Senator Marshall: The Democrats Need to End this Shutdown for the Good of America

Senator Marshall Joins The Guy Benson Show

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Fox News Radio’s The Guy Benson Show to discuss a possible deal to fund DHS and TSA, the future of ICE funding, and the confirmation of Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary.

Click HERE or on the image above for Senator Marshall’s full interview.

On a possible DHS funding deal with the Democrats:

“Right, I’ll do my best to explain it, but we’ve had the Democrats on the floor the past week, I think it was clear they were never going to fund ICE, that they kept removing the goal post, but they said they would fund everything except ICE. So we’re going to put that on the table. So basically, it’s about 95% of what the Appropriations Committee had already funded for DHS, plus $5 billion for ICE enforcement. But the good news is we already prefunded this; we prefunded it in our Working Family Tax Cuts bill. So we’re going to ask them to put their money where their mouth is. I think we’re going to put this on the floor within a day or two, and hopefully end this nightmare that we’re seeing. A four-hour wait down in Atlanta airport right now in John Ossoff’s state. So we’re hoping to put this baby to bed soon.”

“Yeah, that’s spot on, Guy, thanks, you’re explaining it better than I am, and I appreciate the help. So you’re spot on, we prefunded ICE, and we will do a reconciliation bill. I’m meeting here in a couple of hours — I’m on the Budget Committee, Senator Lindsey Graham leads that Budget Committee. As you can imagine, Lindsey is talking to the White House constantly, so the answer is “Yes, yes, and yes.” I think the big follow-up question is, what about all these reforms that the Democrats are asking about? Well, they can go pound sand, right? They cannot have their cake and eat it too here. We’re allowing them to move on and not fund ICE, but we’re not going to let them change any of the process. You know, we’re going to keep the administrative warrants, we’re going to let them wear their masks, those types of things as well. So we really do need to move on from this, and I think this is a good — I wouldn’t even call it a compromise — I think it’s a win-win for both parties.”

On President Trump’s opinion of the deal:

“It’s my understanding, but I would never speak for the President. But we’ve had senators up there talking to him, there’s constant communication, and I think the answer is yes. But I would never want to speak on behalf of the President.”

On the Democrats’ opinion of the deal:

“Well, that’s a great question. You know, surely 10 of them will come across the aisle and vote yes on this. Everyone who’s running for president over there is going to raise holy hell until this is voted on, and that’s why we just need to get it done, right? The last thing they want is to let those Democrats go home and just get the tar beaten out of them by their radical, liberal base on this particular issue. So all those that are running for President, I’m sure they’re already on the microphones right now, just bashing this deal, but I think that Chuck had better take a win. Chuck Schumer better take a win; we should take a win; let America have a win. We’re going to keep our border safe and secure, we’re going to fund TSA, and we’ll come back with even more funding for the ICE officers at the end of the day.”

On whether assisting at airports will help the public’s view of ICE:

“Guy, I think you’re right. I hope you’re right. My dad was a chief of police for 25 years, and I certainly understand this image issue as well. I can tell you, when I walk around Washington, D.C. today compared to two years ago, it’s day and night seeing the Army Reserve Officers and the National Guard. I’m walking through a park yesterday with my wife, and to see those folks there, it’s like, “Ah, everything’s okay.” And I think there’s a little bit of that — there are so many things you cannot control in an airport, but to feel safe, that’s a really good thing. And they are professionals at watching people come in and out and making sure that we’re all safe at least, so I think you’re right. And a big shout out and thank you to the TSA officers who’ve hung in there with us, and I feel so bad for them, and hopefully that we can make this right.”

On funding ICE and DHS in the future:

“Yeah, Guy, I think this is why you’re a political analyst. Certainly these are the points that we discussed over the lunch hour. The Republican Conference gets together for lunch every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and we debated exactly that point. I would just go back to say, look, we anticipated this, we prefunded ICE, DHS at levels to protect them for three years. But you’re right, if each party is so far right and so far left on this, it’s really hard to ever get to a compromise. I still think this is the best thing we could do under the circumstances, it’s not a perfect world, the days have gone by when both part when the minority party is very willing to help the other side out on this. You throw Minneapolis in the middle of this — that’s nothing that we were counting on when this process started, but it did happen. Okay? It did happen. I think that ICE did make some mistakes, and this is where we are; this is the best deal we can do. I think this is the very best we can do is get TSA up and running. We funded ICE, we were ahead of them on this one in my opinion — we were a year ahead of them on the game — and now we can do reconciliation again and even fund it for the next 10 years, if we want to.”

“You got it — it sounds like you were in our lunch, these are exactly the debates that we had. And at the end of the day, I hope that America looks at these two parties and says the Republican Party is the party of law and order, they’re the ones that want to fund DHS, that want to fund ICE, and the Democrats are the defund the police party. A month from now, or six months, the 70% of Americans who aren’t as engaged as you and your listeners are, I hope that’s what they see out of all this. And we get TSA paid, and we get our airports back in order as well. So I think this is the best we can do in this situation, and I think this is the best way out of this situation.”

On the confirmation of Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary:

“Well, it was too bad, it was almost on party lines. But all I know is Markwayne very well — he is a patriot, he loves this country, he wakes up thinking law and order, safety, and security. He’s going to do a great job, I’ve got his back. And getting DHS funded, I think, is a big step in that direction, and I think the fact that he was part of this plan where we are today will help him do his job better. And really, I’ll give him a lot of credit, I think, behind the scenes of helping pull this off and come up with a plan that we all can live with.”

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Merkley Celebrates Senate Passage of His Bipartisan Bill to Wipe Out Non-Flushables from Wastewater Infrastructure

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced that his bipartisan Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act unanimously passed the Senate. Merkley leads the WIPPES Act with Maine’s U.S. Senator Susan Collins. The WIPPES Act would address health, ecosystem, and wastewater infrastructure concerns caused by the flushing of non-flushable wipes.

“When non-flushable wipes back up our wastewater system, it hurts our infrastructure, our environment, and our wallets,” said Merkley. “Accurately labelling wipes and other products as ‘non-flushable’ is a necessary step to help consumers appropriately dispose of their waste. We are on the way to protecting our water supply and improving wastewater infrastructure as the WIPPES Act comes even closer to becoming law.”

The bipartisan, bicameral WIPPES Act addresses the pervasive, but ultimately preventable, problem of the flushing of non-flushable wet wipes by establishing “Do Not Flush” labeling requirements for products such as baby wipes, household wipes, disinfecting wipes, and personal care wipes. Many of these wipes are composed of manufactured plastic fibers or other strong fibers, and while these products are not marketed as flushable, consumers frequently flush them into sewer systems as a means of disposal. Due to strong fibers, these types of wipes do not break down as they travel through the sewer systems. Instead, the wipes become magnets, attracting fats, oils, and grease that become obstructions in sewerage systems’ pipes. These masses clog pumps, block sewer collection systems, and jam motors, leading to sewage backups and treatment equipment failures.

U.S. Representatives Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA) lead a similar version of the legislation, which passed the House of Representatives in 2025.

The WIPPES Act is endorsed by the American Public Works Association, American Rivers, Association of Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), Bay Area Pollution Prevention Group, California Association of Sanitation Agencies, Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, ISSA (the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association), National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Rural Water Association, National Stewardship Action Council, Oak Lodge Water Services, Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies, The Coalition for Clean Water, Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts, Water Environment Federation, and 5Gyres.

To learn more about the WIPPES Act, including the full text of the legislation, click here.

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Merkley Launches Investigation into Private Equity Ownership of Child Care Centers

Investigation Seeks to Determine if Private Equity Ownership in the Child Care Industry is Prioritizing Investor Profits Over the Health, Safety, and Welfare of Children

Washington, D.C. — To address the growing concern over the role private equity is playing in the child care industry, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, launched an investigation into the two largest private equity controlled child care companies serving collectively over 365,000 children, KinderCare Learning Companies and Learning Care Group, as well as their respective private equity owners. Merkley is calling on these companies to provide information and documents, such as financial records, ownership structure, tuition and cost trends, safety standards, and employment practices to better understand the effects of private equity ownership in the child care sector.

“Ensuring working families can access safe and affordable child care is paramount to building out the middle class and making it easier for families to get ahead. Unfortunately, private equity firms have increasingly brought their playbook to essential care industries—including child care—buying up independent providers, rolling them into large chains, and prioritizing investor profits over the well-being of the families and communities that depend on these services,” said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley.

“Our future generations are our greatest resource, and we owe it to them to ensure their safety and security are at the forefront of everything we do. The private equity firms and the child care companies they control owe it to the families they serve to fully cooperate with this investigation, and I look forward to fully examining the documents and information we are requesting,” Merkley concluded.

