Senator Kim Joins Bipartisan Effort to Reaffirm U.S. Commitments to Taiwan Defined by Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of President Donald Trump’s summit with China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing,Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) joined Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Curtis (R-Utah), and additional bipartisan Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirming congressional support for theTaiwan Relations Act (TRA) and underscoring that there should be no unilateral changes to this policy nor any new U.S. declaratory policy on Taiwan.

The letter echoes Senator Kim’s vision for American foreign policy, which counters the Trump administration’s dangerous disengagement from America’s vital partnerships and alliances. The Senator instead emphasizes that American resilience is best secured by leaning into our long-standing partnerships, like that with Taiwan, in a way that better serves American economic and security interests.

Senators Kim, Bennet, and Curtis were joined on this letter by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

“For nearly five decades, the TRA has been the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan ties, enabling a strong and mutually beneficial relationship. This bipartisan law requires the United States to provide Taiwan – a critical economic and technological partner, and a thriving democracy – defense articles and services necessary to maintain the island’s self-defense capability. The TRA further states that the United States would consider any attempt to determine Taiwan’s future by non-peaceful means to be ‘a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific,’ and of ‘grave concern,’” wrote the senators.

“Our commitment to this legislation has long helped ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait — which is essential to U.S. interests there and across the Indo-Pacific. Maintaining this commitment is necessary to ensure the credibility of U.S. security commitments to allies and partners in the region and beyond,” continued the senators.

“In the spirit of longstanding bipartisan support for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, we stand ready to work with your administration to further strengthen this partnership,” concluded the senators.

Read the full letter to Secretary Rubio.

The letter builds on Senator Kim’s work to support Taiwan, a critical partner of the United States. Ahead of Trump’s Beijing summit this week, Senator Kim joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter urging President Trump to permit U.S. arms sales, pre-approved by Congress in January of last year, to Taiwan. Earlier this year, he helped lead the introduction of the bipartisan Taiwan Allies Fund Act to strengthen Taiwan’s global network as well as the Blue Skies for Taiwan Act that expands cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan on the development of unmanned arial systems.

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King Blasts Massive Cuts to Forest Service

To watch or download the exchange click here

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) raised concerns over the Administration’s proposed cuts to forest research, partnerships with state and tribal authorities, and maintenance of public lands. In a Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) committee hearing, King pressed Chief of the United States Forest Service (USFS) Tom Schultz on the rationale behind cutting vital forest services, drawing a contrast with the President’s White House ballroom project which could be receiving a billion dollars in a bill as soon as next week.

The Administration’s planned cuts and reorganization of the USFS present serious challenges for logging, mining, and firefighting on 200 million acres of U.S. land, as well as thousands of trails and forests that millions of Americans visit every year.

“Budgets represent priorities, and it's fascinating to me that if you add together the cuts for service operations, forest and rangeland research, and state, private and tribal forestry, that pretty much exactly equals the proposed billion dollars in the reconciliation bill for the ballroom. So, the President's ballroom has a higher priority than forest research, state and tribal forestry, and Forest Service operations.

“So, another way to look at it in perspective is that number represents 3/10 of 1% of the proposed increase in the defense budget this year to $1.5 trillion. So, I don't understand the priorities here. I just don't think it makes any sense…your statement is that “The budget eliminates the account for state, private, and tribal forestry funding to ensure fiscal responsibility and to better balance the appropriate roles of federal and state government.” That's a euphemism for we've got the gold mine, you get the shaft. You're shafting the states and the tribes. About ten times today you've used the word partnership. It ain't a partnership if one side has to give up everything, and the other side says, this is what we're going to do, and we're not going to give you any money to do it; why in the world are you seeing the basis for the partnership that you keep talking about? Why should anybody partner with you when, on the one hand, you're saying, well, here are our terms and conditions, but by the way, we're not going to give you the money that we've historically given you year after year? What's the justification for that?” asked Senator King.

“Mr. Chairman, Mr. King, thanks for the question. So, in many cases, the partnerships that we have, they're mutually beneficial. That's how it works. So historically, the state and private funding was about $300 million. And that funding was supporting a lot of different programs for states. What we've seen over time, though, is that there is a need to take a look at those programs and how they're funded and the responsibility of the states and other partners,” replied Mr. Schultz.

“So, it's a zero value. It's going from $310 million to 0. So, you're saying there was no value in those expenditures whatsoever?” Senator King asked.

Mr. Schultz replied, “Mr. Chairman, Senator King, when I mentioned I worked in state government for over 25 years before I came into this role, and there has always been concerns and questions about the appropriate role of the federal funding versus state funding. And we've seen different states address that differently. Some states have increased funding for the state and private programs through the state legislatures, and others have not. So, it's something that has been an ongoing issue and a discussion about how much of that burden shifted more states or the federal government.

“Well, how much of the burden? Your budget says zero is for the federal government as far as the states are concerned.” Senator King asked.

As a lifelong advocate for conservation and Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King is among the Senate’s most prominent voices advocating for conservation of public lands. He has been outspoken regarding cuts to National Parks and conservation services. Last month, in response to budget cuts and reorganization at the USFS, Senator King joined 33 of his Senate colleagues to raise concerns about harmful workforce reductions.

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Klobuchar Meets with Annunciation Catholic School Students and Teachers in Washington

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar met with students and teachers from Annunciation Catholic School during their annual 8th grade visit to Washington, D.C.

“I enjoyed spending time with students and teachers from Annunciation Catholic School during their visit to our nation’s capital,” said Klobuchar. “I had a meaningful conversation with these students about public service, gun safety reforms, and their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Their experience at Annunciation and presence here in Washington inspires the fight for gun safety legislation.”

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Klobuchar Bipartisan Rural Broadband Protection Act Signed into Law

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the statement below following her bipartisan Rural Broadband Protection Act being signed into law. The bill, which Klobuchar led with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a more thorough vetting process to ensure that providers applying for federal funding are capable of delivering reliable broadband access to underserved, rural communities.

“We should be able to bring high-speed internet to every family in Minnesota — regardless of their zip code,” said Klobuchar. “This law will help Americans connect to work, school, health care, and business opportunities by ensuring the companies that apply for federal funding to build out broadband infrastructure can get the job done. As co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, I’ll keep fighting to close the digital divide and ensure Minnesota families can reliably access the high-speed internet they need.”

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Klobuchar Opening Remarks on Protecting Kids Online

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, delivered the following opening statement while co-chairing the subcommittee hearing titled “From the Courtroom to Congress: Why Landmark Social Media Verdicts Demand Federal Action to Protect Kids Online.”

A rough transcript of Klobuchar’s full opening statement is available below and a video can be downloaded here.

Senator Klobuchar: Thank you very much, Chair Blackburn, for holding today's hearing, and thank you to our witnesses for being here. Ms. Bogard, thank you very much for being here. I'm sure this is difficult. And Bridgette Norring, who I've gotten to know very well, she's from Minnesota, and in your son's name, have just been an incredible advocate for other families, both nationally and in our state. Thank you.

So here's the issue, as the Chairman explained, social media company algorithms are designed to keep people online as long as possible and collect information and then sell as many advertisements as possible. And sadly, all of that has also included kids and very young kids.

According to a study, social media platforms generated $11 billion in revenue in 2022 from advertising directed at children and teenagers, including nearly $2 billion in ad profits derived from users age 12 and under.

To protect the profits, the companies often design their platforms in ways that actually increase teen addiction. And then, of course, these platforms become prey to predators, people that are pushing sexual exploitation, people that are pushing harmful content from eating disorders, and provide venues, as we know, in several cases, for dealers to sell deadly drugs like fentanyl.

One parent told me that her child's social media use was like a water faucet on full blast — the water was over flowing while she is sitting out there with a mop trying to wipe it up, trying to figure out how to get her child off of one platform, going to her eldest child to try to get advice on what to do when they find a new platform. And for so many parents like the two that are before us today to testify, there are permanent, tragic consequences.

Bridgette lost her teenage son after he took a fentanyl-laced pill that he believed was Percocet purchased through social media. Joanne lost her teenage son after he tried the blackout challenge that he saw online.

That's why parents, victims, and state attorneys general have been standing up to hold these platforms accountable and protect others from enduring the pain that they have gone through themselves. In the face of their grief, they are suing social media companies for the harms their platforms have caused.

We've had two significant cases just recently, in a bellwether case that may shape how thousands of others are resolved: the California jury found Meta and YouTube were negligent in how they designed their platforms and liable for damaging the mental health of a young girl who frequently felt that she simply couldn't break away. The state of New Mexico won its case against Meta, alleging that the company, quote, knowingly exposes children to the twin harms of sexual exploitation and mental health harm — $375 million in damages.

These courtroom victories are incredibly important, but they cannot be an excuse for complacency. We must continue to empower victims, opening the courtroom door. I've been a long-time supporter of, after finally deciding that we wouldn't be able to pass a bunch of the laws I wanted to pass, of getting rid of Section 230, or at least reforming it. And even with some of these victories, the companies have continued to block changes in Congress. Meta even used its power as a dominant provider of online advertising to hide legitimate advertisements by lawyers informing parents and kids of the harms of social media.

