Congressman Maxwell Frost and Senator Richard Blumenthal Introduce The Right to Record Act, Allowing Citizens to Sue Federal Officials Who Violate Their Rights as They Attempt to Legally Record

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) and Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced the Right To Record Act, legislation that would protect individuals’ First Amendment Rights while engaging with ICE agents and federal law enforcement officers – giving citizens an opportunity for civil compensation if these rights are infringed upon.

As protests and public demonstrations continue outside New Jersey’s Delaney Hall detention facility, there are reports of agents harassing journalists, advocates, and community members who are trying to document the conditions of the facility. This is just the latest example of federal immigration officials denying the public the transparency they deserve. Moreover, citizens currently face significant obstacles when trying to hold individual officials accountable for violations of constitutional rights. The Right to Record Act is needed to promote transparency, prevent federal agencies from concealing their unlawful behavior, and ensure that they are held accountable in a court of law if they do.

“The First Amendment defends the right to assemble, protest, and record government officials in public. That right has never been more important. In cases like the murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, officials and their allies tried to paint the victims as threats despite evidence showing otherwise,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “Without firsthand recordings, those false narratives might have become the official story, which is why the Right to Record Act is so important. It would protect the public’s ability to expose the truth without fear, giving individuals a legal path forward if an officer does violate their constitutional rights.”

“Over the last year, I’ve investigated dozens of cases of Americans brutalized by agents of their own government, and across the board, video footage corroborated their testimony – showing the world what they experienced and making sure that justice was served. Without recordings, we wouldn’t know the truth of what happened to Renee Nicole Good, Alex Pretti, Marimar Martinez, George Retes, and so, so many others. The right to bear witness has never been more important. I’m proud to work with Congressman Frost on bicameral legislation that will strengthen the right to record, observe, and peacefully protest – creating real enforcement tools for the protections of the First Amendment that lay the foundation for our democracy.” - Senator Richard Blumenthal

"The right to observe and record law enforcement is fundamental to our democracy," said Jenna Leventoff, senior policy counsel with the ACLU. "We can't hold our government accountable if we can't see for ourselves what they're doing in our communities. Observing and filming allows people to create an independent record, share information with their communities, and demand better from our government. Protesting for what we believe in is a core American value, and observing and filming government activity can drive the protest movements that spark change. All of these rights are squarely protected by the First Amendment, and we're hopeful that Congress will codify them into law by enacting the Right to Record Act."

For more information on the Right to Record Act, click here.

The Right to Record Act has been endorsed by: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Florida Immigration Coalition (FLIC)

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Gluesenkamp Perez Fights To Restore Trust In Congress By Creating Mental Acuity Standard for Lawmakers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) recently spoke in favor of her amendment that would for the first time ever create a new mental acuity standard for members of Congress.

Following debate, the amendment failed by voice vote. A video of the Congresswoman speaking on this issue can be found HERE.

“It is not a secret that confidence in Congress is shrinking. Back home, I persistently hear concerns from my constituents that Congress is not being run by the elected members, but instead by their staff. ” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “All Americans deserve to know that this body is holding itself to a high ethical standard – not empowering elected officials who are no longer capable of making decisions to hide behind their staff members. This amendment is meant to be a starting point for a difficult, but necessary conversation. While I am disappointed that it was not adopted, I am encouraged by the debate and look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on this issue.”

Gluesenkamp Perez’s amendment would direct the Office of Congressional Conduct to develop a standard relating to a Member of Congress’s abilities to perform the duties of their office unimpeded by significant irreversible cognitive impairment.

This follows a similar effort last year to create a mental acuity standard for lawmakers.Gluesenkamp Perez also introduced legislation on the same subject, directing the Office of Congressional Conduct to work with the Ethics Committee in establishing standards of conduct related to mental capacity of members of the House of Representatives.

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RELEASE: Ahead of World Cup in New Jersey, Gottheimer & White House Announce $8.5 Million in Funding to Support Law Enforcement

Above: Gottheimer announces $8.5 Million in funding for law enforcement during the World Cup.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and the White House Office announced $8.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to support law enforcement security operations surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The funding will be directed to local and state law enforcement departments and agencies — including local law enforcement in Bergen County towns near the Meadowlands Complex and in northern Bergen, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and the New Jersey State Police — to cover overtime and other necessary security costs as officers work to keep families, fans, and visitors safe during one of the largest sporting events in the world.

The World Cup kicks off this week at MetLife Stadium. Over the course of 8 games, North Jersey is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans from around the globe. Local police departments and first responders have faced significant overtime demands and resource pressures, with limited existing funding to meet those needs.

Watch Gottheimer’s full remarks here.

“This is a massive moment for New Jersey and for the entire country, and we need to make sure our officers and first responders have the resources to do their jobs,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Our local county prosecutor, law enforcement officers, and State Troopers are working overtime to keep people safe during the World Cup. They need the funding to match. That’s exactly what this delivers. I fought hard in Washington to secure these critical funds for Jersey, and after countless hours and conversations, I reached an agreement with the White House to get this money out the door and into the hands of the men and women keeping our communities safe.”

The $8.5 million FEMA Homeland Security Grant funding will be directed to:

$3 million tolocal law enforcement departments in Bergen County towns surrounding MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands Complex, the site of the World Cup, and to departments in Northern Bergen County supporting those towns. This money will be allocated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

The towns surrounding the stadium include Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Lyndhurst, Moonachie, Rutherford, Little Ferry, North Arlington, and Wood-Ridge.

Those departments will be supported by police from thirty-eight towns in Bergen County as a part of the Bergen County FIFA Task Force, including Tenafly, Fort Lee, Paramus, and Hackensack, and many others, who will surge officers to assist with security.

