Merkley, Wyden Announce More Than $92 million in Additional Funding for Critical Community Projects Across Oregon

Projects Dedicated to Improving Housing, Health Care, and Transportation & Infrastructure Improvements

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced they secured more than $92 million in federal investments for essential community-initiated projects in nearly every Oregon county in the final funding package that recently cleared Congress.

Both Merkley and Wyden hold a town hall in each Oregon county every year and work hard to ensure that local feedback informs every aspect of their work in Washington, D.C. This local feedback is directly reflected in the projects that were chosen for federal funding in this year’s final spending bill to help meet critical needs in Oregon communities.

“Community-initiated projects are rooted in the fact that no one knows the unique needs of communities across Oregon like the folks living and working in them. The communities identified top projects, and we fought for them,” Merkley said. “Together with Senator Wyden and members of Oregon’s House delegation, we secured funding for another 68 important homegrown projects that will benefit Oregonians in every corner of the state for years to come.”

“These key federal investments throughout our state are the result of Oregonians sharing local priorities directly with me and Senator Merkley,” Wyden said. “I’m glad this teamwork has generated each of these wins that will make Oregonians’ communities large and small even better places to live and work.”

Merkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the funding bills and is one of the most powerful committees on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making. Merkley’s position on the committee—including his key role as the top Democrat on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee—is vital to lock in the state’s priorities in the drafting of the bills, and Merkley and Wyden are highly-effective at working together to deliver projects for Oregon.

Earlier this year, Merkley and Wyden announced over $100 million for 54 community-initiated projects.

Merkley and Wyden secured 68 Oregon community-initiated projects, combined totaling $92,303,000, in the FY26 funding bills for Financial Services and General Government; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bills. The projects broken down by region, are as follows:

MID-WILLAMETTE VALLEY & NORTH COAST (Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Tillamook, Clatsop, and Columbia Counties)

$2 million for the Marion Polk Food Share for their Food Bank Warehouse Relocation and Expansion project. The funding will help purchase property as part of a multi-phase project to construct a new, highly efficient building, to be the hub of Food Share’s food banking and Meals on Wheels program.

$1.023 million to the Amani Center to construct a permanent facility for child abuse intervention and assessments in Columbia County. This will enable the Amani Center to better serve victims of child abuse and their families by doubling the center’s forensic medical service capacity, ensuring quality evidence collection for legal proceedings, and increasing privacy and safety at the Center.

$1 million for the Yamhill County Affordable Housing Corporation for their McMinnville Housing Rehabilitation Project to support necessary and urgently needed safety and accessibility repairs to low- and moderate-income homes, ensuring that occupants can remain in their homes and not be displaced by uninhabitable housing conditions.

$850,000 for the Oregon Department of Transportation to make critically needed safety enhancements along the McDougall Rd/OR-99W corridor in Yamhill County. This project is a critical component to securing the safety of commuters of Oregon’s HWY-99 and will provide a safe connection at a highly congested and uncontrolled intersection.

$610,000 to North Coast Food Web to purchase equipment to improve their food hub facility in Clatsop County. Their facility will continue to support small and start-up food business incubation and year-round market opportunities for locally-sourced farm, fishery and value-added products on the North Coast.

Click HERE for quotes from Mid-Willamette and North Coast community-initiated project recipients.

METRO (Multnomah and Washington Counties)

$3.2 million to the Port of Portland for the Mass Timber and Housing Innovation Campus at Terminal 2. The funding will support electrical and utility improvements needed to accommodate the existing and future tenants at this regional center for mass timber manufacturing.

$3 million to Meals on Wheels People to build and remodel its new Southeast Portland facility, which will improve access to services and nutrition for a growing population of seniors and marginalized communities.

$3 million to Oregon Metro for a depackaging machine to remove plastic packaging from commercial food waste. Metro will utilize a food waste depackaging machine, enabling diversion to sustainable end-uses such as animal feed, composting, or anaerobic digestion. This machine will reduce landfill dependency, mitigate climate impacts, and support a circular, low-carbon economy.

$2.98 million for the University of Oregon’s Ballmer Institute to create a bachelor’s level program intended to address critical shortages in the pediatric behavioral health workforce. Students in this innovative training program at the UO Portland Campus will be integrated into pediatric primary care settings to deliver services known to prevent youth mental health problems.

$2.2 million for Community Warehouse to acquire a new facility and expand the distribution of essential resources to families in need. Community Warehouse provides essential furnishings to individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness and other crises. Service demand has increased by 245% since 2020, and funding will support expanding facilities so as to meet the growing community needs.

$2 million to the City of Portland to improve an existing affordable housing campus in order to increase capacity and improve overall accessibility. The City will redevelop the site to create 400-450 new units of affordable housing.

$1.5 million to the City of Portland to expand Portland Fire & Rescue’s successful Mobile Medication for Opioid Use Disorder overdose rapid response pilot program. This program enables Portland Fire & Rescue to immediately respond to and treat opioid overdose in the community setting, and provide follow-up recovery services, saving hundreds of lives.

$1.5 million to Albina Vision Trust for the acquisition of a 10.5-acre site for the future redevelopment of affordable housing. This site is part of Albina Vision Trust’s larger comprehensive strategy to redevelop and revitalize this historic community and will add over 1,000 units of affordable housing for low- to moderate-income families in the historically Black Albina neighborhood.

$1 million to Habitat for Humanity Portland Region to build townhomes for affordable homeownership opportunities. The Carey Boulevard site will consist of a clustered arrangement of 50 townhomes, most of which will have 3 or 4 bedrooms. There will be priority for households with generational ties to the community – people who were displaced or are at risk of displacement due to urban renewal and gentrification.

$1 million to the City of Portland to redevelop the Clara Vista – an important affordable housing complex in Portland’s highly diverse, low-income Cully Neighborhood. Funds will go toward replacing 108 aging housing units with affordable, energy-efficient rental units that include outdoor amenities and community spaces.

$850,000 to Multnomah County to construct improvements that ensure efficient and safe transportation for residents and businesses on NE Sandy Blvd. This project expects to significantly improve safety conditions for all users, including trucks commuting from recently built industrial parks.

$850,000 to the City of Gresham to revitalize Gresham’s flagship community park. This project expects to attract visitors from around the region while providing more equitable access to parks for an increasingly diverse, young, and economically challenged population.

$750,000 to Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon to complete the renovation of their Recovery Campus – the first peer-run, no-barrier behavioral health center in East Portland. The Campus will provide mental health and addiction recovery services throughout the Portland Metro region.

$551,000 to the Native American Youth Alliance (NAYA) to support entrepreneurship and small business development in Indigenous communities. This project expects to support more Indigenous small business owners to participate in NAYA’s Native Business Accelerator program.

$250,000 to the City of Tualatin to improve traffic safety at a busy intersection near a hospital and alleviating congestion. This project expects to improve traffic flow in the area while enhancing safety and walkability.

Click HERE for quotes from the metro area community-initiated project recipients.

MID-COLUMBIA (Clackamas, Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam Counties)

$2.5 million to Clackamas County for the construction of the Center for Treatment and Recovery, a substance abuse recovery center. The center will provide timely person-centered support, treatment, and resources to individuals struggling with substance use disorder.

$2 million to Wasco County for the Columbia Gorge Resolution Center, a comprehensive behavioral health campus in Wasco County. This project will help address mental health service gaps in rural communities.

$2 million for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for the second phase of their tumwata village Project, a long-term effort to bring cultural, ecological, and economic restoration to Willamette Falls.

$2 million to Big River Community Land Trust for the first phase of construction of a permanently affordable homeownership neighborhood in the City of Hood River. This project will use the community land trust model to address the housing affordability gap in Hood River, while fostering long-term community investment.

$1.5 million for the Columbia Gorge Education Service District to renovate a former middle school into The Dalles Early Learning Center and a teaching facility for child care professionals studying at Columbia Gorge Community College.

$1 million for the Northwest Community Housing Foundation to help construct workforce housing in Zig Zag, Oregon. This project will increase available housing for Mt. Hood National Forest employees and seasonal workers and ensure the continued viability of businesses in the region.

