Senator Collins’ Statement on Congress Passing Five-Bill Appropriations Package

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement following the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote of 217 to 214 to approve a five-bill package that includes full-year funding for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Department of Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts. The legislative package, which passed the Senate by a vote of 71 to 29 on Friday, January 30th, will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Senator Collins’ statement is as follows:

“Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a fiscally responsible, five-bill funding package that reflects months of bipartisan and bicameral negotiations. The legislation will invest in lifesaving biomedical research that can lead to health advances for prevention, treatment, and cures; support our national security and our military men and women, including by fully funding the 3.8 percent pay raise for service members and the additional pay raise for junior enlisted service members; enhance court security; modernize our nation’s outdated air traffic system and address the air traffic controller shortage; and support America’s workforce, children, and families.

“Passage of this package shows that we as a Congress can come together in a bipartisan way to deliver real results for the people we are honored to represent. I appreciate the members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees for working with me to pass these bills and send them to the President for his signature.”

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In addition, this legislation continues funding for the Department of Homeland Security through February 13, 2026, allowing additional time to consider proposals to supplement reforms, beyond those that are already included in the bill, including body-worn cameras for ICE and CBP officers.

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Cornyn, Cruz Applaud Confirmation of Nicholas Ganjei for U.S. District Court in Houston

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statements after the Senate voted to confirm President Trump’s nomination of Nicholas Ganjei to be a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas – Houston Division:

“Texas deserves highly qualified individuals who will uphold our nation’s principles in the courtroom, and Nick is exactly that,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I was proud to vote to confirm Nick as a District Judge for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.”

“Congratulations to Nicholas Ganjei, my former Chief Counsel and now the new District Judge for the Southern District of Texas,” said Sen. Cruz. “Nick has been on the front lines of federal law enforcement as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas and as my Chief Counsel, he oversaw vital initiatives on criminal justice, border security, judicial nominations, antitrust issues, intellectual property, and religious liberty. I am confident he will continue his tireless work in service of the American people and in faithful adherence to the Constitution.”

The Senators recommended Nicholas Ganjei to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Cruz established the FJEC, a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The panel reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations to the Senators, who interviewed individuals before making their recommendations to the President.


Cornyn Praises SAVE America Act, Calls for Senate Vote

WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) highlighted the SAVE America Act, which he recently introduced alongside Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representative Chip Roy (TX-21), which would require individuals to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote as well as photo identification before voting in a federal election, and would also ensure states appropriately maintain voter rolls by removing non-citizens from existing voter rolls. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

“When a ballot is cast by someone that is not qualified to vote in an election, it undermines the integrity of the ballot for the people who are qualified to vote.”

“Every time we talk about voter I.D., the Left says we’re trying to disenfranchise minorities and the underrepresented, but that is not consistent with the facts.”

“Democrats know that if you actually require people to show that they’re qualified to vote, their voter base will shrink, especially in sanctuary states that have been havens for illegal aliens for years.”

“I’m thankful to our colleague, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, for introducing the SAVE America Act, that will require proof of citizenship at the time of registration, as well as photo identification at the time of voting.”

“I’m a proud cosponsor of the SAVE America Act, which I believe is long overdue to strengthen the integrity of our election systems.”

“I hope the U.S. Senate will take up and pass this legislation, and I and others have been discussing it with the Majority Leader.”

“Each and every one of us ought to do our part to participate in self-government by exercising our right to vote that so many have fought and died for. I urge each and every one of my constituents in Texas, but I would like to speak to all 330 million Americans: please, participate in your elections.”

“Make a difference. Let your voice be heard. Participate in this incredible experiment, now we’ve had for 250 years in self-government that has served us so well.”


PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with Texas Sheriffs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met today with the President of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne, Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner, Brooks County Sheriff Benny Martinez, and the President of the National Sheriffs’ Association, Sheriff Chris West, to discuss expanding law enforcement access to emerging technologies, improving emergency response efforts in rural communities, and ensuring they have the resources needed to secure our homeland and protect Texans. See photo attached and below.


Washington Times: Working Families Tax Cuts Lets Americans Keep More Earnings

As the tax filing season begins, Americans are seeing how the Working Families Tax Cuts law is providing across-the-board tax relief that promises bigger paychecks and more opportunities to get ahead.

The Working Families Tax Cuts prevented the largest tax hike in history and permanently restored key pro-growth tax provisions already driving domestic investment and economic growth. Tax rates have been lowered permanently.

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The new law also fulfills some of President Trump’s signature campaign priorities, such as no taxes on tips and overtime, offering significant relief for the hourly workers who keep our communities running. Seniors are receiving new tax relief through a $6,000 bonus deduction. Health savings accounts were expanded, enabling taxpayers to save more of their money tax-free for health care expenses, while the work to address the root causes of the explosive increase in health care costs continues.

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The Treasury Department forecasts that the legislation will result in $7,200 in higher wages per American worker and a $3,750 average tax cut per filer in 2026. Overall, the department expects $100 billion in total tax refunds in 2026 for American families, and, as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted, “For millions of families, such savings are the difference between making a mortgage payment, buying a car or sending a child to college.”

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These new business incentives are already bearing fruit. In Rupert, Idaho, Pipeline Plastics opened a new manufacturing facility employing more than 50 people, thanks to the permanent extension of the new markets tax credit. Similar projects are popping up across America, with many more to come.

Read the full piece HERE.

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Daines Introduces Resolution Designating Week of February 2nd as “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bipartisan resolution designating the week of February 2nd, 2026, as “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week.”

“I’m thrilled to introduce a resolution celebrating National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week. I’m proud of the hard work, achievements, and academic greatness of tribal students in Montana and look forward to the lasting impact these students will make on our state and the nation,” said Daines.

Read the resolution HERE. Read more of Daines’ work for Montana tribes HERE.

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Duckworth, Durbin, Foster Introduce New Legislation to Boost Housing Stock Across the Country

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today introduced new legislation that would address the housing shortage in the United States, which has priced millions of Americans out of home ownership. To mitigate barriers to home ownership and incentivize builders to focus on constructing resilient and affordable homes, the Advancing Better Options for Dwellings Everywhere (ABODE) Act would create a competition for designs for 21st century single-family homes with a focus on cost, energy efficiency and scalability.

“The cost of rent and mortgages have been growing further and further out of reach for middle-class Americans for far too long and we need to invest in new pathways for communities facing severe housing shortages,” said Duckworth. “As costs have continued to rise with little relief—and with Donald Trump telling Americans he wants housing prices to skyrocket even more—I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in introducing this legislation today to help create more affordable housing to help American families.”

“The rising cost of building starter or single-family homes has spurred an affordability crisis that has priced millions of Americans out of owning or renting a home,” Durbin said. “My new legislation, the ABODE Act, would confront the barriers to housing affordability and incentivize builders to construct affordable single- and multi-family homes that meet our nation’s needs.”

“To confront the housing affordability crisis, we must meet demand by increasing supply,” said Foster. “This bill would incentivize the construction of more energy- and cost-efficient housing in areas that sorely need it. I’m proud to join our Senators in this effort to expand affordable housing options while strengthening the long-term resilience of our communities.”

Specifically, the ABODE Act would:

Require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to conduct a competition with academic organizations, developers and nonprofits to build or rehabilitate single- and multi-family homes with a focus on cost, energy efficiency and scalability;

Direct HUD to focus awards on quality, durability and maintenance costs and universal design (i.e., homes that would be accessible for people with disabilities);

Award grants at completion of the contract for building homes that abide by robust sustainability and energy efficiency measures;

Prioritize initiatives in areas with a severe affordable housing shortage; and

Provide, within two years of the bill’s enactment, an annual report to Congress on program’s success, including projects funded, projects completed and the number of affordable houses built.

Nationally, there is a shortage of more than seven million affordable homes, particularly “starter homes.” Starter homes are now estimated to only make up roughly nine percent of new real estate in recent years, far below the 40 percent in the 1980s. Barriers – including restrictions on land use and rising construction costs – have disincentivized builders from constructing more affordable housing. Research has shown that safe and affordable housing is vital in increasing economic opportunities and that the most cost-effective way to reduce childhood poverty is to increase access to affordable housing. In fact, research shows that children who moved to lower poverty neighborhoods saw their earnings as adults increase by 31 percent.

The ABODE Act has earned the endorsement of the Illinois Housing Council.