$1.5 million to Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, to support their FIFA Task Force security operations and local police departments surrounding the stadium.

$4 million to New Jersey State Police who will be responsible for securing MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands Complex during the games.

Funding is primarily intended to cover officer overtime and other necessary security costs for security operations during the FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium.

Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur, Wayne Blanchard; President of the State Troopers Fraternal Association, Mike Podiea; Chairman of Bergen County Police Benevolent Association, Alpine Chief Matthew Kent, Carlstadt Chief Thomas Cox, Cliffside Park Chief Yakup Zoklu, Closter Chief James Buccola, Cresskill Chief James Domville, Dumont Chief Luke Totten, East Rutherford Chief Dennis Rivelli, East Rutherford Deputy Chief Thomas Berlinski, Emerson Chief Mark Savino, Englewood Chief Thomas Greeley, Englewood Cliffs Chief William Henkelman, Fair Lawn Chief Joseph Dawicki, Fairview Chief Vincent Bellucci, Fort Lee Chief Matthew Hintze, Glen Rock Chief Michael Trover, Hackensack Chief Michael Antista, Hasbrouck Heights Chief Jeffrey Werner, Hillsdale Chief Travis Woods, Ho-Ho-Kus Chief Mike LaCroix, Little Ferry Chief James Walters, Lyndhurst Deputy Chief Paul Haggerty, Maywood Chief Terence Kenny, Moonachie Chief Richard Behrens, New Milford Chief Brian Clancy, North Arlington Chief Michael Horton, Northvale Chief Howard Ostrow, Norwood Chief Chris Federici, Oradell Chief William Wicker, Paramus Chief Robert Guidetti, Park Ridge Chief Joseph Rampolla, Ridgefield Chief Thomas Gallagher, Ridgefield Park Chief Joseph Rella, River Edge Chief Michael Walker, River Vale Chief Christopher Bulger, Rochelle Park Chief Dean Pinto, Rutherford Chief John Russo, Saddle Brook Chief John Zotollo, Saddle River Chief Jason Cosgriff, South Hackensack Chief Robert Chinchar, Teaneck Chief Andrew McGurr, Tenafly Chief Robert Chamberlain, Upper Saddle River Chief Patrick Rotella, Waldwick Chief Christoher Goodell, Wood-Ridge Chief Michael O’Donnell, Woodcliff Lake Chief Stephen Regula.

Below: Gottheimer announces $8.5 Million in funding for law enforcement during the World Cup.

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Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Good morning, everyone.

First, I want to start by thanking the men and women standing here with us today. Jersey’s finest. Our local law enforcement – including all of the Chiefs. Our Sheriff and his team from Bergen County. And all the state troopers, not to mention the major law enforcement unions, and our County Prosecutor and his office.

Every single day, rain or shine, late nights, early mornings, weekends, holidays, you put on the uniform, and you answer the call without hesitation. You put yourselves in harm’s way to keep our families and communities safe. You’ve got our backs. And I want you to know, as ever, that I’ve got yours.

Now let me tell you why we’re here today.

It’s finally here. This week, the FIFA World Cup kicks off right here in Bergen County at MetLife Stadium with Brazil taking on Morocco on Saturday.

Let me just say that again.

The World Cup. Right here. In Jersey. Not New York — Jersey.

There will be eight games at our stadium alone.

Hundreds of thousands of fans, if not millions, from every corner of the globe, will descend on Bergen County — and in every town surrounding it.

This isn’t just any sporting event — it’s the biggest sporting event in the world, and it’s happening right here in our own backyard. It’s our opportunity to shine and to show off Jersey to the world.

People from every continent, every country are coming here, to our backyard – from England to Ecuador, and everywhere in between, including Mississippi and Alabama. And they’re not just flying in for the matches themselves.

They’re coming into our communities, staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, and shopping in our stores. That’s real economic activity and jobs. That’s amazing for Jersey families and fantastic for Jersey businesses.

But, let’s be clear: none of that works if people don’t feel safe.

And keeping everyone safe — every team, every fan, every world leader, every family pouring into our towns — takes serious resources. That means protection from terror attacks, biological weapons, drones, and plain-old ordinary crime — anything else that might put players, spectators, or Jersey families in danger.

That’s where you come in. Think about what our officers are actually being asked to do here.

This isn’t just a normal day at the office. We’re talking about months of training, multi-agency task forces, coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement. The FBI. Homeland Security. The Intelligence Community. All preparing for what’s ahead. We’re talking about up to thirty-seven days of sustained law enforcement operations from the first game this Saturday in New Jersey to the final on July 19.

Thirty-seven days. Extended shifts. Task force deployments. Intelligence analysts at work. Traffic officers. Patrol officers. Investigators. Supervisors. All working long and hard shifts for thirty-seven consecutive days for the safety of our communities and those coming to the Garden State to experience the games.

Meanwhile, our local departments still have to deliver full police services to the residents and communities they protect every single day — the routine calls, the emergencies, accidents, robberies, everything. But now, they’re doing all of that on top of a World Cup operation that is already stretching every resource they have.

A few months ago, our Bergen County Prosecutor came to me with a problem I couldn’t ignore.

He told me that many of our local police departments, which are providing support to everyone coming to Jersey for the games, to eat, to go to the bars, to shop in our communities, weren’t getting a nickel to cover those costs. Not one dollar for overtime shifts away from their families or for the extra equipment essential to protecting all of us.

You’re talking about a massive strain on our Bergen County Police Departments – and not a dime of extra funding for it.

Which meant if nothing was done, Jersey taxpayers were going to be left holding the bag. Jersey families — picking up the tab for a World Cup security operation that, in my opinion, FIFA should have been funding from day one. After all, they’re getting on average between $12,000 a ticket for the World Cup finals and making billions. Or, at the very least, New York should be picking up more of the tab.

