Gillibrand, 15 Senate Democrats Raise Alarm On EPA’s New Rule Abandoning Federal Water Pollution Protections

EPA’s new rule slashes the scope of waters that fall under federal pollution protections, rolling back decades of water quality progress

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined 15 Senate Democrats in opposing a new Trump administration rule that would undo significant progress made to restore the quality of our nation’s waters.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)’s new proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule limits the definition of waters, including removing coverage for waters that are not wet for the duration of an undefined “wet season” and excluding all waters but those with continuous surface connections. This leaves water bodies vulnerable to pollution, flood, and damage, and threatens the cleanliness of drinking water sources and their tributaries across the country.

“The Trump administration is once again ignoring the science and shifting the cost of pollution onto families and communities, all to benefit big corporations,” said Senator Gillibrand. “For decades, Americans have worked to restore our waterways and protect the right of every community to clean, safe water. This proposed rule fundamentally threatens that progress. I will continue fighting to protect, restore, and advance critical environmental protections that keep our nation’s water clean and hold polluters accountable.”

“The proposed rule is legally unnecessary, scientifically unsound, and will harm public and environmental health by allowing more harmful chemicals into our waterways. We urge you to abandon this rulemaking and refocus your efforts on making Americans healthier,” the senators wrote.

In a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Adam Telle, the senators express deep concern over the significant harm of stripping federal protections for the nation’s wetlands that do not fall under the new WOTUS rule. Over 50 years ago, Congress set the precedent by passing the Clean Water Act (CWA) – with strong bipartisan votes – to protect America’s water resources and safeguard our nation’s public health. EPA’s new proposal would further roll back these safeguards that were already weakened in the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA.

“We all drink and use water. Municipal water utilities and their ratepayers—the American people—will disproportionately bear the economic burden of remediating the poorer quality water this rule will cause. Moreover, flood risk management and disaster response services will become increasingly overburdened from the compounding impacts of cumulative upstream watershed degradation,” the senators continued.

“As proposed, the 2025 draft WOTUS rule ignores science, removes vast swaths of aquatic areas from federal jurisdiction, fails to protect water quality, and passes the costs on to the American taxpayer. It does not simplify the ability of the agency to identify jurisdictional waters. There are reasonable policies we could pursue to simplify permitting and create union jobs in this country, but this proposed rule does not represent a viable path forward,” the senators concluded.

In addition to Senator Gillibrand, the letter was signed by Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Administrator Zeldin and Assistant Secretary Telle:

In 1972, after the Cuyahoga River caught fire more than a dozen times and the Potomac River choked the nation’s capital with pollution, Congress passed the Clean Water Act (CWA) with strong bipartisan votes to protect America’s water resources and safeguard our nation’s public health. Yet, six decades later, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have proposed a new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) draft rule that threatens to undo the significant progress our nation has made to restore the quality of our nation’s waters. The proposed rule is legally unnecessary, scientifically unsound, and will harm public and environmental health by allowing more harmful chemicals into our waterways. We urge you to abandon this rulemaking and refocus your efforts on making Americans healthier.

The proposed 2025 WOTUS rule purports to implement the 2023 Sackett v. EPA decision, in which the 5-4 Supreme Court majority substituted its own faulty understanding of science for EPA’s (Sackett v. EPA, 598 U.S. 651 (2023)). On the majority’s new definition in Sackett, Justice Brett Kavanaugh even wrote, “In my view, the Court’s ‘continuous surface connection’ test departs from the statutory text, from 45 years of consistent agency practice, and from this Court’s precedents.” The Sackett ruling determined that wetlands lacking a continuous surface connection to a year-round or flowing body of water shall not be considered WOTUS, even though such waters may have significant effects on the quality of permanent bodies of water. In doing so, Sackett stripped protections for anywhere between 60 to 80 percent of America’s wetlands, depending on ultimate implementation. And yet, the administration’s new 2025 proposed rule goes even further than Sackett’s draconian definition, excluding many types of headwaters, tributaries, and ephemeral or intermittent streams and water bodies from WOTUS jurisdiction as well.

EPA’s own analysis estimates that only 19 percent of the nation’s existing nontidal wetlands would fall under WOTUS jurisdiction if the 2025 rule is codified as proposed, while other studies find this number could range from 9 percent to 0 percent. The potential impact on other headwaters, tributaries, and ephemeral water bodies remains to be evaluated.

By excluding all waters but those with continuous surface connections and which abut water bodies, the proposed rule would improperly exclude from federal jurisdiction many discharges that are functionally equivalent to discharges into jurisdictional waters. The ecology of these important water bodies is inextricably tied to the water quality of traditionally navigable waters. These water bodies are the capillaries and kidneys of the nation’s watersheds; when they are polluted or filled in, harm flows downstream in the form of higher nutrient, sediment, and toxics loads, all of which cumulatively degrade water quality throughout watersheds. This means more flooding, more harmful algal blooms, and less filtration of pollutants. The new definition would also absolve upstream polluters from the obligation to adopt responsible prevention measures, and would instead shift the burden of managing pollution, flood, and drought onto the shoulders of those who work and live downstream.

The administration’s proposed rule would cause EPA and USACE to fail to meet Congress’s mandate, and Administrator Zeldin’s stated primary objective: to maintain clean water for all Americans.

We all drink and use water. Municipal water utilities and their ratepayers—the American people—will disproportionately bear the economic burden of remediating the poorer quality water this rule will cause. Moreover, flood risk management and disaster response services will become increasingly overburdened from the compounding impacts of cumulative upstream watershed degradation. The proposed rule considers benefits to developers yet makes no attempt to estimate or compare those theoretical benefits to the other costs to society from the degradation that will occur to drinking water sources and aquatic ecosystems across the country. Further, this new rule jeopardizes wetlands and wildlife habitat that many Americans enjoy for outdoor recreation and wildlife watching.

EPA stated in the announcement of this proposed rule “support[s] the role of states and tribes as primary regulators managing their own land and water resources.” Yet states are not helped by the federal government’s abdication of its statutory responsibilities. Because of EPA’s abandonment of responsibility to protect clean water, more of the onus will fall on the states to enforce state-level protections of clean water—protections which can vary greatly state-by-state. States will be forced to pick up the slack, which runs the risk of straining state budgets and environmental enforcement resources.

As proposed, the 2025 draft WOTUS rule ignores science, removes vast swaths of aquatic areas from federal jurisdiction, fails to protect water quality, and passes the costs on to the American taxpayer. It does not simplify the ability of the agency to identify jurisdictional waters. There are reasonable policies we could pursue to simplify permitting and create union jobs in this country, but this proposed rule does not represent a viable path forward. We urge you to immediately abandon this unnecessary and statutorily unfaithful rulemaking that will harm public health, and to instead refocus your efforts on protecting the American people’s right to clean and safe water.

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Gillibrand Statement On Car Ramming Into Chabad Headquarters

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand made the following statement regarding the attack on Wednesday night when a car rammed into the headquarters of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic Jewish movement in Crown Heights, Brooklyn:

“I am horrified by the violent scenes from Brooklyn on Wednesday evening, when a car repeatedly rammed into the Chabad Headquarters,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This blatant act of antisemitism is not only an attack on this one building, but an attack on Jewish people across New York and the world. Chabad headquarters is a faith home for so many, and this is a deeply disturbing act of violence. We must root out antisemitism and hatred in all forms. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Chabad Lubavitch and Jewish community.”

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Hawley Applauds Launch of Online Portal for Radiation Survivors to Submit RECA Claim

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo) applauded the Department of Justice (DOJ) for creating an online portal for radioactive waste survivors to upload their claims for life-saving assistance. This comes after Senator Hawley’s expansion of the Radioactive Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was signed into law last year.

In July 2025, Senator Hawley secured the largest expansion ever to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), signed into law as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This legislation will deliver compensation to those who lived near West Lake Landfill and Coldwater Creek and were exposed to radioactive waste. Over 700 Missourians have already received nearly $35 million in compensation. This new online portal will make it that much easier for Missourians to submit their claims and receive life-saving assistance.

The Senator’s expansion provision revived RECA for survivors, allowed tens of thousands of new claimants to receive life-saving assistance—including those across Missouri—and protected the program for years to come. For two years, Senator Hawley led the fight to secure funding for survivors of nuclear contamination across the country, passing a reauthorization bill through the Senate in July 2023 and March 2024.


