SCHUMER ANNOUNCES BINGHAMTON BATTERY HUB TO RECEIVE UP TO $45 MILLION FEDERAL AWARD AS IT ADVANCES TO NEXT PHASE OF “INNOVATION ENGINES” PROGRAM – CREATED BY SCHUMER’S CHIPS & SCIENCE LAW

Schumer Helped Create The NSF Engines Contest – Through His CHIPS & Science Law – To Bolster Innovation And Supply Chains And Grow Local Economies

Senator Has Long History Of Supporting Binghamton Battery Hub; Schumer Delivered Prestigious Federal Tech Hub Designation And Helped Binghamton University-Led Battery Research Hub Win Inaugural NSF Engines Competition

Schumer: Binghamton Secures $45 Million Award And Advances As National Leader In Battery Technology

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today announced that the Binghamton University-led New Energy New York (NENY) has been selected as an awardee for the second phase of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Regional Innovation Engines Program, which was created by his CHIPS & Science Law. This award builds on Schumer’s previous announcement and will bring up to $45 million over the next 3 years for Binghamton’s groundbreaking battery hub.

“Big news for Binghamton’s growing battery belt! $45 million was just unlocked for the Binghamton University-led New Energy New York project to continue to expand groundbreaking battery manufacturing and innovation in Upstate New York,” said Senator Chuck Schumer. “This is exactly what my CHIPS & Science Law was built to do: invest in cutting-edge technology, bring back good-paying jobs, keep us ahead of China, and ensure the batteries that power our future are made right here in Upstate NY. I’ve fought to secure tens of millions to grow the battery industry in Upstate NY, helping the region to be designated a prestigious federal Tech Hubs and be named one of the NSF’s Innovation Engines. Today’s investment keeps that momentum going and will help ensure the next breakthroughs in battery technology are made here in the U.S.A. The Southern Tier is charging ahead, and we’re just getting started.”

Binghamton University President Anne D’Alleva said, “I thank Senator Schumer for his fierce advocacy for Binghamton over the years. That support for the University and his creation of the CHIPS and Science Act paved the way for this initiative as well as many of the other avenues of support that our broader battery efforts have enjoyed. This renewal acknowledges the Engine’s remarkable progress and early impact, the collective strength of its extensive partner ecosystem, and the bold vision guiding its future. The NSF Energy Storage Engine is already successfully advancing an ambitious plan to establish upstate New York as America’s Battery Tech Capital, building on our region’s strong legacy of innovation and manufacturing excellence. We thank the National Science Foundation for its support and unwavering commitment to this program.”

Schumer has long fought to secure federal investment to boost Binghamton and Upstate NY’s battery manufacturing and R&D. In 2022, Schumer delivered $63.7 million in federal funding for Binghamton University’s New Energy New York proposal to make the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes a national hub for battery research and manufacturing.

In 2023, Schumer secured the prestigious Tech Hubs designation, a program Schumer also created in the CHIPS & Science Law, for Binghamton University’s New Energy New York (NENY) project, accelerating the Southern Tier’s emergence as America’s next battery tech hub. In 2024, Schumer delivered a $500,000 Consortium Accelerator Award through the federal Tech Hubs program to boost the region’s ongoing work. Schumer designed the Tech Hubs program to strengthen a region’s capacity to commercialize, manufacture, and grow technology in key focus areas like batteries.

In 2024, Schumer additionally announced the Binghamton University-led Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine won the esteemed U.S. National Science Foundation’s Regional “Innovation Engines” Competition (NSF Engines), which was created by his CHIPS & Science Law, bringing $15 million in federal funding immediately, with the possibility of up to $160 million total over the entirety of the program. Today’s announcement is the next phase of funding from the NSF Engines program to further spark growth in the NENY project.

Now, thanks to his efforts, Binghamton is spurring innovation and bringing the manufacturing of batteries back to America, all while supporting the economic resurgence of the Southern Tier. In less than two years, the Binghamton energy storage hub, which includes the engine, has supported 15 industry-academia teams, funded more than 15 high-tech battery startups gaining over 30 customers, and helped companies access infrastructure, capital, and technology resources. For example, BAE Systems in Endicott will launch a new $65 million product line, creating 130+ new jobs. The Raymond Corporation/Toyota Material Handling has invested $15 million to establish a new Energy Solutions Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Kirkwood, creating up to 45 new jobs. CMP Advanced Mechanical Solutions will invest $8.8 million to expand its battery and storage component and assembly operations in Binghamton, creating up to 62 new jobs. In addition, new workforce development investments are building a pipeline of workers for good-paying jobs in the energy storage space. In the past year alone, companies have received more than $20 million in additional funding and won national recognition, including the Battery Manufacturer of the Year award.

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Shaheen Calls on Trump Administration to Release Energy Assistance Funding Amid Surging Energy Costs

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined a bipartisan group of 39 of her Senate colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to take action and provide energy assistance to those in need. The bipartisan letter, which urges U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to immediately release the approximately $400 million in remaining Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding that Congress delivered in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, was led by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

The Senators wrote, in part: “We urge you to immediately release the remaining roughly $400 million of FY26 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under PL 119-75. As the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association, households are expected to spend 11% more on winter heating costs this winter compared to last year. With low-income families and seniors feeling additional strains on their household budgets, a timely release of LIHEAP funding is even more critical to ensure families do not need to choose between paying their energy bills and other essentials, like food or medicine.”

They concluded: “Any delay in the release of appropriated funds would set back states’ efforts to cover outstanding bills relating to unexpected delivered fuels emergencies, to weatherize low-income homes, and to plan for summer cooling programs. Our states are ready to deploy these funds to help vulnerable households as soon as they receive them from HHS.”

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.

LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay utility bills, address energy crises and lower costs by improving home energy efficiency through weatherization. Over the last year, nearly six million households nationwide received LIHEAP assistance to help them avoid utility shut-offs or having to make impossible tradeoffs such as delaying medical care, skipping meals or turning to high-cost payday loans that lead to a cycle of unending debt.

At a time when the cost of living is a top concern, Shaheen has led the charge in Washington to protect federal programs that help Granite Staters afford their energy bills and make energy efficiency updates that save money. Last fall, Shaheen joined efforts to ensure the Administration released the majority of FY 2026 LIHEAP funding, which more than 57,000 Granite Staters rely on to help pay their home heating bills – providing critical assistance to families during New Hampshire winters. Shaheen has also previously condemned efforts by the Trump Administration to eliminate staff responsible for administering the LIHEAP program.

Shaheen was a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act and a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that made landmark investments in energy efficiency. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen helped secure $3.5 billion in additional funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program, including $18 million for New Hampshire. Shaheen has long championed the Weatherization Assistance Program to lower energy costs for low-income families in New Hampshire, as well as the State Energy Program, which assists states with the development of energy efficiency renewable projects. In December of last year, the New Hampshire delegation called on the Department of Energy to immediately release the remaining $9 million in funding for weatherization from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In addition, Shaheen led the delegation in opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to terminate a $43 million grant for New Hampshire to support community solar and other solar projects that would reduce residents’ utility bills by 20% or more.

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Shaheen Statement on Vote Against DHS Secretary Nominee Markwayne Mullin

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on her vote against President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK):

“Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, I believe we need a sensible immigration policy that includes a secure border, an orderly immigration system for those who wish to move here legally and contribute to our society and targeted enforcement against people who pose a threat to our communities. And, like most Americans, I have been horrified by the reckless overreach of ICE and CBP that has resulted in American citizens killed, detained and fearful of the chaos in their communities.

“Unfortunately, I do not have confidence that Senator Mullin has the willingness or vision to undertake urgently-needed reforms at the Department of Homeland Security to rebuild trust following Secretary Noem’s disastrous tenure. I am also concerned that Senator Mullin lacks relevant experience for the role and believe he has not displayed the temperament needed to oversee some of our country’s most important law enforcement functions.

“For that reason, I voted against Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security.”

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Statement from U.S. Senator Tina Smith After Voting Against Markwayne Mullin for Secretary of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after voting against confirming U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to lead the Department of Homeland Security after the firing of Former Secretary Kristi Noem.

“Tonight I voted against the confirmation of Senator Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security because I do not have confidence that Senator Mullin will change the Trump Administration’s reckless, dangerous and illegal immigration enforcement activity,” said Senator Smith. “Minnesota has paid a heavy price from Operation Metro Surge, and it will take us a long time to recover. Two of our citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, have been killed. Families have been broken apart, with parents and children still held in Texas detainment centers. There has been a massive economic cost; businesses have gone under and thousands have lost their wages. Donald Trump can install a new face at DHS, but nothing will change if Stephen Miller and Donald Trump are intent on continuing these dangerous ICE tactics.”


Senate Unanimously Passes Sullivan-Whitehouse Bill to Combat Illegal Foreign Seafood Harvest

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) celebrated the Senate’s recent unanimous passage of their Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act. The FISH Act would combat foreign illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by blacklisting offending vessels from U.S. ports and waters, bolstering the U.S. Coast Guard’s enforcement capabilities and partnerships, and advancing international and bilateral negotiations to achieve enforceable agreements and treaties. The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Kennedy (R-La.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.). House companion legislation has been introduced by Representatives Nick Begich (R-Alaska), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), and Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas).

