Van Hollen, Warren, Alsobrooks Press Trump Administration for Answers on Relocation of Housing and Urban Development Headquarters

Senators seek answers to a series of questions on the move including its cost and planning behind the decision.

WASHINGTON DC – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) wrote to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, pressing him on the Department’s lack of transparency around the relocation of its headquarters and employees from its current location in Washington, D.C. to Alexandria, Virginia. In their letter, the Senators underscored their opposition to this move – raising concerns that these actions were taken unlawfully, threaten to further undermine the Department’s capacity to address the nation’s housing affordability crisis, and compound strain on HUD employees after mass firings last year that have left them under resourced. The Senators ask for answers to a series of questions on the move including its cost and planning behind the decision.

“We write to express our deep concern about and opposition to the reported move of employees from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) headquarters in the Robert C. Weaver Building in the District of Columbia to 2415 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia. HUD appears to have made the decision to undergo this move without due regard to federal law, the needs of HUD employees, nor the administration of our nation’s housing programs,” the Senators began.

“In response to a request from Congress, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has initiated a review of the legality of the move of substantially all HUD programmatic offices to Virginia and will report on whether there is any legal basis for the move. At the time of writing, HUD has failed to provide Congress with an official legal opinion to justify the move, and we remain deeply concerned that the move lacks legal justification,” they wrote.

“As Congress awaits the results of the GAO inquiry, we have been deeply troubled by reports of the chaos and lack of respect HUD employees continue to experience,” they continued, going on to outline strong opposition from members of the union that represents HUD employees. “We have also heard reports that HUD leadership has failed to provide basic information regarding the move to employees; instead, HUD has left key questions regarding building hours, commutes, and accessibility needs unanswered. […] It also has reportedly failed to provide sufficient documentation to the union related to the move, such as analyses comparing the cost of repairing and renovating HUD’s existing headquarters versus moving the headquarters to Alexandria.”

The Senators added that this relocation will further harm an already struggling department, writing,

“HUD is on the front lines of our nation’s housing affordability crisis. HUD employees are responsible for critical programs that advance housing construction and preservation, rental assistance, affordable mortgage credit, and assistance for people who are experiencing homelessness. However, under your leadership, HUD has already lost over 30 percent of its staff. By undertaking this move over the concerns of HUD’s employees and the opposition of their union, HUD risks the departure of more mission-critical staff at a time when staff capacity is already stretched thin. Losing another 20 percent of the remaining workforce at headquarters—as AFGE’s survey indicates could take place—would be catastrophic. Accordingly, this process threatens to further erode the Department’s ability to carry out its programs and respond to our urgent housing affordability crisis.” “HUD has reportedly cited the Weaver Building’s longstanding need for renovations and maintenance as a potential justification for the move. Yet the condition of the Weaver Building does not eliminate the Department’s responsibility to comply with federal law, honor its collective bargaining agreements, and treat its workers with dignity and respect. Instead, the rapid and seemingly illegal move of its headquarters to Alexandria further threatens the administration of HUD programs and undermines HUD’s mission,” the Senators concluded, going on to list questions for Secretary Turner’s response regarding the legal basis for the relocation, costs incurred to date and the total expected, and Department leadership’s communications with employees.

Text of the letter can be viewed here and below.

Dear Secretary Turner:

We write to express our deep concern about and opposition to the reported move of employees from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) headquarters in the Robert C. Weaver Building in the District of Columbia to 2415 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia. HUD appears to have made the decision to undergo this move without due regard to federal law, the needs of HUD employees, nor the administration of our nation’s housing programs. Therefore, we request information regarding this move no later than April 10, 2026.

According to information received by our offices, on March 11, 2026, senior leadership at HUD circulated a schedule for moving 20 HUD program offices to Alexandria by April 10, 2026. The schedule lists all major programmatic offices, including the Office of the Secretary and Ginnie Mae. As you are aware, HUD and Ginnie Mae’s authorizing statutes mandate the physical location of HUD and Ginnie Mae in the District of Columbia. In response to a request from Congress, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has initiated a review of the legality of the move of substantially all HUD programmatic offices to Virginia and will report on whether there is any legal basis for the move. At the time of writing, HUD has failed to provide Congress with an official legal opinion to justify the move, and we remain deeply concerned that the move lacks legal justification.

As Congress awaits the results of the GAO inquiry, we have been deeply troubled by reports of the chaos and lack of respect HUD employees continue to experience. The union representing HUD’s headquarters, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 476, recently conducted a survey that indicates 77 percent of respondents oppose the relocation; 82 percent expect longer and more complex commutes; and nearly 20 percent indicate they may transfer, retire or resign within six months if the relocation proceeds. Respondents noted the impact of the rushed move on their families, with some raising concerns regarding access to childcare. We have also heard reports that HUD leadership has failed to provide basic information regarding the move to employees; instead, HUD has left key questions regarding building hours, commutes, and accessibility needs unanswered. Reports indicate many employees received only one or a few days’ notice of their actual move date, and the move schedules and floor plans are constantly changing. Employees have reported to the Eisenhower Avenue building as directed on their move date, only to be turned away and told an office was not yet ready.

In addition, according to public reporting, HUD is refusing to comply with its duty, pursuant to its collective bargaining agreement, to negotiate the terms of the proposed move with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 476. It also has reportedly failed to provide sufficient documentation to the union related to the move, such as analyses comparing the cost of repairing and renovating HUD’s existing headquarters versus moving the headquarters to Alexandria.

HUD is on the front lines of our nation’s housing affordability crisis. HUD employees are responsible for critical programs that advance housing construction and preservation, rental assistance, affordable mortgage credit, and assistance for people who are experiencing homelessness. However, under your leadership, HUD has already lost over 30 percent of its staff. By undertaking this move over the concerns of HUD’s employees and the opposition of their union, HUD risks the departure of more mission-critical staff at a time when staff capacity is already stretched thin. Losing another 20 percent of the remaining workforce at headquarters—as AFGE’s survey indicates could take place—would be catastrophic. Accordingly, this process threatens to further erode the Department’s ability to carry out its programs and respond to our urgent housing affordability crisis.

HUD has reportedly cited the Weaver Building’s longstanding need for renovations and maintenance as a potential justification for the move. Yet the condition of the Weaver Building does not eliminate the Department’s responsibility to comply with federal law, honor its collective bargaining agreements, and treat its workers with dignity and respect. Instead, the rapid and seemingly illegal move of its headquarters to Alexandria further threatens the administration of HUD programs and undermines HUD’s mission. Accordingly, we request answers to the following questions no later than April 10, 2026:

On what legal basis does HUD believe that it can relocate its programmatic offices, including the Office of the Secretary and Ginnie Mae, outside the District of Columbia, given clear statutory requirements establishing HUD “at the seat of government” in the District of Columbia? If HUD’s Office of General Counsel has produced any legal opinions on this issue, please provide them. If HUD’s Office of General Counsel has not produced any legal opinions on this issue, explain why not.

How much money has HUD spent on the move to date? How much additional money does HUD anticipate spending on the move? What is the total anticipated cost of the move? What is the source of these funds?

Provide a detailed summary of HUD’s meetings with AFGE Local 476 regarding the move. What information has AFGE Local 476 requested from HUD, both verbally and in writing? What information has HUD provided to the union? Provide all relevant documents and communications.

What is the scope and status of all grievances and statutory labor disputes related to the move to the Alexandria building? Provide all relevant documents and communications.

What information has HUD provided employees regarding the move, including but not limited to information regarding move schedules, transportation, childcare, and accessibility needs? Provide copies of all documents sent to HUD employees and a schedule of all meetings or information sessions held to discuss the move.

What steps is HUD taking to address increased transportation and child care costs associated with the move?

Will HUD commit to providing transportation subsidies to employees for whom the move to Alexandria will increase their transportation costs? If not, why not? What is HUD doing to ensure consistent application of these measures across the Department?

Will HUD commit to providing child care subsidies for employees for whom the move to Alexandria will increase their child care costs? If not, why not? What is HUD doing to ensure consistent application of these measures across the Department?

Is HUD restoring telework agreements, as recently directed by a third-party arbitrator,[1] and what communications has HUD provided to its employees about the recent ruling?

Has HUD determined how many and which staff will be located at Potomac Center Plaza? If so, please provide the staff and office list, as well as any legal opinions produced by the Office of General Counsel.

Will HUD commit to prioritizing the use of Potomac Center space by HUD employees whose commute time substantially increased due to the move to Alexandria?

###


Baldwin, Moreno Call on Trump Admin to Open Investigation into Heavy Equipment Manufacturers, Protect American Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) called on the Trump administration to protect American manufacturing jobs by opening a Section 232 investigation into the offshoring of heavy equipment manufacturing, primarily by Case New Holland (CNH), Caterpillar, and John Deere. The call comes just a day before President Trump is slated to host the CEOs of John Deere and CNH for National Agriculture Day at the White House. In recent years, these big equipment manufacturers have offshored operations and have laid off thousands of American workers, while doling out billions in stock buybacks and shareholder dividends. Specifically, Baldwin and Moreno urged the Administration to place targeted tariffs on heavy equipment imports to protect American workers and address trade deals that undermine manufacturing communities by incentivizing production in Mexico.

