Video: Blumenthal Raises Alarm Over Skyrocketing Cost of VA Community Care at Hearing

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – At a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing today, Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) stressed his concerns with the skyrocketing cost of community care, which is provided when the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is unable to deliver health care to veterans in an accessible or timely manner.

Blumenthal pressed VA Chief Financial Officer Richard Topping on the disproportionate funding increase for community care, relative to VA direct care: “Since 2019, the funding for the VA community care program has increased from $9 billion to more than $48 billion in the VA fiscal year 2026 request. That’s an increase of 530%. That’s a staggering increase, wouldn’t you agree?” When Topping agreed it was a significant increase, Blumenthal continued: “Over that same period, funding for VA direct care has increased by far less, about 200%...Why the disparity?”

Blumenthal asked Topping to explain why the rate of increase in spending on community care has far outpaced the rate of increase in the number of veterans served by community care. When Topping was unable to answer this question, Blumenthal replied: “…[W]e need to answer those types of questions. You don’t have answers right now. You say that the program isn’t designed to provide those kinds of answers, but anyone running a health care program would say we really ought to be answering those questions, wouldn’t you agree?”

Blumenthal also stressed the importance of ensuring VA holds community care providers to the same quality standards and training requirements as VA doctors: “Shouldn’t [community care providers] be absolutely required to meet the same standards of quality of training and efficiency and all of the criteria that a veteran going to a VA facility has a right to expect?”

In December, Blumenthal and his Democratic colleagues introduced the Honor Act—sweeping legislation to reform and improve VA health care that includes provisions requiring community care providers to meet the same training and quality standards required of VA providers.

The full text of Blumenthal’s opening is copied below and a video link is available here.

Senator Blumenthal: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to our witnesses for being here today and for your service to our country and to all the men and women who work with you, veterans among them, dedicated to the mission of providing gold standard health care to all of our veterans. We are here to discuss VA’s next generation of community care contracts, which will total about a trillion dollars. To be live, as I understand it, in 2027, which gives us time to assess what the needs are for community care on contracts that will be indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity. Which is kind of scary when you think of all the indefinites there and it emphasizes the need for strong oversight on the part of the Congress and the Inspector General of the VA. And we cannot really talk about community care without talking about its impacts on VA’s direct care budget. Because for many veterans care in VA facilities is veterans care and what they are seeing now is losses of staff through caps on workforce, the attrition of many of the skilled and dedicated men and women who have served, and the potential for lower quality if we take our eye off the ball of direct patient care through VA facilities.

My feeling is that the VA has to prioritize resources for expanding access to direct care by adding and expanding existing facilities, increasing staff to reduce wait times, and supporting the VA’s gap services such as telehealth, emergent, and urgent care capabilities. Community care is a critical component and a supplement to VA direct care. It is veterans’ care—community care is veterans’ care no question. But it cannot supplant VA direct care. For all the reasons that everybody here knows well it is the preference that veterans have to seek care directly at VA facilities, at least for many of them through VA providers. It matches or outperforms the quality of community care in many instances, and it is a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

So first and foremost, we need access to information. The Chairman and I submitted a letter to the Secretary, after his appearance here, with very specific requests for information that he promised to provide. There has been no response so far. We are hoping, or at least I will speak for myself, that that information will be forthcoming. It is essential to judgements that will be made about community care as well as about direct VA care. I would oppose a blank check for community care without real guardrails and establishing those guardrails depend on getting straight answers from the department that enable us to do basic oversight including the requests that we made on the record. I will just say Committee staff have not received a quarterly briefing as of yet from the Office of Integrated Veterans Care – the office overseeing VA’s community care system – and I am hopeful that we will see responsiveness on that score as well.

In short, information and communication must be a two-way street and not just with us but with veterans, they are the most important constituency here. And I know they expect straight answers, promptly, to questions that are raised in Committee hearings and also in the inquiries that we raise. So, again my thanks for being here today. And I am going to put that letter, Mr. Chairman is there is no objection, the letter that we did in the record.

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Booker Secures Over $100 Million in Funding for Vital New Jersey Projects in FY2026 Government Funding Bills

NEWARK, N.J. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced $123.2 million in federal funding for New Jersey programs he secured in the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding bills.

“I wake up every day fighting for the people of New Jersey, and one of the most important parts of my job is to bring as much federal money back into our communities as I possibly can in order to support vital programs across our state’s twenty-one counties,” said Senator Booker. “The over 100 million in federal dollars coming to New Jersey will bring critical investments to public infrastructure, help lower out of control costs, create jobs, grow local economies, improve healthcare, and protect families. I’m grateful to the organizations and local leaders whose partnership and dedication to their communities guarantees the continued success of our beloved state.”

In total, Senator Booker, working alongside members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, secured $123.2 million for 133 projects in cities and townships across New Jersey for FY2026.

Funding highlights include:

$7,875,000 for lead mitigation and lead pipe replacement projects across the New Jersey

$3,500,000 to the Borough of Carteret for the construction of municipal facilities

$3,200,000 for the City of Paterson to develop affordable housing

$1,000,000 for the Borough of Belmar to upgrade flood and storm resilience infrastructure

$1,000,000 for Rowan University to upgrade and research facilities and equipment

$1,750,000 for critical infrastructure projects in Cape May County, including the Cape May Water and Sewer Utility and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects

$500,000 to support vital infrastructure improvements to Burnham Park in the Town of Morristown

$1,177,000 to strengthen resources for New Jersey veterans, including mental health services and small business support programs

$2,768,000 to bolster state-wide education programs, including through campus upgrades, programming support, and after-school funding

The projects funded by the bill reflect a comprehensive approach to enhancing New Jerseyans’ quality of life, lowering costs, improving public safety, and empowering students, veterans, first responders, and entrepreneurs.


Booker Statement on Recent Israeli Security Cabinet Decision to Expand Control Over the West Bank

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement:

“Both those who support and oppose Sunday's decision by the Israeli Security Cabinet recognize it for what it is – a green light for unilateral annexation of the West Bank. This decision violates the Oslo Accords, threatens Israel’s security, and inflames already high tensions while undermining regional normalization efforts, including the Abraham Accords.

“In addition to being at odds with Trump’s 20-point plan, this decision creates a concerning pretense for administrative steps that will create new facts on the ground and push peace further out of reach. The announced policy must be reversed to protect Israel’s existence as a democratic Jewish state and to ensure the Palestinian people’s right to freedom, self-determination, and a viable state of their own.”


Boozman, Barrasso Introduce the No Climate Treaties Act

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) and 22 senators in introducing the No Climate Treaties Act. The legislation, which was introduced on the same week the United States officially withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, would mandate U.S. Senate approval for the United States to join or rejoin any international climate agreement.

The bill requires any such climate agreement, including the Paris Agreement, to be considered a treaty requiring a two-thirds vote in the Senate according to Article II of the Constitution. It would also restrict the use of federal funds to implement or comply with any international climate agreement that has not secured Senate approval.

“Arkansas families should not have to foot the bill for expansive international climate agreements that more often than not raise their costs and penalize our entire economy,” said Boozman. “Requiring consent from the Senate ensures we can protect Americans’ interests, and I am pleased to join Senator Barrasso and my colleagues on this commonsense measure that demonstrates faithfulness to our Constitution.”

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

When the United States initially withdrew from the Paris Agreement in 2017, Boozman issued a statement of support for the president’s decision, emphasizing the importance of requiring Senate advice and consent.

The No Climate Treaties Act is cosponsored by Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ashley Moody (R-FL), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Kennedy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), James Risch (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Rand Paul (R-KY).


Budd, Cassidy Lead Push to Streamline Access to Employer-Directed Skills Programs, Strengthen America’s Workforce

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reintroduced the Employer-Directed Skills Acttoday to revitalize America’s workforce by streamlining businesses’ access to skills programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This legislation would give American businesses the opportunity to identify prospective employees to participate in training programs and select or design the training program that best meets their needs, while accessing WIOA funds to offset training costs.

“The stability of America’s workforce depends upon investing in a modern approach to employee development, but outdated rules and red tape in the workforce system discourage businesses from accessing federal resources to close the skills gap to fill in-demand jobs. As companies continue to innovate, we cannot afford to delay providing our workforce with the necessary training to compete in today’s rapidly changing economy. The Employer-Directed Skills Act would unlock access for American businesses to take advantage of valuable skills development programs to recruit and retain qualified personnel to strengthen our workforce,” said Senator Budd.

“Washington bureaucrats need to stop blocking good job opportunities. This bill cuts red tape and empowers workers with skills to succeed in a 21st century economy,” said Dr. Cassidy.

“Our members consistently tell us that attracting and retaining skilled workers is their top priority. The Employer Directed Skills Act addresses this challenge by making WIOA funds more accessible, flexible, and effective for employers and workers alike. We are immensely grateful to Senator Budd and his team for their work on this bill and their commitment to strengthening and modernizing the skilled trades workforce,” said Barton James, President and CEO, Air Conditioning Contractors of America.

