Sens. Moran, Marshall & Rep. Mann Call on USDA to Support Farmers & Rural Communities Impacted by Kansas Wildfires

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (Kan.) and U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) yesterday urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to take immediate action to support those affected by the devastating wildfires that recently swept through Kansas. “We write today to request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture take immediate action to support those affected by the devastating wildfires that recently swept through Kansas,” wrote the delegation. “Across multiple Kansas counties, including Clark, Comanche, Finney, Rawlins, Seward and Stevens, the wildfires burned thousands of acres, destroyed critical fencing and hay supplies, and resulted in substantial livestock losses. These damages have placed extraordinary strain on farmers, ranchers, and rural communities already operating under challenging conditions.”

Following the 2017 fires in Kansas, Sen. Moran worked to secure changes to USDA’s standing disaster programs to better assist producers impacted by the wildfires, including removing the payment limit for livestock losses and allowing payments for animals that were sold for a lower price due to the disaster.

Full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Rollins:

We write today to request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture take immediate action to support those affected by the devastating wildfires that recently swept through Kansas.

Across multiple Kansas counties, including Clark, Comanche, Finney, Rawlins, Seward and Stevens, the wildfires burned thousands of acres, destroyed critical fencing and hay supplies, and resulted in substantial livestock losses. These damages have placed extraordinary strain on farmers, ranchers, and rural communities already operating under challenging conditions.

We appreciate the resources USDA provides through the Farm Service Agency to assist farmers in recovering from disasters, including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), and the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). These programs play an essential role in helping farmers and ranchers manage unforeseen and catastrophic events. Following the 2017 wildfires in Kansas, members of the Kansas congressional delegation championed important improvements to USDA disaster programs, and the USDA provided additional funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and program flexibility to help those in need. These changes, including the removal of payment limits for livestock losses and the authorization of payments for animals sold at reduced value due to disaster-related impacts, have significantly enhanced the ability of producers to recover from wildfire devastation.

Thank you for the work that you do to ensure that American agriculture producers are able to continue their livelihoods, even when faced with natural disasters.

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Moreno Statement on Unrest in Mexico

WASHINGTON –Today, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) issued a statement on the unrest occurring in Puerta Vallarta and other parts of Mexico following the killing of a known drug cartel leader. He encourages any Ohioans that are stuck in Mexico to reach out to his office for assistance.


Murkowski: “I support voter ID — but oppose the SAVE America Act”

Washington, DC—In an opinion piece published in the Anchorage Daily News today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) expressed her support for voter ID but explained why she will not support the SAVE America Act. Senator Murkowski outlined why the bill would be difficult to implement in states like Alaska—especially in time for elections this year.

The full piece can be viewed here at the Anchorage Daily News or read below.

I support voter ID — but oppose the SAVE America Act

By Lisa Murkowski

Election integrity matters, and the right to vote must be reserved for U.S. citizens. So why do I oppose the SAVE America Act, which attempts to federalize voting requirements? The answer is twofold: The Constitution largely leaves it to the states to determine election requirements, and the bill as written would disenfranchise many Alaskans.

In its present form, the SAVE America Act would prescribe the documentation that must be presented to register to vote and then require specific photo identification to be presented when voting. It would also require states to submit their voter rolls to a database maintained by the federal Department of Homeland Security, which would, in turn, tell the states whom to remove.

The problems that will result are both fundamental and practical.

For starters, the Constitution largely entrusts states with the administration and oversight of elections, providing authority to hold them at the “times, places, and manner” of their choosing. This was deliberate because states are best positioned to understand local conditions ranging from geographic constraints to technological infrastructure.

Restricting states’ ability to tailor their election systems to realities on the ground is a recipe for trouble. One size fits all rarely fits Alaska, and it will not in this instance, either. When it comes to elections, what is best for an urban state like Florida may not work in a highly rural state like ours.

Take the bill’s identification requirements. To register, individuals would need specified proof of U.S. citizenship. Tens of thousands of Alaskans lacked a REAL ID last year, when statistics were last reported, but even that is not enough under the current bill, which requires a REAL ID clearly indicating “the applicant is a citizen of the United States.” Alaska’s REAL IDs do not, so you would need to present a passport, certified birth certificate or another valid document that does.

Further, the bill requires individuals to show this proof in person, which can be daunting in Alaska. Eighty percent of our communities and 20% of our population are not on the road system. Under this bill, registering to vote could mean purchasing plane tickets and securing lodging and transportation, at a personal cost of hundreds to thousands of dollars, to travel to one of six regional elections offices, just to be eligible to vote.

Even for a community as connected as Ketchikan, Alaskans would have to either fly or take the ferry all the way to Juneau just to ensure they can participate in an election.

Registering by mail would likely go away unless and until states can find ways to comply with these new federal requirements. The SAVE America Act would also make it more difficult to vote by mail, something more than 40,000 Alaskans did in the last presidential election.

I agree that voters should verify who they are and strongly support voter ID, as we already require in Alaska, but states are best positioned to know how their residents can do that. Right now, Alaska law does not strictly require photo ID. For example, hunting and fishing licenses are also acceptable.

Under the SAVE America Act, individuals who have changed their last name from what appears on their birth certificate, Alaska Natives relying on tribal IDs and those whose documents do not include a photo, a stated place of birth or an expiration date would all need additional documentation to vote. These requirements would burden voters who may not have other forms of identification and strain election offices that may lack the resources to implement them, especially with this year’s elections fast approaching.

The federal DHS database that would help determine voter eligibility is likewise challenged. According to a recent story from ProPublica, the system is “making persistent mistakes, particularly in assessing citizenship for people born outside the U.S.” Legitimate voters have been flagged, forcing DHS “to correct information provided to at least five states.”

In the meantime, federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting in federal elections. We should always protect against that, but we do not need to overstate how often it occurs.

Most states have found few instances, and that appears to be the case in Alaska as well. Last year, the Alaska Beacon reported that “a document submitted by the Alaska Division of Elections to the U.S. Department of Justice in response to a nationwide data request (named) 70 possible noncitizens who voted or attempted to vote in state or local Alaska elections since 2015.”

Alaska’s 20-year struggle to implement REAL ID demonstrates just how incredibly difficult the enforcement of federal mandates can be and how unlikely it is that the SAVE America Act could be effectively implemented on an expedited basis.

In 2019, some 14 years after enactment, the state was soliciting donations to help the DMV reach rural communities to bring residents into compliance. Even when mobile DMVs reached rural communities, many residents still could not complete the process. Some homes lacked street numbers. Some names did not match across documents. In parts of the state, delayed or incomplete recordkeeping has left some Native Elders without the documentation required to meet the requirements of the REAL ID Act and what could soon be the SAVE America Act.

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. As doubt is cast on their legitimacy and public trust erodes, we would do well to avoid partisan reforms that sound good on paper but may work very differently in the real world, especially if the result would be a system that works for many but not all Alaskans.

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Murray Joins Markey, Wyden in Effort to Stop Trump Assault on Hospitals Providing Care to Transgender Americans

11 Senate Democrats Call on Trump Administration to Stop Getting Between Doctors and Families

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)—a former chair and senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), and other Senate Democrats in calling for the Trump administration to withdraw two proposed regulations that would place unprecedented restrictions on health care providers, like hospitals, for providing gender-affirming care to young Americans. The rules would restrict health care providers from participating in Medicare and Medicaid if they provide this life-saving care, forcing hospitals to make an impossible choice or risk being cut out of the health care system.

“This policy would mark an unprecedented intrusion of partisan politics and ideology into medical decision-making and severely restrict access to evidence-based, medically-necessary care,” the senators wrote. “This proposed rule would place the federal government directly between physicians, patients, and families by conditioning hospital participation in Medicare and Medicaid on the denial of individualized, clinician-directed care. The conditions of participation (CoPs) for hospitals have never before been used to compel providers to disregard their medical judgment or prevent patients from receiving care that clinicians, in consultation with patients and parents, determine to be medically appropriate.”

The letters, sent to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz, offer detailed comments on the proposed regulations. The first makes clear that using conditions of participation to restrict specific types of medical care that do not align with the administration’s extreme ideology violates guardrails put in place by Congress that prevent the federal government from dictating to medical professionals the type of care that hospitals can or cannot provide. The second explains how the proposal violates core Medicaid statutory requirements by denying medically-necessary care and substituting federal ideology for clinician judgment.