“We stand with working Americans in support of leveling the playing field and ending trade policies that have hollowed out our communities and prevented millions of people from achieving financial security,” the Senators wrote to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

“We are outraged that John Deere, Case New Holland (CNH), Caterpillar, and other major manufacturers have turned their backs on the American workers, families, and towns that built them by sending production of heavy construction and agricultural equipment to Mexico,” continued the Senators. “These companies should not be allowed to eliminate American jobs, pay Mexican workers poverty wages, and then ship products back to the U.S. for additional profit on the backs of our communities. They argue that offshoring is necessary to remain competitive, but when it comes time to pay executives or shareholders, they are never short of money.”

In April 2024, CNH Industrial laid off over 200 workers in Racine, Wisconsin, and moved production to Mexico. These layoffs were part of a longer-term strategy the company had in place to offshore jobs in order to maximize profits for shareholders and executives. In response, Senator Baldwin sent a letter blasting the CEO at the time and urged the company to keep the jobs in Wisconsin and abandon plans to move them to Mexico. The layoffs came after roughly 1,100 CNH Industrial workers in Wisconsin and Iowa spent more than 260 days on strike for better working conditions. Senator Baldwin joined workers on the picket line and penned a letter in support of the workers’ demands.

Meanwhile, companies like John Deere, CNH, and Caterpillar continue to increase their profits and enrich shareholders by buying back stocks. In recent years, CNH has delivered $1.7 billion to shareholders. Caterpillar has returned $18.2 billion through dividends and buybacks. In the past few years, John Deere has paid $8.4 billion to shareholders.

In addition to urging the Trump administration to open a Section 232 investigation, Baldwin and Moreno also called on officials to address the fact that the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement allows imports of heavy equipment to come through Mexico duty-free and without any rule of origin, further incentivizing major heavy equipment manufacturers to locate production in Mexico.

A full version of this letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Lutnick:

We write to urge the Commerce Department to take prompt and decisive action to support American workers and their communities by launching a new Section 232 investigation into imports of heavy construction and agricultural equipment. The heavy construction and agricultural equipment that our constituents make powers America’s farms, builds our infrastructure, and helps to feed the world. Comprehensive trade remedies are needed to hold companies accountable for offshoring jobs and compel the industry to move these manufacturing jobs back to the United States.

We stand with working Americans in support of leveling the playing field and ending trade policies that have hollowed out our communities and prevented millions of people from achieving financial security. Despite strong warnings and the inclusion of several heavy equipment products under the steel and aluminum tariffs, manufacturers in the heavy equipment industry have refused to invest in the American worker. Rather, they have doubled down on offshoring their production.

We are outraged that John Deere, Case New Holland (CNH), Caterpillar, and other major manufacturers have turned their backs on the American workers, families, and towns that built them by sending production of heavy construction and agricultural equipment to Mexico. In Racine, Wisconsin, where CNH was founded in 1842, the company laid off 220 workers in the Spring of 2024 as part of a so-called “company rebalance.” At the same time, they moved production to Mexico. In Burlington, Iowa, union workers at CNH have been building backhoes since they were invented nearly 70 years ago. In January, CNH announced closure of its Burlington facility. All of the roughly 200 workers at the Burlington plant are now set to lose their jobs because of the company’s decision to close the facility after years of moving production offshore. John Deere laid off over 3,600 union workers after moving production of mower conditioners, tractor cabs, small-frame skid steers, and balers from facilities in Iowa to Mexico. The company is now moving forward with plans to offshore more products to a new $55 million facility in Mexico. Caterpillar moved substantial segments of its production offshore decades ago and has six production facilities in Mexico, including several that have been reported for rampant labor abuses such as illegal blacklisting and harassment for union activity. The company currently has no plans to return production from abroad.

These companies should not be allowed to eliminate American jobs, pay Mexican workers poverty wages, and then ship products back to the U.S. for additional profit on the backs of our communities. They argue that offshoring is necessary to remain competitive, but when it comes time to pay executives or shareholders, they are never short of money. In the past few years, John Deere has paid $8.4 billion to shareholders. CNH has delivered $1.7 billion to shareholders since 2024. Caterpillar has returned $18.2 billion through dividends and buybacks. These companies and their executives should not be rewarded for destroying American jobs or permitted to import their products without facing a penalty.

Finally, while Section 232 tariffs will be instrumental in holding these companies accountable, the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement currently allows imports of heavy equipment to come through Mexico duty-free and without any rule of origin. Rather than supporting domestic industry, this has incentivized major heavy equipment manufacturers to locate production in Mexico. Any efforts that the Administration takes solely on Section 232 will be weakened by the shortcomings that currently exist in USMCA. To fully address the actions to offshore taken by these companies, the Administration must address these issues.

The Trump administration has a unique opportunity not only to prevent Case New Holland, Caterpillar, and John Deere from offshoring more jobs but also to shift the entire heavy equipment industry back to full production in America. We urge the Department to launch a new Section 232 investigation into heavy equipment imports, including agricultural implements, construction and mining equipment, forestry and logging equipment, heavy machinery, their respective parts, and their derivative products. We firmly support the imposition of targeted tariffs on this sector in order to safeguard good jobs and American heavy equipment production.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

###


Senators Baldwin, Schumer, Wyden Lead Colleagues in Demanding Trump Admin Abandon Plan that will Increase Costs and Kick Millions Off the Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) led 14 of their colleagues in demanding that the Trump Administration reverse course on its harmful proposed rule for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage and make good on its promise to lower health care costs. The proposed rule would reduce health care coverage, increase costs, and kick up to two million Americans off their health insurance. Specifically, the Senators are calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to withdraw the proposed rule immediately and instead submit a rule that delivers on the promise of affordable, accessible health care for all Americans.

“President Trump told the American people he would protect them from the ‘big, fat, rich insurance companies, who have made trillions, and ripped off America long enough.’ Rather than keep this promise, this administration has proposed a rule that CMS’ own experts predict will kick 2 million Americans off the health care they have and accelerate the health care affordability crisis. In short, this proposed rule is just another handout to the insurance industry and profiteering middlemen,” wrote the Senators in a letter to CMS Administrator Oz.

The rule promotes the use of catastrophic health plans with extremely high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, loosens physician network requirements for plans, and proposes that insurers be allowed to offer “non-network” plans that may not cover the cost of care. In short, the proposed rule would make it easier for insurers to raise out-of-pocket costs, sell new kinds of junk insurance coverage, increase working families’ deductibles, cover fewer services, and kick more providers out of network.

According to CMS estimates, the proposed rule would reduce enrollment in ACA plans by up to 2 million.

A full version of this letter is available here and below.

Administrator Oz,

We write to demand that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) withdraw its proposed annual rule for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage – the “Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027” – and submit a rule that lowers the cost of health care. President Trump told the American people he would protect them from the “big, fat, rich insurance companies, who have made trillions, and ripped off America long enough.” Rather than keep this promise, this administration has proposed a rule that CMS’ own experts predict will kick 2 million Americans off the health care they have and accelerate the health care affordability crisis. In short, this proposed rule is just another handout to the insurance industry and profiteering middlemen.

Americans have already faced a more than doubling in their premiums on average thanks to President Trump and congressional Republicans’ decision to give trillions in tax cuts to billionaires and wealthy corporations rather than extend tax credits for working families who buy their own insurance. Over one million fewer people signed up for insurance this year as a result of those premium increases. Coupled with the cuts in the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” over 15 million Americans are expected to be kicked off their insurance.

It is shocking that, against this backdrop, the Administration has chosen to propose new rules that make it easier for insurers to raise out-of-pocket costs, sell new kinds of junk insurance coverage, increase working families’ deductibles, cover fewer services, and kick more providers out of network. At a time when two-thirds of Americans say they don’t trust the health care system, the Trump Administration is poised to hand even more power to the insurance industry and other health care middlemen.

About two-thirds of American adults say they are either “very worried” or “somewhat” worried about the cost of health care. This includes working-age adults who get insurance through the ACA marketplace or through their job that rate their insurance as “fair” or “poor” when it comes to monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Rather than working to find solutions that bring down health care costs, this proposed rule includes numerous provisions that will drive up Americans’ out-of-pocket costs when they go to the doctor or a hospital. The proposed rule continues the Trump Administration’s promotion of “catastrophic” insurance, arguing that these plans are an affordable option. In reality, the deductible alone on a catastrophic plan is so high ($12,000 in 2027) that a working person earning the Federal Poverty Level ($15,650 in 2026) would have to pay about 75% of their annual income out-of-pocket before their insurance kicks in.

Promoting catastrophic plans isn’t the only way the Trump Administration is proposing to increase working families’ deductibles. This proposed rule also proposes to allow insurers to increase the maximum out-of-pocket expenses for bronze plans above statutory limits. At a time when nearly four-in-ten individual market enrollees report that they or a family member skipped needed health care because of the cost, the Administration should be doing everything in its power to lower out-of-pocket costs, not raise them.

