Curtis Joins Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Ukraine on Fourth Anniversary of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), today joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The resolution reaffirms the Senate’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; condemns Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure; and underscores the importance of strong, binding U.S. and transatlantic security guarantees to secure a just and lasting peace.

The resolution was co-sponsored by SFRC Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Todd Young (R-IN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Joni Ernst (R-IA).

The bipartisan resolution:

Affirms that any negotiated settlement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and include Ukraine as the central party to discussions regarding its future.

Underscores the importance of coordination with NATO, European, and other likeminded allies to work together as part of any coalition to defend Ukraine intended to deter future Russian aggression against Ukraine and bolster Ukraine’s long-term defense capabilities.

Calls upon Congress and the President to impose additional financial pressure on Vladimir Putin’s Russia and third-country enablers of Russia’s war to deter further unnecessary aggression against the Ukrainian people and force Putin to meaningfully engage in peace talks for a lasting peace.

Recognizes President Trump’s continued efforts with international partners to achieve a sustainable peace which requires a strong U.S. security guarantee for Ukraine, which is necessary for Ukraine to reach a durable peace deal with a belligerent Russian Federation.

Highlights Russia’s escalatory attacks, including the specific targeting of American companies operating inside Ukraine to try and discourage American investment.

Commends the resilience of the Ukrainian people as they continue to defend their country against Russians aggression.

“Four years after Putin’s illegal invasion, Ukraine still stands—and democracies must remain united in standing with them,” said Senator Curtis. “This resolution reaffirms our unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, rejects Russia’s brutal aggression, and underscores that any lasting peace must be backed by strong security guarantees.”

“As Russia’s brutal and illegal full-scale invasion enters its fourth year, this bipartisan resolution sends a clear message that the United States stands firmly with the Ukrainian people, but that more must be done to bring the war to a just end,” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “I recently traveled to Ukraine and led the first congressional delegation to Odesa since the start of the invasion, where we saw firsthand the resilience and ingenuity of Ukrainians rebuilding under constant attack. Russia is not winning this war, reflected by Putin’s recent escalations by striking civilian infrastructure, targeting U.S. businesses and prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people. That’s why Congress must continue to support Ukraine and place real pressure on the Kremlin. That pressure must include sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet to cut off Putin’s ability to fund the war and must be done in conjunction with our allies. For this war to have a just and lasting peace, we must also put in place comprehensive, ironclad security guarantees.”

“As we mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the United States must continue to stand with the Ukrainian people and work with our allies to ensure Russia is held accountable for its aggression,” said Senator Tillis. “This resolution underscores our bipartisan support for Ukraine’s freedom and independence and reaffirms our commitment to helping secure a durable and lasting peace.”

“For four years, the Ukrainian people have shown us what it looks like to fight and die for democracy, for their country, and for the West. Their involuntary war with Putin – and the resolve they have shown – offers the greatest example of how to fight back against authoritarian aggression. They have fulfilled a duty on the front lines that we will struggle to repay,” said Senator Bennet. “The United States must work with our allies to ensure continued military, intelligence, and economic support for Ukraine. Amid Putin’s intransigence and daily attacks on civilians across Ukraine, Congress must also make Russia pay a further price for its aggression and clarify the U.S.’s long-term commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. Only by demonstrating our firm resolve can the United States and our allies support Ukraine to negotiate a just and durable end to this unprovoked war and successfully defend the principle of a Europe whole, free, and at peace.”

“Four years ago, Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, thinking Russian forces would easily win in a matter of weeks. The Ukrainian people thought otherwise, repelling one of the world’s largest militaries and fearlessly defending their democratic nation. Putin’s tragic blunder only strengthened Ukraine’s resolve, expanded NATO, and further exposed his bankrupt regime and nostalgia for Soviet tyranny. Today, the United States Senate is reaffirming its continued support of Ukraine’s fight for freedom from Russian tyranny,” said Senator Durbin.

“Four years ago, Russia launched an inhumane and unprovoked attack against Ukraine, creating the largest war in Europe since World War II,” said Senator Grassley. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan resolution to stand with Ukraine in the pursuit of peace, call for the return of abducted children and end the terrible bloodshed.”

“Today marks four years since Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked assault on peaceful Ukraine, and allies and autocrats alike are watching how America will bring a just end to this war,” said Senator Whitehouse. “As Trump betrays our longtime alliances to help the murderous aggressor, I went to Kyiv and Odesa last week to reaffirm our support of the people of Ukraine. If Trump wants peace, he should repurpose frozen Russian funds for Ukraine and disrupt the shadow fleet that fills Putin’s war coffers.”

“The Ukrainian people have shown incredible resilience in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s heinous invasion. I’m disgusted by the Trump Administration’s refusal to hold Putin accountable,” said Senator Kaine. “The United States is safest when we stand with the free peoples of the world against those who would oppress them. As a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, I will continue to do all I can to support Ukraine and stand against totalitarian regimes.”

“After four years of Putin’s brutal war of choice, Russia is no closer to breaking the spirit of the Ukrainian people nor their will to fight for their sovereignty and freedom,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud to join this resolution that underscores and reiterates the Senate’s strong bipartisan support for Ukraine and its people as they bravely fight back against Putin’s invasion. We will continue standing with them and condemning Putin’s aggression in Ukraine.”

“As Putin’s unjust war reaches its fifth year, the resolve of the Ukrainian people remains unbroken,” said Senator Moran. “The U.S. and our allies must stand firm in our commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and deterring Russia’s ongoing aggression until a just and lasting peace is achieved.”

“In the four years since Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people have been bravely fighting to defend their country,” said Senator Rosen. “The United States must continue to stand with our ally as they defend themselves against Putin’s brutal aggression, and we must ensure that Ukraine has a seat at the table in any negotiations regarding their future.”


Duckworth After VA’s Disability Compensation Rule Change: “It’s Clear the End Goal is to Privatize—and Eventually Dismantle—the VA”

At hearing, Senator Called on Democrats, Republicans and VSOs to Work Together to Protect Our Veterans from Continuing Attacks by the Trump Administration

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – At today’s joint Senate (SVAC) and House (HVAC) Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing with Veterans Service Organization (VSOs), combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called out the Trump Administration for once again attacking our Veterans and failing to consult Congress or VSOs before they ushered in an interim final rule that effectively disincentivizes our nation’s heroes from both seeking earned coverage for service-connected disabilities and following recommended treatments. During her remarks, Duckworth urged VSO members and her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work together to codify protections that prevent the Trump Administration—or any future Administration—from messing with Veterans’ disability compensation. Video of Duckworth’s remarks can be viewed on the Senator’s YouTube.

“If you think that this is the end of the Trump Administration’s effort to attack disability compensation, you are wrong,” said Duckworth. “This Administration has turned its back on Veterans every single time an opportunity has presented itself. It’s clear that the end goal here is to privatize—and eventually dismantle—the VA. The most recent ambush interim final rule should be a sobering call to action. Do not be fooled—until the Administration rescinds that rule, it remains in effect.”

“This is not a Republican versus Democrat issue—this is a Veterans’ issue,” continued Duckworth. “More than ever, Republicans, Democrats and VSOs alike need to come together to protect our Veterans. Let’s get to work to codify protections that ensure that Donald Trump can’t come after Veterans’ disability compensation ever again.”

Duckworth reiterated she will continue working to ensure the Trump Administration—and any future Administration, regardless of political party—does not undermine or threaten Veterans’ care with shady rulemaking practices ever again. After public outcry from Duckworth and the Veterans’ community at large, the Administration has backtracked its interim final rule—but has still refused to actually rescind it.

Last week, Trump’s U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shamefully circumvented the normal rulemaking process and implemented without public comment a new interim final rule would change the way the VA determines disability rating from measuring the disability itself to measuring how the disability presents during a specific appointment—meaning if a Veterans is actively treating their injuries and their symptoms appear improved in that snapshot of time, that Veteran could receive a lower disability rating than they would have without treatment.

If enforced, the rule would almost certainly result in fewer Veterans applying for the PACT Act benefits they’ve earned through their service. The PACT Act was a historic, overwhelmingly bipartisan victory that enabled Veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits and similar hazardous environments during their service—which can lead to cancer and other devastating ailments—to finally get the care they need covered by the VA. But in order to claim this new coverage, a Veteran would need a new disability review, which would take place under the new rule and could counterintuitively result in Veteran’s disability rating actually being downgraded despite Congress’s clear intent in the PACT Act.

Duckworth has been a fierce leader and advocate for improving our Veterans’ and servicemembers’ access to the care they need. Two weeks ago, she led Senate Democrats in demanding VA Secretary Doug Collins to immediately reverse the VA’s new draconian abortion ban. Last month, the Senator pressed Secretary Collins on his haphazard plans to restructure Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which threaten to further worsen Veterans’ access to care. Last December, Duckworth and SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) demanded an investigation into Trump’s misuse of VA resources—which are dedicated to delivering quality care to our Veterans—to help execute his extreme deportation campaign. Last September, Duckworth reintroduced legislation that would improve Veterans’ access to contraception and increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness for contraceptive products at the VA.

