Maduro is an Outlaw. President Trump Brought Him to Justice.

“Our country has carried out one of the boldest law enforcement operations in decades. We should celebrate it. This administration had the courage to do what was right and what needed to be done. America, Venezuela, and the world are safer because of it.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor following a secure Senate briefing about the arrest of Venezuelan dictator and indicted drug trafficker Nicolas Maduro. Senator Barrasso praised the historic law enforcement operation to protect Americans’ safety and security.

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.

Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:

“I rise today having just come from the classified briefing about the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. Our country has carried out one of the boldest law enforcement operations in decades. We should celebrate it. This administration had the courage to do what was right and what needed to be done. America, Venezuela, and the world are safer because of it.

“Operation Absolute Resolve was conducted for one reason: to bring to justice a murderous dictator and indicted drug trafficker. Maduro is an outlaw. The Trump administration indicted him in 2020 on drug trafficking charges. President Trump put a $15 million bounty on him. The Biden administration agreed. They increased that bounty to $25 million.

“Neither the first Trump administration, nor the Biden administration, nor the current administration recognized Maduro as the legitimate leader of the people of Venezuela. We are not alone in that view. Many of our allies hold that same position. Yet only America had the resolve and the resources to bring Maduro to justice. No American lives were lost. It was a textbook example of Peace through Strength. The message to the entire world is clear. If you poison and kill the American people, you will be held accountable.

“Arresting Maduro also advances America’s national security. Maduro’s allies and enablers are united in their commitment to undermine America – China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, even Hezbollah. Communist China was buying half a million barrels of oil each and every day from Venezuela. In exchange for that oil, China has loaned Venezuela $106 billion this century. Just hours before his arrest, Maduro was meeting in Caracas with officials of the Chinese Communist Party. This Axis of Aggression is weaker now because President Trump has taken decisive action.

“All around the world, people are seeing the failure of dictatorships. That is why Venezuelans are celebrating in the streets today. It is also why Iranians are uniting today across their country to protest a suppressive dictatorship. They have good reason to demand their freedom.

“There are Democrats in this chamber who are using the arrest of Nicolas Maduro not to advance American interest, but to attack President Trump. This week, they will force a vote on another War Powers Resolution to tie the hands of the President. Let’s be clear about what that resolution does and what it does not do. It does not reassert Congress’s powers. It does not make America stronger. It makes America weaker and less safe. It would weaken the President’s legitimate, constitutional authority. This body, the United States Senate, is being asked whether the President of the United States has the authority to arrest indicted criminals. Of course he does. Democrats want to weaken the President’s ability to enforce the law. That is the wrong message to send to hardened drug traffickers and to dictators.

“It’s interesting, because for years, Democrats were for holding Maduro accountable. Senator Chris Murphy – Democrat from Connecticut – tweeted in 2019 that ‘getting rid of Maduro is good for the United States.’ Senator Chuck Schumer – the Democrat Leader – came to this very floor in 2020 and complained that President Trump ‘hasn’t brought an end to the Maduro regime.’ Senator Chris Van Hollen – Democrat from Maryland – told MSNBC just last year, ‘The United States needs to work with its partners and allies in the region to ratchet up the pressure’ on Venezuela. Democrats know absolutely that President Trump did the absolute right thing. They prefer to play politics instead. Within the last several days, Senator Schumer called arresting Maduro ‘reckless.’ Senator Van Hollen said it was ‘an illegal act of war.’ Senator Murphy told CNN on Sunday Venezuela is ‘not a security threat’ to the United States. Evidently, they were for it before they were against it.

“The question I have for Democrats is, do they no longer think that arresting Maduro is a good thing? They supported it in the past. Arresting Maduro was not partisan or political. It was a professionally executed law enforcement action. Every parent is happy about the arrest. Their children will now be safer. This arrest will save thousands of American lives – lives that would have been lost due to Maduro’s drug trafficking.

“On Saturday, President Trump took bold action to protect the citizens of this country. We should celebrate the success in Venezuela and take great pride in the brave men and women who carried out the successful mission. Republicans will continue to stand on the side of safety, security, and peace through strength.”

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VIDEO: Blackburn Applauds Trump Administration for Holding Fraudsters Accountable in Minnesota and Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor railing against the massive fraud scheme in Minnesota that is estimated to exceed $9 billion in stolen taxpayer dollars and praising the Trump administration for going after fraudsters across the country:

Click hereto download Senator Blackburn’s remarks on the Senate floor.

EXCERPTS OF REMARKS

Blackburn Rails Against Widespread Fraud Scheme in Minnesota


Blackburn Introduces Legislation to Protect Taxpayers Who Prevail Against the IRS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after introducing the No Tax on Wrongful Delay Act, which would ensure interest paid by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to taxpayers who prevail in an audit or tax-related litigation is not treated as taxable income:

“The American people should not be forced to pay income taxes on the interest they are owed from the IRS when they prevail in an audit or in court,” said Senator Blackburn. “The No Tax on Wrongful Delay Act would protect taxpayers and ensure that interest paid on overpayments resulting from audits, refund actions, or IRS collection cases is not taxable income when the IRS gets it wrong.”

THE NO TAX ON WRONGFUL DELAY ACT

The No Tax on Wrongful Delay Act would exclude from taxable income any interest the IRS pays to taxpayers when the taxpayer prevails in an audit or tax-related litigation. Specifically, this legislation provides that interest paid on tax overpayments is not considered gross income if the overpayment results from:

An IRS audit or examination;

A lawsuit or proceeding brought by the taxpayer to obtain a refund or credit; or

A civil action brought by the United States to collect taxes.

This legislation would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Click here for bill text.

RELATED


Blumenthal Demands Answers from VA Secretary on Staggering Increase of Sexual Harassment & Assault Reports at VA

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is demanding answers from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins regarding data revealing a “staggering increase” in reports of sexual harassment and assault taking place at VA facilities. Blumenthal stressed his concerns with this increasing number in light of Collins’ inactivation of required harassment prevention and accountability training for VA employees.

“VA has experienced a staggering increase in reports of sexual harassment and assault since the Department began reporting these metrics to Congress under the Deborah Sampson Act,” the Senator wrote in a letter to Collins. “In its most recent annual report, VA disclosed 1,541 cases of sexual harassment at its facilities. The number of sexual assault cases at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities received by VA Police climbed from 323 to 472 between 2021 and 2024, while the number of sexual harassment cases reported to the Harassment Prevention Program (HPP) increased from 42 to 778. While some portion of these increases may be due to increased awareness of VA’s reporting resources, such drastic increases are indicative of systemic failures across the Department to keep veterans and VA employees safe.”

Blumenthal cited his concern with Collins’ inactivation of legally required Harassment Prevention & Accountability Training at VA, noting it puts the Department in clear violation of the Deborah Sampson Act and leaves both new and existing VA employees without information on how to report and address harassment and sexual assault. “It is unacceptable that, while sexual harassment and assault reports at VA facilities continue to increase, the Department is unconcerned with providing its employees mandated sexual harassment prevention training.”

The Department has stated this training was inactivated due to Executive Order (EO) 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and has been inactive since January 29, 2025.

The full text of the Senator’s letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Collins,

I write to express grave concern about the troubling trends in harassment and sexual assault incidents at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, as documented in reports mandated under Section 5303 of the Deborah Sampson Act (Title V of Public Law 116-315). VA’s own data reveals a crisis of safety that represents a fundamental failure to protect those who have served our nation, as well as the employees who have chosen to serve them.

VA has experienced a staggering increase in reports of sexual harassment and assault since the Department began reporting these metrics to Congress under the Deborah Sampson Act. In its most recent annual report, VA disclosed 1,541 cases of sexual harassment at its facilities. The number of sexual assault cases at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities received by VA Police climbed from 323 to 472 between 2021 and 2024, while the number of sexual harassment cases reported to the Harassment Prevention Program (HPP) increased from 42 to 778. While some portion of these increases may be due to increased awareness of VA’s reporting resources, such drastic increases are indicative of systemic failures across the Department to keep veterans and VA employees safe.