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Duckworth Meets with Woman Shot Five Times by Trump’s DHS, Marimar Martinez, Underscoring Need for Oversight on DHS

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Marimar Martinez to discuss Martinez’s ongoing legal efforts to force the release the Border Patrol agents’ body camera footage from and text messages regarding her shooting. Martinez—a proud Chicagoan and U.S. citizen—was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood in October and then falsely branded a domestic terrorist by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Martinez today is testifying as part of a bicameral Congressional public forum on the violent tactics and excessive use of force by DHS agents. B-roll and photos of today’s meeting are available on the Senator’s website.

“Donald Trump and his enablers have made it clear that they view our communities—whether that’s Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland or Los Angeles—not as the vibrant cities that they are, but as targets for their violence and intimidation,” Duckworth said. “Since day one, ICE and Border Patrol agents have been the face of the Administration’s assault. Marimar Martinez’s story, as harrowing and horrific as it is, is sadly not an isolated incident. Untrained and highly aggressive agents shot Marimar and continue slandering her name while hiding evidence that could prove they are lying. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it is exactly what they later did to Renee Nicole Good and to Alex Pretti—and it’s become standard operating procedure for the Trump Administration.

“This is one of many reasons that it’s critical we have thorough, independent investigations of both the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice regarding all the use of force incidents that keep occurring during these reckless immigration enforcement surges, and that we push for real, meaningful reforms to ICE and Border Patrol. The American people deserve transparency, oversight and accountability.”

Duckworth has continued to push for independent investigations into DHS and Department of Justice (DOJ). The Senator first called on the DHS and DOJ Office of Inspector Generals to investigate officer-involved use of force incidents more than 100 days ago, following a series of shockingly violent assaults and reckless shootings by Trump’s masked agents against American citizens in Illinois, and Duckworth reiterated and expanded her request following the brutal killing of Renee Good. Shamefully, just days before Trump’s agents murdered Alex Pretti, the DHS and DOJ OIGs—both of whom Trump appointed—denied Duckworth’s request.

After being shot by the Border Patrol agent, Martinez was later charged with assaulting the agents who shot her. All charges were dropped by the U.S. Attorney's Office six weeks later, following the DOJ admitting in federal court that DHS misrepresented facts and tampered with critical evidence, before dropping all charges against Martinez. Martinez and her attorney have been pushing to have the body camera footage and other evidence in the case released for public scrutiny in the wake of Renee Good and Alex Pretti’s murders. Federal prosecutors have been working to prevent the evidence from being released but announced Tuesday they will no longer oppose the release of body camera footage.

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Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Conducting Oversight On Investigation Into Nazi-Connected Swiss Bank Accounts

“Today’s hearing is a reminder that we still have a responsibility to reckon with the true events of the Holocaust and the role various actors played in its propagation and aftermath,” Durbin said during his opening statement in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered opening remarks in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “The Truth Revealed: Hidden Facts Regarding Nazis and Swiss Banks,” which conducted oversight of an ongoing investigation by the Swiss bank UBS into Nazi-linked Credit Suisse accounts. In 2021, in response to concerns raised by the Jewish human rights organization Simon Wiesenthal Center, Credit Suisse initiated an internal investigation into its servicing of Nazi accounts in the 1930s and 1940s. A report from the investigation confirmed previously undisclosed relationships with Nazi-connected Credit Suisse account holders and initially identified at least 64,000 potentially relevant records meriting further investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

In his opening statement, Durbin credited U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) with leading oversight on this investigation. Durbin further emphasized that American leaders have a responsibility to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Key Quotes:

“Thanks to the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Grassley, and to Senator Whitehouse for their extraordinary work on this issue.”

“January 27 was International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On that day in 1945, the Allies, in particular the Soviet Red Army, liberated Auschwitz. Over six million Jewish people—two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population—were exterminated by the Nazis and their collaborators during the Holocaust, including [more than] one million lives lost at Auschwitz.”

“As time goes on and living memory fades, it becomes increasingly important that the events and lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten, are not revised, and are not rewritten.”

“Today’s hearing is a reminder that we still have a responsibility to reckon with the true events of the Holocaust and the role various actors played in its propagation and aftermath.”

“This hearing provides us with an opportunity to examine the past in order to learn its lessons and honor the promise of ‘Never Again.’”

Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

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

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Durbin, Duckworth, Foster Introduce New Legislation To Boost Housing Stock Across The Country

The ABODE Act would create a design competition for 21st century single-family homes with a focus on cost, energy efficiency, and scalability

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today introduced new legislation that would address the housing shortage in the United States, which has priced millions of Americans out of home ownership. To mitigate barriers to home ownership and incentivize builders to focus on constructing resilient and affordable homes, the Advancing Better Options for Dwellings Everywhere (ABODE) Act would create a competition for designs for 21st century single-family homes with a focus on cost, energy efficiency, and scalability.

“The rising cost of building starter or single-family homes has spurred an affordability crisis that has priced millions of Americans out of owning or renting a home,” Durbin said. “My new legislation, the ABODE Act, would confront the barriers to housing affordability and incentivize builders to construct affordable single- and multi-family homes that meet our nation’s needs.”

“The cost of rent and mortgages have been growing further and further out of reach for middle-class Americans for far too long and we need to invest in new pathways for communities facing severe housing shortages,” said Duckworth. “As costs have continued to rise with little relief—and with Donald Trump telling Americans he wants housing prices to skyrocket even more—I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in introducing this legislation today to help create more affordable housing to help American families.”

“To confront the housing affordability crisis, we must meet demand by increasing supply,” said Foster. “This bill would incentivize the construction of more energy- and cost-efficient housing in areas that sorely need it. I’m proud to join our Senators in this effort to expand affordable housing options while strengthening the long-term resilience of our communities.”

Specifically, the ABODE Act would:

Require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to conduct a competition with academic organizations, developers, and nonprofits to build or rehabilitate single- and multi-family homes with a focus on cost, energy efficiency, and scalability;

Direct HUD to focus awards on quality, durability and maintenance costs, and universal design (i.e., homes that would be accessible for people with disabilities);

Award grants at completion of the contract for building homes that abide by robust sustainability and energy efficiency measures;

Prioritize initiatives in areas with a severe affordable housing shortage; and

Provide, within two years of the bill’s enactment, an annual report to Congress on program’s success, including projects funded, projects completed, and the number of affordable houses built.

Nationally, there is a shortage of more than seven million affordable homes, particularly “starter homes.” Starter homes are now estimated to only make up roughly nine percent of new real estate in recent years, far below the 40 percent in the 1980s. Barriers – including restrictions on land use and rising construction costs – have disincentivized builders from constructing more affordable housing. Research has shown that safe and affordable housing is vital in increasing economic opportunities, and that the most cost-effective way to reduce childhood poverty is to increase access to affordable housing. In fact, research shows that children who moved to lower poverty neighborhoods saw their earnings as adults increase by 31 percent.

The ABODE Act has earned the endorsement of the Illinois Housing Council.

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Durbin Speaks At Spotlight Forum Examining Aggressive Tactics Of DHS, ICE, CBP Agents Carrying Out Trump Administration’s Cruel Mass Deportation Scheme

Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen and Chicagoan who was shot five times by a CBP agent during the Trump Administration’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz,” testified during today’s spotlight forum

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today participated in a bicameral spotlight forum entitled “Our Values at Stake (Part II): Examining DHS’ Use of Violence in Immigration Enforcement.” The forum, convened by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), is the second installment of spotlight forums examining the continued lawlessness of agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Today’s forum was a powerful response to the Trump Administration’s false narrative that federal agents are only going after the “worst of the worst” during these aggressive immigration raids. Rather, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), at the direction of Acting Director Todd Lyons, has been instructed to arrest all noncitizens without status that they encounter. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has also imposed a quota of 3,000 immigration arrests per day, and in order to meet this arbitrary number of arrests, ICE agents are indiscriminately apprehending nonviolent individuals without criminal records, including farm workers, day laborers, students, members of mixed-status families, and small business owners. However, DHS’ own data shows that 73 percent of those arrested nationally have no prior criminal convictions.

In his remarks, Durbin first addressed Marimar Martinez, a witness at today’s forum who is a U.S. citizen and Chicagoan. She was shot five times by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent during DHS’ so-called “Operation Midway Blitz.” Ms. Martinez was initially charged with assaulting the CBP agent who shot her, and DHS issued public statements with her photo alongside claims that she was a “domestic terrorist” armed with a semi-automatic weapon, although she was never charged with a weapon violation. The charges against Ms. Martinez were later dropped, but the CBP agent that shot her later bragged about his shooting abilities and is still employed by the agency. DHS has not recanted or removed its public misrepresentations regarding Ms. Martinez.

