WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Rob Menendez launched a statewide initiative to oppose the proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) warehouse facility in Roxbury Township, New Jersey. Menendez’s effort is joined by Senator Andy Kim and Congressmembers Herb Conaway Jr., MD (NJ-3), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Donald Norcross (NJ-1), Frank Pallone (NJ-6), Nellie Pou (NJ-9), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

“After his Administration bragged about wanting to treat immigrants like ‘Amazon Prime,’ the latest development in Trump’s cruel anti-immigrant agenda is using massive warehouses for immigrant detention,” said Congressman Menendez. “I have personally witnessed abhorrent conditions at Delaney Hall, and the idea that this Administration wants to replicate them at an even bigger scale at warehouses not meant for human occupancy is horrific. By adding your voice to our initiative, we will send a clear message to the Trump Administration that New Jersey will not stand for this dehumanizing and cruel treatment of our neighbors in any community in our state.”

“Our initiative is about giving New Jerseyans a voice before Trump turns a warehouse in Roxbury into a mass detention site for up to 1,500 people,” said Congressman Pallone. “Our communities should not wake up one day to find that human beings are being held in conditions designed for storage. We’ve seen the harm these facilities cause in New Jersey and across the country. If the Trump administration is moving forward with their plan to treat people like cargo, then the people of New Jersey deserve the chance to speak loudly and clearly before it happens.”

“From Roxbury to Newark, Private Detention Centers have no place in New Jersey,” said Senator Kim. “These companies have shown they'd rather put their own profits over the care they're supposed to provide. We can’t risk more injuries, accidents, and chaos that puts our communities at risk. You deserve to have your voice heard as we hold these companies and the Trump Administration accountable, which is why I stand with my colleagues as we take action to protect those who call New Jersey home.”

“Converting an industrial facility in Roxbury Township into an ICE detention center is inhumane and deeply wrong. I strongly oppose this proposal, and I will fight any effort to turn our communities into sites of mass detention,” said Congressman Conaway Jr., MD “Similarly, I raised the alarm when there were proposals to use Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as a migrant detention facility because our communities should not suffer from the administration’s blatant disregard for human life. The same principle applies in Roxbury. I will not stand by while federal officials attempt to expand a system that has already led to unsafe conditions, chaos, and harm.”

“Immigration enforcement must be carried out professionally, lawfully, and with fact-driven accountability — because no individual and no government agency is above the Constitution,” said Congressman Gottheimer. “We need clear, commonsense, enforceable guardrails for immigration enforcement — led with professionalism, the rule of law, and respect for human life.”

“We want ICE out of New Jersey, not another massive detention center in our community. From Delaney Hall to facilities all across the country, ICE proven that they have no regard for due process or human dignity,” said Congresswoman McIver. “They skirt oversight and accountability, trying to hide brutal conditions of detention because they are unacceptable. Our community will reject this latest move by the Trump administration.”

“From Minnesota to New Jersey, we’ve seen what happens when ICE comes into our communities. Just last week, there was an ICE raid in Lindenwold, and video online shows children running away in terror after learning ICE agents were nearby,” said Congressman Norcross. “Now there’s a proposal to turn a warehouse in Roxbury Township into another ICE detention center. It’s more of the same from Donald Trump, and his administration continues to set policies that fail to uphold the Constitution and lack transparency. We deserve honesty from our leaders, not operations carried out in the shadows that leave communities shaken. Today, I join my congressional colleagues in urging New Jerseyans to make their voices heard and respond to our survey. It’s going to take all of us speaking out to hold this administration accountable.”

“The country has witnessed the Trump Administration’s efforts to target, detain, and deport members of our immigrant communities—and the chaos these actions have inflicted on our neighborhoods continues to grow each day,” said Congresswoman Pou. “That the Trump Administration is seeking to expand these failed and harmful policies by increasing immigrant detention facilities in New Jersey is unconscionable. Another ICE detention center is not welcome in our community. This initiative can amplify the voices of our constituents, many of whom have felt unheard and voiceless during this administration.”

“ICE, in its actions around the country, has displayed an increasing dismissal of human rights. New Jersey at large, including the community of Roxbury, has rejected this as antithetical to the values of our great state,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “The Trump administration's commitment to rewarding the private prison industry, the first megadonor to max out to the President's political campaigns, has been made apparent. They value degradation, corruption, and absolute loyalty to Trump above all else. A concentration camp in Roxbury would be a symbol of this immorality. The people of New Jersey have said loud and clear, 'ICE is not welcome here.' This initiative will shout that declaration from New Jersey to the White House.”

The proposed facility has generated widespread opposition, including a resolution opposing the conversion of this warehouse into an ICE facility by the all-Republican Roxbury Township Council. The site is also reported to have no water or sewer capacity for ICE’s proposed usage.

New Jersey is home to more than two million immigrants who are essential to the state’s economy, workforce, and small businesses. Since President Trump took office, large federal detention contracts in New Jersey have produced unsafe conditions, unrest, and even deaths in custody. Rather than learning from these failures, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) now appears poised to escalate them by detaining people in warehouses, which are facilities designed for storage, not human safety.

This effort follows a New Jersey Democratic delegation letter led by Menendez demanding that DHS halt ICE’s warehouse detention plan in Roxbury.

Congressman Rob Menendez has been a leader in the House of Representatives on oversight of immigrant detention centers. He has worked to ban private immigrant detention centers and led his colleagues in fighting the Trump Administration’s illegal restrictions on oversight of these facilities, including efforts to close Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center.

Last year, in response to reports that the Trump Administration was planning to expand immigration detention in New Jersey, Menendez led bicameral members of the New Jersey congressional delegation in opposing this expansion and demanding transparency. Since being sworn into to Congress in 2023, he has repeatedly calledfor the closure of all immigrant detention centers in New Jersey and has conducted several unannounced visits of Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center. He has long advocated for the humane and dignified treatment of individuals in detention.


For Immediate Release Contact: Alayah Phipps

February 18, 2026 202-813-2793

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON PASSING OF CIVIL RIGHTS ICON REVEREND JESSE LOUIS JACKSON SR.

Washington, D.C.— Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement on the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.:

"Today, our nation mourns the loss of a giant. During Black History Month, we honor the life of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., who dedicated his life to the fight for justice, equality, and human dignity. His voice and moral courage shaped the soul of our nation and losing him during Black History Month reminds us that the leaders who made history walked among us, and their work is now ours.

“Through Operation Breadbasket and later the Rainbow PUSH Coalition—a movement he created that transformed how America approaches civil rights—Reverend Jackson channeled the cry for justice into action. He pressured corporate boardrooms, securing diplomatic victories, and opened doors for generations to come. His historic presidential campaigns as a Democratic candidate in 1984 and 1988 shattered barriers, winning 13 primaries and caucuses and showed America what was possible. He paved the path for the election of President Barack Obama and for so many of us who serve in Congress today.

“For the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Reverend Jackson was more than a leader—he was a North Star. His mentorship, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to Black political empowerment strengthened our institution and inspired countless members, including many who serve today, to fight for justice with the same moral clarity and courage he embodied.

“His legacy lives in every voter registration drive, every march for economic justice, and every movement that demanded the voiceless be heard. He mobilized millions, transformed the political landscape, and inspired generations of leaders—including many of us who now serve in Congress—to believe that we too could make a difference.

“As the representative of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a territory still fighting for full equality and representation, I am deeply grateful for Reverend Jackson's unwavering commitment to ensuring that all Americans—regardless of where they live, what they look like, or how much money they have—are treated with dignity and have access to opportunity.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, children, grandchildren, and the entire Jackson family, including my colleague Congressman Jonathan Jackson, who carries his father’s legacy forward in Congress. They shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of their extended family. May he rest in peace and power.

“Reverend Jackson's work is not finished. It falls to all of us to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by—justice, equality, and love. His life reminds us that change is possible when we have the courage to demand it and the determination to see it through. In his most famous words, we will 'Keep Hope Alive!'"


Ramirez Rejects Trump’s Gaslighting at SOTU,  Joins People’s State of the Union

Washington, D.C. – As reported byTheNew York Times, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) will be among the more than 12 members of Congress participating in the “People’s State of the Union” on February 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The event will serve as a counterpoint to President Trump’s address, which promises to be full of lies and misplaced priorities.

Along with hosts Katie Phang and Joy Reid, Democratic lawmakers will be joined on stage by the everyday Americans most impacted by Trump’s dangerous agenda. Congresswoman Ramirez won’t be joined by a guest and instead, will honor the more than 35 people who have lost their lives at the hands of the Trump Administration’s Department of Homeland Security.