In addition to Senators Murray, Markey, and Wyden, the letter was also signed by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

The full letters are available HERE.

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Senator Murray Statement on Secretary McMahon’s Newest Efforts to Dismantle the Department of Education and Jeopardize Support for Students

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Department of Education’s announcement today that it is inking two additional Interagency Agreements (IAA) to illegally spin off core departmental responsibilities to other federal agencies.

“These illegal agreements aren’t just creating pointless new bureaucracy that burdens our already-overworked teachers and schools; they are actively jeopardizing resources and support that students and families count on and are entitled to under the law.

“We have already seen funding our kids count on get held up because of Secretary McMahon’s destructive efforts to spin off the Department of Education’s key responsibilities through these arrangements, and while I will continue doing all I can to push back, the unfortunate reality is Republicans refused to work with us to take new steps to prevent these agreements from hurting our students in the first place. I’m not backing off from this fight—I’m going to keep speaking up and working to make sure our kids can get the world-class education they deserve.”

Senator Murray has aggressively pushed back against Secretary McMahon’s efforts to dismantle the Department, including through the illegal use of IAAs, and she fought to insert ironclad language in the fiscal year 2026 funding bill for the Department that would bar Secretary McMahon’s use of IAAs to dismantle the Department—but Republicans refused to include new, binding language.

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Padilla Joins Effort to Require Refunds of Trump’s Illegal Tariffs

Bill instructs the Trump Administration to prioritize small businesses; requires full refund with interest of illegal Trump tariffs in 180 days

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla joined Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Small Business Committee Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in introducing a bill to require full refunds of Trump’s illegal tariffs after they were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday by a 6-3 vote.

To date, the Trump Administration has collected an estimated $175 billion in illegal tariff revenue, raising taxes on products from nearly every country on earth, and jacking up prices for American families. The Tariff Refund Act of 2026 would require the full refund, with interest, of those funds.

“The Supreme Court confirmed what Senate Democrats have been saying for months: Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs were nothing more than an illegal tax on American businesses and consumers,” said Senator Padilla. “Trump’s tariff wars have raised Californians’ costs on everything from groceries to energy bills while devastating our national economy and supply chains. We must ensure that hardworking Americans and small businesses who have footed the bill for Trump’s disastrous economic agenda immediately get their money back.”

“Trump’s illegal tax scheme has already done lasting damage to American families, small businesses and manufacturers who have been hammered by wave after wave of new Trump tariffs,” said Senator Wyden. “Senate Democrats will continue fighting to rein in Donald Trump’s price-hiking trade and economic policies. A crucial first step is helping people who need it most, by putting money back in the pockets of small businesses and manufacturers as soon as possible.”

“Trump’s illegal tariff taxes cost small businesses, consumers, and families up to $175 billion. That money must be repaid immediately. For small businesses with little to no resources, this refund process can be extremely difficult and time consuming,” said Senator Markey. “That is why I am proud to introduce the Tariff Refund Act with Senators Wyden and Shaheen. Our bill would require the tariffs to be refunded and level the playing field—putting small importers and small businesses first in the refund process and eliminating needless administrative barriers. It’s Main Street and working families that paid Trump’s tariff taxes, and we must ensure they get their money back—not big corporations.”

“President Trump’s reckless and chaotic tariffs have only caused uncertainty and pain—raising prices on consumers and businesses when they can least afford it,” said Senator Shaheen. “Now that the Supreme Court has made it clear that the President did not have the authority to unilaterally impose sweeping emergency tariffs, it’s critical that American families and small businesses get the relief they need. That starts by President Trump refunding the illegally collected tariff taxes that Americans were forced to pay.”

In addition to Padilla, the bill is also cosponsored by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

The Trump Administration previously recognized that it must refund, with interest, any duties determined to have been unlawfully collected. However, it is unclear what timeline, process, or other guidelines the Administration would follow to provide refunds — and the lack of a clear, accessible process would necessarily advantage large importers with resources to dedicate to outside counsel and consultants.

The Tariff Refund Act of 2026 would ensure that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) completes the payment of refunds quickly and prioritizes the interests of small businesses in that process. Importantly, the bill would ensure that importers are not required to take costly administrative steps to receive a refund of the tariffs unlawfully collected by the Administration. The bill would also direct CBP to coordinate with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide information and technical support. Finally, the bill’s reporting requirements would provide Congress, which has constitutional authority over trade and tariffs, with proper oversight over the refund payment process.

Specifically, the Tariff Refund Act of 2026:

Requires CBP to pay refunds of all tariffs that were unlawfully imposed by the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and paid by importers — even if the importation has already been finalized and closed (“liquidated”) by CBP.

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

Requires CBP to pay interest on the refunded amount.

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

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

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

Expresses the Sense of Congress that importers, wholesalers, and large corporations should pass on those refunds to their customers.

Senator Padilla has strongly opposed Trump’s harmful tariff policies that have raised costs across the board for millions of working-class families. Last year, Senators Padilla, Murray, and Wyden hosted a virtual press call alongside Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Officer Mario Cordero and other West Coast port leaders to sound the alarm on the dramatic decline of container ships making the trip to West Coast ports and the harmful consequences of Trump’s reckless tariffs across the American economy. These tariffs have devastated California’s ports, including the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (San Pedro ports) — which receive 40 percent of the nation’s imports — impacting the entire U.S. economy. During a speech on the Senate floor last year, Senator Padilla similarly criticized Trump’s cruel tariffs and their impacts on the San Pedro ports, emphasizing the devastation they would cause American families and the national economy. Padilla also proposed a concurrent resolution that would simply demand basic transparency by requiring that any tariff used to offset tax cuts for the wealthy be explicitly written into the Republicans’ partisan budget reconciliation bill.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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RI Delegation Seeks Federal Emergency Declaration for RI Due to Historic Winter Storm

PROVIDENCE, RI – As an historic blizzard slams the northeast and has already caused severe power outages for tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders, and with high winds and a significant amount of snow forecast in the hours ahead, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo are urging President Trump to make federal assistance available to Rhode Island, if requested, to support emergency operations and recovery due to the blizzard conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for the entire state of Rhode Island. The coastal storm is hitting the state so hard with heavy snow fall and high wind gusts that even snow plows are getting stuck, according to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. People should exercise caution during severe weather.

In an effort to help local Rhode Island communities and the state respond to the blizzard and do everything it can to keep people safe, the state’s Congressional delegation sent a letter urging President Trump to issue a major disaster declaration for Rhode Island and to expedite any and all emergency assistance. A federal disaster declaration from the president would free up federal funding and generally allow for a quicker, streamlined response to an emergency.

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Mr. President:

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Rhode Island beginning on Sunday, February 22. Because of the potentially severe impacts to the state, we urge you to promptly approve any request for federal assistance from the State of Rhode Island, including a request for an emergency or disaster declaration under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. There is no reason FEMA cannot utilize the more than $9 billion currently in the Disaster Relief Fund, which continues to be available during a shutdown.

Sincerely,

-end-


SCHUMER TO BRING AS PERSONAL GUEST TO STATE OF THE UNION UPSTATE NY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER BEING CRUSHED BY TRUMP’S TARIFFS, WHICH ARE RAISING HIS COSTS NEARLY $1 MILLION A YEAR

Ben Pearson Owns A Rochester Small Biz That Makes Science Kits For Kids Across America, But Tariffs Have Cost Him Nearly $1M More A Year And Forced Him To Lay Off Employees Just To Stay Afloat

After SCOTUS Just Last Week Struck Down Trump’s Tariffs, Schumer Says Trump Needs To Listen To The Small Businesses He’s Hurt With His Tariff Tax And Return The $$ He Cost Them

Schumer: Trump’s Tariffs Are Raising Costs For Upstate NY – And It Needs To Stop NOW

On the heels of the Supreme Court striking down Trump’s chaotic tariff war and as Upstate NY faces skyrocketing costs from tariffs, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer today announced he will bring Rochester’s Ben Pearson as his personal guest to attend President Trump’s State of the Union.

Ben is a small business owner who manufactures science kits and other products for classrooms across America, but has suffered as Trump’s tariffs devastate his business, with nearly $1 million in increased costs per year.