Duckworth also joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in reintroducing legislation to help make it easier for our Veterans who struggle with infertility to build their families. Earlier last year, Duckworth railed against the Trump Administration for indiscriminately firing Veterans Crisis Line workers and introduced her Protect Veteran Jobs Act with U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) to reinstate the thousands of Veterans who were fired in Trump’s mass layoffs—an effort Republicans shamefully blocked in March.

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Duckworth Reacts to House Republicans Defeating Bipartisan ROTOR Act That Could’ve Prevented the DCA Crash

Aviation Subcommittee Leader Duckworth helped pass the legislation out of the Senate with unanimous support in 2025

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator and Ranking Member of the Senate’s Aviation Subcommittee Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Speaker Mike Johnson and 131 House Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives voted to defeat the bipartisan Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, which already passed the Senate with unanimous support last December and would have implemented critical safety enhancements to prevent deadly tragedies like the horrific DCA crash. Despite passionate support from the Families of Flight 5342 and the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)—who called on the House to swiftly pass the ROTOR Act and warned the public that the House alternative, the ALERT Act, failed to implement key NTSB recommendations—House Republican leadership and the Trump Administration joined together at the last minute to narrowly kill this urgently needed and long overdue aviation safety legislation by a mere two votes.

“The NTSB conducted a thorough investigation into the causes of the horrific DCA crash, and it’s deeply disappointing that the House failed to pass the Senate’s ROTOR Act that would have not only addressed their findings but also could have prevented the horrific DCA crash that took 67 lives.

“Unlike the House’s ALERT Act, the Senate legislation would have codified many of the NTSB’s recommendations and made important progress in improving aviation safety. Within four months of the DCA tragedy, there was literally another near miss involving two commercial passenger jets and an Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter at DCA, and within three months of that close call, an Airforce B-52 bomber nearly collided with a Delta regional jet in North Dakota. Any aviation system that depends on the actions of a single individual to save lives is a broken system.

“Failing to advance this legislation to reduce risk and protect lives is a complete failure of leadership. The American people, and most importantly, the Families of Flight 5342, deserve better.”

The ROTOR Act would mandate that military aircraft implement Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) Out technology, which transmits an aircraft’s exact location with higher accuracy than conventional radar. It also requires all aircraft to have ADS-B In, enhancing pilots' ability to see and avoid collisions with other aircraft and ground vehicles.

Additionally, the bill increases oversight of mixed air traffic and flight routes near commercial airports, mandates quarterly reports on ADS-B Out compliance, annual audits by the Department of Transportation Inspector General and a safety review to identify potential improvements for airspace safety around DCA.

A copy of the bill text is available on Duckworth’s website.

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Duckworth SOTU Guest Delivers Powerful, Emotional Testimony Detailing How His Health Insurance Bill Quadrupled After Trump Let ACA Tax Credits Expire

SOTU Guest: “Our Insurance Costs Have Quadrupled in the Past Two Months…There Are Thousands of Us Suffering in Silence”

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s (D-IL) State of the Union guest, Jeremy Schumacher of Carbondale, Illinois, delivered powerful testimony about how the Trump Administration’s devastating health care cuts—combined with the rising costs of groceries and other everyday necessities—have made it nearly impossible for his family to make ends meet. Mr. Schumacher, the primary source of income for his household, saw his health insurance deductible increase by $11,000 after Trump and Republicans allowed ACA enhanced premium tax credits to expire—forcing him into an impossible situation where he has decided to forgo his own health care to afford the care his disabled wife needs. Video of Mr. Schumacher’s testimony is available on the Senator’s YouTube and photos of him and Duckworth together are available on the Senator’s website.

Key Quotes:

“I’m here because of the pain of checking the mail. We never know if the next bill coming is the one that is going to put us in bankruptcy or make us lose our house…Our insurance costs quadrupled in the past two months. We went from a $5,000 deductible to a $16,400 deductible. So on a single income, I have chosen to not go to the doctor because once we hit my wife’s deductible—which last year we would have hit already at $1,500 in two months that has been spent—now we have an additional $3,000 to go to hit her deductible, before we even start mine.”

“I just went to the doctor for the first time this week and found out I have diabetes. The amount of money…the testing, the X-rays that I got, I will never be able to pay for them. I already cannot pay for them…It’s not a Republican or Democratic question—it’s an everyday American question. There are thousands of us suffering in silence.”

“If it was just health care, it’d be one thing. But everything has gone up. Our electricity bill has gone up 30 percent our food bill has gone up over 50 percent. We just cannot afford to live anymore.”

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Durbin Condemns The Trump Administration’s Cruel Immigration Tactics, Reiterates Senate Democrats’ Demands As DHS Funding Negotiations Continue

Durbin was part of the “Gang of Eight” in 2013 that worked on a comprehensive immigration reform bill; Durbin: “That serious, bipartisan effort would have fixed our immigration system.”

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, condemned the Trump Administration for its reign of terror toward communities across the country amid the President’s cruel mass deportation effort. Durbin began his speech by recounting last week’s episode of John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight” in which he laid into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and said it “remain[s] a massive agency with unclear checks on its power, boatloads of money, and sweeping surveillance authority.”

Durbin said, “John Oliver is right. But it’s important to remember how we got to this point. I’m old enough to remember a time before DHS. After [the] 9/11 [terrorist attacks], Congress created what would become the third largest department in the federal government. The creation and existence of this agency was defended, in part, by proponents who argued that immigration was primarily a homeland security issue. But from the very beginning, DHS and its various components have struggled to accomplish its many conflicting missions while spending hundreds of billions of dollars.”

President Trump has justified these militarized immigration enforcement operations as targeting the “worst of the worst”; however, DHS’s own statistics tell a different story. Reporting from CBS News shows that less than 14 percent of nearly 400,000 immigrants arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in President Trump’s first year back in office had charges or convictions for violent criminal offenses. Just this past weekend, Durbin attended the funeral of Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo, who tragically passed away, at age 16, after a battle with cancer. Her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, was detained during an ICE raid—despite having no criminal record.

Durbin said, “They finally dropped all charges against him [Ruben] and let him go home to his sick daughter and family. He did go home, but his status on the immigration schedule was still uncertain. He managed to schedule a court hearing just two weeks ago. At that court hearing, his daughter [was] too weak to attend it personally, but she followed it by closed circuit TV. The judge ruled against the government and their detention of Ruben Torres, and his daughter got to see her father finally liberated from this outrageous conduct by ICE at the very last minutes of her life. She died three days later… Does a father standing by his dying daughter who’s battling cancer sound like ‘the worst of the worst’ to you?”

“The political theater extends to arrests of U.S. citizens as well. Kyle Frankovich and Juan Munoz were arrested and detained during November protests outside the Chicagoland ICE processing center—despite peacefully protesting in a designated ‘free speech zone’… Later, social media posts from DHS showed Kyle handcuffed, dubbing him a ‘violent activist.’ But after being detained for hours, Kyle and Juan weren’t charged with crimes. They were used as camera props [during] Secretary Noem’s appearance,” Durbin continued.

“These rogue immigration agents have not hesitated to round up American citizens, green card holders, and people with no prior criminal records. They have not hesitated to slap Americans with the label ‘domestic terrorist.’ And this is bound to get worse with the unprecedented funding surge [to DHS] in the President’s so-called ‘Big, Beautiful’ budget bill,” Durbin continued.

Thanks to the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, ICE has more funding than the Coast Guard or U.S. Marines—an extra $75 billion in taxpayer dollars. That funding has been used in pursuit of the President’s mass deportation agenda, while at the same time the Administration is diverting resources away from preventing drug trafficking and gun violence—ultimately making our country less safe.

“The funding certainly has not been used to improve hiring and training. Amid a hiring surge, ICE has reduced training requirements, waived age limitations, and bungled background checks… They’ve sought to recruit new agents via a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign that evokes white nationalism, leading to a real concern that the Administration is intentionally enlisting unqualified people based on their animus towards immigrants. That’s why Senate Democrats, with the support of the American people, are demanding real reforms,” Durbin said.

Senate Democrats laid out their proposals to reform federal immigration enforcement agencies, including ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). As part of those negotiations, Democrats are demanding the following common sense measures: first, they must stop roving patrols. Government agents cannot indiscriminately round up people without probable cause and federal agents cannot enter someone’s home and disappear with them without a judicial warrant. Second, there needs to be accountability, including new use-of-force standards that allow local law enforcement to participate in investigating complaints of “excessive force” by immigration agents. Finally, Democrats are asking that masks come off.

