NEWS RELEASE: Senator Moody Joins Senate Committee on Armed Services

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Ashley Moody released a statement following her selection to join the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services:

“It is an honor and a privilege to join the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. Florida has a deep and respected military culture, and as a member of a military family, every issue that comes before the Armed Services Committee is a personal one to me. I promise to be a voice of reason for our service members, Florida’s many military installations, and act in the best interest of our nation at all times,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

“I am pleased to announce that Senator Moody will be joining the Senate Armed Services Committee. Florida has a significant contribution to our military and Senator Moody brings a wealth of experience to this body’s critical work, and her addition comes at a consequential moment for our national defense. I look forward to working alongside her as we address a pivotal year for military budgeting, modernization, and industrial base expansion,” said Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee.

BACKGROUND:

Florida is home to more than 20 military installations, tens of thousands of active-duty personnel, and three combatant commands of SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM, and SOCOM.

The Sunshine State is also home to more than 1.5 million veterans, the third largest military veteran population in the nation.

Senator Moody has long fought for Florida’s military members. As Florida Attorney General, Moody oversaw the Military and Veterans Assistance Program to assist servicemembers, veterans and their families who encounter scams or fraud.

Last year, Senator Moody secured major funding for Florida’s military bases through her work on the National Defense Authorization Act, totaling over $851 million aimed to support shipbuilding, delivery of next-generation aircraft, and construction of Golden Dome missile defense.

Currently, Senator Moody serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Oversight, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, the Senate Aging Committee, and the Joint Economic Committee.

Senator Moody is proud to be part of a military family.

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VIDEO RELEASE: ICYMI Senator Moody Lambasts Democrats Over Continued DHS Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody this week took to the Senate Floor to demand Democrats stop their partisan antics and end the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

“We are now in week six of the ongoing DHS Shutdown because my Democrat colleagues want wide open borders and no deportations of anyone, period. They are furious that President Trump has closed the border and is now working to dig our nation out of the dangerous situation that Biden left us in. These Democrats are willing to jeopardize the safety of the American people at a time when we know Biden has released many on the terrorist watch list into our country and we are in a conflict with a regime that has vowed to destroy us. For the security of our country, we have to end the DHS shutdown,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

America is safer today than under the previous administration—under President Trump, DHS has provided the most secure border in American history.

Under Biden, approximately 85% of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border were released—under President Trump, the catch-and-release policy ended on Day One.

One report found that Biden allowed 18,000 known or suspected terrorists in the United States through the open border, increasing threats to our national security. DHS, under President Trump, is making huge progress in removing suspecting terrorists and arresting special interest aliens.

Under President Trump, DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services have located 145,000 unaccompanied children that the Biden administration lost.

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Sen. Moran Reintroduces Legislation to Create Clear Federal Standard for Consumer Data Privacy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – today reintroduced the Consumer Data Privacy and Security Act, legislation to strengthen the laws that govern consumers’ personal data and create clear standards and regulations for American businesses that collect, process and use consumers’ personally identifiable data.

“More and more Americans are recognizing the need for a clear federal standard for data privacy that guarantees them the ability to determine how their personal data is used,” said Sen. Moran. “U.S. consumers need to be able to count on strong baseline standards that businesses must uphold when collecting, processing and protecting their personally identifiable information. Without action from Congress, consumers will continue to be vulnerable to future threats against their personal data, and innovators and job creators will be plagued with regulatory uncertainty resulting from a growing patchwork of state laws. I urge my colleagues to support the Consumer Data Privacy and Security Act, and I look forward to receiving additional feedback on this legislation from consumers, industry leaders, and my colleagues in Congress as we strive to create a federal standard for comprehensive data privacy.”

The Consumer Data Privacy and Security Act would:

Establish a clear federal standard for data privacy protection – Gives businesses a uniform standard rather than a patchwork of confusing state laws.

Provide consumers with control over their own data – Makes certain consumers can access, correct and erase their personal data.

Create appropriately-scaled business requirements based on a company’s size and resources – Requires businesses that collect and process a significant amount of personal data to take extra precautionary steps to protect and responsibly process that data.

Require notification and consent measures – Prohibits companies from collecting data without consumers’ consent with limited and specific exceptions.

Implement robust security programs – Requires businesses to develop and implement robust data security programs to protect personal data from unauthorized access and disclosure.

Equip the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general – Provides these entities with authority to uniformly enforce federal consumer privacy protections while providing the FTC with the resources necessary to carry out those authorities.

An overview of this legislation can be found here.

A detailed section-by-section of this legislation can be found here.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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Sen. Moran Leads Colleagues in Requesting Briefing on Joint Task Force to Hold Perpetrators of Oct. 7 Attack Accountable

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science – this week led his colleagues in requesting that United States Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel convene a briefing on the Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF) to update Congress on efforts to investigate and prosecute terrorist networks such as Hamas. He was joined by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Risch (R-Idaho) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).

In light of the recent string of violent incidents and terror attacks with antisemitic motivations, the senators also requested the task force provide recommendations for legislative action to further strengthen efforts to identify terrorist support networks and monitor potential domestic radicalization.

“Ensuring that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to justice is a necessary step in not only upholding the rule of law but protecting American interests,” wrote the senators. “We write to express our strong support for the joint task force and to request a congressional briefing on its progress and future priorities. Specifically, we would appreciate additional information regarding the number of individuals or entities held accountable to date, the number of investigations currently underway, and any recommendations the task force may have for congressional action.”

“The events of October 7 underscored the ongoing and evolving nature of the global terrorist threat and the risks it poses to the United States, our allies, and our national security,” continued the senators. “In recent weeks, a series of violent incidents and terror attacks with antisemitic motivations or links to extremist rhetoric, both abroad and here at home, have further reinforced the urgency of this work.”

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

Dear Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel:

We write to commend the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for your leadership in responding to the October 7 terrorist attack and the global threats that followed. The effort to support regional stability and pursue accountability for those responsible reflects the strong attention with which this Administration has approached the aftermath of that attack.

We were particularly encouraged by the establishment of the Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF) in February 2025. Ensuring that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to justice is a necessary step in not only upholding the rule of law but protecting American interests. We write to express our strong support for the JTF and to request a congressional briefing on its progress and future priorities. Specifically, we would appreciate additional information regarding the number of individuals or entities held accountable to date, the number of investigations currently underway, and any recommendations the task force may have for congressional action.

The events of October 7 underscored the ongoing and evolving nature of the global terrorist threat and the risks it poses to the United States, our allies, and our national security. In recent weeks, a series of violent incidents and terror attacks with antisemitic motivations or links to extremist rhetoric, both abroad and here at home, have further reinforced the urgency of this work. While these incidents may not be directly connected to one another or to October 7, they reflect a broadening threat environment. The coordination among federal law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and state and local partners in response to these threats demonstrates the strength of our institutions when they work together toward a common goal. When fully utilized, these partnerships can disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks such as Hamas.

We are encouraged by the task force’s focus on identifying terrorist support networks, monitoring potential domestic radicalization, and holding those who provide aid or resources to extremist organizations accountable under U.S. law. The arrest of Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi in Lafayette, Louisiana, for his alleged involvement in the Hamas-led attack highlights the reach and importance of this work.

The JTF serves an important role in targeting the areas where the United States has the greatest leverage: cutting off financing, disrupting logistical networks, enforcing legal accountability, and coordinating with international partners. Although Hamas operates primarily overseas, it depends on transnational networks for funding, propaganda, and legitimacy, all of which intersects with U.S. financial systems and jurisdictions. Through coordinated prosecutions, asset seizures, and intelligence sharing, the task force can directly degrade the operational capacity of Hamas and other terrorist networks and discourage future assistance.

Please know you have our continued support as you advance this mission and ensure the necessary resources are deployed. The men and women of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation perform difficult work on behalf of the American people, and their commitment in the wake of October 7 deserves recognition.