But not you. Not our local, hardworking Jersey families who are already getting crushed by more than $4 a gallon gas prices, utility bills, child care, and health care costs, not to mention our ridiculous taxes.

And the Prosecutor and his department, who have been helping coordinate all of our local police departments and arrests, were also largely being left in the wind. Not enough resources. Just extra responsibility.

That was unacceptable to me. Add to that the massive hit to our State Troopers who will be providing safety and protection to fans and teams here in Bergen and up and down the state – at all the practice locations and fan fests. The coming weeks will be insanely intense for them, and, of course, our state will end up spending a hell of a lot more than we’re getting from the federal government or from FIFA.

Again, that strain doesn’t just fall on systems — it falls on real people. It falls on the taxpayers and on our law enforcement officers. They will be working overtime, sometimes double shifts, to keep every family safe.

You’ve probably heard New York talking a lot about this World Cup. The “New York” World Cup. The “New York” games.

Well, I’ve got news for them.

The stadium? It’s in Jersey. The Meadowlands? It’s in Jersey. The games? They’re being played in Jersey. And the World Cup final, the biggest game in the entire tournament, is being played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

And where do you think the teams have been having their training sessions? Right here. In Jersey. So, let’s be clear about who is actually doing the heavy lifting on security.

It’s not New York City cops policing the Meadowlands. It’s our State Troopers and our local police in the surrounding towns. The men and women who are standing here with me today. These are Jersey law enforcement officers working weeks and weeks straight to keep everyone safe.

And yet when the federal funding was first allocated for this region, our local police departments largely got left behind. On top of that, even though New York and New Jersey have unique security needs — we’re hosting the final, and the teams in the final will need to move here to train before the game — somehow, Atlanta and Miami received higher funding levels.

That was wrong – and that changes today. I went back to work to get Jersey what we deserve.

I fought hard in Washington to secure these additional critical funds. From countless hours of meetings, calls, and negotiations.

I worked with the White House, Homeland Security, and FEMA to get Jersey much-needed extra funding.

Today, I am proud to announce that we have secured an additional $8.5 million in FEMA Homeland Security Grant funding for the men and women in Bergen County and beyond who are keeping our Jersey communities safe during the World Cup.

Yes, we’ve clawed $8.5 million back from the federal government for Jersey that will be distributed to communities here in Jersey.

First, of the $8.5 million, $3 million is allocated for local law enforcement departments in the Bergen County towns surrounding MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands Complex, and the departments in the northern part of the County that are helping them. So, that’s everyone from Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Lyndhurst, Moonachie, Rutherford, Little Ferry, North Arlington, and Wood-Ridge.

These are the towns that will be right in the thick of it. They will be supported by police from thirty-eight towns, including Tenafly, Fort Lee, Paramus, Fair Lawn, and Hackensack, who will surge officers to secure our County. All these departments will be running enhanced staffing schedules from the moment this tournament begins. Now, they’re all going to get some help covering their costs.

Second, of the $8.5 million, $1.5 million will go to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office to help coordinate Bergen County law enforcement and prosecution, and to support the FIFA Task Force, a multi-agency unit that is on the ground for the full duration of the games. It will also support their SWAT team, which will be ready in case of an emergency. And, of course, the Prosecutor’s office will handle any folks who decide to break the law.

Third, and finally, we’ve also clawed back $4 million for the New Jersey State Police, who are responsible for securing MetLife Stadium and the Meadowlands Complex during the games, as well as helping up and down the state for every fan event and practice. They are also coordinating directly with the federal law enforcement task forces.

These dollars will help cover officer overtime and extended shifts. It will help cover the security operations, like the intelligence analysts, the traffic officers, and the task force deployments – and an extra emergency equipment. Everything they need to do this job right for thirty-seven days of World Cup operations.

$8.5 million dollars clawed back from Washington and brought home to Jersey, where it belongs.

Because here’s the bottom line: I don’t want the World Cup to hit your pocketbooks. I don’t want it coming out of your state income and local property taxes.

The families in Jersey shouldn’t be footing the bill for a global sporting event that FIFA and the federal government have a responsibility to fund. That’s not how this should work. And that’s exactly why I went and worked with the White House to get these dollars.

And I want to be clear about something. These are your federal tax dollars.

You pay them every single year. The question is always: how much of that money actually gets back to New Jersey? How much do we claw back to Bergen County, back to the towns around this stadium, instead of going somewhere else, like god-for-sake places like Mississippi and Alabama?

My job is to fight to claw back every dollar I can, and bring it home here where it belongs.

That’s what this is. Jersey families’ own federal tax dollars — coming back home to keep Jersey.

Fans are already arriving. The games start this week. Hundreds of thousands of people are going to pour into this community. Into Bergen County, into East Rutherford, into all the towns surrounding this stadium from around the world. And, let’s be clear, the world will be watching. Jersey will show the world exactly what we’re made of.

And, because of the officers standing with us today, they’re going to be safe, and they’re going to be protected. This is New Jersey at its best. Getting things done. Taking care of our own. Standing up for what we deserve.

I will always have the backs of our law enforcement, our firefighters, and all our first responders. Keeping them and our families safe is not a partisan issue – this is all red, white, and blue, with a little Jersey yellow.

I am so proud to be here. I am so grateful for everything these incredible public servants do. And I can’t wait to watch these games and to see the USA in the finals!

In the greatest country in the world, I know that if we work together to put on the greatest event the world has ever seen, our best days will always be ahead of us.

Thank you, may God bless you, may God bless our first responders, and may God bless the greatest country the world has ever known.


