Wasserman Schultz, Miller, Cleaver, Bacon Introduce Legislation to Accelerate Cures for Polycystic Kidney Disease

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Carol Miller (WV-1), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5), and Don Bacon (NE-2) announced the introduction of the PKD Cures Act to expand polycystic kidney disease (PKD) research at the National Institutes of Health and develop a comprehensive roadmap to identify research gaps and priorities, enhance collaboration between the public and private sectors, and develop a plan for integrating innovative technologies such as precision medicine and artificial intelligence into PKD research and care.

Over 500,000 Americans live with PKD, a condition that often leads to end-stage renal disease and kidney failure, necessitating dialysis and transplantation for many patients. It is estimated that cystic kidney diseases, including PKD, cost Medicare approximately $3 billion annually. The PKD Cures Act ensures NIH is dedicating the resources necessary to develop the next generation of cures for individuals living with PKD.

“PKD impacts more than half a million Americans, but doesn’t get nearly enough attention. We must pass this legislation to invest in research, improve treatment, and work towards a cure,” said Wasserman Schultz. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to support Americans with polycystic kidney disease and their families.”

“Kidney disease remains one of the most underrepresented and underfunded chronic diseases in our nation, despite the profound impact it has on hundreds of thousands of families. Polycystic kidney disease demands greater attention and sustained research efforts. This legislation is a critical step toward expanding research and delivering real hope to the more than half a million Americans living with PKD. By advancing this work, we are ensuring these patients are not overlooked and that they have a clearer path toward effective treatments, and ultimately a cure,” said Miller.

“Despite more than 600,000 Americans living with Polycystic Kidney Disease across the country, it is a condition that too often gets overlooked, both in terms of public awareness and medical research,” said Cleaver. “There are steps Congress can take to bolster research efforts that will lead to better outcomes and desperately needed relief for Americans facing this chronic disease. I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan PKD Cures Act with Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Bacon, and Miller to begin that process immediately, providing the pathway to an eventual cure.”

“Polycystic kidney disease affects thousands of families and currently has no cure,” said Bacon. “The PKD Cures Act will expand federal research into the areas experts have identified as the highest priorities and direct NIH to develop a comprehensive roadmap for PKD research and innovation. I’m grateful to work with Rep. Wasserman Schultz on this bipartisan effort to accelerate progress toward better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.”

“The introduction of the PKD Cures Act is a landmark moment for the PKD community. Polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases and can impact multiple generations within a single family. Yet until now, Congress has never introduced PKD-specific legislation," said Susan Bushnell, President and CEO of the PKD Foundation. “This bill directs the NIH to invest additional energy and resources into the avenues of research that the country's leading PKD scientists have identified as most promising and establishes a working group to chart a comprehensive roadmap for the future of PKD research and innovation. We are deeply grateful to Representative Wasserman Schultz and her bipartisan colleagues for their leadership and their commitment to the more than 500,000 Americans living with this disease. The PKD Cures Act brings us meaningfully closer to the better treatments, and the cure, that our community has long fought for.”

“The majority of those diagnosed with PKD will face kidney failure — not because we lack the scientific tools to fight back, but because we have never had the coordinated federal investment to apply them,” said Dr. Jesse Roach, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the National Kidney Foundation. “The PKD Cures Act gives the research community what it has needed for decades: a mandate, a structure, and accountability for results. NKF is proud to stand alongside our friends at PKD Foundation and ask Congress to pass this bill.”

“The American Kidney Fund is proud to support the PKD Cures Act. Polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common genetic disorders and creates very significant challenges for individuals and families; it affects about 500,000 people in the United States and is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure,” said LaVarne Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. "Expanding NIH research and developing a comprehensive roadmap will accelerate much-needed breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of this devastating disease.”

"The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) applauds the introduction of the PKD Cures Act and commends Representative Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Representative Miller (R-WV), Representative Cleaver (D-MO), and Representative Bacon (R-NE) for their bipartisan leadership to improve the nation's kidney health. This legislation has the potential to accelerate the development of new therapies and ultimately improve the lives of the 600,000 Americans living with PKD," said ASN President Samir M. Parikh, MD, FASN. "It strongly aligns with priorities identified in the kidney community's recent Transforming Kidney Health Research report, and ASN looks forward to working with Congress, the NIH, people living with PKD, and other stakeholders to advance this important legislation and bring us closer to a future free from the burden of PKD.”

The PKD Cures Act is endorsed by the PKD Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation, the American Kidney Fund, and the American Society of Nephrology.

The bill text can be found here.


Rep. Whitesides Secures Investments for Local Workforce and Defense Industry, Pushes Government Oversight in Defense Authorization Bill

The Congressman brings millions back to his district’s aerospace and defense companies, securing thousands of local jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Rep. George Whitesides (CA-27) secured several key wins for California’s 27th District in the bipartisan FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed out of the House Armed Services Committee. The legislation advances critical priorities for the district, including large investments for thousands of high quality jobs across Northern Los Angeles County, expanded wildfire detection technology to protect our communities, and support for next-generation aerospace manufacturing at Plant 42. The Congressman also successfully advocated for a series of checks on government corruption – taking on insider trading on prediction and energy markets linked to military operations, and investigating political officials living in military housing.

“I’m proud to have secured critical funding for our community in this year’s defense bill, including investing in next-generation aircraft built right here in the Antelope Valley, expanding our ability to detect and fight wildfires before they become catastrophes, and delivering real investments in the pay, housing, and health care that our servicemembers and their families deserve,” said Rep. Whitesides. “I also fought hard against the overreach we’ve seen out of this administration and the Secretary of Defense. I’ll keep pushing to get corruption out of our government by banning insider trading, standing against the politicization of our military, and defending the free press from unconstitutional restrictions.”

Every year, the House Armed Services Committee establishes national defense priorities and directs military spending via the NDAA. Rep. Whitesides’ amendments reflect his commitment to lowering the cost of living, creating jobs in his district, supporting workforce development programs, improving our safety and security, and combating the wildfire crisis.

Rep. Whitesides successfully secured the following provisions in the NDAA, including:

Protecting the FireGuard program, which provides real-time wildfire data to firefighting teams on the ground;

Enabling FireGuard to procure non-profit and commercial data for the first time, expanding the program’s early detection capabilities;

Piloting the use of unmanned aircraft to detect and fight wildfires at military installations, giving California new high-tech tools to combat catastrophic fires;

Pushing for the expansion of the B-21 Raider fleet size to bolster local aerospace manufacturing;

Limiting the use of artificial intelligence in nuclear command and sensitive communications;

Investigating documented insider trading in prediction and energy markets by Defense Department officials during Operation Epic Fury;

Streamlining the defense acquisition process to reduce bureaucratic barriers and accelerate the deployment of innovative technology across the military;

Opening opportunities for Mojave’s National Test Pilot School through new training pathways;

Investigating politically-appointed officials living in housing designated for military members to ensure they are paying fair market rates;

Enhancing U.S. Air Force threat monitoring through additional research and cooperation with private partners;

Increasing readiness for countering enemy unmanned underwater vehicles;

Requiring the Pentagon to report annually on any incidents where AI systems caused death or injury to U.S. servicemembers;

Protecting American companies from a retaliatory “supply chain risk” designation while operating legally and under contract terms; and

Identifying at-risk areas for toxic exposure through burn pits for American servicemembers around the world.

Rep. Whitesides helped secure more than $19 billion in federal funding for next-generation aircraft, which support nearly 10,000 jobs across the Antelope Valley and Northern Los Angeles county:

Over $6.1 billion for the B-21 Raider, Northrop Grumman’s next-generation stealth bomber for the U.S. Air Force, which is built at Plant 42 in Palmdale;

Over $8.5 billion for the Lockheed Martin F-35, whose center fuselage is built by Northrop at Plant 42;

Over $3.6 billion for the F-15 Eagle, aspects of which have been upgraded at Plant 42;

Over $915 million for Northrop Grumman’s B-2 Spirit, the current strategic stealth bomber in the United States Air Force, which was built in Palmdale and is now upgraded and tested at Plant 42; and

Over $10 million for continued support for the U-2 at Plant 42.

Rep. Whitesides also supported the following important elements of the NDAA:

A 3.6% pay raise for all servicemembers;

Expanded childcare options for military families;

A Student Internship Program for military childcare providers;

Comprehensive reporting requirements by the Defense Health Agency as it relates to access to care, military and civilian staffing, and provider readiness;

Aid to local educational agencies with military-dependent students;

Improved medical coverage under TRICARE for members of the Reserve Component; and

Implementation of a roadmap to modernize classified networks.

With the passage of the bill at the full committee level, the NDAA will now proceed to a vote on the House floor later this year.

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The 27th district is home to more than 700,000 people across the Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, and San Fernando Valley. It includes northern Los Angeles County communities like Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, Porter Ranch, Granada Hills, Acton, Agua Dulce, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, and Sun Village. I am honored to serve the people from these communities. Learn More


Wittman Supports Advancement of Legislation to Strengthen Our National Defense and Revitalize the Defense Industrial Base

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), vice chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services and chairman of the subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces (TAL), voted in favor of the committee’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27).

