Budd Joins Cornyn, Colleagues to Introduce Bill Preventing Illegal Aliens from Receiving Commercial Driver’s Licenses

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) in introducing the Dalilah’s Law Act, which would create new criminal and civil penalties for illegal aliens who obtain or use Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) as well as the Democrat-led states that issue CDLs to these illegal aliens. This legislation delivers on President Trump’s State of the Union remarks calling on Congress to take action before any more American lives are threatened or lost on our roadways due to unvetted, untrained illegal alien commercial drivers.

“Far too many innocent Americans have faced life-altering consequences due to the actions of illegal aliens and the negligence of sanctuary states. A five-year-old little girl is now living with significant injuries because an illegal alien recklessly drove an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle after being issued a CDL by the state of California. This cannot happen again. I am proud to join Senator Cornyn in introducing the Dalilah’s Law Act to ensure that no state bypasses necessary driver vetting requirements when an illegal alien attempts to obtain a CDL,” said Senator Budd.

“It is reprehensible that innocent Americans like Dalilah Coleman continue to pay the price for Democrats’ open-border policies, which have led to illegal aliens – who cannot speak English or read our road signs – dangerously operating massive commercial vehicles on our roadway. Our bill would build on President Trump’s State of the Union remarks honoring Dalilah to put an end to this pull factor and hold illegal alien drivers and the sanctuary states that enable them accountable,” said Senator Cornyn.

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) also joined in introducing the legislation.

Read the full bill text HERE.

BACKGROUND

In 2024, Partap Singh, an illegal alien from India, caused a multi-car pileup while driving a commercial 18-wheeler in California. Even though he was an illegal alien, California still issued Singh a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), allowing him to operate the semi-truck. The crash resulted in five-year-old Dalilah Coleman suffering life-altering injuries. Sadly, Dalilah is not the only American who has been killed or injured by illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles after sanctuary states issued them CDLs.

Building on President Trump’s State of the Union remarks calling for Congress to pass legislation to hold states that issue CDLs to illegal aliens accountable, the Dalilah’s Law Act would:

• Create a new criminal penalty for covered aliens using or presenting a CDL in interstate commerce;

• Institute mandatory minimums for accidents caused by covered aliens using a CDL, depending on the severity of the accident;

• Create a new death penalty aggravating factor when a covered alien using a CDL kills another person in a motor vehicle accident;

• Create new immigration consequences, including that a covered alien who is convicted of using a CDL would be an aggravated felon, triggering mandatory detention, deportability, and making the alien ineligible for asylum;

• Require individuals applying for a CDL to provide written documentation certifying successful employment eligibility verification through E-Verify or a state-established verification process and authorize the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to request and review state documentation confirming CDL applicant eligibility verification;

• Require states to maintain and provide verification records to DOT upon request to ensure consistent compliance with federal CDL standards;

• Create a new criminal offense for state officials who do not use, or direct others not to use, E-Verify or an equivalent state program to confirm immigration status before issuing a CDL;

• Create new civil penalties for any business that provides substantial assistance to a covered alien acquiring a CDL;

• Create new individual causes of action for people injured by a covered alien using a CDL;

• Require a report from the U.S. Attorney General within 180 days on accidents caused by covered aliens using CDLs and states issuing CDLs to covered aliens;

• Grant standing to any state harmed by another state’s violation of the new E-Verify requirement to bring suit against the Secretary of Transportation to obtain an injunction requiring the Secretary to request documentation from the issuing State;

• And create a new civil action allowing the U.S. Attorney General to bring suit against a state not requiring use of E-Verify or a state equivalent before issuing a CDL.

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Budd Joins Moran, Colleagues in Requesting Briefing on Joint Task Force to Hold October 7th Attack Perpetrators Accountable

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and several of his Senate Republican 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 to update Congress on efforts to investigate and prosecute terrorist networks such as Hamas.

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

In the letter, the Senators wrote, “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 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.”

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), 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.) also joined in signing the letter.

Read the full letter text HERE or 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.

Sincerely,

/X/

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Budd Leads FARM Stability Act to Stabilize Agricultural Labor Costs

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) led several of his Senate colleagues in introducing the Farmworker Access and Retention Modernization (FARM) Stability Act today, which would codify the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) initiative to stabilize agricultural labor costs. This legislation aims to provide farmers with greater certainty and clarity when forecasting labor costs as they plan for future growing seasons.

“As labor costs continue to climb, our nation’s farmers and ranchers deserve to know the price tag associated with keeping their operations going. Agriculture is North Carolina’s leading industry and a cornerstone of our economy, but without a stable, reliable workforce, our producers cannot plan, threatening both their livelihoods and our nation’s food supply. The DOL has helped provide farmers with the transparency they deserve, but now we must ensure agricultural labor costs remain affordable by passing the FARM Stability Act,” said Senator Budd.

“Farmers are extremely resourceful and resilient, but their success depends on circumstances beyond their control. Ensuring they can secure a dependable agriculture workforce will lift a major burden on them and help provide needed certainty. I’m proud to join Senator Budd in championing the FARM Stability Act to bring reliable and affordable labor to farm operations across the country,” said Senator Boozman.

“Farmers across South Carolina have been struggling with skyrocketing labor costs and an Adverse Effect Wage Rate that simply hasn’t reflected reality. That’s why I’m helping to lead the FARM Stability Act, which establishes a clear, fair, and consistent wage rate for agricultural workers. These reforms will help deliver the stability and predictability our farmers need to keep feeding our nation, while continuing to protect wages in the H-2A program,” said Senator Scott.

“The skyrocketing labor costs hitting Mississippi farmers are threatening their operations and their ability to put food on American tables. The FARM Stability Act takes the commonsense step of locking in the Trump administration’s reforms to the H-2A wage methodology, so farmers can plan ahead without fear that the next administration will pull the rug out from under them. I’m proud to join Senator Budd on this effort to provide relief and certainty to our producers who are burdened with costly regulatory overreach from previous administrations,” said Senator Hyde-Smith.

“Codifying the Department of Labor’s recent updates to the AEWR would help clarify and stabilize wages in the H-2A agricultural labor program. A clear, consistent wage standard protects agricultural employers from uncertainty in year-to-year rule changes, helping both our workforce and our farmers, and keeping food on Americans’ tables,” said Senator Crapo.

“When agriculture thrives, Nebraska thrives. The FARM Stability Act ensures that Nebraska farmers and ranchers can confidently plan for growing season. Nebraska’s future depends on certainty for farmers, ranchers, and agri-business. The FARM Stability Act supports agriculture today and provides long-term stability for producers,” said Senator Ricketts.

“The FARM Stability Act delivers the certainty our farmers need by bringing clarity and predictability to the H-2A wage process. By codifying the Department of Labor’s approach, this commonsense legislation helps stabilize labor costs, strengthen our agricultural workforce, and ensure North Carolina’s farmers can continue to feed and fuel our nation,” said Senator Tillis.

“Our nation’s producers work sunup to sundown to fuel our economy, communities, and families. As a lifelong rancher, I know the ag industry is never easy work. I’m proud to join my Republican colleagues on the FARM Stability Act, delivering much-needed clarity and financial relief so Wyoming’s farmers and ranchers can plan growing and grazing seasons with confidence as labor costs level out,” said Senator Lummis.

U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) joined in introducing the legislation.

The FARM Stability Act is supported by: Agricultural Workforce Coalition, Turfgrass Producers International, Tobacco Associates, Inc., U.S. Tobacco Cooperative, North Carolina Farm Bureau, NC Chamber, NC Agribusiness Council, NC Ag Partnership, NC Sweet Potato Commission, Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina, North Carolina Growers Association, North Carolina Apple Growers Association, Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association, Hilltop Farm WNC LLC, AgCarolina Farm Credit, AgSouth Farm Credit, North Carolina Blueberry Council, NC Christmas Tree Association, NC Cotton Producers Association, North Carolina Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association, Inc., NC Nursery and Landscape Association, North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, NC Soybean Producers Association, North Carolina Strawberry Association, North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association, North Carolina Watermelon Association, North Carolina Tomato Growers Association, and theNorth Carolina Sod Producers Association.