RELEASE: HILL AWARDS LATEST GOLDEN FLEECE TO CMS

HHS Inspector General reports show MA plans are misusing prior authorization, a practice used to pre-approve expensive care before it is provided, at the expense of seniors. In one study, 18% of denied claims were for services that already met coverage rules or had been previously approved. The yearly cost of insurance paperwork to the U.S. economy totals $31 billion, a portion of which comes from prior authorization filings and appeals for improper denials. CMS could reduce that amount and save taxpayers' money by fixing its prior authorization oversight.

Rep. Hill said, "CMS failing to efficiently or appropriately use prior authorization is unacceptable. Medicare is one of our largest federal health care expenditures and increasingly strains our already difficult fiscal situation. Every dollar matters. So when the HHS IG finds that 18% of denied claims were improper, CMS deserves to be called out. Medicare exists to protect our seniors, and they are the ones who suffer most when the system fails. CMS needs to fix this now. Our seniors are counting on it."

In his letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Rep. Hill writes:

Dear Administrator Oz,

I write today to inform you that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is this month’s recipient of my Golden Fleece Award. I am awarding this to CMS because of its failure to properly oversee Medicare Advantage (MA) plans prior authorization practices.

CMS is responsible for ensuring federal health care programs, including Medicare, operate smoothly. This duty is made even more important as seniors are increasingly choosing to enroll in privately managed MA plans. These plans can improve care coordination, reduce costs, and maintain or improve care.

MA plans often use prior authorization, the practice of pre-approving certain complicated or expensive care before services are provided, to contain costs and cut down on fraud and abuse. However, I am concerned that some MA plans are misusing prior authorization in a way that harms Medicare and our seniors.

Specifically, I am concerned about reports from the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General (HHS OIG) showing that MA plans are failing to efficiently or appropriately use prior authorization. In one study, the HHS OIG found that 18% of denied claims were for services that met MA plan coverage rules or had already been approved through prior authorization. The report also identified multiple instances where MA plans claimed that records were lost, not properly linked, or software failed. I hope you agree with me that basic record-keeping failures should not be common, and that CMS has a duty to ensure plans prevent these kinds of issues.

Prior authorization failures can delay care for seniors and create unnecessary burdens for health care providers. This should not be tolerated when taxpayer dollars are funding the MA plans responsible. Estimates suggest that prior authorization abuse or errors consume physician time, lead to adverse outcomes, and can even reduce productivity due to missed work.

More importantly, the impact on patients is severe. According to studies, prior authorization can lead to worse health outcomes for children and adults, including for behavioral care like opioid use disorder and even cancer treatments. In addition, delays, including time spent appealing denials, lead to worse health outcomes now and more expensive care later.

The economic cost of prior authorization is also striking. Research suggests that the yearly cost of insurance paperwork to physicians is $68,274, with a total cost to the U.S. economy of $31 billion. It is important to note that most of those costs fall on small, independent practices. Further, some portion of that $31 billion is spent on filing prior authorizations and appeals for improper denials. That money could be spent on better, or more care, but instead is essentially wasted. This kind of failure, which demonstrably harms patients Medicare is designed to protect, can be avoided.

CMS must address the problem of inefficient or harmful prior authorization practices in Medicare. Should you require additional authority from Congress to conduct oversight of MA plans, I ask that you notify me. I look forward to working with you in the near future.

Sincerely,

French Hill

Member of Congress

CC: Inspector General March Bell, Department of Health and Human Services.


LEADER JEFFRIES: “HOUSE DEMOCRATS WILL BE A HARD NO ON THE RECKLESS REPUBLICAN BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL THIS WEEK”

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference, where he emphasized that while Republicans are voting this week to give ICE a $70 billion blank check to brutalize our communities, House Democrats remain committed to lowering the high cost of living and using taxpayer dollars to make life better and more affordable for the American people.

LEADER JEFFRIES: From the very beginning of this Congress, House Democrats have made clear that the cost of living in the United States of America is far too high and that Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. But costs haven’t gone down in the United States of America, costs have gone up. Grocery prices are too high. Housing costs are too high. Healthcare costs are too high. Utility bills are too high. Gas prices are out of control. America is far too expensive. And Donald Trump hasn’t made the situation better. He’s made the situation worse. The Trump Tariffs have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. The Republican assault on the healthcare of the American people has caused health insurance costs to skyrocket. And at the same period of time, Donald Trump’s reckless and costly war of choice in Iran has resulted in gas prices through the roof.

America is far too expensive. There are far too many people in this country who are working hard, they’re playing by the rules, but they are unable to thrive, and they can barely survive. And that’s not acceptable in the United States of America. So House Democrats are going to continue to fight to drive down the high cost of living and push back against the Republican effort to make life more expensive. We believe that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not give ICE another $70 billion blank check so they can unleash brutality on American citizens and violently target law-abiding immigrant communities. House Democrats will be a hard no on the reckless Republican budget reconciliation bill this week.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Added Slots for CNMI at U.S. Service Academies

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has approved my amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to increase the CNMI’s slots at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy from three students to four students at each. This will enable more CNMI students to attend these prestigious, tuition-free colleges and reflects the CNMI’s unique contributions to America’s national defense. I’d like to thank my friend Congressman Jim Moylan from Guam, a HASC member, for submitting the amendment in committee on my behalf, and for HASC Chairman Mike Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith for supporting my amendment. The NDAA must still pass the full House, the Senate, and be signed by the President to become law. I encourage all CNMI high school students who are interested in attending these institutions to find the application form through my website.


