SCHUMER DELIVERS $500,000 FOR ROCHESTER’S BELOVED GEORGE EASTMAN MUSEUM FOR MAJOR RENOVATIONS TO PRESERVE HISTORIC MANSION & MAJOR TOURISM DESTINATION

For Over 75 Years, The George Eastman Museum Has Been a Leader in Photography, Cinema, And Related Technologies, But George Eastman’s Mansion Needs Critical Repairs

Schumer Says Fed $$ Will Help Historic Museum Restore Original Chimneys, Parapets And Roof Railing To Ensure Visitor Safety And Preserve Historic Property

Schumer: Fed $$ Is Headed To Preserve Rochester’s George Eastman Museum For Generations To Come!

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced he has delivered $500,000 in federal funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior spending bill, which just passed the Senate after passing the House of Representatives earlier this month, to help restore the historic mansion at Rochester’s beloved George Eastman Museum, a world-renowned cultural institution and a primary tourist attraction in the Finger Lakes Region.

“The George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest photography museum, and a major cultural and tourism destination that attracts visitors to learn about Rochester’s rich history. For more than 100 years, the historic house has been home to significant collections of photography and films, but its chimneys and roofs have significantly deteriorated over time. I’m proud to announce that I have secured $500,000 in federal funding to help the museum preserve this American treasure for generations to come,” said Senator Schumer. “This boost will give the George Eastman Museum the resources it needs to ensure this beautiful, historic estate can continue to help lift Rochester’s tourism economy while telling the story of George Eastman’s life and legacy and how he developed the technology that made photography portable, simple, and affordable right here in Rochester.”

“In the appropriations process for the past five years, Senator Schumer has resolutely advocated for federal funds to support critical restoration work atop the roof of George Eastman’s mansion,” said Bruce Barnes, the Ron and Donna Fielding Director of the George Eastman Museum. “The museum’s members, staff, and trustees are deeply grateful to Senator Schumer. He has been a steadfast champion of arts, culture, historic preservation, and tourism—across New York State and the nation. The restoration work on our National Historic Landmark will benefit 125,000 museum visitors annually, as well as many members of the community who enjoy the museum property as a park.”

The George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest photography museum and contains a renowned collection of photography, films, and related technology. George Eastman founded Eastman Kodak Company, and his residence and its gardens are an essential part of the museum.

George Eastman Museum will use the funding Schumer secured to restore the mansion’s chimneys, parapets, and roof railings, all of which are in poor condition. Since 1905, the chimneys and parapets have been exposed to Rochester’s annual freeze-thaw cycle, resulting in open mortar joints that have caused moisture infiltration, severe deterioration, and instability, including dislodged bricks. Moisture seepage into the mansion has damaged plaster walls and ceilings. In addition, compromised by severe wood rot, portions of the roof railings have broken off.

In the next two years, the mansion’s eleven large, original chimneys and thirteen parapets will be restored and stabilized for the next 100 years. In addition, the severely deteriorated roof railing will be replaced; the new railing should be sustainable for the next up to 50 years. This will ensure that visitors and community members have safe access to all public areas of the historic property.

Founded in 1947, the George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest photography museum, one of the earliest film archives, and a primary tourist attraction in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region. Every year, the museum welcomes people from across the world to enjoy exhibitions and films, learn about George Eastman’s life and legacy, and study objects from the museum’s significant collections of photography, films, and related technology. George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Company, developed the technology that made photography portable, simple, and affordable. His 35,000-square-foot Colonial Revival mansion and its architect-designed gardens are an essential part of the museum, which is a National Historic Landmark site.

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ICYMI: Shaheen Honored at National Cultural Diversity Council’s “Keeping the Dream Alive” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dinner

(Manchester, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) was honored at the National Cultural Diversity Awareness Council’s (NCDAC) annual “Keeping the Dream Alive” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dinner. In her keynote address, Shaheen reflected on the legacy of Dr. King in the context of current challenges, while underscoring the importance of protecting civil rights and democratic participation in the United States. Photos from the event can be found HERE.

In 1999, then-Governor Shaheen made history by fighting for passage of, and signing, a resolution to officially recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day in New Hampshire – the last state in the nation to do so. Since then, Shaheen has remained a strong advocate for civil rights and the defense of democratic participation.

Key quotes from Senator Shaheen’s keynote:

“It’s important to be clear-eyed about where we are as a nation right now. Across the country, hard-won civil rights protections are under pressure. This year, the Supreme Court is reviewing the section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that prevents voting practices that discriminate based on race. Seats held by members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus could be affected. At the same time that representation is being quietly eroded, immigration enforcement is escalating.”

“This moment is a test. The question is—how do we respond? First, we have to tell the truth plainly, even when it’s uncomfortable. Second, when rights are violated, accountability can’t be optional. Investigations have to be real. Third, we have to defend democratic participation, because that is how we fight inequality without resorting to violence. And finally, we have to show up for communities under pressure.”

“For years, we pushed to fully recognize Dr. King’s legacy. People organized and refused to let the issue drop. There was resistance—but the pressure paid off. And in 1999, as governor, I signed the bill officially creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day in New Hampshire. That change didn’t come easily. It happened because people would not accept that progress had limits. That’s the lesson I take into this moment. We don’t get through times like this by looking away. We get through them—By standing with people being marginalized…By staying engaged when the work gets hard…And by defending democratic participation at the ballot box.”

Full remarks as prepared for delivery:

Thank you for that introduction. And thank you to the National Cultural Diversity Awareness Council for hosting this event.

It’s good to be with you this evening.

More than sixty years ago, Dr. King stood at the Lincoln Memorial and said—

“…let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.”

And tonight, this room of many faiths and many backgrounds, shows what answering that charge looks like.

For over two decades you have worked to build understanding across racial, ethnic and religious lines in New Hampshire.

Education, youth leadership, business and community engagement—

Keeping Dr. King’s legacy active and grounded.

And precisely because of that progress, it’s important to be clear-eyed about where we are as a nation right now.

Across the country, hard-won civil rights protections are under pressure.

This year, the Supreme Court is reviewing the section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that prevents voting practices that discriminate based on race. Seats held by members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus could be affected.

At the same time that representation is being quietly eroded, immigration enforcement is escalating.

ICE has rapidly expanded its workforce, adding roughly 12,000 new officers in a short period of time. That expansion was driven by a recruitment campaign that included slogans like—

“Report All Foreign Invaders”

And—

“Remember Your Homeland’s Heritage”

Civil-rights groups, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, have warned that this language and imagery echo themes associated with white nationalist movements.

For communities of color, masked enforcement doesn’t feel neutral. It carries a long and painful history.

Moms are afraid to collect their kids from school. Dads are afraid to show up on the job site. Given what they’re seeing, that fear is understandable.

And when fear is deliberately stoked, it can turn into violence.

Just last week, a synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi was set on fire.

According to the federal charging documents—

The attack was motivated by the synagogue’s Jewish identity.

This moment is a test. The question is—how do we respond?

First, we have to tell the truth plainly, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Second, when rights are violated, accountability can’t be optional. Investigations have to be real.

Third, we have to defend democratic participation, because that is how we fight inequality without resorting to violence.

And finally, we have to show up for communities under pressure.

I grew up in Southeast Missouri, attending segregated schools as a child. Segregation wasn’t an idea to me. It was the environment.

Later, as a young teacher, I went to Mississippi. I was part of a program in a newly integrated classroom in the South. In the entire class, only four of my students were white. Everyone else was African-American.

I still remember the starkness of that inequality. It wasn’t an abstraction. My students struggled with it every day in their schoolwork.

Dr. King described that reality when he said—

“Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability.”

Progress—advancing equality and justice—it takes work. That is something our immigrant communities understand in this country better than anybody.

Immigrants have helped build America. In science, in business, in medicine, in the military, in caregiving. They start companies, strengthen communities and raise families.

Today, many of the CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies come from immigrant backgrounds. That’s not an accident. It reflects what happens when people are allowed to contribute fully.

And New Hampshire has seen that truth play out here at home.

For years, we pushed to fully recognize Dr. King’s legacy. People organized and refused to let the issue drop.

There was resistance—but the pressure paid off.

And in 1999, as governor, I signed the bill officially creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day in New Hampshire.

That change didn’t come easily. It happened because people would not accept that progress had limits.

That’s the lesson I take into this moment. We don’t get through times like this by looking away.

We get through them—

By standing with people being marginalized…

By staying engaged when the work gets hard…

And by defending democratic participation at the ballot box.

Dr. King told us to let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. That call still stands. And it’s our responsibility to answer it.

Thank you.