“You are a miracle. The fact that you are here today after being shot five times to tell your story [is a miracle],” Durbin said to Ms. Martinez.

Durbin then spoke out against the Trump Administration’s aggressive mass deportation scheme. He further criticized DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for refusing to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for more than a year. After repeated requests from Durbin, she finally agreed to attend a Senate Judiciary Committee DHS oversight hearing in March.

“I’m the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and I want you to know, for the record, Secretary Noem has not appeared before our Committee in over a year. She’s ‘too busy’ to come and answer for the mismanagement of this agency and the damage that’s being done, not only to the people of America, but to our reputation in the world,” Durbin said.

“Chicago was one of the first victims of this policy of massive deportation. I came to the Senate Democratic Caucus luncheon, and I told my colleagues after it got started—and after I visited Little Village [in Chicago] and the neighborhoods and saw what happened—[I told my colleagues,] be prepared, because this show is coming to your town next,” Durbin said.

“They [congressional Republicans] appropriated billions of dollars for this effort [through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act], this mass deportation, billions of dollars, so that the force that they have created, that we’ve heard described today, is larger than the United States Marine Corps, larger than the FBI. They are prepared to take this show on the road and to visit polling places and schools, nurseries, Montessori schools all across America. We have to do something. It is up to us. The courts are doing some things. I wish they would do more, but we have to do our part,” Durbin continued.

“That’s why we’ve made it clear that this negotiation to change the standards for ICE is critical for us to continue funding this agency… All we’re asking is that this effort by ICE and other federal agencies adhere to the same standards and principles as policemen and policewomen across the United States already. That’s not too much to ask,” Durbin concluded his remarks.

Video of Durbin’s remarks is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks is available here.

Today’s hearing also featured testimony from Ms. Martinez, who shared her harrowing story of being shot five times by a CBP agent.

“My name is Marimar Martinez. I am a first generation Mexican-American, a survivor of this Administration’s actions, and an advocate for those who do not have a voice, those that are pleading for justice, living in fear, and those who are asking for meaningful change and accountability,” Ms. Martinez testified.

“I come from a beautiful family full of immigrants. I am proud of my roots. I am born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where I learned the values of resilience, community, respect, love, and hope. Those lessons have shaped me since childhood and continue to guide me through my adult life. On October 4, 2025, those values were tested when my life was nearly taken by my own government. This testimony is my attempt to give voice to an experience that words struggle to hold but silence cannot justify,” she said.

“It seemed like time stopped… I drove forward and went around the Border Patrol agent who jumped out of his car and pointed his gun at me. I moved to the far-left lane, striking the curb on the far-left side of Kedzie [Avenue]. The next thing I knew I felt a burning sensation in my arms and legs and thought I had been shot by pepper balls, which I had also seen these agents fire at people in our community. As I continued to drive past the Border Patrol agent, I could hear my back passenger window shatter and I felt bullets continue to pierce my body,” Ms. Martinez said.

“At the hospital I remember seeing multiple agents standing around watching me be treated for my wounds. My arms, legs, and chest were all wrapped in bandages. I had 7 bullet holes in my body. I remember the agents rushing the nurses to finish up so they could take me with them,” Ms. Martinez continued. “I was next taken to the FBI building for further processing. Because they rushed me out of the hospital so quickly, the blood started soaking through the bandages… The FBI agents agreed to take me to a different hospital where my wounds were treated again, and I received additional medical care before being released back into law enforcement custody the following day.”

“The agents took me from the second hospital to the federal detention center in downtown Chicago. I have never even had a parking ticket before, and now I was sitting in a federal detention center,” Ms. Martinez said.

Video of Ms. Martinez’s testimony is available here.

Audio of Ms. Martinez’s testimony is available here.

In response to the Trump Administration’s surge in federal law enforcement in Chicago and continuous threats to deploy the military in the area, Durbin has taken a number of steps to push back on these unlawful actions carried out by DHS and Secretary Noem under the direction of President Trump. Durbin’s actions to push back on the Trump Administration’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” can be found here.

Durbin, along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), has also notified the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that they have referred the unlawful actions of Trump Administration officials and federal law enforcement agents responsible for immigration enforcement in Illinois to Attorney General Pam Bondi for investigation. The Trump Administration repeatedly appears to have violated the constitutional rights of individuals in Illinois during “Operation Midway Blitz,” and the officials responsible for these violations are acting with impunity. If this Administration fails to pursue charges, the statute of limitations will permit the next Administration to prosecute officials who acted unlawfully.

In December, Durbin also sent an oversight letter to DHS to push back on the Trump Administration’s false narrative that it does not arrest U.S. citizens. The letter, which requested a response by December 16, demanded answers about the total number of U.S. citizens arrested during immigration enforcement activity during the Trump Administration; the agencies responsible for the arrests; the length of detention following the arrests; audio or video footage of the arrests; agency directives governing encounters and arrests involving U.S. citizens; and policies regarding the maintenance of citizen arrest data.

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In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, Durbin Questions Witnesses About Investigation Into Nazi-Linked Swiss Bank Accounts

In today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Durbin called for a resolution to the legal dispute over additional documents needed to complete an investigation into Nazi-linked Credit Suisse accounts

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “The Truth Revealed: Hidden Facts Regarding Nazis and Swiss Banks,” which conducted oversight of an ongoing investigation by the Swiss bank UBS into Nazi-linked Credit Suisse accounts.

Durbin began his questioning by asking about the status of 150 documents, all of which pertain to a 1998 settlement between Credit Suisse and Holocaust survivors, that have been the center of a dispute in the investigation. Mr. Neil Barofsky, a witness in today’s hearing and the independent ombudsperson overseeing Credit Suisse’s investigation into its historical Nazi ties, has not been able to access these documents for his investigation. UBS claims that these records may be protected by attorney-client privilege.

Durbin asked Ms. Barbara Levi, Group General Counsel for UBS Group, which acquired Credit Suisse in 2023, and Mr. Robert Karofsky, President of UBS Americas: “I think you have made it clear that you believe your institution [UBS] has made a good faith effort to disclose information and to bring justice to this issue. The settlement agreement, the last payment was made seven or eight years ago, and it was $1.3 billion in total… It still, at this point, puzzles me that there is a difference of opinion as to whether you have made full disclosure of relevant materials and facts. You had said in your testimony that your institution has disclosed 16.5 million documents provided to the ombudsperson, and that there is a dispute over 150 documents remaining… Would you please clarify why you have not produced the disputed 150 documents?”

Ms. Levi replied that UBS is looking into possible options to provide the documents to Mr. Barofsky.

Durbin then asked Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action at the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), and Mr. Barofsky about the importance of these documents to the investigation.

“Why do you believe these documents… are so critically important that this matter is still in litigation?” Durbin asked.

Rabbi Cooper replied: “It is not about the number of documents. It is really about our last chance to learn the full truth.”

Mr. Barofsky emphasized that his interest in obtaining the documents stems from outstanding questions about specific Nazis and Nazi enablers who may have had accounts with Credit Suisse, not about combing through privileged communications between lawyers and their clients. Outside of the legal dispute over the 150 documents, Mr. Barofsky praised UBS’s cooperation with his investigation, calling their willingness to work with him “picture-perfect.”

Durbin concluded his questioning by asking Mr. Karofsky if he expects the dispute to be resolved in the near future.

“Mr. Karofsky, your testimony, written and oral, is an effort by your institution to be helpful and come clean. It appears in the situation, for several months, you have been at loggerheads, in dispute over these documents. Is there any chance we can resolve this in the near term?” Durbin asked.

Mr. Karofsky noted that his organization has provided 16.5 million documents and access to 18 archives across seven countries for Mr. Barofsky’s investigation. Mr. Karofsky further expressed his willingness to support the investigation and work toward resolving the legal dispute over the documents.

Video of Durbin’s questions are available here.

Audio of Durbin’s questions are available here.

Footage of Durbin’s questions are available here for TV Stations.

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Fetterman Celebrates Seven Pennsylvanians Competing in 2026 Winter Olympic Games

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) released the following statement recognizing seven Pennsylvania athletes heading to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games:

“In the greatest country there is, it’s no surprise we have the best athletes in the world representing us at the Olympics, with seven of them from Pennsylvania.

“It takes years of commitment and sacrifice, endless support from loved ones, and a passion for the sport to make it to this level.

“I’m proud to recognize Andrew, Summer, Vincent, Daniel, Jasmine, Ava, and Taylor for their accomplishments and making it to Team USA.