“Time and time again, Democrats in Congress have tried to pass laws that bring much needed fixes to our immigration system. Thirteen years ago, I was part of a ‘Gang of Eight’ [Senators] [who] worked for months every night of every week until we had it done, a comprehensive immigration reform [bill]… We brought it to the floor of the United States Senate and had more than 65 votes in favor of it. It was a good bill. It would have avoided all of the mess we are facing today. What happened to that bill? It was sent to the Republican-controlled House where they refused to even consider it. And we’ve done nothing ever since,” said Durbin. “That serious, bipartisan effort would have fixed our immigration system.”

Durbin continued, “That bill included bipartisan provisions to secure our border and deport dangerous individuals—and also provided the solution that many undocumented immigrants need today. For those who had no serious criminal convictions, paid their taxes, and followed all the rules, it offered a path to citizenship.”

Durbin concluded, “The American people are calling for reform today. The time to rein in this terror campaign is now and Congress must act.”

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

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

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


Durbin Honors Late Reverend Jesse Jackson With Speech On The Senate Floor

“Reverend Jackson contributed to the betterment of so many people, and he will continue to be a symbol of hope, endurance, and equality long after his death,” Durbin said during his speech on the Senate floor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor honoring the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, who passed last week at the age of 84. In his remarks, Durbin praised Reverend Jackson’s lifelong commitment to advancing civil rights.

“The year was 1969. I had just graduated from law school. I was working for the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, a man named Paul Simon. He sent me on a mission. He wanted me to go to my hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois, and then to Cairo, Illinois. Both communities were in desperate need of help. The reason he asked me to go at that time was the fact that the Reverend Jesse Jackson, in 1969, was launching Operation Breadbasket,” Durbin began.

“He [Reverend Jackson] was shining a spotlight on the ravages of poverty and the failure of the government to protect those in need. He went through these two communities to listen to the desperate, the damned, and the disinherited,” Durbin said.

“As he continued his fight against poverty and injustice, Reverend Jackson became one of the defining voices of the civil rights movement in America. He inspired countless politicians, activists, and preachers to fight for the dignity in every person. In his life, Reverend Jackson contributed to the betterment of so many people, and he will continue to be a symbol of hope, endurance, and equality long after his death,” Durbin said.

“His Operation PUSH on the South Side of Chicago is a legendary venue,” Durbin continued. “Jesse Jackson for years, for decades, managed to be a leader in our community through Operation PUSH. I’m going to miss him.”

“We had each other on speed dial on each other’s phones. And he wouldn’t hesitate to call me with advice on a regular basis. I was always glad to hear it because it was always heartfelt, and it always focused on helping the little guy,” Durbin concluded his remarks.

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

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

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

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Durbin Meets With His Guest To President Trump's State Of The Union Address, Tereza Lee

Tereza Lee was Durbin’s inspiration for writing the Dream Act in 2001

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with his guest for President Trump’s State of the Union Address, Tereza Lee. Tereza was Durbin’s inspiration to introduce the Dream Act in 2001 when he learned of her story after outreach by Ann Monaco, Tereza’s teacher at the Merit School of Music in Chicago. Tereza was a musical prodigy who had played as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She had been accepted into several of the country’s most prestigious music schools, but she had a problem—her parents had brought her to the United States when she was two, and she was undocumented. Frustrated by the lack of options in the immigration system for young people who were brought here as children and infants by their parents, Durbin started working on the Dream Act.

Tereza went on to obtain her BA, Masters, and Doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music and has been a teacher there since 2011. In 2009, Tereza played her debut at Carnegie Hall, and this year, she has been named Teacher of the Year at Church Street School and will be honored at their annual gala next month. Today, Tereza is an American citizen.

“I am forever grateful to Tereza Lee for her bravery in sharing her story. Because of her, more than 500,000 people have active DACA status today and can work and contribute to their communities,” Durbin said. “But my work is not yet done. President Trump’s animus towards immigrants is on full display in his second term. After attempting to eliminate DACA during his first term, his Administration is now doing everything it can to strip DACA holders of their lawful presence and deport them from the only home they have ever known. Only Congress can give Dreamers the stability they crave and deserve. We must pass the Dream Act now.”

“I’m honored to join Senator Durbin for the State of the Union. I will never forget the fear I once lived in—wondering if I would be forced to leave the only home I’ve ever known. Today, immigrants still face relentless attacks on their right to stay in the country they call home, but with Senator Durbin, I stand ready to fight for fairness, opportunity, and a future free from fear for everyone,” said Tereza Lee.

Photos of Durbin’s meeting with Tereza Lee are available here.

B-roll of Durbin’s meeting with Tereza Lee is available here.

Photos of Durbin and Tereza Lee over the years are available here.

Beginning in 2001, Durbin introduced the Dream Act to give young immigrants the chance to earn U.S. citizenship. He has introduced the legislation every Congress since. The bipartisan legislation would allow noncitizens without lawful status who were brought to the United States as children and meet certain education, military service, or work requirements to earn lawful permanent residence. These young people, known as Dreamers, have lived in America since they were children, built their lives here, and are American in every way except for their immigration status. However, under current law, there is often no chance for them to ever become citizens and fulfill their potential.

In 2010, Durbin sent a letter, joined by the late Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), asking then-President Obama to stop the deportation of Dreamers. In 2012, President Obama responded by announcing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. More than 830,000 Dreamers have since come forward and received DACA, which has allowed them to contribute more fully to their country as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and small business owners. As of September 2024, roughly 530,000 people had active DACA status. Over the years, Durbin has told the stories of 150 Dreamers on the Senate Floor. Durbin introduced the Dream Act of 2025 with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in December.

The Dream Act was included in the 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill that Durbin coauthored as part of the “Gang of Eight” – made up of four Democrats and four Republicans. The 2013 bill passed the Senate on a strong bipartisan vote of 68-32, but the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives refused to consider it. Over the years, Senate Republicans have filibustered the Dream Act at least five times.

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Durbin Meets With New Fermilab Director

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate National Labs Caucus, today met with Dr. Nobert Holtkamp, the newly appointed Director of Fermilab. During their meeting, Durbin reaffirmed his support for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 17 National Laboratories, including Illinois’ own Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory.

Durbin and Dr. Holtkamp spoke about Fermilab’s flagship research project, the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE), which aims to understand neutrinos, the most abundant and least understood particles in the universe. Durbin has long supported the project, and in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), he secured $260 million for LBNF/DUNE’s continued construction.

Durbin and Dr. Holtkamp also touched on Fermilab’s efforts to push forward quantum research. Fermilab is the home of the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS), one of the five quantum centers run by DOE. Durbin spoke about his DOE Quantum Leadership Act, bipartisan legislation that would raise the authorization for the five centers to $875 million a year over five years to support research and development in quantum technologies.

“National labs, like Illinois’ own Fermilab, have pushed the boundaries of scientific discovery with unmatched dedication to their research missions,” said Durbin. “Today, I met with Dr. Holtkamp and reiterated my commitment to supporting the groundbreaking research conducted at Fermilab, even as the President attempts to slash funding for our nation’s research institutions.”

A photo of today’s meeting is available here.

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Durbin Reacts To Supreme Court Striking Down Trump’s Tariff Tax

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reacted to last week’s Supreme Court ruling to strike down most—70 percent—of the tariffs enacted by President Trump.

“Tariffs can be useful when used strategically, but President Trump exceeded these authorities, as clearly defined by Congress, and the Supreme Court, by a vote of 6-3, told him as much. He defied basic economic sense,” Durbin said. “Just ask any American business or consumer who suffered under this chaotic policy. Last year, the average American family paid more than $1,700 in tariff costs.”

Durbin went on to outline how Trump’s tariffs have negatively impacted American manufacturing and farming.

“The chaos unleashed by this Administration’s attacks on American business and consumers also resulted in a massive decline in manufacturing jobs last year—jobs the President promised he would be creating and booming. In fact, U.S. factories employ 72,000 fewer people than they did in April of 2025, with more declines every single month,” Durbin said. “The President has also broken his promise many times over to the farmers in Illinois. His tariffs have made farming in Illinois unprofitable. Not just by making fertilizer, seeds, machinery, and equipment more expensive, but also by wrecking export markets like China for years to come.”

Durbin concluded by calling on Congress and the Trump Administration to ensure that small businesses and consumers across the country get their money back from Trump’s Tariff Tax.

“Last week’s decision was a victory for America, and a defeat for this President. It was a victory for the rule of law. But the damage has been done to small businesses and balance sheets across this country. Instead of reconsidering his position after a clear 6-3 loss in the Supreme Court, President Trump is whipsawing between new tariffs, new taxes, resulting in the European Union halting a trade deal with us as they consider their next steps,” Durbin said. “Chaos, turmoil—the President thrives on it. But the American families and the economy do not. It is up to Congress to reject those desperate gambles by the President.”

