Randall Speaks with Detainees at Tacoma NW ICE Detention Center

TACOMA, WA — Today, Congresswoman Emily Randall (D, WA-06) spoke with staff members and detainees during an oversight visit at the Tacoma NW ICE Detention Center. This was Rep. Randall’s 6th oversight visit to the facility since the start of her first term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Following the closed oversight visit, Rep. Randall held a media Q&A and was joined by Alex Askerov, Supervising Attorney at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.

“There are folks I've spoken to in this facility who have never committed crimes in the United States, who are here because they were without papers, because they didn't come the right way, because they happen to be born on the other side of the border. But were coming for opportunity,” said Rep. Randall. “And yes, I believe that it's our responsibility to have an immigration system – a process – but it should be funded and humane. And it shouldn't look like rounding people up on the street, from their homes, from their jobs and housing them in a facility like this for months and months and months on end without adequate health care. The American people don't want that. Our neighbors don't want that.”

Video of today’s media Q&A is available HERE. Photos are available HERE. A transcript of the media Q&A is availableHERE.

During today’s visit, Rep. Randall spoke with Greggy Sorio, a green card holder from the Philippines, who suffered serious medical complications due to denial of medical care. Sorio was eventually hospitalized and required a toe amputation. Randall also spoke with Linda, an 18 year old, who is currently seeking asylum from Colombia, Jun, a blind detainee from China who said he has not received adequate accommodations or medical care, and Doris, who has been detained since August 2024, despite being granted protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), which effectively deferred her removal to El Salvador. Despite this CAT grant, Doris has remained in ICE detention, as ICE has expressed intention to remove her to a 3rd country other than El Salvador.

“The American people, including many Latinos, believed the President when he said he was going to go after the worst of the worst criminals,” said Rep. Randall. “But what we have seen over the last year is that he is going after Abuelas and working people, and showing up at job sites, and making it harder for farmers to feed our country, and making it harder for fish processing plants to operate, and making it unsafe for children to feel like they can go to school.”

Rep. Randall continued: “He is making our communities less safe. He's making it less likely for neighbors to call the police if something happens, because they are afraid that their family or their neighbors will end up in this facility for who knows how long.”

In December, Rep. Randall joined members of the WA Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons demanding answers about facility conditions at the Tacoma NW ICE Detention Center. The letter cites concerning reports that at least three detained pregnant women were denied proper prenatal care, and that at least two suicide attempts have occured at the facility in April 2025. The Washington lawmakers requested answers back from ICE by January 16, 2026.


Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Slams Dangerous Decision to Overhaul Childhood Vaccine Schedule

Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), the first pediatrician elected to Congress, released the following statement after the CDC announced it will overhaul the childhood vaccine schedule to recommend fewer immunizations:

As a pediatrician, I am outraged by RFK Jr.’s radical and dangerous decision to make sweeping changes to our nation’s childhood immunization schedule. Today’s decision ignores decades of extensive research in favor of medical conspiracy theories. He made this seismic move about which vaccines should or should not be recommended without any substantive input from infectious disease experts, epidemiologists, and pediatricians. In fact, RFK Jr.’s recommendations are so extreme that he did not even do this in consultation with his handpicked panel on the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices, subverting 60-plus years of precedent in the U.S.

“There is no rational basis for removing children’s access to safe and effective vaccines. Additionally, pediatricians already spend time talking with parents about why vaccinations are important to their children's health and well-being and answering questions, and the updated immunization schedule undermines those conversations and pediatric recommendations.

“This decision is coming at a time when we are seeing an unprecedented rise in illnesses and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough, and when Republicans in Congress are gutting access to affordable healthcare. This will exacerbate the country's ongoing public health crisis and cause more children to get sick, be hospitalized, suffer, and potentially die, particularly from rotavirus, RSV, and flu.

“Amid this dangerous decision, I will continue to do everything I can to fight for the safety and health of our nation’s children.”


Lee’s Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Expand Access to Affordable Child Care for Nevada Families

Watch and Download Video of Press Conference

LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) joined child care providers and southern Nevada families at Durango Hills YMCA to highlight her Small Business Child Care Investment Act, bipartisan legislation to expand access to affordable child care options and support non-profit child care providers.

“It is no secret how ridiculously expensive child care is in Nevada. Three out of four kids in our state do not have access to a licensed child care provider – that's unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “Republicans and Democrats in Congress and throughout the country agree that families should not have to choose between a full-time job and being able to take care of your kids. My bipartisan Small Business Child Care Investment Act will help make child care more affordable and help child care providers grow their businesses, hire more employees, and invest back into their local economies.”

“Unlike for-profit providers that are able to tap into those SBA low interest loans to alleviate their waitlist by building more spots, nonprofits like the Y have to tap into high interest and long-term debt in order to do the same while at the same time trying to make sure child care stays affordable. It’s a catch-22, and one that’s not a tenable approach. This bill is a leap in the right direction of bringing more high quality, affordable child care to one of the worst child care desert states in the country,” said Jordan Sommaggio, YMCA of Southern Nevada President and CEO. “It will support families like Sara’s who, like most families, needs child care to work. Forty-seven percent of employers cite Nevada’s child care desert as a root cause for their inability to recruit and retain staff.”

“I used to get child care assistance during COVID because I am an essential worker. After the program ended, I was without child care and had to actually take my child to work with me. I could no longer afford the $425.00 per week per child,” said Sara Smith, a working Nevada mother. “I have a job and do not qualify for food stamps or Medicaid; however, I am struggling to keep up with the high cost for food and rent. If [my child] was not at [the YMCA’s] program I would have to quit my job and go on complete welfare. We need affordable child care and housing for the middle class.”

Congresswoman Lee’s legislation would address the child care affordability crisis by allowing non-profit child care centers like the YMCA to access the same types of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available to for-profit businesses. This would help child care providers expand their businesses to meet demand and increase access to affordable, high-quality child care for southern Nevada families.

In Nevada, the average annual price of full-time, center-based child care is over $10,000-12,000 for infants, toddlers, and 4-year-olds. Additionally, 70% of American parents say raising children is too expensive, and finances are the main reason families limit the number of children they have. In Nevada, 72% of people live in a child care desert where there are either no child care providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots.

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ICYMI: Congresswoman Tenney Unveils Her 2025 Annual Report

Oswego, New York — Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) last week released her 2025 Annual Report, showcasing how her office delivered for working families, farmers, small businesses, veterans, and seniors across the district. The report highlights expanded constituent services, strong legislative action, and a continued commitment to transparency and accountability.

“Serving NY-24 in 2025 has been a privilege, and this year delivered meaningful progress for families and small businesses. My office returned $27.5 million to constituents who were owed benefits, resolved 2,600 constituent cases, and responded to tens of thousands of calls and messages from those seeking help," said Congresswoman Tenney. "On the legislative front, I supported the Trump Tax Cuts to deliver permanent relief for working families, seniors, farmers, and small businesses, and backed dozens of bills that advanced through the House. This annual report outlines how these efforts delivered real results for Upstate New York and where the focus remains as we head into the new year.”

View the full report here and view highlights from each section below:

Constituent Services

Returned over $27.5 million in benefits or back pay to residents of NY-24.

Completed 2,600 constituent cases, helping people cut through federal red tape.

Answered more than 16,000 constituent calls and messages.

Provided over 850 commendations and proclamations to veterans, first responders, students, and community leaders.

Wrote 110 grant letters to support local community projects and economic growth.

Attended over 130 community events across the district.

Accessibility and Transparency

Explained every vote cast in Congress, surpassing 1,000 detailed vote explanations on the website.

Responded to more than 78,000 constituent messages seeking answers and accountability.