“I send my full support and best wishes to all our great Olympians as they compete on the world stage.”

Representing Pennsylvania in the Winter Olympic Games:

Andrew Heo from Warrington competing in Speedskating (Short Track)

Summer Britcher from Glen Rock competing in Luge

Vincent Trocheck from Pittsburgh competing in Men’s Ice Hockey

Daniel Barefoot from Johnstown competing in Skeleton

Jasmine Jones from Greensburg competing in Bobsled

Ava McNaughton from Wexford competing in Women’s Ice Hockey

Taylor Anderson from Broomall competing in Curling

They join a team of 232 athletes, making this the largest ever winter U.S. Olympic Team, surpassing the 228 athletes who competed for Team USA at PyeongChang 2018, and the 222 athletes who competed at Sochi 2014.


Fetterman, Grassley Urge Implementation of Whistleblower Program to Fight Money Laundering

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter to Department of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director Andrea Gacki, urging them to finalize rules implementing FinCEN’s whistleblower program to fight money laundering, terror-financing, and sanctions evasion.

“An effective FinCEN whistleblower program is a critical tool for America’s on-going fight against terrorists, drug-traffickers, and sanctioned state actors who are threats to our national security,” wrote the senators. “Congress created the whistleblower program over five years ago. Yet, FinCEN has not finalized regulations that will make the program fully operational in the fight against America’s enemies or even create a dedicated webpage for whistleblowers to learn about the program or submit tips.”

Whistleblowers assist law enforcement by exposing money laundering, sanctions evasion, and terror-financing. While FinCEN’s whistleblower program has received hundreds of tips that have helped law enforcement, the program’s rules have yet to be finalized. As a result, FinCEN has not paid out any awards to courageous whistleblowers who have risked their livelihoods and, sometimes, their lives to expose lawbreaking. Swift implementation of final regulations and prompt payment of awards is critical to making the whistleblower program effective.

While this whistleblower program remains unimplemented, adversaries are finding new and creative ways to launder money. Chinese Money Laundering Organizations help criminal cartels launder the proceeds of opiate trafficking. Hezbollah has used art and diamonds to move $160 million to fund terrorism. Criminal cartels in South and Central America have raised and transferred money using looted antiquities. Kremlin cronies, North Korea, and Iran continue to find loopholes in the U.S. financial system. Whistleblowers help law enforcement uncover complex schemes to launder illicit funds.

Senator Fetterman and Senator Grassley previously worked together to introduce the bipartisan Art Market Integrity Act, which requires art dealers and auction houses to comply with existing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations. The legislation would require art dealers and auction houses to maintain records and report on high-value art market transactions, aligning the United States with international standards adopted by the United Kingdom, European Union, and Switzerland. The bill would protect the United States’ national security and the multibillion-dollar art market from criminals, terrorists, cartels, and other bad actors.

“It is imperative that FinCEN finalize its rules and expeditiously pay out awards to incentivize future whistleblowers who put their livelihoods and often lives on the line to help law enforcement find and stop the flow of illicit funds to criminal cartels, terrorists, and sanctioned state actors,” continued the senators.

Read the full text of the letter below and here.

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Dear Secretary Bessent and Director Gacki:

We write to urge you to finalize rules implementing the Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act whistleblower program. We agree completely with Director Gacki’s May 2024 statement that the whistleblower program “holds tremendous potential as an enforcement force-multiplier” and is a vital tool to “increase enforcement by strategically deploying [FinCEN’s] limited resources.” Indeed, Congress also recognized this observation and created the whistleblower program on a bipartisan basis in 2020 and strengthened it in 2022. An effective FinCEN whistleblower program is a critical tool for America’s on-going fight against terrorists, drug-traffickers, and sanctioned state actors who are threats to our national security. Congress created the whistleblower program over five years ago. Yet, FinCEN has not finalized regulations that will make the program fully operational in the fight against America’s enemies or even create a dedicated webpage for whistleblowers to learn about the program or submit tips. We urge you to do so.

One of our concerns is that whistleblowers are apparently unable to receive awards until the program rules have been finalized even though FinCEN has publicly acknowledged it already established its Financial Integrity Fund to pay out awards. According to Director Gacki’s May 2024 remarks, hundreds of whistleblowers have already submitted unique tips to FinCEN. If these tips led to successful enforcement actions, then these whistleblowers ought to receive the award they’re entitled to without delay. It is imperative that FinCEN finalize its rules and expeditiously pay out awards to incentivize future whistleblowers who put their livelihoods and often lives on the line to help law enforcement find and stop the flow of illicit funds to criminal cartels, terrorists, and sanctioned state actors.

America’s enemies continue to find new and innovative ways to skirt our laws to launder money, fund terrorism, and evade sanctions. FinCEN recently raised the alarm on the danger posed by Chinese Money Laundering Organizations, including helping criminal cartels launder the proceeds of opiate trafficking into the United States. Nazem Ahmad used art and diamonds to launder $160 million to fund Hezbollah terrorism. Terrorists like ISIS and the Houthis, as well as criminal cartels in South and Central America, have used looted antiquities to launder money. Kremlin cronies, North Korea, and Iran continue to find loopholes in our sanctions and money-laundering compliance system. This summer we introduced the bipartisan Art Market Integrity Act to require money-laundering compliance by art dealers and auction houses. This bill would close a loophole that allows illicit funds to flow through the over $25 billion domestic art market. Whistleblowers are a critical and effective tool that can be used to help law enforcement uncover these and other sophisticated schemes to launder money and fund terrorism.

We urge FinCEN to finalize its rules, consistent with best whistleblower practices, that would allow the whistleblower program to operate effectively and swiftly pay out awards to successful whistleblowers. A fully operational whistleblower program is the enforcement force-multiplier FinCEN needs to find and stop the sophisticated schemes that criminal cartels, terrorists, and sanctioned actors use to funnel money through our financial system. Accordingly, we request that you keep our offices fully updated on the status of FinCEN’s proposed rulemaking for its whistleblower program.

Thank you for your prompt review and responses. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Randolph on Senator Grassley’s Committee staff at (202) 224-5225 and Devin Gould on Senator Fetterman’s staff at (202) 224-4254.

Sincerely,


Fetterman Statement on Three-Year Anniversary of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the third anniversary of the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train along the Pennsylvania-Ohio border, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) released the following statement:

“Three years ago, the toxic Norfolk Southern train derailment shook communities along the Pennsylvania-Ohio border.

“As I’ve said before, this derailment was a tragedy, and it’s something we could have prevented. I’m proud to have co-led legislation to hold railroads accountable and make sure another tragedy like that never happens again.

“Three years later and Congress still hasn’t done right by these communities.

“I renew my call for my colleagues to join me in passing commonsense legislation, including the Railway Safety Act, to make East Palestine, Darlington Township, and all our communities safer. ”

As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Fetterman is committed to delivering meaningful reforms to make railroads safer.

Senator Fetterman was an original co-lead of the Railway Safety Act, joining then-Senator JD Vance (R-OH) and former Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to introduce the bill in March 2023. That bipartisan bill would have increased penalties for railroads involved in toxic spills and strengthened protections to prevent future train derailments. The bill was passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee last year but did not receive a vote on the floor.

Senator Fetterman also introduced the Railway Accountability Act in March 2023 in response to the Norfolk Southern derailment. The bill included practical railway safety reforms to hold railroads accountable for the safety and well-being of workers and passengers. He also introduced the Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act with former Senators Casey and Brown, which would have supported first responders on the front lines of hazardous train derailments.


To President’s Desk: $566 Million Secured by Fischer for National and Nebraska-Based Defense Programs

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she secured $566 million for national and Nebraska-based defense programs, including U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), 55th Wing, and the 557th Weather Wing – all located at Offutt Air Force Base – in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Defense Appropriations Act passed by Congress. The bill now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Congress’ first responsibility is to defend the nation,” Fischer said. “As a member of the Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, I’m working to make sure our troops have the resources they need to keep America safe. That’s why I fought to secure critical funding for U.S. Strategic Command, the 55th Wing, and the 557th Weather Wing at Offutt Air Force Base — strengthening mission-critical defense programs and supporting the service members who carry them out. I look forward to seeing this signed into law.”