“The Ag Workforce Coalition appreciates Senator Budd’s leadership and his effort to codify the Administration’s interim final rule on H-2A wages. Wage reform is one critical aspect of needed changes to the H-2A program to ensure farmers, growers, and ranchers can continue to feed this nation. As the needs of labor-intensive agriculture continue to grow nationwide, we look forward to working with Congress to achieve lasting program reforms as quickly as possible,” said the Agriculture Workforce Coalition.

“We strongly support the FARM Stability Act as a practical and necessary step to help specialty crop producers across the Southeast remain competitive. Unpredictable labor costs have become a serious obstacle for farms trying to plan ahead, maintain stable employment, and compete in a global market. More importantly, instability inhibits the next generation’s ability to invest into their farm’s future. By bringing greater certainty to agricultural labor policy, this bill addresses a core challenge facing growers while helping protect the rural economies that agriculture sustains and the legacy of farm families across the nation,” said Kimberly Foley, Executive Director, Tobacco Associates, Inc.

“The FARM Stability Act would help farmers in North Carolina and across the U.S. secure the critical workforce they need to grow our food and fiber. Sen. Budd has our deepest appreciation for recognizing the importance of giving farmers certainty regarding their labor needs and introducing this meaningful legislation,” said Shawn Harding, President, North Carolina Farm Bureau.

“The NC Chamber applauds Senator Budd’s efforts to bring common sense reform to amending the Adverse Effect Wage Rate determining methodology. These changes will provide farmers predictability and clarity on seasonal operating costs, which will enhance North Carolina’s agricultural industry,” said Jake Cashion, Vice President of Government Affairs, NC Chamber.

“The FARM Stability Act is a critically important piece of legislation that will not only help North Carolina’s farmers, but the entire agricultural industry. The NC Agribusiness Council applauds Sen. Budd’s efforts to bring stability to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate,” said Jeffery C. Lee, President, North Carolina Agribusiness Council.

“The North Carolina Ag Partnership strongly supports Senator Budd’s legislation to address the Adverse Effect Wage Rate. Our state’s farmers are facing rising and unpredictable labor costs that threaten their ability to operate and compete. This bill provides needed stability to sustain their operations and continue feeding our communities and nation,” said Peter Daniel, Chairman, NC Ag Partnership.

“The economic stakes for American farmers are enormous not just for their individual farms, but for the rural economies they support, food processing infrastructure, exporters, and consumers nationwide. Our farmers are united in calling for practical, commonsense changes: to ensure a stable labor supply, protect American competitiveness, and sustain the vibrant economic engine that agriculture represents. When we stand together; growers, associations, community leaders, and policymakers, we can build solutions that reflect the scale of this challenge and secure the future of American agriculture. The North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission applauds Sen. Budd’s effort to codify the Administration’s interim final rule and deliver permanence and stability to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate. Our national security depends on our food security, and a stable, predictable labor force ensures our food security will continue as it has for the last 250 years,” said Michelle L. Grainger, Executive Director, North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission.

“As a third generation farmer in Western North Carolina, I know firsthand that stability and predictability are critical to the success of American agriculture. Farming is filled with uncertainties, from weather to markets, labor does not have to be one of them. I support the FARM Stability Act and thank Senator Budd for his work on this critical issue. On my farm and across the country, labor is one of our biggest challenges. Recent changes to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology were a step in the right direction, now it is time to carry agricultural labor reform across the finish line. Farmers and employees need a transparent framework that uses credible data, accounts for total compensation and limits year to year wage spikes,” said Linda Pryor, Manager, Hilltop Farm WNC LLC.

Read the full bill text HERE.

BACKGROUND

Farmers have been grappling with rapidly rising labor costs, driven in large part by the mismanagement of calculating the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) used in the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker program. Last October, DOL sought to address this concern by issuing an Interim Final Rule (IFR). This rule established an annual adjustment to the hourly AEWR and created separate wage scales for entry-level and experienced H–2A workers, providing much-needed clarity for the agricultural industry.

To ensure the future stabilization of agricultural labor costs, the FARM Stability Act would:

Codify DOL’s Compensation Adjustment Factor for the AEWR.

Ensure that housing provided by farm operators is adequately considered when determining the AEWR.

Codify the Two-Tiered Wage Scale.

Ensure that both entry-level and experienced agricultural workers are fairly compensated for their labor.

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Cassidy Pays Tribute to Former Rapides Parish Sheriff William Hilton

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor honoring former Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton who was tragically killed on Monday. Sheriff Hilton’s sense of duty and service to his community are reflected in his 50-year career in law enforcement.

“Sheriff Hilton was a sheriff in every positive, meaningful sense of the word,” said Dr. Cassidy.

“He was steady. He was committed. He was there to answer the call when the community needed him,” continued Dr. Cassidy.

Cassidy’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Mr. President, I rise today to honor my good friend William Hilton, who was tragically killed on Monday.

William was a great Sheriff. Safe, steady, committed, always there when his community needed him. That kind of service is more than just a job—it’s a calling.

William lived that calling every single day.

He was also a devoted husband to his wife Billie, a loving father to Shane and Christy, and a proud grandfather to Slade.

Behind a man who carried such a heavy responsibility was a strong family—one who loved him, supported him, and stood by him through long, difficult, often seven-day work weeks.

He was a true servant. A man others leaned on. As Sheriff Wood, his deputy and mentee, said: “I talked to him almost every day. If I had any questions, who else could I ask but him?”

That tells you everything you need to know about William. He just had a lot of wisdom.

Even though he retired in 2008, he was asked to come back as sheriff, and he served two more terms.

By the time he retired for good in 2020, he had served in law enforcement for fifty years.

He could have lived comfortably in retirement, but he chose to come back because he had a sense of duty.

In 2016, there was a police ambush in Baton Rouge—a gunman killed four officers and wounded two more.

William came to a ceremony for one of them, which I appreciated.

In fact, he and I rode down to that together from Alexandria to pay homage to a fallen lawman.

And you know, there is something to be said for lawmen’s realism. William certainly had it.

He told me: When you’re fighting crime, it’s like mowing the grass. You never stop, you just have to keep on going.

No anger, no bitterness, just a realism.

There’s a quote about losing a friend that says, “the melody he played upon the lives of those around him will never be played quite the same way again.”

So, while the melody may not be played quite the same way, it will be echoed by his family, by his community, by all of us.

Mr. President, I ask now that we take a moment of silence to honor the life of William Earl Hilton.Thank you.

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Senator Collins Preserves $190 Million Federal Investment in Maine’s Rural Hospitals and Health Centers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, intervened to preserve Maine’s $190 million in first-year funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This program is a $50 billion initiative to be awarded over five years that she proposed to support rural health care systems across the country.

Maine’s funding was at risk of being rescinded and reallocated to other states because the state missed milestones and provided inadequate information to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on implementation of the $190 million award. Alerted by CMS that Maine’s funding was in jeopardy, Senator Collins stressed to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz how critical the funding is to Maine’s rural hospitals and other health care providers serving rural Mainers. She asked that CMS work with the state to bring it into compliance, which occurred.

“Maine’s rural hospitals are under serious strain, with maternity wards and emergency departments continuing to close in rural communities across the state. That is why I advocated for the establishment of this fund last summer to make the largest federal investment in rural health care in more than 20 years,” said Senator Collins. “When I was informed that the State of Maine’s funding was at risk, I made clear in conversations with CMS Administrator Oz just how critical these resources are to rural Mainers whose future access to care close to home is at stake. I am very pleased that, as a result of these discussions, CMS has informed me that the state’s funding is now back on track. This historic $190 million investment comes at a critical time for rural health care.”

Maine’s population is the oldest of any state in the nation and is among the most rural, placing unique strains on its health care system.

