PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with Nueces County Judge, Corpus Christi Mayor & South Texas Military Task Force

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met today with Nueces County Judge Connie Scott, Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo, and members of the South Texas Military Task Force to discuss Corpus Christi Army Depot’s contributions to America’s defense industrial base, as well as how the broader Coastal Bend region ensures our nation has the resources needed to promote peace through strength. See photo below.


PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with Pleasanton Mayor Gallegos, City Council Members

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met with Pleasanton Mayor JR. Gallegos and members of the Pleasanton City Council to discuss expanding workforce development opportunities, investing in trade schools, and modernizing infrastructure. The city leaders also highlighted the positive impact the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant funding has had on improving public safety in the community thanks to Sen. Cornyn’s continued efforts to advocate for law enforcement and support these awards. See photo below.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353

February 4, 2026

Cotton, Klobuchar Introduce Bill to Establish Federal Biotech Security Framework

Washington, DC — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) introduced legislation to establish a federal biosecurity framework. The Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act will require gene synthesis providers screen their orders and customers for bad actors or dangerous pathogens, and will ensure that the U.S. government adopts a flexible and agile approach to biosecurity that will ensure American leadership in biosecurity.

“American innovations in biotechnology are too important to fall into the hands of bad actors or be hamstrung by outdated federal policies. This bill is an important first step towards a comprehensive framework for biosecurity and biosafety, which will encourage American innovation to flourish, while also protecting biotechnology breakthroughs in industries like medicine and agriculture,” said Senator Cotton.

“While access to genetic material allows scientists to study diseases, develop lifesaving medicine, and improve crops, without safety standards it could be misused, including to create bioweapons. Our bipartisan legislation will enhance biosecurity efforts and reduce the risk of genetic material being used to cause harm by ensuring that the companies selling these products know who their customers are and how they will use genetic material,” said Senator Klobuchar.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act is endorsed by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, the Engineering Biology Research Consortium, Twist Bioscience, Aclid, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), and Ginkgo Bioworks, along with broad support among biosecurity and biotechnology policy researchers.

The Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act would:

Direct the Secretary of Commerce to require gene synthesis providers screen their orders and customers to ensure bad actors aren’t ordering dangerous sequences.

Establish a biotechnology governance sandbox at NIST, which would provide a place for the testing of biosecurity tools and enable more flexible biosecurity policymaking to keep up with a rapidly advancing field.

Require an assessment of the current landscape of federal biosecurity authorities and an evaluation and implementation plan of how to streamline oversight and address gaps; require the executive branch to begin carrying out such an implementation plan, within confines of current law.

###


Cramer, Warner Introduce Legislation Reauthorizing Export-Import Bank for 10 Years

Legislation Provides Historic Reauthorization, Longer-term Certainty

***Click herefor video and audio.***

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

Since its inception as an ECA in 1934, the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) has been an essential financing tool for American companies to export goods and services.

To support American global competitiveness, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mark Warner (D-VA), members of the Senate Banking Committee, introduced legislation today to reauthorize the EXIM Bank for the next decade. Cramer’s legislation allows for the longest reauthorization of the bank in history. This is his second time leading the charge to reauthorize the bank. In 2019, Cramer successfully secured the inclusion of language reauthorizing the EXIM Bank, reauthorizing the bank for seven years through Dec. 31. The 2019 reauthorization was the longest in history.

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

“Renewing the Export-Import Bank is critical for Virginia businesses to stay viable in a global economy with China and other foreign competitors,” said Warner. “This bipartisan, commonsense bill will protect American jobs and provide stability for small businesses and manufacturers, while helping secure our economic and national security.”

“The Senator has a unique understanding of the importance of stability that reauthorization provides with our EXIM bank,”said Kristin Hedger, Vice President, Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing. “While we are strong what our nation’s heartland manufacturers can provide, our opportunities to compete in a global setting are hindered when our competitors from around the world have the benefit of having their own EXIMs that function more aggressively and in a seemingly more reliable fashion.”

“We at Leonardite Products have relied on the Export Import Bank credit policy for several years,” said Cherie Harms, President and CEO, Leonardite Products of Williston, ND. “We are comfortable increasing our export trade to businesses in countries we are not completely familiar with. Knowing we have a guarantee, if there are geopolitical issues, in one of our customers’ countries the Export Import Bank provides us with a competitive advantage over foreign competitors.”

“The EXIM Bank is invaluable to the export successes of North Dakota businesses and continues to be a prime tool for rural states to operate on the international stage,” said Drew Combs, Executive Director, North Dakota Trade Office. “Reauthorization of EXIM Bank is essential to making small and medium-sized businesses more competitive globally.”

Cramer’s 2019 reauthorization of EXIM expanded available financial offerings by included a key fix to ensure continuity for loan recipients. In 2015, approval of deals over $10 million was temporarily halted after the bank lost its quorum, disrupting jobs, slowing growth and sowing uncertainty among American small businesses. The reauthorization mandated the creation of the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP), which is specifically tasked with helping American companies compete with Chinese industries. Since 2014, North Dakota businesses have leveraged $55 million in EXIM Bank financing to expand into global markets and support jobs in the state.

This reauthorization legislation kicks off the negotiation process in the Senate Banking Committee. Cramer and Warner will work with colleagues, the administration, stakeholders, and committee leadership to garner input and refine the bill to reflect the opportunities and competitive challenges U.S. industry face globally.


National Endowment for the Arts Awards $15,000 to The Study ND

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Endowment for the Arts awarded $15,000 to The Study ND, formerly North Dakota Humanities Council, to support a statewide theater and humanities initiative in recognition of America’s 250thanniversary.

This commemorative effort will bring historical events and figures like the Framers of the U.S. Constitution to life through virtual and live performances celebrating the nation’s history. Public readings, theatrical portrayals, and guided discussions will encourage audiences to reflect on the nation’s founding in 1776 and upon its democratic ideals while engaging in contemporary conversations about civic life.


SASC Hearing Reviews New START Treaty Ahead of Expiration, Calls for Strengthened Nuclear Deterrence

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the last remaining guardrails on U.S.-Russian nuclear arms set to expire, Senate defense leaders warned this week the United States is entering an era of strategic competition with no formal limits on Russian deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) convened national security experts to confront a post–New START world, as the treaty, which was signed in 2010, nears its Feb. 5 expiration. Russia’s decision to halt U.S. inspections in 2022 effectively ended verification years early, undercutting President Ronald Reagan’s enduring maxim to “trust, but verify.”

“We’ve heard the empty promises before and Russia’s record during the war in Ukraine is clear,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee. “Commitments to de-escalation were followed by major strikes on Ukrainian civilian targets. Vladimir Putin says Russia will remain within New START limits for another year but refuses inspections, data sharing, or accountability. Compliance without verification isn’t compliance, its theater, and Russia has shown us exactly how it treats rules it doesn’t like.”

China’s rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal was never covered by the agreement.

“Russia signaled it will selectively follow arms control agreements, while at the same time China expands its nuclear forces without constraint,” continued Cramer. “The U.S. can’t afford to play by the rules alone and letting the New START Treaty expire isn’t escalation, it’s realism. It means we stop tying our hands while others cheat. It means rebuilding leverage, modernizing America’s deterrent, and making sure future negotiations start from strength.”

Under the New START Treaty, the United States and Russia agreed to:

No more than 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments

1,550 nuclear warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs, and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments

800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments

On-site inspections and data exchanges to verify compliance

Citing war-related travel restrictions and U.S. sanctions, Russia blocked inspections in 2022 and then suspended its participation in the treaty, undercutting confidence in compliance. The U.S., meanwhile, continued to observe treaty limits. Russia’s incompliance invalidated the treaty, but the rapid growth of China’s nuclear arsenal also made the treaty functionally ineffective. The New START numbers were based on deterring one adversary, the Russians, but as Retired Admiral Charles Richard, former Commander of United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) said, the United States needs to be postured to deter against multiple adversaries’ combined forces.

“I didn’t have the luxury when I was at STRATCOM of deterring our opponents one at a time, I had to look at the collective,” said Admiral Richard. “The simple numerical comparisons don’t completely capture the complexity of what the U.S. has to have in order to deter two peers at the same time.”

