Sen. Cruz Leads Amicus Brief to SCOTUS Upholding Fourteenth Amendment, Protecting American Citizenship

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights and Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio-04), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee led an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold the Fourteenth Amendment by not granting citizenship to the children of aliens unlawfully present in the United States. The decision to review the Trump v. Barbara case by the U.S. Supreme Court comes after Sen. Cruz led a cert-stage brief last year.

Excerpts from the amicus brief are below, and the full text of the brief can be viewedhere.

“The Executive Order at issue here properly ensures that rule is followed within the executive branch, but the lower court nonetheless enjoined the Executive Order. This Court should reverse.

“United States law was the same: in 1855, Congress enacted a law dictating that ‘persons heretofore born, or hereafter to be born, out of the limits and jurisdiction of the United States, whose fathers were or shall be at the time of their birth citizens of the United States, shall be deemed and considered and are hereby declared to be citizens of the United States,’ except for ‘persons whose fathers never resided in the United States.’

“For all these reasons, as this Court held over a century ago, the touchstone for birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment is total allegiance to the United States, rather than merely being subject to its laws or some subset thereof.”


Daines Calls for Increased Tribal Public Safety, Touts Work Done by Tribes in Senate Indian Affairs Committee

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with Councilwoman Joan Johnson from Harlem, Montana, in a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing. They discussed the Tiwahe program and the need to increase public safety resources for Montana tribes.

Watch the full exchange HERE.

Daines applauded the Trump administration’s actions to help Indian Country:

Daines: I’d like to again welcome Councilwoman Joan Johnson from Harlem, Montana. Thank you for appearing before the Committee. I certainly appreciate the opportunity to discuss public safety for our Native communities, particularly Native youth. I applaud the Trump Administration’s immediate actions to close the southern border and dispatch law enforcement personnel to Indian Country. The opening of the new FBI Field Office in Billings bodes well for future cooperation between state, tribal, and federal partners to address violent crime on our reservations. I’m really glad to have our new Attorney General Kurt Alme there in Billings, who I know is passionate about these issues. With more law enforcement resources certainly needed, there’s still more of course that still needs to be done to address public safety than arrests and drug interdictions.

Daines and Johnson discussed the Tiwahe program:

Daines: Councilwoman Johnson, the Fort Belknap Indian Community were amongst the first tribes in the country to participate in the Tiwahe Initiative. Through this pilot program, the tribe received funding to strengthen and integrate services to better serve young people on the reservation, and as you mentioned also to help the parents and break some of the generational trauma that’s passed on. One of the strengths of this program is that it puts tribal leaders in the driver’s seat and relies on the principles of self-governance and self-determination. Councilwoman, what have been the biggest impacts that you’ve seen since implementing the Tiwahe framework?

Johnson: I’d answer that in a spiritual way- helping them find their culture, their identity, and knowing who they are.

Daines: You mentioned about the results, the efficacy of the program when we met this morning. In the first four years of the program, the Fort Belknap saw decreases in child abuse cases, family assault, and elder abuse cases. The juvenile recidivism rate decreased, I believe you told me from 80 percent to 35 percent, and the number of program participants increased. Has the Fort Belknap been able to sustain that success over the last four years?

Johnson: Yes we have.

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Daines, Rubio Discuss Need to End Unfair Jackson-Vanik Trade Restrictions

Also Discussed Expanding Venezuelan Petroleum Sales and EU Regulations that Harm Energy Security in Senate Foreign Relations Hearing

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. The two discussed Venezuelan oil sales, the need to end the Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions on Central Asia, and regulations from the European Union that hinder U.S. energy exports and harm energy security.

Watch the full exchange HERE.

Daines and Rubio discussed expanding Venezuelan petroleum sales to include byproducts like flexicoke:

Daines: Secretary Rubio, as noted from your testimony, there are numerous reasons why the U.S. is the arbiter of Venezuelan petroleum sales. With the new export sales framework the Venezuelan government is now looking at other options to reimburse some of our adversaries: Iran, Russia, as well as Iran’s proxies, to include petroleum byproducts, which contain valuable minerals and so forth, flexicoke. Has the administration considered expanding the export controls to additional petroleum byproducts?

Rubio: I’m sure we would…

Daines highlighted how unfair regulations from the European Union limit U.S. energy security:

Daines: I want to pivot now to EU Energy. I chair the subcommittee here in this committee for Europe. Next we’re going to have a hearing. We’re looking about having a conversation on EU regulations that are hindering energy security, benefiting now, of course, the Russians and hindering the development of alternative supply chains. Mr. Secretary, here’s my question. As Russia continues its war in Ukraine, how important is it for Europe to develop a pro-energy posture to ensure they have energy security?

Rubio: We are concerned.

Daines and Rubio discussed the need to end the unfair Jackson-Vanik restrictions:

Daines: Last question is back to one of my favorite topics, back to Central Asia. We had a great dinner at the White House with the five Central Asian presidents that you were at, President Trump, as well as Vice President Vance. I had an honor to be there with you all. They’re making a major shift right now in terms of having a closer diplomatic kind of relationship with the United States. That all fits in part of the geopolitical puzzle, which relates to energy supply as well. How important is it that we end these Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions as a relation to our relationship with Central Asia? And for background here, Senator Murphy and I are co-sponsors of that bill. We hope to actually get this done and on the President’s desk. It’s an ancient Soviet era restriction that is not relevant at all but frankly is hindering a relationship with these important central Asia Countries.

Rubio: We agree.

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Duckworth, Durbin Slam Half Billion Dollar Cost of Trump’s Domestic Troop Deployments in Chicago and Throughout U.S.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reacted to today’s Congressional Budget Office Report on cost estimates for troop deployments to U.S. cities. CBO estimated, that for the last six months of 2025, the domestic deployments cost nearly $496 million—including $21 million for the deployment in Illinois, where troops spent months confined to bases after federal courts found the deployment illegal. Duckworth and Durbin, along with nine of their Senate colleagues, called for the CBO probe last October.

“Today’s CBO report shows that Donald Trump’s domestic deployments were even more costly and wasteful to Americans than originally estimated at nearly half a billion dollars,” Duckworth said. “These open-ended, unjustified missions are not just an immense waste of taxpayer dollars, they are harmful to our military’s readiness, morale and resources and create an incredibly dangerous precedent. While thankfully we’ve seen these deployments stopped in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Trump remains obsessed with misusing the military to intimidate Americans in their own communities—with his deployments in D.C. and Memphis are continuing to cost millions of taxpayer dollars per month. He’s keeping National Guard members away from their families and forcing our military to do non-military missions they did not sign up for—and taxpayers are paying for it.”

“Not only was President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to American cities, including Chicago, an abhorrent violation of the Constitution, but it was a harmful diversion of federal resources,” Durbin said. “This was never about making our cities safer. The President’s crusade to unlawfully use our nation’s military in American cities endangers our communities and our democracy.”

CBO estimates that taxpayers have already had to pay $193 million for deployments to Los Angeles, $26 million for Oregon, $21 million for Illinois, $223 million for Washington, D.C. and $33 million in Memphis, Tennessee. CBO estimates that continuing current deployments in Washington, D.C. and Memphis into 2026 would cost $83 million per month. Further, they estimate that deploying 1,000 Guard personnel to a generic city will cost $18 million to $21 million a month, depending on cost of living. Full text of the CBO report can be found on the Senator’s website.

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Duckworth, Quigley Unveil Bicameral Bill to Launch Federal Grant Program Dedicated to Commuter Rail Bridges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) unveiled new legislation to revitalize our nation’s rapidly aging and deteriorating commuter rail bridges while making it easier and safer for Americans who depend on rail transportation to get around. With over 200 Metra bridges in dire need of repair in Chicago, the Building Rail Infrastructure for a Durable & Growing Economy (BRIDGE) Act would establish a first-ever $1.5 billion competitive grant program to fund the long-overdue maintenance, replacement and rehabilitation of commuter rail bridges in Illinois and across the country.

“Across Chicago and cities around the country, thousands of commuters rely on rail bridges that are more than a century old—bridges that were never meant to carry today’s level of traffic,” said Senator Duckworth. “This legislation is about more than just bringing our infrastructure into this century—it’s about protecting safety, growing our economy and making it easier for people and goods to get where they need to go. Investing in these bridges is an investment in middle-class families, so we can ensure our transportation system remains not only affordable but also safe and efficient.”