“The labor shortage in our industry continues to be a major barrier to growth and meeting customer demand. We’re encouraged to see legislation like the Employer-Directed Skills Act taking meaningful steps to connect education and workforce training directly with employer needs. At USA Flooring and through the Floor Covering Education Foundation, we’re committed to developing skilled talent and supporting good-paying careers in flooring and construction across North Carolina. This bill represents an important collaboration between policymakers, employers, and workforce organizations, and we’re proud to support these efforts,” said Kris Lloyd, President, USA Flooring.

“The Floor Covering Education Foundation strongly supports the Employer-Directed Skills Act and its focus on empowering employers to play a direct role in workforce training and skills development. This legislation recognizes what industries like flooring have long known—employers are best positioned to identify skill needs and invest in training that leads directly to employment. By reducing barriers and encouraging employer-led partnerships, the Employer-Directed Skills Act strengthens career pathways, supports job seekers, and helps build a more responsive and sustainable workforce. FCEF is proud to support policies that align education, industry demand, and long-term career success,” said Kaye Whitener, Executive Director, Floor Covering Education Foundation.

“We thank Senator Budd for reintroducing the Employer-Directed Skills Act, demonstrating his commitment to ensuring jobseekers have a pathway to sustained work in high-demand job fields such as plumbing and HVAC. The Employer-Directed Skills Act enhances WIOA by allowing employers such as plumbing and HVAC contractors to assess jobseekers under WIOA to ensure they command the skillsets needed to succeed in the workforce. The plumbing and HVAC contractors of the PHCC in North Carolina and across the country are grateful for Senator Budd’s recognition of the value employers can provide in skills assessment to make the WIOA process more efficient and effective,” said Jason Pritchard, President, PHCC National Association, and Chris Wilson, President, PHCC of North Carolina.

“The Skills First Coalition welcomes the introduction of the Employer-Directed Skills Act. This is a critical step in realigning the nation’s public workforce system to work more closely with employers, prioritize high-quality work-based learning and on-the-job training programs, and prepare Americans for in-demand jobs. We encourage the Senate to incorporate this critical bill as part of any WIOA modernization legislation advancing this year,” said Rosemary Lahasky, Co-Chair, Skills First Coalition, and Josh Connolly, Co-Chair, Skills First Coalition.

The Employer-Directed Skills Act is endorsed by Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), Floor Covering Education Foundation, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of North Carolina, and the Skills First Coalition.

Read the full bill text HERE.

BACKGROUND

Under WIOA, too few unemployed Americans have access to the training they need to build skills necessary to meet the demands of today’s workforce. This failure holds back workers eager to succeed and employers ready to hire.

The Employer-Directed Skills Act specifically would:

Allow employers to identify prospective employees to participate in skills development programs selected by the employer;

Provide partial reimbursements to employers for the costs of employer-directed skills development programs;

Establish performance indicators to ensure trainees receive high-quality instruction and are well-prepared for employment;

Encourage local workforce development boards to connect with employers that offer employer-directed skills development programs.

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Budd, Kim Lead Bipartisan Federal Banking Reform Effort to Cut Red Tape Limiting Community Banks

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), John Kennedy (R-La.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) are introducing the Tailored Regulatory Updates for Supervisory Testing (TRUST) Act today, which would increase the examination threshold for well-managed institutions from $3 billion to $6 billion in total assets to qualify for an extended 18-month exam cycle. This bipartisan reform targets regulatory bottlenecks that subject low-risk community banks to unnecessarily frequent exams by federal banking regulators, diverting resources from serving their communities. Additionally, the TRUST Act would instead free up federal banking regulators to focus on riskier or larger institutions and increase efficiency.

“The federal regulatory threshold for well-managed institutions has failed to keep up with inflation, industry consolidation, and modern risk management practices, and as a result has sacrificed both the resources and efficiency of our community banks. Increasing the statutory 18-month exam cycle asset threshold for community banks would free these small, low-risk institutions to do what they do best—provide financial resources to their communities, such as lending more to small businesses and offering more mortgages and private loans. The TRUST Act delivers responsible regulatory reforms that cut unnecessary red tape and modernize federal bank supervision,” said Senator Budd.

“For rural and small towns left behind in bank deserts like we have in South Jersey, community banks are a game changer – driving economic and community development and supporting our small businesses and entire local economies. By uplifting the promise of community banking in this legislation, we give working families greater flexibility and help unlock paths to buying a home, new jobs, and the greater economic stability they deserve,” said Senator Kim.

“Because Washington rules haven’t kept up with inflation, many community banks are tied up in unnecessarily frequent examinations. That isn’t right. Our TRUST Act would update the law to free many community banks from a pointlessly high regulatory burden and let the government use taxpayer money more efficiently,” said Senator Kennedy.

“Our local businesses, homebuyers, and farmers depend on community banks to get the capital they need. Maintaining rigorous oversight while modernizing the exam process allows well-managed, low-risk institutions to grow responsibly and continue investing in the communities they serve. I’m proud to join this bipartisan, commonsense legislation,” said Senator Alsobrooks.

U.S. Representatives Tim Moore (R-N.C.-14) and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.-15) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Community banks and credit unions are essential to the success of our local economies as they’re the place where folks turn when they need help buying a home or starting a business. Local financial institutions shouldn’t be hindered by one-size-fits-all regulations that treat them like major banking corporations. I’m proud to work with Senator Budd on the TRUST Act to ensure these banks have the flexibility to focus on serving hardworking families and building new opportunities for economic growth,” said Representative Moore.

“Community banks play an essential role in expanding access to capital, supporting small businesses, and strengthening local economies, especially in communities like the Bronx where neighborhood institutions are often the first stop for entrepreneurs, homeowners, and working families. The TRUST Act is a commonsense, bipartisan update that allows regulators to focus their attention where the risk is greatest while giving well-managed institutions more room to serve their customers. By modernizing outdated thresholds without compromising safety and soundness, we can make oversight more effective and ensure our financial system works for communities like NY-15 that depend on strong, local banking relationships to grow and thrive,” said Representative Torres.

The TRUST Act is endorsed by the American Bankers Association (ABA), the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), the American Fintech Council (AFC), and the North Carolina Bankers Association (NCBA).

Read the full bill text HERE.

BACKGROUND

Federal banking regulators are required to conduct on-site examinations of insured depository institutions to ensure safety and soundness and compliance with the law. Currently, only institutions with total assets of less than $3 billion can qualify for an 18-month examination cycle if they are deemed ‘well-managed’ and meet certain criteria. This threshold, however, has not kept pace with inflation, industry consolidation, or modern risk management practices.

The TRUST Act, more specifically:

Updates Threshold – Increases the threshold for well-managed institutions to qualify for an extended 18-month examination cycle from $3 billion to $6 billion in total assets.

Safety and Soundness – Maintains all existing safety and soundness requirements, ensuring only qualifying, well-capitalized, and well-managed banks benefit from the extension.

Right-sizes Examiner Capacity – Frees up examiner resources to focus on riskier or larger institutions without weakening oversight of smaller banks.

Conforms FDIC Act – Further aligns the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with the intent of the bill and provides greater flexibility to the FDIC.

The TRUST Act passed with unanimous bipartisan support out of the House Financial Services Committee (48-0) and was included in the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this week, Monday, February 9, 2026.

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ICYMI: Budd’s TRUST Act Gains Strong Support Across Leading Bank Trade Groups

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd’s (R-N.C.) bipartisan Tailored Regulatory Updates for Supervisory Testing (TRUST) Act, aimed at increasing the examination threshold for well-managed institutions from $3 billion to $6 billion in total assets to qualify for an extended 18-month exam cycle. The TRUST Act would allow qualifying community banks to focus more on providing financial resources to Main Street, such as small-business lending and home mortgages. This landmark legislation has gained widespread support across major banking associations:

“We thank Sen. Budd and Sen. Kim for introducing the TRUST Act and appreciate their leadership on this important issue. This legislation will help ensure bank regulations remain right-sized and that the examination process is appropriately tailored for community banks. We look forward to working with members of Congress and other stakeholders to move this commonsense bill forward as we continue our efforts to ensure statutory asset thresholds are indexed for growth so they remain relevant and effective over time,” said Rob Nichols, President and CEO, American Bankers Association (ABA).

“ICBA and the nation’s community bankers strongly support the Tailored Regulatory Updates for Supervisory Testing (TRUST) Act and thank Sens. Budd and Kim for introducing this critical legislation in the Senate. Raising the 18-month examination cycle asset threshold from $3 billion to $6 billion will help address needlessly excessive regulatory burdens on community banks. Following House passage of this policy on a 390-9 vote as part of bipartisan housing affordability legislation, we encourage the Senate to advance this common-sense reform,” said Rebeca Romero Rainey, President and CEO, Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).