Durbin concluded, “Congress must also act to ensure that small businesses across the country get their money back as soon as possible. And how about the families who paid for these products that have been taxed by the Trump Tariff Tax? They deserve relief, too. If we’re concerned about the cost of living, as it hits American families, they need to have some relief, too, and the President, after losing in the Supreme Court, [needs to] pay this money back.”

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

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

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

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Durbin Reveals New Whistleblower Information For Investigation Into Kash Patel Joyriding To The Olympics

Credible whistleblowers detail to the Senate Judiciary Committee how Patel’s excessive misuse and mismanagement of FBI-controlled aircraft and resources impacted or delayed high-profile investigations, such as the Charlie Kirk and Brown University shootings

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, provided new whistleblower disclosures to support the investigation into FBI Director Kash Patel’s excessive use of FBI aircraft for personal travel. These disclosures were provided after Patel was spotted celebrating with the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team shortly after their win over Canada in the gold medal game.

In a follow-up letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Durbin adds the latest irresponsible use of government resources to GAO’s ongoing review and requests an OIG investigation. Durbin first requested the review in May 2025.

Durbin wrote: “Since his confirmation as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel has seemingly engaged in what amounts to irresponsible joyriding on DOJ and FBI-operated aircraft at the expense of the American taxpayer and to the detriment of ongoing Bureau operations. I request that the GAO’s ongoing review address the new information outlined below and that the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) investigate Director Patel’s misuse or mismanagement of government resources.”

Durbin then cited contradictory claims from FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson and Director Patel himself regarding his trip to Italy.

Durbin then disclosed credible whistleblower information provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee about how Patel’s excessive misuse and mismanagement of FBI-controlled aircraft and resources impacted or delayed high-profile investigations, such as the Charlie Kirk and Brown University shootings.

Durbin wrote: “However, the Director’s personal leisure activities and travel bucket list should not dictate work travel, nor should it have a material impact on the Bureau’s time-sensitive operations and investigations. Unfortunately, as a credible source described to my staff, the tone was set early during Director Patel’s tenure when he said in a meeting with the field offices last year, ‘If you have golf, hockey, fishing, or hunting and beautiful sights, you’re going to see a lot of me.’ As has been reported, the Director’s frequent misuse of the FBI’s Gulfstream jets for personal travel has even frustrated White House and DOJ senior staff.”

Durbin continued: “Through additional, credible whistleblower disclosures, I have learned how the Director’s decisions related to DOJ or FBI-controlled aircraft have negatively impacted high-profile criminal investigations. For example, in the immediate aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk, the FBI’s shooting reconstruction team was asked to fly to Utah to aid the investigation and process the scene. However, the team’s deployment was delayed by at least a day because of a Bureau plane and pilot shortage caused by the Director’s personal flights. FAA rules dictate the maximum flight duty, cumulative travel, and rest periods for pilots, and the FBI team could only travel after the pilots’ mandated rest periods were completed.”

Durbin added: “The Director’s misplaced priorities and poor management of the FBI’s resources—including its aircraft—also harmed the FBI’s ability to respond to the shooting at Brown University on December 13, 2025. Once again, the shooting reconstruction team was set to respond to the scene immediately, but was unable to fly out of Richmond, Virginia, using one of the FBI’s planes. According to a whistleblower, the Director made the call that he wanted the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) on standby to respond to the shooting. HRT is the FBI’s full time specialized counterterrorism unit and is generally activated for situations that one of the FBI’s 56 SWAT teams cannot handle. Notably, the Boston Field Office, which has responsibility for Providence, Rhode Island, has an enhanced SWAT team, as does the New York Field Office. All the SWAT teams in the region would have been aware of the Brown University shooting and ready to respond if needed—not requiring HRT to be put on standby. The Director’s decision caused immediate confusion because 1) that order was not communicated to HRT; 2) it upended the responsibility typically assigned to the local field office closest to the incident in question—in this case Boston or New York City—to provide immediate support; and 3) it froze the aircraft’s usage by any other FBI team until the Director removed the hold. The whistleblower described how the team had to drive from Quantico, Virginia to Providence, Rhode Island overnight during a winter storm to reach the scene by 9:00 a.m. the following morning to immediately process evidence.”

Durbin further added: “It also cannot be ignored that the Director’s latest personal jaunt occurred on the same weekend an armed intruder attempted to breach President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. The man was allegedly carrying a gas can and a shotgun, and he was killed on the scene by law enforcement. This potential threat and concerning security breach follows two other assassination attempts on President Trump’s life since 2024. While the Director issued a statement claiming the Bureau is ‘dedicating all necessary resources’ to investigating the incident and will work closely with federal and state partners, it is not yet known if those resources have been delayed or diminished by the Director’s misuse or mismanagement of government resources—as was the case in the Charlie Kirk and Brown University shootings.”

Durbin concluded, before requesting GAO to incorporate the latest information into its investigation and encouraging DOJ OIG to open an investigation: “As I noted in my previous letter, the Director’s frequent and unapologetic use of DOJ or FBI-controlled aircraft for personal travel raises concerns about whether he is complying with applicable regulations and reimbursement requirements for non-mission-related travel and whether the Department has sufficient internal controls to track and enforce those obligations. Moreover, the information provided by credible whistleblowers makes it clear that not only are the Director’s misuse and mismanagement of these aircraft problematic to taxpayers, they materially harm the mission of the very agency he has sworn to lead. As federal law enforcement is navigating multiple crises—including Americans facing significant danger after a prominent cartel leader was killed in Mexico—the FBI cannot afford to have its resources further stretched by a Director who views its staff and aircraft as a means to support his jet-setting lifestyle.”

Click herefor a PDF of the letter to GAO and DOJ OIG.

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Durbin Statement On President Trump's State Of The Union Address

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on President Trump’s State of the Union Address:

“If grandstanding paid for groceries, the President would have ridden to the American peoples’ rescue tonight. But it doesn’t work that way. Instead, the President delivered empty platitudes about the success of his first year back in office.

“In America’s 250th year, our democracy is facing a serious test under this President. But Democrats are fighting to bring down costs, end the chaos, and fight corruption.”

Durbin’s guest for tonight’s State of the Union was Tereza Lee. She inspired Durbin to introduce the Dream Act in 2001 when he learned of her story after outreach by Ann Monaco, Tereza’s teacher at the Merit School of Music in Chicago. Tereza was a musical prodigy who had played as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She had been accepted into several of the country’s most prestigious music schools, but she had a problem—her parents had brought her to the United States when she was two, and she was undocumented. Frustrated by the lack of options in the immigration system for young people who were brought here as children and infants by their parents, Durbin started working on the Dream Act.

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Durbin, Wicker, Whitehouse, Bipartisan Group Of Members’ Statement On The Fourth Anniversary Of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion Of Ukraine

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, along with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), released the following statement on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine:

“On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin believed that Russia would take Kyiv in three days. Even Western intelligence feared Ukraine could hold out for only a matter of weeks. Four years on, Kyiv stands. Ukrainians have demonstrated their grit on the battlefield and dedication to freedom. They have held fast against what was once one of the world’s most feared armies.

“Vladimir Putin has failed to achieve his war aims and is in a significantly weaker position than when he began this war. Now is not the time to grant him a reprieve. He should not be allowed to gain through negotiations what he has not managed to achieve in four years of bloodshed. The United States must redouble its efforts to strangle Russia’s wartime economy and crack down on Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers. Our European allies must ensure that Ukraine has the funds needed to maximize their defense production and import select Western systems. Ukrainians have not given up on each other, and we cannot give up on them. They are exactly the type of allies Americans want by our side—principled, resolute, and invested in our shared freedom and prosperity.”

Today, Durbin introduced a resolution with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Thom Tillis (R-NC) that acknowledged the anniversary, reaffirmed support for the people of Ukraine, and emphasized the importance of robust U.S. security that guarantees a transatlantic commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Last year, Durbin introduced legislation to prohibit the United States from recognizing the Russian Federation’s claim of sovereignty over Crimea or any other forcibly seized Ukrainian territory, including any related airspace or territorial waters.

Durbin also introduced the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, legislation that would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States through the “Uniting for Ukraine” parole process. The bill allows Ukrainians to stay and work in the U.S. until the Secretary of State determines that hostilities in Ukraine have ceased and it is safe for them to return. Bill text can be found here.

Durbin has also joined Shaheen, Tillis, Wicker, and others in leading a simple resolution that expresses continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condolences for the loss of thousands of lives to Russian aggression; rejects Russia’s attempts to militarily seize sovereign Ukrainian territory; reaffirms U.S. support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; and states unequivocally that Ukraine must be at the table for negotiations on its future.

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Senate, House Democrats File Brief To Supreme Court Defending Birthright Citizenship Against Trump Attacks

In an amicus brief, Durbin, Rosen lead 216 Democratic colleagues in calling on the justices to uphold precedent and guarantee citizenship to children born in America in Trump v. Barbara

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led a group of 216 House and Senate Democrats in filing a bicameral amicus brief standing up for the essential constitutional principle of birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara, currently before the Supreme Court with oral arguments scheduled for April 1, 2026.

