Bennet, Kaine, Gallego, Colleagues Press Trump Administration on Decision to Ease Sanctions on Russia and Iran

Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and 22 of their Senate colleagues in a letter pressing President Trump on his decision to ease sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil exports and the lack of planning regarding the economic fallout of his unauthorized war against Iran. Since the war began, the price of U.S. crude oil has risen by more than 50 percent, and the average price of gasoline has increased by more than a dollar per gallon largely due to Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz— an outcome experts had warned the President and his advisors about before he started this war.

“We write with deep concern and confusion over your administration’s recent decision to ease sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil exports,” wrote the senators. “These actions speak once again to the troubling lack of strategic foresight that has marked your administration’s decision-making prior to and during its war of choice with Iran, jeopardizing the lives of our servicemembers across the region and raising costs for Americans here at home.”

“Open source reporting suggests that prior to starting this war of choice, you and your administration were regularly briefed on, and dismissed, the potential economic fallout of a conflict with Iran. These warnings included the regime’s likely closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting severe spike in global oil prices,” the senators continued. “Now that those impacts are being felt in Americans’ pocketbooks, your administration is scrambling – and failing – to contain this fallout.”

In the letter, the senators also raise concerns about easing Russian sanctions, given recent reporting that Russia has been sharing intelligence with Iran regarding the movements of U.S. forces in the Middle East, and the risks both of these decisions pose to U.S. servicemembers.

The senators wrote, “The economic effects of the war are already raising costs, with Americans being asked to pay even more for gas, groceries, and travel. Relieving sanctions on U.S. adversaries during an active conflict is just the most recent indicator of an incoherent and disordered policy approach.”

“We demand that you make senior officials of your Administration immediately available for public hearings in order to fully explain to the American people the rationale behind the decision to release these funds to the Russian and Iranian regimes,” the senators concluded.

Bennet has persistently fought to rein in President Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran. Two weeks ago, Bennet questioned President Trump’s intelligence agency leaders, including Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Ratcliffe, about President Trump’s failure to act on assessments regarding a war with Iran.

Bennet voted for several War Powers Resolutions to require President Trump to remove U.S. troops from waging war in or against Iran without explicit Congressional authorization. Senate Republicans blocked all of them.

Bennet joined Democratic colleagues to demand the Department of Defense investigate whether the United States was responsible for airstrikes on a school in Iran – which killed at least 168 people, mostly children – as well as other civilian casualties in the Trump Administration’s unauthorized war.

Bennet joined U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) to co-sponsor the Sanctioning Harbors and Dodgers of Western Sanctions or SHADOW Fleets Act. This bill would work to vastly expand U.S. sanctions authorities to target a collection of older, reflagged oil tankers that Russia uses to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

Bennet joined U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and John Curtis (R-Utah) on the Decreasing Russia Oil Profits (DROP) Act of 2025, legislation requiring targeted sanctions on firms and individuals dealing in Russian oil. The DROP Act fills a gap in the U.S. sanctions approach to Russian-origin oil – the most important source of revenue propping up Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unjust and unprovoked full-scale war on Ukraine.

In addition to Bennet, Kaine, and Gallego, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tammy Duckworth (D-IlI.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Dick Durbin (D-IlI.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) signed the letter.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear President Trump:

We write with deep concern and confusion over your administration’s recent decision to ease sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil exports. These actions speak once again to the troubling lack of strategic foresight that has marked your administration’s decision-making prior to and during its war of choice with Iran and had jeopardized the lives of our servicemembers across the region and raising costs for Americans here at home.

The administration’s lack of strategic cohesion on the war in Iran is having a direct impact on the economy and is endangering our servicemembers. Open source reporting suggests that prior to starting this war of choice, you and your administration were regularly briefed on, and dismissed, the potential economic fallout of a conflict with Iran.[1] These warnings included the regime’s likely closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting severe spike in global oil prices. Now that those impacts are being felt in Americans’ pocketbooks, your administration is scrambling – and failing – to contain this fallout. The administration’s abrupt March 20 decision to waive certain sanctions on Iranian oil sales will do little to mitigate rising costs even while opening a massive source of new revenue – per press reports, as much as $14 billion – for the very regime that U.S. servicemembers are risking their lives to strike.[2]

Open source reporting also suggests Russia began sharing sensitive intelligence with the Iranian military within the first days of the start of this conflict, including targeting information for U.S. military forces in the Middle East.[3] Russia’s direct military support for Iran would alone make shocking your decision to ease sanctions on their oil exports, but Russia is already set to make as much as $4.9 billion from surging oil prices alone- your sanctions waiver will undoubtedly add to that sum, enabling Russian President Vladimir Putin to redouble and extend pressure on our Ukrainian partners as they struggle to defend their country against his aggression.[4] [5]

The war in Iran is deeply unpopular, and Americans have made clear that they do not want another costly, protracted conflict in the Middle East.[6] The economic effects of the war are already raising costs, with Americans being asked to pay even more for gas, groceries, and travel. Relieving sanctions on U.S. adversaries during an active conflict is just the most recent indicator of an incoherent and disordered policy approach. Economic relief for Americans starts with the cessation of wars of choice, not the continuation of them.

We demand that you make senior officials of your Administration immediately available for public hearings in order to fully explain to the American people the rationale behind the decision to release these funds to the Russian and Iranian regimes.

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Blackburn, Duckworth Bill to Improve Access to Care for Rural Veterans Passes Committee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) that would make it easier for veterans who live in rural areas to access the care they’ve earned. The Senators’ Improving Access to Care for Rural Veterans Act would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish agreements between its own medical centers and civilian medical facilities in rural areas, thereby strengthening available resources to make VA care more widely accessible for the nearly 3 million veterans who live in those communities and face unique challenges to readily access the care they need.

“Our rural veterans should not have to drive hours for quality care they've earned,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Improving Access to Care for Rural Veterans Act would put veterans first by ensuring they have access to high-quality and timely treatment closer to home. I’m thrilled to see this pass through committee, and I’m looking forward to its passage in the Senate, which will better support veterans in Tennessee by making the care they’ve earned more accessible.”

“Far too many rural Veterans—including in Illinois—don’t have adequate access to VA care in their communities, which forces them to travel unacceptably long distances or wait prolonged periods of time to see providers to receive the care they need and have earned through their service,” said Senator Duckworth. “The VA must ensure it’s doing everything possible to fulfill its core mission of providing timely, high-quality care to our heroes—regardless of where they live. Our bill would help ensure Veterans who live in rural communities can more easily access VA care, while reinforcing VA as the medical center home, and I’m proud it passed through committee. Now the Senate should expeditiously pass our commonsense, bipartisan bill that would enhance access to VA care for millions of rural Veterans.”

BACKGROUND

There are approximately 2.7 million veterans in rural and highly rural areas enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) today, and more than half of them are aged 65 or older and require more frequent, continuous, and costly care to address their complex medical conditions. Rural hospitals often lack the resources or partnerships required to give our heroes care they need, which results in rural veterans enduring long travel times and extended wait periods to access VA care.

The Improving Access to Care for Rural Veterans Act would address this issue by:

Requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish agreements between VA medical centers and rural medical facilities, with a flexible range of supported frameworks—including co-location, telehealth, leasing of space and equipment, training, care coordination, and more—that allow VA to collaborate with rural facilities in a manner that best suits the unique needs of a given VA medical center system;

Directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a standardized 5-year, renewable waiver for VA medical centers that are unable to fulfill this requirement; and

Requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a briefing to Congress on implementation, as well as recurring reports on operations and performance of agreements established under this legislation.

The legislation is endorsed by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).

Senators Blackburn and Duckworth also both pushed to pass the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, historic legislation that was signed into law in 2022 to overhaul the VA’s processes for toxic-exposed veterans to include presumptions for several illnesses associated with burn pits and Agent Orange exposures and is helping deliver long-overdue VA healthcare and benefits across all generations of veterans.

Click here for bill text.


Blumenthal Statement on $1.3 Billion Contract for Electric Boat

[Hartford, CT] — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released a statement on the announcement that Electric Boat will receive a $1.3 billion contract from the U.S. Navy.

“I am thrilled to see Electric Boat get another huge investment — $1.3 billion — from the Department of Defense. Time and time again, their talent, skill and dedication build the world’s best submarines. As Electric Boat expands their operations across Southeastern Connecticut, I am proud to support their incredible work,” Blumenthal said.

