AFTER TRUMP THREATENED TO ELLIMINATE FEDERAL HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM LEAVING NEW YORKERS OUT IN THE COLD, SCHUMER SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTS AND BOOSTS FUNDING FOR LIHEAP TO HELP FAMILIES AND SENIORS...

Schumer Has Long Fought To Protect And Boost Funding For Federal LIHEAP Program Which Helps Seniors And Families Keep Their Homes Heated In The Winter And Cool In The Summer

After Firing All Staff Who Work On LIHEAP, Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Have Zeroed Out Funding For Vital Fed Program But Schumer Led Democrats To Fight Against Cuts And Secured $20 Million Increase Compared To Last Year

Schumer: NYers Can Continue Tapping Into Fed Funds They Need To Lower Heating & Cooling Costs

After leading the fight against Trump’s proposal to completely eliminate all federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer announced he has successfully protected funding that helps families and seniors across America heat their homes in the winter and cool their homes in the summer. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education funding bill which was just signed into law provides more than $4 billion for LIHEAP, a $20 million boost above the FY 2025 enacted level and sound rejection of Trump’s proposed elimination of the program.

“Everyone in New York should be able to come home to warmth in the winter. We all know Upstate winters can be harsh, which is why when Trump threatened to completely eliminate funding for LIHEAP, I fought to ensure this vital program was protected so seniors and families can afford their energy bills and repair their heating systems,” said Senator Schumer. “I’ve pushed to boost federal funding for LIHEAP because I know how important it is to lower energy costs for New York’s families and will keep fighting to protect LIHEAP from Trump’s cruel cuts and ensure that New Yorkers have the resources they need to be safe and warm.”

Ater firing all program staff who worked on LIHEAP last year, Trump’s budget proposed completely eliminating all federal funding for LIHEAP, which provides federal support to seniors & families to help pay their winter heating bills or summer cooling bills. Schumer fought back against these cuts and successfully protected this vital program which has historically had bipartisan support. The just-passed Labor, Health and Human Services, Education funding bill provides more than $4 billion for LIHEAP, a $20 million boost above the FY 2025 level.

Maintaining safe indoor air temperatures is critical, particularly for households that include older adults, individuals with disabilities, and young children. By helping to reduce the costs of home heating and cooling bills, reconnecting energy services that have been disconnected, preventing energy shutoffs, and financing minor energy-related home repairs, LIHEAP helps make sure that all Americans can meet their home energy needs and stay safe in their homes.

Last year, nearly 1.7 million families across New York State received more than $375 million in funding thanks to LIHEAP. A full county-by-county breakdown of New Yorkers receiving LIHEAP can be found HERE, with some of the largest counties highlighted below:

Upstate NY Major Counties LIHEAP Benefits

Counties

Households

Benefits

Erie

100,707

$36.3 million

Monroe

59,390

$18.3 million

Onondaga

35,524

$12.8 million

Oneida

24,453

$12.1 million

Albany

17,101

$6 million

Westchester

30,278

$3.1 million

Broome

18,332

$9.1 million

St. Lawrence

12,473

$7.9 million

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Sen. Tim Scott joins Senate Republican colleagues in urging Treasury and USTR to crack down on illicit Chinese e-cigarettes

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer urging action to curb the influx of illicit Chinese e-cigarettes into the United States.

Below are highlights and excerpts from the letter:

“We write to draw your attention to the growing risks associated with the massive volumes of illicit Chinese e-cigarettes flooding into the United States. We fully support President Trump’s aggressive, multi-agency enforcement actions taken to confront this pressing threat as addressing illegal activity of this magnitude and consequence requires a comprehensive strategy and response. Accordingly, we respectfully urge the Treasury Department and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to take appropriate action within their respective authorities.

“The Chinese Communist Party, through China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), exports hundreds of millions of illegal e-cigarettes to the United States each year, flooding the domestic market, and generating billions of dollars in revenue. The proceeds generated by STMA may be helping to fund military or technological initiatives designed to undermine American economic and strategic interests. Federal agencies have also linked Chinese manufacturers to Mexican cartels and money laundering operations. Earlier this year, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) reported that illicit Chinese e-cigarettes are being used as part of a trade-based money laundering scheme to move fentanyl proceeds on behalf of Mexican cartels.

“Given the scale and severity of this threat, we urge the Treasury Department and USTR to use their respective enforcement and diplomatic authorities to combat illegal Chinese e-cigarettes. Whether tackling money laundering operations via FinCEN or negotiating directly with Chinese leaders to prevent future shipments of illegal e-cigarettes, your leadership is necessary to help curtail this growing security risk. We appreciate your consideration and are ready to assist.”

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association also voiced their support for Sen. Scott’s effort to strengthen enforcement and crack down on this illegal trade that puts communities at risk.

“In South Carolina, during a recent crackdown on illegal THC products being sold in vape shops, we also saw what a serious public safety issue illegal Chinese nicotine vapes are creating. They’re targeting our teens and children with fruity flavors and designs that contain technology and games. These products are not only addictive but extremely dangerous because we have no idea what chemicals might be in them,” South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “Our investigators also believe that Chinese- made vape components are used to make extremely potent THC vape pens that also often find their way into the hands of minors.”

“South Carolina’s sheriffs see firsthand the impact these illicit Chinese e-cigarettes are having on our communities,” said Sally Foster, executive director, South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association. “These products raise public safety concerns, place our young people at risk, and support criminal networks that operate well beyond our state and national borders. We appreciate the continued support of our federal leaders for the work of state and local law enforcement in protecting our communities, and we respectfully urge timely action on this important issue.”

Read the full letter text here.

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Sheehy Introduces Bipartisan Wildfire and Forest Management Bill

U.S. SENATE – Senator Tim Sheehy introduced the Carbon Resource Innovation Act, a bill making innovative, private sector technology to capture carbon eligible for the 45Q carbon capture tax credit. This legislation will make it easier for companies to engage in responsible forest management, reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) joined Senator Sheehy in introducing the bill.

“As we continue to enact commonsense reforms to make our forests and communities more resilient against the growing threat of wildfire, it is critical we use the innovative technology and tools at our disposal to ensure proper fuels management. I’m proud to lead yet another bipartisan bill to achieve that goal and keep our treasured landscapes, homes, and businesses safe from the threat of wildfire,” said Senator Sheehy.

Background:

The 45Q carbon capture tax credit incentivizes companies to capture gaseous CO2 from industrial emitters or directly from the atmosphere to utilize or geologically store it. Originally signed into law by President Bush, 45Q has been revised by Republicans and Democrats, but retains dated limitations, including the requirement that carbon be captured solely in gaseous form. This means 45Q does not recognize technologies that capture carbon in a liquid or solid form, even though they mitigate CO2 emissions and can help drive innovative uses of natural gas or accelerate wildfire fuels reduction from forestry residues.

The Carbon Resource Innovation Act makes these innovative technologies that capture carbon in a solid or liquid form eligible for 45Q, as long as they prevent the emission of CO2 and adhere to the same rigorous verification requirements as current technologies. This levels the playing field for carbon management companies and allows innovative technologies to drive additional public interest benefits and catalyze economic opportunities throughout the country.

The bill aligns with previous modifications to 45Q that adapted to new opportunities for carbon sequestration but has the added benefit of being inclusive of technologies being deployed today and in the future. By providing a clear innovation pathway, the Carbon Resource Innovation Act eliminates the need for each new technology to come back to Congress for inclusion and instead provides certainty to innovators seeking to scale.

Examples of technologies that meet the spirit of 45Q by capturing carbon in transparent and highly verifiable ways, but are currently excluded, include:

Methane pyrolysis, which produces hydrogen using by splitting methane (CH₄), hydrogen and solid carbon. While traditional hydrogen production is eligible for 45Q if it captures carbon in a gaseous form, methane pyrolysis (which produces hydrogen from the same fuel source) is excluded because the carbon is sequestered in a solid form. This solid carbon can then be used as carbon black, graphite, and asphalt binder.

Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS), which converts CO2 already captured from the atmosphere in forestry or agricultural residues into a carbon-rich solid or liquid. These carbon resources can be used in industrial processes or permanently sequestered geologically or in specially designed vaults. These agricultural residues (e.g., corn stover, wheat straw), forestry residues, and other organic wastes would otherwise decompose or burn. By putting these undervalued carbon resources to work, this bill will create new income streams for American farmers and drive wildfire mitigation by creating a market for low- and no-value material, reducing disposal costs.


WATCH: Slotkin Releases Video Statement Declining Interview with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro

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Thune: Democrats Still Not Serious About Reaching DHS Funding Agreement

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 have one week and one day left to pass the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill.

“Democrats demanded a tight timeline for the DHS continuing resolution.

“Republicans warned Democrats repeatedly that such a short timeline would be challenging, if not impossible.

“But to prevent Democrats from shutting down a big part of the government and denying paychecks to soldiers and federal workers, we ultimately gave it to them.

“Now the onus is on Democrats to negotiate in good faith and reach an agreement quickly.

“Notice I said negotiate, Mr. President.