Continued to provide clear breakdowns of Washington actions that affect costs, security, and local priorities.

Delivering Results for NY-24

Introduced 67 bills and cosponsored 472 bills on critical issues like economic growth, national security, and election integrity.

Supported 45 bills that passed the House of Representatives.

Helped advance 11 bills that became law, including measures enacted in the Trump Tax Cuts that deliver permanent relief.

Secured wins that support local priorities: tax credits for advanced manufacturing, stronger protections for family farms, and rural hospital support.

Advocated for energy affordability and reliability, including preserving nuclear credits important to Upstate New York.

Highlights for the District

Backed efforts that helped secure the release of an American held abroad.

Passed H.R. 323, Renaming a Post Office to Honor Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz

Pressed for stronger border security and enforcement to protect public safety and stop illegal trafficking.

Supported workforce development initiatives and small business outreach efforts across NY-24.

Read the full 2025 Annual Report here.

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Sen. Banks Speaks at U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred’s Swearing-in Ceremony

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) spoke at the swearing-in ceremony forU.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana Adam Mildred at the E. Ross Adair Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Fort Wayne.

Click here to view more photos from the ceremony.

Mildred was sworn in by Chief Judge Holly A. Brady of the Northern District of Indiana.

Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): “Adam has spent his career serving northern Indiana and standing up for law and order. I’m excited to see what he’ll accomplish as U.S. Attorney forthe Northern District of Indiana as he holds criminals accountable and protects Hoosier families.”

Adam Mildred Background:

Adam Mildred previously served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Allen County and the Chief Deputy Prosecutor in Noble County. Adam is a veteran Indiana prosecutor and has tried over 200 cases, including trials involving homicide, robbery, drug trafficking, and other crimes. He holds a B.S. from Ball State University and a J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

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Bennet, Hyde-Smith, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Farmers Through Improving Tractor Safety

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) to introduce the Roll-Over Prevention and Safety (ROPS) Act, legislation to help protect farmers from fatal tractor rollovers through a U.S. Department of Agriculture cost-share grant program that helps farmers retrofit older tractors with rollbars and other protections. U.S. Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Josh Riley (D-N.Y.), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), and Don Davis (D-N.C.) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“Farming is dangerous work, and efforts that help Colorado farmers do their jobs safely and get home at the end of the day matter,” said Bennet. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in the Senate and House to introduce this bipartisan legislation, which will help our farmers purchase, transport, and install rollover protection structures on their tractors. Legislation like this saves lives and protects our farming communities across the country.”

“We need to extend this small, but important program that can save lives in rural America. Farming and ranching can be dangerous work, which is made even more perilous because receiving help after an accident in rural areas can take a considerable amount of time. Making retrofitting tractors affordable is worthwhile and I hope this lifesaving legislation finds broad support in the Senate and House,” said Hyde-Smith.

Specifically, the ROPS Act would continue operation of the National ROPS Rebate program, which could expire without congressional action. Under the ROPS Act, grants for retrofitting tractors with rollbars and other protective improvements would cover up to 70 percent of the cost of purchasing, transporting, and installing ROPS or rollbars, with a $500 out-of-pocket cap for farmers or eligible schools. The legislation would also create a program administrator, as well as a website and hotline to facilitate the application process.

This legislation is supported by numerous agricultural organizations, including the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, American Farm Bureau Federation, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Delta Council, National Farmers Union, John Deere, Kubota, CoBank, Farm Credit, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Milk Producers Federation, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, USA Rice, National Cotton Council, National Association of Wheat Growers, and others.

“Having spent an entire career working to ensure farmers safety and wellbeing at work, it has been difficult to hear their stories about the traumatic deaths and injuries caused by tractor overturns. This is particularly true, because these events could have been easily avoided with the installation of something as simple as a rollbar. Given the leadership of Representatives Feenstra, Riley, Finstad, Davis and Senators Hyde-Smith, Bennet, Justice, Warnock it is wonderful to see legislation that has the potential to eliminate one of the most frequent causes of death on farms by providing support vs. issuing penalties. This is an amazing milestone,” said Julie Sorensen, Chair, National ROPS Rebate Program.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

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Booker, Gallego, 28 Senators Demand Answers on Harms of Diverting Federal Agents for Immigration Enforcement

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined a group of 29 Senators led by U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in sending a letter to President Trump, Secretary Noem, and Attorney General Bondi demanding answers on the impact of the administration’s decision to pull thousands of federal law enforcement agents away from their work keeping dangerous criminals off the streets and reassign them to arrest, detain, and deport primarily non-violent immigrants.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Senators requested:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


ICYMI: U.S. Senator Katie Britt Joins Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News

‘Gone are the days of talk … now we’re putting American safety and security first and foremost’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News to discuss President Trump’s decisive leadership to apprehend indicted narco-terrorist and illegitimate Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and bring him to justice for his crimes. The Senator praised the President’s actions, as well as the brave military men and women who aided the Department of Justice (DOJ) in successfully completing this mission.

On President Trump taking bold action to protect American lives:

“There is no doubt that Americans are safer and more secure because of President Trump’s actions. I am so grateful that we finally have a Commander in Chief that is willing to put the safety and security of this country first, put it front and center. And, Jason, when you’re thinking about the contrast from the previous administration, it couldn’t be greater. Here you have President Biden, who was all talk and yet no action … You also had President Biden raising the bounty to $25 million on Maduro’s head. So, it is really rich that you hear Democrats now saying, well, what’s next? You actually wanted this to happen back when you were in charge, but you didn’t have the moxie to get it done …”

On the incredible strength and courage of American law enforcement and troops:

“I could not be more grateful for our men and women in uniform, our courageous military and our law enforcement officers who perfectly executed the mission. This is yet again, we’ve seen a flawless execution of the most difficult mission, just like we saw in Operation Midnight Hammer under President Trump’s leadership. So, I am grateful that we are now learning what American strength is. We are seeing it in action. And gone are the days of talk. And now we’re putting American safety and security first and foremost.”

On the narco-terrorism that has plagued America for years:

“And when you look at what happened to Jocelyn Nungaray, when you look at what happened to Laken Riley, look, I can guarantee you that their parents wish that President Biden had the backbone that President Trump did because their children may still be here today … I’ve sat in front of too many parents who lost their children, either to a fentanyl poisoning or a drug overdose. And President Trump said, I’m not only going to talk about ending that. I’m going to do what it takes to make it happen.”

On Democrats’ hypocrisy on apprehending Maduro:

“So, when you see Kamala Harris come out today and say that we have now destabilized a region, she is actually talking out of both sides of her mouth. But nothing is new with that because she and her administration, the Biden-Harris administration, when she was the Border Czar, made sure that Venezuelans had blanket parole into this nation and actually created a program centered on them, expanded it, as you know, to Cuba and Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as Venezuela, waiving them into our nation…”

“[Democrats] talked, but yet they didn’t have what it took to actually keep Americans safe and to actually follow through. And now the rest of the world, whether it is Hezbollah, Hamas, or anyone around the globe, knows that when President Trump says something, he means it. And I hope that everyone pays attention because this is a new day in our country, and both Americans and Venezuelans are better as a result of it.”

You can watch the full segment here.

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Senator Collins’ Perfect Vote Streak Continues Into 2026 Legislative Session

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins did not miss a single vote during the first session of the 119th Congress, extending her perfect voting streak that began in 1997. Senator Collins’ streak now stands at 9,853 consecutive roll-call votes as the second session of the Congress begins.

