Senator Marshall: We Have Solutions to Bring Down Costs – Now we Have to Finish the Job

Senator Marshall Joins Mundo in the Morning

Kansas City – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Pete Mundo on Mundo in the Morning live in his KC studio ahead of Vice President Vance’s visit to Kansas City to discuss the importance of the city’s manufacturing industry and its role in the national economy.

Senator Marshall also discussed his focus on the cost of living, highlighting his work to address healthcare costs, credit card swipe fees, and year-round E-15.

Click here to download the full video.

On Vice President Vance’s visit to Kansas City:

“Yeah, Pete, great to be with you. Big day for Kansas City. Folks across the rest of the country need to understand that Kansas City is more than barbecue and the Kansas City Chiefs. Over 100,000 people have jobs in the manufacturing industry in Kansas City, so it’s a major manufacturing hub. Think about Garmin, Panasonic, GM, Ford — all the usual cast of characters. And when you think about the Vice President’s story in Hillbilly Elegy, the story of his life is really about manufacturing jobs leaving the Rust Belt. So, he’s here to tout the Working Family Tax Cuts bill, which gave manufacturing some huge tax breaks to encourage manufacturing jobs.”

On the manufacturing industry:

“Well, certainly, manufacturing is one of the big three pillars of any economy, along with agriculture and mining. If you don’t have those three right, you’re not going to have a good economy. We’ve been in, I think, 95 or 96 counties already this year alone — this is our seventh visit — and I’m telling you, manufacturing jobs and manufacturing companies are dealing with a huge backlog right now. Boeing is investing another billion dollars in Wichita. China just ordered another 200 planes. In a typical year, Boeing is only making about 600 planes, so another 200-plane order in a year is a pretty good day for Boeing as well. So I go back to the Trump policies here and the Working Family Tax Cuts bill. Bonus depreciation is probably the biggest one for manufacturing. As we move toward more automated manufacturing jobs, being able to write off those big machines that do all the heavy lifting is a major benefit. I think that’s a big part of it — the bonus depreciation provision in the Working Family Tax Cuts bill. But don’t forget overtime. That was our gig — we wrote the portion of that bill on no tax on overtime. We don’t have enough workers in this economy right now, so enticing people to work overtime can help us fill some of those manufacturing orders.”

On manufacturing in Kansas:

“Well, certainly, when you think about the Kansas economy, it is agriculture, quite a bit of oil and gas as well, and then manufacturing would be the third leg of it. There’s a much bigger presence from GM and Ford. GM has had a hiccup here lately, thanks to the Biden EV policies, but at the end of the day, these tariffs are forcing GM to build more of their next car line here as well. So I think manufacturing across the state is on the uptick. I don’t have an exact number for you, Pete, whether it’s 10 or 20 percent of the economy, but it’s very significant. When you have a manufacturing plant — I think in Wichita it’s around 14,000 employed in aerospace — every one of those jobs supports another three to five jobs tied to that manufacturing plant as well.”

On tariffs:

“Without any doubt, America is now the third-leading producer of steel thanks to these tariffs. We have the first aluminum smelter in my lifetime — I think a new aluminum smelter is being built down in Oklahoma as well. And I certainly think of a window manufacturer over in Fort Scott that, all of a sudden, is seeing big construction companies wanting Kansas, American-made windows as well. So really, the limiting factor for these manufacturing jobs is people. We don’t have enough people for the jobs. But what a great place to come to — Central Kansas, and just the affordability across the state. Certainly, housing is expensive here, but it’s nothing compared to what it’s like on the coasts.”

On the use of AI and its effect on jobs:

“Well, I think there’s going to be — and I go back to these manufacturing jobs — I’m not sure they’re AI-proof, but they’re much more AI-proof than entry-level management, white-collar jobs, or even mid-level positions as well. You just have to look at Facebook and Google and the thousands of people they’re laying off from white-collar-type jobs. But on the other end of the spectrum are these STEM-related jobs and manufacturing jobs. Again, I’m probably most familiar with the aerospace industry down in Wichita. They’re doing very fine labor that takes a good head on your shoulders, precision work that has to be exact. Then they’re using AI to go back in and check their workmanship, so they’re bringing AI in to make those manufacturers — those workers — more efficient.”

On the cost of living:

“You know, Pete, I think it’s kind of a two-tier economy. I mentioned that manufacturing is doing great. One-hundred-dollar-a-barrel oil is actually good for a lot of Kansas producers as well. People over the age of 50 — we’ve seen our retirement plans almost double here over the last seven or eight years as well. But there’s also a group of people who are struggling — those under the age of 40. They’ve got two kids, maybe three kids, and they haven’t bought their house yet. So those are the people I’m really focused on right now: the cost of living, whether it’s the cost of gas, groceries, housing, or child care. A lot of those costs went up 50 percent under Joe Biden. Inflation is cumulative, so even though, generally speaking, wages are increasing faster than inflation, there’s still a group of people out there — typically under the age of 50 — who are struggling. That’s what we need to be focused on in Washington: how do we help that hardworking family out there?”

On the price of gas:

“Yeah, well, I think gas prices will go down as fast as they went up, because we do have the supply here and we’re ready to go. Unlike Iran right now, even though they have the oil, they can’t send it through the refinery process, so they’re standing in line. We have the oil here in place as well. By the way, if we passed E15 year-round ethanol, it could save maybe 30 to 40 cents a gallon. Our credit card bill would lower the price of gasoline another 10 to 15 cents a gallon as well. On the health care front, you talk to any small business in town, and they’ll talk to you about health care costs. Our Price Tags bill, which would force every health care provider to show prices up front, could lower the cost of health care by $1,000, maybe $2,000 a month. So there are things that D.C. can do, and we need to get locked in and get them across the finish line.”

On year round E-15:

“Yeah, it’s disappointing that year-round E15 is more important than the huge deal the president got done with China. Look, that was a great deal for the American farmer. He helped not only Boeing, he helped beef producers, he helped soybean farmers as well. But year-round E15 would be like doubling our export market for corn. In an average year, we export a little over 2 billion bushels of corn. If we went to year-round E15, it would consume another 2 billion bushels of corn as well. You know, this is big oil versus the farmer right now, and I’m going to bet on the farmer here. I know President Trump has put a big emphasis on this. No one has done more for the American farmer and rural America than the Trump administration. We have four, five, maybe six senators from big oil states who are holding us up.”

On swipe fees and the Credit Card Competition Act:

“Well, I think we’re probably treading water, the way I would look at it. Look, this is Main Street versus Wall Street. The Wall Street banks and the big credit card companies have dumped in, I’m sure, hundreds of millions of dollars attacking me on this particular issue. But what it would do is lower swipe fee costs. Look, there are two credit card companies and a handful of Wall Street banks that control 90 percent of the credit card industry. Because of that, Americans are paying seven times more than people do in Europe. And when you go to a convenience store, the second- or third-highest expense they have is their swipe fee. The second- or third-highest expense they have is their swipe fees. They’re paying more in swipe fees than they are for electricity, more than they are for health care as well. That’s how high a cost this is for them, and it’s being passed on to the consumer. So we’ll see. With the cost-of-living issue being a major focus for President Trump right now, when we see the opportunity, maybe we can get it across the finish line.”