“Upstate NY’s families and small businesses are being crushed by Trump's skyrocketing costs and chaotic tariffs. Main Streets and manufacturers across upstate NY are being forced to pay Trump’s tariff tax, and millions of families across America are paying more for goods they need. I’m proud to bring Upstate New York’s own Ben Pearson as my personal guest to President Trump’s State of the Union address to show how Trump’s policies are hurting hardworking New Yorker small businesses and families,” said U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. “Upstate NY is paying the price for Trump’s cost-increasing policies, and it needs to stop. Tariffs are stretching small business owners to their breaking point and driving up costs for consumers. With the Supreme Court striking down Trump’s tariffs, Trump should listen to people like Ben Pearson instead of doubling down on his tariff tax like he has. No small business should be suffering a $1 million gut punch to their bottom line because of Trump’s tariff chaos. Trump must immediately return tariff money to American businesses that paid it. Senate Democrats will keep fighting to end this damaging trade war once and for all.”

Ben Pearson, owner of ENALAS, “Since founding my business in 2012, we have remained deeply committed to producing high-quality science products for researchers and educators at accessible prices. Since August, however, tariffs have significantly strained our operations, forcing us to absorb $1,000,000 in unbudgeted expense. We have been forced to reduce our workforce by 20% and raise prices simply to remain viable. I am proud to join Leader Schumer at the State of the Union to fight for small businesses across America and respectfully urge the administration to consider meaningful tariff relief for small businesses like ours.”

Ben Pearson is the Founder and CEO of ENALAS, a small Rochester start-up business that manufactures science-activity kits for classrooms, among other products. Ben has been hit with $1 million in costs due to unanticipated tariffs. Since August 2026, tariffs have effectively eliminated all of his free cash flow, which forced Ben to cut down his workforce from 50 to 37 just to stay open. After the Supreme Court just last week struck down Trump’s tariffs, Schumer said Trump should immediately and automatically refund illegally collected tariff money to small businesses that paid it and vowed to continue pushing for an end to Trump’s tariffs once and for all.

Trump’s health care policies are also hurting Ben’s company, with health insurance costs spiking by 19%. As Ben looks ahead, he worries that for the first time, his company may be unable to fully cover his workers’ premiums. The ongoing rise in health care costs is making it increasingly unsustainable for small businesses like ENALAS and their employees, especially as these increases far outpace revenue and wage growth.

Schumer has been a leading voice in Congress to lower costs for small business owners like Ben by pushing to end Trump’s reckless trade war. Schumer has led Senate Democrats in the fight to overturn Trump’s illegal trade wars and visited with small businesses across New York to see the impact tariffs have firsthand.

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Shaheen, Colleagues Unveil New Legislation Requiring Refunds of Trump’s Illegal Tariffs Following Landmark SCOTUS Ruling

**Bill instructs Trump Administration to prioritize small businesses; requires full refund of illegal Trump tariffs in 180 days**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, joined her Senate colleagues today in announcing the Tariff Refund Act – legislation that would require full refunds of President Trump’s illegal tariffs after they were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday by a 6-3 vote.

To date, the Trump Administration has collected more than $175 billion in illegal tariff revenue, raising taxes on products from nearly every country on earth and jacking up prices for American families. The Tariff Refund Act, co-led by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ed Markey (D-MA), will require the full refund, with interest, of those funds.

“President Trump’s reckless and chaotic tariffs have only caused uncertainty and pain – raising prices on consumers and businesses when they can least afford it,” said Senator Shaheen. “Now that the Supreme Court has made it clear that the President did not have the authority to unilaterally impose sweeping emergency tariffs, it’s critical that American families and small businesses get the relief they need. That starts by President Trump refunding the illegally collected tariff taxes that Americans were forced to pay.”

The Trump Administration previously recognized that it must refund, with interest, any duties determined to have been unlawfully collected. However, it is unclear what timeline, process or other guidelines the Administration would follow to provide refunds – and the lack of a clear, accessible process would necessarily advantage large importers with resources to dedicate to outside counsel and consultants.

The Tariff Refund Act would ensure that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) complete the payment of refunds quickly and prioritizes the interests of small businesses in that process. Importantly, the bill would ensure that importers are not required to take costly administrative steps in order to receive a refund of the tariffs unlawfully collected by the Administration. The bill also directs CBP to coordinate with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide information and technical support. Finally, the bill’s reporting requirements would provide Congress, which has constitutional authority over trade and tariffs, with proper oversight over the refund payment process.

The legislation is cosponsored by: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angus King (I-ME), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

Click HERE to view the bill text.

Senator Shaheen has led efforts in Congress to mitigate the harmful impacts of President Trump's tariffs. In January of last year, before President Trump took office, Shaheen introduced the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act to shield American businesses and consumers from rising prices imposed by tariffs on imported goods into the United States by clarifying that the President does not have the authority to levy sweeping tariffs under IEEPA – while preserving IEEPA’s authority for sanctions and other tools. Shaheen then led more than 30 of her Senate colleagues and 171 House colleagues made in a bipartisan Amicus Brief she filed with the Supreme Court last year.

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Shaheen Guest for State of the Union will Highlight Trump Administration Policies Worsening the Cost of Food and Groceries, Jeopardizing Food Assistance for Granite Staters

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced that Elsy Cipriani, the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, will be her guest for President Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress tomorrow night to highlight the growing affordability crisis that many Americans are facing, including rising food and grocery prices. As New Hampshire’s only food bank, the non-profit’s ability to distribute millions of pounds of food to Granite Staters is being hurt by federal funding cuts in President Trump and Republican’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included $187 billion in cuts to food assistance to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy.

“In every corner of New Hampshire, people are being squeezed by rising costs that our President has made worse with policies like his tariffs that are making life more expensive for families,” said Senator Shaheen. “President Trump couldn’t be more wrong when he calls the affordability concerns of working Americans a ‘hoax.’ I’m honored to have the New Hampshire Food Bank’s Executive Director, Elsy Cipriani, joining me for the State of the Union to call attention to the very real cost of living crisis that my constituents are facing and to highlight how devastating cuts to food assistance signed into law by President Trump to fund tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans are making it harder for Granite Staters to put food on the table for their families.”

“We are honored to have been invited to the State of the Union by Senator Shaheen and recognized for the collective efforts of the New Hampshire Food Bank and our more than 400 partner agencies,” said Elsy Cipriani, Executive Director, New Hampshire Food Bank. “Now more than ever, food insecurity is having devastating consequences on vulnerable families and children in the Granite State. Today in New Hampshire, one in every nine people and one in every seven children experience food insecurity. In some of our most rural communities, child food insecurity rates exceed 20%. It is our mission to not only provide nutritious food to residents in need, but also to address the root causes of hunger, including increasing education around SNAP and promoting enrollment for those who qualify. Feeding families and children is a bipartisan issue everyone can support. We are grateful to Senator Shaheen for her efforts and hopeful SNAP benefits are restored to those who need it most.”

Senator Shaheen has consistently called for action to address the rising cost of living that is making life more expensive for Granite Staters, including by advocating for more support for food assistance programs that help people afford food and groceries. Shaheen was unequivocally opposed to President Trump and Congressional Republican’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has put 4 million people nationwide, including 1 million children, at risk of losing food assistance. As part of her efforts to highlight the impacts of this “Big Beautiful Betrayal,” last year, Shaheen visited the New Hampshire Food Bank to hear directly from stakeholders whose work and the people they serve were being impacted by federal funding cuts.

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Shaheen Leads Introduction of Bicameral Legislation to Require DHS Notify Congress, Acquire Local Approval Before Opening New ICE Processing and Detention Facilities

**Reports of new ICE facilities have sparked backlash in New Hampshire and communities across the country**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), alongside U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), is introducing a new bill that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to solicit public comments and receive written approval from state and local officials before constructing, acquiring or operating any new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility or detention center. The new bicameral Respect for Local Communities Act would also require the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify relevant Congressional committees prior to initiating such activities.

“Americans are justifiably concerned as DHS moves to open secretive facilities across the country to detain thousands of individuals at a time, with little transparency or regard for the communities they’re being located in. I, along with the overwhelming majority of Americans, agree that we should have a secure border and a humane and rules-based immigration system – but that’s not what the Trump Administration has done, with stunning displays of violence and cruelty, including against U.S. citizens. At a time when so many Americans are struggling with high costs for things like health care and housing, the Trump Administration is instead spending $38 billion in taxpayer money to purchase and operate these facilities,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our new bill responds directly to the concerns we’ve heard from local officials in towns like Merrimack, New Hampshire and across the country: They were never consulted about ICE’s plans, and they don’t want the chaos of new detention facilities in their communities. By requiring DHS to secure approval from state and local officials, our legislation would ensure that Americans and Granite Staters have a say in what the federal government is planning in our own communities.”