“No one works harder than the people of Maine, and I have always sought to reflect that dedication by showing up to ensure our state is represented in the Senate for every single vote,” said Senator Collins. “Representing the State of Maine in the Senate is the honor of a lifetime, and I will continue to approach each day of my service with the diligence and responsibility that Mainers deserve.”

Senator Collins’ first vote in the Senate was on January 22, 1997, when she voted to confirm Madeleine Albright as Secretary of State. Her second vote, that same day, was to confirm former Maine Senator Bill Cohen as Secretary of Defense. Senator Collins succeeded Secretary Cohen in the Senate.

In addition to not missing any roll call votes, Senator Collins continues to return home to Maine on weekends and during state work periods to meet with constituents and visit communities, businesses, and schools throughout the state.

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Former Senator William Proxmire (D-WI) is the only Senator to record a longer voting streak than Senator Collins, following missed votes earlier in his tenure. First elected in 1957, Senator Proxmire cast 10,252 uninterrupted votes between 1966 and 1988.

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has the third-longest Senate voting streak in history. He cast an impressive 8,927 consecutive votes between 1993 and 2020.

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Senator Collins’ Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of the Social Security Fairness Act being Signed into Law

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download a video message from Senator Collins celebrating the one-year anniversary of the SSFA becoming law.

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of the SSFA being signed into law last January.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement today recognizing the one-year anniversary of the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) being signed into law. Senator Collins coauthored the SSFA with former Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio.

“Since the Social Security Fairness Act became law, benefits have increased for 2.8 million Americans. More than 25,000 Mainers have seen their earned benefits restored. In addition, Mainers received nearly $185 million in retroactive payments for last year.

“I fought for this bill for two decades because our dedicated public servants, such as our teachers who help prepare our children for future success, or our police officers and firefighters who help keep our communities safe, should receive the full Social Security benefits that they have earned. I am so glad that this has finally become a reality for millions of Americans.”

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Prior to the SSFA being signed into law, more than 25,000 Mainers who dedicated their lives to public service were prevented from receiving the full Social Security benefits they earned due to two laws from the 1970s and 1980s. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), enacted in 1983, reduced the Social Security benefits of workers who receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government for employment not covered by Social Security. The Government Pension Offset (GPO), enacted in 1977, reduced Social Security spousal benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers whose spouses receive pensions from a federal, state, or local government.

After the signing of the SSFA in January of last year, Senators Collins and Brown sent a letter to the former Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Carolyn Colvin requesting that the SSA swiftly implement the Social Security Fairness Act. Following their letter, the Social Security Administration fully implemented the law, adjusting benefits for 2.8 million Americans. That includes more than 25,000 Mainers who saw their benefits increase. Additionally, those Mainers have been issued more than $184.5 million in retroactive payments.

Senator Collins held the first Senate hearing on this policy in 2003 as Chair of the Senate Government Affairs Committee. She, along with the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, first introduced the Social Security Fairness Act in 2005.

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Cornyn Highlights Bills Signed into Law in 2025

AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after multiple bills he introduced were signed into law by President Trump during the first year of the 119th Congress:

“As we reflect on the first half of the 119th Congress, I’m proud to see several of my bills prioritizing the needs of hardworking, God-fearing Texans be signed into law by President Trump,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I look forward to building on this progress as Republicans work hand-in-glove with President Trump to enact his agenda and deliver results for the American people.”

Efforts led by Sen. Cornyn that were enacted into law:

Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act: Codifies President Trump’s Executive Order renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge near Houston to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Refuge.

Laken Riley Act: Requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest and detain migrants who commit theft-related crimes, including offenses resulting in bodily injury or death, until they are removed from the U.S. to ensure they cannot commit further crimes.

Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act: Requires the U.S. Department of State to review and update its policy guidance regarding Taiwan no less than every five years and deliver a report to Congress within 90 days.

Halting the Epidemic of Addiction and Loss (HEAL) Act: Expands access to new opioid overdose reversal agents in addition to naloxone by updating guidance and grant language from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Improving Access to Addiction Medicine Providers Act: Adds addiction medicine as an eligible medical field for fellowships under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Improving Veteran Experience Act: Makes permanent the Veterans Experience Office (VEO) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), ensuring it can continue to provide consistent and quality care for veterans in Texas and throughout the country.

Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act: Helps ensure life insurance packages for service members and veterans account for increases in cost of living and inflation.

Stop the Screwworms With Active Readiness and Mitigation (SWARM) Act: Requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to present details to Congress on the domestic readiness and response initiatives that it both plans to implement and is already executing to combat the New World screwworm. Passed as part of the short-term government funding legislation to end the Schumer Shutdown.

Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of (END) Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act: Gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to destroy adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit imported tobacco products, such as vapes and e-cigarettes that are flooding the U.S. market from China. Passed as part of the short-term government funding legislation to end the Schumer Shutdown.

Efforts that were enacted into law as part of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

Comprehensive Outbound Investment National Security (COINS) Act (formerly known as the Foreign Investment Guardrails to Help Thwart (FIGHT) China Act): Safeguards the United States’ national security against threats posed by countries of concern like China, Russia, and Iran by prohibiting and requiring notification of U.S. investments in certain technologies in such countries.

PROTECT Our Children Act: Reauthorizes and modernizes the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program.

Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) Act: Equips law enforcement officers with quality trauma kits so they can respond immediately if a civilian or fellow officer experiences a traumatic injury during a call.

Partnership for Advancing Regional Training and Narcotics Enforcement Response Strategies (PARTNERS) Act: Requires the Department of War (DoW) to recommend future additional joint training with Mexican military forces to combat cartels.

Counternarcotics Enhancement Act: Directs elements of the Intelligence Community to develop strategies to enhance counternarcotics collaboration, coordination, and cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico.

Growing University AI for Defense (GUARD) Act: Codifies a portion of President Trump’s AI Action Plan and enables the Department of War (DoW) to establish and lead a National Security and Defense AI Institute to advance defense innovation, workforce development, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness.

Disinterment of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter Fernando V. Cota, an alleged serial murderer and convicted rapist, from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at the request of the son of one of his alleged victims.

Provisions to modernize the U.S. nuclear security enterprise by directing a focused effort on the safety and security of U.S. nuclear infrastructure through the upgrading of aging facilities.

Provisions to enhance U.S. military recruiters’ access to secondary schools to ensure military recruiters have as equal access to high schools as colleges and employers do, ensuring prospective recruits understand the benefits of military service.

Efforts that were enacted into law as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts:

A provision to reimburse states like Texas $13.5 billion for stepping up and trying to secure the southern border during the Biden-Harris administration.

Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act: Results in the movement of the Space Shuttle Discovery from Virginia to its rightful home near the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston.

Mission to Mars Act: Improves and modernizes Johnson Space Center’s (JSC) infrastructure to prepare National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for human missions to the moon and Mars.

A modified version of his Small Business Investment Act, which makes it easier for small and start-up businesses to access the financing they need to grow and succeed.

Provisions from his Feral Swine Eradication Act to provide $105 million to the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program.

Provisions to reduce burdensome taxes on certain firearms and silencers to $0.

Provisions from his SAVE for Students Act that link loan eligibility to program outcomes, ensuring students in underperforming programs cannot borrow federal funds for those programs.

Bills sponsored by Sen. Cornyn that have passed the Senate and await action in the House of Representatives during the second half of this Congress include:


DOT Awards Over $2.2 Million to North Dakota Colleges, Highway Patrol

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced an award of $2,220,687 to two North Dakota colleges and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The funds will be distributed as follows:

$1,249,653 to North Dakota State University (NDSU) under the High Priority Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) Program. NDSU will use these funds to conduct research and testing of autonomous vehicles in winter conditions, focusing on two-lane rural highways in North Dakota. The project will identify challenges associated with operating and maintaining autonomous trucks in harsh weather conditions, the effects of extreme cold on sensors and autonomous driving systems, implications of extreme winter conditions for safety inspections, operational conditions for autonomous trucks in relation to operational design elements and to provide recommendations on a safety plan and a structure for safety testing and operation in winter.