“Since day one, the Trump Administration has been clear about their priorities and the pain they are willing to inflict on our communities to benefit their billionaire bosses. Donald Trump will use the State of the Union address as a platform to gaslight the American people and normalize and justify their terror, abuse, and violations of our rights. I refuse to legitimize it,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03). ”The State of the Union is reflected in the people in the street fighting fascism and authoritarianism, protecting each other, and mourning those who we have lost to the violence of the administration. I will be standing at the People’s State of the Union, clear that the power of the people is stronger than the weapons they would yield against us."

Other members of Congress include Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (D-VT), Greg Casar (TX-35), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), John B. Larson (CT-01), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).


SALAZAR’S IDB CAPITAL INCREASE ACT SIGNED INTO LAW, STRENGTHENING U.S. ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative María Elvira Salazar’s (FL-27) IDB Capital Increase Act (H.R. 6892) has been signed into law as part of H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, marking another legislative win that strengthens U.S. economic leadership and engagement across the Western Hemisphere.

The law authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase 25,000 new shares of IDB Invest, the private-sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank, expanding its capacity to finance development projects across Latin America and the Caribbean.

This investment will create new opportunities for American companies, increase U.S. influence within the region’s leading development institution, and support economic growth and stability throughout the hemisphere.

“America benefits from a strong and economically secure Western Hemisphere,” said Rep. Salazar. “This investment expands opportunities for U.S. businesses while supporting development and prosperity across Latin America and the Caribbean. When our neighbors grow stronger, so do we.”

The United States is the largest shareholder in the Inter-American Development Bank, which finances major infrastructure and private-sector projects across the Americas. This capital increase strengthens IDB Invest’s ability to support private-sector development and advance U.S. economic interests throughout the region.

Related Materials:

• Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R. 7148): here

• IDB Capital Increase Act (H.R. 6892) bill text: here

• Original House passage press release: here

Representative Salazar Legislative Accomplishments:

With the enactment of the IDB Capital Increase Act, Rep. María Elvira Salazar continues building a strong record of results, bringing the total number of bills she has authored and helped enact into law to twelve.

Other key legislation authored or sponsored by Rep. Salazar that has been signed into law includes:


Stanton, New Democrat Coalition Unveil Forward-Looking ‘Affordability Agenda’ Answer to Cost of Living Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) joined other leadership members of the New Democrat Coalition to unveil their Affordability Agenda, a policy roadmap to help make life more affordable for Americans by focusing on lowering the five core costs that are too high for hardworking people: health care, housing, energy, family care, and household essentials like groceries.

“Trump has failed to deliver on his promise to end inflation and make life more affordable for working families. In fact, he’s made things worse: his trade war is raising prices on everything from groceries to housing, and Congressional Republicans sent health coverage costs skyrocketing for tens of millions of Americans,” said Rep. Stanton. “The New Dems Affordability Agenda doesn’t just undo Trump’s economic sabotage, it offers bold solutions to the biggest pressures families face. This forward-looking plan brings the American dream back within reach for Arizona families.”

With the Affordability Agenda, Stanton and the New Dems are offering a better path to lower everyday costs in the short- and long-term by rolling back harmful policies pushed by Republicans in Washington, promoting competition and supporting small businesses to boost consumer choice, and breaking down regulatory barriers across the government that prevent us from meeting the needs of the American people.

The full Affordability Agenda is available HERE.

Affordability Agenda Highlights

Groceries & Household Essentials

Restore certainty by rolling back Trump’s tariffs and advancing smarter, durable trade policies.

Support small producers and crack down on price-gouging corporations to increase competition in the food marketplace.

Lower internet bills by restarting the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Increase the minimum wage and ensure workers have a seat at the table.

Health Care

Reduce monthly costs by extending ACA tax credits and expanding access to prescription price caps.

Protect patients from surprise medical bills and aggressive debt collection.

Expand access to care by fully funding Medicaid and strengthening Medicare’s guaranteed benefits.

Increase competition and transparency while cracking down on fraud and abuse.

Housing

Cut red tape and update permitting and zoning to build four million homes in the next decade.

Level the playing field by eliminating unfair tax breaks to private equity and large investors.

Utilize innovative construction technologies to accelerate home production.

Build more affordable homes by increasing Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations and community benefits.

Energy

Reform permitting rules to make it faster and cheaper to build energy transmission and generation infrastructure.

Ensure energy is available and abundant by establishing a level playing field for all forms of energy.

Reallocate electric grid costs to protect consumers from price hikes due to manufacturing and data center development.

Invest in energy efficiency and home heating & cooling to lower residential energy costs.

Families


Stefanik, Mannion, Bipartisan New York Delegation Urge Domestic Gallium Production at Air Force Research Lab in Rome, NY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - New York Representatives Elise Stefanik (NY-21), John Mannion (NY-22), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Claudia Tenney (NY-24) sent a bipartisan letter to Michael Cadenazzi, the Pentagon's Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, urging the Department of War to partner with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Rome, NY to invest in a domestic source of gallium—a rare earth mineral critical to U.S. national security and advanced technologies.

"We are concerned by the United States' dependence on foreign sources for gallium, particularly China, which currently holds a 98 percent share of the global supply and has imposed an export ban on shipments to the United States. This monopoly presents a significant supply chain vulnerability with implications for defense readiness and technological competitiveness, especially as geopolitical tensions increase. It is essential for U.S. national security that we support domestic advanced materials science research on the gallium extraction process and establish a secure and resilient domestic gallium supply chain here in the U.S. capable of meeting projected demand," the lawmakers wrote.

Last month, Stefanik, a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, successfully delivered $541.8 million in defense wins, including $329.8 million for Rome's AFRL.


Rep. Stevens Leads Letter to Support Services for Children and Mothers Impacted by Flint Water Crisis

FLINT— Today, Representatives Haley Stevens (MI-11), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), and Shri Thanedar (MI-13) sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) strongly urging the continuation of critical Medicaid coverage for children and pregnant women impacted by the Flint Water Crisis.

In 2016, CMS approved the “Flint Michigan Section 1115 Demonstration” waiver to expand critical Medicaid services and support to cover children under the age of 21 and pregnant women who were affected by lead exposure during the Flint Water Crisis. Since then, more than 54,000 children and pregnant women have been able to access comprehensive coverage, preventive services, and early interventions designed to address the long-lasting effects of lead exposure.

On December 19, 2025, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services submitted a request to extend the Flint Michigan Section 1115 Demonstration for an additional five years to maintain uninterrupted coverage and services for thousands of Flint families.

In their letter, the Representatives write, “Families were exposed to lead through no fault of their own, and the profound negative health consequences of that exposure – particularly for children – can last a lifetime…Since its initial approval in 2016, the waiver has served as a lifeline for Flint families who otherwise would not qualify for Medicaid, ensuring that more than 54,000 children and pregnant women have access to comprehensive coverage, preventive services, and early interventions designed to address the lasting effects of lead exposure. For thousands of families, this coverage has meant timely care during critical stages of development, rather than delayed or foregone services… Allowing the demonstration to expire would result in the loss of coverage for thousands of Flint residents and undermine the long-term health protections the waiver was designed to provide.”

A copy of the letter can be found here.

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Rep. Summer Lee Presents Over $1 Million Federal Investment to Combat Blight and Revitalize North Braddock

Photos (Dropbox)

PITTSBURGH, PA – FEBRUARY 17, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) joined local leaders in North Braddock to present more than $1 million in federal Community Project Funding (CPF) to support blight remediation and neighborhood revitalization efforts across the borough.

The funding was secured through Congresswoman Lee’s Community Project Funding requests, which allow Members of Congress to advocate directly for community-driven priorities. Congresswoman Lee worked closely with local partners to advance this project through the federal appropriations process, prioritizing investments that address blight, strengthen public safety, and support long-term neighborhood revitalization in Western Pennsylvania, ensuring the Mon Valley received the resources it deserves.

“I’m proud to deliver over $1 million in federal funding to the Mon Valley. This project is about transforming what people see and experience in their neighborhoods every single day, removing blight, making way for safe and vibrant community spaces, and creating good-paying jobs for local workers in the process. This investment will allow our community to witness progress in real time, remind North Braddock and the entire Mon Valley that you matter, your future matters, and your federal government has not forgotten you,” said Rep Lee.

