Curtis Statement on War Powers Resolution Vote

The full transcript of the video is below, and the video file can be downloaded here.

As delivered:

“In just a few minutes, we’ll be voting on a War Powers Resolution. And I wanted to take just a few seconds, there’s so many nuances here, to explain to you back home my vote, and how I voted, and what you can expect from me in this issue.

“I want to start this conversation by saying: the gravity of what’s happening over in Iran is huge. The loss of some service members’ lives, the loss of lives on all sides, the destruction, I don’t think any of us take lightly here in Washington, D.C. And there are, of course, many questions about the President’s authority. And I want to take just a second to make sure everybody understands how this is playing out and how I view it myself.

“I was a very young man at the time of the Vietnam War, but in 1973, Congress was very frustrated with not just the current President, but several presidents before them. So, they passed the War Powers Resolution to rein in the President. In essence, in that resolution, they said a couple of things: one was that the President had to notify Congress; that they had to come back in 48 hours with specifics; that they had to keep us regularly updated through that whole process; and that within 60 days, the hostilities had to be ceased with a possible 30-day extension window that the President could operate in.

“So, while Congress intended for that to rein in the President, it’s actually been used—not just by this President—but literally almost every president since then, both Republican and Democrat, have taken advantage of this 60-day or 90-day window to use a lot of authority—by the way, that is also given to them in the Constitution. While it might be a little unclear because Congress, in the Constitution, has the ability to declare war, the President, in the Constitution, is also the Commander-in-Chief. So, there has been, throughout the entire time of our country, this tug and pull between Congress and the President.

“It’s fair to say, that we want the President to be able to respond to an imminent threat. We want the President to be able to cut off a threat before it becomes imminent. We want the President to have the ability to save American lives that may be taken hostage, and he has to use forces to do that. And we want Congress to declare war. Those frequently come into conflict, as they have here.

“So, I will say very clearly: Yes, I wish I would have been consulted. I wish my vote would have been asked for before this. But the President did act within his legal bounds to do what he has done. The vote that we’re taking this afternoon would simply say, ‘President, you must stop immediately what you’re doing.’ Well, imagine what that would do to our troops. Imagine how the families who lost their loved ones in this war would feel if we simply stopped and pulled away from what we’re doing.

“So, for that reason, the War Powers Act that we’re voting on this afternoon is not the right answer to this. But I do welcome an ongoing, thoughtful dialogue about this balance between Congress, who has the power to declare war, and the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief, to make sure we get that balance just right.”


Daines Bill to Increase Access to Public Lands Passes Senate Committee

Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act One Step Closer to Becoming Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that his bill, the “Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act,” passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and is one step closer to becoming law.

“As a lifelong sportsman, increasing access to Montana’s beautiful public lands is one of my top priorities. This bill is common sense: it unlocks land that’s overdue for release from restrictive Wilderness Study Area status to increase access for outdoor recreation, forest management, and wildfire mitigation. I am glad to see it pass committee and I’ll keep fighting to get it across the finish line,” said Daines.

Watch Daines’ remarks in committee HERE.

Background:

Daines introduced the Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act in December 2025- read the press release HERE.

The bill returns three Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) to general management. Each WSA is recommended for release by their respective agency’s land and resource management plan revisions and provides more flexibility for land managers to mitigate wildfire risk, restore wildlife habitat, and increase sportsmen access.

The three Wilderness Study Areas Daines’ bill would return to general public land management are the Middle Fork Judith WSA, the Hoodoo Mountain WSA, and the Wales Creek WSA.

Read the bill text HERE.

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Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Demanding Secretary Rubio Ramp Up Crisis Efforts to Safely Evacuate Americans Left Stranded by Trump’s War of Choice Against Iran

Senators admonish Trump Administration: “Americans deserve a government that steps up to help them through times of crisis, not turn their back on them to fend for themselves”

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – A day after Donald Trump admitted that there was no evacuation plan for Americans in the region when he launched his reckless, needless and unconstitutional war of choice against Iran, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is leading her Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately ramp up communication and efforts to safely evacuate American citizens who have been left stranded in a crisis of Trump’s own making in the Middle East. Following Secretary Rubio’s all-Member briefing yesterday where he continued to insist that the State Department is doing everything it can to help Americans abroad, there are growing reports of too many frustrated, confused and scared Americans who continue receiving conflicting guidance to both shelter in place and to immediately depart—all while airports and airspace remain closed. Along with Duckworth, the letter is co-signed by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Brian Schatz (D-HI).

“We urge you to immediately ramp up your efforts to communicate and coordinate with the Americans who are caught in this widening conflict by opening a crisis intake form to facilitate better, direct communication with Americans who are seeking to leave the region to get to safety. Although we have seen announcements from various administration officials that assisted departure plans are in progress, our constituents remain in the dark,” the Senators wrote. “Americans deserve a government that steps up to help them through times of crisis, not turn their back on them to fend for themselves.

In the letter, the Senators also note that the rapidly changing situation has created an increased risk to U.S. Embassy personnel and their families across the Middle East after the State Department has been forced to close Embassies and navigate possible departures.

The Senators underscored their outrage at this clear lack of planning and preparedness: “The rapidly changing Embassy statuses raises questions of your department’s ability to effectively enable our own people to depart to safety or whether diplomats remain at risk alongside their families, despite being directed to urgently leave.”

The Senators demand Secretary Rubio quickly take further action and provide a status update by March 6, 2025.

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

Dear Secretary Rubio:

We write to demand you urgently initiate appropriate crisis response and assisted departures to ensure the safety and protection of American citizens who are now caught against their will in the fallout of President Trump’s reckless war of choice against Iran that has triggered retaliatory attacks against military and civilian targets in multiple countries. As President Trump himself admitted in the Oval Office yesterday, there was no evacuation plan for Americans in the region because “it happened all very quickly.” As a result, American citizens across the Middle East have been left without adequate support or communications and without viable options to leave the region as your department provides conflicting guidance to both shelter in place and to immediately depart via commercial means—which appear to be largely out of reach for most of our impacted constituents.

We urge you to immediately ramp up your efforts to communicate and coordinate with the Americans who are caught in this widening conflict by opening a crisis intake form to facilitate better, direct communication with Americans who are seeking to leave the region to get to safety. Although we have seen announcements from various administration officials that assisted departure plans are in progress, our constituents remain in the dark. You must take more concrete steps to facilitate the departure of these citizens in danger. While we have seen our friends and allies facilitate charter flights and your department has made announcements about facilitating charter flights, our constituents have experienced conflicting information about how to access evacuation support and if that support is available. Americans deserve a government that steps up to help them through times of crisis, not turn their back on them to fend for themselves.

The rapidly changing situation has also created increased risk to our U.S. Embassy personnel and their families across the Middle East, as your department has been forced to close Embassies and abruptly shift between authorized and ordered departure statuses. Although these options can be standard responses to unpredictable crises, this crisis is of President Trump’s own making, and the regional reaction has appeared to spin outside your control and has compounded the risks to our people. The rapidly changing Embassy statuses raises questions of your department’s ability to effectively enable our own people to depart to safety or whether diplomats remain at risk alongside their families, despite being directed to urgently leave.

Accordingly, we request you not only quickly take these actions but also provide the following information for us no later than March 6, 2025.

Please confirm when you will open a crisis intake form and what decisions led to the delay between relying on STEP only and moving to crisis intake.

What is the status of planned charter flights to facilitate departure for American citizens across the region? How are you determining which countries in the region require assisted departures to evacuate private U.S. citizens?

Are you planning to facilitate assisted departure from all 14 of the countries and regions from which the Department has advised immediate evacuation?

What metrics are you using to evaluate use of charter flights versus military flights to support assisted departures?

Given frequent airspace closures, describe what other avenues, such as ground transport, you are considering for facilitating potential evacuation support for American citizens.

Describe what planning you did for Embassy personnel and their families to facilitate their timely evacuation in the lead up to being placed on authorized or ordered departure.

Provide the status of Missions on authorized and ordered departure and to what extent those personnel and families seeking to depart have been able to do so.

How many Americans are currently in the 14 countries and regions from which the Department has advised immediate departure? How many Americans in these locations have requested departure assistance from the Department?

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Duckworth Statement on Senate Republicans Choosing Fealty to Trump Over Our Troops’ Lives and their Constitutional Duty by Blocking Iran War Powers Resolution

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Senate Republicans shamefully blocked U.S. Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) bipartisan War Powers Resolution that would’ve blocked Donald Trump’s illegal war of choice against Iran that has tragically already taken the lives of six U.S. servicemembers and wounded many others:

“I would never wish another needless, endless, unjustified war like the one I served in on anybody else. In the days following Donald Trump’s reckless decision to launch an unconstitutional war of choice against Iran, it is clear he carries no such sentiment. The man who couldn’t be bothered to serve in uniform himself has no problem throwing our servicemembers and our nation into a war without any known imminent threat or serious effort to justify to the American people why he is once again turning back on his promise that he would get our nation out of wars, not into them.