In addition to increasing how much patients will be forced to pay out-of-pocket, this proposed rule also lets insurers cover fewer services and will force nearly a dozen states to choose between cutting benefits for their residents and raising taxes or cutting funding for other services. The benefits most likely to see cuts include substance use disorder treatment, coverage for hearing aids, and therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder.

The proposed rule also proactively prohibits the option to cover adult dental services as an essential health benefit in all states. At a time when 72 million adults in the U.S. do not have dental insurance, we should be making it easier get coverage and care, not prohibiting the inclusion of adult dental benefits in health plans.

Costs aren’t the only barriers to care that patients face. About one in five marketplace enrollees report that a doctor or hospital they needed wasn’t covered by their insurance in the last 12 months. Although the Biden Administration pushed ACA plans to cover more providers, the Trump Administration is now rolling back these protections. Enrollees across the country will no longer be protected by maximum limits on the time and distance required to travel to see a specialist, get mental health care, or get a necessary medical procedure. That will mean more travel costs, longer waits to see experts, and more families missing work to get necessary care.

To make matters worse, this proposed rule will let insurers kick more essential community providers like community health centers and safety net hospitals out of their networks. Many of these providers are already struggling in the wake of historic cuts made by the “Big Beautiful Bill,” and letting insurers kick these providers out of network will only make it harder for essential community providers to provide care to their patients. In the worst cases, it may lead to even more clinic closures.

Experts also warn that insurers will take advantage of the policies in this proposed rule to double down on promoting “junk coverage” as premiums increase in the wake of Republicans’ refusal to extend enhanced premium tax credits for Americans who buy their own insurance. Rather than stepping in to protect consumers, the Trump Administration is eliminating protections that keep insurers from selling junk coverage that leaves patients paying more when they need care. Under this proposed rule, insurers would be allowed to design junk plans with benefits that set a maximum price cap for services without contracting with providers, meaning no guarantee that those benefits would be enough to cover the cost of care. The agency’s own analysis of the proposal notes that these plans come with “no guarantee that the plans’ benefit amounts are actually sufficient to cover the provider’s full charges.”

Finally, the proposed rule would let states replace their ACA insurance marketplaces with a system of for-profit web-brokers. These brokers can use enrollees’ personal information to advertise and promote the sale of junk coverage, are not required to inform families of their eligibility for Medicaid, and make it harder for consumers to make an apples-to-apples comparisons between the full range of plans available to them. Our health care system already favors higher profits for massive corporations over delivering health care to all people. Turning even more of the health care system over to for-profit middlemen directly contradicts the President’s commitment to put American patients ahead of the interests of for-profit corporations.

The Republican health care crisis has already put health care even farther out of reach for millions of Americans. Now, even though the President promised to defend working Americans from the greed of the insurance industry, CMS is proposing a rule that will allow insurers to increase deductibles, cover fewer services, and kick providers out of network. CMS must withdraw this damaging rule and re-propose an annual ACA rule that works to lower out-of-pocket costs and put the interests of patients above those of the insurance industry.

We should be focused on lowering the cost of care and ensuring that insurance companies cannot raise costs, reduce coverage, and take advantage of working families. We hope that you will join us in this effort by proposing a rule that will help, not harm, Americans and ensure access to affordable and comprehensive health insurance.

###


Bennet, Fischer, Merkley Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Red Tape and Invest in Watershed Projects in Face of Extreme Drought

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology, and U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced the Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act to help American agriculture and communities become more resilient to drought and flooding by improving the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations program (also known as “PL-566”).

“The PL-566 program is an important tool to help state, local, and Tribal governments and local water managers restore the health of our watersheds – but we need to do more to ensure this program works for the American West,” said Bennet. “Our bill will cut red tape and help get federal assistance to watershed projects in Colorado. By investing in the health of our watersheds, we can make our communities more resilient to drought, flooding, and climate change.”

“Farmers and ranchers should not be tied up by bureaucratic red tape when dealing with drought and flooding,” said Fischer. “This program is in high demand, and folks on the ground dealing with their own unique challenges need certainty that it can help when needed. This common-sense reform opens the door for local water managers to better serve landowners while protecting precious natural resources in Nebraska.”

“Climate chaos-fueled droughts are depleting water resources for people, farms, and wildlife, demanding urgent investments in our irrigation infrastructure. The PL-566 program is an effective modernization tool for irrigation systems to conserve water—keeping farms in operation during droughts while also protecting habitat for wildlife,” said Merkley, who revitalized this program when he served as the top Democrat on the subcommittee in charge of funding the PL-566 program. “Oregonians’ ingenuity with this program has supported projects that benefit both farmers and wildlife, becoming a model for folks across the West. Our bipartisan bill expands upon this success and enables rural communities to better mitigate the devastating impacts of drought.”

Currently, snowpack conditions in the Rocky Mountains, particularly in Colorado, are deeply concerning. As of this month, Colorado’s snowpack stands at roughly 40% of the median snow water equivalent in most basins. These levels point to an early and sustained drying of forests and rangelands, and could lead to a longer and more severe fire season, as well as detrimental effects on Colorado watersheds and agriculture.

As the American West faces severe drought and more frequent flooding, farmers, ranchers, and communities are turning to the PL-566 program to mitigate the effects of these natural disasters through watershed improvement projects. As demand for this program grows, inadequate funding and burdensome red tape keep applicants from accessing its full benefits. Western states, especially, face a harder time accessing the program as a result of its structure and eligibility requirements.

The Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act would streamline the planning and administration processes to enable more watershed-wide projects, shift decision-making to local NRCS staff, expand program eligibility, and allow federal funding to count toward state and local match requirements. The bill also prioritizes projects with multiple conservation and public benefits and makes drought resilience an explicit purpose of the program.

“As our Colorado farmers, ranchers, and resource managers work hard to achieve greater drought resilience, this bill stands to improve our watershed planning process. By leveraging greater federal contribution and prioritizing irrigation system modernization, Senator Bennet’s Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act will address our diverse management needs in an economically viable way,” said Carlyle Currier, President, Colorado Farm Bureau

“Western farmers and ranchers are facing an unprecedented moment—one defined by a historic snow drought and the shortest water supplies many of our states and watersheds have seen in our lifetime. In times like these, we need every tool in the toolbox functioning and accessible. The NRCS Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program (PL-566) has long proven its value in helping modernize water infrastructure across the West, and its importance is only growing. These are not just short-term fixes—they are long-term, vital investments in rural communities, supporting everything from irrigation modernization to the protection of life, property, and the landscapes we depend on. The Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act strengthens this already effective program by improving planning, streamlining implementation, and reinforcing local control—ensuring solutions are tailored to the communities they serve. We appreciate the leadership of Senator Bennet, along with Senators Fischer and Merkley, for advancing this bipartisan effort at a time when it matters most,” said Sam Barncastle, Executive Director, Family Farm Alliance

“The Healthy Watershed, Healthy Communities Act is a sensible modification to the invaluable PL-566 tool. Water programs, services, and projects are more complex today than they were nearly 70 years ago when PL-566 was enacted. To succeed in the future, water managers, resource stewards, and communities must be more creative and work more collaboratively. From where I sit along St. Vrain Creek as it meets the South Platte River, I have concluded our community is craving holistic, sensible, apolitical leadership when it comes to addressing current and future challenges around water. This Act is all those things, and when approved, could have a positive impact, not only in my backyard, but across the West and U.S.,” said Sean Cronin, Executive Director, St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District.

“Across the Western United States, irrigation districts have come to rely on the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program to modernize aging infrastructure and make themselves, and their patrons, more resilient to the impacts of drought. Thank you to Senator Bennet for his leadership in introducing the Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act (S.2636) and the support of Senator Merkley and Senator Fischer for co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation,” said Julie O’Shea, Executive Director at Farmers Conservation Alliance. “This legislation is critical to improving the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations program, so it is better positioned to develop and implement modernization projects that provide multiple benefits to agriculture, the environment, and local communities.”

“The Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act of 2026 is an excellent opportunity to modernize the PL-566 program to improve watershed health while meeting the diverse demands for the program throughout the country. Its passage would improve the speed of program delivery and ensure multiple economic and watershed health benefits are prioritized, including benefits to wild and native trout and salmon habitat. Trout Unlimited thanks Senators Bennet, Fischer, and Merkley for their work and supports the passage of this bill,” said Lindsay Slater, VP of Government Affairs, Trout Unlimited.

The text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.

###


Bennet, Ricketts Introduce Bill to Strengthen Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the First Island Chain Deterrence Act. This legislation would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan and independent agency that works for Congress, to produce a report on how delays of U.S. weapons sales to Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines affect the Department of Defense’s (DoD) ability to build, posture, and sustain deterrence along the First Island Chain, the chain of archipelagos extending from the Kuril Islands and Japan, through the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and the Philippines, to Borneo. This reflects nearly 80 years of bipartisan U.S. policy.

