WATCH: Padilla Demands Accountability for Minneapolis Killings, Refuses to Support Funding for ICE and CBP

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, spoke on the Senate floor to hold the line against any additional funding for President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after the brutal killings of two American citizens in Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agents. Padilla blasted the Administration’s escalation of tensions in American cities, including Minneapolis, which led to the devastating, inexcusable deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

Padilla pushed to rein in the Trump Administration’s repeated abuses of power, calling out the Administration’s militarization of Los Angeles as the test case for the ongoing chaos and cruelty they’ve unleashed in communities across the nation to carry out Trump’s mass detention and deportation agenda. He condemned ICE and CBP’s indiscriminate, violent raids, during which they have profiled and targeted people at places of worship, schools, and workplaces based on how they look and the language they speak.

As Trump, Stephen Miller, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem lie to the American public and refuse to take responsibility for these tragedies, Padilla demanded ICE and CBP officers and agents obey the law and stressed that they do not have absolute immunity. He also criticized the Administration for refusing to open an unbiased, independent investigation, instead allowing DHS to investigate itself.

Padilla underscored the sharp rise in incidents involving excessive force by federal agents — including at least 17 shootings — and deaths in ICE custody at private detention facilities. After 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025, the deadliest year since 2005, at least six individuals have already died in their custody this year. Padilla highlighted his oversight visit with Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) last week to the largest detention center in California, located in California City, to learn firsthand of the concerns surrounding the inhumane conditions detained individuals are facing at the private, for-profit facility, including a severe lack of medical and mental health care, legal counsel, and due process.

After Congress already passed billions in funding for DHS last year, tripling ICE’s budget, Senator Padilla made clear that he will not vote to authorize any additional taxpayer funding for DHS until ICE and CBP stop ignoring the Constitution and federal law, allow real federal oversight, and implement major reforms to rein in these out-of-control agencies.

Key Excerpts:

Colleagues, it was about seven months ago that I stood here on the floor to warn all of you and the American people that the Trump Administration at the time … was using Los Angeles as a test case — testing how far federal agents could go in this indiscriminate, increasingly violent and cruel mass detention and deportation agenda, how far they could go before exporting this model throughout the country. I never in my life have wanted to say more than I do today that I wish I was wrong.

You’ve seen the videos. I’ve seen the videos. We’ve all seen the videos. How dare this Administration slander the names of the dead and tell the American people not to believe what we can all see so clearly with our own eyes. How dare this Administration act as if the laws passed by this body do not apply to them.

It is time to say: enough. This is not just about immigrant families and immigrant communities now living in fear — this is about all of us. No one in this country — immigrant, citizen, veteran — should fear for their life for exercising their constitutional rights for standing up for their neighbors.

This is not a political or policy disagreement about immigration. This is about decency. This is about humanity. And this is about the rule of law.

Instead of asking questions and demanding accountability, our Republican colleagues here have applauded the Administration and chosen to give the Department of Homeland Security billions more dollars — and now they’re suggesting that DHS needs even more. How much more must our communities and our country endure before our Republican colleagues join us in saying enough? How much more, colleagues, before you agree to impose real guardrails on a DHS that chooses to investigate itself, that stonewalls oversight, that even fights court orders to preserve evidence in the killing of an American citizen?

Collectively, on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, let those agents know, no one is above the law. That is not just an opportunity, but an obligation that we have in this moment. Public safety depends on legitimacy — and legitimacy depends on accountability and speaking the truth. Our laws mean nothing if those that are assigned to enforce the laws believe that the laws don’t apply to them.

We are not powerless… Congress is a co-equal branch of government in the United States of America, and it’s about time we act like it. That’s why I support imposing serious reforms, real oversight, and accountability on ICE and CBP before this body provides them any more taxpayer dollars.

Video of Senator Padilla’s remarks is available here and can be downloaded here.

Senator Padilla has been a leading voice in opposition to President Trump’s cruel and indiscriminate mass deportation agenda, including against his unprecedented, illegal militarization of Los Angeles and other American cities. Earlier today, Padilla and Senator Schiff joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and every Senate Judiciary Democrat in urging the Department of Justice to heed the calls of career prosecutors and open a civil rights investigation into the death of Renee Good. Earlier this month, Padilla joined leading immigration advocates and interfaith leaders at an “ICE Out for Good” rally and vigil to condemn the Trump Administration’s abuses against American communities and to demand ICE and CBP leave Minnesota after Good’s killing. Last month, Padilla and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act to allow individuals — regardless of citizenship — the right to sue federal law enforcement officers and agencies in civil court for violations of their civil and constitutional rights.

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Peters Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Federal Grant Application Process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2026

Jalelah Sofia Ahmed

peterspress@hsgac.senate.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the administration of grant programs across the federal government. Governments, organizations, and businesses that are smaller, more rural, or have more limited resources often face difficulties when applying for federal grants because they lack the resources to navigate the complicated application processes. The Streamlining Federal Grants Act would simplify the application process to improve access to federal grants for communities across the country.

“Complicated application processes cause smaller, more rural, and under-resourced communities to miss out on critical opportunities to receive federal grant funding,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation will streamline the grant application process and give communities in Michigan and across the country an equal opportunity to benefit from federal funding.”

The Streamlining Federal Grants Act requires that each federal agency, in coordination with each other and the Office of Management and Budget, take steps to simplify their grant application process. This includes making funding opportunities easier to understand, updating software systems to manage federal grants, and implementing common data standards for grant reporting. Further, this legislation would require agencies to appoint senior officials to develop and oversee these initiatives to improve the transparency and efficiency of the grant application and reporting processes. By improving this process, less burden will be placed on grant applicants, ensuring the fair and efficient distribution of funding to communities that need assistance most.

Below are statements in support of the bipartisan legislation:

“Michigan Nonprofit Association applauds Senator Gary Peters for championing this bipartisan effort to modernize and simplify the federal grants process,” said Kelley Kuhn, President & CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association. “Nonprofits too often face barriers that prevent them from accessing critical federal dollars that could strengthen local services and drive community solutions. Streamlining grant applications and reporting will reduce administrative burdens and help ensure that every community, regardless of size or capacity, has a fair opportunity to secure the resources they need. We are grateful for his leadership and strongly support this legislation.”

“The Michigan Municipal League strongly supports the Streamlining Federal Grants Act which will make federal grants more accessible to our over 500 cities, villages and townships,” said Michigan Municipal League Executive Director and CEO Dan Gilmartin. “Thank you, Senator Peters, for working to cut the red tape and make federal grants more efficient.

“Local residents and community groups will be the real beneficiaries because the Grants Act would bring much needed streamlining and simplification of the federal grants process for the local governments, non-profits and other organizations seeking funding for vital operations and important projects and programs,” said Candice S. Miller, the Public Works Commissioner of Macomb County, Michigan, and former member of Congress. “I strongly support this common sense, bipartisan legislation.”

“Cities like Lansing rely on grants from the federal government to fund important and necessary programs and needs and have a direct positive impact on our residents. Having a streamlined process to access these grants would save time and resources and allow us to use our time helping our residents and constituents across the country through these federal grant opportunities. I thank U.S. Senator Gary Peters and the bipartisan coalition pushing this for all citizens regardless of whether they live in blue, red, or purple communities,” said Andy Schor, Mayor of Lansing, Michigan, and Member of the US Conference of Mayors Advisory Board.

“Federal grants improve the quality of life for millions of Americans, but they can often be inaccessible for those who need them most,” said James Perry, Executive Director of the Downriver Community Conference. “The bipartisan Streamlining Federal Grants Act is a critical piece of legislation to address these disparities, ultimately allowing for more support from the federal government to flow to residents, workers, and businesses in communities throughout the nation. I am thankful for the work of Senators Peters and Lankford, and I look forward to our continued partnership in making the federal grants application process more accessible for all Americans.”

“I support the Streamlining Federal Grants Act because small departments like ours with limited resources need a fair, simple and modern grant process,” said Austin Conway, Fire Chief for Dafter Township. “Cutting red tape and updating outdated systems will help ensure critical federal resources we count on will reach the communities that need them the most.”

“Lacking the budgetary means to have a grant writer, our federal grants are written by the firefighters themselves,” said Brandon Hausbeck, Fire Chief of the Saginaw Fire Department. “The current process is nuanced and can be difficult to navigate for firefighters with no formal grant management training. We are hopeful the Streamlining Federal Grants Act will improve accessibility for communities seeking federal funding.”