Senator Cruz and I have teamed up and passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act. We're literally coming up this next week on the time at which the platforms will be held accountable if they don't take either real images of non-consensual porn or AI-created images down. We already have criminal prosecutions against those that have spread this trash, that have been successful.

Congress also needs to pass, and Senator Blackburn and I were together with Senator Blumenthal and Cruz yesterday with a group of parents, the Senate's version of the Kids Online Safety Act, KOSA, to ensure that the platforms design their products to prevent and mitigate harms. Senator Blumenthal and Blackburn's bill, it passed the Senate on a 91-3 vote last Congress, and it needs to be taken up and passed immediately.

There are vital issues to get right, but we cannot allow children to continue to be in harm's way every time they pick up a smartphone or tablet while we drag our feet on reform. It is time to stop talking about the problem and do something.

I look forward to hearing about the witnesses. Thank you.

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Luján, Britt Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Boost Industrial Water Reuse, Protect Community Drinking Water, and Meet Public and Private Demand for Freshwater

Legislation Incentivizes Water Reuse Investments to Protect Water Resources for Local Communities and Businesses

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced the Advancing Water Reuse Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide a federal tax incentive for manufacturers and other industrial entities to invest in water reuse systems and infrastructure. As the nation’s aging water infrastructure struggles to meet growing public and private demands for freshwater, the Advancing Water Reuse Act will expand investments in water reuse to protect water, reduce demand on freshwater supplies, and spur business development and job growth.

Water reuse is the process of intentionally capturing and treating wastewater, stormwater, saltwater, or graywater to make it suitable for beneficial freshwater uses, including industrial processes, irrigation, and groundwater replenishment.

“In New Mexico, water is critical to our families, communities, and local economies,” said Senator Luján. “As demand for freshwater continues to grow, we need smart and forward-looking solutions to protect our vital resources and strengthen long-term water security. That’s why I’m introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Britt to incentivize investments in water reuse infrastructure that will help conserve freshwater, support local communities, and provide businesses the certainty they need to grow and create jobs. Expanding water reuse can help reduce strain on existing water supplies, protect drinking water resources, and ensure communities across the country have access to reliable water.”

“A safe, reliable supply of freshwater is crucial to facilitating economic development while ensuring Americans across the country have access to clean water. In Alabama, water reuse technologies are being developed and incorporated across industries to reduce demand on freshwater supply and mitigate strain on our aging water infrastructure. I’m proud to have worked on this legislation with Senator Luján that promotes responsible water management, so residents have safe drinking water, farmers have the water they need to grow our food, and industries have the capacity to continue investing in our communities,” said Senator Britt.

“Water is the fuel of our growing economy. Businesses need local, reliable, and cost-effective strategies that protect water resources for the communities in which they operate,” said WateReuse Association Executive Director Bruno Pigott. “WateReuse Association applauds Senators Britt and Luján for introducing legislation to unleash the potential of industrial water reuse for the American economy.”

“To meet rising industrial water demand, the focus must shift from short-term supply solutions to long-term resilience. Embedding water reuse into core infrastructure strategies will help industries future-proof operations while strengthening both economic resilience and water security—particularly as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and other growth industries accelerate. The Advancing Water Reuse Act is an important step toward scaling industrial water reuse in the United States, reducing pressure on freshwater supplies while supporting the innovation driving the AI economy. We commend Senator Ben Ray Luján and Senator Katie Britt for introducing bipartisan legislation that recognizes water reuse as both an economic and water security imperative,” said Josh Mahan, Senior Director, Government and Industry Relations at Xylem.

Specifically, the Advancing Water Reuse Act:

Creates a 30 percent Investment Tax Credit for qualifying water reuse projects.

Encourages partnerships between businesses and municipal water recycling systems to increase the use of recycled water.

Covers projects that:

Supports installation or expansion of onsite water recycling systems at manufacturing, food processing, and other industrial entities, including data center facilities;

Replaces the use of freshwater, such as groundwater, with recycled water from a municipal water provider for the production of goods or provision of services; or

Builds or expands a municipal water recycling system for the purpose of securing recycled water for the production of goods or provision of services.

The Advancing Water Reuse Act is supported by the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, American Public Works Association, American Water Works Association, Epic Cleantec, Grundfos, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, National Water Resources Association, Pacific Institute, PepsiCo, Plumbing Manufacturers International, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Veolia, Water Environment Federation, Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association, National Association of Manufacturers, WateReuse Association, and Xylem.

A one-pager of the legislation is available here. Full bill text is available here.

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ICYMI: Senator Markey Calls for a Restoration of Fuel Economy Standards That Save Americans Money at the Pump

Washington (May 13, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today hosted a press conference calling on the Trump administration to end its proposed rule to roll back Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which save money for drivers and reduce oil consumption. Senator Markey was joined by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), the National Consumers League, Moms Clean Air Force, and a local business owner feeling the pain of high gas prices caused by Trump’s expensive, dangerous, and unnecessary war with Iran. President Trump’s war of choice in Iran has caused gas prices to spike by more than $1.50 in just over two months. Senator Markey also called on car manufacturers to voluntarily recognize previous, more stringent fuel economy standards amidst the ongoing fuel cost crisis.

“With one hand, Donald Trump is rolling back the very standards that keep our vehicles leaner, cleaner, and cheaper, and with the other hand he is driving up gas prices,” said Senator Markey. “That’s like a doctor who makes you sick, withholds the cure, and sends you a bill for both. I am calling on the administration to withdraw their proposed rule to roll back these standards in light of the energy emergency they single-handedly created.”

“Costs are low when fuel economy standards are high,” said Daniel Greene, the Senior Director of Product Safety & Consumer Protection at the National Consumers League. “But in the midst of sky-high gasoline prices and a deepening affordability crisis, the Trump administration response is to weaken federal fuel economy standards. That’s like pouring gasoline onto an open fire - gasoline that costs $4.50 a gallon. The National Consumers League urges the Trump administration to halt its assault on affordability and preserve robust fuel economy standards.”

“As an African American mother, grandmother, and one of the millions of people who drive a car, I have a simple message to the Trump administration: stop putting American families’ health last. Improved fuel economy standards save us money—and save lives too. Tailpipe pollution is a major threat to children’s health and is known to damage our lungs, hearts, and brains. Our children and families deserve better,” said Almeta Cooper, National Manager for Health Justice for Moms Clean Air Force.

In February, Senator Markey and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) led 78 lawmakers in a letter to the Administration calling on it to withdraw its proposed rollback of fuel economy standards. Last month, Senator Markey introduced his No Big Fossil Bailouts on Your Power Bill Act as a response to the Trump administration’s abuse of energy emergency powers to force power plants to continue operating beyond their planned retirement dates, causing bills to soar and pollution to surge as a result. Senator Markey has been a fuel economy champion since the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 included fuel economy language co-authored by then-Rep. Markey to push for more protective standards.

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Senator Marshall Introduces Bill to Support Families Experiencing Pregnancy Loss

Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) introduced the Bereaved Parents Rights Act, legislation that ensures hospitals and freestanding birth centers provide clear information about the rights that grieving parents have regarding the cremation or burial of their miscarried or stillborn child.

“As an OB-GYN, I’ve sat with parents during some of the most heartbreaking moments of their lives after the loss of a child,” said Senator Marshall. “In those moments of grief, families should be met with compassion and clarity, not confusion about what happens next. No law can take away that pain, but we can ensure parents are informed of their rights and given the opportunity to make decisions for their child with the respect every family deserves.”

Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-Florida) introduced this bill in the House of Representatives.

“Losing a child you never got the chance to hold is a pain no parent can ever prepare for,” said Rep. Cammack. “In the most vulnerable moment of their lives, parents are too often failed by a broken system that leaves them to grieve and fight at the same time — that ends now. The Bereaved Parents Rights Act ensures parents have the information, guidance, options, and time they need to make deeply personal decisions. I’m proud to help lead this initiative to ensure grieving parents receive the dignity, resources, and support they deserve.”

What the bill does:

Requires hospitals and freestanding birth centers to notify the parent(s) of a miscarried or stillborn child of their rights no later than 6 hours after the miscarriage or stillbirth, or when the parent(s) are discharged, whichever comes first. The parent(s) must be informed of their options for private burial, common burial, cremation, or disposal by the hospital or birth center, using a form which will be developed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Honors a parent’s written election to arrange for burial or cremation by following the same disposition options available under State law for fetal deaths.

Allows any individual harmed by a violation of these requirements to file a civil lawsuit in federal court for relief.

Background:

State laws regarding the handling of fetal remains following a miscarriage or stillbirth vary significantly across the country.

Many states have no clear legal requirements regarding the disposition of remains following a miscarriage, leaving hospitals to rely on internal policies and procedures.

As a result, grieving parents can face confusion and unnecessary obstacles while seeking to bury or cremate their child.

Click here to read the full text of the legislation.