“The geopolitics of the North Pacific and the Arctic are changing dramatically, with Russia and China increasing their aggression and ruinous activities near Alaska’s waters,” said Sen. Sullivan. “One particularly insidious threat is Chinese and Russian trawl fleets that ignore basic seafood harvest rules and best practices, and ravage fish stocks without regard for any other users or future generations. These fleets, which literally utilize slave labor in many cases, are a cancer on fisheries throughout the world and in Alaska and undercut our fishermen, who fish sustainably. I want to thank my Senate colleagues for advancing our FISH Act and helping us fight back against IUU fishing on behalf of our fishermen and coastal communities.”

“I was glad to work with Senator Sullivan, my longtime partner on oceans issues, to pass our bipartisan FISH Act through the Senate. By cracking down on illegal pirate fishing, we are leveling the playing field for hardworking Rhode Island fishermen who play by the rules,” said Sen. Whitehouse, co-founder of the Senate Oceans Caucus.

“Alaska seafood is sold in over 100 countries. Therefore, our fishermen and seafood processors must compete in the challenging global market,” said Jeremy Woodrow, executive director of Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. “U.S. and Alaska seafood is regulated, harvested, and processed under the highest standards. In fact, in many cases, the U.S. sets the global standard. Unfortunately, numerous fisheries across the globe continue to operate illegally and unregulated. When these unchecked seafood products enter the global marketplace, they undercut the value of responsibly produced seafood. This impacts not only the marketplace but drives down the economic returns to Alaska’s fishing communities. Thank you, Senator Sullivan, for addressing this inequity and fighting for fairness on behalf of Alaska’s seafood industry.”

“Thank you, Senator Sullivan, for working to level the playing field for U.S. fishermen,” said Gabriel Prout, 3rd generation commercial fisherman, FV Silver Spray, and president of Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers. “While my family and I are out fishing Alaska crab, we can rest assured that you are working hard to address this problem that has cost Alaska fishermen over a billion dollars over the years.”

“I want to thank Senator Sullivan and Senator Whitehouse for working together to protect Alaska fishermen,” said Matt Alward, president of United Fishermen of Alaska. “Alaska’s seafood sector is facing very serious challenges. Illegal, unreported and unregulated foreign fishing exacerbates these challenges by undercutting lawful and sustainably caught American seafood. I’m grateful that Senator Sullivan is taking the issue seriously and working to crack down on IUU fishing through the FISH Act.”

“Silver Bay Seafoods commends Senator Dan Sullivan for his strong support for Alaska’s fishing industry. Alaska fisheries are highly regulated and sustainably managed,” said Cora Campbell, president and CEO of Silver Bay Seafoods. “This bill increases accountability for countries that do not have the same standards, which will help level the playing field and improve competitiveness of American sourced seafood.”

“Illegal fishing, and the human rights abuses associated with it, puts our oceans and fishers at risk. The United States must be a leader in holding bad actors accountable and leveling the playing field for U.S. fishers,” said Oceana Illegal Fishing & Transparency Campaign Director Dr. Max Valentine. “The FISH Act would help lift the veil on the identities of those involved in these illicit activities. Oceana thanks Sen. Sullivan and Sen. Whitehouse for their dedicated work to fight illegal fishing and protect American fishers and consumers.”

“NFI believes strongly in supporting concrete solutions to stopping and combatting Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing,” said Lisa Wallenda Picard, president & CEO of National Fisheries Institute (NFI). “Where it occurs, IUU fishing harms effective fishery management measures and undercuts harvesters that fish legally and responsibly. NFI applauds Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse for the FISH Act and for understanding that there needs to be a process that targets bad actors where they are, instead of imposing regulatory burdens and costs on American seafood companies. We view the FISH Act as the definitive statute on IUU and look forward to its enactment.”

“Illegal fishing practices are uniquely destructive to global fisheries and the billions of people that depend on them,” said Molly Masterton, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “By shedding a light on bad actors who benefit from skirting the law, the FISH Act takes important steps to better enforce against global illegal fishing and associated labor abuses in the seafood sector. Paired with tools to root out illegally harvested seafood from the U.S. market, it will also help level the playing field for U.S. fishing communities who play by the rules.”

Key provisions of the FISH Act:

Direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a blacklist of foreign vessels and owners that have engaged in IUU fishing.

Direct the administration to address IUU fishing in any relevant international agreement.

Direct the U.S. Coast Guard to increase its work with partner countries and increase at-sea inspection of foreign vessels suspected of IUU fishing.

Direct the administration to report to Congress on how new technologies can aid in the fight against IUU fishing, the complexities of the seafood trade relationship between Russia and China, and the economic costs of IUU fishing to the U.S.

In April 2025, President Trump signed an executive order, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” directing the Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force to assess seafood competitiveness issues and collectively develop a comprehensive seafood trade strategy. Among these strategies, the USTR will examine the relevant trade practices of major seafood-producing nations, including IUU fishing and the use of forced labor in the seafood supply chain.

In April 2025, the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee unanimously passed the FISH Act from committee.

On June 12, 2025, Sen. Sullivan, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, chaired a hearing on the threat of foreign IUU fishing to America’s and Alaska’s fishermen and coastal communities.

In October 2025, The FISH Act passed the Senate as part of the Senate version of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, but was not included in the final bill that was signed into law.

Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse have worked together extensively on ocean sustainability issues, most notably on the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation ever to address the global marine debris crisis, which became law in 2020.

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Thune: Democrats Double Down on Radical Claims, Reject Commonsense Policies

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, we’ve been debating the SAVE America Act for seven days now.

“And what’s been made clear in this debate is how out of touch Democrats are with most Americans.

“Polls show that the commonsense policies in the SAVE America Act have support from the American people.

“But Democrats have repeatedly demonstrated that they don’t share the American people’s interest in securing our elections.

“And despite Americans’ concerns, Democrats continue to embrace transgender ideology that allows men to compete in women’s sports and children – children – to undergo irreversible, life-altering gender transition procedures.

“Mr. President, at the start of this debate, the Democrat leader had the audacity to say that the SAVE America Act is a ‘radical bill.’

“Radical – that’s what he said.

“Mr. President, what’s radical, I would say, about ensuring that only American citizens are voting in American elections?

“What’s radical about asking voters for a photo ID?

“And Mr. President, I don’t know what world Democrats are living in where keeping biological men out of women’s sports is a radical proposition.

“What’s radical is men lining up alongside women at the starting line and winning medals and trophies meant for women.

“What’s radical is telling female athletes that they have to share a locker room with a biological male.

“That’s radical, Mr. President.

“And perhaps what’s most radical about Democrats’ position is that they seem to have no problem with gender transition procedures for minors.

“Democrats are more than happy to let transgender ideology reign even when there’s little to no evidence to support gender transition procedures for minors – and increasing amounts of scientific evidence about the harms of these procedures for children.

“But Democrats ignore the science.

“They ignore the fact that multiple European nations that have looked at the science have reined in gender transition procedures for minors.

“They ignore the stories of Americans who underwent irreversible procedures as minors and have long lived to regret it.

“So, Mr. President, the SAVE America Act is not radical.

“Radically commonsense, maybe.

“So commonsense, in fact, that only congressional Democrats could oppose it.”


Thune: Senate to Confirm Markwayne Mullin as Department of Homeland Security Secretary

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, the other nominee that we’ll be confirming this week is somebody we all know well: our colleague Markwayne Mullin.

“President Trump has nominated Markwayne to be the secretary of homeland security.

“It’s a tough assignment – made all the more challenging right now by Democrats’ having shut down DHS for five weeks.

“But we all know that Markwayne isn’t afraid of a challenge.

“Far from it.

“As a young man, Markwayne left college to take over his family plumbing business.

“He grew that small enterprise into a large and successful business in the state of Oklahoma.

“Just a few weeks after being elected to the House, when the Oklahoma delegation was touring storm damage, Markwayne cut away from the other congressmen and climbed through debris to try to shut off water shooting through the wreckage.

“See a problem, take action to solve it – that’s Markwayne.

“It’s a big part of what drew him to public service.

“Mr. President, I think all of us are familiar with Markwayne Mullin’s seemingly unlimited supply of energy.

“His workout class in the House gym is the stuff of legend.

“In the halls, you can find him bouncing a little pink ball to get out some of his energy.

“And that energy doesn’t come from coffee – Markwayne does it all on decaf.

“No, Mr. President, Markwayne’s energy is all him.

“But his strength, he’ll tell you, isn’t his own.

“Markwayne’s strength comes from his wife – and childhood sweetheart – Christie and his rock-solid faith in God – both of which have made him an outstanding public servant and, most importantly, a loving father to their six children.

“Mr. President, heading up the Department of Homeland Security is a serious job.

“And I am proud to cast a vote for Markwayne Mullin, knowing with confidence that he is up to the work and to the task.

“I know how much I’ve depended on Markwayne as a colleague and friend during his three years here in the United States Senate.