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Blumenthal Statement on the Reported Firing of Pam Bondi as Attorney General

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement in response to the reported firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi:

“Pam Bondi has been a catastrophic Attorney General. Bondi has made the Department of Justice bend to the whims of Donald Trump and his cronies, decimating its credibility. She has retaliated against employees for simply doing their jobs and demonstrating independence and integrity by upholding the impartial administration of justice. She's taken positions in court that are completely unsustainable. She has failed to follow the law in releasing the Epstein Files, creating a culture of concealment that is a betrayal of the survivors. And despite throwing away her own credibility to be an obsequious Trump toady, she still got fired. Pam Bondi’s departure is overdue and deserved, but the real problem is Trump, who confuses justice with self-interest, and sees the Department as his personal law firm.”

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Booker & Colleagues Press Defense Department for Answers on Deadly School Bombing in Iran

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Cory Booker and 41 of his colleagues are demanding clear answers on why an airstrike in Iran hit a girls’ elementary school, killing over 168 people, mostly school aged girls. In a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth, Booker and his colleagues called for a full investigation and transparency around U.S. military actions and key decision making that have caused civilians harm in Iran since the Trump Administration began its February 28 military operation.

“We write with grave concern regarding the airstrikes on a girls’ elementary school that reportedly killed at least 168 people – mostly children – in Minab, Iran during the opening salvo of U.S. and Israeli operations on Iran on February 28. To be clear, the war against Iran is a war of choice without Congressional authorization. Nonetheless, as these military actions continue, the United States and Israel must abide by U.S. and international law, including the law of armed conflict. There must be a swift investigation into the strikes on this school and any other potential U.S. military actions causing civilian harm, and the findings must be released to the public as soon as possible, along with any measures to pursue accountability,” wrote the senators.

The senators emphasized that the majority of those killed in the airstrike that hit the school were girls between the ages of seven and 12. They also noted reports that hospitals, cultural sites, and other civilian targets have been struck, and expressed concern that the Trump administration’s rhetoric, military policies, and cuts to civilian protection resources have created conditions in which civilian casualties occur with limited oversight or accountability.

The senators are requesting a briefing from Secretary Hegseth on the February 28 strike on the school and all related civilian casualty incidents no later than April 10, 2026.

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).


U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Jerry Moran, Colleagues Seek to Hold Perpetrators of Oct. 7 Attack Accountable

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and several of their colleagues recently sent a letter requesting that United States Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel convene a briefing on the Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF) efforts to investigate and prosecute terrorist networks such as Hamas.

In light of a recent string of violent incidents and terror attacks with antisemitic motivations, the Senators also requested the task force provide recommendations for legislative action to further strengthen efforts to identify terrorist support networks and monitor potential domestic radicalization.

“Ensuring that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to justice is a necessary step in not only upholding the rule of law but protecting American interests,” wrote the Senators. “We write to express our strong support for the joint task force and to request a congressional briefing on its progress and future priorities. Specifically, we would appreciate additional information regarding the number of individuals or entities held accountable to date, the number of investigations currently underway, and any recommendations the task force may have for congressional action.”

“The events of October 7 underscored the ongoing and evolving nature of the global terrorist threat and the risks it poses to the United States, our allies, and our national security,” continued the Senators. “In recent weeks, a series of violent incidents and terror attacks with antisemitic motivations or links to extremist rhetoric, both abroad and here at home, have further reinforced the urgency of this work.”

Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Risch (R-Idaho) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) also signed the letter. You can read the full letter here.

Senator Britt has been an outspoken and strong supporter of the Jewish community and Israel, traveling with a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues to meet with leaders across the region and emphasize the United States’ unequivocal support for Israel immediately following the October 7 atrocities.

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PHOTOS: Capito Participates in Frontieras Groundbreaking

MASON COUNTY, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) traveled to Mason County to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for Frontieras North America’s facility in Point Pleasant. The site will be the first to deploy the company’s patented FASForm process—a zero-waste system that converts coal into fuels, hydrogen, fertilizers, and industrial carbon products.

“Frontieras’ technology is creating new opportunities for our coal industry, while reducing waste and driving innovation,” Senator Capito said. “Just as important, this project strengthens America’s energy security and unleashes American energy dominance by using our own abundant resources to power the future. I was proud to be on hand to help celebrate this milestone and look forward to seeing the benefits of this facility for years to come.”

"Senator Capito was here today because she has been here for West Virginia’s coal communities for over twenty years. She did the work in Washington that made it possible for companies like ours to build in Appalachia with confidence. Today, we broke ground. She earned the right to hold that shovel,” Frontieras North America CEO Matthew McKean said.

Photos from today’s event are included below:

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) delivers remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Frontieras facility in Point Pleasant, W.Va. on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) breaks ground on the Frontieras facility in Point Pleasant, W.Va. on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the Frontieras facility in Point Pleasant, W.Va. on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

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Cassidy Announces Millions to Make Burbank Drive Safer, Visits Woman’s Hospital

BATON ROUGE – This morning, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) attended an event celebrating the $2 million he secured for Burbank Drive safety improvements through the appropriations process. These improvements will ensure families coming to and from the Burbank Soccer Complex can do so safely.

“Creating a turning lane so that the thousands of people who go into the Burbank Soccer Complex can enter safely is common sense,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This is me working on the federal level with local officials to better serve the people of St. George, Baton Rouge, and Louisiana.”

Burbank Drive is one of the busiest thoroughfares in St. George, and the Burbank Soccer Complex serves hundreds of families and children each week. Due to the current lack of intersection control, there have been many traffic incidents as families have to cross multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic to return home. The Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development appropriation will help improve access to Burbank Drive and add additional J-turn lanes, making the area safer and improving traffic flow.

During his announcement, Cassidy stood with many local officials praising the project, including St. George Mayor Dustin Yates.

“The Burbank Drive Project is exactly the kind of infrastructure investment our community needs – targeted, impactful, and focused on safety,” said Mayor Yates. “We’re proud to partner with Senator Cassidy to deliver real improvements that will benefit residents in a major way and enhance safety for families who use this area every day.”

Later, Cassidy visited Woman’s Hospital, where he met with their Chief Executive and Medical Officers, and toured their hospital. Cassidy recently introduced legislation to improve telehealth services for pregnant and postpartum women. Additionally, as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Cassidy is leading the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act, helping doctors better identify patients at risk for lung cancer.

“As Louisiana looks to improve how mothers do before, during, and after their pregnancy, Woman’s Hospital is on the leading edge, including having only one of 5 maternal mental health units in the nation,” said Dr. Cassidy. “As we strive to be the best, Woman’s Hospital shows how it can be done.”

Mr. Rene Ragas, CEO of Woman’s Hospital, welcomed Cassidy to the hospital.

“We were pleased to welcome Senator Bill Cassidy to our campus today, providing an opportunity to learn more about Woman’s Hospital, our mission to improve the lives of women and infants, and to see firsthand the care we provide to our community through a tour of key areas, including our NICU, Perinatal Mental Health Unit, and Cancer Pavilion,” said Mr. Ragas.

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Cassidy Discusses Jobs, Infrastructure, Health Care on Northshore

WASHINGTON – Yesterday afternoon, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) spoke in Mandeville at a luncheon hosted by the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and the Northshore Business Council on his work to make life better for families and business owners in St. Tammany Parish, including by authoring the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which has funneled millions into the area for roads, bridges, and flood mitigation.

“I’ve worked with the Northshore community to understand their needs,” said Dr. Cassidy. “To address these needs, I’ve delivered things such as $1.2 billion to tackle drainage, sewage, and flood risk around Lake Pontchartrain, and $92 million for road projects such as widening I-12. These are your tax dollars returning to work for you.”

Cassidy also was a major supporter of the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which ended taxes on tips and overtime work, and included provisions to expand school choice and increase oil drilling in the Gulf of America. As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Cassidy also inserted provisions to strengthen Pell Grants, encourage individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for K-12 students, and end inflationary loan programs that drive up the cost of college.

Cassidy was greeted at the luncheon by both Ms. Lacey Osborne, CEO of the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Kevin Davis, Executive Director of the Northshore Business Council.

“We are grateful for our senior Senator’s visit to St. Tammany during the recess to provide our members an opportunity to meet him in person,” said Ms. Osborne. “With the many current concerns that affect business and families – gas prices, the future of healthcare funding to name just a few – we welcome this opportunity to hear first-hand from Senator Cassidy. We appreciate all that he has done to make our growing parish and region better. He understands that education and economic development work hand in hand to deliver a stronger workforce for all northshore businesses.”

“Senator Cassidy has worked to fund road projects, support mental health providers, and help create an environment on the Northshore where we can create good-paying jobs for our neighbors,” said Mr. Davis. “We appreciate his partnership, and thank him for visiting with us today.”

Earlier in the day, Cassidy visited the North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, where he met with doctors and nurses and discussed his recent work as Chairman to make health care affordable and improve patient outcomes.

“The doctors, nurses and support staff at North Oaks told me what works and what doesn’t work in health care across Tangipahoa Parish,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I’ll take what I learned back to Washington to deliver better care for families back home.”

