NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, King, Colleagues Urge HHS Secretary Kennedy to Return to Data-Based, Cost-Effective Preventive Health

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) joined Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and 17 of their Senate colleagues in calling for a return to evidence-based, cost-effective preventative health services after a key federal oversight group has been dormant for over a year. In a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Senators raise concerns that the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has not met for a full year, which is delaying critical decisions that directly affect health outcomes. The scientifically independent volunteer panel is responsible for reviewing evidence in preventive medicine to help guide clinical practice and improve the health of the American people.

More specifically, the USPSTF helps people of all ages stay healthy and live well for years to come, as setting up healthy practices ahead of time often result in longer lives and better outcomes. Its evidence-based recommendations empower patients and their clinicians to make informed choices based on what works—and what doesn’t—in preventive care. The USPSTF systematically reviews the evidence on preventive services to make a conclusion about the benefits and harms of preventive services. Each step of the recommendation development process—from topic nomination to publication of the final recommendation—is transparent.

“Since its inception in 1984, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF or Task Force) has issued nearly 300 evidence-based recommendations across 90 different topics to support preventive care, ensure that health care services are affordable, and help people live longer, healthier lives,” the Senators began. “The independence and scientifically-backed nature of the Task Force is paramount to its operations, and we urge that the future work of USPSTF, including meetings, agendas, appointments of new Task Force members, and revisions of recommendations, continues to adhere to principles of independence and scientific rigor.”

“As a result of Task Force recommendations, preventive health services are accessible for all Americans and save lives through screenings for heart disease, screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical, and lung cancer, folic acid supplements for pregnant women to prevent birth defects, behavioral counseling, prevention of maternal depression, childhood vision screenings, adult diabetes screenings, and many more,” the Senators continued.

“Preventive services can help people avoid acute illness, identify and treat chronic condition, prevent cancer as well as lead to earlier detection, improve health outcomes, and reduce the burden of end-stage chronic disease,” the Senators concluded. “To that end, we look forward to hearing from you in response to these questions, and urge that the administration prioritize resuming the cost- and life-saving work of the Task Force.”

In addition to Senators Blunt Rochester and King, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.).

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

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

Since its inception in 1984, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF or Task Force) has issued nearly 300 evidence-based recommendations across 90 different topics to support preventive care, ensure that health care services are affordable, and help people live longer, healthier lives. Section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act (as added by the Affordable Care Act) mandates that USPSTF recommendations that receive an “A” or “B” rating be provided to enrollees at no cost. The USPSTF recommendations impact access and affordability for these life-saving interventions for all Americans. The Task Force has not met for a full year – the first time it’s not met consistently in at least a decade – delaying critical decisions that directly impact the health of Americans. It should restart its work immediately and without political interference. The independence and scientifically-backed nature of the Task Force is paramount to its operations, and we urge that the future work of USPSTF, including meetings, agendas, appointments of new Task Force members, and revisions of recommendations, continues to adhere to principles of independence and scientific rigor.

USPSTF is a scientifically independent volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that is established in law. The mission of the Task Force is to systematically review the best available evidence to develop recommended preventive services, such as cancer screenings and more, to help guide clinical practice and improve the health of the American people. The independent and scientifically-backed nature of the Task Force is paramount to its operations, and was recently affirmed by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-75), which provided over $11.5 million in funding for the Task Force and directed members of the USPSTF to “continue to uphold their mission and commitment to scientific evidence, transparency, and ensuring that Americans have access to affordable preventive health services.”

Based on USPSTF recommendations, insurers must provide coverage without cost-sharing for preventive services that have been proven to prevent disease based on evidence and empirical research. As a result of Task Force recommendations, preventive health services are accessible for all Americans and save lives through screenings for heart disease, screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical, and lung cancer, folic acid supplements for pregnant women to prevent birth defects, behavioral counseling, prevention of maternal depression, childhood vision screenings, adult diabetes screenings, and many more.

USPSTF recommendations have directly impacted millions of Americans, enabling them to have potentially fatal or debilitating conditions diagnosed at much earlier stages, thereby affording them a greater chance of living longer, healthier lives.

The Task Force membership historically has been comprised of experts in clinical medicine, scientific research, and public health. Its members are extensively vetted for conflicts of interest, and their service is completely voluntary and uncompensated. USPSTF’s process for developing recommendations and its agenda is transparent to the public and based on high quality, methodologically sound, scientifically defensible, reproducible, and unbiased scientific evidence that is rooted in a clearcut process laid out in the Task Force’s procedure manual. Thus, the Task Force’s recommendations can be considered neutral, unbiased and evidence-based by all stakeholders: policy makers; payers; providers; and most importantly the public.

However, we are particularly troubled by actions that have effectively rendered the Task Force dormant, and brought its life-saving work to a grinding halt. While the procedure manual clearly dictates that it is supposed to meet three times per year, the Task Force only met once last year. The July meeting was abruptly cancelled two days before USPSTF was scheduled to meet, and the November meeting was cancelled amidst the government shutdown. And HHS just recently confirmed that the March 2026 meeting has been cancelled. Without these meetings, the Task Force cannot vote on or move forward on its work, including recommendations and research plans. CNN has reported that in addition to previous departures due to Reduction in Force and Deferred Resignation Program efforts, much of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) staff that support the Task Force have left in recent weeks, further reducing the ability of the Task Force to function. As noted in the procedure manual, USPSTF meetings are used for formal votes for procedural and methodological decisions, for draft and final recommendations, and to reconsider the grade of previously voted recommendations. As the work of the Task Force languishes absent meetings, we are extremely concerned that the Administration is allowing the incredibly important work of USPSTF to stagnate.

Additionally, the terms of five of the sixteen Task Force members expired in December without any indication from the Department about the process to extend appointments or replace the members. Going back to at least 2002, HHS under Democrats and Republicans (including under President Trump’s first term has consistently used either the Federal Register or the Task Force’s website to announce and solicit requests for nominations.

However, previous reporting from the Wall Street Journal suggests that you may look to remove the entirety of the Task Force.8 While the Supreme Court affirmed the Secretary’s authority to appoint and remove Task Force members at will in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc., we are concerned that you may appoint unqualified members to the Task Force, as you have done with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Doing so could undermine longstanding preventive health coverage policies, totally abandon any sense of continuity or institutional memory on the Task Force, and could directly harm patients by limiting access to cost- and life-saving preventive services.

Following the repeated cancellation of meetings and with a diminished workforce for USPSTF, we are deeply concerned that the work of the Task Force will be irreparably hindered—jeopardizing critical access to new or updated preventive interventions, services, and guidance, and potentially leading to worse health outcomes for the American people. In addition to an inability to finalize recommendations and research plans that are languishing, the Task Force has failed to submit an annual report to Congress for the first time since it was statutorily required to.9 While the Department must now implement minimum staffing levels as a result of the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill,10 previous staffing cuts to AHRQ undoubtedly curtailed USPSTF’s work in 2025. Together, these developments leave us extremely worried about the work of the Task Force going forward.

Given the diminished activities last year, potential for detrimental upheaval within the Task Force, and possibility that USPSTF may no longer be guided by integrity, independence, scientifically-backed processes, or evidence-based recommendations, we request answers to the following questions by April 15, 2026:

As required by the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299b-4(2)(F)), the Task Force is required to submit an annual report to Congress identifying gaps in research, such as preventive services that receive an insufficient evidence statement, and recommending priority areas that deserve further examination, including areas related to populations and age groups not adequately addressed by current recommendations.

When does the Department and the Task Force plan to release the 2025 statutorily required annual report?

With two-thirds of the Task Force meetings cancelled and AHRQ’s staff cut significantly last year, what components of HHS were involved in developing the annual report?

i. Were experts on clinical medicine, scientific research, and public health involved?

The Task Force’s authorizing statute stipulates that the AHRQ Director shall convene an independent Task Force to be composed of individuals with appropriate expertise.

The Task Force has not met since March of last year, and the July and November meetings were not rescheduled. Please share the justification for the cancellation of the March 2026 meeting, and when the Task Force will next meet.

The Task Force has had five vacancies since December 2025. Will the Task Force or Department solicit through the Federal Register or Task Force website a request for nominations? If so, when will that process begin? If not, will the process otherwise provide opportunity for public review and input?

Unless it is already underway, when new potential Task Force members are undergoing vetting, will their qualifications be transparently judged on previous metrics and relevant expertise?