Though I appreciate the Department’s creation of multiple reporting channels for instances of harassment and sexual assault – including VA Police, the Harassment Prevention Program, facility-level points of contact, MyVA411, and VSignals surveys – it seems there is a lack of clear coordination between these channels. I have heard from veterans this fragmentation can often force individuals to navigate multiple offices to file a single report, creating delays and requiring these individuals to retell their experiences. VA’s "no wrong door" policy has become multiple doors leading nowhere.

I am also deeply concerned with VA’s inactivation of the required Harassment Prevention & Accountability Training, putting the Department in clear violation of the Deborah Sampson Act and leaving both new and existing VA employees without information on how to report and address harassment and sexual assault. The Department has stated this training was inactivated due to Executive Order (EO) 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and has demonstrated an alarming lack of urgency in reinstating this training. It is unacceptable that, while sexual harassment and assault reports at VA facilities continue to increase, the Department is unconcerned with providing its employees mandated sexual harassment prevention training.

In light of these concerning trends and actions, I request detailed, written responses to the following questions within 30 days:

What specific factors does VA attribute to the increase in sexual harassment reports since 2021? Has VA conducted a comprehensive root cause analysis?

What is VA's comprehensive strategy to reverse these trends in the coming years?

Please provide progress reports for the 17 VA facilities identified to complete remediation plans for Fiscal Year 2024 due to their high levels of substantiated sexual harassment or assault cases.

How many staff are dedicated to VHA’s Assault and Harassment Prevention Office?

How has the number of staff onboard in this office changed since January 2025?

How many of these employees are performing Assault and Harassment Prevention Office work as their entire workload, without any collateral duties?

Who is currently leading VHA’s Assault and Harassment Prevention Office?

Has the Harassment Prevention & Accountability Training been redeployed since it was inactivated?

If yes, how will VA be handling Harassment Prevention & Accountability Training for employees who were hired or due for annual training while this training was under redesign and inactive?

If yes, what changes were made between the previous version of the training and the new redeployed version?

Which individuals at the facility level are responsible for providing VA Central Office with the harassment and assault data compiled in VA’s Section 5303 reports?

What accountability measures exist for facility leadership at facilities where incidents exceed national averages?

What actions does VA plan to take to address the high rate of sexual harassment cases (forty-two percent) determined by VA Police to be “inconclusive?”

Please detail the exact process for a sexual assault case being determined founded or unfounded.

How many sexual assault or harassment cases were transferred between reporting systems (VA Police, HPP, etc.) in Fiscal Year 2024?

How can VA’s “no wrong door” approach to reporting be streamlined to ensure it does not lead to delays in response or individuals recounting traumatic experiences multiple times?

Veterans and VA employees deserve safe environments free from harassment and assault. The statistics most recently reported by VA reflect a population whose safety was violated while in the process of either seeking earned care and services, or while working on behalf of veterans. I encourage you to address these concerning trends with the attention and resources they deserve, to help make VA a safer place.

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Blumenthal Statement on DOJ Lawsuit Against Connecticut

[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, released the following statement today on the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Connecticut for refusing to turn over the state’s voter records to the Trump Administration.

“Trump and his lackeys can try to bully Connecticut all they want, but the facts are clear: this type of national voter roll poses a real risk to people’s privacy and would be completely unprecedented. Connecticut is right to stand up to the administration’s blatant power grab. States should be free to run their own elections and there is no evidence that voter fraud is a widespread issue. I am hopeful the courts will judge this lawsuit for what it is —meritless,” Blumenthal said.

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Blumenthal Statement on ICE Killing of a U.S. Citizen in Minneapolis

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), released the following statement:

“This horrific tragedy was both predictable and preventable. For months, armed ICE and CBP agents have roamed American cities and brutally assaulted American citizens with seemingly no repercussions – and now, a woman is dead. My heart breaks for her family and loved ones. I join my colleagues from Minnesota and the many local and state lawmakers and law enforcement officials who have called for peace in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy. And I also join them in demanding justice and accountability for this American killed by an ICE agent; for this community, which has been terrorized by lawless immigration agents; and for our country, which deserves a government that follows the law and abides by the basic values of our Constitution.”

In December, Blumenthal released a report highlighting firsthand accounts of twenty-two Americans who were physically assaulted, pepper sprayed, denied medical treatment, and detained – sometimes for days – by federal immigration agents. The report, Unchecked Authority: Examining the Trump Administration’s Extrajudicial Immigration Detentions Of U.S. Citizens, was released ahead of a bicameral public forum hosted by Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to receive testimony from five Americans who were unconstitutionally detained by agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Both the report and the forum featured accounts of federal immigration officials acting with excessive force and then fabricating claims about the U.S. citizens who were detained.

In October, Blumenthal and Garcia opened an inquiry into the increasing detention of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents. In a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Blumenthal and Garcia demanded information and records from the agency following increasingly frequent reports of unconstitutional detentions of U.S. citizens by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), often using disproportionate force. Blumenthal and Garcia reiterated their request in another letter to Noem in November.

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Booker Statement on Fatal ICE Shooting of Woman in Minneapolis

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement:

“The shooting of a woman in Minnesota today by ICE is a horrible tragedy.

“As Mayor I've overseen a police department of over a thousand officers. From everything I've seen so far, this killing was avoidable and shouldn’t have happened. This is especially troubling because law enforcement officers are routinely trained in deescalation techniques and the use of less lethal force to prevent harm and protect the public. There needs to be a thorough, independent investigation, and there should be full accountability.

“I am deeply concerned that DHS’s practices will lead to more tragedies. All evidence indicates that hiring standards have been lowered, training is inadequate, and internal controls are insufficient. These conditions have allowed agents to operate without proper oversight, and, in some cases, unlawfully.

“Secretary Noem has refused to come before the Judiciary Committee, and DHS has failed to provide answers that I and others have been demanding about their operations and personnel.

“Republicans in the Senate must not continue to surrender Congress’ oversight responsibility or shirk our constitutional duty to hold this administration accountable. Secretary Noem must come before the Judiciary Committee for a hearing focused on the conduct of ICE agents.”


Boozman, Cotton Applaud Nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) applauded the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd by President Trump to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

“John Shepherd is an active community member who respects our Constitution and is deeply committed to the rule of law, the pursuit of justice and public service. His extensive legal experience as both a lawyer and judge will serve him well in this role and I’m pleased to support his nomination,” Boozman said.

“I commend President Trump for nominating John Shepherd, a strong conservative judge and prosecutor in El Dorado, to serve as judge to the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. He has done a tremendous job working to make south Arkansas safer from violent criminals and drugs. I look forward to confirming his nomination in the Senate,” Cotton said.

Shepherd is a native of El Dorado and graduate of Rice University as well as the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville where he was managing editor of the Arkansas Law Review. He was a partner at Shepherd & Shepherd in El Dorado and also served as a prosecuting attorney, and later judge, for the Arkansas Circuit Court’s 13th Judicial District. He is a member of the Federalist Society.

The Western District of Arkansas includes 34 counties stretching from Texarkana and El Dorado to Fayetteville and Fort Smith.

President Trump has also nominated David Clay Fowlkes to serve as a judge for the Western District of Arkansas. His nomination, which Boozman and Cotton support and have urged their colleagues to approve, was resubmitted after it expired at the conclusion of 2025.


Boozman, Padilla Lead Bill to Leverage Innovative Technology for Improved Road Safety

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Roadway Safety Modernization Act, new legislation to better address safety concerns and increase efficiency on roads, highways and in our communities. The bill would help state departments of transportation adopt the use of certain technologies such as artificial intelligence and telematics to identify faulty or inadequate infrastructure that negatively impacts driver behavior and leads to fatalities.

“Far too often, transportation professionals realize the need to address a safety issue only after tragedy strikes,” said Boozman. “This bipartisan bill helps states move from a ‘crash first, fix later’ approach to a proactive, data-driven strategy that identifies risks before serious incidents occur. By clarifying the use of federal safety funds for proven predictive technologies, we can empower states to prevent accidents, make smart investments and save lives.”

