ICYMI in the New York Post: Ernst, Harrigan Call on Congress to Stand Up for U.S.-Allied Warriors

WASHINGTON – As King Charles III visited the United States this week, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Congressman Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), who both served in combat, penned an op-ed announcing their resolution that recognizes the longstanding contributions of allied Special Operations Forces and condemns any political weaponization against the service of those who had the backs of our men and women in uniform.

New York Post | Stand up for US-allied warriors against political lawfare from their own governments

By: Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Pat Harrigan

Australian authorities this month arrested Ben Roberts-Smith, the most decorated soldier in his country’s history.

They accused him of war crimes tied to special operations he conducted in Afghanistan 15 or more years ago — charges he has repeatedly, consistently denied.

Meanwhile, Britain’s elite Special Air Service is being dragged through a parallel process of government-commissioned inquiries and retrospective legal proceedings that its members never could have imagined when they volunteered to serve.

Together, these cases reveal a pattern that’s spreading through the special operations forces of America’s closest allies.

It’s hollowing out the very units that fought beside ours for more than two decades — and Washington has been far too quiet about it.

We have both served in combat, and we understand the importance of special operations forces, elite units trained and equipped to execute the toughest missions on our nation’s behalf.

That’s why we’re calling on Congress to acknowledge that what’s now happening to our allied warriors is as much a concern to the United States as protecting soldiers’ lives on an active battlefield.

The United Kingdom lost 457 personnel in Afghanistan, while Australia lost 41.

The special forces of both nations executed the hardest missions of that war at America’s request — under shared doctrine, against shared enemies.

Of necessity, they often operated in conditions where the margin between a lawful kill and a catastrophic mistake came down to incomplete intelligence and a fraction of a second.

What those men could not have anticipated is that their governments would later construct elaborate legal architectures to second-guess those decisions, with the benefit of years of hindsight and in the comfort of a hearing room.

We wouldn’t stand for this kind of weaponization against our own forces, so we shouldn’t stand mute as our allies prosecute the warriors who had our soldiers’ backs on the battlefield.

There’s an important distinction to draw here, and we want to draw it carefully: Accountability matters, and no uniform places a soldier above the law.

But what we’re seeing today in both the United Kingdom and Australia is retroactive prosecution driven by domestic political pressure rather than by evidence, applied to men who acted in good faith under the rules their own governments established.

These politicized legal proceedings risk corroding something that takes generations to build, and the confidence of allied forces that their countries will stand behind them.

Now that confidence can be destroyed in a single political cycle.

That corrosion is already showing up in the ranks.

Elite units in both countries are quietly losing experienced operators who have weighed their options and decided the system will not protect them.

Every departure sends the same message to whoever is still considering service: Your government will send you into the hardest fights, place you in legal grey zones of its own design, but abandon you to shifting political winds a decade down the line.

Recruitment suffers, retention suffers, and so does the willingness to make the hard calls that difficult operations demand.

That’s unacceptable.

Our resolution asks Congress to go on the record, formally, and declare that politically motivated and retrospective prosecutions of allied special operators damage the trust and interoperability that coalition warfare depends on.

It also urges the Departments of Defense and State to engage London and Canberra directly to protect these processes from political interference.

Alongside it, we are pursuing legislation to ensure American special operators cannot be subjected to the same treatment — because nothing in current US law forecloses it.

King Charles III is visiting the United States this week to help celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, demonstrating to the world that alliances are strongest when they’re based on a shared understanding that runs deeper than any treaty.

Part of this understanding recognizes that when soldiers fight side by side, their countries continue to support them long after the shooting stops.

Our allies’ warriors have earned that from us — and, on behalf of the men and women who have backed our own soldiers on the battlefield, we owe them more than silence.

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Gallego at the Atlantic Council: “The Future of Latin America is Going to be Pivoting on Colombia”

Senator Speaks on U.S.-Colombia Relations Weeks Before Their Presidential Election

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), one of the first Colombian-Americans ever elected to the U.S. Senate, joined the Atlantic Council for a fireside chat on the importance of a strong U.S.-Colombia partnership and Colombia’s upcoming presidential election.

Last August, Senator Gallego traveled to Colombia as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation trip, and he also met with President Petro earlier this year. At the Munich Security Conference, Senator Gallego spoke on a panel on Western Hemisphere security about his vision for the Americas.

Watch Senator Gallego’s conversation HERE and read excerpts below:

On the May 31st Colombian Presidential election given instability in Venezuela:

“The future of Latin America is going to be pivoting on Colombia. And not just as a Colombian, because I’m very proud of my heritage, but its geography, its distance, its relationship to the United States in terms of our international security arrangements. If we don’t have a good partner to work with Colombia, that means we’re not going to have a good partner to work in Latin America.”

“What Colombia has done under the last couple of presidents—both from the left, from the right, and from the center—to be able to be even a very good neighbor to Venezuela when Venezuela is going through some horrible times, is bring in somewhere between two to three million refugees and give them full status as Colombian citizens and full rights.”

On what can be done to prevent escalation of violence in Colombia given recent attacks in the Southwest:

“This is one of those areas where the United States can be a really good partner, especially when it comes to our use of intelligence, use of military equipment. […] This is what we have been doing with Colombia for decades: training them, giving them the lift, capability to do it, because most of it is going to involve intelligence and everything else like that. But what we need to do beyond that is that we need to make sure that we help […] those parts of Colombia feel that there’s actually a state to answer to […] If we can help Colombia to deliver societal goods– justice, education, roads or trade–then those [militant] organizations end up being less and less important.”

On safety and security in Colombia’s upcoming presidential election:

“The one area I think the United States could have been more helpful and still can is that we should be offering whatever we can in terms of our support, our intelligence, [or] if we can actually provide anything in terms of manpower, staff power. […] We should offer it to all the parties involved, so that way people don’t feel like we’re taking one side or the other. Election security matters.”


Gillibrand, Schumer Lead Bronx Congressional Delegation In Call For Trump Administration To Release $156.5 Million In Bronx Stations Accessibility Upgrade Funding

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, along with Senator Charles Schumer, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, and Congressman Ritchie Torres called on U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy to swiftly complete the agency’s review for an All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) grant that the MTA was selected for to improve accessibility in Bronx subway stations so individuals can continue to safely use New York’s world-class public transportation system. The MTA was selected for the grant nearly two years ago and remains the only grant awardee that has yet to receive the funds.

In the letter to Secretary Duffy, the members underscored the critical importance of releasing the ASAP grant funding, “The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that public transportation be accessible to people with disabilities. However, infrastructure built before the passage of the ADA in 1990, like much of the New York City subway system, must be retrofitted to be fully accessible to people with disabilities.” The ASAP grant’s central purpose is to fund state and local capital projects to meet or exceed ADA accessibility standards at train stations, which remain low in New York City with only 32% of train stations being fully accessible.

While this grant for $156.5 million was announced nearly two years ago, the money “remains unobligated and in limbo under the new internal grant review process DOT imposed upon itself at the start of this Administration to review already announced and awarded, but not yet obligated, grants to ensure compliance with its new policies and executive orders,” the members wrote.

The members closed by urging a swift review of the grant, underscored by the fact that DOT recently issued a third Notice of Funding Availability (NOFO) for ASAP, making $686 million in FY 2025 and FY 2026 IIJA advance appropriations funding available. The NOFO states that ‘if more funding becomes available for the program before projects are selected, FTA may add it to the total funding available for award under this NOFO.’ We are concerned this caveat leaves the door open for DOT to cancel the FY 2024 award MTA successfully competed for and provide it to another recipient applying for the new NOFO.”

The full letter can be found HERE.

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Gillibrand Statement On The 60-Day Mark Of President Trump’s Unauthorized War In Iran

Today, on the 60-day mark of President Trump’s unauthorized war in Iran, which has caused costs to soar for American families and spiked gas prices at unprecedented levels compared to the last four years, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement:

“Today marks 60 days of President Trump’s illegal war with Iran– and it is no coincidence that it also marks the day Americans are feeling the sharpest pain at the pump and at the store. Gas has hit the highest prices in four years, up more than $1.30 a gallon since the president launched the war,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Every trip to the grocery store, every commute to work, every school drop-off costs more because of a war that American families never asked for. As I told Secretary Hegseth yesterday, a majority of Americans disapprove of the war, evidence he quickly dismissed by continuing to cover for President Trump. The American people never asked for this war. 60 days in, the administration owes them a straight answer: what are we doing in Iran, and when does it end?”

