over the highest number of in-custody deaths in two decades. In 2025, 32 people died in ICE custody. During that time, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported 17 deaths. This month alone, six people have died in detention centers.”

The Senators write that the abhorrent conduct at DHS is rooted in Noem’s insufficient training and policy changes, which have created a culture of impunity: “You directed a recruitment effort that has led to thousands of hastily trained immigration officers being placed into our communities. Since January 2025, DHS has hired over 12,000 new ICE officers. To accommodate this hiring spree, officer training has been reduced from 16 weeks to approximately 6.5 weeks. These trainings are essential to ensure safe, lawful interactions for agents and community members alike.”

“You also approved new guidance at DHS that violates federal law and the Constitution. In May 2025, but only publicly reported recently, ICE issued a memo directing agents to enter residences—without a judicial warrant—to arrest unauthorized immigrants. The Fourth Amendment prohibits searches and seizures without judicial warrants,” the Senators continued. “DHS has also ignored federal court orders. In Minnesota, the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court recently accused ICE of having ‘dozens of court orders with which [they] have failed to comply’ during Operation Metro Surge.”

The Senators slammed Noem’s statements condemning the victims of officers’ misconduct as undermining accountability: “After agents shot Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti, you immediately downplayed these killings and sought to blame the victims for their deaths. You falsely described Ms. Good, a wife and mother of three, as a domestic terrorist. You claimed that Mr. Pretti brandished a firearm before his death, which is directly contradicted by video evidence. Your statements—made prior to the completion of an investigation and contrary to evidence—have resulted in a massive loss of confidence in your ability to lead DHS.”

“Taken together, your tenure represents a profound failure to uphold the responsibilities of your position. You have displayed a complete disregard for public safety, due process, civil liberties, and constitutional safeguards. A mission as important as protecting our homeland cannot be placed under your leadership. We call on you to resign immediately,” the Senators concluded.


U.S. Senator Katie Britt Directly Secures Over $111.3 Million for Alabama Priorities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today voted to pass a package of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills, including: the FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Act, the FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act, the FY26 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Act, the FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, and the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act.

This package, which also includes a two-week Continuing Resolution for the FY26 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, now goes back to the U.S. House of Representatives before heading to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. Following the signing of this package into law, Senator Britt will have directly secured more than $200.7 million for the state of Alabama in FY26 appropriations funding.

“Alabama is stronger, safer, and more secure because of the funding package we passed in the Senate today. The passage of this package of bills will invest in critical medical and research equipment, fund transportation and infrastructure projects across the state, strengthen military readiness, increase our servicemembers’ pay, and modernize our defense industrial base. With the finish line in sight, my work on the Appropriations Committee won’t stop until all 12 bills have been sent to President Trump’s desk. I am always honored to work on behalf of Alabamians and will continue fighting every day to deliver the resources, security, and opportunities our communities deserve,” said Senator Britt.

A detailed breakdown of the Alabama priorities directly secured by Senator Britt in the appropriations bills can be found here.

In the FY26 LHHS bill, Senator Britt directly secured more than $28.6 million for medical and research equipment at hospitals and universities, workforce development training, nursing education, mobile health units, and more.

Senator Britt also directly supported increasing total NIH funding by $415 million, funding for the NIH IMPROVE initiative, a priority Senator Britt has been proud to champion legislation for in the Senate, by $10 million, and funding for Head Start by $85 million in the FY26 LHHS bill.

The FY26 THUD bill includes $68.5 million in funding directly secured by Senator Britt for road and bridge projects, airport and rail infrastructure, public safety and emergency services, and technology and innovation investments.

In the FY26 THUD bill, Senator Britt also helped to secure $10 million for the National Scenic Byways Program, which includes the Alabama’s Coastal Connection, Natchez Trace Parkway, Selma to Montgomery March Byway, and Talladega Scenic Drive in Alabama, and $20 million for the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), which includes the Birmingham Northern Beltline.

In the FY26 FSGG bill, Senator Britt was proud to directly secure $14.2 million including for critical repairs at the Dothan Courthouse and Hugo Black Courthouse, and for the University of North Alabama and Athens State University to expand and enhance their innovation and entrepreneurial centers.

In the FY26 Defense bill, Senator Britt was proud to support funding the President’s request for a 3.8 percent pay raise for servicemembers and a 10 percent additional pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers authorized in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an increase of $3 billion for munitions production and research and development, and an increase of $7.5 billion to address Department-identified needs.