“As California works to make our roads safer, it is important that state and local transportation departments have the ability to use federal funds for these critical upgrades,” said Padilla. “Our bipartisan bill would clarify federal guidance to give states the flexibility and certainty they need to procure safety technology in a timely manner.”

The Roadway Safety Modernization Act would:

Modernize federal-aid highway safety programs by incorporating new tools and systems, including predictive analysis platforms and other proven methods to address safety risks proactively;

Promote increased accountability and transparency through measurable performance and intervention; and

Utilize anonymized data to identify and inform infrastructure safety decisions while protecting consumers’ privacy.

The measure is supported by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), numerous other state transportation agencies and highway safety groups. Here’s what some of these organizations are saying about the bill.

“Vehicle telematic data will empower engineers and safety practitioners to be more proactive as we seek to improve safety for all roadway users,” said ARDOT Director Jared Wiley. “Our agency is piloting this technology through our Highway Safety Improvement Program and are optimistic about its ability to change the way we identify, diagnose, and treat safety concerns along our highways.”

“The Roadway Safety Modernization Act represents the paradigm shift we’ve been waiting for – turning our reactive transportation system into a proactive one,” said Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) Coalition Executive Director Andrew Rogers. “By using data analytics and AI to see risk before it becomes loss, this legislation gives communities the tools to make their roads smarter and safer for everyone.”

“Safe Routes Partnership applauds Senators Boozman and Padilla and Representatives Mann and Davids for introducing the bipartisan Roadway Safety Modernization Act,” said Safe Routes Partnership Managing Director Marisa Jones. “Safe Routes to School is an evidence-based strategy proven to reduce roadway injuries and fatalities, and this legislation brings that same data-driven approach into the next generation. By enabling communities to use AI-powered predictive risk technology to identify and prevent crashes before they occur, Congress can help ensure every child can walk, bike, and roll to school safely. We’re proud to support forward-thinking solutions that will make school zones and neighborhoods safer nationwide.”

“The National Safety Council commends the efforts of Senators Boozman and Padilla and Reps. Mann and Davids to address the daily tragedy of death and serious injury on our roadways,” said National Safety Council CEO Lorraine Martin. “By harnessing the power of technology, including lifesaving telematics, the Roadway Safety Modernization Act will enable states to prevent devastating traffic crashes through data-driven driver intervention programs and improved infrastructure design.”

“The Governors Highway Safety Association strongly supports the Roadway Safety Modernization Act, which will help states harness the power of advanced data analytics to save lives. By modernizing how we collect, share, and analyze crash and roadway data, this legislation would empower state highway safety offices to better identify risk factors, target resources, and implement evidence-based strategies that prevent crashes and reduce serious injuries on our nation’s roads,” said Governors Highway Safety Association Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Adkins.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03).


Budd Joins Cornyn, Colleagues in Introducing Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) in introducing the bipartisan Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act, which would strengthen current immigration laws to ensure aliens who drive drunk and kill or seriously injure someone can be arrested, detained, and removed from the United States as aggravated felons. The bill would also permanently bar such illegal aliens from obtaining immigration status, such as asylum, or from holding a Green Card.

“Driving under the influence of intoxicating substances can have serious life or death consequences, and any illegal alien who chooses to get behind the wheel in such a state should not remain in our country. I am proud to stand with Senator Cornyn and my colleagues to ensure that illegal aliens who commit such crimes are deported from and inadmissible to the U.S.,” said Senator Budd.

“Zero mercy should be shown to illegal aliens who not only defy our laws by unlawfully entering the country but also take it a step further to drive drunk, threatening American lives. By strengthening current immigration law to hold these offenders accountable, our bill sends a clear message: If you enter the country illegally and harm innocent citizens, we will find you, we will punish you, and we will make sure you never step foot on American soil again,” said Senator Cornyn.

U.S. Senators Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) also joined in introducing the legislation.

Read the full bill text HERE.

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Capito: How West Virginia Stands to Benefit from the Rural Health Transformation Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) announced last week that West Virginia is set to receive nearly $200 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The program, authorized by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, delivers on Republicans’ promise to increase affordability and the standard of living for Americans across the country.

Senator Capito, through her position in Senate Republican leadership and as Chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee, played a central role in the creation of the Rural Health Transformation Program.

“Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts is a clear reflection of our commitment to opportunity, prosperity, and helping families thrive. The Rural Health Transformation Program, which I was proud to help create, makes the largest federal investment in rural health care in American history. Through innovative system-wide changes that empower states, the program stands to strengthen rural communities in West Virginia and lead to a more sustainable health care future. I look forward to seeing how our state will benefit from this historic funding,” Senator Capito said.

The Rural Health Transformation Program Empowers West Virginia To:

Recruit and retain provider workforce in rural communities and health professional shortage areas.

Offer trainings for new technology to improve health care access and delivery.

Develop projects that support innovative models of care that improve outcomes and value.

Increase access to substance abuse treatments and mental health services.

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ICYMI: Cassidy Outlines Plan to Make Health Care Affordable for Louisiana Families in Recent Op-Ed

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) penned an op-ed in the Shreveport Times outlining his plan to Make Health Care Affordable Again by putting money in families’ pockets to pay for out-of-pocket expenses like doctor visits, prescriptions, and eyeglasses.

“The way President Trump and I see it, we can trust patients to make the best choice for their own care, rather than asking the insurance company permission to get the care they know they need. We put money in your pocket to give you the freedom to take care of your health without all the bureaucracy,” wrote Dr. Cassidy.

“It is an American solution—one that puts the patient first, gives power to the patient, not profit to the insurance company, and Makes Health Care Affordable Again,” concluded Dr. Cassidy.

Read the full op-ed here or below:

Putting Louisiana Patients First

We have an affordability crisis. Health care is too expensive. Those with high deductibles are forced to pay thousands they cannot afford before insurance even kicks in. Many families struggle to afford the monthly premiums and want the power to choose a more affordable plan. I’m a doctor. I’ve seen it firsthand. I am working daily in Congress to Make Health Care Affordable Again. President Trump and I share that vision.

…

I am proposing a plan to send money directly to patients instead of insurance companies, which keep up to 20% for profit and overhead. Patients would receive a Health Savings Account (HSA)—a personalized health care account that belongs to them. These accounts would give families real dollars they can use to pay for out-of-pocket expenses like doctor visits, prescriptions, and eyeglasses. Unlike today’s system, where families pay thousands before insurance helps, this approach empowers patients to manage their own health care spending, shop for affordable care, and make decisions based on what is best for their family.

We cannot continue funneling billions of dollars towards insurance companies when families are losing sleep over their medical bills.

…

We know my plan can work. President Trump has called for Congress to pass a plan like this. It builds on the success of President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts bill, which expanded access to HSAs. It is an American solution—one that puts the patient first, gives power to the patient, not profit to the insurance company, and Makes Health Care Affordable Again.

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Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $370,000 to Protect Children from Internet Crime

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins—Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee—and Angus King announced that the Maine State Police will receive a total of $369,364 through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. This funding will support the Special Victims Unit (SVU) in its responses to online enticement of children by sexual predators, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography cases.

“Children across the nation are increasingly at risk of exploitation online,” said Senators Collins and King. “This critical funding will support the Maine State Police’s efforts to prevent and respond to online criminals who target children. We commend the members of the Maine State Police for their commitment to the safety of Mainers and for their efforts to adapt and respond to the changing nature of 21st century crime.”

The ICAC was established by the PROTECT our Children Act of 2008, which was co-sponsored by Senator Collins. In 2017, she joined a bipartisan group of senators in introducing the STOP Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, legislation to ensure that websites that enable sex trafficking are held liable and brought to justice. Companion legislation was signed into law in 2018.

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Cornyn: ‘America is Back’ After Trump’s Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela

WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) commended President Trump’s decisive and bold leadership in Operation Absolute Resolve and forewarned foreign adversaries they will face consequences if they threaten American lives. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

“What we saw demonstrated by the U.S. military, working in cooperation with the Intelligence Community and the Department of Justice and law enforcement personnel, was nothing short of magnificent.”

