Lee, Paul Introduce End to Vaccine Carveouts

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee cosponsored the End the Vaccine Carveout Act with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to remove special liability protections that shield manufacturers and administrators from civil claims when Americans are harmed. Representative Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09) introduced the House version of the bill.

“Pharma giants are hiding behind legal protections to avoid being sued by Americans experiencing serious vaccine side effects,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Americans have a constitutional right to a trial by jury, but current laws allow Big Pharma players to dodge accountability and bar victims from pursuing their cases. Many of these patients were forced to get vaccinated or lose their jobs during the pandemic and are now dealing with permanent and very serious complications. Our bill will end these unconstitutional vaccine carveouts so that all Americans can receive the justice they deserve and hold Big Pharma accountable.”

“If a drug hurts someone, you can sue the company in court,” said Senator Rand Paul. “You can hold them responsible through the normal legal process. But when it comes to vaccines, and in many cases the COVID vaccine, the rules are rigged: you're funneled into a federal no-fault program that limits damages, restricts your options, and — in many cases — leaves people without real justice. That's cronyism.”

“I strongly support the Senate companion legislation introduced by Senator Paul to my bill, the End the Vaccine Carveout Act,” said Representative Paul Gosar. “No product should be shielded from accountability simply because it is labeled a vaccine. Americans deserve equal protection under the law, full transparency, and the right to seek justice when harmed. This legislation restores fairness, strengthens trust, and puts patients—not special interests—first.”

Background

Federal law grants vaccine manufacturers, including COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, special legal protections not afforded to producers of other medical products from liability, even if their products cause injury or death. The End the Vaccine Carveout Act reforms the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) by allowing individuals who suffer vaccine-related injury or death to pursue direct civil action in state or federal court without first being forced into a federal no-fault system that limits recovery and restricts legal options. Under current law, injured individuals are generally required to file a petition through VICP before seeking judicial relief. This legislation removes those barriers, as well as the current immunity shield for COVID-19 vaccines pursuant to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act.

The End the Vaccine Carveout Act also amends the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act by excluding COVID-19 vaccines from the definition of “covered countermeasures.” This change ends the broad immunity currently shielding manufacturers, distributors, and administrators from most COVID-19 vaccine injury claims, even years after the public health emergency has ended.

Read the full text of the bill here.


Full List of FY 2026 Federal Funding for Kentucky Secured by Senator McConnell

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL

FISCAL YEAR 2026 APPROPRIATIONS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

NEARLY $2.6 BILLION FOR KENTUCKY

AGRICULTURE ($11.350 MILLION FOR KENTUCKY)

$10 million for the University of Kentucky’s new Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Building

$1.35 million for hospital infrastructure improvements at Ohio County Hospital

COMMERCE-JUSTICE-SCIENCE ($107.852 MILLION FOR KENTUCKY)

$70 million for the University of Louisville’s Center for Bioscience

$35 million for the University of Kentucky’s Healthy Research Building #2

$2.5 million to equip a new cybercrime training facility being developed in Madisonville

$352,000 for the procurement of law enforcement equipment and technology at a new emergency operations center in Bowling Green

DEFENSE $1,673,465,000 (NEARLY $1.7 BILLION FOR KENTUCKY)

$20 million to support the Army’s continued development of advanced materials and additive manufacturing techniques in partnership with the University of Kentucky

$9 million to support submarine stealth technology research at the University of Kentucky

$16 million to support the establishment of new Defense Innovation Unit OnRamp defense-technology gateways, including at the University of Louisville

$2.5 million to fund research into warfighter molecular and cellular health at UofL

$12 million to support the National Security Agency’s cyber workforce training partnership in cooperation with UofL and other universities

$903 million to fund the expansion of manufacturing capacity for energetics materials at the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD)

$59.96 million to invest in energetics manufacturing capability resiliency at BGAD

$3.2 million to fund the construction of a new raw water line at BGAD

$1 million to support ground-breaking research efforts at BGAD to develop new remote sensing techniques for surveillance at defense facilities

$8 million to construct a new gas line to serve Ft. Knox’s energy needs

$2.5 million to upgrade Ft. Knox’s railhead facilities that support the installation’s role as a Mobilization Force Generation Installation

$1.875 million to furnish a Kentucky National Guard Vehicle Maintenance Shop in Northern Kentucky

$130 million to improve facilities, reinforce manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen the workforce that supports Columbia and Virginia-class submarine shipbuilding in the Louisville region

$15 million to replace aging machinery with modern tools and control systems to ensure reliable production of critical Mk45 5-inch guns used by the Navy to defend ships and sailors. Mk45 guns are produced in the Louisville region

$70.14 million to fund the procurement of six additional Land-based Phalanx Weapon Systems, which are produced in the Louisville region

$71.47 million to fund the procurement of additional SeaRAM Ship Defense Systems, which are produced in the Louisville region

$11.2 million to fund the lease of a subterranean training facility in the Louisville region

$7.5 million to continue the Army’s development of next-generation vehicle armor, part of which will take place in the Louisville region

$9.5 million to fund further development of a cooperative spacecraft payload developed in partnership with Morehead State University in Eastern Kentucky to increase the responsiveness, effectiveness, and resilience of Integrated Air and Missile Defense platforms

$50 million the procurement of additional Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Net System (ULCANS) multi-spectral camouflage nets critical to the survival of U.S. forces on the modern battlefield, which are produced in Southeastern Kentucky

$8.5 million for Army Mobile ULCANS Research, which will fund further research into advanced camouflage nets for Army combat vehicles. This research will support future manufacturing work in Southeastern Kentucky

$10 million to support Field Containerized Kitchen service life extension work in Southeastern Kentucky

$10 million for the Army to procure modernized drone technology under Phase II of the Soldier Borne Sensor program. Drones of the Soldier Borne Sensor program are repaired and maintained in Southeastern Kentucky

$6.12 million to support the testing of carbon fiber utility tanks in South Central Kentucky for use in Forward Aerial Refueling Points by the Army

$175 million to support Improved Turbine Engine Program test and integration efforts. Parts used in the Improved Turbine Engine Program are manufactured in Western Kentucky

$50 million to support research efforts to enhance the F-15EX fighter’s engines. This research will support future engine part manufacturing work in Western Kentucky

$10 million to support the Air Force’s expansion of the Generating Rural Innovation for National Defense program to additional states, including Kentucky

ENERGY & WATER ($402.881 MILLION FOR KENTUCKY)

$340 million to fund decommissioning, decontamination, and environmental remediation at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP)

$41 million for construction of a new program support facility at PGDP to replace aging administrative buildings. The facility will also support next-generation manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies expected to arrive at PGDP in the coming years

$21.281 million to fully fund the remaining work on the Rough River Dam Safety Modification Project, ensuring the integrity of Rough River Lake for decades to come

$600,000 to continue an erosion study along the Mississippi River at Columbus-Belmont State Park

INTERIOR-ENVIRONMENT ($29.84 MILLION FOR KENTUCKY)

$9.256 million for water treatment plant improvements in Edmonson County

$7.45 million for capital improvements at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

$7.334 million for water treatment plant construction in Albany

$4.8 million for wastewater treatment plant improvements in Martin County

$1 million for visitor center improvements at Green River National Wildlife Refuge

LABOR-HHS-ED ($70.026 MILLION FOR KENTUCKY)

$30 million for construction and equipment procurement at the University of Kentucky’s Healthy Kentucky Research Building #2

