Blumenthal Introduces New Legislation to Regulate Prediction Markets

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced new legislation to prevent abuse and fraud in prediction markets. Prediction markets have grown into a multi-billion-dollar unregulated industry, ignoring state gambling laws while operating businesses identical to traditional sportsbooks by letting people bet on real-world events.

In the absence of federal or state safeguards, prediction markets have harbored insider trading, market manipulation, underage gambling, and leaks of national security information. The Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act addresses these issues by establishing federal consumer protections and returning regulatory authority to the states. The Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ).

“Prediction markets have become a haven for insider trading, market manipulation, and underage gambling. These billion-dollar businesses are turning war into a casino game, and creating a market for national security leaks,” said Blumenthal. “My measure—the Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act—puts guardrails on this out-of-control industry. It bans dangerous and unethical bets and protects consumers from fraud and other predatory practices.”

“Corruption and exploitation are thriving right now within the gaps and loopholes of prediction markets. This manipulation leaves the select few winning big, at the expense of working Americans. By instating basic guardrails and safeguards through this legislation, we can better protect consumers and safeguard against real threats to our national security coming out of this unregulated industry,” said Kim.

Specifically, the bill:

Enacts federally-enforced rules on insider trading and market manipulation;

Bans prediction market listings related to war, death, and military action;

Requires that states offering a sports betting program meet minimum federal standards with respect to advertising, affordability, and artificial intelligence;

Requires age verification and a ban on advertising to underage individuals or individuals on the self-exclusion list; and

Reverses the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s attempt to preempt state gambling regulations.

Blumenthal previously introduced legislation to create nationwide consumer protections and standards for the mobile sports gambling industry. Last year, Blumenthal reintroduced the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act alongside U.S. Representative Paul D. Tonko (D-NY). The SAFE Bet Act requires states offering sports betting to meet minimum federal standards in the categories of marketing, affordability and Artificial Intelligence to create a safer, less addictive product. Blumenthal also reintroduced the Gambling addiction Recovery, Investment, and Treatment (GRIT) Act, with U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (D-OR). The GRIT Act dedicates federal funds to studying, preventing, and treating gambling addiction in America.

The full text of the Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act is available here. A one-pager is available here.

-30-


BOOKER, KAINE, MURPHY, SCHIFF, BALDWIN, DUCKWORTH LAY OUT DEMAND TO THUNE FOR IMMEDIATE HEARINGS ON IRAN WAR FOLLOWING INTRODUCTION OF NEW WAR POWERS RESOLUTIONS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ),Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) are following up on their demand that Republican Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) ensure the relevant committees of jurisdiction in the Senate hold immediate public hearings on the Trump-Vance Administration’s ongoing unconstitutional war in Iran.

This follows the Senators’ move to file War Powers Resolutions to stop President Donald Trump’s illegal and unnecessary war. The Senators made plain they will use these resolutions to force debate and additional votes if Republican leadership does not move swiftly to arrange public committee hearings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

"Already, oil and gas prices are spiking, the prices of basic goods are increasing, and the U.S. is spending billions of dollars on this war, rather than focusing on reducing costs here at home. The Trump administration must answer questions publicly under oath in front of the American people, not just behind closed doors. Without public hearings, this work period, we will pursue other options for ensuring timely public debate on the Senate floor," the Senators write in their letter to Thune.

It has been eleven days since President Trump launched his unconstitutional and unjustified war with Iran that has resulted in the death of at least seven U.S. servicemembers. Yet the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees have yet to announce or hold a single public hearing to receive testimony from the Secretaries of State or Defense under oath.

The resolutions—which would not prevent the U.S. from defending itself or Israel from an Iranian attack—are privileged, meaning they can be brought to the Senate floor for a vote by any senator after ten calendar days.


Booker Urges USDA to Include Nursery, Mushroom, and Floriculture Farmers in Federal Specialty Crop Assistance Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary BrookeRollins urging the agency to include nursery, mushroom, and floriculture crops in the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program. The USDA excluded these growers from market relief funding for specialty crops, even though federal law has recognized them as specialty crops for more than two decades.

“Nursery, mushroom, and floriculture farmers are a vital part of American agriculture,” Booker wrote. “These growers contribute significantly to local economies, support tens of thousands of jobs, and supply domestic and international markets with high-value agricultural products.”

Booker noted that the same market challenges that are affecting other specialty crops are also hitting indoor and ornamental growers, such asrising labor costs, higher input prices, and ongoing market instability. “Without access to bridge assistance, viable family farms and businesses face the real risk of closure. Excluding these producers leaves a substantial segment of American agriculture without the support intended to stabilize the broader farm economy,” he wrote.

Booker urged for the inclusion of these farmers and asked the USDA to extend the program acreage reporting deadline to give all specialty crop producers adequate time to apply. Booker concluded the letter by urging the USDA to base program payments on aggregate sales or revenue, which is a better fit for specialty crops.


Arkansas Farm Leader, Boozman Agree: Must Build Domestic Demand for Agricultural Products

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) welcomed Arkansas farmer and National Cotton Council Chairman Nathan Reed to discuss opportunities to expand domestic demand for agricultural products.

“Expanding market access and developing new trading partners is crucial to the success of American producers and our rural communities. However, our recent experiences have made me think about how we can build more robust domestic markets that will not subject our producers to the whims of foreign governments,” Boozman said in his opening remarks.

On Tuesday, Boozman launched the first in a series of hearings to gather recommendations from agriculture industry leaders on policy improvements to help boost consumption of American-grown products.

Boozman and Nathan Reed at the Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on March 10.

Reed, who grows cotton, corn, soybeans and rice on his Marianna farm, detailed the grim financial outlook for cotton farmers as a result of high input costs and low market prices while calling on Congress to pass the Buying American Cotton Act (BACA) to help drive demand.

“Our industry will not survive without stronger demand, and BACA would help position U.S. cotton to compete more effectively against synthetic fibers and against foreign cotton producers, including Brazil,” Reed told committee members. “We believe the demand created through the passage of BACA will bring cotton markets back to a more profitable level for producers while keeping our domestic industry and supply chains thriving in the years to come.”

Reed also applauded Boozman’s leadership in delivering historic agricultural investments through the Working Families Tax Cuts and his continued push for additional economic assistance.


U.S. Senator Katie Britt Calls Out Democrats for Failing to Come to the Table Amid DHS Funding Negotiations

‘We’ve heard more from our Democratic colleagues today on the floor than we have heard in the last [40] days.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) spoke on the Senate floor today calling out Democrats for failing to sit down with Republicans to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It has now been 26 days since DHS has been shut down.

On Democrats’ Defund the Police and open borders proposal:

“We have political games being played by our Democratic colleagues instead of putting the people of this nation first. Mr. President, what we’ve just seen put forth by the Senator from Washington would effectively defund our law enforcement officers that are charged with keeping Americans safe. Look, we’re not going back to the era of defund police. We’re not doing it.

…

“Mr. President, interestingly, what the Senator from Washington has put forth actually undermines the people of her very state. Back in 2023, when the DHS bill passed out of committee, she had this to say: ‘Washington state’s economy depends on our ability to ensure goods and people can move through our ports and borders in an orderly and timely way. Our national security depends on the ability to do this while stopping threats like drug trafficking and fentanyl. This bill provides critical funding to stop the flow of fentanyl at its source, at our borders, and protect communities in Washington state and across our country…’ But today, she stands ready to defund the very people who make this happen.”

On Democrats’ refusal to sit down with Republicans for 40 days:

“We would like that opportunity to continue funding the Department of Homeland Security in its entirety. … It’s incumbent upon each and every one of us to figure out a pathway forward. We’ve heard more from our Democratic colleagues today on the floor than we have heard in the last [40] days. The last offer went back over to Democrats 13 days ago … Look, the people who sent us here expect more. They expect us to have tough conversations. They expect us to figure out a pathway forward. And that’s exactly what we’re trying to do today.”

On Senate Democrats setting a dangerous precedent for appropriations funding bills:

“…[D]on’t change the rules of the game … The Senate is supposed to function in a meaningful way to do the work for the people that we serve. Coming out here and wanting to carve this or that without ever sitting down with your colleagues on the other side to talk about a pathway forward or to even talk about this plan is disingenuous. And it’s starting a new norm … And if this is the approach that we took, you would say we were breaking the Senate.”

On Democrats putting political posturing ahead of finding a pathway forward for the American people:

“Why are you playing politics with people’s lives? Let’s talk about a pathway forward … But grandstanding and political posturing is not the answer, Mr. President, And I am disappointed that my Democratic colleagues just blocked funding for TSA. They just blocked funding for FEMA. Why? I do not know, but I am hopeful they’ll come to the table so that we can find a pathway forward.”