As stipulated within the authorizing statute, the Task Force shall review the scientific evidence related to the effectiveness, appropriateness, and cost-effectiveness of clinical preventive services for the purpose of developing recommendations for the health care community, and updating previous clinical preventive recommendations, for individuals and organizations delivering clinical services.

In making changes for vaccine coverage, you and your hand-picked ACIP have baselessly and without evidence made changes to vaccine schedules including for SARS-CoV-2 and the Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, resulting in professional societies making their own declarations for appropriate vaccine schedules and policies. A preliminary ruling in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Kennedy found that your previous efforts to dismantle ACIP and make changes to the childhood vaccine schedule were likely illegal.

i. How will the Task Force make recommendations going forward?

ii. When, if not now, will the Task Force or HHS determine whether to re-examine existing evidence-based recommendations?

iii. Will USPSTF continue to rely on the processes and guidelines laid out and prescribed under the Task Force’s procedures manual?

iv. If there are changes to the procedures manual processes, will you look to maintain transparency, scientific rigor, and independence of the process by requesting public input for any process changes?

On President Trump’s first day in office, he issued a number of Executive Orders including an Executive Order on Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing. This has led to the cancellation of grants and programs across HHS related to gender- and racial-based work.

Many USPSTF recommendations incorporate age-, gender-, or race-specific guidance because the evidence and data clearly demonstrate that there are risks for these specific populations, and that targeted interventions can prevent disease. Of note, recommendations that incorporate factors such as age, gender, race etc. do not do so as a matter of “DEI”, but rather because the scientific evidence suggests that certain populations are at greater risk for the disease of concern. Population-based recommendations allow policymakers, payers and providers to target screening interventions in the most cost-effective manner possible. Will there be changes to these existing recommendations to align with the President’s Executive Orders on DEI?

Will the Task Force continue to make recommendations based on the evidence and data, even when the evidence and data require those recommendations to be age-, gender-, or race-specific?

We are concerned that the Task Force, under your guidance, may re-examine recommendations for the prescribing of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Please share if you plan to direct them to do so.

You have said you aim to “Make America Healthy Again” by addressing chronic disease; however, you are not prioritizing the maintenance, support, and continuation of the USPSTF. As you know, the most common causes of chronic disease in the United States include tobacco use, obesity, high blood sugar, hypertension, and high cholesterol, and the Task Force has made recommendations regarding prevention of all of those causes for both children and adults.

Preventive services can help people avoid acute illness, identify and treat chronic conditions, prevent cancer as well as lead to earlier detection, improve health outcomes, and reduce the burden of end-stage chronic disease. To that end, we look forward to hearing from you in response to these questions, and urge that the administration prioritize resuming the cost- and life-saving work of the Task Force.

Sincerely,

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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.


Budd, Kaine Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging President Trump to Advocate for Pastor Ezra Jin’s Release Ahead of U.S.-China Summit

Reps. Riley Moore and Thomas Suozzi lead letter in the House

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) Tim Kaine (D-Va.), alongside U.S. Representatives Riley Moore (R-W.Va.-02) and Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03), led twenty-nine of their colleagues in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to President Trump advocating for the release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, lead pastor of Zion Church, ahead of the President’s upcoming meeting with Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Lawmakers also called President Trump’s attention to the many other Christian leaders imprisoned in China due to the PRC’s violent crackdown on unsanctioned churches. Additionally, the lawmakers urged the Administration to use authorities under the International Religious Freedom Act to impose targeted sanctions and visa restrictions to address severe violations of religious freedom in China.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “We encourage you to advocate for their release and request the PRC to allow Mr. Jin to leave China, in addition to raising concerns regarding the ongoing unjust imprisonment and persecution of Christians, Tibetans, and Uyghurs, among other religious and ethnic minority groups across China. …

“These abuses include arbitrary detentions, lengthy prison sentences, forced closures of places of worship, destruction of religious property, and surveillance and intimidation of clergy and congregants. …

“Through the International Religious Freedom Act, the Administration is empowered to use targeted sanctions and increase reporting and diplomatic engagement to support your efforts to address severe violations of individuals’ right to freedom of religion.”

U.S. Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) joined in signing the letter.

Additionally, U.S. Representatives John Rose (R-Tenn.-06), Young Kim (R-Calif.-40), María Salazar (R-Fla.-27), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.-02), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.-02), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Barry Moore (R-Ala.-01), Tim Moore (R-N.C.-14), and Addison McDowell (R-N.C.-06) joined in signing the letter.

Read the full letter text HERE or below:

Dear President Trump,

As you prepare to meet with President Xi Jinping next month, we urge you to seek resolution of the case of Ezra Jin Mingri, a pastor and family member of American citizens, who was arbitrarily detained on October 10, 2025, alongside other leaders of the Zion Church by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). We encourage you to advocate for their release and request the PRC to allow Mr. Jin to leave China, in addition to raising concerns regarding the ongoing unjust imprisonment and persecution of Christians, Tibetans, and Uyghurs, among other religious and ethnic minority groups across China.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), the U.S. Department of State, and religious freedom and human rights organizations have long documented violations of religious freedom targeting Christian communities and other religious groups across China. These abuses include arbitrary detentions, lengthy prison sentences, forced closures of places of worship, destruction of religious property, and surveillance and intimidation of clergy and congregants.

The United States has made important strides in advancing international religious freedom. Through the International Religious Freedom Act, the Administration is empowered to use targeted sanctions and increase reporting and diplomatic engagement to support your efforts to address severe violations of individuals’ right to freedom of religion.

Accordingly, we urge you to:

Seek resolution of the case of Ezra Jin Mingri and other leaders of the Zion Church, Yayang Church, Light of Zion Church, and Early Rain Covenant Church while advocating for the release of all Christians and other religious groups unjustly imprisoned or detained for their religious beliefs with President Xi next month.

Utilize existing authorities, including targeted sanctions and visa restrictions, against individuals and entities responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.

Continue to champion international religious freedom, including in U.S.–China policy.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

/X/

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Cantwell Statement on NBA Board Vote to Formally Consider Expansion to Seattle

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, the NBA’s Board of Governors voted to open a negotiation window to expand teams into Seattle and Las Vegas, a process that could result in the two franchises tipping off in the 2028-2029 season.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – the committee tasked with overseeing sports – issued the following statement:


Capito Joins Letter Advocating for Pastor Ezra Jin’s Release Ahead of U.S.-China Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined her colleagues in sending a bicameral letter to President Trump advocating for the release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, lead pastor of Zion Church, ahead of the president’s upcoming meeting with Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The letter was led by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), as well as U.S. Representatives Riley Moore (R-W.Va.-02) and Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03).

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “We encourage you to advocate for their release and request the PRC to allow Mr. Jin to leave China, in addition to raising concerns regarding the ongoing unjust imprisonment and persecution of Christians, Tibetans, and Uyghurs, among other religious and ethnic minority groups across China. …

“These abuses include arbitrary detentions, lengthy prison sentences, forced closures of places of worship, destruction of religious property, and surveillance and intimidation of clergy and congregants. …

“Through the International Religious Freedom Act, the Administration is empowered to use targeted sanctions and increase reporting and diplomatic engagement to support your efforts to address severe violations of individuals’ right to freedom of religion.”

Read full text of the letter here or below:

Dear President Trump,

As you prepare to meet with President Xi Jinping next month, we urge you to seek resolution of the case of Ezra Jin Mingri, a pastor and family member of American citizens, who was arbitrarily detained on October 10, 2025, alongside other leaders of the Zion Church by the People's Republic of China (PRC). We encourage you to advocate for their release and request the PRC to allow Mr. Jin to leave China, in addition to raising concerns regarding the ongoing unjust imprisonment and persecution of Christians, Tibetans, and Uyghurs, among other religious and ethnic minority groups across China.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), the U.S. Department of State, and religious freedom and human rights organizations have long documented violations of religious freedom targeting Christian communities and other religious groups across China. These abuses include arbitrary detentions, lengthy prison sentences, forced closures of places of worship, destruction of religious property, and surveillance and intimidation of clergy and congregants.

The United States has made important strides in advancing international religious freedom. Through the International Religious Freedom Act, the Administration is empowered to use targeted sanctions and increase reporting and diplomatic engagement to support your efforts to address severe violations of individuals’ right to freedom of religion.

Accordingly, we urge you to:

Seek resolution of the case of Ezra Jin Mingri and other leaders of the Zion Church, Yayang Church, Light of Zion Church, and Early Rain Covenant Church while advocating for the release of all Christians and other religious groups unjustly imprisoned or detained for their religious beliefs with President Xi next month.

Utilize existing authorities, including targeted sanctions and visa restrictions, against individuals and entities responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.