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SENATOR MCCORMICK URGES FEMA TO RELEASE MORE THAN $600 MILLION IN DELAYED REIMBURSEMENTS FOR PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITALS

WASHINGTON – Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging the agency to release nearly $600 million in approved COVID-19 reimbursement funding owed to Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems.

In the letter, Senator McCormick raised concerns about the ongoing delays in disbursing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funds tied to pandemic response efforts and highlighted the continued financial strain facing healthcare providers across the Commonwealth.

“Pennsylvania hospitals stepped up during the pandemic when communities needed them most,” said Senator McCormick. “They expanded capacity, protected frontline healthcare workers, and ensured patients continued receiving care under unprecedented circumstances. FEMA approved funding to reimburse those efforts, yet nearly $600 million remains unpaid. These providers upheld their commitment to Pennsylvanians, and the federal government should uphold its commitment to them.”

Senator McCormick is committed to ensuring that Pennsylvania hospitals receive the reimbursements they are owed so they can continue delivering critical care and protecting communities across the Commonwealth.

Read the full letter here.

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Merkley Blasts Senate Republicans for Failing to End Trump’s Illegal Iran War

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to block his War Powers Resolution to end President Trump’s illegal war against Iran:

“Rather than hold President Trump accountable for his reckless warmongering, Senate Republicans have once again rubber-stamped Trump’s unconstitutional war with Iran.

“This war of choice has been a total failure. The Strait of Hormuz—which was open before the war—remains closed, choking off vital supplies and raising costs for working families. Iran’s enriched uranium remains hidden. U.S. aggression has only strengthened the hardliners inside Iran, and our influence is declining across the region.

“As James Madison warned us: ‘the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most prone to it. [The Constitution] has accordingly with studied care vested the question of war in the Legislature.’ The Senate must uphold its Constitutional duty.

“Until this illegal war is over, Democrats will keep forcing votes to hold Senate Republicans accountable for bending the knee to Trump. No more war with Iran!”

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VIDEO RELEASE: Law Enforcement Officers from Across Florida Join Senator Moody for National Police Week Reception

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody is saying thank you to more than 100 Florida law enforcement officers and the families of fallen heroes. Senator Moody honored their service at her inaugural Police Week Reception in the U.S. Senate. Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze emceed the event and St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro and Milton Police Department Chief Jennifer Frank thanked Senator Moody for steadfast support for law enforcement.

“We are honoring the service of law enforcement officers from across Florida this week and saying thank you to the families of the fallen heroes whose names are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall. Their courage and sacrifice must never be forgotten. As Florida’s U.S. Senator and the wife of a law enforcement officer I will also support our heroes,” said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Moody welcomed Florida law enforcement and the families of fallen law enforcement officers from around the state to Washington, D.C.

Ten fallen officers’ from Florida will have their names will be added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial.

Florida lost 11 officers in the line of duty last year. Nationally, there were 111 line of duty deaths.

Senator Moody is a long-time supporter of the rule of law and of law enforcement officers. Since becoming Florida’s newest Senator, Moody has:

Introduced the Halo Act to shield federal officers from those who seek to threaten and harass them on duty;

Supported the Graham Hoffman Act, which would allow the U.S. to use the full force of state and federal law to prosecute those who assault first responders and act as a deterrent to anyone considering such acts of violence;

Introduced the HELPER Act to make homeownership more obtainable for Florida heroes, including law enforcement officers;

Co-Sponsored the HALT Fentanyl Act, which was signed into law by President Trump. The new law assists law enforcement officers get fentanyl traffickers off the streets and permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act;

Sponsored the RIPPLE Act, which would expand the 287(g) program and provide resources to state law enforcement to more efficiently get criminal illegal aliens out of communities; and

Voted to pass the largest pro-law enforcement package out of the Judiciary Committee during Police Week last year.

As Florida’s Attorney General, Senator Moody created many programs to recognize the selfless efforts of law enforcement officers, including her Back the Blue, Thin Line Tribute, and Sunshine Salute programs. Moody also worked with state lawmakers to strengthen statutes to hold criminals accountable and help officers and prosecutors do their jobs.

Senator Moody also supported the Working Families Tax Cuts, which includes no tax on overtime, ensuring law enforcement officers can keep more of their hard-earned paycheck as they work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.

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Murkowski Votes to Remove U.S. Armed Forces from Iran

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement following her vote on Senate Joint Resolution 163:

“Today, the Senate voted on a resolution directing the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Iran, the eighth such resolution on this matter. I voted against the previous seven resolutions because I believed an abrupt withdrawal would endanger American forces and civilians in the region, but also because the president was operating within his constitutional authority under the 60-day threshold established by the War Powers Act.

“Two elements have changed since those previous votes: we have now surpassed the 60-day limit for hostilities without congressional authorization, and the administration has asserted that hostilities have ended, despite the blockade and continued fire directed at members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as our assets, allies, and partners. The administration's own position removes any justification for keeping our servicemembers in harm's way without congressional authorization.

“If U.S. forces are still required to operate in the region or hostilities are resumed, the administration is obligated to seek authorization from Congress and should come before this body, and the American people, making that case. I have been working with several colleagues on an authorization for the use of military force, but with the reported claim of ended hostilities, this course of action is not an effective means to manage this conflict. Should hostilities reignite and military action resume, I will reconsider the introduction of an AUMF.

“Until then, I will support measures to officially end hostilities and bring our men and women home. I will oppose any effort to redefine 'hostilities' in ways that allow the president to wage war indefinitely without seeking congressional approval as outlined by the Constitution.”

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Murphy, Deluzio Introduce Bicameral Bill to Kick Private Equity Out of Kids' Sports and Stop the Ripoffs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.-17) on Wednesday introduced the Let Kids Play Act, a bicameral bill to stop Wall Street from pricing kids out of sports by banning private equity firms from youth sports, shutting down the vulture practices they use to jack up costs, and getting money back to the families who have been ripped off. The bill is co-led by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in the Senate. The Monopoly Busters Caucus, co-chaired by Rep. Deluzio, along with U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), U.S. Representative Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.-18), and Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02) co-led the legislation in the House.

Over the last decade, youth sports have become prohibitively expensive. What was once an affordable, community-based tradition to give kids a chance to have fun and challenge themselves, has morphed into a $40 billion industry dominated by private equity, with the singular goal of extracting as much profit as possible from families. Private equity firms have monetized and taken ownership of every layer of youth sports, including leagues, teams, venues, practice facilities, tournament circuits, uniforms, streaming services, hotels, and merchandise sales, boxing out local organizations that are invested in their community.

Once they’ve taken control of the competition, private equity wields their market power ruthlessly, sticking ordinary families with substantially higher prices, endless junk fees, and mandatory multi-year contracts. In just a few years, the cost of participating in youth sports has risen by 46 percent. Families routinely go into debt to keep their kids in sports, with the average cost exceeding $5,000 a year. As a result, millions of lower-income families have been locked out of the youth sports experience entirely, participating at half the rate of wealthier families.

“As a hockey dad, I’ve seen how viciously these private equity companies rip families off,” said Senator Murphy. “Sports are one of the increasingly few places kids can find real community and learn core values, like teamwork and discipline, that last a lifetime. It is shameful to deny that opportunity to millions of kids just so some greedy Wall Street executives can boost their bottom line. We are getting these profit-obsessed corporations out of kids’ sports for good.”

"Sports should be a sacred part of childhood,” said Rep. Deluzio. “Instead, big money vultures have turned youth sports into a luxury item. That must end. I’m proud to lead the Let Kids Play Act to ban private equity from youth sports and keep this part of the American Dream alive for the next generation of kids.”

“The cost of youth sports has gotten out of control. Parents are getting squeezed, kids are being shut out, and big businesses are cashing in,” said Senator Booker. “Playing sports as a kid changed the trajectory of my life, and I know it’s done the same for millions of others. We will all lose something important to society and our culture if we allow youth sports to become a luxury good only available to the wealthiest.”

“In nearly every part of American life, giant corporations, Wall Street investors, greedy billionaires, and other special interests are squeezing every last dollar they can out of working families,” said Rep. Jayapal. “And like in so many other industries, wealthy investors have found a way to take the fun out of kids’ sports. The Let Kids Play Act puts a stop to this nickel-and-diming from private equity and corporate investors because no child should miss out on playing sports because their parents cannot afford these ridiculous fees.”

“As a mom, I know how important youth sports are for our kids, but thanks to private equity firms monopolizing sports leagues and jacking up prices for parents, sports are becoming less and less accessible to everyday folks,” said Rep. Craig. “Limiting kids’ access to activities that help them stay active and build lifelong skills, while putting the squeeze on working parents who are already struggling with the sky-high cost of supporting a family is unacceptable and wrong. That's why I'm proud to be a part of the effort to protect youth sports and hold these massive companies accountable for exploiting working families and using our kids as pawns to increase their bottom lines."