$850,000 for the City of Milwaukie to replace transportation infrastructure over Kellogg Creek. This replacement will address flood risk, seismic vulnerability, long-term maintenance and liability concerns, soil contamination, and public safety.

$500,000 for Clackamas County for transit hub and rest stop relocation projects on Mt. Hood to reduce traffic and provide accessible transportation options for recreation, employment, and reaching public lands.

Click HERE for quotes from Mid-Columbia community-initiated project recipients.

EASTERN OREGON (Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Grant, Baker, Harney, and Malheur Counties)

$2 million to the City of Pendleton for the Oregon Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Accelerator. The World War II era B-17 Hangar at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport which houses this project needs considerable renovation to create a world class tech accelerator. Federal funds will be used to renovate and install equipment in the hangar, which will help small startups commercialize autonomous systems and robotics.

$1,500,000 for Valley Family Health Care, Inc. to construct a modern facility in Nyssa that will integrate medical, behavioral, and dental care. This will replace the current facilities in Nyssa which are aging and spread out. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, this new facility will serve medically underserved people living in rural Eastern Oregon.

$1,450,000 to John Day School District #3 for the Grant Early Learning Center. Funds will be used to renovate an existing building that will be used for classrooms, professional training, and parent engagement, helping children with a smooth transition to kindergarten in this rural community.

$1,356,000 to Grand Ronde Hospital to purchase a new nuclear medicine machine. The nuclear medicine machine is used every day at the hospital to diagnose and treat disease, and the current machine is operating past its intended lifespan. A new machine would give Grande Ronde Hospital the capability to reduce treatment time by half and serve more patients.

$1,250,000 for Harney District Hospital for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment. This project will ensure that the frontier Critical Access Hospital has a reliable heating and cooling system for local residents and people traveling through this extremely rural area.

$652,000 to Morrow County Health District to purchase a new Computed Tomography (CT) machine for Pioneer Memorial Hospital, a critical access hospital in rural Heppner. The hospital’s current CT equipment is nearing the end of its life and can no longer be upgraded. The new machine will significantly reduce waiting time for results on critically ill and trauma patients.

$500,000 to Wallowa Resources to renovate an apartment building in the rural community of Enterprise to ensure that these rental units remain affordable. Wallowa County has a shortage of affordable workforce housing, and this project will help employers attract permanent and seasonal workers to the County.

$400,000 for Eastern Oregon University to support its Early College Initiatives program. This program works with students in grades 6–11 in rural areas to transition to higher education and into the workforce through hands-on learning, personalized guidance, and partnerships.

$173,000 to the City of Sumpter to renovate its Community Center. Surrounded by forests on all sides, upgrades to this central building are needed to keep the community safe and healthy in light of increased wildfire and smoke threats.

$163,000 for the Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center (NEOAHEC) to purchase an Advanced Maternal and Neonatal Simulation System. Much of this project will allow NEOAHEC to provide obstetric and maternal health training for healthcare professionals in rural Eastern Oregon.

Click HERE for quotes from Eastern Oregon community-initiated project recipients.

SOUTH-WILLAMETTE VALLEY & CENTRAL COAST (Lane, Linn, Lincoln, and Benton Counties)

$2,465,000 for Everyone Village to fill a critical gap in affordable housing in the City of Eugene. Funds will be used to develop 100 units of affordable single room occupancy transitional housing. This creative housing solution combines a scalable, cost-effective model with community support.

$2 million for Corvallis Daytime Dropoff Center to construct a Homeless Services Navigation Center in Benton County. This new Navigation Center will provide critical emergency shelter services to low-income residents who are experiencing homelessness, and will connect residents with health services, permanent housing, and public benefits.

$1.7 million for the McKenzie Community Land Trust to build 6 affordable, fire-safe, multi-family Community Land Trust homes. These homes will help to rebuild and revitalize the community of Blue River which was devastated during the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire.

$1.6 million for Lane Community College to purchase equipment for its new Industry and Trades Education Center. This project addresses a critical workforce gap in skilled labor by establishing a center that focuses on apprenticeship training, construction technology, manufacturing technology, and other skilled labor sectors.

$1.03 million for the renovation and expansion of an existing building owned by the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) to provide behavioral health services for the local Florence community and CTCLUSI Tribal members. This project aims to increase access to behavioral health services in the community for local residents and Tribal members and to reduce waitlists for patient care in Lane County.

$752,000 for DevNW to build 14 Community Land Trust homes in rural Linn County. This project would address the critical shortage of affordable housing in Linn County by constructing fourteen 2- and 3-bedroom homes for low to moderate income families that will remain permanently affordable under the Community Land Trust model.

$750,000 for Bridge Meadows to continue predevelopment on a new affordable, intergenerational housing community in Eugene. The project will build affordable housing, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children in foster care, families, and low-income seniors.

$536,000 for Farmworker Housing Development Corporation to conduct the first phase of their multi-family affordable housing project in Albany. This funding will go toward the first phase of construction for 150 units of multifamily farmworker housing.

$105,000 to Linn-Benton Community College for critical upgrades to the Periwinkle Child Development Center. Improvements to this child development center will include a new roof and upgrades to security. This project benefits the local community, which is in urgent need of Early Childcare Teachers to staff the many childcare facilities in the area.

Click HERE for quotes from South-Willamette Valley and Central Coast community-initiated project recipients.

CENTRAL OREGON (Klamath, Lake, Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and Wheeler Counties)

$2.82 million to the Klamath Tribes for their Tribal Housing project, which will build six affordable homes for tribal elders and members experiencing homelessness.

$2 million to the City of Redmond for their Cinder Hollow Affordable Housing Project which will support the development of five acres of land on which the City will build 30 affordable housing units. Funds will be used for pre-development infrastructure, including sewer collection, water service, fire hydrants, and sidewalks.

$1.787 million to Jefferson County for their Feather Drive Bridge Replacement project. The Feather Drive Bridge serves as a critical access point for residents and emergency services. The current bridge is weight-limited with structural deficiencies. Funding will go toward demolition of the existing bridge and the construction of a new structurally sound bridge.

$1.7 million to the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) for its Mobile Dental Clinic project. Funds will allow OIT to purchase two mobile dental clinics to provide dental care to underserved and at-risk residents in rural Southern Oregon.

$1.304 million to Deschutes County to equip a 15 bed sub-acute child psychiatric facility in Central Oregon. This investment will provide critical funding for furniture, fixtures, and equipment for this much needed facility, the first of its kind east of the I-5 corridor.

$1.3 million to the Lomakatsi Restoration Project for their Inter-Tribal Ecological Forestry Training Program. Funds will be used to employ young, inter-tribal adults in a year-long training program, where they will gain training in forest health and fuels reduction while performing critical wildfire prevention work in high wildfire risk areas.

$1 million for Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity to develop sixty units of affordable housing in the City of Redmond. This project will include a diverse mix of cottages and duplex townhomes for families of all sizes, creating affordable home ownership opportunities for Central Oregon families.

$800,000 to Central Oregon Community College (COCC) for its Fire Science program to expand and improve workforce training programs for structural and wildland firefighters. The funding requested will be used on equipment required to continue expanding and enhancing the Fire Science program, including a new fire engine and a carport to store the engine when not in use.

$250,000 to the City of Redmond for its Redmond Signal and Pedestrian Safety Improvements project. Funds will be used to construct a new signal, pedestrian and bicycle crossings and ADA features at the intersection of OR 126 and 35th Street in Redmond, a busy intersection in Redmond, Oregon.

Click HERE for quotes from Central Oregon community-initiated project recipients.

SOUTHERN OREGON (Curry, Coos, Jackson, Josephine, and Douglas Counties)

$3,150,000 for Umpqua Community College’s (UCC) efforts to boost affordable housing for students. The funding will go toward redeveloping a UCC-owned building into affordable housing in downtown Roseburg for 60 students pursuing workforce training at the rural community college.