Key provisions secured by Fischer:

STRATCOM:

$26 million for STRATCOM’s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) Enterprise Center’s Rapid Engineering Architecture Collaboration Hub (REACH) program

$11 million to expand and improve STRATCOM’s NC3 Enterprise Center’s network sensor demonstration

$9 million for the Joint Electronic Spectrum Operations Center (JEMSO) to test and evaluate advanced electromagnetic warfare technologies

$11 million for upgrades to the National Airborne Operations Center at Offutt Air Force Base

55th Wing:

$24 million to improve the RC-135 fleet, including new alternate position, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems

557th Weather Wing:

$1 million to upgrade 557th Weather Wing’s data processing operations

$1 million to improve 557th Weather Wing’s sensing and modeling capabilities to support emerging missions in the stratosphere

University of Nebraska:

$3 million to enable the University of Nebraska Medical Center to work with the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services (HHS) to build contingency plans for extreme health events

$3 million for the University of Nebraska to develop an Automated Resuscitation Catheter (ARCA)

$20 million for the Joint Civilian-Medical Surge Pilot Program

Other Provisions:

$38 million above the President’s budget request for APEX accelerator programs

$60 million above the President’s budget request to procure additional MH-139 helicopters to monitor and defend Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) missile fields

$47.5 million above the President’s budget request to support U.S.-Israel Emerging Technology Cooperation to meet the challenges of the future battlefield

$4 million above the President’s budget request to support the development and deployment of visualization tools for comprehensive, actionable threat assessment of adversarial activities

$8 million above the President’s budget request to develop high frequency communications relay stations across the globe

$4 million above the President’s budget request to advance research and development of technologies to seek hard and deeply buried targets

Additional funding for the Colombia-class submarine, including:

$285 million in shipbuilding, advanced procurement, and

$11 million in shipbuilding


To President’s Desk: $60 Million Secured by Fischer to Improve Nebraska’s Infrastructure, Firefighting Capabilities

Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she secured over $60 million in funding to support critical infrastructure projects and firefighting capabilities across Nebraska.

The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Act – passed by Congress – which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Making investments in our communities to upgrade our infrastructure is one of my core missions as the U.S. Senator for Nebraska,” Fischer said. “And as a member of the Appropriations Committee, I’ve worked closely with our communities to make sure they get the resources they need. I’m proud to have secured $60 million in this package – on its way to the President’s desk – that will strengthen emergency services, enhance our airports, and improve infrastructure across Nebraska.”

PROVISIONS SECURED BY FISCHER:

Enhancing Nebraska’s Airports:

$6 million to the Alliance Airport for electrical improvements

$5 million to extend the runway and parallel taxiway at the Blair Airport

$4 million to improve the lighting system at the Hastings Airport

$3.4 million to complete the parallel taxiway and improve the lighting system at the Nebraska City Airport

$600,000 to relocate the Midfield Connector Taxiway at Brenner Field Airport in Falls City

Strengthening Emergency Services:

$2.5 million to replace South Sioux City’s aerial ladder fire truck

$1.8 million to replace Plattsmouth’s aerial ladder fire truck

$1.3 million to upgrade Friend’s fire hall facilities

$1.3 million to upgrade Clatonia’s fire hall facilities

Improving Statewide Infrastructure:

$6 million to add safety enhancements to the Heartland Expressway

$5.2 million to replace the Lisco Bridge in Garden County

$4.7 million to pave a 4-mile stretch of Hickory Road in Gage County

$4 million to road improvements for Fairbury Highway 136

$3.5 million to improve walkability and safety of downtown Omaha

$3.4 million to make improvements to roads in Sheridan and Garden County

$3.2 million to make roadway improvements on Cedar River Road in Garfield County

$2.2 million to reconstruct the 9th street roadway in Stromsburg

$897,000 to replace or repair multiple bridges in Brown County

$880,000 to pave the Adams Bypass

$700,000 to pave the roadway and improve access to the local grain elevator in Exeter

Additional Provision:


To President’s Desk: $18 Million Secured by Fischer for Nebraska Health Care Improvements, Modernization

Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she secured $18 million in funding to support improvements and modernizations of health care facilities in Nebraska.

The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Labor, Health, and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations Act – passed by Congress – which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Nebraskans deserve modern health care facilities and strong support for the workers who care for our families,” Fischer said. “That’s why I secured $18 million through the Senate Appropriations Committee to upgrade facilities statewide — bringing our tax dollars home and improving the quality of care across Nebraska.”

PROVISIONS SECURED BY FISCHER:

$12,000,000 for the University of Nebraska Medical Center to construct a training facility for air transport of infectious disease patients

$3,500,000 to the City of O’Neill to replace the boiler and water heating systems at Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital


Fischer’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Law Receives Boost Through Government Funding Bill

Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she secured $1 million through a government funding bill to help increase awareness of and inform employers on her Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Tax Credit.

“Since establishing the nation’s first-ever Paid Family and Medical Leave policy, employers of all sizes have been able to offer paid leave to their workers,” Fischer said. “I’m pleased to have secured this funding to increase awareness of and inform employers on this valuable tax credit. This is a much-needed step to ensure hard working Americans can take leave from work to care for a newborn or aging parent without sacrificing a paycheck or their job.”

Background:

Fischer’s provision in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill directs the Small Business Administration to inform employers about the availability of her Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit. This includes targeted communications, education, training, and technical assistance.

Fischer’s work on Paid Family and Medical Leave:


Fischer: We Cannot Allow Credibility of U.S. Nuclear Deterrent to Erode

Today, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, questioned witnesses to examine New START —the U.S.- Russia treaty that mutually limits nuclear arsenals.

The panel included former STRATCOM Commander Admiral Charles Richard, USN (Ret.); Rose E. Gottemoeller of Stanford University and the Hoover Institution; and Timothy A. Morrison of the Hudson Institute.

Click here for Fischer’s full remarks and questions


Gallego Introduces Bill to Give Children a Strong Financial Start

New Legislation Would Provide Direct Financial Support to Parents, Start Building Wealth for their Child

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the Strong Start Act to help relieve the financial burden on parents and set kids up for success. The bill would provide a one-time, direct payment of $3,000 to parents to pay for upfront costs like purchasing a crib, stroller, and car seat. It would also create an American Dream Account for each newborn.

“As a father of three, I understand just how expensive it is to welcome a child. From the crib and car seat to the seemingly endless diapers and wipes, the costs add up fast. And those costs are just the beginning of what kids need to grow up financially secure,” said Senator Gallego. “This bill is about ensuring every American child gets a strong start in life. It’s about getting us one step closer to making sure every kid, no matter their circumstances, can achieve the American dream. I’ll fight for this bill because it what kids and their parents deserve.”

The Strong Start Act would:

Establish a $3,000 New Child Tax Credit to be paid to parents as a one-time payment as soon as 30-days after birth.

Change the name of Trump Accounts to American Dream Accounts and make the $1,000 government contribution permanent, indexed to inflation.

Automatically enroll newborns into the program, reducing the logistical burden on families.

Add an additional $500 yearly government contribution for children ages 0 to 17 from households with incomes below $75,000 ($150,000 for married joint filers), indexed to inflation.

Add an additional $250 yearly government contribution ($750 in total) for children from Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)-eligible families per year, indexed to inflation.

Create a $1 to $1 match on individual contributions, not to exceed $250 per year, for households eligible for the EITC.

Read the full legislative text HERE.

While the New Child Tax Credit is one-time targeted support to help parents during the difficult and expensive newborn stage, long-term investments are needed to set children up for success in the long run. The Strong Start Act is just one piece of Senator Gallego’s larger push to better support American families.

In June, shortly after announcing that he would take paternity leave following the birth of his son, Cooper, Senator Gallego introduced the Postpartum Lifeline Actto require 12 months of full postpartum health coverage for new mothers under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Gallego has also backed the:

American Family Act, a bill to permanently expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for middle-class and low-income families and make the benefit refundable. The expanded, monthly CTC is proven to deliver economic security to American families and lift millions of children out of poverty.

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Act, a bill to increase the maximum Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) to $4,000 per child, allowing families to receive up to $8,000 in tax credits to offset up to $16,000 in expenses.

Child Care Availability and Affordability Act, a bill to make child care more affordable and accessible by strengthening existing tax credits to lower child care costs. Specifically, the legislation would broaden the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), strengthen the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), and bolster the employee provided child care tax credit (45F).

Child Care for Working Families Act, a bill to ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need.

Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Actto guarantee up to 12 weeks of partial income for workers who have to take leave for serious medical and family events. Paid medical and family leave is especially helpful for new parents.


Gallego, Reed Lead Colleagues in Calling on Federal Reserve Governor Miran to Immediately Resign

WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Jack Reed (D-RI) led their Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee colleagues in calling on Federal Reserve Governor Miran to immediately resign from the Federal Reserve Board after his term expired on January 31st, 2026.