“And I’m profoundly sorry to lose him.

“But the Senate’s loss is the Department of Homeland Security’s gain.

“I want to thank Markwayne for his service here in the Senate and wish him the very best as he continues to serve our country at DHS.

“And I hope whoever gets assigned to his security detail is ready to keep up.”


Thune: Senate to Confirm Colin McDonald to Lead Fraud Enforcement Division

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, as debate continues on the SAVE America Act, Republicans are also working to advance two nominees for important posts in the Trump administration.

“One of those is Colin McDonald, whom President Trump has nominated to lead the new national fraud enforcement division at the Department of Justice.

“Mr. President, fraud is a serious issue.

“Last year, it became clear that widespread fraud had taken root in the state of Minnesota.

“Prosecutors are working through cases and indictments related to at least $9 billion in fraud impacting 14 federally funded programs in that state alone.

“And Minnesota is just the tip of the iceberg.

“The Government Accountability Office estimates that as much as $500 billion in federal funds is lost each year to fraud.

“Needless to say, Mr. McDonald has his work cut out for him.

“And he’s well-suited to the challenge.

“Colin McDonald is a career federal prosecutor, which means for his entire career, he has had only one client – and that’s the American people.

“Until coming to Washington to work at the Department of Justice last year, Mr. McDonald spent 10 years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of California.

“In that position, he spent a considerable amount of time trying cases in federal court – including cases dealing with fraud, money laundering, and public corruption.

“And his work has received notable praise.

“During one case in the Ninth [Circuit], the judge actually interrupted proceedings to praise Mr. McDonald.

“None other than Judge Harry Pregerson – a notably progressive judge – said of Mr. McDonald, and I quote, ‘I want to commend you on your candor, your openness, and your honesty with the Court.’

“Mr. President, Colin McDonald is well-suited to provide justice for American taxpayers in this role.

“And I look forward to confirming him swiftly so he can get to work.”


Warner, Husted, Britt Lead Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children on Social Media

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Jon Husted (R-OH), and Katie Britt (R-AL) today introduced a bipartisan bill to empower parents to protect their children on social media platforms by providing them with more tools to know if their children are engaging in dangerous or risky interactions.

Sammy’s Law would require large social media platforms to permit parents to receive safety notifications through FTC-regulated third-party safety providers, giving them the tools to shield their children from harm.

“Parents are struggling to protect their kids from the harmful effects of social media, where children are more exposed than ever to cyberbullying, eating disorders, and other online threats to their wellbeing,” said Sen. Warner. “Sammy’s Law will give parents the choice to be alerted of concerning behaviors on social media, while protecting their personal information. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort so parents have more resources to supervise their children’s social media use.”

“In Ohio and across the country, criminals are using social media to target our children—selling them dangerous drugs and exploiting them through sextortion while trying to bypass parents and other trusted adults,” said Sen. Husted. “Tragically, teenagers Sammy Chapman from California and James Woods from Ohio are two of many young people who’ve fallen victim to these predators. Parents deserve to know what their kids are exposed to online and have the ability to protect them and save lives. Sammy’s Law would put that authority back where it belongs—with families—and gives parents the tools they need to keep their children safe.”

“At just 16 years old, Sammy Chapman had his whole life ahead of him when he was approached by a drug dealer on social media who sold him drugs laced with fentanyl—an event which tragically led to his death,” said Sen. Britt. “Had legislation been in place like Sammy’s Law, which prevents social media companies from blocking third-party safety software for children, Sammy would likely still be with us today. As parents and legislators, it’s our job to protect our children and teens—our most vulnerable—in every way we can. In the age of social media and the challenges that come with it, Sammy’s Law is a critical step towards protecting our children online by ensuring parents have access to the necessary tools to keep their children safe.”

Sammy’s Law was named after 16-year-old Sammy Chapman who lost his life to fentanyl poisoning. He was approached by a drug dealer through social media, who delivered drugs laced with a lethal dose of opioid fentanyl to his home. Sammy was unaware he was ingesting fentanyl and tragically lost his life. Sammy’s Law was introduced to give parents the tools to protect their children and other family members by:

Requiring large social media platforms with either 100 million monthly active users or garner $1 billion in gross revenue per year to make real-time application programming interfaces accessible to Federal Trade Commission (FTC)-registered third-party safety software providers.

Alerting parents when 15 specific instances or phrases arise that indicate eating disorders, suicidal ideation, and sexual harassment.

Alexander Neville Foundation, Becca Schmill Foundation, Buckets Over Bullying, CADCA, Crime Victims United, Crimestoppers of Houston, D.A.R.E. America, Families Against Fentanyl, JED Foundation, National Center on Sexual Exploitation, National Crime Prevention Council, Organization for Social Media Safety, Parent ProTech, Parents Television and Media Council, Protect Young Eyes, Safe House, SafeProject, Social Media Victims Law Center, Stand for the Silent, The Village Mission and VOID all endorse Sammy’s Law.

Reps. Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-FL) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) introduced the companion bill to Sammy’s Law in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“There are sick, evil people who prey on our children from the shadows of social media, selling illicit, even fentanyl-laced, drugs,” said Rep. Carter. Tragically, Sammy Chapman was one of those kids who died at just 16 years old, with his entire life ahead of him. Parents have the right to know when their child is engaging in dangerous online activity, and this bill will equip them with the best possible technology to protect and keep their children safe from bad actors. I thank Senator Husted for his support in this effort.”

“The Senate introduction of Sammy’s Law is a major step toward protecting children on social media,” said Marc Berkman, CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety. “Through our work with families and schools nationwide, we have seen that third-party safety software saves young lives. This legislation will help protect children from severe social media-related harms like cyberbullying, sextortion, and drug trafficking while also strengthening privacy protections. We thank Senators Husted and Warner for their bipartisan leadership in advancing this critical, life-saving bill.”

Sen. Warner has long championed protecting children on social media. He introduced Kids Off Social Media Act, legislation that would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17. Sen. Warner sponsored the Kids Online Safety Act, which requires social media platforms to, by default, enable a range of protections against addictive design and algorithmic recommendations, privacy protections, dedicated channels to report harm, and independent audits by experts and academic researchers to ensure that social media platforms are taking meaningful steps to address risks to kids. He also introduced the Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching (ACCESS) Act, legislation that would encourage market-based competition with major social media platforms by requiring the largest companies make user data portable – and their services interoperable – with other platforms, and to allow users to designate a trusted third-party service to manage their privacy and account settings.

Read the bill text here.

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Warner, Kaine, Scott Celebrate that Power is Flowing from Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) celebrated the announcement that the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project is now generating electricity:

“After years of work, we’re absolutely thrilled that the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, the largest commercial-scale offshore wind project in the United States, is now providing clean, reliable energy to Virginians. We’ve been proud of what we’ve done with Dominion Energy and other partners in the region to secure federal funding for the project, improve local maritime infrastructure, and create good-paying jobs. We look forward to continuing to work together to grow Virginia’s clean energy economy.”

This comes after a federal court recently blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to stop work on the project. CVOW will provide Virginians with greater price stability, fuel savings, and protection against future energy shocks, such as those being created by the Trump Administration’s war in Iran.

Warner, Kaine, and Scott have been strong supporters of the CVOW project and have secured significant federal funding to support the offshore wind industry and make upgrades to maritime infrastructure in Hampton Roads.


ICYMI: Warnock Provision Banning Private Equity in Housing Overwhelmingly Passes Senate

Recently, the Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a vote of 89-10

The bipartisan housing package includes Senator Reverend Warnock’s provision to ban large corporations from mass purchasing single-family homes

Georgia’s housing market is suffocated by private equity, with more than one in four single-family rental homes in metro Atlanta owned by large corporations

The American people believe single-family homes should belong to single families – recent polling shows 73% of Americans want to ban Wall Street from owning single-family homes

The housing package has been endorsed by dozens of affordable housing champions and organizations, including Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens

ICYMI from the Georgia Recorder: U.S. Senate passes bill with Warnock-backed provision limiting the number of investor-owned homes

Washington, D.C. – Recently, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act legislative package by a vote of 89-10. The bill includes Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock’s (D-GA) provision to ban large investors, including private equity, from mass purchasing single-family homes.

More specifically, the Senator’s provision would ban large corporations that own more than 350 single-family homes from purchasing any additional single-family homes. For context, 25% of Atlanta’s single-family rental market is owned by large corporations that own more than 1,000 homes. This legislation would impose a fine of the greater of either $1 million or three times the purchase price on any corporate investor that purchases a single-family home above the cap. Any fines collected under this legislation will be used for new housing construction and financial assistance for first-time homebuyers, building on the Senator’s leadership to support first-time homebuyers.

Bill text for the amendment can be found HERE.

More coverage of Senator Reverend Warnock’s housing provision is below:

Georgia Recorder: The U.S. Senate passed a bill Thursday with a provision backed by U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock that would ban large corporations from owning too many homes.

New York Times: A piece of the measure that was spearheaded by Senator Raphael Warnock, Democrat of Georgia, would bar investors who own 350 or more properties from purchasing a single-family home, though they would not have to sell properties they already own.