$2 million for Rogue Valley Transit District to replace six gasoline-powered paratransit vehicles that are past their useful-lives with electric paratransit vehicles, and update charging infrastructure.

$1.914 million for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) to construct 15 affordable apartment units for Tribal and low-income members of the Tribe and greater Coos Bay community. The 2-bedroom apartments will help address a significant need for low-income housing on Oregon’s South Coast.

$1.4 million for the Addictions Recovery Center to complete the final phase of construction for a 24-bed treatment facility for addiction recovery in Jackson County. This project will allow for an increase of at least 100 individuals to its treatment program annually and allow for greater access and significantly reduced wait times for patients in Southern Oregon.

$1.2 million for the Oregon Center for Creative Learning to construct an Early Childhood and Interactive Learning Center in the heart of downtown Grants Pass. This project seeks to address critical gaps in early educational access, childcare, family support, and community engagement, which is essential to boost workforce development and support economic revitalization of the region.

$500,000 for the Santos Center Discovery Preschool Expansion to convert existing classrooms to full-time childcare use and make necessary safety and security improvements. This project would expand the existing program’s capacity to meet the community’s growing demand for childcare, especially for children under age three.

Click HERE for quotes from Southern Oregon community-initiated project recipients.

STATEWIDE

$1.611 million to Lines for Life to hire additional staff and conduct youth workforce and volunteer training to expand the reach of YouthLine, their statewide youth suicide prevention program. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death of youth in Oregon, and 2022 data shows that Oregon had the 12th highest youth suicide rate in the country.

$1.5 million to Network for Oregon Affordable Housing to provide low-cost mortgages to first-time homeowners across the State using innovative ownership models such as community land trusts. The goal of the fund is to create affordable homeownership and wealth creation opportunities for lower-income and traditionally underserved households throughout Oregon.

$652,000 to REAP Inc.’s Young Entrepreneurs Program. Funds will be used to expand mentorship and internship opportunities that empower and equip underserved Portland-area youth with entrepreneurial skills and experiences including leadership and employment skills, networking, and mentorship.

$200,000 to Built Oregon to expand their Farmers’ Market Booth program into multiple Oregon counties and create access to farmers’ markets for small, underserved producers and manufacturers – a critical launching point for many Oregon small-businesses.

$1.369 million to Vision to Learn to purchase and equip a mobile vision clinic van to expand their free, exam-to-glasses services to students in rural Western and Central Oregon public schools.

Click HERE for quotes from statewide community-initiated project recipients.

###


Peters, Collins, Ossoff, Merkley Reintroduce Bipartisan SWAT Act to Target Invasive Insect Hurting Fruit Growers

Bill Would Fund Mitigation and Research on Spotted Wing Drosophila Which Continue to Threaten Cherry, Blueberry, and Other Fruit Crops

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have reintroduced bipartisan legislation to combat the spread of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive fly hurting fruit growers across the country. The Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act would help strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to reduce the spread of SWD and advance their research into this invasive insect.

“I’ve heard from Michigan growers about how these invasive insects continue to damage their blueberries, cherries, and other fruits – and pose a serious threat to their livelihoods and businesses,” said Senator Peters. “I’m reintroducing this much-needed, bipartisan bill to help keep down costs for fruit growers, mitigate the spread of this invasive pest, and prevent their crops from being spoiled in the first place.”

“Maine’s wild blueberries are an integral part of our state’s heritage and play a major role in our state’s economy,” said Senator Collins. “The pervasiveness of the spotted wing drosophila has threatened the livelihoods of fruit farmers in Maine and across the country. If left unchecked, it could have serious repercussions for our state’s wild blueberry industry. Our bipartisan legislation would mitigate the rapid spread of this invasive pest and help prevent fruit crops from being spoiled by this infestation.”

“Georgia growers have long dealt with the threat of infestation,” said Senator Ossoff. “We are introducing this bipartisan legislation to help ensure Georgia growers have the resources to fight this pest and protect their crops.”

“Agriculture is deeply ingrained into Oregon’s economy, and Oregon’s small fruit and tree fruit crop growers need all the help they can get combatting invasive pests—such as the spotted wing drosophila,” said Senator Merkley. “Our bipartisan bill would help ensure researchers have the resources and funding needed to develop efficient ways to get rid of these pests without costing our growers extra money and time.”

The senators’ SWAT Act would establish a fund managed by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to advance research and strengthen efforts to reduce the species’ population in the U.S. The fund would be authorized at $6.5 million annually for five years.

The spotted wing drosophila is an invasive pest from East Asia that lays eggs in soft-skinned fruit crops, including cherries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. Since their first detection in the continental United States in 2008, they have spread across the West Coast, as well as through Florida, Georgia, Utah, the Carolinas, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The spotted wing drosophila have caused more than an estimated $700 million in economic loss per year nationally – in part because fruit buyers have a zero-tolerance policy if the invasive insect is spotted on crops, meaning entire crop loads can be rejected if a single larva is detected. Thorough pest management strategies are required for farmers to ensure their crops are SWD-free, raising costs along the way.

###


VIDEO: Chairman Moran Questions Commerce Secretary Lutnick on Broadband Deployment

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) – led a hearing with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on the Department of Commerce’s broadband deployment efforts, including the implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Sen. Moran emphasized the importance of prioritizing the long-term success of federal broadband deployment, particularly in rural communities. He also questioned Secretary Lutnick on plans for the BEAD program’s leftover allocations, emphasizing that the money should be used for broadband deployment.

“The BEAD program is the largest ever single federal investment in broadband deployment and was intended to connect Americans lacking reliable broadband connectivity,” said Sen. Moran. “There should be sufficient resources for this goal to be accomplished. But four years later, not a single BEAD-funded project has been completed, much less initiated, and not a single unserved or underserved American has connected to broadband service through the BEAD Program.”

“I’ve always tried to be neutral in my choice of what is the method by which broadband should be delivered,” continued Sen. Moran. “But I want to make sure that what Kansans are receiving is not a short-term benefit but, in the long-term, takes care of Kansans and particularly their rural needs.”

In December 2025, Sen. Moran and his colleagues called on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to preserve the ability of states to use broadband infrastructure funds as intended by Congress. During today’s hearing, Secretary Lutnick committed to using the BEAD funding in accordance with the law. “Now we’re listening to, what are the best ideas to spend that money,” said Secretary Lutnick. “We’re going to spend that money, that money you have appropriated, and we’re going to use the best ideas. What are those best ideas? We’re going to listen.”

“The money will be spent according to the statute, of course,” concluded Secretary Lutnick. “We are going to hew exactly to the statute.”

Sen. Moran’s opening statement can be viewed here. His second round of questioning can be found here.

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Questioning


Murphy to Republicans On Trump's Attempts to Jail Democratic Lawmakers: We Can't Let This Democracy Die On Our Watch

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) took to the floor of the U.S. Senate today to call on his Republican colleagues to recognize Donald Trump’s unprecedented, attempted indictment of six Democratic lawmakers as a grave threat to our democracy and unite with Democrats to put a stop to Trump’s relentless assault on free speech.

Murphy cautioned this failed indictment would not be the end of Trump’s attempts to jail Senators Kelly and Slotkin: “It doesn't really matter that the grand jury refused to indict, because if they continue to come back over and over again for an indictment, they will likely find at some point, some compliant grand jury, and we will find our colleagues headed to jail simply for exercising their free speech.”

He called on Democrats and Republicans to set aside partisanship and stand up for their colleagues: “This is a moment where we could decide to agree. Not everything has to be skins and shirts, not everything that we think has to automatically be wrong. We could very easily decide this week that it is not acceptable for the President of the United States to attempt to throw into jail his political opponents in the Senate and in the House, and maybe that could provide a springboard for us to decide that there are other abuses of presidential authority that may, in the long run, harm both Republican and Democratic interests, but fundamentally harm the health of our democracy.”