Catch Up with Kim -- June 8th, 2026 -- Letter from the Congresswoman
June 8, 2026
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Celebrating the Class of 2026

Graduation season is one of my favorite times of year, and it was an honor to join schools across the Commonwealth in celebrating the Class of 2026. Over the last several weeks, I had the opportunity to meet graduates, families, teachers, administrators, and community members who came together to recognize an important milestone in the lives of our students. Each ceremony was filled with pride, excitement, and hope for the future. This year's graduates reached the finish line during a time that has tested our community in extraordinary ways. Yet they continued forward, supported by their families, educators, and the people who believed in them along the way. To the Class of 2026, congratulations on all you have accomplished. Whether your next step is college, the military, a trade, the workforce, or something else entirely, I hope you pursue it with courage, curiosity, and a willingness to keep learning. On behalf of your Congressional Office and from me personally, congratulations to every graduate across the Commonwealth. We are proud of you and excited to see what comes next.


The Dignity of Honest Work at Saipan Southern High School

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I wrapped up my week and time back in the CNMI speaking to the graduates of Saipan Southern High School, where I had the honor of celebrating with the Class of 2026 during the final high school graduation ceremony of the season. After attending multiple graduations, I noticed many speakers shared a similar message about resilience. My view was a little different. These graduates have lived through two super typhoons, a pandemic, and now the disruptions caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku. They do not need to be told they are resilient. They have already proven it. Instead, I spoke about the dignity of honest work and the idea that a person's worth is not determined by a job title. I shared some of my own experiences working difficult jobs during challenging times and the lessons those experiences taught me about humility, perseverance, and contributing to something larger than yourself. My message to the graduates was that there is honor in effort, dignity in all work, and when life does not go according to plan, there is nowhere to go but forward.


Joining Stakeholders for Updates on DoW Activities in the Marianas

Last week, I had the opportunity to join Governor Apatang and Commonwealth officials for a CNMI Stakeholders Meeting with senior leaders from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Joint Task Force–Micronesia, and Joint Region Marianas. The discussion covered a wide range of issues affecting our islands, including military exercises, infrastructure development, environmental stewardship, biosecurity, and future planning efforts across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. These meetings are important because they provide an opportunity for the Commonwealth to engage directly with military leadership, share community perspectives, and ensure that the needs and concerns of our islands remain part of the conversation as activities in the region continue to grow.


Looking Beyond the Reef at Marianas High School

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I had the honor of speaking to the graduating Class of 2026 at Marianas High School during a commencement ceremony that came just weeks after one of the most difficult periods our islands have faced in recent memory. My message to the graduates was simple: do not let where you come from determine how big you are allowed to dream. I shared the story of an MHS student who wrote a letter to Elon Musk, not because success was guaranteed, but because he was willing to ask, willing to imagine a different possibility, and willing to hear "no." We talked about innovation, technology, and the opportunities available to a generation entering a world changing faster than ever before. Most of all, we talked about perspective. Our islands have always been shaped by the reef, but our future will depend on our willingness to look beyond it and toward the horizon. Congratulations again to the Marianas High School Class of 2026. Dream big, take your shot, and never let a small place create small dreams.


Seeking Clarity for CNMI Long-Term Residents

Following USCIS's response regarding CNMI Long-Term Resident EAD renewals, I wrote to the U.S. Department of Justice seeking guidance on alternative evidence of employment authorization for Long-Term Residents. USCIS has confirmed that CNMI Long-Term Residents remain employment authorized incident to status even if their EAD expires. At the same time, USCIS has stated that an expired EAD is no longer valid evidence of employment authorization. That leaves employers facing a difficult question. If a worker remains authorized to work, what documentation may an employer rely upon while an EAD renewal is pending, delayed, returned, or rejected? My letter asks the Department of Justice to provide clear guidance on alternative forms of documentation that employers may rely upon in good faith so that workers who remain authorized under the law are not placed at risk of losing employment because of uncertainty surrounding documentation requirements. Clear answers will help protect both CNMI Long-Term Residents and the businesses that depend on them.


Tenorio & Celes Family Visit

This week our D.C. office welcomed Juan and Rose Tenorio from Saipan, as well as their daughter Kim and her husband, Alfred Celes, who now live in Virginia. After visiting with the team in the D.C. office they set out on a tour of the Capitol. They visited all the historic chambers, from the Rotunda to the Crypt. Thank you for visiting and come again soon!


LaHood Congratulates Gregory Gilmore as New U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) released the following statement in reaction to the swearing in of Gregory Gilmore as the U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois.

"Throughout his career, Gregory Gilmore has displayed tremendous integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the rule of law," said Rep. LaHood. "He is an excellent choice to head the Central District of Illinois as U.S. Attorney and it was an honor to support his nomination for the role. I have the utmost confidence he will lead with fairness and work tirelessly to serve and protect the citizens of the Central District."

Background:

Gilmore has served the office since 1994 in a variety of roles including, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, and civil chief, criminal chief, and criminal supervisor of the Springfield division. He was nominated by President Trump on January 13th, confirmed by the Senate on May 18th, and sworn in on June 1st.


Moran, McClellan, Blackburn, Schatz Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Combat Cyberflashing and AI-Generated Abuse

Representatives Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Curbing Online Non-Consensual Sexually Explicit Nudity Transfers (CONSENT) Act to prohibit the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images across social media platforms and dating apps. This legislation gives Americans a legal path to fight back against unsolicited explicit content.

“No one should be subject to online sexual harassment and exploitation,” said Congressman Moran. “The explosion of AI-generated abuse material has made the need to address cyberflashing more urgent than ever. The CONSENT Act will give victims in every state the ability to fight back. Artificial intelligence has raised the stakes, and it is time for Congress to rise to the moment to provide added protection from exploitation.”

