Republicans Fight to End Democrats’ Dangerous DHS Shutdown

“Right now, the Department of Homeland Security remains closed. Democrats shut it down. For 35 days, they have blocked every effort to reopen it. Democrats need to vote with Republicans to reopen the Department of Homeland Security.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) today spoke ahead of a vote to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, which Democrats have kept shutdown for 35 days.

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.

Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:

“The Senate will soon confirm Senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security needs Senator Mullin’s trustworthy leadership. The Department also needs to be fully funded.

“Right now, the Department of Homeland Security remains closed. Democrats shut it down. For 35 days, they have blocked every effort to reopen it. Democrats need to vote with Republicans to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. Americans need and deserve safety and security. Democrats are preventing it.

“Americans are on high alert after multiple attacks by radical Islamic terrorists across the nation. Americans have died. Democrats have blood on their hands. A terrorist forcefully rammed his truck loaded with explosives into a synagogue and preschool in Michigan. There were staff, teachers, and over 100 children inside. Had it not been for the quick acting security guards, they could have all been killed. We later learned that the terrorist’s brother was a commander in the terror group Hezbollah.

“At Old Dominion University in Virginia, another terrorist shot and killed a decorated ROTC instructor. In New York City, two terrorists threw homemade bombs into a crowd. In Texas, a terrorist shot into a crowded establishment. The terrorist was wearing a sweatshirt that said, ‘Property of Allah.’ Three people were killed. Dozens were wounded.

“At the same time, Iran launched a major cyberattack on a medical device company in Michigan. Because of that attack, hospitals around the nation had to temporarily pause transmitting vital sign data from patients. The Wall Street Journal noted this week that the cyberattack ‘shows the reach of Iran’s cyber capabilities.’

“The Department of Homeland Security was created after 9/11 to stop exactly these kinds of attacks. Yet, because the Democrats shut down the Department, our nation is more vulnerable to terrorist attacks and cyberattacks.

“Republicans stand ready to end this Democrat shutdown. We are ready to do it today. The White House outlined an entire list of bipartisan solutions. They did so this week in a letter to Congress. They include expanding the use of body cameras for officers and making IDs for officers clearly visible. Democrats have rejected all our good faith offers. They’ve rejected bipartisan solutions.

“Instead, Democrats are trying to peel apart the Department of Homeland Security. Piecemeal Democrat bills cannot hide the fact that Democrats caused this shutdown. If Democrats think they can avoid blame for this shut down of American security, they are wrong.

“Democrats need to listen to President Obama’s Secretary of Homeland Security. His name is Jeh Johnson. Johnson had a warning this weekend for the Democrats. He said, ‘If ever there was a time we needed to fund the Department of Homeland Security, it’s right now.’ He went on to say, ‘You need all 22 components of Homeland Security functioning all at once, side-by-side.’ This is the statement of a Democrat. He ran this Department for Barack Obama. Now he is telling Democrats on this floor to fund all of it.

“Senate Democrats have clearly lost direction and lost the argument.

“One of the components of the Department of Homeland Security is Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In 2019, Senator Schumer told NBC News that ‘ICE does some functions that are very much needed.’ Now, Senator Schumer wants to abolish ICE. Senate Democrats wants to abolish ICE. They want to defund law enforcement.

“First, they tried to Defund the Police. Now, they are actively defunding American Security. This radical position is now the default policy of today’s Democrat Party.

“So what are those necessary functions that Senator Schumer used to support but now he wants to defund? One of them is called Homeland Security Investigations. They are part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 7,100 special agents work for Homeland Security Investigations. They do vital work that keeps America safe. This week alone, these hardworking agents helped to seize over 170 pounds of methamphetamine in Utah. Additionally, they arrested a child trafficker in California who was trafficking not one but two children. They helped to investigate and arrest an illegal immigrant in Louisiana who was a member of the terrorist group MS-13.

“Senate Democrats are now defunding the American heroes who stop drug cartels, stop terrorists, and rescue children from human traffickers. The actions of the Democrats make America less safe. It is time they start protecting our nation’s security.

“Republicans will vote again today to fund the Department of Homeland Security. We will fund it the right way – fully and immediately. Democrats are the only ones standing in the way. Blood is on their hands. The American people will hold them accountable.”

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Bennet, Cortez Masto, Durbin, Colleagues Demand DHS Reduce Delays for DACA Renewals

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), as well as 38 of their Democratic colleagues to send a letter to outgoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow demanding that the Department reduce the delays in processing renewal applications under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), President Trump’s nominee to replace Secretary Noem, also received a copy of this letter. Created in 2012, DACA protects individuals who came to the United States as children from deportation. DACA recipients across the country are experiencing increasing delays in renewing their status.

“DACA has allowed hundreds of thousands of Dreamers an opportunity to pursue higher education and meaningful careers while remaining in the only home they have ever known. Delays in processing DACA renewals are increasing the instability and uncertainty that DACA recipients already face. These delays can have profound consequences. When renewals are not processed before expiration, recipients lose employment authorization and, in many cases, their jobs. Employers experience workforce disruptions, including in sectors such as health care and education and in small businesses. Hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizen children have a parent with DACA, and when their work authorization lapses due to slow renewals, families endure heightened financial instability,” wrote the Senators.

The Senators also call attention to the increased risk of detention and deportation faced by DACA recipients when their renewal applications are not processed before their status expires. According to the Department, as many as 270 DACA recipients have been detained and 174 have been deported.

“DACA recipients contribute billions of dollars annually to the national economy and serve vital roles in our communities. Administrative delays in DACA renewals undermine not only individual stability but also broader economic resilience. To reduce these disruptions and risks for DACA recipients, we urge you to reduce processing times for DACA renewal applications and reduce the volume of pending cases through timely renewals,” concluded the Senators.

Bennet has consistently fought the Trump Administration’s cruel and inhumane immigration policies. He recently took to the Senate floor to condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) violence and lawlessness and to denounce the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Bennet has also continuously called on now outgoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Noem to resign. Bennet voted against recent budget bills to extend DHS funding because they failed to overhaul ICE or ensure they are subject to the same common-sense standards we expect of our local law enforcement officials. He also introduced six amendments to the FY26 DHS appropriations bill that would protect children and families, bar enforcement at sensitive locations, and prohibit officers from wearing masks while requiring visible identification. Additionally, Bennet is working on legislation to rein in DHS and ICE. Last month, Bennet conducted an oversight visit of the ICE-GEO detention facility in Aurora, Colorado, and called for increased oversight of such facilities as well as expanded transparency and accountability for ICE. He also demanded DHS Secretary Noem abandon the proposed plan to open a new ICE detention facility in Hudson.

In January, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the Providing Useful Budgets for Localities to Invest in Cops by Substituting Appropriations from Federal Enforcement To Yield Results (PUBLIC SAFETY) Act to redirect nearly $75 billion in funding passed in the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) from ICE and send it instead to local law enforcement programs to help hire and train 200,000 local police officers in communities across the country. In February 2025, Bennet joined his Senate colleagues to introduce the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would reinstate DHS’s long-standing policies to prevent ICE from making arrests at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship. In August 2025, he joined the Immigration Enforcement Identification Safety (IEIS) Act to prohibit immigration enforcement officials from wearing masks and to require them to wear visible identification. In November 2025, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the bicameral Restoring Access to Detainees Act to ensure DHS allows non-citizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families.

In addition to Bennet, Cortez Masto, and Durbin, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) signed this letter.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Noem and Director Edlow:

We write to express serious concerns regarding delays in the processing of renewal applications under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Across the country, DACA recipients are reporting significant processing delays for their renewal applications. Many applicants who filed their renewals on time and in accordance with agency guidance are experiencing prolonged adjudication periods that extend beyond their current period of deferred action and employment authorization. We urge you to take all steps within your power to process renewal applications in a timely manner and protect the DACA recipients who rely on this program and who contribute so much to this country.

DACA has allowed hundreds of thousands of Dreamers an opportunity to pursue higher education and meaningful careers while remaining in the only home they have ever known. Delays in processing DACA renewals are increasing the instability and uncertainty that DACA recipients already face. These delays can have profound consequences. When renewals are not processed before expiration, recipients lose employment authorization and, in many cases, their jobs. Employers experience workforce disruptions, including in sectors such as health care and education and in small businesses. Hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizen children have a parent with DACA, and when their work authorization lapses due to slow renewals, families endure heightened financial instability.