"Congresswoman Lee, thank you for seeing us, believing in us, and investing in us. You have asked again and again, “Where can I help?” and today you have answered that question in a practical and powerful way—by putting tools in our hands and opportunity in our community," said Dr. Lisa Franklin-Robinson, President North Braddock Borough Council

The $1,015,000 investment will allow the Borough of North Braddock to establish an internal demolition unit as part of the second phase of its Community Revitalization and Employment Initiative. Funding will support the purchase of heavy equipment and expand the borough’s capacity to address more than 700 abandoned properties, eliminate hazardous structures, and improve public health, safety, and economic opportunity for residents.

Blight remediation has long been a priority for local leaders, who say abandoned properties pose safety risks, strain municipal resources, and hinder economic development. Establishing a borough-run demolition unit will allow North Braddock to respond more quickly and efficiently to unsafe structures while creating local jobs.

Lee was joined at the event by County Executive Sara Innamorato, Boro Council President Lisa Franklin-Robinson, State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, Allegheny County Councilperson Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, County Treasurer Erica Rocchi Brusselars, other state and local leaders, and community members.

Since taking office, Congresswoman Lee has delivered more than $2.7 billion in federal funding to PA-12, including major investments in infrastructure, affordable transit, clean energy manufacturing, workforce development, and community spaces. Through her Community Project Funding efforts, Lee has secured direct investments for community-based organizations, including a $1 million CPF award to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, $450,000 to the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, over $1.5 million in federal support for the Tree of Life rebuilding and healing initiatives, and $1 million in Community Project Funding for historic renovations at the Carnegie Library of Homestead. These projects are part of more than $24.9 million in Community Project Funding secured during her time in Congress. Congresswoman Lee’s office has consistently directed federal dollars to historically overlooked communities to ensure equitable access to opportunities and long-term regional growth and stability.

To see photos from the event, click here.


Congresswoman Tenney Announces Wayne County Sheriff Robert Milby as State of the Union Guest

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today announced that Wayne County Sheriff Robert Milby will join her as her guest for the upcoming State of the Union address.

Sheriff Milby is a lifelong resident of Palmyra, New York, where he raised his children and has devoted his career to serving the people of Wayne County. He began his law enforcement career in 1995 with part-time service at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the Lyons Police Department before joining the Sheriff’s Office full-time shortly thereafter. Over 30 years in law enforcement, including more than 29 years as a sworn member of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and 26 years in supervisory roles, he has provided steady, experienced leadership in public safety. A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, Sheriff Milby has advanced training in law enforcement leadership, legal issues impacting operations, command-level concerns, and personnel management. He is a founding member of the Wayne County Opioid Task Force and the Wayne County Child Advocacy Center Advisory Board, and he serves as 2nd Vice President of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, where he chairs the newly formed New York State Border Security Committee. Throughout his career, Sheriff Milby has championed modernization, interagency collaboration, and the highest standards of professionalism and accountability in law enforcement.

“I am honored that my guest for the State of the Union is Sheriff Robert Milby of Wayne County. Sheriff Milby represents the very best of Upstate New York: integrity, professionalism, and three decades of dedicated service protecting our families. As a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a leader in combating the opioid crisis and protecting vulnerable children, he embodies what real public safety leadership looks like. At a time when law enforcement faces unprecedented challenges, it is important to highlight leaders who serve courageously every single day. His presence at the State of the Union represents my solidarity with law enforcement and the men and women who keep our communities safe,” said Congresswoman Tenney.

“Justice is strongest when every level of government stands shoulder to shoulder —protecting our citizens together and ensuring that accountability and responsibility are never optional,” said Sheriff Milby.

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Thompson Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition

BELLEFONTE, Pa. – U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) today announced that the 2026 Congressional Art Competition in Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District is officially accepting entries. High school students in grades eight through 12 from PA-15 are eligible to participate.

“The Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity for students to showcase their creativity,” Rep. Thompson said. “I look forward to seeing all the exceptional art pieces and meeting these talented students.”

The winner of the Congressional Art Competition will have their artwork displayed in the United States Capitol for a year and are invited to a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Participating students from the 15th Congressional District will be invited to an award ceremony at the Winkler Gallery and Art Education Center in DuBois, Pa. on April 18, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m. Students, friends, and families are encouraged to attend.

The winning artwork will be selected by an independent panel of judges established by the Winkler Gallery.

The deadline for submissions is April 10.

FOR CONTESTANTS

All pieces entered for consideration must meet the following criteria:

Be two dimensional;

Be no larger than 26 inches wide by 26 inches tall by 4 inches thick;

Can not weigh more than 15 pounds, including the frame;

Be original in design, concept, and execution; and

May not violate any U.S. copyright laws.


Statement on the Passing of Dr. Norman C. Francis

February 18, 2026

NEW ORLEANS, LA — Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) released the following statement on the passing of Dr. Norman C. Francis.

“My heart is truly broken.

“Dr. Norman C. Francis was my mentor, a servant leader, and a giant whose steady hand shaped not only an institution but my family’s destiny. His leadership at Xavier University of Louisiana was historic. He broke barriers as the first Black and first lay president of the university, and only the second African American to lead a Catholic university in the United States. For forty-seven years, he guided Xavier with principled, unwavering strength, becoming the longest-serving university president in the nation. He built buildings, expanded opportunity, welcomed the Freedom Riders, rebuilt after Katrina, and transformed Xavier into a national leader in preparing students for medical and professional schools.

“But for me, this is personal.

“In 1971, fifty-five years ago, my mother, Eartha Flemings Carter, graduated from Xavier as a mother of six children. She balanced textbooks and bedtime stories, faith and responsibility. Under Dr. Francis’ generous leadership, and within the loving embrace of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, she found a safe and nurturing space to pursue her education. The nuns encouraged her. The university believed in her. Dr. Francis preserved a culture where discipline, dignity, and faith walked hand in hand.

“When my mother crossed that stage, she carried six children with her in spirit. That moment became a Carter tradition.

“My Momz.

My sister, Jillandra Carter-Rovaris

Me, Troy A. Carter, Sr.

My son, Troy A. Carter, II

My nephew, Gary M. Carter, II

My nieces, China, Chontel, Joy, Chandler Carter,

And a host of other relatives.

“We are proud Xavierites because Xavier helped shape who we are.

“Dr. Francis was more than an administrator. He was an institution builder, a civil rights champion, and a man of quiet generosity. He believed education was the pathway to justice. He believed lifting one student could lift an entire family. In our case, he was right.

“I was proud to introduce legislation alongside my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to honor this extraordinary leader. His life was long, accomplished, and profoundly impactful. Now it is up to us to carry forward his legacy by advancing educational equity, justice, and opportunity for generations to come.

“Today, he is reunited in Heaven with his beloved wife, Ms. Blanche, having heard the words every faithful servant longs to hear: well done.

“My prayers are with his loved ones and with our entire Xavier family. May he rest in eternal peace.”

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Walkinshaw, Van Hollen, MD & VA Members of Congress Urge Public Transparency, Long-term Response Plan from DC Water

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative James R. Walkinshaw (D-Va), U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and 8 additional members of Congress who represent Maryland and Virginia wrote to DC Water CEO and General Manager David Gadis, expressing serious concern over the public health and environmental impacts of the disastrous sewage spill into the Potomac River following the collapse of a major sewer line last month – and called for the utility to take a series of actions and increase public transparency as the response and recovery efforts continue.

Joining Rep. James Walkinshaw and Senator Van Hollen on this letter are Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), and Eugene Vindman (D-Va.).

“We write to express our serious concern around the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sanitary sewer line that was discovered on January 19 along Clara Barton Parkway and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historical Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. The failure of this 72-inch diameter pipe, which conveys approximately 60 million gallons of wastewater per day from communities in Maryland and Virginia to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, D.C., resulted in a massive discharge of raw, untreated sewage into the Potomac River,” the lawmakers began. “This is one of the largest sewage spills in our country’s history, and its consequences for public health, the environment, and our communities demand a comprehensive and sustained response as well as clear communication with the public.”

They thanked DC water employees and contractors for braving difficult conditions to conduct critical containment and repair work, but also underscored the ongoing risks to the public and the environment in the wake of this disaster, writing, “while we appreciate the ongoing emergency response, we remain deeply concerned about the near-term public health and environmental impacts of this spill. Independent testing conducted by University of Maryland researchers and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, as well as DC Water’s own testing, have revealed alarming contamination levels in the river, and the full scope of the environmental damage is still not fully understood.”

The lawmakers went on to urge DC Water to commit to the following actions as the repair and recovery work continues:

Frequent and transparent public communication;

Develop a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and remediation plan;

Regular public briefings with opportunities for direct community engagement with DC Water;

Continued water quality monitoring through spring and summer; and

Ongoing communication with the regional Congressional delegation.