Cassidy has recently convened HELP Committee hearings on lowering the cost of health care, improving patient outcomes by strengthening health information, and delivering lifesaving cures to American families. He also recently introduced legislation to eliminate the Medicare 190-day lifetime cap on impatient psychiatric care, which removes barriers to mental health care for Louisiana seniors.

At North Oaks, he was welcomed by Ms. Michelle Sutton, President and CEO of the North Oaks Health System.

“We are grateful to Senator Cassidy for visiting North Oaks Health System to provide a congressional update on health care,” said Ms. Sutton. “Engaging directly with federal leaders allows our physicians, team members, and leadership to stay informed on initiatives and priorities that affect our industry and the patients and communities we care for every day.”

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Senator Collins Receives Justice Award from the American Bar Association

Click HERE for a full-resolution photo

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video from the event

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins was presented with the Justice Award from the American Bar Association (ABA). Rachel Okun of Falmouth, President of the Maine State Bar Association, presented the award, which recognizes those who make a national impact on the justice system and preserve the rule of law through judicial independence, justice system reform, or public awareness of the justice system. Senator Collins received the award for her support of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), a publicly funded nonprofit that provides quality civil legal assistance to low-income individuals.

“The American Bar Association sets high standards for our justice system and highlights the importance of equal access to legal services throughout our country,” said Senator Collins. “I am honored to receive this recognition and will continue working hard to secure funding that supports important efforts to provide legal assistance to low-income individuals.”

Last year, the President’s budget proposed eliminating funding for the Legal Services Corporation altogether, but Senator Collins secured $540 million to support its operations in recently enacted appropriations legislation.

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Senator Collins Visits Pratt & Whitney Site in North Berwick

Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos

NORTH BERWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Pratt & Whitney’s North Berwick site yesterday to tour the production line and speak with staff and company leadership. The North Berwick facility is a key production and sustainment site for the F-135 engine that powers all variants of F-35 aircraft. This facility employs more than 2,300 workers, supports commercial engine programs, and maintains full engine lifecycle service capabilities, including engineering, repair, and specialty processes.

“Pratt & Whitney’s North Berwick facility showcases the highly specialized manufacturing work being done right here in Maine,” said Senator Collins. “It was great to meet with the talented employees whose skill and dedication support our national security and strengthen the local economy in York County.”

The Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act includes funding to support continued production and maintenance of the F-135 engine, as well as upgrades to improve its performance and extend its lifespan. This funding will help provide greater certainty for facilities like Pratt & Whitney’s North Berwick site and the workers they employ.

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Cortez Masto Highlights Work to Address Housing Crisis, Celebrates Progress at Blind Center’s Visions Park

***VIDEO AVAILABLE***

Remarks are available here.

B-roll footage is available here.

Las Vegas, Nev. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) highlighted her work to address the housing crisis alongside Todd Imholte, President and CEO of the Blind Center of Nevada. They also celebrated progress on construction at the Blind Center’s new Visions Park development with prospective residents Vanessa Rosado and Will Stokely.

“Having a roof over your head isn’t just shelter – it’s security, it’s health care, and it’s stability,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “With developments like Visions Park, our Valley gets one step closer to making sure everyone can have housing that is affordable and accessible. Now Congress has to do its part. We must finish what we started and get the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to the President’s desk.”

“Visions Park represents what is possible when public leadership and community mission come together to solve real problems. This development is designed specifically for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to live independently in a community built for their success. We are deeply grateful to Senator Cortez Masto for her leadership and commitment to expanding affordable and accessible housing. Because of partnerships like this, we are not just building apartments, we are creating a model for what inclusive housing can look like across the country,” said Todd Imholte, President and CEO of the Blind Center of Nevada.

In the past few years, Senator Cortez Masto has secured more than $17 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank’s affordable housing Targeted Fund for Nevada, which she pushed to create. In 2025, the Blind Center received more than a million dollars to go towards the construction of the Visions Park development. When completed, Visions Park will have 100 affordable housing units for blind and visually impaired individuals. She also championed other federal investments that made this 100-unit development possible.

In discussing her work to address the housing crisis, the Senator highlighted the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,which overwhelmingly passed the Senate last month. This legislation includes provisions from Cortez Masto’s HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act (HOME Act) and the Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Act, which she introduced last year to address the affordable housing crisis in Nevada and across the country. This legislation would also:

Remove regulatory red tape that slows down housing development;

Help more homeless veterans access VA housing;

Reform the existing Rural Housing Service to help preserve affordable housing in rural areas; and

Create a pilot program at HUD to offer grants and forgivable loans to homeowners and small landlords to address home repair needs and health hazards.

Senator Cortez Masto has been a leader working to lower housing costs and build more homes. Last year she secured $40 million in investments from the FHLBank of San Francisco to support the single-family bond program in Nevada. She introduced the Affordable Housing Bond Enhancement Act, which would make homeownership more accessible and sustainable for working families. Last Congress, her AACE Act to cut red tape to speed up federal land transactions and lower housing costs was signed into law. She has also been a champion for making it easier to build affordable housing on federal land.

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Durbin, Marshall Urge FDA To Pre-Review Certain Direct-To-Consumer Drug Advertisements Prior To Being Aired

Senators cite the rise of deceptive commercials for weight-loss medication which omit safety & risk information

CARBONDALE – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) today sent a bipartisan letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to urge the agency to use its existing authority to require that certain direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug advertisements be submitted to FDA for pre-review, prior to being aired on TV. Currently, FDA does not require review of DTC ads prior to the airing of the commercials. In 2007, Congress provided FDA with the authority to require some DTC drug ads to undergo pre-submission, at which point the agency could make changes to correct false or misleading statements. FDA has never used this authority.

Since September 2025, FDA has sent more than 100 warning letters to both pharmaceutical manufacturers and telehealth companies for alleged false and misleading advertising. These letters reflect renewed scrutiny of how companies depict clinical efficacy and safety in their claims. From high cost GLP-1 medications to compounded drugs, Americans have increasingly been exposed to DTC advertisements, with more than $6 billion in annual spending from Big Pharma and telehealth companies.

The Senators wrote, “The airwaves are flooded with misleading pharmaceutical promotions. For some firms, airing a deceptive advertisement achieves its commercial aim of reaching customers, and any subsequent FDA enforcement (typically resulting in the cessation of such false or misleading advertising) may be considered an acceptable cost of doing business. The unsubstantiated claim or dangerous omission nevertheless shapes patient behavior and expectations.”

The Senators continued, “FDA can enhance its regulatory oversight and more effectively restrict false and misleading pharmaceutical advertisements by being proactive and sending a message to bad actors. Specifically, we write to urge the agency to use its existing authority under 21 U.S.C. 353c to require certain advertisements to undergo pre-submission to FDA before dissemination. Under the law, FDA has the tools to seek changes on the front end, before patients are inundated with harmful content, to ensure information on side effects, contraindication, and effectiveness is appropriately conveyed. The use of this authority would be particularly critical for a class of high-risk products and those with the greatest population health impact.”

Durbin and Marshall previously introduced the Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect public health and close regulatory loopholes by having FDA address false and misleading prescription drug promotions by social media influencers and telehealth companies. Last year, Durbin and Marshall sent a bipartisan letter to FDA to draw the agency’s attention to an a pharmaceutical advertisement that aired during the Super Bowl to more than 120 million Americans, which misled patients by omitting any safety or side effect information when promoting a specific type of weight loss medication.

The Senators concluded, “While almost every other country on earth prohibits DTC drug advertisements, American patients are bombarded with Super Bowl commercials and incessant social media advertisements about specific medications. In many instances, the advertised product is not even approved by FDA, or omits basic safety and side effect information, creating risk for patients. While the agency has yet to exercise its authority under 21 U.S.C. 353c, the current landscape and sheer volume of deceptive advertisements necessitate consideration of this gatekeeping tool.”

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

March 31, 2026

Dear Commissioner Makary:

Thank you for your recent efforts to enhance the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) enforcement activities against direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertisements that fail to comply with statutory requirements to be truthful, not misleading, and balanced. Over the past six months, the FDA has issued hundreds of warning letters to manufacturers and telehealth platforms for false or misleading promotions in television commercials and social media. As authors of the Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Act (S. 652), we applaud this renewed attention to protect public health.

However, as you have noted, the airwaves are flooded with misleading pharmaceutical promotions. For some firms, airing a deceptive advertisement achieves its commercial aim of reaching customers, and any subsequent FDA enforcement (typically resulting in the cessation of such false or misleading advertising) may be considered an acceptable cost of doing business. The unsubstantiated claim or dangerous omission nevertheless shapes patient behavior and expectations.