“As a fire chief, I see firsthand how federal grants can make a real difference in protecting our communities—but the complexity of the process often puts smaller, resource-limited departments at a disadvantage,” said Kurt Corradi, Fire Chief for the Bay City Fire Department. “The Streamlining Federal Grants Act cuts through unnecessary red tape by simplifying reporting requirements, improving agency coordination, and modernizing the Grants.gov system. These commonsense improvements will allow fire departments, local governments, and nonprofits to focus less on paperwork and more on delivering critical services, while ensuring federal resources reach the communities that need them most.”

“Accessing federal grants is critically important for rural counties like Shiawassee County but can also be challenging due to the lack of capacity in researching, writing and administering them,” said Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership President/CEO Justin Horvath. “Thank you to Senator Peters for putting forward this important legislation, which would be significantly beneficial in streamlining the process and improving our opportunities to secure much needed resources.”

“SVSU is fully committed to serving students and communities as part of our public mission,” said Dr. Marcia Ditmyer, Dean of the College of Health, and Human Services at Saginaw Valley State University. “The reinstatement of our SBIRT grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reinforces just how critical it is for institutions like ours to have an efficient and transparent federal grants process. We believe Senator Gary Peters’ Streamlining Federal Grants Act would reduce administrative burden, improve coordination across agencies, and allow universities to focus more fully on what matters most – helping people – through evidence-based prevention and early intervention efforts.”

“Our nation is built on the principle that opportunity should be available to everyone,” said Mayor Sheldon Neeley for the City of Flint. “Federal grant funding plays a critical role in helping communities like Flint close gaps and improve quality of life. When those dollars are postponed or denied, it slows our progress—but when they are accessible, they give us a real chance to lift up residents young and old, across every background. I stand with the ending of our Pledge of Allegiance: One Nation, Under God, with Liberty and Justice for All. Amen.”

"We strongly support the reintroduction of the Streamlining Federal Grants Act,” said Mott Community College President Shaunda Richardson-Snell. “Reducing administrative hurdles is essential for maximizing the impact of federal dollars. This legislation will allow MCC to deploy grant funding more efficiently, ensuring that resources get to the programs and students that need them most, faster and with greater effectiveness.”

“For cities like Bay City, accessing federal funding often requires significant staff time and resources,” said Dana Muscott, City Manager, City of Bay City. “Streamlining the federal grants process would help level the playing field for communities that don’t have large grant teams, allowing us to focus on implementing projects that directly benefit our residents. We thank Senator Peters for reintroducing legislation that recognizes these challenges and works to make federal programs more user-friendly.”

“Central Michigan University strongly supports the efforts of Senator Peters to streamline the grant process across federal agencies,” said Dr. Bradley Swanson, Interim Vice President for Research & Innovation at Central Michigan University. “The number of individuals currently involved in the processing of each application limits the ability of organizations to apply for and be awarded federal grant funding. Standardizing requirements through interagency coordination, reducing reporting requirements, and modernizing Grants.gov will increase the number of applications being submitted, ensuring that the most valuable and innovative projects are funded and providing the greatest return on the investment for the American taxpayer.”

“Federal grants play a vital role in helping us deliver timely, effective programs and services for residents,” said Dana Lasenby, Oakland Community Health Network CEO. “Senator Peters’ leadership on the Streamlining Federal Grants Act reflects a deep understanding of local challenges with a complex application process and offers a thoughtful, bipartisan solution. By simplifying the process and reducing administrative burden, this legislation will help ensure resources reach the people and communities who need them most. We strongly support this important effort.”

“For organizations like STARS, streamlined federal grant processes mean less time navigating paperwork and more time delivering services that directly impact our community,” said Amy Bidwell, Executive Director of STARS. “The Streamlining Federal Grants Act would reduce unnecessary barriers and help ensure vital resources reach the people and places that need them most.”

“We’re excited to see steps toward more streamlined and consistent processes around federal funding,” said Payton Hines, President of the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance. “The Streamlining Federal Grants Act will increase efficiencies and direct more time toward delivering greater impact in our communities.”

"As an active applicant for federal grants across many agencies for many years, we support the Streamlining Federal Grants Act sponsored by Senator Peters," said Alpena Community College President Dr. Don MacMaster. "The premise behind making the application and reporting process more straightforward and streamlined makes sense. When limited institutional capacity must be deployed to parsing grant boilerplate requirements, everyone loses—including the federal government and the taxpayers they represent. Complexity does not equal accountability. Senator Peters, as he's often done, is taking a commonsense path to good governance. We have been fortunate to work with him during his time in the Senate. He's done much influential work there for Michigan community colleges, including Alpena Community College."

“For state and local organizations, the federal grants process is often more complex than it needs to be,” saidMatt Rybar, President & Founder of Michigan Drone Association. “Streamlining reporting, improving interagency coordination, and modernizing Grants.gov would remove real barriers for smaller and resource limited agencies, allowing them to focus less on paperwork and more on delivering results for their communities.”

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VIDEO: Peters Takes to Senate Floor to Condemn Fatal Shootings in Minneapolis, Call for Commonsense Reforms to DHS

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, took to the Senate floor to condemn the fatal shootings of two American citizens by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers in Minneapolis. Peters also reiterated his opposition to the DHS funding bill before the Senate this week and called for commonsense reforms to improve safety and ensure accountability in DHS’ immigration enforcement operations.

“The American people have watched the videos. They have seen with their own eyes the evidence of DHS’ unjustified behavior and excessive use of force,” said Senator Peters. “The American people’s message is loud and it is clear. They’re fed up with the Trump Administration’s mishandling of immigration enforcement, and they are demanding that we do something about it.”

“There’s no question immigration enforcement is necessary, but we must conduct it in a way that is both humane and safe. Clearly, that’s not how this agency is operating today,” Peters continued. “But now is the time to act. I urge our Republican colleagues to join us in putting real guardrails in place, and not just acting as a rubber stamp for the Trump Administration.”

To watch Peters’ full speech on the Senate floor, click HERE.

Peters has spoken out against the harmful and excessive use of force by DHS law enforcement officers in Minneapolis, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Earlier this month, Peters led his fellow Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in calling on Chairman Rand Paul to conduct desperately needed oversight of DHS’ escalating use of excessive force and other improper actions including the continued use of masked agents and unmarked cars, as well as threats unrelated to immigration enforcement that appear intended to chill citizens’ protected First Amendment activities. Following that request, Chairman Paul scheduled a hearing for February 12th.

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Reed & Whitehouse Seek Answers About How New Regional Data Centers Could Drive Up Energy, Health, & Environmental Costs for Consumers

WASHINGTON, DC – As a growing body of research shows that the artificial intelligence (AI) boom in the U.S. is driving up electricity bills for everyday Americans and could have unintended health and environmental impacts as well, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, are teaming up with U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, and three other New England Senators in requesting answers from ISO New England (ISO-NE) about how the grid operator plans to protect residential ratepayers from data center-driven price increases.

The average residential electricity price increased 13% in first 9 months of 2025 alone. Although some cost increases are associated with aging infrastructure, data centers have driven steep regional demand growth, leading to higher prices both in wholesale and retail electricity markets.

“As Senators representing New England, we are deeply concerned that data center growth will drive up energy costs and degrade reliability for our constituents. As the Independent System Operator New England (ISO-NE) continues with its own market reforms, it is essential that service remains affordable and reliable for residential consumers. We believe it is necessary to require tech companies, not American families, to foot the bill for their load. We request further information on the strategies that ISO-NE plans to implement to protect residential ratepayers from data center-driven price increases,” wrote the six U.S. Senators.

“Forecasts suggest that, after two decades of stagnation, U.S. electricity demand could increase as much as 5.7% through 2030, a level of growth not seen since the 1960s. The share of electricity serving data centers is expected to triple from 2023 levels, accounting for 11.7% of U.S. power demand,” the Senators continued. “While demand is increasing, so are electricity costs. The average residential electricity price increased 13% in the first nine months of 2025 alone. Data centers are one of the key factors driving steep demand growth in certain regions, leading to higher prices both in wholesale and retail electricity markets. At PJM’s annual capacity auction in July of this year, which aims to secure resources to meet future peak demand, prices hit $329.17 per megawatt/day, a 22% increase from the 2024 auction, and a nearly 1000% increase from 2023.”

The Senators highlighted that data centers have been slow to arrive in New England, in part because the region already has high power prices: “This dramatic price increase occurred even with a negotiated price cap in place, which reduced capacity auction prices by 38%, or nearly $10 billion. Without an extension or other reforms, this cap will expire, and prices are likely to rise even further. These high prices are being passed on to households across the PJM region. New England already suffers from historically high energy prices. It is essential that our constituents do not face the same fate.”