“This is not a blank-check situation, where Republicans just agree to a list of Democrat demands.

“Democrats had previously agreed to a Homeland Security appropriations bill, which included additional money for body cameras as well as deescalation training for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and additional oversight … of funds that have already been appropriated to DHS.

“Those are all things that were agreed upon when that bill was initially negotiated and supported by Democrats in the House and the Senate.

“Well now, Mr. President, they’ve reopened negotiations.

“And that means taking up ideas and priorities from both sides.

“We need to have a serious discussion about the climate of harassment – and worse – that law enforcement officers have been facing for simply trying to do their jobs.

“We also need to address the issue of cooperation between local and federal law enforcement.

“Too many jurisdictions prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement – a situation that makes things more dangerous for everyone.

“The president’s border czar, Tom Homan, yesterday announced that the Department of Homeland Security will be withdrawing 700 federal agents from Minnesota – in large part because of increased cooperation from local law enforcement.

“So I hope my Democrat colleagues are ready to have some conversations with the White House about these and other issues.

“The White House has demonstrated that it’s taking things seriously – and it has already resulted in body cams for all officers deployed to Minneapolis and, as I said, the drawdown of federal agents thanks to the increased cooperation from local law enforcement that Tom Homan has facilitated.

“I want to see my Democrat colleagues take things seriously as well.

“Mr. President, I’d also like to remind Democrats that they are putting funding for some critical government agencies in jeopardy.

“TSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, are all funded by the DHS appropriations bill.

“I think all Americans remember the travel disaster Democrats created by shutting down the government for 43 days last fall.

“Should Democrats fail to agree to a DHS bill and shut down the TSA as a result, there’s a very good chance we could see more travel problems.

“I’d also like to remind my Democrat colleagues that the only way to get any reforms at ICE is to agree to a bill.

“A CR would not include any of the reforms already included, as I said earlier, in the DHS bill, which they helped negotiate and supported before they changed their mind and didn’t support it – and a CR certainly wouldn’t include any new reforms.

“The Democrat leader was complaining about the announcement about body cams for federal officers in Minneapolis, asking why it wasn’t for the whole country.

“Well, Mr. President, I’d like to remind him that the DHS bill we negotiated already includes money for additional body cameras – somewhere on the order of $20 million for additional body cameras.

“The Democrat leader also complained that he doesn’t trust the administration’s reforms, and that we need a law.

“Well, getting a law is well within Democrats’ power.

“But again, Democrats have to be willing to actually reach an agreement.

“If they’re coming to the table demanding a blank check, or refusing to consider any measures but their own, they’re likely to end up with nothing.

“Which is fine if Democrats just want a political issue.

“But if they actually want to do something, then, again, they’re going to have to be willing to reach agreement with the White House on a final bill.

“One week and one day more, Mr. President.

“That is the timeline that the Democrats demanded – and I say demanded – and actually got, they were granted.

“After having negotiated a six-bill package, which included the DHS appropriations bill, they decided, ‘No, we’re not going to do that.’

“People want to blame the White House.

“They want to blame Republicans.

“Republicans had nothing to do with that.

“It passed the House, the six-bill package, including the DHS appropriations bill, with 341 votes in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Almost 80 percent of the entire House had cleared the DHS appropriations bill that was included in the package that the Senate was going to vote on, that the House had already passed.

“And then it came over here and the Democrats decided to blow it up.

“All of a sudden, the bill that they helped negotiate and write and be a part of, which included all the reforms that I mentioned – deescalation training, body cameras, all those things were included in the bill that they said they didn’t then want to pass.

“So they wanted a separate discussion about those issues and demanded that if we didn’t give them that, they weren’t going to vote for the package.

“And so they got what they wanted.

“And then we had a debate about, how long should the CR go for to allow the sides to come together behind an agreement?

“And I suggested, Mr. President, our side suggested that perhaps six weeks would be a sufficient amount of time to have an earnest negotiation with all the parties at the table, and then time to execute actually passing whatever is agreed upon across the floor of the House and the Senate and getting it on the president’s desk.

“The Democrats demanded a two-week CR or they wouldn’t vote for the package, and so they got what they wanted, which is a two-week continuing resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security and the other things I mentioned – FEMA, TSA, Coast Guard, all those things – for two weeks.

“And yet they haven’t appeared yet to want to negotiate on all the things that they’re demanding.

“They put out a list of demands yesterday.

“Our team, our folks have tried to get with them, to sit down at the table and with the White House to reach an agreement that would enable the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to actually be passed here in the Senate and the House and sent to the president.

“But that is not, right now, even in the realm of possibility, Mr. President, because they’re not engaging.

“We’ve got a now one week and one day timeframe in which to do this, which is entirely unrealistic, and a Democrat Party in both the House and the Senate which seems a lot less interested in getting a solution to this than they do in having a political issue.

“Well, Mr. President, if, for some reason, the Department of Homeland Security ends up in a shutdown, it is going to be totally on them.

“They will own it.

“We have tried repeatedly.

“They have agreed repeatedly, before they decided not to agree and to demand something else, which they also got.

“But as of right now, we aren’t anywhere close to having any sort of an agreement that would enable us to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

“And so Mr. President, I would hope that the Democrats will come to the table.

“The timeline that they asked for has been granted, and I hope that they are finally ready to get this done.

“It’s important for the American people.

“All these agencies – Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees disasters in this country.

“We’ve got a number of weather-related disasters in this country that are going to require the able attention of FEMA.

“A lot of important agencies, Mr. President, that won’t go funded if they remain in this posture of resisting anything that doesn’t give them all of their demands.

“But worse yet, Mr. President, not only insisting on all the demands – most of which are, as they know, very unrealistic and unserious – but perhaps even more important than that, at least as of right now, not even willing to engage in a negotiation and discussion to try and reach a result.

“Mr. President, I hope that changes.

“I want to get this done.

“We want to get this done.

“I hope that there are Democrats who also want to get this done.

“And I know the president of the United States is prepared to sign a bill once these negotiations get underway and we reach an agreement.”


Tuberville in Yellowhammer News: ‘America Needs to Make Its Own Medicines Again’

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Oxford Pharmaceuticals Chairman Tom Neely penned an op-ed in Yellowhammer News outlining the importance of returning generic drug production to America instead of relying on foreign supply chains.

Excerpts from the op-ed can be found below, and the full op-ed can be read here.

“While many of us try our best to forget the COVID pandemic in 2020, one serious issue that was revealed during that chaotic time is still impacting us today—our reliance on other countries for medications. Most Americans are so used to taking medicines that they don’t stop to think where the medicine in their cabinets is coming from. The pandemic revealed how dangerous it is for the United States to be completely reliant on other countries for medications we could be making right here at home.”

“Americans are paying the price of Washington’s poor decisions. Last year, we spent $5.7 trillion on health care. Yet, we’re still the sickest and fattest country in the world. It’s embarrassing. I appreciate President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy for wanting to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ Part of this involves producing our own medicine.”

“Alabama is home to such facilities, like Oxford Pharmaceuticals located in Birmingham, Alabama. It produces a generic tablet for a little over one cent per pill. A bottle of 100 doses costs about $1.50 to make. Medicare reimburses that same bottle at more than $13. The money is there—it’s just being siphoned off by a supply chain that rewards middlemen and foreign producers instead of American workers and patients.”

“Americans deserve better than the status quo. We can’t wait for another pandemic to hit to take this seriously. It isn’t just a health crisis; it’s an urgent national security concern as well. We haven’t been preparing to win in America when it comes to our generic drug supply chain, and we are another disruption away from failure.”

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

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Tuberville Speaks on Importance of Helping Veterans Heal Through Adaptive Sports

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) participated in a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) hearing focused on helping our veterans heal through adaptive sports. During the hearing, Sen. Tuberville spoke with Julie Howell, Associate Legislative Director for Government Relations at Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Gabriel George, Director of Pickleball at Military Adaptive Court Sports.

Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or on YouTube or Rumble.

TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for all of you being here today and telling your story—it’s very important. You know, as a former football coach, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact sports can have on people’s lives. And, as a committee, we should be doing everything we possibly can do to support alternative treatments for our veterans like adaptive sports programming.

Ms. Howell, in your testimony, you spoke about the importance of veterans gaining access to transportation to expand independence, and you referenced my Assist Act, and I thank you for that. [My bill] aims to expand access for automobile modifications for disabled veterans to participate in adaptive sports. A veteran has to be able to get there in the first place to be able to compete. And, so, we have to find some possible way to help out the veteran. So, how would my legislation help more veterans—in your thoughts—of being able to benefit from adaptive sports?”