“It gives me a great deal of pride to know that only the United States could have pulled off such an operation and brought someone so despicable as Nicolás Maduro to justice in a federal court in Manhattan.”

“President Trump has made it clear to dictators around the world that if they try their hands at making mischief, there will be consequences.”

“In a hearing before the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control that I chaired late last year, one of our witnesses described Venezuela as playing a very important role in what they call the Axis of Evasion, a global sanctions defying network that also includes Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, and of course, Maduro was an important part of that.”

“But, President Trump has now begun to turn the tide.”

“Of course, the radical Left is losing their mind, as they usually do every time President Trump acts decisively and with boldness. Protesters outside the courthouse held signs reading ‘Free President Nicolás Maduro’ and ‘Hands-off Venezuela.’ I guess any jurisdiction that would elect a new Mayor like Democratic-Socialist Mamdani, that’s probably what you would expect.”

“The message of Operation Absolute Resolve to our allies and adversaries around the world could not be more clear – America is back. If you threaten the American people with drugs or terrorism or any other sort of criminal or military attack, you better watch your back because you could be next.”


Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Kennedy (R-LA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) today introduced the Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act, which would strengthen current immigration laws to ensure aliens who drive drunk and kill or seriously maim someone can be arrested, detained, and removed from the United States as aggravated felons and also permanently bar them from obtaining an immigration status like asylum or holding a Green Card:

“Zero mercy should be shown to illegal aliens who not only defy our laws by unlawfully entering the country but also take it a step further to drive drunk, threatening American lives,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By strengthening current immigration law to hold these offenders accountable, our bill sends a clear message: If you enter the country illegally and harm innocent citizens, we will find you, we will punish you, and we will make sure you never step foot on American soil again.”

“We can’t have a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system without clear rules that prevent dangerous criminals from remaining in our country. Drunk driving that results in severe injury or death is a serious and dangerous crime. Individuals who put lives at risk and endanger our communities should be held accountable,” said Sen. Gallego.

“This legislation closes a legal loophole that has prevented and would continue to prevent law enforcement from protecting Americans,” said Sen. Cruz. “It will directly contribute to making our communities safer, and I urge my colleagues to advance it without delay.”

“Driving under the influence of intoxicating substances can have serious life or death consequences, and any illegal alien who chooses to get behind the wheel in such a state should not remain in our country. I am proud to stand with Senator Cornyn and my colleagues to ensure that illegal aliens who commit such crimes are deported from and inadmissible to the U.S.,” said Sen. Budd.

“Illegal immigrants who drink and drive put innocent American lives at risk and should face serious consequences, including deportation,” said Sen. Tillis. “This legislation strengthens our laws to close dangerous loopholes and ensure those who commit serious criminal offenses are swiftly removed from our country.”

“The Trump administration is sending a clear signal to all criminal illegal aliens: you are not welcome in the United States,” said Sen. Lummis. “Too many American lives have been taken because illegal immigrants who should never have been in our country were driving under the influence on our roads. I am proud to support Senator John Cornyn’s legislation that puts public safety first, ends the cycle of excuses for criminal behavior, and ensures that illegal immigrants convicted of DUI are removed.”

“It’s bad enough to commit a crime by crossing our border illegally—but it’s beyond inexcusable for illegal immigrants to put innocent people in harm’s way by driving under the influence. We’ve seen far too many American lives cut short by drunk drivers who shouldn’t even be in our country, and we ought to use every tool in our arsenal to make sure these tragedies never happen again. The Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act will ensure illegal immigrants who hurt or kill people by driving under the influence are met with the full force of the law, and I’m proud to help introduce it,” said Sen. Kennedy.

“Driving under the influence and entering the United States illegally are both crimes that pose serious danger to the lives and livelihoods of American citizens. Any illegal who is caught driving drunk is doing both and should be immediately deported and never allowed to re-enter the United States. Our immigration and transportation laws must be enforced,” said Sen. Schmitt.

“People who are not legally present in this country should be removed, especially if they have been convicted of driving under the influence. Federal law should be clear that no illegal alien should ever have a second DUI conviction,” said Sen. Lankford.

“This common-sense measure is long overdue. Too many lives have been lost to reckless, drunk and impaired drivers. We certainly shouldn’t add to that tragic number by allowing illegal aliens to have a pass for endangering drivers on American roads,” said Sen. Mullin. “Illegal aliens convicted of driving drunk and harming our citizens have no place in this country. In fact, these criminals should move to the very FRONT of the deportation line and be on the first flight home. Full stop.”

Background:

For decades, illegal alien drunk drivers have taken innocent American lives on our roadways. While current law requires such aliens be removed from the United States if convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI), there are many cases of the criminal illegal aliens reentering the interior and committing additional DUI and DWI crimes.

The Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act would help put a stop to this crisis and hold criminal illegal aliens accountable by making make DWIs and DUIs that result in death or serious bodily injury of another individual an aggravated felony under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), thus allowing the criminal alien offenders to be deported and precluding them from getting immigration status, including asylum and Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status.

The Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act is endorsed by the Border Trade Alliance, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and NumbersUSA.


Cornyn, Cruz Praise White House Announcement of Western District of Texas Judicial Nominations

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statements after President Trump announced his intention to nominate Christopher Wolfe to be the District Judge for the Western District of Texas – Waco Division and Andrew Davis to be the District Judge for the Western District of Texas – Austin Division:

“I am proud to support President Trump’s nominations of Christopher Wolfe and Andrew Davis to serve as federal judges in Waco and Austin, respectively,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Judge Wolfe has a proven track record of upholding the rule of law as a State District Judge in Fort Worth, while Mr. Davis has a wealth of experience in the legal field, from his service to the Senate Judiciary Committee to his time as Assistant Solicitor General for the State of Texas. I was honored to join Senator Cruz in recommending both Texans to serve on the federal bench, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting their nominations.”

“I applaud President Trump’s decision to nominate Andrew Davis and Chris Wolfe as U.S. District Judges in Texas,” said Sen. Cruz. “Andrew previously served as my Chief Counsel, and I am confident that both he and Chris will make excellent district judges who will uphold the integrity of the law to the highest degree. I look forward to their swift confirmation.”

The Senators recommended both nominees to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Cruz established the FJEC, a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The panel reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations to the Senators, who interviewed individuals before making their recommendations to the President.

Judge Christopher Wolfe: Nominee to be the District Judge for the Western District of Texas – Waco Division

Christopher Wolfe has served as Judge of the 213th Judicial District Court in Tarrant County since October 2018, where he presides over felony criminal cases and supervises the Felony Alcohol Intervention Program (FAIP), a treatment program for repeat DWI offenders. Wolfe previously served as Deputy Branch Manager of the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas – Fort Worth Division, and served as an Assistant United States Attorney for 15 years. He is a member of the Federalist Society, Fort Worth Chapter. Wolfe received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Baylor University and a Juris Doctor degree from the Baylor School of Law.

Andrew Davis: Nominee to be the District Judge for the Western District of Texas – Austin Division

Andrew Davis is currently a partner at Lehotsky Keller Cohn LLP in Austin. Davis previously served as Chief Counsel to Senator Ted Cruz on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Prior to serving Senator Cruz, he served as an Assistant Solicitor General in the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. As an Assistant Solicitor General, Davis both defended Texas and its agencies in appeals across the state and challenged local ordinances that harmed Texas businesses. Davis previously practiced law as a trial and appellate litigator at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Washington D.C. After graduating from Columbia Law School, Davis served as a judicial clerk for Judge Reena Raggi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Sidney Fitzwater of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353

January 7, 2026

Cotton, Boozman Applaud Nomination of John Thomas Shepherd to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and John Boozman (R-Arkansas) applauded the nomination of John Thomas Shepherd by President Trump to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

“I commend President Trump for nominating John Shepherd, a strong conservative judge and prosecutor in El Dorado, to serve as judge to the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. He has done a tremendous job working to make south Arkansas safer from violent criminals and drugs. I look forward to confirming his nomination in the Senate,” said Senator Cotton.