“Commuter rail connects Chicago to the Chicagoland region. It brings workers and visitors into our city, generating economic activity that strengthens our entire region,” said Congressman Quigley, a senior member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. “Too many of the bridges our commuter rail system, and other systems across the country, rely on are in desperate need of repair. Yet, there is no dedicated federal program to address their condition. The BRIDGE Act closes that gap by creating a reliable source of funding to modernize commuter rail bridges, improve safety, and ensure these systems can serve riders efficiently for decades to come.”

Metra alone owns 446 bridges—over half of which are more than a century old. Yet unlike other transportation modes, there are no federal programs specifically dedicated to improving commuter rail bridges, creating a significant funding gap and ongoing challenges for commuter rail systems across the country.

The BRIDGE Act would use funding from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to authorize $1.5 billion annually from Fiscal Year 2027 through 2031 for this new program to be administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This would help cover the funding gap that rail commuter systems need to maintain and improve their infrastructure.

A copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

The bill has been endorsed by Metra, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150 and International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division (SMART-TD).

"Metra applauds Senator Duckworth and Representative Quigley for their leadership in recognizing the unique and longstanding needs of commuter railroads in the United States by championing legislation to address them," said Metra Executive Director and CEO Jim Derwinski. "The BRIDGE Act represents a critical investment in the long-term safety and reliability of our region’s commuter rail system and will deliver urgently needed resources for bridge replacement and rehabilitation, ensuring commuter rail remains a safe, reliable, and efficient transportation option for generations to come."

Duckworth has long been a leader in ensuring our transportation remains safe and sufficient. In 2024, Duckworth helped author the landmark bipartisan FAA reauthorization that was signed into law to extend the FAA’s funding and authorities through Fiscal Year 2028. The reauthorization included several of her provisions to safeguard the 1,500-hour rule, improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities.

Duckworth also authored the ASAP Act provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $1.75 billion over a five-year period to help build ramps, install elevators and make other improvements to help ensure our nation’s transit systems are actually, finally usable for those with disabilities.

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Duckworth Rails Against Secretary Rubio for Speaking Out of Both Sides of His Mouth on Venezuela

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) railed against Secretary of State Marco Rubio for speaking out of both sides of his mouth on whether the United States is at war with Venezuela. During today’s U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) hearing, Duckworth pressed Secretary Rubio on how he can support Donald Trump invoking wartime authorities—like the Alien Enemies Act—while insisting that we are not at war. After Secretary Rubio refused to commit to encouraging Trump to stop using wartime authorities while simultaneously proclaiming our nation isn’t at war, the Senator pressed him on Trump’s dangerous threats to deploy American troops on the ground in Venezuela. Despite Trump clearly saying he is prepared to—and had—put boots on the ground in Venezuela while Secretary Rubio stood behind him just this month, the Secretary insisted Trump hadn’t said it. Duckworth’s full remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.

“Donald Trump promised he would get us out of wars, not into them—and yet, he and Secretary Rubio are playing it real fast and loose invoking wartime authorities and waging threats to put American boots on the ground in Venezuela,” said Duckworth. “It seems to me like this Administration insists on using military force as a first resort instead of a last resort, failing to take seriously the solemn duty to put our servicemembers at risk only for the most serious and imminent national security threats to the American people. The American people do not want another forever war.”

Duckworth sharply criticized her Republican colleagues after enough of them chose to trust the least trustworthy President in history, change their vote and vote against a bipartisan War Powers Resolution—which Duckworth cosponsored—that would have prevented the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress.

Duckworth has spoken out against Donald Trump’s illegal military operation in Venezuela since day one. Last November, Duckworth went to the Senate floor to excoriate Trump for his actions in Venezuela, further endangering our servicemembers and our country in the process without Congressional approval.

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Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Need To Reform The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

Durbin: “With the Trump Administration trampling constitutional rights, & the sunset of Section 702 just three months away, a hearing with government officials to address their use of this surveillance tool is imperative.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Review and Reform: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Executive Accountability.” In less than three months, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire. The Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over FISA, and during his opening, Durbin noted the Committee has a responsibility to conduct oversight of this authority and to craft legislative solutions that protect the security and constitutional rights of Americans.

Given the lawlessness from the Trump Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Durbin slammed the Trump Administration for refusing to allow government officials to testify at important Senate hearings. After Durbin pressed for months, Secretary Noem finally agreed to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3rd—five weeks from now.

Key Quotes:

“I am disappointed that we do not have any witnesses from the Trump Administration testifying today. Members of this Committee must be able to question Executive Branch officials regarding their use of this sweeping authority, especially for warrantless surveillance of Americans.”

“This is why, when I served as Chair of this Committee [last Congress], I convened a hearing with senior officials from the Biden Administration... so we could hear their answers. The failure of Trump Administration officials to appear before this Committee on important issues is a troubling pattern that must come to an end.”

“For months, I have been calling for Secretary Noem to answer for the lawless and inhumane reign of terror that her agency has unleashed on America. Secretary Noem has such a busy schedule that she was unable to come before this Committee the last calendar year. But now, she said she might find time in her schedule in a mere five weeks. What’s going to happen in Minneapolis in the next five weeks?”

“With the Trump Administration challenging our constitutional rights, and the sunset of Section 702 just three months away, a hearing with government officials to address their use of this surveillance [tool] is imperative.”

“There is no doubt that Section 702 is a valuable tool for collecting foreign intelligence. However, for years, the government has used [Section 702] as a domestic spying tool to collect millions—maybe billions—of Americans’ private communications. And it is then searching these vast troves of our communications—reading our text messages and emails and listening to our phone calls—all without a warrant required by the Fourth Amendment.”

“It was my view when Section 702 was first authorized in 2008—and it remains my view now—that Section [702] does not contain sufficient safeguards to protect the privacy and civil liberties of Americans.”

“That is why, since the first reauthorization of FISA in 2012, I have worked on a bipartisan basis with Senator Lee and we continue to work together to require a warrant for any search of an American’s communications. I urge my colleagues to join our effort and I look forward to working with the Chairman to ensure that Congress does not fail the American people.”

Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

Durbin and U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) previously introduced the bipartisan Security and Freedom Enhancement (SAFE) Act, a compromise bill that protects Americans from foreign threats and from warrantless government surveillance. This legislation reflects a carefully crafted, pragmatic approach that protects national security by reauthorizing Section 702 of FISA and protects Americans’ privacy and civil liberties by enacting meaningful safeguards against warrantless surveillance and government abuses.

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Durbin Delivers Remarks As He Is Presented National Head Start Association Lifetime Achievement Award

In his remarks, Durbin underscored the importance of Head Start programs and denounced the Trump Administration’s continued attacks on early childhood education

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today received the National Head Start Association’s (NHSA) Robert E. Cooke Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his decades of support for the early childhood education program. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about the importance of early childhood development support and the integral role that Head Start plays in supporting children and families from underserved communities. Durbin denounced the Trump Administration’s continued attacks on Head Start that have jeopardized the program’s ability to support Illinois families.

“Head Start turns an investment into a child’s first five years into a lifetime of rewards. Today, more than 40 million children, including children in underserved communities, have received crucial early childhood development support from Head Start, a program I remain committed to even as the Trump Administration targets our child care and education institutions,” Durbin said. “It’s an honor to receive this award from the National Head Start Association.”

In January 2025, the Trump Administration temporarily froze funding for federal programs, including Head Start, until public outcry forced officials to quickly rescind the directive. In April 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Servies (HHS) announced it was closing the Chicago-based Region 5 Head Start office, which served Head Start grantees in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Shortly after the announcement, Durbin led six of his Midwestern colleagues in demanding answers from HHS about the closure and urging HHS to immediately reverse its decision.

A year into President Trump’s second term, the Administration has continued to target child care programs beyond Head Start. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration froze a total of $10 billion in federal child care funding for the Democratic-led states of Illinois, Minnesota, New York, California, and Colorado. Illinois alone was shut out of $1 billion in federal funding. The Trump Administration offered a flimsy allegation of fraud as justification for the freeze, but Trump Administration officials have yet to produce evidence of program fraud in Illinois.