$689,661 to NDSU under the HP-CMV Program. This grant will fund a project to build a searchable database of state agency and university partnerships to organize information on existing and future collaborative projects. The project will also organize a safety summit to disseminate project information with state agencies, universities, and other interested stakeholders.

$198,817 to the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) under the HP-CMV Program. This funding will help NDHP identify additional out-of-service vehicle violations by implementing a second Performance-Based Brake Testing machine. By removing unsafe CMVs from the roadways, NDHP will reduce the potential for fatal and injury crashes by 15%.

$82,556 to Williston State College under the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Program. This funding will assist the college in recruiting and enrolling qualified students for its Commercial Driver’s License program.


Celebrating a New Year with Republicans’ New Tax Cuts

Washington, D.C.—Thanks to President Trump, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and congressional Republicans, instead of dreading a massive tax hike, Americans rang in the New Year excited to have more money in their pockets and more opportunities to get ahead in 2026. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act will benefit middle-class Americans for years to come and its permanent pro-growth policies will help small businesses hire, invest and innovate. Read what Senate Finance Committee Republicans said about the new and immediate relief for families, workers and businesses before heading into the new year:

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)

Idaho State Journal: Republican agenda means prosperity, strength for America

“The core of the legislation provides significant tax relief to Idaho’s families, workers and businesses still recovering from years of record-high inflation. The bill not only prevents the largest tax increase in U.S. history, but also makes the successful 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent and delivers additional tax relief to everyday Americans.”

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

Remarks on the Senate Floor: Economic Growth Provisions in OBBB

“A top priority of mine – the 20 percent small business deduction is made permanent to benefit Main Street business owners and family farmers alike. Just as importantly, the bill permanently restores full expensing for machinery and equipment to boost domestic production. All of this, combined with a permanent extension of the across-the-board lower tax rates, [proves] the One Big Beautiful Bill is a recipe for economic success.”

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)

San Antonio Express-News: Republicans’ solution to affordability is through tax cuts for working families

“While there is no magic wand that will lower prices and end financial uncertainty, Republicans have delivered relief through the Working Families Tax Cuts and put more money back into the pockets of working Texans. Our historic reforms will help families, those struggling with health care costs or car payments, as well as hourly workers, tipped workers and seniors.”

U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota)

Permanent Tax Relief Under the Tree

“Republicans’ top priority this year was delivering tax relief for these hardworking Americans to give them more breathing room in their budgets. Without action by Congress, 2026 would have brought a massive tax hike. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, that tax hike isn’t coming next year, or the year after that, or ever. And that’s great news as we head into the new year.”

U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Betsy DeVos

Fox News: The ‘big, beautiful bill’ gives parents a choice and kids a chance

“By creating multiple pathways to high-quality education, we ensure that no child remains trapped in an unsafe or failing school. Millions of low- and middle-income students of all races and backgrounds will now benefit enormously from billions in new scholarships. And new hope and opportunity.”

U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma)

CNBC’s Squawk Box

“A lot of companies are looking to be able to buy a new piece of equipment, whether it’s a big truck, if you’re a delivery service, or whether it’s manufacturing, whatever it may be, they’ve had to depreciate that out after several years, and now they can do it in the year that they actually purchased it. So that expense happens that year. That helps them in their taxes. That also incentivizes them to buy more equipment, which helps more manufacturing, which helps more jobs, which helps the economy.”

U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana)

Fox Business’ Kudlow

“We passed the most significant piece of legislation in my time on Capitol Hill, some 13 years, was that One Big Beautiful Bill. The more you dig into it, the more good things the American people are going to see.”

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Indiana)

Young Supports One Big Beautiful Bill Act

“The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will deliver the largest tax cut in history for working and middle-class Hoosiers, expand the child tax credit, spur new economic growth and job creation, and advance President Trump’s agenda. This package includes my legislation to incentivize job-creating R&D activity in the United States to drive our innovation future and protect our national security. These critical R&D provisions will help America outcompete and out-innovate China.”

U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming)

Remarks on the Senate Floor: Barrasso Highlights a Record Year of Republican Accomplishments

“What do the tax cuts mean for hardworking families? Waiters, barbers, and bartenders will keep $1,300 more in their pockets next year because of no tax on tips. Nurses, firefighters, police officers, and coal miners will see $1,400 more in their paychecks next year because of no tax on overtime. Seniors will see more money in their bank accounts. There is a new $6,000 deduction on Social Security income.”

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin)

Passing the Big Beautiful Bill

“By passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we have avoided a $4 trillion automatic tax increase and a default on our debt. Due to the enormous messes Biden and congressional Democrats left us, we are also providing additional funding for border security and defense.”

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee)

Remarks on the Senate Floor: Blackburn Highlights Republicans’ Accomplishments in 2025

“In the last year, this administration, with President Trump and Republicans have been hard at work to make certain that we address the cost of living, that we address safety in our nation and around the globe, and to improve the quality of life. A stronger, freer, and safer country than ever before.”

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas)

RFD-TV Interview

“But you know, first and foremost, farmers are businessmen and women, right? So, making these Trump tax cuts permanent, and I’m talking about bonus depreciation, and 199A – your listeners know exactly what I’m talking about – Those are very important.”

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Chairman Crapo and Chairman Smith Applaud Trump Administration for International Tax Milestone Protecting American Workers and Businesses

Washington, D.C.—Today marks a vital step in the effort to ensure that American workers and businesses will no longer be targeted by foreign tax regimes, thanks to a new agreement negotiated by the Trump Administration. U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Missouri) issued the following joint statement:

“Today marks another significant milestone in putting America First and unwinding the Biden Administration’s unilateral global tax surrender.

“What started on day one with President Trump’s executive order nullifying Democrats’ America-last tax commitments led to congressional Republicans drafting retaliatory measures in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill to protect our companies and workers.

“Back in June we agreed to remove those measures from the bill when the G7 publicly committed to respecting U.S. tax sovereignty. We warned at the time that we stand ready to revive retaliatory measures if other parties slow walk implementation of that agreement. That warning remains today as the work of implementing this milestone now begins.

“We applaud the tireless work of the Trump Administration to ensure that the G7 commitment was adopted by over 140 countries. This step was made possible by great cooperation between the Executive Branch and Legislative Branch to prioritize American companies and workers. Today shows that true America First leadership works.

“This landmark step in reversing Democrats’ global tax surrender should serve as an example to other countries. If they delay or slow walk implementing their commitments into their domestic laws, Congress remains willing and able to take immediate action. Congressional Republicans will continue to work vigilantly to preserve these gains, protecting our companies and workers against future attempts to weaken the United States."

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Durbin-Grassley Statement On Judiciary Committee’s Exclusion From Administration’s Briefing On Its Operations In Venezuela

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today released a joint statement on the Trump administration’s decision to exclude the Senate Judiciary Committee from this evening’s Capitol Hill briefing on the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, who was indicted for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy:

“President Trump and Secretary Rubio have stated that this was a law enforcement operation that was made at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over DOJ, FBI and DEA, and all three agencies are led by individuals who our Committee vetted and processed. The Attorney General herself will be present at today’s briefing.

“There is no legitimate basis for excluding the Senate Judiciary Committee from this briefing. The administration’s refusal to acknowledge our Committee’s indisputable jurisdiction in this matter is unacceptable and we are following up to ensure the Committee receives warranted information regarding Maduro’s arrest.”