Murphy argued Republicans would have never accepted Trump’s authoritarian attempts to suppress his political opponents’ free speech if they’d come from a Democratic president: “If the shoe was on the other foot, I want my Republican colleagues to think about what you would say if a Democratic president opened up a criminal investigation into the Chairman of the Federal Reserve simply over a dispute over interest rate policy? … Would our Republican colleagues think it was a red line if Sean Hannity was taken down off the air by a Democratic president's FCC? … Or what if he indicted or attempted to indict two of your members, two Republicans, simply because they had raised their voices in objection to a Democratic president's policies? We all know the answer to every single one of those questions.”

He urged his colleagues to stand up for the democratic project: “I understand that for all of us who have grown up in a relatively safe and secure American democracy, contested by foreign adversaries but never under any real threat that we were going to lose the democracy from within, have come to believe some sense of inevitability about the survivability of American democracy. But every civilization, every form of government, has an expiration date. Every attempt at Republicanism or democracy over the course of this globe's history has ended, and ours will end at some point. Our job as senators, whether you have an ‘R’ after your name or a ‘D’ after your name, is to make sure that that end doesn't happen on our watch.”

Murphy concluded by warning Republicans their inaction today could backfire in the long run: “This is a moment of test for the Senate…this is a moment that could break this institution permanently, if it is only Democrats standing up here and defending our colleagues. It should matter first that they are senators, that they were elected by the people of their state to represent Republicans and Democrats in their state. It should matter second, the party that is listed after their name.”

A full transcript of Murphy’s remarks is available below.

MURPHY: Mr. President, the tendency here in the Senate, often when Democrats are lodging a complaint about Donald Trump, is for our Republican colleagues to issue an argument of equivalency: ‘Well, Donald Trump did this, but so did Joe Biden.’ ‘Donald Trump did that, but Joe Biden did this.’

We're at a moment today, though, in which there is no argument of equivalency. And in fact, over and over again in the past year, we have seen threats to our democracy that have no historical precedent. We must be able to agree that never before in the history of the Senate has a President of the United States sought to jail members of this body based upon their political opposition to the President of the United States. All that our colleagues did was record a video in which they simply repeated the law of the land, the existing military code, said things into a camera that the current Secretary of Defense has said himself almost verbatim. But because he was reciting, because she was reciting, a portion of the military code that the President objects to - because it was inherently a criticism of the president - they are now facing down possible indictment.

It doesn't really matter that the grand jury refused to indict, because if they continue to come back over and over again for an indictment, they will likely find at some point, some compliant grand jury, and we will find our colleagues headed to jail simply for exercising their free speech. Never before in the history of our country has something like this happened. And I understand that for all of us who have grown up in a relatively safe and secure American democracy, contested by foreign adversaries but never under any real threat that we were going to lose the democracy from within, have come to believe some sense of inevitability about the survivability of American democracy. But every civilization, every form of government, has an expiration date. Every attempt at Republicanism or democracy over the course of this globe's history has ended, and ours will end at some point.

Our job as senators, whether you have an ‘R’ after your name or a ‘D’ after your name, is to make sure that that end doesn't happen on our watch. And at some point, you have to look at the series of exceptional, unprecedented events that have happened in the last year and see them as part of an unprecedented, ahistorical pattern. I agree with my colleagues. Long ago, in my mind, we crossed the red line.

But think about it. If the shoe was on the other foot, I want my Republican colleagues to think about what you would say if a Democratic President opened up a criminal investigation into the Chairman of the Federal Reserve simply over a dispute over interest rate policy? What would my Republican colleagues say, if a Democratic president deployed the national guard against a Republican state like Texas or Louisiana? Would our Republican colleagues think it was a red line if Sean Hannity was taken down off the air by a Democratic president's FCC? What would Republicans say? Would it be a confrontation with American democracy, if journalists were removed from a Democratic president's Pentagon because of their critical stories about the Democratic administration's policy? Would Republicans think there was a problem? If universities were denied funding because they weren't hiring enough liberal left-wing professors? How about if a Democratic president confiscated ballots in one of your states so as to prove that Donald Trump didn't really win the election, that it was fraudulent? Or what if he indicted or attempted to indict two of your members, two Republicans, simply because they had raised their voices in objection to a Democratic president's policies?

We all know the answer to every single one of those questions. If a Democratic president had done any of those things, you would be shutting down the United States Senate. You would be labeling each and every one of them as a potentially existential threat to our democracy, and you would use every lever available to you to try to confront that abuse of power. There is no equivalency argument. President Biden didn't do any of the things that I just listed. And yes, I know my Republican colleagues have objections about the way that he used the Department of Justice, objections about the things he said about Republicans. But never, never were Republican senators facing a grand jury, the threat of indictment hanging over their heads, simply because they spoke truth that a Democratic president objected to.

At some point this democracy will die, and our purpose here is to improve the quality of life for our constituents, but to protect the democracy at all costs. There has to be a bipartisan response to the broad abuses of power, but specifically right now to the fact that two of our colleagues are on the verge of being arrested by this President simply based on their political opposition to the President.

This is a moment where we could decide to agree. Not everything has to be skins and shirts, not everything that we think has to automatically be wrong. We could very easily decide this week that it is not acceptable for the President of the United States to attempt to throw into jail his political opponents in the Senate and in the House. And maybe that could provide a springboard for us to decide that there are other abuses of presidential authority that may, in the long run, harm both Republican and Democratic interests, but fundamentally harm the health of our democracy that we could join together in league against as well. This is a moment of test for the Senate. I agree with my colleague, Senator Schatz, this is a moment that could break this institution permanently, if it is only Democrats standing up here and defending our colleagues. It should matter. First, that they are senators, that they were elected by the people of their state to represent Republicans and Democrats in their state. It should matter second, the party that is listed after their name. I yield the floor.


Padilla, Harder Work to Improve Health Care Outcomes in Communities Facing Health Disparities

WASHINGON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Josh Harder (D-Calif.-09) introduced bicameral legislation to help address health care disparities by designating Health Investment Zones (HIZs) for areas facing measurable gaps in income, life expectancy, or the number of providers.

“While Donald Trump and Republicans refuse to take action to address the health care crisis, longstanding gaps in access to quality care are only growing more severe. Smart, targeted investments can prevent harmful health disparities while reducing ER use and hospitalization, provider shortages, and costs,” said Senator Padilla. “Congressman Harder and I are fighting to close these gaps by establishing 10-year Health Investment Zones so underserved areas receive the effective, affordable care they need.”

“This bill is a promise to reinvest in the very communities that Washington is trying to pull out of,” said Representative Harder. “By creating new Health Investment Zones right here in the Valley, we can close provider gaps and unlock an entire arsenal of tools and support for the families that need it most. Our families deserve reliable access to affordable health care, and that’s exactly what this bill does.”

Communities in California and across the nation are struggling with a lack of access to lifesaving health care services, driving up emergency room use, hospital admissions, and overall costs. However, with targeted investments, these gaps can be significantly reduced through strategic incentives, community partnerships, and loan repayment programs.

Successful state-level approaches have reduced more than 18,000 inpatient stays in three years and generated an estimated $108 million in net savings. The Health Investment Zones Act scales that approach nationally by designating HIZs and aligning tax, grant, loan-repayment, and Medicare incentives to expand services where they’re needed most.

The bill focuses on improving outcomes for conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and maternal health, with a 10-year report to measure progress in health, access, and cost reductions.

In addition to designating HIZs, the Health Investment Zones Act would:

Expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include employers hiring qualified Health Investment Zone workers.

Create a 30% individual tax credit for wages earned by workers employed in HIZ-based health care roles.

Establish a grant program for zone coalitions to improve health outcomes, with subgrants of up to $5 million for clinics and practitioners.

Support projects such as mobile clinics, patient transportation, facility upgrades, translation services, and community wellness initiatives.

Establish a student loan repayment program offering up to $10,000 per year (maximum $100,000) for full-time health professionals serving in HIZs.

Provide a 10% Medicare Part B bonus for services furnished in HIZs, with an additional 5% for care delivered at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), FQHC Look-Alikes, or independent clinics.