“Team sports are supposed to be the first place our kids learn teamwork, discipline, and community. Instead, it’s become a cash grab for Wall Street investors to make another buck while our kids miss out on this fundamental part of American childhood,” said Rep. Pat Ryan. “It’s outrageous. Parents are already getting crushed by costs everywhere they turn, and now corporate investors are coming after one of the most important parts of childhood, too. Enough. The Let Kids Play Act cracks down on these abusive practices, lowers costs for families, forces the bad actors to pay them back, and puts the focus back where it belongs: on kids getting the chance to play.”

The Let Kids Play Act stops Wall Street from pricing our kids out of sports by banning both private equity vulture investors and the vulture practices they use, and establishes strong enforcement tools to hold private equity accountable for the damage they cause by requiring:

Mandatory exit from youth sports: Private equity firms are automatically designated as vulture investors and banned from youth sports -- leagues, facilities, tournaments, and player platforms -- unless they prove they have never used vulture practices. Banned investors must sell their ownership stakes and management rights in youth sports within two years.

Refunds to families: This bill requires vulture investors to provide full refunds for any junk fees collected through vulture practices, cancels any predatory contracts, and wipes out any outstanding debts, interest, or late fees that were imposed by the private equity firms.

Liability for debts and safety violations: Private equity vulture investors are held personally and financially responsible for any debts, legal judgments, or law violations, including child safety and labor infractions, that occur while they are in charge.

Creation of Youth Sports Fund: Any penalties paid or money taken from these private equity firms is placed into a dedicated fund to provide scholarships, reduce costs for families, and keep local fields open for free community use.

Rights for communities and families be respected: This bill gives states and parents legal standing to sue private equity firms in youth sports, stop their vulture practices, and receive compensation for any financial losses or harm they have caused.

The bill is endorsed by the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Groundwork Action, Sports Fans Coalition, Open Markets Institute, and the Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF).

“No kid should have to quit a sport because private equity has made it too expensive,” said Lina Khan, former FTC Chair. “It’s great to see this bill take on the vulture investors preying on families.”

“Private equity has transformed youth sports from a public good into a profit center, with children and families paying the price,” said Katie Van Dyck, Senior Legal Fellow, American Economic Liberties Project. “The Let Kids Play Act goes after their vulture practices with conviction — banning the consolidation, debt loading, and asset stripping that have hollowed out local clubs; eliminating the liability shields that protect the worst actors while leaving communities in the dust; and giving public and private enforcers the tools to hold them accountable. Kids and families deserve to enjoy sports without emptying their bank accounts. This bill makes that possible.”

“For years, private equity firms have been buying up youth sports leagues and turning one of the most important parts of childhood into a cash extraction scheme,” said Alex Jacquez, Chief of Policy and Advocacy, Groundwork Action. Firms are piling on junk fees, locking families into predatory contracts, and mandating expensive travel programs, all so Wall Street investors can squeeze more profits out of kids and parents. The result is that millions of children are being priced out of sports that used to be a basic part of growing up. The Let Kids Play Act would ban these vulture tactics outright and kick private equity out of youth sports, putting families, kids, and communities back at the center of the game.”

“There's no bigger fan than a parent. Watching your kid compete is the purest experience sports has to offer,” said Brian Hess, Executive Director of Sports Fans Coalition. “But private equity is exploiting that love. Buying up local leagues, forcing families into pay-to-play schemes, preventing kids from playing in other tournaments, and harvesting children's biometric data for profit doesn't just drain working families' bank accounts — it sucks the soul out of youth sports. The Let Kids Play Act attacks this problem at the root by banning these predatory practices and forcing vulture investors out of youth sports for good. Sports Fans Coalition proudly endorses this legislation and commends Sen. Murphy and Rep. Deluzio for standing up for the most passionate fans in America — the parents on those sidelines."

"Private equity firms threaten to destroy kids' sports the way they are destroying so many other industries,” said Brendan Ballou, author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America. ”This is a problem that will get worse unless Congress steps in. If you want to make children's sports affordable, support this bill."

“Private equity firms have shown, again and again, what happens when short-term investors move into community institutions: costs go up, quality and access go down, and families are left paying the price,” said Audrey Stienon of the Open Markets Institute. “This bill recognizes that youth sports should be about kids and communities, not financial extraction, and it could help establish a broader standard for identifying and pushing out the kinds of investors whose business model depends on harming the people they’re supposed to serve.”

“For decades, private equity firms have used tax loopholes like carried interest to avoid paying billions in taxes, while using money taken from taxpayers to buy up companies and raise prices for millions of Americans already struggling in an unaffordable economy,” said David Kass, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness. “Let Kids Play Act would ensure that private equity firms already taking from taxpayers cannot price kids out of their communities’ sports programs. These programs are essential to our children’s and community development. No kid should be shut out.”


Senator Murray Presses EPA Administrator on Agency Siding with Mega Polluters, Plans to Gut Clean Water Funding

ICYMI: Senator Murray on President Trump’s FY27 Budget Request

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

Washington, D.C. — Today—at a Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the FY27 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, pressed Administrator Lee Zeldin on how EPA has been captured by industry and is abandoning its mission to protect families’ health.

[ROLLING BACK PFAS REGULATIONS]

Senator Murray began by questioning Administrator Zeldin on EPA’s decision to gut PFAS rules and risk the health of all Americans.

MURRAY: Washington state has been a real leader in responding to contamination from PFAS. These are “forever chemicals,” and they’ve been linked to cancer, liver, thyroid problems, fertility issues. They’re very widespread, they’re very hard to replace, but that has not stopped my state from really working hard to tackle this problem head-on: Washington state, actually, led the way in banning PFAS in food packaging and in firefighting foam.

And, in 2024, EPA actually followed Washington state’s lead and set federal drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals for the first time ever. Last year, you proposed rescinding standards for four of these chemicals, citing “costs” and “flexibility.”

Administrator Zeldin, what analysis has EPA conducted on the health cost of rescinding these PFAS drinking water standards? And specifically, what impacts can we expect to see in developmental delays, decreased birth weights, or early puberty for children?

ZELDIN: Well, Senator the extension of PFOA and PFOS for two years, that was primarily based on costs. With regards to the rescission of the four other types of PFAS, that was following litigation because the process under the Safe Drinking Water Act—

MURRAY: That actually wasn’t the question I was asking you, I was asking you: what analysis have you done on the health costs—on the health cost, the impact, especially to our kids.

ZELDIN: Okay, I thought you were asking me about the recission of the four.

MURRAY: I’m asking you what the health cost is of that recission.

ZELDIN: Well, so—

MURRAY: Have you done an analysis? Have you looked at it?

ZELDIN: We have extensive—absolutely—we have extensive work going on across the agency on all sorts of aspects regarding PFAS. It’s a really long list of work that the agency’s involved in—

MURRAY: Well, the reason I ask is because the EPA’s own research found that PFAS standards that you gutted could have saved $1.5 billion in avoided health costs.

ZELDIN: It was a legal requirement Senator.

MURRAY: In avoided health costs. We just can’t allow for the cost of compliance—

ZELDIN: We have to follow the law.

MURRAY: I’m just telling you what the health cost of this is—

ZELDIN: I agree that there’s a health cost.

MURRAY: I believe that it is really important that we make sure we are doing the right thing, that we are protecting children’s health—not doing what corporations need—because there is not yet any proven “treatment,” you know that, for PFAS. The only solution is keeping it out of water in the first place, and that is the point I’m making as the health impacts.

[EPA PUSHING ANTI-ABORTION AGENDA]

Senator Murray continued by questioning Administrator Zeldin on reports that the EPA expended resources investigating how to track medication abortion in wastewater, an issue fomented by far-right, anti-abortion extremists.

MURRAY: Let me go to another question. Administrator, the anti-abortion activists are pushing this really absurd argument that women who use birth control or self-manage abortions or miscarriages at home somehow pose a risk to our public health and the environment. I am deeply concerned that this radical conspiracy has found an audience at the EPA.

Last October, the New York Times reported that senior EPA officials directed scientists to look into how the federal government could track traces of abortion medication in wastewater. And last year, House Republicans actually included a provision of that in their EPA funding bill.

Are you actually spending taxpayer dollars looking into medication abortion being in the water?

ZELDIN: Unless they’re one of the many hundreds of pharmaceuticals on the list of the contaminant candidate list, I’m not aware of the agency doing anything with that.

MURRAY: But do you seriously believe there’s abortion in the water, like some of the far-right activists have suggested?

ZELDIN: I have not—you just said, “abortion in the water?”

MURRAY: That’s what some far-right activists are saying that they have an audience in the EPA on that absurd issue.

ZELDIN: Yeah, I have not had a conversation with anyone at the agency as far as abortions in water.

MURRAY: And you’re not actively pursuing it or don’t have groups of people—

ZELDIN: I don’t even know what you’re talking about.

MURRAY: Well, I’m referring to a New York Times article that reported that senior officials have directed scientists in the EPA to look at this.

ZELDIN: Okay, again, unless you are referring to a pharmaceutical that is on the list of hundreds of pharmaceuticals that are part of the contaminant candidate list six, but aside from that I am not aware of anything else at the agency other than that.