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Shaheen Statement One Year into President Trump’s Second Term

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement marking one year since President Trump was sworn into his second term:

“Time and again throughout the last year, President Trump has shown America whose side he is on—and it isn’t the working American families he campaigned on championing. His backwards economic agenda has worsened the affordability crisis by cutting families’ health care and food assistance to finance tax breaks for billionaires, all while Granite Staters are confronting higher utility bills and rising prices at the grocery store, the pharmacy and the child care center.

“My constituents are rightly questioning why, when we face such devastating economic challenges at home, the President appears to be focused on everything but putting America first. It hurts America’s security and prosperity when the President intimidates long-standing partners in NATO for no reason and slashes USAID programs that protect the health of Americans and expand economic opportunity for the U.S. while targeting allies like Canada through a reckless, haphazard trade war that has taxed American families and businesses.

“One year in, this President’s agenda has resulted in increased costs at home and alliances frayed abroad—and America is weaker because of it. In my final year in office, I’m committed to holding the President accountable and highlighting the damages this Administration has caused while working to deliver lasting solutions for New Hampshire.”

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Slotkin and Peters Urge Republicans to Conduct Oversight of Excessive Use of Force by Federal Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently joined their Democratic committee colleagues in calling on Chairman Rand Paul to conduct desperately needed oversight of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS), in wake of the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, the escalating use of excessive force and other improper actions including the continued use of masked agents and unmarked cars, as well as threats unrelated to immigration enforcement that appear intended to chill citizens’ protected First Amendment activities.

Last year, Slotkin and her colleagues introduced The Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025, which would require immigration officers to display clear identification and strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability for the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate and alarming immigration enforcement tactics that have terrorized communities across the nation.

In the letter, the senators point to increasingly violent actions by federal law enforcement officials, including the use of pepper balls against protestors exercising their First Amendment rights. The senators also raise concerns about federal law enforcement officers’ tactics, such as officers conducting operations while masked, refusing to properly identify themselves, and DHS leadership’s complete failure to enforce appropriate conduct in their officers’ interactions with the public.

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

Finally, the senators are also seeking to ensure Chairman Paul will engage in needed oversight of the Administration and DHS by securing information about how DHS has diverted essential resources away from other critical homeland security missions, including investigating sex crimes against children and terrorist financing. U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined Slotkin and Peters in sending the letter.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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Slotkin Urges Trump Administration to Prioritize Brandon Road Project and Stop Invasive Asian Carp

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), alongside U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Gary Peters (D-MI), sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle urging them to resume work on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project (BRIP). The project was paused for administrative review despite having already been reviewed, authorized, and funded by Congress. As the Senators emphasized in their letter, halting BRIP threatens the Great Lakes ecosystem and the region’s fishing industry.

“We write to express concern over the administrative review and pause of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project (BRIP). Moving this project forward is critical to protecting the Great Lakes from invasive carp. It has been thoroughly reviewed by Congress, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local partners, and its funding has been authorized and appropriated by Congress. The current review is unnecessary and could cause delays that put the Great Lakes’ ecosystem and fishing industry at risk,” the Senators wrote.

“The federal investment currently is on hold without justification, and additional contracts for the project cannot be awarded due to the funding pause,” the Senators wrote. “The current pause and review could increase the cost and slow the final completion date of BRIP, increasing the likelihood that invasive carp could enter the Great Lakes. If invasive carp were to become established in the Great Lakes, they would outcompete existing fish populations, permanently damage ecosystems, and significantly impair the $7 billion Great Lakes economy.”

A copy of the letter is available hereand below:

January 15, 2026

Dear Director Vought and Assistant Secretary Telle:

We write to express concern over the administrative review and pause of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project (BRIP). Moving this project forward is critical to protecting the Great Lakes from invasive carp. It has been thoroughly reviewed by Congress, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local partners, and its funding has been authorized and appropriated by Congress. The current review is unnecessary and could cause delays that put the Great Lakes’ ecosystem and fishing industry at risk.

After flooding events in the 1970s, non-native invasive carp entered the lower Mississippi River, and spread to tributaries, lakes, and reservoirs. They have spread as far North as the Illinois River, within reach of the Great Lakes. These invasive carp have created significant problems in waterways, out-competing native species, disrupting local ecosystems and habitats, posing recreational hazards, and harming both commercial and recreational fishing. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with state and local partners, spends nearly $70 million annually to control populations of the carp—a number that would be far more significant if invasive carp make it to the Great Lakes.

Federal investment to prevent the spread of invasive carp has been critical to keeping the fish at bay. The Army Corps of Engineers installed electric barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in 2002, 2009, and 2011. Although these barriers serve as a deterrent for upstream movement of the fish, in both 2010 and 2017 invasive carp were found upstream of the barriers, a clear sign that a more permanent solution was necessary.

After several years of studying options and reviewing public feedback, in 2019, the Army Corps of Engineers finalized the plan for the BRIP. In 2020, Congress authorized the project. Congress provided $225 million for the construction of the BRIP in 2022 and an additional $47 million in 2023. Illinois and Michigan, the project’s non-federal sponsors, have invested more than $100 million in the project. The federal investment currently is on hold without justification, and additional contracts for the project cannot be awarded due to the funding pause.

The current pause and review could increase the cost and slow the final completion date of BRIP, increasing the likelihood that invasive carp could enter the Great Lakes. If invasive carp were to become established in the Great Lakes, they would outcompete existing fish populations, permanently damage ecosystems, and significantly impair the $7 billion Great Lakes economy.

Not only does this project have the strong support of Congress and the non-federal sponsors, President Trump also has highlighted the importance of moving the project forward and stopping the invasive carp, saying “it is sort of a bipartisan thing when you get right down to it’s a very expensive thing…I looked at the numbers. I said, well, but we have to save Lake Michigan because these fish that they eat everything in their way, including the other fish.”

In light of strong support for this project from the President, Congress, and local sponsors, we urge you to end the pause and review of BRIP and release federal funds to the Amry Corps of Engineers Rock Island District without delay. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.

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Maryland Congressional Delegation Presses Administration on ICE Actions in Maryland, Proposed Detention Facility in Hagerstown

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney were joined by U.S. Representatives Johnny Olszewski, Sarah Elfreth, Glenn Ivey, Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leadership condemning enforcement actions across the state that have stoked fear, caused injury, damaged property, and denied individuals their due process rights and dignity.

The lawmakers’ letter cites constituent concerns about ongoing impacts of ICE operations on Marylanders. This includes the conditions of holding rooms at ICE’s Baltimore Field office, which are designed for short-term detentions not to exceed 12 hours. However, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations has utilized these facilities to confine individuals for days while denying them basic human needs and legal counsel. The letter also comes on the heels of news reports revealing ICE’s plans to hold as many as 80,000 detained immigrants in new warehouse-style detention centers around the country, including a processing facility in Hagerstown, Maryland.

“As members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns regarding Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) operations in our state over the past year, and to state our staunch opposition to reported plans to expand ICE detention. DHS and ICE have stoked fear throughout our communities by conducting reckless enforcement actions that have resulted in injuries, property damage, and unlawful or prolonged detentions without regard for our constituents’ safety and fundamental rights,” the lawmakers begin.

“These practices have no place in Maryland, are incompatible with our values, and underscore our opposition to any expansion of ICE’s presence in our communities,” they continued. “Any efforts to subject Hagerstown and Washington County to such a facility without the consent of state and local officials or our constituents is a serious violation of the principles of federalism and self-governance.”

The lawmakers go on to address the reported potential new ICE facility in Hagerstown, writing, “Our state has spoken. We believe no person in the United States, regardless of immigration status, should be subjected to inhumane conditions or detained without dignity or due process.”

The lawmakers concluded the letter with a demand for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to submit all documentation, including “planning materials, solicitations, proposals, site assessments, and communications” concerning Hagerstown and other locations in Maryland since last year.

Text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,

As members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns regarding Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) operations in our state over the past year, and to state our staunch opposition to reported plans to expand ICE detention. DHS and ICE have stoked fear throughout our communities by conducting reckless enforcement actions that have resulted in injuries, property damage, and unlawful or prolonged detentions without regard for our constituents’ safety and fundamental rights.

These concerns stem from the ongoing impacts that ICE operations have already inflicted upon Maryland residents and communities resulting in chaos, confusion, and violence. The holding rooms at ICE’s Baltimore Field Office are designed for short-term detentions not to exceed 12 hours. However, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations has utilized these facilities to confine individuals for days. Our constituents have reported that detainees have routinely been denied access to medical care and medications, basic hygiene products, and timely communication with their families and legal counsel. These conditions persist despite assurances from DHS that “ICE is committed to safe, secure, and humane environments for all of those in ICE custody.” These practices have no place in Maryland, are incompatible with our values, and underscore our opposition to any expansion of ICE’s presence in our communities.