“We are closely monitoring this situation and stand ready to assist in any way we can. Our offices will continue to relay the concerns of our constituents to DC Water and work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a full and effective response to this crisis. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your response,” the lawmakers concluded.

Text of the letter can be viewed hereand below.

Dear Mr. Gadis:

We write to express our serious concern around the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sanitary sewer line that was discovered on January 19 along Clara Barton Parkway and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historical Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. The failure of this 72-inch diameter pipe, which conveys approximately 60 million gallons of wastewater per day from communities in Maryland and Virginia to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, D.C., resulted in a massive discharge of raw, untreated sewage into the Potomac River.

Before DC Water was able to activate a bypass system on January 24, an estimated 40 million gallons of wastewater per day overflowed from the collapse site, with approximately 243 million gallons of untreated sewage reaching the river in total according to DC Water’s estimates. The Potomac River is a vital natural resource that provides drinking water to five million people, supports a rich and diverse ecosystem, and serves as a source of recreation, livelihood, and pride for communities across our region. This is one of the largest sewage spills in our country’s history, and its consequences for public health, the environment, and our communities demand a comprehensive and sustained response as well as clear communication with the public.

We want to first acknowledge and thank the DC Water employees and contractors who have been working around the clock in extremely challenging winter conditions to contain the spill, install and maintain bypass pumping systems, and begin the complex work of cleaning and repairing the damaged pipe. The dedication of these workers, who have persevered through freezing temperatures and heavy snow, reflects the highest standards of public service and deserves our recognition and gratitude.

While we appreciate the ongoing emergency response, we remain deeply concerned about the near-term public health and environmental impacts of this spill. Independent testing conducted by University of Maryland researchers and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, as well as DC Water’s own testing, have revealed alarming contamination levels in the river, and the full scope of the environmental damage is still not fully understood.

Water samples collected at the spill site have shown E. coli bacteria concentrations more than 10,000 times above Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recreational water quality standards, and elevated contamination levels above EPA standards have been detected at downstream locations as well. University of Maryland’s testing also detected S. aureus, the bacteria responsible for staph infections, at one-third of sampling sites. And MRSA, a highly dangerous antibiotic-resistant strain of S. aureus, was detected at the sewage overflow site. As of February 16, E. coli levels near the Lock 10 drainage channel remained severely elevated, and DC Water has acknowledged a significant reporting error in which actual E. coli concentrations on February 6 at this location were approximately 100 times higher than initially disclosed.

We are also concerned about the potential ecological impacts of this spill on fish, wildlife, and their habitats. The Potomac Gorge, the section of the river where this spill occurred, is one of the most significant biodiversity hotspots on the East Coast and home to over 1,500 species, including nearly 200 that are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered. The introduction of hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into this ecosystem risks cascading harm to fish populations, aquatic invertebrates, and the wildlife that depend on them. There have already been credible reports of fish kills downstream of the spill and the Maryland Department of the Environment took the precautionary step of closing shellfish harvesting areas along part of the lower Potomac River, demonstrating that a full accounting of these impacts is essential.

Furthermore, recent cold weather conditions are compounding these risks. Cold water temperatures near the spill site will slow bacterial die-off and allow harmful pathogens to survive longer and travel farther downstream. Additionally, ice cover on portions of the river reflects sunlight that would otherwise help sterilize the water, and the river’s current drought conditions have reduced the natural dilution of contaminants. There is also significant concern that frozen sewage in the water column and along shorelines may trigger delayed contamination events and additional harm to the river and public health when temperatures rise.

Given the severity and ongoing impacts of this incident, we request that DC Water commit to the following actions:

Frequent and Transparent Public Communication: We ask that DC Water continue to provide frequent, accurate, and transparent updates to the public regarding the status of repair work at the collapse site, bacteria levels in the river associated with the sewer line collapse and the corresponding public health risks, and any other developments related to this incident. The recent discovery of a significant rock blockage in the sewer line that will add four to six weeks to the timeline for repairs and overflows that continue to occur at the break site demonstrate the importance of these updates. It is imperative that the information DC Water provides to the public be rigorously verified, clearly communicated, and transmitted in a timely fashion.

Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment and Remediation Plan: We ask that DC Water partner closely with federal, state, and local officials, as well as environmental organizations and research institutions working on the ground, to develop and publicly release a thorough assessment of the spill’s environmental impacts alongside a comprehensive timeline for environmental remediation at all impacted sites. This rigorous study and plan should include:

An assessment of the spill’s impact on fish, wildlife, and the ecologically sensitive habitats within and near the Potomac River.

An assessment of any impact on the C&O Canal National Historical Park, a treasured site for recreation which is currently serving as the temporary bypass venue for diverted sewage and may have sustained environmental harm as a result.

An assessment of potential downstream impacts to water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, given that the Potomac River is one of the Bay’s largest tributaries and that contamination has already been detected miles downstream of the spill site.

A clear and detailed plan for the environmental remediation needed to address the ecological damage caused by this spill, including timelines, responsible parties, and coordination with relevant regulatory agencies.

Public Briefings: We ask that DC Water hold regular public briefings on the incident and its ongoing impacts to inform members of the local community and provide them with opportunities to ask questions and share their concerns directly with DC Water leadership. The residents, businesses, and recreational users who depend on the Potomac River and the C&O Canal deserve direct forums to engage with DC Water on the response, the remediation plan, and what steps are being taken to prevent a disaster of this magnitude from occurring again. We appreciate that you are working toward providing opportunities for the community to directly engage with DC Water, as you stated in your recent Open Letter, and that you are planning an in-person community meeting with regional leaders and public health agencies for the week of February 23.

Continued Water Quality Monitoring Through Spring and Summer: We ask that DC Water commit to sustained water quality monitoring well into the spring and summer months to ensure that bacteria levels return to safe standards before the recreational season and to detect any delayed contamination from frozen sewage and sediment-trapped pollutants. Testing results should continue to be released to the public on a regular basis.

Ongoing Communication with the Congressional Delegation: We ask that DC Water continue to keep Members of Congress representing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia closely informed as repair work progresses and as you pursue the necessary infrastructure upgrades and environmental remediation. We are prepared to support efforts to secure the federal resources and technical assistance needed to address both this incident and the broader challenge of aging wastewater infrastructure in our region.

We are closely monitoring this situation and stand ready to assist in any way we can. Our offices will continue to relay the concerns of our constituents to DC Water and work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a full and effective response to this crisis. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your response.

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Rep. James Walkinshaw Joins Bicameral Supreme Court Amicus Brief Defending Congress’s Authority Over Asylum Law

WASHINGTON – Rep. James Walkinshaw joined Democratic Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in Noem v. Al Otro Lado, urging the Court to reaffirm that the Constitution gives Congress—not the Executive Branch—the authority to write and revise the Nation’s asylum laws.

The brief challenges the Trump Administration’s “metering” policy, which blocks people at official ports of entry from seeking asylum under federal law. Members argue this is not lawful enforcement discretion, but an attempt to sidestep Congress’s clear intent and the asylum framework Congress established.

Rep. Walkinshaw joined the brief to defend Congress’s Article I role and to push back against executive actions that could be used by future administrations to undermine federal law.

Read the full brief HERE.


Rep. Watson Coleman Joins Ewing Officials to Mark Milestone in Rebuilding of Community Center

Ewing, New Jersey (Feb 18, 2026) - Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) participated in a topping out ceremony to celebrate the placement of the final structural beam for the new Ewing Township Senior and Community Center, which burned down during a five-alarm fire in September 2022.

As the center was a staple in Ewing, the fire disrupted important programs and resources that unified residents. Rep. Watson Coleman helped secure $1 million for its rebuilding, and Ewing broke ground last March.

“This is such a full circle moment for me with the center’s re-opening being slated for later this year; my last year in Congress.” said Watson Coleman. “It’s a privilege for one of the last fruits of my team’s labor to be right here at home. At a time when we seem to need community more than ever, I look forward to the day we can cut the ribbon and finally reopen our community center.”

“The placement of this final beam is a significant milestone,” Watson Coleman continued. “With the bones of the building complete, we are closer to this center, and our community, being whole again.”


Senator Banks Urges Administration to Investigate Foreign Influence Behind Anti-ICE Activism

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.)sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging a formal investigation into potential foreign influence and coordination behind a growing wave of anti-ICE activism across the United States.

Read more about the letter here.

Read the full letter here or see full text below.