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Gillibrand Statement On Trump Administration’s Freeze Of Child Care Funding In NY

Today, in response to reports that the Trump administration will freeze billions in funding meant for poor children and their families in New York and other Democrat-led states, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement:

“My faith guides my life and public service. It’s our job to serve the people most in need and most at risk – no matter what state they live in or what political party their family or elected representatives belong to. To use the power of the government to harm the neediest Americans is immoral and indefensible. This has nothing to do with fraud and everything to do with political retribution that punishes poor children in need of assistance. I demand that President Trump unfreeze this funding and stop this brazen attack on our children.”

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Gillibrand Statement On Trump Administration’s Reckless Overhaul Of Childhood Vaccine Schedule

Today, in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s announcement that is sharply reducing the number of vaccines recommended for all children, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement:

“Once again, the Trump administration is putting pseudoscience and extremism over the health and safety of our children. In the midst of an increasingly severe flu season, this new vaccine schedule removes the recommendation that all children get the flu vaccine, along with those for other deadly diseases like COVID and bacterial meningitis. It’s nonsensical. This decision will endanger our children and make America sicker, and I am calling on the CDC to immediately reverse course.”

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Gillibrand, Whitehouse Expose Polluters’ Efforts To Avoid Accountability, Undermine States’ Rights

U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) filed an amicus brief to hold big polluters accountable for the harms their emissions have caused New York families and to defend New York state-law against legal attacks from major polluters seeking to evade responsibility for the damage they have caused.

Big polluters and their enablers are challenging New York’s Climate Superfund Act, which established a fund paid for by large polluting companies based on their greenhouse gas emissions from 2000–2024 to pay for projects that protect New Yorkers from rising sea levels and other climate change risks.

In an effort to avoid accountability, opponents of New York’s law argue that it is preempted by the Clean Air Act and federal foreign policy. The Senators’ brief argues that such a finding is unsupported by the law and would improperly strip power away from states.

“When big polluters put New Yorkers at risk, they must be held accountable,” said Senator Gillibrand. “New York has both the right and the responsibility to protect our families from the effects of climate change. I am proud to lead this amicus brief and will keep fighting to ensure corporate polluters — not New Yorkers — pay for the damage they have caused.”

“The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that ‘[t]he powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.’ Preemption of State laws is thus ‘a serious intrusion into state sovereignty,’” Senators Gillibrand and Whitehouse wrote in their court filing.

“Plaintiffs ask this Court to adopt a view of preemption so broad that it would flip the constitutional balance of power between States and the federal government on its head. Under Plaintiffs’ theory, rather than powers being reserved to States unless preempted by Congress, States lack authority to regulate in any arena that could be preempted by federal action – even where Congress has not enacted legislation or expressed a foreign policy doing so,” the senators continued.

The plaintiffs’ arguments are especially egregious given the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent proposal to abdicate any role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Not only would a finding that New York’s Climate Superfund Act is preempted fundamentally usurp states’ rights, but it would also allow polluters who have directly harmed New York families to avoid accountability.

“The Climate Act is a cost-recovery program to pay for harms caused to New Yorkers. It allocates financial liability based on responsible parties’ historic shares of past greenhouse gas emissions,” said Senators Gillibrand and Whitehouse. “[T]he Climate Act’s liability scheme apportioning costs based on historic greenhouse gas emissions is directly consistent with the ‘polluter pays’ principle, which is one of the most fundamental concepts of global environmental law and which has been repeatedly embraced by the United States.”

As the senators concluded, “[n]either the Clean Air Act nor express federal foreign policy preempts the Climate Act. Plaintiffs’ arguments to the contrary would require this Court to adopt an untenably broad view of federal preemption.”

The full brief is available HERE.

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Capitol Hill Report, 01-06-26

Senator Grassley’s weekly Capitol Hill Report is available HERE.

Topics include: Maduro’s arrest, Governor Walz ending his campaign for reelection, trade with Venezuela, 2025 policy achievements, appropriation bills and 2026 priorities.


Grassley-Durbin Statement on Judiciary Committee’s Exclusion from Administration’s Briefing on its Operations in Venezuela

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today released a joint statement on the Trump administration’s decision to exclude the Senate Judiciary Committee from this evening’s Capitol Hill briefing on the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, who was indicted for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy:

“President Trump and Secretary Rubio have stated that this was a law enforcement operation that was made at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over DOJ, FBI and DEA, and all three agencies are led by individuals who our Committee vetted and processed. The Attorney General herself will be present at today’s briefing.

“There is no legitimate basis for excluding the Senate Judiciary Committee from this briefing. The administration’s refusal to acknowledge our Committee’s indisputable jurisdiction in this matter is unacceptable and we are following up to ensure the Committee receives warranted information regarding Maduro’s arrest.”


2025 RECAP: Hawley Delivers Record Legislative and Casework Wins

WASHINGTON — In 2025, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) continued to prioritize Missourians and fight for hard-working Americans across the country as he kicked off his second term in the Senate.

2025 Quick Facts

120 bills and resolutions cosponsored.

40 original bills and resolutions introduced.

350+ local TV and print interviews.

Thousands of casework issues resolved, with a 32 percent increase in Social Security assistance by Senator Hawley’s office over last year.

Delivering for Missouri

Historic expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) signed into law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In just a matter of weeks, over 400 Missourians have received $20 million in compensation.

Facilitated the nomination of five Missouri district court judges and two U.S. attorneys. So far, four judges have been confirmed to the bench.

Terminated the controversial Grain Belt Express project by successfully pushing the Energy Department to revoke taxpayer subsidies for the project.

Secured $40.5 million in additional funds for Coldwater Creek cleanup efforts by the Army Corps.

Fort Leonard Wood broke ground on 56 new military family homes with funds secured by Senator Hawley.

Secured language in budget bills to protect the hospital at Fort Leonard Wood and require the Army to plan to replace all aging military family housing on post.

Toured West Lake Landfill with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and secured a commitment to clean up the site two years earlier than planned.

Unanimously passed legislation in the Senate to designate the National Churchill Museum in Fulton as a national historic landmark.

Passed a resolution in the Senate to honor the life and legacy of former Missouri Senator Kit Bond.

Successfully fought for the creation of a Rural Hospital Fund in reconciliation legislation that will steer approximately $1 billion to Missouri’s rural hospitals.

Toured St. Louis tornado damage and secured relief funds for recovery efforts.

Assisted Missourians in processing claims with insurance companies for storm damage following Senator Hawley’s months-long investigation into the insurance industry.

Key Legislative Actions

Advanced the PELOSI Act, which would ban members of Congress from trading or holding individual stocks, out of committee.

Unanimously advanced the STOP CSAM Act out of committee. This legislation would crack down on the proliferation of online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) by allowing victims to sue companies that host it.

Advanced the STOIC Act out of committee. This legislation would provide help for police officers and other first responders struggling with substance abuse, depression, or other mental health issues.

Led bipartisan legislation to keep food stamps (also known as SNAP) funded for working Americans during the 2025 government shutdown. In the government funding bill, SNAP was funded for an entire year.

Sponsored bipartisan legislation to speed up first contracts once workers have voted to form a union and introduced legislation to increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour.

Introduced bipartisan legislation to cap credit card interest rates at 10 percent.

Helped secure the pardons of pro-life prisoners incarcerated during the Biden Administration.

Secured pro-life commitments from key Trump Administration officials (including at the FDA, HHS, and DOJ) and urged the FDA to restore commonsense safeguards for abortion drugs.