“The introduction of a bipartisan Senate companion to the TRUST Act is an important step toward modernizing bank supervision in a way that reflects today’s financial landscape. We commend Senator Budd and the bill’s bipartisan sponsors for their leadership in advancing a thoughtful, targeted approach to regulatory modernization. By updating the asset threshold for extended examination cycles, the TRUST Act preserves strong safety and soundness standards while reducing unnecessary regulatory friction for well-managed community banks, allowing them to focus resources on serving customers, supporting local economies, and partnering responsibly to expand access to safe, affordable financial services,” said Phil Goldfeder, CEO, American Fintech Council (AFC).

Read more about the TRUST Act HERE.

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Capito Secures CDS Award for the Village of Barboursville

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environmental and Public Works (EPW) Committee and a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for wastewater system upgrades and the decommissioning of a wastewater treatment lagoon in the Village of Barboursville in Cabell County, W.Va.

This award, which was secured through a CDS request made by Chairman Capito in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), will be used to upgrade the existing wastewater system and also fund the decommissioning of a wastewater treatment lagoon.

“As Cabell County and Barboursville continue to grow, the need for upgrades to water infrastructure is crucial. Securing funding from the EPA is one step in the process of directing resources to those that need it most,” Senator Capito said. “As chairman of the Environmental and Public Works Committee and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am proud to utilize the CDS process to direct federal resources to projects that meet real needs in our communities and deliver long-term benefits for West Virginians.”

Individual award details listed below:


ICYMI: VIDEO: Capito Participates in Hearing on Broadband Deployment Funding

To watch Senator Capito’s remarks, click here or on the image above.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined a Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing examining broadband deployment funding at the Department of Commerce.

During the hearing, Senator Capito asked Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick about whether states would be able to use remaining funds from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program for projects that support state’s deployment plans. Senator Capito also discussed how the higher cost of permitting is impacting deployment of broadband and how redeployment funds can be used to subside those costs.

In November 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) approved West Virginia’s Final Proposal for the BEAD program. This program, which Senator Capito has been a staunch supporter of, provides resources to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, deployment and workforce programs.

HIGHLIGHTS:

ON THE HIGHER COST OF DEPLOYMENT: “I think one of the things you're going to hear repeatedly is the higher cost of permitting, obviously, to permit some of the deployment of the broadband. Many states and ours included, are, and this is a political battle that I don't need to get into from this, from this position, is the cost of attaching to the poles with your utilities. It's, it's state by state in some cases, and hasn't been settled. So I think the redeployment funds as the price of permitting goes up and some of the costs go up, and the cost of pole attachments, I think, is something that you're probably going to hear tomorrow.”

ON THE POTENTIAL FOR DEFAULTS:

Senator Capito: “If we have some small ISPs, or maybe it's the satellite providers decide that they just can't do what they've committed to do. And if I understand what you said, that you are going to be looking at this so that we can have a reuse kind of so that we can reach those locations, and our state's going to be able to look at a rebid on that. Is that what you're saying.”

Secretary Lutnick: “We have seen providers try to bully the states with riders that are outside of our guideline” “They will not be accepted.” “So therefore, if a provider cannot live up to their promise to you, we will work together. You will replace that provider, and we will make sure you can do that.”


Cassidy Introduces Bill to Close Customs Loophole, Strengthen American Manufacturers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Last Sale Valuation Act to close a decades-old customs loophole that allows importers to underpay duties, undercut American manufacturers, and put U.S. workers at a competitive disadvantage. Specifically, this bill prevents importers that exploit complex overseas transaction chains from gaming the system, strengthens U.S. supply-chain integrity, and gives U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) clearer tools to stop fraud and money laundering.

“In America, we celebrate hard work—not exploiting the system,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This bill protects Louisiana workers and American businesses, ensuring loopholes don’t hold them back.”

“President Trump imposed historic tariffs to re-shore our industrial base and defend America’s economic and national security. Yet sophisticated global supply chains — aided by K Street law firms openly marketing ‘tariff mitigation’ services — are exploiting the First Sale rule to artificially lower declared customs values and erode the effectiveness of those tariffs,” said Peter Navarro, Senior White House Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing. “Chairman Mike Crapo and Ranking Member Ron Wyden on the Senate Finance Committee, along with Chairman Jason Smith and Ranking Member Richard Neal on the House Ways and Means Committee, now have the opportunity to move swiftly and on a bipartisan basis to slam shut a structural loophole that drains U.S. tariff revenue, weakens the incentive to invest in American factories, and ultimately costs American jobs.”

The Last Sale Valuation Act is endorsed by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, American Compass, and the Coalition for a Prosperous America.

“The first sale rule weakens President Trump’s trade policy by artificially lowering tariffs. It forces U.S. Customs and Border Protection to spend huge amounts of time and money policing fraudulent supply chains,” said Blake Price, Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “This bill would allow CBP to focus instead on stopping unsafe products and goods made with forced, slave, or child labor from entering the U.S. market.”

“Sen. Cassidy’s ‘Last Sale Valuation Act’ strengthens customs valuation by assessing duties on the final transaction value of goods entering the United States. By closing the judicially created “first sale” loophole, this legislation will reduce opportunities for tariff evasion and money laundering, simplify enforcement of our trade laws, increase customs revenue, and help level the playing field for American workers and manufacturers,” said Mark A. DiPlacido, Senior Political Economist, American Compass.

“CPA strongly supports Senator Cassidy’s Last Sale Valuation Act because it closes a long-standing loophole that has allowed multinational importers to artificially understate the value of goods entering the United States,” said Jon Toomey, President of the Coalition for a Prosperous America. “Our customs valuation laws have been gutted six ways to Sunday over many decades. This bill, closing the infamous court-created ‘First Sale’ rule, is an important first step in restoring customs integrity. By ensuring duties are paid on the true commercial value of imported goods, this legislation strengthens trade enforcement, protects federal revenue, and levels the playing field for American manufacturers and workers.”

The Last Sale Valuation Act would:

Ensure that importers pay duties based on the true commercial value of imported goods, rather than artificially low declared values;

Streamline CBP operations by simplifying valuation reviews, reducing the volume of ruling requests, and minimizing disputes over documentation and transactional authenticity;

Enhance trade transparency by limiting opportunities for mis-invoicing and related-party pricing schemes used to conceal illicit financial activity;

Ensure reciprocal treatment, protecting U.S. jobs, and leveling the playing field for compliant American importers and manufacturers.

Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in introducing the legislation.

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Cornyn Leads GOP Colleagues in Calling on DOJ to Recoup Fraudulent Obamacare Subsidy Payments

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) led 14 of his Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Division Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate calling on the Department to investigate and pursue civil remedies to recover Obamacare subsidy payments made during the Biden administration to insurance companies due to fraudulent, unauthorized, or improper enrollment in insurance plans at the expense of American taxpayers:

They wrote: “President Biden’s expansion of ACA subsidies in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act allowed $0 premiums in silver plans on the ACA marketplace, emboldening certain brokers and agents who sought to profit from enrolling as many consumers as possible onto ACA insurance plans, even without consumer consent.”

“While I am encouraged by the DOJ’s recent criminal convictions of certain brokers and agents in connection with fraudulent enrollment schemes, the federal government has a duty to ensure that the associated ACA marketplace subsidies paid directly to insurance companies are properly recouped.”

“I urge you to evaluate civil remedies to recover ACA subsidy payments made to insurance companies due to waste, fraud, and abuse. Americans deserve to know that their taxpayer dollars are not being spent in furtherance of fraudulent ACA marketplace enrollment schemes.”

Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), John Kennedy (R-LA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), John Boozman (R-AR), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jon Husted (R-OH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and John Hoeven (R-ND) joined the letter.

The letter can be found here and below.

February 11, 2026

The Honorable Brett A. Shumate

Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

Dear Assistant Attorney General Shumate:

I am writing to encourage the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate and pursue civil remedies to recover Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace subsidies paid to insurance companies due to fraudulent, unauthorized, or improper enrollment in insurance plans. When an improper enrollment occurs due to fraudulent broker or agent activity, the broker or agent receives a commission from the insurance company, and the insurer receives a direct ACA subsidy payment from the federal government. As a result, every improper enrollment directly harms the American taxpayer.

As you are aware, President Biden’s expansion of ACA subsidies in 2021 under the American Rescue Plan Act allowed $0 premiums in silver plans on the ACA marketplace, emboldening certain brokers and agents who sought to profit from enrolling as many consumers as possible onto ACA insurance plans, even without consumer consent. In fact, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) received approximately 275,000 complaints between January and August 2024 that consumers were enrolled in a plan or had their plans changed without their consent.