“John Shepherd is an active community member who respects our Constitution and is deeply committed to the rule of law, the pursuit of justice and public service. His extensive legal experience as both a lawyer and judge will serve him well in this role and I’m pleased to support his nomination,” said Senator Boozman.

Shepherd is a native of El Dorado and graduate of Rice University as well as the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville where he was managing editor of the Arkansas Law Review. He was a partner at Shepherd & Shepherd in El Dorado and also served as a prosecuting attorney, and later judge, for the Arkansas Circuit Court’s 13th Judicial District. He is a member of the Federalist Society.

The Western District of Arkansas includes 34 counties stretching from Texarkana and El Dorado to Fayetteville and Fort Smith.

President Trump has also nominated David Clay Fowlkes to serve as a judge for the Western District of Arkansas. His nomination, which Boozman and Cotton support and have urged their colleagues to approve, was resubmitted after it expired at the conclusion of 2025.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353

January 7, 2026

Cotton Statement on Confirmation of Intel Nominees

Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement after the confirmation of Joshua Simmons to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Senate Intelligence Committee has now confirmed every nominee sent in 2025 to the committee by President Trump.

“I commend President Trump for nominating a strong slate of individuals to these important national security roles. The world is a dangerous place, and our adversaries have shown that they will not stand by while the President’s full national security team is put in place. I’m thankful for the hard work of my colleagues on the committee for getting these nominees confirmed, and I look forward to continuing to refocus our intelligence community on its core mission: stealing secrets to protect Americans.”

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Crapo, Reed Legislation to Eliminate Barriers to Housing Assistance for Veterans to Become Law

Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) celebrated Senate passage of their bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the legislation, which exempts veteran disability benefits from being included as income when determining eligibility for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk for signature.

“Disabled veterans should not have to worry about securing a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Crapo. “Veterans have sacrificed so much in service to our nation, and this legislation ensures they are not unfairly penalized when seeking access to affordable housing.”

“I was pleased to work with Senator Crapo to pass this bipartisan bill. We have a duty to assist struggling veterans and provide them with the benefits and support they earned. Passing this bipartisan law is a step in the right direction. It will help cut red tape to get more wounded and disabled veterans safely and stably housed. And that goes a long way to providing them with dignity and opportunity and building community. America must keep its promise to veterans and leave no one behind,” said Senator Reed.

Currently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) income guidelines include disability compensation received by veterans as part of the calculation to determine eligibility for federal housing assistance funded through the CDBG program. This practice has disproportionately impacted those who rely on disability benefits as their primary source of income, often making it more difficult for them to access affordable housing and further contributing to veteran homelessness.

This legislation removes that barrier for CDBG-funded programs by explicitly excluding service-connected disability compensation from HUD’s income eligibility requirements for CDBG. By doing so, it will increase the ability of wounded veterans to secure housing assistance they would have otherwise not qualified for.

The legislation also directs the U.S. Government Accountability Office to report to Congress in one year on how individuals with service-connected disabilities are treated in determining their eligibility for HUD’s programs and provide recommendations for how the department could improve its service to veterans and other underserved communities.

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act on February 10, 2025. Representatives Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) and Brad Sherman (D-California) led the House version of the bill.


Sen. Cruz Chairs Hearing on Judicial Overreach, Urges Impeachment of Judges Boasberg and Boardman

WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, chaired a hearing titled “Impeachment: Holding Rogue Judges Accountable” to address the rise of judicial lawfare under the Biden administration. During the hearing, Sen. Cruz called for the impeachment of Judges James Boasberg and Deborah Boardman for explicitly ignoring their constitutional duties.

Click here or the image above to watch Sen. Cruz’s opening remarks.

Please see below excerpts and highlights from Sen. Cruz’s opening remarks:

“The American Republic begins with a simple and radical truth: all power originates with the people. Before there is a Congress, before there is a President, before there are courts, there is the sovereign citizen. The Founders placed that principle on the very first line of our national charter: ‘We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, do ordain and establish this Constitution.’ They did not say we the judges, we the bureaucrats, or we the elites. They said ‘We the People’.

“Judge Boasberg used the authority of his office to authorize—and then conceal—the targeting of members of Congress, spying on the legislative branch, and striking at the very heart of the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause. No republic can survive if its judges assist executive officials in surveilling the people’s elected representatives. In his own words, Judge Boasberg claimed that he ‘finds reasonable grounds to believe that such disclosure will result in the destruction of or tampering with evidence, intimidation of potential witnesses, and serious jeopardy to the investigation.’

“Turning to Judge Deborah Boardman: her sentencing decision did not end with one defendant. It reverberated across the entire judiciary. She imposed a sentence 22 years below the sentencing guidelines on Nicholas Roske, a man who armed himself with a gun, knife, duct tape, and zip ties, traveled across the country, and intended to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh and other Supreme Court justices.

“Both judges, in my view, meet the constitutional standard for impeachment, conviction, and removal from office. That is what today’s hearing will address.”

Additionally, Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.-04) urging the U.S. House of Representatives to immediately advance the pending articles of impeachment against Chief Judge James Boasberg and Judge Deborah Boardman. Read the full letter here.

BACKGROUND

In November, Sen. Cruz sent a letter requesting that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi unseal the application for a non-disclosure order signed by Obama-appointed Judge James Boasberg, which required phone carriers to keep the Biden DOJ and Jack Smith’s subpoenas secret for one year.


Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Praise White House Announcement of Western District of Texas Judicial Nominations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) released the following statements after President Trump announced his intention to nominate Christopher Wolfe to be the District Judge for the Western District of Texas, Waco Division, and Andrew Davis to be the District Judge for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.

Sen. Cruz said, “I applaud President Trump’s decision to nominate Andrew Davis and Chris Wolfe as U.S. District Judges in Texas. Andrew previously served as my Chief Counsel, and I am confident that both he and Chris will make excellent district judges who will uphold the integrity of the law to the highest degree. I look forward to their swift confirmation.”

Sen. Cornyn said, “I am proud to support President Trump’s nominations of Christopher Wolfe and Andrew Davis to serve as federal judges in Waco and Austin, respectively. Judge Wolfe has a proven track record of upholding the rule of law as a State District Judge in Fort Worth, while Mr. Davis has a wealth of experience in the legal field, from his service to the Senate Judiciary Committee to his time as Assistant Solicitor General for the State of Texas. I was honored to join Senator Cruz in recommending both Texans to serve on the federal bench, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting their nominations.”

BACKGROUND

The Senators recommended both nominees to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Cruz established the FJEC, a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The panel reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations to the Senators, who interviewed individuals before making their recommendations to the President.


Duckworth Cosponsors Kaine’s Bipartisan War Powers Resolution on Venezuela

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is now cosponsoring a War Powers Resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) as well as Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) that would block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress.

“Our Constitution requires the American people, through their elected representatives in Congress, to authorize any President to engage in acts of war because it is the American people—not a single man—who will be forced to live with the consequences of those decisions. It is simply unacceptable that Donald Trump continues ignoring that Constitutional requirement.

“While Donald Trump may never understand that the true costs of war are measured not only in dollars and cents, but in the blood, sweat and sacrifices of our troops and our military families, our servicemembers know all too well just how costly it can be when our nation engages in a war for oil without a plan for what comes next.

“We owe it to our troops, our military families and to all of the American people to fully consider those costs before engaging in war, and I am proud to sponsor this important resolution to ensure they can have their voices heard before Trump marches us even closer to another reckless forever war.”

The full text of the resolution is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

Last November, Duckworth went to the Senate floor to excoriate Trump for launching his unlawful military campaign against Venezuela, further endangering our servicemembers and our country in the process without Congressional approval. She then voted in favor of Kaine’s (D-VA) resolution to block the Trump Administration from continuing to illegally use military force within or against Venezuela.

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Durbin Questions Republican Witness On Political Violence In Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On The Impeachment Of Federal Judges

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Will Chamberlain, a senior counsel at the right-wing Article III Project, in today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights hearing. Durbin questioned Mr. Chamberlain about condemning political violence.

In September, Mr. Chamberlain posted on X: “I’m fine with a living Constitution at the moment, tbh. There are a number of provisions that could be helpfully reinterpreted in light of the demands of our current problems to ensure that we can jail everyone celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death.”