You can watch the Senator’s remarks here, and her continued debate on the Senate floor here and here.

###


Budd Secures Key Provisions in Weather Act to Improve Hurricane Forecasting and Update Radar Technology

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, secured two of his bills as provisions in the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, which was unanimously passed out of committee last week. The two Budd-led provisions include the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program and the Radar Next Program.

“For well over a year, I have worked with local, state, and federal officials to coordinate recovery efforts for Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Through my efforts, I have identified significant gaps in our weather system that must be addressed to ensure future storms are tracked as effectively and efficiently as possible, preventing loss of life and property. Following storms of mass destruction, we can only learn to be better prepared. I am proud that two of my bills have been included as provisions to this year’s Weather Act to enhance the accuracy of hurricane forecasts, predictions, and warnings, and modernize our radar technology to increase warning lead times. We cannot afford to be unprepared when the next great storm strikes,” said Senator Budd.

Read the full bill text HERE.

BACKGROUND

The Weather Act updates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) research and forecasting programs to ensure the agency remains focused on public safety by modernizing weather systems and upgrading critical safety systems.

Below is a summary of the Budd-led provisions included in the final package of the Weather Act:

Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program Enhancement Act:

Enhances the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program at NOAA by developing and extending accurate hurricane forecasts, predictions, and warnings to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy. This legislative provision would:

Improve the prediction of rapid intensification and the track of hurricanes;

Improve the forecast and communication of storm surges from hurricanes;

Incorporate risk communication research to create more effective watch and warning products; and

Evaluate and incorporate innovative observations, including acoustic or infrasonic measurements.

Radar Next Program Act:

Establishes at NOAA the Radar Next Program, which will carry out the planning and deployment of the next generation weather radar system in the United States.

Directs NOAA to develop a plan to replace the aging Doppler radar network and implement the replacement plan by the end of fiscal year 2040.

Requires the development of a phased array radar test, which can scan the atmosphere in under a minute, six times faster than current Doppler radars, detecting rapid changes in storms that allow for increased warning lead times and fewer false alarms.

Gives NOAA the authority to contract with third parties to fill data gaps in weather radar coverage by acquiring data, services, and technologies.

###


Chairman Capito Asks Witnesses About Impacts of Diesel Engine Derates on Public Safety, Agriculture

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing to examine S. 3135, the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act.

During the hearing, Chairman Capito asked Ryan Anderson, Commissioner at the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, about the impacts of diesel engine derates on public safety in Alaska and other rural and cold-weather areas. She also asked Todd Fornstrom, President of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, about the ways that engine derates can affect farmers and their willingness to purchase newer equipment for crop harvesting.

HIGHLIGHTS:

PUBLIC SAFETY IMPACTS

Chairman Capito:

“My first question is for Mr. Anderson. I think many of us […] in the lower 48 […], I don’t think we can fully grasp what cold weather really is. […] So, you want to make sure that we have safe, efficient, reliable transportation for the people and goods in your state. What is different, with respect to public safety, between a diesel engine derate that might occur in Washington, D.C. and one that could occur in the North Slope? […] How would you say that occurs differently in Alaska?”

Ryan Anderson, Commissioner at the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities:

“I’ll use an example just from last night. We got informed last night that the Dalton Highway, north of the Arctic Circle, closed again because of a powerful storm, wind, snow, and it’ll be closed for probably well over 24 hours […]. So, our crews immediately go to work, and, for us, that’s mobilizing the equipment that we have. We can’t bring equipment from other locations. It’ll take us six, twelve, even eighteen hours if it’s coming from Fairbanks. So, the real difference here is that what we have, and the resources that we have to work with for an event that happens, and the response that’s expected of us—of course, the Dalton Highway is that lifeline for the oil and gas industry for the North Slope. It’s our support arterial for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. And so, there’s a lot of pressure on us by industry and that public safety piece. When people are stuck, it’s not just our folks working, but it’s the people that are trying to get through and get these materials and supplies delivered, and then the people on the other end that are waiting for them that all get delayed. And so, when we have equipment fail, there’s a cascading impact across the state, across all of those industries, and the public.”

Chairman Capito:

“How frequently are you hearing from people that are concerned or directly impacted by this?”

Ryan Anderson, Commissioner at the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities:

“Absolutely. […] As […] the Cold Weather Diesel [Reliability] Act has become more known in Alaska, we’ve had enormous amounts of people reach out. […] So, we have our state-wide equipment fleet, which is thousands of pieces of equipment, but we also have the commercial trucking industry, enormous outreach from those companies. […] We’re making significant investments in our older vehicles because we don’t want to move forward with the newer vehicles. We’ve had fire departments come forward, saying, ‘this is a problem for when we’re trying to do active response activities.’ The school bus companies have come forward. They’re concerned. In rural Alaska, we’re moving kids, and it’s 40 below. And they have examples of when failures have occurred. And so, it really has been just across the board. The Alaksa Railroad reached out […] and said, ‘this is impactful for our operations as well.’”

Chairman Capito:

“[…] You mentioned school buses, emergency vehicles, your trucks. This can also be personal vehicles if they’re powered by diesel. Is that correct? […]”

Ryan Anderson, Commissioner at the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities:

“Senator, that’s correct. And then a lot of folks in Alaska, when they have small pieces of heavy equipment […]. Yesterday somebody reached out to me, and they had a cabin out in rural Alaska, and they had a small piece of diesel equipment out there. And, of course, the system failed, and they had to fly someone in with a helicopter to fix it. It’s happening to people all across Alaska.”

CONSEQUENCES OF DIESEL ENGINE DERATES

Chairman Capito:

“Mr. Fornstrom, […] you rely on a successful yield for each growing season, and these yields are directly impacted by […] planting and harvesting and when that can occur. So, could you say a little bit about the potential consequences of a [diesel engine] derate for farmers during these kinds of seasons when you’re planting or harvesting?”

Todd Fornstrom, President of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation:

“[…] I was at an auction looking for a piece of equipment. And the farmer that was selling the tractor, I asked him how good it was and told him what I wanted to use the tractor for. And he was like, ‘well, you don’t want this one because if it goes into the derate mode, you won’t be able to run your grain cart like you’re wanting to.’ And that just halts harvest to a stop. So, it is eliminating some of this equipment from different operations that farmers don’t want to deal with. And they’re choosing not to buy newer equipment.”

Click HEREto view Chairman Capito’s questions.

# # #


Chairman Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Examine S. 3135, the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing to examine S. 3135, the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act.

In her opening remarks, Chairman Capito discussed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) current nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions regulations for diesel vehicles and the safety concerns that these regulations can create for drivers in cold and rural environments. The chairman also explained the solutions that the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act presents by exempting diesel engine emissions monitoring features in cold and rural parts of the US.

Below is the opening statementof Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.

“Today, we will receive testimony on S. 3135, the ‘Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act’ sponsored by Senators Sullivan, Lummis, Curtis and Murkowski. This legislation is meant to address a serious safety issue for drivers of diesel trucks and equipment in certain parts of our country. And I know two of our witnesses have traveled very far today, and I appreciate you all being here.

“Since 2010, to comply with EPA vehicle emissions regulations for NOx, most new diesel engines have used a technology known as selective catalytic reduction or SCR. SCR is an emissions control system that sprays diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, into the vehicle’s exhaust stream to reduce NOx emissions.

“To maintain the proper function of the emissions control system, drivers must continuously refill the vehicle with DEF. To ensure compliance with emissions standards, the EPA requires manufacturers to install on-board diagnostic sensors that detect when NOx emissions are too high, signaling that the vehicle is out of DEF.

“When the sensor detects an issue, it triggers the engine controls and software to severely limit an engine’s performance through what is called a ‘derate.’ That’s about as technical as I’m going to get with you. When the vehicle derates, it cannot go faster than five miles per hour.

“However, vehicle derates are not limited to instances when the vehicle is out of DEF but occur at any time when the emissions control technology is not functioning correctly. Emissions sensor failures can cause these restrictions, as well as prolonged cold weather, which can freeze DEF and prevent it from entering the exhaust system.

“No matter the reason, if the sensor detects an emissions system malfunction, a driver has just four hours to fix the problem before the five mile per hour restriction kicks in. This system response in rural and cold weather regions can and has resulted in farmers’ tractors shutting down in the middle of the field during harvest season and stranded truckers in sub-zero temperatures on isolated roads in northern parts of the country.

“In 2021, sensor failures led to thousands of trucks across the country being derated and thus out-of-service without an immediate solution. To address this issue in emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks and ambulances, in 2012, the EPA exempted emergency vehicles from this requirement when responding to an emergency.