Bloomberg Law: Energy Affordability Emerges as Top Election Issue for Democrats

Skyrocketing energy bills are shaping up to be a cornerstone of congressional Democrats’ election-year message for why voters should return them to power in November.

The Trump administration is responsible for Americans’ bigger electric bills, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said Thursday after a roundtable discussion on energy affordability with nine Senate Democrats, union, and local officials, and energy efficiency advocates. “That is what we communicate in the midterms. This is an open door; all you have to do is push on it.”

The issue is gathering steam, as extreme cold stretches across the US and more Americans confront eye-popping energy bills.

The average US household is on track to spend $995 on heating this winter, an increase of $84 from last year, according to a January analysis from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Electricity bills spiked 12.7% between January and October 2025, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Democrats argue these fluctuations are a direct result of the White House’s rejection of clean energy sources and the resurrection of coal-fired plants, an increase in exporting liquefied natural gas exports leading to a smaller domestic supply, and a too-cozy relationship with the oil and gas industry.

“Right now, clean is cheap and cheap is clean. We need to keep it extremely simple as it relates to the affordability question,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii.).

Republicans have blamed price spikes on former President Joe Biden’s push for more renewable energy at the expense of traditional fossil fuels, and his administration’s effort to impose more environmental regulations on the energy and transportation sectors. Other factors, including the proliferation of data centers demanding more energy from the country’s already fragile grid, also have contributed to higher costs.

President Donald Trump has dismissed Democrats’ affordability crisis messaging as a “hoax.”

‘Speed Matters’

Democrats are assessing their 2022 tax-and-climate law—which featured historic investments in clean energy that the Trump administration and Republicans have tried to dismantle—for lessons on how to do things differently on energy if they regain the majority.

Schatz said certain provisions weren’t “deployed quickly enough” to have maximum impact. “I would like think about extremely simple, immediately executable things that we can do and fight for on the federal level,” he said.

Heinrich said the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the “green bank” EPA grant program created by that law, was an example of something that took too long to set up and administer, making it vulnerable to reversal when Trump took office. “Speed matters,” he said, adding that “incentives in the tax code are

fast.”

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who also spoke at the event, introduced legislation Thursday to restore some of the energy efficiency and clean energy tax credits repealed by the GOP 2025 tax-and-spending law.


Heinrich on CNN: “We Need a Restoration of the Rule of Law Within Immigration Enforcement”

Watch video here

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, appeared on CNN’s The Arena with Kasie Hunt today where he reacted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) lawlessness.

“We need a restoration of the rule of law within immigration enforcement. I want those folks to be focused on human traffickers, to be focused on cartel members, and absolutely not to be focused on a five-year-old kid like Liam Ramos,” said Heinrich.

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, discusses with CNN’s Kasie Hunt the DHS’s lawlessness, January 29, 2026.

On a bipartisan funding deal to rein in the DHS’ lawlessness:

Kasie Hunt: “What are you hearing right now from your leaders, from other Democrats on Capitol Hill in your role on the Appropriations Committee? Are you confident that you will get a deal with the White House that will rein in ICE somewhat and keep the government open?”

Senator Heinrich: “That's the question. I think what's important here is that 96% of these appropriations are bipartisan and uncontroversial. But when it comes to DHS, we have seen this incredible lawlessness out of Minnesota in particular. And there are many of us who believe it would be absolutely inconceivable that we would give immigration enforcement more money without those reforms. We need a restoration of the rule of law within immigration enforcement. I want those folks to be focused on human traffickers, to be focused on cartel members, and absolutely not to be focused on a five-year-old kid like Liam Ramos.”

Hunt: “Senator, are you satisfied with what's on the table in terms of the reforms that could potentially be included in this funding package?”

Heinrich: “Well, we’ll have to see what actually we can get agreement on, and I'll be looking very closely at that. But it is obvious: there are a lot of very common sense — just run-of-the-mill ‘this is how law enforcement operates’-kind of reforms that can be applied here. No one should be able to enter someone's home without a judicial warrant. The masks need to come off. The body cameras need to go on. They need to conduct themselves to the same code of conduct that all our local police departments and state police departments already abide by. This is not a big ask.”

On the Trump Administration’s unlawful actions in Minnesota:

Hunt: “One thing that we saw this morning was Tom Homan, the border czar, in Minneapolis, almost seeming to be emotional talking about some of the changes that were going to happen. My question to you about that is: Do you buy it? Do you think they're actually changing their tune?”

Heinrich: “From what I'm hearing on the ground from contacts in Minnesota and from my colleagues from Minnesota, is that on the streets it still looks very much like it did before the weekend. And I think that should concern all of us.”

On the unlawful tactics DHS has employed against American citizens:

Hunt: “Sir, you of course are from a border state. You're familiar with the unique challenges that brings and how it might be different than the interior of the country. There has been some focus also on Border Patrol and the tactics and background that they have versus ICE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Do you have concerns about how Border Patrol has operated that are different from the concerns you might have about ICE?”

Heinrich: “What's important to understand here is that each of these agencies is trained to do different things. And so right now, we have agencies and personnel operating in ways that they are not trained for: crowd control, interaction with large crowds – that's not something that is part of the Border Patrol handbook. So, yeah, I have concerns, because these law enforcement officers, even the ones with the best of intentions, are operating in environments that they have not been suitably trained for.”

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WATCH: Hickenlooper Demands ICE Overhaul, Calls out Violence, Trump’s Lies

“We have to fundamentally overhaul the lawlessness of these organizations.”

Earlier today, Hickenlooper voted NO on the DHS funding bill

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper took to the Senate floor to denounce the horrifying killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good and to demand a comprehensive overhaul of U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE). Hickenlooper also condemned the threatening and racist “death cards” reports say were left in cars of Coloradans detained by ICE last week.

Earlier in the day, Hickenlooper voted against the DHS funding bill because it failed to reform ICE. Watch his speech HERE.

“The overhaul of ICE that we’re demanding is common sense,”Hickenlooper said. “ICE needs to take their masks off. They need to turn on body cameras. They need to be clearly identified. There can be no accountability without transparency.”

Hickenlooper has consistently pushed for more oversight and transparency for federal immigration enforcement efforts, and has worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE. He’s shown up at ICE facilities to conduct congressional oversight visits and raise concerns about ICE disregarding due process. He helped launch an investigation into ICE’s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight and introduced bills to ban ICE from wearing masks, prevent immigration enforcement from targeting schools, hospitals and places of worship, and cut back the excessive funding that MAGA Republicans gave them.For a full video of Hickenlooper’s remarks, click HERE. A full transcript of his remarks is available below:

“Mr. President,

“We like to believe that when democracy erodes, that it’s unpredictable, and in some ways out of our control.

“But history tells us a different story.

“Authoritarianism rises through a time-tested playbook.

“These leaders have learned which moves weaken opponents, which tactics will rally a crowd, and which moments of fear or crisis work best to their advantage.

“They don’t need to invent new strategies. They can run familiar plays.

“There’s one target we’re watching this administration go after the hardest – and that is the truth.

“They began by attacking every source of independent information. They start with universities and colleges.

“They moved on to our largest research institutions.

“They’ve discredited, or tried to discredit, every journalist whose reporting differs from their own, narrow point of view.

“And in doing so, they’ve tried to make the administration and the President the sole source of ‘truth.’

“We’ve seen this play out in Minneapolis during the past few weeks. So let’s get a few facts straight:

“On January 7th, ICE officers shot and killed Renee Good while she was in her own car. She was a mother of three originally from Colorado Springs.

“Then, again, this past weekend, Americans watched the video tape of federal immigration agents shooting and killing Alex Pretti.

“They fired ten times in five seconds. It’s sickening.

“No family should have to witness their loved one being killed in such a fashion. And yet, obviously, Alex’s parents did.

“His parents live in Colorado. I connected with them earlier this week. Among other things, they wanted to make sure that we do everything we can to make sure that Alex’s name is out front, that we keep their son’s story alive to make sure that his life wasn’t lost in vain.

“They’ve asked for truth and accountability. What they’re getting – what all of us are getting – are excuses and lies. Lies about their son.

“The reality of who Alex Pretti was doesn’t fit the administration’s playbook. So, they’re filling the airwaves with lies, repeating them over and over and over to try and somehow get them to stick.

“DHS Secretary Noem, within hours of Pretti’s death, said ‘it looks like a situation where an individual arrived on the scene to inflict maximum violence… and to kill law enforcement.’

