Blackburn, Klobuchar Sound the Alarm on Meta Removing Ads for Social Media Addiction Litigation from Its Platforms

“In the wake of landmark verdicts handed down last month that found Meta liable for negligence in its platform’s design, it was reported that Meta began removing advertisements from attorneys seeking clients who allege that they were harmed by your platform while they were minors. It is unfortunate that rather than addressing the dangerous design of its platforms, Meta is instead attempting to dodge additional accountability for its failure to protect children online. Specifically, over a dozen advertisements that ran on Facebook and Instagram were deactivated, including one ad that read ‘Anxiety. Depression. Withdrawal. Self-harm. These aren’t just teenage phases—they’re symptoms linked to social media addiction in children. Platforms knew this and kept targeting kids anyway.’ Meta’s own internal research has confirmed exactly what the ad conveyed—that Meta’s social media platforms cause increased anxiety, depression, and self-harm. And these ads did not violate Meta’s Advertising Standards. Their removal is nothing more than an attempt to preserve a harmful business model at all costs—one that actively profits off the addiction of this nation’s youth—and reduce financial exposure for the harm Meta has caused to minors across the country.”

Any Assertion Meta Removed These Ads to Protect Users Is a Lie


Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 4/24/2026-5/1/2026

Grilling Secretary Hegseth on the Cost of War

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – At a Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) questioned Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth about the Trump Administration’s commitment to doing right by our nation’s veterans with the Major Richard Star Act, bipartisan legislation to fix an injustice preventing combat-injured veterans from receiving their full military benefits. Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their DoD retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments—leaving behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees.

Hegseth pledged the Department’s support for the legislation following pressure from Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. This bipartisan legislation has been blocked twice in the last year by Senate Republican leadership.

“I want to talk about the cost of war. The cost of war includes caring for our veterans,” Blumenthal said.

“We had an estimate from Mr. Hurst yesterday that the cost to date in dollars for this war has been $25 billion…But we also know that about 400 service members have been wounded as a result of this war. When they retire, when they come home, their retirement pay will be docked dollar for dollar for every disability benefit dollar they receive.”

“Secretary Hegseth, I’d like your commitment that you will support the Major Richard Star Act. It will eliminate this wounded warrior tax. I am sure you are familiar with it. Tens of thousands of servicemen and women now are reduced in their retirement pay, literally, for every dollar of disability benefits they receive.”

“As I have said in the past to other organizations, we support the Richard Star Act,” replied Hegseth.

Later in the hearing, Blumenthal emphasized the need to get the legislation across the finish line by Veterans Day to Hegseth and noted he will look to the Secretary to ensure the legislation becomes law.

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks regarding the Major Richard Star Act are available here.

Blumenthal further called for support for the Major Richard Star Act on Twitter/X.

“The costs of war include caring for our veterans. I pushed Sec. Hegseth to pledge his support for the Major Richard Star Act—vital legislation to eliminate the wounded warrior tax,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal also pressed Hegseth on the Trump Administration’s response to the war in Ukraine, calling for more support for the Ukrainian people in their fight against Russia’s invasion.

“Let me ask you, the President said that Ukraine has been ‘militarily defeated.’ I assume you don't agree with that assessment?” said Blumenthal. “I would submit, based on my nine trips to Ukraine, that is a false narrative that the President is buying from Vladimir Putin. I hope that you will dispute it because it is the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their survival, with no help from the Administration. And they are bravely fighting our fight—and that is the reason that I am pursuing the Russian sanctions bill.”

Video of Blumenthal’s remarks regarding Ukraine are available here.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW to share his reactions to Hegseth’s performance during the Hearing—citing his inability to provide clear, meaningful answers.

“I think the most generous thing I can say about is performance today was that it verged on incompetence,” Blumenthal said about Hegseth’s appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee. “His response to perfectly proper questions about the amounts of the costs, the impact on our economy, was to lash out at the questioners. He called us defeatist, he said the press was incompetent, he blamed a lot on Biden, and he refused—absolutely refused—to answer with what the costs are. They’re either hiding what they know, or they don’t know. And I would say both are totally unacceptable for the Secretary of Defense.”

Video of Blumenthal’s full interview is available here.

Protecting Children from Abusive AI Chatbots

Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved bipartisan legislation authored by Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) to protect children from AI chatbots. This legislation would ban AI companions for minors, mandate AI chatbots disclose their non-human status, and create new crimes for companies who make sexually explicit AI chatbots, or AI chatbots that coerce young people to take their own lives or commit other kinds of violence.

“We’ve learned a lesson we can’t rely on social media to regulate itself, “trust us, trust us,” I’m done with “trust us,” We can’t trust the Big Tech companies or AI enterprises to have a conscience and follow the dictates of that conscience,” said Blumenthal, a member of the Judiciary Committee, at today’s markup.

“This issue is a matter of life or death and I want to join in thanking the parents who are here today, but literally many, many others who have demonstrated the kind of leadership and bravery to take some good from the pain that they have suffered.”

The full video of Blumenthal’s remarks is available here.

Blumenthal further called for improved protections for children online with his GUARD Act on Twitter/X.

“AI companies are using our kids as guinea pigs to pad their bottom line. Senator Hawley & I have heard from countless parents & children who were victimized by chatbots that became manipulative & predatory, abusing young users. The time is now to pass the GUARD Act. I am proud that today, the Senate Judiciary Committee took a critical step forward in putting up some overdue safeguards & moving this bill to the floor.My message to AI CEOs is this: you promised that you would work with us on guardrails for your technology, & now is the time to put your money where your mouth is & help us get this bill signed into law,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal also shared a piece on his Substack highlighting the need for legislation to bolster children’s online safety and calling out Big Tech’s role in harming our nation’s children.

“One of the biggest dangers facing kids today is Big Tech’s exploitative, addictive algorithms, working to keep kids scrolling, clicking ads, and sharing every detail of their lives. Big Tech prioritizes profits over safety and refuses to protect our children—so it’s time for action,” wrote Blumenthal. “As lawmakers, there is nothing more fundamental than protecting our children. They’re our future. I may be a United States Senator, but my main accomplishment in life is that I am a father. There is nothing partisan about protecting children from gut-wrenching harms caused by Big Tech’s exploitation.

Subscribe to Blumenthal’s Substack here.

On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee

At a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing this week to consider pending legislation, Ranking Member Blumenthal pressed VA Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits Margarita Devlin for greater transparency surrounding the Department’s decision to expand or remove benefits for toxic exposure-related conditions. Previous reporting revealed the Trump Administration secretly rolled back benefits for a presumptive condition established under the landmark PACT Act for toxic-exposed veterans.

“Ms. Devlin, my Presumptive CLARITY Act requires the VA to publish information about conditions and cohorts it is considering for the purpose of removing toxic exposure-related benefits. It requires VA to educate veterans on how to participate in the PACT Act, which I found is desperately necessary, because not enough veterans are aware of it. Do you agree that the VA should provide transparent and proactive notification when it makes significant changes to presumptive benefits and notify more veterans about the PACT Act?”

When Devlin responded that VA already publishes these changes in the Federal Register, Blumenthal quipped: “With all due respect, I don't know too many veterans who read the Federal Register on a regular basis. Can’t more be done?”

Witnesses from the second panel also shared their support for the Senator’s Presumptive CLARITY Act. Jennifer Goodale, Director of Government Relations for Veteran and Retired Affairs at Military Officers Association of America, built off Blumenthal’s earlier comments and emphasized the need for greater transparency: “…[T]here are not a lot of veterans that are consistently check the federal register. We agree there has got to be a better way to share a very clear outlook of what’s being considered, what cohorts and conditions, when it comes to presumptives.”

Blumenthal introduced the Presumptive CLARITY Act in November to require VA to establish a public-facing website to educate toxic-exposed veterans on the processes it uses to determine which conditions are related to military toxic exposures. This would ensure veterans know if VA plans to add or remove their exposure or condition as a presumptive and instruct veterans on how they can provide input. Currently, VA lacks a consolidated website where veterans can access this information.

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks is available here.

Blumenthal further called for transparency over the PACT Act presumptive process on Twitter/X.

“There has to be a better way than the Federal Register to let veterans know they are eligible for PACT Act benefits. I pressed the VA to urgently provide more proactive outreach to veterans,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Slamming the Trump Administration’s Corruption of Science

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), delivered an opening statement at a Subcommittee hearing about vaccine research. The hearing, convened by PSI Republicans, comes after the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Acting Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya interfered with the publication of a study demonstrating that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced the likelihood of hospitalization and emergency room visits during the most recent respiratory virus season.