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On May Day: Senator Gillibrand Stands With Labor Across New York State

Gillibrand Stands with Teamsters Local 118, IBEW Local 43, and NYSUT in Union Visits

New York, NY – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, stood with labor leaders and advocates at the Teamsters Local 118 in Rochester, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 43 in Syracuse, and the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) conference in Albany.

During the visits to Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany, Gillibrand urged the swift passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which would require employers to come to the negotiating table quickly and ensure that they engage in good faith negotiations with unions.

“Everything from groceries to gas costs more now than it did before President Trump took office, and American workers are feeling the pinch,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Instead of focusing on lowering costs and helping people get ahead, President Trump has spent his time launching a full-frontal assault on organized labor. In the face of these attacks, we must not back down, which is why the passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act is so critical. Every step forward for the American worker – from every weekend off to every safe workplace and every living wage – came because workers showed up, fought back, and refused to be silent.”

Teamsters Local 118 is a Rochester, New York-based labor union representing approximately 4,300 members in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region. Its members work across various industries critical to the region’s supply chains and public infrastructure, including transportation, warehousing, food production, and public sector jobs.

IBEW Local 43 in Syracuse represents more than 1,500 skilled and trained electricians, apprentices and technicians throughout Central New York, including Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego and parts of Cayuga, Chenango, Otsego, Tompkins and Wayne counties. Gillibrand visited their Central New York Technical Alliance training center, which offers an apprenticeship program for the next generation of electricians.

NYSUT is a federation of more than 1,200 local unions representing nearly 700,000 classroom teachers, teaching assistants and aides, custodians, nurses, bus drivers, and professional staff who work in, or are retired from, New York schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities. Today, Gillibrand spoke at their Representative Assembly, NYSUT’s annual policy convention.

“On behalf of IBEW Local 43, I thank Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for visiting today and for her strong support of the Faster Labor Contracts Act. This common-sense legislation protects workers’ right to not only organize, but to secure a first contract in a timely manner,” said IBEW Local 43 Business Manager & Financial Secretary Alan Marzullo. “We appreciate Senator Gillibrand’s leadership and remain committed to working together to strengthen the middle class across our region.”

“As NYS Assembly Labor Chair, I am proud to stand in solidarity with Senator Gillibrand, Teamsters Local 118 and labor leaders to echo the call for passing the Faster Labor Contracts Act. This act is necessary not only to protect hardworking Americans from Trump’s attacks on organized labor, but to provide meaningful recourse when employers refuse to negotiate in good faith,” said Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson. “At a time when the cost of living is out of control, the collective voice of workers ensures middle-class wages and benefits so people can make ends meet. Let’s pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act so every worker, in every workplace has equitable opportunity to fight for the rights they deserve.”

“As a former union president, I’ve sat across the table and fought for every dollar, every benefit, and every protection working people deserve,” said NYS Senator Chris Ryan. “I know firsthand that the hardest part isn’t just forming a union—it’s securing that first contract. This legislation is about making sure workers aren’t left waiting while employers drag their feet. I’m grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her leadership and for fighting on behalf of Central New York workers to move this forward. When people stand together to demand fairness, the law should stand with them—and the Faster Labor Contracts Act helps ensure that the promise of collective bargaining becomes a reality, not a delay.”

Senator Gillibrand has had a longstanding partnership with organized labor. As a champion of bills such as the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act, Gillibrand has been a leader in the Senate, urging her colleagues to pass bipartisan legislation that would bolster and protect New York State workers.

This week, Senator Gillibrand sent a letter to the Department of Defense condemning the termination of collective bargaining agreements for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) members at Fort Drum and the Defense Finance Accounting Services (DFAS) in Rome. While this administration continues to actively work against unions, Senator Gillibrand is continuing to fight for them.

Her legislative priorities remain focused on:

Strengthening collective bargaining and ensuring workers have a seat at the table without fear of retaliation;

Protecting federal funding and ensuring the long-term solvency of the WTCHP and VCF for 9/11 first responders and survivors;

Safeguarding union jobs and supporting the development of pathways to economic mobility, including through pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs;

And advocating for paid family leave and affordable child care, longtime priorities that have both New York State and New York City governmental support.

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Capitol Hill Report, 5-01-26

Audio from this morning’s call is available HERE.

Topics include: the national debt, the Farm Bill, the SAVE America Act, E15, Iran and rural healthcare.


Grassley, Banks Press American AI Companies on Chinese Espionage Safeguards

BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) wrote to nine artificial intelligence (AI) companies regarding the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) targeting of American AI technologies, which are critical to U.S. national security and economic leadership, through state-backed programs, corporate infiltration and coercive tactics.

“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has an extensive track record of conducting espionage on U.S. companies in critical sectors… Protecting AI technology from PRC espionage is of paramount importance, especially as these systems become more powerful,” the lawmakers wrote.

In their letters to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google LLC, x.AI Corp., Meta Platforms, Inc., Microsoft, Amazon, Safe Superintelligence Inc. and Thinking Machines Lab, Grassley and Banks called on each company to describe their efforts to detect and guard against Chinese espionage, manage insider threats posed by the PRC, secure sensitive AI model information and notify the U.S. government in the event of a security threat.

Read Grassley and Banks’ full letters below:

OpenAI

Anthropic

Google LLC

x.AI Corp.

Meta Platforms, Inc.

Microsoft

Amazon

Safe Superintelligence Inc.

Thinking Machines Lab


Q&A: Salute to Small Business

Q: How did the Working Families Tax Cuts Act boost small business?

A: This tax season delivered welcome news to small businesses across the country. Here in Iowa, small businesses make up more than 99% of businesses in our local communities and employ nearly half of our workforce. From construction to manufacturing, retail, finance, service industries and more, I’m proud to say entrepreneurism is thriving across Iowa from one generation to the next. From the policymaking tables, I work to keep the economic environment running on all cylinders. That’s why I helped lead the charge for historic tax relief signed into law last summer by President Trump.

The Working Families Tax Cuts Act helps small businesses by fueling America’s economic engine, the primary job creators who strengthen economic and social vitality in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. Here’s how:

Permanent full expensing for new capital investments and equipment and domestic research expenses. This locks in certainty and opens up cash flow for small businesses to expand, hire and raise wages.

Permanent 20% small business deduction creates a welcome financial cushion for small businesses and empowers decision-making to add jobs to their payroll. That puts more paycheck purchasing power directly into the local community, boosting other businesses on Main Street and helping families make ends meet.

Big boost to employer-provided child care tax credit – $600,000 for small businesses – helps them cover more of their employees’ child care costs. That’s a win for families, workers and employers.

12 million small business owners across the country benefited from an average tax reduction of nearly $7,000 thanks to the new tax law.

Q: What’s your message to small businesses in Iowa?

A: As our nation celebrates 250 years of independence, one of the cornerstones of freedom in America is economic freedom. In our free marketplace, the American people create jobs and drive economic growth, not the government. Robust competition is the elixir to the U.S. economy, driving innovation, empowering ingenuity and delivering high-quality products at the most affordable cost to the consumer.

When I visit high schools during my annual 99 county meetings, I encourage students to dream big, work hard and go after economic opportunity. The promise of prosperity is part of our American heritage. One of America’s acclaimed inventors and business people, Thomas Edison, delivered many inspiring quotes, including: “We often miss opportunity because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Our state has a leg up on opportunity, because Iowans aren’t afraid to work.

At my annual Q&A meetings across the state, I learn what’s on the minds of Iowans on the shop floor of local manufacturing businesses and while enjoying the food and hospitality at our cafes and restaurants. Hearing from local employers and workers informs my work on behalf of Iowans. From tax relief to common sense regulatory policies, I also work to strengthen fairness in the marketplace. For example, I’ve introduced the Short on Competition Act to address anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry and lower prescription drug prices for consumers. I’ve also called upon the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to renew enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act, an antitrust tool that prohibits price discrimination and unfair trading practices. Small business owners and their employees work their tails off every day to earn a living and serve their communities. Stacking the deck and discriminating against small businesses – from local grocers to independent pharmacies and meat lockers – unfairly bend the rules to get ahead. I’ll continue working to root out anticompetitive practices that undercut small businesses and harm local shoppers.