“This year’s NDAA strengthens our national defense by revitalizing our defense industrial base, restoring the lethality of our military, improving servicemembers’ quality of life, and strengthening our ability to deter our adversaries. At a time when adversaries such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia continue to accelerate the production of advanced technologies and threaten the ideals that define America, we must ensure our military has the resources and capabilities they need to remain the most prepared and technologically advanced fighting force in the world.

“Over the last thirty years, the defense industrial base has atrophied severely due to declining investment and bureaucratic red tape. For Virginia, where the defense sector generates tens of billions of dollars in economic activity annually and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, these challenges have real consequences for our communities and national security. Shipbuilders, manufacturers, research institutions, and military installations across the Commonwealth play a critical role in equipping our servicemembers with the resources they need to do their jobs safely while maintaining a competitive edge against our adversaries. This NDAA delivers important wins for Virginia by investing in shipbuilding and military construction projects, advancing nuclear technology development, and strengthening workforce recruitment and retention – ensuring Virginia remains at the forefront of defense innovation.

“I am pleased to see that many of my priorities were included in this year’s NDDA, and I look forward to supporting its passage on the House Floor.” - Rep. Rob Wittman

“Chairman Wittman is well aware that our national security is built on a solid industrial base, and the people who power it, like the men and women in Virginia who are producing the ammunition, vehicles, and ships our military needs. His work on the NDAA is critical to revitalizing defense manufacturing, expanding our skilled workforce, and expediting cutting-edge capabilities to our warfighters. With his leadership, we’ll rebuild the Arsenal of Freedom and strengthen American deterrence.” - Chairman Rogers

This legislation includes dozens of Congressman Wittman’s priorities:

Shipbuilding

Fully funds Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine production.

Specifically for two Virginia-class submarines and one Columbia-class submarine.

Authorizes incremental funding for long-lead time components for Virginia-class submarines.

Fully funds Ford-class aircraft carrier production.

Authorizes funding for two amphibious warships and authorizes the Navy to buy multiple amphibious ships at a time, save taxpayers millions of dollars

Requires the Navy to enter into multi-year, multi-ship maintenance and repair contracts to provide additional certainty to the ship repair industrial base.

Quality of Life and Military Workforce

Gives service members a 5%–7% pay raise

Establishes demonstration projects to increase recruitment and retention at public naval shipyards, regional maintenance centers, and Trident refit facilities.

Establishes a project to ensure that ICBM operational wings and sustainment facilities maintain the workforce necessary to continue ongoing modernization efforts.

Requires a briefing on how the credit for prior learning policies can be aligned to promote the translation of military experience into academic credit.

Defense Innovation and Acquisition Reform

Establishes a new transfer authority allowing military acquisition executives to rapidly move successful prototype technologies from research and development into procurement, accelerating the delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter.

Strengthens the Defense Innovation Unit's ability to transition emerging commercial technologies into military programs by codifying coordination between DIU and the military service acquisition organizations.

Expands Modular Open Systems Architecture requirements across Department of Defense acquisition programs to improve interoperability, increase competition, reduce vendor lock-in, and accelerate technology modernization.

Requires the Department to prioritize rules that will expedite and streamline the acquisition of commercial products and services.

Unmanned Systems and Tactical Aircraft

Requires the Department of Defense to establish a common operating system framework for unmanned aircraft systems to enable interoperability across platforms, accelerate software integration, and rapidly deploy new capabilities.

Requires the Navy to incorporate denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited communications operations into the development and acquisition of unmanned surface vessels, improving their effectiveness in contested environments.

Directs the Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive strategy for sustaining and maintaining F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in contested logistics environments, including supply chain resilience, spare parts availability, and allied coordination.

Establishes an Autonomy Integration Account to accelerate the resourcing and integration of autonomous capabilities, including navigation, targeting, communications, and battle management.

Extends the prohibition on retiring E-3 Sentry aircraft and requires the Air Force to provide Congress with an acquisition plan and budget needs for the E-7 Wedgetail program.

Advanced Nuclear Development

Fully funds advanced nuclear capabilities development, including TRISO fuel for Project Pele.

Restores funding for the Navy Energy Program, which supports the small modular reactor (SMR) pilot program established in the FY26 NDAA.

Requires a report detailing progress and milestones towards implementation of the SMR pilot program.

Congressman Wittman also secured wins for Virginia:

Funds a hybrid robotic demonstration program in Virginia to support increased submarine production capacity.


Wittman, Ryan Deliver Key Defense Modernization Caucus Wins in FY27 NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Congressman Pat Ryan (D-NY), founding co-chairs of the House Defense Modernization Caucus, announced several key wins they secured to bolster the defense innovation ecosystem in the House Armed Services Committee’s draft of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. Early this year, Wittman and Ryan released a form to solicit policy proposals and focus areas from industry and academia in an effort to help inform their submissions and give a voice to the defense innovation community.

“As our adversaries continue to rapidly evolve their military technologies, it is imperative that we provide our service members with the tools they need to accomplish their missions safely and effectively, while ensuring they can keep pace with emerging threats,” said Rep. Wittman. “Too often, bureaucratic red tape and outdated acquisition practices create barriers that slow the adoption of new technologies and discourage innovation across the defense industrial base. The provisions included in this year’s NDAA will remove these barriers to innovation, strengthen competition, and ensure that the Department can more quickly identify and acquire emerging technologies. I am proud to work alongside Congressman Ryan and our House Defense Modernization Caucus members to advance reforms that will help ensure America continues to be a global leader in defense innovation.”

“This year’s NDAA builds on the strides we made last year – to break down bureaucratic barriers, overhaul cumbersome acquisition processes, and ensure the Department can rapidly adopt the technologies that will define the future fight. From fast tracking prototype to production timelines, opening flexible funding for the PAEs, and strengthening collaboration between DIU and the Services, this bill pushes the Department to innovate, iterate, and scale. It will drive the cultural and institutional change necessary to ensure America remains the most innovative and capable military force in the world,” said Rep. Ryan. “I’m grateful to Congressman Wittman for his continued partnership and to our HDMC members for their vision and support – the work continues.”

Co-chairs Wittman and Ryan successfully fought for initiatives that will:

Transfer Authority for Rapid Transition of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Prototypes

Allows PAEs to transfer research and development funds to procurement to scale the production and adoption of new defense technologies

Modifications to the Responsibilities of the Defense Innovation Unit

Codifies coordination between DIU and PAEs to identify and transfer new platforms, capabilities, and solutions that fill capability gaps

Modernization of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) Requirements

Expands adoption of MOSA during the design and development of defense capabilities to increase interoperability and enable more iterative updates to systems

SCIF Accreditation and Pilot Program Delays

Requires reports on delayed accreditation for SCIFs and an update on the shared SCIF pilot program

Military Doctrine for Autonomous Systems

Requires the DAWG to develop US military doctrine for the use of unmanned autonomous systems and autonomous formations.

Low-Cost Munitions

Requires DoD to consider alternative, lower-cost munitions designs when meeting requirements for major weapons programs that could complement existing munitions.

Quantum Acquisition Strategy

Requires the DOD to use DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative to inform the development and acquisition of quantum computing systems.

Software Accountability for Sustainment

Incorporates software sustainment frameworks into the responsibilities of product support managers and incentivizes PAEs to incentivize the use of software-enabled solutions for sustainment.

Prioritizing Commercial Acquisition Regulations

Requires the Department to prioritize the issuance of acquisition guidance from the FY26 NDAA related to commercial products and services.

PAE Contract Management Authorities

Grants PAEs additional authorities to address underperforming contractors and requires the DOD to establish contractor performance metrics.

Pre-Award Guidance

Requires the Department to establish pre-award guidance for small businesses and non-traditional defense companies to facilitate better communication and prevent the disclosure of sensitive and classified information.

Reps. Wittman and Ryan founded the House Defense Modernization Caucus to accelerate innovation across the Department of Defense and deliver capabilities to the warfighter at speed and at scale. Wittman’s deep ties to Virginia’s shipbuilding ecosystem and leadership on the Tactical Air and Land Subcommittee, along with Ryan’s experience as a military intelligence officer and tenure in the startup world, bring two uniquely valuable perspectives, each keenly aware of the importance of modernization and apt to collaborate on the HDMC goals:

Software-Centric Pentagon

Leveraging Private Capital to Accelerate Technology Adoption

Strengthening DoD’s Role as a Commercial Buyer and Industry Partner

Reforming Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) & Acquisition Processes

Other members of the House Defense Modernization Caucus who serve on HASC and helped champion these and additional efforts include: Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Ed Case (D-HI), Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), Rep. John McGuire (R-VA), Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX), Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA), Rep. John James (R-MI), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN), Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA), Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO), Rep. John Carter (R-TX), and Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-CA).