“When it comes to plans for a potential ICE facility, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE need to work with state and local officials so that our communities have a say and we can ensure that our communities are safe,” said Senator Hassan. “Granite Staters, local law enforcement, and local leaders have raised serious concerns about the proposed ICE detention facility in Merrimack, and this bill would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from unilaterally forcing a processing facility or detention center on our communities. I’ll continue to work to ensure that we have secure borders, an immigration system consistent with American values, and that Granite Staters, local leaders, and New Hampshire’s first responders have a say in what goes on in their communities.”

“Granite Staters want safe communities, accountable government, and local control,” said Congressman Pappas. “That is why I stand with the residents of Merrimack, local leaders, and the thousands of Granite Staters who are voicing strong opposition to the construction of a large scale immigration detention center. It is completely unacceptable for the Trump administration to continue to bypass local leaders throughout this process. That’s why I’m working to require the federal government to get local approval before this or any similar proposal moves forward. I will continue to work with community and state leaders to stop this plan and to demand the full transparency and accountability that is lacking from this administration.”

“The half-baked $38 billion campaign to commandeer industrial warehouses for the detention of human beings without the knowledge or approval of local communities in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and across America is a dangerous and un-American overreach by the Department of Homeland Security. It is undermining our local leaders. It is eviscerating public trust. It is imperiling public safety. It is threatening economic growth. It must stop,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “Our commonsense legislation will rein in this chaos by mandating the transparency and accountability that local communities across New Hampshire and America need and deserve over these decisions.”

Click HERE to view the bill text.

Across the country, reports of ICE purchasing warehouses to convert into detention centers have sparked widespread backlash from communities and elected officials alike. ICE documents unveiled last week detail plans to spend $38.3 billion to boost detention capacity.

Since reporting in December that listed Merrimack, New Hampshire as a potential for a new processing site, the New Hampshire Congressional delegation has continuously pushed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to address the serious concerns raised by Merrimack officials regarding ICE’s effort to build a new facility in the town. In recent weeks, the delegation has sent letters to DHS demanding that Secretary Noem respond to concerns expressed by the Merrimack Town Council and New Hampshire State Representative Boyd. Despite widespread public concern in Merrimack about the project, local Merrimack officials say they have still not been contacted by DHS or ICE about the project.

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U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis to Speak at “People’s State of the Union”

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced she is boycotting President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address. Senator Smith will be speaking at MoveOn’s “People’s State of the Union” held on the National Mall alongside her guest: Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis. Smith and Lewis’ remarks will be livestreamed around 8:30pm ET here.

Lewis has worked tirelessly to keep students, staff and families in her school district safe in the face of a federal police force operating with impunity and snatching children and their parents off the street. Smith met Lewis after school and drove with her to monitor for ICE in the surrounding suburban neighborhood.

“Brenda is an incredible example of how Minnesotans have organized and cared for their neighbors in the face of a violent federal police force. It’s people like Brenda who have inspired the world with their bravery and dignity in standing up to bullies,” said Senator Smith.“I’ve been to Donald Trump’s State of the Union Addresses, and I don’t need to do it again. His speeches are full of lies, and he uses the occasion to pillory his perceived political enemies and pander to his billionaire donors. Instead, I want courageous people like Brenda to share the reality of this Administration’s lawlessness and violence at the People’s State of the Union. It’s time for us to have an honest discussion about how the Trump Administration is making it harder for people to afford the lives they want to live and feel safe in their neighborhoods.”

“As a superintendent and lifelong educator, I’m looking forward to speaking out about the unacceptable reality our school district has endured at the hands of a federal agency — and to make sure this never happens to another school district in the nation again,” said Superintendent Lewis.

Operation Metro Surge wreaked havoc on Minnesota’s school system, with steep drops in student attendance from families too afraid to leave their homes, especially after multiple documented cases of children being detained by ICE and immediately shipped to Texas. Brenda’s school district is in active litigation alongside Duluth Public Schools against the Department of Homeland Security, claiming the agency broke the law by suddenly changing the longstanding policy against immigration enforcement near schools.” Brenda has been followed by ICE agents twice, and members of the local school board had ICE stationed outside their homes. Fridley added extra security to its schools and trained observers at all buildings during Operation Metro Surge. Every day, Brenda monitors each of the schools in her district for morning drop off and afternoon pickup. One third of her students were absent after Renee Good was killed.

When Border Czar Tom Homan announced a drawdown of federal agents, Lewis felt “a glimmer of hope” until a few minutes later, she was told six ICE vehicles were outside an elementary school.


Tuberville, Scott Introduce Bill to Stop SNAP Fraud and Abuse

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) in introducing the SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act. This legislation will ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture has timely access, upon request from the Secretary of Agriculture to state-administered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within the system. This follows reports of states like California refusing to comply with federal oversight and enforcement. The bill requires state agencies to provide recipient-level data and case file information upon request as a condition of participation in SNAP to strengthen program integrity and prevent fraud by reinforcing federal oversight authority.

“I appreciate President Trump and Secretary Rollins’ efforts to cut out waste, fraud, and abuse from the SNAP system. It’s important that we ensure these taxpayer-funded benefits are going to those who truly need them. I’m proud to join my good friend Senator Rick Scott in this legislation to create more transparency and accountability when it comes to SNAP enforcement,” said Sen. Tuberville.

“The American people are sick and tired of seeing their tax dollars, intended for critical programs like SNAP, completely wasted and abused instead of being used to help families in need. Even worse, Democrat-run stateslike California seem totally fine with being complicit in the fraud instead of allowing the federal government necessary oversight to address it. That should end now. My bill requires states to provide the necessary data for stronger oversight and accountability, so we do not allow bureaucracy or political agendas to stand in the way of preventing fraud and protecting taxpayer funds,” said Sen. Scott.

Read full text of the bill here.

BACKGROUND:

Specifically, the SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act would:

Require states to provide recipient-level data to the Secretary of Agriculture upon request. The data should be transmitted through secure online systems designated by the Secretary.

Require the state agency to provide the data no later than 30 days after the request—unless otherwise stated by the Secretary.

Prohibit states from receiving funds if a state fails to comply with the data request.

Ensure that all data received is subject to privacy and security safeguards.

Allow the Secretary to disclose the data received to federal or state law enforcement agencies for investigative and enforcement purposes.

MORE:

Tuberville Speaks with Trump USDA Nominees about Trade, Importance of Getting People off Government Assistance and Into Self-Sufficiency

Tuberville, Colleagues Push for Healthier Food Options for SNAP Participants

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

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Warnock Welcomes Bill Lee, South Georgia Rural Hospital CEO, as State of the Union Guest

Evans Memorial Hospital faces losing critical services, including their ICU services because of Washington Republican’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The hospital currently faces a potential $1 million shortfall due to the GOP tax law, with continued uncertainty leaving that number subject to increase

Senator Reverend Warnock visited Evans Memorial in August 2025 to highlight the life-threatening cuts to health care made by the GOP tax law

Senator Warnock: “I’m proud to welcome Bill to Washington as my State of the Union guest […] I believe we would all be better off if my colleagues in Washington followed the example of Georgians like Bill Lee who has devoted his life to making his communities healthier and happier”

Above: Senator Warnock meets with Bill (far left) in Claxton, Georgia in August 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced he will welcome Claxton, Georgia health care leader Bill Lee as his guest at this year’s State of the Union address to highlight the potential harms to rural hospitals because of GOP health care cuts. The President’s State of the Union address is on Tuesday, February 24. Bill Lee is the Chief Executive Officer of Evans Memorial Hospital; Evans Memorial is a rural, not-for-profit hospital located in the South Georgia town of Claxton. In August 2025, Senator Warnock met with Bill at Evans Memorial following the passage of Washington Republicans’ tax law that made drastic cuts to federal health care funding.