“Our troops are always ready to do their jobs, no matter what. It is an insult to their service that Senate Republicans have neglected to do their own by cowardly ceding our chamber’s authority and greenlighting Trump’s lawless recklessness that has already killed six servicemembers. I want to see the Iranian people free from the iron grip of its brutal authoritarian regime, and I’m not about to shed a tear for the Ayatollah’s death. But my first concern will always be the national security of the United States, and I’m gravely troubled by the consequences that are sure to become of Trump and my Republican colleagues’ actions.

“It’s much easier to ignore the everyday realities of war from inside the hallowed halls of Washington. But it’s nearly impossible if you’ve been outside the wire yourself. We ask a lot of tough things of our troops and military families—the least Senate Republicans could’ve done is their job. But today, they decided once again that kowtowing to Donald Trump was more important than doing the bare minimum for our servicemembers and the American people.”

Duckworth, who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, is a member of both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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As One Of 23 Senators Who Voted Against The Iraq War, Durbin Releases Statement Following Failed Iran War Powers Resolution Vote

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) war powers resolution that would have blocked President Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran unless authorized by Congress. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states that the power to declare war is an explicit power of Congress and Congress overwhelmingly reaffirmed this constitutional provision when it passed the War Powers Act in 1973 over the veto of President Nixon. Earlier today, Durbin spoke on the Senate floor and condemned the President’s shifting rationales for launching military strikes on Iran five days ago. Durbin was one of 23 Senators who voted against the war in Iraq.

“Before we ask Americans to put their sons and daughters at risk in a war, we should have a fulsome debate on the Senate floor. The Constitution clearly states that the power to declare war is up to Congress. If we give it up, then we’re turning our back on the Constitution and our responsibilities to the American people.”

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Durbin, Duckworth Join Merkley To Demand Independent Probe Of Funds To Carry Our Trump’s Cruel Mass Deportation Scheme

DHS has yet to provide clear accounting for nearly $170 billion appropriated for immigration enforcement in Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in calling on the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to probe the cost of President Trump’s violent escalation of federal immigration enforcement. The Senators are requesting a comprehensive assessment and accounting of the supplemental funds, including the roughly $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and approximately $65 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), provided by President Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“Last summer, Congress provided extraordinary supplemental resources for immigration enforcement in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including roughly $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and approximately $65 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These sums represent a dramatic expansion of those agencies’ typical annual budgets. Yet there is no comprehensive public accounting of how funds provided for immigration enforcement in H.R. 1 are being obligated and/or spent,” wrote the Senators.

“This lack of transparency is part of a broader pattern in which the Trump Administration has expanded domestic security operations while withholding basic cost information from Congress. We have serious concerns that this pattern reflects an increasingly authoritarian and unchecked approach to executive power. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that federal agencies are not using taxpayer dollars in ways that vitiate Americans’ civil rights or expand executive overreach,” the Senators continued.

In addition to Durbin, Duckworth, and Merkley, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) joined the letter.

The full request of CBO can be found HERE.

Dr. Swagel:

We are deeply concerned by the Trump administration’s reckless immigration enforcement surge—unfolding on our streets and undertaken with virtually no transparency or accountability. It represents one of the largest expansions of federal immigration enforcement in modern history, including unprecedented increases in detention capacity, personnel, transportation, surveillance systems, and tactical deployments.

Last summer, Congress provided extraordinary supplemental resources for immigration enforcement in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including roughly $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and approximately $65 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These sums represent a dramatic expansion of those agencies’ typical annual budgets. Yet there is no comprehensive public accounting of how funds provided for immigration enforcement in H.R. 1 are being obligated and/or spent.

This lack of transparency is part of a broader pattern in which the Trump administration has expanded domestic security operations while withholding basic cost information from Congress. We have serious concerns that this pattern reflects an increasingly authoritarian and unchecked approach to executive power. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that federal agencies are not using taxpayer dollars in ways that vitiate Americans’ civil rights or expand executive overreach.

To support constitutional and statutory oversight, we request that CBO provide an independent assessment of the costs, obligations, and spending patterns associated with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies—both at the border and throughout the interior of the United States. Specifically, we ask CBO to:

Determine how much of the $75 billion provided by H.R. 1 to ICE has been obligated and/or expended to date, broken out by major categories such as detention, transportation, enforcement operations, personnel, technology, and security contracting.

Determine how much of the $65 billion provided by H.R. 1 to CBP has been obligated and/or expended to date, including spending on personnel, facilities, surveillance systems, vehicles, and border infrastructure projects.

Determine how much of the $12 billion provided by H.R. 1 to the Department of Homeland Security (in sections 90007 and 100051) has been obligated and/or expended to date.

Determine the total amount of funds that ICE, CBP, and DHS have obligated and/or expended since January 2025 for expanded interior enforcement operations, including any funding sources in addition to the supplemental appropriations provided by H.R. 1.

Identify future costs associated with sustaining the administration’s expanded enforcement posture, including staffing, detention, transportation, and technology requirements.

Provide any additional information CBO believes is necessary to understand the budgetary implications of these activities.

This request follows an earlier inquiry seeking a cost assessment of the Trump administration’s National Guard deployments to American cities. CBO found that the administration’s National Guard domestic deployments have cost taxpayers over half a billion dollars—information that Congress and the public had no access to until CBO’s report. Congress and the American people deserve the same level of independent scrutiny for ICE, CBP, and DHS’s use of the extraordinary funds provided by H.R. 1.

We request this analysis as soon as practicable. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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Durbin Meets With Bloomington-Normal One Voice About Economic Development For Central Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of Bloomington-Normal One Voice to discuss economic development and infrastructure improvement projects in Central Illinois. During their meeting, Durbin and One Voice discussed local water infrastructure needs, including the Gridley Street Sewer Separation Project and the Waterlift Project to improve water access for parts of McLean County. The group also spoke about the need for a new passenger boarding bridge at the Central Illinois Regional Airport.

Durbin then received an update on Illinois State University’s innovation and workforce initiative, which aims to serve as a business incubator, providing shared workspaces and laboratories for entrepreneurs and community stakeholders seeking to expand their small business.

“Today, I hosted members of Bloomington-Normal One Voice in the Capitol to discuss how the federal government can continue to support Central Illinois’ local projects – from water infrastructure needs to Central Illinois Regional Airport bridge upgrades. I will continue working to try and help McLean County make these projects a reality,” Durbin said.

Photos of the meeting are available here.

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Durbin Meets With Director Of The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Director James Jennings to discuss water infrastructure in Metro East, the Calumet Confined Disposal Facility, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, and the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. In Congress, Durbin has secured federal funding to address the flooding issues in Metro East, the harms of PFAS, and has continuously worked with the Army Crops on the Brandon Road Project.

“Ensuring IEPA is equipped with the resources to preserve our natural resources and protect our environment from toxic hazards like PFAS has been a priority of mine in Congress. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with Director Jennings today about how we can improve the quality of life for our constituents,” said Durbin.

A photo of the meeting is available here.

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Durbin Slams The Trump Administration For Its Unclear Strategy Regarding Iran, Urges Colleagues To Support Senator Kaine’s Iran War Powers Resolution

Durbin: “We're in the fifth day of this war, and so far, we have five different explanations from the White House as to why we invaded Iran.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today urging his colleagues to support Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) war powers resolution, which would block President Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran unless authorized by Congress. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states that the power to declare war is an explicit power of Congress and Congress overwhelmingly reaffirmed this constitutional provision when it passed the War Powers Act in 1973 over the veto of President Nixon. During his remarks, Durbin laid out the five different explanations the White House has offered for launching military strikes in Iran five days ago. Durbin was one of 23 Senators who voted against the war in Iraq and recalled the many American service members who lost their lives in that conflict.

Durbin said, “Well, we’re in the fifth day of this war and so far, we have five different explanations from the White House as to why we invaded Iran. Iran is triggering turmoil and chaos in the Middle East… but when you listen to these explanations of why we are willing to risk American lives, you wonder if the White House has clearly made up their mind about a strategy. It started with the State of the Union address and the President sa[id] we have to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. There’s a bipartisan consensus for that position. But it’s hard for this President to explain why in his first term, he eliminated the international inspectors in Iran who were making sure they didn’t develop a nuclear weapon.”