Wittman, Virginia Republican Delegation Support Disaster Designation Request For Virginia’s Agricultural Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) was joined by Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Congressman John McGuire (VA-05), Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06), and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09) in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins in support of Virginia’s request for the USDA Secretarial Disaster Designation following severe freeze events in April of 2026 that caused significant crop damage across the state.

“Agriculture is the backbone of Virginia, supporting jobs across the Commonwealth, providing food and commodities to the nation, and serving as a key driver of economic growth,” said Rep. Wittman. “Virginia’s farmers are resilient, but these severe freeze events resulted in millions of dollars in crop losses and placed a significant strain on farm families and rural communities. I was proud to lead this letter in support of Virginia’s request for disaster designation so that producers can access the resources and relief they need to recover.”


From the Front: June 5, 2026

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From the Front: June 5, 2026
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ALSOBROOKS VOTES NO ON AN ADDITIONAL $70 BILLION TO ICE

June 5, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) voted early this morning to prevent investing more than $70 billion more in taxpayer funds for ICE and Border Patrol. She released the following statement:

“As gas prices spike, the cost of groceries continues to rise, and millions of Americans lose access to their health care, Republicans have just handed over an additional $70 billion to ICE without serious reforms. Republicans have made it all too clear that their loyalty to protecting this President outweighs their loyalty to the American people. Tonight’s vote proved once again that their focus remains elsewhere: the President’s $2 billion slush fund, his ballroom, his arch, and his helipad. Not on lowering Americans’ costs.”

Senator Alsobrooks filed the following amendments, which represent the Democratic priorities focused on lowering costs, protecting public health, and defending our federal workers:

#5730: Lowering Drug Costs

This amendment would strengthen the drug price negotiation program to deliver more savings to the American people by increasing the annual number of prescription drugs selected for price negotiation.

#5731: Lowering Drug Costs

This amendment would lower costs by extending the historic drug price negotiation program to all Americans with private coverage. This includes over 164 million workers and their families who get health coverage through their jobs and more than 24 million individuals with Affordable Care Act coverage.

#5732: Lowering Energy Costs

This amendment would reduce funding for ICE to fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981.

#5733: Restoring CDC and NIH Staffing to Prevent Public Health Crises

This amendment would require OPM and HHS to restore NIH and CDC staffing to January 2025 levels in order to respond to emerging health threats, including Ebola.

#5734: Protecting and Paying Federal Workers During Shutdowns

This amendment would ensure that federal workers and contractors continue to receive pay during government shutdowns. It would also prohibit agencies from proposing or implementing reductions in force or other, similar forms of mass layoffs during shutdowns.

#5735: Protecting Health Care Facilities from ICE Enforcement Actions

Under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy, hospitals and community health centers are designated as “sensitive locations.” That being said, loopholes exist that allow agents to question individuals or make arrests in parking lots or waiting rooms without a warrant, creating a chilling effect that impacts patient care, and patient willingness to seek care, even in emergent situations. This amendment would prevent funds from being used to facilitate enforcement efforts at these locations.

#5736: Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program

This amendment would reduce funding for ICE to fund the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program to help low-income households afford rising water and wastewater utility costs and prevent such households from experiencing shutoffs during periods of economic hardship or extreme weather.

#5737: ICE Funding to CFBP

This amendment strikes the $350 million designated to ICE to launch enforcement surges in cities without cooperation agreements with federal agencies and repurposes this funding to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to target fraud, scams, and corporate wrongdoing.

#5738: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Education Funding

This amendment would reduce funding for ICE to carry out the nutrition education program under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

#5752: Making Child Care Affordable

This amendment would withhold the funding allocated in the reconciliation bill until after legislation is enacted to cap child care costs for working families at seven percent of family income.

#5789: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)

This amendment would reduce funding for ICE to fund the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program to reduce the future costs of disasters.

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Baldwin Forces Vote to Redirect $14 Billion in Excessive ICE Funding Towards Lowering Childcare Costs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) forced the Senate to vote to redirect billions in federal funding from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to instead invest in lowering the cost of childcare for American families. Senate Republicans voted down the measure.

As the Senate debated Republicans' bill to give $75 billion to ICE and Border Patrol, Baldwin forced the Senate to vote on her amendment to redirect $14.27 billion to invest in childcare. Specifically, Senator Baldwin’s amendment would transfer that $14.27 billion to the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Program, which helps working families access quality and affordable childcare.

Baldwin’s amendment comes after ICE killed two Americans and continues to terrorize communities. Two-thirds of Americans say ICE and Border Patrol have gone “too far” with their tactics. A Marquette Law School poll found 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of the job ICE is doing, while 3 in 4 Americans support making changes at ICE.

Full text of the amendment is available here.

Full recording of Senator Baldwin’s speech is available here.

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Barrasso Statement on Senate Passage of theSecure America Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today issued the following statement upon passage of the Secure America Act.

“Senate Republicans know that the first duty of government is to prioritize the safety of the American people. Today, we honored that commitment by passing the Secure America Act.

“Every single Senate Democrat voted against this important bill. For months they blocked funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Border Patrol. Democrats showed the nation that they are the party of open borders, protecting illegal immigrant criminals, and defunding the police.

“Republicans will always prioritize the safety and security of America.”

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Bennet, Hickenlooper Celebrate Colorado Selection for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program

Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper celebrated Colorado being chosen as one of 10 states to participate in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program as a result of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

CCBHCs offer comprehensive behavioral health care to anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age. Participating in this program will improve the quality of systems and broaden patient access throughout Colorado’s behavioral health system.

“This will strengthen Colorado’s behavioral health services and support Coloradans from the Front Range to the Western Slope,” said Bennet. “Colorado’s community clinics, advocates, and state partners have worked for years to build a more connected and accessible behavioral health system. By securing Colorado’s spot in this demonstration program and bringing a crucial boost in federal funding to our local clinics, we are tearing down barriers to care. We are ensuring that compassionate, 24/7 crisis treatment is stable, sustainable, and within reach for every Coloradan, regardless of their zip code or ability to pay.”

“Nobody should be denied care because of their ability to pay,” said Hickenlooper. “For too long, cost has kept people from getting the mental health care they need. These community clinics, funded through our Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, will help make behavioral health and addiction treatment more accessible to more Coloradans.”

In January 2025, Bennet and Hickenlooper celebrated the announcement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that Colorado would receive $1 million to address the mental health crisis and expand community behavioral health care. This funding helped Colorado develop CCBHC certification processes, establish prospective payment systems for Medicaid-reimbursable services, and prepare an application to participate in a four-year demonstration program. Colorado was one of 14 states and Washington, D.C. selected for this funding. Additionally, In 2022, Bennet and Hickenlooper helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to tackle the national mental health crisis and help gun violence in the United States.

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Blackburn Statement on Senate Passage of Secure America Act

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Secure America Act to supercharge the immigration enforcement missions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) through the end of President Trump’s second term:

“By shutting down DHS for 76 days, the Democrats jeopardized our homeland security at a time when America faces countless national security threats all because they want to abolish ICE and defund law enforcement,” said Senator Blackburn. “By voting to pass the Secure America Act, Senate Republicans slammed the door on Democrats’ radical-left demands and ensured the brave men and women who are risking their lives to enforce our immigration laws have everything they need to get the job done.”

BACKGROUND

The Secure America Act provides funding to:

Hire, pay, train, and equip ICE agents and employees and to fund other necessary mission support and operations and maintenance costs for its immigration enforcement functions, including 287(g) agreements;

Hire, pay, train, and equip CBP personnel and to fund other mission support and operations and maintenance costs for CBP’s immigration enforcement functions; and

Carry out immigration enforcement and law enforcement efforts at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through Fiscal Year 2029.

RELATED

VIDEO: Blackburn Flames Democrats for Trying to Abolish ICE

Blackburn, Graham Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement by Incentivizing States to Work with ICE


Blumenthal & Britt Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Shield Youth from Targeted Gambling Advertising

[Hartford, CT] — Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced landmark bipartisan legislation to combat the rapid and concerning rise in youth gambling. The Gambling Advertisement to Minors Enforcement (GAME) Act would prohibit social media companies and other advertising websites from targeting minors with sports betting through online advertising.

“Sportsbooks and prediction markets are treating young people like a gold rush, flooding the internet with advertisements and promotions to hook them on gambling when they’re young,” said Senator Blumenthal. “High schoolers, even middle schoolers, are now gambling on their phones as never before, losing real money and creating life-altering addiction. The GAME Act would create a nationwide ban on targeted advertising of gambling to kids, backed with the force of punishing fines.”

“The rise in sports gambling among minors, particularly among young boys, is jarring,” said Senator Britt. “We know targeted advertising from gambling and prediction market websites can serve as the gateway to dangerous habits that too often become crippling addictions. Our legislation takes a critical step toward addressing this problem before it worsens. Our next generation is our greatest asset, and it’s our responsibility to take the necessary steps to protect them from online dangers whenever we can—which is exactly what this bill does.”