FDA can enhance its regulatory oversight and more effectively restrict false and misleading pharmaceutical advertisements by being proactive and sending a message to bad actors. Specifically, we write to urge the agency to use its existing authority under 21 U.S.C. 353c to require certain advertisements to undergo pre-submission to FDA before dissemination. Under the law, FDA has the tools to seek changes on the front end, before patients are inundated with harmful content, to ensure information on side effects, contraindication, and effectiveness is appropriately conveyed. The use of this authority would be particularly critical for a class of high-risk products and those with the greatest population health impact.

While almost every other country on earth prohibits DTC drug advertisements, American patients are bombarded with Super Bowl commercials and incessant social media advertisements about specific medications. In many instances, the advertised product is not even approved by FDA, or omits basic safety and side effect information, creating risk for patients. While the agency has yet to exercise its authority under 21 U.S.C. 353c, the current landscape and sheer volume of deceptive advertisements necessitate consideration of this gatekeeping tool.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, we look forward to working together.

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Durbin Statement On Trump Firing Attorney General Pam Bondi

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi:

“Pam Bondi’s legacy will be the weaponization of the world’s preeminent law enforcement agency for Donald Trump’s personal benefit, but apparently even she didn’t go far enough to appease him.

“Donald Trump wants an unyielding loyalist who will cover up his crimes, prosecute his perceived enemies, and carry out his bidding—even if it means endangering the American people and violating the Constitution.

“It’s time for all Americans—my Republican colleagues included—to tell this President to end the charade and nominate an Attorney General whose loyalty is to the American public and the rule of law.”

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Ernst, Budd Lead Legislation to Deter Iranian Aggression

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) introduced legislation to strengthen regional defense partnerships between Abraham Accords countries and encourage other Arab nations to join the agreements.

The Abraham Accords Defense Cooperation Act would require the Pentagon to establish a defense cooperation initiative and funding stream for military cooperation amongst Abraham Accords countries to deter the Iranian regime and its proxies.

“The Abraham Accords delivered what Iran fears most, a united front committed to peace instead of chaos,” said Ernst. “As co-chair of the bipartisan Abraham Accords Caucus, I have been proud to build upon the success of the Accords through myDEFEND Act and now through the Abraham Accords Defense Cooperation Act to unite our partners against Iran-backed terror. When our partners are prepared to deter the Iranian regime and its proxies, our world and our homeland are safer.”

“Many of our Arab allies in the Middle East, such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signatories of the Abraham Accords, remain in the crosshairs of Iranian missiles and drones,” said Budd. “Iran continues to carry out attacks not only on regional Arab allies but is also intentionally targeting American military installations in the region and our ally Israel. For far too long Iran—the world’s greatest sponsor of state terror—and its proxies have threatened U.S. national and economic security while also disrupting peace in the Middle East. By bolstering defense cooperation among Abraham Accords countries, we can strengthen regional partnerships and fortify deterrence against Iranian aggression.”

Background:

Ernst is one of the founding members and co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Abraham Accords Caucus, and has led numerous efforts to deepen security cooperation between the U.S. and our partners and allies in the Middle East by making law her:

DEFEND Act, which established an air and missile defense architecture with Israel and other Middle East allies after it was signed into law.

MARITIME Act, which required the Pentagon to develop a strategy with partners and allies in the Middle East to counter maritime threats posed by Iran and its proxies.

AI ACCORD Act, which increased advanced technology network capabilities across Abraham Accords partners and ensure they will be able to combat Iran and its proxies’ use of cyber and artificial intelligence tools.

LINK Act, which built further cooperation and trust with Abraham Accords nations by connecting strategic, operational, and tactical senior commanders between our Middle East partners’ armed forces to boost regional security and military readiness.

STARS Act, which took the Abraham Accords network to space by improving satellite security coordination in the Middle East.

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Grassley Statement on Attorney General Announcement

BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) issued the following statement regarding President Trump’s decision to nominate a new U.S. Attorney General:

“I want to thank Pam Bondi for her work leading the Justice Department. Over her tenure, Pam Bondi helped bring violent crime down to historic lows. Under her leadership, this Justice Department has been more responsive to my congressional oversight requests than any prior administration I’ve worked with – Republican or Democrat – and I expect that reputation to continue under Bondi’s successor. Safety and transparency ought to remain the Justice Department’s core focus.

“The Judiciary Committee stands ready to advance President Trump’s next Attorney General nominee.”


Husted joins bill to help small businesses utilize AI

“By helping small businesses learn how to apply AI, we can help them get ahead, stay competitive and continue supporting our economy.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Maria Cantwell’s (D-Wash.) AI for Mainstreet Act. This bill would provide training, guidance and support to American small businesses looking to implement artificial intelligence (AI) into their businesses.

“In order for America to achieve national security and economic dominance, we must lead in AI. That starts with giving Americans the tools to use this technology effectively. By helping small businesses learn how to apply AI, we can help them get ahead, stay competitive and continue supporting our economy,” said Husted.

“Our bill will provide training, guidance, and support to ensure more American small businesses are equipped with the tools needed to compete in today’s evolving digital economy,” said Young.

“As artificial intelligence becomes an essential workplace tool, small businesses should not be left behind. This legislation will help provide guidance and training to thousands of Washington small businesses on how they can use AI to help their businesses grow and thrive,” said Cantwell.

The Small Business Administration established Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) nationwide to provide support and training to American small businesses. The AI for Mainstreet Act would expand the support and training from SBDCs regarding AI, including how to utilize AI to streamline business functions and operations, better plan for unexpected circumstances, protect data and intellectual property and improve cybersecurity.

Reps. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) and Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) introduced the companion bill of the AI for Mainstreet Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill passed the House on Jan. 20, 2026, with a vote of 395-14.

Husted’s support of the AI for Mainstreet Act builds on his work to help America’s small businesses get ahead. Husted is backing the Investing in All of America Act, a bill that would expand access to capital for small businesses in rural and low-income communities, as well as those in the manufacturing and critical technology sectors.


Senator Justice Applauds Frontieras North America Groundbreaking in Point Pleasant

CHARLESTON, WV – Today, Senator Jim Justice released a statement applauding the official groundbreaking ceremony of Frontieras North America’s first U.S.FASForm facility in Point Pleasant, West Virginia:

“From the very beginning, my partnership with Frontieras has been built on a fundamental truth: coal is the bedrock of West Virginia and the backbone of American energy. When I was Governor, we laid the groundwork that has led us to where we are today. Now, in Mason County, we are seeing that vision take flight. Frontieras is a key player in strengthening our economy, creating jobs for our folks, and continuing to move the needle on American energy independence. I’m especially proud of how far we’ve come, and I look forward to continuing to work with Fronterias for years to come,” said Senator Jim Justice.

“When Jim Justice was Governor of West Virginia, he put his name behind Frontieras publicly. He told the world that West Virginia’s coal industry was not dying. It was evolving. Today, on 183 acres in Mason County with steel and concrete about to go vertical, we can say he was right. Senator Justice was one of the first political leaders in this country to support our project. He did it when coal was under siege. He did it when the federal government was actively trying to kill this industry. That took conviction. Not every leader was willing to stand behind a coal reformation company during those years. He was. Now he sits on the Senate Energy Committee, where he fights every day for policies that let companies like ours build, hire, and produce. He knows what coal means to West Virginia. He was raised in it. He built businesses in it. And he is using his seat in the United States Senate to make sure this industry has a future. Today’s groundbreaking is proof that early political support can turn into real economic results. Senator Justice backed us when it counted, and Frontieras will remember that for as long as this facility stands,” said Matthew McKean, CEO, Frontieras North America.

BACKGROUND:

Frontieras North America is expected to create more than 200 high-paying permanent jobs and over 2,000 construction jobs during buildout for West Virginians.

Senator Justice has been a longtime advocate for energy independence and sits on the Energy Committee in the US Senate.

He has worked alongside President Trump to help make America energy dominant once again.

While Governor, Frontieras first announced a major investment with Frontieras North America in partnership with the Justice Administration.

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Meeks, Kaine Lead Democrats in Letter Warning Against Trump Administration’s Failed Cuba Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, led 50 representatives and senators in sending a letter to President Trump that condemns the administration’s ongoing blockade of Cuba. In their letter, the lawmakers outlined how these policies are exacerbating a humanitarian crisis and called for a new approach that reverses six decades of failed U.S. policy toward Cuba.

Full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear President Trump,

We write with great urgency to express our alarm at the dire humanitarian crisis in Cuba, a crisis your administration is actively worsening through its expansion of a policy that has failed for more than six decades. For 64 years, the United States has relied on the flawed premise that maximum pressure would yield political change on the island. It has not.