“For the record, I condemn political violence, threats of violence, and the like from either [the] right or [the] left. Do you believe personally those who celebrate political violence should be put in jail?” Durbin asked.

Mr. Chamberlain responded, “No.”

“Despite your statement?” Durbin followed up.

Mr. Chamberlain responded, “It was a provocative X post. I don’t think that as a matter of what the law should be.”

Durbin followed up, “Do you believe individuals who advocate for political violence should be put in jail?

To which Mr. Chamberlain replied, “No, not on that alone.”

Durbin then asked about Chamberlain’s coworker at the Article III project, Mike Davis, who posted obscene statements about federal judges on X. On November 19, Mr. Davis posted: “Dear U.S. Magistrate (Fake) Judges: We will start naming and shaming you. For your pretrial release of violent criminals. Even denials of criminal complaint. F*** you. We’re going to make you famous.” On the day before that, Mr. Davis posted: “Dear U.S. Attorneys: Stop being p******. Charge agitators with assault, obstruction, conspiracy, and harboring. Do your f****** jobs. Or we will start calling you out. By name. And (very publicly) seek your removal. Enough is enough.”

“He [Mr. Davis] followed up on that by writing, ‘You know who’s excellent at naming and shaming?’ He then tagged you [Mr. Chamberlain] in his post. You responded to that by writing, ‘You beat me to it this time!’ Why do you consider offensive statements to be jailable crimes when they are expressed by your political opponents, but acceptable and only just ‘provocative’ when they are expressed by your boss?” Durbin asked.

Chamberlain deflected and said, “[Why did I] back a misstatement by my boss? I don’t think Mike Davis is calling for anybody’s jailing in that [post].”

Durbin responded, “The point I am trying to make is that we spend a lot of time in this Committee deciding that political violence is unacceptable—the right or the left. There are members of this Committee who argue all of the political violence is coming from the left. I don’t think that is true. I think it comes sadly from both sides, and I condemn all of it. Loose language such as yours from the so-called Article III Project is not helpful in reducing the amount of violence in this country against elected officials and judges.”

Durbin concluded, “There are limits to what we say and do, and this notion of impeaching all the judges we disagree with is a new, novel approach, one that is inconsistent with the kind of democracy we have developed to this point. I find real problems with that.”

Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

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Durbin Slams Trump Administration, Congressional Republicans For Failing To Address Rising Health Care Costs For Americans

As the Democratic-passed Inflation Reduction Act now lowers the cost of 10 popular prescription drugs, congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration have slashed Medicaid and allowed ACA tax credits to lapse

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor, drawing a sharp contrast between the successful efforts of congressional Democrats to lower the cost of 10 common prescription drugs, and congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration’s actions to gut funding for Medicaid and end the enhanced premium tax credits that assist 22 million Americans in affording health insurance.

On January 1, new, lower costs for 10 of the most expensive prescription drugs for Americans with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage went into effect. The Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed by congressional Democrats without a single Republican vote, provided the executive branch with the authority to negotiate prescription drug prices with Big Pharma. As a result, the cost of these 10 prescription drugs, ranging from blood thinners to diabetes medications, will drop by up to 79 percent for patients on Medicare. Nine million seniors will save a total of $1.5 billion in annual out-of-pocket costs, including nearly 300,000 seniors in Illinois who take one of these drugs.

“January 2026 marks a new era for Medicare recipients. After decades of empty promises about lowering the cost of prescription medications, the prices of 10 of the most expensive drugs under Medicare will finally fall. Starting this year, seniors who rely on medications to treat blood clots, diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers will see discounts of up to 79 percent for these essential drugs,” Durbin began his speech.

“For years, Medicare was blocked from negotiating the price of drugs by the pharmaceutical companies. They didn’t want to cut into their profits. That changed when Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 under the Biden Administration. This law empowered Medicare to bargain for fair prices for medications used by seniors. Not one single Republican voted for this bill in 2022,” Durbin said. “Seniors will be saving hundreds of dollars a month because Democrats rolled up our sleeves to deliver price cuts on prescription drugs.”

While Democrats delivered health care savings to Americans, congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration have gutted Medicaid, slashing the program by $1 trillion in the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Following the bill’s passage last year, Durbin wrote to each hospital in Illinois to learn more about the expected impact of slashing Medicaid. Across the board, the hospitals anticipate longer wait times for care and cuts to health care services while rural hospitals expressed concern that they will struggle to run their operations.

“[President Trump] decided to slash Medicaid by $1 trillion with the passage of his so-called ‘Big Beautiful Budget Bill’ last year. Because of this law, many hospitals across Illinois and across the country, especially in rural areas, may not survive. Rural hospitals are the backbone of communities in my state and many others. They are the anchors of the local economy. Several hospitals that are barely squeaking by today have told me that they will fall into the red because of the Republican health care cuts in this law,” Durbin said.

“My Republican colleagues know exactly how devastating their Medicaid cuts will be. That is why they attempted to remedy the situation by including a $50 billion ‘Rural Health Transformation Grant’ in their ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ Let’s do some math here. They’re cutting $1 trillion out of Medicaid, and they’re trying to fill that gap with $50 billion?” Durbin said.

In addition to slashing $1 trillion from Medicaid, congressional Republicans manufactured a health care crisis by failing to extend the now-lapsed enhanced premium tax credits that helped Americans afford their health care coverage on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

“Last year, 22 million Americans relied on these credits to afford their health care. But now, they have expired. Despite pressure from patients, physicians, and providers, congressional Republicans refused to extend them. What is the impact of refusing to extend this program that makes health insurance more affordable? I’m afraid it’s obvious. During the 2026 open enrollment period, millions of people decided to drop their health insurance coverage. Others are being forced to make impossible choices between food, car payments, and housing costs,” Durbin continued.

“If we fail to immediately solve these problems, millions of people will become uninsured in this country. And those who retain coverage will pay double or triple for their health care plans,” Durbin said.

Durbin concluded his remarks by urging his Republican colleagues to finally work across the aisle to extend the tax credits and ensure that millions of Americans can afford health care coverage.

“It is not too late to do something… Congress can extend the tax credits and reopen the sign-up period before the worst impacts are felt. At least some of my Republican colleagues recognize the pain their refusal to negotiate has caused. Last month, four Senate Republicans broke ranks to vote with Democrats to extend the enhanced premium tax credits and help people pay for their health insurance. In the House, four House Republicans signed a discharge petition to force a vote later this week on extending the tax credits,” Durbin said.

“We must be ready to act when the bill arrives in the Senate. Americans do not have the time for Congress to litigate the entirety of the U.S. health care system, but we do need triage now,” Durbin concluded his remarks.

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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Durbin Statement On ICE Officer Fatally Shooting A Woman In Minneapolis Amid Surge In Immigration Activity

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed a woman amid a surge in ICE activity in Minneapolis:

“As I’ve said time and time again, the Trump Administration’s militarized immigration raids are dangerous political theater meant to spread fear and advance an anti-immigrant agenda. And now, a surge in immigration enforcement activity has led to the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis. This loss of life is tragic, heartbreaking, and enraging, but I encourage all protestors to remain peaceful.

“A full investigation must be completed so the truth can be revealed. Video of the incident starkly contradicts DHS’s narrative, and the fact that DHS has jumped to characterize this shooting in ‘self-defense’ is rushed, at best, and a lie, at worst.

“In a November hearing challenging the treatment of press and protestors by federal immigration agents, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis said that their ‘use of force shocks the conscience’ and ‘this conduct shows no sign of stopping.’ And now their use of force has led to another shooting and another death. This must come to an end.”

Last month, Durbin and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) referred the unlawful actions of Trump Administration officials and federal law enforcement agents responsible for immigration enforcement to Attorney General Pam Bondi for investigation. Durbin has directed Senate Judiciary Committee minority staff to continue gathering evidence of potential violations of Section 242 and other federal laws, which will be provided to the Justice Department in due course.