A 2024 study found that individuals who begin gambling before the age of 18 are 50% more likely to develop a gambling problem, while 1 in 6 parents say they would not know if their child was gambling.

Another recent study found that 45% of adolescent boys who gamble see gambling-related content online. Additionally, 59% reported that gambling-related content began appearing in their algorithms without them proactively searching for it.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would be responsible for enforcing the law, which would begin one year after enactment. Failure to comply could result in civil financial penalties and injunctive relief sought through the courts.

Under the GAME Act, repeat offenders can be referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which could impose financial penalties of up to $100,000 for each advertisement shown to a minor that promotes sports gambling. In cases where thousands of advertisements are shown to minors, the financial penalties could become substantial.

Senator Blumenthal leads several efforts to address the growing issue of sports betting and prediction markets, including the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act, which would establish nationwide standards and safeguards for the mobile sports gambling industry, the Gambling Addiction Recovery, Investment and Treatment (GRIT) Act, which would dedicate a portion of federal sports betting revenue to addiction treatment, prevention, and research, and the Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act, which prevents abuse and fraud in prediction markets.

You can access text of the bill here.

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Blumenthal & Walkinshaw Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Protect & Expand National Scenic Trails

[WASHINGTON, DC] — Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Representative James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA) introduced legislation to preserve and expand America’s national trail system. The Complete America’s Great Trails Act gives a tax credit to landowners who voluntarily make land contributions towards the completion of National Scenic Trails, expanding the trail system and protecting the land from development.

“This measure will enhance our nation’s scenic trails and protect public access to these treasured spaces,” said Blumenthal. “By encouraging landowners to support our trail system, our Complete America’s Great Trails Act will improve connectivity for hikers and families and preserve our country’s unique natural beauty for generations to come.”

“Here in Fairfax, trails are part of everyday life. With more than 22,000 acres of parkland and over 334 miles of trails in our county park system, they connect homes, schools, businesses, parks, and communities while giving families access to the outdoors. But across the country, too many National Scenic Trails remain unfinished or vulnerable to development. In honor of National Trails Day, I’m proud to introduce the Complete America’s Great Trails Act with Senator Blumenthal to create a new tax credit that helps landowners voluntarily conserve land along these trails. This bill will help complete America’s National Scenic Trails, protect open space, expand outdoor access, and preserve these natural treasures for future generations,” said Walkinshaw.

Connecticut is home to two of the 11 National Scenic Trails—the Appalachian Trail, which extends 52 miles across the state from Salisbury in the north to Sherman in the south, and the New England Trail, which extends 117 miles across the state from Suffield in the north to Guilford in the south.

The legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

“For almost a decade now, I’ve gotten to experience the beauty of Connecticut’s great outdoors on my yearly Walk Across Connecticut,” said Murphy. “Between the Appalachian and New England trails, Connecticut has nearly 200 miles worth of National Scenic Trail space and I’m really proud to support legislation that will make it easier for Connecticut families to enjoy the transformative experience of being in nature.”

The legislation is endorsed by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association (CFPA), and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

“The Complete America’s Great Trails Act is a practical, voluntary conservation tool that helps close critical trail gaps, expand public access, and conserve important landscapes. For trails that the Appalachian Mountain Club helps steward and enjoy, including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the New England Trail, this legislation can help create more complete and connected trail experiences for future generations. AMC is pleased to support this commonsense effort,” said Mandy Warner, Senior Director of Policy for AMC.

“Trails do more than connect destinations. They connect people to nature, history, and one another. We thank Senator Blumenthal for his leadership on the Complete America’s Great Trails Act, which will help conserve critical trail corridors and strengthen the long-term future of America’s great trail systems, including those here in Connecticut,” said Joey Listro, Executive Director of CFPA.

“The Appalachian Trail depends on partnerships that span public and private lands. By providing a tax credit to landowners who voluntarily donate conservation easements along National Scenic Trails, the Complete America’s Great Trails Act creates a practical incentive to protect trail corridors, expand outdoor recreation opportunities, and conserve the landscapes that make these trails possible. We applaud Congressman Walkinshaw and Senator Blumenthal for introducing this legislation and for recognizing the important role private landowners play in sustaining America’s National Scenic Trails for future generations,” said Dan Ryan, Vice President of Conservation and Government Relations, Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

The full text of the bill can be found here. A one-pager is available here.

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Blumenthal & Warren Demand Information On Alarming Whistleblower Disclosure Detailing Trump Administration Plot to "Kill Off" 2.7 Million People in Social Security Database

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to three former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers and the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) demanding information about plans to mark 2.7 million people as dead in a Social Security database as part of the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.

A former SSA career official has publicly come forward for the first time to share firsthand knowledge of actions DOGE officials took to “kill off” more than 6,000 immigrants in SSA’s records and future plans to mark as dead 2.7 million more individuals. Although the Trump Administration’s efforts to weaponize SSA to target immigrants has been previously reported, the whistleblower, Jeremiah Schofield, has shared new details of conversations a DOGE staffer had regarding the specific motivation for this plan: either “the lives of these individuals would be ruined. . . and they would be driven to ‘self-deport’” or “they would have to go to a local Social Security office, at which point SSA field office staff would send them to DHS offices” where officials would “detain them for deportation.”

“As always with the Trump Administration, cruelty is the point. Thanks to this brave whistleblower’s disclosure, we have more evidence that the Trump Administration used DOGE not just to recklessly slash government programs – they were looking for ways to purposefully hurt people, especially immigrants,” Blumenthal said. “Senator Warren and I are demanding answers about how DOGE and the Trump Administration weaponized the Social Security Administration to carry out its lawless immigration enforcement agenda.”

“Donald Trump has waged war on Social Security, and DOGE has been the tip of the spear, sowing chaos and corruption everywhere,” Warren said. “This looks like an illegal attempt by DOGE to weaponize Social Security to carry out Trump’s cruel immigration agenda.”

Warren and Blumenthal’s letter to former DOGE official Antonio Gracias is available here. Their letter to former DOGE official Jon Koval is available here. Their letter to former DOGE official Payton Rehling is available here. Their letter to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano is available here.

In July, Blumenthal released a PSI Minority staff report unveiling that DOGE generated at least $21.7 billion in waste across the federal government between January and July 2025. The report, “The $21.7 Billion Blunder: Analyzing the Waste Generated by DOGE,” followed a months-long investigation into Elon Musk and DOGE and detailed a comprehensive account of how taxpayer dollars were squandered by DOGE despite its ostensible goal of eliminating government waste. That report followed an April 2025 memo completed by PSI Minority staff that estimated the legal liability Elon Musk was able to avoid through his previous efforts to gut the federal workforce and exert influence over federal agencies while he was at the helm of DOGE. PSI found that Musk and his companies were able to avoid at least $2.37 billion in potential liability due to federal investigations or other regulatory actions.

Warren spearheaded the launch of Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, a coordinated effort to protect Social Security and fight back against Trump administration attacks making it harder for Americans to access their benefits. The War Room has succeeded in stopping many harmful policies in their tracks through rigorous oversight. Warren has specifically sounded the alarm on DOGE’s chaos at Social Security, last year leading senators in pressing SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano on concerns that DOGE efforts to hastily upgrade Social Security tech infrastructure could cause major disruptions for beneficiaries.

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Senator Blumenthal: Week in Review 5/30/26-6/5/2026

Supporting Ukraine

[WASHINGTON D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, returned from a weeklong visit to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and to participate in the Black Sea Security Forum (BSSF) in Odesa.

“This tenth trip to Ukraine felt different than the ones before; again and again, we were hustled down dark stairwells into bunkers as Putin attacked the country with missiles and drones, escalating cruelty that signals his desperation. Ukrainian heroism is turning the tide, with undeniable indelible costs. We saw the bombed and burned-out apartments and malls, still smelling of fire,” Blumenthal said. “We met with rescue workers who rushed into the flames seeking to save helpless civilian victims. We spoke with children kidnapped and held by Russia— among the more than 20,000 taken by force and often compelled to fight for Russia. We met with President Zelenskyy and top members of his team who showed a clear-eyed strategy and unshakable resolve to prevail. We heard soldiers ready to return to the fight despite their injuries. Most impressively, amidst all the pain and grief, we saw a kindness and humanity in Ukrainians reaching out and caring for each other— offering food, shelter, clothing—a moving antithesis to Putin’s bloody aggression.”

Blumenthal shared a piece about his trip to Ukraine on his Substack page.

Blumenthal further called for continued U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion on Twitter/X.

“Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov says American diplomats should leave Ukraine—to avoid their blood thirsty bombs. In Ukraine now, I’m seeing firsthand brave American diplomats who refuse to be cowed by Russian bullying. As I told Zelenskyy, we’ll make sure they’re secure—our priority—but more determined than ever. America is standing with Ukraine,” wrote Blumenthal with an accompanying video on Twitter/X.