As noted in the letter, since 2023, state regulators in several states have cited KinderCare facilities for inadequate supervision, staff-to-child ratio violations, unsafe or unsanitary conditions, and failures to report or respond appropriately to alleged abuse. Between 2015 and 2025, Learning Care Group-owned centers in multiple states—including Georgia, Missouri, and Texas—reported health and safety violations, with incidents involving children left unattended on buses, supervision failures, and alleged physical abuse by staff.

KinderCare Learning Companies is owned by Switzerland-based private equity firm Partners Group, and Learning Care Group is owned by private equity firm, American Securities. KinderCare Learning Companies and Learning Care Group own 1,500 and 1,100 child care centers across 40 states, respectively. KinderCare includes brands such as KCLC, Crème School, and Champions; and Learning Care Group operates under brands including La Petite Academy, Childtime, Tutor Time, Montessori Unlimited, Everbrook Academy, and Children’s Courtyard.

To read the letters and list of questions Merkley sent to the child care companies and their private equity owners, please see below.

Letter to KinderCare Learning Companies and private equity firm Partners Group is HERE.

Letter to Learning Care Group and private equity firm American Securities is HERE.

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VIDEO: Sen. Moran Speaks on the Senate Floor Urging Reinstating Sanctions on Russia & Iran

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today spoke on the Senate floor, calling for maintained pressure on Russia and Iran and reinstating oil sanctions that were temporarily waived. Sen. Moran also highlighted the importance of investing in domestic energy production to reduce America’s reliance on foreign countries for energy.

“The recent decision to waive oil sanctions on Russia and Iran in an attempt to stabilize oil prices frees up both of these adversaries to sell their oil at market prices,” said Sen. Moran. “Waiving oil sanctions now advantages the countries that wish to do us harm. Iran and Russia are actively working together to place Americans and other innocent lives at risk. I urge the administration to immediately delist these waivers and not renew them once they expire after 30 days.”

“President Trump’s sanctions are an essential component to the efforts to pressure Putin into ending his war and forcing Iran to come to the negotiating table,” continued Sen. Moran. “This tool is more important than ever. Now is the time to keep the pressure on through the use of sanctions and choke off Russia and Iran’s oil revenue that is funding their military operations. They are our adversaries. We should keep the sanctions on.”

Last July, Sen. Moran joined Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), along with more than 80 of their Senate colleagues, in cosponsoring the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, legislation that would impose secondary tariffs and sanctions on countries that continue to fund Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran’s Full Remarks

Sen. Moran’s full remarks as delivered:

“The recent decision to waive oil sanctions on Russia and Iran in an attempt to stabilize oil prices frees up both of these adversaries to sell their oil at market prices. Waiving oil sanctions now advantages the countries that wish to do us harm.

“Iran and Russia are actively working together to place Americans and other innocent lives at risk: Iran has provided Russia with critical drone technology to use in terrorizing Ukrainians, and Russia is reportedly providing intelligence that allows Iran to target U.S. facilities and critical infrastructure throughout the Middle East.

“I urge the administration to immediately delist these waivers and not renew them once they expire after 30 days.

“Last October, President Trump took the extraordinary step of imposing sanctions on Russia’s two largest energy producers, LukOil and Rosneft. This move was long overdue and corrected yet another error in President Biden’s handling of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“Here in this body, in the Senate, more than 80 senators have added their names to legislation to further sanction Russian oil, and there is significant support to get this legislation passed.

“In the months following President Trump’s new sanctions, Russia’s revenues dropped significantly. Vladimir Putin was beginning to feel the budgetary pressures, forcing him to choose between which domestic programs to cut to sustain his war of aggression in Ukraine.

“The effect of President Trump’s sanctions policy is now at risk of being reversed. To combat rising oil prices, the Treasury Department recently lifted sanctions for a period of 30 days on Russian oil already at sea.

“The Financial Times estimates that Russia is earning $150 million a day, or nearly $2 billion, since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed at the start of the month. In the span of a 30-day waiver, Russia could reap nearly $5 billion in a single month.

“Similarly, with the waivers for Iran announced last Friday, one report says Iran could make as much as $14 billion from their sales. It makes no sense to provide financial relief to a country that we are currently fighting.

“The impacts of these waivers will be immediate. Russia now can more easily fund its war machine, from producing more drones and ballistic missiles to offering more pay for enlistees. The influx of cash is a gift to one of our nation’s greatest adversaries intent on continuing its war in Ukraine, dividing NATO and cooperating with China, Iran and North Korea to undermine American interests.

“The infusion of money for Tehran will enable it to rebuild capabilities that have been degraded over the past several weeks. Iran can also fund its proxy networks that threaten our interests in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. The waivers signal desperation to the Iranian regime and reinforces that their strategy of taking the Strait of Hormuz hostage is working.

“Since Putin began his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has wagered that he can outlast the United States, he can outlast Europe and other nations supporting Ukraine.

“Likewise, the Iranian regime believes it can endure pain for longer than its neighbors and the United States. It is up to us to make sure that, that bet they both lose.

“Here at home, Americans are not immune to the sacrifices that come from waging war. Certainly, our servicemembers, their families, they are paying a price. It’s not expected that Americans can go without suffering as well. This is a reminder of the urgent need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and strengthen domestic energy production.

“Energy touches every aspect of daily life, whether heating our homes, irrigating our crops, operating a business or simply filling up the tank. To secure a stable and affordable energy future, we must pursue a long-term strategy that expands and diversifies our domestic energy portfolio.

“That includes drilling more oil domestically, permitting reform and advancing biofuels, hydrogen, the next generation nuclear technologies and hydropower – resources that can bolster our resilience and reduce vulnerability to global markets. I’ve long supported allowing year-round, nationwide sale of E15. Expanding access to this affordable fuel blend gives consumers more choices at the pump and strengthens markets for our nation’s farmers and ethanol producers.

“Now is the time to continue to invest in our own energy production, so we are not dependent upon foreign countries to supply us that energy.

“In both Russia and in Iran, the economic pressures of sanctions had begun to make their bite. Russia cannot achieve a breakthrough on the battlefield, and more money is needed to bribe ordinary Russians to fight. In Iran, mismanagement of the economy under sanctions led to major protests over the past decade.

“President Trump’s sanctions are an essential component to the efforts to pressure Putin into ending his war and forcing Iran to come to the negotiating table. This tool is more important than ever. Now is the time to keep the pressure on through the use of sanctions and choke off Russia and Iran’s oil revenue that is funding their military operations. They are our adversaries. We should keep the sanctions on.”


Murkowski, Coons introduce legislation to protect Americans from credit repair scams

Washington, DC—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act (ESCRA) today to crack down on fraudulent credit repair organizations that exploit consumers with high fees, false promises, and deceptive practices.

Credit repair organizations (CROs) often claim they can improve a consumer’s credit score by disputing negative information on credit reports or negotiating with creditors. While some legitimate counselors help consumers navigate credit issues, too many bad actors charge upfront fees, promise results they cannot deliver, and take advantage of people already facing financial hardship.

The Ending Scam Credit Repair Act would strengthen protections for consumers by prohibiting CROs from collecting payment until six months after they have provided proof that a consumer’s credit score has improved. The bill would also require CROs to register with a state, increase civil penalties for violations, require stronger disclosures to consumers, and prohibit “jamming,” a tactic in which CROs flood financial institutions with duplicative disputes that can prevent legitimate credit report issues from being addressed.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Sarah McBride (D-DE and Young Kim (R-CA).

“There are too many predatory operators in the credit repair industry exploiting financially vulnerable Americans with deceptive practices and exorbitant fees,” said Senator Murkowski. “Rebuilding financial stability and improving one’s credit score is often a grueling, time-consuming process. This legislation establishes long-overdue guardrails and accountability to stop bad actors from profiting off those trying to get back on their feet.”

“Americans are already stretched thin. Improving a low credit score is hard enough without having to navigate predatory companies seeking to lie to you and rip you off,” said Senator Coons. “The Ending Scam Credit Repair Act would protect Americans trying to restore their financial foundation while making it easier for honest businesses to succeed.”

The legislation responds to widespread abuse in the credit repair industry, where some companies exploit loopholes in current law to charge consumers without delivering any meaningful results. A common warning sign of a scam is when a company asks for payment before providing services or guarantees that it can remove accurate information from a credit report or raise a credit score by a specific amount. Under ESCRA, credit repair organizations would be required to disclose that they do not provide any service that a consumer could not do themselves for free. The bill also creates new standards for communications with furnishers of consumer information in order to streamline legitimate credit repair efforts and reduce abuse.

Additionally, ESCRA would:

Prohibit CROs from requesting or receiving payment until they provide documentation from a consumer reporting agency issued at least six months after completing their service showing that the consumer has been successfully represented.