“Since the Truman Administration, Democratic and Republican administrations alike have recognized that a credible defense of the First Island Chain is essential to a stable Indo-Pacific and thus U.S. national security,” said Bennet. “But our commitment is only as strong as our ability to arm our allies and partners. Right now, delays and backlogs are undermining that credibility. This bipartisan legislation will clearly identify what the Pentagon must do to close the gap.”

“Our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific act as force multipliers in our collective effort to deter Communist China’s aggression,” said Ricketts. “They are drastically increasing their defense spending to match the threat. To enhance their defense capabilities, they need the weapons they purchase from us faster. This bipartisan legislation will help uncover bottlenecks in our arms sales process and support President Trump’s National Defense Strategy to erect a strong denial defense along the First Island Chain.”

U.S. policymakers have long understood the importance of bolstering First Island Chain defense to prevent a hostile actor from gaining the power projection capabilities to threaten U.S. allies, partners, and territory in the Pacific; challenge the U.S. ability to operate freely in the waters of the Western Pacific; and disrupt crucial semiconductor and technology supply chains.

The Trump Administration’s 2026 National Defense Strategy emphasized this priority, stating the Administration’s plans to “erect a strong denial defense along the First Island Chain.” This legislation defines “a strong denial defense” as the prevention of an adversary from taking aggressive action by demonstrating that such an action’s success would be untenable.

Yet bureaucratic bottlenecks and a strained defense industrial base continue to cause significant delays and backlogs in U.S. arms deliveries, even to close allies and partners – including those along the First Island Chain. These delays undermine our shared ability to deter China in the Indo-Pacific, incent allies and partners to seek alternative suppliers, and risk negative effects on performance during wartime. Accordingly, this bill will require a GAO examination of why these arms delivery delays exist and how these delays affect the United States’s ability to ensure deterrence along the First Island Chain.

Bennet is a leading advocate of cooperation with Indo-Pacific allies to enhance regional deterrence.

As part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Bennet secured passage of his legislation requiring the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to strengthen U.S.-led multilateral efforts to deter China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific. Bennet also helped secure passage of legislation in the FY2026 NDAA to bolster the AUKUS partnership, bar U.S. investment in China’s military technologies, and counter China’s efforts to open new military bases globally. Additionally, Bennet and Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) secured language – in line with their Quad Space Act – in the NDAA report requiring Department of Defense officials to brief Congress on efforts to coordinate best practices in space with allies and partners, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India.

As part of the FY 2025 NDAA, Bennet also helped secure passage of the Coordinating AUKUS Engagement with Japan Act, which requires the Department of Defense and Department of State to determine how Japan can contribute to the AUKUS partnership comprising Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###


Bennet Statement on Threats to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement on congressional Republicans’ effort to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s Resource Management Plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument:

“For time immemorial, Indigenous people living on the Colorado Plateau have called the vast canyons and desert landscapes within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument home. After years of meetings and discussions with the Tribes, local governments, and community members, the Bureau of Land Management finalized a plan for the Monument that ensured the protection of Tribal cultural resources on their ancestral homelands. Despite this collaboration, congressional Republicans are working to overturn this plan, threatening the culture and traditions of Colorado’s Tribal Nations, including the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes.

“This is a shameful addition to our nation’s history of broken promises to our Tribes – and yet another sad attempt at taking land management decisions away from the American people. I will fight this effort every step of the way.”

###


Bennet, Van Hollen, Colleagues Press Rubio on State Department’s Delay Onboarding Diplomats into U.S. Foreign Service

Senators raise concerns that delay is wasting taxpayer dollars, hurting diplomatic readiness, and risking future recruitment

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and 20 of their colleagues in writing to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding their concerns with the State Department’s indefinite delay in onboarding Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel fellows into the U.S. Foreign Service. Upon completion of either of these two highly competitive fellowships, these extremely talented recruits are well-equipped with the skills and expertise to be effective foreign service officers. Yet the State Department has not yet invited over 50 fellows to complete their formal onboarding. The Senators stress in their letter that this delay risks wasting millions of taxpayer dollars invested in the fellows, undermining our diplomatic capacity, and jeopardizing future recruitment efforts needed to maintain a well-functioning diplomatic corps in the long term.

“We write with deep concern regarding the State Department’s indefinite delay in onboarding Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel fellows into the U.S. Foreign Service. This delay in onboarding mission-ready fellows undermines U.S. diplomatic readiness, wastes congressionally appropriated taxpayer dollars, and directly harms these outstanding Americans while simultaneously discouraging future talent from applying to the Foreign Service. We urge you to include all eligible Pickering and Rangel fellows in the remaining A-100 orientation classes of 2026, provide an explanation for this indefinite onboarding delay, and clarify the situation for future cohorts of public servants,” the Senators began.

“As you know, the Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel fellowships are the State Department’s ‘flagship initiatives for recruiting top-tier talent’ for the U.S. Foreign Service. The fellowships have an annual acceptance rate of under 5% and fellows are selected from all over the country, collectively representing the best and breadth of our nation,” the Senators continued. “The longer these ready-to-serve fellows are delayed in their onboarding the more we compromise our national security interests, diplomatic capacity, and leadership on the world stage.”

“We request that you include all remaining eligible Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel fellows in the remaining A-100 orientation classes of 2026. There are 50+ fellows ready and waiting to serve the United States in the Foreign Service. Taxpayers have invested millions of dollars in these diplomats. Now, you must let the State Department reap the benefits,” the Senators wrote, going on to list questions for Secretary Rubio’s response regarding the delay in onboarding, including:

How many Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel fellows from the 2023 and deferred 2022 cohorts remain in the onboarding pipeline?

What is the reason for the delay in onboarding Pickering and Rangel fellows?

Contractually, Pickering and Rangel Fellows may be subjected to a reimbursement

obligation to the United States Government if they are unable to fulfill the obligations of the fellowships. Are fellows subjected to this reimbursement obligation if they are not able to complete the fellowship obligations due to State Department delays and through no fault of the fellows themselves?

How much in congressionally appropriated taxpayer dollars would be wasted if fellows are unable to complete the fellowship obligations due to State Department delays and through no fault of the fellows themselves?

In addition to Bennet and Van Hollen, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) signed this letter.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Rubio:

We write with deep concern regarding the State Department’s indefinite delay in onboarding Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel fellows into the U.S. Foreign Service. This delay in onboarding mission-ready fellows undermines U.S. diplomatic readiness, wastes congressionally appropriated taxpayer dollars, and directly harms these outstanding Americans while simultaneously discouraging future talent from applying to the Foreign Service. We urge you to include all eligible Pickering and Rangel fellows in the remaining A-100 orientation classes of 2026, provide an explanation for this indefinite onboarding delay, and clarify the situation for future cohorts of public servants.

As you know, the Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel fellowships are the State Department’s “flagship initiatives for recruiting top-tier talent” for the U.S. Foreign Service. The fellowships have an annual acceptance rate of under 5% and fellows are selected from all over the country, collectively representing the best and breadth of our nation. All Pickering and Rangel fellows obtain two-year graduate degrees funded by the State Department in a field of study that is relevant to a career in the U.S. Foreign Service, attend numerous professional development programs to enhance their understanding and skills for Foreign Service careers, and complete two internships – one abroad at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate and one domestic, at the State Department headquarters for Pickering Fellows and with a member of Congress for Rangel fellows. The U.S. government invests over $100,000 on average per fellow to complete the fellowships and train to serve as U.S. diplomats.

As of 2022, these two merit- and need- based fellowships have increased the number of Foreign Service generalists from underrepresented groups by 33% and the number of women by 6%. Pickering and Rangel fellows are uniquely qualified to serve in the U.S. Foreign Service as they have not only successfully met the standards required by the State Department of all Foreign Service Officers, but have also benefitted from the additional enrichment, mentorship, and support of these fellowship programs.

The Pickering and Rangel fellowships are among the diplomatic fellowship programs codified by Congress and were reauthorized in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, on a bipartisan basis. Despite the investments and bipartisan support for these fellowships, we have heard reports that onboarding invitations for fellows in the 2023 and deferred 2022 cohorts largely remain on hold. Only a small fraction of the eligible fellows have received orientation invitations while the majority have waited for months with little to no communication, explanation, or transparency from the State Department. These highly qualified and talented Americans have completed the rigorous academic, professional, and skills requirements of these fellowships to embark on careers in the U.S. Foreign Service. They have also obtained and maintained the proper medical, security, and suitability requirements of Foreign Service Officers. The longer these ready-to-serve fellows are delayed in their onboarding the more we compromise our national security interests, diplomatic capacity, and leadership on the world stage.

We request that you include all remaining eligible Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel fellows in the remaining A-100 orientation classes of 2026. There are 50+ fellows ready and waiting to serve the United States in the Foreign Service. Taxpayers have invested millions of dollars in these diplomats. Now, you must let the State Department reap the benefits. Furthermore, we request responses to the following questions by April 19, 2026.

1. How many Thomas R. Pickering and Charles B. Rangel fellows from the 2023 and deferred 2022 cohorts remain in the onboarding pipeline?