The New START Treaty was originally effective, and the U.S. should not stop looking for ways to responsibly limit the numbers and proliferation of nuclear weapons. Having a credible, modern nuclear capability not only deters America’s adversaries, but it also deters allies from needing nuclear weapons programs of their own.

“In my conversation with the allies, the issue was less about treaties and more about capability and will,” added Admiral Richard. “We have recently demonstrated will, […] but it’s the capabilities we have or don’t have that is a much bigger concern to our allies in terms of our ability to honor our extended deterrence commitments.”

The hearing underscored that while treaties matter, they are only one tool in keeping America and its allies safe and adversaries deterred.


Working Families Tax Cuts Help Young Americans Achieve the American Dream

Washington, D.C.—The Working Families Tax Cuts spearheaded by U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) are setting up young Americans for a strong financial future through the creation of Trump Accounts. Beginning July 4, parents, employers, friends and philanthropists will be able to contribute to these investment accounts for children. Additionally, children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, will qualify for an initial investment of $1,000 from the U.S. Treasury. At age 18, accountholders can continue to let the account grow or use the accounts for expenses like tuition or to help purchase their first home.

“Trump Accounts represent Republicans’ commitment to ensuring all Americans are enriched by our economy,” said Crapo. “Watching their accounts grow will teach children important financial lessons and empower them to pursue new opportunities as young adults. Through these initial $1,000 contributions, we are making a significant investment in the next generation. I welcome the pledges made by many generous corporations and philanthropists to supplement that investment, and I encourage others to follow suit.”

How Trump Accounts work:

Parents elect to create the accounts for their children when they file their taxes or on the Trump Accounts website.

Eligible accounts receive an initial contribution from the Treasury Department, plus any eligible philanthropic donations.

Funds are invested in low-cost index funds and begin to grow year after year.

Families, friends and employers can contribute up to $5,000 each year, adjusted for inflation.

When the child turns 18, they can continue saving for retirement or make withdrawals from the account under traditional individual retirement arrangement (IRA) rules.

What they are saying:

“Trump Accounts are the defining policy of America’s 250th anniversary. By expanding equity ownership to all citizens, President Trump is restoring the promise of our Founding, revitalizing the social contract, and helping secure American prosperity for the next 250 years. All families can participate and own part of the American Dream.” – U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

“The answer to more socialism is more capitalism. This makes every child in America a capitalist from birth. . .” – Altimeter Capital founder Brad Gerstner

Click HERE for the official Trump Accounts website.

Click HERE to learn more about how Trump Accounts will make life more affordable for the next generation.

Click HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts.

###


CURTIS BILL TO TRANSFER MOAB UMTRA SITE ADVANCES

Washington, D.C.—The Moab UMTRA Project Transition Act advanced unanimously through the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, marking a key step toward transferring the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) site to Grand County following completion of cleanup and remediation. Following the Committee’s action, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) issued the statement below:

“The Committee’s action today is the result of years of steady, bipartisan work and close collaboration with local leaders, community members, and federal agencies. The Moab UMTRA site has been the focus of one of the most significant environmental cleanups in the country, and as that work nears completion, it’s essential that we plan responsibly for the future. This legislation ensures the land can be safely transferred and that Grand County—not Washington—is empowered to decide what comes next. That local control is the heart of this bill.”

The bipartisan legislation, led by Curtis and Representative Mike Kennedy (R-UT), authorizes the U.S. Department of Energy to transfer the site once it is deemed safe for reuse, allowing local leaders to guide its long-term future. U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Utah Representatives Burgess Owens, Celeste Maloy, and Blake Moore also support the bill.


CURTIS, SHAHEEN WELCOME CRITICAL MINERALS MINISTERIAL, URGE COLLEAGUES TO BACK LEGISLATION TO SECURE SUPPLY CHAINS

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement as the United States hosts a Critical Minerals Ministerial. The Senators urge their colleagues to support legislation which directs the U.S. government to work with trusted international partners to develop secure, reliable and transparent supply chains for critical minerals by authorizing U.S. participation in the Minerals Security Partnership.

“It is unacceptable for America’s economic well-being and national security to be at the whim of China due to their overwhelming control of critical minerals supply chains. We welcome Secretary Rubio hosting a ministerial meeting to address this challenge and deepen partnerships with like-minded countries. The United States cannot solve the critical minerals challenge alone and we will be unable to counter PRC dominance over critical mineral supply chains without trusted allies and partners.

“That is why we urge Congress to pass our legislation that would codify U.S. participation in the Minerals Security Partnership to better coordinate the mining, processing, and recycling of critical minerals. Our legislation provides a bipartisan signal that the United States Congress wants to work with its allies and partners in securing these strategic assets to protect our collective economic and national security.”


Daines Discusses Need for Energy Reform in Europe

Chairs Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today chaired a hearing today in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Europe and Regional Security Subcommittee, where he discussed the need for energy reform in Europe with Geoffrey Pyatt, distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Global Energy Center and Dan Byers, vice president of policy at the Global Energy Institute at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Watch the full exchange HERE.

Daines’ opening remarks as prepared for delivery:

Energy security is national security. Both the United States and Europe have become increasingly aware of that fact over the last four years; creating an opportunity for us to collectively build a resilient energy production and transport network that forms the bedrock of our economies.

The European Commission’s recent regulatory reform is a step in the right direction, aligning bloc-wide regulations with more pro-energy, pro-business, and pro-market policies. Passing that reform took creativity and courage and I would like to commend the European People’s Party and their voting partners for the good work they did on that package.

But there is still more to be done. All of Europe must recognize that it cannot function or recognize its economic and security goals without baseload power and it must enact further regulatory reform to modernize the European energy ecosystem. The continent has an opportunity to permanently end its reliance on Russian energy, providing true independence and autonomy for America’s partners on the other side of the Atlantic. Without enacting further regulatory reform, Europe may find itself staring down the barrel of resuming Russian energy dominance or extortion, putting itself back in the vulnerable position of 2022.

If Europe learns nothing else from the Russian invasion of Ukraine let it be that energy security and supply chains are vital to national sovereignty. Compromises cannot be made in those matters, and we must work together to ensure those networks’ resilience and survivability.

I encourage our European partners to take a realistic view on building reliable energy infrastructure. One need look no further than Spain and Portugal to see the dangers of overreliance on intermittent sources. The entire Iberian Peninsula found itself without power last year, underscoring the vulnerability of countries that fail to maintain a diverse set of energy sources.

As the West builds the economy that will drive our countries forward, baseload power will become even more important. Whether it be for data centers, manufacturing, or defense production, reliable power is the backbone of our future prosperity. The United States and many of our partners and allies stand at the ready to work with Europe to increase energy supply, be it oil, gas, nuclear, hydro, or renewable. The reinvigoration of our economies will require a holistic, all of the above energy approach.

Europe must act now, enacting the regulatory reforms and infrastructure investments necessary to sign long-term energy import and development contracts and ensure the European continent’s future. Prosperity and security are dependent on such changes, and I look forward to continuing to work with our European partners to build a brighter, more secure future for us all.

###


Duckworth Demands Trump Administration Remove ICE Investigators from Alex Pretti Shooting Investigation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – With the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) now leading the investigation into the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is demanding U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel to immediately remove any Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents from the investigation. Duckworth’s letter follows the news that HSI agents were originally put in charge of the investigation and shamefully sought to investigate Pretti, rather than his murderers. As Trump’s agents continue their pattern of brutality, seen in Illinois, Minneapolis and beyond, Duckworth continues to lead the push to force independent investigations into DHS agents’ excessive and deadly uses of force against Americans.

“Allowing ICE HSI agents—who were reportedly instructed to investigate the homicide victim, Mr. Pretti, and bystanders, for potential crimes, rather than the U.S. Border Patrol agents who fatally shot Mr. Pretti and detained witnesses—to participate in the recently launched FBI investigation will destroy public confidence its credibility and objectivity,” wrote Duckworth.

In her letter, Duckworth expressed her strong concerns over the additional multitude of actions by the Trump Administration that risk jeopardizing the credibility of this investigation. Specifically, she cites FBI’s initial decision to not open an investigation into Pretti’s killing, the reported removal of the Acting Special Agent in the FBI Minneapolis Field Office and the mass resignation of federal prosecutors over the Trump Administration moving to prosecute Renee Good’s widow rather than the DHS agents who shot and killed her.