Prohibit CROs from “jamming” financial institutions with duplicative disputes.

Require all CROs to register with a state.

Increase civil liability to $500 per violation, if greater than the consumer’s actual damages or the amount paid to the CRO.

Require CROs to disclose that they do not provide services consumers could not do themselves for free.

Establish requirements for CRO communications with furnishers of consumer information.

The Ending Scam Credit Repair is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center, American Financial Services Association, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, American Bankers Association, National Association of Consumer Advocates, Consumer Bankers Association, Delaware Community Legal Aid Society, Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council, American Fintech Council, Consumer Action, and the AARP.

“As financial fraud becomes more sophisticated, AFSA supports bipartisan legislation from Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Murkowski to combat credit-repair organization scams, which increasingly harm consumers by charging hundreds of dollars with no positive results. This bipartisan effort will prohibit credit repair organizations from jamming financial institutions with duplicate requests and prevent these entities from taking advantage of consumers who are seeking better financial footing,” said Michael Grimes, Vice President of Congressional Affairs at the American Financial Services Association.

“AARP is committed to ensuring older Americans are financially secure in retirement so they may retire with dignity. Unfortunately, older Americans who have errors or negative marks on their credit report are often locked out of access to credit as they try to address these issues on their credit reports. Making matters worse, credit repair organizations (CROs) may claim to help them erase or fix items on people’s credit reports but instead exploit customers with the promise of a quick credit fix… AARP is pleased to support [this] legislation, which would introduce new rules to shield consumers from misleading and fraudulent practices,” said the AARP.


Murkowski, Cortez Masto, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Electric Grid Security

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act (SECURE Grid Act), bipartisan legislation to empower states to fully assess the risks to their electric grids, from extreme weather to cyber threats and other vulnerabilities.

Every year, states must submit a State Energy Security Plan (SESP) to receive funds from the State Energy Program, which are used to design, develop, and implement renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. The SECURE Grid Act would require future SESP to include additional grid threats – such as supply chain dynamics, weather-related threats and vulnerabilities, the potential for physical grid attacks, and the impact of growing energy demand. By assessing these additional risk factors, states will be better able to recognize and respond to any weaknesses in their energy infrastructures. This legislation would also require state coordination with suppliers of manufactured components and infrastructure to better understand and prepare for risks to the grid.

“Energy grids aren’t just infrastructure—they’re a part of daily life, keeping Alaskans warm through the winter, supporting businesses, and enabling efficient resource development,” said Senator Murkowski. “As we work to connect more communities across our state, ensuring our electric grids are secure and resilient is essential. By requiring more comprehensive data in state energy security plans and at the same time removing bottlenecks at DOE, this legislation will help identify weaknesses and strengthen our ability to respond to the full range of vulnerabilities facing Alaska’s grids.”

“Expanding AI use and increased electrification are placing increased demand on electric grids across the country, including in Nevada,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “It is more important than ever that states are aware of the full range of risks that face their electric grids so weak points can be addressed before they trigger mass outages.”

“With demand for energy rapidly increasing and New Hampshire experiencing more severe weather events, it is vital that we enhance planning efforts that reduce vulnerabilities of the electric grid,” said Senator Shaheen. “I am proud to help lead this legislation that will bolster our electric grid, improve resiliency and strengthen reliability for New Hampshire families and businesses.”

The SECURE Grid Act would require the following data to be included in SESPs:

Threats posed to local distribution facilities and supporting grid infrastructure, such as distribution substations;

Risks posed by increasing grid demand;

Available technologies to mitigate threats to energy distribution and rising grid demand;

Distinctions between weather-related threats and physical threats of violence;

Benefits of public-private partnerships to meet energy security needs;

Availability of innovative financing models to save taxpayer dollars and increase access to digital grid technologies; and

The role of vendors in maintaining a secure, reliable, and resilient grid.

The SECURE Grid Act is endorsed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), and Schneider Electric. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Bob Latta (R-Ohio-05) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07).

“The power grid is the backbone of the U.S. economy, and electrical manufacturers are delivering the technologies needed to modernize the grid, meet record-breaking energy demand, and strengthen resilience,” said Peter Ferrell, Senior Director of Government Relations at NEMA. “NEMA is pleased to support this bipartisan legislation because it encourages a more comprehensive approach to grid security and readiness across generation, transmission, and distribution systems. A stronger understanding of the supply chains for critical grid components can help reduce risk, improve reliability, and support a more secure and modern electric system.”

“NASEO endorses the bipartisan SECURE Grid Act and thanks Senators Cortez Masto, Murkowski, and Shaheen for introducing the legislation,” said David Terry, President of NASEO. “This bill will strengthen the energy security of the United States and support robust energy emergency preparedness and electric distribution system planning.”

“Schneider Electric applauds U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, Jeanne Shaheen, and Lisa Murkowski for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the SECURE Grid Act in the U.S. Senate. As a leading energy technology partner, we understand that a reliable, future-proofed grid – bolstered by innovative energy tech – is essential to the U.S. economy and national security, and this legislation can help states identify vulnerabilities and strengthen infrastructure amidst growing energy demand,” said Jeannie Salo, Chief Public Policy Officer, North America, at Schneider Electric.

The full text of this legislation can be found here.


Murkowski, Warren, Grijalva Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Enhance Child Abuse Prevention in Tribal Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) alongside Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-7) reintroduced the American Indian and Alaska Native Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (AI/AN CAPTA). This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to strengthen resources available to Tribal nations working to prevent child abuse and neglect.

As the primary federal law addressing child abuse and neglect, CAPTA recognizes Tribal eligibility for certain grants; however, Tribal nations have historically received only a small share of funding and limited support for research and prevention initiatives. American Indian and Alaska Native children are significantly more likely than children from other groups to face traumatic experiences in childhood, demonstrating the need for additional resources and research. This legislation seeks to address those gaps by ensuring more equitable access to funding, increasing dedicated resources for Tribal programs, and supporting culturally informed prevention strategies to better protect children and strengthen families in Tribal communities.

“Protecting children must always be a top priority, but across the nation we continue to see the repercussions of underinvestment in the systems designed to keep Native children safe and healthy. Alaska Native children are disproportionately impacted by abuse, neglect, and trauma – experiences that can shape the course of their entire lives. As federal programs that support vulnerable communities continue to face uncertainty, this legislation is as important as ever,” Senator Murkowski said. “This legislation will help make sure prevention funding reaches Tribal communities so families can access culturally appropriate services and children can grow up safe, supported, and connected to their communities.”

"For years, Tribal communities have been functionally locked out of the funding that helps protect American Indian and Alaska Native children from abuse,” Senator Warren said. “Our bill will deliver real investments in programs and research to help eliminate child abuse and neglect in Tribal nations once and for all."

“For decades, tribal nations have been asked to do more with less—forced to compete for scraps of federal funding while their communities have faced historic disinvestment. That is unacceptable. This bill delivers long-overdue resources for community-led solutions, strengthens prevention efforts, and finally treats tribal nations as the sovereign partners they are,” Representative Grijalva said.

“As the Executive Director for the Navajo Division for Children and Family Services, I support the American Indian and Alaska Native Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. Our goal is to empower healthy and safe families that flourish and live in hózho´, translated as balance, beauty, and harmony. There are many barriers to this goal which require culturally grounded and integrated services. Equitable funding set aside for tribal nations will ensure we have the resources that are tailored to meet the needs of our Nation in preventing and addressing child abuse. Strengthening our own people, utilizing both our traditional and Western knowledge, methods and practices, will help to heal our families while supporting tribal sovereignty,” said Thomas Cody, Executive Director of the Navajo Division for Children and Family Services.

“CWLA applauds Senator Murkowski and Senator Warren for reintroducing the American Indian and Alaska Native Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (AI/AN CAPTA),” said Linda S. Spears, President and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America. “American Indian and Alaska Native children remain disproportionately represented in the child welfare system. This legislation will finally provide Tribes with equitable access to the critical prevention resources already available to states, enabling them to implement culturally grounded child abuse prevention programs that reduce the need for out-of-home placements for AI/AN children. This investment is long overdue and essential to ensuring that children remain safe, supported, and connected to their families and communities.”

“Native families and communities have strong traditions with regard to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The National Indian Child Welfare Association greatly appreciates the introduction of the American Indian and Alaska Native Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and Senator Murkowski and Senator Warren’s efforts to move this legislation forward. The legislation will increase funding for Tribal Nations to expand their community based prevention efforts and ensure Tribal prevention models are more accessible and available to inform future Tribal prevention program development and future policy discussions of how to increase support for these proven approaches,” said Sarah Kastelic, Executive Director for the National Indian Child Welfare Association.