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Moreno, Baldwin Call for Offshoring Investigation, Targeted Tariffs to Revitalize Manufacturing

WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick calling for a Section 232 investigation into the offshoring of American jobs to Mexico by heavy equipment manufacturers. The senators also called for upcoming renegotiations to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to crack down on loopholes that currently allow companies to take advantage of cheap foreign labor.

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

Read the full letter HERE or below.

March 26, 2026

The Honorable Howard Lutnick

Secretary of Commerce

U.S. Department of Commerce

14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20230

Dear Secretary Lutnick:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you for attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

BERNIE MORENO

United States Senator


Murkowski, Murray Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Youth Homelessness

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Youth Homelessness Demonstration Act. This legislation would authorize $105 million for HHS’s Administration for Children and Families (ACF) aimed at tackling youth homelessness by investing in prevention strategies and community-based solutions. The funding would be used to create two new grant programs that would address the conditions that contribute to youth homelessness and provide effective resources and support for young people as well as upstream interventions that help reduce the likelihood that young people will experience homelessness in the first place— for example, a resource helpline, casework management, or support groups for youth or young adults and their families who are at risk of homelessness.

This legislation will build off the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program she helped establish in 2016—and has successfully fought to secure funding for every year since—by addressing the conditions that contribute to youth homelessness and providing effective resources and support for young people and families who need them most.

“Better equipping local leaders to take a comprehensive approach to addressing youth homelessness in Alaska and around the country must be a priority,” said Senator Murkowksi. “The grant programs established through this legislation will give communities both the resources and the mechanisms to understand the root causes of youth homelessness and work upstream to identify and implement prevention measures to keep young people housed, safe, and supported.”

“No one should be homeless in America but especially not our kids—this is an issue Republicans and Democrats can come together on to make sure all of our kids have a safe place to call home,” said Senator Murray. “That’s why I’m working across the aisle to create these new grant programs that address the root causes of youth homelessness head on. We know what works. If our communities have the resources they need, we can prevent youth homelessness. I will not stop fighting to make sure we have the resources we need to ensure every young person has a roof over their head.”

"For 37 years Covenant House Alaska has been the safe haven for youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking due to systems failure, unfortunate family circumstances, and a host of other reasons that made the street their final attempt to escape what were unimaginable situations. For the past two and a half years and for the foreseeable future we, along with support from our federal delegation, our local provider partners and our amazingly dedicated staff, will be focused on preventing young people in Alaska from ever being or feeling afraid of being homeless and the horrible experiences that inevitably set in motion years of insecurity and disfunction. We aim to end youth homelessness as we know it and our first full attempt in the form of a demonstration project has shown us that this is possible,” said Alison Kear, Chief Executive Officer, Covenant House Alaska.

“Youth homelessness is preventable, but only if communities have dedicated resources to identify young people at risk and connect them with effective support. SchoolHouse Connection is proud to endorse this legislation and thanks Senators Murray and Murkowski for their leadership on this critical issue. This bill reflects an important understanding: preventing youth homelessness requires targeted investment in upstream interventions, strong local partnerships, and a real federal commitment to helping young people and families achieve stability before they enter crisis,” said Barbara Duffield, Executive Director, SchoolHouse Connection.

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Senator Murphy on Fairly Compensating College Athletes: I See It As Our Mission to Save College Sports

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday served as Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, Don't Fumble Their Future: Positioning Student-Athletes for Success in School and Beyond. During the hearing, Murphy blasted a multi-billion-dollar college sports industry which corruptly funnels the majority of profits to coaches and NCAA executives rather than student athletes. Murphy argued the corporate exploitation of college athletes is an existential threat to the college sports system and advocated for reforms that ensure fair compensation and put athletes first.

Murphy is one of the U.S. Senate’s most strident advocates for the rights and fair compensation of college athletes. Earlier this Congress, he reintroduced the College Athlete Right to Organize Act (CARO), legislation to codify the right of college athletes to unionize and collectively bargain for fair compensation and better working conditions, and the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act to expand and codify the right of college athletes to be fairly compensated for the use of their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). He also introduced the Fair Play for Women Act, a bill to promote fairness in participation opportunities and institutional support for women's and girls' sports programs.

Murphy opened the hearing by celebrating college sports’ central role in American culture: “Fandom brings together people across political and cultural spectrums to root for their local team. College sports is a unifying exercise in our country and it is a part of what's great about America. But greed and big business is threatening the college sports model, especially those big money making sports like football and basketball. The model has become extractive and explicated… I see it as our mission to save college sports.”

He warned college sports will not survive without serious reforms to compensate athletes fairly: “In no other billion-dollar industry in America are wages controlled so vigorously and unfairly for the most valuable employees. High-value athletes who labor under a system of collusion and wage suppression are not going to do it for much longer. Either the top performing players are going to abandon college athletics, which is already happening to an extent in college basketball, or the Supreme Court is going to eventually rule that the system is illegal and unconstitutional.”

Murphy made his case against the SCORE Act: “The SCORE Act, which is in the House now, is an effort to put the big schools back in a position where they can collude and wage suppress. It fails to require Title IX compliance which mandates equitable treatment for female athletes, it bars players from being considered employees, and grants the NCAA a blanket antitrust exemption. It wouldn't solve the problem because it would permanently push the highest valued athletes out of college sports and I think that would just diminish the experience for everyone. I also don’t think it would pass. Over a dozen organizations have come out against it, including the Congressional Black Caucus.”

Calling out the NCAA’s continued exploitation of the student athletes driving multi-billion-dollar revenues, he continued: “They want a fig leaf to pacify athletes: some compensation, but far less than what they are worth, so that the adults, the high earning coaches, the sports industry CEOs, and others can keep their position of primacy as the primary monetary beneficiaries in a corrupt system.”

He emphasized the NIL system is not workable in the long-term: “Let me be clear, the current system that we have now - the nontransparent NIL deals, secret booster collectives, players moving teams every year - it's not worth defending either. It is better for the athletes than the old system, but it's also not working.”

A full transcript of Murphy’s opening remarks is available below. You can watch the entire opening statement here.

Senator Murphy: Thank you very much Mr. Chairman, good to sit next to you at this very important hearing, really appreciate your willingness to put this hearing on. It is important for this committee to exercise, as you note, our jurisdiction over this really critical issue. Like you, I'm a huge college sports fan and I’m a huge college basketball fan, in particular. My state stops on weeks like this to follow the men's and women's teams in the tournament. Much of my life has been shaped by playing and watching sports. I wasn't good enough to play in college, but I would not have needed to be paid. I would have paid to play sports in college. That is how important it was to me in my upbringing. So, what I see is that our mission is to save college sports. Because there is so much good that comes from it.

Senator Cassidy, you talked about the athletes who get so much from their participation - lives are changed. But I also think about the way that fandom brings together people across political and cultural spectrums to root for their local team. College sports is a unifying exercise in our country, it’s a part of what's great about America. But greed and big business, it’s threatening the college sports model, especially in those big money making sports like football and basketball. The model has become extractive and exploitative. In no other billion-dollar industry in America are wages controlled so vigorously and unfairly for the most valuable employees. High-value athletes who labor under a system of collusion and wage suppression are not going to do it for much longer.

Either the top performing players are going to abandon college athletics - and that’s already happening to an extent in college basketball - or the Supreme Court is going to eventually rule that the system is illegal and unconstitutional. In the unanimous 9-0 Alston decision, Brett Kavanaugh, conservative justice, said ‘nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate.’ I know the solution that the NCAA and its most powerful schools want: is for us to just pass legislation that limits the ability for the highest value athletes to earn a fair market rate - exactly what the unanimous Supreme Court decision said was so wrong about college athletics. They want a fig leaf to pacify athletes: some compensation, but far less than what they are worth, so that the adults, the high earning coaches, the sports industry CEOs, and others can keep their position of primacy as the primary monetary beneficiaries in a corrupt system.