HOWELL: “Thank you for the question, sir, and thank you for sponsoring that legislation. I think everyone here recognizes that the way the bill was implemented was not the intent. This is simply a technical fix to get it right. The language that was intended to be an example list ended up becoming an exhaustive list and so veterans across the country were running into barriers when it came to making an adaptive van instead of a vehicle. And, so, the way those facilities interpreted that understanding again, I just want to stress—this is just a technical fix. It seems so simple, and we are eagerly awaiting its passage, sir. Because like you said, adaptive sports are great. Getting to your VA facility is great. But some people need modifications to be able to get there. And, particularly for our veterans in rural communities, accessible transportation is really hard to find. And a lot of these folks live super rural, and their vehicle is the only vehicle that is gonna be able to get them there. So, let’s make sure that they get the adaptations that are necessary for them to be able to not only go to their appointments, but get to something in their community that’s gonna provide them increased mental health, increased physical access, and all of the things I mentioned earlier.”

TUBERVILLE: “Exactly. Thank you. What’s the biggest barriers your members faced when trying to participate in adaptive sports, other than this?”

HOWELL: “I’ll echo the other witnesses in that, you know, in rural communities, it’s rather challenging. You know, you can only go to so many places. There’s only so many accessible hotel rooms for cities to host. We run into complications when it comes to finding a city large enough to host the wheelchair games. You need a convention center. You need enough hotels within a reasonable area that have ADA accessible hotels. That’s a whole separate hearing talking about accessible hotel rooms. But these are serious challenges. You need a facility that can accommodate six hundred wheelchair users, and you don’t really know what that means until you see it. It’s quite the undertaking. And I think one policy area around the VA adaptive sports grant that maybe we could look at is the VA adaptive sports grant can be used to host adaptive events, recreation opportunities. It cannot be used for veteran travel to get to those events. So, veterans are on the hook for paying their own airfare. They’re on their own for any kind of travel in between. And often, that’s a barrier to entry for a lot of folks, especially coming from a rural community. So, imagine you’re a veteran living in a highly rural area. You can’t get your vehicle adapted, and there’s no paratransit that can get you to the airport. Like, that’s an entire opportunity gone. And then those are veterans that don’t have the amazing stories that my fellow veterans here had today. It’s all one thing after another.”

TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. George, as a former coach, I saw firsthand the impact that team sports has on players’ mental health. What are ways this committee can ensure veterans have access to and information about great programs like the one that rehabilitated you?”

GEORGE: “Great question. Communication. […] The way that got me informed about the actual VA’s programs and some summer sports clinic was through my rec therapist. But, one thing I’ve realized, and even [am] working on with Max, how we partner with other veterans, we go directly to rec therapists, we try to find them—but there’s a limit of them—of rec therapists. A lot of doctors don’t even know what rec therapy is. They don’t know that the VA has a rec therapy program. So, when I’m telling a vet, ‘Hey, […] Talk to your doctor. Ask for an appointment. Once you [see your] doctor, tell them to refer you to rec therapy.’ A lot of VAs don’t even have them. In some areas, they’re far out, there’s no rec therapy program, there’s nobody facilitating events for the veterans. So, that’s why we come together and outside organizations are trying to help input those and get stuff started in the community.”

TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. […] Ms. Howell, do you see adaptive sports as a form of alternative care to keep veterans away from [overprescribing] drugs?”

HOWELL: “Yes, sir. I would agree with that. We have—I think—on my desktop, I have like fourteen pages of quotes from PVA members talking about how the first time they went to the wheelchair games, they fought it. They fought it. They just wanted to sit at home and be left alone. And the introduction through rec therapists and the VA in adaptive sports is the thing that got them back into the light, if you will. We have countless accounts of veterans who with engaging in adaptive sports, they no longer have active suicidal ideation. They have decreased their dependence on mental health pharmaceuticals. They also end up building a community. Like, if you have no purpose, if you have no sense of belonging, what else—what are you doing? And so adaptive sports is like the very basic [thing] that we could offer to veterans who are struggling because it seems to overwhelmingly reintegrate them to not only their veteran community, but their broader community at home. I think it’s a critical piece of the veteran puzzle.”

TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”

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

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Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Statement on Trump Administration Rule Paving Way for More Firings of Merit-Based Federal Workers

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-Md.) released the following statement on the Trump Administration Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Schedule Policy/Career final rule. Previously referred to as “Schedule F” when Donald Trump issued this proposal during his first term, this rule marks another step by the Trump Administration to reorganize tens of thousands of federal workers under a new class with very limited protections – opening the door for the Administration to carry out more politically-motivated firings without recourse for the employees to appeal.

“Donald Trump and Russ Vought have launched their most direct attack yet on the cornerstone of our government – the nonpartisan, merit-based federal workforce. This policy is not rooted in the desire for greater government efficiency, instead it is simply a trojan horse designed to convert our merit-based system into one driven by political cronyism. It is a recipe for corruption. Federal employees would be selected based not on what they know, but who they know – which will undermine the quality of services delivered to the American people. We will fight tooth-and-nail against this policy in Congress, in the courts, and in our communities so that our patriotic federal workers can continue to serve American families and businesses – without fear of political interference.”


Warner, Cramer Introduce Legislation Reauthorizing EXIM for 10 Years

WASHINGTON –U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), both members of the Senate Banking Committee, introduced legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) for the next decade, which would be the longest reauthorization of the bank in history. Since its inception as an Export Credit Agency (ECA) in 1934, EXIM has been an essential financing tool for American companies to export goods and services.

“Renewing the Export-Import Bank is critical for Virginia businesses to stay viable in a global economy with China and other foreign competitors,” said Sen. Warner. “Virginia businesses are struggling because of Trump’s senseless tariff policy. At a time when it’s already harder for businesses in the Commonwealth and across the country to export goods, failing to reauthorize EXIM would be another massive hit to the economy. This bipartisan, commonsense bill will protect American jobs and provide stability for small businesses and manufacturers, while helping secure our economic and national security.”

“Planning for production and manufacturing as we know, does not happen overnight, and reauthorizing EXIM for a decade really reflects that reality, and that’s the sweet spot we’re trying to hit here,” said Sen. Cramer. “A ten-year authorization allows for greater certainty, and we know how important certainty is to investors. It gives American businesses a runway for making long-term plans without that looming threat of a lapse in authorization. That’s what we saw in 2015 and we want to avoid that. We all know that across North Dakota and of course every state in our country, companies rely on EXIM to help export products. We don’t have much of a business economy if we’re not exporting, and that includes big and small companies. The introduction of this bill starts that process of working with our colleagues and stakeholders, who we listen to carefully, to build on EXIM’s success. I know it seems early but it’ll come faster than you think. We really need to work together to find the sweet spot, find the low-hanging fruit, find where compromise can be made so that we can give American businesses the competitive edge across the globe.”

Since 2016, EXIM has supported 61 Virginia businesses for a total of $719 million worth of exports.

As of 2019, there were 115 ECAs globally, each competing to help industry within their country secure market access across the globe. China has two ECAs, both of which support its Belt and Road Initiative, which facilitates Chinese global industrial development. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “In 2022, it is estimated that the PRC’s official medium- and long-term export credit support was $11 billion. In comparison, the United States’ official medium- and long-term export credit support stood at $2.7 billion.”

Click here for bill text.

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Warner & Kaine Slam Trump Administration Rule to Make it Easier to Fire Federal Workers

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) slammed the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) final rule that will allow the Trump Administration to reclassify and fire federal employees without cause or appeals rights. Schedule Policy/Career, previously known as Schedule F, is a policy that President Donald Trump pursued during his first term to strip federal workers of their protections and carry out politically motivated firings.

“For decades, our nonpartisan civil service has set us apart from other countries and enabled us to have stability and continuity no matter who is in the White House. The Trump Administration’s move to reclassify federal employees to make it easier to fire them for political reasons will hurt these workers and their families, threaten our national security, and make it harder for Americans to access the services they need. If we want to continue to lead the world, then we must have a federal workforce based on merit, not politics. We will continue to do everything we can to protect these dedicated public servants, many of whom live in Virginia.”

Warner and Kaine, members of the Federal Workforce Caucus that launched earlier this week, have strongly pushed back against the mass firings and politicization of the federal workforce. Last May, Warner and Kaine sent a letter opposing OPM’s rule change. The senators previously introduced the Saving the Civil Service Act, legislation to protect the merit-based federal workforce system and prevent any position in the competitive service from being reclassified to Schedule P/C.

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Warnock Slams Economic Failure of Trump’s Tariff Taxes During Senate Banking Hearing

Senator Reverend Warnock questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the administration’s tariff taxes killing manufacturing jobs across Georgia and the country

The hearing follows reporting that the United States has lost 72,000 manufacturing jobs since the start of President Trump’s trade war

Since taking office in 2025, President Trump’s trade policies have cost Georgia families an extra $1,700 a year

Senator Reverend Warnock on WSJ reporting: “U.S. manufacturing is in retreat, and Trump’s tariffs aren’t helping”

Watch Senator Reverend Warnock at Thursday’s Banking Committee hearing HERE

Washington, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Banking Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) pressed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the Trump administration’s failed attempts to create American manufacturing jobs. Thanks to President Trump’s reckless trade and tariff policies, the cost of living under the current administration has ballooned over the last year while costing America 72,000 manufacturing jobs. Since taking office in 2025, President Trump’s policies have raised the price of household essentials, costing Georgia families an extra $1,700 a year.