Doubling down on failed strategies by restricting access to energy and health care is contrary to American values and is needlessly exacerbating a humanitarian crisis. By engineering an accelerated energy collapse, your administration has shifted responsibility for Cuba’s suffering away from the Cuban government and squarely onto the United States.

Conditions in Cuba are deteriorating rapidly. Widespread blackouts, shortages of basic goods, and the collapse of critical infrastructure are placing extraordinary strain on ordinary Cubans. The most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—are bearing the heaviest burden. With hospitals unable to stay online due to fuel shortages, patients are being turned away for treatment, and people will die if you do not reverse course immediately.

On March 16, you told reporters you would have, “the honor of taking Cuba,” and that, “whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with [Cuba].” The people of Cuba want to live and prosper—your administration should help facilitate their access to food, medicine, and energy, not cut it off. Furthermore, any attempt to illegally use the U.S. military to attempt an overthrow of the Cuban regime risks costing American taxpayers billions of dollars, American lives, and in all likelihood will leave the underlying political conditions unchanged. The United States cannot bomb Cuba out of economic collapse and political repression.

The only U.S. policy that can help Cuba chart a brighter future is one that empowers its people, not uses them as pawns in a strategy that has consistently fallen short. Cuba has signaled its willingness to cooperate on issues you have claimed to be priorities, namely migration and drug trafficking, and we urge you to pursue diplomacy over failed pressure tactics. We also remain willing to work with your administration to modify the draconian and outdated U.S. sanctions regime signed into law 30 years ago, which has hampered the ability of President after President to negotiate a meaningful opening with Cuba.

Sincerely,

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One Month Into Iran War, Virginians Have Paid $254 Million More for Gas

WASHINGTON, D.C – A new congressional analysis finds that Virginians have already paid $254 million more at the pump as a result of President Trump’s war of choice in Iran, part of a broader nationwide increase in gasoline costs totaling an estimated $8.4 billion for American families. The report shows the national average price of gasoline has now risen above $4 a gallon, with fill-up costs reaching $145 for the top-selling pickup truck, $58 for the top-selling SUV, and $52 for the top-selling sedan.

“We’ve said it countless times: there was no imminent threat to the U.S. when President Trump entered this war with Iran. Trump went in with no clear plan, goals, or objectives, and now working families are stuck footing the bill,” said U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA). “Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz was a predictable response that the administration was embarrassingly unprepared for. Now, Virginians are paying hundreds of millions more at the pump, while costs are rising for groceries, air travel, fertilizer, aluminum, and more. Even if the Strait reopened tomorrow, the chaos Trump has caused for global markets means these increased costs are here for the long haul.”

To calculate gas cost changes, the analysis used AAA, Federal Highway Administration, and Energy Information Administration data in order to estimate the increase in gasoline spending since February 28 and data from Edmunds on the top-selling gas vehicles in the United States. It found that fill-up costs are now 35% higher, which means that:

The cost to fill up the top-selling pickup truck is now $144.65, an increase of $37.29

The cost to fill up the top-selling SUV is now $58.26, an increase of $15.02

The cost to fill up the top-selling sedan is now $52.23, an increase of $13.46

Trump campaigned on lowering the cost of gasoline and pulling the U.S. out of foreign wars. Instead, he has made the choice to enter the U.S. into a conflict that is dramatically spiking costs across the Commonwealth and country. Increased prices as a result of the war in Iran are hitting American households and businesses at a time when families are already struggling with rising health care, energy, and grocery costs due to Trump’s senseless tariffs and chaotic economic policies.

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ICYMI: Kelly on Artemis II Launch: “This is inspiring and it’s exciting, and it’s something that we can only really do in this country.”

In case you missed it, retired NASA astronaut and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly shared with Americans and Arizonans why the Artemis II launch marks a defining moment for American innovation and is a source of national pride.

Senator Kelly stands in front of the Artemis II launch countdown clock.

Artemis II launched from Pad 39B, the same pad Senator Kelly launched from twice during his career as an astronaut.

While at the Kennedy Space Center, Kelly sat down with outlets from across the country to share why this mission matters for every American.

Sen. Kelly and brother Scott Kelly speak on CNN.

Kelly spoke on Morning Joe about the power of the Artemis program to inspire the next generation: “I was in kindergarten when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first stepped foot on the Moon. It was inspiring for me then.”

“It’s inspiring, but it also pushes technology forward. And I think that’s really an important thing for the American people to understand. This, it does take a lot of resources to do programs like this, but it is really only here in the United States of America that we’re able to marshal those resources, that technical talent, the engineers, and scientists we need to do this, to do hard things. And when we do hard things, we get a lot out of it.”

With Everyday Astronaut’s Tim Dodd, Kelly reflected on the power of this mission to inspire the next generation: “When I was a kid, I wanted to be the first person to walk on the planet Mars. I thought that could actually be me if I worked hard enough. Obviously, I was born in the wrong decade, maybe even the wrong century to do that. But there’s a kid out there watching today, probably, who’s watching this mission and is going to be possibly inspired to pursue a career in science and engineering and might be that first person that takes that first step on another planet.”

WithCNN’sRandiKaye,Kelly highlighted why this moment matters for our country right now: “I think it’s a time in our country where we need some positive news. We got a lot of stuff going on, a lot of challenges, a lot of division, a lot of partisanship. Our country is at war, and I think there are a lot of folks out there that really don’t know why we’re doing this, but this is a positive thing.”

With CNN’s Boris Sanchez,Kellyalso reflected on the perspective of unity that space travel brings: “Just floating there in the blackness of space, you get this strong and deep sense about how we’re all in this together.”

On NewsNation, he added: “They’re going to go 4,000 miles on the far side of the Moon, which is something we’ve never done before, even during Apollo. This is essentially one of the steps we need to put U.S. astronauts back onto the surface of the moon.”

Kelly also emphasized on Bloomberg the real economic benefits space exploration delivers for everyday Americans: “Other countries can’t do this, and we get a lot out of it. Our aerospace industry creates hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs. These are jobs where you can afford to pay your rent and afford groceries and maybe go on a vacation once a year.”

Sen. Kelly speaks on Morning Joe from Cape Canaveral.

On NBC, Kelly made the case for why this moment extends far beyond the launch pad: “Right now, it’s up to me and my other colleagues in the Senate to make sure NASA has the resources to do this, but we can’t leave this to the Chinese, to do this. They’re incredibly ambitious in every arena. They present a challenge to us, militarily, economically, scientifically. And I think if we remain focused on the things that matter and address the issues that we need to fix with policy and politics, the rest of the century can truly be an American century. And it’s missions like this that highlight the importance of doing that.”

After the launch, Kelly spoke with CNN andleft Americans with a final message of pride: “People should be really proud of our country. We do try to do impossible things, and we’re often very successful at it, right? We landed people on the Moon in the 1960s. We’re sending these three Americans and a Canadian back around the Moon. And here at some point in a few years, we’re going to send people down to the surface of the Moon. We’re going to build a presence there. We’re going to build an economy there. There’s not many countries that step up and try to do the impossible. And we have this culture here of innovation. And just like ‘going for it’ that you don’t see in many places in the world.”


Senators Kim and Ricketts Introduce MATCH Act to Level the Global Playing Field for U.S. Tech

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Multilateral Alignment of Technology Controls on Hardware (MATCH) Act. This bipartisan legislation would modernize U.S. export controls to ensure adversaries cannot buy “chokepoint” semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) technology from the United States or our partners that they cannot build themselves. The legislation is co-sponsored by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Jim Risch (R-ID).

“The ability to design and produce semiconductors lies at the heart of the technology competition with Communist China,” said Senator Ricketts. “SME is an important dual-use technology. For too long, our export controls have been a patchwork of entity-based restrictions that Beijing easily bypasses using front companies. At the same time, U.S. restrictions on SME are stronger than those of our close allies and partners. This status quo puts American companies last. The MATCH Act strengthens our controls and creates a level playing field for U.S. companies.”

“I’m leading this effort to keep the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment out of the hands of China and other adversaries,” said Senator Kim. “This bill not only strengthens our export controls regime but importantly reinforces using diplomacy to build a unified, effective approach alongside our allies and partners that safeguards these technologies and levels the competitive landscape. With this legislation, Congress can send a clear message to the world that our export controls are enduring and our bipartisan commitment to safeguarding America’s competitive edge in innovation is strong. While continuing to control advanced chips is critical, we must also ensure that China does not gain the means to produce these technologies itself, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to address this challenge as part of a broader, multi-pronged effort.”

“Idaho and America are at the leading edge of semiconductor innovation. It is vital we maintain this position by strengthening our export controls and closing loopholes that our adversaries exploit to obtain critical technologies like semiconductor manufacturing equipment,” said Senator Risch. “The MATCH Act will prevent adversaries from undermining the U.S. semiconductor industry and threatening our national security.”