I joined Sen. Joni Ernst, chair of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, in a bipartisan resolution to celebrate Small Business Week and salute the men and women who work day in and day out to build a business and foster economic vitality in their communities. I appreciate their civic leadership and congratulate the 2026 Iowa Small Business Person of the Year. The U.S. Small Business Administration named Sierra Elbert, entrepreneur and founder of Groom Curriculum in Emmetsburg. The small business offers a workforce curriculum and pathway to a skilled trade in the pet business, a fast-growing sector of the economy.

National Small Business Week is May 3-May 9, 2026.


E&E News: Democrats look to shield public lands from reconciliation

Senate Democrats on Thursday unveiled their plan to block future attempts to sell off federal lands via the budget reconciliation process, vowing to prevent a repeat of Republican proposals to dispose of up to 3 million acres of public lands last year.

Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced the "Public Lands Integrity Act," which would designate the sale or disposal of public lands as "extraneous" under the so-called Byrd Rule. Heinrich is top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

That rule — named after former Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd — bars the inclusion of nonbudgetary items from reconciliation bills, which pass under a simple majority in the chamber.

"Congress must never use fast-tracked Senate procedure to sell Americans’ public lands to fund short-term partisan spending. Not now, not ever," Bennet said in a statement.

The legislation comes in response to Utah Sen. Mike Lee's proposal in 2025 to sell off federal lands as part of what became the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That language was ultimately removed from the package in response to bipartisan objections from lawmakers, as well as conservation and hunting and fishing groups. Lee chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“This bill would help keep public lands in public hands by closing arcane loopholes that allow Republicans to carry out their fantasies of selling our beloved forests and lands off to billionaires," Wyden said.

The proposal garnered immediate support from environmentalists, state officials and tribal nations worried about a future budget reconciliation bill reviving the land sales idea.

“Public lands throughout the United States should never be sold simply to reconcile the federal budget,” Chair Melvin J. Baker of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe said in a statement.

Ryan Callaghan, CEO of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, said: "It shows the American people that they were heard last summer, that public lands are valued treasures, and that under no circumstances should they be disposed of in any amount without going through the proper public process."


Heinrich Presses Secretary Burgum on Staffing Cuts at Interior, Slow-Walking of Permits for Clean Energy Projects

WASHINGTON — During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to examine the Trump administration’s Budget Request for the Department of the Interior (DOI) Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the Committee’s Ranking Member, questioned DOI Secretary Doug Burgum on the administration’s staffing cuts at the Interior and the slow-walking of clean energy projects.

Notably, Heinrich warned Burgum that there would not be bipartisan permitting reform if the administration continues to block clean energy projects from coming online.

VIDEO: Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) questions Interior Secretary Wright on draconian cuts to the Department and slow-walking clean energy project permits before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, April 29, 2026.

On Cutting Nearly 20% of Staff at DOI

Heinrich began, “I am concerned that over the last year, we have seen a hollowing out of the Department of Interior. Nearly 20 percent of Department of Interior staff have been either pushed out or have left or have retired, and yet, the Department recently offered another round of deferred resignations. And I hear from my state, on the ground, about not being able to get messages returned, phone calls back, permits approved. So why is the Department continuing to offer buyouts and deferred resignations when that only deepens our ability to actively manage these landscapes?”

Burgum answered, “Well, first of all, I would just say that I reject the overall thesis that somehow we have, well, we haven’t... No one's been pushed out. The only way people have left is with voluntary retirement programs.”

Heinrich interjected, “I have personal friends who feel pushed out.”

Burgum answered, “I understand people may feel that way, but the fact is that...”

Heinrich continued, “When they got the Fork in the Road email, and I know that didn't come from you, it came from someone who's not even in the government anymore. People got the message.”

Burgum responded, “And all of those, all of those initial DOGE things from old, from the initial first weeks of the thing, those were all stopped by unions and courts, and they were all offered their jobs back, so us rehashing...”

Heinrich interjected, “But they got the message that they weren't welcome. And many of those people just moved on. And they were some of our most experienced folks.”

Burgum answered, “Well, it is true that across the federal government, that the federal government employees today, like they are in many state governments have a massive number of people that are at or above retirement age, and so that's just, that's a case, when people have taken the voluntary retirement. We've got an organization, when you've got that many people stacked at the top, it doesn't create a lot of opportunity for young people moving up. So there's a flip side, is [that] people are saying, ‘hey, now I've got an opportunity to stay and have a long career in this agency.’ To your specific question about the recent thing. There [were] groups of people last year that did not have the opportunity to take the voluntary retirement. That was a small group. We started with 65,000 people, the group that was offered, and then considered this round were about 1,500 people that were never offered the opportunity, last year. Of those that accepted it, we rejected over 500 of those because we have the ability to say, yeah, if you take it, but we determined, with a park superintendent that you're essential. Sorry, you can't take the early voluntary retirement. But a number of those folks were working in areas like communications, like human resources, where we were substantially overstaffed. When I cut in, we couldn't even find out how many people worked in HR, how many people worked in comms, how many people actually worked in a park? There [were] no IT systems. Turns out, we had over 2,000 people working in HR For 65,000 people, that's one HR person for every 30 team members. You know, that's off by a ratio of three to four versus a private sector company the same size. And I don't blame them. I blame the fact that we have underfunded... We’ve underfunded [the Department of the Interior] so badly that people don't even have the tools to do their job. But we're working to fix that as well. And so this is the last round of voluntary [resignations] that we're doing. In this group, there'll be about 1,000 people that will take early retirement, but none of those are related to frontline jobs in parks. We will end up with more people working...”

On Purposefully Slow-Walking Clean Energy Project Permits

Heinrich began, “Last week, a federal judge determined that wind and solar companies are likely to prevail in their lawsuit against the Trump administration's policies blocking those energy projects. The judge placed a preliminary injunction on your department, implementing policies designed to block new energy projects coming online. Will you comply with that judge's order?”

Burgum answered, “First of all, we disagree vehemently with a District D.C. judge's view, that somehow having appropriate reviews of energy projects on our internal procedures is...”

Heinrich interjected, “Well, appropriate reviews are one thing, but the Chairman used the phrase permits were ‘slow-walked.’ We're not seeing permits move off your desk. Permits are being slow-walked, so there was an injunction. Are you going to comply with that judge's order?”

Burgum answered, “The Solicitor's Department will respond to any active litigation. But as I said, we disagree with this.”

Heinrich followed, “I'll just be very blunt: if permitting reform is a priority, the permitting system has to work. And if you want members of my Caucus to support permitting reform, we have to know that balls and strikes are going to be called — that there is not a thumb on the scale of this system. That confidence does not exist right now, Secretary.”

Burgum answered, “Well, I would say I would be thrilled if, if there was going to be unanimity about not having the thumb on the scale, because we just came out of four...”

Heinrich interjected, “So let’s do that together.”

Burgum continued, “We came out of four years of that, and we're in as we try to get back to a balance...”

Heinrich continued, “Both sides are likely to say, like, their side had the thumb on the scale here, our side had the thumb on the scale there. Let's make this a system where you can't do that.”

Burgum answered, “I think that would be fantastic — love to have, love to have your support to do that. To be clear on this court order, it's absurd to me that a court would say that we can't review projects. That's basically what it says, and that's an internal executive branch element...”

Heinrich concluded, “You can review projects, but at some point, you have to make a decision. We've got six projects that have gone through the entire review. They have EISs and EAS that are ready to go. They're all just lacking your signature. That's not review. That is, by definition, slow-walking.”


Hirono, Meng Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Representative Grace Meng (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), led their colleagues in introducing a resolution marking May 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. This resolution celebrates the many contributions AANHPI communities have made to the nation. As the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans continue to cut initiatives designed to support minorities in the name of “combatting discrimination,” this resolution emphasizes the importance of celebrating diversity.

“Every May, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander communities come together to remember the challenges we have overcome and our many contributions that have shaped our country. Despite the Trump regime’s relentless attacks on the AANHPI community, they cannot erase the truth. Our communities have been part of our country’s story since its founding, fighting for the same fundamental promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” said Senator Hirono. “This resolution celebrates the persevering spirit of our communities and reminds us all to continue fighting for a more inclusive future.”