Most concerningly, a lapse in DACA can result in an increased risk of being detained and even deported by federal immigration officials. Our offices have heard examples of constituents whose DACA has lapsed due to renewal delays being picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A DACA recipient whose only change of circumstance is a pending renewal application should not be at risk of their entire life being thrown into chaos due to indiscriminate immigration enforcement.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has also failed to provide clear notice as to policies or procedures that may be worsening this issue. For example, in helping our constituents address DACA renewal delays, some casework staff have been told that requests to expedite renewals will only be considered for recipients who work in the health care industry. While DACA health care workers are essential to the functioning of our local communities, they are by no means the only DACA recipients whose cases meet the agency’s criteria to expedite a Renewal.

Many casework staff have also been informed that USCIS has frozen DACA renewal processing for individuals from 39 countries subject to President Trump’s national security proclamations. This decision, which has not been publicly announced, could indefinitely delay the DACA renewal of thousands of beneficiaries, subjecting them to potential detention and removal to countries where they did not grow up.

To better understand and address these concerns, we request detailed responses to the following questions:

What is the current average processing time for DACA renewal applications?

What steps is USCIS taking to ensure that timely filed renewal applicants do not experience lapses in employment authorization? What is the timeline for executing those steps?

What changes have been made to USCIS’s policies, procedures, and guidance regarding DACA renewals since January 20, 2025?

What are USCIS’s policies, procedures, and guidance regarding requests to expedite DACA renewals?

What steps does USCIS plan to take to ensure that renewals filed earlier than 150 days in advance of expiration are processed in a timely manner?

Does USCIS provide information to ICE regarding individuals’ DACA expiration dates?

Does USCIS provide information to ICE regarding individuals’ pending DACA renewals?

Does USCIS otherwise share information with ICE regarding DACA holders or facilitate the arrest, detention, or removal of DACA holders or individuals with renewals for DACA pending? If so, please describe this information sharing and/or facilitation in detail.

How many individuals with DACA renewal pending have been detained?

a. How many remain in immigration custody?

b. How many have been removed?

How many pending DACA renewals have been filed as of March 1, 2026 that are subject to the adjudicative hold for countries listed in Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998?

How many pending DACA renewals have been filed as of March 1, 2026, that are subject to any other adjudicative holds? Please provide the number per type of adjudicative hold.

DACA recipients contribute billions of dollars annually to the national economy and serve vital roles in our communities. Administrative delays in DACA renewals undermine not only individual stability but also broader economic resilience.

To reduce these disruptions and risks for DACA recipients, we urge you to reduce processing times for DACA renewal applications and reduce the volume of pending cases through timely renewals. We request a written response by April 17, 2026. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

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Bennet, Neguse Slams FCC for Sidestepping Federal Law to Approve $6.2B Nexstar-Tegna Merger

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Congressman Joe Neguse issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the $6.2 billion Nexstar Media-Tegna merger. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency would “waive” federal law and the national broadcast ownership cap to give the combined entity coverage of at least 60 percent of households across the country.

Currently, federal law, specifically mandated by Congress in 2004, restricts any single company from owning TV stations reaching more than 39 percent of U.S. households. Violating this rule gives greater power to corporate owners to control programming and the framing of local news coverage.

“The FCC’s decision is baseless and blatantly political — and will have disastrous consequences for consumers across the country. For Colorado, it will likely result in even greater consolidation of local news coverage, further depriving Coloradans of access to a healthy and competitive news market. That is why we’ve opposed this merger every step of the way,” said Bennet and Neguse.

“As the appropriations process begins for the next Fiscal Year, it is critical for the Congress to utilize every tool to rein in the lawlessness of this regulatory agency, among others. We intend to do so.”

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ICYMI: On Senate Floor, Bennet Condemns Trump’s Voter Suppression Bill

Video of Bennet’s Full Remarks Available HERE

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet condemned the SAVE America Act tonight on the Senate floor. This legislation will make it harder for millions of Americans to register to vote and cast their ballots, especially women, rural constituents, and the elderly.

The SAVE America Act rewrites the way elections are run in America. It drastically changes the processes familiar to county clerks and election officials, requires voter rolls be routinely given over to the federal government, and forces voter registration to take place in person – instead of by mail or online. It also provides no additional funding to states whose budgets are already under strain. Most troublingly, it imposes new document requirements for voter registration that many Americans do not have easy access to. Trump forced this consideration this week because, in his own words, the SAVE America Act is a method to “guarantee the midterms” this November.

“This radical legislation actually requires people to register in person, banning common methods of registration — online registration, through the mail, or automatically at the DMV. Madam President, that’s how 94% of Americans register to vote. Many of them are seniors. Many of them live in rural communities. I would like to see the majority party in this chamber come to Western Colorado and try to take, rather than having this fake filibuster, try to actually take mail-in ballots from the people of Western Colorado. I’d like to see that […]

“Colorado already has I.D. requirements when casting a ballot. We already have among the cleanest voter rolls in this country. We don’t need Donald Trump to corrupt our process. Even the Heritage Foundation ranked us as second in the nation in 2020 for clean lists. The Heritage Foundation. We have one of the most secure election systems of any state in our country, and because Coloradans have trust in our elections, we have some of the highest voter turnout in the country. But the SAVE America Act — the so-called SAVE America Act does not bring our system anywhere close to what we enjoy in Colorado. Instead, it turns toward a dark-but-familiar pattern in American history.”

Bennet has consistently fought against Republicans’ blatant efforts to undermine public elections. This month, he called out President Trump for holding the Senate hostage to pass this legislation as well as his blatant efforts to undermine public elections. In February 2025, Bennet also slammed Trump for sowing distrust in elections. In April 2025, he spoke on the Senate floor, calling out this legislation and highlighting the ways that this bill will make it harder for millions of American citizens to register and exercise their right to vote – including women and voters in rural communities across the country.

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Blackburn Introduces Legislation to Expand Access to Mental Health Care for Veterans Through Partnerships with Community Providers

“Far too many of our nation’s heroes have been lost to suicide, and we need to prevent future tragedies by ensuring veterans have access to timely mental health care,” said Senator Blackburn. “The RECOVER Act would promote public-private partnerships between the VA and community-based mental health care providers and ensure veterans get the quality mental health support they've earned.”

U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-Ill.) introduced companion legislation in the House.

BACKGROUND

U.S. military veterans and their families face a growing crisis in access to timely and appropriate mental health care.

In 2021, an average of 17.5 veterans died by suicide each day. In 2020, the veteran suicide rate was 57% higher than that of non-veteran adults. At the same time, demand for mental health services continues to strain available resources, with many VA facilities exceeding the Department’s 20-day wait time standard for mental health appointments.

Community-based organizations frequently work alongside the VA to fill gaps in mental health care, but many of these partnerships lack the resources necessary to deliver clinical care at scale. Despite increased federal investment in suicide prevention, access to timely care remains inconsistent for many veterans.

RECOVER ACT

Specifically, the RECOVER Act would establish a three-year pilot program at the VA and:

Authorize $20 million annually for three years to provide grants to nonprofit organizations operating outpatient mental health facilities that serve veterans.

Allow eligible facilities to receive grants of up to $1.5 million per year to expand or operate mental health services for veterans.

Require participating clinics to ensure clinicians receive training in mental health care tailored to veterans.

Ensure that mental health care provided through the program is free of charge to veterans.

Encourage providers to connect veterans with VA health care enrollment and services.

Promote public-private partnerships between the VA and community-based mental health providers to supplement existing VA capacity.

Require grants to be distributed across both rural and urban areas, prioritizing medically underserved communities and areas with high veteran suicide risk.

Require participating clinics to collect outcomes data and report results to ensure accountability and measure effectiveness.

Direct the VA to evaluate the pilot program and report to Congress on improvements in access to care and mental health outcomes.

ENDORSEMENTS

This legislation is supported by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Mission Roll Call, Cohen Veterans Network, Jewish War Veterans, Berry Law, Easterseals Serving DC/MD/VA, and Centerstone.

“This important legislation would establish a comprehensive, three-year pilot program that would provide targeted financial grants to qualifying outpatient mental health facilities to help increase critical access to culturally competent and evidence-based mental health care for veterans in underserved rural and urban areas,” said the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

“In Mission Roll Call’s national suicide prevention polling in July 2025, nearly 80 percent of veterans told us that preventing suicide requires clinical treatment and community-based support working together, not in isolation. More than 90 percent said it is extremely or very important to include community-based organizations in prevention efforts…The RECOVER Act reflects those priorities by strengthening evidence-based mental health capacity in the community, ensuring providers are trained to understand veteran risk, and requiring outcome reporting so Congress and the VA can assess what is actually working,” said Mission Roll Call.

“The Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) in support of H.R. 2283, the RECOVER Act…CVN helps alleviate these pressures by providing barrier-free, high-quality outpatient treatment in military community settings, alongside the VA…H.R. 2283, the RECOVER Act, represents a vital step forward in this effort. This legislation would establish a pilot grant program to support non-profit clinics like CVN in delivering culturally competent, evidence-based mental health care without cost being a barrier to the veteran,” said Cohen Veterans Network.