Last month, reporting revealed that ICE plans to hold as many as 80,000 detained immigrants in new warehouse-style detention centers around the country, including a processing facility in Hagerstown, Maryland. It is our understanding that such a facility would be used to house noncitizens for as long as “a few weeks” prior to their transfer to large-scale warehouses to facilitate deportations. Recently, we learned that last week a DHS official visited a potential processing facility site which is not designed or outfitted to house, feed, or provide adequate care for detainees. It is deeply concerning that the proposed location is situated in an area of Washington County that is not zoned for overnight habitation, creating a direct conflict between DHS and local laws. Our congressional delegation demands more details on these proposed plans and the impact they would have on the local community.

As DHS is aware, the Maryland Dignity Not Detention Act prohibits state and local law enforcement from entering into agreements to detain individuals for civil immigration matters. In enacting this law, the state of Maryland definitively rejected any involvement in civil immigration detention.

Our state has spoken. We believe no person in the United States, regardless of immigration status, should be subjected to inhumane conditions or detained without dignity or due process. Any efforts to subject Hagerstown and Washington County to such a facility without the consent of state and local officials or our constituents is a serious violation of the principles of federalism and self-governance.

To better understand DHS and ICE plans in our state, we request that you provide all documentation, including but not limited to planning materials, solicitations, proposals, site assessments, and communications concerning the establishment of a processing facility in Hagerstown, Maryland and any other locations where ICE operations are planned or have been established in our state since January 20, 2025. Maryland’s communities should not be compelled to host federal detention or processing operations that conflict with local law or the will of the people we represent.

Sincerely,


Van Hollen Statement on Situation in Syria

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement after a phone call with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Mazloum.

“After decades of conflict and oppression, promoting stability in Syria is critical for both the Syrian people and the security of the region. That’s why I’m deeply concerned by recent developments in Syria and why I’ve been monitoring rapidly changing events closely. I just spoke to SDF Gen. Mazloum about these developments, including reports that the Syrian government is violating the recent ceasefire agreement, including in Kobani. As a close partner of ours and the tip of the spear in the fight against ISIS, we have an obligation to ensure that the SDF is treated fairly. The U.S. should immediately demand that the Syrian government comply with the ceasefire and not attack predominantly Kurdish areas. It is imperative that the U.S. work to get both parties back to the negotiating table before the current ceasefire expires to finalize a fair agreement that fully integrates the SDF into the Syrian government.”


Warnock Discusses Spiritual, Affordability Crises with NBA Champion, All the Smoke Host Matt Barnes

Senator Reverend Warnock joined All the Smoke podcast host Matt Barnes to highlight his unique spiritual perspective on the affordability crisis impacting working families across America

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Senator Warnock and Matt Barnes discussed the enduring legacy of MLK and what lessons from his work we can learn from today

Senator Warnock is Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of Martin Luther King Jr.

The conversation, the fourth installment of YouTube’s In Session event series which connects lawmakers with content creators for live, authentic discussions, reflects Senator Warnock’s efforts to meet people where they are in the digital age and speak to audiences disaffected by today’s politics

***Watch the full conversation HERE***

Watch Senator Warnock’s conversation with Matt Barnes HERE

Above: Senator Warnock and Matt Barnes record a conversation for the All the Smoke podcast

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) joined NBA champion and CEO of All the Smoke Productions Matt Barnes for a live podcast recording of the hit sports and lifestyle-centered podcast “All the Smoke”. Barnes and the Senator recorded their conversation at the latest YouTube “In Session” event in front of a live audience of over 150 people and discussed the twin affordability and spiritual crises, the legacy and lessons of Dr. King’s work, and how people can keep hope alive in today’s tumultuous political moment.

“These fights come with starts and fits. Some days you move a couple steps forward, then you move one or two steps back. There are moments in the story of our country where the democracy expands. There are moments when it contracts,” said Senator Warnock.“And we’re going through one very painful period of contraction, but a contraction that’s necessary for new birth. What I hope is that we will not waste this moment of crisis, that we will lean into what it means to be an American, people that will show up for our neighbors, having had this awful moment of staring into the abyss, seeing how bad it can be. I’m afraid things are going to get worse before they get better. But you take the long view, and you keep showing up with the hope that we’ll be better—not go back to where we were. There’s no going back. We need to be better.”

The conversation builds off of a December 2025 speech Senator Warnock delivered at the Center for American Progress. Senator Warnock argued that the ongoing affordability crisis has created a spiritual crisis in America, saying that decades of politicians failing to center the people they serve has undermined the American dream, created a cycle of division and despair, and ultimately led to the deep divisions and economic disparity we see today.

Above: Fun facts about Senator Warnock could be found around the event venue for guests attending the live podcast recording

During the conversation, Senator Warnock discussed his deep personal connection to Dr. King and how King’s legacy inspires his work in the Senate. Senator Warnock is Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Dr. King’s spiritual home.

“I was a kid who grew up in public housing. Number 11 out of 12 children. And because of the covenant that we have with each other as an American people, because of good public policy, because of Head Start, because of Upward Bound, which is a good federal program, because of low interest student loans and Pell Grants, I was able to earn four degrees […] I was able to become pastor of the church led by Dr. King, and now I am a United States Senator. The thing that keeps me up at night is the reality that it would be harder for me to do that now than it was for that kid who did it then. And in America, we always want to make sure that our kids are better off than we had it. That’s moving in the wrong direction, so I’m fighting for that kid who grew up on Cape Street, the kid who grew up in public housing, the kid grows up in an Appalachian rural community in Georgia, I’m fighting for those kids.”

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Warnock, Welch Lead Colleagues in Pressing Trump Administration for Stronger Response to Israeli West Bank Annexation Efforts

Senator Warnock and lawmakers: “U.S. leadership is crucial at this moment. We need tangible steps to back these words with action, if we are to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza and the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Peter Welch (D-VT) led 74 bicameral colleagues in a letter urging the Trump Administration to push back against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Government’s efforts to annex the West Bank, which have accelerated in recent weeks.

“U.S. leadership is crucial at this moment. We need tangible steps to back these words with action, if we are to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza and the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict,” wrote the bicameral group of legislators.

In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers expressed grave concerns about Israel’s ongoing efforts to undermine the Trump Administration’s stated policies and violate international law by illegally expanding settlements and forcibly displacing Palestinians from their lands. The lawmakers warn that this action may lead to irreparable consequences for the long-term peace and security of both Israelis and Palestinians.

“Despite the United States’ opposition to annexation, segments of the Israeli government have recently reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. Alongside the Knesset’s preliminary approval of two draft bills to impose Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, that body is also considering dozens of other proposed bills which, if enacted, would formalize various forms of annexation,” the lawmakers continued. “Of particular concern are bills that would absorb settlements north, east, and south of Jerusalem to create an expanded municipality under Israeli control.”

“As you, President Trump, and Vice President Vance have said, Israeli efforts to apply sovereignty or annex parts of the West Bank via the Knesset pose a grave risk to peace in the region and should not be pursued,” concluded the group.

In addition to Senators Warnock and Welch, the letter is signed in the Senate by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

Copy of the letter can be found HERE and below.

“Dear Mr. Secretary,

As you have said, the Government of Israel’s efforts to annex the West Bank undermine prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. President Trump and Vice President Vance have also both made recent statements rejecting such actions. U.S. leadership is crucial at this moment. We need tangible steps to back these words with action, if we are to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza and the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Despite the United States’ opposition to annexation, segments of the Israeli government have recently reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. Alongside the Knesset’s preliminary approval of two draft bills to impose Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, that body is also considering dozens of other proposed bills which, if enacted, would formalize various forms of annexation.

Of particular concern are bills that would absorb settlements north, east, and south of Jerusalem to create an expanded municipality under Israeli control. Combined with the recent approval of the E-1 settlement project directly east of Jerusalem, these proposals would divide the West Bank into northern and southern enclaves, severing the contiguity of Palestinian land and —quite deliberately—undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state.

While this legislation is under consideration, de facto annexation through targeted violence, intimidation of Palestinian communities, and forced displacement is already widespread. Throughout the West Bank, Israeli settlers are driving Palestinians off their land and expanding Israeli settlements, including in:

Taybeh, a majority-Christian Palestinian village in the West Bank, northeast of Ramallah. For decades, it has been subjected to Israeli settler violence, often accompanied by the Israeli military. In the summer of 2025, settlers targeted residents in a series of violent assaults, including setting fires near the village entrance and at the ruins of the fifth-century Church of St George. Settler violence has also disrupted the olive harvest, a key source of income for Palestinian families. Several Palestinian families have left Taybeh out of fear and intimidation. In July 2025, Ambassador Huckabee visited the village to witness the devastation firsthand and express solidarity.