On healthcare costs:

“I think that, you know, putting blame where blame goes, the cost of health care has gone up because of Obamacare. But regardless, we have the solutions — I have the bills to get across the finish line. With my time in the Senate, we’ve gained some more, I’m going to say, power and control, so we’re really close to getting those across the finish line. These are bills that I wrote six or seven years ago. It typically takes six or seven years to get major legislation across the finish line. So we’ve already talked about our Price Tags bill, but we also have a pharmacy benefit manager bill that would trim back those costs as well — more transparency. Prior authorization is a big, big issue for patients as well as doctors. We had this, one of our signature pieces of legislation, is poised to get across the finish line as well. So we need to finish the job. And I think I may be the only person in Congress that’s actually helped run a hospital, let alone being a doctor and overseeing a county health department. So I do have a little bit of experience in it, and I know the consequences. His solution will probably be Medicare for All. He’ll be joining the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democrat Party.”

“Yeah, so he’s obviously a real opponent. He’s going to be able to print money. I mean, he’s a megachurch pastor — obviously a televangelist-type style. I think he’ll have a challenge getting through the Democratic Party primary alone. But we’re going to stay focused, Pete. We’re going to stay focused on bringing down the cost of living. I’m going to take care of business, and we’ll worry about the election more after the August primary.”

On the Kansas City Chiefs:

“So you know the first month is one of the easiest schedules on in the NFL, and maybe that’ll be a chance, maybe we can let Patrick get fully recovered, but then it’s just a juggernaut of a schedule after that as well, I’m just excited. I’m excited that this may be the best rookie class that we’ve ever had in Chiefs land since going back to when Buck Buchanan was drafted back in the 1960s with a handful of Lynn Dawson was on board with that as well back in the 60s. So I’m just looking forward to getting it going again.”

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BLUMENTHAL & MERKLEY LEAD GROUP OF 10 SENATORS IN DEMANDING FDA REVERSE DANGEROUS AUTHORIZATION OF FLAVORED E-CIGARETTES

Recent FDA authorization of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes enables & encourages youth tobacco use

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a group of ten senators in calling on Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Kyle Diamantas to rescind FDA’s recent decision to authorize flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to children. By authorizing fruit flavors, the FDA is once again enabling a resurgence in youth tobacco use and exacerbating the risk of serious chronic disease and death for a new generation. This is compounded by FDA’s recent guidance allowing e-cigarettes to be marketed pending FDA review.

“There is no scientific consensus that flavors provide a benefit to adults who want to quit using tobacco products, but there is clear data that proves flavored products draw in young people and that the tobacco industry intentionally markets flavored products to young people,” the senators wrote.

While the U.S. has made significant progress reducing youth e-cigarette usage, over 1.4 million middle and high school students still use e-cigarettes according to the 2025 Youth Tobacco Survey.

In addition to Blumenthal and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

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

Dear Mr. Diamantas,

We are deeply concerned by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) shortsighted and reckless decision to authorize flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to children. By authorizing fruit flavors, FDA is once again exacerbating the risk of chronic disease and death for a new generation. We urge FDA to rescind this decision immediately.

While the U.S. has made significant progress in reducing youth e-cigarette use, according to the 2025 Youth Tobacco Survey, over 1.4 million middle and high school students still use e-cigarettes.[1] There is no scientific consensus that flavors provide a benefit to adults who want to quit using tobacco products, but there is clear data that proves flavored products draw in young people and that the tobacco industry intentionally markets flavored products to young people. According to FDA’s own figures, nearly all youth who use e-cigarettes report using flavored products, and fruit flavors are the most popular.[2] A 2024 report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations detailed FDA’s failure to regulate flavored e-cigarettes when manufacturers first put them on the market, which led to soaring rates of vaping among high school and middle school students, undoing decades of progress in reducing youth tobacco use.[3]

Media reports suggest that FDA was pressured by the White House to make this decision—effectively abandoning its scientific integrity to help the President score political points. It is no secret that during his 2024 campaign, President Trump promised to “save vaping”,[4] risking the health of American children in favor of his political donors.[5] Just last month, The Wall Street Journal reported on internal documents showing that former FDA Commissioner Makary had concerns about the public health risks of authorizing flavored products that appeal to children.[6] Further, the New York Times recently reported that Dr. Makary “ultimately resigned over concerns about the administration’s decision to authorize fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, an action he opposed.”[7] This adds to the mounting evidence that potential political conflicts of interest led FDA to approve these dangerous products rather than impartial science and public health considerations, as required by the law. Trust is a key component of public health, and these actions erode public trust—threatening lives and risking Americans’ confidence in our public health agencies.

FDA justified its approval of these dangerous products by claiming that the use of “device access restriction (DAR) technology” will mitigate the risk to young people. However, just two months ago, FDA issued draft guidance stating that there is a “current lack of real-world experience regarding use of DAR to prevent or sufficiently mitigate the risk of youth use.”[8] Relying on unproven technology – technology that FDA itself said is likely insufficient to protect children – in justifying its approval of these products[9] is not just hypocritical, but foolish and extremely dangerous.

The harmful impact of this decision is compounded by President Trump’s efforts to dismantle tobacco prevention and cessation programs. This includes attempts to eliminate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH), which is essential to preventing youth tobacco use[10] and a key source of federal funding for state quitlines[11] and the Tips From Former Smokers educational campaign that help adult tobacco users with cessation,[12] causing an upheaval at FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products by terminating—and then later reinstating—staff responsible for levying fines on retailers that sold tobacco to minors,[13]and cutting research at the National Institutes of Health, including a grant that sought to determine the most effective messages to persuade teenagers not to vape.[14] Taken together, these actions significantly impair the ability to protect youth from Big Tobacco’s predatory practices and will likely lead to a renewed surge in youth use of flavored tobacco products.

In order to protect public health and restore faith in the scientific integrity of the FDA, we request responses to the following questions by June 1, 2026:

Please provide a detailed description of policies at the Center for Tobacco Products regarding the ability of political appointees to modify or overrule the conclusions of career scientists regarding the approval of new product applications.

Please provide a list of all political appointees at the agency who were involved in the decision to approve Glas, Inc.’s application for flavored e-cigarettes.

Please describe agency practices for the involvement of career agency employees who form part of a new product review team at the Center for Tobacco Products are part of final approval decisions for that product. Were any career agency employees who were part of the review team for the Glas, Inc. application but subsequently excluded from the final approval decision?

What evidence convinced the agency that the benefits of authorizing mango- and blueberry-flavored products outweighed the risk of addicting more children? What evidence came to light after former Commissioner Makary blocked the authorization of fruit flavored vapes as reported by The Wall Street Journal in April?