“Next, it was Greg Bovino, Trump’s now-fired Border Patrol commander saying Pretti intended to ‘massacre law enforcement’ and that he ‘violently resisted.’

“Stephen Miller called Alex Pretti a ‘domestic terrorist,’ with Vice President Vance and President Trump promoting that sentiment and that blatant lie from their pulpits.

“By this point, we’ve all seen that video – from multiple angles. We’ve seen it with our own eyes. Alex was NOT a terrorist. He was in no way an assassin. He was a U.S. citizen exercising his first amendment right to protest ICE’s lawlessness.

“This week, families in Eagle County, Colorado experienced another type of cruelty that fits into this administration’s playbook.

“They found ‘death cards’ [left in] the cars of their family members who were taken away by ICE agents.

“These cards – I hold one up here – have a history of being used by white supremacist groups to intimidate people of color. ‘Death cards’ is what they call them.

“These cards found in Colorado had the address and the phone number of the Aurora ICE detention facility printed on them. Aurora is a neighboring city to Denver.

“Now, imagine – just for a second – that you haven’t heard from your brother, your sister, and when you finally find their empty, abandoned car, it has one of these ‘death cards’ sitting in the driver’s seat.

“I mean this is cruelty for the sake of cruelty.

“And it fits into the troubling pattern that we’re seeing come from some of the top officials in the White House.

“Now this morning, I voted against government funding that would have handed billions of dollars to DHS. Continuing to fund ICE while federal officers terrorize our cities and kill people is unconscionable.

“We need to stop ICE officers beating Americans, killing Americans, arresting Americans without due process, [and] taking away the civil rights of Americans.

“The overhaul of ICE that we’re demanding is common sense.

“The fact is that these are all basic standards of local law enforcement – who go after violent criminals, gangsters, in many cases the worst of the worst. These are standards that those local police officers already follow.

“ICE needs to take their masks off. They need to turn on body cameras. They need to be clearly identified.

“There can be no accountability without transparency.

“No more unmarked vans and masked agents pulling people over, and pulling people away, and arresting them to wherever. No more roving patrols.

“ICE needs to have judicial warrants signed by a judge. They need to stop arresting children on the side of the road and end these cruel family separation policies.

“Secretary Noem – what she said I think is untenable and unacceptable, and I think she needs to resign. But let’s be clear, ICE is carrying out the policies of our president.

“So just changing the leadership at ICE or DHS is not going to be sufficient. We have to fundamentally overhaul the lawlessness of these organizations.

“This administration is asking us to ignore what we can SEE with our own eyes. They’ve got us to a point where we mistrust so many sources of information and they force us to rely on believing what we see.

“They’re asking us to believe lies about Alex and about Renee, and about what’s happening in Minneapolis.

“But we watched the videos. We saw those videos.

“Those words matter: we watched, we saw.

“Because they acknowledge a larger truth that binds us all together.

“We saw what happened. We saw the cruelty. And we saw and understand that it needs to end.

“Asking us to make peace with that cruelty is asking us to ignore the values that make us Americans. It’s telling us to believe somehow we owe nothing to each other – not to our neighbors, not to our communities, not to our country.

“We will not. We know the truth. And we’re not going to look away.

“Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.”

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Hirono, Colleagues Call on DOJ to Open Civil Rights Investigation Into Death of Renee Good

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and the rest of their Democratic colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to heed the calls of career prosecutors and open a civil rights investigation into the death of Ms. Renee Good, who was fatally shot by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis earlier this month. In their letter to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, the senators emphasize that DOJ’s decision not to investigate Ms. Good’s killing represents a broader trend of the Department refusing to enforce civil rights laws in favor of carrying out President Trump’s political agenda.

The senators’ letter comes as Assistant AG Dhillon announced that DOJ’s Civil Rights Division would not investigate the Ms. Good’s killing—rebuking the reported request of career prosecutors at DOJ to do so and despite the leading role the Civil Rights Division office normally assumes in investigating potential civil rights violations. The letter was sent last week, before an ICE agent shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

“Your decision not to investigate the ICE agent’s conduct is a marked departure from past administrations of both parties, which historically have taken swift action to open civil rights reviews of many fatal interactions with law enforcement. These investigations have been conducted even when criminal charges were considered unlikely,” wrote the senators. “After you informed Division personnel that you would not consider opening an investigation into whether the ICE agent violated federal law, several career prosecutors —including the head of the Criminal Section, which is responsible for these investigations—accelerated planned departures from the Division.”

According to public reporting, multiple career prosecutors in the Civil Rights Division offered to lead an inquiry into the shooting, which at the federal level is usually led by the Division’s Criminal Section. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, second-in-command at the Department of Justice, reinforced Assistant AG Dhillon’s decision to take an investigation off the table when he publicly claimed there was “no basis” for a civil rights probe into Ms. Good’s death. Deputy AG Blanche’s assertion is contradicted by an FBI agent’s determination—after an initial review—that sufficient grounds exist to open a civil rights investigation into the ICE agent who shot Ms. Good.

“Instead of investigating Ms. Good’s killing, DOJ has announced the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota would investigate alleged connections between Ms. Good and her widow and groups that have been monitoring ICE activity in Minneapolis. DOJ ordered federal agents to conduct its investigation without Minnesota’s local authorities,” the senators continued. “Refusing to share investigative materials or permit a joint investigation is highly unusual. Six lawyers from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota have also resigned in protest of this investigation.”

The lawmakers concluded, “Your decision not to investigate Ms. Good’s killing reflects a trend in the Division under your leadership of ignoring the enforcement of civil rights laws in favor of carrying out President Trump’s political agenda. This trend, combined with apparent political interference in investigative and prosecutorial decisions, undermines public trust, the legitimacy of our institutions, and the rule of law. We urge you to listen to career prosecutors and open a civil rights investigation into the death of Ms. Good.”

In addition to Senators Hirono and Welch, the letter was also signed by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

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

Dear Assistant Attorney General Dhillon:

On January 7, 2026, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two days later, you announced the Division would not investigate the fatal incident—despite the reported request of career prosecutors in your office to do so and despite the leading role your office normally assumes in investigating potential violations of 18 U.S.C. 242.

Your decision not to investigate the ICE agent’s conduct is a marked departure from past administrations of both parties, which historically have taken swift action to open civil rights reviews of many fatal interactions with law enforcement. These investigations have been conducted even when criminal charges were considered unlikely.

According to public reporting, multiple career prosecutors in the Division offered to lead an inquiry into the shooting. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, second-in-command at the Department of Justice (DOJ), reinforced your decision to take an investigation off the table when he publicly claimed there was “no basis” for a civil rights probe into Ms. Good’s death. His assertion is contradicted by a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent’s determination—after an initial review—that sufficient grounds existed to open a civil rights investigation into the ICE agent who shot Ms. Good.

After you informed Division personnel that you would not consider opening an investigation into whether the ICE agent violated federal law, several career prosecutors —including the head of the Criminal Section, which is responsible for these investigations—accelerated planned departures from the Division.

Instead of investigating Ms. Good’s killing, DOJ has announced the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota would investigate alleged connections between Ms. Good and her widow and groups that have been monitoring ICE activity in Minneapolis. DOJ ordered federal agents to conduct its investigation without Minnesota’s local authorities. Refusing to share investigative materials or permit a joint investigation is highly unusual. Six lawyers from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota have also resigned in protest of this investigation.

Your decision not to investigate Ms. Good’s killing reflects a trend in the Division under your leadership of ignoring the enforcement of civil rights laws in favor of carrying out President Trump’s political agenda. This trend, combined with apparent political interference in investigative and prosecutorial decisions, undermines public trust, the legitimacy of our institutions, and the rule of law. We urge you to listen to career prosecutors and open a civil rights investigation into the death of Ms. Good.

Sincerely,

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Hirono, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Response to Rise in Hate Crimes

~ Legislation would help strengthen credibility and accuracy of hate crime reporting from law enforcement agencies ~

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act (IRPHA), legislation that would help strengthen the credible and accurate reporting of hate crimes to better respond to the national rise in these incidents. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Don Bacon (R-NE).