MURRAY: I’m citing a New York Times article and I’m happy to get it to you, but I just have to say this is really crazy. This isn’t environmental protection, I hope that there is nothing going on in your agency. This is not science, it’s not health care, and it’s not the job of the EPA. I just wanted to make that clear.

[EPA RISKING CLEAN DRINKING WATER]

Senator Murray then pressed Administrator Zeldin on why he is seeking to eviscerate the EPA’s budget for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, despite EPA’s own estimates that dramatically more funding is needed to upgrade and replace essential water infrastructure. The State Revolving Funds face a particularly acute funding cliff, as $5.2 billion in annual funding provided for the two funds in the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA), which supplemented annual appropriations, expires in FY27.

MURRAY: I also wanted to associate the comments of the chair of this committee and Senator Baldwin on the state revolving funds. Cutting them by 90 percent to me is just absurd.

Have you actually talked to water utilities about what sort of price increase that your proposal would cost them and their utility customers?

ZELDIN: Well, Senator we’re in touch with thousands of water utilities all the time, all across the entire country about this. But as I pointed out earlier what we don’t propose—I’m not opining on the merits of Congressionally Directed Spending and I’m not opining on Congressional Set-Asides—but the account has been getting depleted on grants, not loans, so it has not been revolving. We in our budget do not propose Congressionally Directed Spending, that is something that Congress can decide—

MURRAY: Which I know you took well-part in when you were a member of Congress.

ZELDIN: That was the primary difference between what the president had proposed in FY26 in the final appropriation. The delta is primarily made up of Congressionally Directed Spending, the president is not going to propose, I’m not going to sit here and advocate for it. But what I will advocate for is that when Congress does decide to do Congressionally Directed Spending that my job is to make sure that that money gets out as effectively as possible.

MURRAY: That is different than the 90% cut that you are proposing in your budget.

ZELDIN: Well, that’s why your 90% number is misleading, because you’re not factoring in what is going to be added to the amount that is proposed in Congressionally Directed Spending.

MURRAY: You’re just saying “Congress if you want this, you got to, then each individual senator has to”—

ZELDIN: The president’s not asking for your earmarks.

MURRAY: Okay, no, but I’m just saying—

ZELDIN: I don’t know how much you want to raid the SRF, that’s your, that’s something for you to fight for.

MURRAY: What I need you to understand is that the Clean Water revolving funds, the state revolving funds, are absolutely critical to our states.

And you say that there is money hanging out there, I heard your answer on that, the fact is that it actually takes communities and states a lot to design and engineer and put this all together and they have to have the money first in order to do that. And what we do know is because there’s a lot of positions that have been eliminated at the EPA, its taking a lot longer for those funds to get out there.

ZELDIN: That’s not accurate.

MURRAY: Yes, it is, and so I—

ZELDIN: Absolutely untrue.

MURRAY: I need to make this point because I want to—I agree with the chair, that this is a fund that is critical for our states, and our families just simply cannot afford to make up these funds. This is something I feel really strongly about—and, by the way, our CDS projects are still water projects. We don’t raid the water funding to do that.

###


Sen. Ossoff Expanding Vision Care for Students Across Middle Georgia

Wrightsville, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is expanding vision care for kids across Middle Georgia.

Bringing Republicans and Democrats together, Sen. Ossoff is delivering Federal funding to Community Health Care Systems, Inc. to bring mobile vision care services for students enrolled in Johnson, Baldwin, Hancock, and Twiggs County Schools.

With the funding, Community Health Care Systems plans to bring mobile vision services for school-based clinics in rural Georgia counties with limited access to eye care, including to support monthly eye clinics at schools and outreach to rural areas, ensuring students receive necessary vision care without missing school.

Sen. Ossoff is delivering $472,000 for the project through bipartisan government funding legislation that became law on February 3.

“Every child deserves the vision care they need to see, to read, and to enjoy life,” Sen. Ossoff said. “That’s why I’ve appropriated funds to expand mobile vision clinics for children across Middle Georgia.”

“We’re grateful to Senator Jon Ossoff for his leadership to secure this funding for our mobile vision care services,” said Carla Belcher, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Community Health Care Systems, Inc. “With these new Federal resources, we will be able to deliver vision care services to students in Johnson, Baldwin, Hancock, and Twiggs County Schools, helping children get care who wouldn’t otherwise.”

# # #


Padilla, Markey Call on Trump Administration to End Rollback of Fuel Economy Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) to condemn the Trump Administration’s proposed rollbacks of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which save drivers money by improving gas mileage and reducing oil consumption.

“Overall, basic goods have an inflation rate right now of 3.8 percent. That’s higher than it’s been since 2023,” said Senator Padilla. “All because of a president who promised to lower prices and tackle inflation, when he’s in fact making things worse. So the last thing this Administration should be doing is forcing families to pay even more at the pump. But that’s exactly what’s going to happen if the Trump Administration succeeds in rolling back our fuel economy standards.”

Padilla has repeatedly underscored the importance of stronger fuel economy standards to promote economic development and competition, protect the environment, and address affordability nationwide. The Trump Administration has proposed eliminating CAFE standards despite skyrocketing gas prices and worsening air quality.

Trump’s unnecessary war with Iran has resulted in an affordability crisis across the country, causing gas prices to spike by more than $1.50 in just over two months.

Earlier this month, Padilla and his Democratic colleagues introduced the Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act to crack down on petroleum market manipulation and protect consumers from unjustified price spikes at the pump.

Video of Padilla’s remarks is available here.

Transcript of Padilla’s remarks is available below.

“Let me begin by quoting Donald Trump, which I rarely, rarely do, but just yesterday he said, ‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situations.’ That’s the president of the United States. He does not care about the financial situations of American families. Boy, he’s got a crazy way of showing it, doesn’t he? Because families everywhere continue to pay increasing costs for everything from groceries to housing to health care and yes, gas prices and energy costs, overall.

Basic goods have an inflation rate right now of 3.8 percent. That’s higher than it’s been since 2023. All because of a president who promised to lower prices and tackle inflation when he’s in fact making things worse.

So the last thing this Administration should be doing is forcing families to pay even more at the pump. But that’s exactly what’s going to happen if the Trump Administration succeeds in rolling back our fuel economy standards.

Let’s just kind of lay it out here, right? Instead of saving consumers money, weaker fuel efficiency standards will cost them more. Plain and simple. When cars are less efficient, it means that consumers are having to pay for more gas to travel the same distance — more trips to the pump, more hard-earned dollars being pulled out of Americans’ pockets and enriching oil companies.

Across the country, Americans are still struggling to fill the gas tanks in their cars. And this Administration’s response is to make cars less efficient. It doesn’t make sense to anybody.

And the consequences don’t end at just families’ budgets, trying to balance the books when you pay your bills every month. We know that the transportation sector is still the single largest contributor to climate pollution, and weaker standards will lead to more pollution in the air that our children breathe, that we all breathe, which will lead to more health problems like asthma, which means more health care costs.

This at a time when we had the warmest March on record — the warmest March in 132 years. Climate change is real, Senator Markey. And we’re paying the price not just with our dollars, but with our health.

The truth of the matter is stronger fuel economy standards are good for the economy, good for American competitiveness, good for the environment, and good for taxpayers. Stronger standards push automakers to design and build more efficient and cleaner vehicles that reduces our dependence on foreign oil and saves Americans money.

That is the way forward. Let’s move forward towards cleaner cars, lower costs, and a healthier future for all of us. And I stand with Senator Markey in this fight.”

###


WATCH: Padilla Slams Proposed USFS Budget Request, Closure of Critical Research Facilities, Elimination of Funding for Fire Assistance Programs in the Run Up to Peak Fire Season

WATCH: Padilla to Schultz on FY 2027 budget proposal: “Please explain to the committee how you expect state and volunteer fire departments to make up for this staggering cut.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-chair of the Senate Wildfire Caucus, slammed the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz on President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request, which would eliminate funding for state and local fire assistance programs and undermine hazardous fuels reduction efforts. Padilla criticized the lack of coordination and Congressional consultation regarding the newly launched U.S. Wildland Fire Service and highlighted the impact the cuts would have on communities across the country.

Padilla pressed Schultz on the closure of six of the eight research facilities in California. USFS research stations provide the science that allows for more effective fuel treatments such as prescribed fire, and better post fire recovery to establish more resilient forests. Padilla criticized the proposed elimination of the existing State and Volunteer Fire Assistance programs. Under the proposed FY 2027 funding request, State and Volunteer Fire Assistance programs’ would be cut from a combined $97 million and be replaced with $2.8 million in a new single “Rural Fire Assistance grants” program – a 97% cut. These programs provide vital support to state and local fire entities, which together respond to and suppress the vast majority of ignitions across the country.

Trump’s budget proposal also includes relocating the Hazardous Fuels budget line item, which has been previously used for wildfire risk reduction projects, to the newly launched U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Padilla questioned Schultz how relocating the funding will separate USFS landscape managers with critical expertise from fire officials.