“May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to honor our communities’ immeasurable contributions to our nation’s history, culture, and prosperity,” said Representative Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “Whether your family passed through Ellis Island, immigrated to work on the sugarcane plantations of Hawai?i or fled war-torn areas as refugees, our stories are part of the American story and deserve to be told for generations to come. I am proud to co-lead this resolution with Senator Hirono to ensure our communities’ achievements are formally recognized in the halls of Congress, especially as we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States this year.”

The resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortes Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Grace Meng (D-NY).

The full text of the resolution is available here.

Senator Hirono has long advocated on behalf of AANHPI communities in Hawaii, the U.S., and Pacific Island nations and territories. Earlier this month, Senator Hirono hosted a press conference demanding federal funding be restored to Minority Serving Institutions, including Asian American Native American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) and Alaska Native Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs). Last year, she also introduced the Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act, bicameral legislation to promote the teaching of Asian American, AANHPI history in schools across the country. Since 2023, Senator Hirono has introduced a resolution marking May 10, as AANHPI Mental Health Day. In 2022, Senator Hirono’s legislation establishing a commission to study the creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture was signed into law by President Biden. To address the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes and violence during the heart of the pandemic, Senator Hirono introduced the COVID-19 Hates Crimes Act which was signed into law by President Biden on May 20, 2021.

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Hoeven Makes the Case for “Crack the Code 2.0” with Interior Secretary Burgum at Senate Energy Hearing

WASHINGTON – At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing examining the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the Department of the Interior, Senator John Hoeven and Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum discussed advancing the Senator’s “Crack the Code 2.0” initiative to expand enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the Bakken while extending the life of North Dakota’s coal-fired power plants.

Hoeven is working to finalize $36 million in Department of Energy (DOE) funding for a $157 million large-scale demonstration project, including $76 million in private investment and $45 million from the state of North Dakota.

“We believe that this project will double the life of our coal fired electric industry, double the life and probably more than double the amount of oil and gas we produce… we’ve produced about 6 billion barrels of oil… but that number is going down… we need to use enhanced oil recovery to start increasing that number… we only produce about 10 to 12% of the oil that’s in the shale… so we’ve put together… a large scale demonstration project… to take CO2 from our coal fired electric plants and to not only double their life, but to double production in the Bakken,” said Hoeven.

“I would support it… there’s a big opportunity here for not only to increase production, but to take care of the concerns that some have about emissions. Your crack the code 2.0 does both of those things simultaneously… it’s important, because… when we find ourselves dependent on those that are waging war against us… the U.S. is in a position today to sell energy to our friends and allies, so they don’t have to buy it from people that are waging war and terrorism against us,” said Secretary Burgum.

Crack the Code 2.0 is further supported by a policy Hoeven worked to secure in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3), also known as the Working Families Tax Cut Act, to properly align the 45Q tax credit to incentivize the use of CO2 for EOR. Doing so supports coal producers’ continued operations by providing access to a new revenue stream through selling CO2 to oil producers, while providing a strong, long-term incentive for EOR, making it the clear, commercially viable choice to improve oil recovery in the Bakken.

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Hoeven Statement on EPA Guidance Providing Clarity on Oil & Natural Gas Flaring

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance clarifying that oil and gas producers can continue routine flaring at new oil wells in some circumstances after the May 7, 2026 phase out deadline. EPA issued the guidance in response to concerns from oil and gas operators that the flaring phase out, put in place by the Biden administration, would force them to halt production when scenarios outside their control require flaring.

“We need to produce more energy here at home, not only to lower prices for consumers but because energy security is national security,” said Hoeven. “We appreciate the Trump administration for providing this much-needed clarity for producers, including those in the Bakken, that will enable them to continue their operations.”

In 2023, Hoeven and the North Dakota delegation worked to stop the Biden administration’s duplicative methane rule that put in place the phase out deadline.

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Husted joins bill to help Americans plan for retirement

“This bill would fix outdated language, help clear up confusion for older Ohioans and ensure they have what they need to plan effectively.”

WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Chris Coons’ (D-Del.) Claiming Age Clarity Act. This bipartisan bill would modernize outdated language used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help people better understand the timing of their decisions to claim retirement benefits.

One of the key financial decisions facing Americans is when to claim Social Security retirement benefits. Social Security benefits are available to Americans who are as young as age 62, but those who choose to claim their benefits later receive higher monthly payments, with the maximum benefits available to those who claim at age 70 or older.

“Americans have worked their entire lives to earn their Social Security benefits. They should have all the necessary information to make the best decisions for their futures. This bill would fix outdated language, help clear up confusion for older Ohioans and ensure they have what they need to plan effectively,” said Husted.

“Americans have earned their benefits. When planning for retirement, let’s make sure they have the best information available and receive what they deserve,” said Cassidy.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) supports the bill.

“AARP, which advocates for the more than 100 million Americans aged 50 and over, is pleased to endorse S.1504, the Claiming Age Clarity Act, which would improve the terminology the Social Security Administration uses in relation to retirement benefit claiming ages. Your bipartisan bill will provide American workers with better and more understandable information about the impact claiming age has on their earned benefits, helping them make more informed choices about when to start collecting Social Security,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, AARP.

The Claiming Age Clarity Act would make the following changes to terminology used by the SSA to provide greater clarity to seniors:

“Early Eligibility Age” would become “Minimum Benefit Age” – This is age 62, the earliest age at which someone can begin receiving retirement benefits. However, doing so comes with a permanent reduction—up to 30% less than the standard benefit.

“Full Retirement Age” would become “Standard Benefit Age” – This is age 66-67 depending on an individual’s birth year.

“Delayed Retirement Age” would become “Maximum Benefit Age” – This is age 70, the latest age at which someone can begin receiving retirement benefits. Doing so comes with an 8% increase in benefits per year—up to 24% more than the standard benefit.


Kaine & Durbin Introduce Resolution to Repeal Dangerous DOJ Rule That Guts Meaningful Immigration Appeals Process

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn an interim final rule by the Trump-Vance Administration’s Department of Justice that makes major changes to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) process to weaken due process and effectively eliminate meaningful immigration appeals. Asylum seekers fleeing persecution, families fighting separation, Afghan allies, and individuals with limited or no access to legal representation would be particularly affected by the rule.

The resolution is privileged—meaning any one senator can call it up for a vote—within 60 session days from when the Senate received the rule. It needs a simple majority to pass.

“Our founders etched the right to due process into our Constitution because they believed in creating a government that treats people fairly and safeguarding against tyranny,” said Kaine. “The Trump-Vance Administration is so dead-set on meeting arbitrary deportation quotas that it is willing to shred that fundamental principle. But Congress has the power to stop that from happening and ensure that everyone gets their fair shake in court, including access to a meaningful appeals process to rectify legal or factual errors that could result in their deportation and separation from their loved ones. That’s what this resolution is about, and we encourage all of our colleagues to put our Constitution above political convenience by voting for it.”

“Although framed as an efficiency measure, this rule makes dramatic changes to the Board of Immigration Appeals within the Department of Justice, severely limiting access to appellate review and making summary dismissal the default outcome in most cases, instead of the exception,” said Durbin. “I urge my colleagues to support our resolution to overturn this rule, which calls into serious question the integrity of our immigration court system and guts due process rights for immigrants.”

Specifically, the rule would slash time to file an appeal from 30 days to 10 days; vastly expand the BIA’s authority to summarily dismiss appeals without reviewing the cases’ merits; prevent most cases from even being briefed; thereby limiting meaningful review; and leave individuals with only one remaining option for recourse—a federal court review—which will overwhelm the federal courts of appeals with unreviewed immigration cases.

Full text of the senators’ resolution is available here.

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Kaine Statement on Administration Claiming Hostilities in Iran Have Concluded

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement after President Donald Trump sent a letter to Congress asserting that the ‘hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated’:

“The Administration claims it’s in a ceasefire with Iran even though the U.S. military is actively blockading Iranian ports and commerce in the Strait of Hormuz. And while this ‘ceasefire’ supposedly started on April 7, the U.S. Navy fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged vessel on April 19. If any other country did all of this to the U.S., we would consider it an act of war. The Trump-Vance Administration isn’t fooling anyone, and the American people are smart enough to see through the lies and chaos. This is further proof that the Administration will make every excuse they can to avoid explaining to the American people why they started a war of choice against Iran when there was no imminent nuclear threat. This war has already cost billions of dollars, raised gas prices, and killed and injured servicemembers, and Americans deserve real answers. I will keep pushing the Administration to come to Congress and do everything I can to end this war.”