While I am encouraged by the DOJ’s recent criminal convictions of certain brokers and agents in connection with fraudulent enrollment schemes, the federal government has a duty to ensure that the associated ACA marketplace subsidies paid directly to insurance companies are properly recouped. In April 2025, a Florida executive pled guilty to submitting fraudulent applications to enroll consumers in fully-subsidized ACA insurance plans, costing the federal government at least $133.9 million in fraudulent subsidies paid to insurers. Then, in November 2025, a president of a brokerage firm and a marketing company executive were convicted in a $233 million, years-long, fully-subsidized ACA marketplace insurance plan fraudulent enrollment scheme. Under this scheme, the federal government paid at least $180 million in subsidy payments directly to insurers.

At the end of last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published its preliminary report on its review of ACA marketplace subsidy fraud, concluding that significant fraud risks persist. In the report, the ACA marketplace approved all of GAO’s fictitious applicants in plan year 2024 and 18 of its 20 fictitious applicants in plan year 2025. Additionally, GAO identified risks related to potential misuse of social security numbers and unauthorized enrollments. Most concerning, GAO could not identify evidence of reconciliation for over $21 billion in ACA marketplace subsidies in tax year 2023.

I’m encouraged by the reconstitution of the HHS-DOJ False Claims Act Working Group, which shows this administration’s commitment to combat healthcare fraud and to restore integrity to the federal healthcare system. The DOJ has a responsibility to ensure taxpayer funds are not misused and to enforce federal civil fraud remedies, when necessary. Accordingly, I request the following information:

Following criminal convictions for ACA fraudulent enrollments, what current mechanisms exist for the DOJ to pursue recovery of federal funds paid to insurance companies that were tied to fraudulent ACA marketplace enrollments?

Is the DOJ currently pursuing or considering pursuing False Claims Act or unjust enrichment cases against insurance companies to recover the improper ACA subsidy payments paid to insurers?

If not, what other remedies are available to recover the improper ACA subsidy funds paid to insurers?

Since April 1, 2021, when enhanced ACA tax subsidies under the American Rescue Plan Act went into effect, how many civil matters has DOJ opened relating to:

fraudulent or unauthorized ACA marketplace enrollments;

subsidy-eligibility misrepresentations; or

identity misrepresentations.

I urge you to evaluate civil remedies to recover ACA subsidy payments made to insurance companies due to waste, fraud, and abuse. Americans deserve to know that their taxpayer dollars are not being spent in furtherance of fraudulent ACA marketplace enrollment schemes.

Sincerely,

/s/


PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with Texas Association of Community College Leaders

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met with Texas Association of Community College trustees and Texas students to discuss improving workforce readiness, supporting Pell Grants, and preparing Texans to compete in high-demand, high-skill industries throughout the Lone Star State. Sen. Cornyn also highlighted the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which included several key provisions to make higher education more accessible and affordable by establishing the Workforce Pell Grant program to extend eligibility for students in short-term programs, expanding 529 Education Savings Accounts, and creating a new school choice tax credit. See photo below.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353

February 11, 2026

Cotton Introduces Bill to Lower Arkansas Energy Prices

Washington, DC — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) today introduced legislation that would reduce energy prices for Americans. The Ratepayer Affordability and Transparency in Energy (RATE) Act promotes grid reliability by preventing states from mandating renewables that drive up electricity costs.

“State requirements for less reliable, renewable energy sources, shouldn’t lead to higher energy costs for Arkansans. My bill would ensure those mandates don’t impact energy prices,” said Senator Cotton.

“Americans voted to make energy affordable, accessible, and reliable again. The RATE Act is a commonsense bill to strengthen our grid and lower costs for hardworking families across the country,” said Senator Sheehy.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The Ratepayer Affordability and Transparency in Energy Act would:

Safeguard grid reliability by preempting state climate mandates, including renewable portfolio standards, that obstruct or distort infrastructure planning, and inflate electricity costs.

Ensure Americans pay the least cost available for their electricity.

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Cramer, King Introduce Bill to Ensure Parity in Veterans’ Education Benefits

Legislation Protects Job Training Benefits for Disabled Veterans

***Click here for audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – American veterans have been shortchanged by bureaucratic red tape, often losing out on the full education benefits they earned through honorable service. At the heart of the problem is the “48-month rule,” which caps the total amount of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits a veteran can receive even if they qualify for multiple programs.

The VA also administers Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits to help veterans with service-connected disabilities get job training, education, and support to reenter the workforce. However, veterans who use their GI Bill before enrolling in VR&E may have their VR&E education benefits reduced or delayed, because the total months of entitlement under the VA’s 48-month limit are counted across both programs. Veterans who use VR&E first face no such penalty. The result is an unfair, two-tiered system which hits disabled veterans the hardest and creates barriers to the support they earned.

To fix this, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would let veterans access their full education benefits regardless of the order in which they use them. The bill also reduces administrative costs by eliminating the need for exemptions, making it a win for veterans and taxpayers alike.

“Our veterans, as we know, give so much in service to our country and we owe them so much,” said Cramer. “For those who choose to continue their education, the system should be fair and flexible. That’s all we’re asking. No veteran should lose opportunities or benefits simply because of an arbitrary sequencing requirement. Only a bureaucrat could come up with something like that. Our bill corrects the oversight to ensure that all veterans can use their earned benefits in a way that works best for them.”

“Our veterans served this country with grit and class, and now it is our turn to return the favor and provide commonsense access to the benefits they have rightly earned and deserve,” said King. “The Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act will help veterans access their benefits more efficiently – ensuring all veterans with disabilities can pursue their education without becoming tangled in red tape. This simple fix will make it easier for veterans to access benefits they have earned, making sure they can learn the skills they need to transition to the next phase in their life, beyond the military.”

Specifically, the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code to remove VR&E from the combined benefit limitation, while preserving VR&E’s existing 48-month cap and the VA’s authority to grant extensions when medically or vocationally necessary.

The Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act is supported by several organizations, including American Veterans (AMVETS), Veterans for Foreign Wars, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

"AMVETS strongly supports the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which repeals an outdated limitation that prevents veterans from accessing both the VA’s Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program and educational assistance benefits,” said AMVETS National Executive Director Joe Chenelly. “Disabled veterans should never be forced to choose between rehabilitation and education when both are critical to achieving meaningful, long-term employment.”


WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today introduced the “Expanded Telehealth Access Act,” which increases health care access by expanding the types of health care practitioners who may provide telehealth services under Medicare to include audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists, among others.

“Many Montanans depend on telehealth services to access critical, especially in rural communities where patients and families would otherwise have to drive long distances or face unpredictable weather conditions to receive care. This bipartisan bill will increase access to telehealth services and help ensure patients receive the care they deserve,” said Daines.

“Telehealth serves as a vital lifeline for many patients who would otherwise not be able to access the health care that they need. This is especially important for Minnesotans living in rural areas and small towns, where many healthcare services are difficult, if not impossible, to reach. This bill ensures patients will have access to the health care they need without having to jump through administrative hoops,”said Smith.

Read the bill text HERE.

Background:

Expanding telehealth is a priority for Daines- he has introduced this legislation the past two Congresses. Daines also introduced the Telehealth Expansion Act, which permanently allows first-dollar coverage of telehealth under High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs). The bill was signed into law by President Trump as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

Statements of Support:

“The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association applauds Senators Daines and Smith for introducing this critical bill. Their longstanding leadership has built broad bipartisan support for adding audiologists and speech-language pathologists as permanent Medicare telehealth providers and for ensuring the inclusion of these professionals in previous telehealth extensions—maintaining seniors’ access to essential services in the areas of hearing, balance, speech, language, swallowing, and cognition. ASHA looks forward to partnering with them to pass this bill as soon as possible.” – ASHA 2026 President Linda I. Rosa-Lugo, EdD, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow

“The use of telehealth in recent years has ensured patient access to physical therapy services and provided therapy clinics an effective option for treating patients. It has highlighted just how valuable telehealth is for patients who need alternative access to therapy. It is critical that Congress make this option permanent for Medicare patients in need of physical therapy. We applaud Senators Daines and Smith for their leadership on this important bipartisan legislation.”— APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD

“Current telehealth waivers have reduced barriers to care, ensuring seniors can access timely and medically necessary occupational therapy services at home. AOTA thanks Senators Steve Daines and Tina Smith for their bipartisan leadership on this legislation. We urge Congress to take action so that occupational therapy practitioners are made permanent Medicare telehealth providers–ensuring patients can continue to receive the essential care they need.” – AOTA Chief Executive Officer Katie Jordan, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, FAOTA.