“The United States should not be handing the Chinese Communist Party any access to technologies that fuel their military ambitions and jeopardize U.S. national security. As China works towards global domination of the chips industry, the MATCH Act would stop the flow of advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment that China desperately needs to build up their own chip industry. If the U.S. is going to maintain a national security edge in AI, quantum computing, and other critical industries, and outcompete the CCP, the MATCH Act is a vital and necessary leap forward,” said Leader Schumer.

By promoting harmonization of export controls among allies and closing servicing and entity-specific loopholes, the MATCH Act preserves the U.S. technological lead in the AI competition with China and levels the playing field for American firms.

Key provisions of the MATCH Act include:

Country-Wide Prohibition on “Chokepoint” SME: Prohibits the sale of the most essential SME to any destination inside a country of concern. This includes, at a minimum, Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) immersion lithography and cryogenic etch tools for advanced and legacy chips.

Tighter Restrictions on China’s National Champions: Designates as covered facilities all fabs run by ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), Hua Hong, Huawei, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), and Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC), including all subsidiaries and affiliates. Applies Entity-List-like restrictions on exports, servicing, and technical support to these facilities of all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations.

Leverage for Diplomatic Negotiations: Underscores the prioritization of a diplomatic approach to achieving aligned multilateral controls by reinforcing diplomatic negotiations with reasonable deadlines. Includes a National Security Waiver if additional time is required.

Leveling the Playing Field: SME is a critical dual-use component that supports China’s military modernization. The MATCH Act ensures that controls will apply uniformly to U.S. and allied countries, in the interests of our collective national security. If allies cannot demonstrate progress within the 150-day deadline, the Act directs the Department of Commerce to implement controls. It expands U.S. jurisdiction over foreign-produced items that use U.S. software, technology, or components (applying the “Foreign Direct Product Rule”).

The MATCH Act addresses two primary issues: Entity-Based Gaps, which allow adversaries to use front companies and subsidiaries to bypass restrictions, and multilateral gaps, where differences in controls have allowed adversaries to procure critical tools and servicing from allied firms that U.S. firms are prohibited from selling.

The MATCH Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to identify all “chokepoint” equipment, such as DUV immersion photolithography machines, that adversaries cannot produce indigenously. It prohibits the sale or servicing of this technology to any destination within a country of concern. It also designates all facilities run by CXMT, Hua Hong, Huawei, SMIC, and YMTC as covered facilities, cutting off all foreign exports, servicing, and technical support.

SME is dual-use tools that support China’s military modernization. The MATCH Act ensures that controls will apply uniformly to U.S. and allied countries, in the interests of our collective national security. If allies cannot demonstrate progress within the 150-day deadline, the Act directs the Department of Commerce to implement controls unilaterally. It expands U.S. jurisdiction over foreign-produced items that use U.S. software, technology, or components by applying the “Foreign Direct Product Rule.”

“A strategy that aligns the U.S. and its allies in stopping the flow of advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment to our adversaries is key to protecting U.S. technological advantages. When foreign suppliers of advanced chipmaking tools are not subject to the same rules as U.S. firms, it undermines the objectives of U.S. export controls. Closing gaps in the export control regime by partnering with our allies first and imposing extraterritorial controls second is a prudent strategy that advances U.S. national security.” — Jacob Feldgoise, Senior Data Research Analyst, Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET)

“Export controls on chipmaking tools are the foundation of America’s technology competition strategy with China. They are directly responsible for U.S. leadership in emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing and defense technologies of the future. The MATCH Act would decisively close gaps in the controls that risk undermining their effectiveness in the long term, thus giving America an enduring lead in the technologies that will reshape the security landscape.” — Saif M. Khan, Former Director for Technology and National Security, National Security Council

“The MATCH Act is critical to protecting U.S. and allied dominance in advanced chipmaking, which is the foundation of our leadership over China in AI. Advanced chips are the lifeblood of AI and are one of the few things that China struggles to manufacture, as it cannot make these chips without U.S. and allied equipment. However, China is exploiting loopholes and asymmetries in U.S. and allied export controls on chipmaking equipment and components to purchase hundreds of billions of dollars worth of advanced tools; chipmaking equipment is the largest export from the Netherlands to China, the second largest from Japan, and the third largest from the United States. The MATCH Act would close many of these loopholes and turn off the tap, which is among the most important steps we can take to preserve long-term U.S. allied leadership in semiconductor production, toolmaking, and AI.”— Chris McGuire, Senior Fellow for China and Emerging Technologies, Council on Foreign Relations

“The Institute for Progress endorses the MATCH Act. Export controls on chipmaking tools have been critical to maintaining the U.S. lead in AI computing power, which itself underpins American superiority in AI capabilities. But gaps in these controls risk undermining these advantages. By strengthening chipmaking tool controls, the MATCH Act would better preserve U.S. AI leadership over the long term.” — Institute for Progress

“Preserving and enhancing export controls on semiconductor manufacturing are one of the most important things that America can do to win the AI race against China. The MATCH Act is an important tool to help ensure American dominance in this area and to hold our allies’ feet to the fire in holding the line on export controls on the most advanced technology humanity has produced.” — Dmitri Alperovitch, Chairman, Silverado Policy Accelerator


Graham Statement on Attorney General Pam Bondi

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement.

“I very much appreciate Attorney General Pam Bondi’s service to our country and her leadership at the Department of Justice. She has done a great job for the people of our nation as Attorney General, and she has been a great friend for a long time.

“I know Pam will continue to serve America in the private sector. She and her team have so much to be proud of. Well done, Pam.”


ICYMI: Luján Named as James Beard Foundation Impact Award Honoree

Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research, was named a 2026 James Beard Impact Award honoree for his work fighting hunger in New Mexico and across the country. Senator Luján released the following statement after being named for the award:

“I am deeply honored to receive this award from the James Beard Foundation. My work to protect and improve federal nutrition programs is driven by the folks back home in New Mexico working tirelessly to fight hunger in our communities every day. To these advocates in New Mexico and across the country—thank you for informing the work I do.”

“In a country as abundant as the United States, allowing our friends, family, and neighbors to go hungry is a policy decision, not an inevitability. SNAP is our best tool in the fight against hunger, helping millions of Americans — including one in five New Mexicans — put food on the table. I look forward to continuing the work to fight hunger and ensure no family in America goes hungry.”

The James Beard Impact Awards program recognizes changemakers actively working to push for standards that create a more equitable, sustainable, and economically viable restaurant industry and food system for producers, workers, and consumers alike.

During the government shutdown, Senator Luján led the Senate Democratic Caucus in introducing bipartisan legislation that prevents the Trump administration from illegally withholding available funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). During debate on the Republican Budget Betrayal, Senator Luján spearheaded efforts to reverse the bill’s drastic cuts to food assistance. In November 2025, Senator Luján led the Senate Democratic Caucus in introducing the Restoring Food Security for American Farmers and Families Act, legislation to repeal the devastating $187 billion cuts to SNAP passed into law as part of the Republican Budget Bill.

Together with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Senator Luján convened a Spotlight Forum titled “Hunger by Design: The GOP’s Assault on SNAP” to underscore the devastating impact of Congressional Republicans’ plan to gut SNAP.

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Luján: One Year of President Trump’s Tariffs Have Driven Up Costs and Made Life More Expensive for New Mexicans

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs that have hurt hardworking New Mexicans and Americans across the country:

“One year ago, President Trump’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’ ignited a global trade war that has driven up costs and made life more expensive for families in every corner of New Mexico and across the nation. Instead of focusing on lowering costs for American families as he promised, President Trump doubled down on policies that have made life more expensive for Americans.

“Fast forward to today, President Trump is driving up costs further with his illegal war in Iran while continuing to sidestep the Supreme Court’s ruling to push new tariffs that fuel economic uncertainty. These tariffs are a tax on New Mexicans and small businesses across the country. The Trump administration must provide American small businesses the refunds they are due and take action to repair our nation’s economic relationships around the world.”

Last week, Senator Luján called on the Trump administration to put in place an automatic tariff refund process. In February, Senator Luján introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, legislation to require full refunds of President Trump’s illegal tariffs. In June, Senator Luján hosted a forum that examined how President Trump’s tariff policies fuel economic instability, raise costs on working families, harm the travel and tourism sector, and benefit special interests.

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Luján Statement on Firing of Pam Bondi

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement in response to the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi:

“As Attorney General, Pam Bondi failed the American people. She refused to uphold the rule of law, maintain DOJ’s independence from political influence, and provide transparency and justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s heinous crimes. Her firing is deserved and overdue. Good riddance.

“The American people deserve an Attorney General who will uphold the rule of law, defend the Constitution, and ensure the DOJ complies in releasing the full Epstein Files. Unfortunately, this almost certainly won’t happen under President Trump and a Republican Congress that takes his orders.”