“The National Congress of American Indians thanks Senators Murkowski and Warren for their advocacy and support for improving the lives of Native American and Alaska Native families. The 500% increase in tribal set-asides in the American Indian Alaska Native Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act will allow Tribes to access more funding to support their intervention and prevention efforts, ensuring that Tribal children grow up in safe, stable, and thriving communities,” said Larry Wright Jr. Executive Director of NCAI.

AI/AN CAPTA would:

Increase the Tribal set-aside for child abuse prevention funding to 5 percent, helping ensure sustained investment in Tribal programs and support culturally relevant prevention strategies developed by Tribal nations and organizations

Ensure fairness in Tribal access to CAPTA funding by requiring that Tribes are considered in criteria for the equitable distribution of federal prevention grants

A one-pager of the bill can be found here.

In addition to its standalone reintroduction, several provisions of the AI/AN CAPTA are included in Senator Murkowski’s draft legislation, the Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act.

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Senate Democrats Force War Powers Vote as Trump's War in Iran Spirals Out of Control

WASHINGTON–In the fourth week of Donald Trump’s war with Iran, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) forced a vote on Senator Murphy’s War Powers Resolution to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in and against Iran. Senate Republicans blocked the measure.

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

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

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

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

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

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


Murray and Wyden Press Trump Administration on Effort to Undermine Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children

Senators: “Without in-person orientations, we are deeply worried that children who have yet to speak with counsel to understand their rights may be pressured by the Department of Homeland Security to sign their legal rights away and self-deport, which could result in children returning to dangerous situations in their home countries.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seeking changes to request for proposals (RFP) that would erode legal services and protections afforded by federal law to unaccompanied children.

“Legal service providers work to prevent further abuse, trauma, neglect, and exploitation of children, by building relationships with the children through in-person consultations, tracking their cases closely, and advocating for the legal rights and best interests,” Murray and Wyden wrote. “The recently amended RFP creates new and even more concerning restrictions on legal access, requires legal service providers to report confidential information to the government, and eliminates funding for certain legal services. The amended contract fails to meet the government’s legal obligations to unaccompanied children and would materially harm unaccompanied children if effectuated. We urge you to remove these significant restrictions on legal access.”

The letter, sent to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., outlines how the proposed changes undermine legal services for unaccompanied minors by switching legal orientations from in-person to virtual, creating restrictions for legal representation, and delaying payments to legal service providers by months or years.

Congress reaffirmed and funded the government’s obligation to provide legal counsel to unaccompanied children on a bipartisan, bicameral basis in the recently-enacted fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill.

The letter calls on the Trump administration to revise the proposal so it will:

Guarantee that legal services, including legal orientations, are provided in person absent extraordinary exigent circumstances, such as a pandemic or other widespread public emergency.

Restore legal protections for children to the levels under the current contract.

Ensure that children qualify for legal representation regardless of the geographic location of their sponsor or foster placement.

Ensure children’s confidentiality is maintained, and prevent violations of attorney ethics and their licenses.

Guarantee timely compensation for legal service providers’ billable services during the contract period.

The full text of the letter to Secretary Kennedy is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Kennedy,

We write regarding the amended and reissued solicitation for Legal Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children Request for Proposals (RFP), which the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published on February 23, 2026. The recently amended RFP creates new and even more concerning restrictions on legal access, requires legal service providers to report confidential information to the government, and eliminates funding for certain legal services. The amended contract fails to meet the government’s legal obligations to unaccompanied children and would materially harm unaccompanied children if effectuated. We urge you to remove these significant restrictions on legal access.

HHS is obligated to provide legal services, to the greatest extent practicable, to unaccompanied children who enter its custody. HHS is legally required to provide these services through the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA) and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Foundational Rule. Congress, on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, has consistently reaffirmed the government’s obligation to provide legal counsel to unaccompanied children by enacting annual appropriations for children’s legal services programs year after year, including the recently-enacted fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill. HHS’ amended RFP undermines both statutory requirements in black letter law and congressional intent with appropriated funds.

The amended contract solicitation now requires legal orientations to be primarily virtual, rather than in person, contravening congressional mandates and HHS regulations. In fact, under the RFP, “[i]n person orientations shall be considered a [contract] deviation,” and must be approved in advance. Further, the RFP allows pre-recorded videos to substitute for live orientations.

In-person orientations are a time-tested, effective means of communicating information in an age-appropriate, child-friendly, and trauma-informed manner. Without in-person orientations, legal service providers will be unable to assess what each child needs in their required legal consultation, such as specialized interpretation services and accommodations for disability or developmental needs.

Without in-person orientations, we are deeply worried that children who have yet to speak with counsel to understand their rights may be pressured by the Department of Homeland Security to sign their legal rights away and self-deport, which could result in children returning to dangerous situations in their home countries. We also want to make clear that virtual orientations do not fulfill the program’s mandate. The fiscal year 2026 appropriations report specifically directs ORR to ensure that legal orientations and screenings are provided in person by qualified providers. The RFP directly contravenes this congressional mandate. Further, the RFP’s requirement of virtual orientations and pre-recorded videos also contravene HHS regulations, which make clear that in-person services are preferred.

We are concerned that the RFP curtails children’s access to legal consultation services that have been available to children for years. For example, the RFP does not provide for legal consultations after a child has been in custody for more than six months, or for a child who has been released from ORR custody. It is also unclear whether the RFP permits follow-up meetings for legal consultations, which is inconsistent with children’s rights to independent legal services. There are situations where more than one meeting may be required to provide adequate consultation. The RFP excludes critical services such as appeals to Board of Immigration Appeals, motions to reopen, and motions to terminate a case on procedural grounds. As drafted, the RFP seems to deny children legal representation, due to geographic factors out of their control, if they are placed with a sponsor outside of the service area where they received legal services when they were in ORR custody. Children should be eligible for legal representation even if they are placed with sponsors or in foster care outside of their prior ORR custody location.

We are also alarmed that the RFP requires providers to report confidential details to the federal government, which undermines representation and puts legal service providers’ professional licenses at risk. The RFP requires providers to report “[c]lient information regarding the outcome of a legal consultation” and “evidence of service completion.” Forcing providers to submit documents and information that identifies the specific, requested relief of clients may violate attorney ethics rules requiring client confidentiality. Attorneys have an ethical duty to preserve attorney-client confidentiality, and these rules have been substantially incorporated in jurisdictions across the country.

Finally, the RFP prevents providers from receiving payments for months or even years for certain services that require government action before a service is deemed “completed.” According to the RFP, work on certain services will not be billable until the final U.S. Citizenship for Immigration Services, immigration judge, or state court decision is made, which in many cases, such as in asylum or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, could take many years. These decision timelines are beyond the control of providers. The RFP fails to address how providers will be compensated for work that will not be billable until after the contract period ends altogether. Legal service providers would be strained, if they are not compensated for extended periods of time, and this would ultimately undermine HHS obligations under TVPRA and the ORR Foundational Rule to provide legal services “to the greatest extent practicable” to unaccompanied children.

Our concerns with the RFP are not hypothetical. In January 2026, a sixteen-year-old child was apprehended by immigration enforcement agents in Minnesota, labeled as an unaccompanied child, and then sent into HHS custody out of state so Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorneys could not immediately locate him. The Legal Rights Center worked to trace the child’s phone calls to his father, eventually relocated him in Michigan, and then worked to secure his release from wrongful detention. Much of the trauma and pain experienced by this child and his parents could have been avoided if he had been connected with a legal service provider at the outset of his interactions with the federal government.

Legal service providers work to prevent further abuse, trauma, neglect, and exploitation of children, by building relationships with the children through in-person consultations, tracking their cases closely, and advocating for the legal rights and best interests. In particular, the in person presence of legal service providers helps them become trusted adults, which enables them to report to authorities instances of abuse that children may experience while in ORR custody. Many cases of abuse have come to light due to the work of legal service providers.

Any efforts to restrict the legal services provided to children would violate HHS’ obligations under the TVPRA and ORR Foundational Rule. For all the reasons we have outlined and more, we urge you to revise the RFP to incorporate the following:

Guarantee that legal services, including legal orientations, are provided in person absent extraordinary exigent circumstances, such as a pandemic or other widespread public emergency.

Restore legal protections for children to the levels under the current contract.

Ensure that children qualify for legal representation regardless of the geographic location of their sponsor or foster placement.

Ensure children’s confidentiality is maintained, and prevent violations of attorney ethics and their licenses.

Guarantee timely compensation for legal service providers’ billable services during the contract period.

We request that you address our concerns and revise the RFP by no later than April 7, 2026.