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Kelly Introduces Bill to Protect Federal Workers’ Credit During Government Shutdowns

Senator Kelly and Senate Democrats have repeatedly voted to fund TSA workers

Read ABC 15 exclusive: Senator Mark Kelly introduces bill to protect federal workers’ credit during government shutdowns

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced legislation to protect federal workers’ credit histories during a government shutdown. The Federal Worker Credit Protection Act of 2026 would prevent harm to credit ratings because of missed or delayed payments when federal workers aren’t getting paychecks, helping ensure federal workers are not financially penalized for circumstances beyond their control.

“Federal workers shouldn’t be punished by a government shutdown that isn’t their fault,” said Senator Kelly. “Earlier this month, I met with Phoenix TSA officers working without pay. They shared how the financial strain they were dealing with—including missed payments—hurt their credit scores. That kind of damage can follow you for years. I’m taking action to make sure the people who keep our country running aren’t hurt by Washington’s dysfunction.”

“Our patriotic civil servants should not have to suffer during federal government shutdowns. House Republicans refused to advance a plan that would have ended the shutdown a month ago – insisting instead on holding the financial security of federal workers hostage. It’s just common sense that we pass legislation protecting civil servants from evictions, foreclosure, loan defaults, and credit damage during these disastrous shutdowns. While this Administration keeps up its witch hunt of federal workers, I will keep fighting to protect the federal workers in my state and across the country,” said Senator Alsobrooks.

“In the past six months, Republicans have forced two of the longest government shutdowns in history. At a time when Americans are already struggling with rising costs, federal workers shouldn’t have to worry about their credit taking a hit because they’re not getting paid,” said Senator Gallego. “This bill protects hardworking public service workers from long-term financial damage during shutdowns they didn’t cause.”

“While I helped pass legislation to ensure hundreds of thousands of civil servants and military personnel receive backpay after the government reopens, I know it isn’t the same as getting a paycheck on time when the mortgage and bills are due,” said Senator Kaine. “This legislation helps protect federal workers’ credit and ensure they aren’t penalized for missed payments during a shutdown.”

“Our dedicated federal employees provide essential services for the American people, and they should not suffer during government shutdowns that are entirely beyond their control. This legislation ensures that the risk of credit damage isn’t an added burden on these civil servants while they are going without pay and helps them get back on their feet when shutdowns end,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Virginia’s federal workers are the backbone of the services Americans depend on. Our public servants credit reports shouldn’t be negatively affected because of a shutdown they did not cause. This legislation would help ease the pain of a government shutdown by giving federal employees time to catch up when the government reopens,” said Senator Warner.

“AFGE is profoundly grateful to Sen. Mark Kelly for introducing the Federal Worker Credit Protection Act of 2026, a much-needed bill to temporarily protect the credit ratings of federal employees during government shutdowns. The sad reality is that all-too-frequent agency funding lapses can permanently harm federal workers, long after the government eventually reopens. Simply giving people backpay, as current law requires, does nothing to undo the undeserved damage to their credit ratings, their good name, and their dignity. Senator Kelly’s bill hits pause on negative credit information during periods when feds are still working hard for the American people while drawing zero-dollar paychecks. We urge swift Congressional passage of the bill,” said Dr. Everett Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE).

“Federal workers work hard to keep this country running and they’re still being punished because of government shutdowns that aren’t their fault. For them, falling behind on bills because their paycheck stopped shouldn’t hurt their credit standings, sometimes for years after a shutdown ends. We appreciate Senator Kelly for listening to NFFE members and taking a commonsense step to protect workers from lasting financial damage, and we’re proud to support it,” said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM).

“We have been showing up to work since November without a paycheck, then only partial checks and it has taken a real toll,” said Pascual Contreras, a TSA officer at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. “I am three months behind on rent, and my credit score has dropped by more than 200 points. That has put our plans to buy a home out of reach. It’s not fair that something out of our control can impact our financial future like this. I’m grateful to Senator Kelly for listening and working on a solution.”

Background:

A month after the Senate passed funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and more components at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the House finally passed the same bill and ended the DHS shutdown.

For 76 days, thousands of federal workers missed paychecks, putting them at risk of missing payments on mortgages, car loans, student loans, credit cards, and more. Even a single missed payment can significantly lower a consumer’s credit score, leading to higher interest rates, reduced access to credit, and long-term financial strain.

The Federal Worker Credit Protection Act of 2026 would allow federal workers who have been without pay during a shutdown to protect their credit. Specifically, the bill would:

Prohibit consumer reporting agencies from reporting adverse information on the credit report of federal workers during a government shutdown and for 30 days after the end of a shutdown as workers’ pay is restored;

Require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to notify consumer reporting agencies when federal agencies enter and exit shutdown status;

Allow federal workers to correct adverse information already on their credit report.


WATCH: In SASC Hearing, Kelly Challenges Hegseth on Munitions Burn Rate, “No Quarter” Comment, and Massive Defense Budget Proposal

“So, we fired years’ worth of munitions… But, Mr. Secretary, this war is stuck.”

This week, during a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing on the annual defense budget, Arizona Senator and Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly (D-AZ) pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on how this administration justifies burning through America’s critical munitions stockpiles in a war that is not achieving its objectives while driving up costs for Americans.

Kelly also gave Hegseth a chance to clarify his “no quarter” comment from March and questioned the Department of Defense’s staggering $1.5 trillion budget request.

Kelly pressed Hegseth on thecost of the ongoing Iran operation: “The questions we should be asking and answering are: What does this cost us and what does it achieve for the American people? Many of these strikes use our best weapons, and we’re using a lot of them, and a lot of interceptors. […] We can’t make these munitions overnight and it’s clear from your budget requests that you know that.”

Hegseth acknowledged to Kelly it would take years to replenish America’s stockpiles.

Kelly continued, “But, Mr. Secretary, this war is stuck. The Strait of Hormuz is closed. The Iranian regime is in place. The nuclear material still in their hands. Americans are being crushed by higher costs. And it’s not clear to them, at all, what the goal of this war is.”

Kelly also confronted Hegseth directly over his recent “no quarter” comment, demanding clarity on whether the Secretary of Defense understands the term’s meaning under the laws of war: “I saw your hearing yesterday, and I’m going to give you one more chance to address a question here. It’s my understanding that the definition of no quarter is ‘that legitimate offers of surrender will be refused or that detainees will be executed.’ Is that your understanding of the definition?”

When Hegseth declined to clarify, Kelly was direct: “The things you say matter. Your response here right now makes it clear to the American people exactly why you are not right for this job.”

Sen. Kelly questions Secretary Hegseth during a SASC hearing.

Click here to download a video of Kelly’s remarks. See the transcript below:

Round1

Sen. Kelly: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen, thank you for being here, Secretary Hegseth. Safe to say that our weapons, like SM-3’s, Tomahawks, Patriot missiles, have capabilities that are unmatched. That’s why they cost a lot. Take a long time to produce. Your budget requests $31.8 billion to expand production capacity for critical missile stockpiles. Is that correct, 31.8?

Secretary Pete Hegseth: I’m looking at $53 billion for munitions acceleration over 14 critical munitions, of which the ones you listed are a part.

Kelly: Okay, 53.

Hegseth: Yes, sir.

Kelly: More than $20 billion more. So, we’ve been working together to grow the industrial base, because we’re all worried about how our stockpiles would hold up in a conflict against China. Since the start of this war, you’ve made it a point to highlight the number of strikes the U.S. military is carrying out, citing that more than 13,000 targets had been struck as of April 8th. On March 2nd, you said, and this is a quote, ‘This was a massive, overwhelming attack across all domains of warfare, striking more than a thousand targets in the first 24 hours.’ On March 10th, you said, ‘Yet again our most intense day of strikes inside of Iran’. On April 6th, you said, and this is another quote, ‘The largest volume of strikes since day one of this operation’. Your department has released video after video of things blowing up. None of us doubt the strength of the U.S. military and their ability to do hard things. I understand that better than anybody. The questions we should be asking and answering are what does this cost us and what does it achieve for the American people? Many of these strikes use our best weapons, and we’re using a lot of them, and a lot of interceptors. Open-source reporting has estimated that the military has used an outrageous number of Patriots. I’m not going to say the numbers, but a lot of Patriots, a lot of THAAD rounds, JASSM-ERs, Tomahawks. Very expensive. Exquisite. We can’t make these munitions overnight and it’s clear from your budget requests that you know that. Can you tell us how many years, specifically, is it going to take to replace these systems?