Senator Luján voted against the confirmation of Pam Bondi.

Senator Luján has demanded that Pam Bondi provide transparency and accountability regarding the Epstein Files. In March, Senator Luján called for an independent audit and report to Congress about the Department of Justice’s failed practices in redacting information of the public release of the Epstein Files. In December, Senator Luján called on Pam Bondi to brief Congress on the Department of Justice’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, law passed by Senator Luján to publicly release all files related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.

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Markey, Mass. Congressional Members Push for Postal Service to Fix Severe Delays in Mail Delivery

Letter Text (PDF)

Washington (April 2, 2026) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives Jim McGovern (MA-02), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Stephen Lynch (MA-08) wrote to Tammy Hull, Inspector General of the United States Postal Service (USPS), demanding answers about the Massachusetts mail delivery system delays caused by understaffed and closed postal offices, inequitable mail delivery across communities, and USPS’ refusal of overtime pay for postal employees.

The lawmakers wrote, “We have heard many stories in Massachusetts: businesses whose sales are being negatively impacted; food pantries unable to access checks; and immigrants who undertook significant time and effort to get their green cards, only to be left in limbo because they never arrived in the mail. We have also heard from residents who have incurred late fees on bills that USPS failed to deliver on time, driving up costs at a time when life is already unaffordable for many residents.”

The lawmakers continued, “USPS should be governed by a simple mission: timely mail delivery six days a week for every resident and an accessible and adequately staffed local post office location nearby. This is what a just postal system looks like: not one where USPS fiscal mismanagement jeopardizes residents’ basic necessities, but one where every community is empowered with the resources residents need to thrive in our democracy.”

The lawmakers requested answers to the following questions by April 17, 2026:

Which post office locations and routes in Boston are fully staffed and which are understaffed?

What is USPS doing to ensure locations and routes are fully staffed in greater Boston?

Is USPS management allowing overtime for letter carriers when mail delivery is not meeting requirements? If not, under what authority is USPS management preventing the use of appropriate overtime, and how does that not violate the USPS Universal Service Obligation?

What is USPS doing to retain postal employees in understaffed neighborhoods in greater Boston?

Has USPS evaluated the disparities in adequate mail delivery across neighborhoods in Boston? What steps has USPS taken to ensure equitable mail delivery across communities?

What steps has USPS undertaken to re-open closed post offices in Massachusetts over the past year?

Under what rationale is USPS claiming it can close the Pine Point Contract Postal Unit in Springfield, given the impacts to the community and service availability?

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Senator Marshall: Our Founding Fathers Did Not Envision 50 Million Noncitizens

Senator Marshall Joins The Will Cain Show on Fox News

Kansas City, Kansas – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined The Will Cain Show on Fox News to discuss the Democrats’ continuing refusal to work across the aisle to fund the government, birthright citizenship, and the future of the Senate filibuster.

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

On the Democrats’ refusal to fund DHS:

“Right, Will. And the challenge is, as you know, in the Senate, it takes 60 votes to get most anything done. And I think where this conversation is going is to talk about the end of the filibuster — we’re in a different world right now, this is not the same world. You know, we’re talking about birthright citizenship. I don’t think our founding fathers envisioned that we would have 50 million non-citizens in this country. They couldn’t envision that it’s such a small world that people would be flying here just for having the purpose of a baby. So we can’t even get a farm bill done on a bipartisan basis, how in the world are we going to tackle something like immigration?”

On ending the filibuster:

“I would. So yes, I would, and I didn’t come about that decision yesterday. Two years ago, I was for keeping it. If you would enshrine the filibuster in the Constitution, especially the talking filibuster, and end the silent filibuster, then I’d be fine with that. But I just want to remind everybody, it was just what, three or four years ago that every senator that’s still in office voted to end the filibuster. They’re going to end it next chance they get. And I think if that’s the case, then we there are some things worth ending the filibuster over. I think voting rights, voting integrity would be one of those types of things that I’d be willing to end it for. And funding the government — we’ve been incapable of funding the government, obviously. So I think that it is a new day, it is a new world, and the Republicans should be having this discussion. And we are, we are discussing it right now.”

“Yeah. And like I said, if we could enshrine the filibuster in the Constitution, and you promise me they won’t ever get rid of it, then it makes sense. The filibuster does protect the minority, and we will be in the minority again. And the Senate, in general, protects small states like Kansas as well. So I would just guess, if you would really get a serious poll — there’s only 12 of us, 12 Republican senators have come out publicly saying they would entertain ending the filibuster — but I think at least a third of us are still very adamant against it, and I respect them. Look, this is a decision, an issue that I spent as much time thinking about as I did about what college am I going to go to, what medical school am I going to go to, what doctor am I going to become? It’s that type of a decision, and I don’t think it’s black and white.”

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SENATORS MCCORMICK, CORTEZ MASTO PUSH TO PROTECT FIRST RESPONDERS AND ROADSIDE WORKERS

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) recently introduced the bipartisan Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act to protect first responders and roadside workers as they do their jobs on roads and highways. This legislation would enhance strategies to help reduce the risk of injury or death faced by law enforcement officers, emergency medical services, fire and rescue services, tow truck drivers, construction workers, and other roadside workers.

Nationwide, since 2020, more than 500 roadside workers have been killed doing their jobs on the side of the road. Many were tow truck operators, construction workers, and law enforcement officers. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation data reveals more than1,250 work zone crashes occurred in 2024, resulting in 22 deaths that included both workers and drivers. Additionally, 45 percent of Pennsylvania work zone crashes in 2024 contained fatalities or injuries.

“Every day in Pennsylvania and across the country, law enforcement officers, EMS crews, and roadside workers put themselves in harm’s way—often just feet from speeding traffic—to keep the rest of us safe,” said Senator McCormick. “This bipartisan effort will improve data collection, strengthen public awareness, and prioritize safety in infrastructure projects from the start—helping protect those who protect us.”

“Over the past fifty years, America has worked to make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians, but we still have work to do to protect those whose jobs regularly put them on the side of the road,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “First responders and roadside workers risk death or injury every single day while responding to an emergency or maintaining our roads. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to help keep them safe.”

In order to protect first responders and roadside workers, the Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act would:

· Require states to improve data collection and analysis of highway worker injuries and fatalities and create a highway worker safety plan if the total number of injuries and fatalities increases over a 2-year period;

· Create a new Public Awareness Campaign to fully reflect the dangers all roadside workers face along our roadways and how the public can help protect them;

· Continue research and outreach efforts to enhance the safety of highway workers; and

· Require major infrastructure grant applicants to include protections expected to aid roadside workers and driving public safety during and after construction in their grant application.

The Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act is supported by the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA), the Association of General Contractors, the National Safety Council, the American Automobile Association (AAA), the National Association of State EMS Officials, the National Waste and Recycling Association, American Traffic Safety Services, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) Coalition.

“Towing and recovery professionals put their lives on the line every day to help motorists, protect first responders, and keep commerce flowing,” said Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) Executive Director Bruce Bender. “Despite the fact that, on average, statistics show we lose a tower every seven days, the risk to the lives of these dedicated professionals is often overlooked. Slow Down, Move Over laws need to be promoted and publicized because they are proven to save lives. We are deeply grateful that Senators McCormick and Cortez-Masto have introduced the Safe Roads for Those Who Serve Act and have expressly included towing truck operators in promotion of the initiatives that protect them. TRAA proudly supports this legislation.”

Read the full bill text here.

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Merkley, Warren, Blumenthal, Duckworth, Peters, Press Hegseth on Reported Attempts to Make Investments in Defense Firms Ahead of Iran War; Slam Potential Conflict of Interest, Violations of Federal Ethics Agreement

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s broker reportedly attempted to invest in major defense companies in weeks leading up to Trump’s attack on Iran

“This would be a…betrayal of the nation paying the price for this war and the troops you are sending into harm’s way.”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – After new reports revealed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s broker reportedly attempted to make major defense investments ahead of Trump’s attacks on Iran, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), all members of the Senate Armed Services Committee; along with Senator Gary Peters, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs; and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), pressed Hegseth on what appears to be a major conflict of interest and possible violation of his federal ethics agreement.

“This would be a profound conflict of interest and a potential violation of your federal ethics agreement — and betrayal of the nation paying the price for this war and the troops you are sending into harm’s way,” wrote the lawmakers.

Ahead of Trump’s strikes on Iran, Hegseth’s broker at Morgan Stanley reportedly contacted BlackRock about making a multimillion-dollar investment in the asset manager’s Defense Industrials Active ETF. The request was reportedly significant enough to trigger an internal flag at BlackRock.