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U.S. Military Leaders Agree with Duckworth: Expanding TRICARE Coverage of IVF Would Benefit Servicemembers and Strengthen Military

Despite Trump’s campaign promise to make IVF free, he has done nothing to prevent Speaker Johnson from removing Duckworth’s legislation to expand access multiple times after bipartisan majorities passed it

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today secured support from senior enlisted leaders of the Department of Defense (DoD) that in-vitro fertilization (IVF) coverage for servicemembers and their families, which is currently available only in very limited circumstances, would strengthen our military and benefit our troops. This comes after Donald Trump—who promised to make IVF free for all Americans—did nothing to stop Speaker Mike Johnson from single-handedly killing her provision in the National Defense Authorization Act last December, despite wide bipartisan majorities voting to include IVF coverage for troops in both the House and the Senate versions of the bill. Video of the Senator’s remarks at today’s U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing can be found here.

“Trump claimed on the campaign trail that he’d make IVF free for all Americans, yet stood aside when Speaker Johnson personally stripped IVF coverage away from our troops at the last minute this past December,” said Duckworth. “Even our top military leaders agree that providing IVF would help our mission—because it would prevent our troops from having to choose between continuing service and building a family. It’s time the Commander-in-Chief makes good on his promise for our nation’s brave servicemembers and works with me to help them achieve their dreams of having a family. It is the bare minimum that we provide them with the same access to IVF coverage that Members of Congress enjoy.”

Throughout her time in the Senate, Duckworth has made protecting reproductive freedom and expanding access to assisted reproductive technology, including IVF, a top priority. Last year, she introduced the IVF for Military Families Act, bicameral legislation that would require TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including IVF, for active-duty servicemembers and their families. Duckworth also introduced the Protect IVF Act to establish a nationwide right to IVF.

In 2024, she led the push to pass her Right to IVF Act—which Senate Republicans blocked not once, but twice, that would both establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees, as well as lower the costs of IVF for middle-class families across the country.

Duckworth was the first Senator to give birth while serving in office and had both of her children with the help of IVF. In 2018, she advocated for the Senate to change its rules so she could bring her infant onto the Senate floor.

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Durbin Commends Ruling That Upholds The Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act

The ruling is consistent with a Durbin amicus brief that was filed in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois laying out the structure of the Durbin Amendment, which aligns with IFPA

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act and the Durbin Amendment, released the following statement after a federal judge ruled against the banks in Illinois Bankers Association v. Raoul, a lawsuit brought by the banks to prevent the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) from taking effect. In the ruling, Chief Judge Virginia Kendall agreed with the arguments in the amicus brief filed by Durbin, which lays out the structure of the so-called Durbin Amendment, which aligns with IFPA.

Durbin’s amicus brief describes how IFPA is consistent with the Durbin Amendment’s intent. The Durbin Amendment created a ceiling—not a uniform standard—for debit interchange fees that card networks like Visa and Mastercard were facilitating on behalf of financial institutions that issued their network-branded cards. By imposing such constraints, the Durbin Amendment sought to reduce the billions of dollars per year in excessive debit interchange fees that were being charged to merchants, and which were borne ultimately by consumers in the form of higher retail prices.

“Yesterday’s ruling was a win for merchants and consumers who are trying to make ends meet as the biggest Wall Street banks, Visa, and Mastercard are lining their pockets by charging outrageous swipe fees on each credit card transaction. I’m also pleased that, after 16 years, the Durbin Amendment was interpreted correctly in the ruling. Both IFPA and the Durbin Amendment’s purpose is to rein in centrally-fixed debit interchange fees that had been insulated from competitive market forces and resulted in excessively high fees that burdened merchants and consumers.”

In Congress, Durbin has made it a priority to protect consumers. Durbin’s Credit Card Competition Act would direct the Federal Reserve to ensure that the largest credit card-issuing banks offer a choice of at least two networks over which an electronic credit transaction may be processed. Today, Visa and Mastercard control about 85 percent of the credit card market and refuse to negotiate fair terms with Main Street merchants. Currently, the average American family pays nearly $1,200 per year in swipe fees, while banks profit $111.2 billion annually from swipe fees.

The legislation, co-led by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), was reintroduced last month, and President Trump has endorsed the legislation.

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Durbin Meets With Rural Health Care Providers After Congressional Republicans Slash Funding For Medicaid, Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), who presented him with their Rural Health Legacy Award for his dedication to protecting access to health care in rural communities. During today’s meeting, Durbin spoke with the health care leaders about providing care to Illinoisans after congressional Republicans rammed through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and $300 billion from Affordable Care Act coverage over the next decade. Following the passage of OBBBA, Durbin sent a letter to every hospital in Illinois to survey the projected impact on hospitals. Across the 129 responses Durbin received, hospitals across Illinois, especially those in rural areas, detailed fears about pending cuts to services and staff while emergency room wait times increase.

In response to rural hospitals’ concerns about potential cuts or forced closures, Durbin has advanced his bipartisan Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act. The legislation would update Medicare’s “Critical Access Hospital” (CAH) designation so more rural hospitals can qualify for this financial lifeline and continue to serve their communities with quality, affordable health care services. Small and rural hospitals are the backbone of their communities, and often the largest employers, contributing nearly $5 billion in direct spending on payroll, goods, and services in Illinois. Yet due to funding cuts passed by Congressional Republicans, more than 300 hospitals are facing immediate closure risk.

Durbin also discussed his support for fortifying the health care workforce, which is facing dangerous shortages. In 2021, Durbin secured $1 billion in the American Rescue Plan for scholarship and loan repayment awards through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and Nurse Corps to build a more diverse pipeline of clinicians and recruit more health providers to serve in shortage areas. Further, Durbin has secured $480 million for NHSC for Fiscal Year 2026.

“Republicans’ drastic cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act will do irreparable damage to Illinois’ health care landscape. Today, I spoke with hospital leaders about the future of care in rural Illinois and how, with fewer resources, these hospitals and clinics can continue to provide quality, affordable care to patients,” Durbin said.

A photo of Durbin’s meeting with the National Rural Health Association is available here.

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Durbin, Reed, Doggett Introduce Bill To Stop Tax-Dodging Corporate Inversion Schemes

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), along with U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), today introduced the Stop Corporate Inversions Act, a bill to stop business practices known as inversions—corporate deals that allow U.S. companies to shift their corporate citizenship from the United States to a low-tax foreign jurisdiction, while keeping their executives and headquarters in the United States. This is accomplished by merging with a foreign company that can be as little as one-fifth of the size of the U.S. corporation and results in large and permanent tax breaks. Unlike other tax loopholes that can be closed on a year-to-year basis, a tax inversion is a permanent change in a corporation’s structure.

The bill would close the tax loophole that allows U.S. companies to acquire smaller foreign companies and move their tax home to a foreign jurisdiction as part of the overall transaction to avoid paying U.S. taxes.

“Corporate inversions allow American companies to dodge their fair share of taxes. These companies reap the rewards of America but deliberately scheme their way out of paying taxes. It’s about time we close this loophole permanently to ensure American families and small businesses aren’t left behind,” Durbin said.

“Giant corporations should not be allowed to skirt the tax code and avoid paying their fair share. This bill would eliminate glaring corporate inversion loopholes and prioritize Main Street businesses over the wealthiest corporations,” said Reed.

“We must close the tax loopholes — including an ability to evade taxation by renouncing US citizenship — that let American multinationals escape paying their fair share of our country’s national security, highways and other public services,” said Doggett. “Trump’s Tax Scam 1.0 drove the effective tax rate on U.S. multinationals down to an average of just 7.8 percent, and his ‘Big Ugly Bill’ cut rates even further. If companies want the benefits of doing business in America, they should pay taxes in America — not game the system and run for the exit.”

Along with Durbin and Reed, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are cosponsors of the Stop Corporate Inversions Act.

Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2026

Congress enacted Section 7874 of the Internal Revenue Code in 2004 to discourage U.S. companies from acquiring smaller foreign companies and moving their tax home to a foreign jurisdiction as part of the overall transaction.

Since the provision was enacted in 2004, more than 35 U.S. corporations have inverted, many by acquiring a smaller foreign company to avoid Section 7874. The Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2026 would close this loophole, leveling the playing field between large multinational corporations that seek to avoid taxes and responsible domestic businesses that pay their fair share:

The bill would treat a combined foreign corporation as a domestic corporation under two circumstances – (1) if the shareholders of the former U.S. corporation own more than 50 percent of the new combined foreign corporation, or (2) if the affiliated group that includes the combined foreign corporation is managed and controlled in the United States and engages in significant domestic business activities in the United States.

The bill would repeal the 60 and 80 percent ownership tests as well as the inversion gain applicable under such circumstances.

The bill would maintain the foreign substantial business exception under Section 7874 by exempting the affiliated group if it has substantial business activities in the foreign country where the new combined corporation is incorporated.

This legislation is endorsed by: Oxfam America, Public Citizen, Americans for Tax Fairness, and The FACT Coalition.