Continue to champion international religious freedom, including in U.S.–China policy.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

# # #


Capito Secures CDS Allocations for Economic Development Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) allocations for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) to support economic development projects throughout West Virginia.

“I am proud of these projects that will strengthen economic development across West Virginia,” Senator Capito said. “Through the Congressionally Directed Spending process, we are delivering targeted investments that help our communities grow and improve the quality of life for those that call West Virginia home. I will continue working to deliver results that benefit West Virginians and strengthen our state’s future.”

Individual allocation details listed below:

$800,000 CDS allocation to the Capital Area Development Corporation of West Virginia and Charleston Area Alliance (Charleston, W.Va.) for renovations to the historic Small Business Incubator and Business Hub, which supports small business development, entrepreneur training, and economic growth in Kanawha County and serves as a catalyst for development in downtown Charleston.

$750,000 CDS allocation to the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (Beckley, W.Va.) to implement a public-private cohort model that expands access to affordable childcare by engaging local employers in a shared subsidy structure, stabilizing an existing childcare facility, and piloting a sustainable framework for rural communities.

$750,000 CDS allocation to the WV Hive Network, Inc. (Beckley, W.Va.) to provide direct technical assistance to entrepreneurs, helping eliminate early-stage barriers through expert support in legal structure, marketing, accounting, website development, and business planning.

$748,000 CDS allocation to West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition, Inc. (Charleston, W.Va.) to strengthen West Virginia’s agricultural economy by supporting small businesses and local producers in bringing value-added products to market.

$602,000 CDS allocation to the Nicholas County Commission (Summersville, W.Va.) to make upgrades to the Nicholas County Courthouse and Indian Rocks Park.

$535,000 CDS allocation to Center for Applied Research and Technology, Inc. (Bluefield, W.Va.) to utilize repurposed energy assets, such as WV coal, carbonaceous coal waste (CCW), and coal combustion residuals (CCR) to develop high-value building materials and components.

$500,000 CDS allocation to the Hatfield McCoy Convention and Visitors Bureau (Logan, W.Va.) to promote small business formation and growth in the City of Logan and the Town of Man in cooperation with the Hatfield McCoy Convention & Visitors Bureau.

$500,000 CDS allocation to the Putnam County Development Authority (Hurricane, W.Va.) to provide ready-to-use industrial space in the Putman County, West Virginia area.

$500,000 CDS allocation to West Virginia Women Work, Inc. (Morgantown, W.Va.) to help small businesses in West Virginia recruit and train skilled employees to bolster capacity and long-term economic growth.

$445,000 CDS allocation to Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (Martinsburg, W.Va.) for training equipment to expand Blue Ridge's aviation maintenance and manufacturing training program.

$371,000 CDS allocation to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (Charleston, W.Va.) to foster economic growth by promoting West Virginia’s agribusinesses through marketing support, resources, workshops, and events to prepare producers for domestic and international markets.

$370,000 CDS allocation to Community Care of West Virginia (Rock Cave, W.Va.) to create a connectivity hub between critical local stakeholders to address the gaps in foster care for West Virginia's children.

$250,000 CDS allocation to Community Impact Network, Inc. (Wheeling, W.Va.) to expand staffing, classroom resources, and training as it scales to full capacity to meet the critical need for affordable early childhood education in Wheeling.

# # #


Cassidy Announces Over $1.5 Million for Louisiana Ports and Airport Improvements from His Infrastructure Bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced Louisiana will receive $1,528,378.00 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation through his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The funding will support improvements to ports and airports across the state to help move goods and support local economies.

“Stronger ports and airports mean a stronger Louisiana economy,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This funding helps move more goods, support local jobs, and keep our state competitive for decades to come.”

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Senators Collins, Shaheen, Warnock, Kennedy Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Cap Cost of Insulin at $35 Per Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) are today introducing bipartisan legislation to lower the cost of insulin, removing barriers to care and making it more accessible for millions more Americans. The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act would cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Americans on private and employer insurance and create a pilot program to provide insulin at the same cost to Americans without insurance.

“Tens of millions of Americans rely on insulin as part of their daily treatment, and for many, it is literally a matter of life and death. I have heard far too many stories from people in Maine and across the country who have been forced to ration their insulin because of the cost, and that is simply unacceptable,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would cap the cost of insulin at $35 and address underlying issues in the insulin market so that more patients—both insured and uninsured—can afford the medication they need.”

“The cost of insulin is getting more expensive year after year, forcing one in five Americans with diabetes to ration their insulin. That is completely unacceptable, and it’s particularly galling at a time when costs for Americans—including health care prices—are going up across the board,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our legislation maps out a comprehensive, commonsense plan that will finally lower the cost of insulin for diabetic patients, regardless of their insurance status. In the greatest country in the world, patients shouldn’t have to go bankrupt for medication they need to live.”

“I’m proud this bipartisan coalition of Senators agrees insulin should be affordable for everyone, including uninsured Americans,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Our legislation finally caps the cost of insulin for everyone and provides a pathway of funding to community health centers so they can continue reaching uninsured people who need affordable insulin. No one should be forced to put their health or life in danger because they can’t afford insulin or don’t know where to get it.”

“When moms and dads lie down to sleep at night and can’t, they’re usually worried about the cost of living—and for a whole lot of families in Louisiana, one of the biggest worries is how they’re going to pay for life-saving medication like insulin. I’ve been working for years on legislation capping insulin prices and making it easier for folks living with diabetes to get the essential medication they need without going broke. Our bipartisan INSULIN Act would save Americans money, help them avoid life-threatening diabetes complications, and make our health care system look a bit more like we designed it on purpose,” said Senator Kennedy.

The INSULIN Act would directly address the root problems in the insulin market causing high list prices, while simultaneously extending vital patient protections, fostering competition, and broadening access to needed insulin products.

Specifically, the INSULIN Act:

Limits out-of-pocket costs for patients with diabetes by ensuring that group and individual market health plans must waive any deductible and limit cost-sharing to no more than $35 or 25% of list price per month for at least one insulin of each type and dosage form;

Mandates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) pass through 100% of insulin rebates and other discounts received from manufacturers to plan sponsors, reducing incentives in the insulin market that encourage high list prices, thereby helping patients through reduced premiums;

Promotes generic and biosimilar competition to lower costs to patients;

Creates a pilot grant program for 10 states to implement programs to identify people with diabetes who are uninsured and provide them with insulin at $35 per month; and

Establishes an insulin resource center and hotline for people with diabetes who are uninsured to connect them with resources about diabetes and programs to help them secure insulin.

As co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, Senators Collins and Shaheen have consistently pressed to hold insulin manufacturers, insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers accountable for the skyrocketing cost of life-saving insulin, and otherwise support patients and families facing diabetes. Last week, at a Member Day meeting of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Senators Collins and Shaheen previewed the INSULIN Act and underscored the need to pass the legislation through both chambers of Congress.

The bipartisan INSULIN Act is supported by the American Diabetes Association, Breakthrough T1D, and the Endocrine Society.

“The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has fought to make insulin affordable across the U.S. Unfortunately, insulin remains unaffordable for almost 30 percent of individuals according to an October 2025 national survey by the American Diabetes Association. Too many individuals have to choose between paying for life-saving insulin or paying for other life necessities like rent or food. The American Diabetes Association is proud to endorse the bipartisan INSULIN Act,” said Lisa Murdock, the American Diabetes Association’s Chief Advocacy Officer. “This legislation takes critical steps to improve access to and limit out-of-pocket costs for people with private insurance who rely on insulin to live. The ADA strongly urges Congress to act without delay to pass the INSULIN Act.”

“Breakthrough T1D commends Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Susan Collins, Raphael Warnock, and John Kennedy for introducing this bipartisan bill to lower the cost of insulin for the millions of Americans who rely on it to live,” said Lynn Starr, Breakthrough T1D’s Chief Global Advocacy Officer. “The INSULIN Act builds on the meaningful progress made in recent years to reduce insulin prices and includes several long-standing priorities for which Breakthrough T1D has advocated. We are proud to support this legislation and urge the Senate to move swiftly to advance it.”

“Making insulin more affordable for people living with diabetes is a top priority for the members of the Endocrine Society,” said Robert W. Lash, M.D., the Endocrine Society’s Chief Medical Officer. “We applaud the leadership of Senators Shaheen, Collins, Warnock and Kennedy to address this ongoing crisis. For years, our members have been alarmed about the lack of access to affordable insulin. We are pleased to endorse this historic legislation, which will make insulin more affordable for people enrolled in private insurance and people who are uninsured and need access to this lifesaving medication. This legislation will change and save lives. We stand ready to work with you to pass this critically important legislation.”