“Less resources, less capacity, increased risk. It’s going to lead to more loss and negative impact for our communities,” said Senator Padilla. “Not just me, not just my side of the aisle — you’ve heard this concern from both sides of the aisle: that separating wildfire risk reduction from landscape managers, who have the expertise to actually reduce risk, creates problems.”

The Trump Administration recently announced its plans to reorganize USFS, which would result in the closure of six of the eight research facilities in California. After expressing concern about the reorganization, Padilla secured a commitment from Schultz to provide written justification and assurance that ongoing research will not lapse due to the closures.

In the aftermath of the catastrophic Southern California fires, Senator Padilla introduced more than a dozen bills to help prevent and respond to future wildfires, including the Senate version of the Fix Our Forests Act, bipartisan legislation to combat catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive. Padilla highlighted the Senate Fix Our Forests Act after joining federal and state emergency officials for a tour of the Pacific Palisades fire recovery area led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In 2025, the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Fix Our Forests Act, marking a significant step forward in federal wildfire policy to protect communities while restoring forest health.

Video of Senator Padilla’s full questioning is available here.

A full transcript of Padilla’s questioning is below.

PADILLA: Chief, first of all, thank you for your service. Let me begin my statements and questioning by sharing my concerns regarding the recent reorganization announcement. I know there’s a lot in there to pick apart, but I want to focus specifically on the closure of six of the eight research facilities in California. Mr. Chairman, I actually ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter from California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot that echoes many of my concerns. Now, Chief, I appreciate that you’ve briefed my staff on the reorganization, but I want to ask that you follow up with your rationale for the closures in writing, as well as to provide a clear cost-benefit analysis and assurances that ongoing research will not lapse due to these closures. Is that something you think you can provide?

SCHULTZ: Mr. Chairman, Senator Padilla, yes, sir.

PADILLA: Thank you very much. Now, elsewhere in the budget proposal, you suggest eliminating the existing State and Volunteer Fire Assistance programs, which were funded in fiscal year 26 at levels of $76 million and $21 million respectively, and that’s suggested to be replaced with just $2.8 million for a new category of “rural fire assistance grants.” Based on my math, this is functionally more than a 97 percent cut. These programs provide vital support to state and local fire entities, which together respond to and suppress the vast majority of igniters across the country, not just in California. Please explain to the committee how you expect state and volunteer fire departments to make up for this staggering cut. And please don’t point to AI. I’ve asked this question to a lot of folks that have sat in this chair on budget proposals before — AI is not going to get there.

SCHULTZ: Mr. Chairman, Senator Padilla, I’m not an expert on AI, so I won’t point to AI. I think what we’ve seen is, in general, in the ‘27 budget, the fire program is moved from the Forest Service to the Department of the Interior. So, in the ‘27 budget, we don’t have the fuels program, we don’t have the firefighting program. So, I think what you did see is there was $2.8 million of Department of Interior funding that would pick that up. And that other programs that you’re referencing — the State Forestry Fire Assistance and the Volunteer Fire Assistance — that program is not continued, so there is not replacement funding. So in terms of how that would get replaced, it would have to be done at a local level, but it would not be available. We do have other programs. We have the excess property program, that local government can pick up excess equipment from the military at no charge and that can transfer to those entities. So, there are other programs in addition to the VFA and the FFA fund.

PADILLA: Right, other programs, but not making them whole with this cut.

SCHULTZ: That’s right.

PADILLA: I don’t hear you disagreeing with my assessment that this is being cut, so you understand my concern: less resources, less capacity, increased risk. It’s going to lead to more loss and negative impacts for our communities. Now, elsewhere in the proposed budget, you propose moving the hazardous fuels budget line item to a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service. The hazardous fuels budget has previously been used to accomplish prescribed fire and other risk-reduction projects on land managed by the Forest Service. Not just me, not just my side of the aisle — you’ve heard this concern from both sides of the aisle: the concern is that we’re separating wildfire risk reduction from landscape managers who have the expertise to actually reduce risk is my specific concern here today. So, Chief, how will the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service partner with land managers and the Forest Service experts to accomplish critical fuels reduction projects, including but not limited to prescribed fire?

SCHULTZ: Mr. Chairman, Senator Padilla, that’s a very good question.

PADILLA: That’s why I’m asking.

SCHULTZ: I know, it’s a good one. So right now, those functions are integrated basically within the Forest Service.

PADILLA: And you seek to disintegrate them.

SCHULTZ: That’s right and the focus there would be more on the Forest Service folks handling more of the land management and the Wildland Fire Service focusing more on suppression and the fuels work as well. So that program would transfer over there, but it’s going to require coordination. There’s no doubt.

PADILLA: So how’s that coordination going to happen?

SCHULTZ: Well, right now, we don’t have it worked out yet because it’s not implemented yet.

PADILLA: Well, it is proposed. Don’t you think you need to work that out before you suggest the change?

SCHULTZ: Well, the Department of the Interior is doing it right now. So the Department of Interior has already implemented the Wildland Fire Service. So, the land managers and the Fire Service are having to coordinate there.

PADILLA: So they are implementing or they’re not implementing? You just contradicted yourself.

SCHULTZ: So, no, the Department of Interior, within the Department of the Interior, has implemented the Wildland Fire Service. So, they’ve consolidated the fire program within DOI. So we’re going to look to DOI and see what lessons they’ve learned this year, and that would then inform how we proceed.

PADILLA: So you agree? This is –

SCHULTZ: It’s definitely a change. Yes.

PADILLA: And an area for follow-up on how we’re going to maintain the integration of the land management experience and expertise.

SCHULTZ: Yes sir.

PADILLA: Into prescribed fires and other mitigation efforts.

SCHULTZ: Yes, sir. And that’s one of the prime questions for the RFP — the study that’s going to go out at the end of this week — is going to ask some of those very questions.


“America’s Tall Ship,” U.S. Coast Guard Barque EAGLE to Visit RI

NEWPORT, RI -- Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed and Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore announced that the 295-foot sailing vessel U.S. Coast Guard Cutter EAGLE (WIX 327) is scheduled to visit the Ocean State during the last weekend of July through early August and will be open to visitors. The USCG Barque EAGLE is a tall ship and the premier sail training vessel of the United States.

Reed and Amore are inviting members of the public to step aboard this ‘national treasure’ of a ship where past, present, and future U.S. Coast Guard officers learn the “old ways” of sailing and how the forces of nature like wind, waves, and currents impact ships at sea.

The EAGLE will be moored in Newport at State Pier #9, directly to the west and abutting Mary Ferrazoli Park, and is scheduled to offer free public tours from Friday, July 31 to Monday August 3. Admission is free and no tickets will be required for entry.

Newport is one of several ports of call for the EAGLE during the cutter’s 106-day journey along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf of Mexico, with other stops scheduled in places like Pensacola, Baltimore, Charleston, New Orleans, New York City, Boston, and Portland.

The EAGLE is a three-masted sailing barque with teak decks and more than 22,300 square feet of sail and six miles of rigging. Homeported at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, the EAGLE is the only active square-rigger in United States government service. It usually has a crew of eight officers and 50 enlisted personnel and trains up to 150 cadets or officers on any voyage. It is Captained by Captain Kris Ensley who took command of EAGLE in June of 2025.

The ship was taken by the Allies among war reparations from the Germans at the conclusion of World War II concluded in 1945 and the U.S. won it in a prize drawing with the British and Soviet navies. The EAGLE has served as a training vessel for Coast Guard Academy cadets and candidates from officer candidate school. The mission of EAGLE is to develop and grow future officers, and every cadet will spend at least six weeks on board learning seamanship, navigation, and leadership skills.

The last time EAGLE visited Rhode Island was in 2022 during the 50th celebration of Tall Ships America.

For the latest information about EAGLE, including port cities, tour schedules, current events, as well as cadet and active-duty crew member photographs, check out the U.S. Coast Guard Barque EAGLE Instagram page: @barqueeagle.

Senator Reed has worked for years to successfully expand the Coast Guard’s footprint in Rhode Island. Reed secured over $100 million for work on a new Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) pier at Naval Station Newport. He also successfully advocated for the homeporting of two 270-foot Coast Guard medium endurance cutters from their previous homeports in New Hampshire and Virginia. And last year, Reed announced that two more 360-foot twin USGC OPCs that weigh in at about 4,500 long tons when fully loaded, will soon be homeporting in Rhode Island.

