Senate Judiciary Committee Investigation of Credit Suisse Reveals Hidden Truths and Garners Global Attention

WASHINGTON – Today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Nazi-linked accounts at Credit Suisse, inspired by an ongoing oversight investigation led by Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), brought new facts about the bank’s past to light and increased pressure on Credit Suisse’s successor bank, UBS, to ensure the investigation isn’t stifled.

Here’s what news media is saying:

“According to an explosive investigation relayed to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, the now-defunct Credit Suisse maintained at least 890 accounts linked to Nazi officials, facilitating Adolf Hitler’s war machine and funding the “ratlines” that allowed his henchmen to escape justice… As UBS executives testify before Congress, their legal team is already attempting to muzzle the findings, asking federal judges to prevent “public controversy” or further financial claims. However, with the Simon Wiesenthal Center fighting for First Amendment transparency, the “Swiss Bank” myth of quiet professionalism is being replaced by a more accurate image: a counting house for the architects of genocide.” (“Blood Money In The Alps: How Swiss Bankers Financed Hitler And Nazi Escape ‘Ratlines,’” Daily Wire)

“UBS has said it wants to bring greater transparency to Switzerland’s dark chapter helping the Nazis in World War II. In Brooklyn federal court, UBS has a different message for the Jewish organization that asked for the Credit Suisse probe in 2020, the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Be quiet, and don’t ask us for any more money. The issue received an airing in Congress on Tuesday when UBS executives, a rabbi from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and an independent investigator delving into archives at UBS’s Credit Suisse unit testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.” (“Hundreds of Swiss Bank Accounts With Suspected Nazi Links Found by Investigators,” Wall Street Journal)

“A lawyer hired by now-defunct Credit Suisse to investigate its financial ties to the Nazi regime told senators Tuesday that he was sidelined by Swiss bankers who wanted ‘to suppress the truth’ about the Third Reich ‘profiting off of the Holocaust.’ Neil Barofsky… made the claims in explosive testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.” (“Credit Suisse investigator claims he was fired for refusing to ‘suppress the truth’ about bank’s ties to Nazi regime,” New York Post)

“A yearslong investigation of Credit Suisse’s history during the World War II era has uncovered previously unreported relationships between the bank and Nazis, a lawyer overseeing the inquiry [at UBS] told the Senate on Tuesday… But the hearing also focused on a complicated dispute that has arisen between [Independent Ombudsman] Mr. Barofsky and UBS… Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and many other lawmakers on the panel pressed UBS to find a way to share the files with Mr. Barofsky.” (“Investigation Finds Credit Suisse Had Wider Nazi Ties Than Previously Known,” New York Times)

“Members of a US Senate committee tore into UBS Group AG executives for refusing to hand over more than 150 documents that an investigator has requested that could shed light on the history of Credit Suisse accounts tied to Nazi Germany, as tensions flared again around a 1998 settlement in the case. ‘UBS’s conduct is absurd and a historic shame that’ll outlive today’s hearing,’ Chairman Chuck Grassley said at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the issue…” (“UBS Slammed by Senators for Obstructing Probe of Nazi Accounts,” Bloomberg)

“Grassley says one aim of the investigation is to make sure no more evidence is ‘swept under the rug’… ‘In recent years, we’ve seen a disturbing rise in anti-Semitism. History serves as a stark reminder that the evils of the past can never be repeated,’ Grassley says. ‘Shining light on Credit Suisse’ past is part of turning the page on a very dark chapter of history.’” (“Senator Grassley: Probe seeks links between Swiss banks and Nazis,” Radio Iowa)

Read Grassley’s opening statement HERE and questions to witnesses HERE.


SIGNED INTO LAW: Annual Funding Bills With Hassan-Led Measures to Lower Health Care Costs, Provide Support for NH Families

WASHINGTON – Today, the President signed into law five annual bipartisan appropriations bills, which include several provisions led and backed by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to help lower costs for Granite Staters. Notably, the funding agreement includes Senator Hassan’s bills to lower prescription drug prices and reduce health care costs for patients. As part of the bipartisan agreement to pass these bills, Senator Hassan also helped establish an urgent two-week window for Congress to reach an agreement on meaningful reforms to rein in the outrageous, unacceptable behavior by ICE under this Administration.

“As sky-high costs continue to impact families in every corner of our state and country, I’m glad that Congress passed these annual funding bills, which will help Granite Staters, while also pushing back on this Administration’s attempts to gut the federal resources that people count on,” said Senator Hassan. “I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to lower costs and ensure that all people, no matter where they live, are able to thrive – while I also work to keep our communities safe by holding ICE accountable for its outrageous lawlessness.”

Senator Hassan’s health care priorities that passed the Senate as part of the legislation include:

The Increasing Transparency in Generic Drug Applications Act, bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan introduced to speed the approval of generic drugs by ending the lengthy guessing game that manufacturers currently go through with the FDA, enabling generic drugs to get to market sooner, lowering prices for consumers, and saving taxpayer dollars

The Fair Billing Act, bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan introduced to increase transparency for patients when they receive health care at a hospital-owned clinic away from the hospital and lay the groundwork to end unfair hospital facility fees for care provided at a doctor’s office

The Patients Before Middlemen (PBM) Act, bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan helped introduce to help stop pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from driving up prescription drug prices for seniors

Increased funding for community health centers through the end of September

Increased funding for state opioid response grants, bringing the total to $1.6 billion nationwide

The funding legislation also includes several other measures backed by Senator Hassan to lower costs and support New Hampshire families, including:

Supporting our service members: Funds a 3.8% pay raise for America’s service members

Protecting our national security: Provides funding for Virginia-class submarines that are repaired and updated at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Helping Find New Cures: Provides a $400 million increase in NIH funding to advance cutting-edge medical research, rejecting President Trump’s attacks on this work

Lowering Energy Bills: Increases funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps lower energy bills for Granite Staters, especially in the cold of winter

Protecting Granite Staters’ Hard-Earned Benefits:Increases Social Security Administration funding, while also directing SSA to take steps to avoid field office closures, reduced office hours, and increased delays to appointments for beneficiaries seeking in-person support

Investing in Our Future: Increases funding for Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start programs, which help families afford child care, and rejects President Trump’s effort to slash Pell Grant funding

Assessing AI’s Impact on Jobs: Encourages the Bureau of Labor Statistics to evaluate the impact of artificial intelligence on job creation and job loss, a key component of bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan helped introduce

Ensuring That Every Student is Included: Increases funding for IDEA Special Education State grant programs – and continues all IDEA national programs, rejecting President Trump’s attacks on students with disabilities

Helping Granite Staters Make Rent: Provides critical funding for rental assistance programs, as well as for programs to help homeless Granite Staters

Creating More Pathways to Good-Paying Jobs: Invests in registered apprenticeships and workforce training through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants to states, and provides funding for areas served by the Northern Border Regional Commission to support workforce training pipelines

Safeguarding the programs and services that Granite Staters rely on: Rejects President Trump’s efforts to gut and eliminate Job Corps, AmeriCorps, Institute of Museum and Library Services, the GEAR UP and TRIO programs, and funding for adult education, among others

###


Hawley Grills Netflix CEO for Promoting Transgender Ideology, Secures Commitment to Protect American Jobs

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) grilled Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos on Netflix’s promotion of transgender ideology in its streaming content. He also secured a commitment from Netflix to protect American jobs in its proposed merger with Warner Bros.

Relating to LGBTQ material on Netflix’s platform, Senator Hawley asked,“Why does almost half of your children’s program feature this highly controversial, highly sexualized material? That just seems strange to me. That can’t possibly reflect the population.”

Sarandos answered, “I don’t have any idea where that number would come from or what that would be. I don’t believe that’s been your personal experience, but I can’t speak to that.”

Senator Hawley cut him off, saying, “What do you mean you don’t think it’s been my personal experience? You don’t think I monitor what my children watch? I’ll tell you what my personal experience is since you bring it up: my personal experience is that my three children, I can’t let them watch anything on Netflix. I can’t let them watch anything on Netflix unless I preview it because I don’t have confidence in what is on your platform. I don’t know what they’re going to encounter. I don’t want my kids being pushed an agenda about their sexuality or gender identity when I have not had the opportunity first to discuss it with them and to form them in that.”

He continued, “On behalf of parents around the country, it offends me that Netflix is pushing this content at parents in what seems to be a very coordinated, thought-through, planned out agenda in a way that frankly I think undermines parents… It just seems to me that it’s a disservice to the parents in this country.”

“My concern is that you don’t share my values or those of many other American parents and you want the United States government to allow you to become one of the largest, if not the largest, streaming monopolist in the world – I think we ought to be concerned about what content you’re promoting,” Senator Hawley concluded.

“If this merger goes through, what’s your projection about the amount of domestic production, say, two years from now? Is it going to be static? Is it going to decline?”Senator Hawley asked Sarandos.

Sarandos replied, “Most of our production is domestic, and it will continue to increase. We’ve recently forecast our content, independent of this deal, to grow to $20 billion.”