Hegseth: Senator, thank you for the question. I would defer to the comptroller on the amount because I think it’s a lot higher than 53. If you look at long range fires, JASSMs, LRASMs, Tomahawks, we’re looking at $238 [billion]. About $40 billion for hypersonic. So, I actually think it’s closer to $330 billion in munitions.

Kelly: Okay, how many years to replenish. That’s the question.

Hegseth: I think that’s exactly the right question to ask, senator, because the timeframe we were existing under was unacceptable. What this budget does, I mean, months and years.

Kelly: Years.

Hegseth: Fast. I mean, we’re building new plants in real time.

Kelly: So just to replace what we have expended?

Hegseth: I said months.

Kelly: And then you said years.

Hegseth: But, it depends on the weapon system. But 2 to 3, 4x of what we have today. So yes, we’re dealing with the reality under the previous administration of what they sent to Ukraine and what they allocated elsewhere—

Kelly: Ok, I got it. So, we fired years worth of munitions. And it is clear that these are being expended to try to achieve some objectives. That was the plan. But, Mr. Secretary, this war is stuck. The Strait of Hormuz is closed. The Iranian regime is in place. The nuclear material still in their hands. Americans are being crushed by higher costs. And it’s not clear to them, at all what the goal of this war is.

So, I’ve got about a minute, and I want to go to another topic. I saw your hearing yesterday, and I’m going to give you one more chance to address a question here. It’s my understanding that the definition of no quarter is ‘that legitimate offers of surrender will be refused or that detainees will be executed.’ Is that your understanding of the definition?

Hegseth: The only entity that would kill detainees or target civilians is the Iranians, and they’re the ones being crushed. So, Iranian military and their military capability. I disagree completely with the articulation.

Kelly: The question is do you understand the definition that I just read you? Because that’s the definition from your Department’s Law of War manual. Is that your understanding? And I’m going to just get to the point here.

Hegseth: We fight to win and we follow the law, Senator.

Kelly: Okay so your quote was, ‘We will keep pushing, keeping advancing. No quarter, no mercy for our enemies.’ And yesterday you did not clarify whether you stand by this statement. So, I’m going to give you another opportunity to clarify if that is what you meant. Do you stand by that statement you made on March 13th?

Hegseth: We have untied the hands of our warfighters. We fight to win and we follow the law.

Kelly: Okay, so you’re not clarifying, so you stand by that statement. So, you’re the Secretary of Defense. The things you say matter. And your response here right now makes it clear to the American people exactly why you are not right for this job.

Hegseth: It makes it clear to our enemies, Senator.

Kelly: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Round 2

Kelly: Mr. Secretary, so $1.5 trillion. 1.5 [trillion] is a very round number. If you’re putting together a budget, you’d come up with, ‘these are the problems we’re trying to solve. This is the capability we need. These are the systems we have to buy.’ And at the end of the day, it would spit out a number. And it’s probably not $1.5 trillion. So, to me, it feels like that number was just kind of pulled out of thin air. I took a look recently and it seems that the defense budget of the rest of the world; I’m talking China, Russia, India, every Asian country, every European country, South America. Everybody else is in the neighborhood, it looked like $1.7 [trillion] to $1.8 [trillion]. So, your request is approaching all defense spending from everybody else, with the exception of us. That is a huge amount of money. When I got here, you know, just five years ago, it was almost half of that. Through budget reconciliation, you’ve received a bunch of money to buy things. Some of the weapons systems to resupply what we need. I’m just trying to understand, where is all this money going to go? And if you’ve figured out ahead of time, what do you want to spend this on? And by the way, there are systems the president wants. He saw last summer how effective Iron Dome and David Sling were. And because of that, the president decided we’re going to build our own version. We’re going to call it Golden Dome because the president likes the color gold. We’ve seen that. Seen it in the Oval Office. We’re going to call it Golden Dome, and it might cost somewhere between $500 billion and $1 trillion. I’ve heard those estimates. By the way, on that problem, I know a little bit about intercepting stuff in space. It’s really hard. And the physics on this favors the offense. There’s some things in that program that I think is really important that we do and try to figure it out. But space-based interceptors to hit multiple targets. And by the way, it’s important how you size the system. So, I’m trying to understand, Mr. Secretary, what kind of detail did you guys did you work out like a detailed plan? And at the end of the day, it came out. Oh, it just happens to come out to be $1.5 trillion.

Hegseth: Senator, the exact amount is actually $1.535 trillion and it was a product of a highly rigorous process throughout our department, from COCOMM commanders to the services, with our comptroller, with our deputy Secretary, with the Chairman and myself to ensure the budget reflects the realities of the world we live in and the capabilities we’re going to need, and that’s why there’s $65 billion for shipbuilding. $120 billion for the defense industrial base, $331 billion for munitions, $44 billion for quality of life, $71 billion on our nuclear dib. You name it, we’re investing in it. And the biggest reason for it is the underinvestment of the Biden administration. I mean, what they spent on defense, the continuing resolutions and others, undercut the buildup that the President Trump had created. So, yes, we’re doing a lot of deferred maintenance here around the world and in our department. And this budget reflects it. And it’s a commitment, a generational commitment to the security of the American people. And if the rest of the world won’t spend on their defense, that’s their fault. The American Department of War will invest properly to defend the people. Ans that’s what this budget stands for.


King Critical of Massive Cuts to National Parks Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) and Ranking Member of the National Parks Subcommittee, criticized the Administration for drastic cuts to the National Park Service’s budget. In an ENR committee hearing this week, King questioned Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on the rationale behind cutting the chronically-underfunded park service funding by a third when there is a history of a deferred maintenance backlog.

“Let's talk about the National Park Service. You and I talked about this before. [The] National Park Service budget is cut by one third. About $1 billion, which is one day of the Iran war just to put it in context. I don't understand why. In terms of the overall budget, in terms of what is being proposed for expenditures in many other areas, why are we cutting the most popular program the federal government runs? I understand there's always room for rightsizing and analysis of staffing and those kinds of things, but this is not a gotcha question. I'm puzzled why the administration would cut by one third the funding of one of the most important agencies that we have in terms of direct interface with the public? It’s not just about people at the parks. They need the backup from the rest of the organization. Why such a major cut?” asked Senator King.

Secretary Burgum replied, “You said a number of things that were qualifying in there, but I think there is a belief that we can deliver the services that people desire and the outcomes people are looking for. One thing I found as governor and I’m finding in this role is there is a high degree of interest in inputs and less interest in outcomes. If you said ‘the goal is, Secretary, please deliver higher customer satisfaction at all of your parks. Go get it done as efficiently as you can, we want to have citizens very satisfied.’ But it’s never about satisfaction. It’s always about the spending like a bigger input somehow implies a better outcome. I just don’t believe that.”

Senator King replied, “I would understand that, but has been an outside consultant's study of the staff size or internal study? If there has been such, I would certainly like to see it. You probably knew I was going to bring this chart. This is FTEs in the National Park Service going back 10 or 15 years. Here's where we are now. We were understaffed back then. The number we were working from was 23,000 and now we are down to about 15,000 I think. So this is where we are going. Again, if there is a study or a rational basis for the cuts being made, I just don't see it.".

Later in the exchange, Senator King raised concerns about massive staffing cuts and how those, coupled with the budget cuts, could harm visitor satisfaction in the future.

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 our national parks. Senator King helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation that included the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). Because of his work, in 2020, Senator King was awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation (NPF) “Hero” Award. Since the creation of the LRF, Senator King has pushed park leaders to discuss funding maintenance efforts, maintaining a sufficient NPS workforce, and managing growing park visitation. Senator King’s work on the National Parks Subcommittee is the culmination of more than four decades of work on land conservation efforts in Maine, including helping to establish the Land for Maine’s Future program in 1987 and supporting extensive conservation projects during his time as Governor.