The complete text of the INSULIN Act can be read here.

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Cornyn, Cassidy Introduce Bill to Defund & Abolish the César E. Chávez National Monument

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) today introduced the No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act, which would abolish and defund the César E. Chávez National Monument in California following reports of abhorrent abuse by Chávez towards multiple females, including minors, some of which occurred at that very site. The legislation would redirect funds saved from abolishing the monument towards Sen. Cornyn’s Debbie Smith Act, which provides state and local law enforcement agencies with funding to complete forensic analyses of crime scenes and untested rape kits.

“Not one dime of taxpayer money should be spent on a monument that glorifies a monster like César Chávez, especially when that monument stands quite literally at the scene of some of his alleged crimes,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would defund and abolish the monument in California that was at one time his home and office, and ensure we are not memorializing a perpetrator of abuse but instead supporting survivors by rerouting monetary savings towards fighting the rape kit backlog.”

“Monuments are made to celebrate those who should be honored,” said Sen. Cassidy. “The dishonor of Cesar Chavez’s abuse of women mandates that this monument be taken down.”

Background:

The César E. Chávez National Monument was established in California by Presidential Proclamation 8884, which was issued by President Barack Obama on October 8, 2012. The monument is the site of César Chávez’s former home and the former headquarters for the labor movement that created the United Farm Workers of America. Sen. Cornyn’s legislation seeks to defund this historic site and end its designation as a national monument following reports that the once-esteemed Civil Rights leader allegedly sexually abused young girls and raped Dolores Huerta, his United Farm Workers Union co-founder. The legislation would also redirect savings from abolishing the monument to the Debbie Smith Act, which supports victims of abuse and combats the backlog of untested rape kits and DNA evidence from unsolved crimes. Sen. Cornyn has consistently led this legislation for more than two decades, including its most recent reauthorization in 2024.

This legislation builds on Governor Abbott’s commitment to ending Texas’ observation of March 31 as César Chávez Day and his plans to work with the Texas legislature to remove the holiday from state law in the next legislative session. Several Texas cities and groups have announced plans to cancel any events or memorials honoring César Chávez, and City Councilmembers in San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas have also announced their intent to rename any streets dedicated to him.

The No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act would:


Cornyn on Democrats’ Shameful DHS Shutdown, Trump’s Deployment of ICE to Airports

WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed Democrats’ continued obstruction and refusal to fund and re-open the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), leaving the American people to suffer and President Trump with no choice but to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports across the country to help streamline security screening processes. Sen. Cornyn has voted five times to reopen DHS, which includes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

“It is beyond shameful that Senate Democrats have continued to keep the Department of Homeland Security unfunded and shutdown.”

“We know that essential operations of ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement – like the Homeland Security Investigations, which is an important office that conducts operations to prevent human trafficking – are hamstrung, and we know TSA workers are continuing to work without pay.”

“President Trump, left with no other alternative, has asked ICE to assist and help out at the airports, and some Democrats are getting downright hysterical.”

“Some have even [been] saying that the traveling American public is in danger when these professional law enforcement officers are working to help assist people to move through these security checkpoints at our airports.”

“The truth is, as we’ve seen in videos and social media, ICE agents are handing out water bottles to travelers and helping keep the flow of traffic organized and hopefully expedited.”

“I’m hopeful that we are moving closer to a deal which will help these good men and women that work at the Department of Homeland Security [receive] a paycheck. President Trump knows how to make a deal, and I’m confident that under his leadership we’ll find a way, unless the Democrats continue to move the goalpost, which the Minority Leader continues to try to do.”

“These antics are not a way to govern.”


PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with Port San Antonio Leaders

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met with Port San Antonio leaders, including President & CEO Jim Perschbach, EVP Juan Antonio Flores, Board Chair Margaret Wilson-Anaglia, and staff from Councilwoman Misty Spears’ office, to discuss supporting the missions of our service members in San Antonio, creating new jobs, and furthering aerospace innovation. See photo attached and below.


Cortez Masto Calls Out Trump’s Harmful Energy Policies that are Raising Americans’ Costs

***VIDEO AVAILABLE***

FTP for TV stations of her remarks is available here.

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) called out the Trump Administration’s harmful energy policies that are killing American jobs, jacking up energy prices, and hurting our growing solar and wind industries. Cortez Masto took to the Senate floor to force a vote on her Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) recently submitted rule that makes it harder for wind and solar energy companies to claim vital tax credits.

As a result of the Republican tax law, in order to claim the clean electricity production and investment tax credits, solar and wind companies must begin construction on projects by July 4, 2026. Previous guidance for what was considered ‘beginning of construction’ included physical work on or off the job site as well as any project in which 5 percent of the total cost had already been spent. Proposed less than a year before the July 4 deadline, the new IRS rule largely revokes the longstanding 5 percent standard. This Trump administration rule makes it much harder for projects to benefit from critical solar and wind tax credits, raising the cost of building long-needed clean energy infrastructure. Unfortunately, Republicans blocked the Senator’s resolution to reverse this misguided rule.

Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery:

Mr. President, I don’t have to stand here and tell Nevadans that energy prices are high. They see it every day at the gas pump and on their electricity bill statements.

In the United States, the average residential energy bill in 2025 was about 30% higher than it was in 2021.

But the Trump administration seems insistent on making it even harder for working families to afford their energy bills.

Overseas, President Trump’s war with Iran is causing oil prices to shoot through the roof, resulting in high costs for Americans at the gas pump. Add to that, this administration’s war on clean energy.

Specifically, President Trump’s IRS recently submitted a rule that makes it harder for wind and solar energy companies to claim vital tax credits.

This rule makes it more expensive to build America’s clean energy infrastructure, makes it harder for the United States to meet the increased demand for electricity, and will lead to higher energy prices for working families.

But the Senate has the power to do something about this misguided tax policy. That’s why today, I’m leading an effort with my colleagues to pass my Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn this damaging rule.

The clean energy industry is producing some of the fastest growing and most cost-effective new power across the world. We need industries like solar and wind that help us meet growing power demand, create jobs, and bring down energy costs for American families.

It’s obvious we should be embracing clean energy and investing in it.

But instead, we’ve seen President Trump do just the opposite by passing regulations that are killing clean energy jobs in America.

We know the President’s tax law, the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill”, gives tax breaks to President Trump’s wealthiest friends at the expense of hardworking Americans.

It’s blowing up our national debt by $4 trillion, cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid, and kicking an estimated 16 million Americans off their health care.

What people may not know is that it also decreased incentives for solar and wind companies that are helping keep energy prices down for hardworking American families.

While the Inflation Reduction Act, that my Democratic colleagues and I passed, expanded tax credits for clean energy projects, President Trump gutted them. That alone is estimated to increase electricity prices by up to 18%.

The President’s tax bill shortened the timeline for when solar and wind companies can claim these clean energy tax credits, in order to phase them out.

If these companies want to claim the clean energy production and clean electricity investment tax credits, they must begin construction on their projects by July 4, 2026. If they begin construction after that date, they don’t get a tax credit under this law.

Here’s where the problem gets worse. To pass his tax bill out of the House of Representatives, Trump made a deal with the far-right Republicans in the House to use the IRS to further diminish solar and wind projects.

Last August, the IRS proposed a new rule to completely change an established standard for what it means to “begin construction” on a solar or wind project.

Since 2013, the standard for what was considered “beginning of construction” included one of the following: 1) continuous physical work on or off the job site, or 2) a project in which 5% of the total cost has been spent, referred to as the “5% safe harbor”.

The new IRS rule revokes the longstanding 5% safe harbor.

This rule is just for solar and wind, not for any other energy projects. That’s going to have a huge impact in Nevada.

Solar and wind projects were already scrambling to stay eligible for tax credits they rely on after Trump’s tax bill passed.

With the new IRS rule, companies will have to delay the project or halt it entirely.

This harmful new rule will potentially eliminate thousands of jobs, it’ll drive up electricity bills for American families, and it’ll risk power for millions of homes in Nevada and across the country.

It’s clear this action is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to strangle the types of energy the President personally dislikes.

Demand for electricity is higher than it’s ever been, and we need these solar and wind projects to help us meet it.

The IRS must revoke this rule, and if they won’t, Congress must do it for them. I hope my colleagues will join me in passing this resolution.