Senator Hawley continued, “Will you commit to increasing domestic United States production and domestic United States production jobs?”

“Senator Hawley, absolutely. It’s in our business plan, it’s in our longterm operating DNA,” answered Sarandos.

“Will you commit to using union labor for all domestic shoots?” asked Senator Hawley. “Will you commit to using it in the future for all domestic shoots if this deal does go through?

“This is the most unionized industry in America, and we use union labor in all our production…You have my commitment,” Sarandos said.


Hawley Urges DOJ to Investigate Left-Wing Dark Money Groups Funding Anti-ICE Protests

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging the Department of Justice to investigate radical left-wing organizations and individuals funding anti-ICE protests—including those with possible ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

“I write to request that the Department of Justice open a comprehensive investigation into the funding and coordination of recent so-called ‘grassroots’ anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) campaigns in Minnesota and nationwide. Recent reports suggest that these campaigns, while presented as organic civil protest, are in fact substantially financed and professionally coordinated by wealthy left-wing organizations and individuals—including those with possible ties to the Chinese Communist Party,” Senator Hawley wrote.

He continued, “Recent reporting indicates that these protests are neither spontaneous nor decentralized. Instead, they reflect a coordinated national operation supported by layered nonprofit pass-through entities, fiscal sponsorship arrangements, and short-lived “grassroots” fronts designed to obscure donor identity, funding sources, and operational control. The scale, geographic simultaneity, messaging uniformity, and logistical sophistication of these operations strongly suggest centralized planning and financing inconsistent with lawful domestic advocacy.”

Senator Hawley concluded, “Given the public-safety and national-security implications, the Department’s immediate attention is warranted. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime and the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Disaster Management, I respectfully request that the Department of Justice promptly open a full investigation into these funding networks, identify any foreign influence, and hold accountable all individuals and entities that have violated federal law.”

As Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, Senator Hawley launched an investigation into the funding behind the Los Angeles riots and requesting the preservation of key information.

Read the full letter here or below.

The Honorable Pamela Bondi

Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20530

Dear Attorney General Bondi,

I write to request that the Department of Justice open a comprehensive investigation into the funding and coordination of recent so-called “grassroots” anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) campaigns in Minnesota and nationwide. Recent reports suggest that these campaigns, while presented as organic civil protest, are in fact substantially financed and professionally coordinated by wealthy left-wing organizations and individuals—including those with possible ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

Recent reporting indicates that these protests are neither spontaneous nor decentralized. Instead, they reflect a coordinated national operation supported by layered nonprofit pass-through entities, fiscal sponsorship arrangements, and short-lived “grassroots” fronts designed to obscure donor identity, funding sources, and operational control. The scale, geographic simultaneity, messaging uniformity, and logistical sophistication of these operations strongly suggest centralized planning and financing inconsistent with lawful domestic advocacy.

This funding architecture mirrors the same NGO and donor networks that have repeatedly supported unlawful conduct across multiple jurisdictions, including violent anti-ICE actions in California and Oregon, the “Stop Cop City” riots in Atlanta, and antisemitic protests across the nation. In multiple recent anti-ICE protests, organized activity escalated beyond speech into interference with federal operations, intimidation of officers, riots, and acts of violence. These actions reflect deliberate efforts to obstruct lawful enforcement of federal law and pose serious risk to public safety.

If foreign-linked actors are providing funding, direction, or material support for political activity aimed at undermining federal immigration enforcement, such conduct may violate federal prohibitions on foreign influence such as the Foreign Agents Registration Act, federal campaign-finance laws, and related criminal statutes. The use of domestic intermediaries to conceal the source, direction, or control of foreign-linked funding may constitute conspiracy and money laundering. Taken together, coordinated activity of this nature may amount to racketeering.

Given the public-safety and national-security implications, the Department’s immediate attention is warranted. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime and the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Disaster Management, I respectfully request that the Department of Justice promptly open a full investigation into these funding networks, identify any foreign influence, and hold accountable all individuals and entities that have violated federal law.

Sincerely,


KUNM: Heinrich says the Trump Administration is causing an energy affordability crisis

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, hosted a roundtable discussion recently on the Trump Administration's policies that he said are raising electricity bills for Americans, including New Mexico.

Heinrich said the energy affordability crisis that is unfolding is almost entirely caused by the current administration.

“President Trump said he would cut electricity prices in half, but electricity prices have risen 13% nationwide since he took office over a year ago,” he said.

Last summer, the U.S. Interior Department announced that all decisions related to wind and solar projects would require an “elevated review” by Secretary Doug Burgum.

Heinrich said Trump’s administration has delayed energy saving projects.

“They've instituted a de facto ban on new wind and solar projects on federal land, stalling 22 gigawatts, the equivalent of power in Two New York Cities from coming on to the grid, and 500 projects totaling 116 gigawatts of capacity are at risk of not being built,” he said.

According to Grid Strategies, a power sector consulting firm, electricity demand is said to grow by 32% by 2030.

NPR reported there are three main factors driving up energy costs: an aging power grid, the cost of natural disasters, and higher fuel costs, especially natural gas.

The Department of Energy has issued at least 16 emergency orders since May of 2025 to keep coal plants from closing.

Heinrich also said keeping retired coal plants operational like the Campbell plant in Michigan, is hurting Americans.

“They're choosing to keep very expensive coal plants on the grid, and consumers are getting charged twice, once for the investments in more affordable energy sources that they've already paid for, and again, in the expensive maintenance fees to keep Campbell plant open, unnecessarily,” he said.

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) said it’s not just about lowering energy costs, it's about creating jobs.

“We're talking about bringing manufacturing back to this country, but manufacturing is not increasing here,” she said. “We've seen that. That's not what's going on with the tariffs and everything that's happening. We have to pivot. We have to readjust this.”

The Hill reports Democrats plan to use rising electricity prices as a key election issue in this year’s midterms.


BREAKING: $387 Million Heinrich Secured for New Mexico in FY26 Funding Signed into Law, While Renewing Call for DHS Funding to Include Commonsense Reforms

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, released the following statement announcing that $387 million he secured for New Mexico in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations funding is now law, including Congressionally Directed Spending for over 100 local projects. Additionally, Heinrich announced that a package of health care legislation and his repeal of the ‘Arctic Frost’ provision are also now law, while also renewing his call for any future funding legislation for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to include commonsense reforms to address lawlessness by the agency.

“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ve worked hard to negotiate and pass strong, bipartisan appropriations bills that deliver for New Mexico. And I am extremely proud that the full $387 million I secured for our communities this fiscal year is now law,” said Heinrich. “I’m also proud to have successfully passed into law several important health care provisions that will improve pediatric care, prevent maternal deaths, protect rural hospitals and ground ambulance medical services, safeguard access to affordable prescription drugs, and continue the ability of New Mexicans to use telehealth to access the care they need.”

Heinrich continued, “Included in the legislation signed into law today was my bill to repeal the ‘Arctic Frost’ provision, which would have let a few Republican senators collect hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money for legally obtained phone records. Getting this done is a win for taxpayers and a rejection of an ill-conceived cash grab that would have taken money away from public safety and used it to line politician’s pockets.”

“When it comes to the Department of Homeland Security, I meant what I said: Enough is enough. I will not fund the lawlessness we’ve all seen in video after video – not for two weeks or even one more day. As the final appropriations bill is negotiated, I am committed to doing everything I can to push for the reforms we need to rein in DHS and get them focused on cartels and human traffickers, and not jailing five-year-olds like Liam Ramos or killing folks like Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” Heinrich concluded.

The $387 million Heinrich secured for New Mexico communities includes over $67 million that was signed into law today and over $319,982,000 already signed into law last month and in November 2025. Altogether, full funding for 11 out of the 12 FY26 appropriations bills have been signed into law.

Heinrich Opposes DHS Funding Lacking Commonsense Reforms

Heinrich opposed funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week because it did not include commonsense reforms to address lawlessness by the agency. Heinrich has made it clear that, “We need a restoration of the rule of law within immigration enforcement.” Heinrich also called on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or be fired due to DHS’ lawlessness, including the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse.

The two-week Continuing Resolution to fund DHS, which Heinrich opposed, was also signed into law today. Heinrich remains committed to reforming and reining in the DHS to get them focused on human traffickers, not jailing five-year-olds like Liam Ramos or killing Americans like Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

For more information on Heinrich’s actions to protect Americans, Tribal members, and Dreamers from wrongful searches and harassment by ICE, click here.

For more information on Heinrich’s actions to support local law enforcement with the tools they need to keep our communities safe, click here.

Successful Repeal of the ‘Arctic Frost’ Amendment

Heinrich-led legislation to repeal the ‘Arctic Frost’ provision was included in the appropriations legislation signed into law today. The ‘Arctic Frost’ provision, which was passed within the FY26 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill over Heinrich’s objections, allowed a few specific Republican senators to collect $500,000 for every phone record that was previously, lawfully obtained.

