Senators Coons, Schmitt introduce legislation to support programs that improve communication between law enforcement and Americans with disabilities

State and local Blue Envelope programs provide drivers with a blue envelope to present to first responders, helping drivers safely interact with law enforcement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) introduced the Supporting Blue Envelope Programs Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help states and local communities create, expand, or strengthen programs designed to improve interactions between law enforcement personnel and Americans who may face challenges communicating with first responders.

Blue Envelope programs help improve communication between law enforcement and public safety personnel with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), or others who may face communication challenges. They provide participating drivers with a blue envelope to use during traffic stops, which can hold the individual’s identification, emergency contacts, vehicle registration, insurance, and other helpful information. Programs can also provide Blue Envelope-branded products drivers can wear or display when interacting with law enforcement and other public safety personnel.

Additionally, Blue Envelope programs provide law enforcement and first responders with training and resources for safer, more effective interactions with individuals with ASD, I/DD, or facing other communication challenges. Participating community members and their families can also access voluntary training, education, and related resources.

The legislation is led in the House by Representatives Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35) and John Rutherford (R-Fla.-05).

“For many people with disabilities that affect their communication, routine encounters with law enforcement can lead to confusion, unnecessary escalation, and sometimes even tragedy,” said Senator Coons. “The Supporting Blue Envelope Programs Act will give both people with disabilities and law enforcement the tools and training they need to de-escalate encounters while protecting public safety and the safety and independence of millions of Americans living with disabilities.”

“Ensuring the safety and independence of those in the Autism and developmental disabilities community is a chief priority of mine. Working with key law enforcement partners to help those with disabilities better identify themselves when interacting with law enforcement helps keep everyone safe. I am proud to support this commonsense program and look forward to the positive impacts it will have on communities across America,” said Senator Schmitt.

“As a former sheriff and lifelong law enforcement officer, I believe nothing is more important than the safety and security of all members of our community,” said Representative John Rutherford. “That includes individuals with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), and others who may face communication challenges when interacting with law enforcement officers and first responders. To keep members of the autistic community safe, it is important that officers have the tools they need to reduce misunderstandings that can arise from differences in communication. I am proud to join Senators Coons and Schmitt by introducing this legislation in the House with Representative Torres to support blue envelope programs nationwide.”

“The Inland Empire’s Blue Envelope Programs have been a success, and this bill would support and expand similar programs across the country,” said Representative Norma Torres. “For individuals with Autism, developmental disabilities, or other communication challenges, encounters with law enforcement and other first responders can be confusing or overwhelming. Blue Envelope programs help foster positive and safer interactions at traffic stops and other encounters. I’m proud to be the lead sponsor of this legislation and look forward to advancing this bipartisan, bicameral effort to provide law enforcement and communities the tools, resources, and training needed to launch and run Blue Envelope Programs across the country.”

The Supporting Blue Envelope Programs Act aims to provide federal funding to help states and local communities create, expand, or strengthen Blue Envelope programs nationwide.

Specifically, the bill:

Authorizes grants for training and resources for law enforcement and first responders on interacting with individuals with ASD, I/DD, or other features that can affect communication

Protects individual and family privacy by preventing the development of registration systems

Prioritizes programs that involve multiple law enforcement agencies, entities with experience with person-centered and trauma-informed practices and a direct link to individuals with ASD and I/DD and their families and have community support

Requires the Department of Justice to (1) write a report to Congress every two years on the implementation of the Blue Envelope grants under this section and best practices, and (2) create an online directory of Blue Envelope programs so members of the public can find their closest program

The Supporting Blue Envelope Programs Act is endorsed by: the Autism Society, Autism Speaks, the Major County Sheriffs Association (MCSA), the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Easterseals, Autism Delaware, The ARC of Delaware, Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police, Delaware Office of Highway Safety, the National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities, the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), The Arc of the United States, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Psychological Association Services, the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD), the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), PD Avengers – Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s.

“This bill is designed to reduce anxiety for drivers and help police understand there may be a need for special accommodations. The envelope typically includes the driver’s license, insurance information, vehicle registration, and emergency contact information. Drivers, when stopped, can hand this to the officer providing critical information to signal their condition and need for a special accommodation. This is a low-tech solution for what could otherwise be a challenging situation for both driver and officer. We applaud the work of Senator Coons to ensure this becomes a national initiative and serves all communities as it has in Delaware,” said the Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

“Each year at Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore, we serve hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, and their families as they are navigating the complexities of disability. We know firsthand how critical these kinds of practical, evidence-informed interventions can be,” said Ken Sklenar, Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore President/CEO. “The Supporting Blue Envelope Programs Act not only reinforces our shared commitment to inclusive communities—it reflects a common-sense, compassionate approach to policing that we believe all members of Congress can and should support.”

“The National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities (NPS-AID) commends the introduction of the Supporting Blue Envelope Programs Act. By explicitly authorizing funding to support communication tools, training, and programs such as the Blue Envelope initiative, this legislation will strengthen the bridge between officers and community members with disabilities — helping ensure that every traffic stop is approached with the dignity, understanding and safety it deserves,” said George Chopek, President/CEO, National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities.

“Effective communication between Autistic individuals and first responders is essential to safety and well-being. By ensuring Autism experts help design and deliver this training, including the use of blue envelopes, this legislation strengthens community trust and promotes safer, more inclusive emergency responses nationwide,” Joseph Joyce, CEO and President of the Autism Society of America.

“I hear from autistic drivers all the time about the anxiety they carry into traffic stops –– the fear that they won’t be understood,” said Keith Wargo, President & CEO of Autism Speaks. “Blue

Envelope programs give drivers a simple yet effective way to communicate their needs, and they give officers the tools to respond with confidence and respect. We are grateful to Senator Coons and Senator Schmitt for championing this bipartisan effort. By prioritizing community-centered training and implementation of Blue Envelope initiatives nationwide, this bill expands access to a model that empowers autistic people to navigate traffic encounters on their own terms and ensure that a routine traffic stop stays just that routine.”

Read the one-pager here.


Cornyn Supports Bill to Ban Chemical Abortion Drug Mifepristone

AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) cosponsored Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO)’s Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act, which would ban the chemical abortion drug mifepristone and empower women harmed by the drug to sue its manufacturers:

“The data is clear that mifepristone, a mail-order drug that kills unborn children, also threatens the life of the mother and can cause severe adverse reactions ranging from sepsis to hemorrhages,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Grounded in both science and Scripture, directing the FDA to withdraw approval of harmful chemical abortions drugs is essential to protect the lives of our most vulnerable and ensure the strongest possible safety standards for women.”

Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) will introduce companion legislation in the House.

Background:

The Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act would:

Withdraw the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of mifepristone for abortion;

Make distributing and labeling mifepristone for pregnancy termination violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;

And create a private right of action for women harmed by chemical abortion to sue manufacturers for damages.


Cramer Spotlights Defense Modernization at National Security Innovation Base Summit

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BISMARCK, N.D. – America’s technological ingenuity and how it’s being harnessed for national defense took center stage at the fourth annual National Security Innovation Base (NSIB) Summit. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined military leaders, other policymakers, and innovators from across the defense and technology sectors to chart the future of U.S. military modernization. Hosted by the Reagan Institute, the summit brought together public and private-sector stakeholders to examine the effectiveness of the U.S. innovation base and identify ways to accelerate defense modernization.

Featured at the summit’s plenary session to unveil this year’s report card was Cramer, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee and co-chairs the Senate Defense Modernization Caucus. His panel explored the pace of U.S. defense innovation, the structural reforms needed to unlock faster technological adoption, and the critical role of strong partnerships in sustaining America’s strategic edge. Together, the panelists covered transformation within industry and government, acknowledging progress made and future strides to take.

Cramer appeared alongside partner and co-founder of Snowpoint Ventures Doug Philippone, partner at McKinsey & Company Christian Rodriguez, as well as the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Chris Grady.

The focus of the event was the annual NSIB Report Card, produced by the institute’s Center for Peace Through Strength. The report provides what organizers describe as a first-of-its-kind assessment evaluating how well the national security innovation base supports U.S. defense goals. The report also outlines recommendations to improve coordination between government, the military, and the private sector. Cramer was asked his thoughts about defense modernization receiving a “D” on the NSIB Report Card, which is a “leading output indicator.”