The Rural Health Transformation Program represents the largest single federal investment in rural health care in more than two decades. Senator Collins proposed the funding during negotiations over amendments to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). She successfully pushed to expand the RHTP to $50 billion and ensure that a broad range of rural providers would be eligible for support. Senator Collins opposed the OBBBA due to other provisions. CMS is expected to distribute the $50 billion initiative in tranches of $10 billion over each of the next five years.

The State of Maine’s application for RHTP funding, submitted by the state with the support of the entire congressional delegation, focuses on five core priorities: empowering rural Mainers to achieve their own healthy living goals; strengthening the rural health workforce; adopting health-enabling technologies such as telehealth and electronic medical records; reducing financial and transportation-related barriers to care; and sustaining the long-term viability of Maine’s rural health care system.

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ICYMI: Senator Coons pushes back on tax filing companies, highlights new bill to make filing taxes easier and free in News Journal op-ed

WILMINGTON, Del. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) published an op-ed in The News Journal highlighting his new Direct File Act that would allow Americans to file their taxes for free and more easily, rather than having to use expensive, time-consuming e-filing programs run by tax preparation companies. Senator Coons’ bill is based on the Direct File program, an IRS pilot program that the Trump administration shut down last year.

The News Journal: Delawareans deserve to file their taxes quickly and free

In the piece, Senator Coons explained that the Direct File program made it easier and cheaper for Americans with straightforward finances to file their taxes directly with the IRS, without having to pay private tax preparation companies.

“On average, Americans spend $270 and 13 hours filing their taxes. That’s just nuts. You should be able to file your taxes quickly and for free, and that’s the simple idea behind my new Direct File Act,” Senator Coons wrote.

Senator Coons highlighted the program’s early success, noting that it saved taxpayers money and made filing easier for hundreds of thousands of Americans.

“The program worked. Last year, hundreds of thousands of Americans used it. It saved the average person as much as $160, and 90% had an above-average or excellent experience. Three out of four users said it was easier than anything they’d tried before. And many were able to do their taxes in less than an hour. How many government services can you say that about?”Senator Coons wrote.

Senator Coons also pushed back on the Trump administration’s decision to shut down the program, arguing that Direct File was a smart investment that saved taxpayers far more than it cost.

“The program costs about $41 million a year, which is far less than the estimated $148 billion we spend out of pocket each year to make sure we’re complying with the tax code. Spending a few million to save taxpayers a hundred billion strikes me as a pretty good use of federal resources,” Senator Coons wrote.

He argued that at a time when Delawareans are already feeling squeezed by high costs, Americans should not have to pay more just to file their taxes.

“You should keep more of what you earn. That’s why I wrote this new bill to bring back Direct File and make your taxes free again. And I’ll keep standing up for you and for a fair tax season in Washington,” Senator Coons concluded.


PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with Texas Farm Bureau Leadership

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met with Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) President Russell Boening, Secretary-Treasurer Brian Adamek, and Vice President Warren Cude to discuss mitigating the spread of the New World screwworm (NWS) and advocating for TFB priorities in the Farm Bill to support Texas farmers, ranchers, and producers. See photo below.


Following Raid in Las Vegas, Cortez Masto, Banks Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Unauthorized Bio Labs

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced bipartisan legislation to close regulatory loopholes giving way to unauthorized bio labs like the one recently discovered in Las Vegas. The Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act strengthens federal oversight of highly pathogenic agents and high-containment laboratories to protect Americans from the threat of deadly illnesses.

On January 31st, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations raided an unauthorized bio lab operating out of a Las Vegas home that also served as an Airbnb. Several people fell severely ill after having been exposed to the illegal lab. While the investigation is still ongoing, the lab has potential connections to another lab in California with links to the Chinese Communist Party.

“The idea of Communist China-linked entities running an unauthorized bio lab full of unidentified, potentially dangerous pathogens in a Vegas neighborhood is terrifying,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This moment should be a wakeup call to federal lawmakers: we need more guardrails in place to protect our communities from the threat of bad actors operating illegal labs.”

“Unauthorized biolabs are a real threat to Americans’ safety. This bill strengthens oversight of high-risk research and helps protect from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party,” said Senator Banks.

To keep Americans safe from the threat of future unauthorized bio labs, the Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act would:

Require distributors of highly pathogenic agents to maintain detailed electronic logbooks of all transfers, verify purchaser identity and intended use, and retain records for at least three years;

Mandate periodic federal evaluation of high-containment labs;

Update national standards for design, construction, and operations of high-containment labs;

Establish a single federal point of contact to coordinate with state, local, and Tribal authorities on biosecurity and public health concerns; and

Require a study to create a national database of high-containment labs, ensuring federal and local authorities can proactively monitor facilities and respond quickly to threats.

Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), David Valadao (R-Calif.-22), and Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.-03) have introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

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Cramer, Bennet Introduce Bill to Expand Indo-Pacific Space Cooperation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A key space security coalition is moving to expand as two U.S. Senators push to bring more Indo-Pacific allies into the fold. The Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender (MNF-OOD), a U.S.-led partnership with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. It is focused on strengthening coordination in space while improving interoperability, enhancing space domain awareness, addressing orbital debris, and deterring hostile activity. In 2025, the coalition demonstrated two successful bilateral maneuvers alongside partner nations.

Now, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) are looking to build on this momentum. Cramer and Bennet introduced the Indo-Pacific Space Partnership Act of 2026 which would require the U.S. Space Force’s Chief of Space Operations to evaluate expanding MNF-OOD to include additional allies such as Japan and South Korea. Increasing the size of the partnership signals a broader push to deepen cooperation and strengthen deterrence in an increasingly contested space domain.

“Expanding Operation?Olympic?Defender with allies like Japan and the Republic of Korea makes us stronger together,” said Cramer. “Our coalition boosts deterrence, reinforces resilience, and protects our space infrastructure. By expanding the network to include allies in the same region as some of greatest adversaries and competitors, we are much more capable of countering hostile actions in space.”

“As China and Russia rapidly develop advanced space capabilities, the United States must bolster space cooperation with our allies to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Bennet. “Bringing additional allies into MNF-OOD will increase resilience, enhance burden-sharing, and reinforce deterrence – strengthening our collective capacity to protect the space assets that underpin our national security and economies.”

Cramer is a leading voice in strengthening U.S. and allied space capabilities, working across the aisle to keep America ahead in a highly complex domain. Cramer and Bennett secured key provisions in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act directing the U.S. Department of War to brief Congress on efforts to deepen space coordination with allies.


Cramer, Hassan, Boozman, Slotkin Introduce Bill to Support Outdoor Rehabilitation for Veterans

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Veterans have increasingly pointed to outdoor recreation as a tool for recovery and reintegration after leaving military service, noting time in nature and shared activities can help rebuild community, reduce stress, and support long-term mental health. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), are proposing a new effort to expand veteran access to structured outdoor recreation programs across the country. The effort comes as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released its 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, highlighting persistent struggles with anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among former service members.

Cramer, Hassan, Boozman, and Slotkin introduced the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act; legislation aimed at helping veterans reconnect with community and improve their well-being through outdoor recreation. Early studies show these programs are an effective tool in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among veterans.

The bill would create a federal grant program for state veterans’ agencies to develop or expand outdoor recreation opportunities for former service members. Under the proposal, states could run programs directly or partner with local outfitters and recreation providers to offer nature-based activities. States and contracted partners are encouraged to coordinate with relevant federal land management agencies to utilize these spaces for the outdoor programs. Every state that applies would get a minimum of $200,000 to deliver services for veterans.

“Let’s face it, for a lot of veterans, healing doesn’t happen in a doctor’s office,” said Cramer. “One of our nation’s greatest veterans and of course, eventually the Commander in Chief, the President, Theodore Roosevelt, escaped to North Dakota’s badlands after the death of his wife and mother on the same day. After that inexplicable great grief, he credits North Dakota’s outdoors as the place where the romance of his life began. Sometimes healing begins in places like a quiet trail, by the water, or under an open sky. Our bill helps state veterans’ agencies expand outdoor recreation opportunities, so that more of the men and women who served our country can find their healing, hope, and a sense of calm in the outdoors once again, much like Theodore Roosevelt did.”