“The second explanation of why we are at war in Iran was their development of ballistic missiles. Yet we know this is reminiscent of the excuse given for the invasion of Iraq years ago. Remember the allegations that there were weapons of mass destruction, which could harm our allies, even the United States? Ballistic missiles in Iran are not capable of reaching the United States. Using that as an excuse of ‘clear and present danger’ is hard to rationalize,” said Durbin.

“The third explanation of the five from the White House is regime change,” said Durbin. “Certainly, the Iranian people deserve a regime change. Are we willing to back them up? If they go in the streets and are being massacred and slaughtered like the previous Administration in Iran was responsible, what will we do? Send troops to the streets of Tehran? That has never been explained by this Administration.”

Durbin continued, “The fourth explanation for our invasion of Iran given by the White House in this early stage, is that the Israelis were going to do it anyway, and we’d probably be dragged into the conflict. Really? So, Israel is dictating America’s foreign policy?”

“The fifth explanation I heard on the radio this morning from the President last night: a nuclear war was about to be launched by Iran. Really? With what missiles? What capacity? What weapons? This is a theory that has not been backed up by any type of fact. Here’s the reality: five days into this war, we’ve had five different explanations why we’re in this war,” said Durbin.

“Let me tell you my experience having been here on the vote to go to war in Iraq: It is far easier to get into a war than it is to get out of a war,” said Durbin.

Durbin then spoke about President Trump’s harmful foreign policy stances toward our allies. He was obsessed with acquiring Greenland and declared that our neighbor and ally, Canada, should become the 51st state of the United States. Durin also commented on the need to maintain our strong NATO alliance and his worries that President Trump’s impulsiveness will destroy the confidence of other NATO countries.

Durbin concluded his speech by calling on his Senate Republican colleagues to vote for Kaine’s war powers resolution.

Durbin concluded, “Before we ask the men and women of America, the families of America, to put their sons and daughters at risk in a war, shouldn’t we have a fulsome debate on the floor of the Senate? That’s what Republicans fear—a real debate why this war is being launched… The Constitution says the American people have a role in it [deciding if we go to war] through their elected Representatives in the Senate and in the House. I urge my colleagues to support Tim Kaine [War Powers Resolution] to establish what this Constitution clearly says: the power to declare war is ours. If we give it up, then we’re turning our back on the Constitution and our responsibilities to the American people.”

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

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

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

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Durbin Talks Illinois Water Infrastructure Projects With Chicago Army Corps District Commander

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Chicago District Commander Colonel Kenneth P. Rockwell to receive an update on several northern Illinois infrastructure projects. Durbin and Colonel Rockwell spoke about the operation and maintenance of the Chicago Harbor Lock, which is the second busiest Corps lock in the country with around-the-clock operations for commercial towboat and deep draft barges, government, passenger, and recreational vessels.

Durbin also received an update on the Calumet Harbor Combined Disposal Facility (CDF) tasked with storing and dredging toxic sediment from the Calumet Harbor and the Cal-Sag Channel. Durbin encouraged the Corps to continue working with the Chicago South East Side community to expand the CDF’s operations, protecting public health and Lake Michigan’s ecosystem.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District heads up some of the most critical infrastructure projects in Northern Illinois,” Durbin said. “Today, I spoke with Colonel Rockwell about how the federal government can best support the Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to protect our natural resources and protect public health for those in the Chicago area.”

Photos of the meeting are available here.

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Ernst Backs President Trump’s Actions to Protect Americans

WASHINGTON – Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran who served in the Global War on Terror, stood firmly with President Trump to ensure neither Iran nor its proxies can claim another American life.

Instead of targeting the president, Ernst urged her colleagues to have the backs of our men and women in uniform and called on Senate Democrats to immediately fund the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the safety and security of Americans over political games.

As the nation mourns six heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, including those from Des Moines’ 103rd Sustainment Command and young Iowan Sgt. Declan J. Coady of West Des Moines, Ernst emphasized the importance of their noble mission and, as their brothers and sisters continue it to ensure not another American life is taken by Iran, their sacrifice will never be in vain.

Watch Senator Ernst’s remark here.

Ernst’s Full Remarks:

“As a combat veteran who deployed to the Middle East, I served to protect America – not just then, but always.

“And I stand strongly with our commander in chief as he acts on behalf of the safety and security of Americans.

“The Iranian regime has been threatening, targeting, and taking the lives of our citizens for 47 years.

“Yet President Obama gave the regime billions to enrich uranium and obtain weapons used against our own servicemembers.

“And President Biden’s appeasement strategy continued to fuel and fund Iran’s proxy terrorism.

“Enough is enough.

“This weekend, President Trump took decisive action so neither Iran nor its proxies can ever take another one of our citizens’ lives.

“And the objective is clear: Ensure no American has to live under the threat of Iran-backed terror again.

“Like every American, I have no desire to see a long, drawn-out war, but this is a mission worthy of being COMPLETED.

“God bless our servicemembers around the world who are bravely and selflessly carrying out this noble endeavor.

“When I served in Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, each day I put on my boots, I donned my Kevlar, and stood shoulder to shoulder with my fellow Iowa National Guardsmen unsure of what the day ahead would bring.

“But I knew it was my responsibility as Company Commander to help my men and women stay focused when we were surrounded by chaos.

“And that remains my prayer for every single one of our men and women in uniform who are working to end Iran-backed terror.

“Our nation is still grappling with the news that six courageous heroes, including those from Des Moines’ 103rdSustainment Command and young Iowan Sgt. Declan J. Coady of West Des Moines, were killed in action.

“These young men and women gave their lives in support of a noble mission: Protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure.

“Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude – it is one that can never be repaid.

“But as their fellow brothers and sisters in uniform carry out the mission to ensure we never lose another American to Iran-backed terror, their sacrifice to protect our nation is not and will not ever be in vain.

“Every American life is precious and in Iran’s decades-long pursuit of creating chaos around the globe, too many of our servicemembers have been killed.

“In 1979, militants backed by Iran’s regime seized 66 Americans from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held them hostage for 444 days.

“Eight U.S. servicemembers were killed attempting to rescue them.

“In 1983, Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists drove a truck bomb into a Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 220 Marines, 18 Navy sailors, and three Army soldiers.

“In January 2024, a drone launched by Iran-backed Hezbollah killed three U.S. soldiers at Tower 22 in Jordan.

“Those soldiers were engineers from the 718th Engineer Company out of Georgia. It's one of my former companies.

“And no one can forget October 7, 2023, when Iran-backed Hamas terrorists massacred more than 1,200 men, women, and children, including nearly 50 Americans and took 12 of our citizens hostage.

“I was in the region that night and immediately went into Israel, where I witnessed the effects of Iran’s brutality up close.

“Make no mistake folks – When Iran’s leaders chant ‘Death to America,’ they mean it.

“Our adversaries must understand that a single American loss is one too many and that they will pay dearly for spilling the blood of those who wear the uniform.

“Already, President Trump’s peace through strength efforts are working.

“Iran’s Supreme Leader and over 40 senior Iranian regime leaders have been wiped out.

“Their weapon systems, their Navy, and their nuclear ambitions are being demolished.

“And our president – Donald J. Trump – is bringing the region together – united against their common enemy: Iran.

“Since October 7, I have traveled to the Middle East more than ten times in pursuit of peace.

“And I’ve heard firsthand from leaders across the Middle East for years about their fears of Iran and its proxies.

“While a more peaceful world was always the goal, as long as the Iranian regime and its proxies existed, it seemed far from reality.

“This week, Iran launched sustained attacks against our partners, thinking they would fracture our relationships in the region.

“They thought wrong.

“Instead, our partners have been brought together – they know who the real enemy is.

“And they have told me: they stand with the United States and they support our actions.

“These are our Arab friends in the region.

“For too long they also have lived under the threat of the Iranian regime and are ready for a region where peace and prosperity can finally take hold.

“And we know a safer Middle East means a safer world.

“Iowans are no strangers to the consequences of chaos in the Middle East, which is why I want to bring an end to it.

“In December, two Iowa National Guardsmen – Staff Sergeants Nate Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar were killed by terrorists in Syria.

“Shortly after, in January, I visited the Iowa troops that were stationed in the region, including the unit that our staff sergeants came from.

“And I had one simple, but important message for them: their noble mission matters.

“The work our men and women are doing overseas is helping keep the American homeland safe.

“But now is our opportunity to bring an end to decades of chaos.

“The sooner the better.

“While the power to declare war exclusively rests with Congress, the responsibility to defend our nation and our homeland is in the hands of our commander in chief.

“And don’t forget – Congress holds the power of the purse.

“Yet at this very moment, the Department of Homeland Security is shut down by Senate Democrats blocking its funding.

“This is a dangerous time for a political stunt.

“We don’t know if there are terrorist sleeper cells waiting to avenge the death of the ayatollah or even lone radicals.