“The Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act takes a similar approach by authorizing manufacturers to override the system in targeted cold weather environments. By exempting diesel engine derates in Alaska and other parts of rural America, where so many folks rely on diesel trucks and equipment for their livelihood and transportation needs, the bill seeks to address a critical safety issue.

“I want to thank my colleagues for championing safety in transportation and working to address the unique needs of Alaska, Wyoming and other cold weather states.

“I would also like to thank the Trump Administration for recognizing the importance of protecting America’s farmers and truckers. Last year, EPA Administrator Zeldin issued guidance to allow more flexibility and longer warning times before derates occur and is gathering information to fix this safety problem.

“I look forward to this topic, and I’ll now recognize Senator Whitehouse for his opening statement.”

# # #


VIDEO: Capito Joins NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight”

To watch Senator Capito’s interview, click here or on the image above.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined Katie Pavlich on NewsNation to discuss ongoing operations in Iran and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.

HIGHLIGHTS:

ON THE DHS SHUTDOWN: “This is a complete disservice to the nation. The Democrats and Senator Schumer will not sit down with Senator Collins and Senator Britt, who head these committees, and I don't think there's been much conversation since the White House made some concessions. Senator Schumer is not negotiating, and some of the requests they made were things like body cameras… So okay, we'll put a requirement, and the funding in for body cameras. De-escalation training, certainly we can always use more training. They're off into this warrant’s thing, which is a nonstarter, but one of their main issues last week was, ‘we will not agree while Kristi Noem is heading the Department of Homeland Security’… she's not there anymore, right? And still a big fat ‘no’ on Thursday.”

ON OPERATIONS IN IRAN: “Well, what’s important to remember is the nuclear buildup is obviously—and has been—a great worry, not just to us as a nation, but to the world, because they are the greatest state sponsor of terror. But what we didn't get as much talk about initially, were all the missile launching capabilities that Iran has, and they can attack from anywhere. We are still in the process of disrupting their missiles—not just their abilities to launch, but also their ability to manufacture those missiles. I think that's going to be critical. I think I read that fifty percent were taken down. We need to get that number down because that gives them capabilities that we don't want them to have.”

ON BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN IRAN: “What I'm hearing is that the president and Secretary Hegseth and General Caine and others, although General Caine is not the policymaker here, don't want to take any of their options off the table. I don't think the president wants boots on the ground in Iran. I certainly don't. The American people don't, but I don't think the president or his advisors are going to take that off the table for smart reasons. You don't tell the enemy or who you're in battle with what your next plan is.”

# # #


Cassidy Delivers Floor Speech Urging Senate to Pass SAVE America Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor calling on the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require proof of citizenship when voting in federal elections.

“Senate Democrats know that most of their constituents are for verifying citizenship to vote. They are ignoring the will of the people they represent,” said Dr. Cassidy.

“I ask my Senate Democratic colleagues to remember this: you demand ID to buy a gun, one constitutional right, but you won’t require it to cast a vote, another constitutional right. Listen to the people. Pass the SAVE America Act,” continued Dr. Cassidy.

Cassidy’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Mr. President,

America was founded on the principle that the right to vote is sacred. Protecting it is our responsibility.

I’d like to read a quote from the Boston Gazette, published April 16, 1781.

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote…that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”

Samuel Adams wrote that nearly 245 years ago, when our country was just five years old.

I often find that the principles which are described in history become more relevant as time goes on.

And today, Mr. President, as this Congress debates whether proof of citizenship should be required to vote in federal elections, those words from 1781 speak as clearly as they did then.

Now, when you ask the American people about this, there isn’t really that much debate.

Over 83 percent of Americans say, “Yes! You should have to show a government-issued ID to vote!”

This is the position of most Americans—71 percent of Democrats and 95 percent of Republicans.

That’s why I’m a proud co-sponsor of the SAVE America Act—that is, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.

Now, I’m from Louisiana.

In EVERY state, you’re required to show your ID to buy alcohol.

So, when you hear that Democrats are refusing to support the SAVE America Act, you might scratch your head.

Like, I’ve got to show my government-issued ID to buy a gun, which is another Constitutional right.

I’ve got to show it to board an airplane or cash a check.

But when it comes to choosing the leaders who will steer the future of the United States of America—suddenly showing an ID is too much to ask?

There’s something really backwards about that.

Especially considering how clearly the American people are speaking on this issue.

As far as the talking filibuster is concerned, I have supported returning to the talking filibuster since I joined the Senate in 2015.

Let’s see a proposal and get it done.

We should look at every avenue to push the SAVE America Act.

It is common sense and overwhelmingly supported by the American people.

Only 1 percent of people say they are undecided.

Senate Democrats know that most of their constituents are for verifying citizenship to vote; they’re just ignoring them—presumably to appease the small left-wing base of 16 percent who are against it.

It does not prevent any eligible American citizen from casting a ballot.

It does not take away anyone’s constitutional rights.

It simply strengthens trust in our system by ensuring that only citizens participate in federal elections, as our founding fathers intended.

Our constitutional republic was founded on the principle that every lawful vote should count, and no unlawful vote should dilute the voices of American citizens.

The SAVE America Act is simple, reasonable, and widely supported.

When it comes to the Senate floor for a vote next week, I ask my Democratic colleagues to remember this: you demand ID to buy a gun, one constitutional right, but you won’t require it to cast a vote, another constitutional right.

Listen to the people. Pass the SAVE America Act.

With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.

###


Senator Collins Receives Sea Grant Association Award

Click HERE and HERE for individual images.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Sea Grant Association (SGA) presented Senator Collins with its Association Award at the SGA’s annual meeting in Washington. The award recognizes her work last year to restore funding to the Maine Sea Grant after the Department of Commerce announced plans to defund the program. Maine Sea Grant Director Dr. Gayle Zydlewski and Sea Grant Association President Dr. Erik Chapman presented Senator Collins with the award — the first time the SGA has given the Association Award since 2018.

“The National Sea Grant program plays a vital role in strengthening our nation’s coastal economies, supporting fishermen and marine businesses, and sustaining our working waterfronts. When the Maine Sea Grant program’s future was in doubt last year, I worked with federal officials and Maine stakeholders to ensure its work could continue,” said Senator Collins. “I am particularly grateful to Maine Sea Grant Director Dr. Gayle Zydlewski for her leadership and partnership in that effort. Together, we will continue supporting the research and outreach that help Maine’s coastal communities thrive.”

"I met Senator Collins in 2019, after I became Director of the Maine Sea Grant program, and I felt as soon as I walked in the room, that she knew all about Sea Grant, loved Sea Grant, and we were in good hands. Senator Collins' commitment to Maine Sea Grant and to the people of Maine has never waned and we are so grateful for her enduring support. Last year was unprecedented and Senator Collins was three steps ahead of all of us when we really needed her. Her extraordinary efforts to restore funding to Maine buoyed the entire Sea Grant network. We are incredibly grateful for her support,” said Dr. Gayle Zydlewski, Director, Maine Sea Grant.

After an announcement last February from the Department of Commerce that the Maine Sea Grant program was being defunded, Senator Collins contacted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to explain all that is at stake for Maine’s coastal communities with the loss of Sea Grant funding. At the urging of Senator Collins, Secretary Lutnick directed NOAA to renegotiate the terms and conditions of the work to be performed by Maine Sea Grant to ensure that it focuses on advancing Maine’s coastal economies, working waterfronts, and sustainable fisheries, and the program’s funding was restored.

###


Senators Collins, Klobuchar, Murkowski, Peters Introduce Bipartisan Bill Honoring Fallen Firefighters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Gary Peters (D-MI), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, today introduced the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Coin Act. This bipartisan legislation would authorize a commemorative coin program to honor firefighters who have died in the line of duty with proceeds supporting the work of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). If enacted, the commemorative coins would be issued by the U.S. Mint beginning in 2029.

“The bravery and selflessness of firefighters who risk their lives responding to emergencies in communities across our nation cannot be overstated,” said Senator Collins. “When firefighters make the ultimate sacrifice, the loss is felt by families, fellow firefighters, and entire communities. This commemorative coin program would honor those who gave their lives in service of others while supporting the important work of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the families they serve.”

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. When they make the ultimate sacrifice, their families, fellow first responders, and entire communities feel that loss deeply,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This bipartisan National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Coin Act is a meaningful way to honor those heroes who gave everything in service to others.”

“From our wildland firefighters fending off blazes that threaten entire regions to the volunteer departments that often serve as the only line of defense for small communities, Alaskans owe so much to our firefighters, especially those who have laid down their lives in the line of duty,” said Senator Murkowski. “I am honored to help commemorate their service and sacrifice while supporting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s mission.”