Senator Padilla has long been a leader in the fight to make health care more equitable, affordable, and accessible in the United States. In 2024, Padilla introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities as well as women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the United States. Last year, Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) announced the Equal Health Care for All Act, legislation that would make equal access to medical care a protected civil right to help address the racial inequities and structural failures in America’s health care system that have led to higher mortality rates in communities of color. He also joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and over 100 lawmakers in reintroducing the Medicare for All Act, historic legislation that would guarantee health care as a fundamental human right to all people in the United States, regardless of income or background.

A one-pager on the bill is available here.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###


Padilla, Schiff Join Kaine, Welch in Pushing Trump Administration to Immediately End Deportation Flights to Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) in pushing U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio and the Trump Administration to immediately end deportation flights to Iran.

Last month, it was reported that the Administration resumed the deportation of dozens of Iranians, many of whom could be persecuted, tortured, or even executed if they are forced to return to Iran. That reporting came amid massive demonstrations in Iran, the Iranian government’s violent crackdown on protesters, and threats from President Donald Trump to use U.S. military force against the current Iranian regime.

“Given Iran’s horrific human rights record, we are deeply concerned that the Trump administration is returning people to a country where they may be persecuted or tortured, in violation of U.S. and international law,” wrote the Senators. “As you know, the United States has long been a safe haven for Iranians fleeing oppression and persecution by the Iranian regime because of their political ideology, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. In the eyes of the regime, some of these ‘crimes’ are punishable by death, and deportees have stated they’ll likely face such sentences if sent back to Iran.”

“Despite your acknowledgement of the Iranian government’s wanton disregard for basic human rights, the Trump administration has chosen to return Iranian citizens to the very place that they fled for their lives,” continued the Senators.

“Throughout your career in the Senate, you were an advocate for Cubans escaping oppression and persecution by the Castro regime and for the protection of political dissidents and religious minorities around the world. We were glad to work with you on these issues,” concluded the Senators. “Now we ask you and the Trump administration to ensure that the United States does not violate U.S. and international law by returning people who have a well-founded fear of persecution and torture by the brutal Iranian regime.”

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, Kaine, and Welch, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rubio,

In late September, the media and Iranian American human rights advocates began reporting that the Trump administration had reached a deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran to deport Iranian citizens back to Iran. According to these reports, the administration sent 45 people to Tehran via Qatar in late September or early October. Some of these individuals stated that they “begged not to be sent to Iran because they feared for their lives.” Once they landed in Tehran, they said that they were “made to fill out forms explaining why they had left Iran and sought asylum in America,” and were “called in for interrogation by the intelligence wing of the Revolutionary Guards Corps.” On December 7, 2025, the administration deported another approximately 50 Iranian citizens to Iran, this time through Kuwait. On January 25, yet another flight deported approximately 14 Iranians; the number would have been much higher if not for a major measles outbreak at the detention site and widespread bipartisan pushback.

Given Iran’s horrific human rights record, we are deeply concerned that the Trump administration is returning people to a country where they may be persecuted or tortured, in violation of U.S. and international law. As you know, the United States has long been a safe haven for Iranians fleeing oppression and persecution by the Iranian regime because of their political ideology, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. In the eyes of the regime, some of these ‘crimes’ are punishable by death, and deportees have stated they’ll likely face such sentences if sent back to Iran.

Iran’s violations of human rights are extensive, well-documented, and horrifying. Basic rights, like those of the freedom of expression, religion, and assembly are not only infringed upon – they are violently suppressed through torture, imprisonment, forced disappearances, and executions. You and others in the Trump administration spoke extensively about the horrors of the Iranian regime when attempting to justify the June 22, 2025, U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. More recently, you personally have spoken against the regime’s violent suppression of protesters that experts believe have left more than 6,800 people dead – a figure that continues to climb. Yet despite your acknowledgement of the Iranian government’s wanton disregard for basic human rights, the Trump administration has chosen to return Iranian citizens to the very place that they fled for their lives.

Throughout your career in the Senate, you were an advocate for Cubans escaping oppression and persecution by the Castro regime and for the protection of political dissidents and religious minorities around the world. We were glad to work with you on these issues. Now we ask you and the Trump administration to ensure that the United States does not violate U.S. and international law by returning people who have a well-founded fear of persecution and torture by the brutal Iranian regime.

###


Ahead of USMCA Review, Peters Leads Colleagues in Calling on Top U.S. Trade Representative to Prioritize Protecting American Manufacturing Jobs

WASHINGTON, DC – Ahead of the upcoming United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review process this summer, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) led a group of his Senate colleagues in calling on U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer to prioritize protecting American manufacturing jobs in any USMCA renegotiations.

USMCA rules require a Summer 2026 review of the trade agreement, a process which gives the three member countries an opportunity to consider possible revisions and renew the agreement through 2042. Peters, along with U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), outlined their top USMCA priorities in a letter to USTR Greer, including expanding domestic manufacturing, protecting U.S. businesses against unfair trade practices by the Chinese Communist Party, and supporting American labor. The senators represent a key group of Midwest states with robust manufacturing sectors and workforces.

“As senators representing manufacturing states, we agree that changes to our economic and trading landscape and relationships need improvement. Our current landscape is the result of policy choices and through policy choices, we must demand better,” the senators wrote. “The way that it is best done is through a holistic industrial strategy that includes targeted tariffs to achieve strategic trade goals, enforcing trade laws we have on the books, and the robust renegotiation of trade deals to get a better deal for American manufacturers, consumers, and workers.”

In the letter, the senators underscored the United States’ critical trade partnership with Mexico and Canada and highlighted how the Trump Administration’s recent trade policies have weakened trust across this alliance. As a result, the offshoring of domestic manufacturing has continued, harming local economies and workers across the Midwest.

“Unfortunately, actions taken this year by the Administration have introduced chaos instead of making strides to address the structural challenges necessary to support critical industries and improve the economic security of workers across the continent,” wrote the senators. “Improved domestic incentives within USMCA’s framework and manufacturing incentives like the tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act have been replaced with blanket tariffs and uncertainty. Longstanding relationships with some of our most trusted partners have changed drastically with the snap of a finger.”

The letter also highlighted the need to address economic and national security concerns posed by unfair Chinese trade practices, particularly in automotive manufacturing. Shortcomings in the current USMCA have allowed Chinese automakers to make investments in the North American market. These concerns were intensified after a January 2026 announcement from Canadian Prime Minister Carney paved the way for Chinese electric vehicles to enter the Canadian market at a low tariff rate.

The senators continued, “During upcoming negotiations, USTR must pursue changes that ensure foreign entities cannot utilize the agreement to circumvent new or existing trade laws. If this Administration is serious about onshoring our critical supply chains, it must prevent our adversaries from gaining preferential access to our markets.”

The letter also advocates for stronger labor standards in the USMCA renegotiation. While the current agreement established a new standard of workers’ rights, the senators believe the review process presents an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of those standards. They also called for labor leaders to be included in the review process to ensure the new deal adequately addresses the challenges they are facing.

“We also believe a successful agreement is only possible when our workers’ unions, including the United Auto Workers (UAW), the United Steel Workers (USW), and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), have a seat at the negotiating table, allowing for full consideration of their proposals,” wrote the senators. “As part of this consideration, we urge you to prioritize ways to further strengthen working conditions, ensure job security, and raise labor standards, including wage, health, safety, and environmental standards, for American workers across sectors.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.

###


Peters Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Target Invasive Fly Hurting Michigan Fruit Growers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to combat the spread of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive fly hurting fruit growers in Michigan and across the country. Peters’ Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act would help strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to reduce the spread of SWD and advance their research into this invasive insect.

“I’ve heard firsthand from Michigan growers about how these invasive insects continue to damage their blueberries, cherries, and other fruit crops, and pose a serious threat to their livelihoods and businesses,” said Senator Peters. “I’m going to keep pushing for this much-needed, bipartisan bill to help bring down costs for fruit growers and mitigate the spread of this invasive pest to prevent their crops from being spoiled in the first place.”

“Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) continues to pose a significant threat to Michigan cherry growers, resulting in substantial crop losses due to this invasive pest. While extensive research has been conducted—and continues to be underway—a comprehensive, long-term solution has yet to be achieved,” said Emily Miezio, Cherry Marketing Institute. “Michigan tart cherry growers emphasize that effective control of SWD remains a top priority in their ability to consistently produce high-quality fruit. The Michigan cherry industry and the Cherry Marketing Institute are grateful for Senator Peters’ continued leadership and commitment in reintroducing the SWAT Act.”

“The invasive pest, Spotted Wing Drosphila, has caused substantial harm to the cherry industry in Michigan by not only destroying fruit on the trees, but forcing significant increases in costly crop protection practices. I applaud Senator Peters for reintroducing the SWAT Act. It is so important to find real solutions to these issues, instead of band aids. Research that benefits specialty crops will pay dividends in keeping American farmers in business and American citizens eat healthy food that is grown in the USA,” said Juliette McAvoy, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of King Orchards Farm in Central Lake, Michigan.

Peters’ SWAT Act – which he authored and reintroduced with U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) – would establish a fund managed by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to advance research and strengthen efforts to reduce the species’ population in the U.S. The fund would be authorized at $6.5 million annually for five years.

The spotted wing drosophila is an invasive pest from East Asia that lays eggs in soft-skinned fruit crops, including cherries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. Since their first detection in the continental United States in 2008, they have spread across the West Coast, as well as through Florida, Georgia, Utah, the Carolinas, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The spotted wing drosophila have caused more than an estimated $700 million in economic loss per year nationally – in part because fruit buyers have a zero-tolerance policy if the invasive insect is spotted on crops, meaning entire crop loads can be rejected if a single larva is detected. Thorough pest management strategies are required for farmers to ensure their crops are SWD-free, raising costs along the way.

A Spotted Wing Drosophila Response Team is led by researchers at Michigan State University and many other U.S. universities – and has been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Project GREEEN, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and various Michigan grower organizations. In talks with members of the Spotted Wing Drosophila Response Team, Professor Rufus Isaacs of Michigan State University, Professor Ash Sial of University of Georgia, and officials with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have all said current federal funding levels are inadequate for the management of these invasive insects – and that’s why Peters reintroduced this legislation.

Peters has fiercely fought to support growers in Michigan by strengthening our defenses against invasive species. In 2020, Peters’ bipartisan legislation to address the shortage of agricultural inspectors – who protect the nation’s food supply and agricultural industry at the border – by authorizing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire additional inspectors was signed into law. Peters also fought to level the playing field for small- and medium-sized businesses that have been negatively impacted by unfair trade practices from foreign countries, including Michigan cherry growers hurt by dumping and subsidies on imported goods. Additionally, after a push by Peters, the U.S. International Trade Commission announced in 2020 it would start tracking foreign imports to accurately measure the impact of trade on Michigan’s tart cherry industry.

###


Reed & Smith Lead Effort to Pass the Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act

WASHINGTON, DC – With the nation experiencing a deficit of affordable homes and home prices and rents increasing to historic levels, Senate Democrats are offering a legislative solution to provide tens of billions of dollars to help create millions of new homes for low-income Americans.

U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are teaming up with several colleagues to introduce the Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act (S.3754). This bill would generate up to $50 billion over ten years to help build and preserve approximately 2.9 million affordable housing units nationwide. The bill would be fully paid for through a new tax that disincentives institutional investors from purchasing large numbers of single-family homes.

Driven by a shortage of as many as 6.8 million homes nationwide, homes prices have surged 51 percent and rents 36 percent over the last six years, according to the National Association of Realtors and Zillow. During that same period, large investors exacerbated this shortage by purchasing hundreds of thousands of single-family homes across the U.S., many of which they hold within portfolios as rentals, preventing more families from reaching homeownership. In the first nine months of 2025, around 30 percent of single-family homes on the market were bought by investors, not hardworking households who cannot compete with private equity and other large investors that can make all-cash offers, waive contingencies, and provide additional concessions.

Higher rents and fewer opportunities for homeownership are devastating for millions of families. As housing costs skyrocket, more households are priced out of homeownership, while renters have less to spend on food, clothing, and other everyday necessities.

The Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act would help level the playing field for families by taxing investors who purchase and hold more than 15 single-family homes, with the largest investors paying higher rates.

The Trump White House announced it is “taking steps” to ban large institutional investors from buying single-family homes and issued an executive order directing multiple federal agencies to limit federal support for such purchases. But that action will do next to nothing unless Congress codifies much stronger protections by passing a bill like the Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act, which would specifically address the outsize role institutional investors have in the housing market.

The Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act would raise $51 billion over a decade by taxing investors that purchase large numbers of single-family homes, with revenue split between the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) and Capital Magnet Fund (CMF) to help build and rehab 285,000 rental units for extremely low-income Americans through HTF grants and help finance 2.7 million rental and homeownership units for low-income families via CMF, which leverages other public and private investments.

“The Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act isn’t just a slogan, it’s a solution. This bill would ease our national housing shortage. It would invest directly in the production of new housing and help individual homebuyers afford to buy a place to live, put down roots, and strengthen communities. And it would make it harder for institutional investors to snap up homes at the expense of hardworking American families,” said Senator Reed. “A home is more than a commodity or a profit center, it’s a place to live and a basic necessity. But many families have seen housing costs artificially inflated due to institutional investors treating housing stock like an investment vehicle. Under this bill, Wall Street investors can still buy all the properties they want, but commonsense guardrails would ensure they pay their fair share and it plows that money directly into creating more housing units.”

“Without a safe, affordable place to live, it becomes nearly impossible to hold a job, go to school, or stay healthy,” said Senator Smith. “Our country is facing a housing shortage crisis, with supply falling dramatically behind demand. This bill would hold the corporate investors accountable who take advantage of our country’s housing shortage at the expense of working families, and create millions of desperately needed new, affordable homes in the process.”

In addition to Reed and Smith, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

The Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act has been endorsed by several leading organizations, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Americans for Financial Reform, and Consumer Action.

“Institutional investors and private equity firms exacerbate our nation’s housing crisis by purchasing rental properties and dramatically raising rents, engaging in predatory behaviors without regard for their impact on people,” said Renee M. Willis, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “I applaud Senators Reed and Smith for reintroducing the Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act, which would discourage these predatory practices and create additional investments in deeply affordable homes through the national Housing Trust Fund.”

“This bill targets the real problems of limited housing supply and lack of affordability,” said Ruth Susswein, Consumer Action’s director of consumer protection. “Best of all, it requires those who are fueling the housing shortage to help fund the solution for low income consumers.”


Reed Seeks Urgent Answers on El Paso Airspace Closure

WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to provide clarity to the American people, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is demanding swift clarification from the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) following conflicting accounts surrounding the abrupt closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas.

Earlier today, the FAA announced the immediate closure of the El Paso airspace for 10 days, citing “special security reasons” – a move unprecedented since the September 11, 2001 attacks – before the decision was rescinded just hours later. The Trump Administration stated that the closure was due to the incursion of drones operated by suspected drug cartels, but subsequent reporting indicates the closure may have been caused by disagreements between the DOD and FAA about the testing of U.S. counter-drone weapons in the vicinity of civilian aircraft.

Senator Reed issued the following statement in response:

“The airspace closure over El Paso triggered immediate chaos and confusion and cannot be dismissed as a minor misunderstanding. A ten-day shutdown of a major U.S. air corridor is an extraordinary step that demands a clear and consistent explanation. The conflicting accounts coming from different parts of the federal government only deepen public concern and raise serious questions about coordination and decision-making.”

Reed is seeking a full accounting of what occurred in U.S. airspace, whether proper safety protocols were followed, and why public communications appear to have been inconsistent. He emphasized that Congress has a responsibility to conduct thorough oversight and ensure that the DOD, DOT, and FAA are acting in close coordination.

“The Department of Defense and the FAA must immediately present the facts, reconcile these discrepancies, and assure the American people that airspace security decisions are being made responsibly, transparently, and with public safety as the highest priority,” Reed said.