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

I urge you to investigate foreign influence behind anti-ICE activism. Progressive groups across the country are organizing protests, economic boycotts, and school walkouts to oppose immigration enforcement. In many cases, they are inciting the obstruction of federal law. Some groups have been financed and organized by foreign agents, including agents of the Chinese Communist Party who were also involved with violent protests in 2020 and after October 7, 2023. It is imperative to understand how our adversaries may be sowing civil unrest on U.S. soil.

A national and coordinated anti-ICE network has activated in response to immigration

enforcement by ICE and Border Patrol. The network, which has been described as an

“insurgent-style operation,” has advanced insurgent-style methods. In trainings, some anti-ICE groups encourage protestors to interfere with enforcement, to “strike” law enforcement officers, and to forcefully remove arrestees from custody—tactics that, as organizers acknowledge, move beyond lawful protest. Obstructing federal law enforcement is a crime, as is harboring aliens known to be in the country illegally.

These tactics are not confined to training exercises and Instagram graphics. Activists have assaulted law enforcement officers, blocked their vehicles, and entered confrontations—with terrible and tragic results. Others have stormed churches and waged pressure campaigns on private establishments.

We must identify who is behind this chaos before it tears the country apart. Local authorities’ refusal to cooperate with law enforcement feeds and intensifies it. So does financing from high-profile progressive donors and sympathy from mainstream media outlets.

But our foreign adversaries are not disinterested parties. Just last week, the State Department identified a network of progressive groups run by Neville Singham as a source of Chinese influence. Singham, who lives in Singapore, shares office space with a Chinese propaganda outlet. Many Singham beneficiaries promote the Chinese Communist Party and defend the Chinese government against allegations of genocide. Far from staying silent about immigration debates, Singham Network groups have led anti-ICE boycotts and school walkouts across the country, and have encouraged immigrant groups to protest ICE.

This is not the first time the Singham Network has been linked to domestic strife. Mr. Singham organized the “Shut It Down for Palestine” campaign supporting Hamas after October 7, 2023. And the Party for Socialism and Liberation, another Singham group, was one of several CCP-linked groups engaged in riots during the summer of 2020.

Nor is Mr. Singham the only foreign source involved in current events. ICE resistance trainings with the stated purpose of “interfering” with federal law enforcement have been sponsored in multiple cities by groups funded by Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss.

Wyss previously bankrolled pro-abortion ballot measures around the country and successfully got abortion enshrined as a constitutional right in multiple states.

Foreign principals should not dictate America’s immigration policy, and they should not

encourage American citizens or guests of this country to obstruct law enforcement. At a

minimum, we should know who is funding anti-ICE activism, what influence those funders are wielding, and whether they are acting as agents of our adversaries.

I urge you to investigate the groups involved in anti-ICE activities, and respectfully request an answer to the following questions by April 5, 2026:

Of promoting and participating in anti-ICE activities, how many are in any way funded or organized by foreign sources? Of these foreign sources, how many come from countries of concern or countries that promote radical Islam?

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) requires agents of foreign principals to disclose their status and activities as foreign agents. Have any groups funded by Neville Singham ever registered with the Department of Justice as foreign agents acting on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party or Mr. Singham?

Singham Network groups are financed and very likely directed by an agent of the Chinese Communist Party. Considering this relationship, is it the view of the Department of Justice that Singham Network member groups are legally obligated to disclose their status as a foreign agent under FARA?

Other agencies have revoked benefits from non-profits that materially support illegal immigration, violate state tort law, and engage in violence for the purpose of obstructing the federal government, on the grounds that such activities have a “substantial illegal purpose.” What plans does the Department of Justice have to hold non-profits that may oppose ICE to their obligation to follow U.S. law?

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and for all you are doing to make America great again.

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Bennet, Warren, Colleagues Press Treasury and State to Explain Lifting of Sanctions on Three Enablers of Commercial Spyware Used Against Americans, Journalists, and Dissidents

Denver— Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, as well as Senators Andy Kim (D-N.J.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to send a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging them to brief Congress after the Trump Administration lifted sanctions on three enablers of the Intellexa Consortium (Intellexa), an entity known for developing, operating, and distributing commercial spyware used to target Americans as well as journalists, political figures, and human rights activists around the world. Intellexa is a web of entities that built and commercialized a suite of highly invasive spyware products, primarily marketed under the brand name “Predator.”

“Intellexa affiliates have been subject to U.S. sanctions since 2024. According to a recent report, rather than ending their problematic activities, they are evading restrictions and ‘selling digital weapons to the highest bidders.’ Despite this record, you failed to act on a bipartisan briefing request from Senate committee staff and instead, on December 30, 2025, lifted sanctions on three of the seven individuals designated for facilitating Intellexa’s threats to national security and civil liberties. Our briefing request is even more critical in light of this decision,” wrote the senators.

“Foreign actors have deployed Predator spyware in an effort to covertly surveil U.S. government officials including members of Congress, journalists, and policy experts, and to repress people in other countries who speak out against threats to their freedom. On December 10, 2025, noting those reports, Senate committee staff submitted a bipartisan briefing request to the Departments of the Treasury and State to understand the Administration’s efforts to counter Intellexa’s attempts at U.S. sanctions evasion. Without providing a briefing or a justification to the committee, on December 30, 2025, the Department of Treasury removed three enablers of Intellexa from the U.S. sanctions list,” concluded the senators.

The senators seek to determine whether the administration’s justifications for these delistings are consistent with Congress’s clear direction to combat the proliferation and misuse of foreign commercial spyware.

The senators urged the Departments of Treasury and State to brief the congressional committees of jurisdiction and outline any actions the Administration has taken to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware against Americans and dissidents abroad, no later than February 27, 2026.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Bessent and Secretary Rubio:

We write to request a bipartisan briefing and express our deep concern regarding your recent decision to lift U.S. sanctions on enablers of the Intellexa Consortium (Intellexa), an entity known for developing, operating, and distributing commercial spyware used to target Americans as well as journalists, political dissidents, and human rights activists around the world. Intellexa affiliates have been subject to U.S. sanctions since 2024. According to a recent report, rather than ending their problematic activities, they are evading restrictions and “selling digital weapons to the highest bidders.” Despite this record, you failed to act on a bipartisan briefing request from Senate committee staff and instead, on December 30, 2025, lifted sanctions on three of the seven individuals designated for facilitating Intellexa’s threats to national security and civil liberties. Our briefing request is even more critical in light of this decision.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department’s own assessment, Intellexa is “a complex international web of decentralized companies that built and commercialized a comprehensive suite of highly invasive spyware products, primarily marketed under the brand-name ‘Predator.’” Foreign actors have deployed Predator spyware in an effort to covertly surveil U.S. government officials including members of Congress, journalists, and policy experts, and to repress people in other countries who speak out against threats to their freedom. In response to these significant counterintelligence and security risks, in March and September 2024, the United States sanctioned key individuals and entities associated with the consortium.

Intellexa has sought to evade these initial measures to continue its activities. On December 3, 2025, the Google Threat Intelligence Group published an analysis warning that Intellexa has “adapted, evaded restrictions, and continues selling digital weapons.” On December 4, 2025, Amnesty International, Haaretz, and other organizations published results of a joint investigation indicating that “Intellexa’s Predator spyware continues to be used to unlawfully surveil activists, journalists and human rights defenders around the world.” On December 10, 2025, noting those reports, Senate committee staff submitted a bipartisan briefing request to the Departments of the Treasury and State to understand the Administration’s efforts to counter Intellexa’s attempts at U.S. sanctions evasion.

Without providing a briefing or a justification to the committee, on December 30, 2025, the Department of Treasury removed three enablers of Intellexa from the U.S. sanctions list. One now-delisted individual is a corporate offshoring specialist who had been identified as holding leadership roles at multiple Intellexa entities; another had been revealed as the true owner of the company holding distribution rights to Predator spyware; and a third had been identified as a top executive of the consortium.

We ask that the Departments of Treasury and State brief the congressional committees of jurisdiction, as previously requested, no later than February 27, 2026. We seek to ensure Congress understands the Administration’s justifications for these delistings and whether they are consistent with Congress’s clear direction, in legislation passed on a strong bipartisan basis in 2023, to combat the proliferation and misuse of foreign commercial spyware. We also request that briefers outline any actions the Administration has taken or plans to take to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware against Americans and dissidents abroad.