“Consider, a gunman who killed two in Austin, Texas on Sunday was wearing a t-shirt featuring an Iranian flag.

“And a Virginia mosque, less than an hour’s drive away from this very Capitol honored the ‘martyrdom’ of the ayatollah this week.

“While I appreciate the gentleman from Virginia’s interest in exercising Congress’ war powers, I would urge all of my Democrat colleagues to get behind those who are at this moment defending our nation.

“We’ve already lost too many lives at the hands of Iran, but as long as the Iranian regime chants ‘Death to America,’ the lives of our citizens will continue to be threatened.”

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Ernst Honors the Fallen from Des Moines’ 103rd Sustainment Command

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran who served in the Iowa National Guard and the Global War on Terrorism, released the following statement about the six casualties from Des Moines’ 103rd Sustainment Command who were serving in Kuwait, including Sgt. Declan J. Coady of West Des Moines and Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien of Indianola.

“I’m mourning alongside our entire nation after the loss of the six heroes from Des Moines’ 103rd Sustainment Command who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their courageous decision to answer the call to serve and put our nation before themselves is one that will never be forgotten.

“These soldiers engaged in the most noble mission: protecting their fellow Americans and keeping our homeland secure. Our nation owes them an incredible debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.

“My heart is breaking for their family members, loved ones, and our 103rd Sustainment Command family. Nowhere is their sacrifice felt more deeply than in Iowa, where we are especially grieving the loss of Sgt. Declan J. Coady from West Des Moines and Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien from Indianola.

“Please join me in praying for the safety and protection of all those serving in the Middle East and around the world. As they continue courageously carrying out their mission so we never lose another American to Iran-backed terror, they are ensuring the sacrifice made by their brothers and sister in uniform was not and will never be in vain.”

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Fischer Honors Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens, Urges Funding of Department of Homeland Security

Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and member of the Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor honoring United States Army Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens of Bellevue, Nebraska, who was killed in Kuwait during Operation Epic Fury. Fischer also highlighted the urgent need to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down for 19 days.

Fischer speaks on the Senate floor. Click above to watch.

Click here to download audio.

Click here to download video.

Transcript of Fischer’s speech as prepared for delivery:


Gallego Calls Out Trump Admin for Leaving U.S. Citizens Stranded in the Middle East

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) called out the Trump administration for sending an advisory three full days after beginning strikes on Iran. The advisory directed American citizens to “depart now” from more than a dozen countries across the Middle East without providing any avenues to do so. This decision puts Americans at risk and suggests a disturbing lack of planning before initiating hostilities with an adversary notorious for targeting Americans abroad.

READ MORE: Sen. Ruben Gallego rips State Dept. for Americans stuck in Middle East (The Arizona Republic)

“I write with deep concern regarding the Department of State’s abdication of its responsibilities to protect U.S. citizens in the Middle East amid the administration’s initiation of hostilities with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Recent developments in the region have exposed a disturbing dissonance between the Department’s public exhortations that Americans leave the region and complete lack of assistance available to U.S. nationals to effectuate their departure from the region,” Senator Gallego wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Advising Americans to “depart now” without a credible plan to help them do so puts American lives at risk, and raises serious questions about the Department’s preparedness, risk assessment processes, and prioritization of citizen safety. These risks only increase with each passing day that the war with Iran continues.”

The State Department has advised Americans in the Middle East to use available commercial transportation to evacuate. However, commercial airspace in much of the region has been closed and flights have been widely canceled, restricting U.S. citizens’ ability to follow that guidance. Additionally, U.S. embassies in several countries have been damaged, closed, or evacuated, and are not in a position to provide meaningful evacuation assistance, leaving many U.S. citizens effectively stranded.

“Issuing a blanket advisory while providing no concrete evacuation options is unacceptable. The U.S. government’s first obligation is to protect the lives and safety of its citizens, especially when its own foreign policy and military decisions materially increase the risks those citizens face,” Senator Gallego continued. “A travel advisory that lacks a coherent operational plan for facilitating departure from conflict zones is tantamount to abandonment, particularly in the case of hostilities with an adversary notorious for targeting Americans abroad.”

Read the full letter HERE.


Gallego, Kelly Stanton, Ansari, Grijalva Demand Equitable Colorado River Protections

Arizona Democratic Delegation Calls Bureau of Reclamation’s Draft EIS Unworkable for Arizona, Underscore Impact on Tribes, Semiconductor and Agriculture Industries

WASHINGTON — Today, Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly and Representatives Greg Stanton (AZ-4), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), and Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) raised concerns with the Bureau of Reclamation on the recently released Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

In their letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Andrea Travnicek, the Arizona lawmakers stress that the proposed alternatives in the current DEIS are not viable for Arizona’s water security while reaffirming Arizona remains committed to continued negotiations with the Basin States, Reclamation, and the Department of the Interior to reach a balanced, durable long-term framework for the Colorado River.

“We cannot take our focus off securing an agreement that acknowledges the environmental realities of a region plagued by megadrought but demands equitable conservation efforts by all Basin States. But in the DEIS, Reclamation risks pursuing an unsustainable distribution of reductions and responsibilities across the Basin States, placing our constituents and their livelihoods in harm’s way,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers emphasized that the proposal unfairly places the burden of reductions on Arizona and the Lower Basin despite the state’s continued conservation efforts: “Arizona has and will continue to do its part to protect the Colorado River, but we cannot do it alone. We are deeply troubled that Reclamation all but abandons its increasingly critical role in ensuring the Upper Basin States fulfill their delivery obligations under the Colorado River Compact of 1922 (Compact). However, the DEIS alternatives impose required reductions exclusively on the Lower Basin, despite the region accounting for approximately 75 percent of the Basin’s population and economic output. And each alternative, though broad in scope, will translate in practice specifically as drastic reductions to Arizona’s water supply.”

The delegation also warned that drastic cuts to Colorado River deliveries could have serious consequences for communities across Arizona that rely on the river for their water supply: “Across Arizona, you will find communities whose primary—if not sole—source of water is the Colorado River. The DEIS itself acknowledges that “widespread impacts on social and economic conditions may also be possible,” including circumstances in which municipalities may need to pursue alternative or even hauled water sources to maintain basic services. Drastic cuts could have cascading consequences for human health and safety and destabilize the lives and livelihoods of Arizonans, tribal communities, and critical industries that rely on Colorado River supplies.”

The lawmakers stressed that any long-term framework for the Colorado River must fully account for tribal water rights and the federal government’s trust responsibility to Arizona’s tribal nations: “Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, many of whom hold significant Colorado River entitlements that underpin economic and community development, public health, and long-planned water infrastructure investments. Any post-2026 framework for the river must fully account for the unique water rights and needs of tribal communities to fulfill the federal trust responsibility, which the current DEIS fails to meet.”

The lawmakers also highlighted the risks the proposed reductions pose to Arizona’s economy, including agriculture and the state’s growing semiconductor manufacturing sector: “Arizona’s agricultural industry supplies essential products—including fresh produce, dairy, beef, and forage crops—that ensure regional and national food security. Reductions of the magnitude contemplated in the DEIS would reverberate across rural communities and throughout the domestic food supply chain. […] Arizona also boasts the largest concentration of advanced semiconductor manufacturing investment in the country, representing roughly $200 billion in announced projects since 2020. A reliable domestic chip supply is critical to military modernization, artificial intelligence leadership, and global economic competitiveness. The scale of reductions contemplated in the DEIS places these strategic investments at risk.”

Absent a durable seven Basin State agreement, a decision on river operations could be handed down from Interior as early as July. A plan for post-2026 river operations must be in place before October 1, to fulfill federal treaty obligations with Mexico and provide certainty for Colorado River water users as they enter a new water year.

The lawmakers closed by urging Reclamation to work with the Basin States to develop a durable and balanced long-term framework for the Colorado River: “Arizona remains committed to working collaboratively with the other Basin States, Reclamation, and the Department of the Interior to reach a balanced and sustainable agreement that protects both the river system and the communities and industries that depend upon it.”


Gallego Statement on Bureau of Land Management Nominee

WASHINGTON – Today Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement on Bureau of Land Management nominee Steve Pearce:

“Mr. Pearce has a documented history of supporting the sale of public lands and opposing national monuments.

“Arizona is home to more than 12 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land, and people from across the country travel to Arizona to hike, camp, and see our state’s natural beauty.

“And public lands, like the Grand Canyon are not just places to escape. They are essential for the economy, supporting a $21 billion outdoor recreation industry and thousands of jobs, and for many Tribal communities, they are sacred.

“We need leadership at the Bureau of Land Management that will protect public access, respect Tribal sovereignty, and understand that these lands are not for sale. That is why I cannot support his nomination.”