How many fellows have been onboarded from these cohorts at the time of response to this letter?

2. What is the reason for the delay in onboarding Pickering and Rangel fellows?

What criteria is being used to determine which fellows are selected for immediate onboarding?

3. Please outline the steps the State Department will take to better manage these fellowships to prevent delays for future cohorts.

4. Contractually, Pickering and Rangel Fellows may be subjected to a reimbursement obligation to the United States Government if they are unable to fulfill the obligations of the fellowships. Are fellows subjected to this reimbursement obligation if they are not able to complete the fellowship obligations due to State Department delays and through no fault of the fellows themselves?

How much in congressionally appropriated taxpayer dollars would be wasted if fellows are unable to complete the fellowship obligations due to State Department delays and through no fault of the fellows themselves?

5. How many Pickering and Rangel fellows have served and are currently serving in the U.S. Foreign Service?

###


Blackburn, Kustoff Introduce Rural Health Agenda to Ease Financial Strain for Rural Hospitals, Expand Access to Urgent Care, and Strengthen Recruiting

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), co-chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, and U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) introduced their bicameral and bipartisan Rural Health Agenda, which includes the Save Struggling Hospitals Act, Rural Health Innovation Act, and Rural America Health Corps Act. Read more about each of these bills below.

“Rural Tennesseans and Americans face countless barriers to accessing quality health care in their communities,” said Senator Blackburn. “78 of Tennessee’s 95 counties are considered rural, and addressing health care delivery challenges in rural America could mean the difference between life and death for some patients. The Rural Health Agenda targets key areas of reform, including the recruitment of health professionals, the delivery of urgent care and emergency triage services, and the flawed Medicare Area Wage Index that results in rural hospitals receiving lower payment rates.”

“Access to healthcare should not depend on a person’s ZIP code,” said Representative Kustoff. “I am proud to help advance the rural health agenda to expand access to quality care in Tennessee and across the nation. It is vital that rural hospitals, clinics, and providers remain a reliable resource for the people who depend on them every day.”

SAVE STRUGGLING HOSPITALS ACT

Rural hospitals are closing at an alarming rate with more than 200 rural hospitals around the nation having closed or converted to models that exclude inpatient care since 2010. Low patient volumes and significant financial strain are often the primary factors in these rural hospital closures. Financial strain for rural hospitals is compounded by the flawed Medicare Area Wage Index that results in rural hospitals receiving lower payment rates.

The Medicare Area Wage Index formula is based on outdated assumptions for labor costs, resulting in hospitals in historically high-wage urban markets continuing to receive higher payments, while lower-wage regions start from a lower-wage base and cannot easily catch up because Medicare payments themselves influence wage capacity.

The Save Struggling Hospitals Act, sponsored by Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), would strengthen rural health care by ensuring that hospitals in rural and low-wage areas receive fair Medicare reimbursement for the essential services they provide.

The bill would codify the Medicare low-wage index hospital policy, which increases Medicare wage index values for hospitals in the bottom 25th percentile.

This legislation is endorsed by the Alabama Hospital Association, Ballad Health, Community Health Systems, Lifepoint Health, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, National Rural Health Association, Tennessee Hospital Association, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, and University of Tennessee Medical Center. It is co-sponsored by Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

Click here for bill text.

RURAL HEALTH INNOVATION ACT

Rural Americans increasingly face barriers to accessing quality health care in their communities, including workforce shortages, geographic distance, limited transportation options, gaps in broadband access, and lower health literacy. Together, these challenges make it harder for rural patients to receive timely care close to home and contribute to significant health disparities between rural and urban populations. Rural residents are more likely to die prematurely from the five leading causes of death—including heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke.

Low patient volumes and financial pressures have made it increasingly difficult for rural hospitals to remain open, further limiting access to care and creating additional challenges for local economies that rely on health care providers as major employers.

The Rural Health Innovation Act, co-sponsored by Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), would address these challenges by helping rural communities expand urgent care and emergency triage services through existing local health infrastructure by establishing two competitive grant programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The Rural Health Center Innovation Awards Program would support Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) by expanding their ability to provide walk-in urgent care, triage, and emergency stabilization services.

The Rural Health Department Enhancement Program would provide grants to rural local health departments to help meet urgent care and triage needs in their communities

This legislation is endorsed by the National Rural Health Association. It is co-sponsored by Senator Hyde-Smith.

Click here for bill text.

RURAL AMERICA HEALTH CORPS ACT

Rural communities face persistent challenges recruiting and retaining health professionals, which can compound the economic and workforce challenges these areas already face. As a result, millions of rural Americans live in federally designated shortage areas for physicians, dentists, and mental health providers.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) typically provides $50,000 in loan repayment awards for a 2-year service commitment to attract clinicians to serve in communities with shortages of health professionals. However, only about one-third of NHSC placements are in rural areas. After completing their two-year commitment, many clinicians leave for higher-paying opportunities elsewhere.

The Rural America Health Corps Act, co-led by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), would incentivize more health professionals to serve and plant roots in rural communities by creating a pilot program within the NHSC.

Under the program, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would help repay student loans for clinicians who agree to work full-time in a rural health professional shortage area for five years. Participants could receive up to $200,000 in loan repayment.

This legislation is endorsed by the American Hospital Association (AHA), National Rural Health Association (NRHA), and American Psychiatric Association. It is co-sponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).

Click here for bill text.

RURAL HEALTH AGENDA ENDORSED BY TENNESSEE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

The Rural Health Agenda is endorsed by the Tennessee Hospital Association:

“Hospitals across Tennessee are grateful for Senator Blackburn’s continued leadership to strengthen rural healthcare through efforts to enhance the rural workforce and patient access. I applaud Senator Blackburn for her leadership on the Save Struggling Hospitals Act to address the flawed area wage index which has strained Tennessee hospitals for decades. By mitigating the downward spiral hospitals face, this legislation will help to level the playing field and ensure patients across Tennessee have access to the care they need,” said Dr. Wendy Long, President and CEO of the Tennessee Hospital Association.


Blumenthal & Welch Demand Answers from Secretary Mullin over Lewandowoski's Role in DHS Contracts

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today wrote to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, demanding information about the role of Corey Lewandowski, a special government employee and DHS advisor under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, in DHS contracting decisions. In their letter, Blumenthal and Welch pressed Mullin for information about Lewandowski potentially steering the awards of contracts to benefit himself and his political allies.

“Public reports indicate that Mr. Lewandowski has been deeply involved in the agency’s procurement and that ‘DHS officials have long suspected that Lewandowski and his closest aides were steering contracts to their allies,’” the Senators wrote.

The Senators continued, “Of foremost concern is that $220 million in DHS contracts were hastily awarded, without the customary cost-saving open bidding process, to produce an advertising campaign featuring Kristi Noem. The two primary DHS contracting firms have since received ‘at least $23 million’ in commissions in connection with the contracted DHS ad campaign. A portion of the $220 million in taxpayer dollars benefitted The Strategy Group, ‘a Republican consulting firm with long-standing personal and business ties to Noem and her senior aides at DHS.’”

The Senators also raised concerns about Lewandowski’s potential self-dealing, pointing to his solicitation of payments from contractors and prospective contractors, “Separate reporting reveals that Mr. Lewandowski solicited payments from Dr. George Zoley, CEO of GEO Group, a private prison contractor, ‘in exchange for protecting and growing GEO Group’s DHS contracts.’ When Dr. Zoley refused, a senior DHS official reportedly alleges that ‘within weeks of Lewandowski’s second meeting with Zoley, Lewandowski told him not to award more contracts to GEO Group.’”

“The possibility that Mr. Lewandowski corruptly influenced or threatened to influence DHS contracts in exchange for direct or indirect kickbacks is deeply troubling. Federal law prohibits the solicitation and payment of kickbacks and bribes that undermine open and fair competition in federal contracting,” the Senators concluded.

The full text of Blumenthal and Welch’s letter is available here and copied below.

Dear Secretary Mullin:

We write to request your full and prompt cooperation with our inquiry into Corey Lewandowski’s influence over and potential personal benefit from contracts awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS” or “the agency”). Recent reporting based on DHS records and statements by current and former agency personnel reveals that Mr. Lewandowski, a special government employee and DHS advisor under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, not only has been deeply involved in DHS contracting decisions, he may have unlawfully steered the awarding of contracts to benefit himself and his political allies.[1] These allegations raise a number of troubling questions about the integrity of DHS procurement. Accordingly, please promptly produce the following DHS records that evidence Mr. Lewandowski’s involvement in awarding specific contracts and provide detailed information about Mr. Lewandowski’s potentially unlawful influence over any DHS contract.