“Manufacturers shed workers in each of the eight months after President Trump unveiled his tariffs on what he called Liberation Day,” said Senator Warnock. “I would submit that it’s a strange liberation and a curious freedom that leaves you unemployed. Even worse, smaller businesses are struggling to keep up with the tariff chaos.

President Trump’s trade agenda has also been a disaster for job growth in the United States – specifically manufacturing jobs. Since April 2025, the United States has lost 72,000 manufacturing jobs. These policies are particularly hurting Georgia small businesses who have been forced to make difficult decisions about their bottom lines. President Trump has repeatedly claimed his policies are driving growth, but data shows that is not true. The U.S. economy added only 50,000 jobs a month in 2025, a 70% decline from 2024 when monthly job gains averaged 168,000.

Senator Warnock continues to push back against the Trump administration’s reckless tariff policy and the uncertain market conditions it creates for Georgia businesses. As ranking member of the Finance Subcommittee on Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, the senator has oversight jurisdiction over federal trade policies and continues to work to foster a financial climate that will bolster the Georgia economy.

Watch the Senator’s full remarks HERE.

See below a transcript of key exchanges between Senator Warnock and Secretary Bessent (remarks have been lightly edited for clarity):

Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): President Trump promised that his administration would usher in a “golden age of American manufacturing” in September 2024 at a rally in my home state of Georgia. Donald Trump said, “We’re going to have a manufacturing boom.” Secretary Bessent, we’re now more than one year into the Trump administration. Yes or no – has there been a manufacturing boom in the United States?

Secretary Bessent (SB): There are the beginnings of a manufacturing boom. We have intentions, factory groundbreakings, sir.

SRW: So your answer to that is yes, there’s been a manufacturing boom?

SB: We are at the beginning of a manufacturing boom.

SRW: Okay, you and I could agree to disagree, but more importantly, manufacturers are telling us something different. Manufacturers are struggling because of the President’s policies, and that’s what they keep telling us, and the facts keep telling us. In fact, just this past Monday, the Wall Street Journal published this article entitled “U.S. Manufacturing is in Retreat” and Trump’s tariffs aren’t helping. […] Secretary Bessent, do you know how many manufacturing jobs the United States has lost since “Liberation Day” in April 2025 when the President first announced his tariffs?

SB: Yes, Senator, because you were out of the room, but it was already brought up.

SRW: We do many things. I don’t need you to tell me where I was.

SB: 72,000. And I will point out that the Wall Street Journal is not called the Main Street Journal. And they care more about– [inaudible crosstalk]

SRW: Sir I am not asking you to opine on the Wall Street Journal. I have three minutes. Just answer the questions that I’m actually asking you. So, 72,000 manufacturing jobs according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Thank you for answering the question. Manufacturers shed workers. Shed workers in each of the eight months after President Trump unveiled his tariffs on what he called Liberation Day. I would submit that it’s a strange liberation and a curious freedom that leaves you unemployed. Even worse, smaller businesses are struggling to keep up with the tariff chaos. Big manufacturers may have the resources to shift suppliers, and I need you to understand the spirit of my questions. I spend a lot of time talking to the people in Georgia who’ve given me the great honor of representing them in the United States Senate. And so this is about them, and especially our small businesses. They don’t have the ear of the president. They don’t have access to Mar-a-Lago, and so they’re not able to insulate their company from the worst of the tariffs. Secretary Bessent, small businesses without the same resources or unfettered access to the President. What should those businesses do for the relief if they can’t get into Mar-a-Lago?

SB: Again, sir, small business confidence is up, and we are seeing that the One Big Beautiful Bill gives the full expensing for equipment, factories, and ag structures.

SRW: They are telling us that it’s more expensive to make basic things. We are moving in the wrong direction. The president lies often, but the facts don’t lie. If you’re saying we’re at the beginning, basically your answer to those small businesses is wait a little while. Is that the answer?

SB: You ask about manufacturing?

SRW: That’s right. I’m asking about this manufacturing boom.

SB: We are going to see it. I was just in my home state, Senator Scott’s state, South Carolina, where we are seeing a boom there. And I believe Georgia has very good pro-business policies. I’m sure you will see a boom there also. The factory build intentions are quite high.

SRW: I’ll tell you what I see. I see as I talk to folks that it’s more expensive to build things in America. I see that we’ve lost 72,000 jobs a year into this administration. We’ve lost manufacturing jobs every month since he called for Liberation Day. And meanwhile, folks who are working in these small businesses are trying to make their lives work. They’re seeing higher costs. They’re seeing their costs go up for groceries. They’re seeing their costs go up for electricity. They’re seeing their costs go up for health care. And I think the American people are still waiting for a solution. So far, we haven’t seen one coming out of this Trump tariffs regime. The Baptist preacher is done, and I have no time left, thank you very much Mr. Secretary.

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Warren, Alsobrooks, Quigley, 55+ Lawmakers Press HHS on Health Impacts of Violent ICE Raids, Arrests on Children

“ICE and CBP’s… disregard for child welfare undermines the government’s core child-protection obligations. Yet your agency does not appear to be taking any action to speak out against or investigate the impacts of the Trump Administration’s immigration agenda on children.”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), along with Representative Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), led over 55 colleagues in pressing Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on children’s exposure to ICE’s escalating violence in American communities, which threatens to leave them with lasting physical and psychological trauma.

“ICE and CBP operations that treat children like collateral damage threaten their physical and mental health and wellbeing… This disregard for child welfare undermines the government’s core child-protection obligations,” wrote the lawmakers. “Yet your agency does not appear to be taking any action to speak out against or investigate the impacts of the Trump Administration’s immigration agenda on children.”

Under the Trump administration, children — both U.S. citizens and noncitizens — have been exposed to increasingly violent and intense immigration enforcement operations. After Donald Trump rescinded ICE’s sensitive locations policy on Day One, ICE has carried out raids at schools, day care centers — and even a child’s birthday party. ICE has also become more violent, employing military-style techniques in communities across the country. Even when children are not the direct target, their exposure to this violence can create lasting trauma.

“(ICE and CBP’s) practices have triggered national outrage and risk traumatizing children and depriving them of access to education and basic services, with lasting consequences for their behavioral, physical, academic, and emotional wellbeing,” wrote the lawmakers.

Five-year-old Minnesota resident Liam Ramos was detained for more than a week in a Texas facility after reportedly being used as “bait” to capture his father. Liam’s father said Liam was not eating well, was sleeping a lot, and was asking about his mother and classmates.

In Massachusetts, a man suffered an apparent seizure while ICE agents attempted to detain his wife as their toddler cried within arm’s reach. Witnesses allege agents pushed him, struck him, and pressed on his neck while the child remained trapped between the adults.

In Illinois, ICE agents forcibly detained a day care teacher in front of her students. In another incident, masked agents deployed tear gas near an elementary school in Chicago, sending children running and teachers scrambling for cover. In Texas, ICE agents stormed a five-year-old child’s birthday party, where state and federal officers conducted an operation that resulted in the apprehension of 47 people, including nine minors — one of whom was just three years old.

“Children’s exposure to traumatic ICE raids occurring in their communities across America can have lasting effects on their long-term health and development, including their behavioral and psychological wellbeing,” wrote the lawmakers.

ICE operations are also hurting children’s academic and social development. In districts where ICE raids have occurred, schools are reporting declining student attendance and performance; in some schools, nearly half of students have been absent following school-based ICE raids. Early childhood providers have reported attrition from day care, after-school programs, and other community programs that typically serve as spaces for positive socialization, mental health counseling, and other forms of support.

Immigration enforcement actions are also impacting children’s access to health care. Most health care workers report significant or moderate decreases in patient visits since January 2025; for the children who do continue to visit the doctor, they reportedly have declining physical and mental health. One doctor observed “abnormal weight gain trajectories” in children not getting exercise outdoors due to “fear of encountering ICE,” and another pediatrician reported that “minors (are) constantly crying during their well-child checks, expressing their fear for themselves and their families.”

“Given HHS’s responsibility for the health and wellbeing of children in the United States, we request any data your department has collected regarding the impact of immigration operations on children’s health and development,” wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers noted HHS’s various programs, offices, and agencies that research and provide for children’s physical and mental health and wellbeing, and requested that Secretary Kennedy share any information HHS has regarding the impact of ICE and CBP operations on children’s mental health and development.

Other signers include: Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.); and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Al Green (D-Texas), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Emily Randall (D-Wash.), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), André Carson (D-Ind.), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Johnny Olszewski, Jr. (D-Md.), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), George Latimer (D-N.Y.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Chuy García (D-Ill.), James Walkinshaw (D-Va.), Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.).

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Warren, Kim Warn That Undisclosed Investments in SpaceX by Chinese Interests May Threaten National Security, Raise Questions about Compliance with National Security Law

SpaceX receives billions in defense contracts; “exercises significant control” over who can buy into the company

“The mere proposition that an adversary nation such as China could have leverage and influence over a company such as SpaceX, one that underpins our national security apparatus, is an unacceptable risk.”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance, wrote to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, asking him to clarify the Department of Defense’s (DoD) involvement with SpaceX and its knowledge of potential national security threats in the wake of reports that the company has significant undisclosed investments from Chinese interests.