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Cortez Masto Introduces Douglas County Lands Bill

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act, legislation to improve land management in the Carson Valley, increase local economic and outdoor recreation opportunities, protect public lands, and preserve important Tribal cultural sites within Douglas County.

In 2017, nearly 20,000 acres in Douglas County were flooded, impacting roads, private property, and homes. Northern Nevada continues to experience severe weather events that highlight Douglas County’s need for the authority to mitigate flooding, especially on nearby federal lands that directly impact residential areas. This legislation would also convey federal land to Douglas County so it can manage these flood-prone areas.

“I worked closely with my partners in Douglas County and the Washoe Tribe to create a bill that would prioritize responsible land management, economic development, outdoor recreation, and preservation of cultural sites,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Together, we can pass a bill that will give Douglas County the tools it needs to keep its residents safe and conserve its iconic scenery.”

The Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act would:

Convey 7,777 acres of BLM and U.S. Forest Service-owned parcels to Douglas County for land management and 67 acres to the State of Nevada to be managed within the Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park;

Allow the BLM to dispose up to 31.5 acres for the purposes of economic development, with proceeds eligible for projects to protect the floodplain around the Carson River;

Direct the U.S. Forest Service to convey 1,084 acres to Douglas County for a recreation area and 724 acres at Dance Hill to the Washoe Tribe for cultural and ceremonial purposes;

Convey 2,669 acres of important cultural sites to the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada; and

Promote the management of sage grouse habitat by designating nearly 12,400 acres of new Burbank Canyons Wilderness area.

“Floodwater does not respect jurisdictional boundaries, and flooding events do not wait for jurisdictional clarity,” said Mark Gardner, Chairman of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. “The Douglas County Lands Bill gives the County the ability to implement locally-driven, federally-facilitated solutions that protect lives, improve watershed health, and reduce disaster recovery and mitigation costs in Douglas County. We are grateful for the efforts of Senator Cortez Masto, who is working in partnership with the Board of County Commissioners to serve the interests of Douglas County residents with the introduction and highly anticipated passage of this bill.”

“We are grateful to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto for her efforts on the Douglas County Bill,” said Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness. “It is wonderful to have final resolution for the small but beautiful Burbank Canyons Wilderness. In Nevada, these public lands bills, where stakeholders come together to resolve issues, are the appropriate way to find common sense solutions both for conservation and for our communities.”

“From the perspective of the East Fork Fire Protection District, the Douglas County Lands Bill is an important step toward strengthening our community’s resilience to stormwater and flood events,” said Alan Ernst, East Fork Fire Protection District Fire Chief. “By enabling the County to proactively manage stormwater generated on federal lands, this legislation will help the County protect the residents of neighborhoods like Johnson Lane and Ruthenstroth that have experienced significant impacts from multiple flash flooding events over the last decade and will ultimately save the District and the County hundreds of thousands of dollars in flood response over time. This is a practical investment in preparedness, safety, and long-term community resilience.”

“On behalf of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, I express our support for the Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act. This bill provides for the transfer of approximately 2,500 acres of federal land to be held in trust for the benefit of the Washoe Tribe. The lands designated to the Washoe Tribe come from many years of work and negotiations from prior Washoe Elders and Tribal Council members, most of whom have passed on. This meaningful action supports tribal sovereignty, restores Washoe connections to the lands, and will provide new opportunities. We appreciate the collaborative effort that led to this legislation and look forward to continued partnership to ensure these lands are managed with Washoe cultural values and benefits the entire region,” said Chairman Serrell Smokey of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

The full text of the legislation can be found here, and a map of the proposal can be found here.

Senator Cortez Masto has worked across the board to strengthen and diversify Nevada’s economy, protect Nevada’s public lands, and plan for responsible growth. She helped pass vital legislation to create thousands of new jobs in Las Vegas at the Apex Industrial Park. Cortez Masto has secured funding for large-scale water recycling projects in Nevada, including $99 million for a project that will serve thousands of households in Southern Nevada and California. She has fought against misguided proposals to allow the indiscriminate sale of public lands to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Cortez Masto has consistently pushed for the passage of her Southern Nevada Lands bill and successfully expanded the Navy’s Fallon Range Training Complex.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353

March 25, 2026

Cotton Introduces Bill to Ban Illegal Migrants from American Banking System

Washington, DC — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to ban illegal migrants from the American banking system. The Know Your American Customer Act requires U.S. financial institutions to verify the legal status of new customers to ensure American banks are not helping illegal migrants break our nation’s laws. In 2025, Senator Cotton wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking that he review current rules for illegal immigrant access to the U.S. banking system.

“Access to the American banking system is a privilege that should only be reserved for those who respect our laws and sovereignty. My bill will prevent illegal aliens from using our financial institutions to help them stay in our country,” said Senator Cotton.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The Know Your American Customer Act would:

Require FDIC or NCUA-insured banks and credit unions to verify that anyone opening a new account is a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or is here legally on a valid visa. Customers show a driver's license, passport, or other approved ID at account opening, the same way they already do today, with one added check for legal status.

Grandfather all existing clients into the system and allow them to maintain their existing accounts or create new accounts at banks or credit unions, provided they already have a relationship with the institution in question.

Make it a federal crime for anyone in the country illegally to open or maintain an account at a covered institution. That legal liability falls entirely on the individual, provided that covered institutions make a good faith effort to verify documentation and comply with the new requirements.

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ICYMI: Curtis, Schiff Join Squawk Box to Discuss Prediction Markets Legislation, DHS Funding

Excerpts from the interview are below. The full video can be viewed here.

On states’ rights to control gambling:

Senator Curtis: Let me say, we’re not banning sports betting. We’re just simply putting it in the right places to be regulated, and one of those places is in the state—and, as you alluded to, Utah does not allow gambling in any form. So, one of the things that’s really important to me is that we don’t take this control away from Utah.

. . .

I would say revenue is a piece of it, but a much larger piece is who should be regulating this; where that authority lies. I think we both feel strongly that is in the states.

. . .

Going back to prediction markets and whether or not it’s gambling—if it acts like gambling, if it looks like gambling; it is gambling. That’s been very clear where that belongs.

. . .

You have to ask, “What could go wrong?” Imagine betting on a high school athlete getting hurt the day of a high school game, right? That’s why this needs the appropriate regulation.

On bipartisan support for the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act:

Senator Curtis: I actually think both of us feel that there’s a lot of momentum on both sides of the aisle on this. I think you’re going to see further legislation not only from us, but from our colleagues on this to get our arms around [the issue] and make sure it’s done properly.

On Department of Homeland Security shutdown:

Senator Curtis: I’ve been here for eight years. I’ve seen more shutdowns than I can count. Not a single one of them has produced the results it was intended to produce. Shutdowns are bad. We punish the wrong people and who we should be punishing are members of Congress. Let’s take our pay away until we get this done. A lot of the objectives that are tried to reach through shutdowns, whether it’s a Republican shutdown or a Democrat shutdown, should be reached through the legislative process, not by hostage. So, I’m not a fan of shutdowns. I’ve never seen one that’s been productive or has accomplished its goal. We need to move on and deal with this through the legislative process.

On immigration and ICE enforcement:

Senator Curtis: This is the false narrative that you can’t have rule of law and compassion. I think that’s what our country is built on. I know those are Utah values, and I really believe we can enforce the law. We can have rule of law, but we can also do it with compassion. I think that’s where American people are a little bit uncomfortable with some of the things that they’ve seen.

. . .

We have to have rule of law in this country. But compassion with that rule in law is not a mutually exclusive idea.

Joe Kernen (CNBC): Okay, the open border for the four years of the Biden Administration, was that compassion?


Daines Urges Colleagues to Confirm Katie Lane as Next Federal Judge for the District of Montana in Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing urging his colleagues to support Katie Lane’s nomination to serve as the next Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. Read his remarks as prepared for delivery below.

Watch Daines’ remarks HERE.

Daines’ remarks as prepared for delivery:

Thank you, Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Durbin,

It is my honor to introduce Katie Lane and support her nomination to serve as the next Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.

Katie’s distinguished record of public service and experience in the federal and state judiciary makes her well-qualified to serve on the federal bench.

Katie grew up in Bozeman, attended K through 12 in Bozeman and graduated from my alma mater Bozeman High School.

She spent her summers during those formative years skiing, camping, and hiking in Montana, which instilled in her a deep love of the Treasure State and the values that make Montana the Last Best Place.

After graduating magna cum laude from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, Katie clerked at both the trial and appellate levels of the federal judiciary for two federal judges.