“Every day, firefighters in Michigan and across the nation selflessly put their lives on the line to protect our communities,” said Senator Peters. “When a firefighter makes the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, this loss is felt deeply by family, friends, and the communities they served. I am proud to help lead this bipartisan bill to commemorate these brave men and women, while supporting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s mission to preserve the legacy of these Americans for generations to come.”

“We are extremely grateful to Senators Collins, Klobuchar, Murkowski, and Peters for introducing the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Coin Act. Their unwavering commitment over the years to our nation’s fire service, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and our Fire Hero Families has been impactful. The commemorative coin will help ensure the NFFF continues to have the resources needed to honor the fallen, serve their families and colleagues, and maintain our efforts to prevent line-of-duty deaths,” said Victor Stagnaro, Chief Executive Officer of the NFFF.

“The proposed commemorative coin program would provide critical funding to sustain and expand services for the families of fallen firefighters, including counseling resources, scholarships, survivor networks, and line-of-duty death support. Importantly, proceeds would also benefit the families of Maine’s fallen firefighters, ensuring that those who have given their lives in service to our communities are never forgotten. As a United States Senator representing the great State of Maine, Senator Collins’ leadership on this issue means a great deal to the firefighting community and to the families who continue to rely on the Foundation’s programs during their most difficult times. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued service to the people of Maine, and for sponsoring this important legislation,” said Michael Robitaille, Fire Chief of Yarmouth, Maine.

“As a Maine resident and an advocate for the NFFF, I have seen firsthand how deeply these families and communities are affected when a firefighter makes the ultimate sacrifice. The NFFF plays a critical role in providing support, remembrance, and resources to the families of the fallen, ensuring their loved ones are honored with the dignity they deserve. Your long-standing support for first responders is deeply appreciated, as is your championing of this meaningful legislation. Thank you, Senator Collins, for your continued leadership on behalf of Maine and our nation’s firefighters,” said NFFF Advocate Lisa Burton of Castine, Maine.

Specifically, the legislation directs the U.S. Mint to produce limited-edition commemorative coins—including $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar clad coins—to recognize the service and sacrifice of America’s fallen firefighters. A portion of the proceeds from the coin sales would benefit the NFFF, supporting programs for the surviving family members of firefighters who died in the line of duty as well as the foundation’s annual memorial service for fallen firefighters.

Congress established the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in 1992 to honor America’s fallen firefighters and provide assistance to their families. As the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks this year, the legislation also honors the extraordinary sacrifice of the 343 members of the Fire Department of the City of New York who died responding to the attacks, as well as the many firefighters and emergency responders who have become ill due to their service in the rescue and recovery efforts.

Over the years, the NFFF has recognized the sacrifices of 41 firefighters from Maine. This year, its annual memorial service will honor Chief Bobby Dorr of Ellsworth, who died of cancer that was related to his fire service.

Click here for the complete text of the bill.

###


Senators Collins, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Access to Diabetes Treatments, Education for Medicare Beneficiaries

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Co-Chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, introduced bipartisan legislation today aimed at improving access to diabetes technologies by responding to the ongoing and increasing need for diabetes technology education among Medicare beneficiaries. The bipartisan Diabetes Interventions Addressing Barriers to Enrollment, Technology and Education Services (DIABETES) Act would ensure care for diabetic patients is not interrupted when they enroll in Medicare.

“Delays or disruptions in coverage of diabetes technologies can cause a decline in patient health, particularly for those enrolling in Medicare,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan legislation would streamline coverage for insulin pumps while expanding diabetes education and training for patients and providers, improving care for those managing this disease.”

“Diabetes is a lifelong illness that requires constant monitoring and treatment—and yet, too many patients experience disruptions in care or lack the training and technology to adequately manage it. Americans living with diabetes should not have to jump through hoops to access life-saving care,” said Senator Shaheen.

The DIABETES Act builds on previous efforts by Senators Collins and Shaheen to improve diabetic patients’ access to needed treatment, including their Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act—a separate but related bipartisan bill they introduced to expand Medicare coverage of diabetes self-management training sessions, where diabetes educators help train Medicare patients on how to manage the disease and use complex diabetes technologies.

The bill also includes a provision exempting insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) from the Medicare competitive bidding process for 5 years. This comes after Senators Collins and Shaheen urged Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz not to finalize a proposal the lawmakers warned could reduce and complicate patient access to CGMs and durable insulin pumps.

The DIABETES Act has been endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, Diabetes Leadership Council, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, and the Diabetes Technology Access Coalition.

Click here for the complete text of the bill.

As co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, Senators Collins and Shaheen have also consistently pressed to hold insulin manufacturers, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers accountable for the skyrocketing cost of life-saving insulin. Their bipartisan Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act would comprehensively address the soaring cost of insulin, removing barriers to care and making it more accessible for millions more Americans.

###


Senators Coons, Warren, colleagues introduce legislation to strengthen the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, countering President Trump’s narrowed enforcement of landmark anti-bribery law

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-Chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus and a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led their colleagues in introducing the FCPA Reinforcement Act to strengthen enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977.

Congress passed the FCPA unanimously in response to revelations of widespread bribery of foreign officials by U.S. companies, recognizing that such corruption imposes enormous costs both at home and abroad. However, the Trump administration has narrowed FCPA enforcement, ignoring hard-won lessons that drove Congress to pass it in the first place: that bribery of foreign officials by U.S. corporations “creates severe foreign policy problems.” President Trump instead argued in an executive order that American companies cannot gain “strategic business advantages” without relaxed anti-bribery enforcement. In June 2025, the Department of Justice responded with new guidelines that narrowed FCPA enforcement based on the misconception that bribery only harms U.S. interests when it occurs in certain sectors or circumstances. FCPA enforcement and trials have resumed following the administration’s initial pause last year, but enforcement activity dropped in 2025.

Some experts have called the administration’s approach an attempt to “maim, if not kill outright, enforcement against U.S. companies,” while others have highlighted uncertainty and a “perception of reduced FCPA enforcement.” To address that perception and signal that bribery could well be prosecuted later even if it is presently outside of DOJ’s narrowed focus, the FCPA Reinforcement Act would extend from five to 10 years the statute of limitations for criminal violations of the three anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. If not renewed, this extended statute of limitations would sunset eight years after passage, having provided two future administrations with additional opportunities to conduct expeditious investigations and prosecutions for offenses committed during the present term.

The administration’s guidelines, coupled with its broader permissive messaging and conduct regarding financial crimes, are counterproductive both for national security and for America’s private sector. For example, the administration’s changes expose U.S. businesses operating overseas to new demands for bribes: until recently, they could point to broad FCPA enforcement if foreign actors tried to strong-arm them into making corrupt payments.

“It’s no surprise that the most corrupt administration in American history isn’t enforcing our corporate anti-corruption laws,” said Senator Coons. “Foreign governments should not be able to force American companies to pay bribes to do business, hurting the global economy and free market. This bill strengthens the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to protect companies from pressure at home and abroad so American businesses can focus on innovating and driving global economic growth, not paying bribes to foreign governments.”

“Our bill sends a clear message: despite President Trump’s disregard for countering a range of financial crimes and his disdain for the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, effective enforcement of that landmark law – a shield for U.S. companies that compete the right way – is here to stay. This legislation encourages continued private sector vigilance, signaling enduring accountability for those who undermine our foreign policy, fair markets, and honest businesses by paying bribes,” said Ranking Member Warren.

“Greedy corporations exchanging bribes for favors from corrupt foreign kleptocrats shouldn’t be allowed to count on a five-year statute of limitations as a get-out-of-jail-free card,” said Senator Whitehouse. “The FCPA Reinforcement Act would send a clear message that a temporary dip in enforcement doesn’t mean it’s open season for bribery.”

“The President has continued to make troubling, rash statements about relaxing enforcement of our nation’s anti-bribery laws. Bribery and corruption hurt law-abiding American businesses and our foreign policy,”said Ranking Member Durbin. “I’m joining Senator Warren to introduce the FCPA Reinforcement Act to ensure that this Department of Justice’s shortsighted failure to enforce the law does not allow corrupt companies to evade accountability.”

“The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has served as a critical part of America’s national security for nearly fifty years by bolstering America’s diplomatic and economic credibility around the world,” said Ranking Member Shaheen.“When the Trump administration weakens enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, it damages America’s standing abroad and diminishes the ‘better deal’ America can offer compared to adversaries like China. This legislation makes clear that the United States will continue to stand for transparency, fair competition and the rule of law. Strengthening enforcement sends an signal to our allies and partners that American leadership against corruption remains strong.”

The FCPA Reinforcement Act is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).