“This bipartisan bill will expand access to outdoor rehabilitative and wellness programs for the brave men and women who have sacrificed to keep us safe, secure, and free,” said Hassan. “Outdoor recreation is good not only for our physical health, but it has also been shown to improve our mental health. This bill is one more way to get veterans the support that they have earned and deserved.”

“Veterans often find comfort and healing in the great outdoors, so helping increase their opportunities for healthy rehabilitation in those settings is important,” said Boozman. “Our former servicemembers in Arkansas and nationwide struggling with anxiety, depression and the effects of PTSD will benefit from this commonsense, bipartisan solution that taps into their love for outdoor recreation through programs close to where they are. I am pleased to join my colleagues in this effort to support their mental health.”

The program is designed to let states tailor programs to the interests and physical abilities of the veterans in their communities. States are responsible to collect and report data on participation and impacts on mental health and overall well-being.

This effort builds on progress made through the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020, which established a task force to provide recommendations regarding the benefit of outdoor recreation activities for veterans and the use of federal lands to support these activities.

The Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act is supported by the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (NDDVA), American Legion, Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group, the Action Foundation, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Association of State Park Directors, and the Action Foundation.

“I thank Senator Cramer for bringing forward this important bill,” said NDDVA Commissioner Lonnie Wangen. “Outdoor excursions have been proven to significantly improve the mental and physical well-being of our returning veterans. Programs like these have helped many veterans begin a new chapter in their journey back to civilian life.”

“Veterans continue processing the experiences of their service long after their military career ends,” said Ben Davis, a Navy SEAL Veteran and Executive Director of the Veterans’ Outdoor Advocacy Group. “With millions of Americans transitioning from more than two decades of conflict, that work is happening across the country right now. Studies increasingly show that time spent in the outdoors can improve well-being, strengthen community, and support veterans as they move forward in civilian life. Expanding access to structured outdoor recreation ensures more veterans have the opportunity to benefit from those experiences.”

"The National Association of State Park Directors supports the Veterans Outdoor Recreation Rehabilitation Act, which would help state park systems give veterans more options to access the outdoors,” said Paul McCormack, CEO & President, National Association of State Park Directors. “State parks across the country are already improving accessibility through trails, boat ramps, campsites, and adaptive technologies. This grant program would allow state parks and our partners to scale these efforts to serve more veterans and their families."

“On behalf of the Action Foundation, I am pleased to express our strong support for the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act,” said Audra Klinker, Executive Director of the Action Foundation. “This bill aligns closely with our mission by increasing access for veterans across the United States to beneficial outdoor and nature-based activities. It will also strengthen collaborative ties with nonprofit organizations and veterans service organizations, facilitating more effective program delivery and broader impact.”


Senate Advances Bill to Fund Homeland Security

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – After a roughly six-week shutdown, the Senate passed legislation to reopen the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ensure funding is restored to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The measure now heads to the House for consideration.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement applauding the bill’s passage:

“For the last 40 days, we’ve been voting a lot to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. My Republican colleagues and I voted to restore funding 15 times and the Democrats, in that same time, repeatedly put politics ahead of the safety and security of the American people—the highest priority of the federal government. As Americans stood in long airport lines in some cases for many hours, the Democrats continued to block fully funding homeland security. Instead of standing with the hardworking TSA officers and their families, the Coast Guard, Border Patrol—they chose to instead prioritize policies that protect violent criminal illegal aliens. That’s who they put their priority in—unbelievable to me.

“I certainly hope the House can pass the bill as soon as possible so that we can get the department back to full strength. Fortunately, Donald Trump took unilateral action on behalf of the American people, on behalf of the federal employees at TSA, and on behalf of the travel industry. But it’s so profound what Democrats have chosen to do and so important what President Trump decided to do—unilaterally take control and issued the executive order. Now we’ll come back and immediately Republicans will go to work to pass hopefully a very large homeland security budget reconciliation without a single Democrat having to help us because clearly, they don’t have the guts to do the heavy lifting. They’re scared to death of their left wing, crazy fringe element of their party, that’s running their party, and at the same time Republicans have been able to maintain the very important filibuster which gives small states like North Dakota so much more power than if we ever lose it. But Democrats brought us to the brink of destroying the United States Senate, once again. I just hope we can put it all together.”


Senate Banking Committee Discusses Cramer Legislation to Reauthorize EXIM Bank

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee kicked off negotiations to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import (EXIM) Bank and turn it into an even more powerful tool to spur domestic manufacturing. Last month, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced legislation to reauthorize the bank for 10 years, the longest reauthorization of the bank in history. It is his second time leading the charge to reauthorize the bank.

John Jovanovic, Chairman of the EXIM Bank, testified before the committee and provided recommendations for the bank’s reauthorization.

Cramer reflected on his eight years in the Senate advocating for the EXIM bank, “The Export-Import Bank has been as high a priority on this committee for me as any, which is, you know, why I was quite honored seven years ago to be able to carry the ball for the, at that time, record reauthorization of seven years […] But now, of course, I have the bill, along with Senator Warner, to extend it to 10 years. I think that certainty helps the certainty of the bank and the ability of the bank to lend to companies who need long-term certainty. And so, I'm looking forward to that. I'm very encouraged by the encouragement and by the enthusiasm on both sides of the aisle on that.”

He asked Jovanovic his thoughts on freeing up the 2% default rate, “… I'd be interested in ideas, whether it's a menu of ideas or your favorite idea of what the default rate, what we could do to free that up a little bit or free you up a little bit, to do some of the bigger tasks, take on some of the greater risks while protecting the funds?”

“Senator Cramer, thank you for your continued thought leadership,” responded Jovanovic. “Thank you for championing EXIM clearly in times when it was a lot less popular to do so. I think the best thing that we could do on the risk management provisions is go back to the system that worked so well for 81 plus years, that's reasonable, that's accountable. Notice we're not asking to move the goalposts. We're not asking to be judged by different metrics. We're simply saying that over the course of the past few years, we've had provisions put on the bank that weren't meant to set it up for success. They were meant to suffocate it. And so what we're asking for is, bring us back to the system that works so well, for 81 plus years, and allow us to pursue the transactions that we're all describing, that we want to pursue. And that's really what we need, and that's what we're asking for today.”

“The 2% is not necessarily the problem? Or is that the problem?"Cramer asked. “Because you testify that your default rate is much lower than private lenders?”

“[It is] significantly lower. I'm not asking to move the goalpost,” Jovanovic continued. “You can keep the 2%. All I'm saying is that allow us a very reasonable opportunity to manage through it and manage through it together with actually more oversight and more partnership. It's really the threat of the looming pencils down provision that's chilling. I think we may be the only 92-year-old institution that has the threat of infant mortality, every few years. So, we just want the opportunity to operate, and more importantly, I think you said it best in your opening remarks, to send that very clear signal that we're here to stay, especially on these longer-dated strategic transactions.”

Cramer also discussed the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP), which was created in the previous reauthorization and is tasked with helping American companies compete with Chinese industries.


Daines Honors Montanans of the Month: 2026 Winter Paralympians Katie Verderber, Jack Berry, and Michael Kneeland

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines recognized Katie Verderber, Jack Berry, and Michael Kneeland as Montanans of the Month for representing the Treasure State in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympic Games.

Through his “Montanan of the Month” initiative, each month Daines highlights a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the recipient’s honor into the Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress.

Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Month” program by calling his office at 202-224-2651 or filling out the submission form on his website HERE.

The following is the tribute Daines submitted to the Congressional Record to honor Montana natives Katie Verderber, Jack Berry, and Michael Kneeland:

TRIBUTE TO TEAM USA’S KATIE VERDERBER, JACK BERRY, AND MICHAEL KNEELAND

Mr. Daines, Mr. President, today I have the honor to recognize Katie Verderber, Jack Berry, and Michael Kneeland as Montanans of the Month.