“One of the things that’s encouraging about the report and by this discussion, is that there really is an attitudinal shift that’s happening,” said Cramer. “Even crystalizing across party lines and in between appropriators and the authorizers that this is for real. Tragically, the Russia and Ukraine situation has given us a real view that what happens in the fog of war is the clarity of demand. We’re seeing this play out.”

Click here to watch

Minot Air Force Base hosts two legs of the nuclear triad, and Grand Forks Air Force Base leads key satellite and counter-drone operations. Cramer said he is pushing to modernize defense assets across the board in North Dakota and throughout the country. He launched with U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) the Senate Defense Modernization Caucus, aimed at accelerating innovation across the Department of War (DOW) and delivering new capabilities to warfighters at speed and scale. As co-chair, Cramer is pressing for rapid modernization to counter near-peer adversaries, emphasizing innovation and sustained investment in next-generation military capabilities.

While defense modernization received a “D” on the report card, Cramer said the United States is moving quickly on the F-47, and B-21 production is “coming along quite well.” It “warms his heart,” he said, that North Dakota will be the final state to transition from the aging Minuteman III to the new LGM-35A Sentinel system—meaning the missiles and silos at Minot Air Force Base will benefit from lessons learned as the system is rolled out and refined at earlier bases, an example of the “spiral development” acquisition strategy intended to enable quicker modernization. By the time Sentinel arrives, many of the initial risks and technical kinks are expected to have been worked through elsewhere. At the same time, the B-52s at Minot will be modernized with new engines and equipped with the Long-Range Stand-Off nuclear cruise missile, bringing some of the U.S. Air Force’s most advanced strategic capabilities to the base.

“There are some encouraging trends there that I think are earned, but I think it’s also an illustration of that attitudinal shift,” said Cramer during the panel. “I’ll wait for the C-, or C, or C+ to be demonstrated in the outcome, but I think the report card adequately tells us that we’re going in the right direction and there’s some reason for hope.”

The conversation then shifted toward the creation of the Space Development Agency (SDA), and how it faced “almost immediate resistance by the bureaucracy.” Cramer referenced his visit to Vandenberg Space Force Base to view 21 satellites of SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer before they launched into Low Earth Orbit. While these satellites were produced by York Space, the idea is that the next tranches may be produced by different companies, depending on their ability to drive costs down through innovation and efficiency.

Cramer said by bringing in new companies, “you have an incentive, a long-term demand signal, you have an incentive to innovate.”

“We need to do a lot more, we need to encourage it, but I think a lot of it comes down from my side of the customer,” highlighted Cramer. “Too many people in my business want to catch you doing the wrong thing or failing, so that naturally leads to the frozen middle.”


Sens. Cruz, Cotton, Scott Introduce Bill Targeting Iranian Regime’s Polisario Front

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced the Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act of 2026. The legislation requires the Secretary of State to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization if the Secretary confirms the Polisario Front is cooperating with Iranian groups already designated as terrorist organizations.

Sen. Cruz said, “The Iranian regime is trying to turn the Polisario Front into the Houthis of West Africa and use them to undermine the national security of the United States and our allies. The Polisario Front is working with Iranian terrorist groups, receiving drones from the IRGC, and moving weapons around the region on behalf of the Iranian regime. This bill will ensure that America’s most powerful anti-terrorism sanctions can be used to counter those threats and, once a designation is secured, the Polisario Front and its leaders will be cut off from access to the global financial system, international travel, and the resources they rely upon to conduct their terrorism.”

Sen. Cotton said, “The Polisario Front is a terrorist organization that openly supports Iran and Hezbollah. Designating these terrorists as such is long overdue.”

Sen. Scott said, “The Polisario Front’s ties to adversaries like Communist China, Iran, and Russia, and its cooperation with Iranian-backed terrorists like Hezbollah must be confronted. I am proud to join Senator Cruz on the Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act to ensure the United States has the tools to fully investigate these terrorists and hold those involved accountable. The United States doesn’t negotiate with terrorists. This bill makes clear that any threat to the American people and our way of life will be met with decisive action.”

Read the bill text here.

BACKGROUND:

The Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act of 2026 would initiate a process to designate the Polisario Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) if the group is found to be engaging in military and terrorist cooperation with Iranian-affiliated terrorist groups. Specifically, it requires a report from the Secretary of State on cooperation between the Polisario Front and such groups relating to:


Duckworth Demands Joint Investigation into Trump Administration’s Failures Leading Up to El Paso and Fort Hancock Incidents

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Aviation Subcommittee—today called on the Inspectors General (IGs) of the U.S. Departments of Transportation (DOT), Defense (DOD) and Homeland Security (DHS) to launch a joint investigation into the Trump Administration’s unacceptable missteps and failed interagency coordination that resulted in chaotic airspace closures in El Paso and Fort Hancock, Texas, last month. The Senator’s letter comes after Duckworth lambasted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at a hearing for its failure to communicate with DoD and other issues that led to the tragic, but preventable, DCA mid-air collision that killed 67 Americans last year.

“The events in El Paso and Fort Hancock are another unfortunate example of the incompetence of the Trump Administration,” wrote Duckworth. “Luckily, the incidents in Texas did not take the lives of Americans. But, as we saw with the DCA Midair Collision, failures in interagency planning create an unacceptably dangerous situation where it’s no longer a matter of if, but rather when the next catastrophic accident occurs that will claim American lives.”

The Senator further emphasized how such poor coordination puts even more undue stress on our already-strained aviation system.

“Counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems are critical assets to the defense of our Nation when used to address legitimate security threats but, rushing C-UAS systems into operation domestically without appropriate interagency planning and coordination, or appreciation of aviation security concerns, adds to the complexity of the National Airspace System and jeopardizes the ability of the FAA to carry out its mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world,” continued Duckworth. “We cannot afford to risk the safety of the traveling public.”

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

Dear Inspectors General:

I write to request that the U.S. Departments of Transportation (DOT), Defense (DoD) and Homeland Security (DHS) Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs) conduct an investigation into potential serious and alarming problems and deficiencies with interagency coordination, policymaking and management, as it relates to the operation of high-energy laser weapons that acquire, track and defeat Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) within the United States. The joint independent investigation should examine the incidents that led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a chaotic Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in El Paso, Texas on February 10, 2026, and a TFR in Fort Hancock, Texas on February 26, 2026.

I am alarmed at the severe lack of interagency communication and coordination leading up to and following the events in El Paso and Fort Hancock. Counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems are critical assets to the defense of our Nation when used to address legitimate security threats, but rushing C-UAS systems into operation domestically without appropriate interagency planning and coordination, or appreciation of aviation security concerns, adds to the complexity of the National Airspace System (NAS) and jeopardizes the ability of the FAA to carry out its mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world. We cannot afford to risk the safety of the traveling public.

Reports detailing communication between DoD and FAA leading up to these incidents and decisions to close the airspace in Texas show a concerning lack of coordination. Regarding the El Paso incident, the FAA said DoD did not provide the necessary data to complete a safety risk assessment to determine appropriate precautions before the deployment of the C-UAS platform, forcing FAA to issue the TFR. On February 26, during his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mr. Mark Ditlevson, the nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas Security Affairs, claimed that there were 14 months of coordination leading up to the event and that FAA approval was not required, according to authorities given to the DoD in 10 U.S.C § 130i. However, that same statute requires DoD and FAA to conduct a “risk-based assessment” on the impact to the airspace prior to use of the authority. In a closed-door briefing, when asked directly about El Paso, FAA Administrator Bedford said, “it was not well coordinated.”

On February 26, it was reported that DoD’s C-UAS system was believed to have accidentally shot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone in Fort Hancock, Texas. The interagency coordination, or lack thereof, that took place is unnerving. In a statement issued by DoD, FAA and CBP, the agencies said, they “will continue to work on increased cooperation and communication to prevent such incidents in the future.”

I could not agree more that increased cooperation and communication is desperately needed. These events raise serious questions regarding interagency coordination, notification procedures, aviation safety protocol, and compliance with federal law. The lack of communication between the FAA, DoD and DHS calls for a thorough investigation into the decisions that led to recent events in Texas.