“Everything that’s been said, I think we ought to remember what it was like during the height of the COVID pandemic. Literally the fear, the death, the loss, and then the relief as a result of Operation Warp Speed, which President Trump ordered in having a vaccine that gave people hope. And many people life. At the same time, none of the relief or hope enabled loved ones to come back. They lost lives, and families had their lives upended,” Blumenthal said during the hearing.

The hearing featured testimony from Maria Young, a Maryland resident who contracted COVID-19 in October 2020 before vaccines were available.

“We are fortunate to have with us, Maria Young. Thank you for coming here today, who spent many days in a hospital, close to 70 days in intensive care. Most lives were forever changed as a result, but the vaccine offered a path forward for so many people, and we should be thankful for Operation Warp Speed,” Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal underscored the ways in which the Trump Administration has politicized science and undermined public health, “There is also a really deep irony in the Majority’s argument, given the current Administration’s overt efforts to skew science and undermine public health. Last week, I wrote to the acting CDC director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, about reports that he has blocked publication of a recent study showing that COVID-19 vaccines were extremely effective at preventing hospitalizations last winter.”

“I fear that this Administration’s actions to politicize science, to slash scientific funding, and to expel talented scientists are doing irreparable harm to our nation’s ability to counter the next pandemic. The threat remains real and present, and we must respect science and encourage our scientists to continue to do their work,” Blumenthal concluded.

A video of Blumenthal’s opening statement is available here. A video of Maria Young’s testimony is available here.

Blumenthal further amplified Maria Young’s story on Twitter/X.

“Maria Young shares her story of strength regaining her life after battling COVID-19, spending over 4 months in the hospital—before we had life-saving vaccines & treatments,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal reacted to King Charles’s speech to Congress.

Blumenthal called out Trump’s judicial nominees for their answers disregarding the violent January 6 attack on the Capitol and their inability to say President Biden won the 2020 election.

Blumenthal joined CNN to discuss President Trump’s foreign policy strategy that’s dangerously driven by vengeance and vanity.

Blumenthal slammed the Supreme Court’s decision eviscerating safeguards against voter suppression and decimating the Voting Rights Act.

Blumenthal led a group of 29 Senators calling on the Trump Administration to halt the removal of Afghan allies to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Blumenthal introduced legislation protecting children harmed by ICE actions against their parents.

Blumenthal shared the story of Zahra, calling for support for our country’s Afghan allies by passing his Afghan Adjustment Act.

Blumenthal joined Morning Joe on Monday to discuss the swift response by law enforcement at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and updates on the war in Iran.

Blumenthal investigated Hegseth’s failure to protect troops in the Middle East after a fatal attack.

Blumenthal renewed a push to support survivors of disasters as the Trump Administration abandons disaster-stricken communities.

Blumenthal slammed skyrocketing gas prices in Hartford and across Connecticut.

Blumenthal joined the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School, announcing a lawsuit challenging the denial of VA benefits to children of male Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

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Booker Leads Colleagues in Renewed Push to Establish Safety Standards for Firearms in Effort to Save Lives

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is leading a renewed effort to confront the gun violence epidemic plaguing communities across the United States. In a push to address this public health crisis—now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States—Booker, along with Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Alex Padilla (D-CA), reintroduced legislation that would empower the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with the authority to establish safetystandards for firearms and ammunition. This legislation would remove a decades-old exemption that prohibits the CPSC from exercising jurisdiction over firearms, allowing the agency to address risks the same way it does for all other consumer products.

“Every year, hundreds of Americans lose their lives because of defective firearms, yet there is still no comprehensive system to recall weapons with known hazards,” said Senator Cory Booker. “Decades ago, firearms became the only consumer product in the country exempt from federal safety oversight, and today they are the leading cause of death for children and teens. This is long overdue. Congress has a responsibility to put public safety first and finally close this loophole so firearms are treated like every other consumer product.”

“This makes no sense. After decades of lobbying by gun manufacturers, toy guns are subject to stricter safety standards than real ones. It’s long past time to stop the special favors and stand up to the gun lobby to protect Americans,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren.

“As we continue working to end the scourge of gun violence in this country and better protect our communities, we must address the safety standards to which firearms are held to,” said Senator Mazie Hirono. “Firearms and their manufacturers should not be excluded from critical standards that help to protect consumers from dangerous and defective products. This commonsense legislation will help to protect our communities by establishing safety standards to monitor firearms for safety risks, enable the collection of data on gun-related incidents, require warnings, and recall defective firearms.”

“There is a gun violence epidemic in this country, but the powerful firearm lobby continues to shield gun manufacturers from CPSC‘s regulatory authority. It is high time Congress allows CPSC to set minimum safety standards for firearms,” said Senator Dick Durbin. “I am joining Senator Booker in introducing the Firearm Safety Act of 2026 to strengthen our gun safety regulations and prevent the incalculable harm caused each year from gun violence.”

“Gun manufacturers are the only industry in America exempt from even minimal federal consumer safety oversight, free to sell defective products with no mandatory recall requirements and no federal accountability. The Firearm Safety Act would finally close this loophole, giving the Consumer Product Safety Commission the authority to set safety standards and recall dangerous firearms — the same basic protections Americans already expect from their cars, cribs, and lawn mowers,” said Senator Alex Padilla.

The Firearm Safety Act would correct a gap created when the Consumer Product Safety Act was first passed in 1972 and firearms were excluded from the commission's authority. By eliminating that exemption, the bill would allow the CPSC to apply the same oversight to firearms that it already uses for other consumer products, with the goal of reducing preventable injuries and deaths.

By allowing the CPSC to regulate firearms, they will be able to:

Recall defective firearms;

Set minimum safety standards for firearms and ammunition;

Collect data on gun-related deaths and injuries; and

Require warning labels on firearms and ammunition.

The Firearm Safety Act is endorsed by Brady United, Everytown, GIFFORDS, Newtown Action Alliance, and Community Justice.

“For over 50 years, the CPSC has been tasked with regulating and addressing unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. Yet, the firearms industry has successfully kept American-made firearms out of their purview, making guns the only consumer product in the country that is not subject to federal health and safety regulations. The Firearm Safety Act will allow the CPSC to create safety standards for gun industry products, monitor firearms for safety risks, and oversee product recalls — protecting consumers from dangerous and defective products. Brady is grateful to Senator Booker and Representative Kelly for championing this commonsense legislation and for their leadership in the fight against gun violence,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy, Brady.


Boozman Encouraged with Progress on VA Electronic Health Records Rollout, Urges Continued Prioritization of Key Suicide Prevention Effort

WASHINGTON—Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) welcomed an update on the successful recent deployment of the Electronic Health Record Management (EHRM) system and urged Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to continue supporting a Boozman-authored suicide prevention initiative at a hearing examining the department’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request.

Boozman thanked Sec. Collins for sharing the positive feedback on the EHRM launch at four hospitals in Michigan earlier this month.

“I am really pleased with the results that we’re getting in Michigan. It’s a great start, and especially to hear from our colleague in Michigan to back that up. Many administrations – this is not a Democrat or Republican thing – [have wrestled with this] over the past couple of decades. [This successful rollout] will make us a lot more efficient,” Boozman said.

“We have put the Electronic Health Record Modernization effort back on track, starting with our successful deployments in Michigan a few weeks ago. We are no longer accepting indefinite delays in this critical initiative,” Collins said in his opening statement. “A modern record system means fewer repeated tests, improved availability of health data, and smoother coordination across providers—reducing frustration and improving continuity of care at every point of contact.”

Congress has appropriated over $16 billion to deliver this necessary capability to the VA to support record management with non-VA providers. The VA will next deploy this system to four Ohio hospitals in June. Its FY27 budget request will support 26 new deployments in 2027 and sustain 45 live sites.

Boozman also asked Collins to share why extending the Fox Grant Program, a critical component veteran suicide prevention, was a priority and discuss the impact it has for veterans struggling with their mental health.

“According to the VA’s December 2025 report, 22 percent of the veterans supported by this grant were new to VA services, and 80 percent of veterans within the program have shown a decreased risk of suicide,” Boozman said. “This is another thing that we’ve worked so hard for so many years to get a handle on, to reverse some of the negative trends that we’ve seen.”

“The death by suicide issue, with these Fox Grants, really go after [and is] targeted toward those unreached. Remember, 60 percent of veterans who have death by suicide are not in the VA system. Since January, we’ve added over 125,000 new veterans who were not in the system just in this year,” Collins said.

The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program was signed into law as a provision of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act. The senator, also a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, continues to push for its renewal and expansion.


U.S. Senator Katie Britt Applauds Trump Administration’s CFPB’s Rollback of Disastrous 1071 Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today applauded the Trump Administration’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalizing a rule which will roll back the Biden Administration’s misguided 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection rule.