Cornyn Op-Ed: Why the SAVE Act Matters More than the Filibuster

WASHINGTON – In light of unprecedented Democrat obstruction, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) authored the following op-ed in the New York Post highlighting his support for the SAVE America Act and whatever changes to Senate rules may prove necessary to enact it so Senate Republicans can deliver on the America First agenda and the mandate given to them and President Trump by the American people.

Why the SAVE Act matters more than the filibuster

Senator John Cornyn

New York Post

March 11, 2026

https://nypost.com/2026/03/11/opinion/sen-cornyn-why-the-save-act-matters-more-than-the-filibuster/

If a man takes a swing at you and barely misses, that doesn’t make him a pacifist — it just means he has bad aim.

Standing still and giving him a second free swing wouldn’t be wise or honorable; it would be foolish.

In 2022, Chuck Schumer and 47 other Senate Democrats tried to change the rules of the US Senate and “nuke” the filibuster to ram through a left-wing takeover of election laws.

They were just barely stopped by two holdout Democrats who were promptly driven out of their party and into retirement.

In 2024, Schumer confirmed to reporters that Democrats mean to finish the job and kill the filibuster’s 60-vote threshold the next time they take the majority.

For many years, I believed that if the US Senate scrapped the filibuster, Texas and our nation would stand to lose more than we would gain.

My fellow conservatives and I have proudly used the 60-vote threshold to protect the country from all sorts of bad ideas and dangerous policies.

But when the reality on the ground changes, leaders must take stock and adapt.

Today, Democrats are weaponizing the Senate’s rules to block the SAVE America Act, defund the Department of Homeland Security and hurt the American people — all to spite President Donald Trump.

But they say openly that if these same rules ever get in Democrats’ way, they won’t hesitate to rip them up.

A rule is only a rule if both sides follow it.

I believe that Democrats, with their votes and statements, have already dealt the filibuster a fatal blow: The Senate rules will change eventually, whether Republicans like it or not.

This leaves conservatives with two options.

We can either unilaterally disarm, or we can stand and fight.

We can let the Democrats keep obstructing today and then smash the rules the first chance they get, or we can act now and use the mandate the American people gave this president and this Congress to secure our elections, protect our homeland and bring back common sense.

The answer is clear: We need to stand, fight and win.

Democrats started this fight. Now Republicans should finish it.

When 48 Democrats nearly killed the filibuster, it was to pass radical legislation designed to increase election fraud.

They tried to ban voter ID requirements, to decriminalize ballot harvesting, and even to send taxpayer dollars into Democrats’ own campaign funds.

The SAVE America Act, which I’ve cosponsored, would do the opposite.

It would make it easy to vote but harder to cheat, by requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID.

These basic, commonsense protections are massively popular with the American people — and the fact that the radical left apparently sees them as such a threat to their chances in November truly gives their game away.

The president has made the SAVE America Act his “number one priority,” and he is right.

But it’s also urgent to overcome other aspects of the far left’s obstruction.

Americans are being forced to wait in line for three hours at airport security checkpoints because the Democrats are blocking funding for homeland security and immigration law enforcement.

Bad enough that Democrats’ political tantrum is ruining travelers’ days — but at this time of hostilities with Iran, their financial siege of DHS is not just inconvenient, it’s dangerous.

Texans don’t need more endless discussions over Washington rules that Democrats have already promised to break. Talk is cheap.

They need leaders who get results.

And results are exactly what I have been proud to help President Trump deliver during both of his terms.

I’ve partnered with the president to cut taxes for working families, rebuild our military, stop inflation, transform the courts and secure our border.

Now this success story needs its next chapter.

After careful consideration, I support whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary for us to get the SAVE America Act and homeland security funding past the Democrats’ obstruction, through the Senate, and on the president’s desk for his signature.

This could be a “talking filibuster” that removes the obstructionists’ free pass and makes them defend their indefensible views on the Senate floor, or it could be a different reform.

Process matters, but outcomes matter more: The Democrats’ assault on election integrity and national security must be stopped.

Leadership means upholding core principles and applying them thoughtfully as circumstances change.

I spent years defending the filibuster because the 60-vote threshold was a net benefit to Texas and our nation.

Before moderate Democrats went extinct, the rules worked.

But as President Abraham Lincoln once warned Congress, “the dogmas of the quiet past” can become “inadequate to the stormy present.”

The Democrats’ recklessness and radicalism have changed the landscape.

On these critical issues, at this critical hour, the old procedures no longer align with the core American principles we must defend.

It is time for our Senate Republican Conference, led by our strong and strategic Majority Leader John Thune, to retake the initiative, rebuild momentum and get results.

I respectfully urge the remaining handful of my Republican colleagues still holding on to the old position that I used to share to reassess the new reality and update their thinking.

We should use the authority the voters have entrusted in us to pass the SAVE America Act, fund homeland security, and bring the far left’s obstruction to an end.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353

March 11, 2026

Cotton to Wright: Democrat’s Undermining of Strategic Petroleum Reserve Threatens Higher Gas Prices

Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Secretary of Energy Chris Wright raising concerns over the Biden administration’s misuse of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). America’s emergency energy stockpile is an instrument designed to protect our national security and respond to supply emergencies, not a political tool.

In part, Senator Cotton wrote:

“I write to express my concerns about the Biden administration’s actions related to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and its consequences for the U.S. government’s ability to respond to the illegal attacks by the Iranian regime in the Middle East.

The Biden administration released 180 million barrels from the SPR between April and October 2022 to suppress gas prices ahead of the midterm elections. That decision drained the reserve to a 40-year low. The decision to drain the SPR was not a response to a supply emergency; it was a deliberate political act designed to protect Democrats from the consequences of their own failed energy policies.”

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

March 11, 2026

Secretary Chris Wright

Secretary of Energy

U.S. Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue Southwest

Washington, D.C. 20024

Dear Secretary Wright,

I write to express my concerns about the Biden administration’s actions related to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and its consequences for the U.S. government’s ability to respond to the illegal attacks by the Iranian regime in the Middle East.

The Biden administration released 180 million barrels from the SPR between April and October 2022 to suppress gas prices ahead of the midterm elections. That decision drained the reserve to a 40-year low. The decision to drain the SPR was not a response to a supply emergency; it was a deliberate political act designed to protect Democrats from the consequences of their own failed energy policies.

This wasn’t the first time Democrats undermined the reserve. In 2020, they blocked the Trump administration’s effort to invest $3 billion in domestic petroleum for the SPR, calling it a “bailout” for the oil industry. Then, in January 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14008, which imposed a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and offshore waters. This executive order constrained domestic production while the administration was draining the reserve.

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint, with roughly 20 percent of the global petroleum liquids consumption moving through it in recent years. That is precisely why the SPR must be treated as a strategic national security asset, not a political tool.

I commend President Trump’s commitment to replenish the SPR and reestablish the principle that America’s emergency stockpile is an instrument designed to protect our national security. To better understand how Biden’s actions have impacted the SPR, I respectfully request answers to the following questions:

What would an investment of $3 billion in domestic petroleum for the SPR today provide compared to $3 billion in 2020? How would that investment in 2020 have impacted SPR levels today?

What effect did the Biden administration’s Executive Order 14008 have on domestic oil and gas supplies in 2021 and 2022? What impact did this have on overall domestic supplies that could be used to replenish the reserve?

I look forward to continuing our work together on this important matter.

Sincerely,

Tom Cotton

United States Senator

###


Sens. Cruz, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Hold China Accountable for Organ Harvesting and Human Rights Violations

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act. The bill imposes sanctions on those responsible for organ harvesting in China and directs the Secretary of State to report to Congress on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s organ harvesting policies and transplant system.

Sen. Cruz said, “The Chinese Communist Party operates a brutal, state-sponsored organ harvesting industry that targets people for their faith. The CCP has in particular targeted Falun Gong practitioners, committing assaults on religious liberty and fundamental human rights. The United States should hold accountable those who have committed these atrocities, I’m grateful to Senator Merkley for joining me in introducing this critical bipartisan legislation and urge our colleagues to expeditiously advance it.”

Sen. Merkley said, “China’s campaign of repression and human rights abuses continue to have horrific consequences, including reports of forced organ harvesting from vulnerable groups across the PRC. We must stand up for the victims of these crimes, and our bipartisan effort holds the Chinese government accountable for its abuses.”

Click here to read the full bill text.

BACKGROUND:

Falun Gong is a movement founded in the early 1990s by Li Hongzhi in China, which grew rapidly throughout the 1990s.

The CCP outlawed the movement in 1999 and sought to eliminate Falun Gong activity. The CCP has conducted mass arrests and torture of Falun Gong practitioners and detained thousands of practitioners in labor camps, subjecting some to forced organ harvesting. Those harvested organs are used in transplants within China and are trafficked overseas.


Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Colleagues in Pressing DOD for Answers on the School Bombing and Civilian Casualties in Iran

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) were joined by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 39 of their Senate colleagues today in pressing the Department of Defense for answers on the airstrikes on a school in Minab, Iran, that reportedly killed at least 168 people and the civilian casualties in the Trump Administration’s war on Iran.

“To be clear, the war against Iran is a war of choice without Congressional authorization. Nonetheless, as these military actions continue, the United States and Israel must abide by U.S. and international law, including the law of armed conflict,” the Senators wrote. “There must be a swift investigation into the strikes on this school and any other potential U.S. military actions causing civilian harm, and the findings must be released to the public as soon as possible, along with any measures to pursue accountability. The results of this school attack are horrific. The majority of those killed in the strikes were girls between the ages of 7 and 12 years old. Neither the United States nor the Israeli Government has yet taken responsibility for this attack.”

“There have also been reports of airstrikes that have hit multiple hospitals, cultural heritage sites, and other critical civilian infrastructure,” the Senators continued. “This includes the use of explosive weapons in major Iranian cities and populated areas, including the capital, Tehran, which is home to approximately 9 million people. As of March 10, 2026, there have been over 1,245 civilians killed and over 12,000 civilians injured in the war, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). Massive civilian casualty incidents like the attack in Minab are not only detrimental to the Iranian people, who have already suffered so much at the hands of its own government, but they also undermine U.S. national security interests. These concerns are compounded by the reported use of artificial intelligence tools to select and prioritize targets in Iran.”

In addition to Duckworth, Durbin, Van Hollen, Kaine, Warren, Schatz and Schumer the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Angus King (I-ME).

The full text of the Senators’ letter is available below and on the Senator’s website.

Secretary Hegseth,

We write with grave concern regarding the airstrikes on a girls’ elementary school that reportedly killed at least 168 people – mostly children – in Minab, Iran during the opening salvo of U.S. and Israeli operations on Iran on February 28. To be clear, the war against Iran is a war of choice without Congressional authorization. Nonetheless, as these military actions continue, the United States and Israel must abide by U.S. and international law, including the law of armed conflict. There must be a swift investigation into the strikes on this school and any other potential U.S. military actions causing civilian harm, and the findings must be released to the public as soon as possible, along with any measures to pursue accountability.

The results of this school attack are horrific. The majority of those killed in the strikes were girls between the ages of 7 and 12 years old. Neither the United States nor the Israeli Government has yet taken responsibility for this attack. On March 4, you acknowledged that the United States was looking into the strikes at the school, saying "all I know, all I can say, is that we're investigating that," but shared no information about a timeline for review nor a commitment to accountability. A New York Times analysis of available evidence suggests that U.S. forces most likely struck the school amid attacks on an adjacent Iranian naval base, despite satellite imagery showing that the building had been walled off from the military base and used as a school since at least 2016. And U.S. military investigators themselves reportedly believe that U.S. forces were likely responsible.

There have also been reports of airstrikes that have hit multiple hospitals, cultural heritage sites, and other critical civilian infrastructure. This includes the use of explosive weapons in major Iranian cities and populated areas, including the capital, Tehran, which is home to approximately 9 million people. As of March 10, 2026, there have been over 1,245 civilians killed and over 12,000 civilians injured in the war, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). Massive civilian casualty incidents like the attack in Minab are not only detrimental to the Iranian people, who have already suffered so much at the hands of its own government, but they also undermine U.S. national security interests. These concerns are compounded by the reported use of artificial intelligence tools to select and prioritize targets in Iran.

These civilian harm events are not taking place in a vacuum. As Secretary of Defense, you set the tone for U.S. military conduct, and your recent comments send a clear message of disregard for the laws of war. On March 3, you said that Operation Epic Fury would have “no stupid rules of engagement.” On March 4, you said while describing U.S. military operations in Iran that there will be “death and destruction from the sky all day long.” This rhetoric only serves to endanger civilians, including American citizens, in the region and around the globe. The United States is a party to the Geneva Conventions and bound by international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. These are binding and non-negotiable standards designed to protect innocent human life, and it is unacceptable for the Secretary of Defense to suggest otherwise.

Your comments reflect a broader pattern of policies abandoning the Defense Department’s commitment to minimizing civilian harm in U.S. military operations. Under this administration, budgetary and personnel cuts at the Department have robbed military commands of crucial resources to prevent and respond to civilian casualties, including at U.S. Central Command and the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, which supports commands in this work and was codified into law with bipartisan congressional support. You have also removed senior, nonpartisan Judge Advocate General (JAG) officers who provide essential legal guidance to U.S. service members, particularly regarding compliance with the law of armed conflict and U.S. policies aimed at reducing civilian harm. These actions, combined with your comments and the horrific reports of civilian casualties stemming from the war against Iran, suggest the administration has abandoned its duty to protect civilians.

We request answers to the following questions regarding the February 28 attack on the elementary school no later than March 18, 2026.

Did U.S. forces conduct the strikes that struck the girls’ school in Minab, Iran on February 28, 2026? If not, did the United States play any role in planning, coordinating, or supporting the strikes?

If U.S. forces carried out the strikes on the school, what was the intended target? What led to the errant strike? At what command level was authorization granted? What weapons and systems were used in the strikes?

What analysis was done to determine the purpose of the building? When was this analysis completed? What measures were implemented to reduce the risk of civilian casualties? What was the intended military objective? Were AI tools used in planning or executing these strikes?

What analysis, if any, led the U.S. military to conclude that the expected civilian harm would not be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated?

You said U.S. forces would follow "no stupid rules of engagement." Are you complying with rules to prevent the commission of war crimes? If so, what procedures are in place to implement those rules?

What steps has the U.S. military taken to prevent and mitigate civilian harm in its operational planning and targeting? Was a “no-strike list” established prior to the commencement of U.S. military operations in Iran?

Have any U.S. military operations in Iran utilized, or will any utilize, artificial intelligence tools, and if so, provide specifics of how they are being used and for what purpose? What human verification and redundancy policies are in place, if any, to evaluate the accuracy and legitimacy of AI-generated targets? Please provide a copy of any procedures service members use to verify AI-generated targets and recommend them for execution.

What role do civilian harm mitigation and response (CHMR) staff at CENTCOM play in operational planning and targeting? How has CENTCOM compensated for the reduction in resources dedicated to this effort, including the loss of dedicated civilian harm mitigation teams?

The U.S. has reported that it struck over 1,000 targets in just 24 hours. Given this volume, the compressed timeframe, and the presence of targets in populated areas, what steps and precautions has the U.S. taken to ensure compliance with the laws of war during these strikes? How has the U.S. implemented established CHMR policies and practices?

-30-


Duckworth Helps Lead Bipartisan Push to Increase Veterans’ Access to Benefits, Encourage Participation in Apprenticeship Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in leading a bipartisan push to increase access to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for Veterans pursuing apprenticeships. The Senators’ Reducing Arbitrary Barriers to Apprenticeship Act would allow Post-9/11 GI Bill beneficiaries pursuing On-the-Job Training (OJT) or Apprenticeship (APP) programs to have access to the full monthly housing allowance (MHA) amount without a semiannual reduction and without a monthly work hour requirement.

“When our Veterans hang up their uniform, they deserve our full support as they transition back into civilian life, and that includes cutting unnecessary red tape that makes it harder for them to access the benefits they’ve earned,” said Duckworth. “Our bipartisan legislation would support Veterans’ employment by making Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits more widely accessible to Veterans pursuing apprenticeship or on-the-job training, encouraging broader participation in these life-changing programs.”

In FY2022, more than 97,000 Veterans began using their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits—but only 2 percent of beneficiaries use their benefits to pursue an OJT or APP program. While there may be several factors contributing to Veterans opting to use their benefits for something else, extraneous requirements and lack of access to full GI Bill benefits for OJT and APP programs make these options cost-prohibitive for many Veterans.

Unlike Veterans pursuing a traditional four-year university, Veterans pursuing an APP program have their MHA reduced by 20 percent every six months. With most APP programs taking about two years, Veterans in these programs will finish their program, receiving just 20 percent of the MHA that other GI Bill beneficiaries receive while also not receiving any kind of tuition payment.

Further, those pursuing APP programs must complete at least 120 hours of work per month, or their MHA will be further prorated. These 120 hours do not include any classroom training completed by the Veteran, which can average 16-30 hours depending on the program. In some programs, 120 hours every month is not feasible, such as trade work that is seasonal in nature or if construction work is slow in that geographical area.

The full text of the bill is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

Throughout her tenure in Congress, Duckworth has been a fierce advocate for Veterans and has worked to increase their access to resources and programs aimed at helping them start and grow their careers when transitioning back to civilian life. Duckworth’s Veterans Small Business Enhancement Law is helping Veteran entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses by allowing Veteran small business owners to acquire equipment and personal property that the federal government no longer has a use for at little to no cost.