Public reports indicate that Mr. Lewandowski has been deeply involved in the agency’s procurement and that “DHS officials have long suspected that Lewandowski and his closest aides were steering contracts to their allies.”[2] Of foremost concern is that $220 million in DHS contracts were hastily awarded, without the customary cost-saving open bidding process, to produce an advertising campaign featuring Kristi Noem.[3] The two primary DHS contracting firms have since received “at least $23 million” in commissions in connection with the contracted DHS ad campaign.[4] A portion of the $220 million in taxpayer dollars benefitted The Strategy Group, “a Republican consulting firm with long-standing personal and business ties to Noem and her senior aides at DHS.”[5] Indeed, Benjamin Yoho, the Strategy Group’s CEO is the husband of former DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.[6] Mr. Yoho’s firm helped produced ads for Ms. Noem’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign and received public funds for a separate ad campaign during her time as governor of South Dakota, all while Mr. Lewandowski “worked extensively with the firm.”[7] The Strategy Group has confirmed to us that it spent $286,137 of taxpayer funds for the DHS ad campaign, including a $60,000 “signing bonus” that benefitted the firm and $20,000 in horse rental expenses.[8]

Separate reporting reveals that Mr. Lewandowski solicited payments from Dr. George Zoley, CEO of GEO Group, a private prison contractor, “in exchange for protecting and growing GEO Group’s DHS contracts.”[9] When Dr. Zoley refused, a senior DHS official reportedly alleges that “within weeks of Lewandowski’s second meeting with Zoley, Lewandowski told him not to award more contracts to GEO Group.”[10] Separately, the owner of an unnamed marketing firm reportedly alleges that a representative of prime DHS contractor Salus Worldwide Solutions told him that, in order to be hired under a $20 million DHS contract, the marketing firm would “need to make sure we are properly thanking the person who gave it to us. . . naming Lewandowski as the one who had secured the contract and deserved gratitude.”[11] The circumstances surrounding the awarding of the lucrative advertising campaign contracts, and the specific allegations concerning Mr. Lewandoski’s solicitation, raise questions about whether DHS contracts during Mr. Lewandowski’s tenure were awarded pursuant to federal procurement laws and regulations that prohibit self-dealing and conflicts of interest.[12]

The possibility that Mr. Lewandowski corruptly influenced or threatened to influence DHS contracts in exchange for direct or indirect kickbacks is deeply troubling. Federal law prohibits the solicitation and payment of kickbacks and bribes that undermine open and fair competition in federal contracting.[13] Pursuant to our responsibility to oversee DHS and federal contracting, our offices are reviewing allegations of misconduct arising from federal contract awards to assess whether and the extent to which laws and regulations governing honest services and federal procurement may require legislative reform. Accordingly, please provide records[14] and detailed information responsive to the following requests no later than April 9, 2026.

Explain in detail whether and the extent to which Corey Lewandowski directly or indirectly has received any compensation from a contractor, subcontractor, or any third party, in connection with any DHS contract award.

Provide all records that evidence Corey Lewandowski’s involvement in or approval of contracts awarded by DHS.

This request specifically includes, but is not limited to, any “Record of Clearance and Approval,” referring or related to any DHS contract, which bears Mr. Lewandowski’s name or signature.[15]

For each contract underlying the records responsive to request 1, provide all records that reflect the operative agreement or contract between DHS and the contractor.

Provide the names and titles of all DHS personnel that approved the exemption of the advertising campaign contracts ultimately awarded to Safe America Media LLC and People Who Think LLC from full competitive bidding.

Provide the March 3, 2026 memo authored by DHS Deputy Under Secretary for Management Paul Stackhouse detailing commissions paid to Safe America Media LLC and People Who Think LLC in connection with their DHS ad campaign contracts.[16]

Provide all communications between Corey Lewandowski and George Zoley.

Provide all calendar entries reflecting meetings between or events attended by both Corey Lewandowski and George Zoley.

Provide all communications between Corey Lewandowski and any personnel or agent of the DHS Office of the Chief Procurement Officer.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

-30-

[1] Audrey Fahlberg, How Kristi Noem’s ‘Chief’ Corey Lewandowski Ran Her DHS Tenure into the Ground, National Review (Mar. 6, 2026), https://www.nationalreview.com/news/how-kristi-noems-chief-corey-lewandowski-ran-her-dhs-tenure-into-the-ground/.

[2] Id.

[3] Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan & Alex Mierjeski, Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts, ProPublica (Nov. 14, 2025), https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-ad-campaign-strategy-group.

[4] “Safe America Media, received at least $15.2 million” and “People Who Think, received at least $7.7 million” Daniel Lippman, Political operatives with Trump ties raked in millions of dollars in commissions from DHS ad campaign, POLITICO (Mar. 19, 2026), https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/19/dhs-ad-money-companies-00834791.

[5] Id. (“No firm has closer ties to Noem’s political operation than the Strategy Group.”).

[6] Id.

[7] Id.

[8] Press Release, Office of Sen. Peter Welch, (Mar. 23, 2026), https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-blumenthal-release-details-on-dhs-secretary-noems-mount-rushmore-ads/.

[9] Julia Ainsley, Matt Dixon, Jonathan Allen & Laura Strickler, Some DHS contractors told White House officials they were asked to pay Corey Lewandowski, NBC News (Mar. 19, 2026), https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dhs-contractors-told-white-house-officials-asked-pay-corey-lewandowski-rcna263744.

[10] Id.

[11] Ainsley et. al., supra note 9.

[12] Elliott et al., supra note 4 (noting the majority of contract value, $143 million, was awarded to Safe America Media LLC, which was “created just days before it was awarded the deal,” and was registered in Delaware with the address of a “veteran Republican operative, Michael McElwain.”); see e.g., Federal Acquisition Regulation, 3.101-1 General (Mar. 13, 2026) (“Government business shall be conducted in a manner above reproach and, except as authorized by statute or regulation, with complete impartiality and with preferential treatment for none. Transactions relating to the expenditure of public funds require the highest degree of public trust and an impeccable standard of conduct.”).

[13] See 18 U.S.C. § 201; 41 U.S.C. §§ 8701-8707; 18 U.S.C. § 208 (prohibiting special government employees from personally and substantially participating in any particular matter that would have a direct and predictable effect on the employee’s financial interests).

[14] “Records” include any written, recorded, or graphic material of any kind, including letters, memoranda, reports, notes, electronic data (emails, email attachments, and any other electronically-created or stored information), calendar entries, inter-office communications, meeting minutes, phone/voice mail or recordings/records of verbal communications, and drafts (whether or not they resulted in final documents).

[15] See Joshua Kaplan & Justin Elliott, Kristi Noem Misled Congress About Top Aide’s Role in DHS Contracts, ProPublica (Mar. 4, 2026), https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-misled-senate-judiciary-corey-lewandowski-contracts.

[16] See Lippman, supra note 7.


ICYMI Video: Trump Judicial Nominees Refuse to Answer Blumenthal's Question: Who Won the 2020 Election?

[WASHINGTON, DC] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), yesterday pressed Sheria Clark, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina; Kathleen Lane, President Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. District Judge for the District of Montana; Evan Rikhye, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands; and Kara Westercamp, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Judge of the United States Court of International Trade, about the results of the 2020 election and the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the nominees repeatedly dodged Blumenthal’s question about who won the 2020 election, instead delivering slight variations of Westerkamp’s response: “Under our Constitution, the Electoral College votes for the President and then that is certified by Congress.”

After Westercamp refused to provide a straightforward answer, Blumenthal said, “I’m not asking you what the Constitution says. I’m asking you for your view, factually. And frankly, we’ve received this kind of canned, ridiculous answer before—as you know, because you were instructed to give this answer, right?”

After each nominee repeatedly dodged Blumenthal’s questions, Blumenthal concluded, “The answers here are obviously canned, pre-rehearsed, Orwellian in their denial of reality, and are a subversion of this process. They are an insult to this committee, but they also fundamentally show a complete lack of independence, backbone, and impartiality, which are the fundamental requirements of a United States District Court judge or a judge on any panel.”

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks is available here. The full transcript is available below.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Thank you, Senator Kennedy. Welcome, everyone. Thank you for your service.

Ms. Westercamp, who won the 2020 election?

Ms. Kara Marie Westercamp: Under our Constitution, the Electoral College votes for the President and then that is certified by Congress. In 2020, President Biden was certified by the Electoral –

Sen. Blumenthal: That’s not my question, who won the election?

Ms. Westercamp: Under our Constitution –

Sen. Blumenthal: I know who was certified. And I know what you think of the certification, because you tweeted on January 6th, in a post in reference to the 2020 election results, “A certified lie is still a lie.”

I’m asking you who won the 2020 election. Let me make it more specific. Who won the popular vote?

Ms. Westercamp: Under our Constitution, what matters is who the Electoral College votes as –

Sen. Blumenthal: I'm not asking you what the Constitution says. I'm asking you for your view, factually. And frankly, we’ve received this kind of canned, ridiculous answer before—as you know, because you were instructed to give this answer, right?

Ms. Westercamp: I am speaking to what is under our Constitution, and that is actually Article II, as well as –

Sen. Blumenthal: Let me ask you this, who won the 2024 election?

Ms. Westercamp: In the 2024 election, the Electoral College voted for President Trump and Congress also certified President Trump as the winner of the –

Sen. Blumenthal: Did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?