Introduced legislation to ban abortion and gender transitions for minors from the federal healthcare exchanges, along with legislation to defund Planned Parenthood.

Subcommittee Investigations

Senator Hawley is Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, and the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Disaster Management

Chaired hearing, held a bipartisan press conference, and introduced major bipartisan legislation on protecting children from AI chatbot companions.

Launched a major investigation into fraudulent practices by the insurance industry, chaired hearing holding insurance companies accountable for failing to uphold their commitments, and got results for policyholders.

Launched a bipartisan investigation and convened a hearing with both industry leaders and fire chiefs that revealed private equity’s role in the growing equipment crisis facing fire departments across the country.

Chaired hearing on Big Tech’s piracy of copyrighted content to fuel their AI models and introduced legislation to bar the practice.

Notable Speaking Engagements & Op-Eds


HYDE-SMITH LEADS SENATE INTRODUCTION OF ROLL-OVER PREVENTION & SAFETY ACT

Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill Would Help Farmers Retrofit Tractors to Save Lives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today led the Senate in introducing legislation to help protect farmers from fatal tractor rollovers through a U.S. Department of Agriculture cost-share grant program for retrofitting older tractors with rollbars and other protections.

Hyde-Smith, with U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), on Monday introduced the Roll-Over Prevention and Safety (ROPS) Act (S.3580) to continue operation of the National ROPS Rebate Program. Mississippi farmers rely on this effective program, which could expire without congressional action.

“We need to extend this small, but important program that can save lives in rural America. Farming and ranching can be dangerous work, which is made even more perilous because receiving help after an accident in rural areas can take a considerable amount of time. Making retrofitting tractors affordable is worthwhile and I hope this lifesaving legislation finds broad support in the Senate and House,” said Senator Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

“Farming is dangerous work, and efforts that help Colorado farmers do their jobs safely and get home at the end of the day matter,” said Senator Bennet. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in the Senate and House to introduce this bipartisan legislation, which will help our farmers purchase, transport, and install rollover protection structures on their tractors. Legislation like this saves lives and protects our farming communities across the country.”

“I know the needs of our farmers because I am one, which is why we must do everything possible to protect their health and safety. This bill is one simple way we can help decrease the risk of fatal tractor rollovers on farms. I’m proud to support the effort in the Senate and hope that this grant program will encourage more farmers to consider retrofitting their tractors with roll bars to protect themselves and their equipment operators,” said Senator Justice.

“Georgia farmers are the backbone of our state’s economy, and they take on tough, often risky work to feed our families every day,” Senator Warnock said. “This legislation will help prevent overturn accidents and give farmers peace of mind, allowing them to upgrade their equipment without having to make difficult financial decisions to do so. Supporting our nation’s farmers shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and I’m proud to have worked on this bipartisan legislation to deliver for Georgia families.”

U.S. Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Josh Riley (D-N.Y.), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), and Don Davis (D-N.C.) introduced companion legislation (HR.6944) in the House.

Under the ROPS Act, grants for retrofitting tractors with rollbars and other protective improvements would cover up to 70 percent of the cost of purchasing, transporting, and installing ROPS or rollbars, with a $500 out-of-pocket cap for farmers or eligible schools. In addition to providing grants to dramatically lower financial barriers and save lives, the legislation would create a program administrator, as well as a website and hotline to facilitate the application process.

Numerous agricultural organizations endorsed S.3580, including the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, American Farm Bureau Federation, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Delta Council, National Farmers Union, John Deere, Kubota, CoBank, Farm Credit, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Milk Producers Federation, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, USA Rice, National Cotton Council, National Association of Wheat Growers, and others.

“Having spent an entire career working to ensure farmers safety and wellbeing at work, it has been difficult to hear their stories about the traumatic deaths and injuries caused by tractor overturns. This is particularly true, because these events could have been easily avoided with the installation of something as simple as a rollbar. Given the leadership of Representatives Feenstra, Riley, Finstad, Davis and Senators Hyde-Smith, Bennet, Justice, Warnock it is wonderful to see legislation that has the potential to eliminate one of the most frequent causes of death on farms by providing support vs. issuing penalties. This is an amazing milestone,” said Julie Sorensen, Chair of the National ROPS Rebate Program.

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Hyde-Smith Leads Senate Introduction of Roll-Over Prevention & Safety Act

By News Editor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today led the Senate in introducing legislation to help protect farmers from fatal tractor rollovers through a U.S. Department of Agriculture cost-share grant program for retrofitting older tractors with rollbars and other protections.

Hyde-Smith, with U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), on Monday introduced the Roll-Over Prevention and Safety Act (ROPS Act) to continue operation of the National ROPS Rebate Program. Mississippi farmers rely on this effective program, which could expire without congressional action.

“We need to extend this small, but important program that can save lives in rural America. Farming and ranching can be dangerous work, which is made even more perilous because receiving help after an accident in rural areas can take a considerable amount of time. Making retrofitting tractors affordable is worthwhile and I hope this lifesaving legislation finds broad support in the Senate and House,” said Senator Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

“Farming is dangerous work, and efforts that help Colorado farmers do their jobs safely and get home at the end of the day matter,” said Senator Bennet. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in the Senate and House to introduce this bipartisan legislation, which will help our farmers purchase, transport, and install rollover protection structures on their tractors. Legislation like this saves lives and protects our farming communities across the country.”

“I know the needs of our farmers because I am one, which is why we must do everything possible to protect their health and safety. This bill is one simple way we can help decrease the risk of fatal tractor rollovers on farms. I’m proud to support the effort in the Senate and hope that this grant program will encourage more farmers to consider retrofitting their tractors with roll bars to protect themselves and their equipment operators,” said Senator Justice.

“Georgia farmers are the backbone of our state’s economy, and they take on tough, often risky work to feed our families every day,” Senator Warnock said. “This legislation will help prevent overturn accidents and give farmers peace of mind, allowing them to upgrade their equipment without having to make difficult financial decisions to do so. Supporting our nation’s farmers shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and I’m proud to have worked on this bipartisan legislation to deliver for Georgia families.”

U.S. Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Josh Riley (D-N.Y.), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), and Don Davis (D-N.C.) introduced companion legislation in the House.

Under the ROPS Act, grants for retrofitting tractors with rollbars and other protective improvements would cover up to 70 percent of the cost of purchasing, transporting, and installing ROPS or rollbars, with a $500 out-of-pocket cap for farmers or eligible schools. In addition to providing grants to dramatically lower financial barriers and save lives, the legislation would create a program administrator, as well as a website and hotline to facilitate the application process.

Numerous agricultural organizations endorsed the ROPS Act, including the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, American Farm Bureau Federation, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Delta Council, National Farmers Union, John Deere, Kubota, CoBank, Farm Credit, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Milk Producers Federation, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, USA Rice, National Cotton Council, National Association of Wheat Growers, and others.


Jet Service Takes Off in Natchez

Will result in a major boost for the local tourism industry

By Lisa Monti

You can’t blame the city of Natchez and Adams County for their excitement over the return of commercial air service after an absence of more than 30 years.

Starting July 1, United Express, operated by SkyWest Airlines, will offer a daily flight to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport with a 50-seat jet. The commercial jet service is a first for the county-owned airport.

The flight to Houston will take less than an hour and give travelers access to United’s routes and connections worldwide.

Mayor Dan Gibson said he knew of one resident who already bought tickets to fly from Natchez to London next fall. “He has suggested that we rename the airport Natchez International,” said Gibson.

Kevin Wilson, President of the Adams County Board of Supervisors, has been hearing from residents who are excited about the convenience of catching a flight close to home.