“If this report is accurate, it would appear to represent an appalling effort to profit off of your knowledge of the President’s plans for war,” wrote the lawmakers.

Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed Department of Defense officials like Hegseth are prohibited from “owning or purchasing the publicly traded stock of a company if that company is one of the 10 entities awarded the most amount of contract funds by the Department of Defense in a fiscal year during the five preceding fiscal years.” In 2026, Hegseth was specifically prohibited from owning any stock in Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls, Boeing, RTX Corporation, and L3Harris Technologies, all companies currently included in BlackRock’s Defense Industrials Active ETF.

Guidance from the Office of Government Ethics warns that sector funds focused on a single industry can create a liability for government officials under the criminal conflict of interest statute. The law and Department of Defense policy are clear that DoD personnel must continuously monitor and prevent conflicts of interest.

“In your ethics agreement, you said that you would ‘ensure’ that any investment professional you use ‘obtains my prior approval on a case-by-case basis for the purchase of any assets other than cash, cash equivalents, investment funds that qualify for the regulatory exemption for diversified mutual funds and unit investment trusts at 5 C.F.R. § 2640.201(a), obligations of the United States, or municipal bonds,’” wrote the lawmakers. “Since this was a multi-million dollar investment in a sector-specific fund, your agreement appears to indicate that your broker would have needed your approval or that you did not intend to meet the commitments you made in your ethics agreement.”

“The American people deserve leaders they can trust to put national security ahead of their own financial self-interest,” continued the lawmakers. “If the recent reports are accurate, we now know that, behind closed doors, you were setting yourself up to profit from your ownership of stock in multiple defense contractors.”

The Trump administration’s illegal war against Iran is costing taxpayers roughly $1 billion a day. Meanwhile, defense contractor stocks jumped at the start of the war and will likely continue to climb as they stand to profit from a $1.5 trillion budget request and an expected $200 billion supplemental war request, in addition to significant new demand in response to the geopolitical chaos.

The lawmakers pressed Hegseth for critical information on this apparent conflict of interest by April 15, 2026.

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Warren, Blumenthal, Duckworth, Peters, Merkley Press Hegseth on Reported Attempts to Make Investments in Defense Firms Ahead of Iran War; Slam Potential Conflict of Interest, Violations of Federal Ethics Agreement


Warren, Merkley Question Bessent Over Plan to Add Trump Signature on U.S. Currency Amid Affordability Crisis

“In other words, life is becoming less, not more, affordable for Americans–and the President’s response, it seems, is to put his name on currency”

“It is entirely plausible that he–and by extension, his Administration–believes that placing his name on physical currency will distract the public from the tangible, undeniable economic crises they face on a daily basis.”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), sent a letter to Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, questioning how the recent announcement to place President Trump’s signature on paper money will in any way benefit the American public as our nation confronts an affordability crisis of President Trump’s own making.

“In reality, Americans are facing an affordability crisis, and America’s economy is on shaky ground. On the same day that Treasury announced its plan to put President Trump’s signature on currency, mortgage rates climbed to ‘the highest level since the first week of September (2025)’ in response to the President’s illegal war in Iran, ‘squeezing Americans already struggling with high housing costs,’” wrote the Senators.

“The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development projected that inflation in the U.S. would top four percent in 2026, ‘more than one percentage point higher than the group’s previous forecast’ and driven, once again, by President Trump’s reckless military actions in the Middle East. The S&P 500 dropped 1.7 percent, its ‘biggest daily decline since January,’ driven in part by steadily rising oil prices,” wrote the Senators. “This single day of bad economic news follows a year of rising costs for Americans. In 2025, for example, Americans were forced to shell out an additional $1,700 to pay for the President’s chaotic, illegal tariffs. The cost of groceries, housing, and electricity went up, as did inflation.”

The Senators concluded: “In other words, life is becoming less, not more, affordable for Americans–and the President’s response, it seems, is to put his name on currency and declare, with no evidence, that our nation is experiencing a ‘Golden Age’ of prosperity. It is deeply unclear how, if at all, the Administration believes that emblazoning U.S. currency with President Trump’s signature will address any of the serious problems facing the American public.”

The Senators request information on how the Administration’s decision will benefit the American public by April 15, 2026.

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Senator Moody Attends Historic Artemis II Launch from Florida’s Space Coast as America Races Back to the Moon

SPACE COAST, Fla.—Senator Ashley Moody tonight attended the historic launch of Artemis II from Florida’s Space Coast as it carries four astronauts in a journey around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. The crewed flight follows a successful uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022. Senator Moody is dedicated to supporting Florida’s Space Coast and keeping the U.S. number one in space.

“It’s incredible to watch the Artemis II rocket take off this afternoon from Cape Canaveral, carrying American astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. This is an amazing achievement towards long-term lunar exploration by the many scientists and engineers stationed here in Florida and it’s exciting to have our state be front row to this innovation. As a Senator representing the Space Coast, it’s important to me to continue supporting this research and operations and help keep our nation first in space,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

Senator Moody spoke on Fox Business shortly before the rocket launch. See interview here.

BACKGROUND:


Murray, Warren, Sanders, Wyden, Baldwin Blast New Trump Admin Attempt to Dismantle Education Department, Call for Immediate End to Illegal Transfer of Student Loans to Treasury

Committee Ranking Members argue that the scheme “will set the stage for more dysfunction in a federal student aid system that the Trump Administration has already made more expensive and confusing to navigate”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) pressed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to rescind their plans to move the administration of federal student loans to the Treasury Department (Treasury), the latest move in the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED).

The lawmakers are the Ranking Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; Senate Finance Committee; and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

“This latest illegal scheme from the Trump Administration threatens to trap student loan borrowers, students, and families in chaos and bureaucracy, all while American taxpayers are left to foot the bill for Treasury to administer programs that ED can and should administer itself,” wrote the lawmakers.

Congress recently reaffirmed on a bicameral, bipartisan basis that ED has no authority to transfer its statutory responsibilities to other agencies, stating that doing so would “create inefficiencies, result in additional costs to the American taxpayer, and cause delays.”

Contrary to that directive, ED’s most recent interagency agreement (IAA) transfers its responsibilities of managing student loans and federal student aid to Treasury, without Congressional authorization. Previous IAAs transferred ED’s management of career and technical education programs, adult education grant programs, along with dozens of programs for early childhood, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education out of ED.

“The Trump administration’s record of haphazard decision making and utter disregard for the actual issues facing students, families, and student loan borrowers suggests that this IAA will be implemented in a way that leaves borrowers with limited options and little to no guidance while increasing the number of borrowers in default and economic distress,” warned the lawmakers.

The senators argued that the first phase of the IAA is likely to worsen the student loan default crisis, because it tasks Treasury — an agency with no experience in student loan administration — with collecting on defaulted student loan debt and helping borrowers exit default. They cited the Treasury Department’s reductions in force as reason to doubt the success of the new arrangement, in addition to a pilot study where Treasury was made responsible for collections and loan rehabilitation for several thousand student loan borrowers but only successfully completed rehabilitations for eight.

Further, the senators argued that the second and third phases of the IAA — in which Treasury will be tasked with potentially managing the entire federal student loan portfolio and administering the FAFSA form — are illegal and likely to throw the financial aid system into further disarray.

“Treasury’s lack of expertise in the federal student aid system could be disastrous for the implementation of the latter phases of the IAA, as the federal student aid system is highly complex and administrative errors could endanger access to financial aid or statutory debt cancellation,” wrote the senators. “This ill-advised plan also ignores the laws of Congress.”

ED’s IAA with the Department of Labor for Career and Technical Education and Adult Education, programs which are a fraction of the size and less complex than student loan programs, have cost ED over $1 million in extra program costs and resulted in weeks-long delays in grant disbursements, harming students and schools.

“(I)t is reckless for ED to enter into another IAA with no information or clarity on the cost,” said the senators.

“The ED-Treasury IAA will set the stage for more dysfunction in a federal student aid system that the Trump Administration has already made more expensive and confusing to navigate…We call upon you to rescind these IAAs immediately,” concluded the lawmakers.

The senators asked Secretary McMahon and Secretary Bessent to provide details on the cost of transferring student loan administration to Treasury, basic information on the staff responsible for and the timing of the IAA, and how Treasury will be held accountable for poor performance in administering its new student loan responsibilities by April 15, 2026.

Senator Murray has aggressively pushed back against Secretary McMahon’s efforts to dismantle the Department, including through the illegal use of IAAs, and she fought to insert ironclad language in the fiscal year 2026 funding bill for the Department that would bar Secretary McMahon’s use of IAAs to dismantle the Department—but Republicans refused to include new, binding language. The final agreement did, however, make clear there is no legal authority for the Department of Education to slough off core responsibilities through these agreements.

The full text of the letter is available HERE.

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