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Senator Budd Releases Statement After Voting to Support Appropriations Package

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) issued the following statement after casting his vote to pass the five-bill appropriations minibus and a two-week continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security(DHS).

“Yesterday, I opposed a procedural vote for the appropriations package over the inclusion of several troubling earmarks. Unfortunately, not enough Senators supported stripping them out.

“While my concerns about these earmarks remain, I agree with President Trump that Congress must avert a government shutdown, and I voted to advance this bipartisan package that will benefit North Carolina’s military families, infrastructure, and disaster recovery.

“Because our state is still recovering from Hurricane Helene and faces an onslaught of severe winter weather, I would have preferred the pre-negotiated full-year appropriations for DHS stay in this package. Still, advancing stopgap funding for DHS ensures that core agency components, including immigration enforcement agencies, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the TSA, can continue their missions over the next two weeks,” said Senator Budd.

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Capito Votes to Pass Appropriations Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee and a member of Senate Republican Leadership, issued the below statement after voting for a package that includes five bipartisan, full-year appropriations bills— Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H); Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD); Defense; Financial Services and General Government; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies.

“I’m proud to see the Senate come together to pass these appropriations bills, a bipartisan package that responsibly funds key priorities across various agencies. These priorities were carefully crafted, debated and agreed to in a bipartisan and bicameral manner, and they can actually be carried out. Additionally, this package includes many provisions that can help West Virginians. Funds for roads and bridges, projects to enhance economic development throughout West Virginia, and support for agencies that employ and serve our residents are reasons why I worked to craft this legislation. I’m pleased to see this package finally pass,” Senator Capito said.

On Thursday, Senator Capito, who also chairs the Labor-H Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor where she highlighted the many wins included in the Labor-HHS portion in the bill, as well as the need to pass the remaining appropriations bills. Click here to watch the full speech.

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Senate Passes Capito Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee, released the below statement following the Senate’s passage of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Act. The legislation provides support to strengthen America’s workforce and fund important health and education programs.

“As the chairman of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, I am proud to once again craft an effective bill that maintains provisions that are critical to the agencies my subcommittee oversees. This bill reflects the many priorities that will help West Virginians from all corners of our state. My driving focus in crafting this bill is to help meet the needs of my fellow West Virginians, and I am proud to say it will do just that. I am pleased that the Senate has passed this legislation, and I appreciate the fulfilled promise of bringing Appropriations bills to the floor under regular order,” Senator Capito said.

On Thursday, Senator Capito delivered a speech on the Senate floor where she highlighted the many wins included in the bill. Click here to watch the full speech.

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VIDEO: Capito Joins Fox’s “America’s Newsroom”

To watch Senator Capito’s interview, click here or on the image above.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of Senate Republican leadership and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer to discuss government funding and immigration reform.

HIGHLIGHTS:

ON THE POSSIBILITY OF DEMOCRATS’ DEMANDS CHANGING DHS FUNDING ALLOCATED THROUGH THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL: “You know, I don't think it will change what we did in the One Big Beautiful Bill, and that was to really fund ICE and give them a lot more fortifications to do their job. What we're looking at now is a homeland security bill that not only has ICE and Border Patrol in it, it also has Coast Guard, Secret Service, FEMA, importantly, we see these storms coming forward. So, it's really important that while this Homeland Security may be in a continuing resolution for two weeks while it's negotiated, that we get these folks back on stream and that we fully fund their efforts.

ON IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING HOMELAND SECURITY SERVICES: “They're essential to the safety of this country. And you know, it is frustrating for everybody that we're at this point. I think that the best path would have been to pass all six bills, and we could have done that probably last night or at least today, to avoid a temporary shutdown, but I feel like we'll have success next week with the five as they're negotiating home.


Cassidy, Barrasso, Republican Colleagues Introduce No Climate Treaties Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), U.S. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY), and a group of Senate Republican colleagues introduced the No Climate Treaties Act, which would mandate U.S. Senate approval for the United States to join or rejoin any international climate agreement.

“Louisiana families deserve a say in deals that affect their wallets,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We’re making sure nobody can sign America up for a bad deal without our input.”

“Democrat administrations have a history of ignoring the will of the American people and bypassing Senate approval to unilaterally join costly international climate treaties,” said Senator Barrasso. “Climate treaties, like the Paris climate agreement, often set unworkable targets designed to put America at a competitive disadvantage with other countries. They also cost American taxpayers billions of dollars and raise energy prices for working families. The No Climate Treaties Act makes it clear that the United States will no longer join any international climate treaty without Senate approval. This will ensure the American people have the final say on where their tax dollars go.”