Ms. Westercamp: That goes back, again, to the methodologies set forth in Article II of the Constitution.

Sen. Blumenthal: Let's try another question, Ms. Westercamp. Was the United States Capitol attacked on January 6th, 2021?

Ms. Westercamp: I condemn all the violence that occurred on January 6th.

Sen. Blumenthal: Okay, we are not going to get an answer from you. Let me try Ms. Clarke. Ms. Clarke, who won the 2020 election?

Ms. Sheria Akins Clarke: Under our constitution, the mechanism for electing a president –

Sen. Blumenthal: I am just amazed by the insult to this committee of witness after witness seeking to be a federal judge subverting our Constitution and showing you have no independence, which is essential to a federal judge.

Ms. Lane, who won the 2020 election?

Ms. Kathleen S. Lane: The Constitution outlines the process, and as a judicial nominee, I'm here to talk about what the Constitution requires, which is an electoral vote and certification by Congress, and in 2020 –

Sen. Blumenthal: Who won the election?

Ms. Lane: President Biden was –

Sen. Blumenthal: Mr. Rikhye, who won the 2020 election?

Mr. Evan Rikhye: As my colleagues have stated, the process we have under the Constitution is a vote by the Electoral College followed by certification.

Sen. Blumenthal: Was the Capitol attacked on January 6th?

Mr. Rikhye: There was violence that occurred here on January 6th.

Sen. Blumenthal: Was the Capitol attacked?

Mr. Rikhye: Violence occurred here on that day.

Sen. Blumenthal: You have seen videos of what happened.

Mr. Rikhye: Yes, I have.

Sen. Blumenthal: Was the Capitol attacked?

Mr. Rikhye: Again, I said –

Sen. Blumenthal: Ms. Lane, was the Capitol attacked?

Ms. Lane: The characterization of January 6th is subject to ongoing controversy and debate and as a nominee it would be inappropriate for me to characterize it.

Sen. Blumenthal: Ms. Clarke, who won the 2024 election?

Ms. Clarke: Under the process set up by the Constitution, the Electoral College elects the President –

Sen. Blumenthal: The answers here are obviously canned, pre-rehearsed, Orwellian in their denial of reality, and are a subversion of this process. They are an insult to this committee, but they also fundamentally show a complete lack of independence, backbone, and impartiality, which are the fundamental requirements of a United States District Court judge or a judge on any panel. Ms. Westercamp, I’m a little bit disappointed that you are not more original—that you can’t think of a few different words. I’m just amazed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

-30-


***Witness Testimony***ICYMI: Blumenthal & Robert Garcia Receive Testimony from Children Brutalized by DHS Agents

[WASHINGTON, DC] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held a bicameral public forum this week to receive testimony on how violent tactics, a disregard for laws and constitutional rights, and new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies have harmed children in America.

The following young Americans offered testimony about their personal experiences being assaulted or separated from their families by DHS agents:

Arnoldo Bazan: Arnoldo is a 16-year-old U.S. citizen from Houston, Texas. Arnoldo was assaulted by federal immigration agents on his way to school; he sought treatment at a nearby hospital for neck injuries described by the hospital as resulting from being beaten and choked. He still experiences physical and mental side effects.

“Officers grabbed and ripped my shirt. One officer put me in a chokehold. The officer choking me told me, ‘You’re done. You’re done.’ His grip was so tight that I wondered if I would make it out alive. With all of my strength, I screamed that I was underage and from the United States...All of this affects me to this day. When I go to school, I pray I come home safely. Whenever I hear sirens or I see an officer, my heart starts racing. I don’t even know when I will see my father again. I’m sharing this story so it doesn’t happen to other people. This is not the America that I know,” Arnoldo said.

Arnoldo’s written testimony is available here. A video of Arnoldo’s testimony is available here.

Fernando Hernández García: Fernando is an 18-year-old U.S. citizen from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. He has been living on his own and separated from his family since his younger sister, Sara, who is also a U.S. citizen, was removed to Mexico after being detained while on her way to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston to seek treatment for a novel medical condition; she had surgery to remove a brain tumor in 2024.

“I remember this day like it was yesterday because it was the last day I remember feeling like a kid. When I heard the news, I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t know what I was going to do. My mom worried about me returning to our home in South Texas alone, but I had to finish high school, and I wanted to make sure I could do everything in my power to stay on top of the bills and keep the home my mom and dad had sacrificed so much for. Over the past year, I’ve worked hard to make sure I was the first in my family to graduate from a U.S. high school. My parents were not there to celebrate this honor with me,” Fernando said.

Fernando’s written testimony is available here. A video of Fernado’s testimony is available here.

Ana Michelle Ramirez Sanan: Michelle is an 18-year-old U.S. citizen from Chelsea, Massachusetts. Michelle was restrained by a DHS agent after her mother and autistic 13-year-old brother, also a U.S. citizen, were dragged from their car and detained. DHS agents then violently arrested Michelle’s 50-year-old mother, who has legal status and has lived in the U.S. for over twenty years, in front of her and her brother.

“I am speaking out today for the families who can’t speak against ICE. I am speaking out today to help people understand who ICE is hurting. I am a citizen. I’m also a sister, a high school student, and a daughter. I like drawing, dancing, and spending time with my family. Kids and teenagers who look like me aren’t safe, even in our own communities, even if we follow all the rules. ICE may have let my family go, but they took so much more from us. They made me feel like my family didn’t matter and that no one would care what happens to us,” Michelle said.

Michelle’s written testimony is available here. A video of Michelle’s testimony is available here.

The following mothers offered testimony about how DHS agents assaulted them and their children:

Anabel Romero: Ms. Romero is a U.S. citizen from Gooding, Idaho and mother of three. During an immigration raid, Ms. Romero was separated from her 6- and 8-year-old children at gunpoint; she and her 14-year-old daughter were then assaulted and zip-tied. Ms. Romero’s teenage daughter did not testify but joined her at the forum.

“That day completely changed our lives. We were degraded. Our rights were violated. Our sense of safety and security was demolished. My kids, and I can’t trust enforcement anymore. All that violence was preplanned and targeted on a Sunday afternoon family [outing]. And not a word of apology or regret after. We deserve better from our government. We demand better from our government,” Ms. Romero said.

Ms. Romero’s written testimony is available here. A video of her testimony is available here.

Andreina Mejia: Ms. Mejia is a U.S. citizen from Arleta, California. She and her special needs 15-year-old son were separated, held gunpoint and then handcuffed by DHS agents outside of a local high school.

“I’m just thankful that I was there to protect them, because I just think about that day, and I just think if I wasn’t there to protect them and my son would have gotten scared, what if they had just, you know, they would have shot him or something. So, it’s been kind of difficult for him to go to school. He would wake up crying. He sees cars with tinted windows, and he’s scared. He tells me, ‘Mom, is it them?’ and I’m like, ‘No, it’s just a regular car,’” Ms. Mejia said.

Ms. Mejia’s written testimony is available here. A video of her testimony is available here.

The following school administrator offered testimony about the impact of current DHS policies on schools and schoolchildren:

Zena Stenvik: Ms. Stenvik is the Superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, a school district just north of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were one of several families in the school district terrorized by DHS agents during the “surge” in Minnesota.

“While children are resilient and I’m cautious to not generalize trauma, the patterns we are seeing are consistent and significant. We are seeing increased separation anxiety, with students struggling to be apart from their parents during the school day after months and months of confinement and fear. We’re seeing heightened difficulty with transitions. One student who is detained in Texas now experiences distress when leaving the classroom to go to art or gym class. He reported that separation from their trusted teacher and classroom removes the sense of safety. We’re also seeing increased stress responses such as fight-flight-freeze among students who experienced direct or indirect trauma. Students are more fearful of strangers and unfamiliar vehicles, particularly SUVs or individuals in uniform, which they often associate with ICE agents. Even distant sirens can trigger anxiety,” Ms. Stenvik said.

Ms. Stenvik’s written testimony is available here. A video of her testimony is available here.

-30-


NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Introduces Bill to Break Down Barriers to Homeownership, Put More Americans on the Path to Generational Wealth

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, today introduced the Permanent Housing Affordability Act. By providing seed funding for shared equity housing construction and land acquisition, this legislation would leverage one-time public investments to bolster our nationwide stock of permanently affordable housing. The companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives is led by Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-8).

“For too many Americans, the idea of owning a home is a pipe dream – unaffordable and out of reach,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “Through an innovative concept called shared equity ownership, my Permanent Housing Affordability Act will break down barriers to accessible homeownership, putting more families on the path toward generational wealth. As I’ve said before, it’s time for the federal government to get off the sidelines and help make housing more affordable, accessible, and attainable for all. I’m proud to have written this bill to bring us one step closer to accomplishing that goal.”

“Home ownership has become unaffordable and unattainable for millions of Americans, especially for young people here in Washington State,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “Throughout this district, constituents tell me that, especially at a time when prices for groceries, gas, and healthcare are skyrocketing, they can’t fathom saving enough to purchase a home. This legislation bolsters an important tool in the toolkit to stand against Wall Street interests and help families achieve home ownership.”