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Senator Murray on Funding DHS and Reining in ICE and CBP

Murray calls out Senate Republicans for blocking TSA funding 8 times in a row while dragging feet on basic reforms to ICE and Border Patrol

Murray: “Just as Democrats have been very clear, we will immediately fund TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and CISA while talks continue on ICE and Border Patrol, we’ve also made very clear that if we are talking about funding any part of ICE or CBP, we absolutely must take some key steps to rein them in.”

***WATCH: Senator Murray’s full remarks***

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at this afternoon’s Senate Democratic leadership press conference regarding continued negotiations on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and common-sense reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol.

Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:

“Conversations are happening now about a path ahead to fund DHS and rein in ICE. But let’s remember where we are: TSA agents are going without pay—travelers are showing up at our airports to find three, four, even five-hour security lines—and Trump and Republicans are refusing to just fund TSA.

“Democrats have tried again and again to pay TSA while negotiations continue on reforms on ICE and Border Patrol but Republicans have now blocked us eight times and counting.

“We have tried to send TSA agents the paychecks they deserve—Trump has responded by sending ICE instead.

“TSA agents do not need ICE officers hovering over their shoulders—and intimidating travelers, they need to get paid. There is no excuse for the chaos Republicans have caused at our airports.

“Now, some of my Democratic colleagues and I have had productive meetings with the White House as we press for meaningful reforms to ICE. But they would be a lot more productive if the President didn’t keep making new and unreasonable demands over social media. It is awfully hard to find common ground with Republicans when it’s not clear they have common ground among themselves.

“Until recently, the Republican position was: ‘We won’t let you give a dollar to TSA, unless you cut a blank check to Stephen Miller.’ That is absurd. But now, we’ve made some headway toward reforms, Trump told Republicans: maybe he doesn’t want these negotiations at all, and he won’t accept any deal to fund TSA—or the rest of the Department—until Congress passes his voter suppression bill. He is actually holding TSA pay hostage all to disenfranchise tens of [millions] of American citizens over delusions of voter fraud.

“Republicans now say he’s walking away from that, but the president has yet to clarify his ultimatum. The only way we are going to get out of this mess is if we know that the President is on the same page as the Republicans.

“Now, Democrats are continuing to push for modest reforms.

“And, just as Democrats have been very clear, we will immediately fund TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and CISA while talks continue on ICE and Border Patrol, we’ve also made very clear that if we are talking about funding any part of ICE or CBP, we absolutely must take some key steps to rein them in.

“The current Republican offer in front of us does not do that.

“We have made some progress, and the White House has already agreed to some steps. Bottom line: reforms must make it into law.

“So instead of creating chaos, President Trump needs to get serious about finding a solution—and Republicans need to stop blocking TSA pay while dragging their feet on some very basic reforms.

“We should pay TSA today, and finalize a deal to fund the rest of the Department and rein in ICE and Border Patrol.”

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Padilla Defends Congress’ Authority Over Asylum Law Amid SCOTUS Arguments in Noem v. Al Otro Lado

Padilla co-led an amicus brief rejecting the Trump Administration’s unconstitutional attempt to rewrite asylum statutes by executive action

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement after Supreme Court arguments took place in Noem v. Al Otro Lado, a case concerning the Trump Administration’s so-called “metering” policy that blocked people at official ports of entry from applying for asylum, which is allowed under federal law:

“President Trump’s inhumane policy of turning away potential asylum seekers before they even have a chance to ask for protection is both unlawful and betrays our longstanding commitment as a nation to protect those fleeing persecution. Our amicus brief and the arguments the Court heard today were clear: Trump doesn’t have the authority to singlehandedly decide how our immigration system works. He can’t take an unlawful shortcut to change the rules — he needs an act of Congress.”

Last month, Padilla, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.-02), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, led 23 Democratic Members in filing an amicus brief before the Supreme Court of the United States, urging the Court to interpret the law consistent with Congress’ intent and reaffirm that the Constitution vests in Congress — not the executive branch — the authority to write and revise the nation’s asylum laws.

The lawmakers argued that the Administration’s metering policy is not lawful enforcement discretion, but an attempt by the executive branch to ignore Congressional intent. They also warned that the Administration’s position could be used as a playbook by future administrations to circumvent acts of Congress and defy federal law.

Full text of the brief is available here.

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Padilla Statement on Republicans’ Refusal to Rein in Trump’s Costly Iran War

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked a war powers resolution that he cosponsored to rein in Donald Trump’s war against Iran:

“Thirteen American lives lost and tens of billions of taxpayer dollars spent in just three weeks since Donald Trump plunged us into war without Congressional authorization. There is still no plan, no clear justification, and no end in sight.

“Americans called for lower prices, not endless wars. Trump’s unauthorized war in Iran is costing taxpayers nearly $1 billion a day. The price of gas is up by over $1 per gallon, in addition to electricity bills climbing due to Trump’s war on clean energy. And the Republican majority in Congress refuses to challenge the president or conduct needed oversight. The American people deserve better.”

Today’s vote marked the third time that Senate Republicans have blocked efforts to limit Trump’s power to use military force in Iran. Padilla slammed Senate Republicans for blocking a previous war powers resolution that he cosponsored to end United States military involvement against Iran unless explicitly authorized by Congress. He also previously condemned Trump’s initial preemptive strikes against Iran without Congressional authorization.

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Senate Unanimously Passes Padilla and Banks’ Tyler’s Law to Fight Fentanyl Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan legislation to help combat the fentanyl crisis. Tyler’s Law would direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide hospitals with guidance on incorporating fentanyl testing into routine emergency room drug screenings.

“The fentanyl crisis has devastated hundreds of thousands of families in every corner of America,” said Senator Padilla. “Named in honor of Tyler Shamash, an Angeleno who tragically lost his life when hospital screening tests failed to detect fentanyl in his system, Tyler’s Law would ensure that hospitals across the country screen for fentanyl in routine drug panels. Expanding fentanyl testing will bring us one step closer to preventing these tragedies, and I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this lifesaving legislation as soon as possible.”

“Too many families in Indiana and across the country have lost loved ones to fentanyl,” said Senator Banks. “Tyler’s Law will help prevent these tragedies by directing ERs to screen for fentanyl so patients can get life-saving care faster. I’m grateful to Tyler’s mother Juli for leading this effort to make testing the national standard.”

“I am incredibly encouraged by the Senate’s passage of Tyler’s Law,” said Juli Shamash, Mother of Tyler Shamash. “Far too often, people are unaware that fentanyl, as a synthetic opioid, is not detected in many standard drug screenings. Expanding routine emergency room screenings to include fentanyl has the potential to save countless lives. While we now look ahead to the House, this milestone brings us one step closer to preventing tragic, avoidable deaths.”

The legislation is named after Tyler Shamash, a Los Angeles teenager who died from fentanyl poisoning after he was admitted to the emergency room, where fentanyl was not included in the standard toxicology screen. Following Tyler’s tragic passing, California became the first state to pass Tyler’s Law in 2022.

Fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances are the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States, accounting for over 70 percent of all overdose fatalities in 2023. By expanding fentanyl testing in emergency rooms, this legislation aims to save lives and provide critical information to help combat the nation’s overdose crisis.

Specifically, Tyler’s Law would direct HHS to:

Assess Fentanyl Testing Practices — Study fentanyl testing rates in hospital emergency departments, including associated costs and benefits.

Issue National Guidance — Provide hospitals with recommendations on implementing routine fentanyl testing.

Improve Diagnosis & Treatment — Enhance the identification of fentanyl exposure and guide prevention and treatment efforts.

The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives. Representatives Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Bob Latta (R-Ohio-05), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37) are the lead sponsors of the companion bill.

More on Tyler’s Law can be read here.

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Ignoring His Own Hypocrisy, Trump Votes By Mail While Trying to Narrow Opportunity for Others

WASHINGTON, DC – Despite the fact that voting by mail is safe, secure, and a convenient way for millions of Americans in both red states and blue states alike to exercise their right to vote, President Donald Trump has declared an all-out war on mail-in voting for others, but not himself.

Over the weekend, President Trump was in Florida where he spent hours playing golf but didn’t go to his local polling place – which was open for the special election held to fill a seat in the Florida state legislature. Instead, Trump chose to cast a mail-in ballot. According to the Washington Post: “Trump did not have to vote by mail. He was in Palm Beach over the weekend, and early in-person voting was available through Sunday.”

Last summer Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would be leading “a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES.”

Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed called out President Trump’s hypocrisy, stating: “I have no problem with President Trump voting by mail. But I do have a problem with him spewing misinformation, undermining voter confidence, and trying to take away other Americans’ access to secure, accessible voting methods when he himself uses the exact same method. His philosophy is ‘mail-in-voting for me, not for thee.’ And he is falsely trying to claim mail-in ballots lead to electoral fraud. The truth is mail-in voting is an efficient, secure, and transparent voting method that includes high-tech and highly regulated safeguards against fraud, including signature matching, strict auditing, and other built-in verification methods.