READ MORE: Politico Morning Money

“During your confirmation hearing to be a Governor, you testified under oath that you would not resign as Chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers because ‘the term for which I am being nominated is a little bit more than four months.’ This period is now up,” the Senators wrote. “You are serving in holdover status and have implied an intention to stay indefinitely … Your extended tenure at the Federal Reserve has only compounded what was an improper arrangement from the outset, and this dual employment must end.”

The Senators’ letter argues that Miran’s voting record and public statements demonstrate a lack of independence from White House political pressure, with his support for aggressive rate cuts appearing to follow the President’s demands rather than sound economic analysis—decisions that directly affect Americans’ ability to find jobs, afford homes, and manage their credit card debt.

“Despite empirical evidence that inflation remains elevated and the labor market is weakening, your voting record appears to be a product of the President’s pressure campaign to influence interest rates rather than sound analysis…” the Senators continued. “At worst, you are doing the President’s bidding and threatening to put the nation on the same path of high inflation and high unemployment – known as stagflation – we experienced when President Nixon similarly co-opted the Federal Reserve.”

“Your continued dual service at the Federal Reserve and the President’s CEA puts the Federal Reserve’s operations and our nation’s economy at risk. We therefore request you put our Nation’s economic well-being and the public’s trust in the Federal Reserve over your political ambitions and the President’s personal interests and immediately resign from the Federal Reserve,” the Senators concluded.

Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Mark Warner (D-VA) also signed the letter.

Read the full letter HERE.

Last year, Senator Gallego introduced the Fed Integrity and Independence Act to prohibit members of the Federal Reserve from holding multiple positions appointed by the President, including under a leave of absence. The bill came after the Senator questioned Miran about his commitment to preserving the independent, nonpolitical role of the Federal Reserve during his confirmation hearing.

Senator Gallego has also introduced the bipartisan Fed Forward Actto strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the Federal Reserve by codifying key communication and governance practices that are not currently required by statute.

2/3/26


Gillibrand, Schumer Deliver Full Funding For World Trade Center Health Program

Today, following years of advocacy, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated Congress’ passage of legislation to fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), which is now on its way to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Twenty-five years after the September 11th attacks, first responders and survivors continue to be diagnosed with serious and often life-threatening 9/11-related health conditions, underscoring the ongoing need for stable federal support for the program. The WTCHP faces increasing demand as enrollment continues to grow and new illnesses are identified, putting pressure on the program’s resources.

The WTCHP was established in 2011 as part of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and was originally funded for five years at $1.6 billion. The program was reauthorized in 2015 and extended through 2090 with bipartisan support. In 2022, Senators Gillibrand and Schumer led lawmakers in passing $1 billion for the WTCHP in the end-of-year spending bill, and in 2023, the senators helped secure an additional $676 million for the program. The updated funding secured this year continues that commitment to ensuring 9/11 responders and survivors receive the care they need, now and in the years ahead.

“The World Trade Center Health Program honors our promise to never forget our 9/11 survivors and the first responders who protected our nation in its darkest hour,” said Senator Gillibrand.“I was proud to work across the aisle to finally secure full funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, and I am relieved that the funding has been passed and will soon be signed into law. Ensuring our 9/11 first responders and survivors have the resources they need to cope with the long-term health effects from toxic exposure has been one of my top priorities for my entire tenure in Congress. I am so proud of the work that our tireless advocates have done to fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program.”

“Today, after years of work, we finally deliver on the sacred promise to ‘Never Forget’ by fully funding the World Trade Center Health Program to ensure the brave first responders & survivors always get the care they deserve. I have seen firsthand the toll that uncertainty and funding gaps take on our 9/11 heroes, standing with them as more and more got sick with cancers and other illnesses from rushing to danger and working on the pile,” said Senator Schumer. “Families will no longer have to worry whether funding will be there for their loved ones to afford life-saving treatment. From the moment of the attacks, brave first responders and everyday New Yorkers made extraordinary sacrifices for our country. I promised I would not rest, never stop fighting until every 9/11 hero knows that when they need care, that care will be there for them. And today, a promise made becomes a promise kept. Now, with the World Trade Center Health Program fully funded, I’m thrilled to say we are eliminating funding cliffs for this program once and for all to ensure survivors will always receive the care they need. ”

“Senator Gillibrand has continued her tireless efforts on behalf of 9/11 responders and survivors,” said Benjamin Chevat, Executive Director of Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act. “Since the day she passed the James Zadroga Act, 15 years ago that created the World Trade Center Health Program, that now provides medical treatment and monitoring for over 140,000 9/11 responders and survivors in every state and in 434 out of 435 Congressional Districts, she has never wavered in her determination to protect the program and ensure the services it provides. Now after working in a bipartisan effort with Senator Schumer and Congressmen Garbarino, Nadler and the entire NY Delegation, she has succeeded in getting the World Trade Center Health Program fully funded and preventing any cuts in services to those that count on the program and are still dealing with the health impact of the toxins at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and the Shanksville crash site even as we approach the 25th Anniversary of the attack.”

“They say a victory has 1000 fathers. In all actuality this victory, the passage of the WTCHP Correction Act (H.R.1410) has 145,000 plus fathers, in which over 48,000 plus have a certified 9/11 relate cancer,” said John Feal, 9/11 Responder and Advocate. “Responders & Survivors will continue to receive treatment and those who will get sick in the future from their toxic exposure will be able to join them. This short lived victory which took over 2 years was only achieved by the commitment & leadership of the NY Delegation and a selective few across the Country who worked closely as partners with a team of Advocates (Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act & the FealGood Foundation) who refused to give up and take no for an answer. Everyone’s resolve & testament while tested, never waivered and for that I am humbled to be part of this victory.”

“Tonight’s action by the United States Senate is a critical step forward for the heroes of September 11th and their families. The continued funding of the World Trade Center Health Program is not a political issue — it is a moral obligation,” said Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro. “Thousands of firefighters and first responders answered the call on the worst day in our nation’s history, and many are still paying the price with their health. This funding ensures they will continue to receive the care they were promised and deserve. We are deeply grateful to Senator Gillibrand and her colleagues for standing with the men and women who ran toward danger, and for honoring our nation’s commitment to never forget those who sacrificed so much. The Uniformed Firefighters Association will never stop fighting to protect our members and all 9/11 responders, today and for generations to come.”

“Fully funding the World Trade Center Health Program is a major victory for all the 9/11 responders and survivors suffering from long-term health challenges because of exposure to toxins at Ground Zero,” said New York State ADL-CIO President Mario Cilento. “The union movement has proudly led the fight to create the health program. Still, its full funding would not have been possible without the relentless leadership and advocacy of Senator Gillibrand, who ensured these brave Americans receive the care they deserve. We are deeply grateful for her unwavering commitment, alongside Senator Schumer, and the support of the entire New York delegation for getting this done and fulfilling a promise, as a country, that we would never forget.”

“The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations appreciate the steadfast efforts of Senator Gillibrand and the New York Congressional Delegation to extend the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act,” said New York State Police Investigators Association President Kurt Labuda. “While more than 24 years have passed since 9/11, the effects of that terrible day are still being felt by the police, firefighters and others who worked and lived in and around ground zero in the days and months following the attack. Tragically, the New York State Police continue to lose members each year of 9/11 related health issues. While this bill and funding will not bring them back, it will help countless others with screening, health care, and medical treatment. It is our duty to honor those who worked at great personal risk to themselves on and after that tragic day, and this is part of that responsibility.”

“Responders and survivors must always receive the care they were promised without delay or disruption. More than two decades after the September 11 attacks, hundreds of retired and active Troopers continue to live with the long-term health consequences of their service,” said Charlie Murphy, President of New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association. “Fully funding the World Trade Center Health Program as part of this year’s federal appropriations process ensures our members will not fall through the cracks and will continue to receive lifesaving medical monitoring and treatment. We are grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her steadfast leadership and for securing the stability that our responders have earned.”

“On September 11, 2001 we may have seen the worst of humanity, but the days, months, and years that followed were defined by the best of humanity as heroic first responders from the NYPD, FDNY, and the New York City Building Trades, stood side-by-side leading recovery efforts in the direct aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center. These selfless men and women deserve access to medical treatment and services for their September 11-related health conditions, and now that has been made possible through the passage of the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act,” said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “We thank Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Nadler, and Congressman Garbarino for their continued and exceptional leadership on behalf of September 11 responders and survivors. This critical funding for the World Trade Center Health Program will improve the lives of countless patriots and their families by providing them the care they have long-deserved.”