She returned to Montana to serve as Deputy Solicitor General under Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen from 2021 to 2023. During her time in Helena, Katie worked zealously to defend Montana’s laws and challenge federal overreach.

She litigated cases in both state and federal courts on issues important to Montanans, including defending the Second Amendment, multiple land use and grazing rights cases, as well as defending Montana’s coal industry.

Now, Katie serves as Senior Counsel at the Republican National Committee, managing litigation in state and federal courts nationwide.

As Montanans know well, federal judges play a critical role in our daily lives.

For many years, we have dealt with an activist judiciary that repeatedly rules against Montana’s interests.

That’s why it’s essential we pick principled jurists who are committed to upholding the Constitution and making decisions based on the rule of law, not personal politics or viewpoints.

With this in mind, Senator Sheehy and I are confident that Katie is the right choice to serve Montana as our next federal judge.

Katie’s values are rooted in Montana and grounded in the Constitution.

I am confident she will be fair-minded, principled, and bring honor, decency, and integrity to the bench.

I cannot recommend Katie highly enough and urge the committee to approve her nomination, and for the Senate to confirm her without delay.

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Duckworth Joins Murphy, Senate Democrats in Forcing War Powers Vote as Trump’s War in Iran Spirals Out of Control

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — In the fourth week of Donald Trump’s war with Iran, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in forcing a vote on Murphy’s War Powers Resolution to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in and against Iran. Senate Republicans blocked the measure.

Since Trump started this war nearly 30 days ago, 13 U.S. service members have been killed, gas prices have spiked all across the country, inflation is rising and the region has become a tinderbox. Last week, in a desperate move to alleviate the energy crisis Trump created, the administration announced it was lifting sanctions on Iranian oil, essentially cutting a $14 billion check to the very country the U.S. is currently fighting. As Trump’s deeply unpopular war spirals out of control, his Republican allies in Congress refuse to hold public hearings with members of the administration. The senators’ move to force debate on the floor today is part of their continued efforts to demand public hearings and stop Trump’s unauthorized war of choice.

“Right now, our duty is to demand accountability,” said Duckworth. “It’s to get answers. It’s to make sure that our servicemembers’ mission is justified, feasible and worthy of the sacrifices we are asking them to make. That’s why we’re here today: to ensure that our nation never again get ourselves into an ego-driven forever war, like the last time a president rashly sent our sons and daughters into an unjustified war in the Middle East. We’re here to make sure that we never again get ourselves into an ego-driven forever war. We’re here to stop a man who was never brave enough to serve in uniform himself from using our heroes as cannon fodder.”

“The consequences of this war are stunning in their scope: higher prices for American businesses and American families, a potential global recession, the wasting of billions of dollars of hard-earned taxpayer dollars, and new conflicts in the region that didn't exist before the war began,” said Murphy. “If our Republican colleagues will not do their duty, if they are going to engage in an effort to hide the consequences of the war, if they are going to refuse to ask questions of our incompetent national security leaders at the White House, who have waged this war without planning for the foreseeable consequences, then we will force a debate and a vote on this floor. This war is not going to make more sense the longer it goes.”

“We are at war, a war the American people never asked for and Congress is doing nothing,” said Booker. “No oversight, no hearings, no checks and balances as this administration spends freely and recklessly. Already, $25 billion has been poured into Donald Trump’s war with zero accountability. And while that money disappears overseas, Americans are feeling the consequences here at home: cuts to health care for millions, rising energy costs, billions stripped from veterans’ services, and deep cuts to school meals and support for children with special needs. That same $25 billion could insure more than 3 million Americans, provide free school lunches to 30 million children, or offer housing assistance to millions of families. Congress swore an oath to defend the Constitution — not to rubber-stamp this president’s decisions. We must do our job.”

“It’s outrageous that my Republican colleagues continue to allow President Trump to bypass Congress on so many issues, but especially one as important and solemn as whether to send our nation’s sons and daughters into war,” said Kaine. “A majority of Americans across the country oppose war with Iran and want President Trump to focus on lowering costs at home. I’m going to keep pressuring my colleagues to have the basic courage to hold hearings on this crisis, reassert our constitutional responsibilities, and end President Trump’s war of choice against Iran.”

”We are on the cusp of American boots on the ground. And as goalposts have continued to shift, I ask my Senate colleagues: will that still be your red line? Or will the President be allowed to put American Special Forces in harm’s way for a war that Congress has not authorized. And a war whose true purpose is kept hidden from most Americans. It is time to put a stop to this war, before its costs rise further still. It is time for the Congress of the United States to do its job,” said Schiff.

“Donald Trump is raising costs on Americans at the same moment he’s spending billions on a war that Wisconsin families did not choose,” said Senator Baldwin. “What Donald Trump spent in three weeks is what it would have cost to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits for a year. We are demanding public hearings so Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Rubio can answer, under oath, why we are using taxpayer dollars on this illegal war, instead of bringing down the cost of health care, housing, groceries, and childcare for the families I represent.”

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Duckworth on Senate Floor Once Again Demands Senate GOP End Trump’s Illegal and Unjustified War in Iran

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC), Foreign Relations (SFRC) and Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC) Committees—last night once again came to the Senate floor to implore her Republican colleagues to consider the oaths they took and vote in support of U.S. Senator Chris Murphy’s (D-CT) War Powers Resolution that would withdraw American military forces from Trump’s illegal, unnecessary war with Iran that has already killed 13 servicemembers and put thousands of Americans in danger overseas while sending costs through the roof here at home. Duckworth’s full remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.

Key Quotes:

“Every day since he started this embarrassment of a war, Donald Trump has saluted our troops with one hand and given them the finger with the other…When asked to justify his actions, he’s tried to hide his ignorance and cowardice behind their courage. He’s tried to act as if questioning why we’re at war is the same as questioning the skill and bravery of our troops themselves. It isn’t. Not at all…They will always, always execute their orders to the maximum capability of their professionalism. And they’re proud to do it. The problem is the man who is giving those orders. The problem is that the Commander-in-Chief not only has no idea what the end-state looks like in this war of choice, but probably doesn’t even know what the term ‘end-state’ means at all.”

“Right now, our duty is to demand accountability. It’s to get answers. It’s to make sure that [our servicemembers’] mission is justified, feasible and worthy of the sacrifices we are asking them to make. That’s why I’m here today: to ensure that we never again get ourselves into an ego-driven forever war, like the last time a president rashly sent our sons and daughters into an unjustified war in the Middle East. I’m here to make sure that we never again get ourselves into an ego-driven forever war. I’m here to stop a man who was never brave enough to serve in uniform himself from using our heroes as cannon fodder.”

“Trump won’t bear the costs of this war that he started. His children won’t serve in harm’s way. He’s been lining his pockets with corrupt billions since the moment he took office—so he won’t worry about how far the cost of gas has been driven up by his actions. No, the American people are the ones who suffer in wars of choice, so it is the American people—through their elected representatives—who should decide when war is worth that cost. And as those elected representatives, it is our obligation to consider the interests of our constituents over those of one man—and to stop our nation from teetering further into this nightmare.”

Senator Duckworth’s full remarks as prepared can be found below:

Every day since he started this embarrassment of a war, Donald Trump has saluted our troops with one hand and given them the finger with the other.

Because despite the lies he tells on Truth Social, he is actively making the choice to use our heroes as cannon fodder. From the moment this conflict began, Trump has tried to shroud his incompetence behind their valor.

When asked to justify his actions, he’s tried to hide his ignorance and cowardice behind their courage. He’s tried to act as if questioning why we’re at war is the same as questioning the skill and bravery of our troops themselves.

It isn’t. Not at all.

I know that our military will always do the best job possible. When given a mission, our servicemembers don't say, “Why me?” They don’t ask, “But will I be safe?” And they sure as hell don’t run to their podiatrist crying “bone spurs.”

No.

Instead, they pack their rucksacks. They lace up their boots. They show up. And they do what’s asked of them. Time after time, tour after tour.

They will always, always execute their orders to the maximum capability of their professionalism. And they’re proud to do it.

The problem is the man who is giving those orders.

The problem is that the Commander-in-Chief not only has no idea what the end-state looks like in his war of choice, but probably doesn’t even know what the term “end-state” means at all.

Look, I ran for Congress so that when the drums of war started beating, I’d be in a position to make sure that our elected officials fully considered the true costs of war—not just in dollars and cents, but in human lives as well.

So as those drums echo louder than they have in years, I’m here today because despite what he thinks, Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally force us into war. He may have never read the Constitution, but I have.

So for the third time since this war began, let me direct his attention to Article I, which makes clear that the president does not have the power to declare war. Only Congress does.