###


Bennet, Whitehouse, Colleagues Investigate EPA’s Repeal of Foundational Scientific Determination on Climate

Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources, joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and 40 Senators in launching an investigation into Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin’s decision to repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding, the scientific determination underpinning EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. From the outset, EPA’s public statements and private documents about the repeal have disguised any claim that the process was a transparent notice-and-comment rulemaking rather than a hard fact.

In 2009, following the Supreme Court decision Massachusetts v. EPA, EPA determined that greenhouse gases harm public health and welfare. This determination, known as the Endangerment Finding, provided the legal basis for U.S. climate policy. It is grounded in extensive peer-reviewed science and confirmed by successive National Climate Assessments and reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Twice, EPA’s scientific finding has withstood challenges at the D.C. Circuit and, both times, the Supreme Court declined to consider appeals. The repeal ignores more than half a century of evidence and constitutes a formal denial by EPA that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare — a position that defies decades of scientific evidence, agency precedent, Supreme Court rulings, and, perhaps most importantly, the lived experiences of millions of Americans. Repealing it sets the stage for rolling back pollution standards for vehicles, power plants, airplanes, and more.

“You have described the Endangerment Finding as the ‘holy grail of climate change religion,’ and stated that under your leadership, EPA would be ‘driving a dagger through the heart’ of climate regulation. In media appearances and official communications, you framed repeal as ‘the largest deregulatory action in the history of the United States,’ emphasizing cost savings and ideological opposition rather than engagement with the statutory endangerment standard—or with the massive costs to human health and welfare that greenhouse gas-driven climate change imposes,” wrote the senators.

Not only do the Trump Administration’s public comments make clear that it regarded repeal of the Endangerment Finding as a predetermined objective, but internal documents also reveal that EPA was moving to finalize the rescission before completing its required regulatory review. Before the nearly 600,000 public comments were reviewed — many of which outlined the scientific and legal infirmities of repealing the Endangerment Finding — Trump’s EPA was already informing agency staff of its plans for repeal. According to public reporting, “internal agency notes and presentation slides show that you ‘intend[ed] to sign off . . . on the final policy and legal justifications for repealing the so-called Endangerment Finding and . . . climate rules for cars and trucks…’”

To justify the proposed repeal, Administrator Zeldin initially signaled that he would rely in part on a Department of Energy (DOE) pseudoscientific report written by an illegally formed federal working group of known climate deniers with close ties to fossil fuel and polluting industry actors. Rife with clear errors, cherry-picked data, and misrepresented facts, the report peddled the lie that human-caused climate change is not a threat. But, as the senators explained, a “federal judge … ruled that the DOE violated federal law when Secretary Wright hand-picked the five researchers and convened the Working Group in secret, finding that its formation and operation breached the Federal Advisory Committee Act’s requirements for transparency, public meetings, and balanced viewpoints… The collapse of the Working Group effort simply underscores that EPA attempted, and failed, to manufacture support for a conclusion the established scientific record does not and cannot sustain.”

“When an agency signals that the outcome of a proceeding is preordained, public participation becomes performative rather than meaningful, undermining the legitimacy of the rulemaking process and violating basic principles of administrative law. The Administrative Procedure Act prohibits agencies from engaging in rulemaking when decisionmakers have an ‘unalterably closed mind.’ … Presidential policy preferences do not give EPA carte blanche to bypass statutory mandates to engage in good faith with sound science and public input in favor of predetermined outcomes,” concluded the senators.

The senators have requested documents and information from EPA concerning the agency’s legal justification and decision-making process by February 27, 2026.

Last week, Bennet released a statement on the EPA’s rescission of the 2009 “Endangerment Finding.” He has also worked to secure funding from the EPA to support state environmental projects, including $341 million from the EPA’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program for six Colorado-based emission reduction projects, $330 million from the EPA in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and $500,000 from Pollution Prevention (P2) grant program to support businesses to fight pollution in local communities. In 2022, Bennet also helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – the most significant climate legislation in the planet’s history. Bennet successfully pushed for the IRA to include long-term tax credits for domestic clean energy manufacturing and to deploy wind and solar energy, electric vehicles, and electric grid storage, as well as provisions to support the transition to clean energy in rural America.

In addition to Bennet and Whitehouse, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D- Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) signed the letter.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule rescinding the December 7, 2009, Endangerment Finding marks a fundamental break from nearly two decades of settled law, science, and regulatory practice under the Clean Air Act. Promulgated pursuant to the Supreme Court’s direction in Massachusetts v. EPA, the Endangerment Finding forms the legal foundation for EPA’s greenhouse gas regulatory framework. Its repeal destroys that framework and results in a failure to faithfully execute EPA’s statutory mandate to protect human health—a mandate you acknowledged repeatedly during your confirmation hearing. But setting aside the dire implications of this final rule, the timing of and context for this entire enterprise suggest that this was a predetermined outcome, perhaps dictated more by concern for corporate interests than by an honest review of the law and science of climate change.

From the outset of the reconsideration of the Endangerment Finding, you have made repeated public statements characterizing its repeal as the objective rather than a question to be evaluated through notice-and-comment rulemaking. You have described the Endangerment Finding as the “holy grail of climate change religion,” and stated that under your leadership, EPA would be “driving a dagger through the heart” of climate regulation. In media appearances and official communications, you framed repeal as “the largest deregulatory action in the history of the United States,” emphasizing cost savings and ideological opposition rather than engagement with the statutory endangerment standard—or with the massive costs to human health and welfare that greenhouse gas-driven climate change imposes.

Your improper, conclusory statements align with internal EPA documents showing that EPA leadership was moving to finalize the rescission of the Endangerment Finding before EPA staff even had the chance to complete the agency’s required regulatory review. As reported by Politico’s E&E News in September 2025, internal agency notes and presentation slides show that you “intend[ed] to sign off . . . on the final policy and legal justifications for repealing the so called Endangerment Finding and . . . climate rules for cars and trucks . . . before agency staff ha[d] time to sift through all public comments — or complete the legally required regulatory impact analysis.” Reporting further stated that political appointees had told career EPA officials that the cost-benefit analysis reflected in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) would “have no bearing on the final regulatory package.”

These statements and internal documents came to light while reconsideration was pending and before EPA had reviewed or responded to the more than 570,000 public comments submitted to the docket, many of which pointed out the proposed withdrawal’s numerous scientific, legal, and logical deficiencies. And despite those comments, you and other Administration officials have repeatedly asserted that the Endangerment Finding had already been discredited and that repeal was necessary to restore “common sense” and reverse what they described as an illegitimate regulatory project.

These conclusory assertions were compounded by EPA’s initial reliance on a report produced by the now-defunct Department of Energy (DOE) Climate Working Group, which the proposed rule cites as support for questioning the scientific bases of the Endangerment Finding. The group’s five authors, including a former BP chief scientist and other researchers known for questioning mainstream climate science on issues such as the severity of climate impacts, have extensive histories promoting views at odds with widely accepted climate science. EPA’s invocation of this body at the proposal stage represents an effort to manufacture a scientific rationale for rescission where the established record provides none.

Legal challenges quickly unraveled that effort. After a Massachusetts federal court found that the Working Group was subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act and, therefore, subject to certain transparency and public participation requirements, DOE Secretary Chris Wright disbanded the Working Group before it could finalize its report or address the legal deficiencies —presumably because doing so would expose fatal flaws in the Working Group’s methodology.

In December, the agency was ordered to produce records related to the group’s activities. A federal judge then ruled that the DOE violated federal law when Secretary Wright hand-picked the five researchers and convened the Working Group in secret, finding that its formation and operation breached the Federal Advisory Committee Act’s requirements for transparency, public meetings, and balanced viewpoints. The court’s judgement establishes as a matter of law that the report was produced through an unlawful and fundamentally compromised process, rendering its draft reports scientifically unreliable and legally unusable for any regulatory purposes. Although EPA now asserts in the final rule that it “is not relying” on either version of the Working Group’s draft report, that disavowal does not cure the deeper problem: the agency’s resort to an unlawfully constituted body, one selected to produce a predetermined narrative, reveals a desperate attempt to find any support they could, including an illegitimate scientific foundation, to justify rescinding the Endangerment Finding. The collapse of the Working Group effort simply underscores that EPA attempted, and failed, to manufacture support for a conclusion the established scientific record does not and cannot sustain.

Taken together, this evidence shows that EPA reached a firm conclusion about the outcome of the reconsideration well before reviewing the full administrative record or considering the substantial public comments submitted in response to the proposal.