In May 2025, Durbin introduced the RETAIN Act, legislation that would create a fully refundable tax credit for teachers, paraprofessionals, school-based mental health providers, and school leaders in Title I schools, as well as for educators, program providers, and program directors in early childhood education programs funded by Head Start, Early Head Start, and Child Care and Development Block Grants. The tax credit would address the nationwide shortage of early childhood and K-12 teachers that disproportionally impacts students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, and students from rural communities.

In December 2025, Durbin introduced the bipartisan RISE from Trauma Act with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). The RISE from Trauma Act would dramatically increases funding for community-based efforts, including Head Start, to prevent and mitigate the impact of trauma, and it expands training and workforce development efforts to support health care, education, social services, first responders, and community leaders to foster resilience and deliver services to heal the impact of trauma.

Photos of Durbin delivering his remarks can be found here.

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Durbin, Merkley, Peters Lead Amicus Brief Urging Court To Affirm Critical Protections For Minors In Immigration Detention

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, led 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 Republicans’ “One, Big Beautiful Bill Act” overrode the protections provided in the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement. The amicus brief rejected the government’s baseless claims and explained that the reconciliation process cannot be used for such policy overhauls and that such a policy override would have been stricken from the bill.

The Senators wrote: “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 Senators concluded: “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.”

In addition to Durbin, Merkley, and Peters, the amicus brief was signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Cathrine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full amicus brief can be found here.

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Durbin Questions Witnesses During A Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Need To Reform The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Review and Reform: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Executive Accountability.” In less than three months, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire.

Durbin began his remarks by commenting on the lawlessness of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) cruel immigration operations in Chicago, Minneapolis, and more, and the lack of warrants when conducting these raids.

“This issue [FISA] is timely not just because of this Section [702] but because of current American awareness of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution… We are talking about situations in Chicago and Minneapolis where warrantless searches led to helicopters landing on the roof of apartment buildings and people crashing down the front doors of homes without a warrant. It appears Americans don’t care for that any more than they did at the time of the British controlling this country. It appears people want to know by what right are you doing this to me and that is a legitimate question,” said Durbin.

Durbin began his questions by asking Elizabeth Goitein, the Senior Director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, about the feasibility of a warrant requirement for U.S. persons searches. The intelligence community and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have touted reforms that they say have dramatically reduced the number of warrantless U.S. person searches.

“The number of such FBI searches has reportedly fallen from nearly three million in 2021 to about 5,500 in 2024. Is that what you understand?” Durbin asked.

Ms. Goitein responded that they don’t know the number of FBI searches for 2024, but it fell to 57,000 in 2023. She continued to say, “We also know around 50 percent of the drop can be attributed to a change in the way the government counted queries which happened in 2022.”

“They have also reported that less than two percent of these searches turn up results. By my count, that would mean requiring the FBI to get a court order just over 100 times a year—far fewer than the number of court orders they already obtain every year under other FISA authorities is that correct?” Durbin asked.

Ms. Goitein responded, “All of the reform proposals under serious consideration do not kick in until after a search has been run and a communication has been identified. The warrant would only be required in those cases, which is two percent. If there were 5,000 queries in 2024, that would be a little over 100 warrant applications.”

“That seems to be not an unreasonable expectation on the part of people who are mindful of this Fourth Amendment,” Durbin said.

Ms. Goitein agreed.

Durbin then asked Adam Klein, the Director of the Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin, about Section 702 queries and the Fourth Amendment.

“You talk about your reverences for the Fourth Amendment in the courses you teach. Why would asking the agencies to go for a warrant for more than 100 cases be a hardship?” Durbin asked.

Professor Klein responded, “The issue is that in the most important cases where the query is exceptionally valuable… you do not know there is a worrying connection until you run the query.” He continued to say that certain queries could be more important given the complexity of the case. He stated, “you will not get a court order unless you realize the information is there.”

“You believe current rules don’t allow that to happen?” Durbin asked.

Professor Klein responded, “Current rules do not require a court order.” He stated that current rules could allow for fewer queries.

Durbin asked Ms. Goitein for her response to Professor Klein’s comments.

Ms. Goitein responded, “The fact that the government is conducting thousands of searches of Americans’ private communications every year on just a hunch is exactly why we need a warrant requirement. The purpose of warrants is to prohibit exactly those kinds of fishing expeditions. That is the balance that the Framers struck.”

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

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

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

Durbin and U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) previously introduced the bipartisan Security and Freedom Enhancement (SAFE) Act, a compromise bill that protects Americans from foreign threats and from warrantless government surveillance. This legislation reflects a carefully crafted, pragmatic approach that protects national security by reauthorizing Section 702 of FISA and protects Americans’ privacy and civil liberties by enacting meaningful safeguards against warrantless surveillance and government abuses.

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Durbin Responds To The Killing Of Alex Pretti On The Senate Floor

Durbin: “I will not vote to fund the illegal DHS and ICE operations that terrorize the city of Chicago, Minneapolis, and so many other communities. The deaths of innocent Americans and the detaining of thousands of innocent people are a national disgrace.”

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke about the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a VA hospital in Minneapolis, by federal agents this weekend. During his speech, Durbin reiterated his opposition to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill and argued that if the government shuts down yet again, it will be because Congressional Republicans refused to place guardrails on this reckless President.

“Earlier this month, the nation watched in horror as social media was flooded with images and videos of a federal immigration officer shooting and killing an American citizen, Renée Good, as part of the Trump Administration’s militarized enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Now, fresh on the heels of that tragedy, another one has struck. This weekend, federal agents gunned down yet another American in Minneapolis… Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a VA hospital in Minneapolis,” Durbin said. “The killing of Alex Pretti has further intensified tensions in a city already reeling from the President’s aggressive campaign of terror.”

Durbin continued, “What was the Trump Administration’s immediate response when they heard of this second killing in Minneapolis? Not to bring down the temperature, but instead to rush to the American people with one message: don’t believe your eyes. Don’t believe what you see. It’s the same playbook they used after the killing of Renée Good and with other federal immigration officer-involved shootings and incidents.”

Durbin then laid out the case for why President Trump has targeted Democratic-led cities and states and refuted some of the claims his Administration has made.

“If the President wants to work together on reducing crime, count me and Governor Walz in. But these lawless immigration operations are establishing a reign of terror, first in Chicago and now in Minneapolis/St. Paul—eroding constitutionally-protected civil liberties while indiscriminately rounding-up people for the crime of being Black or Brown,” Durbin said. “Even the Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal—no liberal publication—agrees. In an editorial yesterday, they noted that since October, 73 percent of the individuals taken into ICE custody had no criminal conviction and only five percent had a violent criminal conviction… Donald Trump is hell bent on punishing his political opponents in the blue states of America and those who did not vote for him in the last election. We see the cost.”

Durbin then called out DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for refusing to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee, under oath, to answer questions regarding her Department’s actions. It was announced earlier this week that she will finally appear before the Committee on March 3.

“The time for accountability is now. I have been calling for DHS Secretary Noem to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee for almost one year… Now she tells us it’s possible her schedule may loosen up, and she may be able to come before the Senate Judiciary Committee in five weeks, on March 3—if she happens to still be the DHS Secretary then,” Durbin said. “With all the violence and deaths surrounding DHS, the Secretary is in no hurry to account for her mismanagement of this national crisis. And she expects us, in the meantime, to rubber stamp her record-breaking budget.”

Durbin concluded by reiterating his opposition to the DHS funding bill.

“Over the weekend, I announced my opposition to the DHS funding bill. I will not vote to fund the illegal DHS and ICE operations that terrorize the city of Chicago, Minneapolis, and so many other communities. The deaths of innocent Americans and the detaining of thousands of innocent people are a national disgrace,” Durbin said. “We need to work on a bipartisan basis to pass the five appropriations bills that have been sent to us by the House, and then work to rewrite the DHS bill to address well-documented abuses witnessed by the American people. Anything less than this approach is a non-starter with me.”

Durbin concluded, “If the government shuts down yet again, it will be because Congressional Republicans refused to place guardrails on this reckless President and the ICE agency. In the meantime, I urge my Republican colleagues to join us in that endeavor before Kristi Noem and her squad take another innocent life.”

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Fischer Underscores Importance of FirstNet, Urges its Reauthorization

In her opening statement at today’s Telecommunications and Media Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Chairman Deb Fischer (R-NE) underscored the importance of FirstNet – the nation’s dedicated public safety network – and stressed the importance of reauthorizing the network before its sunset next February.

Link to video here.

Fischer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Good morning to the members of this subcommittee and our witness panel.