The Permanent Housing Affordability Act:

Establishes a Lasting Home Affordability Fund to provide low-cost construction loans to construct or rehabilitate permanently affordable homes in high-demand areas.

Creates a Lasting Affordability Homeownership Grant Pilot Program to purchase vacant land or existing properties to develop permanently affordable housing.

Authorizes federal transfer of surplus property to Community Land Trusts (CLTs) at discounted rates.

Requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to research shared equity models and share best practices with lenders, home builders, and the public.

Shared equity homeownership is a self-sustaining model that requires a one-time public investment to make a home affordable for a lower-income family and then restricts the home’s sale price to maintain affordability in perpetuity. 95% of shared equity homes are priced affordably for low- to moderate-income families. The model balances wealth building for families who would otherwise be unable to afford homeownership with preserving the community’s investment. Roughly 60% of shared equity homeowners go on to purchase market-rate homes, using their earned equity as a stepping stone to traditional homeownership.

The Permanent Housing Affordability Act is endorsed by Grounded Solutions Network, National Housing Conference, American Planning Association, NeighborGood Partners, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc., The WRK Group, Delaware National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), Wilmington Land Bank, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, Habitat for Humanity of Central Delaware, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, National NeighborWorks Association, Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), Incremental Development Alliance, National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST), National NeighborWorks Association, NC CLT Coalition, Washington Affordable Cooperative Housing Network, Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties, Washington State Community Land Trust Coalition, and Virginia Statewide CLT.

“Grounded Solutions Network congratulates Senator Blunt Rochester and Representative Schrier on their introduction of the Permanent Housing Affordability Act,” said Doug Ryan, Vice President of Housing Policy at Grounded Solutions Network. “This bill, which would advance the development of shared equity homeownership, would make homeownership possible for families across the country who are now priced out. Shared equity homeownership is a proven tool, one that uses funds efficiently, and ensures future generations of families can own homes. We have a worsening homeownership crisis. The Permanent Housing Affordability Act will help our nonprofit members and local leaders develop affordable homes that meet their communities’ needs.”

“The housing affordability crisis affects every community in our nation, and we need innovative solutions to boost more affordable housing supply,” said David Dworkin, President and CEO of the National Housing Conference. “The Permanent Housing Affordability Act would empower communities to leverage public investment to develop long-term affordable housing, helping close the housing supply gap and putting the dream of homeownership in reach for hardworking families. We welcome this creative approach that builds on successful state and local models to help more households access the wealth-building opportunity of homeownership.”

“The National NeighborWorks Association commends Senator Blunt Rochester and Congresswoman Schrier for their leadership on the Permanent Home Affordability Act,” said Lou Tisler, Executive Director of the National NeighborWorks Association. “For NeighborWorks-chartered organizations nationwide, this bill will provide practical tools to expand shared equity homeownership and keep homes affordable for the long term. It is a smart investment that strengthens communities while creating a pathway to homeownership for hardworking families who would otherwise be priced out.”

“I applaud Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester for introducing the Permanent Housing Affordability Act that will foster the development of shared equity housing by providing funding for construction and land acquisition,” said Karen Speakman, Chief Executive Officer of NeighborGood Partners. “Shared equity housing models such as Community Land Trusts, that retain ownership of the land and the homebuyer owns the house, provide permanently affordable homes. This is due to a restricted resale price that preserves long-term affordability. Unlike traditional federal subsidy programs, shared equity housing only requires a one-time public investment for the housing to remain affordable, making them an excellent investment.”

“Sussex County Habitat for Humanity is proud to endorse the Permanent Housing Affordability Act,” said Kevin Gilmore, Chief Executive Officer of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. “Our local organization has recently adopted an affordable ground lease model as a tool to keeping home sales prices affordable in our high-cost market. Investing in lasting affordability models will help jumpstart affordable house production and provide accessible home prices for the current and future homebuyers of these homes.”

“The scale of the affordable housing problem is such that we need a multitude of solutions to address the need,” said Kevin L. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County. “We are appreciative and supportive of Senator Blunt Rochester’s many efforts to move the needle on this issue, most recently her bill to provide seed monies for shared equity housing and site acquisition we believe will make a huge difference.”

“Shared equity homeownership models, including community land trusts, strike an important balance—allowing families to build wealth while ensuring that public investments in housing remain affordable over the long term,” said Tim Bailey, Chief Executive Officer of Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity.

“The WRK Group is proud to support the Permanent Housing Affordability Act sponsored by U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), which represents a critical step toward creating lasting, accessible homeownership opportunities. By providing funding for land acquisition, construction, and shared equity models, this legislation empowers organizations like ours to expand permanently affordable housing in Riverside and beyond,” said Logan Herring, Chief Executive Officer of The WRK Group. “PHAA not only helps families achieve the stability and wealth-building potential of homeownership, but it also strengthens our community by preserving affordability for generations to come. The WRK Group looks forward to this bill becoming law as it will aid the economic vitality of families who depend on our efforts to combat the current housing affordability crisis here in Wilmington and throughout the nation.”

The introduction of this legislation builds on Senator Blunt Rochester’s dedication to addressing our nation’s housing shortage and affordability crisis. In September 2025, she introduced “The New Way Home Agenda: A Federal Framework to Address America’s Housing Crisis,” her comprehensive legislative agenda to lower housing costs in Delaware and across the nation. In March 2026, the Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a landmark bipartisan housing package that contains two of Senator Blunt Rochester’s bills aimed at increasing housing supply and lowering costs nationwide.

A one pager on the bill is available here. Full text is available here.

###

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


STATEMENT: On Trump Administration Move to Limit Health Care Choice for Seniors

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today released a statement on the news that the Trump administration is reportedly considering the automatic enrollment of seniors in Medicare Advantage plans.

“Automatically enrolling seniors in Medicare Advantage would not only make it harder for folks to find affordable coverage, but it would be a major windfall for the major insurance companies. Yet again, this administration is putting profit over people.”

In March 2025, Senator Blunt Rochester and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote to Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, strongly opposing this proposal.

###

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


Senate Environmental Justice Caucus Co-Chairs Booker, Duckworth, & Markey Commemorate the Launch of the First-Ever House Environmental Justice Caucus

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA)—co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus—issued the following statement commemorating the launch of the first-ever U.S. House Environmental Justice Caucus, which will be led by U.S. Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Summer Lee (D-PA-12) and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-7).

“As the co-chairs of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, we are proud to have Representatives Tlaib, Lee and Grijalva as key partners in the House in our push to ensure every American has the right to breathe clean air and drink safe water, no matter where they live. In the face of Donald Trump’s cruel campaign against the Americans most hurt by environmental injustice, we need a strong bicameral front to fight his efforts to sacrifice our public health and planet’s future for the sake of polluters’ profit margins. We look forward to working closely with our House counterparts to provide environmental justice communities with the support they need and to resist this Administration’s desire to set our nation, and our planet, back decades.”

Senators Booker, Duckworth, and Markey have long pushed to strengthen and defend environmental justice efforts across the country. Last month, the three Senators condemned Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for rescinding the endangerment finding, a landmark determination that requires the EPA to address greenhouse gas emissions and pollution because of the threat that climate change poses to public health and welfare.

Last year, the three Senators condemned Republicans’ cuts to environmental justice, and Booker and Duckworth condemned the Trump Administration for shutting down all of EPA’s environmental justice offices and slashing over 30 EPA regulations that have helped protect our nation’s public health and the environment for decades.

Booker, Duckworth, and Markey—along with U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)—last year urged EPA Administrator Zeldin to reopen the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR), which Duckworth and Booker led the charge to create. Booker, Duckworth, and Markey also helped introduce legislation that would permanently codify the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) in response to Attorney General Bondi’s order eliminating all environmental justice efforts at the DOJ.


Booker, Barrasso Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Greece’s Independence Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Barrasso (R-WY) applauded the Senate passage of a bipartisan resolution to commemorate the 205th anniversary of Greek Independence Day (March 25). In addition to celebrating Greece’s historic role as the birthplace of democracy and its immense contributions to global society, the bipartisan resolution also recognizes the strength of the United States’ enduring partnership and friendship with Greece.

“On the 205th anniversary of Greece’s Independence, we celebrate Greece’s history and continued leadership in protecting freedom and democracy around the world,” said Senator Booker. “This bipartisan resolution recognizes our two nation’s lasting partnership and cooperation on advancing peace, security, stability, democracy, and human rights, and I am proud to see it pass the Senate on such a meaningful day. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue strengthening this important relationship.”

“The United States extends a heartfelt congratulations to the people of Greece as they celebrate the anniversary of their independence. The U.S. Senate is honoring our strong partner and important ally with this bipartisan Greek Independence Day Resolution,” said Senator Barrasso. “From the very beginning of Greece’s struggle for independence, Americans supported and fought alongside the Greek people. Together, our two nations continue to strive to advance the principles of liberty, freedom, and democracy.”

The resolution is cosponsored by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rick Scott (R-FL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jim Justice (R-WV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).