“The security, integrity, and accuracy of our elections is paramount. Mail-in voting is a small piece of the larger puzzle that allows people to cast their vote, just like President Trump did. Seniors, servicemembers, college students, and people in rural or remote areas have found mail-in voting a secure means to make sure their vote is counted. President Trump wants to ban mail-in voters for others, while taking advantage of it himself. He’s waging a misinformation campaign to try restrict and reduce eligible voters from being heard. That’s bad for democracy. Our country works best when every eligible voter is able to cast their vote. We need to eliminate misinformation and unnecessary, regressive barriers to voting, not the option of safe, effective, and transparent mail-in voting.”

In an effort to nationalize election procedures, suppress eligible voters, and give his Administration unprecedented power over elections in all fifty states, President Trump is pushing the so-called SAVE America Act, which would narrow mail-in voting. Under the phony guise of preventing unproven and unmeasured election fraud, this unworkable, highly-partisan bill is a thinly veiled attempt to discourage eligible Americans from registering to vote as well as making voter registration and elections more costly for states, while granting the Trump Administration immediate and unprecedented power over the administration of elections.

According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), about one in three Americans (30.3 percent) voted by mail in the 2024 election, which President Trump won and did not contest the results.

Last year, President Trump signed an executive order that sought to penalize states that accepted mail-in ballots that had been postmarked before or on Election Day, but arrived at election offices after the election. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Watson v Republican National Committee, a legal challenge over a Mississippi state law that was brought in 2024 by the Republican party because Mississippi allows mailed ballots to be counted if they arrive within five business days of election day, so long as they were postmarked before or by election day.

The case is important because mailed ballots sometimes take longer to count. Signatures need to be matched and verified, which takes time, and some states allow for ballots to be ‘cured’ if signatures are flagged for further review. ‘Curing’ a ballot is a two-part process that involves administrators notifying voters of issues with their ballots and allowing the voter to clarify or correct those issues.

President Trump has also previously made the demonstrably false and easily fact-checked claim that the United States was “the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting,” and that “all others gave it up because of the MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD ENCOUNTERED.”

Over 30 countries -- including leading, longtime democracies with major economies -- continue to rely on postal balloting as key parts of their election systems. This includes Austria, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, India, Ireland, Pakistan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and many more.


Ricketts Celebrates “Venerable” Father Flanagan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today,U.S.Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released the following statementafter Pope Leo XIV proclaimed that Fr. Edward Joseph Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, lived a life of heroic virtue — a step in the process of canonization for sainthood:

“The Venerable Father Flanagan was a dedicated priest and exemplary Nebraskan. His commitment to the Catholic faith and the welfare of children is a model for us all. Father Flanagan’s work with Boys Town made sure that countless young Nebraskans had the education, support, and community they needed to succeed. We still see the benefits of his mission today. Thank you, Pope Leo XIV, for recognizing Father Flanagan’s life and work.”


Ricketts Leads National Day of Play Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over the weekend, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced a resolution to designate the first Saturday after the Spring Equinox as the annual “National Day of Play.” The resolution passed by unanimous consent. Amid what the Surgeon General has declared an epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, the National Day of Play encourages all Americans to spend time with family and friends.

“There’s nothing better than a day well spent with family and friends. Play builds social connection, sharpens the mind, and keeps us young at heart,” said Ricketts. “We must combat the loneliness epidemic. Let’s join together across our churches, schools, and communities to enjoy our neighbors and remember to have fun. On National Day of Play, share a smile, play a game, make a new friend, and enjoy your loved ones!”

“Any parent can tell you it’s a really tough time to be a kid. Our kids’ worlds have moved online and it’s making them miserable,” said Murphy. “I’m proud to sponsor this resolution because play is a really important part of growing up and we have to do more to give our kids the opportunity to just unplug and play with their friends.”


Ricketts Statement on Tour of Fire Damage, Meeting with Farmers and Ranchers in Ogallala

Ogallala, NE – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Governor Jim Pillen, Senator Deb Fischer, Representative Adrian Smith, and other officials in meeting with farmers and ranchers in Ogallala. Senator Ricketts released the following statement after witnessing the fire damage and leading a community briefing on recovery resources.

“When we face disasters, Nebraskans stick together. I want to thank our first responders, community volunteers, and everyone who is lending a hand to Nebraskans impacted by these fires. These partnerships and support make Nebraska the best place in the world.

“For all the folks who have been impacted by the fires, now is the time to document damage and apply to recovery assistance programs. These programs, like the USDA’s Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance Program, are here to support you. You deserve this assistance. Secretary Rollins is committed to helping Nebraskans recover. We will work together to get through this.”


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… Sen. Rick Scott in The Washington Post: Big Government Causes Problems

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In case you missed it, Senator Rick Scott wrote a Letter to the Editor in the Washington Post outlining how big government is making life worse for working Americans, as the national debt hit $39 trillion last week.

Senator Scott’s letter was a response to a George Will’s column, which describes the looming impacts of America’s exponentially increasing debt. Senator Scott points out that those consequences are already taking hold in our economy.

In his LTE, Senator Scott wrote, “After the national debt hit $39 trillion, Will noted, as I have for years, that Congress’s reckless spending has put our country on the path to economic ruin.

For decades, Congress has fueled its spending spree by borrowing from our children and grandchildren’s futures to pay Communist China interest on our debt. We’ll likely hit the $40 trillion mark before November’s midterm elections.

As infuriating as that is, it’s not news. Everyone knows Washington has a devastating spending problem.

There is no way to tax or borrow ourselves out of this hole. Every place that Washington has forced big government into our lives has hurt us.

Big government has made the cost of living explode and is threatening to destroy the American Dream. This is especially true for younger Americans, who have been royally screwed by Washington’s failures and the massive costs they’ve created.

Housing, child care, health care, college tuition, starting a business, everything you can think of is harder and more expensive because big government got involved.

Big government causes problems; free markets solve problems.

America is the greatest nation on earth. We can and must have safety nets, so folks don’t fall through cracks. But unless we radically shrink the size and power of the federal government, no safety net can exist and the American Dream will die.

This isn’t a problem to fix tomorrow; the ship is sinking today. If your representative in Congress thinks big government can fix it, vote them out.”

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ICYMI: Risch Talks Nuclear, Public Lands, SAVE America Act on The Ranch Podcast

WASHINGTON – In a recent interview, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) sat down with The Ranch Podcast to discuss nuclear energy, public lands, the SAVE America Act, and key issues of importance to Idahoans.

Click here to listen to Senator Risch’s interview on The Ranch Podcast

Excerpts from the podcast below, lightly edited for clarity:

On Nuclear Energy: “There has been a tremendous renaissance in nuclear energy in the last couple of years.”

“There have been a constant parade of people into my office who are people who have the means and want to get into the industry—whether it’s through their development of a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) or their development of a micro reactor.”

“The SMR and the micro are really going to change things. The micro is going to come online this year and the SMR is not going to be far behind it. It is going to dramatically change the way that energy is produced on this planet.”

“The kind of energy that we’re going to need over the next decade is staggering. It cannot be produced any other way than by nuclear energy.”

On Public Lands: “Out of all the issues I deal with, I’ve never seen one that generates the kind of interest that [public lands] does.”

“This is not a partisan issue. There are people on both sides of the aisle [. . .] in full support of the fact that we love our public lands. It’s part of our soul. It’s part of our history; it’s part of us. We are not going to sell off the public lands, period.”

On the SAVE America Act: “We Republicans are saying, look, if you’re going to vote, it’s fair that everybody knows that you are who you say you are and you are qualified to vote. Is that asking too much?”

“Our point of view is only qualified United States citizens should be allowed to vote.”


Sen. Johnson for The Wall Street Journal: Move to End the Filibuster Now—Before Democrats Do

WASHINGTON – Today, The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) calling for an end to the filibuster to restore effective lawmaking in the U.S. Senate. The senator argued that outdated Senate rules have paralyzed Congress and that eliminating the 60-vote threshold is necessary to pass meaningful legislation.

“At a minimum, if the SAVE America Act fails to pass, the Senate should vote on a rule change (requiring 67 votes) to end the filibuster. It would be interesting to see whether Democrats would vote yes when Republicans are in power. Forcing them to defend the rule now could politically shame them into preserving it later: It’s the only chance I see of dissuading them from voting yes once they regain power,” the senator wrote.

The full op-ed can be found here and excerpts are below.

“The U.S. Senate is broken. That U.S. federal government debt is approaching $39 trillion is only the most obvious evidence proving this point. Since I entered Congress in 2011, we should have passed 180 appropriations bills before the start of the fiscal year they were funding. We've passed only six on time. That's a 96.7% failure rate.