Accordingly, I request your offices conduct a joint comprehensive investigation into the apparent serious problems and deficiencies related to DoD, FAA and DHS mismanagement, lack of coordination, data-sharing and negligence regarding NAS safety. The investigation should include:

A review of DoD, FAA and DHS actions in the events leading up to and following the incidents in El Paso and Fort Hancock, including information on the decision-making process leading to the use of the systems and TFRs in any written communications, agreements, memorandums, policy documents, assessments or other materials related to or informing the decisions;

Assessments of whether agency officials complied with applicable laws, regulations and policies;

Evaluations of any risks posed to civilian aircraft, commercial operators, general aviation, medical evacuation flights or other critical air operations; and

Recommend actions, including policy reforms, any potential disciplinary actions and if additional statutory authorities or guardrails are warranted to prevent future missteps.

Since the Trump administration stated these incidents are classified, the joint investigation should also examine how agency employees and contract employees communicated within each agency and with other agencies and entities, to ensure there were no instances of overclassification, unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or materials, or the knowing and willful disclosure of classified information using unclassified information systems. If the joint investigation does uncover potential criminal removal, retention or disclosure of classified information, your respective offices should promptly transmit referrals for potential criminal investigation.

These two incidents follow the final report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the DCA Midair Collision. The report found that a lack of communication between the DoD and FAA was one of the causes of the tragedy where 67 people lost their lives. Flight 5342 and the Army’s Black Hawk helicopter did not have the technology to communicate with one another, and the FAA and Army had failed to regularly review and evaluate helicopter routes.

Mere months after the fatal DCA crash, two Army Black Hawk helicopters experienced another near-miss incident that forced a commercial passenger aircraft to abort its landing at DCA to avoid another catastrophic collision. In the aftermath of this shocking safety incident in May 2025, it was discovered that the dedicated hotline connecting FAA controllers in the DCA tower with DoD controllers in the tower at the Pentagon helipad had been inoperable for years. And just last month, DoD withdrew its support from the bipartisan ROTOR Act, which passed the Senate with unanimous approval. The Trump administration then worked with House Republicans to kill House passage of this urgently needed bipartisan safety reform legislation that was strongly supported by the NTSB Chair and the families of Flight 5342.

The events in El Paso and Fort Hancock are another unfortunate example of the incompetence of the Trump administration. Luckily, the incidents in Texas did not take the lives of Americans. But, as we saw with the DCA Midair Collision, failures in interagency planning create an unacceptably dangerous situation where it’s no longer a matter of if but rather when the next catastrophic accident occurs that will claim American lives. The stakes to get this coordination right could not be higher. I look forward to your response and to working together to ensure both national security and the safety of our airspace.

Sincerely,

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Duckworth Votes to Pass Landmark Housing Bill to Being Housing Costs Down and Expand Affordable Housing Across the Nation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting for the bipartisan 21st Century Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act, which passed the Senate by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 89-10. The Senate-passed legislation would tackle our nation’s housing crisis by lowering costs for middle-class families, incentivizing municipalities to create more affordable housing, preventing private equity from buying up single-family homes and expanding access to loans for modular home construction.

“The cost of rent and mortgages has been growing further and further out of reach for middle-class Americans for far too long,” said Duckworth. “As costs continue to rise with little relief in sight—and with Donald Trump telling Americans he wants housing prices to skyrocket even more—I’m proud to help pass the Senate’s most impactful housing bill in 30 years. While there is still much more to do to tackle the housing crisis in America, this legislation will build more housing, bring down costs and stop private equity from buying up single-family homes so we can deliver relief to families across the country.”

Duckworth has been a strong advocate for expanding affordable housing opportunities. Last month, Duckworth along with U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) introduced the Advancing Better Options for Dwellings Everywhere (ABODE) Act, which would mitigate barriers to home ownership and incentivize builders to construct resilient and affordable homes through a competition for 21st-century single-family home designs focused on cost, energy efficiency and scalability. The Senator also recently helped introduce legislation to protect Veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination.

Earlier this year, Duckworth also joined U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) at the Center for American Progress (CAP) for a policy summit where they discussed common-sense solutions to address our nation’s housing shortage and lower housing costs for middle-class families and Veterans.

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As The President Continues To Line His Pockets Off Cryptocurrency Schemes, Durbin Introduces No Crypto In Social Security Act

Durbin’s bill would ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds are never gambled away on cryptocurrencies

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the No Crypto in Social Security Act to ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds never invest in cryptocurrencies. The Social Security Trust Funds hold $2.56 trillion in assets (as of January 2026), which are invested in U.S. Treasury securities by law. However, given President Trump’s efforts to integrate cryptocurrencies further into the U.S. financial system, the Social Security Trust Funds must be safeguarded to ensure cryptocurrencies never are an allowable asset.

“Social Security is a bedrock promise that hardworking Americans who pay into the program will earn their retirement,” said Durbin. “If the Social Security Trust Funds were allowed to invest in crypto, any downturn in the crypto market could create huge losses for seniors and people with disabilities and their families, disrupting Social Security’s promise. My bill will ensure the Social Security Trust Funds are never gambled away on cryptocurrencies, preventing this risky asset from backing Americans’ retirement funds and blocking the President from further lining his own pockets.”

Approximately 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits, which help them to keep food on their tables, a roof over their heads, and medicine in the cabinets. Crypto is a volatile asset, and its market value has dropped from more than $4.2 trillion in October 2025 to $2.3 trillion in March 2026—more than a 45 percent decrease in five months. If the Social Security Trust Funds ever invested in crypto—especially the President’s crypto ventures—the benefits of tens of millions of Americans would be put at risk, while taxpayer dollars could further enrich President Trump and his family.

In May 2025, the Department of Labor (DOL) rescinded guidance that warned employers about the risks of crypto investments in 401(k) plans. In June 2025, Durbin sent a letter to DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging the Department to reverse this action. Further, in August 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission and DOL to make it easier for employer-sponsored retirement plans to invest in crypto. At the same time, President Trump and his family have enriched themselves through their crypto ventures, which have increased the President’s family’s net worth by more than $1.4 billion over the past year.

The bill is endorsed by Social Security Works, Alliance for Retired Americans, Americans for Financial Reform, Consumer Federation of America, Public Citizen, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and Strengthen Social Security Coalition.

Bill text of the No Crypto in Social Security Act can be found here.

A one-pager of the No Crypto in Social Security Act can be found here.

Durbin previously filed three amendments to the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that would have addressed the volatility and corruption of the cryptocurrency industry and provided important protections for American taxpayers and consumers. Specifically, Durbin’s amendments would have cracked down on crypto ATM fraud, prevented crypto companies from receiving a taxpayer-funded bailout, and made it explicitly clear that the Social Security Trust Funds cannot currently, and can never, invest in crypto.

Durbin has continuously urged his colleagues to implement guardrails to the crypto market so there is not a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Durbin helped pass the Dodd-Frank Act and create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

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Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Slam Trump EPA Proposed Weakening Of EtO Protections

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), both members of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Ethylene Oxide Task Force, today released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s proposal to roll back a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that protected Americans from harmful exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO), a known carcinogen:

“We have known for decades that ethylene oxide poses a serious threat to human health, increasing the risk of leukemia and cancer to those exposed. Despite this, the Trump Administration’s EPA has proposed weakening protections on EtO emissions, unquestionably threatening the health of those working at or living near sterilization facilities.

“Illinoisans—especially those near medical equipment sterilization facilities in Waukegan and Gurnee—deserve robust protections and an EPA that prioritizes their health. We urge the Trump Administration to follow the science and uphold strong safeguards that protect public health, ensure transparency for impacted communities, and guarantee that no family has to live with unnecessary cancer risks simply because of where they reside.”

In 2024, the Biden Administration’s EPA implemented a new rule to tighten emission limits, monitoring, and controls for commercial sterilization facilities that use EtO. The rule, which covered plants like Medline in Waukegan, Illinois and Vantage in Gurnee, Illinois, aimed to reduce EtO emissions by 90 percent by installing effective, achievable air pollution controls and preventing toxic emissions from reaching the communities in which these facilities operate. Today, the Trump Administration’s EPA moved to loosen the limits implemented through the Biden-era rule.