“I fought for years against the Biden Administration’s 1071 rule, including through my PROTECTED Act, because it was far-reaching, imposed significant costs, and unfairly hurt our smallest community banks that serve rural and underserved communities. This new rule ensures small lenders can continue to meet the needs of Main Street businesses, and I’m proud to be a strong supporter. I will always advocate for small businesses across Alabama and our nation—they’re the backbone of our country and what make our communities so unique—and our community banks play a pivotal role in providing these businesses with vital access to capital,” said Senator Britt.

Senators Britt and John Boozman (R-Ark.) lead the Preventing Regulatory Overreach to Empower Communities to Thrive and Ensure Data privacy (PROTECTED) Act, which aims to shield our smallest financial institutions and Main Street businesses from regulatory overreach and excessive compliance costs and standards, particularly in the absence of a full repeal of the CFPB’s final rule for Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The bill would also limit the number of small businesses impacted, and significantly reduce the amount of data required to be collected and reported, to ensure consumers’ privacy is protected.

Senator Britt has long been an outspoken opponent of the CFPB’s misguided 1071 rule. In October 2024, American Banker published a column written by the Senator warning of the increasing politicization and regulatory overreach at the CFPB. “Take, for instance, the CFPB’s 1071 small business lending rule, a far-reaching regulation that imposes significant costs to our smallest community banks. This unnecessary regulatory expansion undermines the relationship banking model of small financial institutions, while allowing the CFPB to collect, store, and create a public registry of personal data on business owners and consumers in our communities,” she wrote.

In a December 2024 hearing with then-Director Rohit Chopra, Senator Britt criticized the small business lending rule and the damage it would pose to community banks and their ability to provide credit and services to Main Street. “The compliance costs alone are literally putting at risk community banks in a multitude of ways . . . I want to make sure the agency continues to look at cumulative impacts and how rules like this hurt the most vulnerable,” Senator Britt stated.

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Budd, Cortez Masto Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Veterans from Criminal Fraud Schemes

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the bipartisan Veterans Protection from Fraud Act to establish a sentencing enhancement of up to ten years in prison for anyone convicted of committing or conspiring to commit fraud that targets a veteran. U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.-02) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Our nation’s veterans, who bravely served our country in defense of our freedoms, have become the primary targets of criminal fraud schemes. Those who attempt to defraud our service members must face strict criminal penalties for their actions. I am proud to join Senator Cortez Masto to ensure these criminals are held accountable under federal law,” said Senator Budd.

“Every day, our service members risk everything to protect our homeland and defend our freedoms. The least we can do when these brave men and women come home is ensure that we protect their financial wellbeing from those bad actors who target them because of their service. With this bill, we can crack down on the fraudsters who try to scam our veterans,” said Senator Cortez Masto.

“Veterans put their lives on the line for us at home and abroad. Our duty is to protect them when they return. I am proud to have introduced this legislation in the House, and I appreciate Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Budd for protecting our veterans in the Senate,” said Representative Burchett.

Read the full bill text HERE.

BACKGROUND

In 2023, our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families had $477 million stolen due to fraud schemes. Federal law already includes a sentencing enhancement for fraud crimes targeting senior citizens, but there are no similar criminal penalties for fraudsters who target veterans.

Veterans Protection from Fraud Act:

• Deters criminals from defrauding veterans by increasing penalties to up to ten years in prison.

• Applies sentencing enhancements to fraud offenses, including false document fraud, device fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, broad fraudulent schemes, bank fraud, and health care fraud.

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As Gas Prices Spike, Cantwell Introduces Bill to Target Petroleum Market Manipulators & Protect Consumers at the Pump

Gas prices hit $5.57 in Washington, the highest average price ever; Puget Sound diesel prices are over $7 a gallon; Act would monitor fuel market anomalies that hurt consumers; bad actors would face up to $2 million per day in fines

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced the Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act.

The bill would create a new Transportation Fuel Monitoring and Enforcement Unit at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) dedicated to proactively monitoring and preventing fraud or manipulation that may be artificially inflating pump prices, increasing price transparency in transportation fuel markets, and increasing penalties for bad actors. In the past, unscrupulous oil traders have taken advantage of volatility and supply disruptions to profit at the expense of consumers.

“This legislation couldn’t come at a more needed time as drivers in Washington and all across the country face record breaking pump prices,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Protecting American households and businesses requires forcing the same level of transparency in fuel markets that we successfully fought to secure in other energy markets. This legislation will put a full-time policeman on the beat able to shine a bright light on the mysterious middle of gas markets and go after any bad actors that are exploiting consumers.”

Today, gas prices in Washington state hit $5.57 per gallon – the highest in state history.

READ MORE:

KOMO 4 SEATTLE: State gas prices hit record average of $5.57 a gallon, squeezing drivers’ budgets

The New York Times: Oil Hits Wartime High Above $120 a Barrel as Standoff Shows No End in Sight

The bill was co-introduced by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Alex Padilla (D-CA).

The Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act:

Strengthens Oversight. Enhances the FTC’s 2007 authority to go after false market information designed to artificially inflate transportation fuel prices, including data submitted to private-sector price reporting agencies. The legislation broadens the FTC’s oversight authority to cover the full range of transportation fuels, including biofuels.

Ensures Dedicated Market Monitoring. Establishes a new Transportation Fuel Monitoring and Enforcement Unit at the FTC devoted to protecting the public interest by continuously and comprehensively monitoring and analyzing crude oil, gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, and other petroleum distillate markets in order to facilitate transparent and competitive market practices.

Targets Bad Actors. The new unit at the FTC is also charged with identifying any manipulation, reporting of false information, use of market power or any other unfair method of competition employed to distort transportation fuel markets to accrue illegal profits, and advising the full Commission whether to go after the perpetrators and impose relevant penalties.

Increases Penalties. Doubles the maximum penalty for manipulating wholesale oil markets to $2,000,000 a day for each violation.

Improves Market Transparency and Competition. Directs the Energy Information Administration to collect, analyze, and publish more detailed information related to the quantity and pricing of transportation fuels in order to facilitate price transparency, fair competition, and compliance with relevant international sanctions. This data may also be used to facilitate enhanced FTC efforts to police the transportation fuel markets.

A one-page summary of the Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act is available HERE.

The full bill text is available HERE.

As Chair of the Committee, Sen. Cantwell led the initial introduction of this legislation in the 117th Congress, and it passed out of the Commerce Committee in May 2022. In April 2022, Sen. Cantwell held a hearing that revealed how a lack of oversight and visibility into petroleum trades affects prices at the gas pump. The bill was also introduced in the 118th Congress.

Sen. Cantwell has long sought to protect consumers from unjustified energy prices. In the aftermath of Enron’s energy trading schemes, she authored an amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that strengthened the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) authority to investigate and punish market manipulation in the electricity and natural gas markets.

Since then, FERC has built a permanent cadre of internal energy experts that continually monitor and investigate anomalous market trends and suspicious behavior. In the wake of the 2008 Financial Crisis, Sen. Cantwell authored legislation that gave the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) similar anti-market manipulation authority and responsibilities in financially-settled energy commodity derivatives markets.


Cantwell Joins Democratic Colleagues in Demanding DHS and SSA Uphold Federal Law Rather Than President Trump’s Illegal Executive Order to Limit Voting

This week, Schumer tapped Cantwell to join a Democratic Senate task force to defend ballot access and voter rights in November

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined 27 of her colleagues in demanding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) follow existing federal law rather than the March 31 Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump, which violates the Constitution and risks disenfranchising eligible voters.

President Trump’s directive, which has been challenged in the courts, would require DHS to create eligible voter lists – which the federal government does not have the authority to do. Under the order, DHS is required to use data from the Systemic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program that incorporates incorrect and incomplete, out-of-date citizenship information from SSA, which DHS has acknowledged may produce inaccurate citizenship verification results. If the President’s executive order is implemented in place of current federal law, it will prevent many eligible voters from exercising their fundamental right to vote.

In their letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the senators wrote: “The foreseeable result is that tens of thousands of eligible U.S. citizen voters will discover on Election Day that they are barred from voting because they have been incorrectly removed from voter rolls. Indeed, reports have already confirmed that eligible Americans are being targeted for removal from voter rolls after being erroneously flagged as non-citizens by the SAVE program. As state and local election officials have stated, the SAVE program’s expanded use for voter roll maintenance would likely lead to even greater wrongful disenfranchisement.”

“The Department should immediately discontinue the SAVE program’s use for these illegal and non-statutory purposes and take no steps pursuant to the Executive Order that violate the law and risk disenfranchising eligible voters,” the senators concluded.