“Rapid demand growth also threatens the reliability of the electric grid. Despite setting record prices in its capacity auction, PJM was unable to meet its planning reserve margin,” wrote the Senators. “ISO-NE likewise experiences a tighter reserve margin while ill-advised efforts by the Trump Administration to stall offshore wind have delayed our region’s planned addition of this reliable, clean, and affordable power generation. Should New England see an influx of data centers coming online, pressure on the margin will only worsen.”

The Senators concluded: “ISO-NE has a central role in making sure residential ratepayers are not unjustly burdened by data center growth. As the ones who stand to benefit most, the multi-billion-dollar AI industry should be responsible for these costs. With data centers emerging across New England, how will ISO-NE work to protect residential customers from these costs? We appreciate the work that ISO New England does to operate our region’s bulk power system. We share a common goal of maintaining reliable, affordable electricity for all customers as more data centers come online.”

In addition to Senators Welch, Reed, and Whitehouse, the letter was also signed by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Ed Markey (D-MA).

Full text of the letter to ISO New England President and CEO Vamsi Chadalavada follows:

Dr. Vamsi Chadalavada

President and CEO

ISO New England Inc

1 Sullivan Road

Holyoke, MA 01040

Dear President Chadalavada,

As Senators representing New England, we are deeply concerned that data center growth will drive up energy costs and degrade reliability for our constituents. As the Independent System Operator New England (ISO-NE) continues with its own market reforms, it is essential that service remains affordable and reliable for residential consumers. We believe it is necessary to require tech companies, not American families, to foot the bill for their load. We request further information on the strategies that ISO-NE plans to implement to protect residential ratepayers from data center-driven price increases.

Forecasts suggest that, after two decades of stagnation, U.S. electricity demand could increase as much as 5.7% through 2030, a level of growth not seen since the 1960s. The share of electricity serving data centers is expected to triple from 2023 levels, accounting for 11.7% of U.S. power demand. For example, load growth in power market PJM could increase by up to 32 gigawatts from 2024-2030, although how many new data centers will actually be built remains uncertain. Virginia, a PJM member, is home to approximately 150 hyperscale data centers, nearly 35% of the world’s concentration of these large load facilities.

While demand is increasing, so are electricity costs. The average residential electricity price increased 13% in first 9 months of 2025 alone. Data centers are one of the key factors driving steep demand growth in certain regions, leading to higher prices both in wholesale and retail electricity markets. At PJM’s annual capacity auction in July of this year, which aims to secure resources to meet future peak demand, prices hit $329.17 per megawatt/day, a 22% increase from the 2024 auction, and a nearly 1000% increase from 2023. This dramatic price increase occurred even with a negotiated price cap in place, which reduced capacity auction prices by 38%, or nearly $10 billion. Without an extension or other reforms, this cap will expire and prices are likely to rise even further. These high prices are being passed on to households across the PJM region. New England already suffers from historically high energy prices. It is essential that our constituents do not face the same fate.

Rapid demand growth also threatens the reliability of the electric grid. Despite setting record prices in its capacity auction, PJM was unable to meet its planning reserve margin. ISO-NE likewise experiences a tighter reserve margin while ill-advised efforts by the Trump administration to stall offshore wind have delayed our region’s planned addition of this reliable, clean, and affordable power generation. Should New England see an influx of data centers coming online, pressure on the margin will only worsen.

ISO-NE has a central role in making sure residential ratepayers are not unjustly burdened by data center growth. As the ones who stand to benefit most, the multi-billion-dollar AI industry should be responsible for these costs. With data centers emerging across New England, how will ISONE work to protect residential customers from these costs?

We appreciate the work that ISO New England does to operate our region’s bulk power system. We share a common goal of maintaining reliable, affordable electricity for all customers as more data centers come online.

Sincerely,


Ricketts Discusses Successful Operation to Capture Nicolas Maduro with Secretary Rubio

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, discussed the successful operation that led to the capture of the illegitimate, narco-terrorist dictator Nicolas Maduro with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

During the hearing, Senator Ricketts called out the hypocrisy of Democrats who once called for the capture of Maduro but now criticize the operation to bring him into custody.

“Some of the comments from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are difficult to square with the record. The goal posts didn’t move, nor did Maduro change. The only thing that changed was President Trump acted on what members of both parties said needed to happen,” said Senator Ricketts. “The administration did so with an operation that will go down in history as one of the most impressive and tactically proficient to be ever caried out.”

Ricketts also pushed back on the narrative that following the successful capture of Nicolas Maduro, Communist China might mirror the United States’ operation in its effort to take Taiwan by force.

“One of the common criticisms after Maduro’s capture was that this would incentivize Communist China to take similar actions in Taiwan. In my opinion, this couldn’t be further from the truth. For starters, Communist China doesn’t care about international law or norms. They’ve demonstrated that repeatedly—just ask the Philippines,” said Ricketts. “Xi Jinping’s calculus on whether to take kinetic action against Taiwan rests solely on whether or not he believes he will be successful or not. In this sense, the tactical proficiency displayed during Operation Absolute Resolve may have given Xi more pause in taking action in Taiwan… The PLA [People’s Liberation Army] continues to lack the experience so clearly on display that the United States demonstrated in Maduro’s capture.”

Watch the video here.

Background:

Last year, Senator Ricketts met with President-elect Edmundo González in Washington, D.C., where he characterized the struggle in Venezuela as a “battle of freedom versus tyranny.” Prior to Operation Absolute Resolve, he consistently advocated for maintaining sanctions and pressure on the Maduro regime. He continues to call for the immediate release of all Americans wrongfully detained in Venezuela.


Sen. Rick Scott Announces Paul Bonicelli as Chief of Staff; Stu Sandler to Serve as Senior Advisor

WASHINGTON, DC — Sen. Rick Scott announced today that Paul Bonicelli has been named Chief of Staff. Stu Sandler, who has been serving as Chief of Staff since last year, will continue working for Senator Scott as a Senior Advisor and resume his role as Executive Director of Project Rescue America, a role he had during the 2024 election cycle.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I want to thank Stu for his service to our state and nation as my Chief of Staff. He has been an integral part of my team over the last five years since first serving as political director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee when I was chairman. The upcoming November 2026 midterms are vitally important to our country’s future, and I look forward to continuing working with him as we fight to support Conservatives who are running for vital seats in Congress. Stu will join my longtime advisor and former Chief of Staff Jackie Zeckman in this effort.”

The Honorable Paul Bonicelli, Ph.D. began working for Senator Scott in 2018 during his first campaign for U.S. Senate and has served as Senator Scott's National Security Advisor in the United States Senate with a focus on defense, foreign policy, veterans affairs, and education since 2019. Bonicelli brings decades of experience to the role, from serving in President George W. Bush’s administration, as a professional staff member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and at a number of higher education institutions in the role of provost, dean, and professor, and a foreign policy advisor for several presidential campaigns.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Paul has been a critical and trusted member of my team for many years and since Day 1, has brought invaluable experience to my Senate office. Over the years, his hard work and dedication to our military community and national security have helped bring big wins to both Florida and the United States in the annual National Defense Authorization Act and is tireless fighter for the people of our state. Paul has already become a respected leader on my team and will be a great Chief of Staff in my Senate office.”

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Sen. Rick Scott Launches ‘American Dream at Work’ Series Spotlighting Florida Job Growers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott released the trailer for his new ‘American Dream at Work’ series, which highlights the stories of Florida entrepreneurs, their businesses, and the incredible work they’re doing to grow jobs and contribute to their communities. Senator Scott lived his American Dream - from growing up in public housing, to owning businesses, becoming Governor of Florida, and U.S. Senator, he continues working tirelessly to ensure every American has the same opportunity to live their American Dream.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Growing up, my mom always told us how blessed we were to live in the greatest country in the world, where anybody willing to work hard could achieve their American Dream. She was right – I worked hard, opened my first business, and turned my entire life around to live my dreams. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy for someone growing up like I did to get ahead today. The failures of Washington politicians have created disastrous consequences for our country. Today, even our brightest minds and hardest workers are facing bigger barriers to success due to burdensome regulations and higher living costs. My new ‘American Dream at Work’ series spotlights the incredible entrepreneurs in our state who show that the American Dream is still alive and worth fighting for. I won’t stop fighting to Make Washington Work – which means shrinking government, cutting spending, cutting taxes, and supporting small businesses – to help families succeed, businesses grow and create jobs, and ensure every American can achieve their American Dream.”

WATCH the trailer for Senator Scott’s upcoming American Dream at Work episodes, with stops at Taffer’s Tavern and Nando Grill in Orlando, Naples Lumber and Supply Company, and eSmart Recycling in Tampa. Stay tuned for full episodes!