The Democratic lawmakers argue that President Donald Trump’s week-one executive order to strip the guarantee of citizenship provided to children born in America violates the Constitution and over a century of Supreme Court rulings, as well as laws enacted by the Congress.

As the Trump administration’s cruel and reckless immigration policy continues to inflict chaos on communities across the country, the lawmakers affirmed that the Fourteenth Amendment provides Congress with authority to enforce the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship.

“The Fourteenth Amendment sets out a constitutional minimum—a floor—for birthright citizenship. At a minimum, birthright citizenship must extend to all ‘persons born…in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.’ But the Fourteenth Amendment does not set out a ceiling. Congress is free to confer birthright citizenship more broadly, to people who do not have citizenship by virtue of the constitutional text,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers also argued that the administration’s interpretation of birthright citizenship is legally incoherent, outlining how the order would affect the children of asylum seekers and warning that 1.8 million U.S. citizens born to two unauthorized parents could be at risk of retroactively losing their citizenship.

The lawmakers continued: “This incoherence is all the more concerning because—should the Administration prevail in this litigation—millions of Americans will suddenly no longer be citizens. The Administration states that it intends to enforce its views only prospectively. But should the Court endorse the Administration’s interpretations, millions of Americans will simply no longer meet the constitutional and statutory criteria for citizenship. Statutory law will therefore bar them from voting, securing passports, and more. The Administration cannot change that by announcing that it will (for now) treat those erstwhile Americans as if they were citizens, giving them benefits the law forbids them to have.”

The lawmakers concluded by criticizing the administration for unilaterally disregarding the nation’s immigration and naturalization laws, particularly the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (the “INA”).

“Beginning over thirty years ago, opponents of birthright citizenship have striven to change the law by constitutional means—the democratic process of introducing bills in Congress both to amend the INA, and to begin the process of constitutional amendment. Those efforts having failed, the President now seeks to attain his goals by unilateral executive fiat. Rather than trying to persuade Congress to exercise its authority to amend or repeal the INA, he seeks to evade that process with an unconstitutional power grab,” concluded the lawmakers.

The full brief is available here.

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Fischer Statement on President Trump’s State of the Union Address

Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) released the following statement following President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress:

“Tonight, President Trump articulated the success of his policies to rebuild our military, keep our communities safe, lower energy costs, and realize the American dream for all U.S. citizens. I was pleased to hear the president renew his commitment to securing our borders, strengthening our economy, and cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. I look forward to continuing to partner with him to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

Watch President Trump’s address here.


Gallego at People’s State of the Union: ‘They’re making us sicker, poorer, and less secure.’

WASHINGTON – Tonight, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) spoke at MeidasTouch and MoveOn’s “People’s State of the Union,” a rally counterprogramming President Trump’s State of the Union speech.

Earlier today, Gallego joined Senate Democratic leaders at a press conference and took to the airwaves to call out the President’s policies that are making Americans sicker, poorer, and less safe.

Read Senator Gallego’s remarks at the People’s State of the Union below:

“They want to call that the State of the Union? It is the state of denial. Because what’s going to happen under that Capitol is a bunch of lies. Lies that Donald Trump and Republicans are going to tell us about how great this country is doing right now. But what is true is that what’s happening right now is Donald Trump and Republicans have made this country, sicker, poorer and less secure. Sicker, poor and less secure.

“How did it start? As soon as they got in there, what did they do? They went and they cut Medicaid and they cut food stamps. Millions of Americans right now are without health care. The poorest of our country are trying to figure out how to make ends meet and how to pay for that grocery bill, because they needed an extra billion dollars for the billionaire friends.

“When they had whatever money they had left over, then they used it to hire the most amount of ICE agents ever to have the massive amount of deportations we have now that are also targeting U.S. citizens, racial profiling Americans, arresting Latino veterans, telling them you are not part of this country. [They’re] making them prove that they’re Americans when nobody asked to prove our citizenship when they were sending us to war for this country.”

“Sicker, poorer, and less secure. Let me tell you what else: everyday Americans are trying to figure out how to buy food, how to pay rent, how to pay that mortgage, how to get a car, and this President has done nothing to help. $1,000 [on] average every American has to pay for his tax increases, and now the corporations are going to get all their money back. Is every American going to get a refund for the $1,000 mistake that this President did? No. Not only that, he’s going to double down. He’s going to say, “screw you, Supreme Court. I want to do a 15% tax.” And guess what? All of you Americans are going to pay for it.

“Now we have to figure out again, how are we going to pay for our rent? How are we going to pay for electricity? How are we going to actually pay for everyday food?

“We are poorer because of Donald Trump and the Republicans.

“Let’s talk about security. In two weeks, two Americans were gunned down by federal mass agents in front of our eyes — in front of your eyes — and then they try to lie to you. You saw with your own eyes two Americans expressing their first amendment rights. They said to you that they deserve to die – two Americans. 2,000 federal agents, masked federal agents, suppressing citizens in Minnesota, acting as if they are a military occupation. You do not military occupy anything in any part of this country. Those are U.S. citizens. They deserve the right to free speech. They deserve the right to say that there’s something wrong in that community, and they deserve the right to protect themselves and say, “I will not stand for this. I will invoke my First Amendment rights, and get out of my city.”

“Let’s be clear, no matter what they say, they are going to lie to you. And I’m not saying that just because I’m just another politician. I’m telling you because I have heard it. We talked about Steve Gomez. Steve Gomez wanted to do everything he could not to have to accept subsidies for his kids. He wants to provide, he wants to continue to have his personal business, he wants to be a responsible citizen. Now, he has to make that decision […] will I continue to pay for this very expensive health care, or will I gamble? Will I pay for my health care? Will I pay the mortgage? That decision was forced upon him by an uncaring Republican administration, by an uncaring Trump, who only wants to find more and more money to give more and more tax cuts to the richest of the country that do not earn it, do not need it right now.

“They’re making us sicker, poorer, and less secure. Let’s change that, America. We are better than what is under that Capitol right now. We can make this country again the best country in the world, where everyone is richer, where everyone is more secure, and we are proud of everyday work. [Where] we can say that America is getting better, will be better, and will one day be the best. Thank you so much. Stay in the fight.”


Gallego Slams Trump Ahead of State of the Union: ‘It’s going to be a speech full of lies and excuses’

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) took to the airwaves ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union to call out the President’s policies that are making Americans sicker, poorer, and less safe.

Tonight at 8:15 PM, Senator Gallego will join MeidasTouch and MoveOn’s “People’s State of the Union.” Earlier today, Gallego joined Senate Democratic leaders at a press conference.

See coverage below:

Meet the Press on NBC Now:

“The State of the Union speech is actually not going to be the State of the Union. It’s going to be a speech full of lies and excuses. I’d rather spend that time with my family. I have three young kids. I’d rather do productive things for my community. This president does not know how to talk about the country, does not know how to fight for the country. He only knows how to fight for himself.”

“People are hurting. People feel it every day. This country is sicker and poor because every decision this President Trump has made, and he’s only going to continue pushing this whole massive, massive deportation plan that is now racially profiling Americans, detaining them until they prove their citizenship, killing American citizens in the streets of our country. That was all paid for on the backs of cutting Medicaid for millions and millions of Americans. He’s not going to talk about solutions to that. He’s not going to talk about solutions, about how to stop the chaos that he moved from the border out to the chaos into our communities. He will talk about excuses. He will talk about grievances, but he will not talk about where this country needs to go, and that’s what Americans really need to be hearing right now.”

The Takeout with Major Garrett CBS:

“We’re up against an administration that has just made this country sicker and poorer. […] He cut Medicaid — kicking millions and millions of Americans off of Medicaid and used that to fund the suppression of Americans in our towns, creating chaos in our neighborhoods, separating families, racial profiling Americans every day and trying to call it immigration enforcement. We’ve seen it. We’ve seen this show before. The president goes and talks about him. He doesn’t talk about the State of the Union. I think there’s better things for me to be doing than wasting my time just listening to him just pontificate.”

“This president has caused more economic problems for the everyday American than any other president has in such a short time period.”

Don Lemon LIVE:

“I have kids. I have other obligations for my constituents. I’m not going to waste my time. This is one big charade. He’s there to talk about himself, not about the country, not about what the state of the union is, and I can be doing better things for my time.”

“I live in South Phoenix, in a very working-class area, and I still see people struggling. I still see people going to the checkout line at the grocery store and putting food back. I still see people not filling up their gas tanks, even though gas is pretty cheap right now. But people still have to watch every penny, and I still feel and hear the anxiety of people when I’m out in the community. These are working-class Americans.”

“I live in a very working class Latino area. […] They now feel they have to carry on passports [because of] this whole huge ICE surge, these deportations, the separation of families, the racial profiling of Latino Americans.”