Since 1968, Evans Memorial Hospital has been providing high-quality, compassionate care to Claxton, Georgia, and its neighboring communities. But rural health care institutions across Georgia and the United States have been under financial strain for years, and these issues were only exacerbated by President Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill” that made drastic cuts to federal health care funding to pay for a tax cut for billionaires at the expense of working Americans. In the past, Evans Memorial Hospital had to shutter its labor and delivery unit because it was no longer financially viable and could not sustain the rising cost to maintain that service line for its community. Evans Memorial Hospital continues to face losing their ICU services because of Washington Republican’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The hospital currently faces a $1 million shortfall due to the GOP tax law, with continued uncertainty leaving that number subject to increase.

“I’m proud to welcome Bill to Washington as my State of the Union guest,” said Senator Warnock. “Rural hospitals have been struggling for years, but the recent GOP health care tax cuts will be devastating for rural hospitals and clinics, including Evans Memorial Hospital. I believe we would all be better off if my colleagues in Washington followed the example of Georgians like Bill Lee who has devoted his life to making his communities healthier and happier.”

“I am honored to be Senator Warnock’s guest at the State of the Union and appreciate his work on behalf of Georgia’s rural hospitals,” said Bill Lee. “For decades, Evans Memorial Hospital has been providing vital services and compassionate care to Claxton and the neighboring South Georgia communities. Rural health care continues to face financial challenges. While we acknowledge the potential of additional future funding to some of Georgia’s rural hospitals, we must remain committed to our communities and that it is more important than ever that we ensure every Georgian can access quality health insurance. This is our call to action.”

Due to health care cuts allowed in President Trump and Washington Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law last July, up to 93,000 Georgians could be kicked off Medicaid. Additionally, due to Washington Republican inaction, enhanced ACA health insurance tax credits have expired for Plan Year 2026. The expired enhanced ACA credits increased insurance premiums for ACA customers across the country, and millions nationwide are expected to drop their ACA insurance because of higher premiums. As a result, Georgia faces some of the steepest cuts to its health care sector in the country at $3.7 billion.

Bill Lee, MBA, MHA has a diverse work experience in the health care industry and serves as a Trustee on the Board for the Georgia Hospital Association. Bill has held various leadership positions in hospitals, non-profit organizations, and health care consulting firms. Prior to serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Evans Memorial Hospital, he worked as a Senior Strategy & Network Consultant at AmeriHealth Caritas. Earlier in Lee’s career, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of HCA Medical City Children’s Hospital and Medical City Women’s Hospital. Bill also held executive positions at Memorial Health in Savannah, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Emory Eastside Medical Center. Bill holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and a Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.), both obtained from Georgia State University – J. Mack Robinson College of Business. Prior to that, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Business Economics from Oglethorpe University, where he studied from 1987 to 1991.

Senator Warnock has long championed efforts to expand affordable health care access, starting with his advocacy to close the Medicaid coverage gap in Georgia. During the longest government shutdown in American history last year, Senator Warnock was a leading proponent in the fight to protect lower health care costs for 22 million Americans. In an October 2025 Senate Aging Committee hearing, the Senator questioned businessman Mark Cuban on the impact higher premium costs will have on small businesses across the country. In May 2025, Senator Warnock released a report that analyzes by county which Americans are at risk of losing their health care upon Washington Republicans restricting Medicaid access through bureaucratic and ineffective work reporting requirements. The report analyzed how much it would cost each state in job loss, GDP, and devastating administrative costs. The report found that the best way to get the most Americans working is to invest in Medicaid, making health care accessible to eligible Americans.


ED Confirms to Warren That They Are Weighing Sale of Federal Student Loan Portfolio

Department evades questions on whether borrowers would maintain legally guaranteed protections in the event of sale and how department plans to address potential conflicts of interest

Letter Response (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, along with Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), released a response from the Department of Education (ED) to their November letter regarding a potential sale of the federal student debt portfolio. In the response, ED confirms for the first time publicly that they are weighing a sale of the federal student loan portfolio.

“The Department has not taken any final actions or made final decisions regarding selling all or part of the student loan portfolio,” wrote Nicholas Kent, Under Secretary for the Department of Education. Up until now, ED had yet to acknowledge formally that it was weighing a sale.

However, ED evaded key questions from the elected officials about borrower protections and conflicts of interests in the event of a sale, including which representatives from the private sector ED has met with to discuss the sale and which companies they represented. Federal law guarantees borrower protections as set forth in the terms of loan agreements, but the Trump administration refused to assure borrowers that those protections would not be disturbed in a loan sale.

“Instead of helping Americans drowning with student loan debt, Trump is thinking up ways to make life worse for borrowers,” said Senator Warren. “If the Trump administration cared about working-class families, it would stop its ridiculous plan to sell out families to Wall Street."

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Welch Joins Vermont-Owned Small Business for Press Conference on SCOTUS’ Ruling to Block Tariffs

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today discussed the Supreme Court’s ruling to block President Trump’s reckless global tariffs at a press conference in South Burlington. Senator Welch was joined by Calef Letorney, CEO of Rovers North, a Vermont-based small business impacted by President Trump’s illegal tariffs.

“The Supreme Court finally stood up and limited the overreach of President Trump with the tariffs that he had imposed without any authority whatsoever. The president’s tariffs had no legal basis to be in place, and that is exactly what the Supreme Court said in their ruling. These tariffs have done incredible damage to our country, to our economy, and to our small businesses. Even according to what the president’s own goals were, these tariffs were a massive failure: they resulted in fewer jobs, a higher trade deficit, a higher surplus for China, and higher prices for families,” said Senator Welch. “This ruling is a partial restoration of the rule of law—but the battle will continue. I’ll continue pushing back against the President’s arbitrary tariffs to end mass uncertainty holding our businesses back from thriving.”

Watch a livestream of the press conference below:

On Friday, Welch welcomed the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling to strike down President Trump’s reckless, global tariffs, which were imposed illegally under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA):

“President Trump’s tariffs were unconstitutional, reckless, and a complete abuse of executive power. Trump’s trade war has created chaos and economic pain for Vermont businesses and farmers and raised taxes for hardworking families across the country. The Trump Administration’s global tariffs damaged our status as the standard-bearer of a free-market economy and our reputation as a leader in global trade. I welcome this definitive ruling by the Supreme Court, which will provide relief to America’s Main Streets and makes it clear that Congress—and Congress alone—holds the constitutional authority to regulate tariffs,” said Senator Welch.

“This decision also reflects a rejection of President Trump’s access economy, where success is dependent on who you know in his cabinet, rather than how hard you work. The next step must be doing right by Americans—including small businesses and farmers in Vermont—harmed by Trump’s economic wrongdoings,” Welch concluded.

Senator Welch is the lead sponsor of the CANADA Act, bipartisan legislation that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from tariffs imposed on Canada. He is a proud original cosponsor of the bipartisan Trade Review Act, legislation to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy. The Senator also supported bipartisan legislation to restrict the executive branch’s authority to impose tariffs through the IEEPA for Trump’s Brazil tariffs, Canada tariffs, and April 2nd Global tariffs; all of these measures passed the Senate with bipartisan support with the most recent vote happening this past October.

The Senator has hosted roundtables in Williston, Stowe, Newport, St. Albans, Manchester, and virtually to hear concerns and first-hand stories from Vermont and Canadian businesses impacted by the trade war.

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Welch to Bring Vermonter Hit by Skyrocketing Health Insurance Costs to State of the Union

Welch urges President Trump to come to the table with Democrats to extend premium credits

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced he will bring Alyssa Black as his guest to the 2026 State of the Union address. Alyssa is one of more than 30,000 Vermonters who lost access to enhanced Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits after Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration refused to work with Congressional Democrats to extend them. Millions of people across the country now face double, or even triple, premium costs—or are forced to go without coverage altogether.

Alyssa Black is from Essex, Vermont. She is a small business owner and a member of the Vermont State House of Representatives. Representative Black chairs the House Committee on Health Care.

“President Trump’s refusal to work with Democrats to extend ACA credits and protect access to health coverage is really shocking, and it’s important to show how this is hurting hardworking people in Vermont and across the country. Extending these tax credits isn’t a nice-to-do, it’s a must-do,” said U.S. Senator Peter Welch. “President Trump will claim he’s lowering costs, but the facts are clear: millions of Americans are being forced to pay more for their health coverage, and he’s done little to lower the cost of prescription drugs in a sustainable, durable way. His promises will require action from Congress—and that means he needs to work with Democrats, not against them.