“The RECOVER Act allows for strategic investment ($20M in a 3 year pilot program with grants up to $1.5M to qualified non-profit outpatient mental health facilities), fills critical gaps without duplicating services, uses evidence based care, strengthens VA services, and creates accountability through data-driven metrics,” said Jewish War Veterans.

“Berry Law supports the purpose of this legislation. For a VA compensation claims perspective, community-based mental health services can indirectly strengthen the quality of evidence used in service-connected claims by improving access, documentation, and continuity of care,” said Berry Law.


VIDEO: Blackburn Joins GOP Press Conference on Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports

‘Are [Democrats] going to support women, or are they going to tear [Title IX] down and demolish the opportunity for females in sports?’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined a Senate Republican press conference on the importance of keeping men out of women’s sports. At President Trump’s request, Senator Blackburn filed an amendment to the SAVE America Act that would prohibit school athletic programs from allowing biological males to participate in programs that are for women or girls. Watch her remarks here.

Click here to download Senator Blackburn’s remarks.

EXCERPTS OF REMARKS


After Weak Live Nation-Ticketmaster Antitrust Deal, Blumenthal & Murphy Join Legislation to Ensure Settlements Benefit Consumers, Workers, & Small Businesses—Not Special Interests

[Hartford, CT] — Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) joined the Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act to strengthen review of antitrust settlements and ensure they protect consumers, workers, and small businesses.

This legislation, led by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is cosponsored by Blumenthal and Murphy, as well as Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

“This bill helps safeguard the integrity of antitrust enforcement, so often sacrificed under Trump,” said Senator Blumenthal. “It gives consumers, workers and small businesses a voice and place in antitrust discussions, so their interests aren’t eclipsed by big corporations. The Trump Administration has corruptly favored businesses that serve the President’s interests over proper enforcement of antitrust laws—leading to higher prices for consumers and lower wages for workers, all in the interest of political favors and patronage. The Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act empowers courts to ensure settlements are consistent with the purpose of antitrust laws—lowering prices, increasing choice, and protecting workers.”

“President Trump lets corporate monopolies jack up prices on Americans, and all they have to do is pay off his inner circle for a sweetheart settlement that lets them keep breaking our antitrust laws,” said Senator Murphy. “Our bill cracks down on these corrupt backroom deals to enforce the law and hold corporations accountable.”

“When the government prosecutes antitrust violations, the goal should be to uphold the law, lower prices, and protect consumers and small businesses. In the recent settlement between the Department of Justice and Live Nation, it is clear the American people got the raw end of the deal. This bill—which has support from antitrust enforcers from both sides of the aisle—ensures that courts have the tools to independently review settlements and approve only those that benefit the American people,” said Senator Klobuchar.

“Strengthening our antitrust laws to put consumers and competition first must be a priority,” said Senator Durbin. “As the Trump Administration continues to undermine antitrust enforcement, our bill provides much needed reforms to protect our workers and ensure transparency.”

“The enforcement of our antitrust laws should protect consumers, workers, and small businesses, not allow powerful corporations with the best lobbyists to get off with a slap on the wrist. Amid reports of the Trump Administration’s backroom deals and favoritism for the politically connected, it's time to strengthen transparency and oversight to ensure the Department of Justice is pursuing settlements in Americans’ interests,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation puts teeth into the review process so that courts, state attorneys general, and the public have a stronger role in scrutinizing settlements rather than merely deferring to a government that is looking out for the well-connected and powerful corporations, not everyday Americans.”

“When there’s a bad merger deal, it’s consumers and small businesses who foot the bill—facing higher prices and fewer choices as a result,” said Senator Welch. “Any backdoor corporate settlement needs to face real scrutiny before it’s allowed to move forward. We need stronger antitrust laws that protect hardworking families.”

“Robust antitrust enforcement is critical to preventing massive corporations from further stacking the deck against working people and small businesses. For too long, these mega corporations have been allowed to consolidate market power without legally required public-input. By increasing transparency in merger settlements and creating stronger review processes for antitrust cases, the Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act will help ensure antitrust laws are actually enforced as Congress intended to protect consumers,” said Senator Hirono.

“Under Donald Trump, antitrust enforcement has become a growing cesspool of corruption. Giant mergers look like the newest way for Donald Trump to play political favorites while slashing choices and jacking up prices for Americans. This bill will protect consumers and workers by making sure the government doesn’t let giant companies like Ticketmaster or HPE off the hook based on influence-peddling,” said Senator Warren.

The Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act protects consumers, workers, and the integrity of antitrust enforcement by making the following reforms to the Tunney Act:

Apply Review to the Federal Trade Commission. Currently, the Tunney Act applies only to the Justice Department. This made sense when the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was led by a truly bipartisan, independent Commission with removal protections. But with the firing of FTC commissioners, the time is ripe to extend Tunney Act review to the FTC;

Bolster disclosure requirements. The Act requires (1) the government to explain how the proposed settlement remedies antitrust issues; (2) the government to disclose previous settlement offers and the process for reviewing those offers; (3) the disclosure of side-deals not included in the four corners of a consent decree; and (4) the parties to disclose all communications related to the settlement.

Hold-Separate Provisions. Currently, after a settlement courts may move forward with a merger by combining assets before courts finish reviewing a settlement. Once this occurs, courts are frequently reluctant to order parties to “unscramble an egg” even if a settlement is problematic because doing so is costly and disruptive. To remedy this without creating undue delays for businesses, the Act creates a hold-separate requirement for up to 90 days to allow the court to review public comments and government responses. A court may allow the hold-separate period to lapse or, upon showing the settlement may pose problems, extend the hold-separate order as necessary.

Strengthen Court Review. In addition to the public interest standard, the Act also requires courts to ensure the settlement terms (1) do not pose a material risk of allowing a merger or other business conduct to continue that threatens to violate the antitrust laws; and (2) are reasonably related to the antitrust concerns, preventing the government from using antitrust as leverage in others, unrelated matters. Courts are also required to base their decisions on reasoned analysis and evidence, and need not defer to the government.

Empower State Attorneys General. The bill empowers state attorneys general by allowing them to intervene in Tunney Act hearings as a matter of right rather than spending their limited resources fighting to have a court even consider their perspective.

Voluntary Dismissals. Currently, there is no review process for voluntary dismissals. Where the federal government chooses to voluntarily dismiss a case (rather than settling), the Act creates a process by which state attorneys general can step into the shoes of the federal government and continue the case.

Companion legislation is being led in the House by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee.

The bill is endorsed by Jonathan Kanter (former Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust), Bill Baer (former Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust), Roger Alford (Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust under President Trump); Tim Wu (Former White House as special assistant to the president for technology and competition policy) Randy Stutz (President of the American Antitrust Institute), Bill Kovacic (former Republican Chair of the FTC), Gene Kimmelman (former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust), John Newman (Former Deputy Director, Federal Trade Commission), Professor Darren Bush, Public Knowledge, Open Markets Institute, and the American Economic Liberties Project.

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Blumenthal & Tran Introduce Bill to Protect Veterans' Disability Benefits

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Derek Tran (D-CA) introduced the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Protection Act—legislation to protect veterans’ disability benefits following an attempt from the Trump Administration to reduce benefits for veterans who rely on medications to manage their service-connected disabilities. Their legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award compensation benefits based on the true severity of veterans’ disabilities, particularly when evidence indicates claimed disabilities are more severe during fare ups or without the use of medication.

“Veterans should never have to choose between taking life-improving medication or losing their earned benefits. Our legislation ensures that a veteran’s disability rating is strictly based on that veteran’s underlying condition. The Trump Administration’s recent attempt to slash disability benefits for veterans was cruel and dangerous, and our bill will guarantee a future Administration cannot cut veterans’ benefits in this way,” said Ranking Member Blumenthal.

"Veterans put their lives on the line for our freedom; they should never have to choose between staying healthy and receiving their full benefits. The Trump Administration’s decision to cut Veterans’ benefits disrespected the service members and Veterans who have made the highest commitment to this country. I’m proud to introduce this bill to protect Veterans’ health care and ensure that no President can attempt these reckless cuts ever again,” said Representative Tran.

The legislation is also co-sponsored by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

In February, VA published an interim final rule to change how veteran disability ratings are evaluated. The interim final rule reversed the previous standard established by the Ingram v. Collins court case issued in 2025, which required VA to discount the impact of medication when evaluating the severity of claimed disabilities. Instead, VA would have required examiners to rate veterans’ disabilities as they present during medical exams without accounting for the ameliorative effects of medication. This would have required VA to issue a lower disability ratings, despite veterans experiencing flare-ups . Following backlash from veterans, Veterans Service Organizations, and lawmakers, VA Secretary Collins permanently rescinded this policy.