“The bottom line is that ICE HSI agents lack the experience, expertise and independence to conduct credible use of force investigations involving DHS law enforcement officers and must be removed from the FBI investigation into the killing of Mr. Pretti by Border Patrol agents,” continued Duckworth.

A copy of the letter can be found below and on Senator Duckworth’s website:

Dear Director Patel and Secretary Noem:

I write to request the immediate removal of any U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation into the deadly shooting of Mr. Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents. I also ask that ICE HSI agents transfer all evidence and investigative materials to the FBI before departing the ongoing investigation.

Following the FBI’s initial decision to not open an investigation into the deadly shooting of Mr. Pretti, the reported removal of the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office and the unusual mass resignation of Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota—who reportedly objected to the Trump administration’s efforts to prevent an investigation into the deadly shooting of Ms. Renee Good by an ICE officer—the American people are reasonably questioning whether FBI agents will be allowed to conduct a thorough, objective and independent investigation into the killing of Mr. Pretti.

Allowing ICE HSI agents—who were reportedly instructed to investigate the homicide victim, Mr. Pretti, and bystanders, for potential crimes, rather than the U.S. Border Patrol agents who fatally shot Mr. Pretti and detained witnesses—to participate in the recently launched FBI investigation will destroy public confidence its credibility and objectivity. If FBI is concerned about resources, the appropriate action would be to request additional support from FBI field offices, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division and the independent U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and DOJ Offices of Inspectors General.

The bottom line is that ICE HSI agents lack the experience, expertise and independence to conduct credible use of force investigations involving DHS law enforcement officers and must be removed from the FBI investigation into the killing of Mr. Pretti by Border Patrol agents.

Sincerely,

-30-


Duckworth Pushes Tesla and Waymo to Ensure Autonomous Vehicles Are Safe and Accessible for All Americans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – As our nation’s road fatalities remain unacceptably high, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed Tesla and Waymo to not only prioritize the safety of all Americans but also to proactively ensure universal accessibility for people with disabilities in their autonomous vehicle (AV) design and deployment. Currently, Tesla offers no wheelchair accessible model and none of its electric vehicles (EVs) have a common conversion platform that would simplify accessibility upgrades. While Waymo does have wheelchair-accessible models in its fleet, none have an automated wheelchair securement system—meaning wheelchair users cannot independently use Waymo. During today’s Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (CST) hearing, Duckworth pushed leaders from Tesla to make it easier for its EV models to become wheelchair accessible, and asked Waymo to do more to bring a universal automated wheelchair model to market as soon as possible. Video of Duckworth’s remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.

“There’s been too much lip service paid to accessibility by so-called autonomous driving technology companies,” said Duckworth. “But let’s be real: The auto industry has never been a proactive leader in embracing universal design principles as a default—not a luxury. When it comes to the future of self-driving technology, Tesla and Waymo must do more to ensure Americans with disabilities are not left behind.”

Duckworth has long advocated that Americans with disabilities should receive the dignity and respect they deserve while traveling. As Chair of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation and one of the authors of the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Law, Duckworth successfully secured several provisions that will enhance protections for travelers with disabilities in our aviation system and make it easier for them to fly.

Duckworth also authored the ASAP Act provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $1.75 billion over a five-year period to help build ramps, install elevators and make other improvements to help ensure our nation’s transit systems are actually, finally usable for those with disabilities.

Additionally, as a result of legislation that was written by Duckworth, the Department of Transportation implemented a rule requiring air carriers to disclose for the first time how many checked bags, wheelchairs and motorized scooters they damage or mishandle each month.

-30-


Durbin Calls Out The Rampant Fraud Perpetrated By The Trump Administration

Durbin: “If we’re serious about fighting fraud, let’s talk about the President, who has more than doubled his net worth since his return to office.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered opening remarks in today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights hearing on fraud in Minnesota. As Durbin made clear in his opening remarks, today’s hearing failed to examine the full breadth of fraud occurring in the United States, including within the Trump Administration. Rather, the Subcommittee used the hearing to further demonize Somali Americans, who have been repeatedly targeted by the Trump Administration and have been the subject of racist attacks by President Trump.

Durbin noted that the Committee should instead focus on abuses committed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in particular the aggressive tactics federal immigration agents have deployed in Minnesota’s so-called “Operation Metro Surge.”

Key quotes:

“Today’s hearing marks another low. In the last month, federal agents shot and killed two of our fellow Americans in Minnesota. Bystanders and journalists have documented numerous abuses of constitutional rights by federal agents in Minneapolis—including warrantless arrests, use of excessive force, racial profiling, surveillance of protestors, and the detention of U.S. citizens and children. This abuse of power, and much-needed oversight of the Trump Administration, should be the focus of this Subcommittee.”

“As part of [Republicans’] ongoing need to carry water for the President, they have chosen to embrace his bigoted attacks on Somali immigrants, whom he has called ‘garbage.’ The shameful title of today’s hearing reflects that same approach.”

“I want to be clear: fraud is a crime, and it should be prosecuted accordingly. In fact, it was the Biden Justice Department that opened the Minnesota fraud investigation and brought the first prosecution. And it is the Trump Justice Department that has diverted prosecutors and FBI agents away from fraud investigations to focus on the President’s mass deportation campaign.”

“According to the Cato Institute, American citizens accounted for 95 percent of federal welfare fraud losses from 2013 to 2024—American citizens. So, to suggest that the Somali community is disproportionately responsible for fraud is just not supported by the facts.”

“If we’re serious about fighting fraud, let’s talk about a President, who has more than doubled his net worth since his return to office… Let’s talk about fraudsters who have made huge contributions to the President and been rewarded with pardons.”

“If we are worried about people breaking the law in Minnesota, our focus should be on the Trump Administration’s Department of Homeland Security. Last week, the chief federal district judge in Minnesota—a Republican appointee—noted that ICE violated 96 court orders in Minnesota in January alone—likely more than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”

“For months, the Administration has targeted my home state of Illinois as part of the reckless attacks they claim are law enforcement operations. In reality, they are not enforcing the law. They are breaking it with their racial profiling, detentions, threats, and use of excessive force.”

“Last month, the Administration expanded its attacks by trying to freeze billions of dollars in essential funding for children and families in five Democratic-led states. Illinois was targeted, along with Minnesota, New York, California, and Colorado. Political retribution at the expense of children.”

“The Administration provided no support for their allegations that these states were improperly awarding benefits. But the explanation is obvious: this is another act of political retribution by the Trump Administration.”

“This hearing is an affront to the people of Minnesota and the memories of those who lost their lives at the hands of immigration officers. The real fraud we should be focused on is the one perpetrated by this President and his acolytes.”

Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

-30-


Durbin Calls Out Weaponization Of The Justice Department Under AG Bondi’s Leadership One Year Since Her Confirmation

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about the weaponization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the leadership of Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi one year since her confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

“A year ago, the United States Senate voted to confirm Pam Bondi as Attorney General. As I said during her confirmation hearing last year, the Attorney General must be committed first and foremost to the Constitution and the American people, not to the President and his political agenda. I was unconvinced then that Ms. Bondi shared my view. Over the course of the last year, my concerns, sadly, have been borne out,” Durbin said.

Durbin noted that even before AG Bondi was installed atop the Justice Department, President Donald Trump had moved swiftly to purge DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of senior career law enforcement officials.

“In their place came partisan hacks—including a January 6 rioter who encouraged his fellow insurrectionists to murder law enforcement officers protecting the Capitol. He was shouting the words ‘kill ‘em.’ … Under the direction of Attorney General Bondi, these MAGA loyalists pounced on President Trump’s perceived enemies,” Durbin said. “In addition to the now-dismissed indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, federal prosecutors have opened criminal investigations into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Governor Lisa Cook, and others. The list goes on and on of the enemies of the President who are being prosecuted by the Department of Justice. Why? Not because they broke the law, but because the President believes they are his political enemies.”

Durbin continued, “And it begs the question: If the President can turn DOJ and the FBI into his own personal police force to target his political enemies, what is stopping him from targeting ordinary Americans? Tragically, we are already seeing the answer to that question in the Department of Justice’s partisan response to the Homeland Security Department’s abuses in Chicago and Minneapolis. The Department of Justice has sought to press charges against Americans who peacefully protest like Marimar Martinez in Chicago. In addition to state-sponsored violence against its own citizens, the country is less safe, as DOJ has redirected thousands of law enforcement agents to immigration-related initiatives and away from gun violence, drug trafficking, and child exploitation.”