I know Winter Storm Fern delayed this hearing and I appreciate you being here today.

This hearing will examine a critical piece of our national infrastructure – the public safety broadband network, established by the First Responder Network Authority, commonly known as FirstNet.

In communities large and small, first responders save lives every single day – often in situations where each second counts, and communication means the difference between life and death.

FirstNet was created to give them a dedicated, nationwide broadband network that is efficient, reliable, and effective – a network that stands apart from congested commercial systems and prioritizes public safety users first.

Today, with millions of connections operating across all 50 states and U.S. territories, FirstNet has become a communications lifeline for police officers, firefighters, EMS, and other first responders.

Its unique features – like priority access during emergencies – are tools that first responders increasingly depend on.

Reauthorizing the network before it sunsets next February means that Congress needs to get to work now.

Otherwise, this critical network faces uncertainty – undermining years of investment and trust with public safety.

Beyond simply extending FirstNet’s legal authority, we must ask: Are we ensuring the network lives up to its promise?

Recent findings by the Commerce Department’s Inspector General raise questions about weaknesses in FirstNet’s oversight structure.

FirstNet was created as an independent authority within the Commerce Department to balance operational flexibility with accountability.

But the Inspector General’s findings make clear that the current governing structure has not provided consistent performance oversight.

This is not a critique of the mission. It’s a call to improve the function of the FirstNet Authority.

First, we need to understand how we got here.

When FirstNet was conceived in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, it was a complex undertaking – a national, mission-critical network with strict public-safety requirements; uncertain economics; and no proven business model.

AT&T was the only mobile carrier willing and able to make a bid that met those needs.

The company committed capital, technical expertise, and operational capability to build something that never existed before.

Without that bid, this network would not exist in its current form.

This is an achievement, but it should not be confused with a blank check.

In fact, the scale and importance of the public safety assets that AT&T now operates makes stronger oversight more essential, not less.

Reauthorization is not about questioning good faith.

It is about ensuring that a network built through public-private partnership continues to serve its core mission with transparency, resilience, and adaptability.

Finally, we cannot lose sight of the voice of first responders themselves.

Independent surveys show overwhelming support from first responders for reauthorizing FirstNet — not because it is perfect, but because the consequences of losing priority network access would be unthinkable.

FirstNet is more than a network. It is part of our national public safety backbone.

Reauthorization gives us the chance not to just maintain continuity, but to improve the network for those who run toward danger — so that we can all be safer.


Fischer Holds Senate Commerce Subcommittee Hearing, Presses Witnesses on Better FirstNet Oversight for Public Safety

Today, during a hearing on the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, Chairman Deb Fischer (R-NE) questioned leading network providers and first responder policymakers on the oversight structure of FirstNet, the nationwide wireless network designed to ensure first responders can communicate reliably during emergencies.

Fischer questioned whether additional market incentives within the FirstNet system would be feasible not only to spur innovation, but also to give public safety agencies the best possible coverage and choice amongst providers. At the same time, Fischer highlighted the critical need to maintain strict network security with any potential updates to FirstNet.

During the hearing, Fischer also highlighted gaps identified by the Commerce Department’s Inspector General in the First Responder Network Authority Board’s oversight of FirstNet’s performance metrics and milestones. She emphasized the need for stronger oversight to ensure that the network partner, AT&T, meets its established performance benchmarks and device connection targets.

Today’s hearing informed Senate deliberations on the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority. The federal authorization for FirstNet is set to expire in February 2027.

Witnesses included Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Acting Chair of the First Responder Network Authority Board; Scott Agnew, President of FirstNet and Public Safety Mobility at AT&T; Cory Davis, Vice President of Verizon Frontline at Verizon; and Mel Maier, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of APCO International.

Click the image above to watch a video of Senator Fischer’s questioning

Click here to download audio

Click here to download video


Gillibrand Slams Trump’s Costly Canadian Tariff Threats

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference to demand that President Trump stop illegally threatening tariffs against American allies.

Over the weekend, President Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods. He also said that the U.S. would levy a 25% tariff on South Korean goods. Earlier this month, the president threatened a 10 percent tariff on NATO countries unless the United States is given Greenland.

“As the president continues to recklessly and haphazardly threaten countries with tariffs, working New Yorkers and small businesses are paying the price,” said Senator Gillibrand. “If the president follows through on his latest threat to impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods, New Yorkers will suffer. From fertilizer to electricity to car parts, Upstate New Yorkers rely heavily on Canadian products. At a time when prices are already soaring, working families shouldn’t have to pay more for what they need. I’m demanding that President Trump halt his illegal actions, and I will do everything in my power to hold the president accountable for the hardship he’s causing for New Yorkers.”

Last year, President Trump levied tariffs on over 90 countries, including a 35% tariff on certain Canadian goods and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy, energy resources, and potash. These global tariffs have already hit American families hard, increasing costs for New York households by an estimated $4,200. If the president follows through on his threats to impose further tariffs on Canadian goods, New York families will pay an even higher price, Upstate small businesses will suffer, and energy prices will skyrocket.

Senator Gillibrand has opposed President Trump’s tariffs since the start of his administration. Last year, she joined 14 of her colleagues in introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act to end Trump’s tariff tax and refund small businesses their duties paid. She also sent a legal brief with 206 members of Congress emphasizing to the Supreme Court that these tariffs are illegal.

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Grassley, Klobuchar Lead National Stalking Awareness Month Resolution

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced a resolution designating January as National Stalking Awareness Month. The bipartisan and bicameral resolution seeks to raise awareness of the dangers of stalking and boost prevention efforts. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) are leading a companion resolution in the House of Representatives.

“Millions of our fellow Americans have suffered the physical and psychological trauma of stalking. I’m glad to join my bipartisan colleagues in raising awareness of this terrible crime and highlighting the essential work of advocates, law enforcement and service workers who support victims and survivors,” Grassley said.

“As a former prosecutor, I have seen firsthand the serious emotional and physical toll stalking can take on victims,” Klobuchar said. “Our bipartisan resolution raises awareness about the dangers of stalking, the need to protect victims, and the resources available to help survivors.”

Read the resolution HERE.

Background:

Approximately one in three women and one in six men in the U.S. have experienced stalking at some point in their lives. Iowans who suspect they may be a victim of stalking should contact the Victim Assistance Section of the Office of the Iowa Attorney General for resources and further assistance.


NH Delegation Calls on Noem, DHS to Respond to Concerns of Merrimack Residents, Town Council Over Proposed ICE Processing Center

Despite repeated outreach, DHS has failed to establish clear lines of communication with the Town of Merrimack following reports ICE plans to establish a processing center in the town

Washington, DC - Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), joined by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding that Secretary Noem swiftly acknowledge and respond to concerns expressed by the Merrimack Town Council regarding reports Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to establish a new processing center in the town.

“As the state’s congressional delegation, we urge the Department to confirm its receipt of the Town Council’s letter as soon as possible and to give full and fair consideration to the Council’s budgetary and operational concerns,” the delegation wrote.

The delegation also pushed the Department to communicate clearly with the town regarding the proposed Merrimack processing center, writing, “We request that the Department acknowledge the Council’s letter and establish clear lines of communication with local officials as soon as possible to ensure the Council’s perspective is considered.”

Despite repeated outreach from the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation and the Town of Merrimack, DHS has yet to confirm or deny whether reports of ICE plans to establish a processing center in the town are true, or answer questions posed by the town, delegation, and residents of Merrimack.

The full letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Noem:

We write to transmit a letter from the Merrimack Town Council expressing concerns and its formal opposition to the Department of Homeland Security proposal to establish an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center in Merrimack, New Hampshire.

As the state’s congressional delegation, we urge the Department to confirm its receipt of the Town Council’s letter as soon as possible and to give full and fair consideration to the Council’s budgetary and operational concerns.

We request that the Department acknowledge the Council’s letter and establish clear lines of communication with local officials as soon as possible to ensure the Council’s perspective is considered.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response and to meaningful engagement between the Department and the Merrimack Town Council.

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NOTUS: Kristi Noem Is Holding Up More Than $1 Billion in Hazard Mitigation Funds

Somewhere in the pile of projects awaiting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s personal signature sits a plan to protect the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, from devastating wildfire.

“We were approved last summer, and it’s been sitting on her desk since,” Philo Shelton, Los Alamos county’s utilities manager, told NOTUS. The county wants to bury the Pajarito Mountain power lines that frequently spark wildfires.