Crime reporting to the FBI is voluntary, with less than 16,500 of more than 19,000 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. reporting their statistics to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) in 2024. The FBI’s 2024 Hate Crimes Statistics report documented 11,679 hate crime incidents, including over 13,768 victims. While this is the second-highest number of hate crimes recorded in a single year, the FBI has acknowledged that hate crimes data is underreported, with more than 80% of agencies reporting zero hate crimes and thousands of jurisdictions not reporting any data at all.

“As hate-based crimes and incidents surge in our country, this legislation is a step toward better combatting these incidents by improving the credibility of hate crime reporting,” said Senator Hirono. “All members of our communities deserve to feel safe, regardless of their background. By strengthening reporting and tracking of these incidents, we can better work to prevent these events from taking place and keep our communities safe. Violence and hatred have no place in our country and I will continue to do everything I can to prevent hate crimes and hold those responsible for these acts accountable.”

“Crimes motivated by bias against race, national origin, or other innate characteristics simply cannot be tolerated, but when hate crimes are underreported, it limits our ability to respond effectively,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would improve the reliability of hate crime data at the Department of Justice, equipping law enforcement and policymakers with the information they need to better prevent these heinous crimes.”

The Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop a system to assess whether local jurisdictions are reporting credible data on hate crimes. If a locality is found to not be reporting credible hate crime incident data or fails to provide any data at all, it would be required to improve systems for hate crime incident reporting and conduct community education and hate crime awareness initiatives to maintain eligibility for certain federal funding allocations.

“While the pandemic may be behind us, the shadow of anti-Asian hate has not. The latest FBI statistics confirm that anti-Asian hate crimes in 2024 remain nearly triple the pre-pandemic average, underscoring an urgent need for action,” said Sim Singh Attariwala, Director of the Anti-Hate Program at the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC). “Too many incidents never enter official statistics because law-enforcement agencies fail to report them, leaving communities without the visibility or support they deserve. This legislation brings long-overdue accountability to our hate-crime reporting systems so that every survivor is recognized, every community is better protected, and the cycle of invisibility ends.”

“We’re grateful to Senators Hirono and Collins for leading this bipartisan effort to strengthen hate crime reporting. We cannot confront what we can’t measure, and without accurate, comprehensive data communities are left vulnerable,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). “Communities deserve accurate information about antisemitic and other hate crimes occurring in their neighborhoods. Better data means better protection, and this bill is a critical step toward ensuring policymakers and law enforcement have the tools they need to respond to hate-fueled violence.”

"To effectively confront the surge in antisemitic hate crimes—and identity-based violence more broadly—we must first understand the true scope of the threat,” said Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). “The FBI’s most recent data reports 1,938 antisemitic incidents, accounting for 70% of all religiously motivated hate crimes. Yet these figures capture only a fraction of reality, as hate crimes are widely underreported. AJC commends Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) for introducing the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act, a critical first step toward accurately measuring—and ultimately addressing—the full scale of anti-Jewish and other hate-based violence in the United States."

“At National Council of Jewish Women, we are committed to building a world where every person can live in safety, free from hate and violence,” said Darcy Hirsh, Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy for the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW). “Yet the Jewish community and our neighbors in so many other targeted communities live in daily fear of attacks fueled by hate. All of our communities deserve better. The Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act will ensure that law enforcement agencies around the country accurately track and report hate crimes, creating a clearer picture of the threats so that we can develop effective prevention measures. We are grateful to Senators Hirono and Collins for their leadership on this crucial bipartisan legislation.”

“Sikh Americans continue to be among the most targeted religious groups for hate crimes on a per-capita basis, yet the true scope of hate nationwide remains obscured by inconsistent and voluntary reporting. When law enforcement agencies underreport—or fail to report—hate crimes, policymakers are left without the data necessary to respond effectively,” said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF). “The reintroduction of the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act is a critical step toward strengthening hate crime data collection, improving accountability, and ensuring that impacted communities receive the protections and resources they deserve.”

“We know that every year, thousands of law enforcement agencies do not report any hate crimes to the FBI. As a result, our national-level data on these kinds of crimes—while important to tracking the heightened risk that hate and bias pose to communities across our nation—is consistently and woefully incomplete,” said Mannirmal Kaur, Senior Federal Policy Manager at the Sikh Coalition. “This bill is a critical step towards truly understanding the scope of hate-motivated violence and crimes in our country. By compelling law enforcement agencies to report hate crimes, policymakers can better understand where stronger laws and statutes, front-end preventative measures, and other efforts to make our communities safer are most urgently needed."

“Over the past few years, the FBI has reported increasing levels of hate violence, most frequently against Black people,” said Sakira Cook, Federal Policy Director for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). “The most recent FBI report documented 11,679 hate crime incidents – the second highest number of hate crimes ever reported. Yet, thousands of police agencies across the country failed to report any hate crime data to the FBI and dozens of departments that serve cities with more than 100,000 people affirmatively reported to the FBI that they had zero (0) hate crimes. Voluntary hate crime reporting has not worked. This bipartisan legislation, which conditions federal funding on credible hate crime reporting, will help ensure more complete data and focus law enforcement attention and resources on the principal targets of bias-motivated criminal activity – Black and Brown people and other marginalized communities. We applaud the leadership of Sens. Hirono and Collins for introducing the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act and look forward to working together to ensure its passage.”

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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Hoeven, Barrasso Introduce the No Climate Treaties Act

WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven joined Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and 22 senators in introducing the No Climate Treaties Act. The bill, which was introduced on the same week the United States officially withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, would mandate U.S. Senate approval for the United States to join or rejoin any international climate agreement. Any such climate agreement, including the Paris Agreement, must be treated as a treaty requiring a two-thirds vote in the Senate according to Article II of the Constitution. It would also restrict the use of federal funds to implement or comply with any international climate agreement that has not secured this required Senate approval.

“The Paris Climate Agreement and similar international efforts have sought to send U.S. taxpayer dollars abroad while burdening our country with impractical regulations that stifle domestic energy production and increase energy prices for American families,” said Senator Hoeven. “Our nation is fortunate to have a strategic asset of abundant and affordable energy reserves, and the No Climate Treaties Act restores decision-making to the American people and puts our national priorities first.”

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

Additional cosponsors include, Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), John Kennedy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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Kaine & Beyer Introduce Bill to Increase Transparency About Cost of Federal, State, and Local Police Misconduct

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) introduced the Cost of Police Misconduct Act, legislation to increase transparency and accountability about the costs of law enforcement misconduct. This bill would require federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to report judgments and settlements related to police misconduct, including court fees and insurance payments, to the Department of Justice. There is no currently no searchable federal database for misconduct related judgements and settlements. Cities and counties, which have different definitions of misconduct, are not currently required to report information about these costs to the federal government.

By creating a comprehensive database on the size and nature of such costs, this bill would help policymakers, law enforcement, and the public understand how much these settlements are costing taxpayers, and illuminate the need for reforms that could help save lives and taxpayer dollars. This bill was first introduced following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Today’s reintroduction comes after several recent shootings involving federal agents, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

“Many law enforcement officers serve honorably and keep our communities safe. But there have also been tragic incidents of misconduct involving law enforcement, including the recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. While many Americans understand that these cases can be deadly and erode public trust in law enforcement, they don’t always realize the financial costs,” said Kaine. “This legislation would increase transparency about how much money federal, state, and local governments spend on police misconduct-related settlements and shine a light on what reforms might be needed to prevent these instances of misconduct.”

“Many of us understand the significant harm caused by police misconduct and its devastating cost to human life. Just these last few weeks in Minnesota, we have seen how aggressive and unaccountable policing can escalate violence, erode public trust, and traumatize entire communities. Yet most Americans remain unaware that cities and counties also bear a staggering financial toll because law enforcement agencies often settle misconduct claims in secret. Full data transparency is urgently needed to help hold those responsible for misconduct accountable and to help jurisdictions prevent abuses. Our legislation would provide communities and policymakers the data necessary to measure the cost of misconduct settlements, to not only saves lives—the most important goal—but also taxpayer dollars, which would be better spent on programs and policies that are proven to prevent crime,” said Beyer.

Every year, states, cities, and counties across the country spend hundreds of millions of dollars on judgments and settlements related to police misconduct—the costliest of which, in many cases, are civil rights violations that result in the physical injury or death of residents. Cities and counties typically pay for such judgments and settlements through liability insurance (typical of smaller cities), from a general or dedicated municipal fund (typical of larger cities), or by issuing bonds (common for large judgments or settlements). Bond funding often results in taxpayers paying nearly double the cost of the judgment or settlement because the city or county must pay fees to financial institutions and interest to investors.