Durbin went on to recall that on day one in office, Attorney General Bondi created the so-called “Weaponization Working Group”—a task force to “investigate the investigators” and “prosecute the prosecutors.”

“Recent reports suggest the group will soon meet daily, with the goal of producing results in the next two months that reenergize the partisan criminal probes that only exist for the sake of one sad man’s ego and revitalize his dangerous conspiracy theories,” Durbin said.

Durbin then laid out how AG Bondi has tripped over her own feet, repeatedly—the most recent example being her mismanagement of the Epstein files.

“Let’s take a trip down memory lane: last February, the Attorney General claimed she had Epstein’s client list ‘sitting on [her] desk right now to review.’ Several days later, in a media event the White House staged, she released a number of binders of files to conservative influencers and commentators that were already largely publicly available,” Durbin said. “Then, as a whistleblower disclosure to my office revealed, in the wake of the public criticism, she pressured 1,000 FBI agents to comb through thousands of pages of documents in the Epstein files and to flag any mention of President Trump. This effort resulted in an unsigned memo released by DOJ and the FBI that walked back Attorney General Bondi’s claims and concluded that there was no ‘incriminating “client list”’ despite her statement to the contrary. And then, in December, the Attorney General broke the law when her Department failed to release the entirety of the Epstein files by the date mandated by Congress and signed into law.”

Durbin continued, “DOJ continues to slow walk the release, and what they have released has harmed survivors by not appropriately redacting their names, images, and other personal information.”

Durbin concluded by saying that the American people deserve answers about the conduct of the nation’s leading federal law enforcement officer—AG Bondi—especially in light of her refusal to answer Congress’s legitimate oversight questions and DOJ repeatedly providing false or highly misleading information, including false sworn declarations, to federal courts.

“No public servant who respects constitutional checks and balances would behave the way she has,” Durbin said. “We cannot allow the Trump Administration to stonewall or lie to its co-equal branches of government, Congress and the Judiciary.”

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.

-30-


Durbin Presses For Trump Administration Witnesses To Testify Before Section 702 Sunset Deadline

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to hold a hearing with Trump Administration witnesses as Congress debates the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The request follows a recent Committee hearing on the topic—without any Trump Administration officials present.

In a letter to Grassley, Durbin wrote: “I was glad that you convened a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on January 28th to examine this important surveillance authority. However, to fulfill its oversight and legislative responsibilities as the committee with jurisdiction over FISA, the Senate Judiciary Committee must have the opportunity to hear testimony and question witnesses from the Executive Branch about its use of this surveillance authority before considering whether to reauthorize it, with or without additional reforms to protect the privacy and civil liberties of Americans.”

When Durbin led the Committee, he held a hearing with senior Biden Administration officials to conduct oversight of Section 702, including testimony from senior officials from the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Agency (NSA), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Durbin further wrote: “Therefore, I respectfully request that you hold a hearing on Section 702 with senior Executive Branch officials who can answer questions regarding the efficacy of current safeguards and the extent to which government is continuing to use this authority to collect and search Americans’ private communications without a warrant.”

Durbin then expounded on the need for oversight and reform of Section 702, writing: “As you know, Section 702 was intended to permit surveillance of foreigners abroad for foreign intelligence purposes—and it is undoubtedly a valuable tool for that purpose. But Section 702 has also been used far beyond this original intent for warrantless domestic spying on Americans. It has been abused to spy on business and religious leaders, political parties, members of Congress, campaign donors, journalists, and protesters of all stripes… Even with the changes enacted in 2024, thousands of these warrantless searches continue. Moreover, Congress and the American people still do not have clear and accurate answers from the government regarding how many millions of Americans’ communications it is collecting under this authority each year and how many of these warrantless searches on Americans the government is actually conducting every day.”

Durbin concluded: “Prior to reauthorizing Section 702, it is critical that government officials come before the Committee so that Congress can obtain the answers that Americans deserve about how their government is monitoring their communications under this authority. I urge you to ensure that Congress fulfills its oversight and legislative responsibilities by calling senior officials from the relevant government agencies as witnesses before the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

For a PDF of the letter to Chairman Grassley, click here.

-30-


Durbin Questions ATF Director Nominee, Judicial Nominee During Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing

Durbin pressed nominee to lead ATF about the President’s cuts to ATF funding and diverting ATF agents to the President’s lawless immigration agenda

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned nominees at a Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. Durbin first questioned Robert Cekada, nominated to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), about President Trump’s proposed cuts to ATF. The President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposed cutting ATF funding by over 25 percent and at least two-thirds of ATF agents – 1,778 of 2,572 – have reportedly been diverted from preventing gun violence to carry out the President’s immigration agenda. Durbin met with Mr. Cekada earlier this week.

“Do you support diverting ATF agents to engage in immigration enforcement?” Durbin asked.

Mr. Cekada responded that he “supports ATF agents being used to enforce federal statutes.” He also stated the ATF agents assisting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are focused on people who commit violent crimes. Data has shown that roughly 70 percent of immigrants detained by ICE have no criminal convictions.

Durbin then asked Anna St. John, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, about her opposition to ending forced arbitration. In November 2021, when Durbin chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, he helped advance the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act by voice vote. The bill had strong bipartisan support and was signed into law in 2022. St. John testified against this legislation in November 2021, claiming that ending forced arbitration was “not in the best interests of those subjected to sexual harassment and assault.” She argued that the bill “turns these women into unwilling pawns, leveraging their private difficulties in pursuit of public policy objectives that don’t actually benefit them.” Former Fox News host, Gretchen Carlson, was one of the bill’s leading advocates and expressed her concern over St. John’s nomination.

“Do you still oppose ending forced arbitration for people who have been sexually assaulted or harassed in the workplace?” Durbin asked.

St. John responded that she stands by her testimony in November 2021.

Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

-30-


Gallego, Banking Committee Democrats Demand Chairman Scott Delay Warsh Nomination Hearing Until Sham Investigations Against Fed Board Members are Closed

“These ongoing efforts by the President to control the Fed – which must be able to exercise independent judgment – undermine public confidence in any nomination for chair at this time.

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and all eleven Democratic Members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs sent a letter to Chairman Tim Scott calling on him to delay the nomination hearing of President Trump’s Fed Nominee, Kevin Warsh, until all pretextual investigations against current Federal Reserve Board members are closed.

“The (Warsh) nomination comes after months of repeated efforts by President Trump and his Administration to influence the Fed by intimidation, including by opening criminal investigations into Fed Governor Lisa Cook and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. These ongoing efforts by the President to control the Fed – which must be able to exercise independent judgment – undermine public confidence in any nomination for chair at this time,” wrote the Banking Committee Democrats.

The Banking Committee Democrats continued: “We demand that you delay any nomination proceedings for Mr. Warsh until after the pretextual criminal investigations involving Chair Powell and Governor Cook have been closed.”

The Senators wrote: “The Administration’s apparent effort to seize control of the Fed through criminal prosecutions is dangerous and unprecedented. It would be absurd on its face to allow President Trump to handpick the next Chair of the Federal Reserve as his Department of Justice actively pursues criminal investigations of not one, but two sitting members of the Federal Reserve Board. This Committee should not participate in this farcical effort that threatens to undermine our democracy and confidence in our financial markets.”


Gallego, Colleagues Blast Trump’s Drug Pricing Fraud, Lay Out Agenda for Lower Prices

As Drug Prices Continue to Go Up, and Republicans Hand Gifts to Big Pharma, Democrats Offer Bold Vision to Lower Drug Costs for All Americans

WASHINGTON – Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Peter Welch (D-VT) today announced a new effort to lower the cost of prescription drugs after Donald Trump broke his promise to lower drug prices for Americans. Since January 1, 2026, drug companies have increased prices for 948 brand name drugs.

“When Big pharma gets richer off the back of a grandmother struggling to pay for cancer medication, the system is broken. That’s what this is all about: big pharma execs sitting in their fancy corner offices profiting off of sick, working-class Americans,” said Senator Gallego. “We are not going to accept an America where millions of families live in fear of getting sick and needing to fill a prescription. We are going to fight and fight hard for a health care system that does what Donald Trump never did: actually lower costs for working families.”