“These ties could pose a national security threat, potentially jeopardizing key military, intelligence, and civilian infrastructure, and are at odds with the administration’s policies on foreign investment from countries of concern in strategic industries,” wrote the senators.

Last March, a ProPublica investigation found Chinese investors were “quietly funneling tens of millions of dollars” into SpaceX while keeping their identities a secret. One SpaceX investor, who is “close to the company’s leadership,” admitted to routing “money from China through the Caribbean to buy stakes in SpaceX multiple times” and testified he knew of other Chinese investors who owned shares of SpaceX.

Experts have warned that court testimony indicates “SpaceX has more substantial ties to China than are publicly known and is working to mask them from U.S. regulators.” These reports suggest that some Chinese investors are directly purchasing company stock and are listed “directly on the cap table,” a list of the company’s primary shareholders.

“These reports raise serious national security concerns, as the Trump Administration’s own investment policy details risks from ‘foreign adversaries, including [China],’” wrote the senators.

As a defense contractor, SpaceX is a major part of the U.S. military and reconnaissance architecture, raking in billions of dollars in contracts from DoD and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), often acting as the sole source provider for critical technology and services.

“The mere proposition that an adversary nation such as China could have leverage and influence over a company such as SpaceX, one that underpins our national security apparatus, is an unacceptable risk,” said the lawmakers.

The Trump administration has concluded that investment by Chinese interests into U.S. companies could pose serious national security risks. To address these potential risks, the U.S. government has safeguards in place, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which has the authority to investigate, review, and impose penalties on companies with foreign investors that could pose national security risks. The DoD also requires contractors to identify and mitigate risks associated with foreign investment under Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) guidelines.

“In the case of SpaceX, we have concerns that Chinese investors could potentially gain access to nonpublic information about the company, including ‘details on its contracts or supply chain,’ giving China access to information and technology that could undermine US national security,” said the senators.

The senators also highlighted concerns about potential conflicts of interest created by Elon Musk’s significant business interests in China, where he has “secured major tax breaks and regulatory victories in the country.” These conflicts even led President Trump to reportedly block Mr. Musk from receiving a highly classified briefing at the Pentagon on China, saying, “Elon has a lot of business in China, and he has good relations there, and this briefing just wasn’t the right thing.”

There is no publicly available information regarding what percentage of SpaceX is owned by Chinese investors or investors from other U.S. adversaries, nor is there any indication of whether these investors have large enough investments to influence the company’s governance. SpaceX, as a private company, exercises significant control over who can purchase its stock.

“[These investments] raise serious concerns about the company’s compliance with federal national security laws, potentially jeopardizing the more than $3 billion in DoD contracts the rocket company has been awarded,” said the lawmakers.

This week, SpaceX announced it would acquire xAI, another Musk-owned government contractor, to create “the most ambitious, vertically integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth.”

The senators asked Secretary Hegseth to, by February 18, 2026, provide answers regarding whether DoD was aware of the scope of Chinese investment in SpaceX, explain how SpaceX’s participation as a government contractor is in line with the Trump Administration’s “America First Investment Policy,” and provide any national security reviews that have been conducted on SpaceX.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: Sanders, Welch to Announce Millions in Federal Funding for Vermont

MONTPELIER, VT — On Friday, February 6th, at 1:30 PM ET, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will hold a press conference in Montpelier to announce millions in federal funding that the Vermont Congressional Delegation secured for 69 Vermont projects addressing critical needs across the state.

The funding for these projects, or “earmarks,” was included in the three Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations packages passed by Congress and signed into law in November, January and last week.

WHAT: Press Conference with the Congressional Delegation to Announce Vermont CDS Projects

WHEN: Friday, February 6th, at 1:30 PM ET

WHERE: Vermont State House, Cedar Creek Room

RSVP: Media interested in attending must RSVP by emailing press@sanders.senate.gov.

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Welch Celebrates Vermonters Competing on Team USA as the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games Begin

BURLINGTON, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) celebrates Vermont’s Team USA athletes — Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Mac Forehand, Paula Moltzan, Ben Ogden, and Jack Young — ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Cochran-Siegle, Forehand, Moltzan, Ogden, and Young will compete in the winter Olympic Games, which begin tomorrow in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and conclude February 22, 2026. The Paralympic Games will begin March 6, 2026, and conclude March 15, 2026.

“The Green Mountain State has a long tradition of excellence in the Winter Olympics. This year, Ryan, Mac, Paula, Ben, Jack, and all other athletes with Vermont ties will carry that legacy forward with grit and talent. Representing both Vermont and Team USA is no small feat—their journey to Italy is an achievement that only comes from years of hard work and dedicated training. I join all Vermonters in cheering them on every step of the way as they compete in Italy,” said Senator Welch.

Vermont’s Team USA qualified athletes include:

Ryan Cochran-Siegle

Starksboro, Vermont

Alpine Skiing

Mac Forehand

Winhall, Vermont

Freestyle Skiing

Paula Moltzan

Former University of Vermont NCAA champion

Waitsfield, Vermont

Alpine Skiing

Ben Ogden

Landgrove, Vermont

Cross-Country Skiing

Jack Young

Jay, Vermont

Cross-Country Skiing

Visit teamusa.com for more information, schedules, and results.

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Chairman Wicker Delivers Speech on Putin’s Military Failures

WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate to rebuke Vladimir Putin’s failing military campaign and his vicious attacks on innocent civilians.

In his speech, the Chairman called for Congress to take up the Russia sanctions bill and underscored the importance of the new low-cost, air-launched cruise missiles (ERAM) now heading to Ukraine.

Watch Video Here

Read Chairman Wicker’s Speech as delivered.

This month, we will reach the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine. As we all know, Vladimir Putin is a war criminal, a KGB alumnus, an oppressor of the Russian people, and we also are finding out more and more that he’s really bad at fighting a war.

For four years, Putin has insisted that Russian victory was just around the corner. That is his dream, but it’s a lie. The facts show that Putin is nowhere close to winning.

Here are the facts. During the year 2024, Russia captured 0.6 percent of Ukrainian territory. Last year, it captured 0.8 percent. So, two years of massive, tragic bloodshed caused by Vladimir Putin have resulted in 1.4 percent of enemy territory taken. So, he’s bad at tactics, bad at strategy, but he’s sent millions of Russian men into battle for his unprovoked and illegal invasion, inflicting 1.2 million casualties on his own people. On his own Russian people. 1.2 million Russian casualties.

He may have at one time been a successful KGB torturer, but he is a failure at today’s attempt to overrun his neighbor by force.

The Russian dictator is actually breaking records for his inability to achieve battlefield gains. Since 2024, his most significant offensives have scraped a meager 16 yards to 75 yards of ground a day. Less than the length of a football field. It is among the slowest military campaigns since World War I. This would be embarrassing if it weren’t so tragic for the civilized world—and so tragic for the Russian people—not to mention the Ukrainian people.

Since Putin’s military campaign is failing, he’s now doubled down in his attacks on civilians. A cold snap has descended on Ukraine, and the maniacal Vladimir Putin has turned this winter into a weapon. He has systemically targeted energy sites, wiping out power and turning homes into freezers. The results—specifically directed at civilians, directed at mothers, at children—have been deadly.

Putin knows that he has failed to achieve his objectives on the battlefield, so he continues trying to achieve it through civilian torture even today.

Indeed, Putin has failed in his two overriding goals. First of all, he has not weakened NATO. Under Putin’s watch, NATO has expanded and awakened. Secondly, he has not brought Ukraine back into Russia’s orbit. Ukraine and the people have overwhelmingly moved philosophically further from Russia and toward the civilized democracies of this world.

Putin is failing, but he still peddles the lie that Russian victory is right around the corner. And some American voices are repeating this misinformation. They're echoing it, and we have heard this for four years. And yet, in spite of his years of failure, Vladimir Putin persists—for the moment—in killing Ukrainians and causing the deaths of Russians and his allies. We must show him it is time to stop. That’s what I'm urging our government to do, and the Senate to do.

The West should unite around security guarantees and a framework for a just end to this war. NATO will continue purchasing American-made weapons for Ukraine. The United States can—and should—get Ukraine more offensive and defensive aerial capabilities. And Congress should take up the Russia sanctions bill. We know it has overwhelming support on this side of the aisle, on that side of the aisle, at the other end of the building. What are we waiting for? Let’s do it.

Secretary Hegseth and I have worked together to expedite weapons development. Already, we are seeing progress there. This week, the U.S. Air Force live-tested a new low-cost, air-launched cruise missile called ERAM—and we did so just sixteen months after the initial contract—impressive. We can do better than that, but that’s impressive. The missiles are now headed to Ukraine. We can continue to work to stand up a pipeline of novel capabilities built by American industry and built by American manufacturing workers with which we can arm our ally, Ukraine.

For years, the Russian military has flung itself against the rock of a country it covets and also dwarfs in size—moving more slowly than nearly any military in a century. We must show Vladimir Putin that it is time to stop. We must not let him off the mat. We must increase the pressure.