The plan to protect Los Alamos and the critical national security research laboratory there has been held up by Noem’s requirement that she personally approve all Department of Homeland Security-funded projects over $100,000.

Since July, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved hazard mitigation grants that cost more than $100,000 in only three states, according to a NOTUS review of publicly available data and internal FEMA documents.

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The three states to get through the logjam: Georgia, North Carolina and Oklahoma. As of Dec. 31, before the North Carolina and Oklahoma projects were approved, Noem’s office was sitting on $1.3 billion in requested funds — all of which had been approved at the regional level, according to documents obtained by NOTUS.

This is the first time the scope of Noem’s funding hold on the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has been reported.

In December, FEMA granted about $1.5 million in federal spending for hazard mitigation projects in Georgia, two of which are located primarily in Republican Rep. Buddy Carter’s district. In early January, North Carolina was granted at least $29 million primarily to buy out homes flooded and destroyed during Hurricane Helene. Most recently, in late January, Oklahoma’s long-awaited hazard mitigation projects received final approval for more than $12 million.

Several local officials said they were able to access the funds because Republican lawmakers lobbied the administration for it.

“We put as much pressure on them as we can, and we are in close contact with the local officials and working with them hand in hand to try to get it expedited,” Carter told NOTUS.

“The process takes a while, and it’s frustrating,” Carter said. “But that’s what we have to navigate. It’s good when it gets there. It’s just unfortunate it takes so long to get there sometimes.”

Sen. James Lankford claimed credit in a Tuesday press release for the release of the funds for Oklahoma. “I’m grateful my conversations with US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem helped secure these much-needed federal funds,” Lankford said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of projects, across nearly all 50 states, four territories and two tribal nations, remain stuck at Noem’s level, NOTUS found from datasets and from conversations with local officials and elected representatives in 10 states.

Louisiana, Florida, Texas, California, New Jersey and Puerto Rico have the most money stuck in the review process, in that order. They are also the states that most frequently incur costly damage from severe storms.

“The administration is aligning hazard mitigation approvals not only with states’ ability to execute funds, but with ensuring state mitigation plans and project pipelines reflect the true mission and statutory intent of these programs so that dollars translate into real, measurable resilience,” a spokesperson for FEMA told NOTUS after publication. “The projects referenced in your questions are not yet ready for obligation.”

When Noem’s review process went into effect in July, FEMA suddenly dropped from spending around $100 million per month on hazard mitigation to spending nothing.

NOTUS found that FEMA fell into the red on total mitigation spending for the last six months of 2025. (FEMA is still regularly approving spending for hazard mitigation below the $100,000 threshold across the country, but those amounts are small. Meanwhile, it is recouping even more money that it has spent, at least in part from approved funds states did not end up using.)

“Unfortunately, Secretary Noem has virtually frozen FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program,” said Washington Rep. Rick Larsen, the ranking minority member for the House committee that oversees FEMA.

Before Trump’s return to office, states were typically granted access to a pool of HMGP funding when the president declared a federal disaster. The states would then enter an extensive application process to receive those funds.

In March, the Trump administration stopped granting new state requests to access hazard mitigation funding for disasters. The administration previously told NOTUS that Trump stopped granting new funding because states have been slow to draw down their already existing funds, and that FEMA has been trying to help states use those unspent balances.

But FEMA has done the opposite since Noem’s review process went into effect in July. FEMA has dramatically slowed its approvals of projects that could spend the existing pool of HMGP funding, according to a NOTUS analysis and an analysis from the Congressional Research Service.

“HMGP is authorized by Congress,” said Michael Coen, the former chief of staff for FEMA during the Biden administration. “The Trump administration’s failure to execute mitigation is reckless and I believe a breach of duty. Lives will be lost during future disasters that could have been avoided. HMGP funding is one of the few tools the federal government has to reduce future disaster costs and suffering.”

Scott Simmons, director for external affairs at Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said that FEMA didn’t approve new access to mitigation funding following the state’s March 2025 tornadoes that destroyed more than 200 homes.

“We’re not able to tackle programs that would hopefully lessen the impact of disasters,” Simmons said. “Without that mitigation of money, we simply did not set out on those types of projects because we know that the money’s not available. It would be up to our state lawmakers to decide if they want to fund specifically earmarked projects that would fall into a mitigation category.”

Across the country, federal and local officials told NOTUS that states are not able to implement critical measures that would protect people and communities in future disasters.

In Louisiana, where Hurricane Katrina caused the most damage and resulted in nearly 2,000 deaths, more than 20 mitigation grants have been stalled due to Noem’s sign-off process, Democratic Rep. Troy Carter’s office told NOTUS.

In Orange Beach, Alabama, the city requested more than $5 million following the 2020 hurricane season for a project that would provide the city with its own safe room to house first responders. The city currently uses a local elementary school as a shelter and shares it with two other cities.

“Without the Safe Room, there is no continuity of government and the problem magnifies because you have personnel spread out all over Baldwin County, and they can’t respond to rescue and cleanup efforts quickly and effectively, which can cause a major delay in recovery,” Nicole Woerner, emergency management coordinator for Orange Beach, told NOTUS.

More than 500 miles north, a different city with a different disaster problem is stuck in the same limbo. Batesville, Arkansas, is waiting for funding for the second phase of a project to alleviate repetitive flooding damage.

“It got to the point where the flooding, the drainage, was so bad it just had to be redesigned,” Carrie McIntosh, a community development coordinator for White River Planning and Development District, said. “There was a fire truck that actually went off the side of one of the roads into a culvert because of the flooding. Because it was so bad.”

FEMA told her organization that they were going to “expedite the project” last year, McIntosh said, but there has been no sign of progress since April.

Despite his frustration with the process, Carter defended Noem’s system in a conversation with NOTUS. The agency needs some kind of approval process, and Noem’s current rule is “probably the best they can do,” he said.

Georgia Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop, who worked with Carter and others in his state to get the funding released, was less complimentary.

“Let’s just say, I don’t think that the secretary of Homeland Security exercises her authority in the most efficient and effective way to carry out the duties and responsibilities of that office, that agency,” Bishop said. “And it goes back to the confirmation when a number of folks questioned her qualifications for the job.”

Still, both agree that the money is absolutely critical.

“Obviously, when you have a natural catastrophe like that, all of us work together to make sure that we get funding,” Carter said. “But yeah, it was very important, particularly my district, that we get that funding. Keep in mind that a lot of these tree farms are just small families — that this is their life savings.”

It’s not just families in Georgia with their life savings on the line. Those still trying to lobby the administration have noticed a partisan divide.

In New Mexico, Shelton, the utilities manager for the Los Alamos county government, has found himself reckoning with the fact that his congressional representatives are Democrats who do not have the power to force movement with the Trump administration.

“It’s gone through all the reviews, and most recently our senators have sent letters to her requesting the release of the funding,” Shelton said.

“Both of our Senators are Democrats,” he said. “I understand the nuance.”

Though it took several years for Shelton to get the project funding to this point through FEMA, he is beginning to wonder if he needs to look elsewhere to try to find the money.

“Secretary Kristi Noem is blocking projects that are critical to our national security and the safety of Americans — all to play partisan politics and punish states that Donald Trump lost,” New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich told NOTUS. “Cabinet secretaries should not be required to personally approve every single community safety project. Doing so is inefficient, causes significant delays, and puts lives at risk.”


Las Cruces Bulletin: NMSU introduces new institute, degrees in artificial intelligence

New Mexico State University is fast-tracking its artificial intelligence efforts by expanding development of AI programs in several directions through collaborations with all NMSU colleges and NMSU’s system of community colleges.

In spring 2025, strongly supported by $500,000 from NMSU President Valerio Ferme’s office and $2 million from the State of New Mexico, the university launched the Institute for Applied Practice in AI and Machine Learning.

“The mission of the AI Institute is to bring together AI researchers, educators and practitioners at NMSU and lead the region and the state in the application of AI models and technologies to practical solutions that address real-world challenges relevant to New Mexico,” said Enrico Pontelli, head of the institute and College of Arts and Sciences dean.

All NMSU colleges are involved in the effort. In fall 2026, NMSU will launch the state’s first bachelor’s degree in AI. The university also is spearheading the creation of an innovative master’s degree in applied artificial intelligence.