A 2022 Washington Post report found that police misconduct cost taxpayers more than $3 billion since 2020, with more than $1.5 billion of that paid to settle claims against officers who had more than one claim against them. A previous study found that the nation’s three largest cities—New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles—had paid almost $2.5 billion of the $3 billion total paid out to settle misconduct claims over the past decade, but that smaller cities still spent millions of dollars settling claims. Another report found that the ten cities with the largest police departments paid almost $250 million in settlement costs and court judgments in just one year.

Specifically, the Cost of Police Misconduct Act would require:

Federal law enforcement agencies and state and local law enforcement agencies that receive federal funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) or the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) “Cops on the Beat” grant program to report on an annual basis judgments or settlements related to misconduct by law enforcement officers, including settlements reached before a lawsuit has been filed, and, for each allegation and judgment or settlement reported:

the race, ethnicity, sex, and age of each officer and civilian involved.

the year in which the alleged misconduct took place.

the year in which the alleged misconduct was reported.

the type of misconduct alleged, which may include a body camera violation (whether a failure to wear or record), use of force (including type of force), a collision, racial profiling, negligence, property damage, sexual harassment or assault, false testimony, wrongful death, failure of duty to intervene and/or wrongful imprisonment.

any personnel action taken by the officer involved, which may include resignation or retirement.

any personnel action taken by the law enforcement agency involved, which may include termination, demotion or relocation of the officer.

the total amount paid to satisfy a judgment or settlement and related court fees with respect to such allegation regardless of the source of the payment.

the source of money used, such as general operating budget, law enforcement agency budget, bond, to pay a judgment or settlement and related court fees.

the total amount spent on all such judgments and settlements and related court fees.

States and local governments to publish their reported data on their respective websites.

The Attorney General to create and maintain an online, public, searchable database of the information reported.

The Comptroller General to conduct a study of the information reported to determine the leading cause of such judgments and settlements and what can be done to prevent them, and to submit a report about the aforementioned study to Congress.

The Attorney General to submit a separate report to Congress containing the collected data and required recommendations.

The Attorney General to determine the number of federal agencies that have law enforcement authority, make this information publicly available, and update it annually. The federal government does not know the exact number of agencies that have law enforcement authority. In order to determine if these agencies are in compliance with this law and others, the federal government needs to know how many have this authority.

Full text of the Senate bill is available here.

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Kaine Applauds Committee Passage of His Bipartisan Bills to Combat IUU Fishing and Illicit Gold Mining

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement applauding committee passage of his bipartisan legislation that will bolster efforts to counter China, Russia, and organized criminal groups in our hemisphere and around the world:

“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and illicit gold mining contribute to instability in our hemisphere by funding organized crime, devastating environments and ecosystems, and serving as a hotbed for human rights abuses. I’m glad that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced my bipartisan legislation to combat IUU fishing and illegal gold mining in the Western Hemisphere and to hold bad actors, especially China and organized criminal groups, accountable. We also passed major bipartisan legislation to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions on its energy sector. These bills will promote security and prosperity in the Americas and around the world, and I urge the full Senate to pass this bipartisan legislation as soon as possible.”

The following legislation was passed out of committee:

Protecting Global Fisheries Act: Bipartisan legislation led by Kaine and Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Curtis (R-UT), and Rick Scott (R-FL) to combat IUU fishing, which disrupts international trade and undermines maritime security, marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and food and economic security.

U.S. Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act: Bipartisan legislation led by Kaine and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) to require the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy to lead partners and allies in combating organized criminal groups profiting from illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere.

SHADOW Fleet: Bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Kaine and led by Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to expand U.S. sanctions authorities to target the Russian shadow fleet—older, reflagged, and leaky oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

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Kaine Statement on Senate Democrats’ Vote to Block House-Passed Government Funding Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement regarding the Senate’s vote to block the appropriations package that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week:

“It’s Congress’ responsibility to put an end to the chaos and fear caused by roving bands of ICE and Border Patrol agents in our communities that resulted in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. With this morning’s vote, Senate Democrats sent a clear message. We will not let the House jam us with a package of six bills—passed just days before the government funding deadline—in an effort to ram through a Department of Homeland Security budget that falls way short of protecting Americans from reckless violence at the hands of federal agents. A bipartisan majority of Americans are deeply concerned by the way federal agents are operating and support commonsense reforms to help keep our communities safe, and we stand ready to work together on legislation to make that happen.”

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Warner & Kaine Statement on One-Year Anniversary of DCA Midair Collision

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement marking the one-year anniversary of the January 29, 2025 midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft:

“One year ago, 67 people – passengers, airline personnel, and members of the U.S. Armed Forces – died in a midair collision that never should have happened in the first place and must never happen again. Among the dead were more than a dozen of our Virginia constituents, including children and parents returning from a figure skating event in Kansas. Over the past year, we’ve been in touch with the families of those who lost their lives. Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and communities for whom today marks a grim and tragic anniversary, and will continue to do all that we can to work together to enhance safety for the flying public.”

Earlier this week, the senators released a statement in response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) findings about the causes of the accident.

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Warner, Kaine Demand Investigation into DHS Use of Surveillance Technology

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari urging him to investigate current and future DHS procurements that enable the collection, retention, and analysis of sensitive personal data. As DHS continues a mass deportation campaign across the country, Warner and Kaine raised serious concerns that DHS is collecting and utilizing sensitive data about U.S. citizens and non-citizens in ways that may circumvent Fourth Amendment protections and other constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties, while operating with insufficient oversight and accountability.

“We write to you to express our concern that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is collecting sensitive personal data that can be used to circumvent civil liberty protections, including those guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment. This matter deserves your office’s immediate attention, and we request that your office audit DHS’ immigration procurement activities to determine whether they have led to violations of federal law and other regulations that maintain privacy and defend against unlawful searches,” the senators wrote.

“Numerous media reports and videos show DHS immigration enforcement operations in cities and towns across the country, including allegations of violations of individuals’ civil rights,” the senators continued. “On at least two separate occasions DHS law enforcement personnel – one working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the other for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – have shot and killed American citizens. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot 3 times in Minneapolis by an ICE agent. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who worked at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, was also shot in Minneapolis during an encounter with CBP. Additionally, ICE agents have shot and wounded another person and deployed flash bangs and teargas on a family, resulting in the hospitalization of small children, including a 6-month-old baby.”

Warner and Kaine noted that alongside these recent, documented instances of excessive and deadly use of force by DHS immigration enforcement is an unprecedented allocation of funds that may be supporting the inappropriate and unsupervised use of surveillance technology.

“In addition to egregious practices we have seen in public reporting, it’s important that your office shine light on activities that undergird ICE’s enforcement actions including a muddled patchwork of technology procurements that have significantly expanded DHS’ ability to collect, retain, and analyze information about Americans,” added the senators. “Together, ICE’s new information collection tools potentially enable DHS to circumvent the constitutional protections provided by the Fourth Amendment - protections guaranteed to all Americans and all persons within our borders.”

“DHS law enforcement agencies have moved to amass potentially sensitive personal data with the unprecedented $165 billion DHS was allocated during last year’s partisan reconciliation process. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alone received $75 billion, more funding than that allocated to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), an agency responsible for investigating violations of a significantly greater number of laws,” the senators continued.

Warner and Kaine provided a detailed list of questions to Inspector General Cuffari intended to uncover the manner and methods by which DHS collects, stores, uses, and shares data that contains personally identifying information and requested that DHS provide a briefing on their investigation and findings to them.

The senators wrote, “DHS’ reported disregard for adhering to the law and its proven ambivalence toward observing and upholding constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms of Americans and noncitizens, including freedom of speech and equal protection under the law, leaves us with little confidence that these new and powerful tools are being used responsibly. Coupled with DHS’ propensity to detain people regardless of their circumstances, it is reasonable question whether DHS can be trusted with powerful surveillance tools and if in doing so, DHS is subjecting Americans to surveillance under the pretext of immigration enforcement.”

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

The Honorable Joseph V. Cuffari

Inspector General

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

245 Murray Lane SW

Washington, D.C. 20528

Dear Inspector General Cuffari:

We write to you to express our concern that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is collecting sensitive personal data that can be used to circumvent civil liberty protections, including those guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment. This matter deserves your office’s immediate attention, and we request that your office audit DHS’ immigration procurement activities to determine whether they have led to violations of federal law and other regulations that maintain privacy and defend against unlawful searches.