“Owing to that dysfunction, in the past 15 years we've had five shutdowns, relied on 57 continuing resolutions to fund government on an interim basis, and increased or suspended the debt ceiling a dozen times, allowing the federal government to incur an additional $24 trillion in debt. Despite this record of failure, for some inexplicable reason many of my Republican colleagues believe that maintaining the 60-vote threshold required to end a filibuster is crucial to the future of our republic.

“I'll admit that the 60-vote cloture threshold has prevented many bad bills from becoming law, and that without it bad bills would become law more easily. But it also prevents good bills from getting passed.

…

“Lawmakers routinely use the cloture vote today to snuff out discussion and thoughtful consideration of proposed amendments to legislation being debated. The result is a charade in which both sides agree to a set number of amendments that will be voted on that are guaranteed to fail, protecting the original text of the legislation from alteration.

…

“Such are the convoluted rules of the Senate. Senators will vociferously defend them by invoking the tradition and uniqueness of the Senate. I don't share their reverence for the institution, nor does most of the public. And it is public opinion that will eventually end the filibuster.

…

“At a minimum, if the SAVE America Act fails to pass, the Senate should immediately debate and vote on a rule change (requiring 67 votes) to end the filibuster. It would be interesting to see whether Democrats would vote yes when Republicans are in power. Forcing them to defend the rule now could politically shame them into preserving it later: It's the only chance I see of dissuading them from voting yes once they regain power.”

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Rosen Helps Secure Over $4 million in Federal Funding to Support Rural Communities in Nevada

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that Nevada will receive more than $4 million in federal funding through the Secure Rural Schools program (SRS), which provides essential funding for schools, roads, and law enforcement in rural communities across Nevada. Senator Rosen helped introduce the bipartisan Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which became law at the end of last year, extending the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools program through 2026 and authorizing retroactive payments for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.

“Rural communities across Nevada rely on the Secure Rural Schools program to support funding for schools, roads, law enforcement, and more,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to see that more than $4 million is coming to our state to boost critical services in our local communities. I’ll always keep working across party lines to deliver federal funding for our state.”

Senator Rosen has consistently fought to deliver results for Nevada’s rural communities and ensure that rural communities receive the funding and resources that they need. Just last year, Senator Rosen helped secure nearly $34 million in federal funding for essential services, and introduced legislation to help increase the number of medical professionals for rural areas.

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WATCH: Sen. Schiff Blasts Trump’s Ongoing Illegal War in Iran, Calls out Republicans for Blocking TSA Funding for Eighth Time

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins to dismantle Trump’s desperate ploy for Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at airports and to call out Republicans for voting down Democrat-led Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bills to fund various agencies, like the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), while negotiations on immigration enforcement are ongoing.

Schiff also highlighted the continuing need to end Trump’s war in Iran while pushing back against the president’s decision to lift oil sanctions on Iran and Russia.

View the full interview here.

Key Excerpts:

On ending the Iran War:

[…] I’d love to see this war come to an end. And if what the president is saying is true, that’s encouraging. But of course, we’ve heard the president say things that – have proved to be completely untrue, in the past. So, we really don’t know what to believe, whether these talks are serious, whether they’re close to any agreement, or whether this is Donald Trump just trying to bring down the price at the pump, something he is very sensitive to, because he’s getting a lot of backlash from around the country. The fact though, that he has allowed Iran to sell $14 billion worth of oil and allowed Russian oil to be sold, and lifted sanctions on Russian oil, I agree, just shows how incredibly mishandled and poorly planned this whole war has been. The idea that we’re going to enrich countries, in Russia’s case, that are giving targeting information to Iran; in Iran’s case, trying to kill us, we’re going to give them oil money is really unthinkable.

On the administration’s supplemental military funding request:

I’ll vote against it. First of all, that money really won’t go to this conflict. It won’t be timely for this conflict to procure material. What it will be used for is essentially try to replenish stocks later. But I’m not going to support essentially an Iran funding bill, if that’s how this is being sold and packaged. This is a war we should not have gotten into, and it’s a war that every day puts our servicemembers at risk. And given there was no imminent threat from Iran, I just don’t think it’s justified.

On Trump allowing un-masked ICE agents in airports:

[…] If the concern is that ICE agents are getting doxed, then it doesn’t matter where their face is appearing, whether it’s an airport or on a street. So no, it doesn’t make any sense. But I think it does point out the fact that he doesn’t like the optic, and that’s what matters to him. Well, it matters a lot to me and to the rest of the country, that actually there’s some accountability, completely notwithstanding the optics, we want to make sure that if ICE agents are engaged in the excessive use of force, they could be identified. And also, I think, when you wear a mask, there is a sense of impunity, and you see it leading, I think, to that excessive use of force.

On the Republicans dragging their feet on a DHS funding deal:

[…] Democrats have offered to fund TSA over and over. We’ve called up bills to fund TSA, and Republicans have voted them down. Tonight, we’re hearing that there may be a deal to do exactly what Democrats have been proposing, and that is to fund the TSA, and essentially wall off ICE funding.

[…] Leader Thune wasn’t willing to make a definitive statement tonight, so we’re still waiting. But I think the White House is getting the sense, if they haven’t already, that the public is upset with the president and with the Republicans who are controlling the Congress, that they can’t govern, and that this is interfering in people’s lives. And TSA agents aren’t getting paid. And I think when they’re facing vote after vote to pay them, offered by Democrats, it’s become unsustainable for them.

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WATCH: Senate Blocks Third Attempt by Sens. Schiff, Murphy, Booker, Kaine to End Trump’s Illegal War in Iran

Schiff: “One month of war. And for what?”

Washington, D.C. – Today, a majority of Senate Republicans again voted to block a resolution to end President Trump’s illegal war in Iran sponsored by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D‑Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D‑Ill.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

This is the third resolution, this one led by Murphy, the Senators have forced a vote on since the beginning of the war.

On the Senate floor prior to the vote, Schiff emphasized the consequences the American people have seen and faced in the past month since Trump’s war in Iran began: the tragic deaths of 13 American servicemembers, the injuries of hundreds more, and the toll on their families, as well as the skyrocketing gas prices being felt by Americans. Schiff also pointed out the public reports indicating that more than 2,500 Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County were ordered to be dispatched to the Middle East and warned of more uncertainty to come.

“A reminder, to all of us, of the costs that Americans pay not just in the loss of our servicemembers and the pain that overwhelms their families, but of the hardships and poverty that we will no longer be able to address here at home, the illness that will go untreated, the school that will go unopened, the road that will go unpaved, the senior that will go unfed – as we drop the cost equivalent of 10 new hospitals a day on Iran,” said Senator Schiff on the Senate floor.

“We are on the cusp of American boots on the ground. And as the goalposts have continued to shift, and as we in this Congress have continued to abdicate our responsibility – I ask my colleagues: will that still be your red line? Or will the president be allowed to put American Special Forces in harm’s way for a war that Congress has not authorized, that has not been debated, that has not even held a single open hearing to discuss? And a war whose true purpose has been kept hidden from most Americans,” Schiff continued.

These war power votes follow the Senators’ demands that Republican Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) ensure the relevant committees of jurisdiction in the Senate hold immediate public hearings on the administration’s unconstitutional war in Iran. The Senators demanded they will use these resolutions to force debate and additional votes if Republican leadership does not arrange public committee hearings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Watch his full speech HERE. Download remarks HERE.

Read the full transcript of his remarks as delivered below:

Last Friday, public reports indicated that more than 2,500 Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County were now on their way to the Trump war in the Middle East, the Trump Iran war.

This is the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard the USS Portland, USS Comstock, and USS Boxer.

Their voyage joins the amphibious assault force aboard the USS Tripoli, which also called San Diego home until last year. With great uncertainty, Californians are now being called upon to be the potential tip of the next spear in this war.

The Marines recruiting slogan, going back to their founding in 1775, is “first to fight.” And they continue to live up to that slogan and that ethos.

They have been boots on the beaches of Islands of the Pacific, in the trenches of Europe, in the mountains of Afghanistan, in the sands of Iraq, in Syria, Africa and theaters of American war everywhere, and for centuries.

And that’s just it – they are the boots on the ground, in times of war. So as thousands of men and women have been called up to mobilize around the world, what solace can we offer their families about what awaits them?

What can we tell them about this so-called ‘excursion,’ as the president refers to it. Or as he called it today, reluctant to use the word war all of a sudden, he called it a military operation.

Well, this weekend marks one month that our nation has been at war with Iran. And already, we have lost one American servicemember nearly every two days of the conflict.

On the second day of the war, that servicemember was Chief Warrant Officer [3] Robert Marzan, from Sacramento, California. He was killed in Kuwait, by an Iranian strike. His memory has burned brightly in the hearts of those who knew him, and since his death, we have seen tributes pour in.