“As the technological landscape rapidly changes, lawmakers must prioritize the digital safety and security of the American people, especially women and children targeted by cyberflashing and other sexually exploitative practices,” said Congresswoman McClellan.“As a state legislator, I led the effort to criminalize cyberflashing in Virginia. Now, Congress must safeguard against cyberflashing abuses. The CONSENT Act will help provide a safer online environment while empowering survivors with a pathway to accountability.”

“AI has opened the door for bad actors to produce explicit images quickly and cheaply to abuse or harass more victims, especially targeting young women,” said Senator Blackburn. “The bipartisan CONSENT Act would provide victims with a civil right of action and relief when they receive unwanted sexual images or videos on dating apps, text messages, and other forms of online communication.”

“No one should fall victim to unwanted flashing, whether in real-life or online,” said Senator Schatz. “By providing a federal private right of action and imposing penalties, this bill will help prevent sexual harassment and hold perpetrators accountable.”

What the bill does:

Ensures a private right of action against individuals who knowingly send unsolicited, nonconsensual, sexually explicit visual images, whether they are unaltered or manipulated using machine learning or artificial intelligence.

Provides that an individual may obtain either statutory damages (not more than $500) OR compensatory damages for emotional distress, reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees, and a temporary restraining order to cease receiving sexually explicit images from the sender.

Safeguards the privacy of minors and allows a legal guardian to bring a civil action on their behalf and may elect to use the plaintiff’s initials in all further court proceedings.

Stakeholder Support:

Whitney Wolfe Herd, Founder and CEO of Bumble: “For years, Bumble has championed efforts to criminalize cyberflashing and protect people from unsolicited explicit content online. While we are proud of the progress that has been made at the state level, millions of Americans, especially women, remain unprotected without a federal standard. That’s why we support the bipartisan CONSENT Act, which empowers individuals to take legal action against those who knowingly send nonconsensual explicit content. Congress has an opportunity to make it clear that these acts are unacceptable and that everyone deserves a safer, more respectful online experience. Thank you to the bill sponsors who are helping move this critical legislation forward.”

The CONSENT Act is endorsed by the online dating app Bumble, the Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA), the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV), the National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline), and the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund (NWLC).

Read the CONSENT Act bill text here.


Griffith Bill to Reassert Legislative Branch Powers Passes House of Representatives

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) spoke on the House floor in support of his bill, H.R. 6028 – the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act. The U.S. House of Representatives then voted favorably for Congressman Griffith’s legislation. The bill will be sent to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

This bill received support from the Committee on House Administration:

“The Library of Congress and Government Publishing Office are essential to our work in the Legislative Branch. I thank Representative Griffith for his tireless work to get this important Article One bill over the finish line.” – Chairman Bryan Steil, Committee on House Administration

Following passage of his bill, Congressman Griffith issued the following statement:

“Accountability, clarity and good governance. That is what my pro-Article I bill delivers to help institutions serve Congress and the American people.

“House passage of my Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act is a positive step for Congress and the U.S. Constitution. This bill helps reassert Congress’s Article I responsibilities as well as deliver clarity on the powers exercised by the Legislative and Executive Branches.

“Thanks to the efforts of Chairman Steil, Ranking Member Morelle and the rest of my colleagues on the Committee on House Administration, Congress will be better suited to work closely with the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office.”

BACKGROUND

Congressman Griffith’s remarks in support of his bill can be found here.

Congressman Griffith’s bill directs the formation of a bipartisan Congressional commission to appoint the Librarian of Congress and Director of the Government Publishing Office. Under current law, such appointments are made by the President of the United States, despite certain agencies being part of the Legislative Branch.

The Register of the Copyright Office will be appointed by the President with the consent of the U.S. Senate. An inspector’s general office possessing ample oversight authority is also established for the Copyright Office.

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Griffith Announces Nearly $1.6 Million in Disaster Relief for Buchanan and Dickenson Counties

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded two disaster related grants to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The funding breakdown of the grants is as follows:

$1,430,809 to support road restoration projects in Dickenson County

$163,925 to support asphalt roads surface repair and replacement in Buchanan County

In response to these grant notices, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“In early 2025, winter storms severely impacted transportation infrastructure in Southwest Virginia. This extreme weather event inflicted damage to roads that our communities routinely rely on for access.

“I accordingly worked to urge federal partners to approve Governor Youngkin’s Major Disaster Declaration and make additional federal resources available for Virginia’s Ninth District.

“These FEMA grants for nearly $1.6 million show federal assistance is on the way to help Dickenson and Buchanan Counties rebuild road infrastructure in Southwest Virginia.”

BACKGROUND

FEMA funds are obligated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth will be responsible for providing the funds to the sub-recipients.

These grants are related to Virginia’s Major Disaster Declaration that President Trump approved in April 2025. The amended map of localities covered by the Declaration can be found here.

Congressman Griffith worked with U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to secure President Trump’s approval of Governor Youngkin’s Major Disaster Declaration.

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Nadler And Holyman-Sigal: "Penn Station Belongs to New Yorkers"

New York, N.Y. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal sounded the alarm on the Trump administration's attempt to override the local authority of Penn Station by running a corrupt redevelopment process and pushing malicious legislation through Congress. Read their op-ed, published in Streetsblog, below:

We represent Penn Station.

We represent the riders who pass through it every day, the workers who keep it running, the businesses that depend on it, and the communities in Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown, and the surrounding Manhattan neighborhoods that live with the consequences of every decision made about its future.

Penn Station is not an abstract national asset, a line item in a federal transportation plan, or a real estate opportunity for billionaires. It is essential local infrastructure at the center of New York City’s daily life.