Duckworth has also pushed for hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to support apprenticeship programs in Illinois and across the country. Last year, she helped secure $285 million in Department of Labor (DOL) Apprenticeship Grants to support registered apprenticeship activities and encourage DOL to fund apprenticeship opportunities in local communities that have high rates of unemployment and high rates of community violence. The year prior, she announced nearly $20 million in funding for manufacturing and education apprenticeship programs in Illinois.

-30-


As Prices Continue To Rise, Durbin Condemns Trump Administration Policies That Continue To Hurt American Families

President Trump previously referred to the affordability crisis that Americans are feeling as a “hoax”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing the Trump Administration for disregarding Americans’ concerns with the rising costs of food, power, housing, health care, and more. President Trump has previously dismissed the affordability crisis we are facing in the U.S. as a “hoax.”

“Our job as elected officials is to give Americans a helping hand to afford these necessities. Sadly, the Administration has not learned that lesson. On President Trump’s watch, prices are up, and Americans are feeling the pain of his misguided policies,” said Durbin.

More than half of all Americans say President Trump has made the economy worse. In February, the economy lost 92,000 jobs.

Durbin continued, “Through chaotic tariffs, mass firings of federal employees, and cuts to federal energy grants, the President has left the economy in a weaker state than when he first came to office.”

On Monday, the price of oil rose to its highest point in years because of President Trump’s war with Iran. Yesterday, the average price at the pump was $3.50 a gallon—60 cents higher than the days leading up to the President’s strikes on Iran.

“It’s even worse for diesel, which saw prices skyrocket by more than a dollar a gallon this month. That means higher costs for farmers who grow food, and higher costs for shipping it. In less than two weeks, the President’s war wiped out a year of stable fuel prices, without any clear or coherent endgame. In fact, just yesterday the President lifted some sanctions on Russian oil in an ill-conceived attempt to lower gas prices. His sanctions relief will fund Putin’s war in Ukraine while at the same time Russia reportedly shares intelligence with Iran [that could harm] U.S. forces,” said Durbin. “This dizzying mess in the Middle East comes on the heels of one of the largest rises in utility rates ever recorded.”

Last year, electric and gas utility companies requested to raise their rates by nearly $31 billion— more than double the increase in 2024.

“Next to groceries, American people complain [electric bills are] their toughest bills to pay each month. What caused this large increase? The policies of the Trump Administration. The Trump Administration cut $8 billion in low-cost energy, clean energy, and grid enhancement grants. We had appropriated the money, we had it ready for distribution to lower the cost of energy into the grid in America, to reduce the utility bills, and the President stopped it. Why? Because one of his closest friends and supporters, a man named Harold Hamm, announced that he would give the President a billion dollars for his campaign if the President would stop the regulation of oil and gas,” Durbin continued.

The Trump Administration is making it harder to generate electricity. They also are allowing AI data centers to proliferate, with no consideration of their impact on energy demand. By the year 2030, the electricity demand of data centers is expected to increase by 350 percent. One estimate predicts we will need 100 gigawatts of new power generation to accommodate this growth. That is enough electricity to power 75 million homes.

“The President is weakening our electricity supply when demand is spiking—a recipe to make Americans pay more for their energy,” Durbin said. “Americans will not find any relief at the supermarket either. The prices of many groceries are at record highs.”

The cost of a pound of ground beef is up more than 20 percent from last year, orange juice is up 28 percent, coffee is up 33 percent, and prices on baby items have increased by an average of 24 percent.

Durbin said, “The President promised Republicans would be the party of working families. But instead, American parents have seen the cost of raising a family increase under this Administration. These higher costs are explained by President Trump’s tariffs, which made it harder for businesses in America to import food we cannot grow at home. And despite the Supreme Court striking down Trump’s tariffs as illegal—this Administration is doubling down...So, the next time you shop at the grocery store and see the prices even higher than when you shopped last week, remember that President Trump said, ‘affordability is a hoax.’”

Durbin concluded, “This Administration is becoming increasingly detached from the economic reality that American families face. Illinois families are telling me that they are afraid—afraid they may not be able to pay for those groceries, their power bills, or their rent. And for residents like those in incorporated McLean County, Illinois—some cannot even afford clean water. We must give them relief, and that requires ending the President’s disastrous economic policies.”

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

-30-


Bipartisan Group Of Senators Call For Independent Audit Of Epstein Files Redactions Protocol

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) called for an independent audit and report to Congress about the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) practices in redacting information of the public release of the Epstein Files.

Multiple reports have spotlighted DOJ’s failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act’s clear requirement to redact only information that protects victims’ privacy and national security and the law’s prohibition on redactions based on reputational harm or political sensitivity. Last year, Durbin released a whistleblower account revealing that FBI personnel were instructed in March 2025 to identify records mentioning President Trump.

In a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Senators asked the nonpartisan, independent agency to conduct the audit and report to Congress on the DOJ and Executive Branch’s redaction process and decisions.

The Senators wrote: “As Congress continues to seek justice for the victims of Epstein and his co-conspirators, GAO can offer an independent inquiry into the processes undertaken by DOJ in redacting and releasing these files—assessing DOJ’s due diligence and whether the release of these files has served to cover up child sexual abuse.”

The Senators concluded: “This horrific scandal is one where powerful, wealthy men groomed, abused, and raped young women, men, and children. It is critical to understand what led to DOJ’s failure to redact the victims’ information and re-victimize those individuals while violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act in its redactions of information related to their alleged abusers. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.

-30-


Durbin Calls On President Trump To Follow Through On Promise To Prevent Invasive Carp From Entering Great Lakes

In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin pressed the Trump Administration to lift the pause on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project after the President posted on social media about protecting the Great Lakes from invasive carp

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the Brandon Road Interbasin Project (BRIP) after President Trump posted via social media that he will work together with government officials from the Midwest to prevent invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about the necessity of moving the project forward after the Trump Administration halted progress on BRIP to conduct an “administrative review,” despite the project having been previously reviewed, authorized, and appropriated by Congress.

Durbin began by explaining the threat that invasive carp poses to Illinois’ waterways and the Great Lakes. Invasive carp have already entered the lower Mississippi River, spreading to tributaries, lakes, and reservoirs in the area, and traveling as far north as the Illinois River. If no action is taken to address the spread of invasive carp, the Great Lakes region will see the species invade waterways, harm native species, disrupt local ecosystems, and harm both commercial and recreational fishing. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with state and local partners, already spends nearly $70 million annually to control the invasive carp population.

“It [invasive carp] made its way into the Mississippi River and heading north… headed for Lake Michigan, the Great Lakes. It was then that they sounded an alarm and said that if this fish ever becomes commonplace in the Great Lakes, it will destroy it as a fishery and change it forever,” Durbin explained.

Durbin recounted working with local leaders and experts to prevent the invasive carp from accessing the Great Lakes. Ultimately, Durbin, government leaders from the Great Lakes region, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) developed BRIP to stem the flow of carp.

“I decided 23 years ago to call on the experts and ask them what can we do to stop it. They weren’t sure. They hadn’t faced a challenge like this in the past, but they made some suggestions,” Durbin said. “The good news is we tried a lot of things over the years, and we’ve been successful so far keeping the invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. There were people who were skeptical from the beginning that we could achieve that, but we did.”

“The measures we’re taking, the specific measures to protect the Great Lakes, depend on an infrastructure investment known as Brandon Road. Brandon Road is a stretch of the Illinois River in Illinois, the northern part of Illinois, which needs to have an accommodation made to make sure that the ships that are moving back and forth between the river and the Great Lakes aren’t carrying the fish into the Great Lakes area. It’s a massive investment,” Durbin said.

Yesterday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer met with President Trump, and following their meeting, the President posted about his support for addressing invasive carp. Durbin noted that while his public support is welcome, the Trump Administration must lift its hold on BRIP in order for the Army Corps to continue its critical work on the project. After the Trump Administration halted the project, Durbin led a letter to OMB Director Russ Vought urging him to allow work on BRIP to resume. Durbin has yet to receive a response to his letter. The Trump Administration has given no indication on when the pause could end.

“The President of the United States met with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer yesterday, and President Trump posted on Truth Social that he was now joining forces with us to stop this invasive species,” Durbin continued.

“The problem we have is the Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for building this facility. At the end of last year, the Trump Administration delayed the Brandon Road Interbasin Project for so-called ‘further review.’ The funding that was in place and was ready to be spent to protect the Great Lakes has been on hold. On January 15 of this year, I led a letter with Senator Duckworth, my colleague from Illinois, and the Michigan Senators, asking the Trump Administration to lift this review and pause so that we can get going forward with this project. We still have not received a response to that letter,” Durbin said.