Gallego Statement on Iran War Powers Resolution Vote

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement on the Senate’s failure to advance Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) War Powers Resolution to ensure any U.S. participation in hostilities against Iran is explicitly authorized by Congress:

“President Trump illegally dragged the United States into a conflict with Iran without congressional authorization and without explaining the rationale, the strategy, or end goal. Now, six Americans are dead, and Trump said we should expect even more. This is not in our country’s best interest.

“The American public has been very clear that we don’t want another forever war. This vote should have made it clear we’re on their side.

“I fought in Iraq. I lost friends there and live with PTSD every day. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past by sending another generation of young working-class Americans to die in a war that hasn’t been explained to the American people. We can stand with the Iranian people and condemn the regime’s repression without sending American troops into another open-ended war.

“If we are sending our sons and daughters into harm’s way, the American people deserve answers. What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What is the end goal? How do we get out? Those basic questions still have not been answered by this administration.

“The American people are struggling with high prices at the grocery store, they can’t afford to buy a house, and because of Republicans’ budget cuts, millions of people have been kicked off their health insurance. And instead of addressing these issues, Trump started a foreign war that is not in our best interest.”


ICYMI: Gallego Speaks Out About Trump’s Illegal War in Iran

WASHINGTON – Since President Trump authorized strikes against Iran on Friday, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a Marine combat veteran who fought in Iraq, has been speaking out about the human cost of war with Iran. Through national and local interviews throughout the week, Gallego has underscored that it’s not politicians who pay the ultimate price for regime change, it’s young working-class kids.

Watch and read excerpts from Senator Gallego’s interviews below:

The Source with Kaitlin Collins on CNN

“They didn’t think this thoroughly. They put our men and women at risk. They put our allies at risk. We’re seeing the results of that with already six dead. We have embassies that are being bombed right now. We have a CIA station that was just bombed because they did not follow through all the proper procedures you do before you go to war, and instead of actually doing things the right way.”

Deadline with Nicole Wallace on MS Now

“I still don’t know what the endgame is. There still is no clear indication. What is success? What is victory? What is Iran going to look like when this is done and what [is] the timetable? I think that’s also very concerning. We should all be concerned because we have been very clear – the American public has been very clear that we don’t want another forever war. And we are currently engaging into something that is potentially going to just keep on evolving.

“Who ends up paying for this are the men and women of this country that serve us and the whole public right now, because [the] government is distracted from what they really should be doing, which is focusing on what people are worried about, which is the cost of living and everything else that’s really hurting everyday Americans.”

“The amount of money we’re burning through right now could have paid for a lot of health insurance, could have paid for food stamps, could have paid to help people buy their first homes, whatever it is. But we ended up following an ally into a situation that’s just going to burn through our time, our cash, our money.”

The Bulwark Podcast

“There was a great debate in 2003 in the US military about preemptive strikes It’s a moral issue. Do you strike first when you think someone is going to come after you? And in that case, it was Iraq. Now we’re talking about a preemptive strike based on another nation going to war and putting us in the crosshairs. Doesn’t make sense to me. It’s not part of our existential approach to providing security for the United States.”

The David Packman Show

“Is this in our national interest, number one. If you have to do war making, is this the only way to actually, effectively, secures our national interests? […] Were we properly even aligned and ready for this war? It doesn’t sound like it. […] We didn’t have force protection lined up. We certainly didn’t have our allies lined up. […] There may have been other ways, and then we could have discussion about that, but certainly not this way, certainly not this timing.”

“This whole thing, which is not planned out, makes it extremely dangerous, extremely volatile. The way they’re doing it, you could tell right now that this administration only had the concept of a one to two – one to three day war, and now they’re finding themselves in a situation where we might be in this thing a longer time, which again, how does this […] interact with our national interests?”

Univision

“¿Por qué estamos en guerra contra Irán? ¿Qué es el interés nacional de los Estados Unidos? ¿Por qué ya casi seis hombres y mujeres se murieron en defensa de nuestro país? ¿Por qué estamos en guerra? Todavía no tiene una buena razón. El secretario Rubio tiene una razón, el secretario de la defensa tiene otra razón, el presidente tiene seis o siete razones, pero nadie nos puede decir por qué fuimos a guerra en este tiempo y sin el permiso del congreso. Porque ahora lo que está ocurriendo, tenemos miles de nuestros hombres y mujeres en las fuerzas armadas que están en peligro ahora.”

MS Now All in with Chris Hayes

“Young American men and women are dying because of these idiots that are going to sacrifice U.S. men, U.S. women, without any real thought about what they’re doing, what the consequences are going to bring to these families. I feel like I’m repeating what I saw 20 years ago.”

Pod Save America

“There was no imminent threat to our country. Imminent threat means that it was going to happen. What we just heard from, you know, Marco Rubio was essentially that we were going to get attacked because someone was going to attack and they were going to eventually attack us. And it was therefore we decided to preempt attack. In what world does that justify us going to war, risking our men and women? And that’s what we have to put on the record when it comes to Republicans and some Democrats coming up pretty soon.”

“The fact that our country gave up its war making [powers], started inflicting damage on another country because of another country’s decision – that is not that is not leadership. That is not what you want to see leadership doing, and it’s absolutely horrendous.”

KTAR Radio (Phoenix, AZ)

“Whenever we’re sending our men and women into harm’s away, we should be actually over communicating to the public, like ‘What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What’s the end goal? How do we get out?’ All these questions that just have not exactly been answered by this administration.”

“For example, [there] was a reason we should have gone to Afghanistan, that is where the 911 attackers were trained. They were harboring Al Qaeda. Iraq was a war of choice. A war of choice that distracted us from where we need to be focused on, which should have been Afghanistan, Russia and China. Now we’re engaging in another war of choice.”

CNN State of the Union with Dana Bash

“I was actually with my mom this morning at breakfast, and she reminded me about the feelings that she had knowing that I was in the middle of a war and not knowing if I was alive or dead for a couple of days. Now we’re putting potentially tens of thousands of our families through that with the President.

“By the way, he has not had one real press conference to really explain to the American public, why are we putting our men and women in danger? What is the national interest of our country being going to war right now, and why are we going to expend potentially the blood of Americans and potentially destabilize a whole area. There is no leadership right now that’s coming from this president, and we’re in the middle of dropping bombs right now, and men and women are dying.”

MS Now The Weekend Primetime

“Who in America asked for this? Who in America asked American soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen to put on to put their lives on the line for us? […] It is horrible what happened in Iran, this is a horrible regime, but it is not our responsibility to go in there and change the regime. There was no imminent threat in order for us to be doing this right now. […] It just disturbs me that we’re just basically remaking the same mistake of the Iraq War, the same mistake that 21 years later, I still live with. I still have family of friends […] that died in that war that I still talk to to this day and it hurts.”

“It is not in our interests to destabilize the region. It’s not in our interest to be involved in such a deadly confrontation. And certainly what happens after this is not going to be in our interest. And again, we’ve made the same mistake potentially that happened in Iraq, and it was unneeded this whole time.”

ABC News

“For me as an Iraq war veteran, someone that had to go into some very dangerous situations, saw way too many of my friends die in the war, it really is scary how quickly we just lurched to war without any plans and for something I don’t think is actually [in] our interest. Especially putting our the men and women of our country at risk. It’s disgusting, and I think that we should do everything we can to stop this war and pull out before it gets worse.”


Gillibrand: No Blank Check For A Forever War In Iran

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement on her planned vote to require congressional authorization for continued military action in Iran:

“The president should be focused on reducing costs for Americans, not abusing his power to drag America into another endless war.

“Americans do not want regime change wars that put our brave troops at risk and drive up prices right here at home.

“I will not give Donald Trump — who lacks both the constitutional authority and the judgment — a blank check at taxpayers’ expense to engage in a forever war that puts Americans in harm’s way with no objective, no plan, and no exit strategy.”

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Grassley Statement on Indianola Army Reserve Casualty

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued a statement following the Department of Defense’s casualty notice announcing Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien’s death amid Operation Epic Fury. O’Brien was an Army Reserve soldier from Indianola assigned to Des Moines’ 103rd Sustainment Command.

“It’s devastating to learn a second Iowan has lost his life in combat. Maj. O’Brien’s heroism will be remembered forever, along with his fellow fallen soldier and Iowan, Sgt. Declan Coady.

“With heavy hearts, Barbara and I are offering our prayers for Iowa’s grieving Gold Star Families. May God protect all our troops abroad.”


New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Presses DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on Future ICE Facilities in NH

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, alongside Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), are pushing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to definitively rule out developing any ICE facilities in New Hampshire without state and local support.