EPA’s approach is particularly troubling because the Endangerment Finding rests on decades of firm science. An agency seeking to reverse such a determination is not writing on a blank slate; it must grapple with the existing record of evidence and explain how the facts have changed or why a different conclusion is now justified. Yet during the reconsideration, Administration officials publicly dismissed the underlying science16 and asserted without evidence that the EPA had ignored data in finalizing the Endangerment Finding. These statements stand in stark contrast to the extensive scientific record showing that the harms of climate change have compounded since 2009, with worsening extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, and record-breaking global temperatures documented by U.S. and international scientific bodies. They also fly in the face of not only Massachusetts v. EPA but also two D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rulings upholding the Endangerment Finding—rulings the Supreme Court then declined to review.

In its final rule, EPA attempts to distance itself from the science question altogether by arguing that EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding and subsequent regulation represented a “profound misreading” of Supreme Court directive in Massachusetts v. EPA, and thus that EPA’s decision to make the finding in the first place, and to regulate based on that finding, was legally flawed. On the contrary, the Massachusetts court ordered EPA to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases from motor vehicles unless it either “determine[d] that greenhouse gases do not contribute to climate change or if it provide[d] some reasonable explanation as to why it cannot or will not exercise its discretion to determine whether they do.” This EPA does neither. EPA’s willful disregard of the applicable law, in its determination to shirk its regulatory obligation, reflects the predetermined nature of the final rollback.

When an agency signals that the outcome of a proceeding is preordained, public participation becomes performative rather than meaningful, undermining the legitimacy of the rulemaking process and violating basic principles of administrative law. The Administrative Procedure Act prohibits agencies from engaging in rulemaking when decisionmakers have an “unalterably closed mind.” Notice-and-comment procedures are intended to ensure that agency decisions are informed by evidence, expert analysis, and public input—not to be discarded or ignored so that the agency can ratify outcomes that have already been decided. That risk of prejudgment is particularly acute here in light of President Trump’s repeated attacks on climate science and regulation. Presidential policy preferences do not give EPA carte blanche to bypass statutory mandates to engage in good faith with sound science and public input in favor of predetermined outcomes.

The procedural integrity of EPA’s reconsideration is further undermined by the fact that regulated industries have already undertaken significant, difficult-to-reverse investment decisions that assume reduced or eliminated greenhouse gas regulation—despite the absence of any final agency action. Since the announcement of the reconsideration, major actors in the transportation sector have adjusted capital planning, production strategies, and retirement schedules in ways that are consistent with an anticipated rollback of federal climate regulation, rather than with the continuation of the regulatory framework established under the 2009 Endangerment Finding. These actions, sometimes amounting to generational shifts in investment, raise substantial questions about whether EPA has already committed to that outcome, what EPA has communicated to those industries, and whether EPA has fully disclosed any communications or assurances influencing those expectations in the administrative record.

In December 2025, for example, Ford announced a $19.5 billion write-down tied to pivot away from electric vehicles, discontinuing production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning, scrapping plans for an electric commercial van, and abandoning development of a full-size electric truck planned for 2028. General Motors reported a $6 billion charge in January and a $1.6 billion charge in October 2025 following a reassessment of its EV strategy; in the same period, it announced thousands of layoffs at locations its Factory Zero EV plant and a separate EV battery plant. Executives at the “Detroit Three” explicitly pointed to the Administration’s deregulatory posture when announcing renewed investments in gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. Already, industry is relying on EPA’s expected retreat from federal greenhouse gas regulation.

To assist in our understanding of the bases, process, and effects of the repeal of the Endangerment Finding, please respond to the following questions and requests for production of documents no later than February 27, 2026:

Please identify and produce all communications, emails, memoranda, briefing materials, or meeting notes created or held by the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Assistant Administrators, and senior political staff regarding the Endangerment Finding from January 20, 2025, through the final rulemaking announcement. Include all documents discussing the justification, anticipated outcome, or strategy for reconsideration, as well as any analyses or statements reflecting whether agency leadership had reached conclusions regarding the final rule prior to OIRA review.

Please identify and produce all communications, including emails, memoranda, meeting notes, text messages, and call logs between EPA leadership (including the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Assistant Administrators, and senior political staff) and representatives of regulated industries, trade associations, or industry-funded organizations concerning the repeal or reconsideration of the Endangerment Finding dating from January 20, 2025, through the final rulemaking announcement.

Please identify and produce all communications, analyses, or internal memoranda discussing how regulated entities have relied or may rely on the 2009 Endangerment Finding in planning investments, capital expenditures, retirement schedules, production strategies, or other operational decisions. Include all materials reflecting EPA’s consideration of, or failure to consider, such reliance in the decision to repeal the finding.

Please identify all communications, including emails, meeting notes, text messages, and call logs, between EPA and the White House, OIRA, the Department of Energy, or other federal agencies regarding the outcome, timing, or scope of the Endangerment Finding reconsideration.

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Blackburn Statement on Zuckerberg Testimony in Landmark Social Media Trial

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before a jury for the first time in the landmark social media trial unfolding in Los Angeles. The plaintiffs have alleged that social media platforms are designed to harm and addict young users. Senator Blackburn’s Kids Online Safety Act, which now has 75 Senate co-sponsors, would require Big Tech companies to make platforms safe by design for minors by enacting a “duty of care.”


Blumenthal Raises Alarm Over New Trump Administration Rule to Slash Disability Ratings for Thousands of Veterans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today raised alarm following the Trump Administration’s new interim final rule at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that immediately changes how veteran disability ratings are evaluated. This will lower disability ratings and compensation awards for disabled veterans by not taking into account their baseline conditions.

“Each day, thousands of veterans take medications to cope and better control their service-connected conditions, or to reduce their symptoms. This new Trump Administration policy - aimed at tanking earned disability compensation for these veterans - appears ripped straight out of Project 2025. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims recently ruled that a veteran’s disability rating must be based on their worst day. That is how VA should accurately assess the true extent of a veteran’s condition. This new Administration policy will do nothing but reduce the compensation veterans are due, and scare them into avoiding the life-improving medication they need – thereby posing an imminent risk to veterans’ physical and mental health.”

Blumenthal joined Veterans Service Organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Disabled American Veterans (DAV), in raising concerns over this rule.

Yesterday, VA published an interim final rule to change how veteran disability ratings are evaluated without the normal public comment period. This new rule reverses the previous standard established by the Ingram v. Collins court case issued in 2025, which required VA to discount the impact of medication when evaluating the severity of claims disability. Instead, the rule directs examiners to rate veterans’ disabilities as they present and disregard the impact of medication. This requires VA to issue a lower disability ratings, despite evidence showing veterans meet the requirements for higher ratings.

Through Ingram v. Collins, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims required VA to discount the impact of medications when adjudicating claims for disabilities for which the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities does not explicitly mention medications. This applies to veterans who take maintenance medications for their disabilities. The VA rule prohibits medical examiners from estimating or discounting improvements to the disability due to the effects of medication or treatment.

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Booker Condemns Reported DHS Purchase of New ICE Detention Facility in Roxbury, NJ

NEWARK, N.J. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement condemning DHS’ reported purchase of a proposed detention facility in Roxbury, NJ:

“ICE’s most recent reported purchase of a warehouse in Roxbury to use as a detention center is an affront to the Roxbury community who resoundingly rejected the prospect of a facility weeks ago. I joined them in this call, expressing my clear and unequivocal opposition to the construction, conversion, or opening of any more immigration detention centers in New Jersey. These facilities have no place in our communities.

“ICE is acting with impunity, and the private contractors they rely on to operate detention centers are neither effective nor good-faith partners. Instead of addressing the rising cost of groceries, housing, health care, and childcare crushing New Jersey families, President Trump and Congressional Republicans chose to spend millions of dollars expanding a detention system that has no place in New Jersey. President Trump is choosing to invest in the mass warehousing of human beings, allowing a select few to profit from the cruel detention of our neighbors.

“Our communities deserve an immigration system rooted in fairness, accountability, and respect for basic human dignity—not one that expands detention capacity in industrial spaces ill-suited for humane treatment. We have a responsibility to continue organizing and standing against this administration at every turn, and I will continue to use every tool available to me in Congress to demand an immigration system that is just. This will not be the last word from Roxbury or New Jersey.”


PHOTO: Capito, City Leaders Announce Funding for Charleston Sports Complex

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined city leaders in Charleston, W.Va. to announce a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) allocation she helped secure to support a planned sports complex.

Through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations process, Senator Capito helped secure a $7,000,000 CDS allocation to build the Capital Sports Center, the largest sports complex in the state of West Virginia. This new sports tourism facility will draw regional and national-level tournaments and related sports tourism to the Greater Charleston area.