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Mississippi Senators Commit To Long Recovery As State Overcomes Winter Storm Fern

VIDEO: Senators Wicker and Hyde-Smith Address Winter Storm Fern Damages and Recovery.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today affirmed their readiness to support additional federal aid to Mississippi as the state continues cleaning up and assessing damage caused by Winter Storm Fern.

Wicker and Hyde-Smith on Wednesday delivered floor speeches a day after Governor Tate Reeves submitted a request for a major emergency disaster declaration for the state. In their remarks, the Senators cited the tragic loss of at least 26 lives in Mississippi, damage and the loss of electrical power for tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and the extraordinary groundswell of individual, community, state, and federal actions to overcome the wrath of snow and ice on the state.

“I commend local leaders, mayors, commissioners, and the response team from FEMA. We’re thankful for what they’ve done and for their resilience. I’ve said this in past years: In Mississippi, our federal delegation is in this for the long haul, just like we were with the tornadoes that occurred earlier. We’re grateful to the president and for our friends at FEMA for helping us recover,” Senator Wicker said.

“This powerful storm has affected millions of Americans across the country, but its effects were especially severe in the South, a region not typically equipped to manage prolonged snow, ice, sleet, and dangerous winter conditions. This storm was particularly devastating in Mississippi, a state that simply lacks the infrastructure and equipment necessary to respond to a storm of this magnitude,” Senator Hyde-Smith said. “I, along with fellow members of the Mississippi congressional delegation, strongly support Governor Reeves’s request for a major disaster declaration and we encourage President Trump to approve it swiftly. I ask my colleagues and the American people to keep the people of my state and everyone harmed by Winter Storm Fern in your prayers.”

The Mississippi Senators and their staff have engaged federal, state, and local officials, as well as the public, in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern. They encouraged Mississippians to continue contacting their offices as the storm recovery process moves forward in the coming months.

A copy of Senator Wicker’s remarks is available here.


Young Applauds Senate Confirmation of Justin Olson for Southern District of Indiana

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) applauded Senate confirmation of Justin Olson to be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana.

“Justin is a Hoosier through and through, with a distinguished record of public service, legal excellence, and respect for the rule of law,” said Young. “Over the course of his career, he has demonstrated the integrity, judgment, and temperament that are essential for service on the federal bench. I look forward to his service.”

Olson currently practices civil litigation at a law firm in Indianapolis, where he has handled complex legal matters and fought discrimination against women in college sports. He previously served with distinction as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District and as a law clerk to Chief Justice Loretta Rush on the Indiana Supreme Court. He graduated magna cum laude from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and summa cum laude from Grove City College.

The Southern District of Indiana covers the Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Evansville, and New Albany divisions.


Smith Calls for Long-Term Market Certainty for Nebraska's Beef Producers

Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chair of the Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order permitting increased imports of Argentine beef amid historically low U.S. cattle inventories:

“No matter the conditions, ranchers in Nebraska's Third District lead the nation in producing high-quality, affordable beef. Now more than ever, we must deliver policies which drive confidence in the market, eliminate burdensome regulations, and lower production costs. While the United States holds historic low-inventory in cattle herds, we must focus on policies that strengthen the market and create long-term certainty for the entire supply chain."


Press Releases

Rep. Aguilar Delivers $1 Million for Hope Through Housing Foundation to Drive AI Workforce and Economic Development

The grant funding will enable the Hope Through Housing Artificial Intelligence Innovation Lab to purchase new virtual reality equipment, drones, cameras and powerful servers for AI and software development.

Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that he secured $1,031,000 in community project funding for the Hope Through Housing Foundation’s (HTHF) Artificial Intelligence Innovation Lab. This grant funding will drive workforce and economic development in the Inland Empire by expanding community access to HTHF’s laboratory space, helping purchase cutting-edge computing technology and AI tools, and providing training tailored to workforce development for students in the region. You can watch the full video of the press conference here and find photos from the event above and here.

“As the Inland Empire grows, so should the opportunities for its residents,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “That’s why I’m proud to deliver over $1 million in community project funding for the Hope Through Housing Foundation’s Artificial Intelligence Innovation Lab. This lab will enable people in our region to build successful lives and contribute to our economy by giving them the chance to get jobs and apprenticeships in emerging and evolving technological fields like AI. I’ll keep fighting to deliver resources and ensure that the Inland Empire can become an innovation hub in all different areas, from manufacturing to transportation and beyond.”

“We welcome our partnership with Congressman Aguilar to invest in the future of our community,” said Jeff Burum, Chairman of the Board, Hope Through Housing Foundation. “For more than 30 years, National CORE and Hope through Housing have worked together to bring new opportunities to families across our region.”

“At Hope through Housing, we help our residents build a pathway to a stronger, more financially stable future,” said Alyssa Cotter, Executive Director, Hope Through Housing Foundation. “This grant will supercharge that effort, offering expanded options for instruction in high-tech tools for a vast number of growing industries. We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Aguilar for his support.”

“The timing is perfect for this program,” said Heather Parsons, Vice President of Philanthropy, Hope Through Housing Foundation. “The rapid changes coming for our economy require a training program that is resilient and responsive. Our Innovation Lab can serve as a catalyst for a new model of training programs. This is a big moment for Hope through Housing and the Inland Empire.”

In January 2026, Rep. Aguilar helped pass the Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2026, which included $7.4 million in federal community project funding grants for seven projects in California’s 33rd Congressional District.


Press Releases

Rep. Aguilar Delivers Over $1 Million to Strengthen AI Technology and Workforce at California State University, San Bernardino

The grant funding will allow CSUSB to strengthen its AI technology and workforce by upgrading its existing facility, purchasing advanced technology, creating an online portal for AI and VR training and expanding community outreach and events

Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that he secured $1,031,000 in community project funding for CSUSB’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) Research and Retraining Center, which provides students with opportunities for training with AI and VR technology. This grant funding will expand the Inland Empire’s AI and VR capabilities, strengthening the region’s cybersecurity, supply chain and logistics workforce. You can watch the full video of the press conference here and find photos from the event above and here.

“When I’m in Washington, I’m always working on ways to bring home federal dollars that help empower students, create jobs, and make life better for people in the Inland Empire,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “That’s why I am so proud to deliver $1 million in community project funding for CSUSB’s Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Research and Retraining Center to help prepare our next generation for the new age of technology. This grant funding will strengthen our region’s technology and workforce by providing CSUSB students with opportunities for training in AI and VR technology. This is just the beginning. I’ll continue to fight for more funding to ensure our students in San Bernardino have the opportunities to succeed and build their lives right here in the Inland Empire.”

“We are deeply grateful to Congressman Pete Aguilar for his leadership and steadfast support of Cal State San Bernardino and the Inland Empire,” said Tomás D. Morales, President, California State University, San Bernardino. “This funding accelerates CSUSB’s leadership in AI and virtual reality research while expanding workforce development opportunities that directly benefit the Inland Empire’s growing technology and logistics sectors.”

“It was about a decade ago that I met Congressman Aguilar, and I had the opportunity to describe what we were trying to do in the Center for Cybersecurity on a local and national scale,” said Dr. Tony Coulson, Executive Director, Center for Cyber and AI, California State University, San Bernardino. “A lot of complexity there, a lot of different things. And he responded very plainly with me: ‘How can I help?’ That was it. How can I help? And what is amazing, having I’ve been around for a number of years, a lot of people say, ‘How can I help?’ and there’s not necessarily a big follow-up with that. But that’s not the case here. Rep. Pete Aguilar has done a lot in the area of cybersecurity workforce, and for our community, that cannot be understated.”

“AI is changing everything, everywhere, all at once,” said Dr. Vincent Nestler, Director, Center for Cyber and AI, California State University, San Bernardino. “Some people are going to make out like bandits, and some people are going to find themselves lost and confused. The purpose, really, of this grant is to try and figure out, what is that transition? What’s on the horizon that’s coming our way? How do we prepare the Inland Empire for that transition? If warehousing jobs go, where do those people go to work now? How do we transition them to make them successful Our effort is going to be to maximize this money with other things that we are ready to do, and to try and make sure that we’re that shining city on the hill that helps folks have a place to go to say, okay, what do I do now? I am grateful that we have a wonderful champion in the federal government like Rep. Aguilar who helps us continue to be successful and to launch people into the future.”

In January 2026, Rep. Aguilar helped pass the Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2026, which included $7.4 million in federal community project funding grants for seven projects in California’s 33rd Congressional District.


Congressman Al Green Issues Statement on Press Conference Addressing Filing an Injunction to Halt ICE Racial Profiling Across the Greater Houston Area

(Houston, TX) —On Friday, February 6, 2026, Congressman Al Green released the following press statement regarding a press conference at the Harris County Democratic Party Headquarters at 11:00 a.m. CT, with community leaders and local elected officials. This press conference will address ongoing racial profiling by ICE across the Greater Houston area and announce the filing of a lawsuit seeking an injunction to halt these unlawful practices.