Newport is also home to USCGC TAHOMA (WMEC-908) and USCGC CAMPBELL (WMEC-909) - soon to be swapped out for USCGC LEGARE (WMEC 912) - USCGC OAK, USCGC SYCAMORE, USCGC IDA LEWIS, as well as Station Castle Hill and Point Judith. These multi-mission assets service aids-to-navigation, conduct search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, ports and waterways security, living marine resources, and defense and homeland security missions.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter EAGLE (WIX 327) by the numbers:

Length: 295 feet, 233 feet at waterline

Beam: greatest 39.1 feet

Displacement: 1,816 tons

Lead ballast: 344 tons

Mainmast: 147.3 feet

Foremast: 147.3 feet

Mizzenmast: 132 feet

Speed under power: 11 knots

Speed under full sail: 17.5 knots

Number of sails: 23

Sail area: 22,300 square feet

Engine: 1,000 horsepower diesel Caterpillar D399 engine

Maximum capacity: 239


Reed Joins Schumer, Durbin, Shaheen, Warner, Coons, Schatz, Warren, Kim Statement on Trump’s China Policy Ahead of His Summit With Chinese President Xi

WASHINGTON, DC – As President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing, China for his meeting with President Xi Wednesday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and key U.S. Senate leaders say they’ll be closely watching how President Trump handles a number of issues that have potential national security implications.

Reed and eight of his colleagues condemned the Trump Administration’s policies on China as failures for the American people and national security and encouraged President Trump to secure real, long-lasting wins for American families, rather than trade away American security and jobs for a photo-op.

Today, Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, teamed up with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY); Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL); U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Intelligence Committee; U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; and U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) the Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance released the following joint statement.

“The Trump Administration’s China policy has been one failure after another for American taxpayers and U.S. national security. In just the last year, the President has walked back export controls and blessed sales of critical AI chips to Chinese firms, cut American research, weakened our alliances, squeezed farmers, and failed to stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities. Instead of investing in U.S. alliances and partnerships to tackle global challenges, Trump has destroyed U.S. global standing, one of America’s most formidable advantages over China.

“Now, as the President arrives in Beijing, he isn’t even pretending he will try to solve these problems—most of his own creation. Instead, he’s focused on investment deals that could threaten American manufacturing and economic independence. Given the economic hardship facing families across our country, Trump owes the American people solutions, not just another red-carpet appearance.

“The solutions to these challenges are forged at home and with U.S. allies and partners and will not be solved in any one summit. To be effective, he must have a plan to defend U.S. manufacturing and ensure any U.S. investments in China do not allow our most advanced technologies to flow to the People’s Liberation Army. He needs to get serious about investing in the research, skills, and industrial might needed for the U.S. to build the jobs of the future here in America. He should rebuild alliances and partnerships, provide U.S. security support to Taiwan amid growing threats, and reverse the damage done by his bullying of allies with across-the-board tariffs. And when it comes to halting the flow of fentanyl and synthetic opioid precursors, Trump should not let Xi repackage the same deliverables that the Biden Administration already secured. Rather, he should rebuild multilateral counternarcotics pressure on China to end money laundering and government acquiescence to precursor and equipment sales once and for all.

“U.S. national security and American taxpayers cannot afford for Trump to simply get another photo op while folding to Xi. On fentanyl, economic security, regional and global security, American jobs, and prices at home – Trump must come back from Beijing with real, long-lasting wins for the American people.”


Reed Welcomes $36.6 in FEMA Funding for RI, Including Long Awaited COVID-19 Reimbursement from Trump Admin.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed welcomed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finally approving $36,645,382 in federal funding for Rhode island for Public Assistance (PA) grant projects to reimburse incurred costs from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this federal funding covers past emergency expenditures and protective measures as a result of FEMA- DR-4505-RI (COVID-19 Pandemic), as authorized by Congress under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act through annual appropriations.

“It’s good news that the Trump Administration is finally approving this much-needed federal financial reimbursement, which Rhode Island is rightfully owed,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who noted that health care providers and large institutions across Rhode Island and the nation incurred substantial out-of-pocket costs during the pandemic and operated under the law that the federal government would provide them with timely reimbursements.

DHS's approval for $36.6 million in outstanding COVID-19 PA funding for Rhode Island includes grants for:

$21,266,549 to the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) for management costs.

$6,995,655 to Rhode Island Hospital for utilizing 233 laborers to provide emergency and inpatient clinical care, containment, and treatment of suspected and/or positive COVID-19 patients. Rhode Island Hospital also received $1,532,380 for management costs.

$3,532,837 to the University of Rhode Island (URI) for emergency non-congregate shelter to URI students who tested positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to individuals diagnosed with COVID-19.

$3,317,960 to the Rhode Island Department of Administration for management costs.

On March 13, 2020, President Trump, under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster relief and Emergency Assistance Act, declared a federal disaster for the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the entire country. Since March 13, 2020, Stafford Act declarations were issued for every state, territory, and the District of Columbia, authorizing FEMA) to deliver disaster assistance nationwide related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ordinarily, federal disaster funding like this requires a 25-percent state and local match. But Senator Reed led the successful push to get then-President Joe Biden to waive the standard 25 percent non-federal cost share and authorize FEMA to cover up to 100 percent of eligible costs, if warranted by the extent of the disaster. Of these five FEMA awards, all but one are 100 percent covered by the federal government. The nearly $7 million reimbursement for Rhode Island Hospital is covered at 90 percent.

With this latest federal funding, FEMA has now provided more than $830 million in funding for Rhode Island’s COVID-19 response to date.

“These federal dollars funded critical care. It is wrong for any Administration to try to delay or deny states from accessing the federal financial aid they were promised during an emergency. So it’s good news this is finally getting out the door,” concluded Reed.

Nearly 80 percent of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) budget – just over $35 million – comes from federal grants awarded by FEMA. The Trump Administration has proposed dismantling FEMA, which Senator Reed says is a non-starter that would require an act of Congress.


Ricketts Introduces the Rural Depositories Revitalization Study Act to Strengthen Rural Banks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introduced the Rural Depositories Revitalization Study Act to strengthen rural institutions, protect small-town depositors, and keep local credit flowing. The legislation would also identify burdensome red tape and regulations that prevent the opening and growth of rural banks.

“Nebraskans rely on community banks and credit unions,” said Ricketts. “They underwrite farm equipment. They help small businesses and manufacturers get started. They enable Nebraskans to become homeowners by providing first mortgages. Regulations written for big banks should not apply to rural ones. This bill helps make the Good Life possible for all Nebraskans.”

“We know rural communities are often overlooked when it comes to investment and access to capital. As a result, rural communities frequently lack the same access to small business and mortgage loans compared to urban and suburban counterparts,” said Warnock. “Our bipartisan Rural Depositories Revitalization Study Act will help combat these inequities by identifying key ways to strengthen our nation’s rural banks and financial institutions to promote investment in rural communities.

The Rural Depositories Revitalization Study Act would:

Direct the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) to:

Identify methods to improve the growth, capital adequacy, and profitability of depository institutions in the United States that primarily serve rural areas;

Identify Federal statutes or regulations of the Federal banking agencies that limit the establishment of de novo depository institutions in rural areas;

Create a report to Congress with their findings no later than a year after enactment.

BACKGROUND

Rural communities rely on their local institutions to provide them flexible credit. New bank formulation is staggeringly low since 2009. The total number of banks has declined by more than 70% since the 1980s. The Rural Depositories Revitalization Study Act would identify solutions to ensure rural banks can be created and continue to thrive.


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… Sen. Rick Scott Emphasizes Need for Florida Training Facility, Drone Defense in SASC Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Senator Rick Scott participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing on the Department of the Army’s Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2027 and the Future Years Defense Program. During the hearing, Senator Scott emphasized the continued importance of the Capability Program Executive Simulation, Training, Test, and Threat Simulation Center in Orlando and the U.S. Military’s drone posture for the future of warfare.

You can watch his questions for the witnesses, Daniel P. Driscoll, Secretary of the Army and General Christopher C. LaNeve, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army by clicking HERE or on the image below

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE HEARING:

IS FLORIDA STILL LEADING THE WAY ON INNOVATING TRAINING EXERCISES?

Secretary Driscoll said, “Simulation is more important than ever. The ability to take data from the battlefield, whether it’s CENTCOM or what we can get out of Ukraine, and feed that into the system to learn. Not just for the human learning, but to train our counter-drone models and to train our drone models. As these agentic solutions start to flow, data and simulation will matter more than ever.”

General LaNeve said, “Our simulation center [Capability Program Executive Simulation, Training, Test & Threat in Orlando, Florida] is incredible. It’s going to continue to be very, very important as we move onward with our modernization program. We are not… stepping away from the incredible capacity that we have there.”

IS AMERICA’S MANUFACTURING BASE PREPARED FOR THE DRONE PRODUCTION OF MODERN WARFARE?

Secretary Driscoll said, “Drones will be a core part of our future combat and no matter where you go, I think what we, as a nation, need to do is create the mechanisms and the tools to be able to scale when we need to.”

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Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Bill to Prevent Federal Law Enforcement Officer Doxxing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senator Rick Scott led six of his Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Blocking Leaks Undermining Law Enforcement (BLUE) Act of 2026.This legislation would protect federal law enforcement officers from doxxing by prohibiting the sharing of their personal or location information when intended to obstruct, interfere with, or retaliate against their lawful duties.

The BLUE Act criminalizes the publicization of federal law enforcement officers’ personal information (including location) with the intent of using said information to physically disrupt law enforcement activities.