Durbin concluded his speech by calling on the President to follow through on his promise to work with Great Lakes-area leaders to address invasive carp, and Durbin pressed for construction on BRIP to resume as soon as possible.

“Here’s the state of play. We have a new means, an effective means, to stop this fish from invading the Great Lakes. We need the approval of President Trump to make that happen. Yesterday, he promised that he would be part of the solution. Today, I’m asking him to really step forward. Make a call today—not tomorrow—make a call today to the Army Corps of Engineers to tell them you’re lifting this Trump Administration pause on the development of Brandon Road,” Durbin said.

“I believe this is a serious threat to the future of the Great Lakes. I am happy to have the President on board, but we need him to do something immediately to help us move forward,” Durbin concluded his speech.

Durbin has been a tireless advocate for the Brandon Road Project and finding a comprehensive approach to protecting the Great Lakes from the threat of invasive carp. Through previous Water Resources Development Acts, Durbin has secured authorization for design and construction of the Brandon Road Project, and in December 2024, Durbin successfully included a provision in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) to increase the federal cost share for the Brandon Road Project. Under the provision, the federal government will pay 90 percent of the operation and maintenance costs for Brandon Road after the project’s construction is complete, significantly lowering the costs of maintaining the infrastructure for Illinois.

In July 2024, Durbin applauded Illinois, Michigan, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for signing a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) regarding the Brandon Road Project, which was necessary to ensure that the Brandon Road Project moves forward and does not lose valuable federal funding for its construction.

Durbin also previously secured $225.8 million in construction funding for the project from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), $47.3 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 government funding bill, and $28 million in the FY26 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

Durbin was instrumental in forcing the release of the original Brandon Road Study, a draft plan that paved the way for the project, after the first Trump Administration stalled the report’s release.

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

-30-


Durbin Introduces Bill To Create Interagency Committee To Expand Oversight On For-Profit College Industry

The Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act will support efforts to improve enforcement of federal laws and regulations that hold for-profit colleges accountable to students and taxpayers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today reintroduced the Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act, legislation that will establish an interagency committee tasked with improving coordination of federal oversight of for-profit colleges to ensure that students are not scammed out of an education and into a mountain of debt. The bill would require the committee to publish an annual report, detailing enforcement actions taken against for-profit colleges across federal agencies. It also would require the committee to publish a For-Profit College Warning List for to help students and parents make informed decisions about their options for post-secondary education.

“Predatory for-profit colleges rake in billions in federal student aid but leave students drowning in debt with near-meaningless degrees. We must step in to provide the proper federal oversight to stop this industry from continuing to take advantage of students and taxpayers,” said Durbin. “By providing information about which colleges are known to take financial advantage of students, the Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act will give students the tools to make the best decision for the future of their education.”

The Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act would:

Task the committee with improving enforcement of federal laws and regulations and increasing accountability of for-profit colleges to students and taxpayers. The committee would be required to hold regular meetings as a group and with State Attorneys General and other stakeholders to coordinate federal and state activities related to for-profit school oversight;

Create an easily accessible complaint collection and tracking system for students, parents, and stakeholders to report misconduct in the for-profit college industry. This system would allow the committee to more easily share data with federal, state, and accrediting agencies;

Require the committee to publish a whole-of-government report on the for-profit college industry. The report would include federal oversight actions, student complaints, data on student outcomes, and financial information related to executive compensation, marketing, and other metrics; and

Require the committee to publish a For-Profit College Warning List for Parents and Students made up of schools that have engaged in illegal activities or for which there is sufficient evidence of widespread or systemic fraudulent or predatory practices.

The interagency committee would include officials from the Department of Education (the Department), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Internal Revenue Service.

While for-profit colleges enroll only eight percent of post-secondary students, they account for 30 percent of federal student loan defaults. Despite well-known misconduct, for-profit colleges received more than $15.54 billion in federal student aid in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Over the last decade, many of the most nefarious for-profit colleges, such as Corinthian Colleges, ITT Technical Institute, and Westwood College, collapsed under the weight of their own deceit. However, other bad actors in the for-profit college industry continue to prey on veterans, service members, low-income students, and students of color in marketing and recruitment efforts to access federal dollars. For-profit colleges use taxpayer dollars to fund their deceptive business models that line executives’ pockets and leave students holding the bag—often with a worthless degree or no degree at all.

Durbin has long been sounding the alarm against predatory for-profit colleges. Durbin’s continuous pressure on three presidential administrations was instrumental in securing the borrower defense group discharge of all remaining federal student loans for those who attended any campus owned or run by Corinthian Colleges, including 26,000 Illinois students. Similarly, Durbin’s repeated calls to discharge the student loans of former ITT Technical Institute and Westwood College attendees led to the Department’s widespread discharge of $3.9 billion and $1.5 billion in relief respectively for those impacted by the schools’ closures in 2016.

Each year, Durbin pens a letter to Illinois education professionals urging them to warn high school seniors about the dangers of attending for-profit colleges.

The bill has earned support from the American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Financial Reform, Center for Responsible Lending, Complete College America, National Association for College Admission Counseling, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Education Association, New America, Protect Borrowers, The Education Trust, The Institute for College Access & Success, UnidosUS, and Veterans Education Success.

-30-


Durbin Sits Down With Illinois Soybean Association

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with members of the Illinois Soybean Association and the American Soybean Association to discuss the severe downturn in the farm economy. Topics ranged from the importance of a full, five-year Farm Bill, strong crop insurance programs, and the financial harm caused by federal trade policies that have damaged the Chinese market for Illinois soybeans. The group also discussed increased expenses for diesel and fertilizer after U.S. military attacks on Iran and the standstill of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Today, I hosted the Illinois Soybean Association to discuss the state of the farm economy. I believe the Trump Administration has broken its promise to farmers. These tariffs, the President’s surprise war with Iran, his damage to the bipartisan Farm Bill coalition, abandoning E15 as a top priority, cutting USDA staff and research – every one of these actions have added up to make farming just too expensive,” Durbin said. “I will keep working to speak out on these decisions that harm Illinois agriculture and to support the polices that will return certainty and predictability to the farm economy.”

Photos of the meeting are available here.

-30-


Durbin Slams Senate Republicans For Blocking Bill To Fund TSA, FEMA, And More While DHS Funding Negotiations Continue

Republicans continue to reject Democrats’ commonsense reforms to ICE and CBP in the wake of the killing of American citizens

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, slammed Senate Republicans for blocking a bill that would fund every agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—except U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and the Office of the Secretary—while negotiations continue to rein in federal immigration agents. The Senate Democratic bill would fund the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other important DHS functions, but Senate Republicans objected to its passage.

“This is not the first time we made this offer to the Republicans,” Durbin said. “Last week, Senator Murray said let’s narrow this down to the items of debate and contention—the future of ICE and the future of the Border Patrol. But let’s fund everything else in that agency, so there’s no question that the men and women who work with TSA at the airports are going to be paid on time, the Coast Guard will be paid on time, and the other agencies that are separate and apart will be paid on time.”

Durbin continued, “Its been nearly a month since the shutdown started. Already it’s the third shutdown of President Trump’s second term—the third time. Why? Because the White House and my Republican colleagues refuse to consider reforms to ICE. Did you see the videos of what happened in Minneapolis with your own eyes? You don’t need my interpretation. You saw what happened to people there, protesting the activities of ICE, who ended up being shot and killed on the streets of Minneapolis. Is that something that we signed up for when we started this deportation effort?”

Durbin noted that President Trump has justified these militarized immigration enforcement operations as targeting the “worst of the worst”; however, DHS’s own statistics tell a different story. Reporting from CBS News shows that less than 14 percent of nearly 400,000 immigrants arrested by ICE agents in President Trump’s first year back in office had charges or convictions for violent criminal offenses.

Senate Democrats have continuously laid out their proposals to reform ICE and CBP. As part of those negotiations, Democrats are demanding the following common-sense measures: the end of roving patrols and indiscriminate arrests; upholding long standing, black-letter law that requires the use of a judicial warrant to enter someone’s home; a unified use of force policy to restore trust—one similar to what is already adhered to by local and state police departments around the country; and clear identification and the removal of masks to improve accountability.

“These are fundamental questions that relate to the Constitution, to the Bill of Rights, and to the laws of this land. We want to make sure that they’re followed, and that’s why we’re negotiating the future of ICE and Border Patrol,” Durbin said.

Durbin concluded, “The men and women of TSA should not be held hostage to our negotiation. Let’s get serious and get all the negotiating done. But in the meantime, let’s fund the agencies that are critical in this Department.”

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

-30-