This follows legislation Heinrich and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) introduced last November, the Anti-Cash Grab Act, to repeal the ‘Arctic Frost’ provision, which Heinrich attempted to pass by unanimous consent in November and by amendment earlier this month.

FY26 Defense

Programmatic Highlights

Supporting Service Members and Families: Heinrich is a strong advocate of several provisions included in the bill to support service members and their families, including:

Fully funding a 3.8% pay raise for servicemembers, as well as the junior enlisted pay raise.

Fully funding a 1% pay raise for civilians that was not included in the President’s budget request.

$2.7 billion for defense medical research, including $1.27 billion for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). This is an additional $1.7 billion above the President’s request and more than $770 million above fiscal year 2025.

An increase of $87.5 million for the National Guard Youth Challenge program, which operates in New Mexico.

And $53 million for the STARBASE educational STEM program that currently operates at Kirtland and Holloman Air Force Base and is launching at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Military Readiness and Resilience: Heinrich successfully included key report language and $183 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI). This report language and funding builds on the success of REPI to improve resiliency at military installations such as Cannon Air Force Base and Melrose Air Force Range in Clovis, New Mexico. The success of the REPI program in Clovis led to Cannon, Melrose, and the surrounding 2.4 million acres of land being designated as the “Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape.” The Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape is one of five new landscapes designated by the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership — a coalition comprised of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, and Department of the Interior with the aim of advancing sustainable land use practices and protecting vital water resources.

Space Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis Hub: Building on success from the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill, Heinrich successfully included funds to support the ongoing development of a Space Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis (S-MS&A) hub that models and assesses the current and immediate future environments, potential activities, and responses, and facilitates discussion and understanding about today’s fight during and in pre-combat operations. Past appropriations to this program have supported the Air Force Research Lab’s Space Vehicles Directorate on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Defense and Space Investments: Heinrich successfully included multiple funding increases, totaling $417 million, for the research and development of critical capabilities such as satellite maneuvering and operations, directed energy technologies, artificial intelligence satellite health monitoring capabilities, space domain awareness, creating Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility’s (SCIFs), and more. Past appropriations to this program have funded Defense projects at New Mexico-based companies, including BlueHalo, Verus Research, NewSpace Nexus, RS21, Roadrunner Venture Studios, and more.

Defense Research Partnership with Academia: Heinrich successfully included $20 million for the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) to address Department of Defense mission needs. New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico have both received competitive awards from this program in the past. Heinrich also secured $20 million for the Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU) Cohort Programs to support graduate recruitment, retention, and professional development through experimental and onsite learning with Department of Defense Laboratories. This funding will also help develop bridge programs that seamlessly tie Ph.D. completion with continued, extended post-doctoral research and conduct scholarly networking activities.

Small Business Development: Heinrich successfully included $38.2 million in funding for APEX Accelerators to support their network of dedicated professionals who provide one-on-one business counseling, online tools, and training webinars to small businesses to navigate the complex defense and broader government contracting markets. Heinrich also secured $17 million for the Department of Defense Indian Incentive Program to support their work creating opportunities for Native entity owned small businesses to sub-contract, partner with, and gain valuable contracting experience and performance with larger prime contractors.

PFAS Testing and Remediation: Heinrich successfully secured a $159 million program increase to the President’s budget request for PFAS testing and remediation. At least 700 military sites in the United States are known or suspected to have PFAS contamination from DoD activities — including six in New Mexico.

FY26 Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies

Key Points and Highlights

Heinrich successfully included $14.519 million in investments for the following 14 projects in the bill:

$4,000,000 for Mesalands Community College to train skilled technicians for the energy workforce pipeline.

$2,677,000 for Dar a Luz Birth Center to expand its facilities to serve more patients.

$2,303,000 for the Pueblo of Pojoaque to expand its existing behavioral health facility.

$1,484,000 for the New Mexico Poison Control Center to expand its substance use disorder services and increase outreach to rural communities.

$1,200,000 for SMART Local Union No. 49 to enhance and expand specialized apprenticeship programs.

$500,000 for Future Focused Education to boost youth mental health support through Youth Mental Health and Peer Support internships.

$480,000 for New Mexico State University to provide professional development to K-12 teachers across New Mexico.

$331,000 for Taos Pueblo Health and Community Services to expand the Recovery Works! Program, a peer-led recovery program for Taos Pueblo Tribal members.

$321,000 for Dual Language Education of New Mexico to develop and implement professional development programs related to literacy and math education.

$300,000 for the National Alliance Mental Illness (NAMI) Albuquerque to hire additional staff to increase mental health and substance use treatment services.

$273,000 for the Early Childhood Center of Excellence at Santa Fe Community College to expand APRENDE to boost early childhood educators statewide.

$250,000 for New Mexico State University to develop best practices for a statewide bilingual education framework.

$250,000 for Three Rivers Education Foundation to provide early childhood literacy training and online resources for families.

$150,000 for the New Mexico Reentry Center to provide job training for individuals facing employment barriers due to past incarceration.

Additionally, Heinrich and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) successfully included $5.377 million for the following 8 projects:

$1,135,000 for the Central New Mexico Community College to offer career and technical education courses and credentialing for jobs in the energy sector.

$1,135,000 for the New Mexico Chronic Disease Prevention Council to expand access to behavioral health and substance use treatment services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

$762,000 for New Mexico State University and theNew Mexico Artificial Intelligence Education Alliance to develop K–12 AI curricula and professional development for educators across the state.

$750,000 for Gallup Community Health to expand its specialty care and behavioral health services.

$512,000 for the University of New Mexico to expand its teacher residency training.

$500,000 for the Hispano Roundtable of New Mexico, in partnership with Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum,to offer science and mathematics programs.

$333,000 for Las Cumbres Community Services to expand its Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program to serve families in northern New Mexico.

$250,000 for Explora to expand career-focused programming to prepare New Mexico youth for high-wage careers in science, technology, engineering, and skilled trades.

Programmatic Highlights

Strengthening the Health Care Workforce: Heinrich secured $1.4 billion for Health Workforce training, which included $40 million for the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program. This investment provides loan repayment assistance to professionals in the substance use disorder workforce who provide direct care in either a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area or a county where the overdose death rate exceeds the national average.

Heinrich also secured $130 million for the National Health Service Corps to support competitive awards for health care clinicians dedicated to working in underserved communities in urban, rural, and Tribal areas. Funding for the National Health Service Corps was championed by Heinrich when he led six other Senators in a letter to Congressional leadership supporting robust funding for this crucial health workforce initiative last year.

And Heinrich secured $8 million for Certified Nurse Midwives within Advanced Nursing Education to increase the number of Certified Nurse Midwives and grow the maternal and perinatal nursing workforce by funding scholarships for students and registered nurses.

Improving Maternal and Child Health: Heinrich secured $1.2 billion for Maternal and Child Health programs, including $603,584,000 for the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to improve access to care for mothers, children, and their families; reduce infant mortality; provide pre- and post-natal care; support screening and health assessments for children; and provide systems of care for children with special health care needs.

Heinrich also secured $163,667,000 for special projects of regional and national significance in the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant for targeted initiatives such as addressing fetal alcohol syndrome, providing for fetal infant and child death reviews, funding oral health, and implementing state maternal health innovation grants.

Heinrich included $5 million to continue Newborn Essentials Support Toolkits (NEST), a public-private partnership program to improve maternal mental health and decrease financial stress for new moms during the postpartum period. New Mexico was one of three states selected for this pilot program in 2021 to provide high-need parents with essentials such as diapers, wipes, baby clothes, baby blankets, baby thermometers, baby nail clippers, lotions, creams, perineal wash bottles, and postpartum pads prior to hospital discharge.

Supporting Rural Health Care: Heinrich secured $110,975,000 for the Rural Health Outreach Program to support projects that demonstrate new and innovative modes of outreach in rural areas, such as integration and coordination of health services. Heinrich also secured $145 million in continued funding for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. This comes after Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which enacted massive Medicaid cuts and is expected to devastate rural hospitals, potentially causing the closure of 6 to 8 rural hospitals in New Mexico.

Addressing the Opioid Epidemic and Infectious Disease: Heinrich secured $7.4 billion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), of which $4.2 billion is allocated for substance use treatment services and State Opioid Response Grants. This comes shortly after the Trump Administration attempted to cancel approximately $2 billion in federal grants for mental health and substance use treatment.

Heinrich also secured over $1.3 billion to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Tuberculosis Prevention, of which $23 million is dedicated to activities to address infectious diseases and the opioid epidemic. The CDC’s Divisions for Opioid Related Infectious Disease Prevention works to combat infectious diseases commonly associated with injection drug use in areas most impacted by the opioid crisis. Heinrich’s fight for this funding rejects President Trump’s sweeping and devastating proposed cuts that would have halved the CDC’s budget and limited the agency’s lifesaving work.

Funding Medical Research: Heinrich was proud to support increased funding for groundbreaking science and medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), rejecting President Trump’s 40% proposed cut. This bill included $47.2 billion for the NIH, money which will support advancements in cancer care and detection, rare diseases, pediatric care, and more.