“I’m thankful to be joined by Vermont Representative Alyssa Black at the State of the Union. Not only is she personally impacted, but she’s also fighting in the state to protect access to care in Vermont. As a small business owner and the Chair of the Vermont House Health Care Committee, she knows all too well how the chaos on Pennsylvania Avenue is hurting Main Streets in Vermont,” Welch concluded.

“Thousands of Vermonters have been hurt by the affordability crisis, which this administration is exacerbating—especially with their refusal to protect access to health care coverage and lower health care costs. I was personally threatened by the extreme spikes in health care premiums after the ACA tax credits expired, as were thousands of hardworking families across Vermont. It’s important Washington hears it in a direct and clear way: we can’t afford more inaction and broken promises on health care,” said Alyssa Black, small business owner and member of the Vermont State House of Representatives.

The Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, and now millions of Americans are forced to pay higher premiums for their health coverage in the new year. Many saw their premiums double, or even triple. More than 30,000 Vermonters access health coverage through the ACA marketplace and utilize these critical health care tax credits. Nationally, more than 24 million Americans are now forced to pay higher premiums, including 1 in 4 people with chronic conditions, 3.3 million small businesses, and 1.6 million children.

Congressional Democrats have repeatedly urged their Republican colleagues to work with them to extend the tax credits and protect access to care for millions. Senator Welch helped unveil Senate Democrats’ plan to extend the tax credits for three years, but Republicans opposed the bill. Senator Welch was part of a bipartisan working group fighting to extend the credits, and spoke with President Trump and Secretary Kennedy in the Oval Office about the urgent need to extend the credits. So far, the president and Congressional Republicans have refused to act.

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Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $49 Million in Retroactive Secure Rural Schools Funds for Oregon Counties

Funding comes after passage of Wyden/Merkley/Crapo/Risch bill to reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that nearly $49 million in retroactive federal funding from the U.S. Forest Service for fiscal year 2024 will be coming to Oregon counties following the passage of their bipartisan bill late last year to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, with more to come when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its payments for the 18 Oregon & California counties.

Wyden first authored the law that created the SRS program in 2000. Funding for the program lapsed in September 2023, and counties in Oregon and nationwide have not received payments since early 2024. The bill to reauthorize the program had previously passed the Senate, but stalled twice in the House, delaying crucial funding for rural schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure projects.

“Secure Rural Schools is a lifeline for rural communities in Oregon and across the country,” Wyden said. “It’s about damn time these funds get distributed to the counties that need them, and this lapse in funding is exactly why we need a permanent solution to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and ensure they have the funds they need, and that’s what I’ll be focused on in the months ahead.”

“SRS payments are a lifeline for rural communities here in Oregon and across America—supporting our schools, public safety, and wildfire preparedness,” said Merkley. “This nearly $49 million in federal funds ensures counties with federal forest lands have the resources they need to stay safe and resilient.”


Wyden, Merkley, Salinas Announce $3 Million for Salem Bus Transit Center

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas today announced $3 million to support the construction of a bus transit center in Salem.

“Ensuring safe and reliable public transportation is essential for Oregonians to easily get from Point A to Point B,” Wyden said. “This federal award for Salem will help keep Oregon communities connected and local economies rolling, and I will continue to fight for more resources to support transportation projects across the state.”

“Reliable public transportation keeps our communities connected and our economy moving,” Merkley said. “Once completed, the South Salem Transit Center will give folks safe and accessible travel options. This $3 million investment builds on the federal dollars that Senator Wyden and I have secured with the support of the Oregon delegation for the South Salem Transit Center -- including over $3 million in community project funding. We’ll keep fighting to deliver the resources Oregonians need to help folks arrive at their destinations conveniently and safely.”

“Getting to work or dropping your kids off shouldn’t be a safety risk or a logistical challenge,” said Rep. Salinas. “I’m proud to have helped secure this much-needed federal funding for Cherriots. It will only make public transportation in the area safer, more accessible, and more dependable for those who rely on it."

This investment from the Federal Transit Administration’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. The program makes federal resources available to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate and buy buses and related equipment and to build bus-related facilities, including technological changes or innovations to modify low- or no-emission vehicles or facilities.

"This federal investment is a huge boost to completing the South Salem Transit Center and Mobility Hub; a transformative project for the Salem community that will bring safe, reliable, and flexible transportation options to the area," said Maria Hinojos Pressey, Cherriots Board President. "Cherriots is deeply grateful to Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, and Representative Salinas for their strong support in securing this grant award through the FTA's Buses and Bus Facilities Program."


Young Announces Staff Transitions

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced a number of staff transitions.

Lauren O’Brien will replace John Connell as his new Chief of Staff. Connell had served in the role since Young entered Congress in 2011 and recently left for the private sector.

O’Brien has served as Young’s Legislative Director since April 2020, played a central role in shaping the Senator’s legislative strategy, and developed critical relationships with Hoosier officials and stakeholders. Prior to joining Young’s office, she held roles in the private sector and the U.S. House of Representatives. O’Brien is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College in South Bend.

“Lauren is a trusted advisor and a respected leader with deep knowledge of the Senate. She has played a critical role in the major policy wins our team has achieved for Hoosiers,” said Young. “I am excited for her to step into this new role and continue her service to Indiana and our country.”

Greg Warren has been promoted from Tax Counsel to Legislative Director for Senator Young. Prior to joining Senator Young’s staff, Warren served as Legislative Director for Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16).


Young Op-Ed: China dominates with 5,500 ships while America has under 100 — but Trump’s fighting back

The following op-ed by U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) was originally published by Fox News on February 23, 2026.

By Todd Young

China dominates the world’s sea lanes.

In addition to its powerful navy, China possesses the world’s largest commercial shipping fleet — 5,500 vessels strong, with hundreds more added per year. By contrast, America’s fleet currently numbers under 100 with, at most, five ships added per year.

Today, only a fraction of the tankers and cargo ships carrying goods to and from our country fly the American flag — by some estimates, less than 0.4%.

The diminished state of American commercial shipbuilding is a pending economic and national security disaster.

Fortunately, President Donald Trump understands the urgency of this situation and has prioritized an American shipbuilding revival. On Feb. 13, his administration released a comprehensive Maritime Action Plan to help restore America’s maritime dominance.

According to the plan, “Less than one percent of new commercial ships are built in the United States. With only 66 total shipyards … the United States does not have the capacity necessary to scale up the domestic shipbuilding industry to the rate required to meet national priorities…. A self-sustaining domestic shipbuilding sector is critical for national and economic security.”

The plan offers specific recommendations to strengthen America’s maritime capacity, secure our supply chains, and build a resilient maritime workforce. In total, the White House’s Maritime Action plan is a much-needed, holistic approach to restore U.S. commercial shipping, and I commend Trump and his team for issuing it.

As the plan recognizes, however, Congress must be part of the solution. The strategy proposes tax incentives, creative funding mechanisms and new programs that all require congressional authorization and resourcing. That’s why my colleagues and I are working to pass the “SHIPS for America Act.” This bipartisan legislation, which I helped introduce last year, substantially overlaps with the president’s vision and is explicitly called out in the plan.

The legislation would make U.S.-flagged vessels commercially competitive in international commerce by cutting red tape, rebuilding the shipyard industrial base and expanding and strengthening mariner and shipyard worker recruitment. Our proposal would train a pipeline of new workers, encourage domestic and foreign investment in maritime infrastructure, and provide the permitting reform and deregulation that is essential for timely construction of new shipyards.

Underlying all of the bill’s initiatives is a trust fund to support an expansion of the U.S.-flagged fleet to 250 vessels by 2035. And the SHIPS Act would create multiple investment tax credits to build up the U.S. shipyard industry for both military and commercial oceangoing vessels.

Key to spurring private-sector investment in the industry is the designation of Maritime Prosperity Zones. These areas — modeled off the successful Opportunity Zones contained in President Trump’s 2017 tax cut — would supercharge investment in communities that will be most important to rebuilding our maritime industrial base.

From the coastlands to the heartland, these places on our oceans, rivers and Great Lakes will be the hubs for building up our production facilities and supply chains that will power America’s maritime dominance over the next several decades.

The SHIPS Act is Congress’s answer to President Trump’s call to restore America’s maritime dominance. It provides the legal authorities and resources necessary to make President Trump’s Maritime Action Plan a reality. It has support from Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate.

The release of the White House Maritime Action Plan should serve as a wake-up call for Congress to act quickly and pass our bill. Reviving American shipbuilding will take time, but as President Trump recognizes, doing so is critical to our economic and national security.