Will FDA make public the marketing granted orders (MGOs) and Technical Project Lead Review decision summaries for the GLAS, Inc. authorizations, as it has done for other authorized products?

Does FDA still believe fruit-flavored e-cigarettes require a heightened evidentiary burden because of their appeal to youth? Please provide a detailed description of the ways the application from Glas, Inc. differed from those of flavored e-cigarette applications the agency had recently rejected.

Did FDA consider other youth mitigation factors in addition to the device access restriction (DAR) technology when authorizing two fruit-flavored e-cigarette products?

In March 2026, FDA issued draft flavored e-cigarette PMTA guidance acknowledging that there is little real-world evidence demonstrating that DAR technology works at scale, particularly for products with high youth appeal. Please provide a detailed explanation for why DAR technology is adequate for the approved products of Glas Inc. but inadequate for other previously rejected flavored products.

What specifically is FDA’s post-market surveillance plan for these products and this DAR technology?

How frequently will FDA publicly release post-market surveillance data so Congress, public health experts, and parents can evaluate whether these products are in fact meeting public health standards?

Why did FDA choose to authorize these Glas Inc. products before finalizing its flavored e-cigarette PMTA guidance?

FDA has repeatedly suggested that authorizing e-cigarettes is about giving adults who smoke cigarettes alternatives, but FDA has never approved any e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation product. Dual use of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes has not been proven to meaningfully reduce one’s risk of tobacco-related disease and may in fact result in greater exposure to toxins and worse respiratory health outcomes than using either product alone. What evidence does FDA have that these products help people to quit smoking completely, rather than leading to long-term dual use?

Thank you. We look forward to your response.

[1]National Youth Tobacco Survey. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. March, 4th 2026. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-tobacco/national-youth-tobacco-survey-nyts

[2]Ibid.

[3]“The Youth Vaping Epidemic: Federal Regulation of E-cigarettes and the Rise of JUUL and Puff Bar.” February 29, 2024. https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-29-PSI-E-cig-Report-Final.pdf

[4]Ventura, Juliann. “Trump vows to ‘save vaping’ despite previous support for ban.” The Hill. September 21, 2024. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4892387-trump-vaping-ban-post/

[5]Durkee, Alison. “This Tobacco Giant Was The Biggest Corporate Donor to the 2024 Presdiential Race.” Forbes. December 27, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/12/27/this-tobacco-giant-was-the-biggest-corporate-donor-to-the-2024-presidential-race/

[6]Essley Whyte, Liz. “White House Pushes for Flavored Vapes Blocked by FDA Head.” The Wall Street Journal. April 17, 2026. https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/white-house-pushes-for-flavored-vapes-blocked-by-fda-head-2f8f0138?mod=article_inline

[7]Jewett, Christina. “F.D.A. Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns After Weeks of Pressure.” The New York Times. May 12, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/trump-fires-fda-commissioner-makary.html

[8]“Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Premarket Applications – Considerations Related to Youth Risk.” Draft Guidance for Industry. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. March 2026. https://www.fda.gov/media/191455/download

[9]“FDA Expands Market Access, Authorizes New ENDS Products.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. May 5, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-expands-market-access-authorizes-new-ends-products

[10]Dale, Jill. “New Report Details Devastating Impact of Federal Cuts on Lifesaving Tobacco Prevention and Quit Programs. American Lung Association. May 28, 2025. https://www.lung.org/media/press-releases/new-report-details-devastating-impact-of-federal-c

[11]Todd, Sarah. “Why CDC cuts are being called “the greatest gift to tobacco industry in the last half century.” STAT News. April 14, 2025. https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/14/cdc-closing-office-smoking-health-called-gift-to-big-tobacco-by-former-osh-director/

[12] “Tips From Former Smokers.” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. March 31, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/index.html

[13]Cancryn, Adam and Gardner, Lauren. “The FDA fired its tobacco enforcers. Now it wants them back.” POLITICO. April 14, 2025. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/14/fda-fired-tobacco-enforcers-asked-return-00289985

[14]Jewett, Christina. “Trump Budget Cuts Hobble Antismoking Programs.” The New York Times. May 15, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/health/trump-budget-cuts-anti-smoking-tobacco.html

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Oregon Airports to Receive Nearly $19 Million in Federal Investment

“I appreciate the Oregon delegation’s commitment to keeping our infrastructure ready for all scenarios, whether that’s severe weather or increased capacity,” said Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland. “We’re eager to put this funding to work to upgrade PDX’s North Runway, including its lighting and navigation systems, and sustain our track record of safe and efficient airport operations.”

“The Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport is appreciative of the grant award. These funds will allow us to rehabilitate and/or reconstruct the asphalt portion of a large General Aviation (GA) apron immediately adjacent to MillionAir, one of our Fixed Base Operators (FBOs), as well as Mercy Flights, our local emergency air-ambulance provider,” said Amber Judd, Airport Director for Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport. “This asphalt is nearing the end of its useful life, and this project will ensure continued, improved access to and from these important airport businesses for many years to come.”

“We are honored that Madras Municipal Airport has been awarded a federal grant through the Department of Transportation, which will allow us to make critical improvements to our airport’s weather system infrastructure. The funding will provide for the design phase of the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) replacement,” said Lorraine Martinelli, Airport Manager for Madras Municipal Airport. “The AWOS is heavily relied on for the safety of our pilots and crews. These funds will enhance safety, ensuring our facility continues to meet the needs of our growing community and the region we serve. Our current system has served us well, but the components are no longer serviceable, and the system is nearing the end of its service life. Next year we will apply for grant funding to cover the construction and replacement of the AWOS system. Our community is appreciative of the funds made available to maintain our airport’s function and safety.”


Senator Moody Secures Massive $1.5 BILLION in FEMA Disaster Recovery Funding for Florida

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Senator Ashley Moody announced her successful effort to secure more than $1.5 billion in FEMA relief to be distributed throughout Florida. These funds will be used as federal aid for disasters spanning the past several years:

“I came to Washington to fight for Florida’s best interest, which is why I’m proud to announce the successful recovery of more than $1.5 Billion in FEMA reimbursements for Florida communities hit hard by disasters. This is money that has been slow-walked and tangled in our federal government – I’m cutting through bureaucracy and getting things done for Florida,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

“Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, FEMA is committed to cutting red tape and getting resources directly to the American people and communities who need them most. Senator Moody has been a great partner in our efforts to slash bureaucracy, strengthen accountability, and ensure rapid, effective recovery for Floridians. I want to thank her for fighting alongside us to get this disaster recovery funding across the finish line,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.

BACKGROUND:

The grand total reimbursed by FEMA currently stands at $1,563,897,520.