Congressman Al Green stated, “I intend to file an amicus brief in support of this lawsuit. I stand with the Latino community in firm opposition to the inhumane and unconstitutional actions carried out by DHS/ICE agents under the leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem. Her policies have fueled racial profiling, unlawful detention, and violence against American citizens and immigrant communities, particularly in Houston, home to one of the largest Latino populations in the nation, many of whom are my constituents. The fear that Noem and her army have spread must stop today. What we are witnessing today mirrors the painful history of how Black Americans have long been targeted and criminalized in this country, and we must remember an injury to one is an injury to all. We must stand together to stop the infringement on our constitutional rights, racial profiling, arbitrary detentions and abuse of power. I know firsthand how dangerous these practices can become when government power is abused. Secretary Noem must be held accountable, whether through resignation, removal, or impeachment, and these civil rights violations must end now.”

Click here to watch the YouTube Live Stream of the event.

Members of the press are invited for Q&A and b-roll footage.


After Community Backlash, Stanton Ansari, Grijalva Demand Transparency on Surprise Detention Facility

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Greg Stanton (AZ-04),and Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) sent two letters demanding greater transparency regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent acquisition of a warehouse reportedly intended to be converted into a 1,500-bed detention facility in Surprise, Arizona.

“The purchase of a warehouse in Surprise for proposed use by ICE is extremely alarming. I’m doing everything in my power to rein in ICE, including legislation to rescind $75 billion from the reckless Big Ugly Bill that handed ICE a slush fund for warehouse detention facilities like this one,” said Rep. Ansari. “I’ve heard from countless conservatives, libertarians, and independents across our state who don’t want ICE in our communities. My colleagues and I will continue to stand together to make that clear.”

“Arizonans don’t want a detention facility across the street from their house or the neighborhood high school. DHS hasn’t done the bare minimum to communicate with local and county officials about how they’ll mitigate the impacts on the West Valley community, and they haven’t communicated to Congress how they’ll make an industrial warehouse fit to hold human beings,” said Rep. Stanton. “Let’s be clear: this is Trump’s disastrous mass deportation machine in action.”

"Recent deaths at immigration detention centers are deeply disturbing and underscore the grave dangers of the rapid expansion of private, for-profit facilities across the country. Communities are waking up to massive detention centers being dropped into their neighborhoods with no warning, no transparency, and no accountability. These facilities are not about public safety — they are a central pillar of Trump’s cruel and unconstitutional deportation machine, designed to disappear people behind warehouse walls while denying basic standards of care and due process,” said Rep. Grijalva.

In a letter directed to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, the members demand the federal government provide far greater detail about the facility’s proposed operational footprint, its plan to coordinate with impacted county and city officials, and how it would mitigate real local concerns–including increased traffic and transportation activity, emergency response needs, medical care capacity, and conditions of confinement within a warehouse setting.

“Local officials have stated publicly that the city was not informed of the purchase in advance and remains without basic information about the facility’s intended use, timeline, and impacts. This transaction has generated substantial concern in the community,” the members write.

The letter to DHS and ICE is HERE.

In a second letter directed to the President and CEO of Rockefeller Group, the seller of the facility, the lawmakers pose questions that, “align directly with Congress’s responsibility to oversee how federal facilities are acquired, sited, and converted, and to understand the role that private developers play in shaping those outcomes.”

The letter to Rockefeller Group is HERE.

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Barrett Joins Colleagues in Requesting Army to Conduct Critical Equipment Test in Michigan

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) and his colleagues in the Michigan congressional delegation today encouraged the U.S. Army to conduct experiments for Project Convergence Capstone 6 (PCC6) — the Army’s next annual operation for testing weapons and other equipment in combat scenarios — at Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) this summer.

Today, the lawmakers sent letters to Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll and General Randy A. George, the Army chief of staff, highlighting the capacity for a wide variety of testing at NADWC, which encompasses Michigan and includes Camp Grayling and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center.

“NADWC is an ideal location to test new technologies at scale and experiment with a wide range of joint training scenarios and capabilities, including contested logistics and Next Generation Command and Control,” the lawmakers wrote. “NADWC’s all-domain capability, large size, expansive special use airspace, and all-weather training environment offers warfighters the ability to test military tech under a wide range of battlefield conditions, including for live fire, combined arms, and swarm testing.”

They continued, “The Army can utilize NADWC in support of Project Convergence training events at a fraction of the cost of doing so at other comparable locations without sacrificing any of the size, capability, and range of training scenarios available. NADWC's permissive dual-use drone testing policies, abundant spectrum availability, partnerships with cutting edge defense tech startups, and openness to on-site industry presence as a National Guard base make it a cost-effective, readily available hot bed for military tech testing.”

NADWC currently hosts equipment testing, competitions, and military training, including during the annual Exercise Northern Strike. The Army and National Guard Bureau recently selected NADWC as a national drone testing site, following the recommendation of Barrett and his colleagues.

Click here to read the delegation’s letter to Secretary Driscoll.


ICYMI: Congressman Bean Hosts Health Summit in D.C. on Hospital Reimbursement

WASHINGTON—On Thursday, February 5, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) hosted the second installment of his Path to Consensus Series, this time tackling hospital reimbursement, a critical issue affecting access to care, hospital sustainability, and patient outcomes nationwide. The event featured two expert panels and a keynote address by Brittany Madni, Executive Vice President for the Economic Policy Innovation Center, exploring how reimbursement policies impact costs, quality, and the long-term stability of the healthcare system.

Panelists engaged in rigorous discussions on potential reforms to the American healthcare system, including changes to the 340B program and site-neutral payments, demonstrating that open, honest dialogue is key to meaningful reform.

About the event, Congressman Bean said, “Hospital reimbursement is the next major fight in healthcare—this is where real cost savings and meaningful reform happen. If we’re serious about transforming America’s healthcare system, we must have honest conversations about what is and isn’t working. That means addressing 340B, site-neutral payments, and the incentives that drive up costs, because patients, not the system, must come first.”

BACKGROUND

Thursday’s panels examined some of the most controversial reimbursement policies, asking whether 340B still serves as a charity care program or has become a profit center, and whether it makes sense to pay hospitals more based on location rather than value. What sets these conversations apart is who’s in the room: hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, budget hawks, and conservative reformers—all with different perspectives—coming together to tackle the structural issues that drive up healthcare costs.

Panel: 340B — Making Charity Care Easier on Hospital Systems or Wealthier?

Shayne Woods, Vice President, Alpine Group Partners (Moderator)

Bharath Krishnamurthy, Director of Pharmaceutical Policy, American Hospital Association

Karyn Schwartz, Senior Vice President of Policy & Research Development, PhRMA

Panel: Location, Location, Location — A Conversation About Site-Neutral Payments

Chris Jones, Director of Federal Government Relations, BIO (Moderator)

Mary Mayhew, President and CEO, Florida Hospital Association

Dr. Asmita Mishra, MD, MBA, Medical Director of Payer Strategies, Moffitt Cancer Center

Michael Baker, Director of Health Care Policy, American Action Forum

Anna Bonelli, Director of Health Policy, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

The Path to Consensus Series will continue this year with additional sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of America’s healthcare system.

To watch the livestream, click HERE.

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Beatty Delivers Funding for Ohio’s Third; Investing in Housing, Critical Infrastructure and Transportation

COLUMBUS, OH — This week, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) announced an additional $7.9 million in Congressional funding for locally driven community projects across Central Ohio. These investments support housing, infrastructure, transportation, and flood mitigation projects throughout Ohio’s Third Congressional District. This funding is made possible by H.R. 7148 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 which passed and was signed into law on February 3, 2026.

“Housing is very personal to me,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “I’m proud to have secured $7.9 million in federal funding to support housing, as well as the infrastructure and transportation projects that make neighborhoods livable, connected, and economically strong.”

“These investments reflect what happens when local priorities are matched with federal partnership,” Beatty continued. “They ensure communities have the resources they need to move projects forward and deliver real results for residents.”

“From affordable housing and flood mitigation to road repairs and public transit, these projects support working families and strengthen our regional economy. I look forward to seeing this funding put to work and continuing to secure additional investments for Ohio’s Third.”

Specifically, Beatty secured the investment of:

$2,000,000 for the City of Reynoldsburg for the Brice Road Corridor Redevelopment & Multimodal Enhancements Project.

$1,200,000 for the City of Westerville for the Brooksedge Boulevard Mobility Improvements Project.

$1,000,000 for the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority for the Reynoldsburg Mixed-Income Housing Project.

$1,000,000 for the Franklin County Engineer for the Havens Corners Road Roundabout Phase 1 Improvements Project.

$850,000 for the Village of Minerva Park for the Minerva Park Lake Watershed Rehabilitation - Reservoir and Path System Project.

$850,000 for the City of Columbus for the Sancus Boulevard Shared Use Path Project.

$250,000 for the Franklin County Engineer for the Cooke Road Reconstruction Project.

$250,000 for the Central Ohio Transit Authority for the COTA Paratransit and COTA//Plus Vehicles Project.

$250,000 for the City of Gahanna for the Creekside Garage Flood Mitigation & Trail Improvements Project.