“Here in an Odessa bunker—our third air raid of the day, this one at 3:40 am—there’s no question about the heightened intensity of Putin’s murderous bombing terror. All around Ukraine Russia’s escalating cruelty has inflicted increasing, unspeakable pain, death & destruction. Still, on this 10th visit, the Ukrainian spirit seems stronger than ever—unshakable. Bravery, caring & kindness are watchwords—getting them through long nights & demanding days.To repel this slaughtering assault of bombs, drones, missiles, Ukraine clearly needs more American air defense aid,” wrote Blumenthal on Twitter/X.

Blumenthal released the statement below after the House of Representatives approved legislation to provide military aid to Ukraine and sanction officials and businesses that support Russia’s war machine:

“Really significant, robust support for Ukraine could come at a critical moment as it turns the tide against Russia. As I saw during my visit last week, Putin’s escalating cruelty— unspeakably bloodier bombing of civilians— reflects his increasing desperation. He’s losing troops, territory and resources at an unsustainable pace. This bill’s sledgehammer combination of military support and economic sanctions would help give Ukraine the means to finish the job. It strongly serves our own national interest by stopping Putin before he spreads his murderous aggression, and pressures him to seek peace. Congratulations and thanks to leaders of this bill on their steadfast support for Ukraine. I’ve been proud to help lead support for Ukraine on the Senate side and will continue to work hard on passing legislation to make it clear America stands with Ukraine.”

Demanding Answers from Trump Administration for Plot to “Kill Off” 2.7 Million People in Social Security Database

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote to three former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers and the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) demanding information about plans to mark 2.7 million people as dead in a Social Security database as part of the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.

A former SSA career official has publicly come forward for the first time to share firsthand knowledge of actions DOGE officials took to “kill off” more than 6,000 immigrants in SSA’s records and future plans to mark as dead 2.7 million more individuals. Although the Trump Administration’s efforts to weaponize SSA to target immigrants has been previously reported, the whistleblower, Jeremiah Schofield, has shared new details of conversations a DOGE staffer had regarding the specific motivation for this plan: either “the lives of these individuals would be ruined. . . and they would be driven to ‘self-deport’” or “they would have to go to a local Social Security office, at which point SSA field office staff would send them to DHS offices” where officials would “detain them for deportation.”

“As always with the Trump Administration, cruelty is the point. Thanks to this brave whistleblower’s disclosure, we have more evidence that the Trump Administration used DOGE not just to recklessly slash government programs – they were looking for ways to purposefully hurt people, especially immigrants,” Blumenthal said. “Senator Warren and I are demanding answers about how DOGE and the Trump Administration weaponized the Social Security Administration to carry out its lawless immigration enforcement agenda.”

Warren and Blumenthal’s letter to former DOGE official Antonio Gracias is available here. Their letter to former DOGE official Jon Koval is available here. Their letter to former DOGE official Payton Rehling is available here. Their letter to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano is available here.

In July, Blumenthal released a PSI Minority staff report unveiling that DOGE generated at least $21.7 billion in waste across the federal government between January and July 2025. The report, “The $21.7 Billion Blunder: Analyzing the Waste Generated by DOGE,” followed a months-long investigation into Elon Musk and DOGE and detailed a comprehensive account of how taxpayer dollars were squandered by DOGE despite its ostensible goal of eliminating government waste. That report followed an April 2025 memo completed by PSI Minority staff that estimated the legal liability Elon Musk was able to avoid through his previous efforts to gut the federal workforce and exert influence over federal agencies while he was at the helm of DOGE. PSI found that Musk and his companies were able to avoid at least $2.37 billion in potential liability due to federal investigations or other regulatory actions.

Probing Tether on its Role in Iranian Shadow Banking

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of PSI, wrote to Tether Chief Executive Officer Paolo Ardoino demanding records and information related to Tether’s apparent failure to prevent illicit use by sanctioned entities, terrorist organizations, and other money laundering schemes associated with Iran and Russia.

As Ranking Member of PSI, Blumenthal has led an inquiry into the illicit use of cryptocurrencies by sanctioned entities, previously writing to the cryptocurrency exchange Binance to seek documents and information about money laundering and terrorist financing by its partners and customers. Blumenthal is now raising concerns about the recurring role of Tether’s stablecoin in Iranian and Russian money laundering schemes, including recently sanctioned Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges.

“Through its U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDT, Tether has provided unparalleled access to a high-liquidity and widely accepted international payment system that is otherwise denied to Iran due to international sanctions and counterterrorism financing measures. For example, according to The Wall Street Journal and Fortune, hundreds of millions of dollars of USDT were used in two Chinese money laundering schemes that enabled illicit oil sales and financed terrorist organizations such as the Yemeni Houthis,” Blumenthal wrote.

Blumenthal continued, “The Subcommittee’s review raises questions about whether and how Tether complies with American sanctions law and other counterterrorism finance measures, as well as the steps it takes when its customers and wallets transacting Tether cryptocurrencies can be credibly linked with illicit finance. Tether was originally founded in the United States and maintains a deep reliance on American financial infrastructure, including its operational and business relationship to Cantor Fitzgerald and the family of the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick.”

“The use of Tether’s stablecoin in Iranian shadow banking, and uncertain compliance with American sanctions and banking law, has a significant impact on the United States’ ability to apply economic pressure on the Islamic Republic to negotiate an end to the current war and resolve matters such as its nuclear program and regional destabilization,” Blumenthal concluded.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to Ardo is available here.

On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee

Blumenthal, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced legislation to hold claims sharks and other predatory actors accountable for exploiting veterans’ and survivors’ earned benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The lawmakers’ Stopping Abuse, Fraud, and Exploitation by Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (SAFEGUARD) Veterans Act would clarify that only accredited individuals can assist veterans with VA benefit claims. And it would reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited agents who charge veterans extortionate fees for assistance with VA disability claims—a service provided for free by VA and accredited nonprofits. While federal law prohibits this activity, predatory actors have used loopholes to avoid prosecution and federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce the law without criminal penalties.

“Veterans need protection against claims sharks and other predatory scammers who are stealing millions in hard-earned benefits,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Our legislation will close loopholes and impose strict criminal penalties— deterring as well as punishing bad actors. There should be zero tolerance for exploitive tactics robbing veterans of funds they well deserve and need to live. I hope this measure will have bipartisan backing.”

Among its many provisions, the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act would:

Reestablish criminal penalties for unaccredited claims representatives scamming veterans;

Prohibit VA accreditation of any person found guilt of unauthorized solicitation, charging, or receiving compensation for assisting with VA benefit claims;

Close loopholes exploited by unaccredited actors to skirt federal prohibitions on unaccredited agents assisting veterans with VA benefit claims;

Prohibit the use of robocall technology to obtain VA claims information—targeting claim sharks who spam VA call centers to gain unauthorized access to veterans’ claims information;

Require VA to establish a system to track accredited agents and where veterans can report scammers; and

Increase warnings to veterans about claim sharks and other predatory practices of unaccredited agents.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Blumenthal Bulletin

Blumenthal called on Bank of America to restore consumers’ legal rights and protections.

Blumenthal and the Connecticut Delegation opposed a shortsighted plan to close a Hamden invasive species research facility.

Blumenthal applauded a House vote moving ahead with sanctions on Russia’s war machine and Ukraine funding.

Blumenthal joined MS NOW’s Morning Joe to discuss yesterday's House vote showing support for Ukraine & the need for the Senate to follow suit.

Blumenthal introduced bicameral legislation to protect and expand National Scenic Trails.

Blumenthal introduced bipartisan legislation to shield youth from targeted gambling advertising.

Blumenthal slammed Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund.

Blumenthal called out FAA’s refusal to mandate lifesaving technology.

Blumenthal slammed President Trump’s pick of Bill Pulte to be Acting Director of National Intelligence.

Blumenthal called for enforceable mandates to AI to cover broader national security risks after Trump signed an AI executive order with less-advanced government scrutiny.

Blumenthal slams Trump’s nomination of Todd Blanche for Attorney General.

Blumenthal called out DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin for dodging questions about obeying court orders.

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NEWS: Ranking Member Blunt Rochester and Chair Tuberville Lead Investigation into AI and K-12 Education

Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) ranking member and chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’ Subcommittee on Education and the American Family,sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an investigation into the use of AI in K-12 education. The letter directs GAO to investigate AI’s influence on student achievement, teacher professional development, and use in special education.

In addition to Ranking Member Blunt Rochester and Chair Tuberville, this letter was signed by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

“We write to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 education, with a focus on its impact on student achievement, teacher professional development and preparedness, and its use in special education,” the Senators wrote. “While the growth of AI tools in education has promised benefits for both educators and students, early observations raise important concerns as well. As AI adoption in schools grows, it is critical that we better understand how these tools are adopted and their effects to make prudent policy decisions in the future.”