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Sen. Johnson Introduces Bill to Permanently Authorize School Choice in D.C.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) reintroduced legislation to permanently authorize the funding for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (DC OSP), D.C. Public Charter Schools, and D.C. Public Schools. Senator Johnson has long championed school choice in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Since the beginning of his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the committee of jurisdiction for the District of Columbia, Senator Johnson led reauthorizations of this vital program for disadvantaged D.C. students.

DC OSP provides scholarships for low-income families in the District for their children to attend a private school in the District. DC OSP is a monumental success, demonstrated by students’ graduation rates, post-secondary success, parental satisfaction, and the annual demand from District parents.

“The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program has helped thousands of students from low-income households attain a graduation rate significantly higher than comparable students. The fact that twice as many children apply for the program than can be accommodated shows how important choice in education is for families. Permanently authorizing the program would continue to allow families access to a better future and the ability to choose the best type of education for their children,” Sen. Johnson said.

“The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program has a track record of delivering real results for students, especially those from low-income households,” said Sen. Tim Scott. “Permanently authorizing the SOAR Act ensures scholarships through this proven program remain available, protects families’ freedom to choose, and keeps opportunity within reach for the students who need it most.”

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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Schatz Condemns Minneapolis Shooting: We Will Not Tolerate Tyranny

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke today on the Senate floor about the killing of Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis this past weekend. Schatz highlighted the widespread condemnation of the incident from across the political spectrum and society, noting that a collective responsibility to protect freedom and liberty has been a core American ideal since the nation’s founding.

“Tyranny is tyranny, and the people of this country – whatever our other differences – don't want anything to do with it,” said Senator Schatz. “There is a reason that a broad coalition of unlikely partners quickly converged in the wake of the tragedy – and it wasn't some organizing strategy. This was organic, across the country and certainly across the great state of Minnesota. It was liberals. It was conservatives. It was gun owners. It was clergy members. It was business executives. It was libertarians. It was Trump voters. Why the new unity? Because people from different places and persuasions, faiths and financial situations, understand that at least on the very narrow question of freedom and liberty, our fates and our futures are intertwined. No one is free until everyone is free.”

A transcript of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below. Video is available here.

Tyranny is tyranny, and the people of this country – whatever our other differences – don't want anything to do with it. You might be liberal; you might be a conservative. You might be for immigration, or you might be against it. You might think that guns should be more readily accessible, or you might think that guns should be harder to purchase. But when the United States government is killing your fellow citizens in your name, none of that matters. Because tyranny is tyranny, no matter the tyrant. Overreach is overreach, regardless of cause. And state violence is state violence, and it is against everything that this country stands for.

There is a reason that a broad coalition of unlikely partners quickly converged in the wake of the tragedy – and it wasn't some organizing strategy. This was organic, across the country and certainly across the great state of Minnesota. It was liberals. It was conservatives. It was gun owners. It was clergy members. It was business executives. It was libertarians. It was Trump voters. Why the new unity? Because people from different places and persuasions, faiths and financial situations, understand that at least on the very narrow question of freedom and liberty, our fates and our futures are intertwined. No one is free until everyone is free.

In my Jewish tradition, during Passover Seder, it's customary to recount the story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. And the reason the story is told anew every year is to remind us that the struggle for freedom is not confined to the past and limited to others, but instead has to live inside of all of us. The Haggadah says, “We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord, our God, brought us out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.” Not they, but we – the point being that however many generations removed we are from that story, we're still obligated to see ourselves as though we were personally freed from slavery in Egypt. No one is free until everyone is free.

Our founders knew that too. The Constitution deliberately begins with, “We The People.” The Declaration of Independence promises equality and certain unalienable rights that “we hold to be self-evident.” A collective responsibility to protect freedom and liberty is central to the American experiment. It always has been. Which is why, in the summer of 1963, sitting in a dark jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama, in the throes of the battle for civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” No one is free until everyone is free.

That same spirit of solidarity has united people for generation. In Hawai‘i, it was the sugar plantation workers in the 1940s – tired of being overworked and underpaid – who organized across ethnic lines for fair conditions. Up until that point, they had been divided by the plantation owners into separate camps – Chinese camp, Japanese camp, Filipino camp, and so on – and paid different rates for the same work. And so they came together, vowing to treat an injury to one as an injury to all. They went on strike and won, altering the trajectory of workers in Hawai‘i to this day. An injury to one is an injury to all. No one is free until everyone is free.

If there's a lesson in the collective outrage and widespread condemnation of ICE’s conduct, it's that people don't want state-sponsored violence on their streets in their names. It's not a question of whether you voted for Trump or Biden. It's not a question of whether you agreed with Joe Biden's immigration policy. The idea that immigration enforcement has to be accompanied by enthusiastic cruelty is so far out of the mainstream of American society. Nobody wants this, save for a handful of people intoxicated by power and deluded by their own fantasies.

Thuggery is not strength. Strength must be used to protect people, to give voice to the voiceless, and make people feel safe. That is impressive and noble and important, precisely because it's harder to practice and harder still to come by. But that's what makes the response in Minnesota – of ordinary Americans taking it upon themselves to stand up for their neighbors – so extraordinary.

And I want to read a bit of what Adam Serwer observed in The Atlantic about the mistaken assumptions that fed this administration's brutality. He wrote, “The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they’re the ones who are alone. In Minnesota, all of the ideological cornerstones of MAGA have been proved false at once. Minnesotans, not the armed thugs of ICE and the Border Patrol, are brave. Minnesotans have shown that their community is socially cohesive—because of its diversity and not in spite of it. Minnesotans have found and loved one another in a world atomized by social media, where empty men have tried to fill their lonely soul with lies about their own inherent superiority. Minnesotans have preserved everything worthwhile about ‘Western civilization,’ while armed brutes try to tear it down by force.”

Look, I get that we're all divided and distracted and exhausted and that it's not going to resolve overnight. But in the wake of the tragedies in Minneapolis, a bright red line has emerged. We can argue about everything else, but we will not tolerate tyranny.

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SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, BOOKER, KIM, LEAD NY–NJ DELEGATION DEMANDING TRUMP IMMEDIATELY RELEASE WITHHELD GATEWAY TUNNEL FUNDING BEFORE WORK IS FORCED TO STOP NEXT WEEK, LEADING TO MASSIVE UNION JOB LOSSES...

Trump Administration Stalling $6.88B Federal Commitment For Nation’s Most Critical Rail Tunnel, With Funding Set To Stop February 6 Despite Signed Agreement, Completed Reviews, And Construction Already Underway

In Bi-State, Bi-Cameral Letter To President Trump, Lawmakers Urge Immediate Release Of Already Appropriated Funds To Prevent Construction Shutdown, Job Losses, And Threats To Northeast Corridor

Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) led members of the New York and New Jersey congressional delegations in demanding Donald Trump immediately release the already allocated federal funding for the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project, the nation’s largest and most urgent infrastructure project. The lawmakers warned that continued delays threaten catastrophic disruption to the Northeast Corridor, massive job losses, and serious harm to the regional and national economy, despite the project being fully funded, fully permitted, and already under construction.

“Delaying already approved Gateway funding puts the region and the national economy at serious risk,” the lawmakers said. “Withholding these funds threatens catastrophic disruption to the busiest rail corridor in the country, eliminates tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs, and jeopardizes a project that is fully funded, fully permitted, and already under construction.”

The existing Hudson River tunnels are more than 115-years old and were significantly damaged by flooding from Superstorm Sandy. Every day, they carry hundreds of thousands of passengers and commuters and serve as a critical, but fragile, bottleneck between New York and New Jersey. With only one track in and one track out of New York Penn Station beneath the Hudson River, failure of either tunnel would have devastating consequences for the New York, New Jersey, and national economy.

The Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project would add urgently needed capacity and resiliency to the region’s transportation network. Construction is already underway at five sites in New York, New Jersey, and the Hudson River itself. The project currently employs approximately 1,000 workers and is expected to support up to 95,000 mostly union jobs over its lifetime. Halting construction would immediately put those jobs at risk and forgo billions of dollars in economic multiplier benefits.

In the letter, the lawmakers emphasized that funding for Gateway is fully secured. A Full Funding Grant Agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Gateway Development Commission finalized a $6.88 billion federal commitment to construct the new tunnels and rehabilitate the existing ones. That commitment is supported by an additional $3.8 billion in Federal Railroad Administration grant funding, $4.4 billion in local support through federal RRIF loans, and $1 billion from Amtrak, totaling a $16.1 billion investment to complete the project by 2035.