The lawmakers’ Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Protection Act would ensure no Administration could pursue a similar policy in the future, by requiring VA to discount the beneficial effects of medication when veterans are evaluated for their disability rating. This bill would make sure veterans who use medications will not fear losing benefits.

The Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Protection Act is supported by the National Veterans Legal Service Program (NVLSP), National Association of County Service Officers (NACVSO), the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW), and American Veterans (AMVETS).

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Blumenthal Calls on U.S. Central Command to Aid U.S. Merchant Mariners Stranded in Persian Gulf

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today called on Commander of U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper to protect and support U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed commercial vessels currently operating in the Persian Gulf amid ongoing hostilities with Iran. In a letter sent today to Admiral Cooper, Blumenthal raised concerns about the safety of crews aboard these vessels, which are reportedly rationing water and provisions while operating under sustained psychological and operational stress.

“The United States has long recognized the strategic importance of its civilian mariners and maritime workforce—not only as commercial actors, but as a critical component of national security and sealift capacity. In moments such as this, that commitment must extend beyond rhetoric to tangible protection and support,” Blumenthal wrote.

Blumenthal’s letter comes after he was contacted by a Connecticut resident who is stranded on a cargo vessel in the Persian Gulf.

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

Dear Admiral Cooper,

I write with urgency regarding U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed commercial vessels currently operating in the Persian Gulf amid ongoing hostilities with Iran.

US-flagged vessels are stranded in the region, operating in a highly contested environment marked by persistent drone activity, missile threats, and maritime insecurity. These vessels appear to have received no warning or direction to reposition prior to the onset of hostilities and now face significant challenges in accessing safe resupply, maintaining reliable communications, and identifying a pathway to safe transit.

Crews aboard these vessels are reportedly rationing water and provisions, while operating under sustained psychological and operational stress. The safety and welfare of American mariners in this environment demands immediate attention.

Accordingly, I request the following:

Prioritize resupply and port access for U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, including fuel, food, and potable water.

Provide to Congress the anticipated port call plan and associated security measures to enable safe resupply of these vessels. If operational details are classified, this information may be transmitted via CAPNET or via classified briefing.

Establish a reliable communications framework for U.S.-flagged vessels in the region, ensuring regular updates, emergency contact pathways, and the ability for mariners to communicate with U.S. authorities.

Explain what steps, if any, were taken to notify or reposition U.S.-flagged vessels prior to the onset of hostilities, and how the Department will ensure improved warning and protection mechanisms in future contingencies.

The United States has long recognized the strategic importance of its civilian mariners and maritime workforce—not only as commercial actors, but as a critical component of national security and sealift capacity. In moments such as this, that commitment must extend beyond rhetoric to tangible protection and support.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and request a response as soon as practicable, but no later than March 26, 2026.

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***Livestream***Tuesday: Blumenthal & Robert Garcia to Receive Public Testimony from Children Brutalized by DHS Agents

[WASHINGTON, DC] – On Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 3 PM ET, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, will hold a bicameral public forum to receive testimony on the how violent tactics, a disregard for laws and constitutional rights, and new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies have harmed children in America.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHO: U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA)

Members of the Senate and House of Representatives, including members Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Three young Americans, two mothers, and a school superintendent who witnessed or experienced DHS agents violently assaulting and detaining children

WHEN: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 3 PM ET

WHERE: G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC

LIVESTREAM: A livestream will be available here.

Tuesday’s event is the fourth public forum Blumenthal and Garcia have hosted as part of their ongoing inquiry into the lawless and abusive tactics used by federal immigration agents.

In December, Blumenthal and Garcia received testimony from five U.S. citizens who were assaulted, detained, and denied their constitutional rights by DHS agents.

In early February, the members hosted a forum focused on the violent tactics and disproportionate use of force by DHS agents, featuring three U.S. citizens who were violently assaulted and the brothers of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a U.S. citizen and resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota who was shot and killed by an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in January.

In late February, Blumenthal and Garcia hosted their third bicameral forum on constitutional violations and abuses by ICE featuring Ryan Schwank, a whistleblower who spoke publicly for the first time about his experience as an instructor for the incoming “surge” of new ICE recruits, and a U.S. citizen whose home was forcibly entered by ICE agents without a judicial warrant.

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Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 3/13/2026-3/20/2026

Tackling Ticketmaster’s Monopoly Supercharging Prices & Fees for Consumers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), released a Minority staff report, entitled, “So Casually Cruel: How Ticketmaster’s Monopoly Supercharges Prices and Fees,” revealing new details about how Ticketmaster exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to grow its monopoly over live event ticketing and make concert-going unaffordable.

PSI’s report comes after a years-long investigation into Ticketmaster and reveals new details about how the company leveraged its monopolistic control over ticketing and venues to drive up prices at every level. This report comes as the Department of Justice (DOJ) pursues a settlement with Live Nation Entertainment that leaves American consumers vulnerable to ongoing anticompetitive harms from the practices described in the attached report.

In a note from the Ranking Member in the report, Blumenthal wrote, “The DOJ abruptly dropped its demand to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster after Ticketmaster hired lobbyists and fixers with deep ties to the Trump Administration, and instead settled for a meager fine, the divestment of a selection of venue booking agreements, and agreed to a few conditions on how it operates. This settlement will do little to protect musicians, their fans, and independent venues. Alarmingly, it may drive up prices and further cement Ticketmaster’s monopoly. That’s why today I am releasing the enclosed report of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which presents new information on the ways in which Ticketmaster abused its monopoly power to reap huge profits and push concert tickets farther out of reach for fans.”

PSI’s investigation spanned more than 112,000 pages of documents and seven years of comprehensive data compiled by Ticketmaster about its revenue and its 14 largest venues. A summary of PSI’s key findings is below:

Ticketmaster leveraged its control of the market to push artists to make tickets available on the resale market before they were available to the public, thereby driving up prices and increasing its own revenue.

Although Ticketmaster claims artists and venues control ticket prices, the company pushed artists to aggressively expand the use of dynamic pricing, which resulted in steep price increases.

Prior to highly publicized technical failures in 2021 and 2022, Ticketmaster executives knew that the company’s focus on maximizing sales when demand was at its highest posed challenges for its technology.

Based on these findings, Blumenthal wrote to 27 state Attorneys General to urge them to reject the proposed settlement, and to stand for what the Department of Justice sought when they filed their complaint: breaking up Live Nation-Ticketmaster. Blumenthal’s letters to state Attorneys General are available here.

The full text of PSI’s Minority staff report is available here.

Blumenthal highlighted his report on Twitter/X.

“I’m releasing a PSI report, which presents new information on the ways Ticketmaster abused its monopoly power to reap huge profits & push concert ticket prices farther out of reach for fans. Despite the company’s recurrent insistence that decisions about ticket prices & fees are largely out of its hands, Live Nation has exerted its enormous influence over venues & artists to increase fees & ticket prices. At each stage of this process, from primary tickets marked up by dynamic pricing algorithms, to secondary sales from consumers & ticket brokers, Ticketmaster has profited handsomely while Americans paid the price. My report’s findings raise fresh concerns that the Trump admin’s settlement with Live Nation will allow anti-consumer price gouging tactics to continue while doing little to protect musicians, their fans, & independent venues. The ticketing market is broken. Congress should set national rules protecting consumers in the primary & secondary markets, such as my BOSS & SWIFT Act. As important, it’s time to break up Ticketmaster,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Pressing DHS Secretary Nominee on Violent, Unconstitutional Actions of DHS & ICE Agents

Blumenthal pressed Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), about excessive use of force by DHS agents and a secret U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy permitting agents to circumvent the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment and enter Americans’ homes without a standard judicial warrant.

“We are here because of a lawless and reckless agency that has broken into homes without judicial approval, shot United States citizens, detained them without any cause, and sometimes killed them. And I am looking for real substantive reform in that agency—as you and I have discussed, when you came to talk to me. A break with the past—with former Secretary Noem and with the White House, Steve Miller and others, who have used Kristi Noem in effect as a puppet to implement lawless policy,” Blumenthal said.

In a reversal of previous DHS policy, Mullin stated that “a judicial warrant will be used to go into houses, into place of businesses unless we are pursuing someone that enters in that place.”

Blumenthal continued, “A whistleblower testified to our hearing that in fact ICE agents had been instructed as part of their training to forcibly enter—I know you don’t like the word ‘break-in,’ but forcibly enter is breaking into somebody’s home, bashing down the door, terrorizing children. Instructed them to adopt this policy.”

As Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal has led an investigation into DHS’s abuses. In December 2025, Blumenthal released a report examining the Trump Administration’s extrajudicial immigration detentions of U.S. citizens. Blumenthal has also convened public forums to receive testimony from individuals who have experienced violent use of force by DHS agents.

The video of Blumenthal’s exchange with Mullin is available here.

On Twitter/X, Blumenthal further called out Mullin for defending the violent tactics of immigration enforcement agents and called on Mullin to instruct ICE agents to uphold the Fourth Amendment.

“New nominee, same DHS defending violence against U.S. citizens. Senator Mullin doubled down on his belief that Renee Nicole Macklin Good’s killing was seemingly justified,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“I’ll hold Senator Mullin to his word that ICE agents will no longer be instructed to forcibly enter people’s homes without a judicial warrant,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously passed three veterans’ bills authored by Ranking Member Blumenthal, including his Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act—legislation to expand research on birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans.

“Almost every member of this Committee has had a part in one way or another in one or more of these bills…I want to say a particular thanks to Senator Murray, who has worked with me on the Molly Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans [Act], which requires research on the health effects on descendants of toxic-exposed veterans. I think the more we know about the impact of toxins on our veterans, whether it’s on bases in this country or on battlefields abroad, the more we appreciate how these invisible wounds of war take their toll. And we need to do even more to keep faith with them,” said Blumenthal during his opening remarks.

The Committee considered and passed the following bills authored by Senator Blumenthal:

Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act – Legislation to commission a health monitoring program to track birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans to help facilitate research related to such defects. While there has been some research on the link between birth defects and generational exposure to toxins and chemicals, there has yet to be comprehensive, government-led studies into the effects of toxic exposure on descendants of toxic-exposed veterans.

Obligations to Aberdeen’s Trusted Heroes (OATH) Act – Legislation to ensure veterans who participated in secrecy oath programs receive the full benefits they have rightfully earned. This bill would make sure veterans who signed secrecy oaths, preventing them from disclosing injuries and illnesses connected to covert operations, can seek benefits retroactive to their discharge date—not the date they were released from their secrecy agreements.

Advancing VA’s Emergency Response to (AVERT) Crises Act – Legislation to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) response to natural disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies. It would help ensure continuity of VA medical care for veterans during emergencies and make sure the Department is better prepared to activate its Fourth Mission authority—VA’s role in improving the nation’s response to emergencies.

The Committee also considered and passed six additional bills co-led by Senator Blumenthal, including:

Guard and Reserve G.I. Bill Parity Act – Bipartisan legislation to expand GI Bill benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserve for every day in uniform, aligning with the benefits earned by their active-duty counterparts for the same military service.

Fisher House Availability Act – Bipartisan legislation to allow active-duty servicemembers, members of the reserve components, and their families to stay at VA Fisher Houses when traveling significant distances to receive care.

Veterans Prosthetics Advancement and Reform Act – Bipartisan legislation to ensure veterans receive more consistent, modernized access to prosthetic and rehabilitative items by requiring VA to develop a formulary of these essential medical devices and services.

A full list of the bills that cleared the Committee markup can be found here.

Blumenthal and U.S. Representative Derek Tran (D-CA) introduced the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Protection Act—legislation to protect veterans’ disability benefits following an attempt from the Trump Administration to reduce benefits for veterans who rely on medications to manage their service-connected disabilities. Their legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award compensation benefits based on the true severity of veterans’ disabilities, particularly when evidence indicates claimed disabilities are more severe during fare ups or without the use of medication.

“Veterans should never have to choose between taking life-improving medication or losing their earned benefits. Our legislation ensures that a veteran’s disability rating is strictly based on that veteran’s underlying condition. The Trump Administration’s recent attempt to slash disability benefits for veterans was cruel and dangerous, and our bill will guarantee a future Administration cannot cut veterans’ benefits in this way,” said Ranking Member Blumenthal.

The lawmakers’ Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Protection Act would ensure no Administration could pursue a similar policy in the future, by requiring VA to discount the beneficial effects of medication when veterans are evaluated for their disability rating. This bill would make sure veterans who use medications will not fear losing benefits.

The full bill text can be found here.

Protecting College Athletes

Blumenthal urged Congress to pass his Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement (SAFE) Act, legislation to codify athletes’ rights and protections in law, expand revenue for all schools, support women’s and Olympic sports and bring much-needed stability to the college sports system. The bill was introduced in September and is led by Blumenthal, U.S Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)

The Act, for the first time, gives all athletes Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights, establishes uniform health and safety standards, protects scholarships and requires agents to register with a state and abide by clear contract requirements, including a 5 percent cap on fees. The bill provides new opportunities for schools to increase revenues for all sports by amending the Sports Broadcasting Act, and ensures all schools, not just the biggest and the richest, benefit from those increased resources. The legislation stops collectives from engaging in pay for play by requiring that any payments to students are for legitimate use of their NIL. For the millions of fans who care deeply about their college sports teams, the Act requires football and basketball games to be made available for free in schools’ local media market and tackles transfer portal concerns.

“The Student Athlete Fairness and Enforcement Act (SAFE Act) provides clear and enforceable rights and protections to college athletes,” said Blumenthal. “For far too long, college athletes had their basic economic rights denied while the NCAA failed to protect their health, safety, and academic success. Our measure centers athletes’ rights and wellbeing with real reforms while bringing schools the clarity they need and promoting women’s and Olympic sports.”

The full text of the bill is available here.

At a press conference in Hartford on Monday, Blumenthal highlighted his SAFE Act and the need for protections for college athletes.

Blumenthal highlighted the SAFE Act on Twitter/X.

“March Madness generates huge windfalls for schools, agents, & broadcast companies, but not athletes. Athletes deserve basic rights. That’s why I’ve introduced the SAFE Act, which puts athletes first—providing protections, fairness, & transparency to these students,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal called on U.S. Central Command to aid U.S. Merchant Mariners stranded in Persian Gulf.

Blumenthal demanded the Trump Administration reinstate VOA Persian News Network and Radio Farda broadcast to Iran.

Blumenthal joined legislation to ensure settlements benefit consumers, workers, and small businesses—not special interests—after the weak Live Nation-Ticketmaster antitrust deal.

Blumenthal joined CNN to discuss the Pentagon’s $200 billion request for more funding for the war in Iran.

Blumenthal released a statement on Revolution Wind Delivering First Power to New England Grid.

Blumenthal’s bill to aid recovery of Nazi-confiscated art passed the House of Representatives unanimously.

Blumenthal called for action to protect consumers against skyrocketing gas prices because of Trump’s war in Iran.

Blumenthal slammed ICE’s deficient, defective training program.

Blumenthal highlighted the need for his legislation enacting guardrails for prediction market betting.

Blumenthal attended St. Patrick’s Day Parades in New Haven and Milford.

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WATCH: Senator Blunt Rochester Holds the Floor, Voices Strong Opposition to SAVE America Act

“I look around this room, and I know that we have a choice to make – whether we will allow partisan divides to enable the backsliding of our democracy, or if we’re willing to stand shoulder to shoulder to protect the bedrock of our nation: the right to vote.”

Senator Blunt Rochester’s full remarks can be viewed here.

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) last night delivered remarks on the Senate floor opposing the SAVE America Act. Senator Blunt Rochester discussed American history, her family’s heritage, and the urgent need to defend voters’ access to the electoral process.

Senator Blunt Rochester was accompanied by a rendering of the document that allowed her formerly enslaved great-great-great grandfather to vote in 19th-century Georgia.

Below are Senator Blunt Rochester’s remarks, as delivered:

Thank you, Mr. President.

I rise today not only as a Senator, but as an American. And as a descendant of enslaved men and women, like those who built this chamber and fought hard for the right to vote. I rise today with a deep concern that we are balancing on a knife’s edge, and that if the SAVE America Act becomes law, we will undercut one of the most fundamental things that makes America, America: the right to vote.

Now we are literally in the midst of elections right now, and it’s my understanding that this bill would actually take effect immediately. And we’ve got Americans who are concerned about the cost of living, everything from their rent now to their energy costs.

We are in the midst of war, and we know as a country, we have the most safe and secure elections in the world. So, to my colleagues, I ask the question, what are you saving us from? Being able to participate in our democracy? We’ve been down this road before.

Mr. President, behind me is a copy of a document that my sister, Thea, found when researching our family roots. We turned this into a scarf that I carried with me on the day that I was sworn in to the United States House of Representatives in 2017, because it was a historic moment and I wanted to carry history with me. And again, I carried it with me when I was sworn in to this august body, the United States Senate.