$29.826 million for construction and equipment procurement at the University of Louisville’s Kentucky Center for Precision Medicine

$3 million for Campbellsville University to establish graduate degree programs through a new College of Mental Health

$2.7 million for Life Learning Center to address the substance abuse and opioid epidemic

$2 million for Madisonville Community College to acquire propeller planes and helicopters for a growing student aviation program

$1.5 million to develop a treatment facility for children with autism spectrum disorders in Whitesburg

$1 million for Home of the Innocents in Louisville to support expansion of the Kids Complex Care Center

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION ($147 MILLION FOR KENTUCKY)

$50 million to demolish legacy aircraft hangars at Ft. Knox

$8 million to construct a vehicle access road with larger clearances that can accommodate emergency vehicles and heavy equipment at Ft. Knox

$4.5 million to fund planning and design for two new dining facilities at Ft. Knox

$45 million to replace the air traffic control tower at Ft. Campbell Army Airfield

$11 million to fund planning and design for a new modernized hangar at Ft. Campbell Army Airfield

$27 million to fund planning and design for a new military container production facility at Blue Grass Army Depot that would complement existing operations at the site and meet a national need for domestically produced shipping containers

$1.5 million to fund planning and design for a new Kentucky Army National Guard readiness center and vehicle maintenance shop

TRANSPORTATION-HUD ($117.4 MILLION FOR KENTUCKY)

$20 million to construct a new agriculture exposition center in Barren County

$20 million to conduct preliminary engineering and design for the widening of 55 miles of Hal Rogers Parkway

$11 million for economic revitalization in McCreary County

$10 million for supporting activities to construct I-69 ORX, the new interstate crossing over the Ohio River in Henderson

$9.6 million for construction of a new Federal Inspection Service (FIS) facility to support international passenger flights at Louisville International Airport

$7.5 million for reconstruction of Taxiway M, the access point for Runway 9/27, the primary and preferred night-use runway at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

$2 million to rehabilitate and reconstruct apron that serves all 21 gates at Concourse A at CVG

$9 million for land acquisition and design work for a new runway at Elizabethtown Regional Airport

$250,000 for a study to reorient the runway at Elizabethtown Regional Airport

$7 million for Louisville Metro Government to redevelop crumbling infrastructure at the Belvedere

$6.6 million to build a state-of-the-art childcare center in Owensboro

$5.4 million for enabling projects to support construction of a new air traffic control tower at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington

$4.5 million for Covington to construct a pedestrian-friendly connector for the new mixed-use business district at the site of the former IRS facility

$3.1 million for Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah to rehabilitate lighting on Runway 14/32

$1.45 million for construction of an access road at an emerging business park in Somerset


Kentucky Leaders Weigh in on FY 2026 Federal Funding Secured by Senator McConnell

KENTUCKY LEADERS WEIGH IN

“I have the deepest respect for Senator Mitch McConnell’s leadership and his unmatched service to Kentucky and our nation over the past four decades,” said Kentucky State Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. “He was the catalyst who brought Democrats and Republicans together to secure funding for the Brent Spence Bridge. Leader McConnell was also instrumental in Kentucky recently receiving $1.7 billion for critical defense assets and is sure to be one of his most significant and lasting achievements. Because of his tireless work, Kentucky will continue to play a vital role in our nation’s defense. I know of no one who has been more influential for Kentucky or for our country in this century or the last.”

Kentucky State House Speaker David Osborne, R-Oldham, said, “Senator McConnell’s latest achievements build on a career defined by results. Over decades of service, he has secured more than $60 billion in direct funding for Kentucky, transforming infrastructure, education, health care, and medical research across our state. He has strengthened our defense industry, spurred a new chapter for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and ensured the safe destruction of weapons at Bluegrass Army Depot. Time and again, he has demonstrated that effective leadership means delivering for every corner of the Commonwealth and ensuring Kentucky’s voice is heard where it matters most.”

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACROSS KENTUCKY

“Senator McConnell has long been a trusted friend and ally to the City of Owensboro, Kentucky, and we are deeply grateful for his continued support over the years,” said Tom Watson, Mayor of Owensboro. “Thanks to Senator McConnell’s efforts in securing federal funding, Owensboro can expand its high-quality childcare center through our local YMCA to support our city’s growing workforce and economy. Having access to childcare is a significant challenge facing working families and impacting business across the nation. And while Owensboro is no exception to this issue — we are exceptional. We have a community that has come together to find solutions and make a real impact; and we have a Senator who understands the importance of supporting communities in addressing issues on a local level. This funding will directly change lives and support business, all at the same time. A homerun for everyone with our Senator going to bat for us.”

“On behalf of Barren County, I want to sincerely thank Senator McConnell for his support in securing federal funding for this agricultural expo center,” said Jamie Bewley Byrd, Barren County Judge-Executive. “This project will provide a much needed location for farmers to come together for trade shows and events, and will bring in millions of dollars in economic impact and development. Being ranked among the top counties in the Commonwealth for total number of farms, Barren County is a proud, resilient agriculture community and we’re thrilled to be the site of this new development.”

“I am very grateful for Senator McConnell’s work in helping us receive new federal funding for the water treatment plant in Edmonson County,” said State Representative Michael Meredith. “After years of much needed maintenance and several changes to our system, this funding for modernization efforts will enhance our capacity and capability in providing clean drinking water throughout the county.”

“We appreciate Senator McConnell’s support in securing the funding for the new building at the Paducah DOE site. This facility represents the future for the site, which will remain an important part of our community for decades to come. The Paducah Chamber’s reindustrialization study of the site, through a grant from the Department of Energy, has highlighted what’s ahead. Our Federal Priorities identified this as our top project. As cleanup efforts continue, this new building will significantly reduce the annual maintenance costs associated with aging structures originally constructed in the 1950s. The projected return on investment demonstrates that this is a wise and responsible use of public funds,” said Sandra Wilson, Paducah Chamber President/CEO. “Senator McConnell has been a strong and tireless advocate for our DOE site and its workers and this is another way he has shown that. We are very grateful for this continued investment."

“This funding represents a significant investment in the individuals, families and community we serve,” said Alicia Webb-Edgington, President of Life Learning Center. “We are deeply grateful to Senator Mitch McConnell for his leadership and support in this endeavor. This will have a meaningful impact on underserved and unrepresented populations of people as they get back on their feet and into the workforce.

“Our rural Rough River Lake community is grateful for the attention and total commitment of Senator McConnell and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for this vital remediation project. This additional $21 million funding will ensure ancillary work necessary for this complex project can be performed as needed. This dam remediation project will ensure the long-term viability of flood control downstream and protect the economic viability of our local recreational businesses,” said Charlie Corbett, founding member and longtime president of the Friends of Rough River.

“We are thankful for the additional funding Senator McConnell has secured for the erosion study the Corp. of Engineers is doing on the bluffs at picturesque Columbus Belmont State Park. Senator McConnell and his staff’s steadfast work is much appreciated by residents of western Kentucky who enjoy Columbus Belmont so much,” said Kenny Wilson, Hickman County Judge Executive.

“Deep concerns about our aging water system and increased demands from residents and industry in Albany pointed toward the need for a new water treatment plant,” said Albany Mayor James Bray. “Thanks to Senator McConnell’s unwavering support in securing federal funding, the city can now take a significant step forward in addressing this need to ensure a clean, safe, and reliable water supply for Clinton County and neighboring communities.”