Despite these commitments, the Trump administration has frozen funding following an administrative review announced by OMB Director Russell Vought in October 2025. That review was repeatedly described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as a quick administrative review and has since concluded. Correspondence between USDOT and the Gateway Development Commission confirmed that no further action is required.

“All that is needed now is for the administration to reestablish the flow of already appropriated and obligated funds,” the lawmakers wrote. “Failure to act in the coming days will force contractors to cease work, put workers out of jobs, and could permanently derail this nationally significant infrastructure project.”

The lawmakers said they will continue pressing the administration to immediately release the funding and allow construction to continue, protecting workers, commuters, and the economic backbone of the Northeast Corridor.

In addition to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand the letter was signed by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ); and New York Representatives Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), George Latimer (NY-16), John Mannion (NY-22), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Josh Riley (NY-19), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Thomas Suozzi (NY-03), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07); and New Jersey Representatives Herbert Conaway (NJ-03), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

For a full copy of the letter, click here.

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Thune: Affordability Starts With More Money in Your Pocket

Clickhereto watch the video.

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

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, this past Monday was the start of tax filing season.

“Now I know most Americans aren’t usually excited about the start of tax season.

“But this year, there’s less reason for dread because thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, most Americans are going to see a lower tax bill.

“And that means bigger tax refunds for a lot of Americans – as much as $1,000 more than last year, according to some analysts.

“The Working Families Tax Cuts is literally putting more money in Americans’ pockets.

“Mr. President, as the American people file their tax returns this year, they will see the numerous ways the Working Families Tax Cuts benefits them.

“And thanks to this legislation, Americans can count on more money in their pockets for the long term.

“Mr. President, for most Americans, tax relief starts with their tax rate and the standard deduction – which over 90 percent of taxpayers in this country claim.

“In 2017, Republicans lowered tax rates across the board and just about doubled the standard deduction.

“And in our landmark bill last year, Republicans made that relief permanent – and then we raised the standard deduction even further.

“On top of that, we created a bonus deduction for seniors – an additional $6,000 deduction to reduce the tax burden of more than 30 million Americans over the age of 65.

“And then there’s the significant tax relief we delivered for families.

“In 2017, Republicans doubled – doubled, Mr. President – the child tax credit.

“Last year, we raised it even further, to $2,200 per child.

“And then, Mr. President, we linked the child tax credit to inflation, which means its value will keep pace with families’ actual costs – and again, that’s also permanent.

“Parents will also have the opportunity to open new investment accounts for their newborns when they file their taxes this season.

“Those accounts provide another tax-advantaged option for parents to invest in their children’s future.

“And the money can be used after kids turn 18 for their education, to start a business, to buy their first home – in short, to take advantage of the opportunities available to them and get a head start on their American Dream.

“And those are retroactive to 2025, so parents who had a baby last year can apply for one of these accounts when they file their taxes this season.

“Mr. President, hardworking Americans are the ones who benefit from Republicans’ landmark tax relief bill.

“And perhaps the biggest boost goes to those Americans who earn tips and overtime pay.

“Waiters and busboys, hairstylists and barbers, and Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers are among the hardworking Americans who will be able to deduct their tips on their taxes this year.

“That will reduce their tax bills and let them keep a lot more of the money they earn.

“The same is true of workers who put in overtime throughout the year.

“Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and nurses work important jobs.

“And that often means that they have to work extra hours during the week or come in on holidays.

“Well, thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, they’ll be able to keep more of the overtime pay that they earn for that extra time away from their loved ones.

“Mr. President, I don’t have to remind anybody about the inflation crisis started by Democrats five years ago.

“Higher prices have affected everybody.

“But relief is on the way.

“Affordability starts with more money in your pocket.

“And that’s exactly what the Working Families Tax Cuts delivers.

“And whether you’re just getting started, or you’re raising a family, or you’re trying to enjoy your golden years – the Working Families Tax Cuts has something for you.

“Republicans wrote this bill with hardworking Americans in mind.

“And that’s who’s going to see the benefits this tax season and in the years to come.”


Thune’s Office Accepting Summer Internship, Senate Page Program Applications

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is currently seeking college students to serve as summer interns in his office in Washington, D.C., as well as in his offices in Aberdeen, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls.

Interns in Thune’s Washington, D.C., office will have the opportunity to witness the legislative process and attend Senate votes and hearings, while interns in the state offices will participate in constituent service and state outreach activities. Both Washington, D.C., and in-state internships are paid and will allow students to work closely with constituents, hone their research and writing skills, and gain valuable office experience.

“Interns who are selected will receive a firsthand look at the legislative process and the day-to-day life in a congressional office,” said Thune. “In Washington, interns will have the opportunity to attend Senate votes and hearings and participate in other activities that are unique to Capitol Hill. Students who are interested in interning in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, or Rapid City will find an equally rewarding experience with assisting staff on important constituent service requests and state outreach activities, which are critical to my work for the people of South Dakota. I encourage all college students who are interested in these opportunities to apply today.”

College students who are interested in interning in Thune’s Washington, D.C., Aberdeen, Rapid City, or Sioux Falls offices can apply by March 1, 2026, at https://sen.gov/2ZWY5 or they can locate the application at www.thune.senate.govunder the “Services” tab.

Thune is also seeking applications for both sessions of this year’s summer Senate Page Program. Summer page eligibility is limited to students who have completed their sophomore year of high school and who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment. To learn more about the page program, visithttps://sen.gov/6QYK. Eligible high school students can apply by April 2, 2026, at https://sen.gov/3ZQ7O. Pages must be a U.S. citizen and have at least a 3.0 grade point average.

Thune serves as the Senate majority leader, and is a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and a member of the Senate Committee on Finance.

For more information, please call 202-224-2321.


Tuberville Champions School Choice During “National School Choice Week”

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) participated in a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing focused on expanding school choice. During the hearing, Sen. Tuberville asked the witnesses questions related to how school choice is preparing the next generation for the future.

In addition, Sen. Tuberville joined his colleagues to introduce a resolution designating Jan. 25-31, 2026, as National School Choice Week.

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

Read excerpts from the hearing below or watch on YouTube and Rumble.

TUBERVILLE: Thanks for being here. One of the reasons I ran for this position is I’ve been in education all my life. And I wish we didn’t have to have this talk about the Choose Act, you know, school choice. Now we passed it in my state of Alabama, and we’ll see how that works. I wish that we had a plan in our country where no child is left behind. And we teach them knowledge, not ideology, through the public system. Again, 35 years of coaching, I went into high schools in every state except for Alaska. And we have some great public schools in this country. We have some great teachers. We have excellent administrators.

Here’s the problem. It turned into tenure. You can’t fire anybody. If I was in coaching and I had somebody I couldn’t coach and I couldn’t fire them, I’m gonna get my ass fire at the end of the day. It’ the same thing with teaching. If we’re not teaching knowledge in these schools, we got huge problems. And that’s not what’s happening in a lot of our schools. We got way too many administrators in our country. We have tripled the amount of administrators in this country as compared to teachers. […] So, what I’m saying is we’ve forced our hand into this school choice. It’s been forced because we’ve wasted trillions of dollars. And again, I’ve worked with thousands of kids that come in with 4.0 GPAs and they couldn’t read and write. They were passed along. Just get on. We don’t want you anymore. You’re a good athlete, so let somebody else do it.

I spent a lot of my own money teaching kids to read. I had a kid tell me one time after we taught them to read what’s the most exciting thing that happened to you? He said, ‘I can read a menu now. I don’t have to go in and order hamburger.’ It’s embarrassing. If I was a teacher in this country and I saw what was happening to our kids in the public system, we should have a run on these buildings up here. That being said, we got a lot of work to do. I’m getting ready to hopefully be governor of Alabama. We’re fixing to change everything in education. We need to change our education system, K-12, higher education. We need to get back to teaching and stop this ideology, get away from tenure, fire the bad people that don’t do their job, and get back to doing what’s right in this country and help our kids. We’re stealing from the American taxpayers in a lot of ways, but this is one of them. They’re losing their money because they’re not getting their money’s worth.

So, Ms. Worrel, If you have school choice, and I’m in Alabama, you tell me how I’m going to transition from school choice to workforce development. How do I do that? I mean, how does that work? How does school choice and how do we understand the significance of making that transition from school choice?

WORREL: I think, Senator, you have an incredible opportunity in Alabama to do it right from the beginning with all the options that are a part of the school choice continuum. If you go into them, it doesn’t just have to be schools that are for dropout students, should have career technical education and work based learning opportunities and going to the employers in those regions where you have schools, which is everywhere, is I think the first way to start that and to see what the high demand careers are coming in Alabama—

TUBERVILLE: So, what grade area would you start transforming from school choice to workforce development? Would you wait till the twelfth grade? Would you start at the ninth? Would you start in the sixth? How would you do that?