In their letter to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano, the senators wrote, “SSA data is already at the core of the overhauled SAVE program at DHS, which continues to have serious accuracy and reliability concerns. State and local elections officials, nonpartisan voter advocacy organizations, federal agencies, and courts have made clear that the SAVE program is not appropriate for voter roll maintenance because incorrect and out-of-date citizenship information in the databases it queries, including SSA databases, leads to eligible voters often being incorrectly flagged as non-citizens.”

“Given that SSA is an unreliable source for information on U.S. citizenship, that recent DOGE activities at SSA put the American public’s data at risk, and that federal interference in state-run elections is a clear violation of the Constitution’s Elections Clause, SSA should immediately discontinue its data sharing activities and take no steps pursuant to the Executive Order that violate the law and risk disenfranchising eligible voters,” the senators concluded.

The letters were led by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

Read the full letter to DHS Secretary Mullin HERE.

Read the full letter to SSA Commissioner Bisignano HERE.

On Wednesday, Sen. Cantwell was tapped by Sen. Schumer to join a task force of senators fighting back against the Trump administration’s illegal overreach into free and fair elections.

“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, so I'm glad to join Senator Schumer's task force on elections to make sure that this year we fight in the United States of America to preserve that right,” Sen. Cantwell said during a press gathering ahead of a meeting of the group Wednesday.

Video of the press gathering is HERE; a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is HERE.

On March 31, President Donald Trump issued an illegal executive order that would direct his administration to compile lists of eligible voters in each state and direct the USPS to mail ballots only to those voters who meet that criteria – a clear violation of the Constitution, which delegates authority to oversee elections to the states.

Last week, Senate Republicans failed to pass the SAVE America Act, a disastrous voter suppression bill that would disproportionately harm women who change their name upon marriage and rural voters – many of whom make up their own base.

READ MORE:

The Seattle Times: Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting may hurt his own supporters in WA

The Spokesman Review: SAVE America Act would require Washingtonians to mail photocopies of official IDs with ballot to vote

In the 2024 election, nearly 48 million people – almost a third of all voters – cast their ballots by mail. All states offer registered voters the opportunity to vote by mail in federal general elections and 12 states, including Washington – an early pioneer in expanding by-mail voting – conducted their 2024 elections entirely by mail. Washington state started vote-by-mail in 1983, adopted optional vote-by-mail in 2005, and enacted universal vote-by-mail in 2011.

Sen. Cantwell has been a stalwart defender against overreach of the Trump administration into our elections:


Cantwell Responds to Climate Change Denial on Senate Floor: “[We] Cannot Bury Our Heads in the Sand.”

“I hope that some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle…will talk to our colleague from Wisconsin,” urges Cantwell after Sen. Johnson of landlocked state spikes resolution to simply acknowledge the existence of human-caused sea-level rise

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, urged her colleagues to take sea-level rise seriously in remarks on the Senate floor.

“[We] cannot bury our heads in the sand while climate change and sea level rise put billions of dollars of infrastructure and millions of Americans at risk,” Sen. Cantwell said. “If we want to protect our economy and these communities, we need the data and the science to understand the problem. We need to take the necessary steps to protect our communities and our infrastructure and our economy.”

Sen. Cantwell’s remarks came immediately after the failure of Senate Resolution 551, which sought to resolve: “That the Senate recognizes the reality of anthropogenic climate change and the role it plays in dangerously raising sea levels.” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who introduced the measure, asked for unanimous consent that it be adopted. But Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) objected, saying “The simple truth is, there's no climate emergency.”

In her remarks, Sen. Cantwell urged Republican colleagues to try to change Sen. Johnson’s mind. “I hope that some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that represent coastal states will talk to our colleague from Wisconsin and encourage him to instead support this legislation,” she said.

As evidence, Sen. Cantwell shared examples from Washington state of how sea level rise is already creating problems.

“Twice right outside of Bellingham, … I-5 has been closed. Okay, why is I-5 closing? Because we've had so much rain and we have so much impact [from] a changing environment that we basically have had to have I-5 shut twice just to clean up from the mudslide.”

“Our Amtrak service that runs all the way from California up to British Columbia, [has] also been impacted by huge slides after rain and after these swollen rivers.”

“Rising [sea levels make] wastewater [more of] an issue. So treatment facilities around Puget Sound and Elliot Bay are increasingly vulnerable to flooding and overflow, threatening the release of bacteria, toxic chemicals and other pollutants into our waterways and our drinking water.”

“Tribes like the Hoh Indian Tribe, the Quinault Indian Tribe, the Quileute Tribe, the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, are all located along the Pacific coast, and the threat of sea level rise has forced them to take aggressive, unprecedented actions to move parts of their reservation to higher land.”

Sen. Cantwell also cited a recent Seattle Times article describing work to understand threats to Chinook salmon on the Stillaguamish River.

“In this river alone, Chinook populations are down to roughly 10 percent of their historic levels,” said Sen. Cantwell. “So this is really important to us as a state. We want salmon. We want to understand rising sea levels. We want to understand what flooding is going to do to create damage. When are those spawning grounds going to be lost, and when are Chinook survival rates going to continue to drop? We want to know.”

Sen. Cantwell noted her bipartisan push to identify how climate change threatens federal government infrastructure. In September 2024, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a new report requested by Sen. Cantwell and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), on the economic impacts of climate change to the federal government. This report built on an October 2017 GAO report requested by Senators Cantwell and Collins on the same topic.

The report, titled Climate Resilience: Congressional Action Needed to Enhance Climate Economics Information and to Limit Federal Fiscal Exposure, warned that “Available estimates indicate significant projected costs to the economy and the federal government as a result of climate change,” and that “the federal government is currently not well-organized to manage this reality.”

GAO’s work on costs to the federal government followed eye-opening analysis in the Fifth National Climate Assessment that found the cost of climate damages to the entire U.S. economy from extreme weather events is already $1.5 trillion per decade.

“So literally, you're costing taxpayers a trillion dollars because you don't want to adapt or mitigate those impacts,” Sen. Cantwell warned.


Capito, Justice Celebrate Senate Passage of NPS-CBP Land Swap at Harpers Ferry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) released the following statements after the Senate unanimously passed the National Park Service (NPS) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) land swap at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia.

“The passage of this bill is welcome news as it will benefit not only West Virginia, but our nation’s security as well. By allowing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Advanced Training Center in Harpers Ferry to expand, we are ensuring our hardworking Border Patrol agents and federal law enforcement officers have access to the world-class training facilities they need to do their jobs safely and effectively and continues my long-standing support for this world class facility. I’m also glad this land swap will allow us to preserve a historic battlefield, honoring the rich heritage of our state,” Senator Capito said.

“This is a major win for West Virginia and a perfect example of common sense in action. By bringing this historic land into the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, we are ensuring that our state’s incredible heritage is preserved. At the same time, providing the CBP Advanced Training Center with the space they need to grow ensures that the brave men and women who protect our borders have the best possible facilities. I am proud to see the Senate act unanimously to support our National Parks and our national security in one fell swoop,” Senator Justice said.

BACKGROUND:

This land swap authorizes a transfer of 71.51 acres in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, from CBP to become part of NPS and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. Additionally, it transfers around 25 acres of Federal land at Harpers Ferry from NPS to CBP.

The proposed land transfer to NPS would add a site of exceptional historical significance to the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

CBP’s reception of 25 acres that border its Advanced Training Center would allow the agency to expand its training capabilities.

Although CBP and NPS have delegated authority to acquire interests in real estate under certain circumstances, neither agency had the authority to affect a transfer of the specific parcels at issue. Therefore, an Act of Congress was required to authorize the transfers.

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PHOTOS: Capito Hosts NIH NIA Director at WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), visited West Virginia University’s (WVU) Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) in Morgantown, W.Va. with Dr. Richard Hodes, Director of the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIH NIA). During the visit, Senator Capito and Dr. Hodes receives updates from medical leaders like RNI Director Dr. Ali Rezai on key research related to Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s-related dementias as well as a tour of the facility.

“I appreciated the opportunity to host Dr. Hodes today at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in Morgantown and hear directly from leaders like Dr. Rezai and others about their groundbreaking work on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias,” Senator Capito said. “The progress being made here in West Virginia is both encouraging and impactful, and it’s clear this research has the potential to improve lives across our state and beyond.”