Every day, more than 600,000 New Yorkers and regional commuters depend on Penn Station. Amtrak — the agency that owns this station and is now driving its redevelopment — serves just 7 percent of these riders; the MTA and NJ Transit serve 93 percent. And yet Amtrak, under the direction of the Trump White House, is making all the decisions. Without asking any of us.

Penn Station was built to accommodate 200,000 passengers a day. It now handles more than three times that number. It is not just overcrowded — it is operating in a state of permanent crisis. New Yorkers deserve better. But the answer to that crisis cannot be a secret deal that hands the station’s future to politically connected developers while locking out the public.

No one disputes that Penn Station needs to be renovated — this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and we want to see it done.

But not like this.

This is also the same president who froze $16 billion in Gateway Tunnel funding and demanded Penn Station be renamed after him in exchange for releasing it. His own White House confirmed it. New Yorkers haven’t forgotten.

The appointment of Penn Transformation Partners as the “master developer” for Penn Station was made behind closed doors. No full public request for proposals was released. No complete cost estimate was disclosed. No public hearings were held. New York City, New York State, local elected officials, and the communities most affected were sidelined. And all three shortlisted developer teams have direct ties to Trump donors — and all three lobbied the White House directly for this contract.

This was not a competitive process. It was a political favor dressed up as one.

The MTA — whose riders make up the overwhelming majority of Penn Station’s daily users — was given no meaningful seat at the table. The MTA holds legally binding leasehold rights at Penn Station, rights it has relied on to invest in the 33rd Street corridor and protect the rider experience it is responsible for. Those rights must not be quietly bargained away in a process the MTA was deliberately excluded from.

And let us be direct about the money. Estimates put the total cost of this project up to $7 billion. The potential public shortfall is nearly $6 billion. Washington has committed just $43 million so far. Someone is going to be stuck with that bill. It will not be Donald Trump. It will not be the developers. It will be New York’s commuters — hit with surcharges on their MTA and NJ Transit tickets — and New York’s taxpayers, left absorbing costs they never agreed to fund.

There is also a dangerous piece of legislation moving through Congress that would make all of this worse. The McDowell and Moulton Amendment — adopted as part of the BUILD America 250 Act — would hand Amtrak sweeping new authority over development around intercity rail stations. It would allow Amtrak to own, lease, and enter into private development agreements around stations like Penn. It would let Amtrak-linked projects avoid state and local taxes, building codes, and zoning requirements.

In plain English: a federally controlled entity operating under Trump’s direction could gain the power to reshape land use around Penn Station while exempting itself from New York’s laws, weakening our tax base, and bypassing our communities. Not temporarily. Permanently.

Property taxes fund our schools, our public safety, our housing, and our basic services. Granting private developers exemption from those obligations — in one of the most valuable real estate markets in the world — is not transit-oriented development. It is a public giveaway on a breathtaking scale.

We are not against transit-oriented development. Done right — transparently, locally, in service of riders and communities — it can be a genuine public good. A real 24/7 neighborhood around Penn Station, with affordable housing, retail, and public spaces, would be transformative for this city. That is exactly the kind of vision New York deserves.

But that vision cannot be decided in a backroom deal between a president and his donors. It must be decided with the community, for the community.

New Yorkers deserve straight answers to basic questions. Who picked this developer and why? What will this project actually cost? Who will pay when the bill comes due? What happens to funding for subway repairs, accessibility upgrades, and state-of-good-repair work across the region? Will our tax base be protected? Will our zoning laws be respected?


Rep. Simpson Advances Funding for Dry Creek Bridge Replacement

WASHINGTON—Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson highlighted the inclusion of $5,833,000 in funding for the Dry Creek Bridge Replacement Project near Murtaugh, Idaho, at his request through Community Project Funding (CPF) in the Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

“Replacing the nearly 95-year-old Dry Creek Bridge is long overdue,” said Rep. Simpson. “Given the growth in Twin Falls County and throughout our state, improving and replacing this existing bridge will enhance public safety. I’ve spoken with the Idaho State Police, the Rock Creek Fire District, and several other local organizations, and there is a common consensus that this new bridge will serve the community and provide long-term stability.”

“This is a needed project on US-30 as the Dry Creek Bridge serves communities, recreation, and commerce including our important agriculture industry. We are grateful for the consideration and attention from Representative Simpson on this project and look forward to completing it,” said Idaho Transportation Department District 4 Head Engineer Jesse Barrus.

This funding will be used to replace the Dry Creek Bridge, as it is nearing the end of its service life. The current narrow lanes and outdated design limit capacity and safety. Replacing it will widen and elevate the structure, improve sight distance, modernize guardrails, and improve the safety of the bridge

Despite claims that CPF projects are "wasteful earmarks," Community Project Funding gives Members of Congress like Congressman Simpson the opportunity to bring Idaho tax dollars back home for Idaho priorities. These projects fill a clear and present need in communities across Idaho and enjoy broad community support. The federal dollars designated for CPF projects exist within existing budget limits. Rather than that money going to fund projects in different states, CPF projects give Idahoans a critical voice in determining where budgeted funding goes.

As Idaho’s only appropriator, Rep. Simpson has a unique opportunity to fight for Idaho’s priorities and ensure Idahoans’ hard-earned tax dollars return to Idaho.

The Dry Creek Bridge Replacement Project is a part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. This measure has been approved by the House Appropriations Committee.


Stanton Moves to Redirect Billions from ICE, Rein In Warehouse Detention

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (AZ-04) today announced the introduction of three amendments to the House Republican reconciliation bill that would redirect funding from the $70 billion funding surge for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to bolster the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as hurricane season begins and add necessary oversight over the creation of detention facilities like the one under development in Surprise, AZ.