The Current: The U.S. Senate passed a bill Thursday with a provision backed by U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock that would ban large corporations from owning too many homes.

Atlanta Civic Circle: Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) is betting Congress is finally ready to take a serious swing at corporate homebuyers’ grip on housing markets nationwide.

Fox5Atlanta: Senator Raphael Warnock is leading a bipartisan effort to ban private equity firms from mass-purchasing single-family homes… The proposed legislation, part of the ROAD to Housing Act, would slap institutional investors with million-dollar fines for “gobbling up” neighborhoods across metro Atlanta.

Capital B: Private companies buying up homes in metro Atlanta have made the American dream of homeownership unattainable for many families, and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock said Black Georgians seeking to buy their first homes have been hurt more than most.


Warnock Works to Save America from the Save America Act

Senator Reverend Warnock is raising alarm bells about the harms of voter suppression legislation, inappropriately named the “Save America Act”

The Senator is taking to the airwaves, the Senate floor, social media platforms, and to the people directly about the consequences of this legislation, which may disenfranchise thousands or millions of voters

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Republicans here in Washington just launched a desperate last ditch effort to stop you from voting. In fact, they have shut down most of the business of the Senate just so they can pass their voter suppression bill.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) is using every tool available to sound the alarm about Washington Republicans’ so-called SAVE America Act, legislation that would disenfranchise millions of Georgians and remove their ability to vote in federal elections. If signed into law, the Republican legislation could result in millions of Americans losing their ability to vote due to burdensome verification requirements. Under the SAVE America Act, voters would need to provide proof of citizenship beyond most drivers licenses — such as a passport or birth certificate — when registering to vote, including when updating their voter registration, and provide photo identification on Election Day or to vote by mail. Student identification cards would no longer be considered an acceptable form of identification under the proposed law.

The Senator has worked to reach voters everywhere: rallying supporters steps away from the Capitol, hitting the airwaves, the Senate floor, and flooding the zone across social media channels. Below are videos and transcripts of a few of the Senator’s latest efforts to defeat the Save America Act.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Senator Warnock is making the case across his social media channels. Already amassing over 330,000 views across Instagram, Facebook, and X. Find the transcript below:

It’s not a drill.

Republicans here in Washington just launched a desperate last ditch effort to stop you from voting. In fact, they have shut down most of the business of the Senate just so they can pass their voter suppression bill.

The question is, why are they doing this? And sadly, the answer is very simple.

They have spent the last year and a half cutting health care, raising the cost on virtually everything through their tariff tax, unleashing wanton violence on our streets under the color of law. They know that they have broken their promise to the American people, and they know that Americans can see through Trump’s lies, things have gotten worse for ordinary working families, and instead of changing their policies, they’re trying to change the outcome of the election.

I often say that a vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and for our children. There is something sacred about your vote, because your vote is your voice, and your voice is your human dignity.

So know this, no matter what tricks they try, no matter what stunts they pull, no matter how long it takes, I will be right here fighting for your voice.

SENATE FLOOR: Senator Warnock took to the Senate floor, with clips of the speech going viral across platforms, including Instagram. Watch the full speech HERE.

Mr. President, I’m so grateful for the remarks of my colleague and friend from the great state of Massachusetts, and for her voice on this very important issue.

I rise today as a child of the Civil Rights movement. As the blessed beneficiary of its bold, moral witness in America. And as a member of only the second generation of our nation to have full and fair access to the right to vote. Some have argued that in a real sense, our country did not really become a democracy until 1965. There were those who stood up with courage and challenged the nation to live up to its ideals.

I stand here today, and I’m able to work in this building on behalf of the people of Georgia. What an honor to represent 11 million people. To carry on this grand experiment called democracy. But it’s never far from my memory that at the time of my birth, Georgia’s two senators were Richard B. Russell and Herman E. Talmich. In many ways, they were effective. They brought great things back to the state of Georgia. But we would not be honest, we would not be telling the full story if we did not remember that they were both arch segregationists and unabashed adversaries of the Civil Rights movement, which sought to expand the electorate. To ensure that this is a house where every American citizen has a voice. Senator Talmadge once said, “We love the Negro in his place, and his place is at the back door.” Well, it is a testament to the greatness of this country that I sit in his seat because there were those who stood up to fight for the highest ideals of our country.

I reference that history because it is relevant in this moment. Nearly 62 years ago to the day, those two Georgia senators, along with other southern senators, began a week-long effort to prevent people who look like me and my parents and my children from fully parenting in our democracy. They were trying to narrow the electorate. And so, I find it interesting and ironic that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who have been leading this effort, in recent days, to reference this very history, which is the cause for my being here in the first place. One of them pointed out the fact that when we enter the debate about the Civil Rights legislation and try to push it into law, that there were those who stood up day after day, week after week, and he dared to enlist that history as if somehow that was some inspiration for what they are trying to do in this moment. Let me be very clear. You are on the other side of that history. You’re on the side of those who are trying to narrow the electorate. And so if you want to pass the SAVE Act, that is your prerogative. If you want to argue that folks have to have a birth certificate or a passport just to be able to register to vote in a country where most Americans do not have a passport. If you want to effectively disenfranchise women, disenfranchise poor people, working-class people, who have to struggle for the right to vote, that is your prerogative. Be very clear, you are not on the side of the movement, you are on the other side of that history. Fight with us if you will, but you ought to live the Civil Rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr.’s name out of your mouth.

This country goes through moments where the electorate expands and when it contracts, and we are in a contraction moment. We’re in a moment where, in the words of the administration itself, it was a cabinet official in the white house herself who said, ” We just want to make sure that, quote, the right people are voting.” The right people. The right people are voting. That was the argument in the 1960’s. And had those who wanted to make sure that the, quote, the right people were voting, had they prevailed, I would not be standing here today. I don’t believe in the right people; I believe in we the people. We the people. We the people. That is not just the first three words of our charter document, it is a creed — we the people. Every American citizen must have access to the franchise, and it must not be treated as a privilege; it is a right. And when you put up unnecessary barriers, you undermine that basic understanding that the franchise is not a privilege, it’s a right.

I often say that a vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and for our children, and our prayers are stronger when we pray together. There is no right or wrong people. There’s only the American people. And they put up the SAVE Act, arguing that they want to make sure that it’s only Americans who are voting, but they have demonstrated, they have provided no evidence that voter fraud is a real thing through voter identification. We know that this will disenfranchise thousands, if not millions of Americans. We have no evidence that this is a problem that actually needs to be solved, and yet they have shut down much of the business of the Senate in order to do this; they are hell-bent on getting this done.

Donald Trump said that this was his number one priority, and so it begs the question, why is this his number one priority? With all the things going on in our country, why is this the main thing that he feels he must get done? Why is he afraid? I’ll tell you why. It’s because he knows that he has broken every promise he has made. He said that he was going to lower your costs. Instead, he’s doubled health care premiums for 22 million Americans. This has cost the average American family over $1,000 a year. Gas prices are spiking and show no sign of coming down any time soon, but this is his number one priority. He said he was going to be the president of peace, but he has attacked [seven] countries and counting. Yet again, we find ourselves entangled in another endless war with no endgame and no idea what victory looks like, all the while we have important problems right here at home.

Donald Trump promised to support our farmers, and instead, he’s raised the cost of fertilizer and hamstrung their exports. And farmers all across Georgia are suffering as a result. And so that’s really what this is all about. Donald Trump is a failed president, and his support is collapsing. I hear it all across Georgia in rural towns bearing the brunt of the president’s immigration policies and farmers dealing with the realities of a trade war. This president claims to be America first, but in the name of protecting United States Citizens his deportation machine has seized over 170 citizens. They’ve shot and killed two American citizens on a quiet street. I went to stand where they lost their lives, and in a real sense, I felt like I was standing on holy ground. Ground made sacred by the blood of patriots who stood up against abusive authority under the color of law, to remind us that at the end of the day, this is our country.

We the people? We the people. We the people. Not the lobbyist. We the people. Not the American oligarchs, we the people. Now they want to prevent even more citizens from voting, from making our voices heard. They want to block our ability to stand up in November and say, “Enough is enough.” And so, the president is panicking. He’s doing what he always does. He’s attacking our elections so that you cannot fire his foot soldiers in Congress. It is pathetic. He looks to me like a scared human being who knows that behind the curtain is a tiny man. We will not be intimidated. Our voices will not be silenced.

The president continues to push the lies that he spread after he lost in 2020 to create the pretext to interfere in the midterm elections, which is why we saw an FBI raid in Fulton County, Georgia. And as I watched that FBI raid, I saw the director of National Intelligence crouched in a corner talking on a mobile phone, and I wondered why she was there. There were bomb threats in polling stations in poor and black neighborhoods during the 2024 election, which was later traced back to Russian interference. I’m still waiting for an answer from her on that. There she was engaged in this effort to count the ballots again in the 2020 election, even after the president’s own justice department found no evidence of meaningful voter fraud. These claims about voter fraud, that’s the fraud. That’s the fraud. And I think Americans are growing tired of it.