It’s time to make American ships again.

Republican Todd Young represents Indiana in the United States Senate.


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

Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) released the following statement following President Trump’s State of the Union address.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts, delivering meaningful tax relief for hardworking Americans across the country. We have seen robust engagement with key trading partners, helping to level the playing field for American farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and workers.

“Americans have seen lower gas prices, decreased inflation, secure borders, and mortgage rates reach a three-year low. While our work is far from over, I am encouraged by the progress we have made and the direction our nation is headed.

“I remain committed to working in Congress to build on this progress and ensure that Nebraska’s families, small businesses, and agricultural producers can continue to thrive. Together, we can make the Good Life even better for all Nebraskans.”


Smith Welcomes Sustainable Beef CEO to State of the Union

Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) announced David Briggs, CEO of Sustainable Beef in North Platte, as his distinguished guest at this year’s State of the Union address.

Click here to download the image above


Press Releases

Rep. Aguilar Announces Dr. Cameo Carter, M.D. as 2026 State of the Union Guest

Dr. Cameo Carter is a pediatrician who owns her practice in Redlands, California. Dr. Carter saw both her own health insurance premiums skyrocket, in addition to those of her patients, after Trump and Republicans let the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) announced that Dr. Cameo Carter, M.D., will be his guest to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address on February 24, 2026. A year into the Republican health care crisis, Dr. Carter’s attendance at the State of the Union Address serves as a reminder of the urgent need for Trump and Republicans to act now to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and address the Republican health care crisis.

“As millions of people around the country and tens of thousands of Inland Empire residents see their health care costs increase, it’s important to hear directly from people hurt by the Republican health care crisis,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “Dr. Cameo Carter knows the real pain of rising health care costs. As a physician, she regularly hears from her patients who cannot afford their insurance after the Affordable Care Act tax credits expired. As a small business owner, she has also seen her own health insurance premiums increase. No matter what lies the President tells us about the Republican health care crisis during his State of the Union, Dr. Carter and the American people know the truth. I look forward to working with her as House Democrats fight back against Republican attacks on Americans’ health care.”

“I’m honored to join Congressman Aguilar as his guest to the 2026 State of the Union,” said Dr. Cameo Carter. “As a physician, I hear from my patients every single day about the financial strain they face due to rising health care costs. I’ve seen firsthand how the loss of the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits harms our communities. Many of the people I treat now have to delay medical care or forgo it altogether because they simply can’t afford it. The American people need Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and protect access to affordable health care. I hope my presence at this year’s State of the Union serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address our country’s health care crisis.”


Alford Video Response to President Trump’s State of the Union Address

Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) issued the following video statement in response to President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress.

Watch the full video here or by clicking the image above.

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Rep. Allen's Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act Passes House

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4626, the Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act. Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) introduced H.R. 4626 last year, which implements necessary reforms to the Energy Policy Conservation Act (EPCA) to prevent future administrations from prioritizing a radical rush-to-green agenda over the affordability and availability of reliable household appliances that Americans rely on every day.

"The American people do not need the federal government to tell them which household appliances will best meet the needs of their families. In issuing egregious regulations on home appliances and attempting to tilt the scales on what consumers purchase, the Biden-Harris Department of Energy significantly drove up costs and reduced availability for American families. My legislation, the Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act, is a commonsense measure to prevent future administrations from repeating the same harmful mistakes. House passage of H.R. 4626 is a win for consumer choice. I thank Chairmen Guthrie and Latta, as well as House Republican Leadership, for their continued support of this bill," said Congressman Allen.

"For too long, burdensome regulations established by the Biden-Harris Administration have driven up costs for home buyers, forcing them to pay more for appliances that fail to offer reasonable energy savings," said Chairman Guthrie. "The Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act cuts red tape and ensures that regulations aren’t being weaponized as part of a radical, left-wing agenda. Thank you to Congressman Allen for his work on lowering prices in communities across the country."

"President Biden’s Department of Energy consistently abused their authority to push radical environmental standards on American consumers to shut down the use of natural gas and force people to switch to electric appliances, regardless of cost, performance, or availability," said Majority Leader Steve Scalise. "Thankfully, Rep. Allen’s legislation ensures future administrations do not continue prioritizing ‘Green New Scam’ regulations ahead of the needs of hardworking Americans. I’m glad to see this commonsense legislation pass the House and am grateful for his leadership on this issue."

To watch Congressman Allen's remarks on the House floor, CLICK HERE.


Congressman Allen Reacts to President Trump's State of the Union Address

Tonight, President Donald J. Trump delivered the first State of the Union Address of his second administration. After attending the President's speech in the U.S. Capitol, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) released the following statement:

"The state of our union is strong and getting stronger. Tonight, our country heard a unifying message from the President that we can all rally behind: bringing the American Dream back for working families. Inflation is down to 2.4%, mortgage rates have dropped to a three-year low, gas prices are at a four-year low, we delivered historic tax cuts that saved Georgia taxpayers from a 24% hike, average tax refunds are nearly 11% higher this year, we've had nine straight months of no illegal immigrant releases at our border, out-of-control government spending has been reined in, and much more.

"Our nation is only as strong as the people who call America home. The significant wins and vision for the future outlined tonight are a reminder that, together, President Trump and House Republicans are working overtime to restore American prosperity, strength, and freedom. With the best yet to come, I look forward to delivering continued progress and victories for hardworking Georgians in the 12th District."


Amo Statement on FBI Director Kash Patel’s Alleged Misuse of FBI Resources During Brown Shooting

“The reporting that Kash Patel failed to allocate resources after the mass shooting at Brown University properly is deeply alarming. His potential misuse of an FBI jet during a time when it should have been all hands on deck reflects a troubling pattern of abusing taxpayer funds and poor judgment that has real consequences.

That’s why I led my colleagues in demanding accountability from the FBI regarding the status of their investigation so victims and their families get the clarity, accountability, and answers they deserve about whether FBI leadership strained the response during an active mass shooting.”


Amo Statement on Trump’s Address

“President Trump’s tirade filled with falsehoods might be over, but his damage continues across our country. Under his watch, Americans are sicker, hungrier, poorer, less safe, and falling further behind.

In just under two hours of rambling, the President never once spoke to the reality facing working Rhode Islanders. He has warmongered, championed tax cuts for his billionaire buddies, celebrated raising prices with his tariffs, and cut health care for tens of millions, once again demonstrating how out of touch he is with Americans.

The State of the Union isn’t strong when working families are one bill away from crisis, people’s rights are being trampled, and our national security is a pawn for personal gain.

Rhode Island just saw the largest snowfall in our history, and neighbors are showing up for one another. While we have more work to do, I’ll keep fighting for the support our state needs. The spirit of Rhode Islanders who have stepped up after the storm reflect the values I’ll focus on rather than the divisiveness of tonight’s speech. I believe in an America rooted in fairness, hard work, and community. We must keep fighting to stop Trump’s chaos, cruelty, and high costs to strengthen our union for all.”


Congressman Baird Commends President Trump’s State of the Union Address

Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) released the following statement applauding President Donald J. Trump on his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress:

“Under President Trump, the State of the Union is strong. President Biden did colossal harm to our nation, plunging us into crisis after crisis. President Trump has worked tirelessly to restore American prosperity from the Biden Administration’s numerous catastrophes. I worked with President Trump to pass historic wins for Hoosier families and our farmers through the Working Families Tax Cuts. Under President Trump, the border is closed, and illegal immigration has plummeted to record lows. Americans are much safer now under President Trump’s leadership.

“There is always work to be done to create a more perfect union. As we approach America’s 250th Birthday, I look forward to working alongside the president to ensure Hoosiers can continue to prosper in the greatest country the world has ever seen.”

Additional Background:

The Working Families Tax Cuts:

Reduced federal spending by $1.5 trillion.

Doubled the standard deduction used by over 90% of American taxpayers.

Made permanent the Child Tax Credit increase for more than 40 million families.

Slashed taxes for 12 million small business owners by close to $7,000.

Established the Trump Accounts for Children under the age of 18 to help jumpstart their futures.

Curbing Illegal Immigration:

Border Patrol has released zero illegal aliens into our nation’s interior for nine months straight.

Daily apprehensions at the border are down 96% compared to the last Presidential Administration.

National murder rates hit historic 125-year lows.