“On behalf of Martin County, we are so thankful for Senator McConnell’s work and all the help he has provided in federal funding for the Inez sewage treatment plant,” said Dr. Lon Lafferty, Martin County Judge-Executive. “The decades old plant is in desperate need of maintenance, and thanks to this funding we can now work toward providing wastewater treatment services to residents throughout the county.”

“This investment in the Woodlands Nature Station honors the original public commitment made when Land Between the Lakes was established and Senator McConnell’s support at the federal level is appreciated. The federal funding will help drive measurable economic development by increasing visitation, generating tourism spending, and supporting local businesses and rural workforce opportunities across the region. Land Between the Lakes belongs to the public, and this investment reinforces our responsibility to manage it in a way that is relevant, and forward-looking,” said Elaine Jackson, Friends of Land Between the Lakes Executive Director.

“The Friends of Green River National Wildlife Refuge would like to thank Senator McConnell for his continued support in securing federal funding,” said Chase Fulcher, President, Friends of Green River National Wildlife Refuge. “This funding is vital to moving the priorities of this long-term Natural Resource Conservation and Public Recreation Project forward, and we appreciate the Senator’s work over the course of his Senate tenure on behalf of the Henderson community.”

“On behalf of the team members and children and families served by Home of the Innocents, we thank Senator McConnell for his efforts to secure funding for this important expansion,” said Paul Robinson, President and CEO, Home of the Innocents. “We are grateful for Congress' acknowledgement of the need to care for these most vulnerable of patients, and look forward to meeting that challenge.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Senator McConnell on the behalf of the Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation for helping us secure this federal funding,” said L. M. (Mike) Caudill, JD, CEO of the Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation. “This support will allow MCHC to construct and equip one of the only autism centers in the region for children and create 40 new jobs for the Letcher County community. After much work and external support toward this final product, we believe this funding, thanks to Senator McConnell, will put us over the top and help make this dream become reality.”

“I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Senator McConnell for believing in the potential to revitalize the historic mining community of Stearns, McCreary County Kentucky,” said J.C. Egnew, Founder of the McCreary County Heritage Foundation, and Chief Executive Officer of Outdoor Venture Corporation. “This revitalization project will make Stearns a world class tourism destination. Through the Senator’s efforts, and belief that tourism is bona fide economic development and his ability to appropriate funds, will make this vision become reality. This project is an integral part of the goal to enhance the development of the Southern entrance to the Kentucky Wildlands and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.”

Thank you, Senator McConnell, for your support of the redevelopment of the Belvedere,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “This investment will help with the massive repairs needed for this important infrastructure in Downtown Louisville. This project will fix Downtown’s largest garage and ensure the safety of the thousands of motorists who drive underneath it every day. The reimagined Belvedere will also be a catalyst for other Downtown redevelopment projects, which is why this support is so important.”

“The support of Senator McConnell and our other congressional leaders for the Covington Central Riverfront development represents a major investment in public infrastructure for Covington and all of Northern Kentucky,” said Covington Mayor Ron Washington. “By strengthening our riverfront's infrastructure and laying the foundation for future development, this project will create jobs, attract private investment, and support long-term regional growth. Beyond the economic impact, this investment improves quality of life by creating spaces and infrastructure designed for residents, families, and visitors alike.”

“This is a significant win for The Capital of Lake Cumberland and a major step forward for economic development in our region. We sincerely thank Senator McConnell for his leadership and continued support of Somerset-Pulaski County," said Chris Girdler, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority. “For several years, we have actively pursued federal funding to construct a new bridge crossing Barnesburg Road. This bridge will ensure safe, efficient access throughout SPEDA Commerce Park, allowing employees, customers, and commercial traffic to travel directly from Highway 80 without disrupting traffic flow.”

EDUCATION & HEALTH CARE

“This investment in the Healthy Kentucky Research Building No. 2 helps build our capacity to answer the hard questions that matter to Kentucky communities and the families that call them home,” said University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto. “This funding accelerates work already underway and expands the space where researchers, clinicians and students can collaborate to turn discovery into real-world solutions. We remain appreciative of Senator Mitch McConnell’s continued leadership in guaranteeing Kentucky has the research infrastructure needed to ensure a Commonwealth tomorrow that is healthier, wealthier and wiser than it is today.”

“We sincerely appreciate Senator McConnell’s support for the UofL Center for Precision Medicine. This center will unite new scientific strengths to help develop personalized treatments for some of our nation’s and Kentucky’s most serious and costly diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes,” said University of Louisville President Gerry Bradley.

"We are so grateful to Senator McConnell for his support,” said Dr. Cynthia S. Kelley, President/CEO of Madisonville Community College. “This funding reflects the strong partnership between our college and Senator McConnell in advancing workforce education. By strengthening our aviation program and helping keep training affordable, this investment ensures more students can access in-demand aviation careers.”

STRENGTHENING THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE

“Throughout his career, Senator McConnell has recognized the profound economic impact that Blue Grass Army Depot has in Madison County and its important contribution to our national defense,” said Madison County Judge/Executive Reagan Taylor. “The nearly $1 billion in investment that this legislation sets aside for Blue Grass Army Depot not only represents a powerful endorsement of its potential as a cornerstone of America’s energetics manufacturing base, but also in the talent and value of the Depot’s workforce. I appreciate Senator McConnell’s sustained focus and working alongside us on job replacement at Blue Grass Army Depot and am grateful for this investment in the Depot and Madison County’s shared future.”

“Senator McConnell’s unwavering support for Fort Knox cannot be overstated. From these critical infrastructure investments that elevate the installation’s military readiness and strategic importance to the protection of one of our most treasured and visited tourist attractions, we cannot say enough about his commitment to our installation, our national defense and to our regional economy,” said President and CEO of the Knox Regional Development Alliance Lance O’Bryan.

“The Military Affairs Committee is proud to stand beside the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our freedoms. Our mission has always been to ensure they are supported, equipped, and prepared for success—both in service and at home. We are deeply grateful for Senator McConnell’s enduring leadership and his tireless advocacy for Fort Campbell. His commitment continues to strengthen not only the installation but the entire community that supports it,” said Shannon Lane, Director, Military Affairs Committee, Christian County Chamber of Commerce; Member, Citizens for Fort Campbell.

“The University of Louisville is extremely appreciative of Senator McConnell’s efforts to secure this historic funding,” said UofL President Gerry Bradley. “Military health is one of the fastest-growing areas of our research portfolio, and we believe that the coming Center for Bioscience will dramatically strengthen UofL’s ability to advance science that improves the condition and well-being of our servicemen and women.”

KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE

“We are grateful for this $2.5 million dollar investment made possible through Senator Mitch McConnell’s office. This represents a major step forward for public safety in Madisonville and across the region. A state-of-the-art regional cyber-crime lab will equip our law enforcement partners with the tools, technology, and training needed to combat increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and protect our citizens in the digital age, while also strengthening collaboration across jurisdictions and position our city as a regional leader in cyber-crime prevention and investigation,” said Madisonville Mayor Kevin Cotton.

“Cyber-crime is one of the fastest-growing threats facing communities today, and this $2.5 million investment allows Madisonville to stay ahead of the curve. With support from Senator Mitch McConnell’s office, this regional cyber-crime lab will deliver cutting-edge capabilities that enhance safety for residents, businesses, and local governments throughout the region,” said Madisonville Police Chief Steve Bryan.