These three Montanans represented the United States at the 2026 Winter Paralympics and have shown outstanding dedication to respective sports. They are some of the finest that the Treasure State has to offer.

Katie Verderber, a native of Valier, Montana, competed on the Wheelchair Curling team for Team USA. Verderber received her undergraduate degree from the University of Montana and was a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the United States Army. She was deployed in Afghanistan in 2019, where she suffered a spinal injury and medically retired. She returned home to Montana and took up wheelchair curling in 2024 and the following year was named to the U.S. Paralympic Team for the Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Jack Berry, a native from Missoula, Montana, is a Para Nordic Skier for Team USA. Berry’s Paralympic journey began at 10 years old following a life-altering diagnosis of osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. During his cancer treatment recovery, Berry found inspiration from Paralympic Nordic skier Dan Cnossen, and made a breakthrough on the international stage in 2024 and 2025.

Michael Kneeland, a native of Bozeman, Montana, competed on both the Para Nordic Ski Team and the Para Biathlon Ski Team for Team USA. Kneeland received his undergraduate degree from Montana State University and began skiing at age 17, attributing Bozeman’s outdoor culture and proximity to mountain terrain to his love for the sport. Kneeland entered the international stage in 2024 in Italy, and later competed for Team USA at the Milano Cortina Games.

It is my distinct honor to recognize Katie Verderber, Jack Berry, and Michael Kneeland as Montanans of the Month for their hard work, dedication to their country and teams, and their representation of Montana on the highest level of competition in the world, the Paralympic Games.

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Duckworth, Sheehy, Banks Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Rural Veterans Become Homeowners

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and Jim Banks (R-IN)—all members of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for rural Veterans to buy homes by modernizing the VA home appraisal program. The Senators’ bipartisan VA Appraisal Modernization Act would improve Veterans’ and servicemembers’ ability to successfully compete on the housing market by cutting red tape that often leaves them at a disadvantage. Specifically, the bill would increase the supply of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home appraisers to streamline and cut down the closing process—enticing sellers and agents to accept VA home loan offers and incentivizing home appraisers in rural areas to join the VA network by enabling them to earn more through participation in the program.

“The VA home loan appraisal process ensures our heroes don’t get stuck with a flawed home or an overpriced sale—but too often, that process can be slow and undermines their ability to compete in the housing market, particularly in rural counties,” said Duckworth. “By increasing the number of VA appraisers, we can ensure this system continues to protect our heroes from bad deals while also expediting their ability to compete for the homes they want. I’m proud to introduce our commonsense, bipartisan legislation that would help us do just that.”

“When our warfighters return home, it’s critical they have the support and resources necessary to live the same American Dream they fought to defend,” said Sheehy. “I’m proud to support this commonsense bill that cuts red tape and ensures our veterans and their families, especially those in rural areas, can achieve homeownership.”

“Our veterans shouldn’t be held back in the housing market by red tape,” said Banks. “This bill cuts delays and makes it easier for those who served to become homeowners.”

Servicemembers and Veterans use the VA home loan program to access homeownership during and after their service. This program provides a guaranty to lenders that requires a home appraisal through a VA-approved appraiser to ensure that the property is of fair value and meets minimum property requirements. However, this appraisal requirement can add time and red tape to the closing process. Due to a shortage of VA appraisers and a lack of knowledge about this program, sellers and their agents oftentimes avoid VA home loan offers, which disproportionately impacts rural Veterans.

The Senators’ VA Appraisal Modernization Act would address this problem by:

Amending current law to adjust all VA home appraisal fees to keep pace with inflation in the industry;

Requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase appraisal fees in areas that have an insufficient supply of appraisers, encouraging more of these professionals to join the VA network;

Subjecting all appraisals made in high-demand counties and remote areas to mileage reimbursements to reduce appraisers’ personal costs in these in-demand regions, and;

Directing the Secretary of Veterans affairs to study the feasibility and advisability of procuring contracts for home appraisers in areas where supply cannot meet demand and the feasibility of restructuring VA appraisals to more closely mirror the Federal Housing Administration’s process.

The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Realtors, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and The American Legion.

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

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Duckworth, Durbin Announce $20 Million in Federal Funding for O'Hare Airport

[CHICAGO, IL] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $20 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for O’Hare International Airport. This grant will reimburse completed work to extend Runway 9R/27L to reduce delays, accommodate more passengers, and allow for more aircraft operations.

“O’Hare is an essential economic hub for our state and critical transportation hub for the nation,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in announcing this investment of federal funding to help support critical modernization projects and runway improvements that will make travel easier, safer, faster and more reliable for folks traveling through Chicago. I’ll keep working to ensure our airports have the federal support they need.”

“As the nation’s busiest airport, O’Hare keeps millions of Americans connected with reliable air travel. By improving and modernizing its infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” said Durbin. “I will continue working with Senator Duckworth to ensure Illinois airports have the necessary federal resources to keep passengers safe and connected.”

O’Hare was the busiest airport in the country in 2025, with 857,392 aircraft landing or taking off from the Airport. Earlier this month, Durbin and Duckworth sent a letter to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford about the urgent need for greater FAA investment and efficiency at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, specifically requesting the full use of O’Hare’s runways.

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Duckworth, Durbin Join Kaine, Gallego in Pressing Trump Administration About Decision to Ease Sanctions on Russia and Iran

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in a letter pressing the Trump Administration about its decision to ease sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil exports and its lack of planning regarding the economic fallout of President Donald Trump’s war of choice against Iran. Since the war began, the price of U.S. crude oil has risen by more than 40 percent, and the average price of gasoline has risen by more than a dollar per gallon as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—something that President Trump and his top national security advisers were warned about prior to the start of the war.

“We write with deep concern and confusion over your administration’s recent decision to ease sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil exports,” the members wrote. “These actions speak once again to the troubling lack of strategic foresight that has marked your administration’s decision-making prior to and during its war of choice with Iran, jeopardizing the lives of our servicemembers across the region and raising costs for Americans here at home.”

“Open source reporting suggests that prior to starting this war of choice, you and your administration were regularly briefed on, and dismissed, the potential economic fallout of a conflict with Iran. These warnings included the regime’s likely closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting severe spike in global oil prices,” the Senators continued. “Now that those impacts are being felt in Americans’ pocketbooks, your administration is scrambling – and failing – to contain this fallout.”

In the letter, the Senators also raise concerns about easing Russian sanctions given recent reporting that Russia has been sharing intelligence with Iran regarding the movements of U.S. forces in the Middle East, and the risks both of these decisions pose to U.S. servicemembers.

The Senators wrote, “The economic effects of the war are already raising costs, with Americans being asked to pay even more for gas, groceries, and travel. Relieving sanctions on U.S. adversaries during an active conflict is just the most recent indicator of an incoherent and disordered policy approach.”

“We demand that you make senior officials of your administration immediately available for public hearings in order to fully explain to the American people the rationale behind the decision to release these funds to the Russian and Iranian regimes,” the Senators concluded.

In addition to Duckworth, Durbin, Kaine and Gallego, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angus King (I-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

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

Dear President Trump:

We write with deep concern and confusion over your administration’s recent decision to ease sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil exports. These actions speak once again to the troubling lack of strategic foresight that has marked your administration’s decision-making prior to and during its war of choice with Iran, jeopardizing the lives of our servicemembers across the region and raising costs for Americans here at home.

The administration’s lack of strategic cohesion on the war in Iran is having a direct impact on the economy and is endangering our servicemembers. Open source reporting suggests that prior to starting this war of choice, you and your administration were regularly briefed on, and dismissed, the potential economic fallout of a conflict with Iran. These warnings included the regime’s likely closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting severe spike in global oil prices. Now that those impacts are being felt in Americans’ pocketbooks, your administration is scrambling – and failing – to contain this fallout. The administration’s abrupt March 20 decision to waive certain sanctions on Iranian oil sales will do little to mitigate rising costs even while opening a massive source of new revenue – per press reports, as much as $14 billion – for the very regime that U.S. servicemembers are risking their lives to strike.