We are the ones tasked with deciding when and how Americans are sent into combat. We are the ones charged with that most solemn duty.

Yet Trump is acting as if Article I simply doesn’t exist…as if obeying the Constitution is optional…as if our founding document is just a yellowing, crumbling piece of paper he can crumple up at will.

Refusing to allow him to get away with this should not—must not—be a partisan issue.

No matter if you’re struggling to pay rent or your name is plastered in fake gold on a building on Fifth Avenue, no one can ignore the Constitution. No matter if you’re a Mar-a-Lago worker pulling double-shifts or the President of the United States, no one is above the law.

And no matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, you should know that our military men and women will always do their jobs. So it’s beholden on us as legislators to do our jobs before more of our warriors lose their lives in service of theirs.

Right now, our duty is to demand accountability. It’s to get answers. It’s to make sure that their mission is justified, feasible and worthy of the sacrifices we are asking them to make.

That’s why I’m here today: to ensure that we never again get ourselves into an ego-driven forever war, like the last time a president rashly sent our sons and daughters into an unjustified war in the Middle East.

I’m here to make sure that we never again get ourselves into an ego-driven forever war. I’m here to stop a man who was never brave enough to serve in uniform himself from using our heroes as cannon fodder.

Look, I’m no dove. I know there are certain solemn, urgent times when our military must be called upon to defend our nation. There are certain moments when the threat in question is significant and imminent…

When military force is the most effective tool at hand—when using it is necessary to protect Americans. And when using military force will not create more threats than it eliminates.

Trump has shown no evidence that this was one of those times. Yet he’s had almost a month to do so. But if the Administration actually does believe that this war is justified, then they need to come to Congress and tell us why.

We’re not hard to find. The Capitol is the building with the big dome on top, about a 20-minute walk from the White House. They need to walk through our doors and actually do their jobs.

They need to explain their case…respecting the American people enough to tell them why they’re being forced to take on the costs of this conflict. They need to prove that they’ve thought this through …that they can tell us what their plan is to stop this war…

They need to show us that they have even a “concept of a plan” of how to get to an end-state in Iran that would make us safer, not more threatened. Then, when their case has been made…when Congress’ debate is done…we must vote.

It’s our job. It’s our responsibility. It’s our burden.

Look, centuries ago, our nation’s founders feared that one day, America would be burdened with a chief executive who’d be too fond of conflict and chaos, and that that leader’s affinity for bloodshed would have unthinkable consequences for the nation at large.

That is why they placed the power to declare war in the hands of Congress, not a single person.

Trump won’t bear the costs of this war that he started. His children won’t serve in harm’s way. He’s been lining his pockets with corrupt billions since the moment he took office—so he won’t worry about how far the cost of gas has been driven up by his actions.

No, the American people are the ones who suffer in wars of choice, so it is the American people—through their elected representatives—who should decide when war is worth that cost.

And as those elected representatives, it is our obligation to consider the interests of our constituents over those of one man—and to stop our nation from teetering further into this nightmare. That’s what we’re doing here, this evening, as we vote on Senator Murphy’s War Powers Resolution.

Americans deserve better than unanswered questions, unjustified conflict and unnecessary tragedy. Our men and women in uniform sure as hell do as well. So until we get some answers, I will keep coming to this floor…keep voting withdraw our sons and daughters from hostilities with Iran…keep working to prevent the boots on the ground that the president so casually, so callously, threatens in front of the press…and I’m going to keep demanding that the Administration end this deadly vanity project if they cannot justify the cost we’ve already been forced to bear, both in dollars and cents and daughters and sons.

It’s the least we can do for those willing to sacrifice the most for our nation.

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As Utility Costs Rise, Durbin Introduces New Legislation To Bring Transparency To Energy & Water Consumption By Data Centers

Data centers are not required by federal law to report the quantity or source of the energy and water they consume

WASHINGTON – As utility costs spike for Americans, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act to require data centers to disclose their energy and water usage. These data centers consume significant amounts of water and electricity, and often, the costs of this increased demand are passed down to American consumers. As growth in artificial intelligence (AI) spurs accelerated data center development, many data center operators have purchased water and energy rights decades into the future to ensure sustained operations.

The International Energy Agency estimates that a 100-megawatt data center may consume about the same amount of water as 2,600 households, and many proposed data centers are more than 10 times the size of a 100-megawatt center. There are approximately 4,000 active data centers in the U.S. with roughly 3,000 more planned or under construction. Rural counties, where water and power must be carefully managed, are increasingly targeted for data center development.

Community residents, local stakeholders, and state and local leaders should have access to accurate information about the energy and water needs of a data center to determine whether it is right for their community. Data center developers owe it to the communities they are building in to provide a fully transparent accounting of their energy and water needs.

“If you’ve noticed a sharp increase in your utility bills lately, it may be from the growth of energy-hungry data centers. Illinoisans deserve an honest analysis of the electricity and water needs of these data centers as they crop up around the country,” Durbin said. “The Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act would ensure that transparency exists by requiring data centers to disclose their energy and water usage.”

Specifically, the Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act would:

Require data center operators and developers to report the quantity of energy and water consumed at their facilities to the states where they operate;

Require prospective data centers to report their estimated energy and water consumption over the first five years of operation;

Make information gathered regarding data center energy and water consumption available to local governments considering data center construction in their communities;

Direct states to aggregate and anonymize data center energy and water consumption reports and submit them to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA);

Direct EPA, DOE, and USDA to jointly issue regional reports regarding the energy and water consumption of data centers; and

Allow EPA, DOE, and USDA to fine noncompliant data centers.

Durbin wrote about the rising costs of water and electric bills in the Chicago Tribune earlier this month.

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Durbin Applauds Historic Court Ruling Against Meta

Durbin: “This ought to be a call to action for this committee to respond on the Senate floor and actually legislate for a change”

WASHINGTON – In a statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this morning, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded a New Mexico jury finding that Meta misled users about the safety of its platforms and enabled the sexual exploitation of young users.

Key quotes:

“There isn’t a parent or grandparent alive who isn't fearful of what the hell these kids are looking at all day long and what is happening to them as a result.”

“We have had lengthy hearings in this committee with the victims and families of victims of these practices. Promises by the industry to clean up their act and protect children [have led to] failure after failure.”

“This decision, which involved a civil verdict of almost 400 million dollars against Meta, Facebook, and Instagram, is indication that Section 230 is not impregnable. That section has protected these social media vendors for a decade or more. It should be brought down.”

“I bring this to the attention of the committee because this is one of the few issues where we universally agree on a bipartisan basis that we should act. We have voted for that over and over again and failed to bring it to the floor. This ought to be a call to action for this committee to respond on the Senate floor and actually legislate for a change, instead of what we do day after day.”

“Legislate for the benefit of these children and grandchildren. I commend Raul Torres, the Attorney General of New Mexico, for his leadership on this issue. He points the way, and I think we ought to follow through.”

Video of Durbin’s statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s statement is available here for TV Stations.

Durbin has used his role on the Senate Judiciary Committee to prioritize child safety online through hearings, legislation, and oversight efforts.

On January 31, 2024, while Durbin was serving as Chair, the Committee held a hearing featuring testimony from the CEOs of social media companies Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter). This hearing highlighted the ongoing risk to children and the immediate need for Congress to act on the bipartisan bills reported by the Committee.

Durbin and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) joined forces to reintroduce the bipartisan STOP CSAM Act, which would combat online child sexual abuse material. The bill passed the Judiciary Committee unanimously and awaits action on the Senate floor.

In addition, Durbin’s bipartisan Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (DEFIANCE Act) passed the Senate in July 2024 and again in January 2026. The legislation would hold accountable those responsible for the proliferation of nonconsensual, sexually-explicit “deepfake” images and videos. The bill awaits consideration by the House.

Durbin also introduced the Sunset Section 230 Act with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), which would repeal Section 230 two years after the date of enactment so that those harmed online can bring legal action against companies. The bill awaits consideration by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

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Durbin Calls On Senate To Honor Sheridan Gorman’s Memory By Working To Fix Our Broken Immigration System

Durbin: “Sadly, even our best efforts on a bipartisan basis won’t bring back the victims, like Sheridan. But we can honor their memory by absolutely working together in a good faith effort to prevent tragedies like this in the future. I’m ready to try again.”

WASHINGTON – During his opening statement in today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed his condolences for the loss of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old student at Loyola University Chicago who was tragically murdered last week. Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national who arrived in the United States in 2023, has been charged with Sheridan’s murder.