Numerous media reports and videos show DHS immigration enforcement operations in cities and towns across the country, including allegations of violations of individuals’ civil rights. On at least two separate occasions DHS law enforcement personnel – one working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the other for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – have shot and killed American citizens. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot 3 times in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.[1] Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse who worked at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, was also shot in Minneapolis during an encounter with CBP.[2] Additionally, ICE agents have shot and wounded another person[3] and deployed flash bangs and teargas on a family, resulting in the hospitalization of small children, including a 6-month-old baby.[4]

Recently, your office announced new projects to determine whether ICE adequately investigates allegations of excessive force, appropriately hires and trains its workforce, and whether it adheres to detention standards. We strongly support these oversight efforts and will be closely monitoring your investigations for their independence, accuracy, and recommendations.

In addition to egregious practices we have seen in public reporting, it is important that your office shine light on activities that undergird ICE’s enforcement actions including a muddled patchwork of technology procurements that have significantly expanded DHS’ ability to collect, retain, and analyze information about Americans. Together, ICE’s new information collection tools potentially enable DHS to circumvent the constitutional protections provided by the Fourth Amendment - protections guaranteed to all Americans and all persons within our borders.

DHS law enforcement agencies have moved to amass potentially sensitive personal data with the unprecedented $165 billion DHS was allocated during last year’s partisan reconciliation process. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alone received $75 billion, more funding than that allocated to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), an agency responsible for investigating violations of a significantly greater number of laws.

To date, DHS has:


Kelly, Gallego Introduce Bill to Designate Chiricahua as Arizona’s Fourth National Park

Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego introduced the Chiricahua National Park Act to designate the Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County as Chiricahua National Park. The bill would permanently protect Chiricahua’s unique landscape while supporting tourism and economic opportunities in rural Southern Arizona. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06).

Established in 1924, Chiricahua National Monument spans more than 12,000 acres of towering rock formations, canyons, and diverse wildlife in Cochise County. Designation would make Chiricahua Arizona’s fourth national park, alongside Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro National Parks. The legislation also includes protections for traditional cultural and religious sites, requiring consultation with Tribes and ensuring continued access for traditional cultural and customary uses.

“Protecting Chiricahua means preserving a one-of-a-kind landscape while delivering an important win for southeastern Arizona’s recreation economy,” said Kelly. “This is about keeping this place special and making sure nearby communities and small businesses benefit even more from it.”

“Chiricahua’s unique landscape brings in visitors from around the world. I’m proud to introduce this bill to designate Chiricahua as a national park in order to bring even more tourism to the area and create new economic opportunity in Cochise County,” said Gallego.

“HECHO proudly supports Senator Mark Kelly’s introduction of the Chiricahua National Park Act. This legislation has bipartisan support, reflecting a shared commitment across parties and chambers to preserving one of Arizona’s most extraordinary landscapes. Designating Chiricahua as a national park will strengthen conservation efforts, increase tourism, protect Tribal access, and grow the outdoor recreation economy in Southern Arizona, supporting local jobs and small businesses throughout Cochise County,” said Camilla Simon, Executive Director of HECHO.

The Chiricahua National Park Act is supported by the City of Willcox, the City of Sierra Vista, the City of Benson, the City of Bisbee, Huachuca City, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the National Parks Conservation Association, HECHO, the Sky Island Regional Partnership, and the Arizona Trail Association.


Kelly, Gallego, Padilla Introduce Bill to Strengthen Water Storage Infrastructure

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Water Security and Drought Resilience Act, legislation that would strengthen our country’s drought preparedness and recovery infrastructure by expanding eligibility for federal funding under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) of 2016 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021.

“As Arizona faces a historic drought, we can’t afford to miss chances to manage our water carefully and responsibly,” said Kelly. “By expanding eligibility for existing federal funding, water storage projects can move forward and help communities across the Valley build long-term drought resilience. That means more security for families, businesses, and communities that rely on Arizona’s water systems.”

“In Arizona, water is everything. This bill helps us build the water storage infrastructure we need to withstand droughts and make sure communities across our state have reliable access to water,” said Gallego. “Being able to store, move, and use water efficiently is essential to our Arizona’s future.”

“Californians are all too familiar with devastating long-term droughts, and as the climate crisis worsens, we must make investments in resilient water infrastructure now to protect our communities from the next mega drought,” said Padilla. “I am pleased to work with Senator Gallego to reauthorize the small storage program with particular emphasis on groundwater storage and to authorize natural infrastructure projects that store water for the environment and for downstream farms and cities’ use.”

Background:

The Water Security and Drought Resilience Act would strengthen water storage programs in Arizona and across the country by:

Reauthorizing and expanding the IIJA’s Small Storage Program, which increases surface water or groundwater storage between 200- and 30,000-acre feet, with level funding.

Creating a grant program for natural water retention and release projects that are designed to increase water availability through aquifer recharge, floodplain retention, the alteration of the timing of runoff to allow increased utilization of existing storage facilities, or another mechanism using primarily natural materials and mimicking natural hydrologic processes.


King Continues to Seek Answers on VA’s Canceled Contracts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), is still pressing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) for complete information on the VA’s controversial plan to cancel contracts that provide a wide range of services that help the VA fulfill their mission to care for America’s former servicemembers. In a recent SVAC hearing on Capitol Hill, King pressed VA Secretary Doug Collins to release the VA contracts that were canceled, including those canceled in Maine, so that veterans are aware of potential impacts on patient care and benefits.

“You know that I've been chasing this since last March. I requested it at a hearing last March, and on March 6th, sent a letter to you, and we've all gone through various iterations. Just a few days ago, on the 22nd of January, we got a so-called list of the canceled contracts. It turned out it was the old list, and the old wish list is full of obvious mistakes. It lists $120 billion worth of canceled contracts, which is more than the whole contract amount in the VA. There's obviously something wrong with that. There are also 79 contracts listed as being canceled, which were canceled during the prior administration, some as far back as five years. So could you please clean up this list. I just want to know what's being canceled, and this has been a saga now for almost a year. Give us a clean list! I don't understand why this is so complicated. What contracts have been canceled? What do they do? What are the amounts involved? And I think that's a straightforward request, but so far, it hasn't been honored,” asked Senator King.

“Thanks, Senator. We'll work to alleviate your concerns and do what we can do in that, as we go forward with the contracts. And if there's a specific contract that is, of concern, as always, the issue we have. But I would, I'll make sure—,” replied Sec. Collins..

“I just want to see a clean, a clean, realistic list without these obvious mistakes,” Senator King continued.

“I understand,” said Sec. Collins..

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans’ medical records stored in VA’s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.

For months, Senator King has raised concerns over proposed plans to terminate 83,000 VA employees, and participated in a special investigative SVAC hearing to question witnesses who were terminated due to DOGE cuts. Last May, Senators King and Blumenthal wrote again to Secretary Collins demanding an explanation for DOGE cuts to cancel contracts at VA that would impact health care for Maine veterans. Earlier this month, Senator King led the introduction of the Thomas M. Conway Veterans Access to Resources in the Workplace Act to help veterans better understand the benefits and services available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.”

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King Secures Agreement from National Security Advisor Nominee on Cybersecurity Posture

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, in a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) secured agreement from a White House nominee on his national cybersecurity posture. In his questioning of United States Army Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd, nominee to be Director of the National Security Agency, Senator King asked about the importance of establishing and communicating an effective cybersecurity deterrence policy. Deterrence policies are those where foes are aware that a serious response is likely if they decide to launch a cyberstrike on American interests, and are warned away from actions that could harm the U.S. population. Senator King also pressed the nominee on his willingness to advise the President and policymakers truthfully—even if the facts are unpopular.

Senator King began, “General, we have talked in the past about this question of cyber and one of the huge gaps in our cyber policy is the lack of any cyber deterrent. Our adversaries pay no price for their attacks, whether it’s going back to the Sony Hackand Salt Typhoon. Do you believe that it would be important for us to establish a deterrence strategy that our adversaries would be aware of and would color their decision-making as to whether we would launch a cyber-attack against this country?”

“Thanks Senator. Thanks for the opportunity to meet and I appreciate the opportunity to revisit this topic. The short answer is yes; I do,” replied Lt. General Rudd.