Let's just put all of our cards on the table here: part of what makes this corrupt is that this is an economically unfair system but it is also a question of civil rights. It shouldn’t be lost on anybody that the people who make the most money off of continued wage restrictions would be white male adults and the people who would lose the most are young, black, athletes. The SCORE Act, which is in the House now, is an effort to put the big schools back in a position where they can collude and wage suppress. It fails to require Title IX compliance which mandates equitable treatment for female athletes, it bars players from being considered employees, and grants the NCAA a blanket antitrust exemption. It wouldn't solve the problem because it would permanently push the highest valued athletes out of college sports and I think that would just diminish the experience for everyone. I also don’t think it would pass. Over a dozen organizations have come out against it, including the Congressional Black Caucus.

Two final things: First, I do hope we talk about the impact on the so-called Olympic sports and women's sports. I acknowledge that is a really important issue here. But personally, I suspect that it's a red herring to suggest that there isn’t enough money in the existing system to be able to both fairly compensate the highest value athletes in the high revenue sports and continue high-level college athletics in the other sports and for women. I think that sounds like a scare tactic to try to preserve the current system in which the very rich folks stay very rich. And lastly, let me be clear, that the current system that we have now - the nontransparent NIL deals, secret booster collectives, players moving teams every year - that's not worth defending either. It is better for the athletes than the old system, but it's also not working.

Now, I've introduced legislation that would create college players associations, so that the athletes can just negotiate directly with the schools and frankly keep Congress out of micromanaging college sports. I think that's the best way forward. But I do submit that we need to fix what was wrong with the old system but also what’s wrong with the existing system. And that is why I think this hearing is so timely and so important.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for allowing me to join you on the dais this morning.


Murray, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Preventing Youth Homelessness Demonstration Act to Address Root Causes of Youth Homelessness

New legislation led by Murray would authorize $105 million per year to prevent youth homelessness; Murray has funded this effort through appropriations for the last several years, this bill would formally establish those grant programs and help ensure their long-term continuity

Senator Murray has a long history of advocating for homeless youth, particularly as the former chair of the Senate Education Committee

Murray secured tens of millions in federal funding this year to support homelessness prevention efforts across Washington state

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Youth Homelessness Demonstration Act. This legislation would authorize $105 million for HHS’s Administration for Children and Families (ACF) aimed at tackling youth homelessness by investing in prevention strategies and community-based solutions. The funding would be used to create two new grant programs that would address the conditions that contribute to youth homelessness and provide effective resources and support for young people as well as upstream interventions that help reduce the likelihood that young people will experience homelessness in the first place— for example, a resource helpline, casework management, or support groups for youth or young adults and their families who are at risk of homelessness.

Murray’s new legislation will build off the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program she helped establish in 2016—and has successfully fought to secure funding for every year since—by addressing the conditions that contribute to youth homelessness and providing effective resources and support for young people and families who need them most.

“No one should be homeless in America but especially not our kids—this is an issue Republicans and Democrats can come together on to make sure all of our kids have a safe place to call home,” said Senator Murray. “That’s why I’m working across the aisle to create these new grant programs that address the root causes of youth homelessness head on. We know what works. If our communities have the resources they need, we can prevent youth homelessness. I will not stop fighting to make sure we have the resources we need to ensure every young person has a roof over their head.”

“Better equipping local leaders to take a comprehensive approach to addressing youth homelessness in Alaska and around the country must be a priority,” said Senator Murkowksi. “The grant programs established through this legislation will give communities both the resources and the mechanisms to understand the root causes of youth homelessness and work upstream to identify and implement prevention measures to keep young people housed, safe, and supported.”

“Youth homelessness is preventable, but only if communities have dedicated resources to identify young people at risk and connect them with effective support. SchoolHouse Connection is proud to endorse this legislation and thanks Senators Murray and Murkowski for their leadership on this critical issue. This bill reflects an important understanding: preventing youth homelessness requires targeted investment in upstream interventions, strong local partnerships, and a real federal commitment to helping young people and families achieve stability before they enter crisis,” said Barbara Duffield, Executive Director, SchoolHouse Connection

“For 37 years Covenant House Alaska has been the safe haven for youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking due to systems failure, unfortunate family circumstances, and a host of other reasons that made the street their final attempt to escape what were unimaginable situations. For the past two and a half years and for the foreseeable future we, along with support from our federal delegation, our local provider partners and our amazingly dedicated staff, will be focused on preventing young people in Alaska from ever being or feeling afraid of being homeless and the horrible experiences that inevitably set in motion years of insecurity and disfunction. We aim to end youth homelessness as we know it and our first full attempt in the form of a demonstration project has shown us that this is possible,” said Alison Kear, Chief Executive Officer, Covenant House Alaska

Senator Murray has consistently worked to address Washington state’s homelessness and affordable housing crises and has fought for federal investments to make sure every young person has a roof over their head. In February of this year, Senator Murray secured $5 million for the youth homelessness prevention demonstration program, a $1 million increase—based on her proposal. This program allocates grants to state, local, and Tribal governments and non-profit community-based organizations to provide primary prevention services for youth at risk of homelessness. Murray has funded this program for the last several years without an authorization—by passing her new bipartisan bill, the grant programs would be formally established and help ensure their long-term continuity.

Last month, Senator Murray secured an historic $7.2 billion increase for HUD in Fiscal Year 2026, protected rental assistance and programs that tackle homelessness from drastic cuts by Trump, sustained $107 million in new investments to expand housing and service options for youth experiencing homelessness, and secured millions of dollars for affordable housing projects across Washington state. In 2022, Murray introduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act to remove barriers and provide support to help students experiencing homelessness succeed in higher education.

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Murray, Warren, Ocasio-Cortez, Scott Establish Child Care for America Working Group to Lower Costs, Deliver Child Care for Every American Family

As momentum for child care grows across country, Democrats lead charge in Congress

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), longtime leaders on child care, along with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) and Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), established a new working group as the latest major push in Democrats’ fight to lower costs and deliver child care for every American family. The Child Care for America working group will bring Democratic members of Congress together to coordinate broad support for landmark child care legislation.

“Trump wants to spend our taxpayer dollars on a war with Iran that no one asked for—I want to make affordable child care a reality for every family in America,” said Senator Murray. “There’s a split screen in Congress right now: Republicans want to burn money on tax cuts for billionaires and regime change wars—Democrats want to lower the cost of basics like child care for families here at home. I’m linking arms with my colleagues to deliver a proposal that Americans everywhere can get behind to finally fix child care in America. Americans deserve a more hopeful vision for the future than the Republican plan for government that just funds endless wars and cuts food stamps. Government can do good things to make life better for our families—let’s finally make high-quality, affordable child care accessible for every working family.”

“Delivering high-quality child care is one of the best tools we have to make life more affordable for families. In the richest nation in the world, we should invest in child care like public infrastructure — not treat it like a privilege reserved for only the wealthiest Americans,” said Senator Warren. “Democrats are leading the charge on lowering costs and delivering child care for every American family.”

“It is time that we deliver on our promise to give working families the quality, affordable child care that they deserve. That is why I am proud to stand beside my colleagues to build a vision for the future of affordable child care for all Americans,” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez.

“Our economy forces too many workers to choose between their jobs and caring for their children. Let’s be clear. The child care crisis cannot be solved without sustained public funding. We must expand access to affordable, quality early learning opportunities, provide child care workers with the support they deserve, and give parents the freedom to pursue rewarding careers and contribute to our economic growth,” said Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce.

The working group will be guided by the following principles:

Affordability: Family costs must be predictable and affordable, with payments capped at no more than 7 percent of income, free child care for families with the lowest incomes, and guaranteed access with no waiting lists.

Child Care as Public Infrastructure: Federal funding must expand and stabilize child care supply, support safe facilities, and ensure resources meet all families where they are.

Boosting Worker Pay: Child care workers must be paid fairly and supported as professionals, with living wages, access to benefits, paid leave, retirement, and professional development.