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King to Hegseth - “Why Are We Abandoning Ukraine?”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today raised concerns regarding the administration’s decision to abandon Ukraine by zeroing out military and humanitarian support in this year’s Department of Defense (DoD) budget despite widespread American support for continued financial and military assistance. In the annual SASC committee hearing on the DoD’s fiscal year 2027 budget, King pressed the Under Secretary of Defense and Comptroller Jules Hurst, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, on the complete lack of resources being provided to Ukraine as the countrycontinues to defend itself against Russia’s unprovoked and bloody aggression. The small democratic nation has defended itself over the course of the four year war with the help of American equipment, training, and funding.

“One of the factors of this budget that has not gotten any publicity is there is zero funding for Ukraine. That is correct, Mr. Hurst?”asked Senator King.

Mr. Hurst replied, “That is correct. There is no USAI funding in this budget.”

“There was $400 million appropriated last year by a bipartisan bicameral act of Congress. What has become of that money? My understanding is not a dollar of it has been dispersed,” Senator King questioned.

“It was released very recently. We got these funds, I believe, in March. It takes time for the funds to flow through department, but it’s going to be put to work very shortly. We are going to work with the UCOM to make sure we use these funds in the most appropriate way possible,” Mr. Hurst answered..

“This [chart] indicates what has happened to our support for Ukraine over the years. The orange bars are US support; the blue is Europe. As you can see, Europe is 99% in the year 2026, same thing with humanitarian and other aid to Ukraine,”Senator King continued. “And yet, this is, I believe, an existential struggle for the future of democracy where we had an aggressive country invade a neighboring country without any justification whatsoever. By the way, that invading country is the major winner so far of the war in Iran. Estimates are [Russia has] gotten $40 to $80 billion of additional revenues from oil and the relief of sanctions as a result of the war in Iran. Secretary Hegseth, why are we abandoning Ukraine?”

“If you would hold that chart back up, I think that is a beautiful chart. That's exactly what we want. We want Europe stepping up and shouldering the burden. They are rich countries worth $20 trillion versus an economy of $2 trillion. Europe can step up, and they have through our [Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL)] initiative and European command. That's exactly what the American people want to see, other countries stepping up. If that is that important to Europe, which I understand why it is, and the incursion of Russia and the bravery of the Ukrainians, then European countries should pay for it. That is exactly what that chart says, and that is the Administration policy,” Secretary Hegseth answered.

“We don't have any interest in what happens in Ukraine, is what you’re saying? It’s only the Europeans?” asked Senator King.

Secretary Hegseth replied, “I’m saying the threat is far closer to rich and capable countries in Europe and they should step up to lead the charge; and that is why that chart is a good thing to see.”

“They have stepped up. But I think the American people should understand that we have stepped back,” Senator King finished.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Senator King has been a vocal supporter for Ukraine, voting in support of bipartisan legislation that would help Ukraine defend itself. In the days prior to that vote, he spoke on the Senate floor to his colleague that Ukraine’s fight is a “battle for the soul of Democracy in the world.” In January 2023, Senator King travelled with Armed Services Chairmen Jack Reed (D-R) in a visit to meet Ukraine President Vladimir Zelenskyy in Kiev.

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Luján, Blackburn Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Carjacking Passes Senate Judiciary Committee

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statements after their Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This legislation would make a long overdue fix to the federal carjacking statute, empowering prosecutors to hold more offenders accountable.

“The Albuquerque area continues to rank among the top cities for carjackings. This is unacceptable and puts people’s lives and livelihoods at risk,” said Senator Luján. “It is a positive step that legislation to give prosecutors the tools they need to hold carjackers accountable and keep our communities safe has passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I’m committed to advancing this legislation and ensuring law enforcement has the resources they need to protect our communities.”

“We need to make it easier for federal prosecutors to combat and prevent carjackings,” said Senator Blackburn. “My Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act would make our streets safer for Tennesseans and all Americans by fixing a broken statute that has hindered federal prosecutors from holding carjacking offenders accountable. I am pleased that this important legislation is one step closer to becoming a law.”

The current federal carjacking statute requires prosecutors to prove defendants had an “intent to cause death or bodily harm,” which has made it harder to bring federal carjacking prosecutions and accounts for the decrease in federal carjacking prosecutions in certain parts of the country. The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act would fix this drafting error by requiring prosecutors only have to prove the knowing taking of a motor vehicle. In cases in which death results following a carjacking, the bill would maintain the higher “intent to cause death or bodily harm” requirement.

The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act is endorsed by the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), the National Association of Police Organizations, National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Fraternal Order of Police, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Barry Moore (R-Ala.).

Click here for bill text.

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Senator Marshall Praises DHA Decision to Maintain Services at Fort Riley’s Irwin Army Community Hospital

Pittsburg – On Friday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) released the following statement after the Defense Health Agency (DHA) confirmed that Fort Riley’s Irwin Army Community Hospital (IACH) is not included on the agency’s Service Change Request list and will not face downgrades or reductions at this time:

“I’m glad to see that Fort Riley’s Irwin Army Community Hospital will continue serving our soldiers, military families, and the surrounding Kansas communities without disruption,” said Senator Marshall. “IACH plays a vital role in supporting readiness and ensuring access to quality care in the Flint Hills region, and this is welcome news for everyone who depends on it.”

Throughout 2025 and into 2026, Senator Marshall engaged directly with the Department of War, DHA leadership, and Fort Riley officials to ensure Kansas voices were heard. These efforts included securing an on-site DHA assessment, advocating for expanded care access, and advancing provisions in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act to strengthen coordination between the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve access for veterans to be seen at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs).

During a visit to Fort Riley, DHA leadership reinforced the importance of maintaining and growing IACH’s capabilities. “My goal is to figure out how I can make IACH even more successful,” said Dr. Stephen Ferrara, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.“To me, the definition of success for a hospital is a busy hospital doing high volume, high complexity care.”

Background:

Since early 2025, Senator Marshall has engaged with the Department of Defense and DHA leadership regarding the status of Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley:

January 10, 2025: Sent a letter to the Defense Health Agency demanding answers after reports that Irwin Army Community Hospital could be downgraded to an acute care clinic.

April 7, 2025: Raised concerns directly with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and received assurances regarding Fort Riley’s hospital mission.

May 9, 2025: Met with Fort Riley’s Commanding General, who emphasized the hospital was the installation’s top concern.

May 14, 2025: Spoke with Acting DHA Director Dr. Stephen Ferrara, resulting in DHA agreeing to conduct an on-site assessment.

June 4, 2025: DHA staff conducted a pre-visit assessment and concluded that the North Central Flint Hills region has fewer care options than expected.

June 30, 2025: DHA and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs visited Fort Riley and provided preliminary guidance supporting full emergency, surgical, and maternity services. DHA also acknowledged staffing shortages and discussed potential partnerships with the VA to expand access and strengthen services.

July 9, 2025: Met with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs to reinforce Kansas’s need for a fully operational hospital at Fort Riley.

December 18, 2025: Secured provisions in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act to requires the Pentagon and the VA to establish action plans to improve access for veterans to be seen in Military Treatment Facilities, such as IACH.

January 9, 2026: Visited Irwin Army Community Hospital (IACH) at Fort Riley to reiterate his support for the facility.

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Kiggans and Merkley Continue to Support our Nursing Workforce in Light of the Recent Department of Education RISE Committee Final Rule

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) expressed concern following the Department of Education’s release of its final rule defining which healthcare professions qualify as “professional degrees.” The rule, set to take effect on July 1, 2026, excludes post-baccalaureate nursing programs from this designation. As a result, individuals pursuing post-baccalaureate nursing degrees will face lower federal borrowing limits for student loans, creating additional barriers to entering the profession. The final rule comes after more than six months of sustained, bipartisan, and bicameral advocacy led by Rep. Kiggans and Sen. Merkley, who repeatedly raised concerns about the exclusion of post-baccalaureate nursing programs.

Rep. Kiggans and Sen. Merkley remain committed to working together to introduce legislation that addresses this issue and ensure post-baccalaureate nursing degrees are included on the list of designated professional degrees.

Congresswoman Kiggans said, “The RISE Committee’s final rule to exclude advanced practice nurses from its definition of professional degrees is incredibly frustrating and disenfranchises these men and women that are on the front lines of healthcare every day. As a Nurse Practitioner, I know the value and impact advanced practice nurses bring to our communities’ health and wellbeing. As our nation continues to grapple with a healthcare workforce shortage, this decision will increase-out-pocket costs and create an inequitable financial structure compared to other clinical programs. This disincentivizes talented young students from entering the field at a time when we need them most.”