Open source reporting also suggests Russia began sharing sensitive intelligence with the Iranian military within the first days of the start of this conflict, including targeting information for U.S. military forces in the Middle East. Russia’s direct military support for Iran would alone make shocking your decision to ease sanctions on their oil exports, but Russia is already set to make as much as $4.9 billion from surging oil prices – your sanctions waiver will undoubtedly add to that sum, enabling Russian President Vladimir Putin to redouble and extend pressure on our Ukrainian partners as they struggle to defend their country against his aggression.

The war in Iran is deeply unpopular, and Americans have made clear that they do not want another costly, protracted conflict in the Middle East. The economic effects of the war are already raising costs, with Americans being asked to pay even more for gas, groceries, and travel. Relieving sanctions on U.S. adversaries during an active conflict is just the most recent indicator of an incoherent and disordered policy approach. Economic relief for Americans starts with the cessation of wars of choice, not the continuation of them.

We demand that you make senior officials of your administration immediately available for public hearings in order to fully explain to the American people the rationale behind the decision to release these funds to the Russian and Iranian regimes.

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Duckworth, Durbin, Sorensen Statement Opposing Army’s Attempt to Move Jobs Away from Rock Island Arsenal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) released the following statement in response to the Army’s attempt to move jobs away from Rock Island Arsenal:

“The hardworking men and women at Rock Island Arsenal, many of whom are veterans, represent the very best of Illinois. It is completely unacceptable that the Army has decided to go back on its word by potentially moving some of its civilian workforce away from the Quad Cities on short notice. We are demanding that the Army pauses any efforts to relocate jobs away from Rock Island Arsenal immediately and work with Congress on any strategic realignment efforts. We will continue to work together to strengthen and protect the Arsenal as a vital part of the Quad Cities economy and our nation’s security.”

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Duckworth, Leader Schumer, Senate Democrats Urge Trump to Stop Attacks Against Seniors, Americans with Disabilities and Children Who Depend on Medicaid in Democratic-Led States

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led their Democratic colleagues in urging President Donald Trump and the Trump Administration to stop their cruel crusade against Medicaid programs in Democratic-led states, which is undermining the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) that millions of Americans rely on to live safe and independent lives. Their letter to President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz comes after the Administration withheld $259 million in Medicaid funds from Minnesota, claiming to go after “fraudsters” but in reality targets a lifeline for seniors, Americans with disabilities and children. The Senators were joined by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

“Your sudden ‘crusade against fraud’ is insulting to anyone paying attention to your actual record,” wrote the Senators. “If this administration actually cared about reducing fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars, why did you fire at least 15 independent Inspectors Generalduring your very first week in office? If program integrity is truly the goal, why is the administrationpardoning convicted fraudsters?

“Instead of policing corruption, you are weaponizing the federal government against seniors, people with disabilities, and hardworking families.”

The Senators slammed the Administration for falsely maligning HCBS—the very services that keep people out of institutions—as inherently fraudulent simply because a growing number of Americans depend on it. They wrote: “This is a success story, not a scandal. This growth is not evidence of weak oversight; it is the predictable, intended, and celebrated result of decades-long federal and state rebalancing policies that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) itself designed and promoted.”

In the letter, the Senators highlighted several real-life examples of American stories who have benefited from HCBS funding. Without HCBS, many Americans who need long-term services would be forced into nursing homes and institutions—a devastating rollback of civil rights that will ultimately cost taxpayers more.

A copy of the letter can be found on the Senator’s website and below:

We write to you today on behalf of the millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid to live safely and independently in their communities. We demand an immediate end to the administration’s politicized crusade against states like Minnesota, California, Maine, New York, and other states led by Democratic governors.

Let us be clear: you are not going after the real fraudsters. Instead, under the guise of "program integrity," you are cutting off vital funding for services that seniors, people with disabilities, and children rely on to survive and thrive in their communities. This summer, you and Congressional Republicans enacted the largest Medicaid cuts in history. Your latest campaign to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars from blue states is a thinly veiled attempt to pull the wool over Americans’ eyes and shift the blame for your catastrophic cuts onto states.

Your sudden "crusade against fraud" is insulting to anyone paying attention to your actual record. There is no acceptable fraud, nor should Congress or the Administration tolerate any wasteful spending of taxpayer funding. Fraud against Medicaid programs has occurred in every state—both red and blue—and robust processes, including Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs), already exist to identify and address it. If this administration actually cared about reducing fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars, why did you fire at least 15 independent Inspectors General during your very first week in office? If program integrity is truly the goal, why is the administrationpardoning convicted fraudsters? Instead of policing corruption, you are weaponizing the federal government against seniors, people with disabilities, and hardworking families.

The administration is falsely maligning Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)—the very services that keep people out of institutions—as inherently fraudulent. Your characterization of spending growth in personal care and HCBS as evidence of program integrity risk is not based in fact. More people and families utilizing HCBS means that states have successfully implemented the federal mandate to shift away from institutional care toward community-based care. This is a success story, not a scandal. This growth is not evidence of weak oversight; it is the predictable, intended, and celebrated result of decades-long federal and state rebalancing policies that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) itself designed and promoted.

Your decision to arbitrarily withhold massive amounts of federal matching funds is a direct attack on older Americans, children and adults with disabilities, and the workers who deliver this essential home-based care. Funding freezes force states to halt payments and scale back programs. Without home care, Americans who need long-term services will be forced into nursing homes and institutions—a devastating rollback of civil rights that will ultimately cost taxpayers more. Furthermore, home care agencies and independent care workers, who already operate on razor-thin margins while following the law, will be forced to shut their doors.

Rather than vilify people with disabilities and seniors aging at home, Democrats have consistently proposed solutions to root out actual wasteful spending. While you fired the very watchdogs responsible for prosecuting fraud, Democrats have proposed doubling down on anti-fraud programs that return up to $11 for every $1 spent. Without a single Republican vote, Democrats secured nearly $40 billion in Medicaid support to expand access to home-based care, boost workforce recruitment amid dire shortages, and increase wages for workers.

Meanwhile, Republican cuts to Medicaid are already denying services to families, like capping occupational, speech, and physical therapy visits. These cuts harm Americans in communities all across the country and burden hardworking families. For example, Theresa and her sister Nellie, now in their 60s, were born with muscular dystrophy that weakened their muscles over time and now both use wheelchairs. Both rely on personal care services provided through California’s HCBS program, called the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program for their daily activities, including getting in and out of bed, dressing, showering, and preparing food. Because of HCBS, both Theresa and Nelly could start working. Their caregiving attendant helps them get ready every morning, including helping Nellie get to public transportation that takes her to her job. She then assists Theresa in settling into her home office where she can get onto her morning Zoom meetings.

HCBS is the lifeline that allows people with disabilities to live independently and participate in their communities. In Theresa’s words: “I don’t think I could be on my own without IHSS. I wouldn’t be safe at all and I don’t know how long I would last without an injury. And I wouldn’t be able to work. I would not be able to get ready for the day, or to eat, or to go to in-person work events. Because IHSS allows me to work, I don’t depend on SSI anymore and our life is decent. We don’t have a lot but we have enough--we have a cat, bird feeders, have a decent living room that’s wheelchair accessible, a little bit of furniture. We have the basics, everything we need to be happy.”

Just like Theresa and Nellie, Medicaid HCBS is a lifeline for Patty and Katina. Patty from Tigard, Oregon, left her career as a therapist to become a Personal Support Worker (PSW) so she could get paid to care for her adult daughter, Katina, who has Down Syndrome, and requires 24/7 support for her safety. Patty becoming a PSW after Katina graduated from high school not only allowed Katina to live in her community but has had an enormous impact on the family’s financial stability. Prior to becoming a PSW, Patty relied on Social Security disability payments as the family’s sole source of income, and they were barely able to make ends meet. At one point, the family went into foreclosure and almost lost their home. Becoming a PSW has meant that not only does Katina have full-time care that allows her to live as an adult in her community, but the family has become financially secure enough to not have to rely on Social Security payments to live. Patty worries that Medicaid cuts will mean that she will no longer be able to be paid to be Katina’s caregiver. This would force their family into financial ruin and Katina into a facility, which is much more expensive and not what either she or Katina want.