“On behalf of the Warren County Drug Task Force and our local, state, and federal partners, I would like to thank Senator McConnell for his leadership and support in helping us secure this funding for new drug enforcement offices,” said Tommy Loving, Executive Director of the Bowling Green–Warren County Drug Task Force. “This investment is great news, as we have outgrown our current facility, and it will significantly enhance our ability to combat crime and address drug issues throughout our region. We have always been able to count on Senator McConnell as a strong supporter of law enforcement.”

IMPROVING TRANSPORTION INFRASTRUCTURE

“The Elizabethtown Airport Board is grateful for Senator McConnell’s leadership and foresight to increase the capabilities of the Elizabethtown Regional Airport at Addington Field,” said Carl Swope, Chair of the Elizabethtown Airport Board. “We are in a time of unprecedented growth in central Kentucky, and this investment will assure our ideally located airport remains a valuable regional asset for the next 50 years.”

"We are grateful to Senator McConnell for his support to ensure that critical airfield infrastructure projects at CVG are funded and can move forward to provide important safety and capacity benefits for CVG passenger and cargo airlines as well as to create construction jobs and related spending that supports the regional economy," said Larry Krauter, CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

“We would like to acknowledge and thank Senator McConnell for championing the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF),” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, which owns and operates Louisville’s airport. “As SDF experienced record-setting growth each of the previous three years, this funding supports the addition of a Federal Inspection Services facility, or FIS, that will allow international passenger flights at our airport. We appreciate the Senator’s on-going support as SDF continues not only its positive momentum, but its transformation into providing a best-in-class experience for the region’s travelers.”

“We cannot express how grateful we are for Senator McConnell’s support and persistence in securing a federal grant to advance the next phase of relocating the FAA’s air traffic control tower,” said Eric Frankl, Executive Director of Blue Grass Airport. “Built in 1970, the existing tower does not meet current design standards and will ultimately limit our ability to expand the passenger terminal to meet the growing travel demands of the central and southeastern Kentucky region we serve. We are hopeful this grant will expedite the construction of a new tower at Blue Grass Airport.”

“We are extremely thankful to Senator McConnell for his leadership and support in supporting the funding of the Airfield Lighting Project,” said Dennis Rouleau, Executive Director of the Barkley Regional Airport Authority. “This improvement will replace all of the remaining old and out of date airfield lighting equipment and cabling to enhance airfield worker safety, strengthen operational reliability, and help ensure Barkley Regional Airport remains a strong transportation asset for our region. Upgrading this critical infrastructure allows Barkley to continue serving as the Front Porch of the Purchase Region, a key gateway for business, tourism, and economic development across the Purchase Area. We are grateful for Senator McConnell’s commitment to Western Kentucky and to keeping our communities connected to the world.”


Senator McConnell Secures Nearly $2.6 Billion In Federal Funding for Kentucky Priorities In Fiscal Year 2026

‘Over the course of my career in the United States Senate, I have been proud to help the Commonwealth of Kentucky punch well above its weight in securing federal funding—from Pikeville to Paducah—for hundreds of important projects… As a long-time member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have always seen it as my duty to meet with constituent groups, understand their needs, and help deliver on those needs through additional federal funds designated for Kentucky.’

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that he brought home nearly $2.6 billion in federal funding for Kentucky priorities in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. This number is a single-year record for the Commonwealth and for Senator McConnell through the regular appropriations process. The total number of federal dollars the senior Senator from Kentucky has been able to secure for his home state throughout his 40-plus year career in the Senate amounts to more than $65 billion.

“Over the course of my career in the United States Senate, I have been proud to help the Commonwealth of Kentucky punch well above its weight in securing federal funding—from Pikeville to Paducah—for hundreds of important projects,” said Senator McConnell. “This year’s federal funding for Kentucky will help stimulate economic growth in many different sectors including defense, law enforcement, medical research, science, national parks, and recreation.”

In this year’s appropriations process, Senator McConnell worked hard to bring home significant federal funding for many important areas of Kentucky’s economy. More than $230 million will go to post-secondary educational institutions including the University of Louisville, the University of Kentucky, Morehead State University, Campbellsville University, and Madisonville Community College. These schools will see an increase in funding for research spanning sectors of agriculture, defense, medicine, and science and the enhancement of degree programs in mental health and aviation.

As Chairman of the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations, Senator McConnell was able to secure over $1.7 billion for Kentucky’s defense and military construction priorities. More than $994 million will go to Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD), helping ensure the site’s future as a center for the manufacture of critical energetic materials for our military.

Over $634 million will go toward strengthening the defense industrial base in Kentucky, acting on Chairman McConnell’s commitment to making Kentucky a cornerstone of America’s national defense as the United States confronts an increasingly coordinated partnership of adversaries. $73 million will go to Fort Knox to help build, replace, and modernize facilities and $56 million will go to Fort Campbell for a new air traffic control tower and new hangars.

In transportation funding, Senator McConnell secured more than $36 million for Kentucky’s airports that will be used to upgrade terminals and taxiway infrastructure. These investments will go to major Kentucky airports including Louisville International Airport (SDF), Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Elizabethtown Regional Airport (EKX), Blue Grass Airport (LEX), and Barkley Regional Airport (PAH).

$30 million of federal funding also secured in transportation funding will go to Kentucky’s interstates and highways including the I-69 Ohio River Crossing project in Henderson and the Hal Rogers Parkway in efforts to widen the thoroughfare.

Senator McConnell also secured more than $402 million in the appropriations bill for energy and water related projects. This funding will go to the Department of Energy’s Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) and Rough River Dam. The bill also includes investments for a continued erosion study at Columbus-Belmont State Park.

In Fiscal Year 2026 funding for the Department of Interior and environmental related projects, another $29.8 million was secured by Senator McConnell that will go toward improvements at water treatment facilities in Edmonson County, Martin County, and Albany, Kentucky. Federal investments in visitor center improvements at the Green River National Wildlife Refuge are included in this number as well as funding for capital improvements at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

“As a long-time member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have always seen it as my duty to meet with constituent groups, understand their needs, and help deliver on those needs through additional federal funds designated for Kentucky,” said Senator McConnell. “I’m deeply grateful to the people of Kentucky who have sent me to Washington for seven consecutive terms in the Senate to represent them, and advocate on their behalf. It has been the honor of my life to make their voices heard in our Nation’s Capital, and I remain committed to championing Kentucky’s interests as the 119th Congress proceeds and the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process begins.”

A comprehensive list of the Fiscal Year 2026 projects that Senator McConnell secured funding for in Kentucky can be found HERE and related comments from community leaders and locally elected officials on the details of the projects and Senator McConnell’s leadership can be found HERE.

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In Seattle, Murray Highlights $7.2 Billion Increase for HUD, Rejecting Trump’s Cuts

In the face of drastic cuts to funding and access pushed by President Trump, Murray led efforts to safeguard critical federal funding that underpins Washington state housing and homelessness safety nets

Murray not only protected key national housing and homelessness programs that are essential for Washington state, but also secured millions in Congressionally Directed Spending to build affordable housing and tackle homelessness across the state

ICYMI: Senator Murray Secures Hundreds of Millions for Transportation & Housing Projects Across WA in Final Appropriations Bills; Boosts Funding for Medical Research, Housing, Child Care & More

***AUDIO OF ROUNDTABLE HERE, PHOTOS AND B-ROLL HERE***

Seattle, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a roundtable discussion with local housing providers and partners on the importance of lowering the cost of housing and the urgent need to address the homelessness crisis. Senator Murray highlighted how she secured an historic $7.2 billion increase for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), protected rental assistance and programs that tackle homelessness from drastic cuts by Trump, and secured millions of dollars for affordable housing projects across Seattle and King County.