Supporting Early Childhood Learning: Heinrich secured increased funding for federal early childhood programs that help make child care more affordable. This includes $8.8 billion in funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, an $85 million increase over fiscal year 2025 and $12.4 billion for Head Start, an $85 million increase over previous levels. This funding will bolster state efforts to expand access to child care for working families and defies the Trump Administration’s sustained effort to attack and dismantle Head Start across the country.

Protecting Public Education: Heinrich rejected President Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education by helping secure language in the bill that bars the Department of Education from transferring its fundamental responsibilities to other agencies and increasing funding by $217 million above last year’s levels. It also requires the Department of Education to maintain staffing levels necessary to deliver for students, educators, and communities across the country.

Critically, Heinrich was proud to ensure that key federal funding streams for public schools were increased so that our students and educators have the resources they need for success. The bill increases funding for Title I-A grants by $20 million over previous year levels, which will benefit 87% of New Mexico’s schools. The bill also increases funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by $20 million over fiscal year 2025. An estimated 16.5% of New Mexico students are on an individualized education plan (IEP) and receive services under this program. New Mexico receives $120 million per year in IDEA funding from the Department of Education.

Heinrich also successfully ensured the bill rejects the President’s attempted cuts within the Department of Education, including to the Office of Civil Rights, by maintaining level funding for this critical office that President Trump sought to slash by over a third.

Ensuring Affordability of Higher Education: Heinrich successfully protected programs that make higher education more affordable for students in New Mexico. This includes maintaining the maximum Pell Grant award at $7,395, funding TRIO at $1.2 billion, and providing GEAR UP with $388 million. These programs support first-generation and low-income students with the resources they need to get their degrees.

Heinrich also successfully ensured that his Postsecondary Student Success Grant maintained $45 million in funding. This program provides investments in evidence-based initiatives aimed at enhancing retention and completion rates for college students. President Trump sought to abolish this program completely.

FY26 Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies

Key Points and Highlights

Heinrich successfully included $14.555 million in investments for the following 10 projects in the bill:

$4,000,000 for Homewise, Inc to help moderate-income, first-time homebuyers purchase entry-level homes.

$2,300,000 for the City of Socorro to replace aged and damaged waterlines.

$2,073,000 for the City of Raton to upgrade the Raton Municipal Airport.

$1,500,000 for DreamTree Projects, Inc to complete the final phase of renovations to the NEST building and purchase land for on-site permanent supportive housing.

$1,500,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of San Juan County to renovate a community center.

$1,000,000 for Serenity Mesa Youth Recovery Center to expand their facilities to support increased substance use crisis stabilization, treatment, and housing for adolescents and young adults.

$850,000 for the Albuquerque Housing Authority to invest in necessary upgrades at public housing properties.

$692,000 for the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area to conduct an affordable housing pilot project.

$440,000 for Deming Silver Linings to provide emergency temporary housing for unhoused individuals.

$200,000 for the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope to support individuals and families experiencing poverty and homelessness by providing affordable housing and wraparound services.

Additionally, Heinrich and Luján successfully included $16.31 million for the following 9 projects:

$3,000,000 for Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network and La Cosecha CSA to create a Food Hub at the Sacred Roots farm site to create economic development opportunity in the local food system, provide education to students and community members, and increase access to healthy foods.

$3,000,000 for Youth Development, Inc to build an Early Learning STEM Preschool to improve child development opportunities for children.

$2,500,000 for Santa Fe County to develop a Permanent Supportive Housing project designed to meet the urgent needs of the region’s unhoused population.

$1,800,000 for the Town of Mountainair to rebuild, repave, and upgrade approximately two miles of downtown Mountainair's roadways.

$1,600,000 for the City of Raton to conduct an interchange alignment study as part of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Planning process.

$1,500,000 for Tierra Del Sol Housing Corporation to complete the first phase of construction for an affordable housing project in Vado, New Mexico.

$1,210,000 for City of Bloomfield to plan, design, and construct the expansion of East Blanco Boulevard in Bloomfield.

$1,000,000 for the Pueblo of Acoma Housing Authority to construct new single-family homes for low-to-moderate income families on the Housing Authority’s waiting list.

$700,000 for Cuidando Los Niños of Albuquerque to expand its facility to house early childhood education and family wraparound services.

Heinrich also partnered with Members of the New Mexican Delegation in the House of Representatives to deliver $11.912 million in investments for the following 6 projects in the bill:

$2,900,000 for the Pueblo of Acoma to repair housing for senior community members and provide ADA accommodations.

$2,500,000 for the Anthony Water and Sanitation District to repair and construct wastewater infrastructure.

$2,000,000 for the City of Albuquerque to establish a modular Shelter Stability site for seniors.

$2,000,000 for the City of Albuquerque Health, Housing and Homelessness Department to improve security and accessibility at the city’s largest homeless shelter.

$1,512,000 for the Pueblo of Jemez to demolish hazardous buildings within the Pueblo.

$1,000,000 for the Pueblo of Sandia to make improvements to the Middle Rio Grande Pueblos Irrigation and Acequia Infrastructure.

Programmatic Highlights

Protecting Rental Assistance: Heinrich successfully secured increased funding for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (Housing Choice Voucher) and Project-Based Rental Assistance, despite the Trump Administration’s attempts to completely defund both programs. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program helps over 11,000 families in New Mexico afford rent. Heinrich also secured language urging HUD to expand resources to train public housing staff on how to use housing choice vouchers to make homeownership an attainable goal for residents of public housing.

Bolstering Tribal Transportation, Housing: Heinrich successfully included a $200 million increase in funding for the Tribal Transportation Program, which provides formula funding to Tribes for Tribal transportation projects. Heinrich also secured an increase of $10 million over FY24 funding for Tribal housing programs. These programs support affordable housing for Tribal communities, including rehabilitation and new housing construction, unique financing options mitigating the difficulties of purchasing a home on Tribal trust land, and rental assistance for Tribal veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Supporting Southwest Border Infrastructure Planning: Heinrich successfully included a $3 million investment in the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC) for transportation infrastructure planning to support supply chain connectivity and economic development in southern New Mexico and along the southern border. This follows Heinrich’s long-term focus on standing up, funding, and expanding the Southwest Border Regional Commission.

Addressing Homelessness: Heinrich successfully secured an increase of $366 million over FY24 funding for grant programs that address homelessness through emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing, rapid re-housing, rental assistance and prevention, and supportive services. This follows and rejects the Trump Administration’s attempts to make homelessness assistance funding inaccessible to service providers, including those in New Mexico, by imposing provider requirements designed to be overly burdensome and prevent participation.

Increasing Homebuilding and Homeownership: Heinrich secured $1.25 billion in funding for the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), a critical program that helps New Mexicans build or rehabilitate homes. In 2025, Housing New Mexico leveraged HOME funds to contribute to the construction or rehabilitation of over 1,000 single-family and multi-family housing units. In New Mexico, HOME also provides gap funding for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects, which increase the supply of affordable rental units. Protection of this funding rejects the Trump Administration’s attempt to cut all funding for this program.

Protecting Amtrak Southwest Chief: Heinrich secured language thatprotects existing Amtrak Southwest Chief train service in New Mexico from cuts and closure. The Southwest Chief serves New Mexicans in and visiting Raton, Las Vegas, Lamy, Albuquerque, and Gallup. Heinrich has long supported the Southwest Chief and fought to protect its service in New Mexico.

Supporting Local Air Travel: Heinrich successfully secured $514 million, a $64 million increase, for Essential Air Service, which is crucial to ensuring New Mexicans living in rural communities can quickly, safely, and conveniently connect with the rest of the country. Heinrich also successfully secured $4.5 billion for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants to improve airport infrastructure and safety. Past AIP grants have delivered millions to New Mexico, including $21 million in September 2025.

Finally, Heinrich successfully secured $13.7 billion for FAA operations, which will allow the FAA to hire 2,500 air traffic controllers and 91 new aviation safety inspectors and engineers. This will help begin to address the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers. One of 22 major FAA centers, the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZAB), is located in New Mexico and manages over 1.7 million flights per year in New Mexico and neighboring states.

FY26 Financial Services and General Government Key Points and Highlights

Heinrich successfully included $2.013 million in investments for the following 6 projects in the bill:

$650,000 for the Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST) to develop and deliver accelerator programming for entrepreneurs in the trades, childcare, and arts sector.

$375,000 for the San Juan County Partnership to utilize the Strategic Prevention Framework to focus on substance use prevention among youth.

$388,000 for the City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department to provide technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

$250,000 for Taos MainStreet’s Business Resource and Innovation Center to provide consulting services and technical assistance to start-up companies.

$200,000 for Capacity Builders Inc. to implement the Navajo Horse Journey program in San Juan and McKinley Counties to encourage substance use prevention among Native youth.

$150,000 for the Middle Rio Grande Economic Development Association to provide training and partnerships for small businesses and entrepreneurs to foster business development in the Middle Rio Grande Valley region.