For millions, Medicaid HCBS prevents more costly and restrictive care in residential facilities. Jennifer from Harrison, NY has a young adult son, Philip, who has an intellectual disability and autism. In her words – “He is 24 and is living a fulfilling life due to the support he receives from Medicaid HCBS. Philip has received job training in the community, job coaching in the community, participates in the local YMCA, local riding programs, recreation programs and a day program. He would likely be doing none of these things if it weren't for Medicaid HCBS. He would be sitting in the house alone. My husband and I both work full time. His siblings are all either in college or working and living on their own, Philip would be sitting in the house staring at the walls. That would dissolve into depression and accompanying poor behavioral control. We've been there before and we don't want to go back to those days in and out of the hospitals. Now Philip has a full life. He has friends, a community, a social life, and he is working towards a work life. He has all of this because of Medicaid HCBS.”

Theresa, Nellie, Patty, Katina, Jennifer and Philip are not fraudsters, nor are the millions of older adults and people with disabilities who need care at home. The administration’s fraudulent campaign to label these families as “fraudsters” puts millions of lives in jeopardy. We urge you to immediately cease the weaponization of the federal government against our disabled and elderly constituents.

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Duckworth, Sheehy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Innovative Veteran Health Care

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced the pro-Veteran, bipartisan Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act to increase Veterans’ access to innovative health care and ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is prepared to better care for Veterans with emerging mental health therapies.

“Veterans suffering from invisible wounds like PTSD and depression deserve the same level of care from their VA as those with physical wounds, and it’s past time we do more to ensure our VA is equipped and prepared to navigate these Veterans’ unique needs,” said Duckworth. “Our bipartisan legislation recognizes that the VA is uniquely positioned to oversee and administer this care as our Veterans’ medical center home and would cut red tape and establish groundbreaking infrastructure to more quickly review and approve emerging therapeutics for our wounded warriors. Equally important, it would require annual reports to Congress on clinical outcomes, research and success from innovative therapies so we could evaluate what works and establish those best practices Department-wide. Our bill is about making our VA work better for our heroes, and that should always be a bipartisan matter.”

“After young Americans who signed up to fight for our nation and were willing to give up their own lives for others come home, we better make sure the VA is ready to care for them and that they have access to the best, most innovative care available. The VA’s core mission is to care for veterans, and this bipartisan bill will help the hardworking men and women at the VA fulfill that critical mission,” said Sheehy.

This bill would establish a dedicated Office of Novel Therapeutics within the VA and ensure the department is prepared to safely evaluate and implement emerging therapies by establishing centralized governance, workforce readiness planning and clinical implementation infrastructure within the Veterans Health Administration.

Along with Duckworth and Sheehy, this legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and John Boozman (R-AR).

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

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Duckworth Statement on Trump & Republicans Retreating, Finally Funding TSA & FEMA After Weeks of Voting to Keep Them Shut Down

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans caved and voted in support of a proposal to fund the Transportation Security Agent (TSA), FEMA and other branches of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, except for ICE and Border Patrol.

“Let’s be clear: Republicans have voted against Democrats’ proposals to pay TSA agents and fund FEMA and the Coast Guard 14 times. They control the Senate, the House and the White House—and have had every opportunity to end the pain of this shutdown. Instead, they chose to punish thousands of hardworking Americans—and the travelling public—for weeks for the sins of Trump’s lawless agents. While they finally relented with this long-overdue agreement, their choices remain unconscionable.

“In the wake of the killing of two American citizens in broad daylight, Democrats have been and remain clear: we need commonsense reforms to protect Americans from being gunned down by their own government. We won’t stop pushing until we deliver the ICE and Border Patrol reforms that the American people deserve.”

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Durbin, Blackburn Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Address Health Care Provider Shortages In Rural Communities

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) this week reintroduced the bipartisan Rural America Health Corps Act. The legislation will address growing health disparities by incentivizing more health professionals to serve and plant roots in rural communities. The Rural America Health Corps Act creates a new program under the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to test whether an increased loan repayment amount and longer service commitment would better enhance recruitment and retention of doctors, nurses, dentists, and behavioral health providers in rural areas. Compared to the national average of 39 percent, only 26 percent of NHSC clinicians in Illinois serve in rural areas.

“Patients in rural Illinois deserve to have access to quality health care, but serious workforce shortages force patients to wait months or travel long distances to see a medical provider,” Durbin said. “My bipartisan bill with Senator Blackburn would provide new funding and support for rural communities by expanding loan repayment programs so we can attract and retain more doctors, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, and behavioral health specialists in every corner of our state.”

“Far too few health professionals are rooted in rural America due to workforce challenges, and we need to incentivize more full-time health professionals to serve in our rural communities,” said Blackburn. “The bipartisan Rural America Health Corps Act would attract and retain talented clinicians to plant roots in our small towns by helping individuals who agree to work full time in rural areas repay their student loans.”

Cosponsoring the legislation are U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) and David Kustoff (R-MS-08) have introduced companion legislation in the House.

Nearly 100 million Americans live in communities with too few doctors, and half the country lives in a mental health care desert. It is estimated that the United States needs 450,000 nurses over the next two years and is projected to face a shortage of 120,000 physicians over the next decade. One of the biggest barriers is the high cost of pursuing graduate education for health care providers, which can leave new doctors with an average debt of more than $200,000.

The NHSC addresses these workforce shortages and health disparities by enticing promising students from diverse backgrounds into health careers in underserved communities by providing scholarship and loan repayment funding in exchange for a service commitment in an urban or rural area. Nationwide, more than 18 million patients were delivered care by NHSC providers. Across Illinois, more than 835 clinicians with the NHSC serve in community health centers and hospitals.

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Durbin, Duckworth Announce $20 Million In Federal Funding For O’Hare Airport

CHICAGO — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $20 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for O’Hare International Airport. This grant will reimburse completed work to extend Runway 9R/27L to reduce delays, accommodate more passengers, and allow for more aircraft operations.

“As the nation’s busiest airport, O’Hare keeps millions of Americans connected with reliable air travel. By improving and modernizing its infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” said Durbin. “I will continue working with Senator Duckworth to ensure Illinois airports have the necessary federal resources to keep passengers safe and connected.”

“O’Hare is an essential economic hub for our state and critical transportation hub for the nation,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in announcing this investment of federal funding to help support critical modernization projects and runway improvements that will make travel easier, safer, faster and more reliable for folks traveling through Chicago. I’ll keep working to ensure our airports have the federal support they need.”

O’Hare was the busiest airport in the country in 2025, with 857,392 aircraft landing or taking off from the Airport. Earlier this month, Durbin and Duckworth sent a letter to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford about the urgent need for greater FAA investment and efficiency at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, specifically requesting the full use of O’Hare’s runways.

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Durbin Statement On DHS Funding Deal That Includes TSA, FEMA, And The Coast Guard

Denouncing federal immigration agents’ brutal tactics used in the Trump Administration’s mass deportation campaign, Durbin has repeatedly called for necessary reforms to ICE

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed legislation to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with the exception of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

“As Democrats made clear since these negotiations began, TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard should not be punished because of the President’s mass deportation campaign. While this could have been accomplished in the 14 opportunities Senate Democrats gave Republicans over the past few weeks, I’m glad our Republican colleagues finally said yes instead of no.

“Democrats held firm in our position that without serious reforms, we cannot support additional funding for ICE—an agency that has carried out unspeakable cruelty against children, immigrant families, and American citizens. We will continue to fight for those reforms.”

Over the course of the last few weeks, Senate Democrats had come to the floor 14 times to fund TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard while negotiations for reforms at ICE and CBP continued. Senate Republicans objected each time.

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Ernst Joins Trump to Celebrate Ag, Announce Historic Biofuel Blending Levels

WASHINGTON — To cap off celebrating National Ag Week and Iowa Ag Week, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined President Trump at the White House to honor American farmers, ranchers, and producers for their work to feed and fuel the world.