You know the wonderful thing about our country, Mr. President, is that we get to have the argument. You and I don’t agree on a whole range of things, but I just want us to be able to have the argument. It gets rambunctious in the American public square to avoid violence, but at the end of the day, everybody gets to go to the polls, and the most powerful words of democracy are that the people have spoken. And so, I will always cast my lot on the side of democracy. I’m hopeless in this regard. I believe in the people. I want to make sure my constituents’ voices are heard, even when they don’t agree with me, even when I don’t get the outcome that I want. When I think about the nature of human power and human pride, and forgive me, but I’m a preacher, after all, human sin. Our desire to make sure that we slant things so that we get the outcome we want. We see it not just in governments; you see it in your own family. The question becomes, how do you avail us all of those things? I think democracy is the best we’ve got. Given who we are as human beings, I will cast my lot with the people’s voice, even when I think they have gotten it wrong; I would rather put my trust there. Rheinold Niebuhr put it best. He said that humankind’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible. Our capacity for injustice makes democracy necessary. At the end of the day, the thing that can fix it, whatever issue we have, I believe, is the people’s voice.

And so, I’m disturbed about what I’m witnessing. I’m disturbed about an attack on Fulton County and in Maricopa County, Arizona. It troubles me when ICE lands in Minneapolis, and then the administration says that we are there to deal with violent criminals, we’re there to deal with this immigration issue, but then when it comes down to it, the administration says, “Do you really want ICE out of your community? Hand over your voter rolls. Come on, man. I don’t care whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican. Come on. You can see what this is about. What do voter rolls have to do with violent criminals? What kind of ransom note is that to send to the leaders of the people of Minneapolis? And so, the big lie continues to live, and we need to kill it once and for all, and the only thing that can do that is the people’s voice.

The president continues to spread conspiracy theories and outright lies. Here is the reality: this bill will disenfranchise thousands, if not millions, of Americans, and that is why they want to pass it so desperately. They are using onerous citizenship verification as a pretext for voter suppression, requiring you to use a birth certificate or a passport to register to vote. Under this bill, a driver’s license wouldn’t be enough to register to vote. They ought to call the bill what it is. They ought to call it the ” driver’s license is not good enough act.” They call it the SAVE Act, but the question is, what are they trying to save? They are not trying to save our elections. They’re trying to save their own power at any cost. At the cost of the voices of ordinary people.

Let’s think about this in practical terms. If you change addresses, even if you move down the street, and you’ve been voting for years, do you want to have to track down your birth certificate, which you lost while you were moving, in order to register to vote? You get married, and you change your name, you’ve got to go find your marriage license and a birth certificate or a passport to prove that you are a citizen? More than half of Georgians, or 5.4 million people, lack a valid passport, and as many as 2.2 million women in Georgia may not have their birth certificate that matches their current legal name. And so, women are disproportionately disenfranchised by this piece of legislation, which again is a solution in search of a problem that does not exist.

Let me be really clear, noncitizens should never vote in our elections. There’s no argument about that. But this legislation will only make it harder for eligible American voters to make their voices heard. That is the actual work that this legislation will do. We know that about 760,000 voting-age Georgians who are United States citizens would have difficulty showing documentation proving their citizenship. We know that. By the way, we have voter ID in Georgia, and I will tell you, for the record, that I think you should have to prove that you are who you say you are before you vote. I support voter ID. We have voter ID laws in my state. You should have to prove that you are who you say you are before you vote. That’s basic, but that is not what this is about. This is about onerous voter ID requirements used as a pretext and as a tool for voter suppression, because there are those in the administration who want to make sure “the right people vote.”

There are currently strong laws on the books that keep noncitizens from voting. They face criminal prosecution and deportation if they vote. So, let’s just think about the risk-reward and cost/benefit analyses. You will be criminally prosecuted if you try to vote and you are not a citizen. And you’re trying to tell me that folks will risk criminal prosecution in droves to change the potential outcome of an election? Are you trying to tell me that folks will try to vote twice? It’s hard enough to get folks to vote once, let alone twice. That’s probably why Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger found only 20 instances of noncitizens registered, out of 8.2 million in Georgia. 8.2 million people registered to vote in Georgia. The Republican Secretary of State found 20 instances of noncitizens who were registered; only 9 had ever attempted to vote, and the majority did so before 2012. This is a solution in search of a problem that does not exist. So, this means that the “Save America Act ” would burden or disenfranchise over 150,000 Georgians for every single instance of a noncitizen voting in the last decade. Does that make sense? You keep one noncitizen from voting; you disenfranchise 150,000 for every one? You’re trying to tell me that that makes the democracy stronger? More representative of our interests? So, if there’s no meaningful voter fraud, and if this law is so disastrous for voting citizens, the question is, why is the president so desperate to sign the SAVE America Act into law? And I mean, he’s desperate. So desperate that he’s threatened his own Republican caucus. Said if y’all don’t do this, we’re not going to do anything.

The president is trying to take away your right to vote so he can hold on to power. The Washington Republicans are trying to help him do it. They’re using the SAVE America Act as a pretext for voter suppression. They know their policies are deeply unpopular with the American people, but instead of working to change their policies, instead of working to get more people access to the health care that they need, they’re taking health care away from 15 million Americans. Instead of working to lower the cost of groceries, they’re imposing reckless tariff taxes that make everything more expensive. Instead of actually working on behalf of the American people, they’re working to change who can vote in the next election. So, we’re going to stand up. I’m certainly going to stand up for all of my constituents. And I mean that.

I want the Georgians who are in red districts to know that I’m fighting for you and your voice, because this administration’s so-called SAVE America Act will disenfranchise many of my constituents in red districts. And that is because increasingly, the people’s voices are being squeezed out of their democracy. It is the folks with a lot of money; it is the corporate interests that they want to hear from. And you are living right now with the consequences of your voice being diminished. I see it. I see it in rural red counties that I visit all the time, where their rural hospital is either closed or is almost closing. Because they cut a trillion dollars out of Medicaid. I see it in the eyes of farmers burdened by these tariffs, and in the damage they’re inflicting on their businesses.

I saw it the other day in Social Circle, Georgia. Where the administration is determined to put a 10,000-bed ICE detention center in a town of 5,000 people. 5,000 people in Social Circle, Georgia. The administration went in, bought a warehouse for $128 million, and the mayor, the city manager, and the leadership of Social Circle, Georgia, learned that there would be a detention center in their town that would triple its size after reading about it in The Washington Post. So, think about that. The mayor, elected to represent his people, the big, bad federal government comes in under the cover of night and ambushes the duly elected local officials because they didn’t want to hear their voice. They were determined to bring this warehouse to their town, whether they liked it or not. So, I’m fighting for those people, even though, it’s by large, a red district. I don’t have a lot of votes in Social Circle, Georgia, but I’m a pastor first, and I told the people of Georgia that I would walk with them even as I work for them.

And so, this is about the voices of ordinary people. This is about saving our democracy. As I close, and nobody believes a Baptist preacher when he says, as I close, but I’m not trying to break any records today. Andrew Young tells me the story that when they passed the Civil Rights Act into law, Dr. King and his group went to see President Johnson. They were feeling good, and they should. They passed the Civil Rights Act into law after the long filibuster that I talked about at the beginning of this speech. They passed the Civil Rights Act into law, and Dr. King and his lieutenants went to see the president. And Dr. King said, “I’m glad we got that civil rights bill into law,” and without skipping a beat, he said, “Now we need a voting rights law.” He wasn’t going to let the president bask too long in that victory. He said, that’s great, but my people can’t vote in the south. I need a voting rights law, and I need it yesterday. The president said to Martin Luther King Jr., ” You’re right, I get it, but I just can’t get it done right now. “They left the meeting, and the staff was feeling dejected. The staff said, “What are we going to do? The president said he doesn’t have the power.” Dr. King just sort of shrugged his shoulders and said, well, if the president doesn’t have the power, I guess we’re going to have to go and find him some.

Think about that. He’s just a Baptist preacher. Wasn’t elected to anything. He was not a United States senator, certainly not the President of the United States, but he said, we’re going to go and find the president some power. Dr. King understood, and those who were around him understood that it’s not about the people in power. It’s about the power that’s in the people. So, the people are standing up in this moment, and I’m standing with them.

No to the so-called “SAVE Act”. Yes, to saving our democracy. I yield the floor.

RALLYING SUPPORTERS: Senator Warnock spoke to dozens of passionate activists outside the Capitol standing alongside Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Democracy Defenders. Watch HERE.

SRW: Are you ready to defeat the SAVE Act!?

So, listen, this is very simple. This is not complicated stuff. This is no math test. I can boil it down to one sentence: Donald Trump knows that he is losing. That’s what this is about, he’s losing. The American people have had it with him and with his policies. He ran as somebody who was going to lower costs, who was going to stay out of endless wars in the Middle East, and he is failing. But instead of changing his policies, he’s trying to change the shape of the electorate.

And this, this really is not a partisan issue. Voting rights are basic. Whatever other issue you’re trying to fight for, the democracy is the house that we live in. It is the context in which we get to fight the good fight. So, whatever we do, we always have to stand up for the democracy.