Senator Murray was joined by Sharon Lee, Founder & Executive Director, Low Income Housing Institute; Iris Friday, Board Chair, Seattle Indian Services Commission; Colleen Echohawk-Hayashi, CEO, Community Roots Housing; Susan Boyd, CEO, Bellwether Housing; Derrick Belgarde, Executive Director, Chief Seattle Club; Paul Lwali, President & CEO, Friends of Youth; and Dan Strauss, Seattle City Council Member, District 6.

“If President Trump had his way in our funding bills, he would have zeroed out programs that help build affordable housing and spur community development. President Trump’s budget wanted to rip the Department of Housing and Urban Development in half, but I made sure we ripped his budget in half instead,” said Senator Murray. “I secured a $7.2 billion increase for HUD—protecting programs Trump tried to eliminate, and investing $4.1 billion more in rental assistance to help families. I also fought hard to secure funding for critical housing projects here in King County. The funds are going to support work on 38 affordable housing units for families in the foster system in Renton, 150 units of affordable housing through the Low-Income Housing Institute, 181 units through Bellwether Housing, 162 affordable housing units through the Seattle Indian Services Commission, another 500 through the City of Seattle’s Fort Lawton redevelopment project, as well as safety upgrades to retain 38 units of affordable housing for Community Roots Housing. All together, that’s over 1,000 units just in King County. There is much more work ahead to tackle the housing affordability and homelessness crisis. This is always top of mind for me, and I will continue doing everything I can in Congress to help folks keep a roof over their head.”

In the government funding bill Trump signed into law on February 3, 2026, Senator Murray secured a $4.1 billion—or 6 percent—increase in rental assistance programs and a $366 million increase in homeless assistance programs, while rejecting President Trump’s proposals to block-grant, and impose harmful work requirements and time limits on these critical programs that support over 10 million Americans. This includes:

$38.4 billion for tenant-based rental assistance—a $2.4 billion boost—to continue to serve more than 2.3 million very low- and extremely low-income households nationwide.

$18.5 billion for project-based rental assistance, an increase of $1.6 billion above last year’s funding level, to continue to house more than 1.3 million very low- and low-income households nationwide.

$4.4 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants Program, a $366 million increase over fiscal year 2025. The bill includes $107 million in new funding to address youth homelessness and $52 million in new funding to support survivors of domestic violence.

New guardrails to protect Continuum of Care (CoC) grants from Trump administration sabotage. The legislation requires HUD to automatically renew Continuum of Care grants that are expiring in 2026 if HUD does not make awards for fiscal year 2025 funds by the beginning of each quarter in 2026. Washington state, alongside other states and nonprofits, has sued HUD over their delay in getting fiscal year 2025 grants out the door and the radical and illegal policy changes the Trump administration has tried to make to how these funds are distributed—moves that have jeopardized housing for hundreds of thousands of Americans and jobs at organizations who assist people experiencing homelessness. Senator Murray held a roundtable in Everett last year to discuss Trump’s threats to CoC grants and her efforts to fight back.

Funding and new flexibilities to continue supporting over 50,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers for people experiencing homelessness and fleeing domestic violence and human trafficking. This program faced a funding cliff that, if left unaddressed, would have cut 110,000 individuals off from housing assistance.

Maintained $1.25 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the largest federal block grant to states and local governments to expand the supply of affordable housing. President Trump and House Republicans tried to eliminate this program entirely.

Protected funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program and Native American Programs—important funding sources for state, local, and Tribal governments to carry out housing and economic development activities.

$156 million—a $16 million boost—for the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, to renew service coordinators that help Section 8 and public housing residents achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence. This program has been used by a number of housing authorities in Washington state to help families access services including job training, employment counseling, financial literacy, and homeownership counseling.

Senator Murray also secured $25.712 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for local affordable housing projects in communities across Washington state, and $15.9 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for local projects providing critical resources like childcare, affordable food, diapers and hygiene supplies, and housing services, including:

$3,000,000 for the Low Income Housing Institute for the construction of affordable, transit-oriented housing units.

$1,500,000 for the Seattle Indian Services Commission for the construction of affordable housing, an early learning center, and a child care facility.

$512,000 for Community Roots Housing for preservation and safety upgrades to affordable housing units.

$2,500,000 for Friends of Youth for the construction of new affordable housing units on their Griffin Campus in Renton to support foster families.

$1,800,000 for Bellwether Housing for construction of affordable housing units in Seattle.

$3,150,000 for the City of Seattle Office of Housing for the Fort Lawton Redevelopment project, including design of infrastructure and permitting work to support construction of affordable housing units and public parkland.

Senator Murray has consistently worked to address Washington state’s housing affordability and homelessness crisis and has secured major federal investments to help families keep a roof over their heads. Throughout the pandemic, Senator Murray—then Assistant Majority Leader—played a major role in writing federal COVID-19 relief legislation that secured essential support for people facing housing insecurity, championing sizable investments in rental assistance and other programs that collectively resulted in the largest eviction prevention effort in American history.

Last year, Senator Murray joined Democrats in warning how the Trump administration’s major staffing cuts at HUD will decimate the ability to deliver basic services and would further exacerbate the housing crisis and would likely prevent HUD from being able to meet critical functions like supporting disaster recovery efforts. In May, she held a roundtable in Everett to hear from local housing and homelessness prevention organizations affected by the Trump administration’s senseless decision to jeopardize Continuum of Care grant funding by placing new, potentially unlawful conditions on the grant funding. At a hearing in June, Senator Murray grilled HUD Secretary Scott Turner on Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for HUD and its sweeping staff losses and funding freezes that are already hurting communities across the country. In September, Senator Murray called for an investigation into the HUD’s handling of the grant award process for the Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds program, after HUD notified the communities across the country that it was once again scrapping the grant application process it had just run—for the second time—and that it was now forcing organizations to apply for funding for a third time. And in November, Senator Murray led Democrats in a letter to Secretary Turner calling on him to immediately halt reported plans to make drastic changes to the Continuum of Care program, which could result in nearly 200,000 Americans being forced out of their housing and back into homelessness.

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On Lunar New Year, Senator Murray Celebrates Securing $1 Million for the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging Helpline

ICYMI: Senator Murray Secures Hundreds of Millions for Transportation & Housing Projects Across WA in Final Appropriations Bills; Boosts Funding for Medical Research, Housing, Child Care & More

***AUDIO OF ROUNDTABLE HERE, PHOTOS AND B-ROLL HERE***

Seattle, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) to hear how the $1 million she secured in Congressionally Directed Spending will support their helpline for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) seniors, which offers crucial assistance to seniors when English may not be their first language, and helps support access to health care services and other programs. Senator Murray met with NAPCA President and CEO, Clayton Fong, and had a roundtable discussion with the workers who staff the helpline and the seniors they serve. Senator Murray has been a longtime advocate for and supporter of NAPCA and its mission—she secured federal funding to help establish the helpline in 2004.

“Navigating programs like SNAP, LIHEAP, Medicare, and Social Security is already more difficult than it should be and it can seem next to impossible for seniors whose first language isn’t English,” said Senator Murray. “That’s why the work NAPCA does through the Helpline is so important—and it’s why I fought so hard to support that work in the funding bill we passed earlier this month. The Helpline can be the difference between having health care or being unable to fill a prescription next year. Between affording groceries or struggling to put dinner on the table. And this work is especially important at a time when we’ve seen Trump lead the federal government in the opposite direction—taking away non-English resources meant to help people access the programs they rely on. I am so glad I could secure $1 million to help NAPCA continue providing help to so many people, in so many languages. NAPCA can always count on me to be their proud partner in the other Washington, to fight for them and the families they serve.”