Wadi Foquin, a Palestinian village in the Bethlehem District of the West Bank. This village has been subjected to ongoing land confiscation by the Israeli government since 1985, following the establishment of the illegal settlement of Betar Illit. Israeli authorities and settlers have routinely demolished trees, agricultural properties, and homes, while confiscating additional land for a settlement access road, a military road, and plans for an industrial park to serve the settlement community. These projects are part of a broader Israeli transportation plan that seeks to consolidate control and annex Palestinian land across the West Bank. The construction of the road will severely restricted the ability of Wadi Foquin’s residents to access their own village, as Palestinians are barred from using Israeli settler roadways. Wadi Foquin and neighboring villages in the Gush Etzion Settlement Bloc would be formally annexed if the Knesset’s proposed bills are enacted.

Silwan, a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem, formally considered annexed by Israel in 1980. For years, Israeli authorities and settler organizations have systematically pursued evictions and home demolitions that displace families and alter the area’s demographics. The neighborhood of Batan al-Hawa in Silwan has been the recent target of evictions, with Palestinian families forced from their homes in order for Israelis to take possession of them. Settlers are attempting to replicate the successful legal and administrative measures used to consolidate control, facilitate annexation, and dispossess Palestinians of their property in Silwan across East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Al-Walaja, a Palestinian village west of Bethlehem, parts of which were annexed to Jerusalem in 1967 and placed under Israeli civil control. For decades, Israeli authorities have refused to prepare or approve a zoning plan for the annexed area, making it virtually impossible for residents to obtain building permits for the Jerusalem section of the village and exposing the village to constant home demolitions. Three years ago, this policy was paused when the Israeli government announced its willingness to consider a zoning plan if village residents initiate it. Since then, despite continuous efforts of the village community, planning authorities have delayed the advancement of the review process. As a result, demolition orders have been issued to many dozens of homes in the Jerusalem part of the village, and many have already been destroyed leaving hundreds of residents homeless. The absence of approved zoning plans, coupled with the expansion of the settlements of Gilo and Har Gilo and new plans to for settler bypass roads, is part of a broader pattern in which discriminatory planning policies push Palestinians from their land while consolidating Israeli control.

We strongly urge the State Department to clearly communicate to the Israeli Government the negative consequences that the pending Knesset bills and construction of the E-1 settlements would have on the prospects for peace and security in the region, on the daily lives of Palestinians, and on Israel’s relations with the United States.

We further call for a stronger United States government response against those who commit violence that undermines peace, security, and stability in the West Bank. We urge the Administration to reimpose sanctions under Executive Order 14115 and to condemn the acts of de facto annexation undertaken by Israeli settlers. We have grave concerns about Israel’s ongoing efforts to undermine the Trump Administration’s stated policies and violate international law by illegally expanding settlements, with disastrous consequences for the long-term peace and security of both Israelis and Palestinians.

As you, President Trump, and Vice President Vance have all said, Israeli efforts to apply sovereignty or annex parts of the West Bank via the Knesset pose a grave risk to peace in the region and should not be pursued. We look forward to your response.”

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Following Bipartisan Mission to Denmark, Welch Announces New Resolution to Block Trump's Tariffs Against NATO Allies over Greenland Aggression

BURLINGTON, VT—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, returned from Copenhagen, Denmark, where he joined a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Delegation in reasserting continued respect for the U.S.-Denmark alliance and support for the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark over the territory of Greenland.

While the Delegation was in Denmark, President Trump threatened additional tariffs on certain NATO member nations that sent troops to Greenland. In response, Senator Welch announced he would introduce a new Joint Resolution of Disapproval to block any Greenland-related tariffs on our NATO allies.

“When I was talking to folks from Greenland and Denmark, and they asked me why Trump was doing this, I couldn’t answer. I could say that as a United States Senator, I’m going to work with colleagues to introduce and pass legislation taking away the president’s abuse of the tariff authority to compel our NATO countries to go along…” said Senator Welch in the video. “This is a dead-end confrontation that will only do harm to us, to NATO, and our standing in the world. We stand for self-determination. We stand for sovereignty. And President Trump is challenging that in a way that’s going to be very harmful.”

Watch the video here:

A Joint Resolution of Disapproval will force a vote in the Senate to prohibit the President’s use of tariffs to punish NATO allies. Senator Welch will file the Joint Resolution of Disapproval when the Senate returns from recess.

In the face of the President’s threats against Denmark, Senator Welch has championed efforts to show Congressional support for the U.S.-Denmark alliance, including leading the Senate’s passage of a bipartisan resolution recognizing the Danish people’s commitment to cooperation with the U.S. and expressing gratitude for the sacrifices of Danish troops alongside Americans in recent conflicts.

Senator Welch is also a leading voice opposing President Trump’s use of tariffs to start trade wars and drive prices up for Americans. The Senator’s bipartisan legislation to repeal President Trump’s global tariffs passed the Senate in October. He is also the sponsor of the CANADA Act, bipartisan legislation that would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. Senator Welch is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade and tariffs.

View photos from Senator Welch’s trip to Denmark here and on the Senator’s website:

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One Year Into Trump’s Trade War, Welch Hosts Event with Businesses, Trade Experts in Williston

WILLISTON, VT — Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined small business owners, trade experts, and state and local leaders at Rigorous Technology in Williston for a timely discussion on how President Trump’s chaotic tariff policies have ignited a trade war that hurts Vermont’s economy.

“What I’ve heard from Vermonters over the past year is exactly what my colleagues in red states and blue states have heard from their constituents—the President’s trade war has been a disaster from the start. These tariffs have destroyed generations-old partnerships between Vermonters and our allies, making it harder for small businesses to thrive. It’s alarming that after one year of watching these tariffs wreak havoc on our communities, Republicans are still willing to sacrifice our constitutional authority to placate this lawless President,” said Senator Welch. “We need to block these tariffs and make it easier for small businesses to make their own way, not stack the deck against them.”

President Trump imposed new tariffs and ignited a trade war on the first day of his second term—one year ago today. The Supreme Court could soon issue a ruling on the legality of the administration’s sweeping global tariffs. Contrary to the administration’s claims, a new study published this week found the trade war is raising costs and consumer prices for Americans, not our trading partners and foreign producers.

View photos from the event below and on the Senator’s website:

Senator Welch is a leading voice opposing President Trump’s trade war. The Senator’s bipartisan legislation to repeal President Trump’s global tariffs passed the Senate in October. He is also the sponsor of the CANADA Act, bipartisan legislation that would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. Senator Welch is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade and tariffs.

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Welch, Khanna Lead 74 Bicameral Lawmakers in Urging Stronger Response from Trump Admin on Israel’s Efforts to Annex the West Bank

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) led 74 bicameral colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to push back against Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli Government’s efforts to annex the West Bank, which have accelerated in recent weeks.

In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers expressed grave concerns about Israel’s ongoing efforts to undermine the Trump Administration’s stated policies and violate international law by illegally expanding settlements and forcibly displacing Palestinians from their lands, with irreparable consequences for the long-term peace and security of both Israelis and Palestinians.

The lawmakers wrote: “U.S. leadership is crucial at this moment. We need tangible steps to back these words with action, if we are to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza and the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict,”

“Despite the United States’ opposition to annexation, segments of the Israeli government have recently reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. Alongside the Knesset’s preliminary approval of two draft bills to impose Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, that body is also considering dozens of other proposed bills which, if enacted, would formalize various forms of annexation,” wrote the lawmakers. “Of particular concern are bills that would absorb settlements north, east, and south of Jerusalem to create an expanded municipality under Israeli control.”

The lawmakers continued: “Combined with the recent approval of the E-1 settlement project directly east of Jerusalem, these proposals would divide the West Bank into northern and southern enclaves, severing the contiguity of Palestinian land and —quite deliberately—undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state. While this legislation is under consideration, de facto annexation through targeted violence, intimidation of Palestinian communities, and forced displacement is already widespread. Throughout the West Bank, Israeli settlers are driving Palestinians off their land and expanding Israeli settlements, including in Taybeh, Wadi Foquin, Silwan, and Al-Walaja.”

“We strongly urge the State Department to clearly communicate to the Israeli Government the negative consequences that the pending Knesset bills and construction of the E-1 settlements would have on the prospects for peace and security in the region, on the daily lives of Palestinians, and on Israel’s relations with the United States,” the lawmakers continued. “We urge the Administration to reimpose sanctions under Executive Order 14115 and to condemn the acts of de facto annexation undertaken by Israeli settlers.”

The lawmakers concluded: “As you, President Trump, and Vice President Vance have said, Israeli efforts to apply sovereignty or annex parts of the West Bank via the Knesset pose a grave risk to peace in the region and should not be pursued.”