High Quality and Accountability: Federal responsibility must be clear and enforceable, with the federal government covering at least 90 percent of system costs and having the ability to directly support localities when states fail to act, bolstered by strong reporting, oversight, and accountability standards.

Accessibility: The child care system must meet families where they are, with support for nontraditional hours, inclusive care for children with disabilities and developmental needs, language access, culturally responsive services, and full-day, full-year integration with Head Start and Early Head Start.

Urgent Implementation: The federal government must provide investments and support to ensure the child care supply scales up rapidly and addresses the immediate affordability crisis.

The new working group comes as momentum grows across the country for real progress on child care, as families face rising costs and limited access. Child care now averages more than $13,000 per year—up 29 percent since 2020—and in most states costs more than rent for many families, even exceeding in-state college tuition.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani successfully campaigned on free child care, and one of his very first actions in office was to announce a plan to introduce universal child care for New York children under five. Last year, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the state would make child care free. Earlier this year, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie launched his Family Opportunity Agenda, which will ensure that every San Francisco family with children under five years old has access to child care.

Both New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill — previous House lead of Sen. Warren’s child care bill — and Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger won competitive elections after pledging to increase access to child care.

Lowering child care costs is both good policy what the American people want. In November, Democratic operative James Carville wrote in a New York Times op-ed: “When 70 percent of Americans and say raising children is too expensive, we should not fear making universal child care a public good.” And Democratic operative David Plouffe recently asserted that “establish[ing] universal child care” should be part of the party’s 2028 platform.

Independent polling shows that voters across the political spectrum say child care is unaffordable. Seventy-two percent of Republican voters said increasing federal funding for child care was an important priority, along with 70 percent of political independents and 90 percent of Democrats.

The Trump administration has worked to rip away child care funding and support for families, including with recent efforts to freeze federal funds for child care and family assistance in five states over debunked claims of potential fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds.

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Senate Advances Padilla, Cornyn Bill to Protect Americans From Russian Litigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced their Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act. The bipartisan legislation would protect American companies that have been unfairly targeted in foreign jurisdictions, particularly Russian courts, for their good faith compliance with U.S. sanctions and export controls following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“As Putin continues his war on Ukraine, we cannot let Russia exploit American courts for retaliatory lawsuits against companies complying with U.S. sanctions and export controls,” said Senator Padilla. “Whether it’s Russia today or another foreign adversary tomorrow, shielding American companies from legal harassment at home and abroad is a commonsense, bipartisan priority that defends our national security and protects the effectiveness of our sanctions regime. Today’s committee passage is an important first step, and I will keep working with Senator Cornyn to ensure this fix becomes law.”

“American companies who rightfully stopped doing business in Russia following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine should not be punished or subjected to Russian lawfare,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would close a legal loophole that has been abused by Russian courts to unfairly target American businesses for complying with U.S. sanctions meant to weaken Putin’s war regime and ensure our corporations are not held liable for Russia’s actions.”

In response to Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the United States imposed sanctions and export controls on Russia. Acting in good faith, U.S. companies wound down their operations and ceased work in Russia to comply with these measures. As a result, numerous suits have been brought against U.S. companies in Russian courts, with some facing hundreds of millions of dollars in potential damages. Russia has sought to enforce these judgments in other jurisdictions.

American businesses should not be punished for complying with U.S. sanctions and export controls. This legislation protects American businesses by ensuring that such retaliatory judgments cannot be enforced against them in U.S. courts.

The House Judiciary Committee also advanced companion legislation today, further highlighting the importance of this bipartisan, bicameral legislation.

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Senate Unanimously Passes Padilla Bill to Expand the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the Senate unanimously passed his legislation to expand and improve the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The bill would allow the National Park Service to acquire the 896-acre Scarper Ridge property in San Mateo County adjacent to Rancho Corral De Tierra, a 3,858-acre site which is already managed by the Park Service.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives. It previously passed the Senate by unanimous consent in December 2024, but was not passed by the House by the end of the 118th Congress. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is cosponsoring the legislation, and Representative Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the most popular urban parks in the world, flush with rich biodiversity, extensive military artifacts, and stunning recreational opportunities,” said Senator Padilla. “Expanding the park’s boundary to incorporate the Scarper Ridge property would allow the National Park Service to help protect critically threatened and endangered plants and wildlife, while connecting public lands and hiking trails for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. I’m proud to see the Senate unanimously move my legislation forward and urge my colleagues in the House to swiftly pass the bill.”

“Scarper Ridge’s breathtaking coastal vistas deserve protection so future generations can experience their beauty,” said Representative Liccardo. “I’m grateful to Senator Padilla for his partnership in getting this bill across the finish line in the Senate—and I’m ready to get the job done in the House.”

“We are grateful to Senator Padilla, Senator Schiff, and Congressman Liccardo for continuing the work started by Congresswoman Eshoo to expand and improve the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on the San Mateo County Coast. Over a decade ago, POST purchased this remarkable 896-acre property and has long hoped it would be incorporated into the Rancho Corral de Tierra landscape. With unique habitats and opportunities for public trails, we’re thrilled to see this legislation move forward. Having champions like Senator Padilla who understand the importance of protecting biodiverse coastal areas like these is vital to ensuring all Californians can enjoy these magnificent lands forever,” said Gordon Clark, President of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST).

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area consists of more than 80,000 acres of diverse properties managed by the National Park Service across three Bay Area counties that include historic sites, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and open space for outdoor recreation. In addition to famous landmarks like Alcatraz Island and the Presidio of San Francisco, the park includes hundreds of acres of open space in San Mateo County.

Padilla previously secured language in the FY 2023 appropriations package to allow the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to move forward on construction of a seawall and other permanent structures on federal land managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to protect critical infrastructure and recreational space from climate change and sea level rise.

A map of the proposed expansion is available here.

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WATCH: Padilla Leads Charge to Successfully Block Another SAVE America Act Push

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, issued the following statement after leading Democrats’ efforts to successfully block Republicans’ voter suppression amendment to advance the SAVE America Act, marking a key defeat as President Trump and Republicans’ try to ram their anti-voter bill through the Senate ahead of the midterm elections:

“No matter how Republicans try to spin it, the SAVE America Act is a voter suppression bill, plain and simple. It is a desperate, un-American attempt to avoid accountability in the next election — even Donald Trump admits the goal is to ‘guarantee the midterms.’

“As this Administration drives up the cost of health care, groceries, gas, and energy bills, Congress should be focused on the cost of living for American families. Instead, Republicans chose to spend the last two weeks debating a bill to make it harder for eligible Americans to register to vote, stay registered to vote, and cast their ballot.

“Democrats are committed to defending the American people’s fundamental right to vote. And if Republicans choose to continue their effort, Democrats will continue fighting Donald Trump’s election ‘takeover’ bill every day, tooth and nail, as long as it takes.”

Before the vote, Ranking Member Padilla held the Senate floor for a third time, leading Democrats’ continued fight to defeat Trump’s attempted election “takeover” bill.

Today’s vote was Senate Republicans’ most significant attempt to advance the bill after beginning debate on March 17. Senator Jon Husted’s (R-Ohio) amendment to the SAVE America Act — which Democrats defeated — threatened to disenfranchise millions of eligible Americans in an election year through a backdoor ban on mail-in voting, and would have blocked common forms of voter ID like federal and state agency IDs, student IDs, and Tribal IDs that many Republican-led states currently allow. The amendment was nearly identical to the underlying provision in the broader SAVE America Act, which also undermines widely-used voter registration methods, and requires all states to hand over their unredacted voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security, potentially leading to voter purges. If enacted, the bill would be effective immediately, throwing state and local election administration into chaos.

Video of Padilla’s floor speech is available here.

A full transcript of Padilla’s remarks is below.

Remarks as delivered:

I rise in opposition to the amendment that we’re going to be voting on shortly. But I want to begin by sharing that I’m a little confused, not to the substance of the amendment, but to the process.