“I appreciate that. I think that’s very important and I hope you’ll work with NSA and CYBERCOM to develop that capacity because otherwise we can never patch our way out of that problem. The adversaries are going to continue to evolve and at some point, we have to make them have second thoughts about whether to attack this country in cyber space. Second question. I just want to reiterate your conversation with the Vice Chairman. It is so important that our intelligence committee provide candid, clear, unvarnished, unpolitical advice to policy makers. Because otherwise we have, we can have, real catastrophes involving our national security. So I just want to reiterate that you answered the question yes, you’re committed to that. It’s somewhat easy to answer that question here its going to be a little harder to do that in practice, if you’re sitting in the oval office to some other setting that is a little intimidating. But I want you to reiterate your commitment straight talk, straight advice, and the facts to the policy maker,” asked Senator King.

Lt. General Rudd responded, “Senator, I am committed to that as I have been throughout the entirety of my career. I pride myself on I am a leader who has been candid and given the best advice even if it wasn't popular.”

As former Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) and current member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Select Intelligence Committee (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as one of Congress’ leading experts on cyberdefense and as a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyberstrategy that emphasizes layered cyberdeterrence. Since it officially launched in April 2019, dozens of CSC recommendations have been enacted into law, including the creation of a National Cyber Director.

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Senator King Votes Against “Status Quo” DHS Spending Bill, Continues Urging Reforms

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today released a statement following his vote against a government spending package that included renewed funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The package failed in a bipartisan vote, 45-55, when it needed to reach 60 votes to advance. The entire Senate Minority voted against the package along with U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Johnson (R-WI), Rand Paul (R-KY), and John Thune (R-SD).

“I hate shutdowns, but I cannot in good faith vote for a bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security, specifically ICE, under these circumstances. ICE’s conduct in Maine and across the nation has blatantly violated the Constitution and harmed our communities. This heavy-handed, heavily armed approach to immigration enforcement has endangered many and left U.S. citizens fearful to go about their daily lives. The federal agents have set aside the vital protections granted by the First, Second, and Fourth Amendment in their overzealous, aggressive actions.

"The solution remains clear—separate the part of the bill that funds DHS from the rest. Pass the five noncontroversial spending bills immediately, and then give the DHS budget a continuing resolution for a few weeks so that Congress has the time to debate and establish necessary guardrails and civilian protections. This is the way to help ensure the safety of civilians, and put a stop to the unconstitutional and deadly actions we’ve recently witnessed ICE carry out.”

Senator King previously shared his unwillingness to vote for ICE funding without proper guardrails in a Maine Public Radio “Maine Calling” program and a national TV interview with CBS’s Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation.

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Graham, Blumenthal Introduce Save The Kurds Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) today introduced the Save the Kurds Act, in response to the Syrian government forces’ repeated attacks on the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The legislation would impose sanctions on Syrian government officials and financial institutions, and foreign individuals who engage in any transaction, including military or financial support, with the Syrian government.

During the U.S. effort to destroy the ISIS caliphate, the SDF contributed significantly to the success of the operation. Following the destruction of the caliphate, the SDF controlled northeastern Syria. After ousting the Assad government, the new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has waged a campaign against the Kurdish-led SDF under the guise of uniting the country after years of civil war. However, there is evidence that the attacks on the Kurdish-led SDF are being coordinated with and assisted by Turkey.

The SDF-controlled region of Syria has ISIS prisons guarded by the mainly Kurdish forces and is home to some 1,000 U.S. troops. The repeated attacks on the Kurds not only threatens the stability of the region, but also the safety of U.S. troops, and the U.S. relationship with the new Syrian government. It also risks the resurgence of the Islamic State. It is crucial to U.S. national security that its allies and partners are protected when threatened, and that ISIS is not allowed to regenerate.

“I believe that there is strong bipartisan support for the idea of protecting the Kurds in Syria and beyond because they have been such a reliable ally to the United States. The SDF – with a large Kurdish element – took the brunt of the fight to defeat ISIS in President Trump’s first term. I realize Syria is complicated culturally, ethnically and politically. However, attacking the Kurds greatly diminishes the United States’ standing and will hinder Syria’s ability to grow as a country. To those countries or groups who believe it is open season on the Kurds in Syria without consequence, you will be sadly mistaken,” said Graham.

“I believe we need to protect the Kurds in Syria and take action to ensure they are protected from any retribution or revenge by the Syrian government,” said Blumenthal.

The Save the Kurds Act:

Imposes sanctions on Syrian government officials and financial institutions, and any foreign individual who engages in any transaction, including military or financial support, with the Syrian government.

Recognizes the Kurdish-led SDF for their contributions in working with the U.S. to eliminate ISIS

Redesignates Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)

Requires congressional review for the removal of Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism

Gives the president the authority to suspend sanctions upon certifying to Congress that the Syrian government has ceased all attacks on the Kurdish-led SDF and their partners

Contains a snapback measure, requiring the president to immediately reimpose all sanctions if the Syrian government restarts all attacks on the Kurdish-led SDF or their partners

The full text of the bill is HERE.


Graham Introduces Legislation To End Sanctuary Cities Forever

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today introduced legislation to end the practice of sanctuary cities once and for all.

Graham plans to seek a vote on this legislation when the Senate considers the fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations measure for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Graham has maintained that the root cause of the chaos surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids stems from the fact that twelve states, including Minnesota, as well as dozens of local jurisdictions across the country have enacted sanctuary city policies. These practices include the obstruction of federal immigration enforcement efforts that, in turn, create a safe haven for illegal aliens.

The legislation seeks to end sanctuary city policies forever by imposing criminal penalties on state and local officials who willfully interfere with the enforcement of federal immigration laws. If passed, this provision will restore order to areas experiencing disruptions, eliminate obstacles that hinder law enforcement operations, and reassert the federal government’s constitutional authority over immigration policy.

Graham said, “The end is near for the lawlessness and fraud enabled by sanctuary cities. President Trump made his agenda clear, and it’s up to Republicans to deliver.”

Graham continued,“I have publicly stated that some of the reforms to ICE and Border Patrol being advocated by Democrats make sense, like more training and body cameras. However, in my view, the real problem leading to chaos, is sanctuary city policies.

“I think the best legislative solution for our country would be to adopt some of these reforms to ICE and Border Patrol, but to also end forever the sanctuary city policies being pushed by 12 states. We should do three things: Fund DHS, make reforms and end sanctuary city policies.”

Graham’s bill to end sanctuary city policies forever:

Makes it illegal for state and local officials to impede or obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws

Prevents state and local officials from safe harboring or shielding illegal immigrants from federal apprehension or withholding immigration records

Restricts state and local officials from prohibiting the cooperation among agencies with federal authorities on matters related to immigration enforcement

Requires state and local officials to inform federal authorities of the release of illegal immigrants from their custody

Imposes criminal penalties on state and local officials who release illegal immigrants from custody if the emancipated immigrant goes on to kill or seriously injury someone

The full text of the bill is available HERE.


Graham Welcomes $200 Million in Federal Disaster Reimbursement for South Carolina

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) hailed this week’s announcement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approving over $200 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement grants for South Carolina.

Over the past eight years, South Carolina has endured several devastating storms, including Hurricanes Ian, Florence and Helene. These catastrophic hurricanes demolished homes, destroyed thousands of power lines and took the lives of innocent South Carolinians. During the course of these natural disasters and other severe weather events, Governor Henry McMaster submitted requests for emergency disaster assistance to the federal government. The Trump Administration’s decision to approve these requests helps communities become financially whole, bringing them one step closer to normalcy.

Spartanburg County, one of the communities most impacted by Hurricane Helene, will receive more than $9.5 million in reimbursement grants. The South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina will receive approximately $75 million and $94 million, respectively, for their response efforts to storms across South Carolina.

“I applaud the Trump Administration and Secretary Noem for approving more than $200 million in FEMA grants to reimburse South Carolina for its efforts to recover from natural disasters over the past few years. When Hurricane Helene swept through the Palmetto State, it destroyed entire communities, many of which are still rebuilding. These approved funds will reimburse state agencies and other South Carolina organizations that have helped families get back on their feet quicker and made communities whole again,” said Graham. “To Governor McMaster, thank you for your leadership during these crises and for ensuring these grant applications received the consideration they deserved. To President Trump, thank you for remembering South Carolina and sending help when our people needed it the most.”