In November 2023, Durbin, Duckworth, and Schneider released a statement regarding a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) evaluating the public health impacts of the EtO, a cancer-causing agent, emitted from the now-closed Sterigenics medical sterilization facility in Willowbrook, Illinois. In the report, ATSDR concluded that, prior to February 15, 2019, long-term breathing of air within one mile of the Sterigenics facility is a concern for increased lifetime risk of cancer associated with EtO exposure, due to the gas’ concentration in the air during the sterilization operations at the facility. The report also found that the air within a mile of the facility no longer poses significant risk to residents as the Sterigenics facility is no longer operational.

Durbin, Duckworth, and Schneider have been strong advocates for addressing the unacceptable level of EtO emissions. In July 2023, the lawmakers led a letter signed by 40 Members of Congress to EPA supporting the Biden Adminsitration’s proposed EtO sterilizer rule. Durbin, Duckworth, and Schneider have also previously introduced legislation that would require EPA to update EtO emissions standards to reflect the stricter criteria outlined in EPA’s 2016 IRIS study. Under the bill, any updates to the emissions standards would have to incorporate the maximum achievable control technology requirements to exhaust vents and apply to both area and major sources, which covers plants like Sterigenics. It would also require EPA to undergo a residual risk assessment following implementation of the new rule, which is a stringent and public-health focused review of the rule’s impacts.

The lawmakers have also met with the CEO of Sotera Health, the parent company of Sterigenics; convened meetings with then-EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on the issue; and sat down with Willowbrook residents.

EtO serves a variety of industrial purposes, including as a sterilizer for 50 percent of sterile medical devices. In 2016, EPA identified EtO as a human carcinogen and included the chemical in the National Air Toxics Assessment. Subsequently, EPA identified communities that faced potentially dangerous levels of EtO emissions from 86 EtO commercial sterilizers in the U.S.

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Durbin Slams Republicans’ SAVE America Act

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a press conference at Chicago-Kent College of Law with the League of Women Voters of Illinois and the ACLU of Illinois to speak out against Congressional Republicans’ SAVE America Act, which would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote. Earlier this week, President Trump said he would not sign any legislation until Congress passes this bill.

It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal elections. Election officials already take steps to verify voter eligibility, including citizenship. Republicans’ SAVE America Act creates serious burdens for all Americans registering to vote by requiring all Americans to show documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote. Driver’s licenses and other government-issued IDs alone would not be sufficient to register to vote, and most REAL IDs do not meet the bill’s requirements of proving citizenship. According to a nonpartisan study by the Brennan Center and the University of Maryland, more than 21 million Americans who are eligible to vote—or about one out of every ten voting age citizens—do not have documents readily available to prove their citizenship.

“Do not let the bill’s name fool you, the SAVE America Act would not protect our elections,” said Durbin. “Instead, it would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote by upending decades of successfully administered and secure elections with untested, dangerous limitations on voter registration. I will vote no on this attack on our sacred right to vote.”

“The SAVE Act is a solution in search of a problem,” said Edwin C. Yohnka, Director of Communications and Public Policy at the ACLU of Illinois. “There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in our country – outside the election denying dead-enders who surround the current President. But rather than recognize the lack of fraud, the Administration and the President are demanding that the federal government limit access to the ballot box for millions of Americans. This is simply not tolerable and must be resisted.”

“The SAVE America Act is voter suppression. Americans do not need more obstacles to vote,” said Becky Simon, President of the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

Durbin spoke on the Senate floor this week against the SAVE America Act.

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Senate Passes Durbin, Lankford, Quigley, Edwards, Pappas Resolution Honoring 175th Anniversary Of YMCA

Headquartered in Chicago, the YMCA delivers programming to 11 million adults and 6.5 million children each year

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) celebrated the Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution to honor the YMCA ahead of the organization’s 175th anniversary. Headquartered in Chicago, the YMCA has about 2,600 locations, serving more than 10,000 communities across the country. The resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Boozman (R-AR), Todd Young (R-IN), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

Since its founding in 1851, the YMCA has built its legacy around being a community space that meets the evolving needs of Americans and welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. In their resolution, the members of Congress recognize the YMCA’s history, which includes the invention of basketball and the first group swim lesson; providing safe housing during the Industrial Revolution; the establishment of the nation’s oldest and largest youth civics education program; and serving as the nation’s leading non-profit provider of early child care and education, before and after school programs, and summer camp.

“The YMCA’s history is intrinsically tied to our nation’s history, and even 175 years later, it will be a piece of our nation’s future,” Durbin said. “Chicago is the proud home of the YMCA’s headquarters, and our state is better for the contributions of this organization, which has served as a community hub for nearly two centuries. I’m encouraged to see this bipartisan resolution to celebrate the long and storied history of the YMCA unanimously pass the Senate.”

“For 175 years, the YMCA has been a steady force for good in communities across America. Here in Oklahoma, 17 YMCAs are putting that mission into action every day, supporting families, mentoring young people, and strengthening the communities we’re proud to call home,” said Lankford.

U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11), and Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) introduced a companion resolution in the House.

“After 175 years of providing shelter, health services, and a place to stay, the YMCA has earned national recognition. I’m pleased that the Senate has passed this resolution and grateful to Senator Durbin for his leadership,” said Quigley. “For nearly two centuries, the YMCA has provided support for our young people through sports, ESL, and nutrition programs, helping nurture generations of Americans. I look forward to the House following suit and passing this resolution soon.”

“As the YMCA celebrates 175 years, I’m grateful for the impact our local Ys have had here in Western North Carolina,” said Edwards. “From supporting families and developing young leaders to promoting healthy living, the YMCA continues to be a pillar and resource throughout our nation. This milestone is a testament to the lasting difference YMCAs make in our communities.”

“For 175 years, YMCA has been a champion of youth development, healthy living, and community-building. It’s a place where people, young and old, can socialize, connect, and thrive,” said Pappas. “With this resolution, we celebrate YMCA, its contributions to our communities, and its continued success.”

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Gallego and Kelly Back Legislation to Require DHS to Get Local Approval Before Opening New Detention Facilities

WASHINGTON – Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly backed the Respect for Local Communities Act to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to solicit public comments and receive written approval from state and local officials before constructing, acquiring or operating any new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility or detention center. The bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify relevant Congressional committees prior to initiating such activities.

“ICE’s plan to turn a warehouse in Surprise into a detention facility without consulting city, county or state officials shows the agency’s complete lack of transparency. I fully support securing the border, but that’s not what this is. Instead, once again, DHS has chosen Stephen Miller’s depraved and dangerous agenda over working with local leaders to protect Arizonans,” said Senator Gallego. “This bill would ban DHS from forcing communities to shoulder the burden on public services and infrastructure of a detention center without any say in the decision.

“Local community members and officials deserve a seat at the table when the federal government makes decisions that affect them. Our bill makes sure DHS can’t blindside communities and force facilities on them like they did in Surprise. Rather, it will require transparency, coordination, and cooperation with people on the ground. We can enforce our laws and secure the border without leaving communities in the dark,” said Senator Kelly.

Last month, DHS announced it had acquired and awarded a contract to retrofit a warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, to house and process 1,500 ICE detainees without notifying the City of Surprise or Maricopa County officials. The Surprise facility is part of ICE’s broader plan to spend $38.3 billion to expand detention capacity, even as local governments and residents remain in the dark about the impacts on public safety, emergency services, and infrastructure.

Read the full legislation HERE.


Gallego, Colleagues Demand HHS Immediately Release Title X Funding

Senators: “Any gap in Title X funding could result in over two million patients losing access to contraception and preventative care, worsen maternal health outcomes, and increase sexually transmitted infections.”

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined 38 colleagues in sending a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., demanding that HHS take immediate action to protect Americans’ uninterrupted access to comprehensive family planning and services by awarding a one-year full funding extension for all current Title X grantees.

Last year, the Trump Administration withheld millions in funding from almost one in five Title X grantees for months, placing over 840,000 people at risk of losing access to Title X-funded care and forcing some sites to close. While the administration restored funding to these groups by December 2025, many grantees were forced to serve the same need with reduced funding. Now, Title X grantees’ current funding is set to lapse on March 31, 2026.