“Today, I was proud to announce that the City of Charleston will soon receive a $7 million Congressionally Directed Spending award that I helped secure in Fiscal Year 2026 to build the Capital Sports Center,” Senator Capito said. "This investment is about job creation, supporting local businesses, and positioning Charleston as a premier destination for regional and national tournaments. As a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to deliver results for West Virginia and ensure our communities have the resources they need to grow and thrive."

“The Capital Sports Center represents a long-term investment in our region’s future,” Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said. “We are grateful to Senator Capito and Senator Justice for securing this funding and for their continued attention and commitment to the priorities that will drive long-term regional growth. This allocation strengthens our ability to continue moving this project forward—positioning Charleston and Kanawha County to expand sports tourism, support local businesses, and create long-term economic opportunity.”

“This allocation reflects what can be accomplished through strong partnerships,” Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango said. “By working together across all levels of government, we are positioning our region for long-term growth and expanded opportunity.”

Individual allocation details listed below:

$7,000,000 FY26 CDS award to the City of Charleston (Charleston, W.Va.) to construct the Capital Sports Center, largest sports complex in the state of West Virginia. This new sports facility will draw regional and national-level tournaments and related sports tourism to the Grater Charleston area.

Photo from today’s event are included below:

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joins city leaders for an announcement regarding the planned Capital Sports Center in Charleston, W.Va. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.


PHOTOS: Capito, Justice Help Announce Funding for Yeager International Airport

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) today joined Yeager Airport leaders, Kanawha County Commissioners, and Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin today in Charleston, W.Va. to officially announce a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) allocation for the airport Senator Capito helped secure.

Through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations process, Senator Capito helped secure a $25,000,000 CDS allocation to make upgrades to the airport that include construction of a new concourse and renovations to the original terminal.

“For years, I’ve made it a priority to support the needs of rural airports across West Virginia,” Senator Capito said. “Yeager Airport’s terminal, built back in the 1940s, has been long overdue for a major upgrade. Today, thanks to funding secured from the Department of Transportation, we are taking a big step forward toward officially announcing funding that will modernize this facility and create room for more passengers and more opportunities. This investment—which is one of the largest investments I’ve made for Yeager—is a tangible example of how federal resources are helping West Virginia grow, and it’s exciting to see this progress happening right here at Yeager Airport.”

“This investment in Yeager Airport is a game-changer for Charleston and the state as a whole. Senator Capito is the real deal, and it’s been absolutely incredible working with her to turn investments like this from a mere idea to actual dollars flowing into our state. She’s a rockstar in my book, and I can promise you; we have absolute fighters in Washington working every single day to make lives better across our state. We’ve got some real momentum at our backs now, so let’s keep it rolling West Virginia!” Senator Jim Justice said.

“On behalf of West Virginia International Yeager Airport, I want to thank Senator Capito for always showing up for West Virginia. We’re incredibly grateful for her partnership in securing this funding for our terminal project,” Dominique Ranieri, Airport Director & CEO of West Virginia International Yeager Airport, said. “This investment helps us deliver a passenger-friendly, modern travel experience while driving jobs and growth across the region. Her leadership is making it possible for us to advance a generational improvement that will serve West Virginians for decades.”

Senator Capito has dedicated years to securing critical investments for West Virginia International Yeager Airport. Through the Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIIJA), she has secured numerous funding allocations to make needed upgrades to the existing airport. Additionally, she has used her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee to direct significant funding to Yeager to support runway improvements, much-needed equipment, personnel like our air traffic controllers, while also supporting the West Virginia National Guard and Marshall’s aviation program.

Individual CDS allocation details listed below:

$25,000,000 CDS allocation for the West Virginia Yeager International Airport (Charleston, W.Va.) to make upgrades including construction of a new concourse and renovations to the original terminal.

Photos from today’s event are included below:

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joins city leaders for an announcement regarding the terminal modernization at West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston, W.Va. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joins city leaders for an announcement regarding the terminal modernization at West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston, W.Va. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) speaks at an announcement regarding the terminal modernization at West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston, W.Va. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) speaks with officials at an announcement regarding the terminal modernization at West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston, W.Va. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.


Cassidy Delivers Funding Wins for Louisiana, Most of Any Member of Congress Not on Appropriations Committee

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced he secured $399,380,000.00 for Louisiana in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills signed into law to improve roads and bridges, strengthen flood protection, and support the economy across the state. This is in addition to the over $1.25 billion Cassidy secured for national security. According to CQ Roll Call’s analysis, Cassidy secured the fifth-highest total funding amount in the Senate and more funding for his state than any senator who does not serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“I wake up every morning and think about how I can make our state a better place to live.” said Dr. Cassidy. “This is funding which could have gone to another state, but it is coming to Louisiana to help make our communities safer and more secure”

Since taking office, Cassidy has consistently ranked among the most effective senators at directing federal funding home despite not serving on the Appropriations Committee. In FY2024, Roll Call reported Cassidy was one of the top 20 senators in total funding secured for his state, and one of only five in that group who does not sit on the committee. That year, he secured the highest total of any member of the state’s congressional delegation.

In FY2025, Congress funded the government through a full-year continuing resolution that did not include Congressionally Directed Spending projects.

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Cornyn Announces National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez as State of the Union Guest

DALLAS – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, today announced National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) President Paul Perez as his guest for President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress next week:

“As president of the National Border Patrol Council, Paul Perez plays an integral role in advocating for the policies needed to ensure the border is secure and our brave Border Patrol officers have the resources necessary to enforce federal immigration law,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m proud to welcome him to President Trump’s State of the Union address next week as my guest and look forward to continuing our work together to bolster border security, counter the disgraceful demonization of law enforcement by the Left, and keep Americans safe.”

“It’s an honor to accept Senator John Cornyn’s invitation to attend President Donald J. Trump’s State of The Union address on behalf of the men and women who protect America’s borders,” said Paul Perez. “Senator Cornyn has long been a strong advocate for the National Border Patrol Council and he has always supported President Trump’s priorities; one of the most important being to secure our nation’s borders. Our mission couldn’t be accomplished without Senator Cornyn’s leadership in the Senate. I look forward to a great night and a strong and powerful moment in American history with POTUS and Senator Cornyn.”

Background:

Senator Cornyn, Mr. Perez, and the NBPC have worked hand-in-glove to deliver historic border security measures. With input from the NBPC, Senator Cornyn helped pass the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which included billions in federal funding for immigration enforcement, secured reimbursement for the State of Texas for costs associated with Governor Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security mission launched due to President Biden’s dereliction of duty at our southern border, and worked together to help President Trump enact his America First agenda during his first year in office.

The State of the Union address will take place on Feb. 24.


Working Families Tax Cuts Power Affordable American Energy

Washington, D.C.—Thanks to the America-first energy policies in the Working Families Tax Cuts advanced by U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Americans are benefitting from commonsense, pro-growth reforms that end market-distorting “Green New Deal” subsidies, unleash domestic energy production and lower consumer costs. By promoting domestically produced biofuels and nuclear energy, as well as imposing foreign entity restrictions, the law is helping the industry reduce its reliance on Chinese supply chains and provide cheaper, more abundant power to Idaho households, farmers and businesses.

“Idaho and the nation require stable, inexpensive sources of energy to power daily life,” said Crapo. “By encouraging reliable power sources, these policies form an important part of Republicans’ broader agenda of supporting economic growth and making life more affordable for the average American.”

Key wins:

Ends market distorting “Green New Deal” subsidies that favor expensive and unreliable energy sources.

Strengthens domestic biofuel production, enabling U.S. farmers to compete with cheap overseas imports.

Creates a new 10 percent bonus credit for nuclear facilities in communities with historic nuclear energy workforces.

Imposes new foreign entity restrictions on Biden-era clean energy tax credits to keep taxpayer dollars from flowing to China and other adversaries.

What they are saying:

“The [Working Families Tax Cuts] mark a new era for American energy production. Instead of picking winners and losers and empowering “green” activists to stop projects they don’t like, responsible producers will have an opportunity to compete fairly to provide the energy that will undergird real energy security and revive American industrial might.” – America First Policy Institute

“The bill allows us to continue down the path to achieve the Administration’s ambitious goals for deploying new, cutting-edge nuclear technologies that will meet the growing demand for more reliable energy.” – Nuclear Energy Institute President and CEO Maria Korsnick

Click HERE to see how the Working Families Tax Cuts make investments in American energy.

Click HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts.

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