“Since her election to Congress, Sen. Gillibrand has been a fierce advocate for 9/11 responders in New York and across the nation. Thanks to her leadership, Congress has once again provided the funding necessary for the World Trade Center Health Program and honored its commitment to those who answered the call on September 11, 2001,” said NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) President Vincent Vallelong. “In the nearly 25 years since 9/11, we have seen daily reminders of the heavy price paid by our members and others who selflessly placed themselves in harm’s way for their neighbors and their country. The SBA is grateful for the efforts of Sen. Gillibrand to fulfill the promise of the original Zadroga Act, and we are proud to have worked alongside her to ensure that 9/11 responders and survivors receive the ongoing care that they deserve.”

“I would like to personally thank you for your tireless efforts on the passing of the budget, which included the Funding for the WTCHP. Your efforts will insure that my members of Local 94, and all the other first responders, will get the proper heath care they deserve. I would like to thank you for standing shoulder to shoulder with us in this battle. Without your commitment to these important issues, our heroes would go unrecognized in their times of need. Together we remain united in our vow to, NEVER FORGET,” said Thomas Hart, President International, Union Of Operating Engineers Local 94.

“Fire fighters who responded to the terrorist attack at Ground Zero answered the call without hesitation. ‘Never forget’ means making sure these brave men and women have access to the healthcare they need to combat the long-term illnesses they’re facing due to their service on 9/11. It is long past time Congress preserved the World Trade Center Health Program, and the IAFF is grateful for Senator Gillibrand’s unwavering dedication to our nation’s fire fighters,” said Evan Davis, Director Government Affairs International Association of Fire Fighters.

“The WTC Health Program is critical for the thousands of first responders already diagnosed with 9/11-related illnesses – and for all those who will be diagnosed in the years ahead. By strengthening the funding mechanism, Congress is upholding its promise to ‘Never Forget’ and ensuring these men and women will have the care they desperately need,” said IAFF 1st District Vice President James Slevin. “As we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11th, New Yorkers – and all those who rushed to Ground Zero – now know this vital program will continue to be there for them.”

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Gillibrand Statement On Gateway Development Commission Lawsuit Against Trump Administration

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, released the following statement regarding the Gateway Development Commission’s lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking judgment that would release contractually obligated funding for the Hudson Tunnel Gateway Project.

If additional funding does not become available by February 6, 2026, construction of the Hudson Tunnel Project will be forced to pause, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,000 jobs. The $16 billion project is expected to create approximately 95,000 direct and indirect jobs over the course of the project and would construct a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River connecting New Jersey and New York City, which over 200,000 people rely upon every day.

Through her ranking member position, Senator Gillibrand has repeatedly pushed the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete the reviews and release the federal funding. On numerous occasions, USDOT committed to quick reviews so that reimbursements can move forward.

“New Yorkers will not tolerate the Trump administration playing political games with our workers or our economy. Once again, we are forced to rely on the courts to protect our state from the unlawful actions of this administration.

The Hudson Tunnel Gateway Project is already supporting thousands of good-paying union jobs, generating billions of dollars in regional economic activity, and sustaining domestic suppliers and manufacturers. Further political targeting to justify withholding federal funding is inexcusable. These actions put union workers and families across New York and New Jersey at risk and threaten the most critical infrastructure project in the nation.

As ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, I secured clear commitments from Transportation Secretary Duffy that he would not cancel grants for major transit capital investment projects, including Gateway. It’s time to make good on that commitment. I am going to fight to ensure that New Yorkers not be treated as political pawns in this administration’s twisted game of chess.”

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Grassley, Bennet Legislation to Improve Kids’ Access to Life-Saving Medical Care Becomes Law

WASHINGTON – Legislation from Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) is now law after President Trump signed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding package today. Grassley’s bipartisan Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, which was included in the package, improves health care access for children with complex medical conditions by simplifying out-of-state Medicaid screening and enrollment processes for pediatric care providers, all while retaining key safeguards to preserve the integrity of the program. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) led companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“The last thing parents of children with complex medical conditions ought to battle is endless red tape to get the most effective specialist, treatment or procedure for their kids. They should be able to access this care quickly and wherever it’s available, whether that’s around the corner or across state lines. I’m glad to see the Senate approve our legislation to simplify the process so moms and dads don’t have to burn time fighting regulatory hurdles,” Grassley said.

“For children with complex medical conditions, bureaucratic red tape should not be an obstacle to care. This bipartisan legislation will make it easier for families to navigate our health care system and relieve some of the stress that they face to get their kids the care they need when they need it,” Bennet said.

“The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act is a bipartisan step forward to ensure children can access life-saving medical care without unnecessary delays,” Miller-Meeks said. “This legislation removes barriers for kids with complex medical needs and helps families get timely, coordinated care. I’m grateful for Senators Grassley and Bennet’s leadership in the Senate.”

“As a specialty pediatric healthcare provider serving thousands of children and young adults with complex medical needs, ChildServe strongly supports the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act,” said Teri Wahlig, M.D., ChildServe President and CEO. “This bipartisan legislation prioritizes access to quality healthcare, critical services and specialists for children with complex medical conditions by simplifying, standardizing and streamlining the referral process. It creates a more efficient pathway for children to receive the timely care they need. We are grateful to Senator Grassley and Senator Bennett for their continued dedication to advocating for children with complex medical needs.”

“Blank Children’s Hospital and UnityPoint Health applauds Senator Grassley’s continued effort to champion solutions to improve access to care for children with complex medical conditions. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act proposes to reduce delays for children who rely on Medicaid in receiving the pediatric specialty care they need to survive and thrive. Providers in Iowa offer exceptional pediatric care, but rural states often lack all the emerging treatment options necessary for children with complex medical conditions. Iowa families rely on coordinated care between their local pediatric providers and pediatric specialty teams from across the country. Their child’s life depends on it. This legislation will make a difference to countless children by increasing their access to pediatric specialty care in timely manner,” said Dr. Amy Groen, Blank Children’s Hospital & Women’s Services Medical Director.

“As a pediatric hematologist oncologist, I have firsthand experience with the barriers families face when pursuing treatment for cancer and blood disorders. Cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease in children, yet access to new therapies and research is grossly inadequate. For children with complex blood disorders like sickle cell disease, the disparities are profound—these patients have limited access to life altering therapies. No child’s chance at survival or quality of life should depend on their ZIP code, insurance status, or the condition they were born with. Yet families have been forced to navigate Medicaid’s burdensome approval processes just to reach out of state experts and critical treatments, all while their children’s lives hang in the balance. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act will reduce these barriers, allowing our patients timely access to the specialized care they desperately need,” added Dr. Wendy Woods Swafford, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Chief Medical Officer.

“As a pediatric oncologist, I know children with cancer have no time to waste,” said E. Anders Kolb, MD, Blood Cancer United President and CEO. “The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act spares families from needless delays at a moment when time is of the essence—its passage is a game-changer for kids with cancer. Thank you to Senator Grassley for his leadership on this critical issue.”

“The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act has the potential to save lives. Our children must receive specialized care on their own timelines, without bureaucratic interference. We thank Sens. Grassley and Bennet for their work on behalf of our families,” said Mike Henry, Director of Advocacy, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

“At University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, we are proud to provide Iowa’s children and families with world class expertise and compassionate care right here in the state. Families from across the Midwest and the country also rely on our specialized services,” says Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, University of Iowa vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the Carver College of Medicine. “This legislation will help remove barriers that delay access to the highly coordinated, multidisciplinary care Iowa's children need. By streamlining the process, families will reach the right experts more quickly, leading to better outcomes for our most medically complex patients.”

The Grassley-Bennet Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act has nearly 50 bipartisan cosponsors: Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), David McCormick (R-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

Background:

Children with complex medical conditions cannot always secure specialized care in their home states. When this happens, parents must work with their in-state providers and Medicaid officials to identify out-of-state providers who do offer that care. The process is riddled with regulatory hurdles that often delay, or even prohibit, children from receiving critical medical treatments. The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act helps alleviate these burdens for families, as well as providers.

The legislation builds off the Grassley-Bennet ACE Kids Act, which was signed into law in 2019. Following the bill’s enactment, the lawmakers closely monitored implementation to ensure it would be executed as Congress intended.

Grassley was recognized in December 2024 for his persistent efforts to support children with disabilities and complex medical conditions. Learn more HERE.