In addition to Senator Welch, the letter is signed in the Senate by Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

In the House, the letter is signed by Rep. Khanna and Reps. Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Becca Balint (D-VT-At-Large), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), André Carson (D-IN-07), Troy Carter (D-LA-02), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Al Green (D-TX-09), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Sam Liccardo (D-CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), James McGovern (D-MA-02), Kweisi Mfume (D-MA-07), Dave Min (D-CA-40), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-12), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), and Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07).

The letter is endorsed by J Street and New Jewish Narrative.

“J Street is deeply grateful for Sen. Welch’s leadership in pushing Secretary of State Rubio and the Trump Administration to ensure that the Israeli government ceases efforts toward de facto annexation of the West Bank. The unacceptable escalation in settler violence in recent years is now being complemented by formal Israeli government actions seeking to expropriate Palestinian land in the West Bank. These actions are working together hand in hand in an attempt to prevent a future Palestinian state,” said Hannah Morris, VP of Government Affairs, J Street. “Palestinian statehood, not occupation and annexation, is what will bring peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. For the sake of all in the region, the Israeli government must reverse these cruel and counterproductive actions.”

“The Trump administration has failed to stop the Israeli government from expanding settlements and destabilizing the West Bank in ways that harm Palestinians and the prospects for a better, more peaceful future. In 2025, we not only saw record high levels of settler attacks on Palestinians — we also saw the Israeli government approve nearly 30,000 housing units for settlers in the West Bank. This letter is a wake up call to Secretary Rubio. America’s failure to effectively press Israeli leaders on their reckless actions in the West Bank jeopardizes the administration’s progress towards ending the war and their stated goal of achieving a lasting peace,” said Hadar Susskind, President and CEO, New Jewish Narrative. “Senator Welch and Rep. Khanna deserve credit for initiating this important letter. I hope that the administration pays attention to their clarion call.”

Read and download the full text of the lawmakers’ letter to Secretary of State Rubio.

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Chairman Wicker Leads SASC Hearing to Consider Nominations for Top U.S. Cyber and Southern Command Leadership

Watch Video Here

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a hearing to consider the nominations for U.S. Cyber and Southern Command Leadership.

Lieutenant General Francis “Frank” L. Donovan, USMC, nominated to be Commander, U.S. Southern Command, and Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd, USA, nominated to be Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director of the National Security Agency, as well as Chief of the Central Security Service, both appeared before the committee.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Wicker emphasized the strategic importance of these commands and the vital roles they play in safeguarding U.S. national security and cyber and regional defense capabilities.

Read Chairman Wicker’s hearing opening statement as delivered.

The committee meets today to consider two nominations. We will speak with Lieutenant General Joshua Rudd, who has been nominated to be the Commander of United States Cyber Command, Director of the National Security Agency, and Commander of the Central Security Service. We will also consider the nomination of Lieutenant General Frank Donovan to be the Commander of United States Southern Command. I welcome our nominees and their families, and I would like to extend my gratitude for their continued willingness to serve our nation.

If confirmed, Lieutenant General Rudd will assume command of an organization that has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since April of last year. U.S. Cyber Command is our first and last line of defense in the cyber domain. It is largely invisible to the American people. But every day, the men and women of Cyber Command defend the U.S. from attacks by our adversaries. This is not a theoretical threat. This is an ongoing fight, occurring right now even as we speak.

Our adversaries intend to move against us in the cyber domain. And they are investing in technology that makes their aggression increasingly difficult to detect, to defend against, and to deter. We see this challenge manifesting in the homeland, where our critical infrastructure remains vulnerable to sophisticated attacks. We see it globally, where there is still a great deal of work to do to posture Cyber Command for a fight in the Indo-Pacific. This is vital work, as General Caine made clear in public following the events in Venezuela. Our American cyber operators performed their job excellently and kept their fellow service members safe.

I look forward to hearing from Lieutenant General Rudd about how his experiences will inform his plans for Cyber Command as he takes the helm during this critical time.

Lieutenant General Donovan has been nominated to serve as the Commander of U.S. Southern Command. His nomination comes as the region experiences a dramatic increase in operational tempo. The threats we face here are significant and close to home. South American cartels traffic drugs that kill more than 100,000 Americans annually. These networks are not only criminal enterprises but are sophisticated, well-armed actors that undermine regional stability, fuel violence, and directly harm public safety in American communities.

Three of our greatest adversaries—Russia, China, and Iran—are coordinating to counter U.S. commercial, political, and security interests in South America. They are doing so right under our noses. Together, they exploit corruption and partner with authoritarian regimes in the Western Hemisphere, hoping to gain strategic economic access, intelligence footholds, and political leverage close to U.S. territory.

?Across?South America,?Chinese influence?threatens?U.S. interests?by?controlling?critical infrastructure, telecommunications?systems,?and?ports.? China?has?used?large-scale purchases of?critical?materials—such as copper, oil, and lithium—to deepen economic dependence and?to?limit U.S. access.??China has also successfully persuaded multiple countries in the region to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China.??This?would chip?away at?Taiwan’s international?standing.??Most?troubling, China has expanded defense cooperation?with?arms sales, police training, and space and cyber partnerships—all?to the detriment of our country.?

Similarly, Russia?has deepened?security?relations with?authoritarian regimes in?Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.??Putin is?selling arms, providing military advisors,?and?expanding?intelligence cooperation,?all?in exchange for?permission?to?deploy?Russian military?aircraft?and?naval vessels?in the region.??Moscow has exploited?local corruption to?access the global financial system,?to?evade U.S. sanctions,?and?to?sustain its?brutal campaign?against the?Ukrainian people.?

Iran?has long used Hezbollah and affiliated networks in parts of South America to help with fundraising,?with?money laundering,?and?with?illicit trafficking.??These moves?help?fuel?their?terrorism operations?around the world.?So, we have a lot to talk about today.

It is clear?that?our?adversaries’ activities in South America?represent a direct threat?to?U.S.?interests.??It is time we restore U.S. primacy in our own neighborhood.??I?fully?support the?ongoing?efforts of the Trump administration to pursue a tougher counter-drug strategies.??I commend?our troops?for?carrying?out an almost perfectly executed operation to?capture?Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores,?and?to?bring them to the United States to face justice?for narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking charges.??These?actions?send a clear signal?to?Russia, China,?and?Iran,?and?to?the authoritarian regimes in South America who give them a foothold in our hemisphere.?The United States is ready, willing, and capable?of?protecting?our interests, especially those?closest to home.?


Rep. Al Green Fights for TSA Collective Bargaining Agreement and Warns Courts’ Orders Must Be Followed

(Washington, DC) — On Wednesday, July 21, 2026, Congressman Al Green, a Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, shared remarks during a Homeland Security Committee hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security: CISA, TSA, S&T."

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


Rep. Al Green Questions HUD Secretary on Invidious Discrimination and Shameful Cuts in Fair Housing

(Washington, DC) — On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, shared remarks in a Financial Services Hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration."

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


Congressman Allen Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition

Today, U.S. Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) announced the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. Every year, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor a nationwide high school art competition. This contest is open to all high school students (9th – 12th grade) in Georgia’s 12th District. The winning piece will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, and its student artist will receive an invitation to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the national winners’ reception.

"The Congressional Art Competition is a special tradition that provides high school students the opportunity to display their art for the country to see. I look forward to seeing submissions from our young artists in the 12th District, and encourage all interested high school students to participate," said Congressman Allen.

Submitted artwork must be original in concept, design, and execution and must depict life in the 12th District of Georgia. All artwork must be submitted by March 3rd, 2026 at one of the following three drop-off locations:

Augusta District Office: 2743 Perimeter Parkway, Bldg. 200, Suite 105, Augusta, GA 30909, (706) 228-1980, (Submissions at this location can be made Monday-Friday, 9 am–5 pm)

Dublin District Office: 100 S. Church Street, Dublin, GA 31021, (478) 272-4030 (Submissions at this location can be made on Monday, March 2nd, 9 am–5 pm)

Statesboro District Office: 50 East Main Street, Statesboro, Georgia 30458, (912) 243-9452, (Submissions at this location can be made Monday-Friday, 9 am–5 pm)


Allen, Colleagues Seeking Answers on Eisenhower Army Medical Center

Today, Representatives Rick W. Allen (GA-12), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Austin Scott (GA-08), and Sheri Biggs (SC-03) sent a letter to the Honorable David J. Smith, M.D., Acting Director of the Defense Health Agency, seeking answers about potential changes in the scope of services provided at Eisenhower Army Medical Center (EAMC) at Fort Gordon.

In the letter, the members write: "As Members representing districts across Georgia and South Carolina, with over 20 military installations, our constituents and their dependents rely on consistent access to quality care. Our offices have received multiple inquiries and reports of departments, staffing, and services at EAMC being severely reduced. There is no equal military hospital within 300 miles, and our region experiences capacity issues and a lack of TRICARE-approved providers."