“Addressing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias requires bold, multidisciplinary approaches that span fundamental biology, early detection, and innovative interventions. The work underway in West Virginia at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute reflects this integrated strategy, advancing areas such as neuromodulation and blood-brain barrier technologies to accelerate progress against complex neurodegenerative diseases. NIH, including the National Institute on Aging, supports research that deepens our understanding of these conditions and moves us toward more effective strategies for dementia prevention and treatment,” Dr. Hodes said.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Dr. Richard Hodes ,” Dr.Rezai, executive chair of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, said. “This kind of collaboration is what drives meaningful change, accelerating research breakthroughs into care for patients facing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and others.”

BACKGROUND:

As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee, Senator Capito has been a long-time supporter of efforts to advance medical innovation and improve health outcomes for West Virginians, including through RNI, which is a national leader in the study and treatment of neurological and psychiatric conditions, combining cutting-edge research with patient-centered care.

Senator Capito has worked alongside federal, state, and local partners to help strengthen resources for groundbreaking initiatives at RNI, with a focus on addressing critical challenges such as addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, and other complex brain disorders. In February of 2026, Senator Capito secured a $11.9 million CDS allocation to support construction of the Center for Neuromodulation and Brain Therapeutics. Additionally, Senator Capito reintroduced bipartisan legislation in March of 2026 that bolsters training for primary care providers so they can better diagnose Alzheimer’s and other dementia and deliver high-quality, person-centered care in community-based settings.

Senator Capito’s efforts reflect a broad commitment to fostering collaboration, supporting scientific discovery, and ensuring that West Virginia remains at the forefront of transformative health care solutions.

In August 2022, Senator Capito and Dr. Rezai joined Hoppy Kercheval, former host of MetroNews Talkline, for a special interview on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. During the interview, Senator Capito shared her personal experience as a caretaker for her parents who struggled with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as her continued efforts to assist families in West Virginia going through similar circumstances. Click here to watch the interview.

Photos from today’s event are included below:

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) tours WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in Morgantown, W.Va. on Friday, May 1, 2026.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) tours WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in Morgantown, W.Va. on Friday, May 1, 2026.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) tours WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in Morgantown, W.Va. on Friday, May 1, 2026.

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PHOTOS: Capito Hosts Roundtable with ONDCP Director in Charleston

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Appropriations Committee, hosted a roundtable on drug enforcement and prevention with Sara Carter, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The discussion included a wide range of law enforcement and recovery partners from across the state, including both of West Virginia’s U.S. Attorney’s.

“It was great to have Director Carter join us today in Charleston,” Senator Capito said. “West Virginia has faced the devastating impacts of the drug epidemic for far too long, and conversations like these are critical to strengthening our response. By bringing together federal, state, and local partners, we can continue working toward effective solutions that support prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts across our communities.”

“It was an honor to join Senator Capito as we work to defeat the drug crisis in West Virginia. I am grateful we could be joined by state and local law enforcement partners, including those from the Appalachia HIDTA, who work tirelessly to keep drugs off our streets, as well as our Drug-Free Communities coalitions who are educating and empowering West Virginian children to live happy and healthy lives,” ONDCP Director Carter said.

BACKGROUND:

For years, West Virginia has been considered “ground zero” for the opioid epidemic, with communities across the state experiencing some of the highest rates of overdose deaths and substance use disorder in the nation. Families have been deeply affected, and the crisis has placed a significant strain on local health care systems and law enforcement. While meaningful progress has been made through increased access to treatment, prevention initiatives, and recovery support, challenges remain—particularly with the rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Nearly 76% of all overdoses in West Virginia in 2021 were fentanyl related deaths.

Since then, West Virginia’s overdose deaths have significantly decreased. The latest data from 2024 showed that West Virginia overdose deaths were at 46.3 per 100,000 – which was a 53% decrease. While these statistics are promising, the state’s overall rate was significantly higher than the national average of 24.3 overdose deaths per 100,000.

Photos from today’s event are included below:

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) visits with guests at a roundtable with Sara Carter, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Charleston W.Va. on Friday, May 1, 2026.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) hosts a roundtable with Sara Carter, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Charleston W.Va. on Friday, May 1, 2026.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) hosts a roundtable with Sara Carter, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, in Charleston W.Va. on Friday, May 1, 2026.

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Cassidy Introduces Bill to Help Louisiana Forest Landowners Recover After Natural Disasters

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced legislation to help America’s landowners recover from the loss of timber after natural disasters. The Save America’s Family Forests Act amends and makes improvements to the tax code to allow forest owners to deduct more reforestation expenses caused by a natural disaster.

“Thousands of Louisianians rely on our forest industries for work,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Supporting our forest landowners as they rebuild is the right thing to do.”

The Save America’s Family Forests Act is supported by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, the Louisiana Forestry Association, the Forest Landowners Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Association of Consulting Foresters, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.

“Louisiana’s forestry producers have faced repeated setbacks from hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters that can wipe out decades of investment overnight. Recovery depends on the ability to reinvest quickly, and current tax policy slows that process down. The Save America’s Family Forests Act helps address that by allowing landowners to expense reforestation costs when they are incurred, improving cash flow and speeding up recovery. Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation supports this commonsense approach to keeping working forests productive and supporting the rural communities that depend on them,” said the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

“Louisiana’s forest landowners know firsthand how difficult recovery can be after major disruptions like Hurricane Ida and the 2023 wildfires that impacted more than 60,000 acres across the state. Long timelines for cost recovery only add to that burden. By allowing faster reinvestment in reforestation, the Save America’s Family Forests Act supports landowners in restoring their forests, sustaining forest-based jobs, and keeping Louisiana’s working forests healthy and productive over the long term,” said the Louisiana Forestry Association.

Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA-1), Aaron Bean (R-FL-4), Greg Steube (R-FL-17), Greg Murphy (R-NC-3), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-1), Terri Sewell (D-AL-7), and Mike Thompson (D-CA-4). Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in introducing the legislation in the Senate.

Background

Louisiana timberland plays a critical role in the state’s economy, communities, and environment. According to the Forest Landowners Association, they provide an impact of $13 billion on the Louisiana economy. 48,000 Louisiana jobs are supported by forestry providing $1 billion in salaries and wages and $328 million in state taxes.

Tax deductions for crop losses provide much-needed relief for agriculture crops and farmers after a disaster. However, they do not provide any economic relief for landowners whose timber crops were destroyed. The legislation allows landowners to immediately deduct more of the cost of replacing timber destroyed during disaster events.

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Cassidy Meets with Business, Community Leaders from One Acadiana

LAFAYETTE – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today visited Lafayette, where he met with Ambassadors for One Acadiana, the chamber of commerce for Lafayette and Acadiana’s leading economic development organization. He discussed his work to create jobs, support local businesses, and make life more affordable for Louisianans.

“We’re building a Louisiana where Acadiana’s next generation wants to stay and raise a family,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I’ve cut taxes, secured funding for roads, bridges, and local airports, and strengthened public safety to do just that.

Cassidy has taken steps to support Lafayette’s workers and business owners, including by supporting President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut bill. The legislation, which was passed into law last year, eliminated taxes on tips and overtime work and extended the Child Tax Credit. Cassidy also included provisions to expand access to workforce training and require the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to expand offshore lease sales for oil and gas.

Lafayette Parish has also benefitted from Cassidy’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. That includes millions for roads and bridges, including $163 million for the Atchafalaya Basin, $59 million for the Lafayette Regional Airport’s terminal and safety projects, $30 million for a Cameron Parish Crown Substation to help it withstand flooding and wind, and $4 million for the St. Landry and St. Martin airports for runway signage, airfield lighting, and runway markings. Additionally on Wednesday, Cassidy unveiled a comprehensive plan to bring energy costs down, cut permitting delays, and end unnecessary restrictions on domestic energy production.

One Acadiana’s Ambassadors meet monthly to discuss regional initiatives, chamber member recruitment and retention, and opportunities for community involvement with the chamber. They also support local businesses by attending ribbon cutting celebrations, grand openings, and other community events. Cassidy was thanked by Troy Wayman, President and CEO of One Acadiana, for speaking with them.

“We appreciate Senator Cassidy joining our 1A Ambassador meeting and engaging directly with members of Acadiana’s business community,” said Mr. Wayman. “It was a valuable opportunity to hear about current priorities in the Senate, issues relevant to both our state and region, and how his office can serve as a resource for local businesses.”

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Cassidy Secures $150M for I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, Celebrates Groundbreaking

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released a statement following the groundbreaking ceremony for the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Cassidy’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provided $150 million in funding for replacing the bridge.

“This new bridge means more jobs and safer roads for Lake Charles,” said Dr. Cassidy. “It is great to see the $150 million I secured for this much-needed project in action.”

The new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge will improve public safety by providing a wider roadway for commuters with six lanes in total, shoulders and central barriers, updated interchanges, lower inclines, and increased overhead clearance.