During his tenure as the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin has worked closely with Senator Moody to reimburse 397 FEMA projects thus far, providing the State of Florida with over $847 million in federal assistance. These funds have directly supported Floridians recover from disasters

These new grants will be distributed along with the previously announced funds through FEMA’s Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs to support more than 500 recovery projects across the state. This money is disbursed to the state and local communities for disaster recovery projects.


Sen. Moran Hosts ATF Director Cekada in Wichita for Grand Opening of ATF Forensic Crime Gun Intelligence Lab

Acting U.S. Attorney General Blanche delivered remarks virtually

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science – today hosted Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Robert Cekada in Wichita for the grand opening of the ATF Forensic Crime Gun Intelligence Laboratory at Wichita State University (WSU). Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche also provided remarks virtually.

“The partnership between ATF and WSU is a testament to Wichita’s leadership in advancing forensic science and bolstering the work of federal, state and local law enforcement, while giving students opportunities to gain real-world experience,” said Sen. Moran. “Because of these efforts, it will not be very long before a law enforcement official across the country will be taking a fingerprint or ballistic evidence and will say, ‘send it to Kansas; send it to Wichita – that’s where they have the capabilities to help us solve this crime.’”

Full video of the grand opening ceremony can be found here.

Items to note:

Located alongside ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Excellence and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network National Correlation and Training Center at WSU’s Innovation Campus, the laboratory will help to support crime gun intelligence, forensic analysis and training.

ATF estimates the laboratory will create 36 new jobs after the first year and around 100 positions within the next three years.

In addition to its operational role, the laboratory will provide students, through partnership with WSU, the opportunity to train alongside law enforcement professionals in a real-world setting, creating a direct pathway from education to employment in forensic science.

Click HERE to Download Photos

WSU President Rick Muma, ATF Director Cekada and Sen. Moran

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Alaska Delegation Celebrates First Oil from Pikka Development

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), today celebrated an announcement from Santos and Repsol that first oil has been produced at the Pikka development on Alaska’s North Slope.

“This is one of the most significant achievements on the North Slope in decades and further cements the region’s renaissance. Pikka will help refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, create great jobs for Alaskans, and bring billions to the state over its lifespan—benefitting all who live here,” Murkowski said. “This is also just the start, with new phases of the project yet to come and additional development taking place across the Nanushuk formation. I heartily congratulate Santos, Repsol, their hard-working teams, and individuals like Bill Armstrong who made this happen—from the vision to explore and discover, to now firmly putting Alaska back on the map as the place to produce energy.”

“The Pikka project, Alaska’s largest oil development in more than 20 years, is more than a decade in the making,” Sullivan said. “I had the honor of approving the exploration well when I served as Alaska’s DNR commissioner as we were marshaling new companies from around the world, large and small, to come and invest in our great state. We also worked relentlessly to make our permitting system more efficient, ensured companies were abiding by the terms of their leases, and if they weren’t got them out to bid to others quickly, and we also worked with the Legislature to create a more predictable tax system. All of this resulted in the Pikka discovery and more energy companies working on the North Slope—which is now one of the hottest oil plays in the world. Pikka will deliver 80,000 barrels of peak daily production through TAPS, billions of dollars in investments in our state and communities over its lifetime, and thousands of good-paying direct and indirect jobs for Alaskans across the state. I want to congratulate all the hard-working men and women who put in thousands of hours to bring Pikka online and to reach this major milestone in Alaska energy development. The Alaska Comeback continues!”

“First oil at Pikka signifies that Alaska’s North Slope remains one of the world’s premier energy regions and reinforces Alaska’s critical role in American energy security. This project is the result of decades long persistence and the willingness to invest in Alaska when many doubted what was possible,” Begich said. “At peak production, Pikka is expected to deliver 80,000 barrels per day, generating billions in investment and revenue for Alaska. That kind of opportunity only exists because people were willing to reject the idea of decline, think long-term, and invest in Alaska’s future. I congratulate everyone involved in bringing Pikka to first oil and look forward to seeing the opportunities this project will continue to create for Alaska families and America’s energy future.”

According to Santos, production at Pikka will initially reach 20,000 barrels per day over the next few weeks as various subsystems are brought online and eventually reach 80,000 barrels per day by the third quarter of 2026.

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Sen. Ossoff Working to Improve Pedestrian Safety Across Georgia

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working across the aisle to improve pedestrian safety in Georgia.

Sen. Ossoff is cosponsoring the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act to help communities address dangerous gaps in sidewalks, bike lanes, and other active transportation networks.

The bipartisan bill, led by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), would allow states and localities to use Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds to complete pedestrian and cyclist safety projects. It would also help rural and underserved communities implement safety upgrades.

“I am working across the aisle to make our roadways safer for pedestrians,” Sen. Ossoff said. “This bipartisan legislation would help address gaps in pedestrian and cyclist safety.”

“Passing the Langenkamp Act means that more Georgians will get home safely at the end of their trip — Go Georgia couldn’t be more grateful for Senator Ossoff’s leadership to advance this life-or-death issue,” said John Devine, Executive Director of Go Georgia.

Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect Georgia families.

In January, Sens. Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock delivered over $50 million through the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program to help strengthen road safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers.

Last January, Sen. Ossoff delivered $2.8 million in Federal resources through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, created by the bipartisan infrastructure law, to help revitalize historically underserved areas and improve mobility and connectivity – helping families get to work, school, the doctor’s office, and more.

In 2024, Sen. Ossoff, alongside Sen. Warnock, announced over $37 million in Federal funding for localities across Georgia to strengthen road safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers, as well as promote better connectivity among communities.

In 2023, Sen. Ossoff delivered over $3.5 million in Federal funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law to help local governments create and execute safety action plans aimed at improving road safety and preventing deaths and injuries to drivers and pedestrians.

Click here to read the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act.

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Padilla Leads Senate Democrats in Demanding White House Fire Election-Denial Czar Kurt Olsen

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, led ten Democratic colleagues in calling for election-denier Kurt Olsen’s removal as Director of Election Security and Integrity at the White House. The lawmakers emphasized that Olsen has exceeded the legal limit of 130 days as a “special government employee” appointed by President Trump to “investigate” the 2020 election.

In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, White House Counsel David Warrington, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Presidential Personnel Dan Scavino, the Senators emphasized the danger of Olsen’s ongoing efforts to manufacture baseless claims of voter fraud to support Trump’s election interference efforts.

“On October 29, 2025, several U.S. Senators alerted senior White House officials to serious concerns regarding the appointment of Mr. Olsen to investigate conspiracy theories around the 2020 election,” wrote the Senators. “These concerns have been borne out. Public court filings have confirmed that Mr. Olsen made debunked conspiracy theories the basis of the FBI’s search warrant in the Administration’s unprecedented raid on Fulton County, Georgia election offices, with the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in attendance. Public reporting also shows that Mr. Olsen’s investigation was behind the Administration’s seizure of election equipment in Puerto Rico, and he remains unpersuaded that even his own biased investigation has found no evidence for these conspiracy theories.”