In their letter, the senators highlight the importance of Title X, helping to provide broader access to important services that have resulted in improved health outcomes like lower maternal and infant mortality, fewer premature births, and lower rates of cancer. Since 1970, the Title X Family Planning Program has provided lifesaving family planning and preventive health services for low-income or uninsured patients. Title X services include contraception, cervical cancer screenings, pregnancy testing and counseling, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.

“In short, these services not only make our communities healthier, but also improve educational and economic attainment for women and their families,” the senators wrote.

While funding for all Title X grantees is set to lapse at the end of the month, HHS typically releases Title X non-compete continuation grant guidance in late December, affording grantees about 90 days to complete their continuation application. So far, HHS has not released any guidance or the notice of continuation funding opportunity for Title X year-five awards, creating widespread uncertainty. If this administration fails to meet the April 1, 2026 deadline for releasing Title X funding to current grantees, the repercussions could be catastrophic, with over two million patients losing access to contraception and preventive care and thousands of health care sites put at risk of closure.

“Any gap in Title X funding could result in over two million patients losing access to contraception and preventative care, worsen maternal health outcomes, and increase sexually transmitted infections,” the senators continued. “It will also risk layoffs of essential health care providers and staff who provide care for patients at thousands of Title X clinics nationwide, worsening the national maternal and reproductive health care crisis.”

“A lapse in funding caused by this administration would deny patients and their families the dignity of affordable health care and irreparably worsen the health care crisis that President Trump and Republicans in Congress have already exacerbated by enacting the largest cuts to health care in American history,” the senators concluded. “It is imperative that the Department act now and issue a one-year extension of Title X funding.”


Gallego, Kaine, Schiff Introduce War Powers Resolution for Cuba

WASHINGTON – Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced a War Powers Resolution to ensure any U.S. participation in hostilities against Cuba is explicitly authorized by Congress. The resolution is privileged and may be called up for a vote after 10 days. President Trump has engaged in a military blockade of Cuba, and has recently threatened direct military action against Cuba. He has said that the U.S. would “take care of Cuba” and suggested Cuba would “fall soon” and should make a deal “before it is too late.”

“As if the disaster of the Iran War and the resulting spike in oil prices weren’t enough, Trump is now threatening to intervene in Cuba as well,” said Senator Gallego. “He ran on America First, but now it’s clear he’s become a puppet of the war hawks in his party. The American people want nothing to do with nation building—they want lower prices, good health care, and affordable homes, not a new war to satisfy neoconservatives in South Florida.”

“When will President Trump understand that Americans want lower prices, not more unnecessary wars? Only Congress has the power to declare war under the Constitution, but he operates with the belief that the U.S. military is a palace guard, ordering military action in the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Iran without Congress’ authorization or any explanation for his actions to the American people,” said Senator Kaine. “We shouldn’t risk our sons and daughters’ lives at the whims of any one person. After President Trump’s recent blockade and threats of military action in Cuba, I’m introducing this War Powers Resolution to prevent our Armed Forces from engaging in hostilities unless authorized by Congress.”

“The American people have spoken loud and clear that they do not want any more costly wars of choice that skyrocket prices at home,” said Senator Schiff. “Instead, Donald Trump has bypassed Congress’s sole authority to declare war with attacks on Iran and Venezuela, and at the solemn cost of seven servicemembers whose lives have been lost. The president’s saber rattling toward Cuba makes clear where his sights are next. Congress must make its voice heard, or we risk involvement in another risky war of choice and losing our constitutionally granted authorities forever.”


Gillibrand, Duckworth Demand Trump Administration Protect Children From Risky, Age-Inappropriate AI Toys

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch an investigation into whether Mattel and other toy companies are unfairly and deceptively marketing age-inappropriate toys to parents and putting our youngest children at risk. In the letter, the senators implored the FTC to use its full authority to crack down on companies that deceptively market these toys as “safe” or “academic” when in fact they are known to have had inappropriate conversations with users.

“Our children should be protected from AI toys that have the potential to expose them to inappropriate concepts and compromise their privacy,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The FTC has a responsibility to make sure companies protect children’s data privacy and exercise caution in making unsubstantiated claims about products intended for young children. The FTC must investigate whether AI-enabled toy companies are misleading American families when advertising these toys, and they must hold companies accountable for failures to protect children’s privacy.”

Earlier this year, artificial intelligence powerhouse OpenAI put out an explicit warning that ChatGPT is not meant for children under age 13 and to exercise caution regarding children’s exposure. The senators highlighted real-world testing that shows why; in some cases, “AI-enabled plush bear toys provided users with specific information on where to find dangerous objects in a home, such as knives, and how to light a fire using a match, while another AI-enabled plush bunny engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a user.”

The senators continued, “Although the manufacturer of one plush bear subsequently suspended sales of all AI toys and took steps to address these issues, the very fact that a company brought a child’s toy to market with inappropriate and potentially dangerous features affirms the alarming reality that this emerging industry is failing to ensure, at a minimum, their products are as appropriate for children as advertised.”

A full copy of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Chairman Ferguson:

We support the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) decision to conduct a Section 6(b) investigation into generative artificial intelligence (AI) companion products. We are particularly concerned about toys that use AI chatbots, that are marketed to young children, that are connected to the internet and that are equipped with speakers and microphones. The sellers of these toys often claim the toys can provide meaningful, educational benefit for young children, despite the lack of evidence to back up such claims. We strongly urge the FTC to use its full authority against any company that engages in unfair or deceptive practices regarding the use or inclusion of AI in toys, including seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the deceptive or unfair marketing of AI-embedded toys, as well as investigating and sanctioning companies for violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

A quick search for “AI toys” on Amazon results in over 2,000 hits, with prices ranging from under $10 to $999, and the plethora of AI toys is expected to grow. Large Language Models (LLMs) are the basis of AI technology embedded in children’s toys. LLMs, particularly OpenAI’s generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) models, were never designed for children. In fact, OpenAI responded to the question, “Is ChatGPT safe for all ages?” with a clear two-part response stating that ChatGPT is not meant for children under 13, the potential for the model to produce inappropriate output and the need for parents and educators to exercise caution in exposing children to ChatGPT.

Real world testing sheds light on why OpenAI advises users that ChatGPT is not meant for children under age 13 and that users should exercise caution regarding a child’s exposure to its chatbot (along with troubling questions of why OpenAI would agree to a strategic collaboration with Mattel, a leading global toy and family entertainment company, to bring “the magic of AI to Mattel’s iconic brands”). Specifically, some AI-enabled plush bear toys provided children users with specific information on where to find dangerous objects in a home, such as knives, and how to light a fire using a match, while another AI-enabled plush bunny engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a user. Although the manufacturer of one plush bear subsequently suspended sales of all AI toys and took steps to address these issues, the very fact that a company brought a child’s toy to market with inappropriate and potentially dangerous features affirms the alarming reality that this emerging industry is failing to ensure, at a minimum, their products are as appropriate for children as advertised.

Sellers of AI toys often make bold, and unproven, claims about their products. These include statements that the toys function as a teacher, provide “academic tutoring,” help develop problem-solving abilities and improve “creativity and critical thinking.” Companies are additionally advertising AI toys as “a safe, gentle friend” or “companion” to their children. In marketing these products, claims abound that they independently match children’s “emotional needs” by helping them “express feelings and build confidence” or enable “daily love.” However, toy makers’ claims are largely unsubstantiated and could therefore be deemed unfair and deceptive to the consumer.

While it remains possible that in carefully planned use cases, certain LLM applications may benefit a child’s learning and development—if designed with child-centered learning principles—there is a dearth of information on how AI-enabled children’s products impact child cognition, learning and social development in the near- and long-term. Similarly, LLMs foster a mere illusion of possessing an inner life or self-awareness, but they are not human and do not possess human conscience, judgement or values. There is little to no disclosure on how, or if, these AI-enabled toy companies incorporate evidence-based practices into the LLMs they install in otherwise normal looking children’s toys. Rather, at a recent hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Dr. Jenny Radesky, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, and San Diego State University Professor of Psychology, Dr. Jean M. Twenge, noted that AI companies exploit young children’s trust and push children to spend more time with AI interaction rather than essential, real-world learning and socializing.