“There’s a whole level of unease that’s happening right now, and this man does not know how to answer that, because he has zero amount of introspection when it comes to this. He is highly responsible for everything that’s happening.”

Johnny Palmadessa:

“I’m just prepping myself for the hour long rant that’s gonna come from the President. Gotta tell you, I pretty much anticipate just like ongoing blah, blah, blah, all about him, all about how he’s great, but nothing about how we’re actually gonna take care of you and fix your world. I look forward to trying to decipher what he says, because half the time he speaks like a crazy person.”


Gallego: ‘This president does not care about working-class people at all, and he is going to continue to make us sicker and poorer.’

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined Senate Democratic leaders’ State of the Union press conference ahead of President Trump’s address today.

Read Senator Gallego’s remarks below:

“What we’re going to hear tonight is very simple. This president has made this country sicker and poorer. And if you look at every way that has occurred, it has been deliberate.

“Number one, what did this president do as soon as he got in? He went right after Medicaid and started cutting the most vulnerable people in this country.

“And I’m not talking just people in our urban areas. Rural Arizona — I traveled through rural Arizona, and I was talking to some of our hospital systems because they’re worried about how they’re going to keep their systems open. They know now that this administration has abandoned them and they’re going to have to make some really hard decisions. Will they keep their OB ward open? Will they keep their X-ray machines open? Will they have to shut down the emergency room? Why? Because this president wanted to make sure they had enough money to give the richest of the rich a tax cut.

“And what was left over of that they used to supercharge this massive deportation policy that is racially profiling people, pulling over Americans, violating their fourth amendment rights, and killing Americans in the streets. That is what this president started with.

“Let’s move forward. How much sicker can you get? We all had an agreement, we all said yes, health care costs are expensive. We all understand that things can be better. The last thing we should do is pull the rug out from millions of Americans that rely on these health care subsidies.

“Now we have millions of Americans are making a hard choice between shall I buy health insurance for my family or shall I just risk it and keep going. That president and these Republicans made that choice. There are millions of Americans right now that are suffering. Either having to pay more and now they’re poor or they’re not getting health insurance and now they’re sicker. That was a decision by this administration. And every day they are making a decision that makes things harder and harder.

“We all talk about grocery prices. Let me tell you about grocery prices. I have three kids all under the age of 10. I have to feed those kids, and it is expensive. Thank God I get a good salary. But I cannot imagine how someone like my mom raising four kids on her own can deal with these grocery prices every day.

“And then this president just treats the tariffs as if it’s his little toy that he can [use to] manipulate his friends, bring down some bribes for the corruption that he keeps on doing, and everyday Americans are paying for it. And guess what? The Supreme Court just said you can’t do it. Where is the refund that’s going to come for these Americans? The average American paid $1,000 to $1,200 last year because of these tariffs. Are they getting the refund? No. The big corporations are going to get it, they’re going to get it. But where is that family going to get that relief? It’s not coming.

“It’s not coming because this president does not care about working-class people at all, and he is going to continue to make us sicker and poorer. And that’s just what you’re going to hear tonight.”


Senator Gillibrand Statement Ahead Of President Trump’s State Of The Union Address

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) made the following statement ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union address:

“Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one, but instead, he has delivered chaos, uncertainty, and unaffordability. Life is more expensive than ever for working families across New York and the nation, with prices for everything from housing, groceries, electricity, and health care skyrocketing. Instead of delivering on his campaign promises, Donald Trump and Republicans have used their power in Washington to undermine the American people by cutting $1 trillion in health care funding to give tax cuts to billionaires and triple ICE’s budget. Trump ran on lowering costs and focusing on families, but he and Republicans have spent their year in power doing the exact opposite, and Americans are paying the price.”

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After Senator Hassan Presses ICE Leader, DHS Cancels Merrimack ICE Facility

WASHINGTON – After U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) pressed the head of ICE to heed the objections of the community and cancel a plan to build a detention and processing facility in Merrimack, New Hampshire during a recent hearing in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Department of Homeland Security has now reportedly canceled plans for the facility. In response to an outpouring of concern from local leaders, Granite Staters, and first responders, Senator Hassan directly pushed Acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons about these plans, telling him that the town did not want the detention center, and therefore, ICE should cancel it.

“DHS’s reported cancellation of its plan for an ICE facility in Merrimack is a direct result of Granite Staters speaking up and pushing back on this Administration’s lack of transparency, refusal to coordinate with the community, and actions that would make the town of Merrimack less safe,” said Senator Hassan. “I applaud all those who have made their opposition to this facility clear, and will continue to join Granite Staters in pushing for secure borders, an immigration system consistent with our American values, and to ensure that this Administration works with communities, including on any future plans it may develop for ICE facilities in our state.”

Senator Hassan recently joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) in writing to Secretary Noem transmitting a letter from New Hampshire State Representative Bill Boyd outlining his opposition and concerns regarding ICE’s proposed Merrimack facility. This continued outreach to DHS followed a January letter from the Congressional Delegation urging Secretary Noem to acknowledge and respond to concerns raised by the Merrimack Town Council regarding reports that ICE was planning to establish a new processing center in the town.

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Senator Hassan Statement on President Trump’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement after President Trump’s State of the Union address:

“Americans are tired of President Trump’s empty words, broken promises, and the ways in which his reckless actions are costing them every day. Despite the President’s misleading and out-of-touch claims tonight, hardworking people across our country know the reality: they are worse off than they were a year ago. And the President and his billionaire allies either don’t know it, or don’t care.

“When President Trump took office, he promised to bring down costs. Instead, he continues to double down on his reckless and illegal tariffs that have pushed prices even higher. President Trump promised to keep us healthy, but once in office, he took health insurance away from millions of Americans. President Trump promised to keep our country safe, but he has instead bowed to adversaries like Russia and China and pushed away allies like Canada. The President’s agenda of personal revenge, chaos, and corruption is helping no one besides himself and his billionaire allies.

“Though President Trump acts as if he is unaccountable, in our democracy, there is no voice more important than that of the American people. I urge people to continue to speak out when this Administration’s actions hurt our communities. It’s never too late for the President to reverse course, and I remain ready to work with anyone to address the issues that keep American families up at night, including tackling sky-high costs, standing up for the rule of law, and ensuring that our country remains safe, secure, and free.”

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Heinrich Urges CFTC Chair to Prohibit Federal Prediction Markets, Uphold State & Tribal Authority

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) sent a letter to urge U.S. Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig to abstain from intervening in pending litigation involving prediction markets and to uphold the CFTC’s policy banning unlicensed gambling through these marketplaces, including wagers on sporting events.

Prediction markets sell “yes” or “no” positions on the outcome of an event. Companies hosting these markets continue to argue that these bets are legally financial derivatives falling under the exclusive federal jurisdiction of the CFTC and effectively avoiding any state or Tribal regulation. The industry has also received significant private investment from Donald Trump, Jr. who holds financial and advisory roles in the two largest prediction market platforms, Kalshi and Polymarket.

Last November, CFTC Chairman Selig testified and claimed that he would defer to the courts. However, Selig has involved himself in ongoing litigation and is backtracking on proposed rules to create additional oversight on contracts involving gaming. This places the CFTC in direct conflict with state and Tribal governments whose authority to oversee gambling activity was expressly supported by Congress.

“The real-world consequences are already evident,” the senators wrote CFTC Chairman Selig. “Prediction market platforms are offering contracts that mirror sportsbook wagers and, in some cases, contracts tied to war and armed conflict. These products evade state and Tribal consumer protections, generate no public revenue, and undermine sovereign regulatory regimes.”

“We ask the CFTC to abstain from intervening in pending litigation involving contracts tied to sports, war, or other prohibited events [and]...urge you to realign the Commission’s actions with the statute and with the testimony you provided to Congress under oath. Declining to intervene on behalf of prediction market platforms and clarifying by rule that enumerated activities are contrary to the public interest would restore confidence that the CFTC is enforcing the law Congress enacted — not reshaping it through post-hoc policy shifts,” the senators concluded.

Under New Mexico law, legal sports betting is permitted only on Tribal lands. Predictive markets, which operate as federally regulated exchanges under the CFTC, are allowed throughout the state, including event contracts tied to sports outcomes. As a result, the CFTC is effectively allowing predictive markets to bypass New Mexico’s state laws by enabling sports betting to occur off Tribal land. The loss of direct regulatory oversight also undermines a significant source of tax revenue for the state.

The letter is led by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Alongside Heinrich, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

Read the full letter here and below.

Dear Chairman Selig:

We write in response to your recent actions and public remarks concerning predictions markets. On February 4, 2026, the Commission withdrew a notice of proposed rulemaking that included sporting events in the definition of “gaming” and withdrew prior guidance cautioning exchanges about sports-based event contracts. On January 29, 2026, at the CFTC and SEC Joint Event on Harmonization, you signaled that the Commission would move toward rules that would permit these markets to continue operating while litigation remains pending, and that the Commission may intervene in that litigation.