Olsen was hired at the White House as a “special government employee” by Trump in October 2025, as part of a strategy of hiring 2020 election deniers and Trump loyalists to “investigate” baseless claims of election interference. His involvement in the unprecedented seizing of ballots and voting equipment has raised fears that he could help Trump illegally interfere in the midterm elections. Since his hiring, Olsen has also been granted rare access to American intelligence agencies — using his position to divert their resources from national security needs to debunk 2020 election conspiracies.

“President Trump is then using these theories to justify his ongoing baseless claims about the 2020 election and assert illegal and unconstitutional powers to ‘take over the voting’ in certain states in the upcoming election,” said the Senators.

The Senators also highlighted reports that the Administration is attempting to find other agencies in which to place Olsen following this role — furthering Trump’s attempts to fill his Administration with political allies and loyalists. The Senators emphasized the immediate need to remove Olsen from the White House and prevent him from any further involvement in future elections, given that Olsen has been sanctioned in federal court for false election claims and is rejecting the results of his own investigation when it fails to support his conspiracy theories.

In addition to Padilla, the letter was signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

As Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections, Padilla has led the charge opposing Trump’s unlawful attempts to influence the midterm elections, including through his anti-voter executive order (EO). In October of last year, Padilla led eight Democratic colleagues in a letter condemning the White House’s alarming hiring Olsen as a “special government employee” to “investigate” the 2020 election. In the letter, Padilla and his colleagues condemned Trump’s EO illegally directing the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to revise voting system standards and rescind voting machine certifications. Additionally, Padilla slammed the President’s threat to issue another illegal and unconstitutional executive order to ban mail-in ballots.

In response to Trump’s unlawful EO, Padilla introduced the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act, which would nullify Trump’s EO and place restrictions on the administration’s attempts to implement any unlawful voter restrictions. Padilla also took to the Senate floor four times as a leader in the Democratic opposition to the SAVE Act.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Ms. Wiles, Mr. Warrington, and Mr. Scavino:

The public record is clear that Mr. Kurt Olsen’s service as a special government employee (SGE), most recently as the Director of Election Security and Integrity at the White House, has exceeded the legal limits for such appointments and, therefore, should come to an end immediately.

Federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 202, limits the appointment of such SGE’s to 130 days in any consecutive 365-day period. Public reports of Mr. Olsen’s appointment date back to as early as October 18, 2025, over 200 days ago. Thus, it is past time to end this temporary appointment or provide a full explanation of how his continued service is legally justified, including Mr. Olsen’s exact dates of service.

On October 29, 2025, several U.S. Senators alerted senior White House officials to serious concerns regarding the appointment of Mr. Olsen to investigate conspiracy theories around the 2020 election. These concerns have been borne out. Public court filings have confirmed that Mr. Olsen made debunked conspiracy theories the basis of the FBI’s search warrant in the Administration’s unprecedented raid on Fulton County, Georgia election offices, with the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in attendance. Public reporting also shows that Mr. Olsen’s investigation was behind the Administration’s seizure of election equipment in Puerto Rico, and he remains unpersuaded that even his own biased investigation has found no evidence for these conspiracy theories.

Additional reports show that Mr. Olsen has been given unfettered access to American intelligence agencies and classified information. He is using this position to divert these agencies’ resources away from their national security missions to 2020 election conspiracy theories. President Trump is then using these theories to justify his ongoing baseless claims about the 2020 election and assert illegal and unconstitutional powers to “take over the voting” in certain states in the upcoming election.

As noted in the October 29 letter, Mr. Olsen has been sanctioned by courts for making false statements in election cases, and he is continuing that track record during his White House service. Instead of accepting the results that failed to support his conspiracy theories, he is accusing a cybersecurity firm that the Trump Administration hired, which found no hacking of voting machines, of being the “deep state” and falsely claiming it is funded by George Soros. Additional reporting reveals that Mr. Olsen personally provided data to this investigation in non-standard formats with no chain of custody, raising serious concerns about whether his data is reliable and was obtained by legal means.

Further nonpublic reports indicate that the Administration is attempting to find other agencies to place Mr. Olsen within the Trump Administration, now that he has exceeded the legal limits to serve as an SGE. If he remains in government during the 2026 general election, there is a clear and foreseeable risk that he will seek to interfere in the free and fair administration of the 2026 general election. It would be a mistake for the Administration to allow this dangerous initiative to continue.

There is no reason to believe that Mr. Olsen’s activities will find anything new or useful about the 2020 election, which has been reviewed more than any other election in history. However, these efforts perpetuate false narratives that serve as pretexts for attempts to interfere in upcoming elections. To avoid further destabilizing – and potentially illegal – activities, Mr. Olsen should be immediately removed from his SGE role and the Administration should refrain from appointing him to any other federal position with any involvement in past or future elections.

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Reed: Trump Admin. Green-Lighting Fruit-Flavored Vapes is Hazardous to Children’s Health

WASHINGTON, DC -- In a major gift to the vaping industry, President Donald Trump is taking steps to make vaping more attractive and appealing to underage users. The marketing and sale of fruit-flavored vaping products means more children are likely to get addicted to nicotine delivery systems that are bad for their health, can impair brain development and harm their lungs, and cost taxpayers more money for public health.

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) own repeated conclusions that fruit-flavored vapes pose a substantial risk to young people, President Trump applied such extreme partisan pressure on this issue that the person he recently appointed to lead the FDA was ousted, resulting in an end run around the FDA’s scientific review process and the resignation of a top official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who openly declared that the Trump Administration’s approval of flavored e-cigarettes “would appeal to children and expose them to nicotine addiction, lung damage, and higher risk of cancer.”

While sales of both electronic and traditional cigarettes to minors are illegal nationwide, Senator Reed noted that this move to attract young people to smoke with flavored vapes is right out of the Big Tobacco playbook.

“This is another example of President Trump’s agenda undermining public health. By pushing new fruit-flavored vape rules he is effectively letting these big corporations go after kids in a harmful, unhealthy way that is going to lead to more young people vaping, getting addicted, and developing chronic health issues,” said Senator Reed.

Public health organizations, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, have demonstrated that fruit and candy flavors act as an on-ramp for underage nicotine use, driving up youth vaping rates. Following logic and science, the FDA has for years denied millions of marketing applications for fruit and candy e-cigarettes, citing substantial public health risks. But now, after ousting the head of the FDA, the Trump Administration is giving the vaping industry exactly what it wants and getting a new generation of Americans hooked on their products.

Senator Reed is teaming up with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and several colleagues in calling on Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Kyle Diamantas to rescind FDA’s recent decision to authorize flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to children.

“There is no scientific consensus that flavors provide a benefit to adults who want to quit using tobacco products, but there is clear data that proves flavored products draw in young people and that the tobacco industry intentionally markets flavored products to young people,” the ten U.S. Senators wrote.