“We are deeply grateful for the dedication Sen. Murray and her team have to the issues facing our elders and families,” said Clayton Fong, NAPCA President and CEO. “For more than 30 years, Sen. Murray has been a champion in Congress and advocate for our elders’ access to job training, skills building, healthcare, and services for older Americans.”

The Trump administration’s policies and Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act have undermined seniors’ ability to afford health care and other basic needs, and receive the Social Security benefits that they earned. Rising prices across the board have made it harder for working Americans to save for retirement, and the Trump administration’s cuts to the Social Security Administration (SSA) workforce is making it harder for seniors to get the help they need to access their Social Security benefits. This all becomes even harder to manage for seniors when English is not their first language, or if they struggle with digital literacy.

NAPCA’s award-winning, multilingual Helpline provides information and enrollment support for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), caregiving services, long-term care services, and more. Since 2004, the Helpline has answered over 350,000 calls and supported over 50,000 enrollments. This resource is especially critical to so many seniors who face language and digital skills barriers. The Helpline’s goal is to reduce disparities within the Asian American community and help seniors achieve better health outcomes, greater financial stability, and an overall improved quality of life.

Senator Murray has fought throughout her career—including as top Democrat on the HELP Committee from 2017-2022—to ensure a secure retirement for all Americans for decades. She was instrumental in establishing a special financial assistance program to the Central States Pension Fund in the American Rescue Plan, saving the pensions of over half a million workers and retirees in 2022. Murray also helped pass the Social Security Fairness Act, which restored full Social Security benefits for 3 million public servants across the country—including firefighters, law enforcement officers, teachers, and other state and local government workers—by repealing two provisions of the Social Security Act that unfairly reduce the Social Security benefits of some public employees. Senator Murray has been outspoken about the many ways the Trump administration is sowing chaos at the Social Security Administration and forcing seniors to wait longer for help on the phone and in person, and how President Trump’s chaotic tariffs are raising grocery and energy costs for families across America.

Senator Murray fought for an out-of-pocket prescription drug costs cap in the Inflation Reduction Act, whichDemocrats passed through Congress in 2022—that every single Republican voted against—and it means millions of seniors will pay significantly less for their prescription drugs, lowering costs for families and giving them more breathing room. 70,000+ seniors in Washington state, and 4.5 million seniors nationwide will save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year thanks to the annual $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare Part D.

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Padilla, Durbin, Senate Democrats Sound Alarm on Dramatic Increase in Deaths in Immigration Detention

In letter to Noem and Lyons, Senate Democrats cite 30+ deaths since the start of the Trump Administration with concern over continued expansion of immigration detention

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 20 other Senate Democrats in sounding the alarm on the dramatic increase in deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, with over 30 deaths since the start of the Trump Administration. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and ICE senior official Todd Lyons, the Senators condemned the deaths of six people in ICE custody so far this year, after seven people died last December alone.

The letter comes after Padilla and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) conducted an oversight visit last month to the largest detention center in California, located in California City, to learn firsthand of the concerns surrounding the inhumane conditions detained individuals are facing at the private, for-profit facility. The Senators investigated reports of unsanitary and unsafe facility conditions, inadequate medical and mental health care, insufficient access to legal counsel, a severe lack of accommodations for people with disabilities, and the unnecessary use of solitary confinement. Last week, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering ICE to provide adequate health care and access to counsel to people detained at the facility.

“This rapidly increasing number of deaths is a clear byproduct of the Trump Administration’s dangerous and poorly executed mass deportation agenda—one focused on detaining as many immigrants as possible, not just the ‘worst of the worst,’ for extended periods of time. We urge you to use the unprecedented resources at your disposal to reinvigorate your agency’s detention oversight efforts, investigate these deaths, and provide those in your custody with adequate medical care,” wrote the Senators.

“Though deaths in detention have occurred under every Administration, under your leadership, individuals are dying in shocking numbers. Rather than accepting responsibility for deaths in government custody and providing detailed facts about the circumstances of each death, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has attempted to smear deceased individuals’ reputations by emphasizing details about their immigration status and their alleged wrongdoing in the United States,” continued the Senators.

The Senators cited harrowing incidents of death in detention, including guards choking a man to death, an apparent suicide, and others. They highlighted that ICE has used its unprecedented funding surge from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to significantly expand its detention capacity. They are now holding over 67,000 people across the country after hitting a historic high of approximately 73,000 — many of whom have no criminal history. Recently, the Administration partnered with private companies to drastically scale up its detention capacity, including at industrial facilities where they want to cram up to 8,000 individuals — double the capacity of the largest federal prison. One such facility near Phoenix is seven times the size of a football field and costs $70 million. ICE is also reopening centers that were previously shuttered due to chronic staffing shortages and medical issues.

The Senators cited repeated false claims by the Administration that ICE provides adequate detention conditions and medical care. They pointed to the agency’s failure to pay third-party medical providers for months, continued contracting with medical service providers known for substandard care, and internal audits documenting violations of detention standards. They also referenced deaths of individuals with treatable diseases, interference by immigration agents in medical treatment, and an analysis of 911 calls demonstrating the system is overwhelmed by unmet medical needs and urgent care requests.

“At a time when record numbers of people are dying in ICE custody, it is unacceptable that the agency continues to restrict congressional oversight of detention facilities, including by unlawfully requiring Members of Congress to alert ICE seven days prior to detention visits, a policy recently blocked by a federal court, and failing to provide mandated reporting with details about the deaths,” concluded the Senators. “Each death in ICE custody is a tragedy and, based on the evidence available from agency records, 911 calls, and medical experts, many could have been prevented if not for this Administration’s decisions.”

In addition to Padilla and Durbin, the letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Senator Padilla has strongly opposed President Trump’s cruel and indiscriminate mass deportation agenda and denial of basic services for detained individuals. In January, Padilla joined Senator Booker in introducing the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act to end the use of private, for-profit detention facilities, prohibit the practice of detaining families, and ensure due process for detained individuals. Last year, Padilla cosponsored the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, a bill to ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows detained noncitizens to contact legal counsel and their families.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Noem and Mr. Lyons:

Even as the country reels from the senseless deaths of Americans killed or grievously injured by federal agents in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Los Angeles, we have also been shocked to see the dramatic increase in deaths in immigration detention on your watch. Seven people died in the month of December 2025 alone, and six have died since the start of the new year. This rapidly increasing number of deaths is a clear byproduct of the Trump Administration’s dangerous and poorly executed mass deportation agenda—one focused on detaining as many immigrants as possible, not just the “worst of the worst,” for extended periods of time. We urge you to use the unprecedented resources at your disposal to reinvigorate your agency’s detention oversight efforts, investigate these deaths, and provide those in your custody with adequate medical care.

According to the autopsy report, a recent death in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention was officially ruled a homicide, and fellow detainees, whom the Department seeks to deport, described witnessing guards choking the man to death. Another person died of an apparent suicide at the same facility only days later. In 2025, ICE reported 32 deaths, the most deaths in ICE detention in any year since 2004. Based on the available evidence, many of the reported deaths appear to have been preventable.