Taken together, it appears that you intend to steer the Commission in a direction that is at odds with the intent of the Commodity Exchange Act, respect for state law and Tribal sovereignty, and with the testimony you presented to the Senate Agriculture Committee on November 19, 2025.

In your Senate Agriculture Committee confirmation hearing, you stated that it would be “irresponsible” to prejudge whether contracts tied to sporting events constitute gaming, and that you would approach the issue with a “blank slate.” When asked directly whether betting on the outcome of a professional football game is gambling, you answered simply: “I would look to the courts.” However, two months later, you announced that the Commission will intervene in the matter before it has been fully litigated in the courts by withdrawing guidance cautioning against the use of prediction markets for sports betting, and that the Commission may even enter ongoing litigation. In addition, you recently posted that you “strong[ly] disagree” that prediction markets violate the law, a stark reversal of your statements before the Committee.

Following your recent comments, we urge the Commission to take two immediate actions. First, we ask the CFTC to abstain from intervening in pending litigation involving contracts tied to sports, war, or other prohibited events, in alignment with your statements before the Senate Agriculture Committee. Second, should the Commission initiate a rulemaking on event contracts, as you suggested, we ask that those rules adhere to the statute and prior regulations, and reiterate that contracts involving gaming (including sports), war, terrorism, assassination, or other enumerated activities are barred and may not be listed, traded, or cleared under the Commodity Exchange Act.

Congress made its intent clear and determined that these activities are “contrary to the public interest,” and has embedded that determination into 7 U.S.C. § 7a-2(c)(5)(C). Once a contract involves gaming or another enumerated activity, the public-interest analysis is complete. The Commission has the statutory authority to categorically prohibit the listing of contracts that involve these enumerated activities, and it has done so for more than fifteen years under 17 CFR § 40.11.

However, your recent comments instead suggest that you view the prohibitions Congress enacted in 7 U.S.C. § 7a-2(c)(5)(C)(i)(I) through (VI) as subject to reinterpretation through regulatory posture or litigation strategy. That approach converts a statutory prohibition into case-by-case policy judgments. It also places the Commission in direct conflict with state and Tribal governments whose gambling laws Congress expressly chose not to preempt.

The real-world consequences are already evident. Prediction market platforms are offering contracts that mirror sportsbook wagers and, in some cases, contracts tied to war and armed conflict. These products evade state and Tribal consumer protections, generate no public revenue, and undermine sovereign regulatory regimes.

We therefore urge you to realign the Commission’s actions with the statute and with the testimony you provided to Congress under oath. Declining to intervene on behalf of prediction market platforms and clarifying by rule that enumerated activities are contrary to the public interest would restore confidence that the CFTC is enforcing the law Congress enacted—not reshaping it through post-hoc policy shifts. We also request that you begin engaging with Tribal communities on this issue, as Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee requested — and as you committed to doing — during your confirmation process.

We look forward to your prompt response and to working with you on this matter.

Sincerely,

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Hickenlooper, Bennet, Pettersen Demand DHS Abandon Expansion of ICE Detention Facility in Hudson, CO

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, and Representative Brittany Pettersen demanded that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem abandon the department’s plan to open a new Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Hudson, Colorado.

“ICE is out of control,” said Hickenlooper. “The proposal to open another ICE detention center in Colorado, this one in Hudson, takes a bad situation and makes it worse.”

Hickenlooper learned of the new facility during an oversight visit at the Aurora ICE detention center last fall. This continued nationwide expansion of ICE operations comes after ICE, under Trump and Noem’s leadership, detained 3,800 children last year alone. Changes in arrest practices by this administration have also led to a 2,450% increase in the number of people with no criminal record being held in ICE detention on any given day.

“ICE has lost its public trust and must be stopped until there is a complete overhaul of operations. They have been terrorizing our communities – conducting raids in secret and pulling people off the streets into unmarked cars, detaining children, and even killing American citizens in cold blood with impunity,” said Pettersen. “There’s not a chance in hell we’re going to sit back and allow this rogue, lawless agency to expand their despicable operations in Colorado. My stomach is sick thinking about the families being ripped apart and the kids forced to endure a lifetime of trauma and heartbreak from losing their parents. A new ICE facility in Colorado won’t make us safer – especially without guardrails to ensure basic, humane treatment of those at the facility. If DHS refuses to reverse course, we will continue to fight back against their unlawful practices and show up to conduct our duty to ensure oversight and accountability.”

“The Trump Administration has brought fear and chaos to Colorado with their cruel immigration policies,” said Bennet. “As ICE pushes to open a detention center in Hudson, we need more oversight, not less. Secretary Noem is also making it harder for us to visit these centers. This lack of transparency and accountability has to end. I will continue to push for necessary guardrails and critical reforms to DHS and ICE.”

Hickenlooper has been outspoken in the face of ICE’s lawlessness and demanded a top-to-bottom overhaul of the agency to stop ICE from terrorizing our communities. Hickenlooper also voted against the DHS funding bill because it failed to overhaul ICE. He has consistently pushed for more oversight and transparency for federal immigration enforcement efforts, and has worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE. Last month, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor to denounce the horrifying killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, condemn the reports that families in Eagle County found “Death cards” left in the cars of family members taken by ICE agents, and to demand the overhaul of ICE. He’s shown up at ICE facilities to conduct congressional oversight visits and raise concerns about ICE disregarding due process. He helped launch an investigation into ICE’s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight and introduced bills to ban ICE from wearing masks, prevent immigration enforcement from targeting schools, hospitals, polling locations, and places of worship, and cut back the excessive funding that MAGA Republicans gave them.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear Sec. Noem and Director Lyons:

We write to express our profound concern regarding the reports of a letter contract with the GEO Group to operate a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Hudson, Colorado. As ICE agents continue to terrorize our communities, illegally detain U.S. citizens, and skirt congressional oversight of existing facilities, we strongly oppose the expansion of ICE detention beds in Colorado.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit demonstrate that ICE issued a letter contract for the GEO Group for $39,042,069 for six months of services for the so-called Big Horn Facility in Hudson. The letter contract was dated December 1, 2025, with all terms and pricing redacted. Additionally, ICE redacted more than 100 pages of documents purporting to justify why they should award a sole-source contract to the GEO Group for the Hudson facility without full and open competition. The operation of the Big Horn Facility for ICE detention would dramatically expand their detention capacity in the state, reportedly increasing the available detention beds from 1,532 at the Aurora GEO Detention Facility to more than 2,700 beds across the state.

We are deeply concerned that this expansion will lead to decreased oversight, reduced access to legal representation for detained individuals, and increased geographical barriers for visitors. The GEO Group and ICE have a demonstrated history of blocking Congressional oversight of the Aurora GEO Detention Facility by refusing Members of Congress access to the facility, withholding answers to oversight questions, and failing to respond to congressional casework inquiries. There is no reason to believe that these illegal actions will not be continued in the Big Horn Facility.

Additionally, immigration advocates across the state have raised concerns that locating a new facility in Hudson, which is significantly more remote and less accessible than the Aurora facility, will result in additional barriers to legal representation, advocates, and family members visiting the facility to meet with detained individuals. The Hudson location lacks comparable access to public transportation, is farther from legal service providers and advocacy organizations, and would impose added travel time and costs on attorneys and family members seeking to visit or meet with those detained. These obstacles risk delaying legal proceedings, limiting access to counsel, and undermining detainees’ ability to maintain communication with family members. Given these concerns, we therefore seek clarity into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decision to authorize such a facility and what actions it will take to ensure those detained in the facility will have equal and adequate access to legal representation as their cases remain ongoing.

We strongly oppose the use of the Big Horn Detention Center as an ICE detention facility, and we urge DHS to immediately abandon plans to expand detention capacity in Colorado. Additionally, we request your response to the following oversight questions by March 13th, 2026:

Did the GEO Group receive a $39,042,069 six-month contract for the Big Horn Detention Facility when no individuals were detained at this facility? Please provide an itemized statement as to how that $39,042,069 was spent.

Please confirm the number of beds you expect the Big Horn Facility to hold.

What steps will the Department of Homeland Security take to share its plans for the new facility with relevant local leaders, community members, advocacy groups, and other relevant partners?

What steps will be taken to ensure that the Big Horn Facility will consistently meet adequate health and safety standards, as required by the Performance- Based National Detention Standards 2008, the Performance-Based National Detention Standards 2011, the National Detention Standards 2019, and the Family Residential Standards?

What steps will DHS take to ensure that the new facility will respond appropriately to congressional oversight as required under Pub. L. No. 118-47, div. C, tit. V 527 (a), 138 Stat 460, 619, and affirmed by Case No. 25-cv-2463?