WORREL: If I had a magic wand and we could do it I believe early exposure. A passport of skills, a way that kids can start to learn what it looks like, what it what it feels like, what they wanna explore, and then build on that passport of skills and understanding early in elementary school through middle school and make it more tangible and weave it into as they go into high school shouldn’t be the first time in the junior year that they step foot in a major employer. It just shouldn’t be.

TUBERVILLE: Here’s the way I look at it. You got to teach these kids to read and write. If you don’t read and write before the third grade, you’re about had it. You can do it, but it’s awful really, really hard. But we’ve got to teach reading and writing early. Math and science and history will come if they can read. You can’t do math and history and science if you can’t read. And so that’s one of the things I plan on doing. And so hopefully, we’re gonna do workforce development. The K-12 to me is just so obsolete. It really is. It’s in the Stone Ages. There’s a lot of kids that don’t need to go twelve years. You know, they need to go out in the workforce and learn and be an example.

TUBERVILLE: Mr. Kirtley, I live ten years in Coral Gate. Coached 10 years at University Miami from 1985-1995. Won a lot of games. But I saw a city transform. There’s not a more diverse city in this country than [Miami-Dade] and Broward County. And I saw our education get better. Because a lot of these kids come in, they can’t speak English. They come from all these third world countries. But they did a great job doing it. How did they do that?

KIRTLEY: Thank for the question, Senator. As I mentioned earlier in my testimony, Miami Dade is the freest market for K-12 education in this country. Every student in Florida, but certainly Miami Dade, has the ability, if they, want to have an education savings account to use for tuition to a private school or to buy education services and products to customize for education. We have 150 charter schools. We have 400 private schools that kids can attend and low-income kids do attend on our scholarships. But most importantly, as I said earlier, the public district in Miami Dade did not shy away from competition. They didn’t complain, not once. When the superintendent came in 2008, when choice was just coming to the fore, he said, I’m not afraid of this. We’re gonna create options that families want, and they did so. They have over 100 magnet schools in Miami Dade. And I would add, sir, they have amazing technical education programs. Automotive technology, medical technology where they’ll have three levels. Kids can go right into nursing, they can go to school and nursing or they can go on to college and then go to med school, but they all go to the same public high school together. It’s a beautiful thing. Competition works. […]

TUBERVILLE: In my state of Alabama, in other states with all the people coming here from other countries, our schools are being overrun. We don’t have enough people to teach, you know, the different languages that are coming in. You have that because you have people that have come from other countries that have grown up in the system that have been educated speaking, you know, different languages from Latin America, Central America, and those things. How do we do it now? How do people that don’t have that number of people that can speak the language of these young kids coming, how do we do that? I mean, how do we transition? Because we put them in a room and just turn on a video. I mean, tell me how that works.

Ms. Garcia, you’re shaking your head. Could you answer that question for me?

GARCIA: Well, in the state of Arizona, what we’ve seen over the last few years is that a lot of teachers have been brought in on visas to be able to teach students of different with different languages. We also have first generation and second-generation teachers who are bilingual and can speak two languages and can help students, not only flourish in their original language, but also learn English so that they are bilingual and able to have two languages academically. […]

TUBERVILLE: If we’re gonna make it to 22nd Century and make our kids better, What’s your thought? I’ll start with you, Ms. Garcia.

GARCIA: Well, thank you for inviting me. Thank you, Senator Tuberville for the question. I like to think about the future and think of each one of my students and what that could look like, what ensured a lot of their success. I have students all over the world. Many of them have joined the military. Some of them are dentists. Some of them are parents buying homes. And one of the things that I think helped them and I think helps every student is the ability for us to connect with them, see them, see where their strengths are, where their weaknesses are. I, too, Coach, was a softball coach for many, many years in middle school, so a little bit different experience. Girl softball in 8th grade. But what I found very quickly there is each one of my students needed direct time with and support to make sure that they were hitting the goals that they needed.

Unfortunately, my experience in public schools over the last 20 years have shown my class size grow larger and larger and larger. My first year I had about maybe 26 students per class period. Now it’s close to 32 and 34, which means I’m teaching 160 8th graders every day. So, what I would love to see is innovative way and direct tax money going to ensure lower class sizes, highly qualified educators, ensuring that we have tutors to meet these needs of every student. Showing that kids had before school and after school programs, qualified librarians, nurses, that we had services available to meet the needs of all of our students. And I believe there is a path to get there as long as parents, educators, as well as policymakers are in the same room together. […]

KIRTLEY: Thank you, Senator. I guess I would say, I hope that other states followed the journey that we took over the last 30 years. I mentioned earlier that 30 years ago, we had a very simple definition of public education. Every dollar went to the districts, districts ran all the schools, assigned kids via ZIP Code. Work great for me, works great for most kids, doesn’t work great for every kid. Now in Florida, we have a different definition. Parents can direct the dollars to different providers and different delivery methods. We’ve gone from 35th out of 38 states on the NAPE back in 1998 to 2019, we were in the top five. Graduation rates have gone from 50% overall, and much less from minority kids, to over 90%. That’s an incredible change. And choice wasn’t the only reason why that happened. But choice was the catalyst that made other reform elements work better and faster. And I just hope that people in other states will challenge their definitions of public education. What is it? Is it really the old definition? Try something new. Try something innovative. Push the power to families and good things will happen.

TUBERVILLE: Thank you. I’m with you. Choice should make public schools compete and get better. Ms. Worrel?

WORREL: Senator, thank you. I would just really urge us to not be distracted by conversations that I think take the focus away from students and achievement and literacy. We know that if a kid can’t read by 4th grade, they’re four times more likely to drop out of high school. We have all the things we need. And I feel like if we lean more into that and listen to parents, listen to students, and be responsive and not be responsive to the systems, but be responsive to the people that we’re tasked in giving a world class education to, which are students.

A lot of times, we don’t even talk to students or the young people that this is directly impacting, on what their experiences are like. So, I think that if as we move forward, we’re going to have to all come together and realize that it’s a continuum and not siloed that all of us are necessary for all students to be able to succeed. And when we start to silo off into our adult little corners of the space, kids suffer. And adults may not seem like they’re suffering, but eventually we pay the price for failing students. And we’re seeing that right now, and we’re going to continue to see it unless we change what we’re doing. So, thank you for the opportunity to be here.

TUBERVILLE: Well, thank you and thank all of you for being here. We have Foreign Relation Committee hearings today. We have Ag Committee. We have everything going on. There’s nothing more important than what we did here today. Nothing. Because if we don’t do that, we won’t survive as a country. Because we’re gonna cheat our kids, and kids are the future. You know, they are our Number 1 commodity. […]

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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Van Hollen Joins Merkley, Durbin, and Peters in Filing Amicus Brief Urging Circuit Court to Affirm the Critical Protections of Minors in Immigration Detention

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, and a group of 22 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 are filing the amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit case, Flores v. Bondi, where the opponents claim that the detention funding in the Republican’s “One, Big Beautiful Bill Act” overrode the protections provided in the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement. The amicus brief rejects the government’s baseless claims and explains that the reconciliation process cannot be used for such policy overhauls and that such a policy override would have been stricken from the bill.

The amicus brief states, “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.

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

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

In addition to Van Hollen, Merkley, Durbin, and Peters, the amicus brief was signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cathrine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).


Warner, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Review and Strengthen FAA's Safety Management System to Ensure Agency Identifies and Corrects Safety Risks

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner joined Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to introduce the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 to improve the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety oversight and its ability to identify and address aviation safety issues.

“As we approach the one-year mark of the mid-air collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Airport, it is our responsibility as legislators to make sure that nothing like that tragic crash ever happens again,” said Sen. Warner. “This bill creates an independent, expert-driven process to identify system-wide safety improvements so that they can be addressed in order to prevent another tragedy.”

"The FAA must ensure that its own safety management system (SMS) is working well if the agency is going to properly oversee the SMSs of those it regulates,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Following years of weak oversight which contributed to the DCA mid-air collision, the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 door-plug incident, and the Ethiopian and Indonesian crashes, it’s past time to bring in outside safety experts to examine and recommend how FAA can create an agency-wide SMS to be most effective in identifying and correcting safety risks to prevent future incidents."