“This is timely and sorely needed,” Ferme said. “With our labs, with the technology we have in the state, this is a wonderful opportunity for our students. But even beyond, many good things will come out of AI if we use it responsibly and I’m very pleased that our students will be able to participate in this new field.”

The institute is inspiring the university’s AI efforts through action. So far, the AI institute has assembled a team developing general education courses to introduce AI for all; launched an internal grants program for new research collaborations across the university; participated in a proposal for a national research collaboration network, led by Howard University, focused on the impact of AI on the workforce; co-led a panel at the Computing Research Association Summit titled “Building Capacity for AI Education in Undergraduate Programs” in late July 2025; and in late August 2025, organized a meeting with representatives of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s office to discuss pathways to integrate AI into higher education.

The institute also is co-leading, with the Computing Research Association, a national meeting in January 2026 focused on addressing the challenges of promoting effective AI education for all students across all academic institutions.

NMSU’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences has been successful in helping ranchers use virtual fencing to monitor and control cattle in large areas after recent fires destroyed many of the physical fences. There are already AI specialized courses offered by different departments, such as those in NMSU’s Department of Accounting, that explore the use of AI within specific discipline, and the institute is investigating how to grow these opportunities into a specialized applied AI master’s degree.

“AI is already having a profound impact on the workforce and on the market,” Pontelli said. “The U.S. AI market has grown tenfold in just the last five years. It is expected to exceed 250 billion by 2027. Our degree programs will allow us to develop students capable of mastering AI knowledge, meaning not only the foundations of AI and understanding how AI can be used to solve problems in a variety of domains, but also the ethical use of AI and its impacts on individuals and society.”


Politico: Senators look to revive permitting talks, but put onus on Trump

Key Senate negotiators on Wednesday said they could revive stalled talks over easing federal permitting rules if the Trump administration stops its attacks on renewable energy projects.

The comments from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and others come as pressure builds for Congress to act in a bipartisan manner to address voters’ concerns about rising electricity prices caused in part by surging power demand from the build-out of AI data centers, a daunting prospect in a midterm election year. Senators had been negotiating permitting law changes before Democrats walked away in response to the Trump administration's order to stop on offshore wind projects that had already had their permits approved.

"I still want to pass bipartisan Senate permitting reform,” said Whitehouse, ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, at a hearing. “But it makes no sense to pass a bipartisan permitting reform that will be illegally butchered by a lawless executive branch vindictively, irrationally and dishonestly. The responsibility for resuscitating permitting reform rests now upon the executive branch, upon credible confidence that the nonsense will stop.”

EPW Chair Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said making it easier to build energy projects of all energy types — something lawmakers in both parties have tried unsuccessfully to do for years — would “relieve the economic pressure Americans are facing across the nation.”

Capito added that she empathized with the position of Democrats, led by Whitehouse and Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), who paused permitting talks last month over the White House’s assault on offshore wind and other renewable projects. Their decision to cut off talks came just after House Republicans passed their own permitting legislation with bipartisan support.

“We have all had communities we represent impacted by projects that were delayed or outright canceled by new administrations,” said Capito, who referenced the Biden administration’s blocking of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. “Let's remove the politics from permitting once and for all.”

"We feel your pain," added Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), directing her comments at Democrats. "We are in the same boat now. We need some certainty."

Whitehouse took pains to credit Capito and Senate GOP leadership for how they’ve approached permitting talks, as he laid the blame squarely at the Trump administration.

"This is not Democrat versus Republican. This is legislative versus executive,” Whitehouse said. “Proceeding with this bipartisan hearing is our demonstration of hope that the nonsense can be stopped, and of trust in our Republican colleagues to get to a good bill.”

He said he was encouraged by the “harmony" expressed from a broad array of industries testifying who are pushing for legislation to restrain a president’s power to revoke permits or stall routine approvals for energy projects.

Solar Energy Industries Association President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper said at the hearing that “the federal permitting process has lost credibility regarding solar projects." She emphasized that any reforms must reverse Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s order from last year requiring his personal review of each step of wind and solar projects built on federal lands.

Canceling permits and delaying approvals will cause electricity prices to spike because of a potential supply and demand imbalance, Hopper added.

“Whether it happens prior to approval, or especially if it happens after those electrons are baked into the grid planning, if those go away, we all know what happens," Hopper said. "Our prices go up. Because there's a scarcity of a really much needed commodity. And so the impact on homeowners, on businesses, on all of us, is pretty impactful.”

Dustin Meyer, senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs at the American Petroleum Institute, echoed that sentiment, stating that a permitting bill should prevent “arbitrary suspensions or revocations” of permits “driven by political or policy shifts rather than new facts or violations.”

“Done correctly, it will provide a necessary correction to a system that no longer functions as intended for anyone seeking to build any type of infrastructure in the United States,” Meyer added.


Heinrich: “Kristi Noem Needs to Go. Immediately”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement calling for U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or be fired due to DHS’ lawlessness, including the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse.

“Kristi Noem lied about what we all saw with our own eyes. She needs to go. Immediately.”

Following the shooting of Alex Pretti, Heinrich announced that he will not vote to fund the lawlessness of DHS, not by itself and not packaged with other funding bills. Heinrich strongly believes DHS needs major reforms now.

Last January, Heinrich voted against the nomination of Noem for DHS Secretary.

This month, Heinrich introduced the PUBLIC SAFETY Act, legislation that will redirect almost $75 billion from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and send it instead to local law enforcement to help keep communities safe in New Mexico and nationwide.

For more information on Heinrich’s actions to protect Americans, Tribal members, and Dreamers from wrongful searches and harassment by ICE, click here.

For more information on Heinrich’s actions to support local law enforcement with the tools they need to keep our communities safe, click here.

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Hirono, Warren, Durbin Lead Colleagues in Pressing Deputy Attorney General Blanche on Conflicts of Interest Following Decision to Ease Prosecution of Cryptocurrency-Related Crimes

Senators: “At the very least, you had a glaring conflict of interest and should have recused yourself.”

~ Letter follows ProPublica investigation into Deputy AG Blanche’s crypto holdings ~

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) led three of their colleagues in a letter to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, pressing him on his decision last year to disband the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) and terminate investigations and prosecutions into the tools used to facilitate cryptocurrency crime, in light of recent reporting that he held more than $150,000 in cryptocurrency at the time of the decision.

The letter follows a recent investigation into Blanche after reports that he broke federal conflict-of-interest law when he ordered changes to crypto prosecutions that would benefit the industry, while owning at least $158,000 in cryptocurrency. Last year, Senators Hirono, Warren, and Durbin led a letter to Blanche following these changes, urging him to reverse his decision.

“Last year, we asked for the rationale behind your puzzling decision to scale back the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) cryptocurrency enforcement efforts and urged you to reconsider. We write now in light of recent reporting that you held substantial amounts of cryptocurrency at the time you made this decision,” wrote the senators. “At the very least, you had a glaring conflict of interest and should have recused yourself.”

The senators emphasize that in their previous letter, they had warned that disbanding the NCET and taking a hands-off approach to the tools that criminals use to obscure their uses of cryptocurrency would support further criminal activity such as sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, scams, and child sexual exploitation.

“Unfortunately, our predictions have proven correct, with illicit cryptocurrency activity soaring 162% in 2025,” continued the senators. “This increase was driven primarily by a dramatic rise in the receipt of cryptocurrency by sanctioned entities, but most categories of crypto crime saw increases, including human trafficking and other violent crime. Moreover, Chinese money laundering networks—to which the Trump Administration has drawn attention for moving billions for Mexican drug cartels—have now emerged as a ‘dominant force’ in the digital asset ecosystem.”

The senators write that President Trump and his family’s interest in selling their cryptocurrency, as well as Blanche’s own crypto holdings, called into question the motivation behind Blanche’s decision to ease law enforcement scrutiny of cryptocurrency-related crimes last year.

“But the fact that you held substantial amounts of cryptocurrency at the time you made this decision calls into question your own motivations,” concluded the senators.

The senators seek Blanche’s communications and documentation regarding the handling of his cryptocurrency holdings and related conflicts of interest prior to and at the time of his decision to scale back DOJ’s cryptocurrency enforcement efforts, by no later than February 11, 2026.