Under the legislation, which was introduced on the same week the United States officially withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, any climate agreement, including the Paris Agreement, must be treated as a treaty requiring a two-thirds vote in the Senate according to Article II of the Constitution. It would also restrict the use of federal funds to implement or comply with any international climate agreement that has not secured this required Senate approval.

Cassidy and Barrasso were joined by U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ashley Moody (R-FL), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Kennedy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), James Risch (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Rand Paul (R-KY) in introducing the legislation.

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Cassidy Votes to Keep Government Open, Secures Over $1.3 Billion for Louisiana

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) voted to keep the government open and announced he secured $1,323,770.00 for Louisiana in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Defense, Financial Services and General Government, and National Security and Department of State appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026.

As a part of this package, the U.S. Senate also passed a two-week continuing resolution to allow time to reach an agreement on the Homeland Security appropriations bill. These bills now head to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. If the U.S. House of Representatives does not pass these funding bills by midnight tonight, Friday, January 30, 2026, it will result in a partial government shutdown.

Cassidy on potential partial government shutdown: “I voted to keep the government open, fund the military, and importantly to fund FEMA, which needed right now to help those affected by Winter Storm Fern.”

Cassidy on $1.3 billion secured for Louisiana: “A safer, stronger Louisiana starts with investments. This funding strengthens our national security, makes our communities safer, and improves roads and bridges across the state.”

See below for a full list of funding for Louisiana secured by Senator Cassidy:


Senator Collins’ Statement on Senate Passage of Five-Bill FY26 Funding Package

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Senator Collins’ floor remarks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate voted 71 to 29 to approve a five-bill package. It includes full-year funding for the Department of Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

“This evening, the Senate passed legislation that includes full-year funding for five important Appropriations bills. These bills will support our national security through investments in our military; strengthen court security and invest in oversight of federal programs; support lifesaving biomedical research; modernize our nation’s outdated air traffic system and address the air traffic controller shortage; and support America’s workforce, and children and families.

"In addition, this legislation continues funding for the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks to allow us additional time to consider proposals to supplement the reforms already in the bill, such as body-worn cameras for ICE officers.

“When his package is signed into law, in addition to the previously passed bills, we will have funded 96 percent of all of government. This marks an important milestone and shows that Congress can work together in a bipartisan manner to carry out our Article I responsibilities and deliver results for the people we are honored to represent.”

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Senator Collins was praised for her leadership of the Appropriations Committee, with former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying:

“I’d be remiss in not acknowledging the dedicated, collaborative efforts of colleagues who recognize the importance of the task at hand, particularly Chair Susan Collins—clearly the most outstanding Appropriations Chair in the time that I’ve been here.”

Delaware Senator Chris Coons also lauded the Committee’s leadership:

“When we began this year’s appropriations process, the task before us seemed almost impossible. It has been many, many years since we have completed the full appropriations process, and there were lots of challenges in a divided nation and a divided congress. And I just wanted to, briefly this evening, as we conclude this process in the Senate, take a moment and thank the Chair and Vice Chair of the full Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins and Senator Murray. They and their staff made the impossible real. The bills just passed through this body and headed to the House will save lives and change them, will fund hundreds of billions of dollars of positive and valuable activity on behalf of the people of the United States.”

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Cornyn Praises President Trump’s Nomination of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement on President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve:

“With decades of experience in finance and economics spanning government and the private sector, Kevin Warsh is eminently qualified to serve as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. I trust with him at the helm, the Federal Reserve will help guide our nation on a path of historic prosperity and opportunity just as President Trump has.”

“I applaud the President for nominating Kevin Warsh for this post, and I look forward to supporting him in the Senate.”


Cornyn Statement on Senate Democrats Using Tragedy for Political Gain & Forcing Funding Lapse

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after voting to keep the government open after Senate Democrats stonewalled the House-passed package of remaining appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026, ensuring a portion of federal government funding will lapse at 12:01AM ET:

“It’s Groundhog Day in the U.S. Senate as Democrats choose, once again, to allow federal government funding to lapse to support their own political agenda.”

“It is always a tragedy when a human life is ended, but it is inexcusable that Democrats are using such tragedy as a scapegoat to try and force changes to government funding that they know cannot be made before midnight tonight. They are willfully punishing 330 million Americans for a political stunt.”

“I am grateful to President Trump for negotiating legislation to avoid a more damaging, long-term Democrat shutdown like we saw this past fall, and I urge House Republicans to pass this bill to reopen the government as soon as possible.”