Every national major violent crime rate category plunged downward in 2025.

In Indianapolis, IN, crime decreased in each violent crime category as well, including a near 20% decrease in homicides.

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Rep. Balint to Speak at the “People’s State of the Union” and stand with Americans Impacted by Trump Instead of President’s Address

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) today announced that she will join Democratic colleagues, community leaders, and Americans directly impacted by the Trump Administration’s policies at the People’s State of the Union on the National Mall, rather than attend President Trump’s State of the Union address.

Hosted by MoveOn, the People’s State of the Union will feature members of Congress alongside constituents and storytellers speaking about the real-world impacts of the Trump administration’s decisions — including health care cuts, rising costs, attacks on Constitutional rights and ICE’s violent immigration enforcement actions.

“The State of the Union is meant to be a serious reflection of our nation’s progress, our shortfalls, and the path forward,” said Rep. Balint. “Instead of sitting through what has become President Trump’s annual self-congratulation, misinformation, and division speech, I look forward to a night of standing with colleagues, organizers, advocates, and everyday Americans who are committed to doing the real and honest work of protecting our rights, strengthening our communities, and holding those in power accountable.”

Rep. Balint will be joined by Mohsen Mahdawi, a Vermont constituent, student leader, and advocate for Palestinian human rights whose life has been directly affected by Trump’s attack on Americans’ First Amendment rights.

“Vermont and the United States have become home to me not only by residence, but through the love, safety and solidarity I have experienced in this community,” said Mr. Mahdawi. “That is why being imprisoned on the very day I sought citizenship was not only devastating but also a profound betrayal of the principles on which this country was founded. I remain steadfast in my commitment to this country’s ideals, my recognition of the power of our voices, and my belief in the principles of democracy. Palestinians and Americans are fighting the same fight, a fight for dignity and rights without conditions. When we stand together across movements, across borders, across every line they use to divide us, we make it impossible to ignore that love is stronger than fear, hope is more powerful than despair, and freedom will always outlast oppression.”

The event begins at 8:00 PM ET on the National Mall and will be livestreamed. Press interested in covering this event in person should register their interest here.

About Mohsen Mahdawi

Born and raised in Al-Far’a refugee camp in the West Bank of Palestine, Mohsen Mahdawi's early years were defined by Israeli military occupation. At twenty-four, he moved to the United States and experienced freedom and safety for the first time in his life, finding in Vermont a true home rooted in belonging and the strength of a supportive community. At Columbia University, he became a leading voice for Palestinian rights through dialogue and coalition-building, including with Jewish and Israeli communities.

In April 2025 when Mohsen walked into an immigration office for his citizenship interview and was handcuffed and detained by ICE in retaliation for his pro-Palestinian activism. Mohsen continues his graduate studies in Diplomacy while defending his rights in courts and building an organization dedicated to human rights and nonviolent conflict resolution.


Barrett: Working Families Tax Cuts Putting Money Back in Americans' Pockets

In case you missed it, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) wrote an op-ed in The Detroit News today highlighting the increased tax savings Michigan families are receiving as a result of the Working Families Tax Cuts that Barrett helped pass last year. Ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union address, Barrett celebrates several of the most important tax relief provisions including the increased Child Tax Credit, no tax on tips or overtime, and the permanent double standard deduction.

You can read the op-ed here or below.

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Tax season is underway. It’s a time that puts pressure on Michigan families, as they compile documents, fill out IRS forms and find out how much they owe or how big their refund will be.

This year, there’s a little less stress thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts — the law my Republican colleagues and I passed, and President Donald Trump signed, to provide real relief and make life more affordable. These tax cuts are already lowering costs for families, delivering for the American worker and strengthening our local economy in Michigan.

So far this year, the IRS has received more than 33 million returns and workers are getting more of their hard-earned money back. The average refund is $2,476. That’s a 14% increase — more than $300 higher than a year ago.

This relief is filling the wallets of taxpayers from all walks of life, especially working-class and middle-class families.

One reform I’m most proud of is the Child Tax Credit, which we permanently increased to $2,200. This credit has been a blessing for Michigan parents working hard to pay for food, clothes and school supplies, and the increase will make life a little easier as they raise their kids in our communities.

You probably already know that the Working Families Tax Cuts removed income tax on tips and overtime. For servers waiting tables at Michigan restaurants, stylists cutting hair, and rideshare drivers, no tax on tips rewards their hard work while boosting the growing service sector of our economy. Folks assembling Michigan-made cars or fixing our roads often put in extra time, and now they also get to keep a larger share of their hard-earned paycheck when they clock in past 40 hours.

No tax on overtime isn’t the only relief helping Michigan manufacturing workers. The Working Families Tax Cuts allow taxpayers to deduct interest payments on new vehicles built in America. This lowers costs and strengthens our auto industry, and it includes vehicles purchased last year, so buyers are starting to see these savings on their tax returns this spring.

Tax cuts for working families also include the seniors who worked decades for their retirement. This means 88% of seniors won’t owe a cent in income taxes on the Social Security benefits they earned.

All these new tax cuts are why families are getting higher refunds this year, but the biggest relief is that the Working Families Tax Cuts blocked the largest tax hike in American history. The 2017 tax cuts, which lowered costs for workers and small businesses, were set to expire. We made these lower tax rates permanent while locking in the double standard deduction. Combining the standard deduction with our increased child tax credit, a family of four’s first $35,900 is completely tax free.

Tuesday night is President Trump’s annual State of the Union address, and bigger tax refunds send a powerful message. Workers in Michigan get to keep more of their money to provide for their families and invest in our communities. The state of our union is growing stronger because the Working Families Tax Cuts empower people to succeed.


Beyer Remarks On ROTOR Act

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a Northern Virginia district that includes National Airport (DCA), last night delivered remarks on the House floor during debate on S. 2503, the ROTOR Act (S.2503), aviation safety reform legislation drafted in response to last year’s fatal accident in the skies above DCA that claimed 67 lives. Beyer spoke in support of the bill, crediting families of the victims of the tragic accident for their advocacy.

Some of those family members will join Beyer and other lawmakers for a press conference this morning at 10:30 ahead of the vote, to voice support for the ROTOR Act in person on Capitol Hill as the Department of Defense and several committee leaders issue statements opposing the bill. That press conference will be livestreamed here.

The House vote on the ROTOR Act is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today, with a threshold of two thirds required for passage because of the procedural measure that brought it to the floor. The bill previously passed the Senate.

Beyer’s remarks, as delivered (video here):

“I rise today in support of S.2503, the ROTOR Act.

Last year’s January 29 midair collision at National Airport tragically took 67 lives, but it was preventable.

It is our duty to do everything we can to stop this tragedy from ever happening again.

This bill would implement a central recommendation from the NTSB’s final report on the collision: a requirement to use Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast technology, “ADS-B Out and In.”

NTSB has recommended an ADS-B In requirement 17 times before.

NTSB’s final report said that ADS-B In would have alerted the flight crew 59 seconds before the collision, and the helicopter crew 48 seconds before [the collision].

ADS-B In would have given those pilots a fighting chance to avoid the disaster.

It is high time that ADS-B Out and In are required in our nation’s busiest airspaces like the National Capital Region.

Passing the ROTOR Act is the strongest first step we can take toward ensuring a safer airspace for the flying public today, to improve aviation safety and prevent a future crash at DCA.

I want to thank Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, Ranking Member Smith, and Chairman Rogers for the comprehensive draft legislation they released last week, addressing the systemic roots of many of the causes of the January ‘25 collision.

Their Alert Act includes important must-pass provisions.

We need to reevaluate of the arrival rate at National Airport. We need to improve our helicopter route charts. We need to limit military helicopter flights in our region.

But Congress must pass the ROTOR Act this week, to mandate that pilots have access to ADS-B In and Out as soon as possible.

And then we must immediately work to advance the ALERT ACT, while reconciling any differences in a way that maximizes aviation safety, to ensure all the recommendations of the NTSB can be adopted.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Families of Flight 5342, who have been a driving force for the ROTOR Act and for aviation safety reform.

These families have become advocates, experts, and champions—all in the face of tremendous loss, and it has been an honor to work with them.

Passing the ROTOR Act is the first and strongest step that Congress must take to immediately give pilots another key tool to prevent collisions, and to begin saving lives now.

I urge my colleagues in joining me in supporting the ROTOR Act, and I yield back.”