Additionally, Heinrich and Luján successfully included $1.8 million for the following 3 projects:

$1,000,000 for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to provide critical spaces, technologies, and resources designed to help Native American entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses.

$633,000 for the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area to expand entrepreneurial training tailored to creative and agriculture businesses in northern New Mexico.

$167,000 for Vida Mejor Capital to build the capacity of small businesses in the food and agriculture industry.

Programmatic Highlights

Expanding Santa Teresa Port of Entry: Heinrich successfully secured $1.5 million for the next two phases of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry modernization and expansion, funding the Environmental Impact Statement and the Prospectus Development Study. When completed, the modernization project will help ensure the stability of our nation’s supply chain, enhance border security, and dramatically transform STPOE by adding as many as 25 new lanes for commercial and passenger traffic. This modernization project will be transformational for the southern New Mexico economy.

This follows more than a decade of Heinrich’s work to expand and invest in the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. In May 2024, Heinrich led a letter with Luján and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) to the General Services Administration (GSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commending the completion of the feasibility study Heinrich funded in FY2022 and urging both agencies to make this project a top priority. This letter came after a push from Heinrich in March 2024 for the agencies to promptly complete the feasibility study to expand and modernize the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. You can find more detailed information about Heinrich’s previous actions to secure forward-looking investments to modernize and expand the Santa Teresa Land Port of Entry HERE.

Bolstering Federal Defender Services: Heinrich secured $1.766 billion for Federal Defenders, a nearly 22%, or $315 million, increase above fiscal year 2025 in the bill. This critical new funding will reimburse Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys who make up 40% of the overall federal defender workforce. These attorneys play a vital role in upholding the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee to counsel in criminal proceedings.

Supporting Economic Development: Heinrich helped secure $324 million for the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, protecting current funding levels for the Fund and rejecting the 59% cut (-$190.9 million) sought by President Trump, as well as the 15% cut (-$47.4 million) proposed by House Republicans. This follows a sustained attack on the CDFI Fund by the Trump Administration, which Heinrich has consistently and vocally opposed. CDFI funding helps expand economic opportunity for underserved communities and supports the development of child care centers, affordable housing units, health care facilities, and small businesses in every part of the country.

FY26 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

Programmatic Highlights

Protecting Life-Saving Nutrition: Heinrich successfully secured $300 million for American-made ready-to-use-therapeutic food (RUTF). RUTF is the single most effective treatment for child malnutrition, bringing children back from the brink of death in weeks. RUTF production in the United States supports farmers all over the country.

Preventing Wildlife Trafficking, Enhancing Ecological Security:Heinrich helped secure $100 million for the United States Foundation for National Security and Counterterrorism, $274 million for biodiversity, $89 million to combat wildlife trafficking, $132 million for land management and protection, and $150 million for the Global Environment Facility. These investments fund projects that counter illegal wildlife trafficking and deforestation, reduce disease spread, and protect wildlife and ecosystems around the world.

Supporting Global Health: Heinrich helped secure $9.4 billion for global health programs, funding work to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio; support maternal and child health; and carry out critical research and deployment of health research and vaccines.

Health Care Legislative Package

Heinrich successfully secured inclusion of the following provisions within the overall bill:

Averting Major Cuts to Safety Net Hospitals: Heinrich successfully blocked deep cuts to Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) through fiscal year 2028. Without this provision, the DSH program would have seen an over $8 billion cut nationwide, severely impacting safety net hospitals like the University of New Mexico Health System, which provide a disproportionate share of unreimbursed care. DSH hospitals provide care to the most vulnerable populations and rely on supplemental funding in order to provide care for every patient who needs care.

Supporting Community Health Centers, Special Diabetes Program:Heinrich helped provide $1.8 billion in funding for Community Health Centers, to ensure they remain funded through the end of 2026. Community Health Centers in New Mexico provided over 790,000 medical visits in 2024. Heinrich also helped secure funding for the National Health Service Corps through the end of the year, teaching health centers that operate graduate medical education programs through 2029, and an extension for the Special Diabetes Program through 2026. Nearly 12% of New Mexicans have diagnosed diabetes and many suffer from complicated side effects and related illnesses. Heinrich continues to support legislation to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program through 2027.

Improving Pediatric Health Care: Heinrich helped secure inclusion of the Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act, which he cosponsored, to improve access to life-saving care for children with complex medical conditions by simplifying out-of-state Medicaid screening and enrollment processes for pediatric care providers while retaining key safeguards to preserve the integrity of the program.

Heinrich also helped secure inclusion of the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act, landmark legislation, which he cosponsored, to accelerate pediatric cancer treatments and expand access to life-saving therapies for children battling rare diseases.

Expanding Cancer Detection: Heinrich helped secure inclusion of the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, which he cosponsored. This bill allows for Medicare coverage and payment for multi-cancer early detection screening tests, beginning in 2028, that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and used to screen for cancer across many cancer types, as determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Strengthening Obstetric Care: Heinrich helped secure inclusion of the Keep Obstetrics Local Act, which he cosponsored, which will provide emergency funding to help struggling obstetrics units, including by increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for labor and delivery services for eligible rural and high-need hospitals. Between 2012 and 2022, approximately one-quarter of all rural hospitals stopped providing obstetrics services, impacting 267 communities nationally. In New Mexico, nearly 18% of women lack access to birthing hospitals within 30 minutes of where they live, nearly double the national average.

Preventing Maternal Deaths: Heinrich also helped secure reauthorization of state Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) and provide MMRCs $10 million per fiscal year through 2030. MMRCs are state review boards that seek to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly by working to end preventable deaths of mothers and babies. In New Mexico, the MMRC consists of public health professionals, obstetrics and gynecology physicians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, nurses, midwives, mental and behavioral health professionals, patient advocacy groups, and community-based organizations.

The United States has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the developed world, with women of color disproportionately impacted by this crisis. Tragically, nearly 78% of maternal deaths in New Mexico between 2015 and 2018 were deemed preventable. Reauthorizing MMRCs is an important step towards ending this crisis.

Protecting Ground Ambulance Services: Heinrich helped secure inclusion of a bill he cosponsored to extend add-on payments for ground ambulance services to ensure emergency medical care remains accessible in rural parts of New Mexico.

Ensuring Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs: Heinrich helped secured inclusion of provisions to improve oversight of pharmacy benefit managers and guarantee Medicare beneficiaries can access community pharmacies of their choice.


Heinrich’s Repeal of the ‘Arctic Frost’ Provision Signed into Law

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement after his legislation to repeal the ‘Arctic Frost’ provision was signed into law today.

The ‘Arctic Frost’ provision, which was passed within the FY26 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill over Heinrich’s objections, allowed a few specific Republican senators to collect $500,000 for every phone record that was previously, lawfully obtained.

“Included in the legislation signed into law today was my bill to repeal the ‘Arctic Frost’ provision, which would have let a few Republican senators collect hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money for legally obtained phone records. Getting this done is a win for taxpayers and a rejection of an ill-conceived cash grab that would have taken money away from public safety and used it to line politician’s pockets.”


Hickenlooper, Bennet, DeGette, Neguse, Crow, Pettersen Condemn Racist “Death Cards,” Request Independent Investigation, Full Briefing

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper led his colleagues Senator Michael Bennet and Representatives Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen to condemn the reports that families in Eagle County, Colorado found “death cards” left in the cars of family members taken by ICE agents. The lawmakers called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General to open an investigation and requested a full DHS briefing on the incidents and steps taken to prevent further intimidation of Latino communities.

“It is unacceptable and dangerous for federal law enforcement to use this symbol to intimidate Latino communities,” wrote the Colorado lawmakers. “This behavior undermines public trust in law enforcement, raises serious civil rights concerns, and falls far short of the professional standards expected of federal agents.”

The “death cards” have a history of being used by white supremacist groups to intimidate people of color. These specific cards found in Colorado had the address and phone number of the Aurora ICE detention facility printed on them.

Last week, Hickenlooper took to the Senate floor to condemn the racist “death cards,” blast ICE’s lawlessness, and denounce the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. He also voted against the DHS funding bill because it failed to overhaul ICE.

Full text of the letter available HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Noem,

We are writing regarding disturbing reports about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in Eagle County, Colorado. Reportedly, ICE agents in unmarked vehicles with attached sirens conducted imitation traffic stops and ultimately detained ten Latino individuals who are now being held at the Aurora Detention Facility. Additionally, according to multiple news reports and local community organizations, family members of the detained individuals found ace of spades cards inside multiple abandoned vehicles, printed with the address of the Aurora Detention Facility:

We are deeply concerned by the allegations that the federal agents were utilizing sirens to falsely act as local law enforcement. This behavior leads individuals to believe they are lawfully required to pull over for a traffic violation when in reality, the federal government has no authority over local or state traffic regulations. Federal agents acting in disguise as local law enforcement is misconduct and should be treated as such.