During his remarks, Durbin called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to have a serious bipartisan conversation about how to prevent future tragedies like this one. He also noted that the 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill, which Durbin coauthored as part of the “Gang of Eight” and passed the Senate on a strong bipartisan vote of 68-32, would have helped address many of the issues plaguing our broken immigration system today. But the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives refused to even consider it. Durbin’s opening remarks closed by calling on his colleagues to honor Sheridan’s memory by working together in a bipartisan manner to fix our broken immigration system to prevent future tragedies.

Key Quotes:

“Last week, a few miles from my place in Chicago, Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old student at Loyola University [Chicago], was tragically murdered. My heart goes out to her family, friends, and faculty and students at Loyola who are literally grieving this loss of Sheridan today.”

“Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national who arrived in the United States in 2023, has been charged with her murder. Medina was arrested in 2023 for shoplifting. He did not appear for his hearing, so a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. This information was available to the federal government—but Medina was not detained by ICE during the Biden Administration or the Trump Administration.”

“This Committee is the right place to have a serious bipartisan conversation about how to prevent further tragedies like this… Our broken immigration system is in desperate need of bipartisan reform. We need order at the border… we should never knowingly allow a dangerous person to come into this country. If someone is in this country seeking citizenship or legal status and commits a serious crime, they should be deported immediately.”

“President Trump campaigned on the promise that he would go after the worst of the worst—the rapists, murderers… The reality is that neither Democratic or Republican Administrations have delivered on this promise. And President Trump’s reckless mass deportation campaign has not made us safer.”

“Congress needs to step up and do our job, fix our broken immigration system. Some of the speeches you’ve already heard in this room were given by individuals who had a chance to vote for bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform and voted no.”

“For years, I worked on a bipartisan basis… to put together a comprehensive plan… What did it do, this bipartisan plan? It secured our border so that no dangerous individuals could enter our country. It required strict vetting and tracking of all legal immigrants when they entered. It required all undocumented immigrants to register with the government and pass a background check. Those who posed any threat would be subject to deportation, others would pay a fine and taxes, go to the back of line behind legal immigrants, and work towards citizenship over time. That bill passed this United States Senate with over 60 votes. Unfortunately, the Republican House of Representatives refused to even consider it. We need to try again.”

“Sadly, even our best efforts on a bipartisan basis won’t bring back the victims, like Sheridan. But we can honor their memory by absolutely working together in a good faith effort to prevent tragedies like this in the future. I’m ready to try again.”

Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

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Durbin Presses MAGA Nominee To Lifetime Position On The Court Of International Trade About Inflammatory Social Media Posts Spreading Conspiracy Theories About January 6 Insurrection

Durbin questioned if Kara Westercamp has the temperament to serve given her hateful and inflammatory social media posts against Senate Republicans and others

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Kara Westercamp, nominated to a lifetime appointment on the Court of International Trade (CIT) at a Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. Durbin questioned Ms. Westercamp about her inflammatory social media posts where she repeatedly referred to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as “Cocaine Mitch.” She also retweeted a post which accused him of “embody[ing] everything that’s wrong with politics,” and once wrote that Senator Graham is “true to NO ONE, but [his] own self-preservation.”

“Would you like to apologize to those Senators and others that you’ve referred to in your social media today?” Durbin asked.

In response to Durbin’s question, Ms. Westercamp apologized.

Durbin then asked Ms. Westercamp about her social media posts that elevated conspiracy theories regarding the January 6, 2021, insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.

“You said law enforcement was complicit in the violence and you appeared to agree with a tweet that said that the attack was ‘orchestrated by Members of the Senate and Members of the Capitol police’… You downplayed the violence of that day—including assaults on law enforcement—by retweeting a post [stating] ‘we’re all supposed to be sending Thoughts & Prayers to traumatized Members of Congress whose workday was interrupted for a couple hours.’ Ms. Westercamp, are you willing to denounce here and now the violence perpetrated on January 6 in this Capitol building?” Durbin asked.

Ms. Westercamp responded that she “condemns all violence,” and stated that using social media to retweet such controversial topics is not “proper.” Despite Ms. Westercamp’s claims that she condemns the violence on January 6th, she offered no apology to the Capitol police officers who defended the Capitol that day.

“Will you apologize to the law enforcement officers for spreading the conspiracy theory that they were somehow complicit in the violence of January 6?” Durbin asked.

Ms. Westercamp responded only that she regrets retweeting those inflammatory posts.

Given her controversial social media posts, Durbin questioned whether she has the temperament for a lifetime appointment.

Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

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Durbin Questions Durham County Sheriff About The Impact Of Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign On Local Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Clarence Birkhead, Sheriff of Durham County, North Carolina, about the Trump Administration’s mass deportation campaign and its impact on local law enforcement. Durbin first asked Sheriff Birkhead about how immigration enforcement can erode trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

“The Chiefs of Police in Minneapolis and Chicago report that because of ICE activities, they’ve got two obvious problems. One, responding to reports of ICE activity and number two, the fact that the community, which is being beset by these ICE agents, is living in fear and doesn’t reach out as they once did to law enforcement officials,” Durbin said. “As a former Chief of Police in at least several jurisdictions, does that explanation ring true to you?”

Sheriff Birkhead responded, “It does, sir, unfortunately it does.”

Durbin continued, “That would seem to be the dilemma we face here. As we turn up the law enforcement in communities and don’t target specifically bad individuals, we run the risk of scaring and frightening ordinary families and businesses. As one person said to me, ‘they’re going after the gardeners, not the gangsters.’ Do you see that as a problem?”

Sheriff Birkhead agreed that he sees that as a problem. He and Durbin also agreed that federal immigration agents should be targeting those individuals who have committed violent crimes.

Durbin then noted that despite claims that Trump’s Department of Homeland Security would only go after the “worst of the worst,” less than 14 percent of the nearly 400,000 immigrants arrested by federal agents during the President’s first year back in office were individuals with charges or convictions of violent criminal offenses.

“Six out of seven of those who have been detained and some deported by the ICE operation had no criminal record of any substance. Does that surprise you?” Durbin asked.

Sheriff Birkhead replied that it disappoints him. He said, “Again, I think we need to be going after those individuals who commit crimes in our cities and towns all across this country and not terrorizing communities and certainly not going after those who are trying to make a living and are not violating our laws.”

Durbin concluded, “I introduced the Dream Act over 20 years ago. I still think it’s basic justice for people brought to this country as children, toddlers, and infants because of the decision of their parents, and have a chance to become part of our country. They get up every day in that classroom with the rest of the kids and swear allegiance to a flag which doesn’t allow them to have a chance. I think there are ways that we can make America safer and humane and it doesn’t involve ICE agents shooting American citizens on the streets of Minneapolis or Chicago. I think we can do this in a thoughtful and humane way if we temper the rhetoric and get down to basics.”

Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

Sheriff Clarence Birkhead has been the elected Sheriff of Durham County, North Carolina since 2018. He is also an adjunct instructor in the Criminal Justice Department at Durham Technical Community College. In 2014, the Durham City Council appointed Birkhead to serve as a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee. That same year, the Durham County Board of Commissioners appointed Birkhead to serve as a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee.

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Durbin Statement On California Jury Ruling Against Meta, YouTube In Landmark Trial

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after a jury in Los Angeles, California found Meta and YouTube negligent in a benchmark social media addiction trial:

“These back-to-back decisions in New Mexico and California show that Big Tech has become Big Tobacco. Now, it’s time for Congress to sunset Section 230 once and for all.”

Durbin has used his role on the Senate Judiciary Committee to prioritize child safety online through hearings, legislation, and oversight efforts.

On January 31, 2024, while Durbin was serving as Chair, the Committee held a hearing featuring testimony from the CEOs of social media companies Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter). This hearing highlighted the ongoing risk to children and the immediate need for Congress to act on the bipartisan bills reported by the Committee.

Durbin and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) joined forces to reintroduce the bipartisan STOP CSAM Act, which would combat online child sexual abuse material. The bill passed the Judiciary Committee unanimously and awaits action on the Senate floor.

In addition, Durbin’s bipartisan Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (DEFIANCE Act) passed the Senate in July 2024 and again in January 2026. The legislation would hold accountable those responsible for the proliferation of nonconsensual, sexually-explicit “deepfake” images and videos. The bill awaits consideration by the House.

Durbin also introduced the Sunset Section 230 Act with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), which would repeal Section 230 two years after the date of enactment so that those harmed online can bring legal action against companies. The bill awaits consideration by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

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