“As the Representative of Virginia’s Second Congressional District, it is my responsibility to help grow our healthcare workforce and expand access to quality care across Coastal Virginia. I am proud to continue this work with Senator Merkley to get nurses onto the Professional Degree list,” she concluded.

“America is facing a dire shortage of health care workers, but the Trump Administration would rather stick its head in the sand than support nurses being able to afford post-baccalaureate programs,” said Merkley. “Our simple, bipartisan fix ensures that nurses are able to access the loans they need to earn their professional degrees.”

“Recognizing nursing as a professional degree is essential to sustaining pathways to advanced nursing education and, ultimately, safeguarding the nation’s health,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. “The academic nursing community applauds our Congressional champions for working on a legislative response that will strengthen the capacity of nursing schools in every state to educate the next generation of advanced practice nurses, researchers, scientists, faculty, and healthcare leaders.”

“Patients across the country rely on nurse practitioners (NPs) for access to care, from rural communities to major metropolitan areas. The Department of Education’s decision to exclude NPs and other post-baccalaureate nursing programs from the definition of a professional degree for federal student loans will make it harder for future NPs to pursue their education, ultimately worsening the nursing and primary care shortages facing our nation,” said American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) President Valerie Fuller, PhD, DNP. “On behalf of AANP and the more than 461,000 NPs nationwide, we commend Representative Kiggans and Senator Merkley for their leadership and continued support of the nursing profession. We look forward to the introduction of their legislation and urge all Members of Congress to support the passage of this legislation to send it to the President for his signature.”

“It’s ironic that we find ourselves here just one week before National Nurses Week, a time when we are meant to celebrate and honor the very people who keep our health system running. And yet, this Department of Education has chosen to make it harder for nurses to advance their education and their careers,” said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association. “I want to thank Senator Merkley and Representative Kiggans for their commitment to writing legislation that will fix this easily avoidable disaster for the nursing profession and patients. Make no mistake, this is not a technicality or a footnote. This rule will be felt in real communities, for example, in rural areas where nurse practitioners, midwives, and nurse anesthesiologists are often the only providers of core care services.”

“The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners applauds Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Kiggans for their leadership in introducing legislation to correct the Department of Education’s student loan rule,” National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) president Dr. Felesia Bowen said. “This misguided decision has significant implications that impact an already strained health care workforce. Most importantly, it creates additional financial barriers for nurses pursuing advanced education at a time when access to care for children and families depends on a strong, well-prepared workforce. NAPNAP looks forward to working with Congresswoman Kiggans, Senator Merkley, and other members of Congress to ensure that students are able to pursue careers in advanced pediatric nursing practice.”

“Boards of nursing are charged with protecting the public which includes ensuring patients and students have access to safe nursing care and quality nursing education,” said Phyllis Polk Johnson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FNAP, NCSBN Board of Directors President. “By restricting access to federal student loan support for advanced nursing education, the Department’s policy is misaligned with that mandate. We thank Representative Kiggans and Senator Merkley for their leadership and urge Congress to act promptly to correct this misalignment and ensure federal student loan programs fully support the advanced nursing clinicians and nurse faculty essential to meeting the nation’s health care needs.”

In the next few weeks, Rep. Kiggans and Sen. Merkley plan to introduce a bipartisan and bicameral piece of legislation that would officially add post-baccalaureate nurses to the professional degree definition. Full-time professional students that are receiving degrees under the Professional Degree list may borrow up to $50,000 annually with a $200,000 limit. Adding advanced practice nurses to the definition will increase the amount of federal student loans they can receive.

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Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Bynum, Salinas Announce Over $7.5 Million to Strengthen and Defend Oregon Communities Facing Wildfire Threats

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), and Andrea Salinas (OR-06), announced $7,538,176 is coming to four projects in Oregon to help make communities more resilient to severe wildfires. These investments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will support disaster relief efforts and mitigate wildfire risk, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure in Oregon.

For years, the Oregon congressional delegation has worked to secure federal resources for Oregonians affected by wildfires. In the wake of the catastrophic wildfires that broke out over Labor Day weekend in 2020, Merkley and Wyden led the charge to push for the rapid approval of the request for federal disaster relief, which was granted, and also successfully urged the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior to expedite the initiation and completion of the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program for wildfires in Oregon.

“Communities that were devastated by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires must have the resources they need to increase their resilience to future fires. The federal government must do all it can to assist Oregon families and businesses with those efforts,” said Merkley. “You can’t get ready after the fire starts, and Congress needs to ensure our communities can access all possible federal resources to prepare for and mitigate wildfires. As climate chaos fuels longer and fiercer fire seasons, I’ll keep fighting to make sure Oregonians get the support they need to take on devastating wildfires in every corner of the state.”

“Oregonians who worked hard to rebuild their lives and livelihoods after the devastating Labor Day fires need and deserve these federal investments to protect their homes and small businesses going forward,” Wyden said. “I’m glad the teamwork with my colleagues has delivered these resources, and I’ll keep battling for similar funds that support wildfire resilience in communities statewide.”

“As we head into a severe wildfire season, these investments are critical to regional connectivity in times of emergency,” said Rep. Hoyle. “It shouldn’t take this long to find the money to get people’s lives back on track and rebuild smarter. Keeping our Douglas County communications infrastructure strong is a step in the right direction and can make a huge difference in response time and survival rates.”

“Too many Oregonians suffer every year from preventable wildfires,” said Rep. Bynum. “This funding ensures that our communities are equipped with all of the resources they need to minimize fire destructions, protect Oregonians, and keep our environment safe.

“Oregonians know how devastating wildfires can be for our communities, families, and local economies,” said Rep. Salinas. “These investments will help us better prepare for future disasters by strengthening critical infrastructure, improving emergency response, and reducing wildfire risk before it turns into tragedy. I’m proud to work alongside my colleagues to secure these federal resources and will keep fighting to ensure Oregon communities have the support they need to stay safe, resilient, and ready.”

This funding for the grants announced today comes from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which supports state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments developing hazard mitigation plans and rebuilding in ways that reduce or mitigate future disaster losses in their communities following a Presidentially declared disaster. The four Oregon projects funded are as follows:

$3,955,430 for Consumers Power, Inc. for Connected System Protection for Wildfire Mitigation. This project will fund 239 hydraulic reclosers and 10 weather stations throughout Consumers Power, Inc. distribution system to reduce the time and extent of outages. This will enhance the resilience of the community and ensure that access to power will be restored faster during a wildfire event.

$3,186,000 for Douglas County Public Works’ Hazardous Fuels Reduction. This project will fund the upgrade of the existing emergency radio system infrastructure supporting the Sheriff’s Office and 911 communications for Douglas County Public Safety, Law, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services. The proposed upgrade will allow each radio tower to continue to function independently, even if unable to communicate to other towers or the mothership, allowing emergency responders in the vicinity of a tower to continue to communicate and respond during emergencies. This project increases resilience and reduces the risk of injuries, life loss, and property damage and destruction, including critical services and facilities.

$219,746 for Consumer Powers, Inc. for Connected System Protection for Wildfire Mitigation. This project will fund the subrecipient, Consumers Power, Inc., management costs to reduce the amount of time in which residents are without power.

$177,000 for Douglas County Radio Infrastructure and Improvement. This project will fund the subrecipient’s (Douglas County) management costs to upgrade the existing emergency radio system infrastructure supporting the Sheriff’s Office and 911 communications for Douglas County Public Safety, Law, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services.

“CPI’s recloser upgrade project will enhance electric reliability across six counties in western Oregon. The project will modernize our system to reduce outage durations and minimize the impacts of winter storms and wildfires. These upgrades will also improve system visibility, enabling faster, more informed response when outages occur. This project would not have been possible without FEMA’s support, and our partnership with FEMA is critical to keeping electricity reliable and affordable for our members,” said James Ramseyer, President/CEO of Consumers Power, Inc.

“Douglas County extends its sincere thanks to Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Ron Wyden, and Representative Val Hoyle for their support in securing the final portion of our approved FEMA funding for the Douglas County Radio Infrastructure and Improvement Project. Their partnership has been instrumental in helping us strengthen critical communications systems that support public safety across our region,” said Tom Kress, Chair, and the Douglas County Board of Commissioners.

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