In addition to Senators Hirono, Warren, and Durbin, the letter is also signed by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

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

Dear Deputy Attorney General Blanche:

Last year, we asked for the rationale behind your puzzling decision to scale back the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) cryptocurrency enforcement efforts and urged you to reconsider. We write now in light of recent reporting that you held substantial amounts of cryptocurrency at the time you made this decision. Your actions may be a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 208(a). At the very least, you had a glaring conflict of interest and should have recused yourself.

We warned in our prior letter that disbanding the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and taking a hands-off approach to the exchanges, mixers, and other tools that criminals use to obscure the sources and uses of their cryptocurrency were “grave mistakes that will support sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, scams, and child sexual exploitation.” DOJ’s perfunctory response to our letter promised that prosecutors would target criminals using cryptocurrency in furtherance of their crimes. Unfortunately, our predictions have proven correct, with illicit cryptocurrency activity soaring 162% in 2025. This increase was driven primarily by a dramatic rise in the receipt of cryptocurrency by sanctioned entities, but most categories of crypto crime saw increases, including human trafficking and other violent crime. Moreover, Chinese money laundering networks—to which the Trump Administration has drawn attention for moving billions for Mexican drug cartels—have now emerged as a “dominant force” in the digital asset ecosystem.

We noted that “[y]our decisions give rise to concerns that President Trump’s interest in selling his cryptocurrency may be the reason for easing law enforcement scrutiny.” Certainly, President Trump’s financial interests seem to have motivated some of his pardons of criminals convicted of cryptocurrency-related crimes. But the fact that you held substantial amounts of cryptocurrency at the time you made this decision calls into question your own motivations. The timeline of events is clear:

1/18/25: You disclosed cryptocurrency holdings of between $158,000 and $470,000, mostly in Bitcoin and Ethereum.

2/10/25: You agreed to divest these assets “as soon as practicable.”

3/5/25: You were confirmed as Deputy Attorney General.

4/7/25: You issued a memo scaling back DOJ’s cryptocurrency enforcement.

5/31/25–6/3/25: Your cryptocurrency holdings were sold or transferred to relatives.

As noted above, your decision to direct this change in DOJ policy favorable to the cryptocurrency industry while holding substantial amounts of cryptocurrency appears to have violated 18 U.S.C. § 208(a). This provision generally prohibits an executive branch employee from “participat[ing] personally and substantially” in a “decision . . . or other particular matter in which, to his knowledge, he . . . has a financial interest.” Willful violations of this provision are punishable by up to five years in prison. Your conduct is now the subject of a complaint to DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General.

We have a constitutional obligation to perform oversight over the Department of Justice and its personnel and policy decisions. To that end, please preserve all relevant documents and communications, answer the following questions, and provide the requested information:

In a statement issued on January 23, 2026, DOJ represented on your behalf that “this was appropriately flagged, addressed, and cleared in advance.” Please describe in detail the facts underlying that statement. At a minimum, please explain:

What was “appropriately flagged”?

To whom was “this . . . appropriately flagged”?

By whom was “this . . . appropriately flagged”?

How was “this . . . addressed”?

How was “this . . . cleared”?

By whom was “this . . . cleared”?

Did you receive a written determination pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 208(b)(1) in advance of issuing your April 7, 2025 memorandum regarding cryptocurrency enforcement? If so, please provide a copy.

Did you communicate with agency ethics officials or anyone else within DOJ or the federal government about the propriety of issuing your April 7, 2025 memorandum regarding cryptocurrency enforcement while holding substantial cryptocurrency assets? If so, please provide all records reflecting or relating to this communication.

Did you communicate with representatives of any companies active in the cryptocurrency industry between March 5, 2025 and April 7, 2025? If so, please provide all records reflecting or relating to this communication.

Why did you wait until May 31, 2025 to begin disposing of your cryptocurrency holdings when you had promised to do so “as soon as practicable” more than three months earlier?

Why did you fail to recuse yourself from the decision to issue the April 7, 2025 memo regarding cryptocurrency enforcement?

Proper enforcement of our nation’s laws against criminals using cryptocurrency is of vital importance. To that end, we request answers to these questions and production of the requested materials as soon as possible and no later than February 11, 2026.

Sincerely,

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HYDE-SMITH, CORTEZ MASTO OFFER BILL TO EXPAND RESEARCH ON INFANT MONITORING TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT SIDS/SUIDS

Authorizes Research Study of Home Cardiorespiratory Monitors to Help Lower Infant Mortality Rates

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), with U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), today introduced legislation to authorize a research study on the use of medical devices to help reduce the rate of American babies lost to sudden infant death syndrome or sudden unexpected infant death (SIDS/SUIDS).

The Baby Observation Act (S.3712) could expand the use of home cardiorespiratory monitors by requiring a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the effectiveness of these monitors in preventing SIDS/SUIDS.

“While many causes and factors go into the infant mortality rates in Mississippi and around the country, we know that SIDS and SUIDS contribute to these tragic mortality rates. Our legislation would focus attention on home monitors that may prove to be an answer to helping prevent the heartbreaking loss of these beautiful babies,” said Senator Hyde-Smith, chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus.

“No parent should ever have to endure the heartbreak of suddenly losing their newborn baby,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to support legislation that will allow us to better understand and prevent sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and expand the toolbox for parents looking to keep their children safe.”

In addition to requiring the HHS Secretary to study cardiorespiratory monitors, the legislation would also require HHS to examine new models of care to improve an infant’s home sleeping environment, including the use of cardiorespiratory monitors. Without affecting the budget, the study should also help determine whether home cardiorespiratory monitors have shown efficacy to support coverage in private and public health insurance plans.

While SIDS rates seem to have stabilized nationally, SUIDS numbers have increased significantly in recent years. In 2024, the infant mortality rate in Mississippi was 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, the highest of any state and substantially higher than the provisional U.S. rate of 5.5 in 2024.

The bipartisan S.3712 closely adheres to similar legislation (HR.2168) introduced by U.S. Representative Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.) and cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), and others.


Senator Justice Touts Multi-Billion Dollar Investment in Mason County Through Fidelis New Energy

Justice brought Fidelis New Energy to the state of West Virginia in 2023 as part of his economic development initiative while serving as Governor

MASON COUNTY, WV – Today, Senator Justice released a statement applauding the multi-billion dollar data center investment, with massive growth potential, made by American Power and Intelligence Corporation in Mason County. This was part of his marquee effort to bring Fidelis New Energy to the state of West Virginia:

“I truly could not be prouder to see the seeds of our work from years ago begin to bloom in the state with this announcement from the American Power and Intelligence Corporation. These investments are a huge deal and push West Virginia to the forefront of a new age. West Virginia has the energy, has the workforce, and has the economic environment to attract investment from around the world, and we’re only getting started. I ran the state like a business from the start, and nobody can deny business is absolutely booming,” said Senator Jim Justice.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Justice as Governor and Fidelis first announced the intention to develop a data center and microgrid campus in Mason County, West Virginia in 2023.

This announcement came as part of Justice’s economic development effort, which transformed the state economy, brought in new jobs, and created and business environment aimed to compete with other states.

This will be AIPC’s flagship investment in the state with immediate multi-gigawatt power capacity capabilities.

Read more about the project here.

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Video: Kaine Presses Secretary Rubio on Venezuela During Committee Hearing

FULL VIDEO IS AVAILABLE HERE.

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, pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio on U.S. policy toward Venezuela and President Donald Trump’s comments at the World Economic Forum in which he confused Iceland and Greenland. Kaine has pushed for more transparency on the Administration’s operations in Venezuela and previously introduced War Powers Resolutions to block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress. He also introduced a resolution focused on the strikes in the Caribbean.

“We started this operation on September 2 with the attack on Venezuelans on boats on open waters, and now, we are nearly five months in,” said Kaine. “Finally a public hearing!”

“Even in this first public hearing five months in, there’s a lot we can’t talk about,” Kaine continued. “If it was such a righteous operation, why is this Administration and the majority in the Senate so jealously protecting the details about it from being revealed to the American public? I have Virginians deployed in this operation; I can’t answer their families’ questions … This is supposed to be the greatest deliberative body in the world.”

Kaine pressed Secretary Rubio on the Administration’s plan for Venezuela and its support for María Corina Machado.

Kaine said, “The Administration has made the decision in the aftermath of the attack that Delcy Rodríguez should be leading the country.”

“Here’s what President Trump said about [María Corina Machado] … in the aftermath of the attack on Venezuela: ‘I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect.’ What did President Trump mean by that?