Fair and transparent marketing of these toys should clearly indicate that they cannot and do not replace human teaching and interaction.

Finally, we have concerns about data privacy protections under COPPA. AI-enabled toys necessarily collect and record information about the children who use them, in part through cameras and microphones. Despite an abundance of products available on the market today, sellers provide little transparency regarding the collection, transmission, retention and use of children’s data. In its safety audit, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund describes the toys’ misrepresentation of data practices to the user and instances of failure to collect consent for data collection, in violation of COPPA. The toys’ utilization of wi-fi, Bluetooth, third-party AI chatbots and text-to-speech functions further introduce significant concerns about the security of children’s data against bad actors.

It is disturbing that companies are failing to take proactive measures to accurately market their products and ensure their compliance with the law before they are put in the hands of children. Childhood is an incredibly important and formative period for healthy development. The FTC has a responsibility to make sure companies protect children’s data privacy and exercise caution in making unsubstantiated claims about products intended for young children. That is why we strongly urge the FTC to investigate whether AI-enabled toy companies are engaging in unfair and deceptive practices misleading Americans, investigate potential failures to protect children’s privacy and hold companies accountable for any such violations.

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Grassley, Iowa Congressional Members Press for Clarity on Biofuels Tax Credit to Ensure 45Z Works for the Ag Economy

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and a group of House and Senate colleagues in a letter urging the Trump administration to ensure the final 45Z clean fuel production credit rule recognizes a wide array of on-farm practices that put family farmers first.

In their letter to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers applauded the Trump administration’s interagency efforts to develop this guidance. Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) also signed the letter.

“45Z was designed to add value to farmers’ crops and expand domestic production of clean, homegrown biofuels. Still, its success depends on clear, workable rules allowing farmers and biofuel producers to meaningfully participate—clarity the Biden administration repeatedly failed to provide,” the lawmakers wrote.

“45Z guidance should provide farmers with maximum flexibility to implement a wide range of practices based on what works best for their farm. Moreover, the guidance must ensure the credit does not box out family farmers from participating by imposing unnecessary red tape or overly prescriptive requirements,” they continued.

“Delivering this outcome after years of mismanagement under the previous administration will be a clear win for U.S. farmers and demonstrate the Trump administration’s commitment to a stronger rural America,” the lawmakers concluded.

The letter was also signed by Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), as well as Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Mike Flood (R-Neb.), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Tony Wied (R-Wis.), Erin Houchin (R-Ind.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.).

Read the full letter HERE.

Background:

In July, Grassley voted for the Working Families Tax Cuts law, which is helping revitalize and strengthen Iowa’s renewable fuels industry and deliver for Iowa farmers. The law improves and extends the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit through 2029, including the small agri-biodiesel tax credit – which provides transition relief to small biodiesel producers. After the Biden administration failed to release functional guidance to implement the credit, many small producers, including four in Iowa, shut down operations.

In January 2025, Grassley criticized the Biden Treasury Department’s 45Z guidance, saying it “left farmers with more questions than answers.” In April 2024, Grassley released a video statement and spoke on the Senate floor to condemn the Biden administration’s GREET Model decision and its impact on 45Z. That December, he called on the Biden administration to release updated 45Z guidance for clean fuels production.

Grassley has long advocated for homegrown Iowa biofuels. Last month, he praised the Trump administration for advancing its initial 45Z guidance, providing much-needed certainty for farmers, biofuel producers and consumers.


Q&A: Farm Policy and National Agriculture Week

Q: How are you working to address uncertainty in the farm economy?

A: With planting season around the corner, I’m hearing a message loud and clear from Iowa farmers. High input costs are hammering their bottom lines. Rising diesel prices add fuel to a fire already burning brightly in the farm economy that’s impacting the entire food supply chain. From my seat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m leading a bipartisan call to boost consumption of American farm products and lower input costs. That includes ramping up domestic biofuel markets and ending the Biden-era tariffs on phosphorous, anhydrous ammonia and potash that are driving up fertilizer costs for farmers. Specifically, I’m pushing to get year-round E15 across the finish line. Congress needs to stop pussyfooting around and get this bill to the president’s desk. President Trump announced in Iowa he’s ready to sign it into law. Making E15 available 365 days a year across the country would pump $14 billion into the farm economy and lower prices at the pump for consumers. Don’t forget, homegrown biofuels help displace foreign oil and boost our nation’s energy and national security.

Witnesses at a recent Senate Agriculture Committee hearing delivered a no-nonsense consensus from farm country: producers are hurting. Chairman John Boozman of Arkansas described what farmers across the country are facing, “If you’re putting something in the ground today, you’re losing money.”

That’s because commodity prices are below the cost of production. This is an unsustainable situation. Farmers want to earn money from the marketplace, not the federal treasury. As a lifelong family farmer, I won’t let Washington take farmers for granted. I often remind policymakers that only two percent of the population feeds the other 98 percent. Food doesn’t grow in supermarkets. Last year, I worked to strengthen the farm safety net and supported increases to reference prices and crop insurance subsidies to reflect the downturn in the farm economy. These updates take effect Oct. 1. I’m also working to finalize the new farm bill that’s been extended twice since the 2018 farm bill expired on Sept. 30, 2023. I’m glad the House Agriculture Committee passed its bipartisan farm bill on March 5. From the U.S. Senate, I’ll continue pushing to deliver a farm bill that brings certainty to farm country, protects natural resources, boosts research, expands markets and empowers the people who grow the nation’s food to earn a living and pass on their livelihoods from one generation to the next.

Q: What changes are underway at USDA to better serve farmers?

A: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins unveiled USDA’s modernized “One Farmer, One File” initiative that’s designed to serve America’s farmers more effectively and efficiently. The new platform puts farmers first by improving services and how they interface with the USDA. Farmers don’t have time to waste navigating bureaucratic red tape. “One Farmer, One File” replaces antiquated systems to ensure a farmer’s records follow the farmer. With electronic sign-up options, the updates are designed to expedite approvals and get farm payments into farmer’s pockets sooner, rather than later. The multi-year initiative will include an advanced acreage reporting platform to simplify the process for farmers. Importantly, farmers needing in-person support or preferring paper applications and traditional acreage reporting may continue to do so at their local Farm Service Agency county office.

Iowa crop farmers need to keep in mind the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program is open through April 17, 2026. For those who filed their 2025 crop acreage report for eligible commodities, farmers may choose to expedite their payment by applying online through the USDA at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/farmer-bridge-assistance-fba-program. Farmers also can request a pre-filled application from their local Farm Service Agency office.

National Agriculture Week is March 15-21, 2026. Senator Grassley is honored to represent the family farmer and champion Iowa’s farm economy that ranks #1 in corn, pig, egg and biofuels production.


Hawley Op-Ed: The Abortion Industry Simply Changed Tactics. Now Congress Must Act.

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) penned the following op-ed in The Daily Wire on his legislation to ban mifepristone for abortion and to empower women harmed by the drug to sue its manufacturers. Read full op-ed here or below.

When the Supreme Court finally overturned Roe v. Wade — reversing the worst Supreme Court decision since Dred Scott — pro-life Americans rejoiced. Little did we know the fight was only just beginning. Since then, abortion advocates have dumped millions of dollars in dark money into our states to overturn state laws, and in some cases, state constitutional provisions, protecting life. They’ve relentlessly pushed for pro-abortion judges for state courts and the federal judiciary. But above all, they’ve turned to a drug called mifepristone to bring abortion on demand to every state in the union. If pro-lifers want to protect the innocent unborn, and the health and safety of women, there’s only one thing to do: ban the chemical abortion drug.

Mifepristone first came to market in the United States in 2000, courtesy of the Clinton administration. From the beginning, it was mired in controversy. The drug was a copycat of the infamous French RU-486, which works by essentially inducing a miscarriage. This isn’t contraception. It’s not the morning-after pill. It’s a full-on abortion: the drug’s purpose is to destroy a viable pregnancy.