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Durbin Sounds The Alarm On President Trump’s Threats To Election Integrity

Durbin: The President’s aims are clear. He wants to make the case for the ‘Big Lie’ that the 2020 election was stolen from him so he can assuage his fragile ego and justify directly interfering in the 2026 and 2028 elections.

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sounded the alarm on the Trump Administration’s threats to election integrity. Durbin began his remarks by commenting on the Administration’s outrageous attempt to convince a grand jury to indict Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and U.S. Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06).

Durbin said, “What happened yesterday in the courts of the District of Columbia was one side of the equation frightening and on the other side encouraging. [It is] frightening that any Administration would think they can squash free speech of Members of Congress… There’s never been a president who used the Department of Justice to quiet Congress in this way… The fact that the grand jury of residents of the District of Columbia stood up and rejected this indictment of two Senators and several members of the House is proof positive that people still understand the basic values of our Constitution, and one of them is our freedom of expression. Freedom to speak. Freedom to express our point of view.”

Durbin continued, “Why did it reach this point that the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia tried to quiet Members of Congress because of the objection of what Members of Congress were saying? This was a test. I hope it is the last test… It is up to us, Democrats and Republicans, for the good of this Constitution, and the value and the good of the Congress and the value of the Constitution to stand behind those members who are exercising their rights.”

Durbin then condemned what happened in Fulton County, Georgia, two weeks ago—when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized hundreds of thousands of ballots from the 2020 presidential election. Reports indicate President Trump personally ordered Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a prominent 2020 election denier, to go to Georgia for the raid. The President then spoke directly to the FBI agents who conducted the raid.

“To state the obvious, it is completely inappropriate for the President and the Director of National Intelligence to be personally involved in a domestic criminal investigation. But Attorney General Pam Bondi has allowed the President to weaponize her department and federal law enforcement to pursue his personal and political goals. Why target Fulton County? Because this jurisdiction has been at the center of President Trump’s false and baseless claims concerning so-called ‘fraud’ in the 2020 election—an election he still refuses to acknowledge and concede,” Durbin said.

In early 2021, President Trump pressured the Georgia Secretary of State to “find” the 11,780 votes needed to swing the election his way. Following that, on January 6, 2021, a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol to attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

“He failed. But now, his endgame for 2026 has become clear: he’s working to rewrite the rules of the game and rig the system to ensure he maintains his grip on power,” said Durbin.

Durbin then spoke about efforts to redistrict Texas. President Trump demanded Republicans in the Texas legislature conjure up five additional red seats in a redistricting scheme—and hold onto the House after the midterm elections.

“In the meantime, the Administration has deployed thousands of immigration enforcement agents to cities like Minneapolis and Chicago that didn’t vote for the President. I never thought I’d witness an America where masked federal agents in military tactical gear violently arrest innocent Americans because of the color of their skin. An America where citizens like Chicagoan Marimar Martinez can be shot five times by federal agents with impunity [and] be branded falsely as a ‘domestic terrorist.’ Thankfully, unlike Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, Ms. Martinez survived. And DHS has directed immigration agents to crash down the doors of our private homes to arrest people without any judicial warrant, in blatant disregard of the Fourth Amendment,” said Durbin.

In the wake of this immigration enforcement surge and the ensuing chaos, Attorney General Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and offered an off ramp that the Administration will pull back immigration enforcement agents in return for Minnesota’s voter rolls.

Durbin said, “If you’re Donald Trump, you want those voter rolls to push unwarranted purges and disenfranchise voters—especially voters who aren’t likely to support you in the next election. In fact, the Justice Department has now sued dozens of states for their voter rolls. All of this is textbook authoritarianism… And I fear the President of the United States is working to rig the system to ensure that Republicans never lose another election.”

Top Trump ally Steve Bannon said last week, “We’re gonna have ICE surround the polls…. We’ll never again allow an election to be stolen.” Last week, President Trump doubled down by saying, “The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least…15 places.’ The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.”

Durbin continued, “Article I of the Constitution—and decades of Supreme Court precedent—make it clear that the President cannot take over the administration of elections from the states. I’m old enough to remember when Republicans cared about the Constitution… Just imagine for a moment that Barack Obama or Joe Biden had called for nationalizing elections and told federal agents they could raid private homes without judicial warrants and approval?”

Durbin concluded, “The President’s aims are clear. He wants to make the case for the ‘Big Lie’ that the 2020 election was stolen from him so he can assuage his fragile ego and justify directly interfering in the 2026 and 2028 elections. Republican Senators won’t speak up, but the American people will at the polls, [they will] in the streets of Minneapolis and Chicago, and in the halls of the U.S. Capitol, we hear their voices. We will do everything in our power to save our democracy from a President who has such distain for our Constitution and democracy.”

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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Fischer, Hickenlooper, Bacon Reintroduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Foster Care Legislation

U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-02) this week reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to provide children in pre-placement foster care with better access to essential supplies like clothing, food, and other necessities. The Foster Care Stabilization Act would authorize grants to foster care stabilization agencies to provide emergency relief and improve pre-placement services.

“No child entering foster care should have to worry about basic necessities,” Fischer said. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Hickenlooper and Rep. Bacon to reintroduce this bill so children transitioning into foster care receive the support and resources they deserve immediately.”

“Children entering foster care are already carrying too heavy a burden,” Hickenlooper said.“We should do everything we can to ease that transition.”

“Children who enter the foster care system do not get to make their own choice and it’s unfortunate there are so many children who have gone to unstable homes,” Bacon said. “As a foster to adopt parent, I know the Foster Care Stabilization Act will help to reduce trauma that children experience in the foster care system because it would help them receive daily needs such as clothing, food, and safety, things many of us take for granted but mean so much to a child. I thank Senators Fischer and Hickenlooper for their partnership and leadership in reintroducing this important legislation to support children entering foster care.”

“We are thankful for our delegations' dedication and leadership to understanding the trends, needs and problems for today's at-risk foster child. Our leaders also understand creative solutions are imperative to help stop the tremendous hurtful cycle that the foster care system can attack on a young life,” Leigh Esau, Executive Director of Nebraska Foster Care Closet, said.

Background:

At any given time, over 4,000 children are in foster care in Nebraska. The transition into foster care can be a difficult experience for children, who often lack basic supplies such as clothes or other personal necessities.

Foster care stabilization agencies address these challenges by providing children with the emergency supplies and assistance they need - restoring dignity to kids entering the foster care system and setting them up for success with their future foster care family. These agencies are non-profits, including community and faith-based organizations.

The Foster Care Stabilization Act would authorize $3 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demonstration grants that could be used to:

Hire personnel

Secure clothing or personal necessities for foster youth

Purchase food and food preparation equipment for foster youth

Offer services to prevent and respond to child abuse

Address any other emergency assistance needed to promote the safety and self-sufficiency of foster youth.


Gillibrand, Marshall, Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen Maternal And Infant Health

New York Receives Over $5 Million Annually For Its Healthy Start Programs, Which Are Located in Syracuse, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island

U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Healthy Start Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Healthy Start program – a critical federal initiative that supports community-based efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy.

Healthy Start provides targeted funding to communities experiencing disproportionately high rates of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes, including infant mortality rates at least 1.5 times the national average, as well as elevated rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal illness.

“More people in the United States die from pregnancy-related complications than in any of our peer countries. This is outrageous and downright shameful. We must do more to support women at every step of their maternal health journey,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our Healthy Start Reauthorization Act would continue support for these essential programs that help close persistent racial and geographic disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. Healthy Start programs are making a real difference for families in New York and across the country. I’m proud to fight to ensure mothers and infants have the support they need, regardless of race or zip code.”

“As an OB-GYN, I’ve cared for mothers and babies at their most vulnerable moments, and I’ve seen how the right support can make all the difference for both,”said Senator Marshall. “Healthy Start connects moms with the care, education, and resources they need during pregnancy and after birth, while helping babies get a healthy, strong start in life. By partnering with trusted local organizations in Kansas, this program delivers real results for families.”

“We know healthy pregnancies set up moms and babies for success long term, but that reality is too far out of reach for too many families in Wisconsin,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to support Healthy Start which invests in local organizations across the country who break down barriers for new and expecting mothers – from making sure moms and babies’ basic needs are met to educating more people on how to keep their families safe and well.”

“The National Healthy Start Association thanks Senators Marshall and Gillibrand for their leadership and steadfast support of the Healthy Start program,” said Deborah L. Frazier, CEO, National Healthy Start Association. “What began in 1991 as 15 demonstration projects has grown into a nationwide initiative serving more than 115 urban and rural communities across 38 states. By partnering with communities, Healthy Start works to reduce infant mortality, prevent preterm and low-birth-weight births, and improve maternal health outcomes. Beyond saving lives, the program strengthens communities by creating educational opportunities, generating jobs, and reducing healthcare costs. Reauthorization of Healthy Start is a smart and impactful investment.”