The members continue: "EAMC has consistently been ranked among the top military health institutions serving our Nation. President Trump has prioritized strengthening and rebuilding our military infrastructure and has directed a comprehensive approach to improving the quality of life and accessibility to services for those who wear the uniform. We fail to see how the effective closure of a respected facility serving an entire region furthers this goal."

The members conclude: "Pursuant to Section 714 in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act, any changes in the scope of services must be preceded by assessments of impact and approval. We look forward to a prompt response from the Defense Health Agency..."

To read the full letter to Acting Director Smith, click HERE.


Arrington Hosts Hearing on Skyrocketing Health Care Costs

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) held a hearing titled “Reverse the Curse: Skyrocketing Health Care Costs and America’s Fiscal Future,” where he continued to urge his colleagues to pursue a second reconciliation bill to fix what is broken.

Click HERE to watch Arrington’s Opening Statement

Remarks as Delivered:

“I think most of the time, in addressing the big challenges facing our country, both Democrats and Republicans can agree. I think we certainly agree about the increasing and unsustainable cost of health care.

“The difference comes in how to address it. Health care now consumes nearly one-fifth of our economy—almost $6 trillion—and roughly half of that spending comes from the federal government.

“In the 1980s, the share of health care spending was 70 percent private, 30 percent government. Today it's 50/50. A third of the federal budget, if you exclude interest payments, is health care expenditures.

“And if we look back to 1975, we were spending $19 billion on health care as a nation. Today, it's almost $2 trillion, and in 10 years that will double.

“While demographics are certainly one of the factors in rising costs, they are not the sole driver of runaway health care inflation hitting our families—especially young families and middle-class families. Health care spending is now crowding out national priorities like defense and driving our debt to levels higher, as a share of our economy, than during World War II and its aftermath.

“Having World War-level debt and pandemic-level deficits in times of peace and prosperity is unsustainable—and it should be unacceptable to the leaders on this Committee who represent all parts of this country.

“I'll try to be an equal opportunity criticizer for the Democrats, my colleagues on the Left. They've gone all-in with government-run health care. I think their poster child for “affordable health care” was Obamacare.

“I hope after living with that for 15 years, we can all agree that more subsidies, regulations, and mandates are not the solution. And simply having health insurance coverage isn't the solution for affordability for working families across this great nation. We've seen deductibles and premiums both double since the advent of Obamacare.

“I was very disappointed that 17 of my Republican colleagues joined the Democrats to extend what was supposed to be a COVID-era expansion of Obamacare. It was, according to all the watchdog groups, riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. So that was a big disappointment.

“But on the part of Republicans, I don't think we do enough. We do more criticizing of our Democrat colleagues and their failed central planning of the health care economy than we… execute on the market-based reforms and free market policies that would result in better value for not only the patients and families, who are paying for this, but for taxpayers and for future taxpayers.

“I hope that with reconciliation 2.0 being a serious consideration, that we won't let this historic moment pass us by without endeavoring to fix what is broken.

“We reduced taxes and the tax burden on our fellow Americans, and we reduced spending by twice the amount we've ever reduced mandatory spending—$1.6 trillion. And we're seeing results in terms of economic traction: wages are up, interest and inflation down, etc. I still think the biggest tax on our families and on our small businesses is the cost of health care.

“In this back and forth, there's always the obligatory we think Obamacare was a failed experiment. They'll have their obligatory political, partisan comments. I hope we can talk about the delivery of care and the runaway cost to just the delivery, not the Obamacare market, not the private insurance market, but delivery of care in general—site neutral, pharmacy benefit managers—there are plenty of big plays to run that...

“…I want bold action in this historic time, because I'm not sure we'll get the opportunity again. If we can work with Democrats, we should. And if they won't, or we can't, we should have the courage to go it alone and do the things that we know are going to yield the outcomes that are so desperately needed.”

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Congressman Baird Applauds Passage of Legislation to Improve AI Security, Counter Narco-Terrorism in House Foreign Affairs Committee

Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) applauded the passage of multiple bills he supported in the House Foreign Affairs Committee to boost American national security, counter narco-terrorism, stop the influx of deadly fentanyl, and preserve American Artificial Intelligence (AI) leadership and security.

“Our country faces rapidly evolving national security threats, and Congress must be poised to properly address them and close the security gaps,” said Congressman Baird. “The bills we passed today are critical to addressing the security challenges with AI, providing Congress with oversight over the sale of advanced AI chips to our adversaries, and supercharging American AI leadership to beat China. We also passed multiple bills to help the U.S. combat criminal cartels, stop the flow of deadly fentanyl that has taken far too many American lives, and end the rampant drug trafficking that has persisted in our own backyard. I thank Chairman Mast for his outstanding leadership on this committee, and I hope these bills are passed in the full U.S. House soon.”

The House Foreign Affairs Committee, with Congressman Baird’s support, passed:

The AI OVERWATCH Act (H.R. 6875) to ensure U.S. adversaries cannot use American AI technology to further military and intelligence programs, curb the sale of chips to our adversaries such as China, and accelerate American AI exports to allies and partners around the world. Congressman Baird serves as a cosponsor of this legislation.

The American Cooperation with Our Neighbors Act (H.R. 4532) to direct the U.S. Department of State to work with local governments in Mexico to fight narco-terrorists and violent cartels that traffic fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States.

The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act (H.R. 4368) to enhance the U.S.-Caribbean security partnership, improve resiliency after natural disasters, and provide greater long-term stability in the region.

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Barrett Introduces 4 Bills to Restore Trust in Government, the First Pillar of His Blueprint for a Better America

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today announced a sweeping package of government reform legislation to begin building out the first pillar of his Blueprint for a Better America — Restoring Trust in Government. The bills and constitutional amendments Barrett announced today aim to reverse the decline of trust in government by restricting the frequency of redistricting, increasing oversight of federal agencies, and preserving judicial independence.

The package of legislation builds on the first government reform bill Barrett announced last week, which would ban stock trading by members of Congress. Barrett’s plan takes serious action to ensure the federal government prioritizes the public interest over political gain.

“For too long, the American people have watched as their government works to serve career politicians and the well-connected rather than everyday families,” said Barrett. “These reforms are about returning power to where it belongs — with the people. That's the foundation we need to rebuild in order to restore trust and make Washington work again.”

Barrett announced the following proposals within his plan to Restore Trust in Government.

Make It Count Act (H.R. 7167): This bill Barrett introduced would limit congressional redistricting to once every 10 years — after each census — prohibiting state officials from redrawing congressional districts for partisan advantage in the middle of the decade. The bill would also require that only U.S. citizens are counted toward district apportionment and electoral votes. The census would still count all persons for other purposes.

Supermajority Statehood Amendment (H.J.Res. 141): This constitutional amendment Barrett is leading would require a two-thirds supermajority in both chambers of Congress to add a new state to the union, blocking politically motivated attempts to add states for the purpose of gaining an advantage in the Senate or Electoral College. Currently, the Constitution only requires a simple majority to add states to the union.

Keep the Nine Amendment (H.J.Res. 28): This constitutional amendment Barrett is co-sponsoring would require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of nine justices. The high court has had nine justices by law for more than 150 years, and the constitutional amendment would block future attempts to pack the court for partisan advantage.

The Unauthorized Spending Accountability Act (H.R. 143): This bill Barrett is co-sponsoring would automatically phase out any federal spending on programs that aren’t explicitly authorized by Congress after three years. It would also require any reauthorizations of these programs to include a sunset clause. This requires Congress to reclaim the power of the purse by routinely scrutinizing and updating federal government programs.

About Barrett’s Blueprint for a Better America

Restoring Trust in Government is the first of five pillars of Barrett’s Blueprint for a Better America. The Congressman will continue to unveil additional proposals in the coming weeks to address all of the five key policy areas this agenda is built on:

Restoring Trust in Government: Making Government Serve the People, Not Special Interests

Reviving the American Dream: Helping Families Afford Homes in Mid-Michigan

Making Health Care Affordable Again: Lowering Costs for Working Families

Recalibrating American Foreign Policy: Ending Endless Wars and Promoting Peace Through Strength

Reforming Campaign Finance: Putting Governing Before Campaigning

To learn more, click here or visit Barrett.house.gov/reform.

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WATCH: Barrett Leads Hearing on His Bill to Expedite Payments for Disabled Veterans’ Vehicle Modifications

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today led a House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing on legislation to reform and improve the VA. This included Barrett’s CRUISE Act (H.R. 7083), which he introduced last week to streamline payments to providers for disabled veterans’ vehicle modifications through the Adaptive Automobile Equipment (AAE) program.

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Click here or the image above to watch Congressman Barrett’s remarks. Below are highlights from Barrett’s remarks.