Earlier this week, Senator Hassan met with Merrimack town officials to discuss how to ensure that DHS does not restart its planned Merrimack facility or pursue plans for a facility elsewhere in New Hampshire. While DHS recently confirmed that it was not moving forward with its planned project in Merrimack, the agency refused to rule out the potential of restarting the project and refused to provide any information about whether it was pursuing plans elsewhere in New Hampshire.

“Last week, in response to congressional inquiries, ICE stated that the agency is not moving forward with plans for a facility at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack at this time. However, ICE explicitly refused to comment on any other plans for ICE facilities in New Hampshire,” wrote the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation. “The people of New Hampshire have clearly and repeatedly voiced their concerns regarding potential new ICE facilities in the Granite State... While the plans for this specific proposed facility have now been paused, we continue to have strong concerns that DHS has or may develop other plans for a new ICE facility in New Hampshire without listening to and accounting for the concerns of Granite Staters.”

In their letter, the Congressional Delegation pushed Secretary Noem to publicly provide any sites that it has evaluated for use as an ICE facility, in Merrimack or elsewhere in New Hampshire, as well as the current status of its plan, and a commitment from DHS that it will not develop or operate these facilities unless it obtains the support of local leadership, including state and local elected officials as well as law enforcement and emergency services.

The New Hampshire Congressional Delegation has continued to push the Department of Homeland Security to listen to local voices when it comes to the development of ICE facilities. The Delegation repeatedly highlighted for Secretary Noem the local concerns with its planned facility in Merrimack, which resulted in the cancelation of the project. Additionally, Senator Hassan directly pushed the Acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons about these plans, telling him that the town did not want the detention center, and therefore, ICE should cancel it. Additionally, the New Hampshire delegation introduced bicameral legislation requiring DHS to solicit public comments and receive written approval from state and local officials before constructing, acquiring, or operating any new ICE facility.

Click here to read the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation’s letter to Secretary Noem, or see below:

Dear Secretary Noem:

We write today to seek information about Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans regarding new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in New Hampshire.

Last week, in response to congressional inquiries, ICE stated that the agency is not moving forward with plans for a facility at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack at this time. However, ICE explicitly refused to comment on any other plans for ICE facilities in New Hampshire.

The people of New Hampshire have clearly and repeatedly voiced their concerns regarding potential new ICE facilities in the Granite State. Local leaders were left out of discussions with DHS regarding the facility at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack, creating a situation where DHS plans continued to move forward without crucial local input. While the plans for this specific proposed facility have now been paused, we continue to have strong concerns that DHS has or may develop other plans for a new ICE facility in New Hampshire without listening to and accounting for the concerns of Granite Staters.

Please provide answers to the following questions no later than Friday, March 13, 2026:

We understand that DHS has paused its plan to purchase property and operate an ICE facility at 50 Robert Milligan Parkway in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Is DHS guaranteeing that project will not move forward, or leaving open the possibility of resuming it in the future?

Since January 20, 2025, has DHS evaluated any sites in Merrimack for potential use as ICE facilities other than 50 Robert Milligan Parkway?

If so, please provide a list of locations considered, the current status of these projects, and all documents prepared for these projects including but not limited to any economic impact analyses.

Since January 20, 2025, has DHS evaluated any other locations for potential new ICE facilities elsewhere in New Hampshire?

If so, please provide a list of locations considered, the current status of these projects, and all documents prepared for these projects including but not limited to any economic impact analyses.

Since January 20, 2025, has DHS evaluated expanding or increasing capabilities at any existing federal government owned or operated locations in New Hampshire to support DHS immigration enforcement, detention, or removal operations?

If so, please provide a list of locations considered, the current status of these projects, and all documents prepared for these projects including but not limited to any economic impact analyses.

Is DHS continuing to explore the possibility of developing and operating a new ICE facility in New Hampshire at this time?

Will DHS consider developing and operating a new ICE facility in New Hampshire in the future?

Will DHS commit to not developing or operating any new ICE facilities in New Hampshire unless it obtains the support of local leadership, including state and local elected officials as well as law enforcement and emergency services?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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Statement from Office of Senator Hassan on the Passing of Her Mother, Peggy Wood

It is with sadness and much love and appreciation that U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan and her siblings, Franny and Frank Wood, report the death of their mother, Peggy Wood. Peggy lived a full and vibrant life, raising three children, teaching history, and later instructing teachers as they entered the profession. An avid sailor, tennis player, and gardener, she was also a committed community leader having served as the President of her local League of Women Voters, and on numerous nonprofit boards. She also dedicated much of her intellect, energy, and love to her husband, Bob Wood, whose career as a public intellectual and public servant wouldn’t have been possible without her. She was 94 years old.

To respect the family’s privacy during this time, anyone wishing to submit a note of condolence is encouraged to do so here.

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Hawley Opens Investigation into Google for Failure to Remove Child Sex Abuse Material

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Alphabet Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sundar Pichai, informing the company that his Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism is opening an investigation into the role that Big Tech platforms like Google play in the crisis of child trafficking and online exploitation.

“Yesterday, the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, which I chair, convened a hearing to investigate gaps in enforcement efforts to stop child sex trafficking. The testimony was shocking. Witnesses described an explosion of child sex abuse material (CSAM) online, which surpassed 100 million separate images and videos of suspected abuse in 2023 alone. We also learned at least 89,000 children depicted in these images remain unidentified—suffering without help—in just one single law enforcement database among many. Testimony further established that Google has failed to take robust action to assist survivors,” Senator Hawley wrote.

He continued, “Jane Doe, the mother of a survivor, testified that she still receives notifications of CSAM depicting her infant daughter, even twenty-five years after the abuse took place: ‘I’ve been fighting since day one. That’s all I do. I contact people… I said, if we were famous, if she was a celebrity, those pictures would be down. I said, she’s not famous. She’s famous to me, but evidently not famous enough to the world…I have had a fight with Google about it, saying for the safety of my child, you have to get these images off… these pictures are out there… it’s imperative that you get these things off the computer… they told me I have to contact the webmaster…'”

Senator Hawley concluded, “The Subcommittee is opening an investigation into the role that Big Tech platforms like Google play in perpetuating the crisis of child trafficking and exploitation.”

As Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, Senator Hawley closed the letter by requesting Google provide a list of documents and information relating to the child sex abuse material present within Google’s platforms.

Read the full letter here or below.

Mr. Sundar Pichai

Chief Executive Officer

Alphabet Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, California 94043

Dear Mr. Pichai:

Yesterday, the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, which I chair, convened a hearing to investigate gaps in enforcement efforts to stop child sex trafficking. The testimony was shocking. Witnesses described an explosion of child sex abuse material (CSAM) online, which surpassed 100 million separate images and videos of suspected abuse in 2023 alone. We also learned at least 89,000 children depicted in these images remain unidentified—suffering without help—in just one single law enforcement database among many. Testimony furtherestablished that Google has failed to take robust action to assist survivors.

The Subcommittee heard testimony from former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, who testified to major gaps in various law enforcement databases and the lack of adequate staffing for experts in victim identification and federal investigative capacity. Additional expert witnesses explained that digital exploitation and coercion occur through recorded abuse and blackmail. They testified that children could be rescued from these abusive circumstances. Yet the most troubling testimony came from the parent of a survivor who revealed that this shocking abuse has still happened on your platform.

Jane Doe, the mother of a survivor, testified that she still receives notifications of CSAM depicting her infant daughter, even twenty-five years after the abuse took place:

I’ve been fighting since day one. That’s all I do. I contact people… I said, if we were famous, if she was a celebrity, those pictures would be down. I said, she’s not famous. She’s famous to me, but evidently not famous enough to the world…I have had a fight with Google about it, saying for the safety of my child, you have to get these images off… these pictures are out there… it’s imperative that you get these things off the computer… they told me I have to contact the webmaster…

The Subcommittee is opening an investigation into the role that Big Tech platforms like Google play in perpetuating the crisis of child trafficking and exploitation. Under the Subcommittee’s jurisdiction over federal criminal law and the enforcement of laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, please provide the following documents and information no later than March 18, 2026:

All internal policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures currently in effect at Google, YouTube, and any other Alphabet subsidiary relating to the detection, review, removal, and reporting of known and suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including any policies governing the use of hash-matching technology, artificial intelligence, or other automated detection tools.

All documents and communications relating to reports, complaints, or requests from individual victims, their families, or their legal representatives asking Google to remove CSAM or exploitative imagery from Google Search results, Google Images, YouTube, Google Drive, or any other Google product or service, from January 1, 2020 to the present, including records of response times and final dispositions.