“From the deadly DCA crash to the spike in near misses and air traffic control equipment outages, there are too many alarm bells ringing that we must strengthen safety in our aviation system,” said Sen. Duckworth. “It’s the FAA’s job to keep the flying public safe, so it only makes sense that the FAA should be held to the highest standard of safety when it comes to its own policies and procedures. Our bill seeks to ensure that the FAA is optimizing effectiveness in its work to strengthen aviation safety and protect passengers and crew.”

In its investigation into the January 29, 2025, mid-air collision, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found multiple failures in the FAA’s current implementation of its safety management system (SMS). This bill addresses those failures by directing the FAA to establish an independent, expert review panel to make recommendations for a comprehensive, integrated, and effective FAA SMS to better predict, manage, and mitigate safety risks across the agency.

In his response to the Committee following his nomination hearing, FAA Administrator Bedford expressed support for a stronger, and more integrated FAA-wide SMS. Administrator Bedford has also expressed support for a stronger FAA SMS as part of FAA’s Flight Plan 2026.

In its preliminary report following the January 29, 2025, mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a regional commercial jet operating as American Airlines flight 5342 that took the lives of 67 people, the NTSB found the FAA failed to act appropriately in response to safety data pointing to over 15,000 near misses between helicopter and commercial fixed-wing aircraft at DCA during the approximately three-year period leading up to the tragedy.

This has spurred enhanced scrutiny of the efficacy of FAA’s own SMS and whether individual SMS at safety-critical FAA offices – including the Air Traffic Organization and the Aviation Safety Organization – are effective in identifying and correcting safety issues. The expert review panel created by this legislation would examine FAA’s agency-wide SMS as well as the individual SMS of these key FAA offices. The bill would also direct the panel to evaluate the efficacy of FAA employee voluntary safety reporting systems, a key component of a healthy SMS, and a subject highlighted by air traffic controllers during last summer’s NTSB’s investigative hearings on the January 29 mid-air collision, who voiced concerns about their ability to flag safety issues.

The families of Flight 5342; Dr. Javier De Luis, Lecturer, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Organization Designation Authorizations (ODA) Expert Panel Member; Dr. Najmedin Meshkati, Professor Civil/Environmental Engineering; Industrial and Systems Engineering; USC Aviation Safety and Security Program University of Southern California, Organization Designation Authorizations (ODA) Expert Panel Member; Bret Oestreich, National President of Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association; the National Air Traffic Controllers Association; Captain Jason Ambrosi, Air Line Pilots Association, International; First Officer Nick Silva, Allied Pilots Association President; and Captain Jody Reven, President, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association have endorsed this legislation.

The bill models the successful expert review panel convened due to Section 103 of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, which recommended key safety reforms to FAA and Boeing to strengthen safety culture and aircraft certification and production oversight in the aftermath of the 737 MAX crashes.

A section by section of the bill is here and the full bill text is here.

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BREAKING: Warnock Secures Additional $192 Million in Outstanding Helene Payments for Georgia

Latest round of reimbursements comes after months of pressure from Senator Reverend Warnock and as Georgia communities were preparing for lawsuits from contractors seeking payment for work done in the wake of Hurricane Helene

News comes after December 2025 announcement that Senator Warnock secured $300 million in outstanding Helene payments for Georgia

In September 2025, Senator Warnock released a report finding the Trump Administration was shortchanging Georgians half a billion dollars in disaster relief aid

Following the Senator’s September report, the Senator found the number increased to $600 million

Senator Warnock will continue fighting until the administration delivers Georgia every penny they were promised

Senator Warnock: “I am thrilled to announce I have secured an additional $192 million in federal funding owed to Georgia communities recovering from Hurricane Helene”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced he secured an additional $192 million in federal funding for outstanding payments owed to Georgia counties and entities in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The money was released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following months of pressure from Senator Warnock to get Georgia communities, particularly in rural parts of the state, the money they were promised for recovery efforts following Helene’s destruction. The latest round of reimbursements comes after a December 2025 announcement that Senator Warnock secured $300 million in outstanding Helene payments for Georgia.

“I am thrilled to announce I have secured an additional $192 million in federal funding owed to Georgia communities recovering from Hurricane Helene. Hurricanes and natural disasters are not political; they do not care if you voted red or blue, and Georgia counties and cities went right to work recovering from Helene’s destruction with the understanding the federal government would fulfill its promises and pay their share,” said Senator Warnock.“It should not have gotten to this point, and there is still more work to be done. I will continue fighting until Georgia’s communities, particularly in rural Georgia, get every cent they are owed.”

In December 2025, Senator Warnock released a statement after new evidence emerged showing that the Trump Administration owed $600 million in Hurricane Helene recovery aid to Georgians. That same month, Senator Warnock announced he secured $314 million in federal funding for outstanding payments owed to Georgia counties and entities in the wake of Hurricane Helene. In September 2025, the Senator released a report finding that nearly $500 million in promised federal funding for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts remained unpaid. The funding, part of a disaster recovery bill championed by Senator Warnock in 2024, is meant to reimburse local communities for funds spent on recovery. Despite bipartisan Congressional support for the immediate delivery of disaster recovery funds, the distribution of aid has been stifled by bureaucratic red tape and chaos in the Trump Administration.

A list of Georgia counties and entities receiving federal funding can be found below (this is not a comprehensive list of entities receiving funding):


Warnock Statement on President Trump’s Politicization of FBI to Relitigate the 2020 Election

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) released the following statement after the FBI searched an elections office in Fulton County, Georgia, over unfounded 2020 voter fraud allegations. Georgia State Republican elected officials and President Trump’s own Department of Justice have denied allegations of widespread fraud in the 2020 elections.

“The FBI should be focused on going after violent criminals, not carrying out political errands for a vengeful President. Republicans and Democrats agree: the 2020 elections were accurate and secure. End of story.”

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Warren, Blumenthal, Markey, Alsobrooks Press RFK Jr. on “Dangerous Backdoor Overhaul” of Vaccine Court That Could Potentially Enrich Allies, Harm Public Health

Warren pressed RFK Jr. on conflict of interest concerns given the Secretary’s close ties to the anti-vaccine litigation industry

“Any reform of VICP should be transparent, free of ethics questions, based on the advice of legitimate public health and vaccine experts, and consistent with congressional intent.”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) pressed Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK Jr.) on his proposed overhaul of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), which could threaten the domestic vaccine supply, undermine public health, and potentially enrich Secretary Kennedy’s family and close allies. The lawmakers also sent the letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, given the Department of Justice’s central role in defending the government from false injury claims.

VICP compensates patients in the rare event of a vaccine injury while ensuring the availability of the country’s vaccine supplies. RFK Jr.’s numerous entanglements with the anti-vaccine litigation industry raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest, which may allow the Secretary’s family and former colleagues to financially benefit from any proposed changes to the VICP.

In July, Secretary Kennedy announced that he was working with the Department of Justice and AG Bondi to “fix” the vaccine court. This month, Secretary Kennedy fired at least half of the expert members of the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV), which makes recommendations to inform the VICP — shortly after he unilaterally overhauled the childhood vaccine schedule. Further VICP changes reportedly under consideration, including making certain medical injuries with no ties to vaccines compensable, would likely precipitate vaccine shortages, endanger public health, and could enrich Secretary Kennedy’s immediate family and close allies.

“You appear to be undertaking a dangerous backroom overhaul of the vaccine courts that is hidden from public scrutiny and raises significant conflict of interest concerns,” wrote the lawmakers.

The potential reforms present a host of conflict of interest concerns given Secretary Kennedy’s close ties to the anti-vaccine litigation industry. Secretary Kennedy, his family, and Wisner Baum — the law firm he previously worked with — have made millions by referring and representing claimants before VICP. Secretary Kennedy has refused to recuse himself from VICP-related work, even as Wisner Baum currently seeks awards from the federal government in VICP in more than a dozen lawsuits — meaning Secretary Kennedy’s former associates could have cases before the vaccine compensation program he now oversees.

While Secretary Kennedy turned over his stake in the Wisner Baum-Gardasil case in civil court to his son after pressure from Senator Warren, Wisner Baum continues to seek damages for the HPV vaccine before VICP, raising questions about how the firm and Kennedy’s family could potentially profit from reported changes.

“The direct financial stake your family and Wisner Baum may have in pending vaccine litigation casts a cloud over any changes you may make to VICP,” wrote the lawmakers.

In June, Kennedy appointed longtime ally and vaccine court litigator Drew Downing to make changes to VICP. Downing, who had at least 60 cases pending in VICP prior to his appointment at HHS, has advocated adding debunked vaccine harms to the vaccine injury table that governs which claims are eligible for compensation. Experts warn that this change, among others, could create a surge in vaccine injury litigation, potentially bankrupt VICP, and funnel vaccine injury cases to civil court — to the benefit of Kennedy’s anti-vaccine lawyer allies. This potentially includes Aaron Siri, Kennedy’s close ally and campaign advisor, whose firm, Siri Glimstad, had more than 100 cases pending before VICP in 2025.