$250,000 for the Franklin County Engineer for the Morse Road Improvements Project.

This amounts to a total of $7,850,000 in Community Project Funding for Ohio’s Third Congressional District.


Bilirakis Visits Free Tax Preparation Site in Pasco County to Promote New Tax Changes

Holiday, FL - Earlier today, U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis visited a federally-funded free income tax preparation site in Pasco County operated by IRS-certified volunteers. The program is sponsored by Seniors in Service Tampa, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes volunteers to provide essential services to the community.

Free tax preparation services are currently available at two Pasco County locations: the Regency Park Civic Center, located at 10240 Regency Park Boulevard in Port Richey, and the Holiday United Church of Christ, located at 4826 Bartelt Road in Holiday. These sites have served the community since 2005 ,and are staffed by experienced volunteers who average more than 10 years of service preparing tax returns. The free tax preparation program is intended to assist low and moderate income individuals, including both working and retired residents, who need help filing their tax returns. Due to limited capacity, services are prioritized for individuals and families with incomes under $100,000. All tax returns are filed electronically, with refunds typically issued within 10 days to two weeks.

During his visit, Congressman Bilirakis thanked the volunteers for their longstanding service to the Pasco County community and highlighted recent efforts to simplify the tax filing process. He noted that, following the passage of the Working Families Tax Credit Act, taxpayers may now qualify for additional deductions, including income earned from tips or overtime pay, financing a new American-manufactured vehicle in 2025, and an additional $6,000 deduction for seniors aged 65 and older.


Congressional Scouting Caucus Introduces Resolution Celebrating Scouting America Day

WASHINGTON – This week, the bipartisan Congressional Scouting Caucus, led by U.S. Representatives Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-18), and Pete Sessions (TX-17), introduced a resolution celebrating Scouting America Day.

Scouting America was incorporated in Chicago, Illinois, on February 8, 1910. Since then, millions of young men and women have joined Scouting and have learned the values of patriotism, courage, and self-reliance.

“I am proud to join my colleagues, fellow Eagle Scouts and co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Scouting Caucus, Representatives Thompson and Sessions, in introducing today’s resolution,” Rep. Bishop said. “Congress continues to recognize that Scouting engages young men and women, instills in them values, builds their character, and promotes leadership. All of this makes our nation stronger from coast-to-coast, across industries, and in public service – from Congress and our courts to the White House and our Armed Forces as well as state and local governments throughout the country.”

“I have been involved in Scouting for more than 50 years, which has made a profoundly positive impact upon my life,” Rep. Thompson said. “The lessons learned from Scouting are invaluable. I am grateful for my colleagues on the Scouting Caucus for celebrating this cause and ensuring the legacy of Scouting will continue to grow for generations to come.”

“As an Eagle Scout, I know firsthand that Scouting America is more than an organization; it is a proving ground for character,” Rep. Sessions said. “For 116 years, Scouting has instilled duty to God, service to country, and responsibility to others in generations of young Americans. This resolution recognizes an institution that strengthens our communities, prepares leaders, and quietly builds the moral backbone of our nation, and I am proud to serve as a co-lead in honoring its legacy."

“On behalf of the entire Scouting movement, we extend our gratitude to the Scouting Caucus and to our nation’s leaders for this joint resolution recognizing Scouting America Day,” said Roger Krone, President and CEO of Scouting America. “Across the country each day, Scouts commit themselves to serving God and country. They hike, climb, shoot, paddle, and build character and leadership through service to their communities and to the nation. None of this would be possible without the steadfast support of our religious and civic partners and the dedication of more than half a million volunteer leaders.”

Read the full resolution text on Congress.gov.

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Rep. Scott Secures $13.67 Million in Funding for Hampton Roads Community Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) secured $13.67 million in new federal funding for community projects throughout Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District. The funds were allocated as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) government funding package. These projects will support investments to improve the lives of workers, students, and families.

“I am proud to champion these investments which will deliver the resources our communities need to thrive,” said Congressman Scott. “These projects will lead to increased support for young people, improved neighborhoods and better services. I look forward to the positive impacts that these projects will bring throughout the district.”

Rep. Scott secured a total of $13.67 million in federal funds. The projects that will receive funding in Virginia’s 3rdDistrict include:


Buchanan Applauds New Bilateral Critical Minerals Frameworks to Strengthen U.S. Supply Chains

“America’s Economic Strength and National Security Depend on Critical Minerals.”

11 Agreements Advance America’s Strategy to Reduce Reliance on Foreign Adversaries and Expand U.S. Production

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and a member of the Trade Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Trump Administration’s recent announcement of 11 new bilateral critical minerals frameworks reached during the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial with countries including Argentina, the Cook Islands, Ecuador, Guinea, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan:

“America’s economic strength and national security depend on critical minerals. The Trump Administration’s announcement of 11 new bilateral frameworks marks a major step forward in building strong supply chains and cutting our reliance on foreign adversaries. These deals diversify our sources, secure the materials we need and supercharge investment in mining, processing and manufacturing.

“This is strong American leadership in action. By securing access to critical minerals, we’re driving innovation, creating high-quality jobs and keeping the United States at the cutting edge of advanced manufacturing and emerging technology.”

In recent months, Congressman Buchanan traveled to several of these countries in his role as Chairman of the House Democracy Partnership, where he emphasized the importance of stronger trade partnerships to secure critical minerals, support American manufacturers and keep the United States globally competitive. In addition, the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law, included a requirement proposed by Buchanan for the Secretary of Defense to identify critical defense infrastructure that relies on critical minerals or mineral-dependent components sourced from foreign adversaries and outline pathways to replace the procurement and production of those materials.

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Tues., February 10: Rep. Chris Smith to chair Foreign Affairs hearing“Advancing Peace in DRC and Rwanda through President Trump’s Washington Accords – Part II”

On Tuesday, February 10th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, will chair his fifteenth congressional hearing focused exclusively on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, including the geopolitical conflict and human rights violations occurring in the region.

In wake of President Trump’s historic peace deal between Rwanda and the DRC on December 4th, 2025, this hearing will examine the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in helping to facilitate the implementation of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity.

WHAT: Congressional hearing on the role of NGOs in facilitating the directives of the Washington Accords to achieve lasting peace, stability, and wealth in the DRC and Rwanda.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM

WITNESSES: (Partial list)

The Honorable Tony Hall, Africa New Day

Mr. Ethan Tan, Policy Analyst, American Security, America First Policy Institute

Christian-Géraud Neema, Nonresident Scholar, Africa Program, Carnegie Endorsement for International Peace

WHERE: 2200 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreaming on YouTube

WHO: Chairman Chris Smith, other members of the HFAC Africa Subcommittee, and witnesses

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Reps. Cleaver, Ross, Pocan, Sykes Reintroduce Legislation to End Prison Gerrymandering

(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Emilia Sykes (D-OH) reintroduced the End Prison Gerrymandering Act. The legislation will help ensure equal representation for all by requiring the Census Bureau to count incarcerated people at their last place of residence rather than the prison in which they are held at the time of the Census.

Every ten years when the Census is conducted, incarcerated people are counted as residents of the places where they are imprisoned rather than the cities and towns they call home. This practice skews the population count and interferes with equal representation in virtually every state. Many states, including Missouri, have redistricting processes that use prison gerrymandering to give disproportionate representation to rural voters at the expense of voters in urban areas and communities of color.

“The practice of prison gerrymandering puts the interests of partisan politicians above the wishes of our communities, using incarcerated Americans as unwilling pawns in the process,” said Congressman Cleaver. “The American people are sick and tired of partisan trickery that undermines the voice of voters, and I’m proud to join Representatives Ross, Sykes, and Pocan to introduce the End Prison Gerrymandering Act to outlaw this damaging practice once and for all.”

“North Carolina has a long history of manipulating voters’ places of residence to produce maps that benefit the party in power, including through prison gerrymandering,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Across the country, we are witnessing unprecedented attempts to rollback voting rights and dilute voters’ voices, particularly voters of color. Now more than ever, we need maps that are fair and ensure every voter can participate fully in our democracy. I’m proud to lead my colleagues introducing legislation that will end prison gerrymandering at the federal level.”

“Nearly no one would consider the facility in which they’re incarcerated home,” said Rep. Pocan. “The current Prison Gerrymandering practice is wrong, giving undue power to certain regions of the country and to elected officials who do not value their concerns. We must end this practice and count people from where they came and most likely will return to once their sentences are finished. I thank Congresswoman Ross for her leadership on this issue.”

“All Americans have a constitutional right to equal representation in their government. That’s why I am proud to co-sponsor the End Prison Gerrymandering Act, which will ensure incarcerated people are fairly counted in the places they call home, in communities where they have ties, family, and friends,” said Rep. Sykes. “This legislation will allow fair and accurate representation for all communities—rural, urban, and suburban— to create a stronger, more representative democracy.”

The End Prison Gerrymandering Act is cosponsored by Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Don Beyer (D-VA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Chuy García (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA).

Official text of the End Prison Gerrymandering Act is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.