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Funding for Maine Infrastructure, Flood Mitigation Projects Secured by Senator Collins

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured Congressionally Directed Spending for two critical infrastructure and flood mitigation projects in Maine in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The legislation, which was officially approved by the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, has been signed into law by the President.

“Upgrades to Maine’s infrastructure are essential for the economic and environmental health of communities across the state,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will help limit future flood risks and damages, while improving public safety. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to secure this important funding.”

Funding secured by Senator Collins for Maine in the FY26 Homeland Security Appropriations bill is as follows:

Hendricks Head Infrastructure Improvements

Recipient: Town of Southport

Project Location: Southport, ME

Amount Requested: $1,165,000

Project Purpose: To support critical infrastructure improvements in the Town of Southport.

York County Flood Protection

Recipient: York County Emergency Management Agency

Project Location: York County, ME

Amount Requested: $1,762,000

Project Purpose: To support flood protection and mitigation in York County.

In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured nearly $1.5 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, FY 2024, and FY 2026. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.

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Senator Collins Visits Community Development Projects Across York County

ALFRED, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited three community development projects across York County that were supported by a combined $7,368,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) she secured in the past five years through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. These projects include a substance abuse recovery center and first responder training facility in Alfred and a municipal building in Hollis.

Since 2021, Senator Collins has secured nearly $1.5 billion for 672 targeted community development projects across each of Maine’s 16 counties.

“Days like today are a terrific reminder of all the good that is possible for our state when seniority on the Appropriations Committee is used to deliver targeted funding for tangible, lasting improvements in communities where they would otherwise be out of reach,” said Senator Collins. “With these three projects, York County communities will have expanded access to substance use disorder treatment to address the negative impacts of the opioid and fentanyl crises, a dedicated facility to train more first responders to better keep our communities safe, and a new municipal building to better serve residents of Hollis and give the town a beautiful central gathering space. These projects are great examples of the federal government working for Maine people, and I am glad I was able to secure this funding to help make them a reality.”

Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

Senator Collins began the day with a tour of the York County Regional Substance Abuse Recovery Center, which is currently under construction. She secured nearly $2 million in CDS to support construction of the center and the purchase of equipment for the facility, which will serve 29 cities and towns and include 60 beds and provide a “one roof” model of care offering observation beds, detox beds, and residential and outpatient treatment for individuals struggling with substance use disorder and other mental health conditions.

Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

Senator Collins then delivered remarks at the grand opening of the York County Regional Training Center. More than 100 Mainers attended the event, including local first responders, fire and police chiefs, York County officials, York County Community College leadership, and public safety instructors and students. Senator Collins secured $3.4 million in CDS for the construction of the facility and the purchase of EMS, fire, and police training equipment. The center will serve as a central hub for coordinated training and education for first responders across York County. Senator Collins also had the chance to tour the new facility prior to the ceremony.

Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

Senator Collins concluded her day with a visit to Hollis to tour the newly completed municipal building alongside Town Manager Richard Morin, Select Board members, and other local officials involved in the construction project. She secured $2 million in CDS for the construction of the new, handicapped-accessible facility, which houses town offices and community meeting space.

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Senators Coons, Ricketts, 14 colleagues introduce bipartisan resolution highlighting Chinese threat to America’s strategic interests

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) led a resolution affirming bipartisan concern over the growing threat China poses to America’s national security and economic prosperity at a pivotal moment for U.S.-Chinese relations. The resolution calls for a continued and steady focus on strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, protecting American workers and businesses from unfair economic practices, maintaining leadership in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, supporting allies and partners, preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and advancing human rights and democratic values.

“In the run-up to next month’s U.S.-China summit, the United States Senate is sending a clear message: remember who Xi Jinping and the PRC are,” said Senator Coons. “Beijing is trying to create a more aggressive, coercive, and lawless international landscape that harms the American people, and the United States cannot give away the store in negotiations in exchange for fig leaves. We must stand with our allies and partners and work with every tool of the U.S. government to combat these aggressive practices.”

“Communist China is the greatest threat to the American way of life,” said Senator Ricketts. “Communist China actively threatens the rules-based system that has maintained peace and prosperity for over 80 years. We must deter Communist China. We must stand with our partners and allies that Beijing threatens.”

In addition to Senators Coons and Ricketts, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

The resolution states that the United States should address the security, economic, technological, diplomatic, and strategic threats posed by China as a top foreign policy priority. It also calls for the United States to:

Sustain and strengthen deterrence against China in the Indo-Pacific

Protect U.S. economic interests against predatory trade practices

Maintain American leadership in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and other foundational technologies

Reaffirm U.S. commitments to allies, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines

Preserve peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait

Strengthen support for partners facing military, economic, and gray zone coercion

Counter China’s influence in multilateral organizations and standards-setting bodies

Advance democratic norms, human rights, openness, and civil society in the Indo-Pacific and beyond


Cortez Masto, Budd Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Veterans from Fraud

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) introduced bipartisan legislation to go after fraudsters who target veterans. The Veterans Protection from Fraud Act would establish a sentencing enhancement of up to ten years in prison for someone convicted of committing or conspiracy to commit fraud that purposefully targeted a veteran.

“Every day, our service members risk everything to protect our homeland and defend our freedoms,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The least we can do when these brave men and women come home is ensure that we protect their financial wellbeing from those bad actors who target them because of their service. With this bill, we can crack down on the fraudsters who try to scam our veterans.”

“Our nation’s veterans, who bravely served our country in defense of our freedoms, have become the primary targets of criminal fraud schemes. Those who attempt to defraud our service members must face strict criminal penalties for their actions. I am proud to join Senator Cortez Masto to ensure these criminals are held accountable under federal law,” said Senator Budd.

Fraud cost veterans, service members, and their families $477 million in 2023. Federal law already includes a sentencing enhancement for fraud crimes targeting seniors, but no similar enhancement exists for fraudsters who target veterans. The Veterans Protection from Fraud Act would deter criminals from attempting to defraud veterans by strengthening penalties for these crimes. This bill’s sentencing enhancement would cover fraud related to false documents, fraudulent devices, wire fraud, mail fraud, general fraudulent schemes, bank fraud, and health care fraud.

Representative Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.-02) is introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Veterans put their lives on the line for us at home and abroad. Our duty is to protect them when they return,” said Congressman Burchett. “I am proud to have introduced this legislation in the House, and I appreciate Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Budd for protecting our veterans in the Senate.”

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Senator Cortez Masto is a consistent champion for Nevada’s service members and veterans. She recently introduced sweeping legislation to improve health care for veterans. Cortez Masto helped pass the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which included a 3.8 percent pay raise for veterans. She has worked to support veterans exposed to toxins while serving at the Nevada Test and Training Range. Cortez Masto successfully pushed the Biden administration to approve a new veterans cemetery in Elko, Nevada, and has been continually pushing the VA for transparency in the timeline of its construction. She has fought back against the Navy Federal Credit Union for overcharging service members.

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Two Cortez Masto Bills to Protect Nevadans Clear Key Hurdle

Washington, D.C. – Two bills cosponsored by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) to keep Nevada families safe were passed out of the Judiciary Committee, clearing the way for a vote before the full Senate. The Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue (GUARD) Act would protect children from AI chatbots, and the Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act would update federal law so prosecutors can more easily go after violent carjackers.

“My priority is always to ensure Nevada families are protected, whether that’s from violent criminals or the dangers of AI,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to see that two of the bills I support that will keep Nevadans safe have been passed out of committee, and I will continue working with my colleagues across the aisle to ensure they become law.”

The GUARD Act, introduced by Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), would ban AI companions for minors and impose criminal penalties on companies whose AI chatbots encourage minors to commit self-harm or violence.

The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act, introduced by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), would clarify the standard federal prosecutors have to meet in order to prosecute carjackers. Federal law currently requires prosecutors to prove that a perpetrator intended to kill or seriously harm the victim during a carjacking – an unnecessarily high threshold that has allowed violent criminals to slip through the cracks.

As the former top law enforcement official in Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto has been a leading advocate for protecting American families. She has secured historic funding for the Byrne JAG grant program, the leading source of criminal justice funding in the country. She helped pass the Kids Online Safety Act through the Senate, and her federal legislation to help train law enforcement to identify and prevent child trafficking and to combat human trafficking activity on social media was signed into law.

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Sen. Cramer: HHS Awards More Than $12 Million for Initiatives Across North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an award of $12,014,482 for the following programs and initiatives across North Dakota:

$4,562,442 to Minot Public School District 1 to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

$3,777,040 to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

$3,675,000 to the University of North Dakota to provide technical assistance, information, and resources to improve healthcare in rural areas.