“Students are using an array of different AI tools, including generative AI, tutoring chatbots, writing assistants, and other feedback tools that provide explanations, hints, or guidance on assignments,” the Senators continued. “A proposed benefit of these AI tools is the personalized and real-time feedback that they can provide for students as they complete scholastic assignments, such as writing or math. Early studies on how these AI tools impact student learning indicate mixed results: while students may experience short-term gains when AI tools help them complete assignments more efficiently, it is unclear whether these gains translate into deeper learning or long-term retention.”

“It is clear that AI tools are most effective when they augment, rather than replace, human instruction. Effective personalization in K-12 education depends not only on assessing what a student knows, but also on understanding the relational and affective dimensions of learning,” the Senators concluded. “To help us understand the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 education, we ask GAO to conduct investigations assessing the following questions.”

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

Dear Acting Comptroller General Brown:

We write to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 education, with a focus on its impact on student achievement, teacher professional development and preparedness, and its use in special education. While the growth of AI tools in education has promised benefits for both educators and students, early observations raise important concerns as well. As AI adoption in schools grows, it is critical that we better understand how these tools are adopted and their effects to make prudent policy decisions in the future.

Students are using an array of different AI tools, including generative AI, tutoring chatbots, writing assistants, and other feedback tools that provide explanations, hints, or guidance on assignments. A proposed benefit of these AI tools is the personalized and real-time feedback that they can provide for students as they complete scholastic assignments, such as writing or math. Early studies on how these AI tools impact student learning indicate mixed results: while students may experience short-term gains when AI tools help them complete assignments more efficiently, it is unclear whether these gains translate into deeper learning or long-term retention. For instance, take a student using an AI tutoring chatbot to help them with math homework. This tool may help them have an overall more personalized and positive experience while reducing their cognitive load during the learning process. However, the reduced level of reasoning that can occur through the use of these AI tools has been shown to lead to weaker recall of learned information. This raises important questions about the long-term educational effects of using AI tools.

It is clear that AI tools are most effective when they augment, rather than replace, human instruction. Effective personalization in K-12 education depends not only on assessing what a student knows, but also on understanding the relational and affective dimensions of learning. Human teachers can respond to students’ emotions, motivation, and social context in ways that current AI tools cannot fully replicate. While AI tools could play a beneficial role in providing detailed individualized feedback and support to students, this reality makes teacher preparation central to whether AI tools can be used effectively to support student learning. Proper supervision of student use of AI tools, and appropriate safeguards, are important.

AI also has the potential to greatly impact educators. Teachers can use AI tools like lesson plan generators, chatbots, and student learning platforms. A survey where participants could select multiple categories, conducted across 303 teachers in the U.S. and India, highlighted that 37% of those teachers described themselves as “beginning to explore” AI, 3% indicated “regularly integrating” AI into their practice, 24% reported creating specific AI activities, 17% described training in AI, and 3% reported non-use of AI. There is early evidence to suggest enthusiasm from teachers about the potential of AI tools to streamline workloads at a time when classroom demands and educator burnout continue to grow. Yet, survey data also reflects fear and apprehension from teachers. A Pew Research Center study found that a quarter of surveyed U.S. teachers feel AI tools are doing more harm than good in K-12. As teachers adopt this technology, and as potential pressure to understand and teach students how to use AI tools grows, it is important that teachers have the supports and training they need to be prepared. Basic AI literacy, continued support and training about how to select AI tools, what purposes AI tools are suited to and not suited to, and how to supervise students using AI are essential to helping teachers leverage these tools in a safe and effective manner that benefits both the educator and their students.

The use of AI tools by and for students with disabilities represents another area that needs continued research and investigation. Such AI tools may include conversational chatbots for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), AI-driven annotated text for students with dyslexia, and speech synthesizers for students with speech and language impairments. The adaptive capabilities of these tools may offer new educational opportunities for students with disabilities. Still, with the use of these tools comes notable concern about the privacy and use of student data. Parents and educators are also concerned about whether teachers are adequately prepared to use AI tools and understand the risks associated with them. In particular, there is increasing use of AI, and increasing concern from advocates, in the drafting of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

To help us understand the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 education, we ask GAO to conduct investigations assessing the following questions.


STATEMENT: Senator Blunt Rochester Opposes Multi-Billion Dollar Slush Fund for ICE, CBP

U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) released the following statement on her opposition to the Republican budget bill.

“It’s Groundhog Day for Senate Republicans. Their repeated attempts to provide ICE—a roving secret police force that has killed at least two American citizens— with billions of dollars in additional taxpayer funding, on top of the slush fund they pushed through last year, illustrate what their priorities really are.

“Instead of working with us to reform this broken agency or address the kitchen-table issues American families care about most, Senate Republicans gave ICE another $38 billion with no strings attached. They even rejected an effort by a member of their own party to redirect Trump’s so-called “anti-weaponization” fund for protecting January 6th insurrectionists to the Capitol police and the surviving families. This is yet another example of the GOP folding under the pressures of the president and turning its back on the needs of the American people.

“ICE now has an additional $38 billion that we could have used to bring down the cost of health care by funding Medicaid, invest in affordable clean energy to curb skyrocketing prices at the pump, or maintain food and nutrition programs to keep our communities fed. Democrats want to spend our time and federal dollars addressing the affordability crisis that is making it nearly impossible for Americans to make ends meet. Senate Republicans clearly do not. I could not, in good conscience, support this bill.”


Booker Introduces Amendment to Restore Immigration Detention Oversight and Hold Private Contractors Accountable

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced an amendment to reestablish the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) and strengthen accountability measures for private immigration detention contractors, as Newark officials and the New Jersey Attorney General pursue legal action to shut down Delaney Hall following reports of unsafe conditions and blocked state inspections.

“Delaney Hall is a moral stain on our community, and the treatment of those held there offends our fundamental American values,” Booker said. “During my last oversight visit I met a woman who had suffered a miscarriage at the facility and was denied medical care and then told by the staff she had made it up. I met another woman nursing her American born infant who still could not get the basic support she needed for her child. When a facility refuses congressional inspections and people are driven to hunger strikes just to be heard, oversight is not optional, it is urgent. This facility must be closed. And stronger accountability measures like those in this proposal must be implemented immediately because what I witnessed is not an isolated failure. It is what impunity looks like.”

Booker’s amendment ensures that taxpayer dollars aren’t used to fund facilities and enrich corporations that endanger the lives of the people in their custody. The amendment would reestablish OIDO and require DHS to withhold payments to contractors, subcontractors, or cooperating entities when OIDO finds potential misconduct, excessive force, or violations of detention standards, until corrective actions are implemented.

Congress created OIDO in 2019 to investigate detainee deaths, medical neglect, and employee misconduct. But in May 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it was shutting the office down at the same time that conditions across facilities have been deteriorating. At least 18 people have died in ICE custody this year.

Delaney Hall, operated by the GEO Group, is currently the subject of lawsuits from Newark officials and the New Jersey Attorney General following reports of inadequate medical care, unsanitary conditions, and the facility’s refusal to allow state health inspections. Advocates have also documented contaminated food, retaliation against hunger strikers, and unsafe conditions for pregnant women. A separate lawsuit filed on behalf of individuals detained at the facility alleges violations of federal detention standards.

Booker has long fought for stronger oversight of ICE detention facilities and has introduced legislation–including the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act–to end the use of private, for-profit detention centers.

“Restoring the Ombudsman’s office is the bare minimum,” Booker said. “We cannot allow DHS to dismantle oversight while people are dying.”

Booker’s amendment did not advance, falling short in the voterama series with a vote of 46-53.


Booker, Kaine Request Update Regarding United Nations Gang Suppression Forced in Haiti

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), led a letter to U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio regarding the Administration’s current policy toward Haiti. In the letter, the senators request information from the Administration about the United Nations Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are used effectively and in alignment with international human rights law. They also urge the Administration to ensure GSF is part of a larger strategy that addresses the collapse of institutions and significant security, humanitarian, and economic challenges in Haiti.

“Since 2020, Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince has been plunged into crises at the hands of gangs, who now control 90 percent of the capital and perpetrate ruthless violence, including pervasive sexual violence, with abandon, driving the country into protracted humanitarian and public health crises,” wrote the senators. “The Administration’s focus on maximum lethality while transitioning U.S. resources away from a U.S. backed Multinational Security Support Mission for Haiti (MSS) and absent a broader strategy to address converging development and humanitarian challenges which fuel gangs’ reach and legitimacy, risks plunging Haiti into a fresh cycle of horrific violence and further collapse.”

“We urge the Administration to consider developing an integrated, holistic strategy to address these interrelated priorities. Haitian-led solutions guided by the people of Haiti are vital to the country’s future. U.S. diplomatic and programmatic support—including by forging partnerships with the international community, Haitian civil society, Haitian Diaspora and the private sector—is essential to addressing Haiti's myriad needs,” the senators continued. “Further, a holistic strategy avoids repeating the mistakes of past decades of interventionism in Haiti and ensures that U.S. taxpayer dollars are used effectively and in alignment with international human rights law.”

“We remain committed to working with you, including to ensure that U.S. backed and funded efforts do not risk exacerbating an already horrific and untenable situation,” the senators wrote.