Watch the press conference announcing this effort HERE.

“There is no greater fraud than Donald J. Trump when it comes to lower drug prices,” said Senator Wyden. “Our doors are wide open to anybody who wants to take the bold next step forward on lowering drug costs for Americans. Let’s supercharge Medicare negotiations, leave middlemen nowhere to hide their shameless profiteering, and end the Trump and RFK Jr. chaos while restoring the prestige of the research and science community. Today is an important step for Democrats to show there’s a better way to lower Americans’ health care costs.”

“Americans are being forced to choose between getting the medication they need and putting food on the table – especially with this administration’s policies raising prices on everyday items,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “That’s why Democrats are taking steps to continue the work we started and make health care more affordable. We have a plan to lower prescription drug costs even further, and we’re going to keep fighting to lower health care costs for Americans across this country.”

“The President loves to talk a big game and make promises to working families about lowering prescription drug prices. But in reality, his Administration is handling this like a PR problem: they’ve got to keep moving and talking about it, but then do nothing to really address the crisis. That includes the collapse of the ACA’s premium tax credits — families and businesses have no way of affording it,” said Senator Welch. “Democrats are determined to bring prices down, and we’re willing to work with anyone to find concrete ways to do it. We’re going to lower health care costs and ensure everyone can access affordable, life-saving, and pain-relieving medication.”

In a letter to senators, Gallego, Wyden, Cortez Masto, and Welch announced an effort to rein in Big Pharma’s outrageous price increases, lower costs for consumers, guarantee predictability for patients, and reduce wasteful government spending that pads the profits of big corporations.

The letter outlines three goals that will be a priority for Senate Democrats:

Lowering the prices drug manufacturers charge, including an expansion of Medicare negotiation

Reducing out-of-pocket drug costs by continuing to crack down on middlemen

Restoring and bolstering American innovation

Read the Dear Colleague letter HERE.


Gallego Meets with Colombian President, Gustavo Petro

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), one of the first two Colombian Americans ever elected to the U.S. Senate, spoke with Colombian President Gustavo Petro during a bipartisan meeting alongside Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO-08).

“My Colombian roots taught me the value of hard work and resilience, and they drive me now to protect the important relationship between the United States and Colombia. Our countries share a long history built on mutual respect and cooperation that I am committed to building on.

“I have continuously pushed President Petro on making sure that Colombia combats illicit drug trafficking. Today I spoke to him about the importance of ensuring economic prosperity so that young men in Colombia are not driven to join the cartels in order to make a living. I also underlined the importance of North-South economic integration, especially in the face of rising threats from China.

“As Colombians prepare to head to the ballot box this coming year to elect a new congress and president, I continue to urge officials to ensure that these are free and fair elections.

“The United States is safer when we have strong relationships with our partners in the Western Hemisphere. Bullying and threatening our allies does not make anyone safer or freer. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the bilateral relationships between our two countries.”

In August, Senator Gallego travelled to Colombia as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation trip, where he met with President Petro, members of the Colombian Congress, Colombian mayors and business leaders, and the candidates for Colombia’s 2026 presidential elections.


Gallego, Moreno Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Online Scam Ads

WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) introduced bipartisan legislation to crack down on predatory online scams advertisements that cost Americans billions of dollars every year, per a recent Reuters report. The Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act would require online platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent fraudulent and deceptive ads and strengthen accountability when scams slip through. Specifically, the bill would strengthen the Federal Trade Commission’s and states’ ability to enforce violations of consumer protection laws.

“Scammers are using social media to swindle Americans out of their hard-earned savings, and right now, those platforms face almost no consequences for letting it happen,” said Senator Gallego. “If a company is making money from running ads on their site, it has a responsibility to make sure those ads aren’t fraudulent. This bipartisan bill will hold social media companies accountable and protect consumers’ money online.”

“It is critical that we protect American consumers from deceptive ads and shameless fraudsters who make millions taking advantage of legal loopholes. We can’t sit by while social media companies have business models that knowingly enable scams that target the American people,” said Senator Moreno.

“ABA applauds Sens. Gallego and Moreno for their leadership in introducing the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act, a critical step forward in the nation’s fight against fraud. Millions of Americans lose billions of dollars a year to scams that start on social media platforms. Banks of all sizes invest significant resources to detect and stop fraud, and Americans appreciate those efforts, but we need to prevent scams before they ever reach a bank,” said Rob Nichols, President and CEO of the American Bankers Association. “The SCAM Act simply asks social media companies to put consumers first by taking responsible steps to remove scammers from their platforms. Protecting Americans from fraud should be a bipartisan, national priority, and ABA encourages all lawmakers to join Sens. Gallego and Moreno in supporting the SCAM Act and sticking it to the scammers.”

“We congratulate and support Senators Gallego and Moreno for joining the financial services industry in the United States in the effort to reduce and combat fraud. Their introduction of the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act is a long overdue step in recognizing the responsibility of social media companies to be part of the solution to the vexing problem of fraudsters using their platforms to swindle American consumers. This is legislation that should be easy for all Members of Congress to support. We at the AzBA look forward to seeing it signed into law this year,” said Paul Hickman, President and CEO of Arizona Bankers Association.

“OBL applauds Sens. Gallego and Moreno for leading bipartisan legislation to combat fraud. Each year, millions of Americans—including countless Ohioans—fall victim to scams that often start on social media. The Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act would bring social media companies into the fight to stop predatory activities before people are victimized,” said Michael Adelman, President and CEO of Ohio Bankers Association. “Bankers work relentlessly to detect and nip fraud as well as educate customers, yet people fall prey to insidious cons that wipe out their lifesavings. Every day, bankers see the devastation caused by romance scams, impersonation schemes, and fake giveaways. This bipartisan effort highlights the urgent need to curb a growing fraud crisis ruining lives across the country.”

“Tech platforms have massive reach and it’s their responsibility to prevent the misuse of their services for scamming consumers,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at the National Consumers League. “This bill would make clear that these giants must do more to protect the public.”

“AARP, which advocates for the more than 125 million Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act (SCAM Act). Online scam ads have become increasingly sophisticated and pervasive, with criminals exploiting advertising on major social media platforms to target older adults. By establishing strong protections and accountability measures, the SCAM Act will help safeguard older Americans from fraud and reduce the spread of harmful scam ads,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP.

“As devastating scam losses continue to rise for the average person, some Big Tech platforms are turning a blind eye to the scam ads they profit from on their platform,” said Ben Winters, Director of AI and Privacy at the Consumer Federation of America. “This bipartisan bill places the appropriate responsibility on these platforms, and clarifies there’s no get out of jail free card for social media companies facilitating scams.”

“We support the SCAM Act and commend Senators Gallego and Moreno for their leadership. Nearly 3 in 4 U.S. adults have experienced some form of online scam or attack, and many of these schemes occur over social media and messaging platforms. Banks want to work together with social media to better protect consumers, and this legislation helps restore accountability so that everyone is doing their part,” said Erik Rust, Senior Vice President & Head of Government Affairs at the Bank Policy Institute.


Gallego Stands in Solidarity with Gila and Mohave Counties, Calls on FEMA to Reverse Disaster Relief Denial

ARIZONA – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reverse its decision to deny Arizona’s emergency funding request, which the State submitted in October 2025 after catastrophic flooding in Gila and Mohave counties. The flooding wrecked homes, businesses, and public infrastructure and disrupted critical services.

FEMA denied the request, leaving impacted communities without access to critical federal funding to help them recover. In response, Governor Hobbs appealed the decision, outlining how damage assessments identified more than $100 million of physical damages. Senator Gallego and members of the Arizona congressional delegation wrote a letter of support for Governor Hobbs’ appeal.

“I visited Globe and Miami last fall and met with families and business owners who lost everything in the floods. These communities do not have the resources they need to recover on their own, which is where federal assistance should step in,” said Senator Ruben Gallego. “I urge FEMA to reverse its decision and provide Arizona cities with the emergency funding they need.”

Read the letter of support for the appeal HERE.