This document is a window into our nation’s and my family’s history. It captures the moment when my great-great-great grandfather, a formerly enslaved man, gained the right to vote. He couldn’t read or write, so he signed his Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath with an “X.” I’ve been reflecting on this document and how it relates to the moment that we are in as a nation, how it’s a physical manifestation of our democracy’s ability to expand and contract. How we can bring people together and how we can separate. It’s a part of the American experiment.

Yet, 159 years after my great-great-great grandfather signed this document and gained his right to vote, and 61 years after President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, protecting that fundamental right and expanding it for Black women, we in the Senate are debating the possibility of placing burdens and barriers on voting for millions of Americans, a contraction of our democracy…We’re just a few months from marking our nation’s 250th year, months away from acknowledging how far we have come as a country. But it’s my belief that our democracy is under attack, that there is a coordinated effort to undermine voting rights in America. From right here in Congress, to the judiciary, to the executive.

Let’s start with the reason that we’re here today: the SAVE America Act. This bill is as dangerous as it is unethical. It is a thinly veiled attempt to make it harder for some Americans to participate in our democracy.

So, here’s what it does. It enables this administration to supercharge their voter roll purges by forcing states to share their voter lists with the federal government. It would end proven and safe voter registration systems, including online and mail registration. It would impose new costs on Americans who want to vote, creating a modern day poll tax. It would undermine voting by mail, and it would criminalize election workers and more. Our distinguished minority leader called this bill “Jim Crow 2.0.” I’m calling it Jim Crow two-point-no.

Here it is by the numbers: 146 million [Americans], [$]165, 69 [million women], and four and a half [hours].

146 million is the number of Americans who don’t have passports at this moment. So, unless they can prove their citizenship with their birth certificate or Social Security card, those millions of Americans will not be able to vote.

[$]165 is the base price for getting a brand new passport. If you have a passport and it’s expiring, it will cost you $130 to renew. So, if you can’t find your birth certificate or Social Security card, there is now a price tag on your access to the ballot.

69 million is the number of women who have changed their names. Not only will they have to provide proof of citizenship, but under this bill, they also would have to bring their marriage certificate to a voting booth, or maybe a signed affidavit from a judge proving their name change.

Four and a half – four and a half hours is the average amount of time a rural voter would have to drive, round trip, to prove they are a citizen, and ensure that they can vote in the next election. My colleagues will have you believe that we don’t believe IDs are important. That’s not the case. It’s just not true. [In] many states…across the country, we have to use our IDs to vote. I took my driver’s license with me when I voted recently in a local election. That’s not the point of this bill.

The point of this bill is trying to solve a problem that’s not there, and in doing so, it moves the goalposts for people who want to vote. It will squeeze people out of the democratic process by finding ways to cost you money and cost you time if you want to vote.

Bottom line, if this bill passes. Our driver’s license, Real ID, tribal ID, college IDs for students, military IDs will no longer be enough. If this bill passes, you would have to mail in a photocopy of your proof of citizenship with your ballot, making it exponentially harder for Americans to vote by mail, not to mention undermining privacy. If you’re married, if you are in a rural community, if you are a student on a college campus, if you are a person with a disability, if you are a senior, or if you have changed your name at any point in your life, like so many of us have, including myself – I was married, I was divorced, I was, I was widowed – this bill won’t save you, it will hurt you.

But this is just one aspect of the current attack on voting rights.

The second comes from across the street where the Supreme Court has been chipping and chipping and chipping away at voting rights. The systematic weakening of our voter protections started…when the Supreme Court undermined the preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act. Preclearance required jurisdictions with a historical record of racial discrimination in voting to clear any changes to their voting laws with the federal government. This was a backstop that protected access to the ballot box for many voters of color. Once it was struck down, some states began to take advantage, passing restrictive voting ID laws, restricting voter registration time frames, reducing early voting, and more. In 2021, the Supreme Court made it harder to prove racially discriminatory voting practices under the VRA, and later this year, they will hear a case that would make it even harder for minority communities to sue states for discriminatory congressional maps.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the threat to our democracy that comes from the executive branch. Let me start from the beginning. Since January of 2025, the Trump administration has used DOGE to steal our personal information and data. They pulled information from the Social Security Administration and the IRS. Why? Maybe to track the American people. Now the administration has turned their attention toward establishing an unsanctioned nationwide voter database. They also raided a Georgia voting center under false pretenses, undermined access to mail-in ballots by changing the rules around how mail is postmarked, and sued and threatened states like Minnesota over access to their voter files.

All of this from a president that wants to, “take over the voting,” so that the GOP, “will never lose a race for 50 years.” This is a coordinated and un-American campaign against the very core of who we are as a nation. And it’s not something that I say lightly, but it’s something that I believe must be said, especially as we approach the 250th anniversary of our country.

In those 250 years, we have seen our democracy expand and contract multiple times. Our democracy expanded when my great-great-great grandfather signed his name with that X and gained the right to vote. His descendant now stands in the Senate, a living reminder that our democracy has the ability to grow and change. But our democracy has contracted, too.

And we need to learn from that past if we’re going to prevent further contraction in the future. Mr. President, I fear we’re on the cusp of falling into a trap our ancestors sprung 100 years ago. You see, my great-great-great grandfather earned the right to vote in Georgia with his signature. But it’s unlikely that he was able to really exercise that newly won right for very long. Because from 1877 to 1901, while some Americans were enjoying the Gilded Age, Black Americans were living through a period known as the Great Nadir.

If apex is the highest, the nadir is the lowest. Voter suppression, political violence, things that you see and feel even now. Many of the rights enumerated in the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments, including the right to vote, were being eroded, washed away by partisan gerrymandering, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, Jim Crow laws, and even Supreme Court decisions. For decades, civil rights leaders fought not just to achieve new rights, but to reinstate the ones lost. Our democracy has expanded and contracted.

The first black senator, Hiram Revels, was elected to Congress in 1870, and then Blanche Bruce, but it was 86 years between those two senators and 1967, when we had the next black senator. 86 years. Right now, there are five of us, and this is the first time in our history where there are two Black women at the same time.

If the SAVE America Act passes, we are on the verge of another contraction. The parallels with the Great Nadir are as stark as they are many. Once again, laws are being proposed to strip us from the access to the ballot box. Once again, the Supreme Court is postured to send us backwards rather than protecting the path forward. And once again, voting rights are under attack by the federal government.

I look around this room, and I know that we have a choice to make – whether we will allow partisan divides to enable the backsliding of our democracy, or if we’re willing to stand shoulder to shoulder to protect the bedrock of our nation, the right to vote. So, what can we do?

First, we must block the SAVE America Act from advancing any further. As Senators, we have a responsibility to call it as we see it and to conduct oversight and expose executive overreach. And that’s what this bill is: executive overreach that would undermine our right to vote across this country. Democratic senators, we plan to stand in its path. And I hope that some of my Republican colleagues will join us.

And to all of those watching at home. I want you to know there is strength in numbers. That your power lies in being educated and informed and organized and mobilizing. And in this moment, I stand here and say no to Jim Crow 2.0. I yield.

###

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


What They’re Saying: Booker Announces Keep Your Pay Act to “Provide Wallet Relief” and “Put More Money in Your Pocket”

WASHINGTON D.C. – Following U.S Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) new proposal that cuts taxes for working Americans and unrigs America’s tax system by requiring the wealthiest few and large corporations to finally pay their fair share Reports from New Jersey to national outlets lauded that Senator Booker’s Keep Your Pay Act could “immediately put more money in your pocket every month” and offer meaningful financial “relief” for households.

SEE FOR YOURSELF:

MSNBC

MSNBC Keep Your Pay Act

By: Sahil Kapur

March 13, 2026

“Senator Cory Booker, is about to introduce a bill to make the first $75,000 in income for couples tax-free by massively expanding the standard deduction on federal returns. For single filers, it would be half that amount, which is more than double of what it is today. In an interview, Booker told me it would have a significant impact in raising disposable incomes for average Americans.”

NBC New York

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is proposing a bill that, if passed, would make the first $75,000 of household income tax free

By: Jennifer Va

March 13, 2026

“No federal taxes on your first 75,000? If Senator Cory Booker has his way, this could become a reality! The democratic senator from New Jersey proposed a bill that would make the first $75,000 of income for households filing jointly free of federal taxes. It’s part of his Keep Your Pay Act. The bill would also expand tax credits, like the Child Tax Credit to $3,600 per child for those six to 17 years old and $4,320 for children under six years old. It would also include an additional $2,400 “baby bonus,” the year a child is born to help families offset costs. Single filers and heads of households would also get proportional tax relief.”