As nearly 1,000 farmers gathered on the South Lawn, the president highlighted how Republicans have consistently delivered for farmers and strengthened rural economies under his leadership. He also announced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its 2026-27 biofuel blending requirements at the highest level in history and urged Congress to deliver legislation securing year-round E15 and a long overdue five-year Farm Bill.

Download more photos here.

“I can think of no better way to wrap up two weeks of honoring Iowa farmers than by elevating their voices and values to the highest levels,” said Senator Ernst. “Today’s announcement underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to upholding the vital role homegrown biofuels and Iowa agriculture play in lowering fuel prices and bolstering our nation’s energy independence. After years of work to support our farmers and producers, I’m thrilled to have helped deliver the highest levels of biofuel blends for our nation’s fuel supply and strengthen the integrity of the RFS to create an even more prosperous rural America. My work doesn’t stop here, and I’ll continue to press for a modernized five-year Farm Bill and ensure Congress sends a bill to the president’s desk that secures permanent, year-round E15.”

Background:

After years of work, in April, Ernst urged the EPA to restore integrity, stability, and growth to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by raising Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels. Following the EPA’s June announcement for getting the RFS back on track, Ernst praised the Trump administration for proposing record biofuel volumes, adding domestic feedstock protections, and reversing the Biden-era electric vehicle (EV) mandate while urging the White House to continue putting America’s farmers and rural communities first.

She also helped introduce the Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act, which she successfully included in the One Big Beautiful Bill to extend the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit and ensure domestic feedstocks are prioritized for biofuel production – opening new markets for farmers.

More broadly, Ernst has been a leading advocate for homegrown Iowa biofuels, securing access to E15 for the summer driving months and pushing for permanent, nationwide availability that would give consumers, farmers, and biofuel producers the certainty they deserve.

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Gallego, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act

WASHINGTON – Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tim Sheehy (D-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the bipartisan Veterans Health Administration Novel Therapeutics Preparedness Act to increase veterans’ access to innovative health care and ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is prepared to better care for veterans with emerging mental health therapies.

This bill would establish a dedicated Office of Novel Therapeutics within the VA and ensure the department is prepared to safely evaluate and implement emerging therapies by establishing centralized governance, workforce readiness planning, and clinical implementation infrastructure within the Veterans Health Administration.

“When I got back from Iraq, I saw fellow Marines struggle in ways we weren’t prepared to treat. There’s no one way to address veterans’ mental health, and for those who don’t respond to existing treatments, we need to look at new ones. Emerging therapies like psychedelic treatment may offer real hope for veterans with PTSD when nothing else has. This bill makes sure we’re exploring every option to support them,” said Senator Gallego.

Emerging therapeutic interventions, including certain psychedelic-assisted therapies currently under FDA review, may significantly change how conditions such as PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, substance use disorders, traumatic brain injury, and chronic pain are treated. These therapies often require intensive clinical oversight, interdisciplinary care teams, and structured preparation and integration that differ from traditional outpatient care.

The bill aims to ensure the VA is prepared to safely implement emerging mental health treatments as they become available; strengthen coordination between research, clinical operations, and workforce training within VA; position the VA to lead the responsible evaluation and implementation of innovative therapies for veterans with complex mental health and brain health conditions; and help ensure veterans can access emerging treatments within VA’s integrated healthcare system rather than relying on costly or fragmented care outside the Department.

Gallego fought to include measures in the bill that direct the VA to study innovative therapies such as psychedelic treatment for veterans. He recently introduced the bipartisan Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025 to do the same.

“After young Americans who signed up to fight for our nation and were willing to give up their own lives for others come home, we better make sure the VA is ready to care for them and that they have access to the best, most innovative care available. The VA’s core mission is to care for veterans, and this bipartisan bill will help the hardworking men and women at the VA fulfill that critical mission,” said Senator Sheehy.

“Veterans suffering from invisible wounds like PTSD and depression deserve the same level of care from their VA as those with physical wounds, and it’s past time we do more to ensure our VA is equipped and prepared to navigate these Veterans’ unique needs. Our bipartisan legislation recognizes that the VA is uniquely positioned to oversee and administer this care as our Veterans’ medical center home and would cut red tape and establish groundbreaking infrastructure to more quickly review and approve emerging therapeutics for our wounded warriors. Equally important, it would require annual reports to Congress on clinical outcomes, research and success from innovative therapies so we could evaluate what works and establish those best practices Department-wide. Our bill is about making our VA work better for our heroes, and that should always be a bipartisan matter,” said Senator Duckworth.

“We owe it to veterans to ensure the VA can effectively facilitate access to new therapies and care upon FDA approval. Doing so will give them more options to improve their health, including recovering from the invisible wounds that represent a unique challenge to their well-being. I am proud of this bipartisan, proactive effort to meet the needs of our former servicemembers who have earned this support for all they have given to defend our nation and freedoms,” said Senator Boozman.

Read a one-pager on the bill HERE.


Gallego Presses Trump Admin to Boost Gas Mileage Deductions as Prices Skyrocket

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) called on the Trump administration to increase the mileage deduction rate used by small business owners who operate a vehicle for their business due to the rising cost of gas due to Trump’s war in Iran.

READ MORE: A senator is pressing the IRS to raise the mileage deduction that Uber drivers rely on to offset spiking gas prices (Business Insider)

“As you know, gas prices have reached record highs in 2026 due to President Trump’s lack of planning with regard to the impacts of the Iran war on energy prices. Increasing the standard mileage rate is critical to support the small business owners and self-employed individuals whose livelihoods have been harmed by these price increases,” Senator Gallego wrote in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “Given the significant increase in gas prices, I urge the IRS to raise the standard mileage rate at a rate that proportionately reflects gas price increases.”

Since the start of the war with Iran, gas prices have risen by nearly a dollar per gallon across the country. Self-employed individuals that rely on their vehicles for work are currently able to deduct 72.5 cents per mile as a business cost for federal taxes. Gallego is asking the IRS to raise this rate in response to high gas prices, as they have done in the past.

“Small business owners and self-employed contractors are key contributors to our economy, and they rely on optional standard mileage rate deductions that reflect the real cost of doing business,” Senator Gallego concluded. “I urge the IRS to act quickly to increase this rate and provide these individuals and small businesses with the economic certainty they need.”

Read the full letter HERE.


Gallego Speaks on Latino Housing Affordability at NAHREP Conference

WASHINGTON — This week, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) delivered a keynote address at the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals’ (NAHREP) 2026 Homeownership & Housing Policy Conference. Senator Gallego spoke about the dignity and stability that comes with homeownership, the importance of housing affordability in the Latino community, and his work to help lower costs for Latino families.

Watch Senator Gallego’s speech here and read excerpts below:

“For us Latino families [housing] is the center of our world. That’s where we have our family gatherings. That’s where we have the Sunday gatherings. That’s where we go after the hours and hours of the quinceañera or all the other parties that last for hours and hours after that. And certainly what we’re seeing now is a lot of people missing that stability and that opportunity.”

“I know what that home means. It means financial security. It means potential generational wealth. It means you having a place to always feel that is actually truly yours. But we need to have a government that matches that. We need to have politicians that truly understand how emotionally important it is for us to do that.”

“The solution is pretty simple. We need to build more. We need to build faster. We need to break down the regulations that are making it harder and more expensive for us to actually build these homes. And we need to make it easier for people to be able to afford these homes. And we got to do it as fast as possible because we can’t go another generation — can’t have another generation skip the opportunity to buy a home and really build success.”

“If the Latino population of our country is housed, that means that the country is housed. If the Latino population of this country is building generational wealth, that means that this country is building generational wealth. If our people are using the opportunity to stabilize their homes, send their kids to good schools, keeping them in secure neighborhoods, and building that future, that means that the country is doing that. Because there is no success in this country if the Latino community is not successful. We will all rise together. We will all fight together. We will all succeed together, but we all have to most importantly, do it together.”