Moreover, the ace of spades card has long been known as the “death card” and has been used by white supremacist groups to inspire fear and threaten physical violence. It is unacceptable and dangerous for federal law enforcement to use this symbol to intimidate Latino communities. This behavior undermines public trust in law enforcement, raises serious civil rights concerns, and falls far short of the professional standards expected of federal agents.

We appreciate that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned this conduct and directed the DHS Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate the incident. To ensure that ICE conducts operations in a professional manner that does not include racially-motivated intimidation tactics that undermine public trust in law enforcement, we request:

A formal and detailed briefing on ICE activities in Eagle County

A written report detailing the findings of the ongoing DHS investigation into the incident

An independent investigation by the DHS Office of Inspector General into the activities of the Denver Field Office, which oversees ICE activity in Eagle County

Written confirmation of any disciplinary or corrective actions taken

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We respectfully request a response by February 13.

Sincerely,

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WATCH: Hickenlooper, Survivors of ICE Violence Highlight Need for Overhaul

Watch Hickenlooper’s questions HERE.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper underlined the need for broad reforms for Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a Senate forum featuring testimony from five witnesses including three Americans who experienced violence at the hands of DHS agents, the lawyer for Renee Good’s family, and an expert on public safety and policing.

“Transparency and accountability are fundamental to every form of law enforcement,” said Hickenlooper. “And yet we’ve witnessed more and more masked agents operating in unmarked vehicles, creating fear and confusion in people all over this country.”

During the hearing, Senator Hickenlooper asked Martin Daniel Rascon and Aliya Rahman, both survivors of ICE violence, if ICE officers had identified themselves before attacking them. Both said ICE refused to provide basic identification. Hickenlooper has repeatedly called on ICE officers to remove their masks and show ID during arrests, and leads a bill that would make that identification requirement law.

Hickenlooper has consistently pushed for more oversight and transparency for federal immigration enforcement efforts, and has worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE. Last week, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor to denounce the horrifying killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good and to demand ICE reforms. He’s shown up at ICE facilities to conduct congressional oversight visits and raise concerns about ICE disregarding due process. He helped launch an investigation into ICE’s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight and introduced bills to ban ICE from wearing masks, prevent immigration enforcement from targeting schools, hospitals and places of worship, and cut back the excessive funding that MAGA Republicans gave them.

To download a full video of Hickenlooper’s hearing questions, click HERE.

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HYDE-SMITH JOINS TRUMP FOR SIGNING OF BILL WITH FUNDING BENEFITS FOR MISSISSIPPI

Hyde-Smith Singles Out Provision to Help Franklin County Hospital Survive

VIDEO: Senator Hyde-Smith Cites the Franklin County Hospital at Bill Signing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today attended the White House signing ceremony for a FY2026 appropriations package that includes a wide assortment of benefits for Mississippi, including a provision she fought for to help keep the doors open at the Franklin County Hospital.

Hyde-Smith serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee that crafted the five-bill package (HR.7148) that will ensure most federal programs and projects will be funded through September 30. With President Trump’s signing of the measure Tuesday, Congress has completed 11 of the 12 annual funding bills.

Hyde-Smith worked to include language in the FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Bill to reinstate the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation for the Franklin County Hospital, which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rescinded on January 15.

“There is still so much work to do to improve rural healthcare in Mississippi, but I’m very happy that we’ve acted to help the Franklin County Hospital and give it a stronger chance to be on a stronger financial footing. Without this, the hospital could have closed. CMS dropping the critical access status wasn’t warranted and we’ve come up with a sensible solution to ensure continued access to quality rural healthcare there and for other hospitals in that situation,” said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee.

Resending the CAH designation for the hospital in Meadville meant that it would no longer be eligible for federal resources intended to help sustain the financial viability of rural hospitals and assure access to essential medical services.

Last October, Hyde-Smith introduced bipartisan legislation (S.3047) to protect the Franklin County Hospital and others in the same situation. Earlier this year, Hyde-Smith, U.S. Representative Michael Guest (R-Miss.), and others asked congressional and appropriations leadership to support the inclusion of the CAH language.

Overall, Hyde-Smith used her membership on the Appropriations Committee and six subcommittees to support projects and programs beneficial to Mississippi and the nation.

“I give Majority Leader John Thune and Appropriations Chair Susan Collins great credit for allowing Senators to take up and pass these funding bills. It’s a stark improvement from how the former Democratic leadership refused to bring appropriations bills to the floor,” Hyde-Smith said.

The following links contain further details of that work and its impact on Mississippi. The legislation signed by President Trump on Tuesday included:

FY2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations (Hyde-Smith chairs the Senate THUD Appropriations Subcommittee.)

FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill

FY2026 Defense Appropriations Bill

For more information on the FY2026 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill and the FY2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, click here.

On January 23, President Trump signed HR.6938, a three-bill package that included the:

FY2026 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill

FY2026 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill

FY2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill

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Senate Passes Bill to Extend Medicare Telehealth Access Until 2027

U.S. Senate passed the CONNECT for Health Act which extends Medicare telehealth access through 2027

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

WASHINGTON—The United States Senate passed a bipartisan funding bill that included a provision that will extend telehealth access for Americans enrolled in Medicare through the end of 2027.

The Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors. Current flexibilities are set to expire on Sept. 30 unless Congress extends them.

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz, Roger Wicker, Mark Warner, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Peter Welch and John Barrasso led a bipartisan group of 60 senators in reintroducing the bill. Since its initial introduction, several provisions of the bill have been enacted into law or adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), including provisions to remove restrictions on telehealth services for mental health, stroke care and home dialysis.

“Telehealth is helping people get the care they need, and it’s here to stay," said Schatz. "This two-year extension will mean Medicare patients will continue to see their doctors no matter where they live."

“We live in a digital world, and our health services should reflect that," said Wicker. "In the past decade, telehealth has made medical care more accessible for patients across the state and country. It is time to make telehealth coverage permanent for Medicare recipients so that more Americans ... have access to health care.”

The CONNECT for Health Act would:


Senator Justice Highlights West Virginia Wins in Recent Appropriations Minibus

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jim Justice released a statement highlighting huge West Virginia wins following both Senate and House passage of the appropriations minibus to fund the federal government. Wins span the Department of Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related Agencies; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related Agencies; and State, Foreign Operations, and related Programs bills:

“Despite the disfunction in Washington, we were able to secure some massive wins for West Virginia in this government funding go-around which is great. On the other hand, this two-week CR remedy for DHS funding puts vital agencies like FEMA, TSA, CISA, and Coast Guard at risk. At the end of the day, we’ve done some really great things for West Virginia, but shutting down DHS so Democrats can have a media talking point is completely unacceptable,” said Senator Jim Justice.

BACKGROUND:

The appropriations package includes projects championed by Senator Justice that strengthen West Virginia’s education and research institutions, prepare the workforce of the future, support healthcare systems, grow small businesses, improve infrastructure, and enhance community well-being. Three of the bills include Congressionally Directed Spending projects for the state:

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies:

$750,000 to Jobs & Hope West Virginia to support wage reimbursements.

$15,000,000 to Charleston Area Medical Center for equipment for technical infrastructure upgrades and cybersecurity technology.

$7,500,000 to Concord University for facilities and equipment for construction of the Center for Rural Healthcare Workforce Solutions.

$310,000 to Grant County Courthouse for equipment & for purchase of new ambulance.

$345,000 to Jefferson County Commission for facilities and equipment for the Jefferson County Health Department relocation and expansion.

$2,105,000 to Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority for equipment for purchase of new ambulances.

$3,250,000 to Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center, Inc. for facilities and equipment for renovation of the Minnie Hamilton Hospital Emergency Department, medical clinic, laboratory, dietary space, dental clinic, and pharmacy.

$8,100,000 to Mon Health Medical Center for equipment for technical infrastructure upgrades and cybersecurity technology.

$1,500,000 to Wirt County Health Services Association for facilities and equipment for construction of Coplin Health Systems Parkersburg health clinic and wellness center.

$766,000 to West Virginia CASA Association, Inc. for funding to implement a Continuum of Care model to prevent and treat child abuse.

$500,000 to National Youth Science Academy for the purchase of equipment and technology.

$1,105,000 to Applied Research Foundation of West Virginia for campus security upgrades.

$1,150,000 to Bethany College to support nursing education, including the purchase of equipment.

$1,650,000 to Fairmont State University for the purchase of aviation equipment.

$1,500,000 to Marshall University Research Corporation for the purchase of equipment and to develop curriculum, including financial aid.

Financial Services and General Government:

$600,000 to Morgan County Partnership, Inc. for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Substance Use (SU) Mitigation Project.

$800,000 to Charleston Area Alliance for Small Business Incubator Modernization.

$500,000 to City of Fairmont for Façade Improvement Project.

$690,000 to Advantage Valley Community Development Corporation for FASTER WV Support for Entrepreneurial Development.

$500,000 to Hatfield-McCoy Convention & Visitors Bureau for Growing Small Businesses in Man and Logan.