PHL 17

Senator Cory Booker Proposes No Income Tax for New Jersey Residents on First $75,000

By: Kelsey Fabian

March 10, 2026

“U.S. Senator Cory Booker is proposing New Jersey residents pay no federal income tax on their first $75,000. This bill would apply to joint filers but there would be a proportional threshold for single filers and heads of households. It would also more than double the standard deduction which Booker’s Office says would eliminate federal income tax on that portion of earnings for most taxpayers.”

Sen. Booker: To me, it’s time that we make our tax system simpler and really reward work in America and unrig the system in a way that helps working people.

NBC 7 San Diego

Sen. Booker Bill Would Double Standard Deductions

By: Monica Dean

March 10, 2026

“Democratic Senator Cory Booker plans to propose new legislation tomorrow, which would give big tax breaks to low and middle income earners. It would increase the federal standard deduction to $75,000 for married couples filing jointly, and $37,500 for individual filers. Both figures are more than double what they are today. Senator Booker's bill would also increase child tax credits.”

ABC 7 NYC

Sen. Booker’s Tax Cut Push

By: Mike Marza

March 10, 2026

Sen Booker: “The tax system has become so rigged against working families and benefits the highest, highest net worth earners, the top 1% actually are paying a lower effective tax rate than most working Americans.”

WDIV Detroit

Sen. Booker’s Legislation Proposes Major Expansion of the Standard Deduction

By: Rhonda Walker

March 10, 2026

“The bill also seeks to boost the child tax credit and add a new $2,400 baby bonus, positioning the plan as a major tax code overhaul for the next time Democrats control Washington.”

Black Enterprise

Cory Booker Proposes Scrapping Federal Tax On First $75K Of Income

By: Sharelle B. McNair

March 10, 2026

Not only would the legislation offset costs to the fullest extent by generating more tax revenue from corporations and the wealthy, it also includes a plan to increase the corporate tax rate, taxes on stock buybacks, and zoning in on executive compensation deductions and strengthening corporate tax enforcement.

NBC News

Ahead of 2028, Sen. Cory Booker to unveil bill to make $75,000 in income tax-free

March 9, 2026

Booker’s legislation is a sweeping plan to address a constellation of economic concerns from high costs to wages failing to keep up with necessities like health care and housing.

The New Jersey senator’s plan would set the standard deduction at $75,000 for married couples, or $37,500 for individuals. That’s more than double what it is today: $32,200 for couples filing jointly and half that for single filers.

Sen. Booker: “It’s a simple idea: American households don’t pay taxes on their first $75,000 of earnings,“It will have a significant impact on the average American in raising their income.”

Sen. Booker:“Americans are working harder and harder, and they’re making less and less relative to their parents and grandparents. The economy is not working. So we need big ideas that could redeem the dream of America.”

New Jersey News 12

Sen. Cory Booker unveils "Keep Your Pay Act" to make first $75,000 of income tax-free

By: Laura Due

March 9, 2026

New Jersey Resident :“It sounds good because any amount of money I can keep in my pocket is a beautiful day. The cost of living is high Mr. Booker, it is high and things are just getting higher and higher.”

Pix 11

Senator Booker Talks Tax Plan to Help Working Families Keep More of Their Pay

March 9, 2026

Sen. Booker: “ To me it’s time that we make our tax systems simpler and really reward work in America and unrig the system in a way that helps working people”

Policy Engine US

Analysis of Booker Plan: “73% of households gain”

By: Daphne Hansell

March 9, 2026

Policy Engine did a NEW ANALYSIS: of @SenBooker's Keep Your Pay Act - higher standard deduction, expanded CTC & EITC, higher top tax rates.

Static model finds:

- $5.2T 10-year cost

- 73% of households gain, 1.6% lose in 2026

- Poverty falls 10% in 2026

@AnalilaforNJ

I can't wait to work together to get this done!

March 9, 2026

Democratic Nominee for NJ-11 Anillia Mejia: “NJ middle class families deserve #Tax fairness and we should insist corporations and billionaires pay their fair share”

@blackmillionares

Senator Cory Booker Has Proposed A Bill to Make Your First 75,000 Income Tax Free.

March 9, 2026

Senator Cory Booker has introduced a proposal that could significantly change how Americans pay federal income taxes. The legislation, known as the Keep Your Pay Act, would make the first $75,000 of income tax-free at the federal level. The proposal is designed to provide tax relief for working- and middle-class Americans. Supporters say the plan could reduce taxes for a large majority of households by allowing people to keep more of their earnings before federal income taxes apply. If approved, it could represent one of the most significant federal tax changes in years.

NJ Advance Media

Cory Booker wants to make your first $75,000 completely tax-free. Here’s how.

March 9, 2026

NJ Advance Media ran the numbers Comparing the 2026 IRS standard tax deductions to new deductions proposed in Sen. Cory Booker's Keep Your Pay Act

NJBIZ

Booker unveils Keep Your Pay Act tax proposal

By: Matthew Fazelpoor

March 9, 2026

Sen. Booker:“These are our communities’ health care professionals, teachers, and salespeople. They’re parents and grandparents, and unrigging the tax system would be a game changer for working people in our state and across the country.”

Sen. Booker:“New Jerseyans are working harder than ever, but they’re struggling to get by because they’re facing out of control costs and an economy that is stacked against them—so we need big ideas to start making the American Dream possible for everyone again.”

Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway

Praise from Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway

March 17, 2026

“The one I like the most is Booker's. He's saying, it’s the first 75,000 it’s tax free now. [...] It’s the .1% that are getting away quite frankly with murder. They can use all sorts of tricks to lower their tax rates into the high teens. [...] It is a good idea. It is time that we level up the middle class."

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES


Boozman, Daines, Crapo, Warner Champion Expanded Economic Prosperity

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) joined Community Development Finance (CDF) Caucus co-chairs Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Mark Warner (D-VA) to introduce a bipartisan measure that would strengthen and improve Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund operations. The Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development (AFFORD) Act would benefit small businesses, community banks and credit unions in underserved and rural communities across Arkansas by easing access to capital and growing economic opportunity.

“Small businesses and the communities they serve rely on the support of local lenders that underpin our regional and national economy,” said Boozman. “Increasing access to capital and encouraging economic opportunity — especially in rural and underserved areas — is a commonsense and bipartisan way to increase entrepreneurialism and prosperity in Arkansas and beyond.”

Specifically, the AFFORD Act would extend and enhance the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program to enable participation by smaller CDFIs and reauthorize the CDFI Liquidity Enhancement Program to increase CDFI lending capacity.

The measure is cosponsored by Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jim Risch (R-ID), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jim Justice (R-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).


Boozman Urges Support for Prostate Cancer Screening Bill at HELP Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) was invited by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) to rally support for his bipartisan initiative that would increase access to prostate cancer screenings.

Boozman reflected on the widespread impact prostate cancer has on American families, such as his own, and highlighted his legislation with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), the PSA Screening for Him Act to require private health insurance plans to cover preventive prostate cancer screenings without imposing any cost-sharing requirements for men who are at high risk of developing prostate cancer.

The Boozman-Booker legislation has earned support from leading prostate cancer advocacy organizations including the American Urological Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and ZERO Prostate Cancer, which recently recognized Boozman as a 2026 Prostate Cancer Champion.

His full remarks are available below:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman and thank you to the entire committee, for hosting this Member Day hearing.

I think it is an excellent idea

This is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness about policy solutions that the Senate is actively pursuing to address issues that impact Americans’ everyday health.

Today, I would like to speak about an issue that unfortunately affects many Americans, including my family – in fact, everybody in this room has probably had somebody, a friend, a loved one that is affected – that Congress canact on to save lives and curb growing health care costs: increasing access to prostate cancer screenings.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the U.S., with African American men as well as men with a family history being disproportionately affected.

The Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men Act is legislation that we’re proud to lead with Senator Booker to expand insurance coverage for lifesaving screenings for men who are at high risk.

Importantly, our bill does so without imposing cost-sharing requirements.

The PSA test is a proven and effective tool for detection.

When caught in the early stage, prostate cancer is almost 100 percent survivable. Unfortunately, the survival rate plummets to about 37 percent when discovered in later stage.

Too many men still delay getting their PSA levels checked, so it is important we lower barriers to care for high-risk men, including financial barriers such as co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance.

Not only can this save lives, but we will also save the American health care system dollars down the road.

Preventive medicine, such as early screenings for individuals who need it most, is one of the tools in our toolbox that will help tackle chronic diseases and improve the quality of life for patients.


U.S. Senator Katie Britt Calls to Pass Legislation Preventing Members of Congress from Receiving Paychecks During Shutdowns

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, spoke on the Senate floor calling to pass legislation preventing members of Congress from receiving paychecks during government shutdowns. The Senator voiced her support for Senator John Kennedy’s (R-La.) No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act.