Curtis Raises Alarm on Undersea Cable Threats, Pushes for Stronger U.S. Action

Curtis also highlighted bipartisan legislation he is leading with Senator Jacky Rosen, which would mandate the establishment of an initiative, led by the Secretary of State and in coordination with other agencies, to prioritize the protection and resilience of undersea cables near Taiwan.

The full transcript of the exchange is below, and video can be found here.

Senator Curtis: This Committee recently passed a bill that I have with Senator Rosen, the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resiliency Act. The bill contains an initiative to harden and monitor Taiwan’s undersea cables and proposes new sanctions. I was in Taiwan with the Ranking Member just a couple of weeks ago. We visited one of the factories that actually produces the cable. We were all very curious about what they were doing to prevent breaks, whether it’s undersea monitoring or cameras, and what we found is zero motivation because they produce cables. Their answer was just lay more cables.

And I’m curious what your experience is. Do we have a motivation problem here, and it just feels like there was very little effort to put in equipment that could monitor and see a problem coming before it got there. What’s your experience?

Dr. Benjamin Schmitt: So, this is an energy security question for Taiwan as well as these cables connect to their offshore wind and can interconnect to their outlying islands. One of the things that is this is more from a physics standpoint. If you put a fiber optic cable on the seabed, you can start to monitor the vibro-acoustic environment, the vibrations of subsea vessels, sea surface vessels and things like this around it.

And so, this is actually what happened in the case of the Chunghwa Telecoms line, when last year the Hong Thai 58, this vessel from China, cut the cable. The Taiwanese coast guard was alerted by Chunghwa Telecom right before that cable cut took place because they knew this vessel was sitting there. And then they acted just a few hours later when they got their armada together to seize this vessel.

And what they found, this was an empty Chinese vessel that was a bulk carrier that had no bulk on it. Its cargo doors were actually rusted shut so that it couldn’t be used for that. So, it was only used as a sabotage vessel. And the prosecutor that I talked to likened it to a ‘pawn sacrifice’ from the PRC.

In other words, he is sending out a vessel that he doesn’t care if he loses. I wanted to see that vessel, but it’s already been deconstructed and scrapped.

Curtis: If there’s major disruption to Taiwan with both cables, What’s the impact militarily and economically that potentially could happen?

Schmitt: There was often a discussion that Taiwan does have redundancy—something like 14 cables connecting out to the global internet. There’s also cables to the Penghu Islands, Matsu Islands, Kinmen, others like this. I’ve often been asked, you know, well, we have this redundancy. So, China couldn’t possibly cut all 14 cables. I said, you’ve got another thing coming because guess what? If they can cut 1 or 2 cables by dragging an anchor pretty easily, in an all-out military assault or invasion or even a blockade or a quarantine, those can be cut pretty quickly. What that will have is immediate impact on the global economy.

It’s kind of like the Strait of Hormuz closure by the IRGC for the internet, and it means that all of our economic trade with Taiwan, which is significant, will be cut off not just for us, but for our partners and allies. And I’ll tell you, it will make military coordination more difficult. It won’t stop it because there is satellite backup, but it is something that we really need to think of. And I’ve talked with folks in Taiwan that are in the military. I think that it needs to be part of the military’s doctrine in Taiwan, that rapid cable repair under fire is important as well to deter this.

Curtis: So, another question. We’ve learned a lot from Taiwan, and what’s happening there. What lessons can be applied to the Baltic and what should we be doing in the Baltic that we’ve learned from the Indo-Pacific?

Schmitt: I think that one of the biggest things is, again, repair capabilities. We need more repair capabilities in Europe. We need a legal system that allows for attribution and jurisdictional questions, we’ve mentioned already in this hearing. Again, just like in Taiwan where they’re aware of this, we need European democracies to be ready to act and, and have that capability through NATO to do so.

The Honorable James O’Brien: I will just add, Senator, and thank you for your bill. The motivation problem, I think, is, with the U.S. government, all of the undersea infrastructure, separate companies, others, they’re all doing their work. It’s unrealistic to expect them to monitor the activities of a predatory superpower. Same thing with middle powers. They don’t have the ability to stand up. So, this is for the U.S. government to say the future of our economy depends on this infrastructure.

We have to make sure that we have enough of it and that we can repair it, but that we can protect it. And that involves both more robust sanctions program, I think, more physical presence and coordinating with others who are affected so that they’re able to operate effectively.

Curtis: It feels to me like the technology is not that difficult. It’s the will. You mentioned the one incident in Taiwan where they were able to find the actor. How prepared are we to find the bad actors? Just generally speaking.

Schmitt: I mean, we’re prepared. I think U.S., you know, geospatial intelligence is strong. I think we need more commercial data to make sure that satellite data can be released quickly so that these sort of indictments can happen rapidly. But the other thing I want to point out, and we’re going to want to bring it back to the Nord Stream case really briefly and say we need to listen not only to policymakers, no offense, but technical experts like those that work in the industry, people that build the cables, people that are captains of these ships, people that actually dive to the bottom of the seabed.

We talked with many of these experts, and they said that the idea that using a rental sailboat to blow up Nord Stream is not technically impossible, but that it would never be used in this way, and they said that it’s an insufficient platform. It would have a large radar profile to begin with because of the sail, obviously.

And that you would use a cheap drone, and I’ll tell you what, there’s a lot of media that have gone out there and put a drone on the seabed and looked at the damage site, and they’ve proven you can put a drone down there. You can put one down there with a camera, you can put it down there with explosives.

I went out and actually got seabed sonar data at the Nord Stream two blast site, and you can just go out there. So again, listening to the experts in a way that is integrated not only into our policy but our media and discussions of these, because it takes so long for attribution that disinformation can be sowed. And obviously, in the case of Nord Stream, Russia pointed the finger at the UK, Poland, the United States, of course, and all these different directions, so chaos right after this, this happened again, a disinformation campaign that seems kind of precooked to me.


Duckworth Grills Hegseth, Caine Over Lack of Strategy in Trump’s Illegal, Spiraling War of Choice

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman to the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine on the Administration’s horrific lack of strategy and continued recklessness in Donald Trump’s unjustified war of choice in Iran that has resulted in higher costs, left 14 servicemembers dead and hundreds more wounded. During the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing, Duckworth grilled Hegseth and Caine for creating and bungling the crisis of Iran’s entirely predictable closure of the Strait of Hormuz—which has raised the average price of a gallon of gas for American families by more than a dollar. Video of the Senator’s full remarks can be found on her YouTube.

“I have no doubt that competent planners in the Pentagon raised their concerns about a quagmire in the Strait to leadership—the question is why their leadership did not pay attention to this sound advice,” said Duckworth. “Hubris is not strategy. In war, it can cost lives. Even if the Strait re-opens, this Administration has created a new, less safe world by bungling this crisis. Iran has now learned they can charge $1 million per ship, creating a new funding line for their malicious activity against Americans for decades to come.”

The Senator also highlighted that this Administration’s incompetent strategic planning affects our military’s readiness for any other crises or conflicts, especially in the Indo-Pacific.

“There are very real ways that a crisis in any one of dozens of flashpoints in the Pacific could be devastating for our servicemembers, Americans in the region and our economy—and yet, this Administration keeps diminishing DoD’s abilities to prepare for them,” continued Duckworth. “As many as one-third of the assets in the Middle East right now are originally meant to be in the Pacific. This war of choice is draining our military resources, and we need leaders who will ensure our warfighters only fight when they have to—not because of one man’s whims and a lack of bravery among the ‘yes men’ he surrounds himself with.”

Duckworth has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s illegal, needless war in Iran since it began. She is one of the Senate Six—the original group of Senators who have been forcing votes on War Powers Resolutions that would cease hostilities in Iran, which Republicans have shamefully blocked now seven times. Ahead of the Senate’s vote on her own War Powers resolution two weeks ago, Duckworth gave impassioned remarks drawing on her personal experience serving in our nation’s last war of choice in the Middle East, imploring Republicans to remember their oaths and vote to help rein in this unhinged President—which they did not.

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Durbin Celebrates Opening Of New Forrestal Elementary School At Naval Station Great Lakes

NORTH CHICAGO — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited North Chicago School District 187 to celebrate the official ribbon cutting of the new Forrestal Elementary School.

Durbin and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) helped secure a $57 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense in 2024 for the new school. With this grant, Forrestal Elementary will be able to expand through fifth grade and serve 580 students, increasing the total population of military-connected students.