Senator Rick Scott said, “It is despicable that radical left-wing protesters are routinely attacking federal law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to protect Americans. Democrats continue protecting criminal illegal aliens and their radical left-wing defenders instead of the law enforcement officers keeping our communities safe. Trump Derangement Syndrome and years of ‘defund the police’ rhetoric has gone too far, and the BLUE Act protects law enforcement officers doing their jobs and keeps their families’ identities safe. I proudly stand with federal law enforcement and against the lunatics putting public safety at risk.”

“Attacks on federal law enforcement are at an all-time high, with perpetrators becoming increasingly more brazen in targeted physical and doxing attacks on officers and their families,” said National President Mathew Silverman of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). “That is why we are grateful to the leadership of Sen. Scott to advance the ‘BLUE Act’ during National Police Week. This is a commonsense bill to ensure appropriate penalties for those who seek to undermine public safety, and we urge Congress to swiftly send it to President Trump’s desk.”

Key measures of the BLUE Act:

Creates a new criminal prohibition: Makes it illegal to share certain protected information about a federal law enforcement officer when done with intent to obstruct, interfere with, or retaliate against their official duties or proceedings.

Expands what information is protected: Clarifies that, for federal law enforcement officers, protected information includes not just personal details but also their current or expected physical locations, whether on or off duty.

The BLUE Act is endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Agency (FLEOA).

Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), James Lankford (R-OK), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) are all cosponsors of this legislation.

The legislation comes as violent rioters, cartels, and domestic terrorists have increased doxxing attempts against federal law enforcement — particularly against ICE and CBP personnel — since President Trump returned to office last year. Examples:

PHOTOS: Anti-ICE agitators dox agents by sending warning postcards to neighbors

‘Activists’ Doxxing ICE Agents in L.A.

Report: Whistleblower leaks personal data of 4,500 DHS and ICE agents to doxxing website

Federal prosecutors charge 3 activists with 'doxing' of ICE agent in Los Angeles

HSI Arrests Florida Man Who Posted Death Threats Online to ICE Officers

DHS Law Enforcement Experienced More Than 180 Vehicle Attacks Since President Trump Took Office

DHS Applauds White House Lawsuit Against California’s Unconstitutional Anti-Cop Legislation That Endangers Federal Law Enforcement

DHS Calls for Governor Newsom to Veto California’s "No Secret Police" Act

ICE Officers Face an 8,000% Increase in Death Threats Against Them and Their Families

Anti-ICE Agitator Doxxes ICE Officer in North Carolina

Anarchists and Rioters in Portland Illegally Dox ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement

DHS Condemns Dangerous Doxxing and Escalating Threats Against Federal Law Enforcement Officers

Townhall first broke the story, read more here.

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VIDEO: Rosen Pushes Energy Secretary to Admit Explosive Nuclear Testing is Not Needed

Watch the full exchange HERE

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, during a hearing of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) pushed Energy Secretary Chris Wright into admitting that a resumption of explosive nuclear testing – which would occur at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) – is not necessary. The Trump Administration has expressed interest in resuming explosive nuclear testing, which would break the testing moratorium signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, and restart nuclear testing at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Since then, the U.S. has continued to certify the military effectiveness of our nation’s nuclear stockpile, through state-of-the-art, science-based subcritical experiments conducted at the Site that ensure we never have to detonate another nuclear weapon on U.S. soil again. These experiments provide greater certainty and data about the performance of the stockpile, experts say, than the information that could be obtained if the U.S. were to conduct an explosive nuclear test.

Senator Rosen is fighting to ensure that explosive nuclear testing never returns to Nevada. She recently visited the NNSS, where she saw first-hand the work being done to certify the stockpile without explosive testing. She helped introduce legislation to ensure that no president can unilaterally resume explosive nuclear testing. In prior Senate Armed Services Committee hearings, Senator Rosen has received commitments from every nominee to lead the National Nuclear Security Administration and the commander of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) that there is not a need to resume explosive nuclear testing and that they would not recommend a resumption. Senator Rosen also helped pass a bipartisan bill to support Nevadans harmed by radiation from Cold War nuclear testing.

Below are excerpts from the exchange:

Senator Rosen: “Secretary Wright, citing your impressive educational resume in engineering from MIT and Berkley, and with so many experts in agreement that there is NO technical or strategic need to resume explosive nuclear testing, can you commit today that this Administration will not conduct an explosive nuclear test, YES or NO?”

Secretary Wright: “Well Senator Rosen, ultimately that decision comes down to the Commander-in-Chief.”

Senator Rosen: “If you are asked, what would your advice be? Let me phrase it another way. You advise the president. Of course, any president has that right, but what would your advice be as an engineer, as a scientist, as a secretary?”

Secretary Wright: “This year again, leaders of the weapons laboratories and the STRATCOM commander certified our weapons stockpile as reliable from the nonexplosive testing we do. I think our arsenal is ready to go, but there may be other reasons for which the commander-in-chief may want to engage in a nuclear test.”

Senator Rosen: “So you will disagree then with your extensive educational achievements, studies, and as a scientist, disagree with scientists and administrations going back to the 1990’s and the data that shows renewed explosive testing is unnecessary? You think there is still a need for that? You will disagree with all the experts? Yes or no. Do you agree there is a need for explosive testing or not?”

Secretary Wright: “To assure the reliability of our weapons, there is not a need for explosive testing.”

Senator Rosen: “Thank You.”

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NEWS: Sanders, Omar, More Than 100 Colleagues Introduce Legislation to End Child Hunger Through Universal School Meals

WASHINGTON, May 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) today introduced legislation to end child hunger in the United States. The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 would offer free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to every student in America — regardless of income — and eliminate school meal debt while incentivizing local food in schools.

Joining Sanders and Omar as cosponsors on this legislation are Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maizie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Minn.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and 85 members of the House of Representatives.

“It is outrageous that, while the billionaire class has never had it so good, one in five children will go hungry in America this year,” Sanders said. “The United States is the richest country in the history of the world. Nobody should be going hungry. And what we learned during the pandemic is that a universal approach to school meals works and helps kids do better in school. States across the country continue to prove this every day. It is time for Congress to reinstate universal school meals at the national level to finally ensure no student goes hungry.”

“No child should have to sit in a classroom hungry or worried about where their next meal will come from,” Omar said. “As a former nutrition educator and someone who experienced hunger firsthand, this fight is deeply personal to me. I have always believed you must feed kids’ bellies before you can feed their brains. That is why I am proud to partner again with Bernie Sanders to introduce the Universal School Meals Program Act, which would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to students year-round. Universal school meals are not a luxury—they are a necessity.”

The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 comes at a critical moment: the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have enacted the deepest cuts to federal nutrition programs in history, slashing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $186 billion, imposing harsh new bureaucratic requirements that have stripped food assistance from millions of Americans, and refusing to fund SNAP during the federal government shutdown in fall 2025.

Congress funded universal school meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, proving that the model increases school meal participation, reduces the stigma for students from low-income households and removes stress on families to secure healthy meals for their kids. While Congress let the universal model expire at the end of the 2021–2022 school year, nine states — Vermont, Minnesota, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico and New York — have passed laws to provide universal school meals. This legislation builds on this progress to return the model nationwide.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent food security report — which the Trump administration has now ended — 48 million Americans, including over 14 million children, are food insecure. Nearly 40% of SNAP recipients are 18 or younger. It is time to permanently make school meals free to all students, regardless of income, and finally address this crisis. Studies show time and again that students with free access to breakfast have improved attendance and better performance in school, and that free meals reduce financial stress for both students and families. Moreover, free and accessible school meals improve health outcomes, relieve the stigma associated with school meals and reduce behavioral incidents. Parents will not be forced to deal with paperwork or subjected to threats to have their children taken away.

The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 provides the most cost-effective and inclusive model for students, families, teachers, public schools, childcare providers and communities by:

Providing free breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack to every student — regardless of income.

Eliminating school meal debt for every public school student in America by reimbursing schools and ending harassment of parents and students over unpaid bills. In a 2025 survey, the School Nutrition Association found that nearly 1,400 school districts across the country hold a median of $6,000 in unpaid meal debt.

Increasing the reimbursement rate for schools to get closer to the actual cost of producing meals.

Incentivizing schools to buy from local farms, bringing food from nearby farms into schools while supporting local economies.

Providing summer meals to all children and increased SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) to lower-income children. Currently, only communities where 50% of children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch may operate a summer meals program. This bill makes all communities eligible, regardless of income.

Strengthening and expanding the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to allow three meals and a snack each day, eliminate the two-tiered reimbursement rate for CACFP, and allow childcare providers to receive the highest reimbursement rate regardless of income.

The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 is endorsed by nearly 100 organizations, including the American Heart Association, Food Research & Action Center, Hunger Free America, Hunger Free Vermont, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, National Education Association (NEA), National Family Farm Coalition, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, Vermont Afterschool, Vermont Foodbank, Washington Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition, and Washington School Nutrition Association.

Read the bill here.