“So many people have to drive to Baton Rouge or New Orleans or Jackson for a flight,” he said. “With the new service, travelers will save on drive time and parking costs and avoid crowds and congestion at the larger airports.”

Another benefit is that passengers cleared for boarding by TSA in Natchez won’t need additional security screening in Houston.

Studies by airline insiders show more than 10,000 passengers will use the new service in the first year and a half.

“This is such a major step forward,” said Gibson. “Recruiting passenger service to Natchez has been four years in the making, sometimes uphill.” He started attending meetings and airline industry conferences in the fall of 2021, “working with all the experts we could find.”

The City of Natchez, the county Board of Supervisors, and the Natchez-Adams County Airport Advisory Board, worked together and with an aviation consultant and other airport officials in Mississippi to entice an airline to serve Natchez. Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith along with state officials helped secure grants for airport infrastructure and operations.

“The Small Community Air Service Development Grant, combined with city and county funds, helped us put together a $1.2 million fund for mitigation that will help offset the losses that the airline may experience during their first year or two of operation,” said Gibson.

He said they are looking for more funds to get the airport ready for the July 1 start date. Infrastructure improvements including the renovation of an existing hangar to accommodate a 10,000 square foot passenger terminal.

Tourism is the top industry in Natchez, drawing thousands of visitors a year to tour its fabled collection of historic structures and enjoy the hospitality that makes the city the “Bed and Breakfast Capital of the South.” In 2024, visitor spending generated $129 million with a total economic impact of nearly $194 million, according to tourism officials.

Gibson said the city, which actively recruits remote workers, could see an increase in the number of residents who work at home because of their access to the new flights.

The city’s movie industry, anchored by Crooked Letter Studio, a new 100,000 square foot movie studio and sound stage, is also expected to benefit from the new jet service.

“Our airport studies showed that LAX has been one of our top markets, with people flying to Natchez from Los Angeles because of the movie industry,” said Gibson. “Having United in Natchez will connect us to LA and will also connect us to New York and other places that you really need to be connected to in order to make movies and TV productions happen.”

The city also hosts passengers who travel aboard cruise ships including Viking and American Cruise Lines along the Mississippi River. He said two of American Cruise Line’s newest vessels are expected to make Natchez their home port and one will soon start selling tickets for the 2028 cruise season.

“We will become the only city I know of on the lower Mississippi outside of New Orleans and Memphis to host overnight cruises on a weekly basis,” said Gibson. “That will be about 200 people flying in and flying out every week to board cruise ships for over 40 weeks out of the year.”


Statement from Senator Kelly

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly released the following statement:

“Over twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy, thirty-nine combat missions, and four missions to space, I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution — including the First Amendment rights of every American to speak out. I never expected that the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense would attack me for doing exactly that.

“My rank and retirement are things that I earned through my service and sacrifice for this country. I got shot at. I missed holidays and birthdays. I commanded a space shuttle mission while my wife Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the head — all while proudly wearing the American flag on my shoulder. Generations of servicemembers have made these same patriotic sacrifices for this country, earning the respect, appreciation, and rank they deserve.

“Pete Hegseth wants to send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesn’t like, they will come after them the same way. It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that.


Luján Statement on Trump Administration’s Military Attack on Venezuela

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s military action in Venezuela:

“Maduro was an oppressive, authoritarian ruler who devastated Venezuela and destabilized the greater region. Further plunging the southern hemisphere into chaos with no clear path toward peace and stability is not the answer. There is no reason President Trump can give the American people how last night’s actions make us safer and don’t lead to another illegal, unnecessary war.

“More importantly, this administration is setting a dangerous precedent for our own adversaries to use against Americans and our allies. We cannot stand on the world stage advocating for democracy and rule of law when we act like thugs.

“Congress cannot endorse the illegal actions of this administration that put our men and women in uniform in danger.”

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Senator Murray Statement on Release of Three-Bill Minibus

“While President Trump has pushed to slash and even outright defund programs that help families get by, Democrats fought to protect investments that matter most to working and middle-class families in every part of the country.

“Democrats defeated heartless cuts that would have increased Americans’ costs and extreme proposals that would have jeopardized people’s safety and enshrined backwards policies in law for years to come.

“President Trump sought to raise Americans’ energy bills even more by eliminating a key savings program—but Democrats saved it and secured more funding to help lower families’ costs.

“This package rejects President Trump’s push to let our competitors do laps around us by slashing federal funding for scientific research by upwards of 50% and killing thousands of good jobs in the process. It protects essential funding for our public lands, rejects steep proposed cuts to public safety grants that keep our communities safe, and boosts funding for key flood mitigation projects.

“Importantly, passing these bills will help ensure that Congress, not President Trump and Russ Vought, decides how taxpayer dollars are spent—by once again providing hundreds of detailed spending directives and reasserting congressional control over these incredibly important spending decisions. It is so important we pass full-year funding bills again and refuse to cede power to this administration, and I hope that Republicans will work with us to do that as we pass the remainder of our funding bills.


Reed Jabs Trump Admin’s Political, Unscientific Decision to Slash Routine Childhood Vaccinations

WASHINGTON, DC -- In response to the Trump Administration’s arbitrary and unscientific changes to the childhood vaccine schedule announcement today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) issued the following statement:

“It is astounding that at the same time the Trump Administration is making health care more expensive for families it is weakening the health of children and our communities.

“U.S. vaccine policy has long followed the science based on what medical experts in the U.S. recommend is best for children’s health. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is not a doctor, a public health expert, nor a vaccine scientist. This unilateral, non-transparent decision upends that entirely. It isn’t based on science. It will spread confusion and disease. It will weaken public trust in health. And it will likely increase preventable deaths of innocent children.”


Senator Ricketts Releases Statement as UNL Chancellor Announces He Will Step Down

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released the following statement after the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor, Rodney Bennett, announced he will step down effective January 12, 2026.

“I am grateful to Chancellor Rodney Bennett for his service to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He stepped into a difficult role and worked hard to address the challenges. I wish him and his family the very best.”


Sen. Rick Scott Celebrates Trump Admin’s Arrest of Dictator Nicolás Maduro in Miami: ‘Today is a New Day of Freedom for Venezuela’

DORAL, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott led a press conference in Doral following the successful arrest of Venezuelan narco-terrorist and dictator Nicolás Maduro thanks to the Trump administration’s decisive actions to deliver freedom and democracy in Venezuela. This follows Senator Scott’s years -long efforts standing alongside the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom and democracy against the illegitimate regime led by Nicolás Maduro and his thugs.

Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s incredible to see the community come together with such excitement for the future of Venezuela. For years now, I have been fighting alongside the people of Venezuela as they fought for freedom and this is a new day, a new opportunity to achieve that. I’d like to thank President Trump, Secretary Rubio, Secretary Hegseth for their incredible feat to finally arrest Nicolás Maduro and ensure he can face justice here in the United States. This is a clear example of Trump’s peace through strength agenda in action.

“Nicolás Maduro is an evil drug trafficker and cartel leader who was sending drugs into our nation and killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, and stolen freedom and resources from the people of Venezuela for years. Now, the people of Venezuela are closer than ever to peace and freedom thanks to the actions of President Trump and incredible fighters like María Corina Machado and Edmundo González. From day one, President Trump has held Maduro accountable -- cutting off his resources, reversing Biden’s appeasement policies and oil license, designating violent cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and initiating targeted strikes to stop the flow of drugs across our border. The world will be better off now that Maduro is out of power. I am proud to stand with the Venezuelan people and all of Latin America in celebrating this momentous occasion.”

Senator Scott has fought as Governor and Senator to hold Maduro accountable and bring freedom to Venezuela.