One said “Rob was probably one of the best humans I’ve ever met.”

“I know that if I called him today, if he was still here, he would drop what he was doing and help me.”

Another said that Chief Warrant Officer Marzan and his family “served as the surrogate family for a lot of soldiers” for their unit based in Des Moines.

In the true American spirit, these stories have been shared widely, as communities have come together to raise money to help fly those who knew him home to California for his funeral later this month.

That is a solidarity that Americans know in a time of war. But the people who led us into this war did so without the consent of the American people and without the authorization of this Congress.

The commander in chief, who called it a war in his first public comments about the strikes against Iran, now engages in semantics while thousands more servicemembers ship out halfway around the world.

We were told that this war would end soon. But now the president’s extended deadline puts us on track for at least a month of conflict, with more fighting in the future if Iran refuses to yield.

There is no deadline that anyone, at this point, can rely upon.

At least one Republican Senator is overtly calling for boots on the ground, saying, “We did Iwo Jima, we can do this.”

I just remind members the cost of Iwo Jima was high. 6,821 dead. 19,217 wounded.

We have seen the timelines, the rationales, and even the baseline facts of this conflict change by the day, or even multiple times during the same press conference.

The goalposts have moved, from regime change and imminent threat to long term freedom for the Iranian people and then back to preventing them from building out a nuclear program that was supposedly obliterated in another military operation only nine months earlier.

And we can be fairly sure, before this war is over – perhaps even before this week is over, that the goalposts will move again.

That’s why, last week, we stood here and forced the Senate to again go on record.

We cannot become ‘Lucy with the football’, constantly convinced that the latest market-calming post by the president in the morning will mean we have not sent new Marines off to the conflict zone that evening.

Last week, I stood here and reminded my colleagues of the words of President Eisenhower, the architect of one of our nation’s greatest military victories over a murderous regime.

He said: “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”

It is a reminder, to all of us, of the costs that Americans pay not just in the loss of our servicemembers and the pain that overwhelms their families, but of the hardships and poverty that we will no longer be able to address here at home, the illness that will go untreated, the school that will go unopened, the road that will go unpaved, the senior that will go unfed – as we drop the cost equivalent of 10 new hospitals a day on Iran.

The Pentagon is proposing a $200 billion supplemental to fund this war. Do you know what that means for your family? That means that the cost for your family is $1,400. That’s just the starting cost for this supplemental funding bill. $1,400 for your family. That’s not including all the more you’re paying at the pump and for everything else. But that is just the cost that is being proposed for your family.

Well tonight, I stand here to remind my colleagues not just of Eisenhower but of another Republican President – Herbert Hoover.

Hoover said: “Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.”

The youth were put at risk, like the 2,500 Marines sailing from San Diego as we speak.

The youth, like the thousands of others already sleeping in bunks onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and the Gerald Ford.

In this case, older men have not even given them the decency of a declaration of war.

Instead, we have quietly walked up to the red line that I know so many hold in their hearts when it comes to American military power being used abroad.

We are on the cusp of American boots on the ground. And as the goalposts have continued to shift, and as we in this Congress have continued to abdicate our responsibility – I ask my colleagues: will that still be your red line?

Or will the president be allowed to put American Special Forces in harm’s way for a war that Congress has not authorized, that has not been debated, that has not even held a single open hearing to discuss? And a war whose true purpose has been kept hidden from most Americans.

A war that by Saturday will have gone on for an entire month, without the support of the majority of the American people and without the approval of the only part of government to whom the Framers gave the power to approve military force – the Congress.

One month of war. And for what?

A new Supreme Leader, a new hardliner with a new appetite for revenge?

A new windfall for Russia, made possible by American sanctions relief?

A new skyrocketing price of gas?

A new rising toll on servicemembers and their families?

It is time to put a stop to this war before its costs rise further still. It is time for the Congress of the United States to do its job.

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Schmitt Celebrates Historic First Amendment Victory in Landmark Missouri V. Biden Case

Settlement Concludes Federal Government Censored Americans’ Protected Speech

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) today released the following statement after the landmark Missouri v. Biden lawsuit Schmitt brought as Missouri Attorney General reached a settlement and Consent Decree. In a huge win for First Amendment rights, the settlement prohibits the U.S. Surgeon General, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) from pressuring social media platforms into censoring constitutionally protected speech. It also prevents federal officials from interfering with how social media companies make their content moderation decisions.

“This is a massive win for the First Amendment and for every American who believes in free speech,” said Senator Schmitt. “Under Biden, we saw the most aggressively liberal and antiliberty excesses of government that America has ever seen, and as AG I sued the Administration for brazenly colluding with Big Tech to silence Missourians. From COVID to Hunter Biden’s laptop to the border, Biden officials at the highest levels of government tried to use Facebook, X, and YouTube as their speech police. But no longer. This decision locks in Americans’ First Amendment rights, and guarantees that even in the digital age, the federal government cannot deplatform protected speech they simply disagree with. Missouri struck first, and we won big. For every American who is tired of being silenced by your own government—this victory is yours.”

The settlement resolves all remaining claims in the case through a consent decree rather than continued litigation. In it, the government agrees to a 10-year, court-enforceable injunction barring the Surgeon General, CDC, and CISA from threatening major social media platforms with legal, regulatory, or economic punishment to induce the removal, suppression, or algorithmic reduction of plaintiffs’ protected speech.

This settlement imposes the first concrete, operational limits on how certain federal officials may engage with social media platforms on protected speech. It reinforces the First Amendment principle that constitutional protections apply in the digital age and are not lost simply because the government labels speech as misinformation or disinformation. It also marks a meaningful constraint on the government’s future conduct in this area.

Background:

Schmitt filed Missouri v. Biden in 2022 when he was serving as Missouri’s Attorney General, alleging a “vast censorship enterprise” between the federal government and social media companies to censor speech online.

As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Schmitt frequently discusses the Biden Administration’s pervasive efforts to deplatform users they disagreed with and pressure social media companies to remove content.

Schmitt introduced the COLLUDE Act, which would strip Section 230 protections from social media companies that censor speech at the behest of government actors.

Schmitt also introduced the Censorship Accountability Act, which would allow private citizens to sue federal government officials if they censor their speech online.

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Slotkin Statement After Voting Against Mullin Nomination for DHS Secretary

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, voted against the nomination of U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to be the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary.

“I voted against confirming Markwayne Mullin to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security.

“First, in both private and public, Senator Mullin has no plan for desperately-needed reforms of ICE. The American people — Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike — have lost confidence in ICE after watching federal law enforcement kill American citizens in the streets with their own eyes.

“Second, the DHS Secretary plays a critical role in protecting America’s elections. Senator Mullin is still unable to clearly state who won the 2020 election. And he has notably left the door open to illegally using federal law enforcement to intimidate Americans at the polls, if President Trump follows through on his stated threats.

“Michigan is a border state. We need a functioning DHS. And no matter who is in charge, I will work with them to deliver security to our state.”

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Thune on DHS Funding and SAVE America Act Progress

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Shamefully, we are on day 39 of the Democrat shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

“It is increasingly having effects across the country, as our airports and the TSA agents become more and more overrun.

“So it is time to end this. The time to end this is now.

“The Democrats have in front of them a proposal, with legislative text, that would allow us to get DHS back and opened up again, and it is essentially what the Democrats have been asking for.

“And so we’re going to have an opportunity to vote on that, and I hope they will put their money where their mouth is, and if they are sincere about actually getting DHS opened up again, that they’ll provide the votes and work with us in order to make that happen.

“On the other issue, the SAVE America Act now has been on the floor for some time.

“And it is an issue on which, as we pointed out before, there is overwhelming public support among and across all kinds of demographic groups, age, political party, gender, you name it, Democrat, Republican.

“Overwhelming support for the SAVE America Act, the Democrats said – Chuck Schumer said out here last week – that they support voter ID.

“Well, we’re going to give them an opportunity to evidence that by putting it up for a vote.

“Later, I’ll be filing an amendment that would require photo ID, and we’ll see what the Democrats do.

“What happened last week, as you all know, Senator Husted from Ohio offered a very straightforward voter ID amendment, which was blocked on the floor by the Democrats – and furthermore, wasn’t just blocked … the Democrat, Senator Merkley from Oregon, offered a counterproposal that specifically would ban voter ID across this country, and actually something that 36 states already have in place.

“So this is a an issue on which there is broad agreement with the public, and obviously we’re going to give the Democrats an opportunity to vote on that one particular issue – and that is whether or not people ought to have to show some form of identification when they go to vote.

“So that’s the schedule for the balance of this week, and hopefully we’ll have cooperation from Democrats to end the government shutdown.”