I think we just heard a few minutes ago, the Majority Leader suggest that it was going to be a clean vote on a voter ID measure when, as I see it, it is a standalone amendment with language that’s already in the underlying bill. It’s also language that’s in a substitute amendment as well.

So I understand there’s some showmanship and theatrics going on here. Let me talk, before I talk about the substance of the bill, let me make one other observation as to what is and what isn’t happening here.

As prices are going up for families across the country — we’ve talked about it so many times — health care costs, grocery bills, price at the pump, we’re not focusing or debating ideas on how to bring down costs for working families. Instead, we’ve now spent two weeks debating a bill that would make it harder for eligible Americans to register to vote, to stay registered to vote, and to cast their ballot. How un-American and how un-democratic that is.

Another observation. As we are going back and forth on negotiations for how to restore funding for TSA and the Coast Guard and FEMA and CISA, we’re not talking about that right here and now. We’re spending even more time now on an amendment to an amendment to a bill, where the language is already there, on a bill that the American people do not support.

So let’s get to the substance. Now, throughout this debate, so many of my Republican colleagues have chosen to focus on the topic of voter ID. To be clear, we’ll always strive for free and fair elections, and of course, we want to make them safe and secure, and indeed, they already are. Report after report, study after study, audit after audit shows that the rate of voter fraud is exceedingly, exceedingly rare.

And so what does that tell us? It tells us that existing laws, existing safeguards, are working. To suggest otherwise is fundamentally inaccurate.

A simple way of saying this, it’s a lie. It’s a Big Lie, a Big Lie that’s been used as a pretext for so many bad things in this country coming out of this Administration. What this bill would do — excuse me, the amendment to the amendment to the bill, same language.

What this effort would do is block common forms of IDs: veterans IDs — veteran, service members can’t use that ID after their service and sacrifice to our nation. Sorry, that’s not enough to allow you to exercise your right to vote. Student IDs also not good enough. Tribal IDs without expiration dates. Some do, many do not have expiration dates on their tribal IDs. That’s not enough to allow you to participate in our democracy even though you are eligible.

But wait, there’s more. This so-called voter ID amendment would also impose new requirements on the tens of millions of Americans who choose or rely on voting by mail.

The Majority Leader also suggested that, well, through this amendment, it’s simply a requirement to show a voter ID at the polls. As I read the bill, it’s very clear: this would result in requiring voters to include a photocopy of their ID with their mail ballot. This is a new, additional, and unnecessary obstacle to a very popular form of voting.

How popular? In the 2024 election, 48 million voters chose to vote by mail. And in case you missed the breaking news a couple of days ago, President Trump once again voted by mail in the special election in Florida.

So what, is it good enough for the President, but not good enough for the rest of us? Secure enough for the President, but not secure enough for the American people?

Think about what a voter would have to go through with this new requirement. Okay, you have your ID, now you got to go find a copy machine because most people don’t have a copy machine at home, include a copy of your ID along with your ballot.

And we’ve been telling people, because of so many frauds and scams that are common, to protect their personal information, be careful with it. And now we’re saying, let’s add copies of our ID and put it into the mail. Give me a break.

This is not a requirement in Ohio or in Florida or Texas or South Dakota — not even in Utah, where voting by mail is very popular, and states that have voter ID, this is not a requirement in those states. So why is it now so urgent and necessary to impose this on voters across the country?

The more I think about it, the more it’s clear: this is an ongoing concerted effort to make it harder for people to vote.

Now we’ve seen what happens when strict voter ID requirements are imposed in our elections. We don’t have to speculate. We’ve seen what’s happened in New Hampshire. I spoke to that experience a few days ago here on the floor. We’ve seen what’s happened in the state of Kansas. I spoke to that on the floor of the Senate just a few days ago.

That’s the real-world impact of policies and proposals like this: making it harder for eligible Americans to vote.

And it also threatens to throw this year’s elections into chaos, because if this were to pass and this president signed it into law, this law would go into effect immediately. It’s not just about the November midterm elections; there’s primary elections that are already underway.

So how do you implement that with no transition period, no additional resources to help state and local governments actually implement the new requirements of the law. You’re going to require a voter ID, but not create a mechanism for all eligible voters to obtain a free, easily available ID so that they don’t lose their right to vote.

And all this is being done without the most basic level of review. That’s right: what’s before us has not had a hearing in either the House of Representatives or here in the Senate, no input from state and local elections officials who actually administer elections. You don’t overhaul election systems this fundamentally without hearing from elections officials and experts in this field, and you don’t do it in the middle of an election cycle.

That’s just some of the reasons why Democrats have been so determined for weeks now, coming here to the floor every single day fighting this bill tooth and nail, because we are committed to defending our fundamental right to vote in the United States of America, and we’ll continue coming here to speak and do everything in our power to stop this Donald Trump election “takeover” bill.

Now, President Trump’s been very clear as to why he wants this bill to pass. This bill is about one thing and one thing only: helping his party win this November’s midterm elections and elections for the next 50 years. That’s how he’s described it. The need and the urgency to hold on to power.

And this bill is about more than just voter ID. This bill would ban voter registration drives. Voter registration drives in communities, on college campuses every election cycle — gone, banned, eliminated.

This bill would also force states to hand over to the Department of Homeland Security the sensitive information of every voter in America, which would result in voter purges. Again, not speculating — it’s happening already.

And before anyone suggests that this is a partisan issue, oh Democrats are just opposed to it because it’s a blue state versus red state thing, not true. More than half a dozen states led by Republicans are refusing to comply with the Administration’s demand that they hand over their voter rolls.

Colleagues, this is a voter suppression bill, plain and simple. The effect of it would be that fewer people participate in our democracy.

We should be working to have more people participate. We can, and we do while keeping it safe and secure. This bill takes us in the wrong direction. This bill means more barriers for working families, for seniors, for students, and others. It means a step backwards at a time where we should be making participation easier, not harder.

Colleagues, it’s our responsibility and a powerful obligation to protect the right to vote in America, and if you’re willing to live up to that, join me. I urge you all: vote “no” on this amendment.

Thank you, Mr. President, I yield.

Padilla has led the charge opposing President Trump and Republicans’ reckless attempts to restrict the right to vote. Last week, Padilla joined leading voting rights advocates and impacted voters from across the country at the Capitol to push back against the anti-voter SAVE America Act. Padilla also took to the Senate floor twice last week to lead the opposition to the bill. Padilla, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Representative Joe Morelle (N.Y.-25), and voting rights advocates also held a press conference rejecting Trump and Congressional Republicans’ attempted election takeover, including through the SAVE America Act. Last month, Padilla spoke on the Senate floor to condemn Republicans’ attempts to pass the bill. Last May, he stopped Senator Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) attempt to pass the anti-voter SAVE Act through the Senate by unanimous consent. He also convened a Rules Committee Democrats spotlight forum focused on Congressional Republicans’ SAVE Act and Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order. As President Trump marked 100 disastrous days in office, Padilla led his Democratic colleagues on the Senate floor to speak out against the SAVE Act and the Trump Administration’s attacks on election integrity. Last April, he warned Secretaries of State, Lieutenant Governors, and Chief Election Officials across the country of the devastating potential impacts of the SAVE Act, concerns that have been echoed by top election officials across the country.


Reed: Trump Administration Has Failed to Account for the War in Iran

WASHINGTON, DC — Nearly a month after President Trump unilaterally launched a war against Iran—without publicly making the case for war, without consulting Congress, and without articulating a clear strategy or endgame—the American public remains without answers. The Trump Administration has failed to provide the transparent, on-the-record testimony that Congress and the American people are owed.