As Governor, Senator Scott worked to ban the state’s pension system from investing in companies that do business with the Maduro regime and worked to codify into law this ban and further, prohibiting any state agency from doing business to ensure that no tax dollars were spent to benefit the Maduro regime’s brutality. Then-governor Scott also met consistently with exiled Venezuelan leaders and pro-democracy and human rights advocacy groups to call on the U.S. federal government and Congress to impose heavier sanctions and take swift action against Maduro and his gang of thugs threatening Venezuelan families.

As Senator, he has:

Welcomed Venezuela’s rightful President Edmundo González as his guest to President Trump’s Inauguration

Led a meeting with President-Elect Edmundo González on the fight for Venezuela’s freedom

Introduced legislation, including the:

Venezuela Advancing Liberty, Opportunity, and Rights (VALOR) Act;

Securing Timely Opportunities for Payment and Maximizing Awards for Detaining Unlawful Regime Officials (STOP MADURO) Act;

Banning Operations and Leases with the Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian Regime (BOLIVAR) Act; and the

Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Reauthorization Act.

Advocated for solutions to issues affecting Florida’s Venezuelan community, including:

Introducing a resolution which recognized María Corina Machado as Venezuela’s official President Opposition candidate;

Introduced a resolution honoring María Corina following her recognition with the Nobel Peace Prize;

Contacted then-Secretary of State Blinken requesting he protect American hostages and stand up for freedom and democracy in Venezuela;

Joined colleagues on a letter to then-President Biden demanding he formally designate Tren de Aragua as a Transnational Criminal Organization;

Sent a letter to President Trump encouraging his administration to build on his prior work designating Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization by also designating Cartel de los Soles and La Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar as foreign terrorist organizations;

Sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio applauding his work and urged the continued maximum pressure on the Maduro regime; and

Joined the Venezuelan community in Tampa for a rally in support of freedom and democracy in Venezuela and against the illegitimate, criminal regime of Nicolás Maduro.

Read more on Senator Scott’s efforts standing up for Venezuela’s fight for freedom and democracy HERE.

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Sen. Tina Smith’s Statement on Governor Walz’s Decision Not to Seek Re-Election

ST. PAUL, MN – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after Governor Tim Walz announced he would not seek re-election in 2026.

“Governor Walz’s decision to not seek re-election is what it looks like when leaders put the interests of the people before politics. Tim’s career has been defined by getting results for Minnesotans, doing the right thing, and always putting people first. In the face of an unprecedented and coordinated attack on Minnesota by President Trump and his administration, the Governor is once again doing the right thing. I’m grateful for Governor Walz’s service and I will always support him.”

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Thune: Republicans to Build on Record of Results in 2026

Clickhereto watch the video.

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

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, 2025 was a historically busy year here in the United States Senate.

“The longest session period in more than 15 years. The greatest number of votes in half a century. Many, many, many hours in session – substantially exceeding the average of the past 78 years.

“And what do we have to show for all of that?

“More than 400 presidential nominees confirmed – far exceeding the totals for the first year of President Trump’s first term and of President Biden’s.

“Repeal of a number of burdensome Biden rules and regulations, including multiple rules that would have driven up prices for American families and businesses.

“Legislation to combat … the fentanyl epidemic.

“To keep criminal illegal immigrants off our streets.

“To create the first U.S. federal framework for stablecoins and ensure U.S. leadership in financial innovation.

“And, first and foremost, of course, Mr. President, we passed the Working Families Tax Cuts and the rest of our landmark legislation.

“Mr. President, January 1 was this past Thursday.

“And if Democrats had had their way, Americans would have been facing a big tax hike at the start of this year.

“Instead, thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, Americans will continue to pay the lower tax rates Republicans passed in 2017.

“And that’s not all.

“Because in addition to making permanent the tax relief we passed in 2017, Republicans have added a number of new tax relief measures to ensure that Americans can keep more of their hard-earned money.

“We further increased the standard deduction.

“We further increased the child tax credit – and indexed it to inflation, so that its value will never go down.

“We added a new bonus deduction for seniors.

“No tax on tips and overtime.

“And the list goes on.

“Thanks to our legislation, Americans will be able to keep more of their hard-earned money – permanently.

“And that’s not all our legislation did.

“Our once-in-a-generation legislation also invested in our national security.

“In a more secure border and safer streets.

“We repealed Democrats’ natural gas tax and took steps to unleash American energy production to ensure that Americans have a stable and affordable energy supply.

“And more.

“Our goal for 2025 was more money in Americans’ pockets, new opportunities, and safer streets.

“We’re accomplishing that with the Working Families Tax Cuts and the rest of our landmark legislation.

“And we will continue to expand on that work in 2026.

“There are a number of bills that I’d like the Senate to take up, including ROAD to Housing – legislation that addresses housing affordability and availability – and market-structure legislation that builds on the success of the GENIUS Act and provides long-overdue clarity on digital asset regulation.

“Our first item of business, though, is appropriations.

“We still have work to do to get as many full-year appropriations bills as possible across the finish line for fiscal year 2026.

“I made it very clear when I became majority leader that I wanted to get the Senate back to regular-order appropriations.

“And we made a strong start last year, passing three appropriations bills with robust bipartisan margins before the August work period – the first time that we’ve passed an appropriations bill that early since 2018.

“Unfortunately, Democrats then chose to shut down the government, which seriously delayed our appropriations work.

“But we got right back to it after Democrats finally agreed to reopen the government, and we were able to get those three appropriations bills signed into law by the president this fall.

“Now we have another bipartisan, bicameral package of three bills that was released today and is ready to move through the House and Senate.

“That will be the priority as soon as this package comes over from the House, and senators can expect continued work on appropriations for the remainder of January.

“We have a January 30 deadline to fund the government, and nobody should want a repeat of the recent Democrat shutdown at the end of this month.

“So, Mr. President, let’s get the rest of this year’s appropriations bills done, so we can turn our attention to our other responsibilities – and to getting the next fiscal year’s appropriations bills done in a timely fashion.”


Tillis Announces New Chief of Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced that Daniel Keylin, a longtime advisor and veteran of his communications team, will replace Shil B. Patel as his new Chief of Staff.

Daniel Keylin has served in various leadership roles with Senator Tillis since his 2014 campaign, most recently as Senior Advisor, where he played a central role in shaping the Senator’s legislative, political, and outreach strategies.

“Daniel Keylin has been a deeply trusted advisor of mine for more than a decade,” said Senator Tillis. “From playing critical roles in the execution of my 2014 and 2020 campaigns to demonstrating a confident command of legislative policy and communications in the Senate, especially during challenging times, Daniel brings the leadership and strategic mindset that this role demands. We still have a great deal to accomplish on behalf of North Carolina, and Daniel is the right leader to help deliver more results.”

Senator Tillis also expressed his deep gratitude to outgoing Chief of Staff Shil Patel, who is departing to become President of Ranger Global, a Los Angeles-based investment firm run by Alexander von Furstenberg.

“Shil has been an invaluable leader on my team over the years,” Senator Tillis continued. “Few people in Washington possess the depth of banking and macroeconomic policy expertise that Shil brings, and what truly sets him apart is his ability to navigate the intersection of policy and politics to get things done. I am grateful for his years of service, leadership, and friendship, and I look forward to seeing him succeed in the next chapter of his career.”

Patel has served Senator Tillis in various capacities over the last nine years, including as Legislative Director and Economic Policy Advisor, before being named Chief of Staff in 2022. He started his Congressional career working for Senator David Perdue, and previously worked at the Federal Reserve in Banking Supervision and the Northern Trust Corporation in asset management. Patel will remain in Washington, D.C. and will be active in policy and political initiatives in his new role.

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