Grassley, Cassidy Bill to Ensure Viability of Organ Transplant Reforms is Signed into Law

WASHINGTON– The OPTN Fee Collection Authority Act from Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today became law as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding package signed by President Trump. The law enables the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)’s continued implementation of Grassley’s life-saving reforms to the U.S. organ transplant system.

“America’s organ transplant system must operate safely and efficiently. People’s lives are hanging in the balance. I’ve been closely following HRSA’s implementation of the reforms I spearheaded to update our failing organ transplant system. I’m glad Congress passed this key measure to ensure HRSA has the tools it needs to implement the law as Congress intended,”Grassley said.

“Continuing our efforts to reform the U.S. organ transplant system is vital to saving lives,” Cassidy said. “This legislation takes additional steps to improve the system and ensure more Americans can access lifesaving organs.”

Background:

OPTN is a federal program, founded in 1984 and housed under the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), that is responsible for coordinating all organ donations and transplants nationwide. For 40 years, the OPTN was operated by a single, deficient contractor – the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

Grassley in 2023 authored and passed a bipartisan law to break up the OPTN contract, resulting in the first competitive bidding process for OPTN contracts in the program’s nearly half-a-century history. Previously, UNOS, as the sole OPTN contractor, collected all OPTN registration fees from transplant hospitals and other member institutions. The Grassley-Cassidy legislation provides HRSA explicit legal authority to collect these fees, rooting out UNOS’ and any other contractors’ undue influence and safeguarding the revamped program’s operation. The bill also mandates a Government Accountability Office report to Congress within two years of the bill’s passage.


Grassley, Fetterman Urge Implementation of Whistleblower Program to Fight Money Laundering

WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sent a letter to Department of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director Andrea Gacki, urging them to implement the Grassley-authored Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act. The law created FinCEN’s whistleblower program to fight money laundering, terror-financing and sanctions evasion.

“An effective FinCEN whistleblower program is a critical tool for America’s on-going fight against terrorists, drug-traffickers, and sanctioned state actors who are threats to our national security. Congress created [this] whistleblower program over five years ago. Yet, FinCEN has not finalized regulations that will make the program fully operational in the fight against America’s enemies or even create a dedicated webpage for whistleblowers to learn about the program or submit tips,” the senators wrote.

While FinCEN’s whistleblower program has received hundreds of tips that have helped law enforcement, the program’s rules have yet to be finalized. As a result, FinCEN has not paid out any awards to whistleblowers who have risked their livelihoods and even lives to expose lawbreaking. Grassley and Fetterman are urging swift implementation of final regulations and prompt payment of awards to make the whistleblower program effective.

“It is imperative that FinCEN finalize its rules and expeditiously pay out awards to incentivize future whistleblowers who put their livelihoods and often lives on the line to help law enforcement find and stop the flow of illicit funds to criminal cartels, terrorists, and sanctioned state actors,” the senators continued.

While the program remains unimplemented, adversaries are finding new and creative ways to launder money. Chinese Money Laundering Organizations help criminal cartels launder the proceeds of opiate trafficking. Hezbollah has used art and diamonds to move $160 million to fund terrorism. Criminal cartels in South and Central America have raised and transferred money using looted antiquities. Russia, North Korea and Iran continue to find loopholes in the U.S. financial system.

Grassley and Fetterman last year introduced the Art Market Integrity Act, which requires art dealers and auction houses to comply with existing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.

Read the full text of the letter HERE.


Grassley Presses UBS on Transparency, Ongoing Investigation into Credit Suisse’s Nazi-Linked Accounts

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today chaired a hearing to examine Swiss banks’ hidden Nazi ties. The hearing provided an update on Grassley and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-R.I.) ongoing investigation into Credit Suisse’s historic servicing of Nazi-linked accounts.

In response to Grassley’s questions, Neil Barofsky – the independent ombudsperson tasked with investigating Credit Suisse’s Nazi-linked accounts – discussed his investigative progress, including new evidence regarding Credit Suisse’s involvement in forced asset transfers and Nazi ratlines, as well as UBS’s efforts to restrict his access to relevant documents. UBS acquired Credit Suisse in 2023.

UBS representatives Robert Karofsky and Barbara Levi confirmed to Grassley that Barofsky’s final report to Congress will include as many unredacted names of Nazi-linked account holders as possible, within the bounds of Swiss law.

Grassley questioned the following witnesses:

The Honorable Neil Barofsky, Independent Ombudsperson and Partner of Jenner & Block LLP

Robert Karofsky, President of UBS Americas and Co-President of the Global Wealth Management Division for UBS

Barbara Levi, Group General Counsel for UBS

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action for the Simon Wiesenthal Center

Grassley’s opening statement is available HERE. Video and excerpts of Grassley’s questions follow.

VIDEO

On Barofsky’s investigation into Credit Suisse:

Grassley: “Describe to the Committee the most important investigative findings that you’ve uncovered to date.”

Barofsky: “The one that hits me the deepest, Mr. Chairman, is the forced transfer of assets… We have descriptions of different ones, examples that we are disclosing for the first time in my testimony. But I can't help but think of the civil servant…. I just can't help but think of that individual saving money bit by bit… and as sort of the horrors of the Holocaust and Nazi Germany in 1930 started to descend, thinking, ‘Okay, I'm going to put my savings in a Swiss bank. That's where it will be safe. That's where I can be sure that even if I don't make it out of this, maybe my kids or my grandchildren can benefit from that money that I saved.’

“I think about what must have gone through these people's minds when they found out that their assets, their life savings, are being plucked from their accounts and delivered to their Nazi oppressors. And I think of [one of] the individuals we talk about: he was boarded on a train to the concentration camp to his eventual murder and [knew] that he had been left penniless at the hands of that Swiss bank.”

On UBS withholding relevant documents from Barofsky’s investigation:

Grassley: “Inspector General Barofsky, as Independent Ombudsman you’ve faced challenges in overseeing this important and historic investigation. Credit Suisse previously wrongfully fired you… and recently, UBS has imposed access restrictions… How has the current UBS leadership impacted your ability to get the job done? In your answer, please address how the current UBS leadership has reacted to your concerns.”

Barofsky: “It's essential for me… to have access to all relevant documents. The way [documents are] defined [as] relevant [is if] these are accounts that indicate whether or not a particular Nazi or Nazi-enabler had an account or didn't have an account.

“When I agreed to come back to UBS, we framed our engagement letter in a way to make sure that what happened previously under Credit Suisse could not happen again. And so, our engagement letter makes clear… that we’re entitled to all [relevant] documents.

“To give an example, when this dispute first arose, we gave a set of search terms to the bank, and those search terms were the names of the [Nazi-affiliated] individuals and entities that are referenced in my written testimony. We asked [UBS] to run them against a set of documents that the bank said might be privileged. And there were hits – there were positives. Those are the documents, some of the documents, that are being withheld. We need to have access to that information in order to finish the job.”

On UBS providing Congress an unredacted version of Barofsky’s final report:

Grassley: “Mr. Karofsky and Ms. Levi, it’s my understanding that once the investigative report is finished, the Senate may not have access to a version that names all Nazi-linked account holders… Will UBS commit to providing [the Senate] a report with unredacted names?”

Levi: “We are working with Mr. Barofsky to try to provide as many names as possible. There are limitations due to Swiss law. However, we don't want to protect any of those names, and we will put our best efforts to provide as many names as possible.”

On the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s efforts to hold Nazi-linked banks accountable:

Grassley: “Rabbi Cooper, as I mentioned in my opening, this Committee is aware of the legal action that UBS has taken against [the Simon Wiesenthal Center]. I want to thank you for being here. What are the three most important points you want the public to take away from this hearing?”

Cooper: “Number one… genocides can only take place when you have organization, industry, infrastructure, bureaucracy and access to banks. I think the work and the commitment of this Committee – I pray and hope – will help… make sure that no one involved in crimes against humanity… would ever be in a position to retain those blood-soaked assets.

“Secondly, we're talking about misleading history. The Swiss banks – despite their promises over a course of decades… have withheld the truth… We need to make sure there's going to be accountability. We have to deal with the facts as they are emerging and not just rely on institutional statements made decades ago.

“Finally… we need to create a repository for the important documentation that has emerged as a result of Mr. Barofsky's research and, I might add, the intervention on the part of President Milei of Argentina, who's opened up and unlocked millions of documents within Argentinian archives. We need a repository for all that information, so researchers, the media, young students [and] future generations can learn from the terrible errors of the past and not repeat them.”