Ricketts on the Senate Floor: Fund DHS and Keep Nebraskans Safe

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) called on his Senate colleague to pass appropriations funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

“[DHS] funding runs out Friday at midnight,” said Ricketts. “And, if Democrats allow this to happen, it won’t impact ICE operations. But what it will do is interrupt FEMA. We just had a major winter storm on the East Coast and parts of the south FEMA will be interrupted if the Department of Homeland Security is not getting funded. Our TSA agents who help make sure we get around the country safely through our airports, they will stop getting paid. That could potentially lead to slowdowns at airports. The Coast Guard will stop getting paid — our heroes who keep us safe on our oceans and rescue us when we need it. These are all the things that Democrats will be putting at risk if they don’t fund Homeland Security.

Watch the video here.

TRANSCRIPT:

Senator Ricketts: “Mr. President,

“Over the last several weeks, we have witnessed some terrible tragedies in Minnesota that involved law enforcement operations and loss of life.

“We should all continue to pray for the families of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.

“As a former governor, I know that when there’s an officer-involved shooting, there’s always an investigation to determine whether the shooting was justified.

“And there will indeed be multiple investigations into these shootings.

“I also know that, as a former governor — having had the State Patrol of Nebraska report to me — that our law enforcement officers are dedicated professionals, women and men who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and they will do a great job for us in investigating what could be done better.

“And the Department of Homeland Security should take this opportunity to review its policies and procedures because of this investigation to determine if there are areas to improve upon.

“One of the areas I think they will find is that there could be better cooperation with the local law enforcement.

“However, this is not the fault of ICE or Customs and Border Protection.

“This is the fault of the mayor, who is not allowing his administration to work with ICE to, for example, apprehend criminal illegal aliens who are in their jails and forcing them to go out in the street to apprehend these folks.

“And they’re not providing the sort of crowd control that would allow protesters to exercise their rights and keep them safe and stop them from interfering with law enforcement operations.

“And so the Democrats are holding up the Department of Homeland Security bill.

“Ironically, because of the continuing resolution that we passed, we are funding ICE with more money than we would have otherwise, if we just passed the regular Homeland Security bill, because Republicans are working on fiscal restraint.

“Also, ironically, they actually can’t get at the agency they’re mad at.

“ICE is fully funded for the next three years because of the reconciliation bill we passed last year, and so Democrats really can’t impact the funding of the agency that they’re unhappy with.

“Now they’ve got various demands that they have with regard to this, and again, some of these demands are already addressed in the Homeland Security bill.

“For example, they want body cameras.

“There’s actually funding for body cameras in the homeland security bill, if the Democrats would join us in passing it.

“There’s also funding for de-escalation procedures.

“Presumably, Democrats would want that.

“There’s also funding for an inspector general.

“Presumably, Democrats would think that was a good idea.

“All these things are in the Homeland Security bill, the Democrats would just work with Republicans to pass it, but they’re not doing so.

“They have some demands like better cooperation with local law enforcement.

“Well, that’s something that we would like to that we’d like to see in sanctuary cities that are blocking our federal law enforcement officers from apprehending illegal immigrant criminals who are in their jails, work with us to be able to allow us to do that.

“That’d be great.

“I’m sure the ICE members are talking right now to say, are saying to themselves, so that cooperation be wonderful.

“In fact, that’s the key.

“I see it in my home state that our local law enforcement, our county sheriffs, they don’t do ICE’s job for them.

“But they do cooperate to be able to get criminal illegal aliens into the custody of ICE and also provide security to make sure that law enforcement is not interfered with, and that protesters can have their ability to exercise their rights in a safe way.

“One of the other demands that they have is for no masks.

“And again, talking to local law enforcement in Nebraska, and my own experience with Nebraska State Patrol.

“I know that typically, our law enforcement officers wear a name badge, but in special operations, that’s not always the case.

“We see that masks are necessary to protect the identities of our law enforcement officers.

“Far-left radical people are using face recognition software or can use that to identify law enforcement officials and then dox them, and that’s a risk.

“In fact, we’ve seen it in Nebraska.

“We had — talking to one of my county sheriffs about one of his deputies who was doxed his name and address, his children’s names were published on the internet and even going so far as to publish his parents’ name and address in a different city.

“This is just pure intimidation.

“I know that when we have drug and interdiction programs, we want our officers to wear masks, because, again, the cartels want to intimidate our law enforcement officers into not doing their jobs.

“And this is something we have to be worried about.

“If the left continues to villainize our law enforcement officers who are there to keep us safe, it will make the job less attractive.

“It will be harder for us to attract the right kind of people we want to be able to fill those positions in law enforcement.

“It is absolutely appropriate in certain circumstances to wear a mask, and in fact, in some operations, it’s a safety issue if we are having our law enforcement officers, for example, go into a residence where they know there’s a criminal and they use are using, say ordinance to do that, the mask actually helps protect them.

“So there are times and circumstances where that’s appropriate and certainly protecting our law enforcement officers from malicious actors who want to intimidate them is important.

“It’s time to make sure we’re keeping our law enforcement officers safe and making sure we continue to have people brave, women and men who want to step up and do that job.

“One of the other things that our Democrat colleagues want is to end administrative warrants.

“A little history: Administrative warrants were originally passed in the Immigration and Naturalization Act from 1952, so they’ve been around for nearly 75 years.

“Getting away from that would bring our law enforcement operations with regard to illegal immigrants in this country to a halt.

“This is an important way that we actually get to deport the people who are here illegally.

“So that’s a non-starter.

“We can’t slow down the system.

“Again, we just saw under the Biden administration an open border policy and 10.5 million illegal entry attempts into the United States.

“The President has now brought those down 95% and since April 2025 has stopped releasing illegal immigrants into our country.

“That’s progress, but I believe the President was hired to address the issue Joe Biden created.

“So, we need to give the right tools to our law enforcement officers to be successful.

“I encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with the White House and Senate Republicans to come up with a reasonable compromise based on common ground, and to make sure that we are funding Homeland Security.

“That funding runs out Friday at midnight.

“And, if Democrats allow this to happen, it won’t impact ICE operations.

“But what it will do is interrupt FEMA.

“We just had a major winter storm on the East Coast and parts of the south FEMA will be interrupted if the Department of Homeland Security is not getting funded.

“Our TSA agents who help make sure we get around the country safely through our airports, they will stop getting paid.

“That could potentially lead to slowdowns at airports.

“The Coast Guard will stop getting paid — our heroes who keep us safe on our oceans and rescue us when we need it.

“These are all the things that Democrats will be putting at risk if they don’t fund Homeland Security.

“And of course, any continuing resolution will just mean that the Democrats are funding ICE to a greater degree than they would otherwise.

“So again, I encourage my Senate, my Senate Democrat colleagues, to work with the White House and Senate Republicans on a reasonable compromise.”


Sen. Rick Scott Dives into True Meaning of the American Dream with FL Restaurant Owner in ‘American Dream at Work’ Series

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott released the second episode of his ‘American Dream at Work’ series highlighting Fernando Mendoza, the owner and founder of Nando Grill with several locations throughout the state. Senator Scott hears directly from Fernando on what the American Dream, and the opportunities that come with it, mean to him. See episode one with entrepreneur Jon Taffer HERE.

As part of his American Dream at Work series, Senator Scott is highlighting the stories of Florida entrepreneurs, their businesses, and the incredible work they’re doing to grow jobs and contribute to their communities. Senator Scott lived his American Dream – from growing up in public housing, to starting a family, building businesses, being elected Governor of Florida, and U.S. Senator – he continues working tirelessly to ensure every American has the same opportunity to live their American Dream.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The American Dream has always been about opportunity -- about people from all walks of life coming to this country, working hard, and building something better for themselves and their families. Small businesses are the backbone of that dream, creating jobs, strengthening communities, and proving what’s possible when hard work meets opportunity. During my visit to Nando Grill in Orlando, I met with Fernando, a Venezuelan immigrant who came to America with a dream and is now living it as a successful small business owner. His story represents the very best of our country. But today, even the hardest-working entrepreneurs are facing higher costs and burdensome regulations that make it harder to get ahead. That’s why policies like President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, including No Tax on Tips, matter, because they help workers keep more of what they earn and give small businesses room to grow. Since I got to the Senate in 2019, I promised to fight to Make Washington Work, by shrinking government, cutting spending, cutting taxes, and supporting small businesses so business owners like Fernando can continue creating jobs, helping families succeed, and showing that the American Dream is still alive and worth fighting for.”