In response to the Trump Administration’s surge in federal law enforcement in Chicago and continuous threats to deploy the military in the area, Durbin has taken a number of steps to push back on these unlawful actions carried out by DHS and Secretary Noem under the direction of President Trump. Durbin’s actions to push back on the Trump Administration’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago can be found here. Durbin and Duckworth also released a fact sheet debunking DHS misinformation regarding immigration enforcement in Illinois.

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Following All-Senators Classified Briefing, Durbin Raised Unanswered Questions About The U.S.’S Next Steps Regarding Venezuela; Urged The Administration To Be Honest With The American People

Durbin: The Constitution says the power to declare war in the United States resides in this Chamber and the House of Representatives

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today following the classified briefing with Administration officials on the actions they have taken in Venezuela—including capturing Nicolás Maduro.

“It’s a heady experience to go through a classified briefing at the highest levels of our government, and virtually every United States Senator of both political parties had the opportunity this morning. I took advantage of it. It’s rare and important. It was an explanation by our leaders in the Cabinet and the Administration of what happened in Venezuela just a few days ago when Mr. Maduro was removed from power and brought to the United States to be held accountable for his actions in narcotics terrorism. This is not a new issue to me,” said Durbin.

In April 2018, Durbin traveled to Venezuela, where he met with then-National Assembly Member Juan Guaidó as well as President Nicolás Maduro, warning him that pursuing a sham election the following month would further isolate his autocratic regime. In July 2024, Durbin condemned Nicolás Maduro for falsely claiming that the nation’s election was called in his favor, despite meticulously documented election results by observers demonstrating overwhelming support for opposition candidate Edmundo González. He reiterated these comments in an additional speech on the Senate floor in September 2024.

“It was clear to me that Venezuela was in trouble. You could see it in the streets. People were literally starving. Hospitals were going without medicine, and it was pretty clear to me that Maduro was ruling not by democratic appeal but by force of his power in office. He was facing an election in just a few weeks, and I told him at that time that if he did not have international observers at his election to verify that it was an honest election, the world would not believe the results. He ignored my advice, which was no surprise. He went ahead with the election… and he claimed victory that others say did not happen,” said Durbin. “So, this decision to remove him is not one that causes tears in my household. We believe he was unfit for office. He was defeated in the election, and he had to pay a price for it. I’m glad he is not in power today.”

“During the course of our briefing this morning, our military leaders and others spelled out the details of how he was physically removed from office just a few days ago. He still is going to be held accountable in the courts of law of the United States. That’s for sure. But there is also discussion about where we go from here. If you remove the president of a country, what happens next?” Durbin said.

“I understand why our Administration was very careful in disclosing information about the removal of Maduro from office. The lives and futures of the men and women in uniform from the United States were on the line, and we should not compromise their safety in any way to achieve our goal. But there comes a point, and that point should be immediately, where this Administration decides to trust the American people and tell them the whole story. I believe there are things that can be said which will not compromise the safety of the United States or our friends but explain to the American people what is at stake here. What happened in that raid that removed Maduro from office? Most of the details are an amazing display of military superiority, which the United States enjoys, but there were other questions that were raised, too, during the course of this. In addition, the question that was raised is where do we go from here? What is going to happen to Venezuela’s future? What is our responsibility?” Durbin continued.

During his remarks, Durbin reflected on his time in the Senate—where he saw the U.S. become involved in various wars in the Middle East.

“Many times, we blundered into a situation that looks simple in nation-building, but turned out to be complex, and the war went on for years and years and years at the expense of not only the American taxpayers but, more importantly, American lives,” said Durbin.

Durbin also noted that the Constitution explicitly states that the power to declare war in the United States resides in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia asked a question, and I think it was the right question: When are we going to trust the American people enough to tell them exactly what happened in Venezuela leading up to the removal of Maduro and what is likely to follow? It’s an important, critical question. It’s going to be costly in terms of the future of the United States of America if we are not explicit and honest with the people of this country. Now is the time for that honesty,” Durbin concluded.

In September 2024, Durbin met with five Latin American democracies’ ambassadors to discuss the electoral crisis in Venezuela. In January 2025, Durbin reintroduced a bill terminating all U.S. petroleum cooperation and petroleum-related trade with Venezuela until the legitimate results of the recent Venezuelan election are respected. And in May 2025, Durbin met virtually with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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WATCH: Senator Gallego Speaks on Senate Floor about Trump’s Dangerous, Short-Sighted Attack in Venezuela

Gallego: “Whatever you call this moment we are in right now, whatever spin Marco Rubio puts on it, at the end of the day, when people are shooting, that is war.”

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), an Iraq war combat veteran, spoke on the Senate floor today to call out Trump’s dangerous, short-sighted attack in Venezuela this weekend. In his speech, Senator Gallego highlighted the parallels between the administration’s military actions in Venezuela and the lead up to the war in Iraq.

Last month, Senator Gallego introduced a War Powers Resolution that would require the U.S. Armed Forces to cease hostilities against vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean unless authorized by Congress. The resolution came after months of strikes on alleged drug boats in the region that culminated in U.S.’ capture of Venezuelan President Maduro.

Read his remarks below:

25 years ago, I made the best decision of my life and became a U.S. Marine.

I fought in Lima Company 3/25 and fought alongside some of the bravest men I’ve ever known. Some of my closest friends didn’t make it back.

Coming home knowing it was all for an illegal war, for oil, was devastating, and it’s still devastating.

And now, 20 years later, here we are again at the same crossroads.

We cannot blindly go into another illegal war for oil.

I know I’m not the only one – I’m not the only veteran – seeing the parallels — the oil, the regime change, the quick declaration of victory without a long-term plan — and we do not want our country to go down this path again.

Of course we know Venezuela has different geopolitical realities, and this won’t go down exactly as what we saw in Iraq, but what’s the same is this: Trump’s reckless use of military power without a plan for what comes next or respect for the men and women who will be sent to fight this war we’ll engage in is going to cause problems.

He’s shown us that he could care less about the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are screaming from the rooftops right now not to make this mistake again.

If we allow this to continue, I will have to look into the eyes of young men and women in Arizona – working-class kids like everywhere in this country – who are disproportionately the ones who serve in our military and explain what they’re risking their lives for.

And I can’t, because it is for oil.

The American public does not want this. They do not want to be the world police. They don’t want their sons and daughters from Florida, from Arizona, from New Mexico, from New York sent to go fight for Big Oil.

They don’t want another forever war. And that’s the slippery slope we’re going down right now.

When I talk to people in Arizona, they tell me how they want their politicians to focus on health care, on housing, on work so their kids can actually have a job when they graduate college, not to pay these oil companies to invest in Venezuela. That’s what Trump campaigned on, but that is what Trump is now saying he is going to do, invest in oil instead of Americans.

Who does this war really benefit? It’s clearly not the American people. Trump has done little to help them but certainly to help Big Oil and to satisfy trigger-happy neocons like Marco Rubio.

This is exactly the big moment Marco Rubio has been itching for, and he played Donald Trump like a puppet.

Marco Rubio came into the Senate and lied straight to our faces when he said this was not about regime change. That was not true, and now it’s clear to everyone that regime change was always the goal.

That is exactly why I introduced a War Powers Resolution last month, because I knew this moment was coming.

The Constitution is clear. Only Congress has the authority to decide when to go to war.

Whatever you call this moment we are in right now, whatever spin Marco Rubio puts on it, at the end of the day, when people are shooting, it is war. When the President deploys the power of the United States military, it is war.

Now the Trump administration has to answer to what comes next. They must tell us who will govern Venezuela, or how this will end, and they just can’t do that now. As a veteran, that terrifies me, and it should terrify you.

This is the same trigger-happy neocon logic that dragged us into Iraq, into a forever war, killing thousands and thousands of Americans, many of them my friends. And the American people have been clear that we do not want to be in another forever war.

1.7.26


Gillibrand Announces National Endowment For The Arts Funding For New York State Arts And Culture Institutions

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $287,000 in funding distributed by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to organizations in New York State. This funding will allow cultural organizations and nonprofits to support artists, musicians, exhibitions, educational programing, and public engagement and outreach to help grow these vital industries in communities across New York.