“When I visited small businesses and their owners, I saw firsthand how deeply families and livelihoods were affected,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “We recognize that the initial request did not fully capture the scope of the damage, and I will continue pressing for a fair and thorough review as we work with FEMA through the appeal process to ensure impacted Arizonans get the support they need to recover. The Arizonans devastated by this flooding deserve support from the federal government in times of crisis, and this transcends any political party affiliation. I, along with bipartisan leadership in Arizona, urge the administration to reconsider their denial and grant this emergency request immediately so that Arizona communities can get the relief they need.”

“Families and small businesses in Gila and Mohave counties were hit hard by these floods, which tragically claimed three lives and caused millions of dollars in damage,” said Senator Mark Kelly. “I’m grateful to Governor Hobbs and local leaders for continuing to fight for these communities, and I urge FEMA to reverse its decision so Arizonans can recover and rebuild.”

“Last year’s catastrophic flooding took lives, destroyed homes and businesses, and devastated critical infrastructure in Gila and Mohave counties. Now FEMA has turned its back on these communities when they need help most—a complete abandonment of the agency’s mission,” said Representative Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, which oversees FEMA. “With over $100 million in damages, these Arizonans deserve better. The Trump administration must reverse this denial immediately and deliver the disaster relief these communities have earned.”

“Withholding FEMA aid from Arizona communities who’ve been devastated by flooding is a deeply wrong and damaging choice. These Americans have suffered due to no fault of their own—they need assistance from their government,” said Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03).


Gillibrand Announces $500,000 In Federal Funding For Mental Health Services For Law Enforcement Officers

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $500,000 in federal funding for the New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program (NYLEAP) to support its efforts to provide mental health services to law enforcement officers. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package that was signed into law yesterday and was personally secured by Senator Gillibrand as a congressionally directed spending item. These federal dollars will enable NYLEAP to increase outreach and expand services to rural areas of New York State.

“Law enforcement officers play a vital role in keeping our communities safe,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will help NYLEAP provide officers across New York State with critical resources to address post-traumatic stress through peer training, prevention, and intervention programs. First responders put their lives on the line every day, and they deserve access to the mental health support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

NYLEAP will use the funding to expand its Post Critical Incident Seminars for both administrators and line officers. Data shows that NYLEAP’s three-day, peer-to-peer program can significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress among first responders. The funding will also support in-demand services, including peer training classes for Assisting Individuals in Crisis, Group Crisis Intervention, and Suicide Prevention and Intervention.

###


Gillibrand Announces Over $18.1 Million In Federal Funding For Projects In Manhattan

Gillibrand Secured Federal $$$ For Infrastructure Upgrades, Educational Programs, Improvements To Public Spaces, Health Care Facilities, and More

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $18,163,000 in federal funding for critical projects in Manhattan in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding package that was signed into law yesterday. Gillibrand personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending items.

“This year’s funding will help support a significant number of projects in Manhattan, from broadband expansions in high-need communities to critical upgrades to public spaces and affordable housing facilities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “With tens of millions of dollars going directly to organizations across the five boroughs, I am proud to be delivering this much-needed federal funding to improve the lives of New Yorkers and to keep New York City flourishing.”

A full list of funded projects in Manhattan is below:

$5 million for the New York Stem Cell Foundation for Precision Medicine Center

This funding will be used for the construction of a new 24,000-square foot state-of-the-art Precision Medicine Center, focused on finding new drug therapies and developing cell replacement therapies for a diverse array of diseases.

$3 million for the New York Public Library (NYPL) to help expand the Center for Educators and Schools Initiative

This funding will support NYPL’s ongoing project to construct a new K-12 education center at the Library’s landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. The project will facilitate the long-needed expansion of NYPL’s Center for Educators and Schools initiative, which facilitates collaborations between local schools and libraries, integrates public library resources into NYC public schools, develops curricular guides to assist educators in teaching with primary source materials from NYPL research collections, and facilitates K–12 class visits to guide student exploration of collection items included in exhibitions throughout the building.

$2 million for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Initiative to Provide Internet Services for Low-Income New Yorkers

This funding will support the Neighborhood Internet Initiative, a partnership between the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York Public Library to build a broadband network that provides free internet to low-income households, including those that receive Section 8 rental assistance.

$1,663,000 for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to Upgrade Plumbing at Douglass I & II Houses

This funding will support critical renovations at NYCHA’s Douglas I & II Houses as part of the NYCHA Building Line Initiative (BLI), which includes comprehensive plumbing and renovation projects that aim to address mold and leaks.

$1 million for the New York Historical Society for Expanded Classroom and Studio Spaces

This funding will contribute toward a 70,000-square foot, four-story expansion and renovation of current facilities to add classrooms, a state-of-the-art conservation studio, and new galleries. These capital improvements and expanded programming will support the New York Historical Society in the scholarly advancement of U.S. history.

$1 million for the Uptown Grand Central Corporation’s 125th Street Community Plaza

This funding will be used for lighting, noise control, and design improvements under the Park Avenue Viaduct at 125th Street to transform the 125th Street Community Plaza into a safe, quality public space and support economic and cultural development in East Harlem.

$1 million for the Carnegie Hall Corporation’s Music Wellness Demonstration Project

This funding will support a music wellness demonstration project to implement, adapt and evaluate a suite of promising programs to improve the healthy development and well-being of children and families, particularly those from underserved and diverse communities in New York City and New York State. The treatment proposed—including free or heavily subsidized and accessible music-based wellness experiences reaching 35,000 New Yorkers—is a proven means to improve well-being, and the research proposed will further understanding of its impacts in facilitating the healthy development of vulnerable and high-needs children and families.

$1 Million for the Roundabout Theatre Company for Accessibility Upgrades

This funding will be used to substantially renovate Studio 54 to expand accessibility to elderly and/or physically disabled artists, workers, and patrons.

$900,000 for the Hispanic Federation’s CREAR Futuros Bilingual Mentoring Program

Funding will support the Hispanic Federation’s CREAR Futuros bilingual mentoring and training program for at-risk students across public high schools and universities in New York City, while expanding services to two CUNY campuses and one SUNY campus.

$850,000 for Central Park Footpath Restoration

This project will support the renovation of Central Park’s paved footpaths, which extend over 50 miles and are in dire need of resurfacing and accessibility upgrades. Restoration of these paths will improve both accessibility and safety for visitors, especially for seniors and individuals with disabilities, and help keep the park in a state of good repair.

$500,000 to the Asian American Federation for Small Business Support Programming

This funding will support the delivery of multilingual digital marketing and capacity-building services to help small business owners establish an online presence and increase their knowledge of business compliance rules and regulations, as well as the resources available to support them.

$250,000 for the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation to Upgrade the Roosevelt Island Tram

The Roosevelt Island Tram Modernization Project will deliver essential upgrades to one of New York City’s most unique and iconic public transportation systems, including enhancements to both the Manhattan and Roosevelt Island stations, upgrades to the cabins, and improvements to system controls and structural elements. These upgrades will help reduce the risk of accidents, improve communication and operational efficiency, and better accommodate passengers with disabilities.

###


Gillibrand Luján, Cohen, DeSaulnier, Ross Introduce Legislation To Protect Drivers From Fatal Tractor Trailer Truck Accidents

The Stop Underrides Act2.0 would require side underride guards on new trucks and direct additional research and data collection about underride crashes

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN-9), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), and Deborah Ross (D-NC-2) introduced legislation to help prevent deadly truck underride crashes.

An underride crash occurs when a car slides under a large truck, such as a semi-trailer, during an accident. When these crashes happen, a car’s safety features are rendered useless because most of the car slides under the trailer and the trailer undercarriage crashes straight through the windows and into the passengers. The passengers in the car often suffer severe head and neck injuries, including decapitation. These accidents are frequently fatal, even at low speeds.

Studies and pilot programs show that a simple barrier attached to the lower area of a truck, called an “underride guard,” would help prevent a car from sliding underneath a truck in an accident. Under current federal law, unlike the rear of a truck, underride guards are not required to be on the sides or front of trucks. The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 would expand on current restrictions by instructing rulemaking to require side underride guards on new trucks, improving data collection, and directing additional research on underride crashes.

“Truck underride guards are one of the best and easiest solutions for protecting passengers during collisions with large trucks,”said Senator Gillibrand. “The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 is commonsense legislation that will protect passengers and make our roads safer. I look forward to working across the aisle to get this passed.”