And so, as I often say, a vote is a kind of prayer, for the world we desire for ourselves and for our children, and our prayers are stronger when we pray together. But these days, I’m praying harder. I’m praying not only with my lips, but with my legs. We have to pray with our hands and with our feet. We have to show up and fight for the world that we want to see.

I’m very worried about America, to be honest. I’m very worried because the SAVE Act is just one more iteration of the chipping away of the people’s voice. That’s what I mean when I say this is bigger than partisan politics. I need my friends who don’t agree with me on most things to see what’s really happening here. Little by little, the voices of the people, regardless of your politics, the voices of the people are getting softer and softer. And the voices of money, people with big money, people who can write big checks, those are getting louder and louder. They are literally squeezing the voices of the people out of their own democracy. And one flashpoint of that was Citizens United, when they said, “A corporation is a person,” and we’ve seen that voice get louder and louder and louder.

Have you ever wondered why it’s hard for us to get stuff done? Think about how divided our country is, and it is, there are divides, there are cultural wars, all of that’s true, but even on the stuff we agree with, even in the areas where there is broad agreement among Americans, we can’t get any movement in that building. So, what does that tell you? That tells you that somebody else, other than the people, increasingly own the democracy. Like, we don’t agree on the gun issue. There are differences, but most Americans believe in background checks. Why can’t we get a vote on it? Why is there no real discussion about it? And so, I need folks to see the SAVE Act for what it is. This is about us moving from a democracy, increasingly, to an oligarchy. This is about big people with big interests, with big money, determining the agenda. And so, we have to defeat the SAVE Act, because they’re not trying to save America. They’re trying to save their own power at any cost. But we’re not having it. I’ll stand up all night if I have to stand up in that building to defeat the SAVE Act.

So, let’s stay in this fight, and whatever you do, don’t give in to those who are trying to weaponize despair, who are trying to convince you that they have already won, because if they can convince you of that, then you stop fighting. But when we fight, we win.

When we fight?!

People: We Win!

SRW: When we fight?!

People: We win!

SRW: And so don’t give in to the forces who are trying to weaponize despair, because we’ve seen tough, tough times before. I’m here with the Reverend Dr. Spencer from Georgia, and in so many ways, the people of our state have been standing up. But you know, I was John Lewis’s pastor, and so I’m not about to give up in the face of Donald Trump. We’ve seen his kind before. We’ve seen these kinds of fights before.

And so, as I close, and nobody believes the Baptist preacher when he says, as I close. When Martin Luther King Jr. enjoyed the victory of having passed the Civil Rights Act into law, he went to see President Johnson in the White House. Andy Young told me this story, and he and his lieutenants went to see the President, and the President was feeling all wonderful, you know, congratulating themselves that they passed the Civil Rights bill into law. Big deal, it was a huge deal that they got it done, and Dr. King recognized that, but he said, “Thank you very much, Mr. President. I need a voting rights bill.” I mean, he didn’t skip a beat. He said,” Yep, we got public accommodations, but I’m not a citizen if I don’t have the right to vote. I need a voting rights law, and I need it now!”

And the President of the United States pushed back. In principle, he said, “I hear your point, but you’ve got to understand how politics works, Dr. King. I can’t get that done right now. I just passed the Civil Rights bill into law. I had to get that through the forces in the south, the Dixiecrats, who didn’t want to see that. I was just able to get that done. I don’t have the power. I don’t have the power to do it right now.” And they left the meeting, and the staff was feeling all demoralized and dejected, and they said to Dr. King, “What are we going to do?” The President of the United States just said to us that he doesn’t have the power to get us our voting rights. Dr. King just sort of shrugged his shoulders and said, “Well, if the President doesn’t have the power, I guess we’re going to have to go and find him some.”

I like that story! Because he was a man who wasn’t elected to anything. He wasn’t a United States Senator. He was just a Baptist preacher on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia, and he said, I’m going to go and get the President of the United States some power. It is a way of saying that it’s not about the people in power. It’s about the power that’s in the people!

I’m trying to tell you that you have more power than you think you have. And if you stand up today, and stand up tomorrow, and stand up next week, and stand up all the way to November, we’re going to put some guardrails on this president! We’re going to shut down this agenda that’s creating terror on the streets all across our cities, with masked men jumping out of unmarked cars, pulling people, and creating terror. We can put guardrails on this President. We keep this momentum and this courage all the way to November and then beyond. Are you ready to stand up? Are you ready to save America from the SAVE Act? Well, let’s stand up, and when we stand up, we win.

God bless all of you. Keep the faith.

CABLE TV: Senator Warnock spoke to Chris Hayes about the dangers of the SAVE America Act, reaching MSNOW’s primetime audience. Watch HERE.

SRW: Look, I take Donald Trump at his word in this case, at least. He is a failed president. He was hired by the American people because he said he would lower their costs. Instead, he has doubled the health care premiums for some 22 million Americans because of his tariffs, which is a tax on everything. Groceries are up. Everything you have to buy is up. He said that he would be the president of peace. He’s attacked seven countries more than any modern American president, and now we’re in an unpopular war. And as a result of that, gas prices are up, and the people can see it. They can see through his lies, he knows he’s going to lose. He’s behaving like a man who knows he’s losing. And the sad thing is that there are those in Congress who are enabling this effort through the so-called SAVE Act. They’re not trying to save America. They’re trying to save their power at the expense of the voices of American citizens. And I won’t stand for it. I’ll do everything I have to do. I’ll stay up all night. I’ve got to go back to the Congress tonight to save America from the SAVE Act, which we intend to do,

Chris Hayes: There’s a bunch of provisions in there that are incredibly onerous. Right? People have to appear in person to register, for example, which obviously, for a lot of people, would be difficult, whether transportation or disability, a very restrictive set of identification. Married women who may have to present a passport, older folks who don’t have their birth certificate who would have to track it down. But there’s all of that. There’s also just like this, to me, this really ugly part, which is basically federalizing DHS control and access to state voter rolls for whoever Trump’s person is to do kind of with what they want. Is that a fair understanding?

SRW: Well, absolutely. And I want people to be clear who are watching this, this is not a voter ID bill. You know? I think that you should have to demonstrate that you are who you say you are in a reasonable way before you vote, but this bill initially wasn’t even about voter ID. This is about purging people from the rolls. This is about what you just laid out, the big bad federal government literally controlling the voter rolls of states. He’s using voter ID and so called fraud, and the evidence doesn’t bear that out at all. He’s using that as a pretext to play around with the midterm elections. He already knows he’s going to lose, and so he’s trying to set up for his response even now, we have to take this seriously. This is a five alarm fire on our democracy. And look, this ought not even be a partisan issue, this idea that the federal government will come in and nationalize elections. We’re all my small government Republicans? Where are my small government conservatives who should be standing up in this moment and saying, clearly, the administration of the elections is a state issue. This is a huge power grab by oligarchs who are busy moving well from the bottom to the top. They know that their policies are hurting working families badly, and now they want to rob those families and those people of the ability to use their voice as American citizens to rebuke them, to hold power accountable.

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Warren, Blumenthal Question Whether NVIDIA’s $20 Billion Groq Deal is Attempt to Avoid Antitrust Laws

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) opened a new investigation into NVIDIA and pressed its CEO, Jensen Huang, on whether the company’s new deal with Groq, an AI chip startup and competitor, is an attempt to skirt antitrust laws.

“We are concerned that this takeover could stifle competition, further entrenching NVIDIA’s dominance in the AI chip industry and ceding our technological leadership to China,” wrote the senators.

In December, NVIDIA and Groq announced a $20 billion deal — NVIDIA’s largest deal to date. As part of this agreement, NVIDIA obtained a license for Groq’s inference chip design technology and hired many of Groq’s key employees, including its CEO and President. NVIDIA already controlled about 90% of the market for graphic processing units (GPUs), the high-end chips used to develop and deploy AI, but Groq specializes in developing inference chips used to deploy AI models that are more energy-efficient than NVIDIA’s chips, posing a competitive threat.

“In practice, NVIDIA’s acquisition of Groq’s assets allows NVIDIA to consolidate and further entrench its market share,” wrote the lawmakers.

On March 16, NVIDIA announced a new inference processor incorporating Groq’s chip technology, creating a chip so powerful it can speed up AI processing by up to 35 times. Although NVIDIA’s license for Groq’s technology is non-exclusive, its acquisition of Groq’s key employees significantly reduces the value for other companies of licensing this technology as Groq’s pace of innovation and ability to stay at the cutting-edge of chip design will likely decline.

“[B]y licensing its technology and hiring its most important employees, NVIDIA has effectively acquired Groq in all but name,” wrote the lawmakers.

The NVIDIA-Groq deal is the latest example of the growing trend of “reverse acquihiring,” a strategy deployed by Big Tech which involves acquiring control of a company’s key assets without acquiring the company itself. The senators raised concerns that this strategy is designed to skirt the typical antitrust premerger notification and review process.

The senators also highlighted that the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice can still review reverse acquihires for violations of antitrust law. Senators Warren and colleagues urged the agencies to investigate the deal last month.