“New York State is the arts capital of America,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Amidst destructive cuts to funding for cultural institutions across the nation, I am pleased to start off the new year by announcing $287,000 in funding for organizations in New York. While this funding is by no means as high as it should be, these dollars are a meaningful investment in local organizations to advance art, music, and culture in our communities. I am proud to deliver this funding and will continue to fight to bring federal dollars home to New York.”

Recipients of NEA grants across various regions in New York are listed below:

Fiasco Theater (New York, NY) — $30,000

Funding will support artist fees and benefits for the development and production of The Verge by Susan Glaspell. Written in 1921 and set in New England, the play follows a woman grappling with modern American identity amid ancestral expectations. Fiasco Theater will reimagine the century-old work for contemporary audiences in New York City.

Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. (New York, NY) — $60,000

Support will fund artist fees for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s national tour celebrating America250. The tour will honor Ailey’s legacy through performances of Revelations, works set to music by Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker, and new premieres by Matthew Neenan, Earl Moseley, and Maya Garcia, reaching communities across the country.

Lubovitch Dance Foundation, Inc. (New York, NY) — $20,000

This grant will support the documentation and presentation of historic works from the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Developed in partnership with the Dance Heritage Coalition and the New York Public Library, the project includes new recordings of historic dances, oral histories, digitization of archival materials, and a restaging of Othello with American Ballet Theatre, expanding public access to American dance history.

Midtown Management Group, Inc. (New York, NY) — $39,000

Funding will support Inside Broadway’s touring musical Grand Old Flag, featuring the music of George M. Cohan. Designed for elementary and middle school students, the production blends American history with lessons on friendship and community, and it introduces students to live theater through performances, workshops, and post-show discussions.

Parsons Dance Foundation, Inc. (New York, NY) — $48,000

Support will fund new dance works by David Parsons and Mayte Natalio. Parsons’ site-specific piece About Sprouts will feature youth dancers alongside professionals at Battery Park, highlighting the site’s Revolutionary War history. Natalio will premiere a new work inspired by America250, alongside student performances, talkbacks, and sensory-friendly workshops.

DreamYard Project, Inc. (Bronx, NY) — $30,000

This grant will support poetry residencies for youth in underserved Bronx communities. Guided by teaching artists, students will write and perform original poems, participate in open mics and competitions, and explore identity, heritage, and visions for the future through poetry in connection with America250.

Strawtown Art & Garden Studio Inc. (New City, NY) — $15,000

Funding will support free after-school and outdoor visual arts programs for youth in Haverstraw. Students will combine artmaking with environmental exploration, examining historical symbols, Indigenous history, and our founding documents before creating their own personal symbols using traditional materials like feather, quill, and ink.

Steven Myron Holl Foundation, Inc. (Rhinebeck, NY) — $25,000

Support will fund a commissioned sculptural installation by artist Anne Lindberg at ‘T’ Space in Rhinebeck. Inspired by the Hudson River School, the immersive exhibition will explore perception, place, and American identity through thousands of colored threads woven into architectural space, alongside poetry, artist talks, and youth workshops.

Corning-Elmira Musical Arts, Inc. (Corning, NY) — $20,000

This grant will support a free outdoor symphony concert by the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes in Elmira’s Eldridge Park. The America250 celebration will feature a diverse program including folk, jazz, patriotic music, Broadway selections, and modern works, open to audiences across the region.

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Gillibrand, Colleagues Demand Answers On Trump Administration Decision To Divert Federal Agents For Immigration Enforcement

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined 29 Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding answers on the impact of the administration’s decision to pull thousands of federal law enforcement agents away from their work keeping dangerous criminals off the streets and reassign them to arrest, detain, and deport primarily non-violent immigrants.

“Once again, the Trump administration is jeopardizing the safety of our communities in a blatant attempt to score political points,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Instead of supporting law enforcement officials dedicated to protecting our communities from child predators, cyberattacks, and gun trafficking, the president is stripping away critical resources and putting our national security at risk. These actions make our communities less safe and weaken public safety.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

The senators requested:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full letter HERE.

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Gillibrand, Colleagues’ Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act Signed Into Law

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), announced that their Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act has been signed into law. The bipartisan legislation expands access to federal support for the families of firefighters and other first responders who pass away or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers.

“New Yorkers know that our firefighters and first responders are selfless heroes who rush into danger every day to protect our communities. But we also know their fight does not end when their shift does, and that many are exposed to dangerous health risks that can surface years later. When these heroes face health challenges or lose their lives as a result of their service, they and their families must be supported,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m grateful that our legislation has been signed into law, and I will continue fighting to ensure our first responders receive the critical support they deserve after dedicating their lives to keeping our communities safe.”

“This is a critical victory for our firefighters who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, and for their loved ones,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program covers service-related cancers—honoring the commitment we make to our firefighters like Captain Paidar and other first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Our first responders epitomize courage and selfless sacrifice, confronting both the immediate perils of their duty which are extreme and the lingering health risks associated with their service,” said Senator Cramer. “Their exposure to dangerous carcinogens happens on our behalf. When these heroes make the ultimate sacrifice, their families should not have to bear these burdens alone. I’m grateful my Senate colleagues passed this important legislation.”

This bipartisan legislation now makes firefighters and other first responders who lose their lives or become permanently disabled as a result of service-related cancers eligible for support from the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program. Previously, firefighters were only eligible for support under the PSOB program for physical injuries sustained in the line of duty, or for deaths from duty-related heart attacks, strokes, mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and 9/11-related illnesses.

In addition to Gillibrand, Klobuchar, and Cramer, the legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jon Husted (R-OH), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Justice (R-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), John Kennedy (R-LA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), David McCormick (R-PA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), James Risch (R-ID), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The legislation was endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), as well as the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA); Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI); Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA); Fraternal Order of Police (FOP); International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA); Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs); National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO); National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF); National Fire Protection Association (NFPA); National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC); National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC); and Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.

Senator Gillibrand has long been a champion for first responders. In addition to securing millions of dollars in grants to help hire, train, and support them, she has introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a dedicated mental health hotline for first responders, fought for increased funding to support mental health services for law enforcement across New York, and demanded that the Trump administration fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program. Senator Gillibrand has also held two summits in Washington, D.C. that brought together first responders from across New York for a day of conversations and presentations about how the federal government can better support their lifesaving work.

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Gillibrand Statement On Passage Of Her Bipartisan Bill To Support Victims Of Human Trafficking

Gillibrand Fought to Pass the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act for Nearly a Decade

Today, following the signing of the bipartisan Trafficking Survivors Relief Act into law, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement:

“I am thrilled that my bipartisan Trafficking Survivors Relief Act has been signed into law. This represents significant progress in the effort to support victims of human trafficking, protecting them against the vicious cycle of criminalization that arises when their traffickers force them to break the law. I want to thank Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Reps. Russell Fry and Ted Lieu for their partnership in getting this bill across the finish line, and I am so grateful to all of the survivors who have bravely come forward and shared their stories. Our work continues in the fight to end human trafficking once and for all.”

The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act enables survivors of human trafficking to have nonviolent criminal convictions or arrest records they incurred while being trafficked vacated and expunged, shielding them from criminalization and subsequent problems securing housing and employment as they work to reestablish their lives. Additionally, the new law:

Allows for an individual’s status as a victim of trafficking to be a mitigating factor for courts to consider when imposing a prison sentence for violent crimes.

Requires U.S. attorneys to submit a report one year after enactment detailing the number of motions filed under the law.

Ensures that DOJ Office for Victims of Crime and Office on Violence Against Women grant funding can be used for legal representation for post-conviction relief activities.

Senator Gillibrand first introduced the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act with a bipartisan group of colleagues in 2016 and reintroduced it in every subsequent Congress. The most recent version of the bill, which was signed into law by President Trump, was co-led by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in the Senate and Reps. Russell Fry (R-SC-07) and Ted Lieu (D-CA-36) in the House of Representatives. The legislation unanimously passed the House and Senate in December 2025.

For a full list of endorsing organizations, please click here.

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