Armed with an unprecedented and unjustified funding increase from the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ICE has dramatically expanded its detention capacity and now is holding approximately 73,000 people nationwide—many with no criminal history—while failing to release even the most vulnerable individuals. The Administration recently doubled down on its commitment to scale up detention, soliciting private companies to warehouse staggering numbers of immigrants in massive industrial facilities capable of housing up to 8,000 people at once. By comparison, the largest federal prison has approximately 4,000 inmates. New massive facilities —one near Phoenix cost $70 million and is the size of seven football fields—add to the rapidly expanding number of detention contracts held by private prison companies and local and county jails. ICE is even reopening facilities that previously were closed due to medical neglect and systemic understaffing.

Individuals of all ages and backgrounds have died in ICE custody, some only a short time after entering a detention facility and many after living in the United States for decades. Though deaths in detention have occurred under every Administration, under your leadership, individuals are dying in shocking numbers. Rather than accepting responsibility for deaths in government custody and providing detailed facts about the circumstances of each death, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has attempted to smear deceased individuals’ reputations by emphasizing details about their immigration status and their alleged wrongdoing in the United States.

The Administration also repeatedly has alleged, contrary to all evidence, that ICE detention conditions and medical care are adequate. These false claims have been made despite the fact that ICE has not paid third-party medical providers since October 2025, allegedly leading to the denial of medical care and essential treatment.1Even ICE internal audits have documented significant failures to meet medical care standards. At Camp East Montana— where three detained individuals recently died in just over one month—ICE auditors determined medical care contractors had, in some cases, failed to fill out medical charts and do intake screenings and did not “identify emergent or past chronic medical conditions, mental illness issues such as suicidal/homicidal ideation or intent that could lead to detainee life-safety issue.”

All available evidence debunks any suggestion that current detention conditions and medical care in immigration detention are adequate. According to agency records, individuals who have died had COVID-19, kidney disease, heart disease, and diabetes, among other treatable diseases. An analysis of phone calls to 911, from 10 of the largest detention facilities during the first six months of the Trump Administration, described a system overwhelmed by unmet medical needs and attempts to obtain urgent care. Of the 400 emergency calls, 50 involved possible cardiac events, 26 described seizures, and 17 were for head injuries. Seven involved suicide attempts or self-harm, such as overdoses or hangings, and six alleged sexual abuse, including at least one reported incident of staff-on-detainee abuse.

Doctors also have reported that federal immigration agents are interfering with medical care of detained immigrants who are referred to hospital settings for emergency care. Administrators at a hospital in Los Angeles, for example, reported that federal agents told doctors not to reach out to family members to determine what type of medication a person was on and would not allow private consultations between detained individuals and doctors.

Reports and lawsuits continue to document dangerous detention conditions in detention facilities. Consider the February death of Maksym Chernyak, who was detained at the Krome facility in Miami and died in custody after suffering a stroke in February. Staff waited more than 40 minutes before calling 911. Later that day, it was determined he had irreversible brain damage, and he died two days later. The death was especially heartbreaking in that, according to a medical expert, “[t]here was this neurological emergency—someone who was not responsive after a seizure—and a medical professional did not activate 911 for 45 minutes.” Reports have also emerged of pregnant women who have miscarried or bled for hours without access to care or were shackled while miscarrying. DHS recently acknowledged that the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center alone has been the site of four miscarriages.

It is unacceptable that record numbers of people are dying in ICE custody. The Department must comply with detention standards at every facility detaining immigrants and stop its efforts to restrict congressional oversight of detention facilities, including by unlawfully requiring Members of Congress to alert ICE seven days prior to detention visits, a policy recently blocked by a federal court, and failing to provide mandated reporting with details about the deaths. Each death in ICE custody is a tragedy and, based on the evidence available from agency records, 911 calls, and medical experts, many could have been prevented if not for this Administration’s decisions. To address these urgent concerns, we request that you provide answers to the following questions and information requests by February 27, 2026:

1. What actions has ICE taken to address the rising deaths of detained individuals in custody, including any changes to medical screening, suicide prevention, emergency response, or mortality review procedures? Please provide copies of any supporting records.

2. What is the legal rationale for excluding facilities like Alligator Alcatraz, or any other state or local facilities operating pursuant to a similar partnership with ICE, from ICE’s inspection, reporting, or detention-standards compliance structure? Please provide copies of any legal analysis and supporting records.

3. Are detainees who are held in state or local facilities like Alligator Alcatraz included in ICE’s required detainee-death notification and review procedures? If ICE considers these individuals outside the review process, please provide copies of any legal analysis and supporting records.

4. What oversight offices are currently responsible for monitoring ICE detention conditions?

a. For each office, describe its current staffing levels, investigative authorities, role in the detainee-death review process, and jurisdiction, including any limitations on oversight of facilities that are not integrated into ICE’s detention-tracking systems.

b. For each office, outline current authority, or lack of authority, to inspect, monitor, or evaluate detention facilities operated by state or local governments.

5. Provide records describing the role of ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) with respect to death investigations and the status of investigations regarding each detained individual who has died since January 20, 2025.

a. Please include any records describing changes to OPR’s Office of Detention Oversight detention facility inspections, including any changes to the number of required inspections and guidance for facility inspections, since January 20, 2025.

6. Provide all records since January 20, 2025, related to changes or future changes in any of ICE’s detention standards, including communications with contractors regarding changes to detention standards. Please also respond immediately to pending oversight letters related to detention expansion, the dismantling of internal oversight offices, and ICE’s hiring practices.

We look forward to your prompt response and attention to this important request.

Sincerely,

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Padilla, Schiff, 40+ Lawmakers Sound Alarm on How Trump’s Immigration Agenda is Hurting Workers and Families’ Child Care Access, Raising Costs

Lawmakers: “The Trump Administration’s policies risk eliminating a significant number of trained caregivers from an already strained system, reducing access to care and raising child care costs for American families”

“Rather than making child care more affordable, President Trump has done the opposite by withholding billions of dollars in federal funding from child care providers, and rescinding protections meant to ensure that child care providers can stay afloat”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Representative Mike Quigley (D-Ill.-05), and over 40 other lawmakers in raising serious concerns about how the Trump Administration’s cruel immigration policies are shrinking the child care workforce and driving up costs for American families.

The letter to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children & Families (ACF) comes amid reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity at and around child care facilities and worsening staffing shortages nationwide.

The American economy heavily depends on immigrant workers in the child care sector, making up approximately 20 percent of the U.S. child care workforce and totaling more than 282,000 workers. In parts of Florida, Texas, New York, and California, that share is even higher — nearly 40% in California, which has almost half a million foreign-born early childhood educators. Over 1 million Californian parents — both immigrants and U.S. citizens alike — depend on reliable access to child care so they can continue working.

“These policies — paired with the Administration’s recent moves to slash federal support that made child care more affordable — are an attack on American families,” wrote the lawmakers.

Since Trump began his indiscriminate mass deportation campaign in Los Angeles last June, student and staff absences have risen at California child care centers. Additionally, Republican influencers have harassed workers at Somali-run day care centers in San Diego, including at their homes, confronting operators about unsubstantiated claims of alleged fraud.

Over the last year, President Trump has enacted a cruel and aggressive immigration agenda, including eliminating legal immigration pathways, stopping lawful immigration processes, and ramping up indiscriminate ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) raids. Those arrested include critical child care providers taking care of children in their communities.