NVIDIA has a history of engaging in anticompetitive practices which have helped build its market dominance. The Groq agreement is not NVIDIA’s first reverse acquihire: in September 2025, NVIDIA licensed the technology of the chip interconnect startup Enfabrica, which provides integrated systems to more efficiently connect large quantities of AI chips together. NVIDIA has also been the subject of antitrust investigations by the DOJ and governments in the European Union and United Kingdom. In a speech in 2024, Huang bragged that NVIDIA’s “total cost of ownership is so good that even when the competitor’s chips are free, it’s not cheap enough.”

The competitive implications of NVIDIA’s agreement with Groq have already begun to impact the AI industry. OpenAI was reportedly considering Groq’s chips as a more efficient alternative to NVIDIA’s offerings for certain types of inference tasks, but talks between OpenAI and Groq were “shut down” after NVIDIA’s licensing deal was announced. As a result, OpenAI agreed to purchase even more chips from NVIDIA.

The senators also raised concerns that NVIDIA’s practices undermine the ability of U.S. companies to innovate and compete with China.

“By further consolidating NVIDIA’s control over the AI chip industry, the Groq deal limits consumer choice and innovation, which will ultimately raise prices and threaten domestic firms’ ability to compete with China,” the lawmakers concluded.

The senators pressed Huang to explain the structure of NVIDIA’s deal with Groq and whether it is an attempt to avoid antitrust scrutiny by April 3, 2026.

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Warren Opens Investigation into Pentagon’s Designation of Anthropic As National Security Risk, New OpenAI Contract

Warren is concerned that “DoD is trying to strong-arm American companies into providing the Department with the tools to spy on American citizens and deploy fully autonomous weapons without adequate safeguards.”

Text of Letters (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, opened an investigation into the Department of Defense (DoD)’s decision to designate Anthropic a “supply chain risk” after the company refused DoD demands to remove certain contractual guardrails preventing the misuse of its AI tools. The senator is also probing the contract that OpenAI announced with DoD just hours after Secretary Hegseth declared Anthropic a supply chain risk, since this contract appears to lack the necessary safeguards to protect Americans from government surveillance and prevent civilian harm in the course of military operations.

DoD is increasingly deploying AI for military use in both classified and non-classified systems. Until recently, Anthropic’s Claude tool was reportedly “in daily use across most parts of the military.” In late February, however, after Anthropic refused DoD’s demands to eliminate two narrow contractual limitations on DoD’s use of Anthropic’s AI model Claude—one to prevent mass domestic surveillance and one to prevent the use of AI to deploy fully autonomous weapon systems—DoD designated Anthropic a “supply chain risk” to national security, an unprecedented action previously used to address risks from foreign adversaries such as China’s Huawei.

In a letter to Secretary Hegseth, Senator Warren pushed him on “what appears to be retaliation by the Department of Defense against artificial intelligence contractors that seek contractual guardrails to prevent the misuse of their AI tools.”

“DoD did not have to take such extreme actions: it could have chosen to terminate its contract with Anthropic or continued using its technology in unclassified systems,” wrote Senator Warren. “Instead, it appears that you went beyond this approach and retaliated against the company by weaponizing longstanding statutes intended to protect against genuine national security threats.”

Senator Warren also raised concerns that “DoD is trying to strong-arm American companies into providing the Department with the tools to spy on American citizens and deploy fully autonomous weapons without adequate safeguards.” She pointed out that DoD’s deal with OpenAI “does not appear to include the same safeguards that Anthropic sought” and may “allow DoD to use OpenAI’s models in a manner that harms civilian populations and endangers civil liberties.”

Senator Warren is pushing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for answers on his decision to designate Anthropic as a “supply chain risk,” his negotiations with Anthropic and OpenAI, and the extent to which AI is used in our military for fully autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance.

The same day DoD announced its designation of Anthropic, OpenAI and DoD announced that they had negotiated an agreement for DoD to use OpenAI’s technology in classified networks. While OpenAI has claimed that its contract contains safeguards to prevent the same redlines set by Anthropic, legal experts have expressed concern that OpenAI’s contractual language contains numerous generalities and carve-outs that could allow DoD to use OpenAI’s tools for both domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.

In a letter to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, Senator Warren probed the company on its recently announced contract with the Department of Defense.

“I am concerned [that] you appear to have rushed into an agreement with Secretary Hegseth that gives him and other Trump Administration officials free rein to engage in domestic surveillance - including spying on U.S. citizens exercising their legal rights - or build autonomous weapon systems that have enormous power to make decisions about targeting without human intervention,” wrote Senator Warren.

In fact, Altman admitted that the haste with which OpenAI announced its agreement with DoD “looked opportunistic and sloppy.” Additionally, the portions of the OpenAI-DoD contract that have been made public raise significant concerns that DoD could use OpenAI’s technology to impinge on Americans’ civil liberties or employ autonomous weapons that could harm civilians.

“Meaningful constraints to prevent civilian harm in warfare are a moral, legal, and strategic necessity, but nothing in this agreement stops DoD from using OpenAI’s tools to employ AI-enabled weapons of war in a manner that threatens civilians,” Senator Warren wrote. Senator Warren also warned that the agreement may allow OpenAI’s technology to be used to undermine “Americans’ democracy, freedom, and privacy.”

Senator Warren is pushing for answers from both Secretary Hegseth and Sam Altman by April 6, 2026.

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Warren, Shaheen Press Hegseth on Diversion of Military Resources to Build Immigrant Detention Centers, Demand Pentagon End Agreement with DHS

Construction of these facilities threatens to waste billions of taxpayer dollars; does not advance U.S. national security or improve the military’s readiness

Migrant detention centers have been likened to “concentration camps for immigrants”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, launched a new investigation into the diversion of military resources as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is funnels billions of dollars through a Navy contract vehicle to build a network of migrant detention centers — some of which have been likened to “concentration camps for immigrants.” In a new letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the senators call for the Pentagon to end its agreement with DHS.

“Diverting military resources to assist the development of ICE’s new detention facilities does not advance U.S. national security — nor the quality of life for our troops — and does nothing to improve the military’s readiness for conflict,” wrote the senators.

The Worldwide Expeditionary Multiple Award Contract (WEXMAC) vehicle was created in 2021 as a tool to support naval expeditionary forces “in austere and remote locations across the globe.” The contract initially supported U.S. national security efforts in Afghanistan, Sudan, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Since September, the Pentagon has allowed DHS and ICE to use the program to award 120 contracts to build and maintain a network of migrant detention centers. One recent award went to The GEO Group, a massive private prison company with a history of unsafe and inhumane conditions.

The Pentagon has also increased the WEXMAC contract ceiling sixfold, from $10 billion to $65 billion, since DHS and ICE began using the program, raising concerns that the Department of Defense (DoD) is funneling or preparing to funnel more resources from the military toward immigration enforcement. A previous investigation led by Senator Warren and Representative John Garamendi (D-Calif.) found DoD had diverted more than $2 billion of military funds—originally meant for fixing military barracks, training service members, and schools for military children—toward immigration enforcement. Pentagon officials have admitted that the military won’t be reimbursed by DHS for those funds.

“We are [also] concerned about the lack of transparency and financial risks associated with this contract vehicle…[which allows] DHS to sidestep the full federal acquisition process and fast-track the construction of migrant detention centers,” said the senators.

The WEXMAC program is structured such that it allows DHS — through DoD — to award construction and maintenance contracts to a small set of contractors under one large contract. After the large contract is awarded, Pentagon officials can quickly approve work by any of these contractors without further competition, increasing risks of taxpayer waste. DHS officials are also reportedly attempting to quickly award contracts and avoid federal competition rules, which are specifically designed to avoid political favoritism. The Pentagon also appears to be relying on uncertain legal authority to allow DHS to use this contracting vehicle.

“We are concerned that [WEXMAC] is only the latest example of a systemic pattern of diverting DoD resources to support DHS missions, and that this diversion threatens military readiness,” concluded the senators.

The lawmakers asked Secretary Hegseth to end DoD support for these programs, writing that DoD should not allow DHS to “bypass federal acquisition procedures and fast-track the construction of migrant detention facilities throughout the United States.” They also asked DoD to provide clarity on its agreement with DHS, detail what actions it’s taking to prevent the waste of taxpayer funds, and provide an accounting of the funds and resources spent supporting DHS for the building of detention centers by March 31, 2026.

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Welch, Blumenthal Release Details on DHS Secretary Noem’s Mount Rushmore Ads

Expenses included signing bonus, horse rental, hair and makeup

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations today release new information on payments made under a subcontract issued to The Strategy Group Company as part of the $220 million advertising campaign for recently-ousted Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Expenses included tens of thousands of dollars spent on a “signing bonus” to Strategy Group, a horse rental, hair and makeup services, more than $100,000 in labor costs and more than $40,000 in other vendor costs.

“This looks like waste, fraud, and abuse to me,” said Senator Welch. “While leading the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem and her senior team allowed tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to be spent on wasteful production costs, a shady signing bonus, and a very expensive horse rental—and that’s just what we know so far. All the companies involved in Noem’s ad campaign have an obligation to be transparent about how taxpayer funds were used, and if anyone at DHS benefited. I urge the companies DHS contracted and sub-contracted with to tell the public what they know.”