The Healthy Start reauthorization builds on ongoing efforts to address maternal and infant mortality nationwide and ensure that families have access to the resources and support they need to thrive. The program has a demonstrated track record of improving the well-being of the communities it serves by supporting new and expecting families’ access to health resources. In comparison to national averages, Healthy Start participants have more prenatal care, well visits, screening for behavioral health issues, engaged fathers, and support for family healthy choices and self-sufficiency.

New York receives over $5 million annually for its Healthy Start programs, which are located in Syracuse, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. These Healthy Start programs provide vital support to thousands of New York families. Their services include prenatal and postpartum support, breastfeeding support and education, mental health support, infant care and safe sleep education, father support services, and additional direct family services for growing families.

Click here to read the full text of the legislation.

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Gillibrand, Schumer, Goldman Slam Trump Administration’s Removal Of Pride Flag From Stonewall National Monument

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY-10) sent a letter to the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service slamming the Trump administration’s decision to remove the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument and calling for its immediate restoration.

“Removing the Pride flag is an insult to the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for equality for the LGBTQ+ community, and is antithetical to American values of liberty and justice for all. The flag must be replaced immediately,” wrote the members.

“We unequivocally reject this administration’s attempts to erase or otherwise rewrite LGBTQ+ history, which fundamentally undermines the trust and respect of communities that are central to our American story. At a time when hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals remain alarmingly high, we all must work to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community – not sow further division and strife,” they continued.

The Stonewall Inn is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, and it was designated as a national monument by President Obama and the National Park Service (NPS) in 2016 – the first unit of the National Park System dedicated to LGBTQ+ equality. Senator Gillibrand led the congressional effort to designate Stonewall as a national monument, and in 2024, she introduced a “Stonewall Day” resolution commemorating the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion.

Last month, NPS issued guidance which requires that only the U.S. flag or other congressionally or departmentally authorized flags are permitted to be flown on NPS-managed flagpoles. As a result, the NPS has removed the Pride flag that has historically been flown at the Stonewall National Monument and represented the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ justice and equality.

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

Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron:

We write to you to strongly condemn the decision to remove the Pride flag from the grounds of the Stonewall National Monument. Removing the Pride flag is an insult to the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought for equality for the LGBTQ+ community, and is antithetical to American values of liberty and justice for all. The flag must be replaced immediately.

As you know, the Stonewall Inn is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, and was designated as a national monument by the National Park Service (NPS) on June 24, 2016 – the first unit of the National Park System dedicated to LGBTQ+ equality. The monument stands as a testament to the struggle for civil rights in this country, and the Pride flag embodies the ideals of that movement: unity, inclusion, love, and the ongoing fight for justice and equality.

Last month, NPS issued guidance which requires that only the U.S. flag or other congressionally or departmentally authorized flags are permitted to be flown on NPS-managed flagpoles. As a result, the NPS has decided to remove the Pride flag which has historically been flown at the Stonewall National Monument. This latest decision, however, follows an alarming trend of anti-LGBTQ+ decisions by the NPS. Last year, the NPS also removed references to transgender and queer Americans from the Stonewall National Monument website and Pride display, and has otherwise sought to rewrite the history of the Stonewall Inn.

These decisions are deeply offensive and send a troubling message to the LGBTQ+ community. We unequivocally reject this administration’s attempts to erase or otherwise rewrite LGBTQ+ history, which fundamentally undermines the trust and respect of communities that are central to our American story. At a time when hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals remain alarmingly high, we all must work to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community – not sow further division and strife. As New Yorkers, and as Americans, we have a duty to honor the legacy of those who struggled and endured so that future generations of LGBTQ+ individuals might finally live in a country free of discrimination.

We demand the NPS immediately reverse this decision, and restore the Pride flag to its rightful place at the Stonewall National Monument. We also request an immediate briefing with the National Park Service to understand the rationale behind these decisions, and to ensure that erasure of LGBTQ+ history comes to an end.

We look forward to your prompt reply.

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Grassley, Colleagues Urge DOJ to Prioritize Crime Victims Fund, Collect Outstanding Fines and Penalties

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) are urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to collect the nearly $10 billion of outstanding criminal fines and penalties DOJ is owed and swiftly deposit them into the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), as is required by law.

The senators in 2024 sounded the alarm on the Biden administration offsetting more than a billion dollars that should have been directed to the CVF. At the senators’ request, the Government Accountability Office is now conducting a study to ensure proper upkeep of the fund. Since Grassley began his oversight of the CVF, the DOJ’s available funds to support crime victims has more than tripled – rising from $1 billion in Fiscal Year 2023 to $3.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2025.

“In addition to holding criminals accountable, the collection of outstanding fines and penalties would allow DOJ to provide critical resources to support victims and survivors of crime nationwide, as these funds are statutorily required to be deposited into the CVF, with very limited exceptions,” the lawmakers wrote.

The $10 billion in outstanding fines were identified in the most recent United States Attorneys’ Annual Statistical Report. The senators are requesting DOJ provide Congress rolling updates on its collection of these debts.

Read the full letter HERE.

Background:

Congress in 1984 established the CVF to provide critical resources to victims and survivors of crime nationwide, including in Iowa. The CVF is self-sustaining and taxpayer-neutral, funded entirely by fines and penalties collected through federal criminal convictions and settlements. Most recently, Iowa received over $268,000 from the CVF to support crime victim services for the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa.


Grassley Joins Iowa Congressional Delegation to Introduce Legislation to Permanently Remember Fallen Iowa National Guardsmen

Click HERE for video

WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), along with every member of Iowa’s congressional delegation in the House, are introducing legislation to rename two Iowa Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in honor of Staff Sgts. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and William Nathaniel Howard, the Iowa National Guardsmen who were killed by an ISIS terrorist in Syria in December.

The Iowa National Guard Heroes Commemoration Act would designate the VA clinic in Des Moines as the “Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic” and the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department in Marshalltown as the ‘‘Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic.”

Video of Grassley discussing the legislation can be found HERE.

“We are forever indebted to Staff Sergeant Howard and Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar for their dedication and service, both to the people of Iowa and to the United States. They represent the best of us, and that’s why the entire Iowa congressional delegation supports this important measure. Placing their names on these two facilities will ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten, especially by their hometowns,” Grassley said.

“We owe Staff Sgts. Torres-Tovar and Howard a debt we can never repay,” Ernst said. “These brave Iowans paid the ultimate price while defending our nation’s freedoms, and now, it is our duty to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten. I’m honored to lead this effort and tell the stories of their service by designating places in their hometowns that will serve generations of Iowa veterans. The legacy of Iowa’s heroes will continue to live on.”

“Iowa lost two of its own when Staff Sgts. Edgar Torres-Tovar and William Howard gave their lives in defense of our country,” Rep. Zach Nunn said. “They wore the uniform with honor, stood for something bigger than themselves, and represented the very best of the Iowa National Guard. Renaming these VA facilities in their honor will ensure their legacy endures as a permanent tribute to two Guardsmen who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Iowa and our nation mourn the loss of Staff Sergeant Nate Howard and Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar— real Iowa heroes who were killed by terrorists as they defended their fellow servicemembers from an attack in Syria,” Rep. Randy Feenstra said. “I’m grateful to help introduce this legislation with the Iowa delegation to rename two VA facilities in their honor to ensure their legacy of service endures, and their sacrifice is never forgotten. My thoughts remain with the Gold Star Families of Staff Sgt. Howard and Staff Sgt. Torres-Tovar and the men, women, and families of the Iowa National Guard, who exemplify the very best of our state.”

"Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar paid the ultimate sacrifice for our precious freedoms, and it’s an honor to help ensure these VA facilities carry the names of Nate and Edgar, who gave everything for our country,” Rep. Ashley Hinson said. “This is a tribute to not just their service, but their families who stood beside them, and every veteran who receives care here will do so in a place that honors their sacrifices for generations to come."

“As a 24-year Army veteran, I’m honored to join the Iowa delegation in paying tribute to Staff Sgt. Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Howard and Staff Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar,” Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said. “These brave Iowans made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Renaming these VA facilities in their honor ensures their legacy lives on, a lasting reminder of their courage, commitment, and the deep gratitude of a nation they served with distinction.”

"Staff Sgts. William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Torres-Tovar devoted their lives to serving our state and nation. Naming these VA clinics in their memory is a lasting tribute to their ultimate sacrifice,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said. “Located in their home communities, these clinics serve veterans with compassion, dignity, and respect—and they will now stand as a reminder of the legacy our heroes left behind."

“Every day, brave men and women from communities across the State of Iowa heed the call to serve and protect our country,” said Connie Bosen, Mayor of the City of Des Moines. “The act of naming central Iowa VAs after two Iowa guardsmen we were unfortunate to lose is just one way to recognize their sacrifice. I look forward to the renaming of Des Moines’ south side VA clinic in memory of Staff Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar.”