While the U.S. has made significant progress reducing youth e-cigarette usage, over 1.4 million middle and high school students still use e-cigarettes according to the 2025 Youth Tobacco Survey.

In addition to Blumenthal, Merkley, and Reed, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The full text of the letter follows:

Dear Mr. Diamantas,

We are deeply concerned by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) shortsighted and reckless decision to authorize flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to children. By authorizing fruit flavors, FDA is once again exacerbating the risk of chronic disease and death for a new generation. We urge FDA to rescind this decision immediately.

While the U.S. has made significant progress in reducing youth e-cigarette use, according to the 2025 Youth Tobacco Survey, over 1.4 million middle and high school students still use e-cigarettes.[1] There is no scientific consensus that flavors provide a benefit to adults who want to quit using tobacco products, but there is clear data that proves flavored products draw in young people and that the tobacco industry intentionally markets flavored products to young people. According to FDA’s own figures, nearly all youth who use e-cigarettes report using flavored products, and fruit flavors are the most popular.[2] A 2024 report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations detailed FDA’s failure to regulate flavored e-cigarettes when manufacturers first put them on the market, which led to soaring rates of vaping among high school and middle school students, undoing decades of progress in reducing youth tobacco use.[3]

Media reports suggest that FDA was pressured by the White House to make this decision—effectively abandoning its scientific integrity to help the President score political points. It is no secret that during his 2024 campaign, President Trump promised to “save vaping”,[4] risking the health of American children in favor of his political donors.[5] Just last month, The Wall Street Journal reported on internal documents showing that former FDA Commissioner Makary had concerns about the public health risks of authorizing flavored products that appeal to children.[6] Further, the New York Times recently reported that Dr. Makary “ultimately resigned over concerns about the administration’s decision to authorize fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, an action he opposed.”[7] This adds to the mounting evidence that potential political conflicts of interest led FDA to approve these dangerous products rather than impartial science and public health considerations, as required by the law. Trust is a key component of public health, and these actions erode public trust—threatening lives and risking Americans’ confidence in our public health agencies.

FDA justified its approval of these dangerous products by claiming that the use of “device access restriction (DAR) technology” will mitigate the risk to young people. However, just two months ago, FDA issued draft guidance stating that there is a “current lack of real-world experience regarding use of DAR to prevent or sufficiently mitigate the risk of youth use.”[8] Relying on unproven technology – technology that FDA itself said is likely insufficient to protect children – in justifying its approval of these products[9] is not just hypocritical, but foolish and extremely dangerous.

The harmful impact of this decision is compounded by President Trump’s efforts to dismantle tobacco prevention and cessation programs. This includes attempts to eliminate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH), which is essential to preventing youth tobacco use[10] and a key source of federal funding for state quitlines[11] and the Tips From Former Smokers educational campaign that help adult tobacco users with cessation,[12] causing an upheaval at FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products by terminating—and then later reinstating—staff responsible for levying fines on retailers that sold tobacco to minors,[13]and cutting research at the National Institutes of Health, including a grant that sought to determine the most effective messages to persuade teenagers not to vape.[14] Taken together, these actions significantly impair the ability to protect youth from Big Tobacco’s predatory practices and will likely lead to a renewed surge in youth use of flavored tobacco products.

In order to protect public health and restore faith in the scientific integrity of the FDA, we request responses to the following questions by June 1, 2026:

1. Please provide a detailed description of policies at the Center for Tobacco Products regarding the ability of political appointees to modify or overrule the conclusions of career scientists regarding the approval of new product applications.

2. Please provide a list of all political appointees at the agency who were involved in the decision to approve Glas, Inc.’s application for flavored e-cigarettes.

3. Please describe agency practices for the involvement of career agency employees who form part of a new product review team at the Center for Tobacco Products are part of final approval decisions for that product. Were any career agency employees who were part of the review team for the Glas, Inc. application but subsequently excluded from the final approval decision?

4. What evidence convinced the agency that the benefits of authorizing mango- and blueberry-flavored products outweighed the risk of addicting more children? What evidence came to light after former Commissioner Makary blocked the authorization of fruit flavored vapes as reported by The Wall Street Journal in April?

a. Will FDA make public the marketing granted orders (MGOs) and Technical Project Lead Review decision summaries for the GLAS, Inc. authorizations, as it has done for other authorized products?

5. Does FDA still believe fruit-flavored e-cigarettes require a heightened evidentiary burden because of their appeal to youth? Please provide a detailed description of the ways the application from Glas, Inc. differed from those of flavored e-cigarette applications the agency had recently rejected.

6. Did FDA consider other youth mitigation factors in addition to the device access restriction (DAR) technology when authorizing two fruit-flavored e-cigarette products?

a. In March 2026, FDA issued draft flavored e-cigarette PMTA guidance acknowledging that there is little real-world evidence demonstrating that DAR technology works at scale, particularly for products with high youth appeal. Please provide a detailed explanation for why DAR technology is adequate for the approved products of Glas Inc. but inadequate for other previously rejected flavored products.

b. What specifically is FDA’s post-market surveillance plan for these products and this DAR technology?

c. How frequently will FDA publicly release post-market surveillance data so Congress, public health experts, and parents can evaluate whether these products are in fact meeting public health standards?

7. Why did FDA choose to authorize these Glas Inc. products before finalizing its flavored e-cigarette PMTA guidance?

8. FDA has repeatedly suggested that authorizing e-cigarettes is about giving adults who smoke cigarettes alternatives, but FDA has never approved any e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation product. Dual use of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes has not been proven to meaningfully reduce one's risk of tobacco-related disease and may in fact result in greater exposure to toxins and worse respiratory health outcomes than using either product alone. What evidence does FDA have that these products help people to quit smoking completely, rather than leading to long-term dual use?

Thank you. We look forward to your response.


RI Delegation Secures $20.3 Million for T.F. Green International Airport & Local Airports

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced that the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) has been awarded $20,372,714 million in federal funding to advance infrastructure upgrades and construction projects at T.F. Green International Airport and several local airports across the state.

This federal funding is administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which all four members of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation have supported through the annual appropriations process. The funding was authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed on November 15, 2021, which included an additional $15 billion in AIP funding.

With increased air traffic in the region, these federal AIP grants are allocated to RIAC and distributed as follows:

$12,573,995 for Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) for a new 42,000 square yard Remain Overnight Apron to accommodate more aircraft operations. This federal grant finances a portion of the total project.

$5,399,160 for Westerly State Airport (WST) to help rehabilitate over 4,000 feet of existing paved Runway 7/25 to enhance and maintain its structural integrity and extend its useful life.

$1,966,339 for Newport State Airport (UUU) to help rehabilitate 2,600 feet of existing paved Runway 4/22 to enhance and maintain its structural integrity and extend its useful life.

$254,271 for Quonset State Airport (OQU), a joint civil-military public airport located on Quonset Point, in northeastern North Kingstown. to help remove obstructions along the Runway 16 approach. This project removes vegetation identified as obstructions by the FAA to bring the airport into conformity with current standards.