“There have been continued payment delays from VA, and in certain parts of the country, there are 22 adaptive automotive invoices that are over 1,000 days late for their payments. That’s years in backlog.

“That’s unacceptable, and my bill would get to work at addressing these delays, cutting out the red tape, and ensuring providers get paid for their valuable work — all the while getting disabled veterans the service that they deserve. My bill would also hold VA accountable for making these payments to AAE providers in a timely manner by requiring the VA to publish the exact number of days that each payment takes that exceeds 30 days.

“If we don’t fix this, we risk losing good providers who help our veterans get the adaptive vehicles that they need. …We can’t let the bureaucracy get in the way of providing these benefits. If this continues, veterans will have less provider options available to them because they won’t see the VA as a good-faith partner in that effort.”

Background:

The VA’s Automobile Adaptive Equipment (AAE) program pays for vehicle modifications necessary for veterans with service-connected disabilities to drive or to enter and exit their vehicles. Currently, individual VA hospitals are responsible for issuing these reimbursements, but some hospitals have fallen behind on paying invoices. As of May 2025, the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association was aware of nearly $11 million in payments owed to dealers that were more than 90 days overdue. This creates a real financial burden that is hurting the small businesses that install wheelchair ramps, lifts, and other vehicle modifications for veterans.

Barrett’s Centralized Reimbursement for Upgraded Innovative Service Equipment (CRUISE) Act (H.R. 7083) would centralize the AAE reimbursement process at the VA Central Office and remove that responsibility from VA hospitals. The bill would require the department to implement a process to track invoices and issue payments. If the department is unable to process a payment within 30 days, it must publish how many days are necessary to make the payment.

Barrett has been a leader on efforts to help disabled veterans with their transportation needs. Last year, the House unanimously approved Barrett’s Automotive Support Services to Improve Safe Transportation (ASSIST) Act, which would authorize the VA to cover a wider variety of vehicle modifications.

CLICK HERE to read the bill.


Bonamici, Begich Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Water Power

WASHINGTON, DC [1/21/26] – Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Nick Begich (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation to bolster water power technologies.

The Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act, H.R. 7129, would modernize the Department of Energy’s (DOE) water power research, development, and demonstration programs, including for marine energy, pumped storage, and hydropower technologies. Bonamici led the last reauthorization of these programs in 2020, when it was signed into law with bipartisan support.

“Water power technologies have tremendous potential to provide cheaper, cleaner, and more resilient energy,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “This legislation will spur innovation to leverage the power of waves, tides, and currents to create opportunities for more Oregonians and Americans to benefit from this promising energy source.”

“Hydropower has long been a proven part of America’s baseload energy mix,” said Congressman Nick Begich. “This legislation will support the development of next-generation hydropower and marine energy technologies that can provide long-duration storage and critical grid services. By continuing to invest in innovation and performance validation, we’re ensuring water power remains a dependable solution that works for Alaska and helps build a more reliable energy grid nationwide. I’m proud to work across the aisle to advance energy policies that make sense for Alaska and for the nation.”

The Water Power Research and Development Reauthorization Act would:

Reauthorize DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office research, development, demonstration, and commercialization programs for hydropower, pumped storage, and marine energy

Strengthen grid reliability and resilience by advancing technologies that provide long-duration energy storage, ancillary services, and flexible generation

Improve environmental performance of water power systems through research on fisheries, water quality, sediment movement, and cumulative impacts

Support domestic manufacturing, advanced materials, and additive manufacturing for water power components and supply chains

Expand marine energy research for resilient coastal and riverside communities, microgrids, desalination, disaster recovery, and critical infrastructure

Sustain and expand National Marine Energy Centers as regional hubs for testing, demonstration, and workforce development

Promote collaboration among national laboratories, universities, industry, Tribes, and federal agencies

Authorize $300 million annually through FY2030 to support hydropower and marine energy innovation nationwide

Companion legislation, S. 3684, is led in the Senate by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

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Boyle Statement on Trump’s So-Called NATO–Greenland “Deal Framework”

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Lead Democrat of the U.S. Congressional Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement of a so-called “deal framework” involving NATO and Greenland:

“I’m glad Donald Trump is backing down, but none of this should have happened in the first place. This episode was completely unnecessary, and while the President may be retreating now, his tactics have already done real damage to U.S. credibility with our allies.

Arctic security is a serious strategic issue — one that we in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly have worked on for years in close coordination with our partners. It requires steady leadership, diplomacy, and trust, not threats and chaos.

The United States is strongest when we work with our allies, not when we manufacture crises that weaken the very alliances that keep us safe.”


Buchanan, Pappas Introduce Bipartisan Stop Crimes Against Children Act

“Crimes Against Children Are Among the Most Horrific and Devastating Offenses Imaginable, And Too Often They Are Enabled by Rapidly Evolving Technology.”

Legislation Would Strengthen Collaboration to Prevent Child Exploitation and Support Victims

WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan and Congressman Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) introduced the Stop Crimes Against Children Act, a bipartisan bill to strengthen the nation’s response to child abuse, exploitation and trafficking by expanding collaboration between law enforcement, nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education.

“Crimes against children are among the most horrific and devastating offenses imaginable, and too often they are enabled by rapidly evolving technology,” said Buchanan. “Law enforcement cannot fight this crisis alone, I’m proud to join Congressman Pappas in advancing this bipartisan legislation. By bringing together nonprofits, researchers and institutions of higher education, we strengthen prevention efforts, improve victim support and ensure our communities are using every available tool to protect children.”

“The fight against child exploitation and abuse requires an all hands-on-deck-effort, and that means bringing together stakeholders with a broad array of expertise to put in place strategies that will keep our kids safe,” said Congressman Pappas. “This bipartisan legislation ensures that leaders from the nonprofit sector and institutions of higher education, who are doing vital work to protect children from abuse, will be part of our national strategy to identify, prevent, and respond to crimes against children right alongside law enforcement and government agencies. I remain committed to doing all I can to stop crimes against children, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide every resource available to keep children safe in New Hampshire and across the country.”

The bill would require the nonprofit sector and institutions of higher education to collaborate with the Department of Justice’s National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction. This legislation seeks to ensure that communities can leverage the full spectrum of expertise and resources alongside government and law enforcement agencies to keep children safe.

The legislation is supported by the UNH Crimes Against Children Research Center and the Zero Abuse Project.

“There is a rapidly growing foundation of research and best practices that have been shown to protect children from violence and crime,” said Dr. David Finkelhor, Director of UNH Crimes Against Children Research Center. “The Stop Crimes Against Children Act will help disseminate those programs and practices more rapidly and effectively. We are making progress but we could do a lot more with this Act as support,”

Buchanan has long championed efforts to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. He introduced the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act to educate students and teachers on trafficking risks, as well as the Curbing Realistic Exploitative Electronic Pedophilic Robots (CREEPER) Act 2.0 to stop the sale of lifelike sex dolls resembling children.

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Carter-led bill improving air quality standards passes out of House Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today celebrated passage of his Clean Air and Economic Advancement Reform (CLEAR) Act, a bill to modernize out-of-date National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), out of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

“For decades, states’ economic growth has been hampered by overly strict, outdated air quality standards,” said Rep. Carter. “My bill, the CLEAR Act, brings much-needed common-sense reform to this system by empowering states to reduce air pollution without getting in the way of prosperity. We are giving states a framework to work with, not burdensome red tape to work through.”

“Congressman Carter’s CLEAR Act takes a commonsense approach to establishing and implementing NAAQS, ensuring states are not bogged down by overly complicated standards that threaten economic prosperity. I am proud to see this bill advanced by the Energy and Commerce Committee and look forward to its consideration on the House floor,” said Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA).

The CLEAR Act will:

Make attaining clean air standards realistic, while giving states the time needed to comply.

Exclude natural disasters, wildfires, and actions to prevent wildfires that produce emissions from regulatory penalties.

Protect the environment while also paving the way for responsible economic development.

Read the full bill text here.


Carbajal Calls for DHS Secretary Noem’s Impeachment

Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Top Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, issued the statement below in support of Articles of Impeachment filed against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. The Articles of Impeachment were introduced by U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02).

“Impeachment is one of the most serious constitutional duties Congress has, and it should never be used casually or for political theater. But when a Cabinet Secretary repeatedly abuses their authority and disregards the law, Congress has a duty to act. Secretary Noem has repeatedly betrayed her oath of office, lied to Congress, exploited her position for personal gain, and continuously directed her department to violate individuals’ constitutional rights. The Secretary of Homeland Security is charged with protecting the American people and upholding the rule of law, yet under Noem’s tenure, our nation has become less safe and more lawless. Secretary Noem must be held accountable, and that’s why I’m working with my colleagues to advance Articles of Impeachment,” said Rep. Carbajal.