How will DHS ensure that detainees within the Big Horn Facility maintain adequate access to family visitation and meetings with relevant counsel and representatives?

Are there any other contracts with the GEO Group for ICE Department of Homeland Security detention facilities in Colorado?

Have there been any discussions with local or county governments on the opening of Big Horn? Have the Weld County Health Department and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment been made aware of their inspection duties?

Sincerely,

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Hickenlooper, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Refund Businesses for Trump’s Illegal Tariffs, Relieve Working Families

This bill would require small businesses to be paid back first, builds on Hickenlooper’s Small Business RELIEF Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, and 21 of his Senate colleagues introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026 to force the Trump administration to fully refund businesses who paid their illegal tariffs. The legislation comes after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the illegal tariffs last Friday.

“President Trump’s tariffs were illegal from the start. Hard working families and small businesses should never have had to pay this extra tax,” said Hickenlooper. “Now, the White House needs to immediately return the money they took. ”

Hickenlooper has always been an outspoken opponent of Trump’s reckless tariff regime. Last year, he introduced the Small Business RELIEF Act to exempt small businesses from the admin’s sweeping tariffs and give them refunds for the tariffs they have already paid. He also supported the challenge against the Trump administration that was considered in this Supreme Court decision, signing onto an amicus brief for the case. In October, Hickenlooper also helped pass the Senate effort to end the emergency declaration the White House has used to try to justify their illegal tariffs that have increased prices on Americans.

Over the summer, Hickenlooper chaired a field hearing of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee in Denver to highlight the strain the outdoor recreation industry is facing under the Trump administration’s chaotic tariffs.

The Trump administration has collected an estimated $175 billion in illegal tariff revenue, raising taxes on products from nearly every country on earth and jacking up prices for working families. It is also reported that Coloradans paid over $760 million in tariffs before the Supreme Court ruling. The Tariff Refund Act of 2026 will require the full refund of those funds to all importers, while prioritizing small businesses. This builds on Hickenlooper’s Small Business RELIEF Act which focuses only on small business refunds.

The Trump administration previously recognized that it must refund, with interest, any money unlawfully collected. However, it is unclear what timeline, process, or other guidelines the Trump administration would follow to provide refunds.

The Tariff Refund Act of 2026 would ensure that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) quickly refunds businesses and prioritizes the interests of small businesses first.

Specifically, the bill would:

Require CBP to pay refunds of all tariffs that were unlawfully imposed by the President under IEEPA and paid by importers, even if the importation has already been finalized and closed (“liquidated”) by CBP.

Set a deadline of 180 days after enactment for CBP to process all refunds.

Require CBP to pay interest on the refunded amount.

Direct CBP to prioritize small businesses when paying refunds and to coordinate with the SBA to provide key information on the refund process to small businesses.

Require CBP to report every 30 days to relevant congressional committees on the status of refunds until CBP has completed the payment of all refunds.

Direct CBP to issue guidance on how to address duty drawback claims.

Demand that importers, wholesalers, and large corporations should pass on those refunds to their customers.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

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Hickenlooper Statement on President Trump’s State of the Union

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement rejecting President Trump’s State of the Union address and the falsehoods the President spread during his speech:

“Try as he might, Trump can’t erase what we see with our own eyes. Working families are struggling to afford groceries and health care. Small businesses are crushed under illegal tariffs. Trump is attacking Colorado’s clean drinking water and withholding child care funding, just for petty political revenge. And ICE is grabbing, beating, and even killing people across the country.

“Under Donald Trump, the ultra-wealthy have gotten all the breaks while working Americans are getting worked over. That is the state of our union.”

Throughout the speech, Hickenlooper repeatedly called out the lies that the President tried to spread.

Earlier today, Hickenlooper and his State of the Union guest, Caroline Dias Goncalves, highlighted the cruelty of the President’s immigration crackdown. Dias Goncalves is a 20-year-old Dreamer who was detained by ICE in Colorado last year and a student at the University of Utah. Last June, Dias Goncalves was pulled over during a traffic stop in Colorado, where she was arrested by ICE and detained in the Aurora ICE detention facility for 15 days. Dias Goncalves is a Dreamer and raised in the U.S. since she was seven years old. Hickenlooper, his office, and organizations like TheDream.US were involved in demanding answers from ICE about Dias Goncalves’ arrest and ensuring that Dias Goncalves was released.

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WATCH: Hickenlooper, Dreamer Caroline Dias Goncalves Highlight Cruelty of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Ahead of State of the Union

Hickenlooper voted against DHS funding bill because it did nothing to overhaul ICE earlier this month

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released a video to his social media featuring Caroline Dias Goncalves, his guest at President Trump’s State of the Union address today. She is a 20-year-old Dreamer who was detained by ICE in Colorado last year.

Watch on Hickenlooper’s Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Bluesky, and TikTok accounts. Download a high-quality version of the video HERE.

“Caroline was pulled over while driving through Colorado last June and detained by ICE. She spent 15 days in the ICE detention facility in Aurora, Colorado. She has zero criminal record and is here in the U.S. legally, but that didn’t stop ICE from targeting her. It’s clear that ICE needs a top-to-bottom overhaul, and we’re going to go into the State of the Union tonight to try and send that message to President Trump,” said Hickenlooper in the video.

Dias Goncalves is a 20-year-old student at the University of Utah. Last June, Dias Goncalves was pulled over during a traffic stop in Colorado, where she was arrested by ICE and detained in the Aurora ICE detention facility for 15 days. Dias Goncalves is a Dreamer and raised in the U.S. since she was seven years old. Hickenlooper, his office, and organizations like TheDream.US were involved in demanding answers from ICE about Dias Goncalves’ arrest and ensuring that Dias Goncalves was released. Yesterday, Hickenlooper announced Dias Goncalves as his guest to President Trump’s State of the Union address.

Hickenlooper has been outspoken in the face of ICE’s lawlessness and continues to demand a top-to-bottom overhaul of the agency to stop ICE from terrorizing our communities. Hickenlooper also voted against the DHS funding bill because it failed to overhaul ICE. He has consistently pushed for moreoversight and transparency for federal immigration enforcement efforts, and has worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE. Last month, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor to denounce the horrifying killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, condemn the reports that families in Eagle County found “Death cards” left in the cars of family members taken by ICE agents, and to demand the overhaul of ICE. He’s shown up at ICE facilities to conduct congressional oversight visits and raise concerns about ICE disregarding due process. He helped launch an investigation into ICE’s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight and introduced bills to ban ICE from wearing masks, prevent immigration enforcement from targeting schools, hospitals, polling locations, and places of worship, and cut back the excessive funding that MAGA Republicans gave them.

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Hirono Statement on President’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement after the President’s State of the Union Address:

“Tonight, Donald Trump spewed more lies in an attempt to distract from the chaos, cruelty, corruption, and incompetence that have come to define his second term. In Hawaii and across the country, families are living with fear and uncertainty about paying their bills, being torn apart, and the safety of our nation—all because of Trump and his lawless regime.

“Despite Trump’s empty rhetoric, the facts are clear: prices are soaring, our democracy is under threat, and Donald Trump is focused solely on keeping his power and enriching himself and his billionaire buddies. I refused to sit through two hours of his lies, but I will keep standing with families in Hawaii and across the country to lower costs, defend our democracy, and protect our communities.”

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Hoeven Announces Kathryn Burgum as Guest for President Trump’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that his guest for this year’s State of the Union address is former North Dakota First Lady Kathryn Burgum, who was recently named co-chair of President Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative. As the Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery, Burgum will work with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to help coordinate a national response to the addiction crisis, helping to save lives and improve communities.

“As the First Lady of North Dakota, Kathryn did a tremendous job in helping to combat addiction and help individuals and families to recover and rebuild their lives,” said Hoeven. “Now, as President Trump’s Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery, she is continuing this good work for the entire nation. We’re happy to host her at tonight’s address and look forward to hearing from President Trump.”

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Hoeven Statement on President Trump’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address:

“President Trump’s address celebrated the 250th anniversary of our great nation and highlighted people and policies that make our country better and stronger. The President showed the real impact of the tax relief we passed last year in enabling Americans to keep more of their hard-earned dollars and our continued work to make life more affordable for families across the nation. That includes supporting our farmers and ranchers to ensure we continue to have the highest-quality, lowest cost food supply in the nation, and unleashing energy production in North Dakota and across the nation to fuel our economy and bring down costs.

“The President outlined work to make our nation safer here at home by securing our borders and stopping drug and human trafficking. Additionally, by promoting ‘peace through strength’ and supporting our men and women in uniform, we are making our nation more secure while keeping our adversaries in check.

“The address acknowledged the tremendous feats of Americans – from gold medal winners to U.S. servicemembers to a 100-year old war veteran – and the people that make our nation great. We look forward to continuing to work with President Trump and his administration to keep our nation strong and prosperous for the next 250 years.”

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