“It is entirely proper and fitting to name the new VA Clinic in Marshalltown for our fallen hero, Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Howard of Marshall County,” said Mike Ladehoff, Mayor of the City of Marshalltown. “By taking this step, it will be a constant reminder for decades to come, that freedom is not free and the ultimate sacrifices that some have paid to protect and serve our great nation.”

“Staff Sgt. William Nathan (Nate) Howard served with distinction in the Army National Guard, demonstrating unwavering dedication, courage, and compassion both in uniform and in civilian life. Their commitment to fellow service members and the community left a lasting impact that continues to inspire all who knew them,” said Kevin Huseboe, Executive Director of Marshall County Veteran Affairs. “Renaming the clinic in his honor would not only preserve the memory of Staff Sgt. William Nathan (Nate) Howard but also serve as a daily reminder to patients, staff, and visitors of the values they stood for—service, integrity, and selflessness. It would be a fitting tribute to a life devoted to the well-being of others and a meaningful way to ensure their legacy endures.”

“Staff Sgt. Nate Howard exemplified the highest ideals of service, sacrifice, and commitment to country. His loss is deeply felt across Marshalltown and throughout Iowa, as reflected in the many stories shared in his remembrance,” said John Hall, President and CEO of Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce. “Naming the Marshalltown VA Clinic in his honor provides a permanent and meaningful tribute that will stand as a reminder to all who enter its doors of the cost of freedom and the courage of those who serve.”

“Polk County Veteran Affairs supports the Iowa National Guard Heroes Commemoration Act that would name the South Des Moines VA medical clinic after Staff Sgt. Edgar Torres-Tovar and the Marshalltown VA medical clinic after Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard,” said Pat Sweeney, Executive Director of Polk County Veterans Affairs.

Find bill text HERE.


Grassley Proposes Third-Party Litigation Funding Reform, Foreign Reporting Requirements

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Kennedy (R-La.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today introduced the Litigation Funding Transparency Act. The legislation would require parties to publicly disclose third-party litigation funding, including foreign funding, in mass tort and class action suits. The bill also prohibits any third-party funder from influencing litigation strategy or settlement negotiations, as well as obtaining, inspecting, copying or viewing any material produced in discovery that is subject to a protective order.

“Transparency brings accountability. For too long, obscure third-party litigation funding agreements have secretly funneled money into our civil justice system without any meaningful oversight. Americans should know if there are undue pressures at play that could needlessly prolong litigation, harm claimants’ interests or benefit foreign adversaries. The Litigation Funding Transparency Act strikes the right balance of sunshine, while protecting Americans’ access to justice,” Grassley said.

“Predatory litigation financing allows outside funders, including those backed by foreign governments, to profit off our legal system, driving up costs for families and delaying justice,” Tillis said. “This legislation will bring overdue transparency and accountability to these abusive practices.”

“The American people deserve to know when corporations and foreign states pour money into class action lawsuits to influence outcomes. I’m proud to work together with my friend Chairman Grassley to introduce the Litigation Funding Transparency Act, which would lift the lid on the entities funding important legal battles in our country,” Kennedy said.

“By requiring the disclosure of third-party litigation funding, this commonsense bill would restore transparency and accountability to a system that has been plagued by dark money and foreign influence for far too long, and I’m proud to support it,” Cornyn said.

Circumstances that would require disclosure under the Litigation Funding Transparency Act include:

If the lawsuit is a mass tort or class action; and

If the funder is a commercial enterprise, foreign state, foreign person or sovereign wealth fund that is not a party to the lawsuit and that:

Provides, or promises to provide funding; or

Has a right to receive something greater in value than what was granted or given.

Domestic, nonprofit legal organizations that provide services on a nonprofit basis are exempt from reporting requirements under the Litigation Funding Transparency Act. Additionally, commercial enterprises expecting repayment of a loan or reimbursement of fees or grants paid to counsel are exempt from reporting requirements.

The Litigation Funding Transparency Act is endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the High Tech Inventors Alliance.

“Outside financiers treat our court system like a casino. They drive up costs for consumers and put our national and economic security at risk. Americans should not be taken advantage of in our own courtrooms,” said Stephen Waguespack, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform. “All parties involved in class actions and multi-district litigation cases should know who is secretly bankrolling the cases and manipulating the outcomes for profit. Requiring the disclosure of these hidden financial interests will protect American businesses and safeguard the integrity of our justice system. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce thanks Senators Grassley, Tillis, Kennedy and Cornyn for their leadership on this critical issue and we encourage the Senate to advance this legislation.”

“APCIA strongly supports Senator Grassley’s Litigation Funding Transparency Act. Bringing transparency to third party litigation funding is a commonsense step that protects consumers and strengthens the integrity of our civil justice system. We applaud Senator Grassley’s leadership in advancing reforms that promote fairness and accountability,” said Sam Whitfield, Senior Vice President of Federal Government Relations and Political Engagement of APCIA.

“From on-the-ground investigations of criminal fraud rings to sophisticated analytics of litigation marketing campaigns, NICB has seen firsthand how third-party litigation funding can serve as a facilitator of insurance fraud, which increases costs for everyone,” said David J. Glawe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NICB. “NICB applauds Chairman Grassley’s introduction of the Litigation Funding Transparency Act, which will help combat the improper incentives that attract fraudsters through improved transparency and accountability.”

"We thank Chairman Grassley for taking up this critically important issue and commend him for introducing legislation that would improve transparency regarding who is funding litigation in U.S. courts and whether these funders are improperly controlling plaintiffs’ litigation decisions,” said Dave Jones, Executive Director of the High Tech Inventors Alliance. "For too long, a lack of transparency has allowed funders to control litigation against U.S. companies from the shadows, while often themselves being funded or controlled by anonymous foreign investors and foreign governments’ sovereign wealth funds. Congress should act to require much needed transparency to prevent hedge funds and foreign interests from secretly manipulating our legal system to the detriment of U.S. companies and the broader U.S. economy.”

Bill text is available HERE.


SIGNED INTO LAW: Senator Hassan-Supported Bill to End Unintentional Government Payments to Deceased Americans

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, a bipartisan bill cosponsored by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) that will help save Americans’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars has been signed into law. The legislation will help the federal government better prevent payments from being unintentionally sent to individuals who have died.

“Our government has a responsibility to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad that this bipartisan bill to update existing safeguards and better prevent unintentional payments to deceased people has been signed into law.”

The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act will permanently amend the Social Security Act to allow the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File – a record of deceased individuals – with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system. Because long-standing privacy restrictions limit how the Social Security Administration can share this information, federal agencies otherwise would not receive timely notice when a beneficiary has died, which can unintentionally lead to improper payments. The bill also allows the Treasury’s Do Not Pay system to compare death information from the Social Security Administration with personal information from other federal entities and to share this information with any paying or administering agency that is authorized to use the Do Not Pay system.

This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to save taxpayer dollars and cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. Last year, in her role as Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, Senator Hassan helped lead a hearing focused on ways to improve government efficiency. Her bipartisan bill, the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act, which requires federal agencies to publicly report on projects that are more than five years behind schedule or cost more than $1 billion over their original estimate, was recently passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate.

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Hawley, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Prevent Data Centers from Increasing Electricity Costs for Americans

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.) introduced the Guaranteeing Rate Insulation from Data Centers (GRID) Act to stop data centers from driving up energy costs. Over the last several years, data center construction has taken off, creating enormous strains on our energy infrastructure. And this AI-fueled boom shows no signs of slowing down—in fact, data centers’ demand for power is expected to double over the next four years. Senator Hawley’s new bill would require data centers to have their own power sources, ensuring that the costs of their business are not passed on to American consumers.

President Trump has rightly stated that he “never want[s] Americans to pay higher Electricity bills because of Data Centers.” Senator Hawley’s bill would ensure that is the case.

“American families should not have to shoulder the burden of the rising electricity costs produced by data centers in Missouri and across the country. This is unacceptable,” Senator Hawley said. “I am introducing legislation that will protect American citizens by requiring data centers to use energy from sources that are separate from the U.S. grid and publicly report their electricity usage.”

“Our GRID Act stops Big Tech’s AI-driven drain on family’s pocketbooks,” said Blumenthal. “The rapid buildout of power-hungry data centers is straining our electrical grid—driving up demand and causing Americans’ energy bills to skyrocket. Our bipartisan bill ensures consumers have priority on the grid and do not have to pay a penny more because of burdensome data centers. Families should not be forced to bankroll Big Tech’s electricity and infrastructure costs.”

The GRID Act would:

Guarantee no increase in consumer utility prices due to data centers.

Guarantee consumers first priority on the grid.

Ensure new data centers use energy from power generation sources that are separate from the grid, with a 10-year off-ramp for existing data centers to find an alternative power source.

Establish new transparency measures so that data center operators publicly disclose their current and future utility usage and other related information.