$178,949 for North Central State Airport (SFZ) in Smithfield to help remove vegetation identified as obstructions by the FAA to bring the airport into conformity with current standards. This grant funds phase one, which consists of acquiring two avigation easements on the approach end of Runway 5.

“These funds will keep Rhode Island airports safe, updated, and operating efficiently. I am pleased to have helped secure this funding to enhance local airports and ensure they continue to serve the people who depend on them,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee.

“I was glad to support these federal investments in T.F. Green and Rhode Island’s smaller airports. The improvements will keep operations running smoothly for passengers and commerce,” said Senator Whitehouse, Ranking Member on the Environment and Public Works Committee.

“Rhode Island’s airports help power our economy and make life more convenient for people across our state,” said Magaziner. “I will continue to work with my colleagues in the delegation to ensure that our airports are adequately funded so that air travel in Rhode Island is safe, accessible and efficient.”

“This federal funding will ensure our airports get the infrastructure improvements they need so travelers can get to their destinations safely and efficiently. I will continue to work with my colleagues in our delegation to ensure our gateways to the world remain safe, modern, and built for the future.”

Rhode Island’s regional airports play a critical role in providing accessible air travel for residents and visitors alike and serve both private and commercial aviation needs.

“We appreciate the continued support of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation and the FAA. These investments will enhance safety, strengthen infrastructure, and support the long-term reliability of Rhode Island’s airport system,” said Iftikhar Ahmad, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.

“These federal investments are essential to maintaining and improving the infrastructure that supports Rhode Island‘s economy and traveling public. We deeply appreciate the continued leadership and advocacy of our congressional delegation,” said Jonathan Savage, Chair of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation Board of Directors.

Under FAA guidelines, AIP awards may cover up to 95 percent of the cost of AIP projects, with the rest coming from airport revenues.

RIAC is a quasi-public corporation empowered to undertake the planning, development, management, acquisition, ownership, operations, repair, construction, improvement, maintenance, sale, lease, or other disposition of Rhode Island Airports: Rhode Island T.F. Green Airport, Warwick; North Central Airport, Smithfield; Quonset Airport, North Kingstown; Westerly Airport, Westerly; Newport Airport, Middletown; Block Island Airport, New Shoreham.


Seeking to Help More Americans Lower Their Energy Bills, Bipartisan U.S. Senators Urge Trump Admin. to Release Weatherization Aid

WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to help residents save on their utility bills and make more homes energy efficient, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are teaming up with seventeen of their colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to release nearly $360 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and $66 million for the State Energy Program (SEP).

Noting that the Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program both have strong track records, bipartisan support, and offer cost-effective solutions to save families and taxpayers money while cutting air pollution, and supporting thousands of jobs, the nineteen U.S. Senators are calling on U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright of the Department of Energy (DOE) to immediately release guidance to states for both the WAP and SEP programs.

“WAP and SEP provide vital formula funding to all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia to address energy affordability, reliability, and security. WAP provides states with funding to weatherize homes for low-income Americans, saving participants on average $372 on utility bills every year. Conserving energy helps participating households devote their income to other essentials such as food and medicine. SEP provides funding to help states improve energy security, increase energy efficiency, and boost economic growth,” the 19 U.S. Senators wrote.

In addition to Reed and Collins, the letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), the Ranking Member on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

States typically begin their Weatherization programs toward the end of the federal fiscal year, a calendar that has historically insulated the program from appropriations delays. State Energy Program funds follow a similar schedule, with states and territories usually starting their programs on July 1.

However, the 2026 funding process is very behind schedule. So far, the Trump Administration has not published any instructions at all for states to apply for grant funds that would be used starting July 1. These documents are typically available in December of the previous year to allow states to conduct their planning processes, including consultation and public meetings, in time to meet a May 1 submission, which has now passed.

Last year, Rhode Island received $1,863,055 for WAP funds and received $496,310 for SEP. Maine received $4,465,333 for WAP funds and $564,650 for SEP. As a result of the Trump Administration’s delays, Rhode Island and Maine have not received the similar amount of federal funds they are expecting, despite repeated requests from states. All other states and territories are in a similar boat.

Across the country, according to the National Community Action Foundation, local WAP implementers report that continued delays in federal guidance and funding create significant operational challenges. Many agencies have had to rely on other funding sources to keep crews and contractors working, and several indicate they can only sustain operations for a limited period without the timely release of FY 2026 funds. Agencies also note that compressed timelines make it difficult to meet production goals, retain skilled contractors, and plan work efficiently.

“To avoid further delays to program start dates, we urge you to not only immediately release this guidance, but to also speed state application approvals and the release of appropriated funds. DOE regulations require the agency to approve or deny timely filed WAP and SEP applications within 60 days. We urge you to speed this review period to minimize adverse impacts on state programs,” the Senators wrote.

WAP applications are accepted by Community Action Agencies throughout the year as the program aims to reduce household energy costs while improving health and safety for residents. The program targets older Americans, persons with disabilities, and low-income families with children to create energy cost savings for households that are particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in energy costs and health hazards due to poorly constructed or unsafe homes.

WAP & SEP benefits:

• Throughout the history of the program, WAP has helped more than 7.4 million low-income households reduce their energy bills and saved each household an average of $372 in annual energy costs. At a time where energy costs are skyrocketing across the country, it is more important than ever to make energy efficiency investments that will help Americans for the long-term.

• The program supports 8,500 jobs and provides weatherization services to approximately 32,000 homes every year using DOE funds.

• SEP combines the scientific and economic knowledge of the Department of Energy with locally led planning to improve the energy efficiency of hospitals and schools, support clean energy projects, and boost private sector energy innovation. A study by ORNL shows that every federal dollar invested in SEP leverages over $10 for energy-related economic development and produces over $7 in energy savings.

In addition to saving families money, energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.

Full text of the letter follows:

Dear Secretary Wright:

We write to urge you to immediately issue Program Year 2026 guidance for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP) to ensure the uninterrupted operation of both programs.

WAP and SEP provide vital formula funding to all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia to address energy affordability, reliability, and security. WAP provides states with funding to weatherize homes for low-income Americans, saving participants on average $372 on utility bills every year. Conserving energy helps participating households devote their income to other essentials such as food and medicine. SEP provides funding to help states improve energy security, increase energy efficiency, and boost economic growth.

DOE typically publishes annual Weatherization Program Notices in December of the prior year to provide state offices adequate time for planning, public comment periods, and DOE approval ahead of April 1 and July 1 Program Year start dates. Similarly, DOE typically publishes annual State Energy Program grant applications in February. However, DOE still has not issued WAP nor SEP application guidance. Without these instructions, state offices do not have necessary information to develop and submit plans, creating uncertainty for program timelines, targets, and workforce planning. Continued delays could cause severe program disruptions, including state program pauses and weatherization network layoffs for subgrantees and home weatherization contractors.