It was controversial because the drug carries so many side effects. It doesn’t merely kill the baby. It can also cause internal hemorrhaging, infections, sepsis, and other life-threatening conditions in the mother.

The pharma company that introduced it in the United States knew that, and took unusual and extreme measures to protect itself from liability. The name of the company is Danco. It was incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Its board of directors is secret; its investors are secret. Its corporate structure is largely shielded from public view. We do know early backers included George Soros — surprise, surprise — and other far-left activists who loudly backed population control. Their goal was simple: to put a Planned Parenthood in every mailbox in America, by developing a drug that could be shipped anywhere and cause an abortion anytime.

The Clinton administration was also aware of mifepristone’s dangers, and its FDA approval came with significant restrictions. The drug had to be prescribed by a physician. That physician had to see the patient before prescribing it, dispense the drug in person, and conduct a follow-up assessment. The FDA was also required to keep track of major health events associated with the drug and report them. The agency even slapped a “black box” warning on mifepristone’s label, meant to alert women that the drug came with serious risks.

Over time, however, one liberal administration after another removed these safeguards.

The Obama administration dropped many of the reporting requirements and allowed non-physicians to prescribe the drug. Obama’s FDA also discarded the required follow-up visit.

The Biden administration went further and eliminated the in-person dispensing requirement altogether.

The result? Today, mifepristone can be ordered over the internet from anywhere in the world — many of the most trafficked websites are in India — and mailed to any address in the United States. No meaningful safety protocols remain to protect women’s health or even police the integrity of the drug itself.

And what you might have expected to happen has happened. The largest study of mifepristone ever conducted found that in nearly 11% of cases, women who take the drug experience a “serious adverse health event” such as sepsis or hemorrhaging. That’s more than one in ten women. Incredibly, this rate is 22 times higher than what drug maker Danco admits to on its label.

Mifepristone’s ubiquity has also led to other horrors. Women across this country have been pressured into taking it by pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood, who routinely lie about the effects. And abusive partners — able to order the drug with a simple click — have intimidated or coerced women into taking it and killing babies they wanted to keep.

But of course, Danco doesn’t care: it’s making billions. Business is so lucrative, in fact, that mifepristone is the only drug the company makes. One recent piece of public reporting suggested investors’ returns top 450% — even as one in ten women who take the drug face health devastation. What has Danco done to compensate them? Nothing. They’re too busy raking in the cash.

And the far-left abortion crazies who funded Danco and worked for years to eliminate every last safety restriction, have gotten what they wanted, too. Mifepristone now accounts for 70% of abortions in the United States — a proportion that goes up every year. It is truly abortion on demand. And no matter what voters in the states decide, the number of abortions continues to grow: the drug is available by mail anywhere, irrespective of state laws.

Those harmed are women. And the innocent unborn. At least 7.5 million women have taken mifepristone since the year 2000. That means hundreds of thousands of women are sent to emergency rooms or left to cope with life-threatening conditions on their own. And millions of babies lost.

It is time for Congress to act. The last twenty years have made abundantly clear that this drug is inherently dangerous. And inherently prone to abuse. There is a direct solution: Congress should ban mifepristone for use in abortion. And Congress should give every woman harmed by the drug — and we’re talking thousands upon thousands of women — the right to sue Danco and the other drug makers who have lied to them.

Banning mifepristone in abortions is the only realistic way to end this epidemic. The FDA could theoretically reinstate some or all of the older safety restrictions, but as one recent study showed, even with safety restrictions in place, the drug still sends approximately 10% of women to the hospital with serious side effects. And it’s lethal to the baby nearly 100% of the time. Then, too, a future FDA under a liberal president could just take the safety protocols away again.

The real solution is for Congress to act, to permanently stop the drug trade in abortion by barring mifepristone from use in abortions. And to give women their voice back by finally giving them rights against the pharma kingpins.

This is not a sidelight to the fight for life. This is the fight for life. It is the fight of our time. And it cannot wait a day longer.


Hawley Urges Supreme Court to Hear Section 230 Case and Clarify Scope of Big Tech’s Liability

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to hear an appeal in Doe v. X Corp., a case in which the Ninth Circuit held that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act absolved X, formerly known as Twitter, from civil liability even though the social media platform knowingly hosted child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Senator Hawley argued that lower courts have distorted Section 230 far beyond its original purpose, extending what was intended as a narrow protection for good-faith content moderation into a blanket shield for social media platforms that knowingly host criminal material.

Senator Hawley insisted that Section 230 removed only publisher liability, which does not absolve social media companies of knowingly hosting unlawful content. The Ninth Circuit’s interpretation also effectively nullifies civil remedies that Congress provided to victims of child sexual exploitation.

Without intervention from the Supreme Court, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material online will continue to go unchecked. Building on revelations from Senator Hawley’s recent hearing on human trafficking with Tim Tebow, Senator Hawley noted in the brief that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline received—in 2024 alone—more than 20 million reports from electronic service providers containing over 62 million files related to child sexual exploitation.

Senator Hawley is urging the Supreme Court to clarify Section 230’s scope and restore accountability for social media platforms that knowingly host criminal content.

Read the full amicus brief here.


Trump’s War in Iran Is Increasing Costs for New Mexicans

Gas prices up 35% in New Mexico since the start of Trump’s war in Iran

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, responds to rising energy prices caused by President Trump’s war in Iran. According to new data, gas prices in New Mexico have jumped 94 cents — a 35% increase — to $3.67 on average, as of today. This comes as families are already paying more for energy, with the Trump administration attacking American-made clean energy and worsening the nation’s affordability crisis.

“President Trump promised to end wars, not start them. But his reckless war in Iran is already forcing New Mexicans to pay more at the pump. With gas prices jumping 35% to $3.67 per gallon since Trump took office, New Mexicans’ hardearned money is covering less and less. And that’s money that should be staying in New Mexicans’ pockets, going toward their rent or saving for Spring Break with their kids.

“We need to be investing in American-made clean energy and electric cars. And we need to stop letting American families’ financial well-being be dictated by volatile foreign oil markets. Americans want lower costs and stability, not wars.”

Heinrich voted for a War Powers Resolution directing President Trump to end military operations in Iran if not explicitly authorized by Congress.Senate Republicans blocked this War Powers Resolution.

Heinrich’s work to lower energy costs for New Mexico families:

Last December, Heinrich secured long overdue funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to lower utility costs and heating bills for New Mexico families this winter.

Additionally, Heinrich, as Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released a fact sheet to inform New Mexicans how President Trump’s actions are gutting the energy sector and hiking up costs for families across the country. At a time when high energy demand is causing rising prices, Heinrich has repeatedly called for Trump and his agencies to stop stalling projects that could increase energy supply and lower prices.

Last October, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor, blasting President Trump for waging a war on American-made energy – causing energy costs to skyrocket and killing good-paying jobs. He urged his Republican colleagues to take action to resolve the affordability crisis facing New Mexico families.

Last August, Heinrich hosted a roundtable discussion on how many jobs the Trump Administration will kill and how much they will raise New Mexicans' utility bills as a result of their Big, Bad Bill.

Last July, Heinrich grilled Trump’s Department of Energy (DOE) nomineeAudrey Robertson on energizing our grid with renewables to keep costs low for families, and her record of managing oil spills in New Mexico as the co-founder and an executive of Franklin Mountain Energy. Heinrich also questioned energy company executives on Trump Administration actions that are impacting grid reliability and driving up families’ energy costs.

Heinrich also pressed several pending Trump Administration nominees on the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget request and his Big, Bad Bill, which raises costs on American families by gutting investments in energy efficiency and clean energy programs.

Last May, Heinrich urged the Trump Administration to immediately reverse course on its plan to illegally and unilaterally terminate the ENERGY STAR program. In the letter, Heinrich highlighted the cost-saving benefits of the program, which would save the average American household $450 on utility bills each year simply by choosing ENERGY STAR certified products.

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Heinrich Joins Luján to Demand HHS Secretary Kennedy to Reverse Changes to Government Websites that Promote False & Dangerous Information About Autism

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) to send a letter demanding that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reverse changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) websites that promote false and dangerous information about autism and put Americans’ health at risk. In recent months, at the direction of Secretary Kennedy, the CDC and FDA websites have undergone dangerous changes that now include false information suggesting a link between vaccines and autism and have removed warnings about unapproved and potentially dangerous products and therapies falsely marketed as treatments for autism.