“I talked to her last week. Very disappointed in those comments and so were Venezuelans in my state.”

Secretary Rubio responded, “Today, as it stands—whether we like it or not—the elements of control in that country, the people with the guns, the people that control the guns, and the institutions of government there, are in the hands of this regime.”

Kaine then pushed Secretary Rubio on President Trump’s comments in Davos.

Kaine said, “Here’s something the President said in Davos: ‘I’m helping NATO until the last few days when I told them about Iceland. They loved me. They’re not here for us on Iceland—that I can tell you. Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland has already cost us a lot of money.’ The President repeatedly mistook Iceland for Greenland, right?”

Secretary Rubio responded, “Yeah, he meant to say Greenland.”

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Kelly, Husted Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Expand Food Deliveries for Rural Seniors

Legislation supports local food banks delivering nutrition assistance to rural seniors

Today, Senators and Senate Aging Committee members Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Jon Husted (R-OH) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Delivering for Rural Seniors Act, legislation that would help food banks and other local partners deliver U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition assistance directly to low-income rural seniors at home, recognizing that distance, transportation, or mobility barriers can make in-person pickup difficult.

The bill would establish a grant pilot program to help deliver Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) food boxes directly to low-income seniors at home, prioritizing seniors in rural communities. Also known as the senior food box, CSFP is a USDA program that supports adults age 60 and older with limited incomes by supplementing their diets with nutritious foods, administered by states through local organizations like food banks.

In Arizona, organizations like St. Mary’s Food Bank have shown how home delivery can reach seniors who can’t get to a pickup site. From October through December 2025, approximately 40% of St. Mary’s completed deliveries were CSFP food boxes, demonstrating how delivery programs can significantly expand access to senior nutrition assistance.

“Too many seniors, especially in rural communities in Arizona and across the country, are eligible for nutrition assistance but can’t reliably get to a pickup site. This bill will help close that gap,” said Kelly. “By supporting local partners who are willing and able to deliver food directly to seniors’ doors, we can help older Americans stay healthy and independent in their own homes, especially as costs continue to rise. Geography shouldn’t be the difference between getting help and going without.”

“Ohio has about 30,000 seniors who are eligible for food assistance through CSFP, and many of them do not have access to transportation. Especially in Appalachia, where driving distances are commonly further than others, this is a good step to ensure rural seniors don’t go hungry,” said Husted.

Companion legislation was introduced in February in the House of Representatives by Representatives Zach Nunn (R-IA-03) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30).

See what leaders are saying in support of the legislation:

“The Delivering for Rural Seniors Act bridges a key gap in getting older Americans connected to food that is already available for them. Food banks and agencies across the state need the support this bill would offer to ensure a senior who is home bound or otherwise lacks transportation and support gets access to a CSFP food box. AzFBN partners with food banks across the state, and hears the same message repeated from both food banks and they clients they serve – if a food box can’t be delivered, that person won’t receive support. This Act will help food banks help more seniors. If passed, the impact will be dramatic and immediate for seniors in rural Arizona,” said April Bradham, President and CEO, Arizona Food Bank Network.

“At Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, nothing is more important to us than reaching our neighbors in need of food with support. Home delivery services reach our most vulnerable, homebound neighbors. As economic pressures build, our rural neighbors with fixed incomes, high-risk health conditions, and limited access to reliable transportation are disproportionately impacted. Home delivery is an avenue by which we can improve service in hard to reach communities. The Delivering for Rural Seniors Act will help expand our work in delivering CSFP boxes and, in turn, reach more seniors with vital food supplies,” said Natalie Jayroe, CEO, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

“No one should face hunger in their golden years. Yet, every state is home to seniors who experience food insecurity. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is critical to helping seniors with low incomes access the food they need to maintain good health. But the program doesn’t reach all eligible individuals, due to insufficient funding and a shortage of delivery options. The bipartisan Delivering for Rural Seniors Act introduced by Sens. Kelly and Husted would help more seniors keep food on the table, especially in rural areas, by expanding access to delivery services. We urge Congress to help seniors facing hunger by including this important legislation in the farm bill,” said Ami McReynolds, interim Chief Government Relations Officer at Feeding America.

“NCSFPA supports the Delivering for Rural Seniors Act and other efforts to improve and expand the delivery of food packages to eligible individuals. For many seniors—especially in rural and underserved areas—delivery is the only viable way to access nutrition assistance. Strengthening these delivery options is critical to ensuring that vulnerable seniors are not left behind and can reliably receive the food support they need,” said the National Commodity Supplemental Food Program Association.


Kelly Presses Trump for Action to Lower Housing Costs

“Arizona families deserve better. They need an administration that is truly committed to lowering housing costs.”

“I’m ready to work with you and anyone in your administration or in Congress to lower the cost of housing so that hardworking Americans can put a roof over their head.”

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner raising concerns about how the Trump administration’s actions are driving up housing costs and making it harder for Arizona families to afford a safe place to live, despite President Trump’s promise to lower costs for working families “on day one.”

In his letter, Kelly details how rising rents, home prices, insurance costs, utilities, and construction expenses are putting growing financial pressure on Arizona families, particularly as Trump’s policies further destabilize housing affordability in a fast-growing state with limited supply.

“Housing costs have reached a breaking point for too many families in Arizona and across the country. You promised to lower costs ‘on day one,’ but instead of easing the financial burden Americans are facing, your Administration has made the situation worse,” wrote Kelly in his letter. “Housing, insurance, utilities, and construction costs are rising. A year into your second term, your Administration’s policies have increased the price of building materials, destabilized affordable housing programs, and cut funding to help the homeless, while doing nothing to bring down rents and mortgages. In a fast-growing state like Arizona, where population growth and limited supply already make housing expensive and hard to find, your Administration is placing even more pressure on families who are trying to afford a safe place to call home.”

Kelly pointed to the widening gap between incomes and housing costs, warning that many Arizona families are spending an unsustainable share of their income just to keep a roof over their heads: “Arizonans continue to struggle with a long-term trend of higher home prices and rents rising much faster than incomes. Renters in the Phoenix metropolitan area pay about $1,849 per month in rent, while a Phoenix resident earns only $67,500 per year on average. This means many families spend over 30 percent of their income on housing and have trouble making ends meet each month. […] Across the country, incomes have grown much more slowly than home prices. Since 1985, median household income has increased 255 percent, while median home prices surged by more than 415 percent, making it harder for many Americans to afford a home.”

Kelly further warned that homeowners are facing rising insurance and utility costs, particularly in areas vulnerable to wildfire, drought, and extreme heat: “The cost of maintaining a home has also increased. Homeowners insurance premiums are skyrocketing, particularly in regions facing heightened wildfire, drought, or extreme heat risk. Homeowners in high-risk areas now pay significantly more for insurance, and many are struggling to find affordable coverage at all. In Arizona, premiums have increased at some of the fastest rates in the country, creating new barriers for first-time buyers and adding strain for existing homeowners. And utility costs are still high. Electricity rates in Arizona have gone up in recent years, and despite your repeated claims that energy prices are falling, families have not seen relief in their monthly bills.”

Kelly emphasized that administration tariff policies are directly increasing construction costs and slowing the pace of new housing development: “Your Administration’s policies are directly contributing to these high costs. The tariffs you have implemented, including increased tariffs on steel and aluminum, threatened tariffs on lumber, and a global tariff on all imports entering the U.S. have directly caused the price of essential building materials and home appliances to increase. Tariffs increase costs throughout the construction supply chain, making it more expensive to build new houses and slowing the rate of construction.”

In recent years, Kelly has supported commonsense solutions to address the housing affordability crisis, including the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, which passed the Senate unanimously last year and would increase housing supply, cut red tape, and strengthen local tools to address housing shortages and homelessness. Kelly also introduced the HOPE for Homeownership Act to curb Wall Street and hedge fund ownership of single-family homes. In his letter, Kelly urged the President to work with Congress to advance these solutions and called on the administration to reverse proposed cuts to HUD programs that help families afford a home.

Kelly closed by urging the administration to work with Congress to deliver real relief for families struggling with housing costs: “Arizona families deserve better. They need an administration that is truly committed to lowering housing costs and strengthening the programs that are proven to work. I urge you to start by ending these tariffs that are jacking up the cost of building new homes. I’m ready to work with you and anyone in your administration or in Congress to lower the cost of housing so that hardworking Americans can put a roof over their head.”