Booker is the Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy. Kaine is the Ranking Member of the SFRC Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues.

In addition to Booker and Kaine, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write with strong interest in working with the Administration to address the converging security, economic, and humanitarian crises affecting Haiti.

While the Administration’s success in coalescing international support for a United Nations Gang Suppression Force (GSF) represents a significant step forward in responding to Haiti’s request for security assistance, the impact of this effort may be eroded absent consideration of addressing the myriad competing challenges in Haiti.

Since 2020, Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince has been plunged into crises at the hands of gangs, who now control 90 percent of the capital and perpetrate ruthless violence, including pervasive sexual violence, with abandon, driving the country into protracted humanitarian and public health crises. The Administration’s focus on maximum lethality while transitioning U.S. resources away from a U.S. backed Multinational Security Support Mission for Haiti (MSS) and absent a broader strategy to address converging development and humanitarian challenges which fuel gangs’ reach and legitimacy, risks plunging Haiti into a fresh cycle of horrific violence and further collapse.

The intersecting crises are immense: the end of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate has left an unelected interim leader to plan elections by the end of this year; widespread corruption and abuse of power persist; the beleaguered Haitian National Police face an asymmetric threat from gangs with access to an unrelenting flow of illicit firearms and ammunition, including from the United States; and counter gang-operations must contend with the reality that children make up half of all gang members in Haiti. A lack of development and economic opportunity, widespread poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition, a public health crisis, and the near collapse of the democratic process and all public institutions in Haiti compound the difficulties facing the Haitian people while further strengthening gangs’ legitimacy and power.

We urge the Administration to consider developing an integrated, holistic strategy to address these interrelated priorities. Haitian-led solutions guided by the people of Haiti are vital to the country’s future. U.S. diplomatic and programmatic support—including by forging partnerships with the international community, Haitian civil society, Haitian Diaspora and the private sector—is essential to addressing Haiti's myriad needs. Further, a holistic strategy avoids repeating the mistakes of past decades of interventionism in Haiti and ensures that U.S. taxpayer dollars are used effectively and in alignment with international human rights law. Reports that the United Nations received four, now substantiated, allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by members of the U.S. backed MSS underscore the complexity of deploying the GSF to Haiti and the need for independent review of these and similar allegations. Three of the victims of rape were children, and the fourth, who allegedly survived sexual violence, is just 18. The fact that the MSS was deployed in a bid to end horrific crimes undermines the future legitimacy of the GSF. These incidents occur against the historical backdrop of the Haitian people being victimized by those promising to forge a better future for the country. They also underscore the need for pre-deployment training of GSF personnel and swift accountability for any crimes committed.

Effective deployment of the GSF also requires a coherent plan to address the complexity of confronting child combatants, who make up a large share of Haiti’s gang members, in compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law. The Administration’s focus on lethality as GSF’s primary mission leaves open questions about its strategy for managing child recruits and combatants. This includes questions on how it will disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate (DDR) former child gang members into Haitian society as well as the role U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance have played and should play in addressing this critical priority.

Adding to our concerns are reports that the Haitian Government is funding a private security firm, Vectus Global, whose activities are not coordinated with the GSF but could easily be conflated with GSF operations on the ground, thereby undermining the GSF’s legitimacy.

We remain committed to working with you, including to ensure that U.S. backed and funded efforts do not risk exacerbating an already horrific and untenable situation. To address our questions and concerns, we request a briefing on the status of the GSF’s deployment no later than June 19, 2026, alongside a response to the following questions and requests for information.

We request you provide the following documents and information:

Provide the curriculum for GSF training.

Provide the GSF Concept of Operations.

List foreign assistance accounts, funding levels, funding fiscal year, and program descriptions for efforts funded by the State Department in Haiti following January 20, 2025.

Share any correspondence between the State Department, Erik Prince and/or Vectus Global regarding the private security firm’s work in Haiti.

Provide the status (contractor, PSC, Full Time Employee and/or Foreign Service Officer), and government service level, and bureau of gender, humanitarian, and human rights experts informing the Administration’s strategy on Haiti.

We request you provide answers to the following questions:

What funding has the Department of Defense obligated, expended, or planned to obligate or expend in support of the Multinational Security Support mission (MSS) or the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) since January 20, 2025?

How will the administration work with Haiti’s interim government and Haitian civil society to ensure transparency in decision-making around the financing, deployment, and oversight of the GSF?

What civilian harm mitigation measures will be implemented to prevent and minimize civilian casualties and injuries during GSF operations, particularly in dense urban areas?

What steps is the Administration taking to ensure that DDR programs are incorporated into GSF’s mission, and that these programs include specific plans for responding to children in gangs?

What independent investigative accountability frameworks and/or mechanisms are in place for the GSF and other armed actors to address instances when civilians are harmed through GSF operations? Or to address human rights violations and other crimes perpetrated by the GSF? What training has the GSF received regarding the accountability mechanism?

What steps is the Administration taking to ensure that the GSF fits within a broader U.S. strategy toward Haiti that addresses not only security, but also governance, judicial accountability and impunity, humanitarian needs, long-term stabilization, and sustainable economic development, including through trade preference programs for Haiti?

We look forward to receiving your response and to working together to support the Haitian people restore peace, security, and stability in their country.

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ICYMI: Booker Leads Bipartisan Amicus Brief to “Slam” Trump’s $1.7 Billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In case you missed it, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) submitted a bipartisan amicus brief in the U.S. Eastern District Court of Virginia opposing the Trump Administration’s creation of the so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” leading independent commentators to “applaud” the “ bipartisan Senate duo" in their defense of the Constitution. The brief argues that the fund represents an unconstitutional end-run around Congress—an unlawful attempt to direct federal dollars without congressional authorization and potentially benefit individuals involved in the January 6 attack that the fund poses “an immediate and dire threat to our constitutional order and the authority of Congress.”

SEE FOR YOURSELF:

MS NOW June 4, 2026

By: Ari Melber

Ari Melber: Republican Senator Cassidy joining Booker in a briefing to the supreme court, which marks what we've talked about, the way congress is actually pushing back so much that you might look at this and say, which congress is this?

USA Today

Legal battle over Trump's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' fund rages on By: Aysha Bagchi

June 5, 2026

Sen. Cory Booker, D–New Jersey, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R–Louisiana, together said in a June 3 court document to the judge who temporarily halted the fund that it's an unlawful attempt to bypass Congress to potentially give money to violent insurrectionists. They said even if the DOJ drops the fund now, it could pursue it later.

"The Anti-Weaponization Fund presents a threat to our constitutional democracy that this Court has never before been asked to confront," the senators said.

"Less than a week after the DOJ announced the Fund, defendants who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, began lining up to seek their share," they added.

New York Times

Senators Cassidy and Booker Ask Judge to Maintain Block on $1.8 Billion Fund

June 4, 2026

By: Alan Feuer

Two senators — one Republican and one Democrat — have filed court papers urging a federal judge to maintain her block on the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion fund to pay people claiming to have been unfairly prosecuted, arguing that its creation last month amounted to an illegal “end-run” around Congress.

“The anti-weaponization fund constitutes an improper and unconstitutional transfer of taxpayer dollars, including to those who engaged in a violent insurrection against the United States and its democratically elected representatives — including the United States Senate — on Jan. 6, 2021,” the senators wrote. “And it entirely bypasses Congress’s crucial role under the Appointments Clause in determining who may wield authority as an officer of the United States.”

Skye Perryman, the president of Democracy Forward: “The significance of this bipartisan engagement cannot be overstated. As this administration is attempting to evade accountability and create one of the most brazen power grabs of taxpayer funds in modern history, we applaud these two senators — a Democrat and a Republican — for speaking with one voice: The Constitution still matters.”

The Huffington Post

Senators Slam Trump's Rioter Slush Fund In Bipartisan Court Brief June 4, 2026

By: Arthur Delaney

The bipartisan duo filed their "friends of the court" brief to the federal judge who already ordered a temporary block against Trump's slush fund in response to a lawsuit from various plaintiffs who argued they are the actual victims of weaponization.

Cassidy is one of several Republicans who've said they oppose Trump's self-serving settlement and resulting payout scheme. Trump also freed himself from paying any back taxes as part of the deal, which he reached by suing his own administration earlier this year.

MS NOW

Sens. Booker and Cassidy file bipartisan brief against ‘anti-weaponization’ fund June 4, 2026

By: Jordan Rubin

While the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund has drawn bipartisan criticism, Sens. Cory Booker, D-NJ, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., are bringing that criticism to court.They asked for permission to file an amicus brief in the case of Floyd v. Department of Justice, in which a Virginia federal judge recently halted the fund from moving forward pending further litigation.

The administration has given mixed signals about backing away from the “slush fund,” as critics have called it, which was poised to enrich the president’s allies like the Jan. 6 defendants to whom he has already granted clemency.