$2,502,000 to Marshall University for Marshall University Aviation.

$750,000 to New River Gorge Regional Development Authority for Public-Private Childcare Cohort Model in Raleigh County.

$750,000 to WV Hive Network, Inc. for Rise Together: Building Businesses and Community Capacity project.

$500,000 to West Virginia Women Work for Strengthening Small Businesses in WV.

$371,000 to West Virginia Department of Agriculture for WV Grown Project Expansion Through Marketing & Trainings.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies:

$25,000,000 to Yeager Airport (CRW) for Terminal Modernization Project.

$2,000,000 to West Virginia Department of Highways for Northern Parkway Improvements.

$2,240,000 to West Virginia Department of Highways for Sutton Elk River Trail Improvements.

$4,000,000 to West Virginia Department of Highways for Corridor H Parsons to Davis.

$5,000,000 to West Virginia Department of Highways for WV Route 2 Improvements.

$6,400,000 to West Virginia University Research Corporation for Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) Guideway Rehabilitation Project.

$3,250,000 to Monroe County Board of Education for Peterstown School Athletic Facility.

$1,000,000 to City of Parkersburg for Municipal Parking Improvements.

$1,000,000 to City of Fairmont for Watson Fire Station Renovation.

$2,059,000 to Town of Marlinton for Downtown Trailhead.

$503,000 to City of Elkins for Downtown Improvements.

$7,690,000 to Montgomery General Healthcare Systems, Inc. for Montgomery General Hospital Revitalization.

$4,600,000 to Clay County Commission for 911 Center Relocation.

$500,000 to Appalachia Service Project for Home Repair for Flooding Victims.

$1,980,000 to West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council for the WV Freedom and Independence Project.

$250,000 to Craik-Patton, Inc. for Craik-Patton House Site Accessibility Project.

$5,460,000 to City of Ronceverte for Fred Workman Bridge.

$7,000,000 to City of Charleston for Charleston Capital Sports Center.

$750,000 to Capitol Market, Inc. for Capitol Market Safety and Security.

$966,000 to Region 4 Planning and Development Council for Fruits of Labor Expansion.

$1,103,000 to Facing Hunger Foodbank for Warehouse Distribution Center Renovation.

$3,200,000 to New River Gorge Regional Development Authority for Meadow River Corridor Improvements.

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Video: Kaine Speaks on Senate Floor to Discuss Trump’s Villainization of Immigrants and Its Consequences on U.S. Citizens and Economy

VIDEO OF KAINE’S REMARKS AVAILABLE HERE.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) spoke on the Senate floor to pull back the curtain on what the Trump Administration claims is an immigration crackdown focused on reducing crime. In reality, President Donald Trump has spent years dehumanizing immigrants and their countries of origins. Since his inauguration, his Administration has rounded up thousands of individuals, hurting communities across Virginia and the country, including people with no criminal records, children, and U.S. citizens.

“I rise to talk about the issue that will dominate attention in the Senate between now and next Friday,” said Kaine. “A discussion about reforms to the Department of Homeland Security and the activities it’s engaged in all around the country.”

“President Trump and his Administration have launched upon an unprecedented campaign against immigrants,” Kaine said. “The claim of the Administration and many who support it is that this is because of a desire to protect Americans and rid American streets of criminals. I maintain that President Trump has instead demeaned and dehumanized immigrants and their countries of origin since Day One of his political career for matters completely unrelated to public safety.”

Kaine continued, “[Trump’s] efforts to round up thousands and thousands of people he views as the ‘other’—on spurious charges and without due process—are sweeping up all kinds of people, including children, and they are hurting our country, hurting our economy, and hurting my commonwealth.”

“President Trump’s immigration crackdown has been violent. It’s been inhumane. It’s rounded up innocent people—mothers, children. It’s rounded up U.S. citizens,” said Kaine. “The visceral disdain for immigrants, but particularly for those who don’t look like him or from countries he doesn’t like, has led to a crackdown that has far exceeded the stated claim that it is about law enforcement and public safety.”

“While he and his enablers claim that they’re after the ‘worst of the worst’ or that they’re only going after people who are criminals, that’s just not true,” Kaine continued. He then mentioned Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) detention of five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father, as well as a U.S. citizen Mr. ChongLy Scott Thao.

“From September 21, 2025 until last month—January 7—single-day ICE detentions increased to 11,296 a day,” said Kaine. “Well over two-thirds had no criminal convictions and no criminal charges … As of October 2025, more than 107 U.S. citizens were detained by immigration agents. That’s what we know of … This is not about law enforcement! This is not about public safety! It is a campaign against people because of the color of their skin or where they are from.”

During the floor speech, Kaine also highlighted the positive contributions immigrants have made and the critical role they play in boosting the economy.

“Immigrants are crucial and beneficial to the economy in Virginia and throughout America,” Kaine continued. “Immigrants make up 13.2% of the Virginia population … When I was born, it was one of 100 … Today, it’s one of eight … The growth of our immigrant populations with their strength and innovation and culture has been a huge part of the reason that Virginia has gone from back of the pack economically to front of the pack economically.”

“We would not be the Commonwealth that we are—the success that we are—without the growth of our immigrant populations,” said Kaine. “In being here for 13 years, I’ve just heard too few words that talk about the contributions that immigrants have made to this country in our entire history. Immigration is the transfusion into the blood stream of the American economy and the American politics that keeps our nation young at 250—new skills, new ideas, new connections to places around the world.”

“I speak from personal experience having worked as a missionary in central America—I know the kinds of people who come here, and I know why they come here. And they come here just for the same reason my great grandparents came here from Ireland beginning in the late 1840s because there weren’t opportunities for them. Now the laws may be a little different today than then, but the motivations are no different,” Kaine continued. “Virtually everybody in this chamber has an immigration story where—thank God—their family decided that they could make a better life for themselves in the United States. And just as we don’t demonize each other because we have immigrant roots, we shouldn’t be demonizing people like this young five-year-old’s family and terrorizing them as we are.”

“Any policy that begins with the assumption that immigrants are a problem or a threat or a public safety concern—instead of beginning with the reality that our immigrant communities have been part of the great success of this nation—any policy that starts with the wrong assumption is bankrupt morally, bankrupt legally, bankrupt economically,” Kaine concluded. “It will hurt our nation. It’s already hurting our nation. It will continue to hurt it even further.”

Kaine has been a strong opponent of Trump’s immigration policies. On January 23, Kaine announced he would not support the House-passed government funding bill as is, which included funding for the out-of-control DHS. Then, Kaine strongly supported the successful Democratic push to remove DHS funding from the government funding bill, which Kaine said fell short of protecting Americans from reckless violence at the hands of federal agents. Last July, Kaine introduced legislation to increase transparency, accountability, and safety in immigration law enforcement, including prohibiting law enforcement officers from wearing masks to hide their faces.

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Statement from Senator Kelly Following Federal Court Hearing

Today, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly released the following statement after today’s federal court hearing on his case against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth:

“Today was a day in court not just for my Constitutional rights, but for millions of retired veterans and all Americans. There is nothing more fundamental to our Democracy than the freedom to speak out about our government –that’swhatI’mfighting for.

Givenwhat’sat stake, I appreciate the judge’s quick and careful consideration in this lawsuit.

I wore the uniform to defend this country and our Constitution.

Secretary Hegseth has censured me and is trying to demote me for things I said. For doing my job as a Senator.

Thisisn’thappening in isolation. Since taking office, this administration has repeatedly gone after the First Amendment rights of Americans.

That’snot how we do things in the United States of America.


King, Rounds Secure Additional H-2B Visas to Support Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) today announced they have secured as many as 64,716 additional H-2B visas to support small seasonal businesses in Maine, South Dakota and across the country. In a joint announcement from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the Secretaries have confirmed the release of supplemental H-2B visas for fiscal year 2026. The Senators requested the visas in a November 2025 bipartisan letter urging for the release of the maximum allowable number to support seasonal businesses, in addition to the statutory annual cap of 66,000 visas.

These supplemental H-2B visas will fill workforce needs for American small businesses that are unable to hire enough American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions. Bipartisan research shows employing these workers boosts wages across the board. Employers are required by law to make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions; when the local workforce is insufficient, the H-2B visa program is seen as a necessary tool to support local economies. With Maine continuing to experience a shortage of seasonal and temporary employees, these nonimmigrant visas provide a lifeline for the economy and ensure small businesses can meet the demand for their products and services.

“Chronic labor shortages—faced by seasonal U.S. employers throughout the nation’s history—have been exacerbated by the post-pandemic evolution of the American workforce. As this need grows, so does the pressure on U.S. workers, whose employers’ workforce needs cannot be met with American workers alone. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that ‘counties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.’ Issuing the extra discretionary H-2B visas in a timely manner will help alleviate these workforce shortages and, in doing so, will help create and sustain the jobs of American workers who rely on the H-2B workers to support their duties during their peak seasons,” the senators wrote in the November letter.