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing life-saving legislation to make our roads safer,” said Senator Luján. “The Stop Underrides Act will help prevent deadly underride crashes and protect families from tragic, preventable loss. I’m grateful for Senator Gillibrand’s leadership on this important issue, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill signed into law.”

“The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 would help prevent these terrible and too-often fatal truck-trailer accidents by ensuring that cars can no longer slide underneath trucks,” said Representative Cohen. “In introducing this legislation, I’m reminded of my constituents Randy and Laurie Higginbotham who lost their son in an underride crash in Memphis in 2014. The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 builds on important progress made in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will save lives by helping to end these fatal crashes.”

“With truck underride collisions claiming the lives of at least 300 people per year, the time to act on reforms is now. Small changes will make a big difference, and we cannot leave any room for error,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I am proud to join my colleagues in advancing this bill to put an end to these avoidable tragedies.”

“Requiring trucks to have underride guards is a simple way to prevent hundreds of deaths on our roads,” said Congresswoman Ross. “These guards are a proven, effective safety measure that will reduce underride crashes as well as severe injuries and fatalities caused by underrides. I have heard directly from families in my district about the lives this improvement could save. I’m proud to introduce legislation that will prevent vehicle fatalities and make our roads safer for drivers in North Carolina and across the country.”

Specifically, this bill would:

Require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to finalize rulemaking requiring side underride guards on commercial trucks.

Restart the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Advisory Committee on Underride Protection, to provide recommendations for how to reduce underride crashes and severe injuries and fatalities caused by underrides.

Require the DOT to publish a website making underrides research accessible to researchers, industry, and advocates.

Instruct the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the prevalence of underride incidents, including those involving the fronts of large trucks.

Instruct the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study of the implementation of NHTSA’s 2022 rear underride rule and provide suggestions to better improve the rule.

Instruct NHTSA to review its Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and correct crashes in the database that should have been classified as an underride but were not.

Instruct NHTSA to create free, on-demand web-based training for state and local law enforcement to better identify and document underride crashes.

In the Senate, the Stop Underrides Act 2.0 is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). This bill is supported by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, America Walks, AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety, Cascade Bicycle Club, Casey Feldman Foundation, Center for Auto Safety, EndDistractedDriving.org, Families for Safe Streets, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, League of American Bicyclists, Institute for Safer Trucking, Kids and Car Safety, Ride Illinois, Ride of Silence, Road Safe America, Sylvia Bingham Fund, Safe Routes Partnership, Stop Underrides, and Truck Safety Coalition.

“We appreciate Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) for her leadership on legislation to reduce preventable deaths and injuries involving large trucks. The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 would help stop devastating underride crashes by advancing research-backed protections which are long overdue. We urge Congress to advance this bill without delay to prevent more people from being horrifically killed or injured in an underride crash,” said Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

“I commend Senator Gillibrand and Congressman Cohen for introducing the Stop Underrides Act 2.0,” said Jennifer Tierney, Truck Safety Coalition and CRASH Board Member. “I lost my father, James Mooney, in a preventable side underride crash over 40 years ago. It is unconscionable that trailers still are not required to have side underride guards and my heart breaks for every single loss of life that could have otherwise been saved. This bill will save lives.”

“The Stop Underrides bill was written to solve the decades old problem of vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users from dying under tractor-trailers. It’s not the crash that kills; it’s the underride. Underride protection around tractor trailers and large trucks is necessary to save lives,” said Lois Durso-Hawkins of the Stop Underrides advocacy group.

“Hundreds of people are killed or injured each year in side underride crashes, a preventable consequence of semitrailer design. Requiring side underride guards on new semitrailers will save lives, protecting motorists and people walking or biking,” said Eric Hein, Board Member, Institute for Safer Trucking; bereaved father of Riley Hein.

“I’m grateful to Senators Gillibrand, Lujan, Blumenthal, and Duckworth, as well as Representatives Cohen, DeSaulnier, and Ross for taking this next important step to bring about long overdue underride regulations,” said Marianne Karth of AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety. “The provisions in this bill need to become law to bring Americans safely home. I don’t want any more families to lose loved ones while engineering solutions gather dust on a shelf.

Senator Gillibrand has been at the forefront of the fight to prevent underride accidents from occurring. Several provisions of Senator Gillibrand’s Stop Underrides Act were included in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including a requirement that NHTSA complete rulemaking to improve the protections for drivers and passengers in the event of an underride crash.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

###


Gillibrand, Schumer Announce $8 Million In Federal Funding For Staten Island

Senators Secured Federal $$$ For Community Centers, Health Infrastructure, and More

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced $8 million in federal funding for critical projects in Staten Island in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding package that was signed into law yesterday. The senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending items.

“This year’s funding will help support critical projects on Staten Island, from critical enhancements at community centers to hospital upgrades and services to better support small businesses,” said Senator Gillibrand. “With tens of millions of dollars going directly to organizations across the five boroughs, I am proud to be delivering this much-needed federal funding to improve the lives of New Yorkers and to keep New York City flourishing.”

“From enhancing newborn ICU facilities at Richmond Medical Center to supporting Staten Island’s small businesses, these funds are boosting projects that will make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers,” said Senator Schumer. “I won’t stop fighting to deliver the resources needed to better our communities and support the incredible organizations that help Staten Island flourish.”

A full list of funded projects on Staten Island is below:

$3 million for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation to support the NYC Small Business Resource Network

Launched in October 2020, the NYC Small Business Resource Network is a partnership between the five Chambers of Commerce representing the five boroughs of New York City. This funding will enhance the SBRN’s ability to offer small businesses free, personalized support and connections to curated resources from both the public and private sectors.

$2.5 million for Catholic Charities of Staten Island to Upgrade Community Center

This funding will be used to renovate a 100-year-old community center that houses a senior center, community hub, and food pantry, and provides recreational programming, case assistance, eviction prevention, and educational classes to the North Shore communities of Staten Island.

$2 million for the Richmond Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) serves one of the highest-risk populations in the United States, with a significantly higher percentage of low-birthweight babies born compared to the national average. These funds will support capital enhancements to the NICU facilities to create a more efficient, comfortable, and family-centered care environment.

$500,000 for Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation HR Services for Small Businesses

This funding will be used to support the implementation and operation of the HR Services program. This funding will cover the costs of workshops, consulting services, AI tools, job board maintenance, and employee training programs.

###


Gillibrand, Schumer Announce More Than $26.3 Million In Federal Funding For Projects In Brooklyn

Senators Secured Federal $$$ For Affordable Housing Upgrades, Community Centers, Health Infrastructure, and More

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced $26,355,000 in federal funding for critical projects in Brooklyn in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding package that was signed into law yesterday. The senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending items.

“This year’s funding will help support significant projects in Brooklyn, from critical enhancements at affordable housing developments to new community centers and expansions of green space,” said Senator Gillibrand. “With tens of millions of dollars going directly to organizations across the five boroughs, I am proud to be delivering this much-needed federal funding to improve the lives of New Yorkers and to keep New York City flourishing.”

“From increasing affordable housing options and food pantry services, to workforce development training, these local Brooklyn organizations are making a huge impact on our communities,” said Senator Schumer. “I’m proud to bring this substantial federal funding to our communities and I’ll keep fighting to help these organizations continue their great work across the borough.”

A full list of funded projects in Brooklyn is below:

$5 million for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to Upgrade Plumbing at Red Hook East Houses

This funding will support critical renovations at NYCHA’s Red Hook East Houses as part of the NYCHA Building Line Initiative (BLI), which includes comprehensive plumbing and renovation projects that aim to address mold and leaks.

$5 million for RiseBoro Community Partnership Affordable Housing Project

This funding will support Phase One of an affordable housing portfolio rehabilitation project in Brooklyn that will ensure dignified housing for residents and upgrade the energy efficiency of buildings.

$3 million for the Fifth Avenue Committee’s Gowanus Green Project

This funding will be used for the creation of a resilient green space and an 8,700-square foot community facility as a part of the Gowanus Green project – a 5.8-acre affordable housing development for low- and moderate-income seniors in Gowanus, Brooklyn.

$2 million for the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association for Affordable Housing and a Health Center

This funding will be used to create a community facility that will include affordable housing as well as a health and human services center that provides accessible day care services and comprehensive senior support programs.