Elfreth, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Prohibit Partisan National Park Passes

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Vice Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the top Democrat overseeing funding for the National Park Service, introduced the Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act. The bill is straightforward legislation that would explicitly prohibit the National Park Service from issuing America the Beautiful Passes – physical or digital – with the image or likeness of any living political figures. The legislation is in response to the Trump Administration placing President Trump’s face on America the Beautiful Passes in January of this year.

“National Parks are shared national treasures, not political props for self-promotion. As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, our National Park Service should be focused on uplifting the stories of our treasured and historic public lands – not amplifying individuals or deepening partisan divides. The Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act will ensure personal or partisan interests don’t overshadow the centuries of dedication that have gone into conserving our national treasures and shared history,” said Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth.

“President Trump slapping his face on annual park passes is an authoritarian gesture worthy of a king or dictator. He’s hijacking our beloved public treasures for shameless, un-American self-promotion,” said Senator Merkley, the top Democrat overseeing funding for the National Park Service in the Senate. “The non-partisan National Park Service serves all Americans, but Trump once again has unnecessarily politicized government services while potentially breaking the law as well. We must ensure our beloved national treasures remain well-maintained and free of partisan propaganda for generations to come.”

The America the Beautiful Park Pass was first authorized under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) of 2004 to modernize and standardize entry passes for all federally managed lands across our country, including national parks, national monuments, national forests, and more. Since its creation, the passes have never featured the image or likeness of any living political figure. However, on January 1, 2026, the Department of the Interior began issuing America the Beautiful Passes that included an image of President Trump.

This decision sparked national outrage, with the Center for Biological Diversity filing a lawsuit in December to challenge the legality of this action under the FLREA, which requires America the Beautiful Park Passes to feature the winning photo of the National Parks Foundation’s annual public lands photo contest. Rather than complying with federal policy or precedent, the DOI updated its policy to void passes that cover the President’s image.

This bill is supported by the Center for Biological Diversity, Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund, and the Wilderness Society.

“The America the Beautiful Pass should celebrate our country’s iconic natural heritage, not Trump’s ego,” said Kierán Suckling, Executive Director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Rep. Elfreth’s bill defends the apolitical tradition of our nation’s public lands. Our national parks and wildlife should be celebrated and not used to promote any politician’s agenda or narcissism.”

Earlier this month, Senator Merkley led his colleagues in sounding the alarm over the Trump Administration’s so-called “modernization” plans for national park access, including several alarming partisan, polarizing initiatives that undermine the spirit of public lands for all.

The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Scott Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Shri Thanedar (MI-13). In the Senate this legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full bill text is available HERE.

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Merkley, Salinas Lead New Bill to Hold ICE, CBP Accountable for Abusing Americans’ Constitutional Rights

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced new legislation to hold U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) liable for violating individuals’ constitutional rights.

The ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act would make the federal government civilly liable when a CBP or ICE officer violates one’s constitutional rights, creating a cause of action against the federal government and directing that any damages awarded in such cases be first drawn from the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act funds. That Republican budget reconciliation bill handed more than $150 billion to ICE, CBP, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement, which the Trump Administration is using to implement its cruel enforcement campaign nationwide and tighten its authoritarian grip.

“All Americans should be outraged that Trump’s lawless federal agents are trampling on the Constitution and terrorizing our communities,” said Merkley. “ICE and CBP must face consequences if their agents wrongfully violate citizens’ rights to protest and free speech, search people’s homes without a warrant, or deny due process. If we allow Trump to continue using ICE and CBP to stoke fear and even kill innocents, we surrender the values that define us as Americans. I say, ‘HELL NO,’ and my ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act gives Americans the legal tools to hold the federal government accountable when these agents break the law—standing up for the rights of all in the face of Trump’s strongman tactics.”

“President Trump’s immigration enforcers are violating our Constitutional rights,” said Salinas. “In my district alone, ICE and CBP have arrested and detained American citizens, including a 17-year-old from McMinnville. They have denied immigrants their right to due process, including a wildland firefighter from Keizer who was fighting a wildfire in Washington. And their violent tactics have resulted in the deaths of American citizens. It’s clear the Trump Administration has no intention of holding ICE and CBP accountable for their abuses of power. This bill would force accountability on the Administration by allowing people to sue the federal government when ICE and CBP violate their rights, which deters illegal enforcement practices and prevents ICE and CBP from operating with impunity. No one is above the law, and this bill ensures that.”

As Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Merkley led the charge to oppose the Republican ‘Big, Ugly Betrayal’ of a budget bill last year—which included nearly $75 billion in slush funds for ICE and another $70 billion for CBP. He has continued to speak out against ICE and CBP terrorizing communities across the nation, partnering with Salinas to defend Oregonians from ICE and CBP’s shady tactics and the risks they pose to the state.

The ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Full text of the ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act can be found by clicking here.

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Murphy Joins Amicus Brief Urging Circuit Court to Affirm the Critical Protections of Minors in Immigration Detention

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn) joined a group of 23 Senators in filing an amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals urging the Court to uphold the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement, which sets critical minimum standards for children in immigration detention and continues to be the single most effective protection for detained noncitizen children.

The senators filed the amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit case, Flores v. Bondi, where the opponents claim that the detention funding in the Republican’s “One, Big Beautiful Bill Act” overrode the protections provided in the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement. The amicus brief rejects the government’s baseless claims and explains that the reconciliation process cannot be used for such policy overhauls and that such a policy override would have been stricken from the bill.

In the brief, the senators argue, “Appellants’ reliance on the OBBB Act as evidence of changed circumstances rests on a fundamental misunderstanding of the budget reconciliation process and its constraints. Because the bill was enacted through reconciliation, its provisions were limited to budgetary matters—appropriations for detention capacity, not changes to legal standards governing detention. A provision terminating the Settlement would be a major substantive policy change that could not have survived the reconciliation process. Accordingly, the OBBB Act cannot constitute a changed circumstance warranting termination of the Settlement.

The senators continued: “Appellants argue that by appropriating funds for family residential centers, Congress expressed approval of family detention. But Section 90003 did not authorize any new program or establish any new directive with respect to detention—it appropriated money for detention capacity already authorized by law. Courts should not infer that an appropriation implicitly repeals substantive law.

“The distinction between appropriating funds and amending substantive law matters enormously in the reconciliation context. Congress appropriated $45 billion for detention capacity, including family residential centers. But this appropriation does not supersede whatever legal standards otherwise govern such detention. Accordingly, the OBBB Act’s appropriation for detention capacity does not authorize detention of children in violation of the Flores Settlement, eliminate licensing requirements for facilities, or repeal the other substantive protections secured by the Settlement. Congress regularly appropriates funds for activities that remain subject to independent legal requirements. Appropriating money for federal construction projects does not exempt those projects from environmental review. Appropriating money to expand the federal workforce does not displace existing collective bargaining agreements. And appropriating money for detention does not eliminate the legal standards governing how that detention must be conducted—including the Settlement’s requirements for the treatment of children,” the senators concluded.

U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee led the filing of the amicus brief signed by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cathrine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).


Padilla Blasts New Republican Anti-Voter Bill That Would Implement Extreme Restrictions on the Right to Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, issued the following statement after Republicans in Congress announced the Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act, an extreme voter suppression bill that would disenfranchise millions of Americans through an onslaught of anti-voter provisions:

“Donald Trump and House Republicans know the SAVE Act is dead on arrival in the Senate. Instead of legislating based on reality, they are doubling down with an even more extreme anti-voting rights bill based on the same baseless conspiracy theories. The MEGA Act would disenfranchise millions of married women, service members, and rural and minority voters, while enabling vindictive lawsuits against state election officials. It would overturn historic reforms like Motor Voter registration and vote-by-mail that are essential to helping Americans participate in elections.

“Republicans are desperately trying to rig the rules for future elections because they know they cannot win on their unpopular agenda which is raising costs for working families. The right to vote is fundamental, and Congress should be working to make it easier, not harder, for eligible Americans to participate.”

Earlier today, Senator Padilla and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led 26 Senate colleagues in pushing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to stop its unlawful pressure campaign to coerce dozens of states into providing the Trump Administration their voter rolls, which include voters’ personally identifiable information. Despite lacking legal authority, DOJ has sued 24 states and Washington, D.C. for refusing to hand over their full voter registration lists. The Senators sounded the alarm that the Administration’s efforts risk unjustified voter roll purges, pose severe privacy and national security concerns, and subvert state and local election officials’ authority to maintain registration lists.

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