All documents reflecting the number of CyberTipline reports Google has filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) annually from 2020 to the present, broken down by product or service (including Google Search, YouTube, Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos), and any internal assessments of the adequacy or accuracy of such reporting.

All documents and communications concerning instances in which Google received a report of CSAM from a user, law enforcement agency, or NCMEC and did not remove the reported content within 48 hours, including the reasons for any delay and the ultimate disposition of each such report.

All documents relating to Google’s policies and technical capabilities for de-indexing or removing from search results URLs that are known to host CSAM, including any limitations on Google’s ability to prevent previously identified CSAM from reappearing in search results after removal.

All documents reflecting staffing levels, budget allocations, and organizational structure for Google’s Trust and Safety teams responsible for CSAM detection, removal, and reporting from 2020 to the present, including any internal assessments of whether current staffing levels are adequate to address the volume of CSAM on Google’s platforms.

All documents and communications relating to any decision by Google not to deploy, or to limit the deployment of, available CSAM detection technology on any Google product or service, including the reasons for any such decision.

All documents and communications relating to the impact of end-to-end encryption or other privacy-enhancing technologies on Google’s ability to detect and report CSAM across its products and services, including any internal analysis of the tradeoffs between user privacy and child safety.

All documents relating to Google’s cooperation with federal, state, and international law enforcement agencies in investigations involving CSAM hosted on or distributed through Google’s platforms, including any instances in which Google declined or was unable to comply with a law enforcement request, and the reasons for any such refusal.

All documents and communications relating to any internal review, audit, or assessment conducted by Google since January 1, 2020 evaluating the effectiveness of Google’s CSAM detection and removal practices, including any findings of deficiencies and any remedial actions taken or recommended.

Sincerely,

Senator Josh Hawley

Chairman, Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism


Heinrich Statement on Senate Republicans Blocking War Powers Resolution on Iran

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement condemning Senate Republicans for blocking a War Powers Resolution he cosponsored, which would direct President Trump to end military operations in Iran if not explicitly authorized by Congress.

“Following the law is not optional. Following the Constitution is not optional. If President Trump wants to take this country to war with Iran, he is required to seek and secure congressional approval. Americans do not want another endless, costly war that puts American service members and countless civilians in harm’s way.

“Trump campaigned on ending wars. Instead, he has unilaterally started one – without a defined objective, without a strategy, and without a clear measure of success. As I’ve already stated, I have serious and longstanding concerns about Iran’s controlling regime — its brutal repression of its own people and its threats against the United States. But none of that gives President Trump license to ignore the law. What he has done is dangerous, destabilizing, and does nothing to lower costs for American families. It is a transparent attempt to distract from his failing economic record, rising prices, and the growing scrutiny surrounding his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.

“Let’s be clear: Senate Republicans had an opportunity to uphold the rule of law and stand for the will of the American people. They failed to do both.”

On Saturday, Heinrich released a statement in response to Trump’s attack on Iran without congressional approval. In his statement, Heinrich underscored, “Americans don’t want another war, let alone another drawn-out, costly war – they want lower costs at home and no more distractions.”

The text of the War Powers Resolution is here.

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Heinrich Tours Early Childhood Center, Highlights Funding He Secured to Expand Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program Across New Mexico

PHOTOS

SANTA FE, N.M. — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, toured the Early Childhood Center of Excellence at Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) and met with educators and teacher apprentices to discuss their work to expand the APRENDE workforce development program, which provides high-quality early childhood education and prepares the next generation of early childhood educators.

The visit follows Heinrich securing $273,000 to expand the APRENDE Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program statewide.

In 2014, Heinrich was the first member of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation to publicly support unlocking investments from the state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund to sustainably support early childhood education. After the New Mexico Legislature and voters in the state passed the necessary state constitutional amendment to unlock these investments, Heinrich successfully led the effort to secure Congressional authorization of the amendment through his New Mexico Education Enhancement Act, which passed in the Omnibus Appropriations Agreement for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), tours the Early Childhood Center of Excellence in Santa Fe after securing $273,000 for New Mexico’s APRENDE teacher apprenticeship program, February 27, 2026.

“There is no better investment we can make than in our children. That’s why I’ve fought to secure funding for New Mexico’s early childhood education programs and lay the groundwork to strengthen our commitment to universal childcare,” said Heinrich.“But our work isn’t done. We need to scale New Mexico’s early childhood education workforce pipeline and invest in our educators to ensure the highest quality education for our kids. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fund and support these programs because our children deserve the strongest possible start to their future.”

The Early Childhood Center of Excellence at Santa Fe Community College uses an evidence-based, research-driven approach to early childhood education and care. Its APRENDE teacher apprenticeship program, now in its third year, plays a critical role in workforce development by offering an innovative, accelerated pathway for students to earn early childhood educator credentials alongside hands-on classroom experience.

Since the program’s launch, 65 pre-apprentices and 38 apprentices have participated. To date, 28 students have earned certificates, three have completed associate degrees, and 17 are currently employed in early childhood education. Additionally, 80 percent of the staff are bilingual.

Heinrich was joined by SFCC President Dr. Becky Rowley, SFCC Kids Campus Assistant Director Julie Nygren, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Center of Excellence Catron Allred, APRENDE Program Manager Krystel Sanchez, Late Twos classroom Teacher Assistant Etagu Wondimu, and Early Pre-K A Lead Teacher Eugenio Nava.

“Santa Fe Community College has built a proven model in APRENDE that is transforming how we prepare early childhood educators in New Mexico. We are creating a high-quality workforce pipeline that supports families, strengthens communities, and helps our state meet the growing demand for universal childcare,” said Becky Rowley, Ph.D., President, Santa Fe Community College. “With Senator Heinrich’s support, we can expand this model statewide by partnering with higher education institutions and employer partners who are equally committed to building a highly skilled early childhood workforce. This investment is about more than training teachers; it’s about building the infrastructure New Mexico needs to ensure every child has access to high-quality early learning.”

“APRENDE is the first education apprenticeship program in New Mexico. Through strong partnerships and community support in Santa Fe, we have built a model that strengthens the early childhood workforce pipeline for individuals who are new to the field as well as current educators who want additional support to earn degrees and credentials. The APRENDE program blends rigorous academic preparation with paid, hands-on classroom experience and allows educators to remain in their classrooms while they continue their education. This approach helps build competence, confidence, and long-term commitment to the profession,” said Catron Allred, Executive Director, Early Childhood Center of Excellence. “We are grateful for the federal investment that allows us to expand this work across New Mexico. Workforce capacity remains the central challenge in reaching universal childcare in the state. APRENDE addresses that need by supporting educators as they earn credentials, strengthen their practice, and prepare to take on leadership roles in early childhood classrooms.”

“From an employer’s perspective, APRENDE has created a true workforce pipeline. We’ve been able to welcome pre-apprentices into our classrooms, support their growth, and ultimately hire them as members of our team. To date, we’ve hired more than ten APRENDE participants at Kids Campus,” said Julie Nygren, Assistant Director, Curriculum & Instruction, Santa Fe Community College Kids Campus. “That continuity benefits our children, our families, and our center. These educators are already grounded in best practices and understand our culture of high-quality care. The program allows us to grow our own teachers while maintaining the high standards our families expect.”

“APRENDE is about developing a highly qualified, confident workforce. Our apprentices are not just learning theory in a classroom— they are practicing those skills every day in early childhood settings with mentorship and structured support,” said Krystel Sanchez, APRENDE Program Manager. “We meet educators where they are and help them build competencies step by step. The combination of scholarship support, coaching, and on-the-job learning removes barriers and strengthens teacher confidence. When educators feel prepared and supported, children benefit. That’s the heart of this work.”

“APRENDE created a door for me to become a better teacher and advocate for early childhood,” said Etagu Wondimu, Teacher Assistant, Late Twos Classroom. “APRENDE is the solution for supporting future educators because it helps us to understand the early childhood classroom environment while we study. We can apply what we learn directly working with children.”

Heinrich has long led efforts to deliver more resources to support early childhood education in New Mexico.

In September 2021, Heinrich announced nearly $17 million in federal funding to support Head Start services across New Mexico. Head Start promotes school readiness of children under the age of five from low-income families through education, health, social and other services.

In November 2023, Heinrich announced $10 million in federal funds to improve early childhood education and care in New Mexico through supporting comprehensive initiatives aimed at bolstering New Mexico's early childhood infrastructure.

In August 2024, Heinrich and the N.M. Delegation welcomed $191,000 for New Mexico to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities.

In May 2024, Heinrich and the N.M. Delegation welcomed $2,858,376 from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to expand access to apprenticeship opportunities, prepare more New Mexicans for quality jobs, and strengthen the local workforce.