$1,182,000 for the One Brooklyn Health System Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

This funding will be used to purchase equipment for One Brooklyn Health’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center. OBH historically serves communities that experience significant socioeconomic and healthcare disparities. 47 percent of all newborn deliveries result in a NICU stay, highlighting a high incidence of severe perinatal complications and underscoring the need for state-of-the-art neonatal health services.

$1 million for the Brooklyn Academy of Music Strategic Plan to Expand Audience & Outreach

This funding will be used to implement the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s new strategic plan, resulting in enhanced and improved education and community programming for youth and students.

$1 million for Brooklyn Museum Security & Fire Safety System Replacement

The Brooklyn Museum will use this funding to replace its antiquated security and fire safety system with a modern system that provides security monitoring, fire detection and suppression, and building-wide emergency communications in order to protect the 600,000+ annual visitors to its 560,000-square-foot facility.

$1 million for Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music Campus Expansion & Renovation

This funding will be used for the expansion and renovation of BKCM’s facilities in Brooklyn, NY in order to improve the accessibility and quality of clinical music therapy and music education services for thousands of Brooklyn and New York City residents in low and middle income communities.

$1 million for Churches United For Fair Housing’s Affordable Housing Services

This funding will support CUFFH’s housing related services in NYC that help families find and maintain affordable housing, combat landlord harassment and displacement, and access resources that prevent and fight back against other threats to housing.

$1 million for Center for New Jewish Culture Community Center

This funding will be used for the renovation of the cultural community center.

$800,000 for Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy Education & Community Engagement

This funding will be used for educational programming at Floyd Bennett Field.

$800,000 for Brooklyn College Perinatal Mental Health Initiative

This funding will support an integrated care model for Perinatal Mental Health Initiative—a transformative, community-focused, and multi-tiered academic program designed to expand perinatal mental health (PMH) services, empower communities, and cultivate a highly skilled, diverse interdisciplinary perinatal workforce.

$750,000 for United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg Aging and Disabled Services

This funding will support social services for the aging and disabled and their communities.

$632,000 for Friends of Firefighters for FDNY Mental Health and Wellness Programming

This funding will support mental health counseling for current and retired FDNY firefighters and their immediate family members, general wellness programming, peer support, community building, outreach, and destigmatization of mental health services.

$530,000 for APNA Brooklyn Community Center Food Pantry & Senior Case Management Services

This funding will be used to rent community center space which will offer food pantry services and senior case management services.

$500,000 for Voices of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL-NY)

This funding will be used for the planning and design of a 24-hour respite center for homeless individuals with mental health needs.

$500,000 for National Domestic Workers Alliance Workforce Development Training & Support Services

Funding will provide workforce development training, know your rights resources, and legal services to over 50,000 domestic workers across New York City.

$446,000 for Bridge Street Development Corporation Small Business Support Services

This funding will be used to support the growth of small businesses in Central Brooklyn through direct technical assistance, organizing workshops and learning events, and implementing innovative place-making initiatives—fostering economic growth and entrepreneurship in the community.

$115,000 for St. Ann’s Warehouse Youth Empowerment Program

This funding will support the expansion of a youth arts program at St. Ann’s Warehouse that introduces NYC public school students and local teens to visionary international theater, while promoting leadership skills and building cultural awareness.

$100,000 for East New York CLT Low-Income Tenants and Homeowners Programs

This funding will be used to expand two programs serving low-income tenants and homeowners with the knowledge and individualized support needed to achieve housing security, build financial stability, and create pathways to ownership.

###


Gillibrand, Schumer Announce Over $18.6 Million In Federal Funding For Queens

Senators Secured Federal $$$ For Community Centers, Affordable Housing, and More

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced $18,611,000 in federal funding for critical projects in Queens in the just-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding package. The senators personally secured funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending items.

“This year’s funding will help support significant projects in Queens, from much-needed upgrades at community centers to college readiness programs, homeownership initiatives, and affordable housing construction,” said Senator Gillibrand. “With tens of millions of dollars going directly to organizations across the five boroughs, I am proud to be delivering this much-needed federal funding to improve the lives of New Yorkers and to keep New York City flourishing.”

“I’m proud to deliver these critical investments for our communities in Queens to create more affordable housing, increase access to vital services for immigrant communities, assist disadvantaged families with food assistance, and much more,” said Senator Schumer. “From a child care center, to small business development services, these funds are supporting projects that will make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers. I won’t stop fighting to deliver the resources needed to better our communities and support the incredible organizations that help them flourish.”

A full list of funded projects in Queens is below:

$5 million to India Home for Affordable Housing for Seniors

This funding will support hard construction costs for the Desi Affordable Supportive Housing Project (DASH), a multi-site project consisting of two newly constructed buildings with a total of 94 individual units with the goal of addressing the lack of affordable supportive housing for seniors in Jamaica, Queens.

$3,150,000 for Queensborough Community College Child Care Center

In collaboration with Congresswoman Grace Meng, Senator Schumer secured this funding for the construction of a childcare center on Queensborough’s campus.

$2 million for the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens’ New Jackson Heights Community Center

This funding will be used to acquire land for the first-ever Boys & Girls Club community center in Jackson Heights, Queens. The center will provide free afterschool programming and other services for the community.

$1.5 million for the Queens Chamber of Commerce to Develop a Cyber Academy

The Queens Chamber of Commerce Cyber Academy will train and prepare workers for the digital workforce and secure government and business’ invisible borders. Through partnerships with government, industry, and eight Queens-based colleges and universities, the Cyber Academy will create robust training and credentialing programs focused on higher paying, middle-skill career paths; develop a pipeline of digital job opportunities with Queens businesses for Queens graduates; and support Queens colleges and universities in developing reskilling and upskilling programs responsive to the needs of Queens businesses and the increased demand for technology skills.

$1,166,000 for Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) to Promote Sustainable and Affordable Homeownership

This funding will be used to build and develop a scalable model for sustainable and resilient affordable homeownership in the Rockaways, Queens. AAFE will use a currently vacant lot to construct environmentally sound housing prototypes that reduce energy usage, promote sustainable building materials, and scale affordable home production.

$1 million for National Federation of Filipino American Associations Community Center Renovation and Expansion

This funding will be used to renovate and expand a multipurpose community center for local, non-profit community groups in Woodside, Queens.

$1 million for Bukharian Heritage Society’s Jewish Museum and Community Facility Expansion

These funds will be used to support the expansion and construction of a new home for the Bukharian Jewish Museum, preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Bukharian Jewish community.

$1 million for Greater Allen Development Corporation Affordable Mixed-Use Housing

This funding will be used for acquisition, pre-development, and construction of affordable/mixed-use housing.

$900,000 for Ridgewood Nepalese Community and Cultural Center renovation

This funding will be used to renovate and expand the current building to ensure a secure environment for community services.

$500,000 for Korean American Civic Empowerment’s (KACE) Small Business Program

This funding will be used to support the growth of small businesses by offering training, resources, and opportunities for collaboration, helping them navigate the unique challenges faced by immigrant and minority communities.

$500,000 for New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) Community & Training Center

This funding will be used to purchase, renovate, and transform an existing building in Queens into a community and training center, which will help grow frontline services, education, workforce development, and other programs for the immigrant workforce, including newly arrived asylum seekers and long-time immigrant New Yorkers.

$500,000 for UnionDocs Center for Documentary Art Building Renovation

This funding will be used to renovate UnionDocs HQ, Brooklyn and Queen’s only nonprofit space dedicated to documentary art and will help create a world-class facility that offers exhibition, production, education, audience development, and an artist residency.

$160,000 for Bangladeshi American Society, Inc. for Food Pantry and Youth Development

This funding will be used for a bi-weekly food pantry and community youth development in South-East Queens.

$135,000 for Garden of Hope Community-Based Services for Chinese Immigrant Survivors

These funds will be used to expand and enhance support services tailored to Chinese immigrant communities, including outreach, language support, counseling, case management, legal advocacy, and children and family programs.

$100,000 for Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE)’s Youth Development and College Readiness Program

This funding will be used to expand AAFE Youth’s essential college readiness and youth development programming, empowering low-income high school students throughout Queens to access postsecondary education.

###