Since the war began, Iran has struck U.S. bases and Israeli territory, attacked Gulf states, and closed the Strait of Hormuz—through which nearly 25 percent of the world’s oil flows. The global economy is reeling. President Trump has admitted he was shocked by Iran’s response, but every serious expert predicted Iran’s retaliatory actions and military planners reportedly warned the President in advance. Congressional Republicans have largely refused to hold the Administration accountable, blocking war powers resolutions and deferring to the White House despite lacking full information on costs, casualties, or legal authorities.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) stated: “The Trump Administration initiated this war at a time of its choosing, but unwisely entered into armed conflict without clear objectives, without a plan to protect the Strait of Hormuz, without allied coordination, and without a coherent theory of victory. It is past time for Secretary Hegseth to come before Congress and level with the American people about the status, cost, and direction of this conflict.”

Reed says that SASC Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) has operated in good faith and acknowledges the value of public hearings with top Administration officials, and Senator Reed expects Secretary Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine to appear at an open SASC hearing in the near term.

“Classified briefings are useful, but do not provide the full public discussion that the American people deserve. Servicemembers are risking their lives. Taxpayer dollars are being spent at an enormous rate. The public has a fundamental right to understand why this war is being fought, toward what end, and at what cost. Real accountability requires open hearings, on-the-record testimony, and a public record that citizens can evaluate,” Reed said, noting that House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI), stated: “we’re just not getting enough answers.”

As Politico reported, Chairman Rogers also stated that this is part of a broader issue with the Trump national security team: “This is not just about Epic Fury,” Rogers said. “This is a consistent pattern of tagging the base and saying, ‘We came over and briefed you.’ But they’re not telling us things, substantive things.”


Schumer, Shaheen, Reed, Warner, And Warren Statement on Trump Administration Decision to Ease Iran Oil Sanctions

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY); U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, released the following joint statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to ease Iran oil sanctions:

“The Trump Administration is handing the Iranian regime billions of dollars in oil revenue while Iran is attacking our partners, our diplomats and our service members—13 of whom have already tragically died in this war. Neither the Administration’s war nor its approach to sanctions on Iran have been tied to clear, defensible strategic objectives. Waging war on a regime while simultaneously enabling it to increase oil profits by lifting sanctions makes zero sense and reaches new levels of incoherence.

“This decision also appears to open the door for Chinese financial institutions to facilitate transactions with Iran’s central bank, which directly undercuts the Administration’s own claims that this policy would limit Beijing’s role in the Iranian oil trade. And there is no clear safeguards, transparency or accountability for where that money ends up.

“Americans deserve to understand the strategic rationale for making such a decision and how it enhances the national security of the United States. From rising gas prices at home to a lack of clarity on objectives abroad, this looks less like a plan and more like a panicked move that benefits our adversaries while leaving the American people to bear the cost.”


Ricketts Introduces PLOT Act to Combat Communist China’s Ownership of American Farmland

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Property Location Oversight and Transparency (PLOT) Act in the Senate. The bill strengthens U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) foreign land ownership reporting system by requiring the USDA to publish geospatial data on foreign agriculture land acquisitions and lowering the foreign ownership reporting thresholds.

“Farms and ranches are the foundation of the Good Life in Nebraska. But Communist China threatens this,” said Senator Ricketts. “Communist China has pursued a policy of strategically buying American farmland, they have purchased land around military installations to weaken U.S. national security. My bill would combat this by strengthening USDA’s foreign ag land reporting system. The hardworking Americans who feed us should benefit from our farms and ranches. Communist China should not.”

The PLOT Act would amend the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure

Act (AFIDA) to:

Require USDA to establish publicly accessible, open-source geospatial data of foreign ag land acquisitions;

Require the Secretary of Agriculture, Director of National Intelligence, and the Secretary of Defense to use submitted geospatial data to identify potential national security concerns relating to foreign ownership of agricultural land, including:

proximity to military installations,

critical infrastructure,

and sensitive environmental areas;

Apply lower thresholds for reporting foreign adversaries and prioritizing enforcement actions:

Decrease the reporting threshold of a single foreign person from 10 percent to 5 percent,

And decrease the reporting threshold for domestic entities substantially directed or controlled by a foreign person from 50 percent to 10 percent;

And increase USDA enforcement to prioritize transactions conducted by foreign adversaries, particularly those involving Chinese entities.

BACKGROUND

Under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA), foreign entities are required to disclose the transactions of American agricultural land to the USDA. According to USDA, foreign investors own over 40 million acres of agricultural land across the United States. That includes Communist China’s purchase of sensitive land surrounding Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota and Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Senator Ricketts previously introduced the AFIDA Improvements Act.


VIDEO: Ricketts Introduces the PLOT Act to Protect Nebraska Ag Land, Combat Communist China

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, during his weekly press call with Nebraska media, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) discussed his Senate introduction of the Property Location Oversight and Transparency (PLOT) Act, which combats foreign adversaries’ efforts to buy American ag land. Ricketts opened the press call by discussing the historic wildfires in Nebraska.

“When we face disasters — Nebraskans stick together,” said Ricketts. “I witnessed the fire damage Monday while conducting a flyover with Governor Pillen and Ag Secretary Rollins. For all the folks who have been impacted by the fires, now is the time to document damage and apply to recovery assistance programs. These programs, like the USDA Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance Program, are here to support you. You deserve this assistance.”

“Farms and ranches are the foundation of the Good Life in Nebraska. Nebraskans feed the country and fuel the world. Our farmers and ranchers keep America healthy and safe with a secure, reliable food supply,” said Ricketts. “But Communist China can threaten this.”

“The [PLOT Act] combats foreign adversaries’ efforts to buy American ag land,” continued Ricketts. “It does this by strengthening and increasing transparency in USDA’s AFIDA reporting system. The hardworking Americans that feed us should benefit from land ownership in the U.S. Communist China should not.”

Watch the video here.

TRANSCRIPT:

Senator Ricketts: “Thank you to our volunteer and federal firefighters, crews from Omaha and Lincoln, National Guard community volunteers, and everyone lending a hand to help with the wildfires over the course of the last couple of weeks.

“These partnerships and support make Nebraska the best place in the world.

“When we face disasters — Nebraskans stick together.

“I witnessed the fire damage Monday while conducting a flyover with Governor Pillen and Ag Secretary Rollins.

“For all the folks who have been impacted by the fires, now is the time to document damage and apply to recovery assistance programs.

“These programs, like the USDA Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance Program, are here to support you.

“You deserve this assistance.

“Secretary Rollins is committed to helping Nebraskans recover.

“Please also check in with your neighbors to make sure they’re doing okay.

“We will work to get through this together.

“Farms and ranches are the foundation of a good life in Nebraska.

“Nebraskans feed the country and fuel the world.

“Our farmers and ranchers keep America healthy and maintain a safe, secure, reliable food supply.

“But Communist China can threaten this.

“Communist China has pursued a policy of strategically buying ag land.

“Between 2010 and 2021, Chinese ownership of American agricultural land grew nearly 30 times larger.

“As of 2023, Communist China owned more than 277,000 acres of farmland.

“But it’s not just about the number of acres that they own.

“They have targeted sensitive sites surrounding Army bases and airfields.

“They exploited our legal process to purchase land surrounding Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota and Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

“This is a national security risk.

“We cannot let them use American ag land to weaken U.S. national security.

“We can’t let Communist China spy on our military bases from our cornfields.

“That’s why I’m introducing the PLOT Act — the Property Location Oversight and Transparency Act — which combats foreign adversaries’ efforts to buy American ag land.

“It does this by strengthening and increasing transparency in USDA’s AFIDA reporting system.

“The hard-working Americans that feed us should benefit from land ownership here in the U.S.

“Communist China should not.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for overseeing foreign purchases of ag land.

“This authority comes from the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, or AFIDA.

“USDA is working to combat foreign land ownership from adversaries.

“However, Communist China keeps working to bend our rules.

“The USDA knows that food security is national security.

“That’s why they’ve implemented tougher regulations.

“Secretary Rollins established the National Farm Security Action Plan.