“When we invest in education, we help provide students with the tools they need to succeed both in and outside of the classroom,” said Durbin. “I am thrilled to celebrate the opening of Forrestal Elementary today and I will continue to support our exemplary military families at Naval Station Great Lakes and their access to quality education.”

“At Forrestal, the school is more than a place for learning; it is a stabilizing force for students and families,” said Dr. John Price, Superintendent of North Chicago School District 187. “This building reflects our commitment to supporting the whole child and creating an environment where every student can thrive.”

The new school will serve generations of students, many of whom come from military families navigating frequent relocations, parental deployments, and the emotional impact of global events. Designed with these realities in mind, Forrestal Elementary provides a consistent, welcoming environment where students and families can build community and feel a sense of belonging.

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Durbin Statement On Sham DOJ Investigation Into Illinois School Districts

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) sham investigation into 36 Illinois public school districts:

“I can save DOJ some time. Their investigators will find 36 Illinois school districts dedicated to providing their students with a good, well-rounded education.

“If the Trump Administration truly cared about supporting Illinois students and their education, it would reverse the decision to dismantle the Department of Education, finally support Head Start programs, and stop attacking Title I funding and the rights of LGBTQ+ students.

“Instead, this President is once again weaponizing DOJ to carry out a sham investigation against a state that did not vote for him in the 2024 election.”

According to DOJ, the following Illinois school districts will be investigated:

Atwood Heights School District 125

Bloomington Public Schools District 87

Bluford Unit School District 318

Buncombe Consolidated School District 43

Center Cass School District 66

Central School District 104

Community High School District 155

Country Club Hills School District 160

Crete-Monee School District 201-U

DeKalb Community Unit School District 428

East Dubuque Unit School District 119

Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401

Freeport School District 145

Galena Unit School District 120

Gillespie Community Unit School District 7

Iroquois County Community Unit School District 9

Leyden Community High School District 212

Lick Creek Community Consolidated School District 16

Lyons School District 103

Martinsville Community Unit School District C3

Meridian Community Unit School District 223

Noble Network of Charter Schools

North Chicago Community Unit School District 187

North Palos School District 117

Norwood Elementary School District 63

O’Fallon Community Consolidated School District No. 90

Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123

Odin Public School District 722

Oregon Community Unit School District 220

Pembroke Community Consolidated School District 259

Reavis Township High School District 220

Ridgeview Community Unit School District 19

Stockton Community Unit School District 206

Tamaroa School District 5

Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215

Will County School District 92

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In Recognition Of His Advocacy For Medical Research, Durbin Presented With Inaugural Canning Leadership Award

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today was presented with the Inaugural John and Rita Canning Leadership Award from the Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Board.

“I am honored to accept the Inaugural John and Rita Canning Leadership Award from Northwestern Memorial today. Throughout my time in the Senate, making sure families have affordable health insurance and high quality care has remained on my heart and mind, as has ensuring federal funding for the medical research that makes new cures and treatments possible,” said Durbin.

John and Rita Canning are Chicago philanthropists who provide over 100 scholarships a year to students from low-income Chicago neighborhoods. The Cannings also are committed to WINGS (Women in Need Growing Stronger) which provides over 40,000 nights of shelter and other comprehensive services to abused women and their children. At Northwestern, they funded the creation of the Canning Thoracic Institute (CTI), investing in the fields of thoracic surgery and respiratory medicine to meet the growing patient demand for lung care. This award recognizes their contributions to the city of Chicago, and Durbin is its first recipient.

Durbin has continuously fought for affordable, quality health care and medical research. Some of his career achievements for health care include creating the Chicago HEAL Initiative, and continuously increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health. Over the past decade, Durbin has pushed for annual five percent funding increases for NIH. Since Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15), because of Durbin’s efforts, Congress has provided NIH with a 60 percent increase in annual funding, raising the appropriations level from $30 billion in FY15 to $48 billion today.

Photos can be found here.

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Senate Democrats Push Back On Trump’s Executive Order Attacking Vote-By-Mail

In letter to Acting AG Blanche, Sens. Durbin, Padilla, Peters, Schumer lead Democrats in encouraging DOJ to refocus on protecting voters and access to ballot box, as well as requesting production of any opinions, correspondence, or documents related to Trump’s latest EO

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led a group of 24 Senate Democrats in pushing back on President Trump’s executive order attacking vote-by-mail.

The March 31 Executive Order (EO) titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections” has been widely condemned as unconstitutional, and voting rights organizations filed a lawsuit challenging it on April 2. If the President’s executive order is implemented in place of current federal law, it will prevent eligible voters from exercising their fundamental right to vote.

In a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Senators wrote: “[This EO] is another attempt by the President to exceed the constitutional authorities granted to the Executive Branch concerning federal elections. Given the clearly unconstitutional nature of this EO, the Department of Justice (DOJ) should take no steps pursuant to the EO that violate the law and risk disenfranchising eligible voters. We further request that DOJ provide us with all legal opinions drafted by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), and any other DOJ correspondence or documents concerning any claims regarding the legality of the EO, including any communications between senior DOJ officials and the Department of Commerce.”

The Senators continued, citing Trump’s own use of vote-by-mail: “For over a decade, the President has sought to sow doubt in our electoral system, baselessly attempting to make the case that the only secure elections are those that he wins. This behavior is not only unbefitting of his office, but also hypocritical.”

The Senators further wrote, citing the EO’s unconstitutionality and vulnerabilities: “Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution clearly indicates that states have the primary authority over election administration. Nonetheless, President Trump has repeatedly sought to restrict access to the ballot under the guise of election security… Taken together, the foreseeable result of these directives is that tens of thousands of eligible U.S. citizen voters will be disenfranchised.”

The Senators highlighted the disruption this would cause not only to voters, but also the ongoing gutting of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division: “Besides the disruption it would cause for mail-in voters, the President’s order would also further corrupt the mission of the DOJ Civil Rights Division to protect civil rights and ensure that all eligible voters are able to exercise their right to vote. Since January 2025, DOJ has been gutted—morally and physically. Within one year, the Civil Rights Division lost 75 percent of its attorneys, and it has been reported that 55 major civil rights cases concerning racial gerrymandering and police misconduct were closed as the Division prioritized Second Amendment and anti-trans cases. More broadly, DOJ seems wholly disinterested in enforcing the law, dropping an estimated 23,000 criminal investigations in the first six months of President Trump’s second Administration to focus on immigration enforcement.”

The Senators concluded with a condemnation of this effort before making a request for document production: “DOJ should reprioritize protecting the ability of all eligible voters to fairly and accessibly exercise their fundamental right to vote. Protecting civil rights was a foundational purpose for establishing DOJ, and ensuring legal access to voting remains a key responsibility of DOJ leadership. As such, we urge you to ensure that the Department does not implement this unlawful executive order.”

In addition to Durbin, Padilla, Peters, and Schumer, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

This week, Senate Democrats launched an elections task force aimed at examining threats that Republicans and adversaries could launch against American democracy and mobilizing the Senate and other bodies to mitigate them. The task force also includes top election law officials, like former AG Eric Holder and Marc Elias of the Elias Law Group, and will meet over the coming months to ensure U.S. elections remain free and fair.

Peters, Padilla, Durbin, and Schumer previously led their Democratic colleagues in demanding the United States Postal Service (USPS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) follow existing federal law over the March 31 Executive Order signed by President Trump, which violates the Constitution and risks disenfranchising eligible voters. The executive order, which has been challenged in the courts, would require DHS to create eligible voter lists, which the federal government does not have the authority to do, and would turn the Postal Service into an election administrator and regulator, when it is supposed to be a nonpartisan agency whose only priority is to deliver the mail.

For a PDF of the letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, click here.

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Ernst, Gillibrand Aim to Eliminate Federal Pensions for Sex Offenders

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) are working together to end taxpayer-funded pensions for convicted sex offenders.

Under current law, federal employees convicted of sex crimes, including against children, remain eligible to collect their pensions, even from a jail cell. The senators introduced new legislation to ensure the federal government is a place where sexual predators are shut out, not shielded.

“There should be absolutely no room for the tolerance of egregious sex crimes,” said Senator Ernst, a survivor of sexual assault. “Allowing proven predators to continue collecting their pensions on the taxpayer’s dime only serves to greenlight unacceptable behavior, and I won’t stand for it. My commonsense, bipartisan bill imposes consequences for sex offenders, prevents abuse in the workplace, and safeguards taxpayer dollars.”

“It’s outrageous that federal employees convicted of sex crimes are eligible to collect their taxpayer-funded pension,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The bipartisan No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act ensures that no hard-earned taxpayer dollars are spent supporting criminal sex offenders. I’m proud to support this commonsense bill that will provide much-needed accountability.”

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