The Secretaries of Homeland Security and Labor responded, “The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, is exercising time-limited Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 authority to issue up to, but not more than, an additional 64,716 visas for the fiscal year.”

King and Rounds were joined on the letter by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tim Scott (R-SC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Crapo (R-ID), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), John Thune (R-SD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

You can find the Senators’ letter here and the announcement from the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Department of Labor here.

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“The More Nuclear States, the More Nuclear Materials” Senator King Warns as U.S. Stance Moves Towards Burden Sharing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Co-Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, emphasized the global potential of nuclear proliferation as the United States defense posture pivots to prioritize cost-sharing among allies, and with it the likelihood of nuclear weapons development by allies. More specifically, in a hearing of the wider Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King spoke with former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, the Honorable Rose Gottemoeller, about the risks of the American “withdrawal of extended deterrence” and how it would lead to more countries with nuclear capabilities.

Senator King began, “There is a tremendous emphasis in the national security strategy on burden sharing, appropriately, to have our allies meet their responsibilities. The problem is when burden sharing sort of moves over into undermining our allies’ confidence in our nuclear umbrella. The result is going to be as I think you said Admiral, our allies particularly in Asia, Japan, South Korea, are thinking about their own development of a nuclear deterrent. Ambassador, this strikes me as a very serious issue at this moment. That burden sharing is fine, percentage of GDP is fine, but when it intimates a withdrawal of extended deterrence of the nuclear umbrella so called, it invites proliferation to currently non-nuclear states.

“Senator, it has been my concern that thus far the administration has emphasized with our allies that they will be responsible for their conventional defense. In Europe, particularly, the U.S. paying more attention to the Indo-Pacific now but, at the same time the secretary of war has stated that the U.S. will continue to extend the nuclear deterrent to our allies. But the fact that we are not seeing the administration really articulate this policy at a high level. Neither the national security strategy nor the national defense strategy addresses it. So it is, in my view, it is raising a lot of questions among our allies. Do they need to think about extending nuclear deterrent's themselves and how would they go about that? Is it the U.K. And France, as the other nuclear weapon states, under the NPT? The other weapon states in NATO who would play that role? How exactly would they go about it? That is where the questions arise. You’re right, Admiral Richard is right. There is no active announcement yet from any NATO ally. But there are many, I would say, debates and discussions that have surprised us among our NATO allies,” Gottemoeller responded.

“And part of the essence of deterrent, whether its ordinary deterrence or extended deterrence, is communication. The adversary, and in this case, the allies have to understand that this is our policy that we will abide by. Here is the next step that really worries me. The more nuclear states there are, the more nuclear materials there are, the more nuclear technology there is,” Senator King finished.

As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Strategic Forces – which oversees the United States’ nuclear arsenal and posture – Senator King has been an outspoken voice on the need to address the growing nuclear capacity of our adversaries. Senator King recently expressed concern about the emerging threats of Russia and China’s development of “nightmare weapon” hypersonic missiles, which he has described as “strategic game-changers.”

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Klobuchar Remarks at Spotlight Forum on Use of Force by ICE

WATCH KLOBUCHAR’S FULL REMARKS HERE

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) gave the following remarks at a spotlight forum on the use of force by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents.

The forum included opening statements by Brent and Luke Granger, the brothers of Renee Good, as well as testimony from Aliya Raham, a U.S. citizen and Minneapolis resident who was dragged out of her car and detained by ICE on her way to a doctor’s appointment, and Anthony Romanucci, the attorney for Renee Good’s family.

Klobuchar’s full remarks and questions are below, and the video can be found here. The opening statements from Brent and Luke Granger are linked here.

Senator Klobuchar: Thank you. I want to thank Brent and Luke for their powerful testimony earlier and for being with us to honor the memory of their sister and my constituent, Renee Good. Senator Smith and I had the privilege to meet with them ahead of time. I also want to thank you, Ms. Rahman, for coming forward in the hardest of circumstances to tell your story, despite the claims that ICE's focus is to go after the worst of the worst, the most violent offenders. In fact, they went after you when you were on your way to a doctor's appointment.

Our state is, once again, the center of America's heartbreak, but I hope my colleagues see that we're also the center of America's courage and hope. Courage and hope when 50,000 people march peacefully in below-zero weather. Courage and hope when neighbors are helping neighbors and people they've ever even met. And courage and hope when you, Ms. Rahman, are willing to come forward, and Renee's brothers are willing to testify in her memory. So I had seen the video, Ms. Rahman, of what happened to you, but hearing your story is even more chilling. Can you talk about the chaos in the moment as you're just driving to a doctor's appointment that made it hard for you, or really any other person, to figure out what to do?

Aliya Rahman: Yes, there are no signs. There is no sign of the skill that elementary crossing guards have. There is no single person giving instructions. Inside the Whipple center, it is like that also, and I have an auditory processing challenge that means multiple voices sound like they're at the same volume. I did comply with at least one of those people.

Klobuchar: Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. And I think when you listen to the professor talk about right policing and how it's supposed to work, or our Minneapolis Police Chief, O'Hara, who's been very outspoken on this, part of the problem is you have these people that are not police officers in our state. They're not following the rules of conduct, and you were a victim of that.

Mr. Romanucci, I know you're representing Ms. Good's family, but I'm sure you've also heard through your firm, other constitutional violations. I just use examples that may not be your clients, but the two-year-old deported that my office worked on in the middle of the night to get this little girl back, the five-year-old Liam, who was brought back. And people were very happy about that, with his little blue hat with the ears and his Spider-Man backpack. And we just found out today that the Deputy Attorney General has announced that they're appealing that ruling out of Texas. The Hmong elder, who was pulled out in his underwear when they figured out they had the wrong guy, and he was driven around for an hour, and then they realized the guy that they were trying to get was already in jail — publicly available information had been for years. Can you talk about the repeated constitutional violations happening in my home state?

Anthony Romanucci: Madam, Senator Klobuchar, we see this routinely. It's cringeworthy to watch the video every day on the news and to see what is happening in Minneapolis to American citizens who are having their rights violated consistently, routinely. It sounds like a school yard when you're saying constitutional violation: First Amendment, Second Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Tenth Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment. It's like we're reciting something. It is consistent, it's routine, and it must be stopped. There needs to be accountability. Without accountability, we will continue this day in and day out until law enforcement officers are able to be held accountable.

Klobuchar: And speaking of that, how does the Trump administration's refusal to cooperate with our state attorney general's office, Keith Ellison, our local authorities, refusing to have the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigate your client’s, families’, loved ones' case, interfere with holding people accountable?

Romanucci: Well, it absolutely starts with the false narrative that officers, law enforcement officers, have absolute immunity, because that gives them the right to think they have absolute impunity, and without any significant parallel investigation or cooperative investigation, there cannot be accountability either on the civil side, administrative side, and certainly there's going to be compromise then on the civil side, without meaningful, transparent, real investigation.

Klobuchar: Thank you.

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Klobuchar Delivers Remarks to National District Attorneys Association

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) delivered remarks to the National District Attorneys Association’s 2026 Prosecutor Advocacy Conference this morning, highlighting the essential work of district attorneys across the country.

In her remarks, Klobuchar, who served as Hennepin County Attorney before serving in the U.S. Senate, emphasized the importance of local, state and federal law enforcement coordination in upholding the rule of law and advancing public safety in Minnesota and across the country.

“I think you’ve all seen what’s going on in Minnesota….one of the things that has given us strength is just the law enforcement across the country who’ve stood up.

We are at the center of America’s heartbreak but also at the center of America’s hope and courage – and strength in standing up for the rule of law. That’s not just the 50,000 protestors….it’s also about our local prosecutors. It’s about our judges.

I would note, and maybe you’ve read, the opinion of the chief federal judge who is a conservative. He clerked for [Justice] Scalia. He was a Bush appointee and he wrote this very moving order about the need to follow the orders that the individual judges in our district have issued. Another one who's a Trump appointee, who I supported, named Eric Tostrud, wrote an order about preserving evidence. So I've been proud of our judges as well. Of course, our local county's attorneys.

And I think that when that coordination [between local, state, and federal law enforcement] breaks down, as we’ve seen happen with what was a gem of a U.S. Attorney’s office [in Minnesota]…it’s always been a very apolitical U.S. Attorney’s Office that worked with local officials on the abduction of Jacob Wetterling. I did the second biggest white collar case to the Madoff case…the Petters case. And of course recently have been leading the way on taking on fraud in our state taxpayer money. [The Office has] done just some unbelievable work.

One of the U.S. attorneys won the Justice Department’s Attorney General’s Office award two years in a row for what they did. A lot of that, through the Annunciation Church shooting – through stained glass windows in August – through the assassination of our beloved political leader, Melissa Hortman and her husband. This was airtight coordination during the Trump Administration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the local [officials] with Chief O’Hara.

And that's why this has, for our just civic world, been such a breakdown, and that's why we're calling for objective and impartial investigations. That's why Senator Smith and I have made very clear we want the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in Minnesota, a very professional group, to be able to be involved in any of these investigations.”

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