“The administration and I are working to help combat Communist China’s farmland purchasing in Nebraska and across the country.

“The PLOT Act increases USDA’s oversight of foreign purchases of American farmland.

“Currently, reporting requirements are triggered when a foreign person holds at least 10% ownership interest, or when a domestic entity is at least 50% owned or controlled by a foreign person.

“The PLOT Act would lower this to 5% and 10%, respectively.

“Lowering reporting thresholds captures smaller foreign ownership stakes that currently go unreported.

“It also requires foreign purchasers to provide detailed digital maps of foreign-purchased ag land, and these maps would be available to USDA, local governments, and the public.

“That way, every Nebraskan knows where foreign adversaries are purchasing farmland.

“Nebraska farmers and ranchers should know this information.

“The PLOT Act is just one way I’m fighting for more transparency and stricter requirements in the AFIDA reporting process.

“Last year, I introduced the bipartisan AFIDA Improvements Act.

“It also strengthens the foreign ag land reporting process.

“It increases transparency and information sharing.

“It would also require an online portal for USDA.

“These provisions were included in the House Ag Committee’s Farm Bill — I’m fighting for them in the U.S. Senate.

“Nebraska ag land is passed down generation to generation.

“Nebraska farmers and ranchers are proud of their land and the crops they grow on it.

“We can’t let foreign adversaries like Communist China get away with purchasing our land.“That’s why I am introducing the PLOT Act.”


Rosen Votes to Overturn Extreme Trump Abortion Ban for Women Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen voted in favor of a resolution to overturn the Trump Administration’s extreme rule ending life-saving abortion counseling and reproductive care for veterans. Trump’s rule has taken away life-saving medical care from over 400,000 women veterans, despite Republicans claiming that they would never implement abortion policies that hurt sexual assault survivors or women whose health is jeopardized.

“The Trump Administration’s extreme, anti-choice rule is an abortion ban for women veterans even in the cases of rape, incest, or when the health of the mother is at risk,” said Senator Rosen. “The least we can do as a nation is to protect our veterans’ fundamental right to access life-saving medical care. I’m proud to have voted to overturn Trump’s extreme anti-abortion rule, and Washington Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for having voted this resolution down.”

Senator Rosen continues fighting to support women’s reproductive freedom. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Senator Rosen joined her colleagues in sending a letter to the VA urging them to lift abortion restrictions for veterans and eligible dependents. She helped introduce the Right to Contraception Act, which was blocked by anti-choice Republicans last Congress. She also helped introduce the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act to protect doctors and other health care professionals from being prosecuted for providing reproductive care to their patients, as well as the Women’s Health Protection Act to protect reproductive freedoms in federal law.


NEWS: Sanders, Casar Introduce Legislation to Prevent Owners from Moving Teams Without Giving Locals Chance to Buy

WASHINGTON, March 26 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) today introduced the Home Team Act, legislation to require owners of professional sports teams to give local communities the chance to buy teams before relocating them.

Joining Sanders and Casar as cosponsors of this legislation are Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and five members of the House of Representatives.

“The American people are sick and tired of billionaires threatening to move the sports teams they own to different states unless they get hundreds of millions in corporate welfare to build new stadiums,” Sanders said. “In my view, professional sports teams should be owned and controlled by the fans who love them, not by the multibillionaire oligarchs who are getting even richer by charging outrageous prices and getting taxpayers to pick up their extravagant costs. You shouldn’t have to be wealthy to take your family to a football game. You shouldn’t have to fear that a multibillionaire will move your favorite team to a different city if taxpayers refuse to subsidize it. The Home Team Act is a very modest piece of legislation that begins to address this problem. I am proud to support it.”

“Sports in America should be about more than just making billionaire owners even richer,” Casar said. “Far too many Americans know the pain of losing a team, and far too many communities have had to fork over billions in subsidies just to keep an already profitable team home. Our bill is about creating a level playing field so leagues work for fans and taxpayers, not just owners.”

The bill would protect fans from losing teams and protect taxpayers from being extorted for huge subsidies by the threat of relocation. It:

Requires sports franchise owners to provide notice a year before moving the team to a new community, defined by crossing state lines or moving to a new Metropolitan Statistical Area;

During that year, it gives communities the chance to purchase the team at a fair price, including through the sort of successful community ownership model used by the Green Bay Packers. Teams could also be purchased by a government entity, a nonprofit or public partnership, or a private person, group, or company;

Enforces a penalty for franchise owners who do not comply and provides a right of action for state and local governments.

The bill would not require anyone to purchase a team and it would not prevent teams from moving if there is not a buyer able to meet a fair and reasonable price, as assessed by a team of appraisers.

Team relocation has plagued communities across America for decades, from the Brooklyn Dodgers moving in 1958 to recent moves such as the Oakland Athletics departing for Las Vegas. In other instances, the threat of relocation forces cities or states to offer billions of dollars in subsidies to teams already worth billions of dollars. Currently, the Chicago Bears are threatening to leave the city after more than 100 years in response to the state of Indiana offering massive subsidies. The bill would prevent the Bears from being moved across state lines without being offered for sale.

Read the bill text here.


Schatz Introduces Legislation To Prevent Youth Suicide

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today introduced legislation to prevent youth suicide, the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-24. The Child Suicide Prevention Act would fund suicide prevention initiatives, ensure health care providers receive training to prevent intentional harm, and create a centralized hub to provide safety information to at-risk youth and their support networks.

“Youth suicide is a crisis in Hawai‘i and across America, and we need to do everything we can to get young people help when they need it,” said Senator Schatz. “This bill provides important training and resources to medical professionals who will be able to deliver timely help and prevent these tragedies.”

Specifically, the Child Suicide Prevention Act would:

Establish a grant program to provide funding for initiatives that offer youth suicide prevention and lethal means safety education, training, and resources to health care professionals;

Establish a grant program to integrate lethal means safety and suicide prevention topics into curricula at health professional schools to ensure that future nurses, doctors, and mental and behavioral health care providers have received the education and training that will allow them to prevent lethal means injuries, deaths, and suicides among their patients; and

Create a centralized hub to provide important lethal means safety and suicide prevention information to at-risk youth and their family members, health professional schools, and health care providers.

“I have heard from so many young people about their challenges and struggles with mental health. We can and we must do better for our kids, and I want them to know that there is hope,” said Representative Underwood. “Representative Schrier, Senator Schatz, and I introduced the Child Suicide Prevention Act to make sure health care providers are equipped with life-saving training and interventions backed by data. Our legislation takes meaningful action so that young people can get the help they need to lead safe and healthy lives.”

In addition to Schatz, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) and Kim Schrier (D-Wash).

Suicide rates among young Americans increased by 52 percent between 2000 and 2021 and nearly 10 percent of youth have reported attempting suicide, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A June 2021 CDC report found a significant increase in emergency department visits for suicide attempts among adolescents aged 12-17 during the pandemic, including a spike of more than 50 percent among adolescent girls. A critical opportunity to identify young people at risk is in health care settings, but many health care professionals lack the training or resources to do so. This bill prepares health care professionals to identify and respond to warning signs by training them in evidence-based suicide prevention practices like lethal means safety, a practice limiting access to objects that can be used for self-directed violence, and providing funding to connect at-risk patients with crisis resources.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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NEWS: Sens. Schiff and Merkley Demand Extension of Ethics Guardrails on Trump EPA Chemical Appointees, End to Conflicts of Interest

Senators urge Trump appointees to end all communication with their previous chemical industry employers to ensure the agency is serving the American people instead of private corporate interests

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), member of EPW Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight, are urging four political appointees managing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) to extend indefinitely their recusal periods and refrain from any communication or coordination with former employers and clients.

The letter points to records released in September 2025 revealing that top OCSPP appointees met with representatives from at least 50 industry associations and chemical and pesticide companies.