Watch the second episode, featuring Fernando Mendoza of Nando Grill HERE or below.

###


ICYMI: Slotkin, Kelly Hold Press Conference on Failed Grand Jury Indictment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) delivered statements and took questions from the press in response to a grand jury’s refusal to indict them over their video affirming service members of their right to disobey an illegal order.

Slotkin reviewed her position on the case, stating that no matter how President Trump and Jeanine Pirro continue to weaponize the judicial system against their perceived political enemies, this decision made by the members of the grand jury upheld our values, the Constitution, freedom of speech, and the rule of law.

Watch the speech here.

Download the speech here.

###


Slotkin Statement on Failed Grand Jury Indictment by Jeanine Pirro

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) released the following regarding the failed grand jury indictment from the Department of Justice.

“Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a Grand Jury to indict me. This was in response to me organizing a 90-second video that simply quoted the law. Pirro did this at the direction of President Trump, who said repeatedly that I should be investigated, arrested, and hanged for sedition.

“Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed. Hopefully, this ends this politicized investigation for good.

“But today wasn’t just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country.

“Because whether or not Pirro succeeded is not the point. It’s that President Trump continues to weaponize our justice system against his perceived enemies. It’s the kind of thing you see in a foreign country, not in the United States we know and love.

“No matter what President Trump and Pirro continue to do with this case, tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law.”

###


Thune on DHS Funding: Time Is of the Essence

Clickhereto watch the video.

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

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, on Friday funding for the Department of Homeland Security will expire.

“When we passed a short, two-week stopgap for the department – at Democrats’ insistence – many of us said it would not be long enough.

“I made that case repeatedly.

“Standing here today, I regret to say that we have been proved right.

“The re-negotiation that Democrats demanded with the Trump administration last month is – unsurprisingly – taking some time.

“Democrats took more than a week to coalesce around a set of demands.

“And it was just this past weekend that they put those demands into writing.

“On Monday – just two days later – the administration countered, and I expect Democrats will shortly receive detailed text for further consideration.

“A quick turn, I might add, after a long wait.

“By any measure, a good-faith engagement from our friends at the White House.

“Do I think the parties are on a path that could culminate in a deal? Yes.

“Will they need more time to get there? Absolutely.

“So I hope our Democrat friends will remain at the table and give talks more time to mature.

“The alternative path should interest no one – and that is a needless shutdown that will see funding lapse for our Coast Guard, our cybersecurity, for airport security, and for disaster response.”


Thune: Republicans’ Policies Drive Down Health Care Costs

Clickhereto watch the video.

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

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, we’ve been able to pass 11 of the 12 full-year appropriations bills into law this year.

“And as I said, I’m hoping that we can get that 12th bill done soon.

“We’ve made considerable progress this past year restoring a regular order appropriations process.

“And thanks in no small part to a more open process, this year’s appropriations bills delivered significant wins for the American people.

“Today, I want to take a moment to talk about some of the health care wins for Americans in the most recent appropriations package.

“This most recent package included a number of member-driven priorities to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, increase access to care, improve health care quality, and support treatment of diseases that affect literally millions of Americans.

“And I want to thank Chairmen Crapo and Cassidy for their leadership in crafting this package and for literally years of hard work on these issues of great importance to the American people.

“Mr. President, one of the top issues for the American people is the cost of prescription drugs.

“It’s … a problem not just in my home state of South Dakota but around the country.

“And the status quo is challenging for patients and for independent pharmacies that often serve small towns and rural communities.

“But under the Republican majority, Congress has taken concrete action to drive down costs at the pharmacy counter.

“That starts with pharmacy benefit manager – or PBM – reform.

“Mr. President, the recent appropriations package included provisions from two bills to address PBM practices that can drive up the cost that consumers pay for prescriptions.

“Policies from Senators Cassidy and Marshall’s bill – the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act – will increase accountability and transparency for PBMs.

“And when a PBM gets a discount or rebate from a drugmaker, this bill ensures that those savings are incorporated into the health plans that many working Americans rely on to afford their health care and prescriptions.

“Mr. President, we also included in the appropriations package provisions from the PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act, authored by Senator Crapo and supported by nearly all the Republican members of the Finance Committee, which removes incentives for pharmacy benefit managers to promote higher-priced medications at the expense of seniors.

“This bill also reinforces requirements that protect independent pharmacies and ensure that they can continue serving their communities.

“Mr. President, in addition to these commonsense policies, we also took action to improve access to generic drugs, which are often a more affordable option for millions of Americans seeking relief for different health conditions.

“Senators Paul, Husted, and Lee worked together on the Transparency in Generic Drug Applications Act, which streamlines the approval process for generic alternatives to brand-name drugs, which will help ensure that these safe and less expensive alternatives reach the market more quickly.

“And that’s not the only thing we did to help accelerate access to medications.

“Senator Mullin’s bill – the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act – will drive development for pediatric cancer drugs.

“Sadly, Mikaela Naylon lost her battle with cancer this past October.

“For five years, Mikaela sought treatment around the country, and she was a tireless advocate for other children with cancer.

“And this law is a fitting tribute to Mikaela’s fight.

“Mr. President, we also addressed access to treatment for children with significant health care needs and rare diseases.

“Senator Grassley’s Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act simplifies the process for children on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program with complex medical conditions to get care outside their home state.

“Unfortunately, regulatory hurdles have too often stood in the way of parents’ efforts to get their children essential care, wherever it may be located.

“By removing red tape, Senator Grassley’s bill will help ensure that vulnerable children can get the expert care they need when they need it.

“Then there’s Senator Capito’s Innovation in Pediatric Drugs Act, which closes the research gap between rare disease treatments for adults and children by ensuring that drugmakers conduct pediatric studies on drugs for rare diseases.

“Mr. President, I’m also proud of what we’ve done to improve access to care.

“In the Working Families Tax Cuts, we took measures to support rural hospitals.

“And the appropriations package also includes support for patients to receive care at home.

“That starts with extending telehealth waivers that have become a critical lifeline for so many patients living far from a health care provider – like patients in rural areas.

“It also includes Senator Tim Scott’s provision on the Acute Hospital at Home Waiver program, which helps continue a successful program that helps Americans get the acute care they need without having to be admitted to the hospital.

“Mr. President, there’s a lot more I could talk about when it comes to health care wins for the American people.

“There are Senator Collins’ provisions to support Type 1 diabetes research and help family members acting as caregivers.

“Senator Marshall’s Fair Billing Act, which will help ensure that patients are billed appropriately based on where they receive care, and will empower them against unfair facility fees.

“And Senator Crapo’s work on coverage for multi-cancer early detection screening and Senator Boozman’s work to support organ donors and moms with preemie babies.

“Our most recent appropriations package contains numerous health care policies that will benefit the American people.

“It will help bring down health care costs.

“Improve access to quality and affordable health care.

“And ensure that the United States remains the leader in health care innovation.

“And it will help ensure that innovations can reach the Americans who need them, especially children.

“Mr. President, we passed 11 full-year appropriations bills by engaging members of both parties, and every one of these health care wins is a result of that work.

“And when I say ‘wins,’ Mr. President, I don’t mean for the senators and congressmen who wrote these bills.

“These are wins for the American people to help them live healthier, happier, and longer lives.”


Tuberville Joins GOP Colleagues in Rectifying Fraudulent Obamacare Subsidy Payments

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined 14 of his GOP Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Division Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate calling on the DOJ 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.

“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,” wrote the Senators.

“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,” the Senators continued.

Sen. Tuberville was joined by Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Kennedy (R-LA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) in signing the letter.

Read full text of the letter below or here.

“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,”

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

###