To avoid further delays to program start dates, we urge you to not only immediately release this guidance, but to also speed state application approvals and the release of appropriated funds. DOE regulations require the agency to approve or deny timely filed WAP and SEP applications within 60 days. We urge you to speed this review period to minimize adverse impacts on state programs.

By expeditiously deploying WAP and SEP formula funds, the Department can make an important difference in improving the reliability of the grid and in helping reduce the burden on Americans who struggle to pay their energy bills. Thank you for your attention to our concerns and those of our constituents, and we look forward to working with you on these vital programs.

Sincerely,


Rosen Joins Colleagues in Introducing A Resolution Affirming Mifepristone As Safe, Effective

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing a resolution affirming that the abortion medication, mifepristone, is safe and effective. The resolution came as the Supreme Court’s initial administrative stay in Louisiana v. FDA was set to expire — which would have allowed the Fifth Circuit’s ruling to go into effect, threatening millions of women’s access to mifepristone, even in states where abortion is legal. The Supreme Court eventually ruled to extend the stay until the case makes it fully through the legal process, allowing mifepristone to remain available via telehealth.

“Mifepristone has been used safely and effectively for decades and restricting access unnecessarily puts women’s lives at risk. This is another example of Trump and extreme Republicans trying to restrict a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions,” said Senator Rosen. “While this case makes its way through the legal process, I will do everything that I can to ensure access to mifepristone. I will always fight to protect women’s reproductive rights.”

Senator Rosen continues to fight to support women’s reproductive freedom. She voted to overturn the Trump Administration’s extreme rule ending life-saving abortion counseling and reproductive care for veterans. Senator Rosen also helped introduce the Women’s Health Protection Act to enshrine Roe protections in federal law and restore women’s reproductive freedom. Last Congress, Senator Rosen helped introduce the Right to Contraception Act, aimed at federally guaranteeing the right to obtain and use contraceptives and shielding providers who prescribe and offer them.

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NEWS: Sanders, Takano Introduce Legislation to Expand Overtime Pay to Nearly 30 Million Workers

WASHINGTON, May 18 — As President Trump and congressional Republicans tout so-called “No Tax on Overtime” while simultaneously denying the right to overtime pay for more than 4.3 million workers, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) today introduced the Restoring Overtime Pay Act to expand and strengthen overtime protections for nearly 30 million workers.

“At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when over 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, it is beyond unacceptable that President Trump is denying overtime pay to millions of workers who desperately need it to keep up with the outrageously high cost of living,” Sanders said. “We should be making it easier, not harder, for Americans who work more than 40 hours a week to get the time-and-a-half pay that they have earned and deserve. That’s precisely what this bill would do.”

“Americans are working more for less,” Takano said. “Expanding the overtime threshold for salaried employees is the best way to ensure that families can survive the cost-of-living crisis caused by Donald Trump. I am proud to introduce this bill to help make sure over 29 million workers get paid fairly.”

The Restoring Overtime Pay Act would expand or strengthen overtime protections for up to 29.3 million workers by gradually increasing the overtime salary threshold from just $35,568 today to more than $89,000 by 2030. This legislation comes on the heels of President Trump’s rescission of a Biden-era rule that would have expanded overtime pay for more than 4 million workers.

Currently, just eight percent of full-time salaried workers are eligible for overtime pay based on their salaries alone. This legislation would increase that figure to 55% of full-time salaried workers. This is not a radical idea. In 1975, nearly 63% of all full-time salaried workers were guaranteed overtime pay.

Restoring Overtime Pay Act Timeline

YearOvertime Threshold2026$45,0002027$55,0002028$65,0002029$75,000203055th percentile

of full-time salaried workers

nationally*, updated annually

*The current 55th percentile of full-time salaried workers nationally is $89,440 and could increase to $98,000 by 2030.

Joining Sanders and Takano on this legislation are Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and 22 members of the House of Representatives.

The Restoring Overtime Pay Act has been endorsed by 34 organizations, including the AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers (UAW), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Communications Workers of America (CWA), UNITE HERE, United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), United for Respect, and United Steelworkers (USW).

Read the bill text here.

Read a fact sheet here.


NEWS: Sen. Schiff Unveils Major Legislation to Ensure Fair and Affordable Energy Costs for Americans Amid Data Center Buildouts

Schiff’s Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act would protect Americans from rising energy costs while strengthening grid reliability

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced new major legislation, the Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act, to ensure that Americans are not saddled with rising energy costs, and that private companies pay their fair share for energy they consume and necessary grid infrastructure upgrades to protect against blackouts.

The legislation comes as the American energy grid undergoes a once-in-a-generation increase in demand. Americans are facing rapidly rising electricity rates as the costs of new energy infrastructure required by the buildout of AI data centers are being passed on to consumers.

“Our nation is witnessing a generational increase in energy demand with the buildout of data centers, and hard-working Americans should not be left to foot the tab for rising energy costs,” said Senator Schiff. “My Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act would protect ratepayers from rising costs by ensuring that companies are paying their fair share for their energy use and implementing critical modernizations to ensure we can protect against blackouts. Artificial Intelligence is already deeply impacting our society, economy, and national security, and it is critical that we maintain our international leadership – however that growth cannot come at the cost of consumers or society. There needs to be guardrails that protect Americans’ pocketbooks.”

The Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

(FERC) and transmission providers the authorities and tools needed to shield consumers from rising energy costs, maintain resource adequacy, and avoid blackouts, while ensuring that America can continue to lead the world in technological innovation. It would also direct and empower our national labs to take a hard look at this problem, collect the data they need, and report back to Congress on what their scientists and engineers think we can do better.

Specifically, Schiff’s Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act would:

Require energy-intensive facilities like data centers to agree to be flexible with their energy demand and bring their own power as conditions for connecting to the transmission grid; and prioritize projects that use battery storage systems. These policies reduce grid strain and obviate the need to build additional grid infrastructure, eliminating electric bill increases for American households.

Require large load facilities like data centers to be responsible for 100 percent of the grid network upgrades needed to deliver power to them so that those costs are not shifted to others and requires large load facilities to pay for grid reliability services if they benefit from such services.

Direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to update transmission policies to allow energy-intensive facilities like data centers to dial down their demand during peak energy consumption periods (non-firm transmission service) and pump any excess power they generate back onto the grid for others to use, thus driving down costs. These policy changes would also allow grid operators to reduce the amount of energy going to data centers during peak demand periods (curtailment).

Block energy-intensive facilities like data centers from siphoning power from existing power plants that are serving the American public.

Update grid forecasting and the process to apply for a grid interconnection to deter speculative, non-serious projects from messing up grid forecasts and clogging up the line to connect to the grid for everyone else.

Utilize Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory expertise for research and development by directing them to collect data, analyze energy usage patterns, and submit recommendations to Congress on reducing energy consumption

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