“Federal law generally prohibits political appointees from participating in specific executive administration manners, such as grants, contracts, litigations, enforcement actions, registrations, permits, or investigations, with their former employers and clients during their recusal periods. These recusal periods are essential for insulating agencies from private interests that might benefit financially from decisions made by senior officials who were formerly employed by or affiliated with these interests,” the Senators wrote.

In light of the administration’s supposed mantra of ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA), the Senators emphasize that the EPA and OCSPP have diverted from their mission – keeping Americans safe from toxic chemicals – as more officials are appointed with concerning industry ties to pesticide and chemical companies. The Senators point to these appointees’ previous work advocating for companies that directly benefit from OCSPP’s ongoing efforts to roll back public health standards.

“The previous administration required all political appointees to sign an ethics pledge that went beyond minimum statutory requirements, but the current administration terminated this pledge. Such restrictions serve as a bulwark against impropriety and give credence to the notion that the federal government is meant to serve the American taxpayer rather than corporate interests,” the Senators continued.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Mr. Troutman, Dr. Beck, Dr. Dekleva, and Mr. Kunkler:

We write today to express our concern regarding the ending of the recusal periods that were placed on you as political appointees managing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), the office responsible for keeping Americans safe from toxic chemicals. Because each of you has previously worked or advocated for companies that directly benefit from your office’s efforts to roll back public health standards for chemicals, we urge each you to permanently extend your recusals and refrain from any contact or communication with any of your former employers or clients in order to prevent undue corporate influence on EPA’s decision-making and ensure that EPA’s regulatory standards for chemicals and pesticides serve the public interest.

Federal law generally prohibits political appointees from participating in specific executive administration manners, such as grants, contracts, litigations, enforcement actions, registrations, permits, or investigations, with their former employers and clients during their recusal periods. These recusal periods are essential for insulating agencies from private interests that might benefit financially from decisions made by senior officials who were formerly employed by or affiliated with these interests. Even beyond recusal periods and the types of activities recusals do not prohibit, like policy decisions of general applicability, past administrations have encouraged political appointees to avoid contacting past employers or clients throughout their time in government service. Indeed, the previous administration required all political appointees to sign an ethics pledge that went beyond minimum statutory requirements, but the current administration terminated this pledge. Such restrictions serve as a bulwark against impropriety and give credence to the notion that the federal government is meant to serve the American taxpayer rather than corporate interests.

Making your recusal periods permanent is necessary because of the deep ties each of you has to the chemical industry. Dr. Beck is a former American Chemistry Council executive and previously lobbied for dozens of companies, including the American Petroleum Institute, the Olin Corporation, Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., and Syngenta. Her recusal periods with many of these companies ended throughout the past year. Dr. Dekleva served as a senior director at the American Chemistry Council before joining OSCPP. Her recusal ended in January 2026.

Your actions during your tenure thus far have demonstrated the dangers of conflicts of interest and have unfortunately affirmed many of the ethics concerns that we have regarding your appointments. The American Chemistry Council, the former employer of both Dr. Beck and Dr. Dekleva, has advocated for years to roll back public health risk assessments for formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. In December 2025, EPA did in fact revise its assessment, nearly doubling the amount of formaldehyde it previously considered to be safe for exposure.

Further, Mr. Kunkler, who leads OCSPP’s Office of Pesticide Programs, is a former lobbyist for the American Soybean Association, which has advocated for the reinstatement of the pesticide dicamba. In 2024, a federal court blocked the registration and use of dicamba because EPA failed to properly consider public comments during the first Trump administration, when Dr. Beck and Dr. Dekleva previously worked in OCSPP. On February 6, 2026, EPA announced that the Office of Pesticide Programs under Mr. Kunkler had re-registered dicamba, despite legal challenges, risks to public health, and known damaging effects to neighboring crops. Studies have linked dicamba exposure to liver and bile duct cancer and leukemia.

The end of your recusal periods will only exacerbate these conflicts of interest. Further, because you have secured ethics waivers and permission to engage in certain regulatory processes that involve your former employers and clients, it is clear that a permanent extension of recusal periods is necessary but not sufficient to prevent industry regulatory capture of EPA. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records released in September 2025 reveal that OCSPP appointees accepted meetings with representatives from at least 50 industry associations and chemical and pesticide companies just between February and May 2025. Strikingly, these FOIA documents reveal calendars devoid of meetings with public health or environmental organizations.

Finally, the troubling legacy of OCSPP leadership during the first Trump administration — which included Dr. Beck and Dr. Dekleva—further buttresses our concerns and underscores the need for strong ethical commitments. In 2024, the EPA Inspector General released reports that found numerous instances of retaliation and unhealthy management pressure in the chemicals office during the first Trump administration that led to at least five whistleblower complaints and many experts leaving OCSPP. EPA scientists who worked in the chemicals office during the first Trump administration said they were pressured to downplay the harms of chemicals to get them approved faster.

For all these reasons, we ask that you commit to the following and provide a response by April 8, 2026:

Will you commit to permanently extending your recusal periods?

Will you commit to forswearing all contact with any former employers or clients who may have an interest in EPA’s chemical regulatory decisions?

Will you commit to recusing yourself from rulemaking procedures that involve chemicals in which your former employers or clients have an interest?

Thank you for your consideration of these requests to ensure that EPA is serving the American people instead of private corporate interests. We look forward to your response.

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NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Blumenthal, Welch Demand Companies Implicated in Lewandowski Apparent Pay-To-Play Scheme to Preserve All Related Records

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, demanded that two companies implicated in apparent pay-to-play accusations against former Department of Homeland Security chief advisor and special government employee, Corey Lewandowski, preserve records of their interactions ahead of likely multiple probes into violations of federal law.

The lawmakers’ demand comes after new public reporting connected direct financial payments to Mr. Lewandowski related to his support or assistance with the companies’ federal contracting prospects.

“As you likely know, multiple Committees of jurisdiction and Members of Congress are investigating whether federal spending by the Department of Homeland Security was subject to improper influence, corruption, or other violations of federal law, under Congress’s investigative and oversight authorities. New reporting states that GEO Group, and you personally, engaged in communications with Mr. Lewandowski about financial payments related to his support or assistance with GEO Group’s federal contracting business. Notably, GEO Group does not appear to have denied these allegations in public reporting,” the Senators wrote.

The lawmakers’ letters to GEO Group and Salus Worldwide Solutions also seek to preserve records related to the companies’ interactions with White House border czar Thomas Homan, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, special government employees, and others appointed by the President or his advisors.

The full text of the Senators’ letter to Salus Worldwide Solutions can be found here.

The full text of the Senators’ letter to GEO Group can be found here and below.

We write to request that The GEO Group, Inc. (“GEO Group”) preserve all records and communications related to Corey Lewandowski from January 1, 2024 to date and on an ongoing basis moving forward.

This preservation hold applies to your personal records, corporate records, and all communications with Mr. Lewandowski, any person representing or purporting to be acting on behalf of Mr. Lewandowski, or any consulting firms associated with Mr. Lewandowski. This includes, but is not limited to: records and communications via email, whether official or personal; mobile devices; encrypted or disappearing messaging applications; social media; calendar entries; meeting notes; and voicemail and text messages. To the extent that you or GEO Group use any auto-delete functions, you should immediately suspend auto-delete functions and notify persons with control over potentially relevant records of their preservation obligations. You should also preserve all records of your or GEO Group’s communications with the White House or White House personnel, including White House Border Czar Thomas Homan and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, special government employees, and others appointed by the President or his advisors.

As you likely know, multiple Committees of jurisdiction and Members of Congress are investigating whether federal spending by the Department of Homeland Security was subject to improper influence, corruption, or other violations of federal law, under Congress’s investigative and oversight authorities. New reporting states that GEO Group, and you personally, engaged in communications with Mr. Lewandowski about financial payments related to his support or assistance with GEO Group’s federal contracting business. Notably, GEO Group does not appear to have denied these allegations in public reporting.

We look forward to your acknowledgement of compliance with this preservation request by April 3, 2026.

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