In FY25 funding, Heinrich secured a $3,000,000 Congressionally Directed Spending request by him and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján for HELP New Mexico, Inc. to renovate classroom spaces to expand early childhood services in Luna County.

In FY26 government funding, Heinrich successfully secured and passed into law:

$273,000 for the Early Childhood Center of Excellence at Santa Fe Community College to expand the APRENDE Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program.

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

$500,000 for the Hispano Roundtable of New Mexico, in partnership with Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum, to offer Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) programs.

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

In 2024, as then-Chairman of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee (JEC), Heinrich released a report on the benefits of early childhood education and held a hearing to highlight the importance of investing in early education, featuring New Mexico Speaker of the House Javier Martínez as one of the witnesses.

Heinrich also cosponsored the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act to alleviate childcare costs for working families. The legislation permanently expands childcare tax credits by increasing the maximum credit amount to $4,000 per child, automatically adjusted to keep pace with inflation, and ensure working families can benefit from the tax credit by making it refundable — allowing families to receive up to $8,000 each.

In 2023, Heinrich introduced the Working Families Tax Relief Act to permanently expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

In 2024, Heinrich released a statement blasting Senate Republicans for blocking a tax package that would have expanded the Child Tax Credit for 16 million children, provided tax support for businesses to invest in research, development, and manufacturing, and more.

In September 2023, Heinrich introduced the Child Care Stabilization Act, which provides $16 billion in mandatory funding each year for the next five years to continue the successful Child Care Stabilization Grant program. This investment ensures childcare providers continue to receive a stable and reliable source of funding to help them deliver high-quality and affordable childcare for working families across the country.

In June 2023, Heinrich introduced the Apprenticeship Pathways Act to create pathways to careers for high school students by expanding access to apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeships offer a direct path to acquiring in-demand skills, and early exposure to industries can encourage more students to pursue careers in those professions. Expanding apprenticeship programs for high school students can help address workforce shortages and ensure a sustainable workforce pipeline.

In May 2023, Heinrich introduced the Living Schoolyards Act to support schools in New Mexico as they re-envision their outdoor spaces to create more hands-on learning opportunities, strengthen local ecological systems, and give every child a place to learn and play outside.

In May 2024, at a roundtable conversation with local educators in Albuquerque, Heinrich announced his Educator Down Payment Assistance Act, legislation designed to help more educators and school staff in New Mexico purchase a home, and keep teachers in the communities where they teach.

In April 2024, Heinrich cosponsored the Retaining Educators Takes Added Investment Now (RETAIN) Act, legislation to improve teacher pay and retention, and address the shortage of early childhood and K-12 teachers in New Mexico and nationwide.

In March 2024, Heinrich introduced the Literacy Improvement for Transformation (LIFT) Act, legislation that aims to improve literacy outcomes for all students by ensuring that every K-12 public school has at least one full-time reading or literacy specialist on staff.

In February 2024, Heinrich introduced the Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats (PATH) Act, legislation to strengthen the pipeline for careers in New Mexico, address rising workforce shortages, and grow the state’s economy through quality pre-apprenticeship programs.

Last August, Heinrich reintroduced the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to expand access to pre-K, and support full-day, full-year Head Start programs and increased wages for Head Start workers.

Last November, Heinrich demanded answers regarding delays in disbursing Head Start funds by the Trump Administration, which the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found violated the Impoundment Control Act. In the letter, Heinrich highlighted how these delays forced programs to reduce services, temporarily close classrooms, lay off staff, and left thousands of children and families without critical early learning and family support. Heinrich also called for immediate clarification on authorization of the delays, legal rationale, and measures to prevent recurrence, as well as assurances that Head Start programs can continue providing inclusive services for children with disabilities.

Last April, Heinrich blasted the Trump Administration’s attacks om Head Start and demanded U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to immediately unfreeze Head Start funding and reverse firings of early childhood education workers.

Last March, Heinrich sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon demanding that the Education Department immediately reinstate $600 million in federal funding intended to strengthen our educator workforce and improve student learning. In New Mexico, the Three Rivers Education Foundation is an educational non-profit that partners with Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexican school districts to support high quality educators through Education Department partnership grants. Thanks to these federal grants, aspiring teachers can pursue a Master of Education degree while receiving a livable wage. However, Trump gutted these federal grants, impacting nearly $17 million.

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Heinrich Votes No on Pearce, Commits to Holding BLM Nominee Accountable to Pledges on National Monument and Public Lands

WASHINGTON – During a business meeting on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider pending nominations and legislation, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, voted no on advancing former Congressman Steve Pearce’s nomination for the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Heinrich also voted against Kyle Haustveit’s nomination to be the Under Secretary of Energy and David LaCerte’s nomination for a full term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, citing the Trump administration’s attacks on innovative energy technologies and clean energy.

VIDEO: Ranking Member Henrich (D-N.M.) delivers opening remarks during a Committee hearing to consider pending nominees and legislation, March 4, 2026.

Additionally, Heinrich voiced his concerns and opposition with the Grasslands Grazing Act and the Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act.

A video of Heinrich’s opening remarks can be found here.

A transcript of Heinrich’s remarks as delivered is below:

I have known Congressman Pearce a long time. And while I appreciate his testimony before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week, I cannot in good faith vote to advance his nomination to serve as our Bureau of Land Management Director.

When Congressman Pearce testified, he promised that he would not recommend rolling back national monument designations, something which is extremely important to me; and he acknowledged that BLM cannot conduct large-scale sell-offs of public lands under existing law, which is correct.

I intend to hold him to these statements. But I also know that commitments to follow the law by previous Trump administration nominees have proven unreliable at times.

And while Congressman Pearce has said that his past actions opposing national monument designations and calling for public land sell-offs are in his rearview mirror, they remain very much in the memory of every New Mexican who faced his opposition to protecting the lands that they cherish.

Like my constituents, I cannot ignore Congressman Pearce’s record and for these reasons, I will be voting “no” on his nomination.

I will also be voting “no” on Mr. Haustveit’s nomination to be the Under Secretary of Energy.

I voted for his nomination to be Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy last year, but the role of the Under Secretary is far broader than a single fuel source.

Mr. Haustveit’s insistence on picking the “best of the above” energy sources is inconsistent with the “all-of-the-above" policy that Democrats and Republicans alike have championed for decades.

It is also inconsistent with the role of the Under Secretary, who must oversee the Department’s loan program, which was created to promote innovative energy technologies for the 21st century, not to subsidize the technologies of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Finally, I will vote “no” on Mr. LaCerte’s nomination for a full term to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

I was encouraged by his strong commitment to ratepayer protection, affordability, reliability, resource neutrality, and Commission independence at his confirmation hearing.

I also acknowledge that he has faithfully served on the Commission for the past five months.

But as I said when I voted against Laura Swett’s nomination last fall, these are not normal times.

This administration is creating a grid crisis, it’s killing good union jobs, and it’s raising electricity prices with its back-to-the-past energy policies, and until this administration respects the will of Congress, I cannot in good conscience support its nominees.

We also have 12 public lands bills on today’s agenda, and I am pleased to support many of them, including a bill to establish the Ralph David Abernathy National Historic Site, as well as legislation that will resolve some longstanding land issues in Carson City, Nevada, a place I know well.

I am also glad Chairman Lee and I were able to come to some agreement on S. 3004 [the Upper Price River Watershed Project Act of 2025] to convey public land for the city of Price, Utah to be used for public purposes.

However, I want to say a few words about two bills I will be voting against.

First, on S. 2787: in 2014, Congress recognized that the Bureau of Land Management’s backlog of environmental reviews created uncertainty for stock-growers.

And to address it, Congress allowed grazing permits to continue until the required review could be completed.

Nearly a decade later, the problem has only grown. It is even more common for grazing on public lands to be extended without any review by the agency to adjust terms to meet changing rangeland conditions, which they are changing.

Sixty percent of acres on Bureau of Land Management land that are currently being grazed are under automatic renewals without any review by agency staff.

I am not opposed to consistency in managing grazing across public lands. I think that makes sense.

However, I cannot support legislation that expands the practice of perpetual and automatic renewals of any public land use, including grazing.

And for these reasons, I will be voting no on S. 2787.

Secondly, on S. 3527: as the members of this committee know, this committee is not moving legislation to designate new wilderness areas, national monuments, or conservation areas.

That’s the prerogative of the Chairman.

But I cannot support removing public land conservation in some places, without adding it in places where conservation is broadly supported by local communities and elected leaders.

I hope we can find a path forward for this bill, just like I hope we can find a path forward for conservation bills in New Mexico, in Colorado, in California, in Oregon, and every other state with a wilderness bill that is awaiting action by this committee.

But until we can move wilderness study area release together with designation, I will oppose S. 3527.