Castor: Trump’s First Year Cost Florida Families Thousands More in 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor released the following statement on the U.S. Congress’s Joint Economic Committee (JEC) Minority report analyzing family expenses from housing costs to transportation costs:

“President Trump promised American families to lower costs and end inflation, but after one year in office, the numbers show the opposite. Due to arbitrary Trump tariffs and Republican policies, Florida families were burdened with more than $1,342 in extra costs last year just to get by—with housing, electricity, transportation, health care, and everyday necessities all costing more. This is on top of the up to $2,025 average increase in health care premiums due to President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend critical health care savings for millions of Florida families.

“Here in Florida and across the country, families are feeling the squeeze every time they pay rent, fill up the gas tank, or see a doctor. Instead of delivering relief, President Trump’s reckless tariffs, misguided health care policies, and economic chaos have driven up the cost of living and increased uncertainty. Americans deserve leadership that lowers costs and actually puts families first, not broken promises that leave household budgets worse off.”

View the full report here.

The JEC analysis shows that in 2025, the average American household spent $1,625 more across the board—including over $320 more in housing costs and over $240 more on transportation costs.


Protecting and supporting vital pregnancy care centersRep. Chris Smith debates on the House floor in support of the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, today debated on the House floor in support of the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act (HR 6945), legislation he cosponsored to enable states to provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funding for pregnancy care centers.

Smith, who has long advocated for enhanced federal protections for pregnancy care centers—often the targets of biased harassment, discrimination, and malignment by radical, pro-abortion state governments—delivered the following remarks on the House floor:

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Michelle Fischbach, for her leadership and compassion by offering this legislation to protect pregnancy centers from discrimination and ensure they can continue their important work of assisting families in need.

At a New Jersey pregnancy center dinner, two women—through tears of joy—expressed their deep and abiding gratitude for the incredible love, respect, and care that persuaded them to reverse their decision to abort their babies.

They spoke of how desperate—even hopeless—they felt.

They spoke of the pressure they felt to abort.

Until they met the director of the pregnancy resource center, who reached out to both of them in a gentle and non-judgmental way.

They chose life—and thanked God, the director, and the pregnancy resource center for helping them avert the loss of their babies’ lives.

Then, two teenaged girls took to the podium and spoke about their lives—school, sports, friends—and their reverence for the sanctity of all human life.

Near the end of their remarks, they turned towards the director of the center and thanked her for being there for their moms through those difficult times, and they said that if she wasn’t there for them, “we’d be dead.”

These clinics are there for both mother and baby, before and after birth.

Consider the story of Jean Marie Davis, a mother and a survivor of human trafficking, who says her life was saved by a pregnancy care center. She says:

“…I was trafficked in 33 states…

“Even though I was losing weight from the drugs, my belly kept growing, and I soon discovered the pregnancy that would ultimately save my life…

“…I literally ran away from the only life I had ever known.

“Fighting despair, and with only $1.38 to my name, I had very few places to turn.”

Jean Marie was connected with a woman named Phyllis at a local pregnancy center. She says:

“The pregnancy center provided me with free resources and support to take care of my son. I was also able to realize and pursue dreams I had never imagined, such as earning a college degree…

“Years later, I applied for the executive director position of a pregnancy center in Vermont—Branches Pregnancy Resource Center…

“If it hadn’t been for Phyllis and the pregnancy center, I would be dead. They saved my life. My son saved my life. Now, it’s my turn to defend the very cause that saved me.”

Across the United States, more than 2,700 pregnancy resource centers offer mothers and their precious children an oasis of love, compassion, and care.

According to a recent report, in 2024, pregnancy resource centers provided over $452 million in free medical care, support and education services, and material goods for clients. This includes providing, at no cost to the client, ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, STD/STI tests, prenatal education, parenting classes, packs of diapers, new car seats, baby clothing, cribs, strollers, and bottles of formula. They provided over 6 million packs of free diapers alone, costing $71 million. They saw 1 million new clients, with an overall client satisfaction rate of 98%.

Recognizing the extraordinary care provided at these centers, some states have chosen to provide them with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding. They recognize that these centers help families in need care for children in their own homes and reduce dependence on government benefits.

HR 6945, introduced by Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Michelle Fischbach, clarifies that states may direct these TANF dollars to pregnancy centers and the crucial assistance they provide.

Tragically, President Biden—the Abortion President—weaponized the entire federal bureaucracy to aggressively promote abortion on-demand, including misrepresenting the noble work of pregnancy resource centers. His administration proposed a rule to block pregnancy centers from receiving TANF funds.

We can’t allow that to happen. This important legislation would ensure that pregnancy centers cannot be excluded or restricted from receiving TANF funding as a result of discrimination from another hostile administration.

In a pro-abortion culture of denial that dismisses unborn babies and trivializes the harm suffered by women, pregnancy centers affirm the breathtaking miracle of unborn life and the truth that women deserve better than abortion.

I am grateful for this opportunity to support their work in defending the weakest and most vulnerable.


Smith debates on the House floor in support of pregnancy care centersHouse passes the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act to protect pregnancy centers receiving TANF funds

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to clarify that pregnancy centers can receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funding from states.

“The House passage of HR 6945—the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act—reaffirms the necessity of the critical, life-saving and life-enhancing services that pregnancy centers provide, and protects the rights of states to support and fund them,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), an original co-sponsor of the bill, which was introduced by Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN).

“This legislation represents a critical step towards protecting and defending the vital work of pregnancy centers, which, since their inception, have been unfairly maligned, harassed, and discriminated against by radical, pro-abortion state and federal administrations.

“Currently, there are more than 2,700 pregnancy centers operating throughout the United States—each and every one of them offering unparalleled compassion, respect, and care for both mothers and their precious children,” continued Smith, who, earlier this Congress, introduced the Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2025 (HR 2226), which would prohibit federal, state and local governments from discriminating against pregnancy centers because of their life-affirming mission.

“States have recognized the crucial gaps that pregnancy centers fill in providing quality care for pregnant women and families, including free-of-charge medical, material, and spiritual services and resources. I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to immediately take up this vital legislation for a vote,” concluded Smith, the Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.

During floor debate this afternoon, Smith delivered compelling remarks on the importance of HR 6945 and described how TANF funding will enable pregnancy centers to serve even more women and families in need through enhanced and expanded services.

“Tragically, President Biden—the Abortion President—weaponized the entire federal bureaucracy to aggressively promote abortion on-demand, including misrepresenting the noble work of pregnancy resource centers. His administration proposed a rule to block pregnancy centers from receiving TANF funds,” he said on the floor.

“We can’t allow that to happen. This important legislation would ensure that pregnancy centers cannot be excluded or restricted from receiving TANF funding as a result of discrimination from another hostile administration. In a pro-abortion culture of denial that dismisses unborn babies and trivializes the harm suffered by women, pregnancy centers affirm the breathtaking miracle of unborn life and the truth that women deserve better than abortion.”

Smith also highlighted the experiences of three women whose lives were completely changed for the better after they sought assistance from pregnancy care centers:

“At a New Jersey pregnancy center dinner, two women—through tears of joy—expressed their deep and abiding gratitude for the incredible love, respect, and care that persuaded them to reverse their decision to abort their babies.

“They spoke of how desperate—even hopeless—they felt. They spoke of the pressure they felt to abort. Until they met the director of the pregnancy resource center, who reached out to both of them in a gentle and non-judgmental way. They chose life—and thanked God, the director, and the pregnancy resource center for helping them avert the loss of their babies’ lives.

“Then, two teenaged girls took to the podium and spoke about their lives—school, sports, friends—and their reverence for the sanctity of all human life. Near the end of their remarks, they turned towards the director of the center and thanked her for being there for their moms through those difficult times, and they said that if she wasn’t there for them, ‘we’d be dead.’

“These clinics are there for both mother and baby, before and after birth.

“Consider the story of Jean Marie Davis, a mother and a survivor of human trafficking, who says her life was saved by a pregnancy care center. She says:

“‘…I was trafficked in 33 states…Even though I was losing weight from the drugs, my belly kept growing, and I soon discovered the pregnancy that would ultimately save my life…I literally ran away from the only life I had ever known. Fighting despair, and with only $1.38 to my name, I had very few places to turn.’

“Jean Marie was connected with a woman named Phyllis at a local pregnancy center. She says:

“‘The pregnancy center provided me with free resources and support to take care of my son. I was also able to realize and pursue dreams I had never imagined, such as earning a college degree…Years later, I applied for the executive director position of a pregnancy center in Vermont—Branches Pregnancy Resource Center…If it hadn’t been for Phyllis and the pregnancy center, I would be dead. They saved my life. My son saved my life. Now, it’s my turn to defend the very cause that saved me.’”