“Using the power of public health agencies to promote an ideology that will put children at risk and is simply unacceptable,” the senators wrote to HHS Secrteary Kennedy.

“Rather than focus on ensuring families have accurate information, you and others in the Trump administration have chosen to promote unproven drugs like leucovorin, a known cancer medication, for the treatment of autism,” the senators continued.

“These actions are yet another example of your attempts to undermine science and put Americans’ health at risk. The American people deserve better. We demand that you provide accurate medical information and reverse the changes to CDC and FDA’s websites immediately,” the senators concluded.

The letter is led by Luján. Alongside Heinrich, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Reverand Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The text of the letter is here and below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently changed the information on their websites related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This comes after multiple actions by you and others in the Trump administration to promote unproven ASD treatments and use agency resources to perpetuate false information linking vaccines and autism. Using the power of public health agencies to promote an ideology that will put children at risk and is simply unacceptable.

At your direction, the CDC changed its website, “Autism and Vaccines,” to include false information suggesting a link between vaccines and autism. These changes masked in scientific language are dangerous and deceptive. The website declares that “the statement ‘Vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim” and goes so far as to accuse health authorities of “ignor[ing]” evidence to the contrary, both of which are demonstrably false. It was reported that these changes were not made by scientists and public health experts at CDC but rather by political appointees at HHS at your specific direction. This level of political overreach to change scientific information to reflect conspiracy theories is dangerous and puts Americans’ health at risk.

Additionally, the FDA removed a longstanding informational webpage that warned consumers about unapproved and potentially dangerous products and therapies falsely marketed as treatments for autism. The deleted page, titled “Be Aware of Potentially Dangerous Products and Therapies that Claim to Treat Autism,” had explained that there is no cure for autism, outlined evidence-based treatments for symptoms, and listed a variety of examples of bogus interventions such as chelation and other unapproved remedies that can pose serious health risks. Its removal is incredibly concerning as it eliminates a clear, science-based resource aimed at protecting patients from misinformation and unsafe practices, raising questions about your commitment to accurate and transparent public health guidance amid broader debates over health communication at FDA and CDC.

Rather than focus on ensuring families have accurate information, you and others in the Trump administration have chosen to promote unproven drugs like leucovorin, a known cancer medication, for the treatment of autism. You even went so far as to direct the manufacturer to submit a new supplemental application to expand the label of this drug, despite the lack of scientific evidence historically required for such a change. Several researchers have raised concerns about the dangers of expanding leucovorin for use among individuals with autism spectrum disorder and just yesterday, the FDA backed down from expanding its approval for autism. Despite the FDA relying on a systematic review of the literature yielding the strongest data supporting this conclusion, the Trump Administration’s rhetoric about the promise of leucovorin for people with autism resulted in doctors being inundated with calls and requests from parents seeking prescriptions. Making these claims without sufficient large-scale studies and evidence studying its long-term effects, misleads millions of families, gives false hope, and puts children in significant danger.

These actions are yet another example of your attempts to undermine science and put Americans’ health at risk. The American people deserve better. We demand that you provide accurate medical information and reverse the changes to CDC and FDA’s websites immediately.

Sincerely,

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Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse, Hurd Lead 80 Bipartisan Lawmakers to Defend NCAR

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, along with U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse and Jeff Hurd, led 80 of their colleagues in submitting a bipartisan public comment opposing proposed structural changes to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. The comment was submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of its request for public comment on the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the cutting-edge research institution.

“The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) delivers substantial value to the nation as an integrated hub of Earth system science that protects Americans and supports our economy,” wrote the lawmakers.

“NCAR serves as a backbone of the nation’s weather and Earth system science enterprise, translating research into practical, operational tools. Since its founding in 1960, NCAR has evolved to deepen our understanding of interconnected Earth systems and integrate previously siloed research areas. It integrates weather observations, advanced modeling, and high-performance computing into a cohesive system that delivers tangible benefits to communities and national security. […] NCAR is also a national leader in seasonal forecasting, supporting preparedness for future weather conditions across the military, private sector, emergency management, and agriculture.”

The lawmakers concluded: “…we oppose the restructuring and weakening of NCAR, which would erode critical research capacity, disrupt long-standing partnerships, and diminish our ability to understand, anticipate, and respond to extreme weather-related risks.”

The bipartisan coalition of lawmakers underscored concerns about how fragmenting NCAR’s capabilities, including divesting its research aircraft or supercomputing center, would affect national weather forecasting capabilities, national security functions, and the long-term return on federal investment. They wrote to the NSF in their capacity as stewards of taxpayer resources, noting that Congress has consistently appropriated funds for NCAR as an integrated national capability serving multiple federal agencies and public partners.

Following the Trump admin announcement to dismantle NCAR in Boulder, Hickenlooper has led the fight against their effort. In December, he led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition in support of protecting NCAR and joined a rally to save NCAR in Boulder and visited the lab in Boulder for a protest of the shut down. Hickenlooper also blocked a funding package for weeks to demand NCAR receive full funding.

Read the full letter HERE and below:

Dear Acting Administrator Stone:

We write in response to the National Science Foundation’s Dear Colleague Letter titled “NSF Intent to Restructure Critical Weather Infrastructure.” The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) delivers substantial value to the nation as an integrated hub of Earth system science that protects Americans and supports our economy. We have serious concerns about how structural changes to the organization will affect national weather forecasting capabilities, national security functions, and the long-term return on federal investment.

Congress has consistently appropriated funds for NCAR as an integrated national capability serving multiple federal agencies and public partners. As stewards of taxpayer resources, we have a responsibility to ensure that significant structural changes preserve core capabilities, avoid duplication, and protect the value of long-standing federal investments.

NCAR serves as a backbone of the nation’s weather and Earth system science enterprise, translating research into practical, operational tools. Since its founding in 1960, NCAR has evolved to deepen our understanding of interconnected Earth systems and integrate previously siloed research areas. It integrates weather observations, advanced modeling, and high-performance computing into a cohesive system that delivers tangible benefits to communities and national security. NCAR-developed models underpin forecasting advancements used by NOAA, the Department of Defense, FAA-supported aviation systems, and private weather companies, reducing duplication and inefficiency across agencies and sectors.

NCAR is also a national leader in seasonal forecasting, supporting preparedness for future weather conditions across the military, private sector, emergency management, and agriculture. Its aircraft icing and turbulence forecasting tools, long distributed by NOAA’s Aviation Weather Center, are foundational to aviation safety. NCAR’s contributions in this space are widely relied upon and deeply embedded in operational systems.

The NCAR–Wyoming Supercomputing Center is a cornerstone of the nation’s ability to integrate, analyze, and model complex Earth system datasets. These computing capabilities are purpose-built for atmospheric and Earth system sciences, which differ substantially from more generic high-performance computing environments. The close integration between computing infrastructure and Earth system research is essential to maintaining operational forecasting capabilities and cost efficiency.

NCAR tools support our national defense by enabling mission-critical, global intelligence on weather conditions, directly supporting sensitive military operations. NCAR scientists are also advancing machine-learning techniques to detect atmospheric toxic releases that could endanger troops. In addition, NCAR’s leadership in space weather and Earth–Sun system research is equally vital to defense readiness, supporting the prediction of solar storms that can disrupt satellites essential for GPS, communications, and intelligence systems. These capabilities help safeguard military operations, command-and-control networks, and the critical infrastructure that underpins national security, as well as commerce.

Fragmenting NCAR’s capabilities, including divesting its research aircraft or supercomputing center, would increase contracting, coordination, and oversight costs while weakening operational integration that currently reduces duplication across agencies. By maintaining common infrastructure and open modeling frameworks, NCAR minimizes duplication, strengthens partnerships, and maximizes the return on federal research investments across states and sectors.

In sum, we oppose the restructuring and weakening of NCAR, which would erode critical research capacity, disrupt long-standing partnerships, and diminish our ability to understand, anticipate, and respond to extreme weather-related risks.

Sincerely,

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