“[A]ny process to reform [VICP] must be public, transparent, and free of potential conflicts of interest,” wrote the senators. “Under your leadership, HHS appears to be doing the opposite.”

The lawmakers posed a series of questions to seek more information about the changes to VICP under consideration and requested a response by February 10, 2026.

Senator Warren has raised concerns about RFK Jr.’s apparent conflicts of interest involving anti-vaccine litigation since he was nominated as HHS Secretary. During his Senate confirmation process, Senator Warren questioned RFK Jr. about his dangerous conflicts of interest and record of profiting from anti-vaccine conspiracies and pressed him on divestment, recusal, and post-employment restrictions.

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Warren, Casar, Members of Congress Demand Trump Administration Return Wrongfully Deported Babson Student

Any Lopez Belloza was deported in November in violation of a judge’s orders

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas) led more than 70 members of Congress in writing to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, urging them to allow Any Lucía Lopez Belloza to return to the United States after the Trump administration admitted her deportation was a “mistake.”

"Any Lopez Belloza should be at her university right now, not in Honduras separated from her community. The Trump administration cannot continue to snatch people off the streets and ship them overseas despite court orders, then refuse to correct what it admits are mistakes," said Senator Warren in a separate statement. "The administration must bring her back and ensure she receives due process as she pursues immigration relief.”

Lopez Belloza, a student at Babson College, was detained and deported in violation of a court order while traveling home to Austin to visit her family for Thanksgiving. The Trump administration admitted Lopez Belloza was deported in violation of a judge’s orders because an ICE officer failed to inform officials in Texas of the judge’s orders. While the administration has acknowledged its “mistake” in court, it has not allowed her to return.

“As a result of your administration’s ‘mistake,’ Ms. Lopez Belloza, who has no criminal history, was handcuffed and forced to sleep on the floor in a detention center before being deported to Honduras in shackles,” wrote the lawmakers. “(We) ask that you remedy the harm you have caused this young woman and her family by allowing her to return to the United States to pursue the legal options available to her.”

The members of Congress also raised concerns that Lopez Belloza’s deportation despite a court order is not an isolated incident.

“We are concerned that this incident is the latest in a pattern of DHS deporting people based on what it admits are mistakes and in violation of court orders — and then failing to promptly rectify those mistakes, despite the life-threatening or life-altering stakes of such deportations,” said the lawmakers.

Other signers include: Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass), along with Representatives Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), André Carson (D-Ind.), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gilbert Cisneros (D-Calif.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Henry Johnson (D–Ga.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), William Keating (D-Mass.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Sarah McBride (D-Dele.), James McGovern, (D-Mass.), LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Dave Min (D-Calif.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Emily Randall (D-Wash.), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.).

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Warren Statement on New CBO Estimate that Domestic Military Deployments Cost More Than Half a Billion Dollars

"Our military budget is not a slush fund for the President to carry out his political stunts...Ripping them away from their homes, jobs, and families in pursuit of a cruel immigration agenda is a disrespect to their service"

CBO Estimate (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a new report revealing the Trump administration’s domestic deployments of the National Guard and Marines have cost at least $589 million, more than double what the bicameral investigation led by Senator Warren and Representative Garamendi previously revealed. Their investigation found that the Pentagon had committed at least $258 million for the deployment of troops to Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, along with plans to reassign 600 Judge Advocates (JAGs) as immigration judges.

The CBO’s report includes a breakdown of the cost of troop deployments (an average of $260 per person per day or $95,000 per person per year), along with health care, lodging, food, and transportation costs for those service members. According to the report, continuing deployments to Washington, D.C.; Memphis; New Orleans; and Chicago will cost $93 million per month.

In response to the new report, Senator Warren released the below statement:

“Our military budget is not a slush fund for the President to carry out his political stunts. Our National Guard and Marines are needed to respond to natural disasters and national security threats. Ripping them away from their homes, jobs, and families in pursuit of a cruel immigration agenda is a disrespect to their service.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Trump administration have displayed gross incompetence by deploying out-of-control ICE and CBP agents in American cities. Our military should have no part in it. We need accountability and this administration must answer for wasting more than half a billion taxpayer dollars.”

CBO’s report is in response to an October 27 request from Senators Merkley, Warren, Wyden, Alsobrooks, Blumenthal, Van Hollen, Duckworth, Padilla, Booker, Durbin, and Kim.

Senator Warren’s investigations have repeatedly revealed the Trump administration’s misuse of the military and the importance of the National Guard being able to respond to natural disasters:

In December 2025, Senator Warren and Representative John Garamendi (D-Calif.) released a new report detailing the Trump administration’s diversion of more than $2 billion from the Department of Defense to the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement.

In October 2025, Senator Warren released answers from an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s cuts to the military’s climate programs. New data revealed how the National Guard is needed to respond to natural disasters across the country.

In October 2025, Senator Warren joined several senators in urging the Department of Defense conduct an investigation into how domestic deployments of active-duty and National Guard troops to Portland, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Memphis would impact military readiness.

In September 2025, at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Warren pressed General Christopher J. Mahoney, nominee to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to address her concerns on the growing costs associated with using the military to perform law enforcement duties.

In December 2024, Senators Warren and Blumenthal urged then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to issue a policy directive that prohibits the mobilization of active duty military or federalizing National Guard personnel to be deployed against their fellow Americans unless specifically authorized.

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Welch Leads New England Senators in Call for Answers About How New Regional Data Centers will Drive up Energy Costs for Consumers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, led five Northeastern lawmakers in requesting answers from ISO New England President and CEO Vamsi Chadalavada about how the grid operator plans to protect residential ratepayers from data center-driven price increases.

The average residential electricity price increased 13% in first 9 months of 2025 alone. Although some cost increases are associated with updating aging infrastructure, data centers have driven steep regional demand growth, leading to higher prices both in wholesale and retail electricity markets.

“As Senators representing New England, we are deeply concerned that data center growth will drive up energy costs and degrade reliability for our constituents. As the Independent System Operator New England (ISO-NE) continues with its own market reforms, it is essential that service remains affordable and reliable for residential consumers. We believe it is necessary to require tech companies, not American families, to foot the bill for their load. We request further information on the strategies that ISO-NE plans to implement to protect residential ratepayers from data center-driven price increases,” wrote the Senators.

“Forecasts suggest that, after two decades of stagnation, U.S. electricity demand could increase as much as 5.7% through 2030, a level of growth not seen since the 1960s. The share of electricity serving data centers is expected to triple from 2023 levels, accounting for 11.7% of U.S. power demand,” the Senators continued. “While demand is increasing, so are electricity costs. The average residential electricity price increased 13% in the first nine months of 2025 alone. Data centers are one of the key factors driving steep demand growth in certain regions, leading to higher prices both in wholesale and retail electricity markets. At PJM’s annual capacity auction in July of this year, which aims to secure resources to meet future peak demand, prices hit $329.17 per megawatt/day, a 22% increase from the 2024 auction, and a nearly 1000% increase from 2023.”

The Senators highlighted that data centers have been slow to arrive in New England, in part because the region already has high power prices: “This dramatic price increase occurred even with a negotiated price cap in place, which reduced capacity auction prices by 38%, or nearly $10 billion. Without an extension or other reforms, this cap will expire, and prices are likely to rise even further. These high prices are being passed on to households across the PJM region. New England already suffers from historically high energy prices. It is essential that our constituents do not face the same fate.”

“Rapid demand growth also threatens the reliability of the electric grid. Despite setting record prices in its capacity auction, PJM was unable to meet its planning reserve margin,” wrote the Senators. “ISO-NE likewise experiences a tighter reserve margin while ill-advised efforts by the Trump Administration to stall offshore wind have delayed our region’s planned addition of this reliable, clean, and affordable power generation. Should New England see an influx of data centers coming online, pressure on the margin will only worsen.”

The Senators concluded: “ISO-NE has a central role in making sure residential ratepayers are not unjustly burdened by data center growth. As the ones who stand to benefit most, the multi-billion-dollar AI industry should be responsible for these costs. With data centers emerging across New England, how will ISO-NE work to protect residential customers from these costs? We appreciate the work that ISO New England does to operate our region’s bulk power system. We share a common goal of maintaining reliable, affordable electricity for all customers as more data centers come online.”

Senator Welch was joined on the letter by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

Read and download the lawmaker’s full letter to ISO New England President and CEO Vamsi Chadalavada.

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