“Today, we are pulling back the curtain on the tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars Kristi Noem squandered on extravagant production costs for her personal ad campaign while leading the Department of Homeland Security,” said Senator Blumenthal. “This absurd waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds is completely unacceptable. I will continue to demand the answers the American people deserve about how these funds were used and whether any federal officials profited from DHS contracts.”

Earlier this month, Senators Welch and Blumenthal requested documents and information from companies involved in producing and placing advertisements featuring Secretary Noem riding a horse at Mount Rushmore. The taxpayer-funded ads were produced after the Secretary and her senior leadership bypassed a competitive bidding process to award no-bid contracts to firms in which she and her senior advisors, including Corey Lewandowski and Tricia McLaughlin, had ties.

Safe America Media was awarded a $143 million no-bid contract from the Department of Homeland Security in February 2025 to produce and place ad campaigns for the agency. The company was incorporated only seven days prior to receiving the award and is registered to the home address of a longtime political operative.

The ads were filmed by The Strategy Group Company, which is led by the husband of Noem’s then-spokesperson and Assistant Secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, and who has a long association with Noem and Lewandowski.

In response to the Senators’ letter, The Strategy Group Company provided partial responses to the documents and information requested. The Senators are providing an accounting of expenses contained in invoices provided to their offices, including:

$107,405 Labor costs to The Strategy Group Company

$60,000 “Signing bonus” to The Strategy Group Company

$52,599* Videography, photography, and production vendors

$20,000* Horse rentals

$3,781* Hair and makeup services

$500 Magic Makers, Inc., a magic store based in Sioux Falls, SD

$41,852 Other vendors

————

$286,137 Total cost in taxpayer dollars

Earlier this month, Senators Welch and Blumenthal wrote to The Strategy Group Company, Safe America Media LLC, and People Who Think LLC requesting documents and information related to contracts they received under Secretary Noem’s ad campaign. This week, the Senators wrote to Republican advertising companies Strategic Media Services Inc. and Smart Media Group LLC requesting information and records related to their agreements with Safe America Media, which reportedly engaged both companies to place the taxpayer-funded ads. Both Strategic Media and Smart Media Group worked on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign when Lewandowski served as campaign manager and on Trump’s 2024 campaign when Lewandowski served as a Senior Advisor to the campaign.

*Amounts reflect identifiable vendors.

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Welch Joins New Bill to Lower Prices for American Families and Small Businesses, Rein in Corporate Greed

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights,today joined U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) in introducing the Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act, legislation that would bring down prices for American families and support small businesses by cracking down on corporate price discrimination.

“Vermont’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but they can’t compete when they’re forced to pay more than big retailers for the same goods and services. That kind of price discrimination squeezes local businesses and raises costs for consumers,” said Senator Welch. “The Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act helps level the playing field and holds bad actors accountable.”

“For decades, corporations have been allowed to break the law and rig the system to make small businesses pay higher prices for the exact same products,” said Senator Murphy. “Their goal was to crush the competition so they could hoard even more profit and power, even if that meant decimating local economies and raising prices on families. Small businesses are the lifeblood of a community and they should be able to compete with these soulless mega-corporations on equal footing. This bill would end the disastrous, price rigging lawlessness by providing both small businesses and federal regulators with a larger set of legal tools to punish corporations that run these schemes.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, yet for far too long they’ve been forced to compete with massive corporations who use their power to squeeze out local competitors. The Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act will ensure accountability by giving local retailers a chance, strengthening competition, and ultimately delivering better prices for consumers. I’m proud to support this legislation to level the playing field for our local businesses,” said Senator Blumenthal.

“High costs are crushing working families and small businesses,” said Senator Fetterman. “The Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act would level the playing field and make sure small businesses can buy products on the same terms as big corporations.”

“When suppliers can charge small businesses more than big corporations for the exact same products, local shops shut down, a handful of companies run the market, and families end up paying more at the checkout line,” said Senator Gallego. “This bill gives regulators the tools they need to hold big retailers accountable and make sure local businesses have a fair shot to compete. By leveling the playing field, we can bring prices down for American families.”

Vermont’s nearly 82,000 small businesses are the beating heart of Vermont’s economy, making up 99% of overall businesses and employing 157,959 people across the Green Mountain State. Small businesses nationwide—from small town grocers to big city restaurants—are forced by mega-corporations to pay higher prices for identical products and pass those higher prices on to customers. Existing laws are supposed to stop big corporations from using their size to force suppliers into charging smaller businesses more, so they can undercut those competitors and clear the market for themselves.

However, over the last four decades, the Executive Branch and the courts have mostly looked the other way and refused to enforce these laws. Communities paid the price as huge corporations used price discrimination to crush small businesses, with more than 100,000 small retailers shutting their doors in the last few decades, hollowing out local economies and creating food deserts in poor and rural areas.

Under the leadership of Lina Khan, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) exposed how the world’s biggest corporations illegally conspire to drive up costs on America’s mom-and-pop businesses. In one case, the FTC uncovered how Pepsi and Walmart allegedly colluded to drive up the price of Pepsi products at grocery stores that compete with Walmart. These mega-corporations still benefit from a wide range of legal loopholes that stall enforcement and disincentivize small businesses from fighting back.

The Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act would strengthen and modernize our price discrimination laws to level the playing field for small businesses and ensure mega-corporations can be held accountable. Specifically, the legislation would:

Repeal the “meeting competition” defense: Under current law, price discrimination is legal if the supplier is meeting a competitor’s price to the retailer. Massive retailers would no longer be able to squeeze all their competing suppliers for special deals, creating competition that brings down prices at retailers large and small alike.

Hold power buyers accountable: Big retailers are rarely held accountable for receiving illegal price discrimination because plaintiffs must prove they did so knowingly. The bill would eliminate the “knowingly” requirement for retailers with more than $100 billion in annual sales, because these huge corporations should know how suppliers price their products.

Expand the law to cover services, not just goods: Local shops and restaurants would no longer pay higher costs for services like delivery apps, point of sale systems, and credit card swipe fees.

Set minimum damages to equal the cost of price discrimination: The bill would simplify damage awards for victims of price discrimination to at least match the higher prices they had to pay.

Senator Welch has led bipartisan efforts to protect consumers, workers, and small businesses in the Senate. The Senator helped introduce the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act, bipartisan legislation to crack down on predatory online scams advertisements that cost Americans and small businesses billions of dollars every year. Senator Welch is also a leading cosponsor of the Tax Relief for Victims of Crimes, Scams, and Disasters Act, Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act, Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act (VACRA), and the Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks (TRAIN) Act.

Read and download the full text of the Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act.

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Welch Opposes Mullin’s Nomination to Lead DHS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today released the following statement after voting against U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin’s (R-Okla.) nomination to replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

“DHS and ICE need major reforms—President Trump and Stephen Miller’s mass round ups and deportation campaign have been dangerous, reckless, and deadly. Removing Kristi Noem was a start, but not a cure-all. We cannot accept dysfunction and cruelty as the status quo, and I cannot support a nominee that will continue to carry out this agenda,” said Senator Welch. “However, I am hopeful Senator Mullin will work with me and his former colleagues to shore up FEMA, which is critically important and still under attack by the president. I hope he will work across the aisle and join Democrats in the fight to pay TSA agents, disaster recovery employees, and cybersecurity experts.”

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Chairman Wicker Applauds Taiwan’s 30th Anniversary of Direct Presidential Elections

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee today issued the following statement:

“In March of 1996, the people of Taiwan went to the polls for their country’s first direct elections. The success and prosperity of Taiwan is one of the great transformations in modern history.

I saw this success on full display when I visited Taiwan last year. During my visit, I met with the President, Vice President, Minister of National Defense, and senior officials from the Kuomintang Party and the Taiwan People’s Party. I was deeply impressed by these engagements and by a dynamic and thriving people.

During my travels, one thing was clear: Taiwan has resolved to be free. Their determination stands in stark contrast to the despotism embraced by Xi Jinping and his CCP, who increasingly coerce the island republic.

Thirty years after directly electing their first president, the Taiwanese people have shown the United States and the world that they are willing to stand up to authoritarian aggression. I want to congratulate them on their commitment to freedom and peace in the Indo-Pacific.”

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Smith Announces 2026 Angels in Adoption Nominations

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) opened nominations this week for the 2026 Angels in Adoption Award for Nebraska’s Third District.

Angels in Adoption, a project of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, provides Members of Congress the opportunity to honor an individual or entity from their districts for extraordinary contributions on behalf of children in need of homes.

“Every year, Nebraska families open their hearts and homes to children in need. The Angels in Adoption Award recognizes those making a lasting difference through adoption and foster care, and I encourage nominations to help highlight these inspiring stories,”said Smith.

BACKGROUND:

To make a nomination, please visit AdrianSmith.House.Gov/AngelsinAdoption. Nominations must be received by 5:00 pm MT on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

For more information on Angels in Adoption, please contact Smith’s Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333.