In their motion seeking permission to file their amicus brief, lawyers for Booker and Cassidy said the senators are interested in the case “because they took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution” and “have a strong interest in ensuring that acts of Congress are faithfully executed by the Executive Branch.”

Roll Call

Booker, Cassidy back legal challenge to ‘anti-weaponization’ fund June 4, 2026

By: Michael Macagnone

“President Trump’s presence on both sides of the IRS litigation, and his own blunt statements that the case was merely an opportunity for him to ‘work out a settlement with myself,’ make evident that he and the government defendants were not adversaries at all.”

CBS News

Bipartisan Senate duo urges court to maintain block on DOJ fund, calling it a "dire threat" to Constitution

June 4, 2026

By: Melissa Quinn

Sens. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, and Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, raised their objections to the fund in a friend-of-the-court brief filed with the court in eastern Virginia. A judge there temporarily blocked the Justice Department last week from taking any action regarding the program, including considering claims or disbursing funds, while she considers whether to grant longer-lasting relief.

The senators said that the fund violates the Constitution's Spending, Appropriations and Appointments Clauses.

"To deliberately deploy public funds, in violation of the Constitution and the laws of this nation, to compensate these perpetrators is to use the machinery of democratic government to subsidize an attack on that government's most fundamental processes," the senators said.

The Hill

Cassidy, Booker urge judge to block weaponization fund

June 4, 2026

By: Sophie Brams

Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) urged a federal judge to block the Trump administration’s nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, joining the legal fight against the payouts even as the administration pulls back on the idea.

“The Anti-Weaponization Fund presents an immediate and dire threat to our constitutional order and the authority of Congress,” lawyers for the lawmakers wrote in an amicus brief filed Wednesday in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The fund is authorized to issue “formal apologies” and monetary payments to people who believe they suffered “weaponization and lawfare” at the hands of the federal government, according to the DOJ.

“A scheme deliberately designed to recast insurrectionists—including those who perpetrated violence against law enforcement officers—as victims and legitimate prosecutions as persecution does not merely rewrite history; it creates incentives for similar conduct in the future, with the explicit encouragement of the officials responsible for administering justice,” the brief stated.

Democracy Forward

Bipartisan U.S. Senators Urge Court to Keep Blocking Trump-Vance Administration’s Slush Fund

June 4, 2026

By: Democracy Forward Press Team

U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bill Cassidy filed a bipartisan brief supporting plaintiffs challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” underscoring the serious constitutional concerns raised by the administration’s attempt to create a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded compensation program outside the authority granted by Congress.

The senators filed the brief in support of plaintiffs who successfully obtained a temporary restraining order that paused implementation of the fund, preventing the administration from moving forward with the scheme. The brief argues that the fund represents an unconstitutional end-run around Congress’s authority over federal spending and appointments and raises grave separation-of-powers concerns

Semafor

June 4, 2026

By: Burgess Everett

Burgess Everett, Semafor Congressional Bureau Chief: Wow - Cassidy signs onto brief stating, in part: "The Anti-Weaponization Fund presents an immediate and dire threat to our constitutional order and the authority of Congress. Indeed, among other purposes, the Fund is designed to compensate the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. The existence of the Fund strikes at the core of Congressional authority and our Constitutional order"

Democracy Defenders

Bipartisan senators file amicus brief challenging Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund

June 4, 2026

By: Democracy Defenders Press Team

The brief contends that the Executive Branch lacks authority to establish and administer a multibillion-dollar compensation program absent clear authorization and appropriations enacted by Congress.

The Fund is designed to compensate the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The existence of the Fund strikes at the core of congressional authority and our Constitutional order.”

Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and board member of Democracy Defenders Action and Matt Platkin,founding partner of Platkin LLP: “The law does not allow a president to turn a personal dispute with agencies under his control into a vehicle for spending money however he sees fit. Constitutional limits apply here, and the courts have a duty to enforce them. We are proud to stand with Sens. Booker and Cassidy in urging the court to do so.


Boozman Votes to Fully Fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement after voting to approve the Secure America Act that funds Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the next three years:

“Funding the vital mission to defend our communities and country from criminal illegal immigrants, potential terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking should be a bipartisan effort, yet Senate Democrats abandoned the regular appropriations process and good-faith negotiations in order to score political points. My Republican colleagues and I stand with the men and women working non-stop to secure our border, enforce the law and protect Americans from the threats that result from reckless open-border policies. I was proud to help ensure funding for Border Patrol and immigration enforcement activity cannot be held hostage again during the Trump administration so the personnel performing these roles are fully resourced and focused on providing for our safety and national security.”

Background

The Secure America Act is narrowly targeted budget reconciliation legislation that:

- Fully funds CBP and ICE through Fiscal Year 2029.

Provides $26 billion to CBP and $38 billion to ICE to hire, pay, train and equip personnel as well as fund other mission support, operations and maintenance costs necessary to fulfill immigration law enforcement and border security functions.

- Provides $5 billion to the Department of Homeland Security through FY29 to assist immigration enforcement and law enforcement efforts.


U.S. Senator Katie Britt Delivers Speech at U.S. Coast Guard’s Enlisted Training Center of Excellence Ribbon Cutting at Birmingham-Southern College

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today attended and delivered remarks at the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) Enlisted Training Center of Excellence ribbon cutting at Birmingham-Southern College (BSC). Other attendees included Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, USCG Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Deputy MCPOCG Master Chief Matthew D. Buckman, and former BSC President Daniel Coleman. Thanks to President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Mullin’s historic investment and leadership, the USCG is going through a generational transformation which will ensure the USCG always stands ready to respond to the complex challenges of the future.

Senator Britt delivers remarks ahead of the ribbon cutting

In her remarks, Senator Britt stated in part, “This is an incredible day, and it’s an honor to join you here on the Hilltop to celebrate this historic day for Birmingham-Southern and for our community. Everyone here knows how critical Alabama is to our national defense, our military capabilities, and our national security.

…

“The Coast Guard’s acquisition of BSC is a continuation of its historic legacy. While the school we know today, opened its doors in 1918 and its predecessor, Southern University, began educating students 170 years before that, in 1856, it has always dedicated itself to academic rigor, to training and, above all, service. This campus is special. Just ask the people who went here … [W]e know that it helped teach, build, heal, minister and put people out into the world that wanted to protect. Whether it’s notable alumni like my dear friend, Congressman Aderholt … this place expanded the orbit of people who wanted to give back. And that’s why it’s been so special. You’ve seen students who came through here wanting to go into underserved communities. … To ensure that this incredible legacy is going to continue for our most courageous Americans, we are going to make sure that Birmingham-Southern logo continues to be branded and preserved around campus.

…

“As Chair of the Subcommittee for Homeland Security Appropriations, I’m proud to have helped play a role in this, and I am proud to have helped connect the dots and work alongside local, state and federal leaders to make this a reality.

…

“I want to give a special thanks to Secretary Mullin. This is a neat day for me, to be able to call you Secretary Mullin, to be able to watch your leadership, and to watch you transform the Department of Homeland Security into an even bigger and better product that keeps Americans safe and secure. Your heart and service is just unparalleled. And it is a real honor to have you here as we dedicate this today.

“We’re going to continue to work diligently to secure investments like this. It’s an honor for a lifetime to represent our great state. I’ll continue to fight for our values, fight for our people and deliver results. So, thank you once again for giving the hilltop the opportunity to continue to produce phenomenal and dedicated graduates seeking to preserve and achieve a greater goal. Forward Ever, and God Bless.”

Representative Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Admiral Lunday, Secretary Mullin, Senator Tuberville, Senator Britt, and Master Chief Buckman cut the ribbon for the USCG’s new Enlisted Training Center of Excellence at BSC.

As Senator Britt noted in a recent op-ed, thousands of members of the Coast Guard will travel through Birmingham annually, as will friends and family members who will visit and celebrate graduations. This influx in students and visitors is expected to provide a boost to businesses both small and large, positively impacting Birmingham’s economy. The move is also estimated to save millions of dollars for taxpayers by selecting an already-built training facility.

Senator Britt first announced the move in March of 2026, stating in part, “I have long been dedicated to strengthening Alabama’s military installations and the warfighters they serve. This exciting announcement further positions Alabama as a national leader in supporting our incredible U.S. Armed Forces and law enforcement personnel … Alabama stands as a proud leader in military excellence, and we’re honored to host this new training center that will help mold the next generation of Coast Guard members. Thank you to President Trump … and Admiral Lunday for making a tremendous decision that will strengthen our homeland security long into the future.”

Senator Britt has received widespread recognition for her role in this historic move and also discussed the moved with DHS Secretary Mullin in a Senate Appropriations hearing this week. Read more here and below:

Britt champions progress on new Birmingham Coast Guard center during Senate hearing

A shuttered Alabama college will soon transform into a military training center, Katie Britt says

Katie Britt highlights major progress on Coast Guard training center at Birmingham-Southern during Senate hearing

U.S. Coast Guard set to cut ribbon Friday on training center in Birmingham

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