On members of Congress receiving a paycheck during a government shutdown while hardworking Americans miss theirs:

“I think that if we are going to go and sit here for how many days is it … 48 days … people without paychecks… [W]hat Senator Kennedy’s bill says is that if there are people who have stepped up to serve our government in any capacity that are not getting a paycheck as a result of this body not doing its job, then we shouldn’t get one either. I think that’s pretty common sense. I can promise you that if the staff in this building, if the men and women in this building, if members of Congress … weren’t getting a paycheck right now, they’d be much more eager to … have a conversation and to figure out a pathway forward … If there are men and women who have stepped up to serve, in this instance the Department of Homeland Security … to keep American citizens safe … [A]nd they are not getting a paycheck. If they’re not getting one, we shouldn’t be either.”

You can watch the Senator’s full remarks here and read more about the No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act here.

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U.S. Senator Katie Britt Delivers Remarks on Senate Floor in Support of Markwayne Mullin’s Nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chair of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, yesterday spoke on the Senate floor to voice her strong support for President Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).

On experiencing Senator Mullin’s strong character and professionalism firsthand:

“Many in this chamber have had the opportunity to get to know Markwayne, and that is both a privilege and something that doesn’t take long, because with Markwayne, what you see is what you get. He is authentic in every interaction, and he has never met a stranger … He is a man of faith and deep conviction, a devoted husband and father … Throughout his life, he and his beautiful family have poured so much of their time, energy, and efforts into serving their community, state and our great nation. … His grit is absolutely unmatched, and he never backs down from a cause, person, or principle that he believes in …

“Markwayne has already stepped up twice to serve the United States, both in Congress and here in the Senate. And now he has answered the call again by accepting the incredible responsibility of running the Department of Homeland Security as its secretary.”

On her role as Chair of the Senate DHS Appropriations Subcommittee and how Senator Mullin is uniquely positioned to lead the Department:

“As chair of the Senate DHS Appropriations subcommittee, I can say from personal experience that navigating the Department of Homeland Security is no small task. It is one of the largest and most complex federal agencies in our government and … leading this department at this point in our country’s history will require a leader willing and able to solve the issues facing our nation. And that’s why I’m here today, to tell you that Markwayne is not only qualified, but that I know without a shadow of a doubt, that he’s the right person at the right time to lead this department.”

On her confidence in Senator Mullin to carry out President Trump’s agenda and his ability to work across the aisle in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to achieve solutions:

“Over the past several years here in the Senate, he hasn’t just served his constituency back home. He’s also served as a liaison between this body and the House and the White House, trying to figure out what was possible and find a pathway forward … Markwayne doesn’t just talk about problems or issues that we are facing. He puts in the work and the time to find real solutions. It’s a rare breed in this town and something we undoubtedly need more of. With strong relationships on both sides of the aisle, he’s willing to sit down with anyone, anywhere and figure out a pathway forward …

“President Trump was elected to a second term with a clear mandate, and that was to secure our border and to protect us from threats here in our interior and abroad. I have absolute confidence in Markwayne’s ability to carry out that mission at the Department of Homeland Security.”

On Senator Mullin’s unwavering dedication to supporting the many DHS personnel who serve our nation:

“From our ICE and CBP officers, to our Coast Guard service members, to the men and women at FEMA, to our cybersecurity personnel at CISA, to our hard working Secret Service agents, to our TSA officers, and so many more. Markwayne will never back down from supporting you … He will never back down from the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of our American citizens. He will never back down from the mission of protecting our most valuable asset, our people. He’s not going to back down from protecting his family, and I can promise you, he will not back down from protecting yours.

“I believe he is going to be the best and most consequential secretary the Department of Homeland Security has ever seen. I look forward to seeing his leadership and the success he’s going to bring to our nation … I want to thank President Trump for nominating such a tremendous man and leader.”

You can watch the Senator’s full remarks here.

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U.S. Senator Katie Britt Joins SAVE America Act Press Conference

‘This isn’t a Republican issue, this is an American issue.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined a press conference in support of passing the SAVE America Act with Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), and James Lankford (R-Okla.).

On voter ID laws—a commonsense, bipartisan priority to ensure free and fair elections:

“This isn’t a Republican issue, this is an American issue. When you look at the polling, it is wildly popular amongst Republicans, amongst independents and amongst Democrats. When you see something like that, I think it’s incumbent upon us to actually do something … And that’s exactly what Senator Lee has does with the SAVE America Act. And today we talk about the heart of that … [W]e want to make sure Americans have faith and their elections. We want to make sure that they are free, fair and secure. If Americans don’t have faith, it undermines the very pillars that hold up our democracy. And we know the best way to do that is to require it. We do it in the great state of Alabama…because we also understand that it is fundamental to actually achieving the American Dream.”

On Democrats’ voter ID hypocrisy and Republicans’ commitment to ensuring all American citizens have identification:

“…[M]any of my colleagues, they have said that this is unattainable for certain segments of the population or certain people. I find that wildly offensive. And I am here today to say that if that is your argument, let’s drill down on that. Because you can’t rent a home, you can’t go to work. You can’t (volunteer to) shovel snow in New York City without an ID, and you can’t get into (Senator) Jon Ossoff’s campaign event.

“So, I’m pretty sure as we look to try to achieve the American Dream, whether that’s getting insurance, whether that’s getting a car, whether that’s signing your kid up for school, you need an ID. So, if my colleagues continue to say that there are certain segments of the population that can’t get one, why don’t we deal with that? Because I want every American, regardless of their zip code, regardless of their background, regardless of their state, to be able to achieve the American Dream, and without simple identification, they can’t do that.”

On the importance of passing the SAVE America Act to secure our elections, calling on Democrats to support this legislation for the American people:

“But let’s secure our elections, let’s do it now … And I am excited to hear so many of my Democratic colleagues come to the table and say they’re for this, too. I look forward to watching them follow through with that on the Senate floor. This is the same party that you remember made us have vaccine passports to go out to eat during Covid and has done so much more [to infringe] on our individual rights. I certainly look forward to them helping to protect one of the most important ones, and that’s the right to vote. So, thank you for your leadership on this, Senator Lee. I say let’s get this done—we’re certainly not going to quit until we do.”

You can watch the Senator’s full remarks here.

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U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Shelley Moore Capito, Colleagues Send Letter Opposing Foreign Practices Undermining American Steelworkers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and several of their bipartisan colleagues in writing a letter to Amy Karpel, Chair of the U.S. International Trade Commission, opposing efforts by foreign nations to manipulate and undercut the American rebar industry and its workers.

Specifically, the letter requests that the U.S. International Trade Commission review antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) cases against Algeria, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Vietnam and ensure our trade laws are fully enforced.

“American companies and workers can out compete companies from any other country. However, American rebar producers deserve to compete on a fair and level playing field. As your important work on these investigations continues, we urge you to carefully review the evidence presented and fully enforce our trade laws. It is imperative that unfairly traded imports do not undermine American rebar producers and the thousands of workers they support,” the Senators wrote.

U.S. Senators Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) also signed the letter.

One of Senator Britt’s top priorities is safeguarding American workers from foreign threats or unfair competition. She previously introduced the Fighting Trade Cheats Act, bipartisan legislation that would empower manufacturers to take action against bad actors that engage in customs fraud.

You can read the full text of the letter here.

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VIDEO: Capito Speaks in Support of Women’s Sports at GOP Press Conference

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee (RPC), spoke in support of the Tuberville-Blackburn amendment to the SAVE America Act, which ensures fairness in women’s sports by prohibiting biological males from competing in female athletics.

Senator Capito’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

“As you all know, we’ve been debating the SAVE America Act this week.

“While much of the focus of the bill is on protecting the integrity of our elections, there is another provision in this bill that I feel very strongly about, and that is ensuring fairness in women’s sports by prohibiting biological males from competing in female athletics.

“I played a college sport and so did my daughter. This issue hits home for me.

“Let me be clear: This is about fairness, and it’s about preserving a level playing field for women and girls who have worked hard, trained hard, and deserve the chance to compete on equal terms.

“Biological women competing alongside biological men is anything but fair.

“When biological males compete in women’s sports, that fairness is compromised, opportunities are taken away, and in some cases, young women may simply choose not to participate at all.

“We’ve made too much progress over the years in expanding opportunities for women in sports to start moving backwards.

“Standing up for our female athletes should be a given. It shouldn’t be a Republican or Democrat issue. It’s common sense.

“Whether you’re from West Virginia like me, or anywhere else in this country, folks understand the importance of fairness and equal opportunity.

“That’s exactly what this provision does in the SAVE America Act, and that’s one of the reasons I’m proud to support it.”

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