The Trump Administration’s immigration policies have significantly impacted immigrant child care workers and the families whose children they care for. Following the Administration’s decision to revoke a longstanding policy protecting “sensitive locations” from ICE and CBP raids, immigration enforcement activities are now occurring at child care facilities, with agents apprehending and detaining employees in front of children and their families. Other child care workers have been stripped of their work permits and forced to leave their jobs.

These actions are pushing providers to leave the child care field, and programs have seen sharp staffing declines. Some estimates say the Administration’s immigration agenda could reduce the child care workforce by 15 percent — over half a million workers. This, along with Trump Administration efforts to slash federal support that makes child care more affordable, is an “attack on American families,” the lawmakers emphasized.

“Rather than making child care more affordable, President Trump has done the opposite by withholding billions of dollars in federal funding from child care providers, and rescinding protections meant to ensure that child care providers can stay afloat,” continued the lawmakers.

“As Members of Congress committed to supporting American families and maintaining an affordable, reliable child care system, we seek to ensure that federal enforcement practices are not unintentionally driving up costs, destabilizing child care programs, or undermining the safe, supportive environments that children need to thrive,” added the lawmakers.

The lawmakers requested that, by February 26, 2026, HHS share any information available regarding the impact of immigration operations on child care staffing shortages, including data on staffing shortages, enrollment declines, projected cost increases, and how coordination with DHS on enforcement actions may disrupt federally funded child care programs.

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, Warren, Duckworth, and Quigley, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), as well as Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), Becca Balint (D-Vt.-AL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Greg Casar (D-Texas-35), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), Herb Conaway (D-N.J.-03), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas-30), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.-04), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.-03), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas-29), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Bill Keating (D-Mass.-09), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.-08), George Latimer (D-N.Y.-16), Summer Lee (D-Pa.-12), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.-03), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.-02), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.-20), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.-25), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.-24).

Earlier this month, Padilla and Schiff joined Warren, Alsobrooks, Quigley, and 56 other lawmakers in demanding answers from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on the impact of children’s exposure to ICE and CBP’s escalating violence in American communities, which threatens to leave them with lasting physical and psychological trauma.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Assistant Secretary Adams:

We are concerned about how the Trump Administration’s immigration agenda is making it more difficult for Americans to find and afford child care. Immigration policy changes — including terminations of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), the elimination of other lawful immigration pathways, and immigration raids in and around child care programs — are driving child care providers out of the workplace, exacerbating child care workforce shortages and high prices. These policies — paired with the Administration’s recent moves to slash federal support that made child care more affordable — are an attack on American families. We request information regarding how the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children & Families (ACF) is assessing these workforce impacts and what steps ACF is taking to prevent further disruptions to child care services and to protect families from rising costs and reduced access.

The child care sector depends heavily on immigrant workers. Nationally, immigrants make up approximately 20 percent of the child care workforce — more than 282,000 workers. That share is even higher in some areas, including parts of Florida, Texas, New York, and California — in some cases as high as 70 percent. The vast majority of these workers are immigrants who have lived in the United States with lawful status, playing by the rules, building stable lives, and caring for children every day — yet they now risk losing their ability to work in the United States, as this Administration has abruptly terminated most TPS designations and dramatically limited pathways to lawful immigration and access to corresponding employment authorizations. To date, this Administration has stopped most lawful immigration processing for refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants from 39 countries. Many others have been arbitrarily stripped of status.

On Day 1 of his presidency, President Trump began ordering the elimination of legal immigration pathways and revoked a long-standing policy that protected areas such as child care facilities and other “sensitive locations” from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. During his first year back in office, President Trump also ramped up indiscriminate ICE arrests, with over 86 percent of people arrested by ICE lacking any charges or convictions for violent crimes. Some of those arrested have been critical child care providers taking care of children in their communities. For example, a nanny in Wisconsin was reportedly detained by ICE after a routine check-in despite the fact that she is an asylum seeker with no criminal record. Meanwhile, some child care workers have been stripped of their work permits, such as several immigrant teachers working at a preschool in Washington D.C. who lost their work authorizations and were forced to quit.

Alarmingly, some ICE enforcement activities have occurred at child care facilities themselves. In November 2025, federal agents apprehended an employee at a Chicago early-education center. During the drop-off period, a vehicle followed a staff member into the facility’s parking lot and federal agents apprehended the employee as children and parents watched. Other providers have reported similar enforcement activity, including child care centers in Minnesota that described worker detentions — with one provider at a Spanish immersion program being detained in the child care center’s parking lot — and “visits” from federal agents.

Apparently because of these developments, providers are leaving the child care field, and programs have seen sharp staffing declines and have begun canceling child enrichment activities to minimize time outdoors and avoid attracting ICE’s attention.

The Trump Administration’s policies risk eliminating a significant number of trained caregivers from an already strained system, reducing access to care and raising child care costs for American families. According to some estimates, the Administration’s immigration agenda could reduce the child care workforce by 15 percent — over half a million workers — as the child care sector loses both immigrant and U.S.-born workers. Another study estimates that “a doubling of ICE arrests is associated with a 12 percent reduction in child-care employment” for immigrant women since President Trump took office, and approximately “39,000 fewer foreign-born child care workers.” Indeed, economists warn that “deportations and restrictive immigration policies . . . could increase scarcity” in the child care workforce. The Economic Policy Institute warns that this “labor supply shock” would likely raise prices across the economy, as providers are forced to compete for fewer qualified staff. Because child care programs already face high turnover and must meet strict staffing ratios, even modest hiring challenges can force them to scale back or shut down.

Immigration enforcement against child care workers not only impacts the child care sector but also risks second-order effects for American families’ employment. When child care is disrupted, many parents must cut work hours or leave the workforce altogether to care for children. One study estimated that, from February to July 2025 alone, the “doubling of ICE arrests led to about 77,000 fewer employed U.S.-born mothers.” Already, child care is one of the most burdensome expenses for American families. Nationwide, families spend an average of more than $13,000 each year on child care, and up to almost $30,000 in some states. And even when families can afford child care, these services are in short supply; more than half of parents report waiting months for available slots. Rather than making child care more affordable, President Trump has done the opposite by withholding billions of dollars in federal funding from child care providers, and rescinding protections meant to ensure that child care providers can stay afloat. Now, this Administration’s immigration agenda will exacerbate the child care crisis for American families, worsening child care workforce shortages, increasing child care prices, and driving Americans out of the workforce.

As Members of Congress committed to supporting American families and maintaining an affordable, reliable child care system, we seek to ensure that federal enforcement practices are not unintentionally driving up costs, destabilizing child care programs, or undermining the safe, supportive environments that children need to thrive. To better understand these dynamics, we respectfully request that ACF answer the following questions by February 27, 2026:

1. Since January 2025, has ACF collected or analyzed data on child care staffing shortages, including the rate of programs reporting difficulty hiring or retaining early childhood educators?

a. Has ACF assessed how immigration policy changes may be contributing to shortages? Please describe any analyses or other information ACF has provided to DHS regarding how immigration enforcement actions may unintentionally disrupt federally funded child care programs or children’s access to care.

b. Please provide any internal projections regarding how ongoing reductions in the child care workforce may affect child care availability, waitlists, program closures, or prices over the next 12-24 months.

2. What steps is HHS taking to assess and mitigate the effects of immigration-related enforcement actions on the safety and stability of early learning environments, and to ensure that such actions do not disrupt children’s access to federally funded child care programs?

a. What guidance, if any, has ACF issued to state or local grantees regarding maintaining program stability in communities experiencing sudden workforce disruptions or enrollment declines? Please provide copies of relevant guidance.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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