"The Republican reconciliation bill pours tens of billions of dollars into ICE, on top of the billions they already have on hand, while failing to provide the oversight and accountability communities deserve," said Rep. Stanton. "My amendments attempted to redirect a portion of that funding to address urgent public safety and disaster response needs, while ensuring communities aren't sidelined when major federal detention facilities are proposed in their neighborhoods."

Stanton's first amendment prohibits the use of funds to acquire or convert facilities into immigration detention centers unless DHS first consults with local, state, and Tribal officials and routes actions through the General Services Administration. The amendment responds to DHS plans to hold 80,000 immigrants in warehouses nationwide, including in Surprise, Arizona. Stanton led the Arizona House delegation in demanding transparency on the Surprise facility and submitted nearly 7,000 constituent comments to DHS opposing its construction.

Additionally, as Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee with jurisdiction over FEMA, Stanton introduced two amendments to redirect funding for ICE to strengthen FEMA's operations.

Stanton’s second amendment would redirect $10 billion from ICE to ensure FEMA is fully staffed and prepared as hurricane season begins. FEMA faces significant staffing challenges at a time when communities across the country are experiencing increasingly severe and frequent natural disasters. The amendment prioritizes disaster readiness and emergency response capabilities over another blank check to ICE and CBP.

Stanton’s second amendment would redirect an additional $10 billion from ICE to help cover post-disaster infrastructure repair costs caused by delays in FEMA funding disbursements. These delays stemmed from a policy under former Secretary Kristi Noem that required her personal sign-off on expenditures over $100,000. The policy was rescinded after Noem's departure in April 2026.

Stanton also supported several other Democratic member efforts to amend the reconciliation bill, including amendments to redirect all of the funding for ICE to programs that support local law enforcement, protect immigrants from being arrested at courthouses, sensitive locations like schools and houses of worship, and Tribal facilities; limit short-term detention to 12 hours; and require body cameras and use-of-force standards for ICE agents.


Reps. Van Duyne and Clarke Host the First-Ever Creator Row on Capitol Hill as Co-Chairs of the House Creators Caucus

Washington, D.C. – Last week, Representatives Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) and Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Co-Chairs and Co-Founders of the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus, hosted the first-ever Creator Row: A Creator Economy Showcase on the Hill, bringing together more than 30 creators, eight digital platforms, and a university for a first-of-its-kind showcase highlighting the impact of the creator economy across the United States.

The event provided Members of Congress, congressional staff, creators, and industry leaders, with an opportunity to connect directly, exchange ideas, and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing one of the fastest-growing sectors of the modern economy.

Creators traveled to Washington from across the country, demonstrating a key reality of the creator economy: every congressional district is home to creators who are building businesses, creating jobs, reaching global audiences, and contributing to local economic growth.

Attendees heard remarks from Rep. Van Duyne (R-TX), House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX), Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), and two creators. To watch these remarks click here.

"The creator economy is empowering opportunities in every corner of America. From small towns to major cities, America is filled with creators building their brands and businesses, hiring local talent, contributing to their communities, and reaching audiences around the world," said Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne. "The first ever Creator Row demonstrated the value of bringing together creators, platforms, and policymakers to strengthen the future of the creator economy."

“The creator economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors of our modern economy, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure creators have the resources, protections, and opportunities they need to succeed. As digital entrepreneurs continue to reach billions of people globally, their work is driving innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening communities here at home and abroad," said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. "Through the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus, we’ve created a first-of-its-kind forum for creators, industry leaders, and policymakers to work in tandem on the opportunities and challenges facing this new generation of small business owners. Creators’ voices deserve to be part of the policymaking process, and my colleagues and I are committed to ensuring their experiences help shape policies that support their continued growth and success.”

"Creators are driving economic growth and innovation in congressional districts across the country. The Creator Economy Showcase on the Hill was an incredible opportunity for lawmakers to hear directly from creators about the unique opportunities and hurdles they face daily. We thank the House Creators Caucus for elevating these voices to ensure that future policies support the small businesses and independent workers who power the creator economy." – Alexandra Veitch, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Americas, YouTube

“We appreciate the Creator Caucus for allowing creators to share the challenges they face everyday - and to demonstrate how innovative tools like our AI glasses help them overcome these challenges. Conversations, like these, allow leaders to understand how new technology is helping small businesses thrive by streamlining tasks and making more time for creativity.” – Andrea Vega Yudico, Innovation Policy Lead, Meta

“Creator Row was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when creators have a seat at the table. Patreon came to Capitol Hill with our creators front and center. This is a constituency that deserves recognition, and watching members of Congress engage directly with creators’ work and stories made that even clearer. We’re proud to have been part of this moment alongside the Congressional Creators Caucus and look forward to what comes next.” – Courtney Duffy, Head of External Affairs & Chief of Staff, Patreon

“Adobe was honored to join the Congressional Creators Caucus at Creator Row to hear directly from creators around the country about the opportunities and concerns that they see in a rapidly evolving creative landscape. Our fundamental mission is empowering everyone to create, and we are grateful to Representatives Van Duyne, Clarke and the Creators Caucus for their leadership in working to protect the interests and livelihoods of the creative economy.” – Karen Robinson, Senior Vice President, Adobe

“We are proud to showcase TikTok’s thriving creator community to the Congressional Creator Caucus. Across the United States, TikTok enables creators to share their passions, build communities, and turn creativity into opportunity, while helping 8.5 million U.S. businesses reach customers and grow. We are grateful to the Caucus for recognizing the important economic impact these entrepreneurs bring to the American economy.” – Nicole Nason, Head of Public Policy, TikTok U.S.

“The Creator Economy Showcase demonstrated what's possible when Congress moves fast and meets the moment with technology, media and policy. Creators are the small business owners of the present and the future. Substack is committed to empowering creators and working with the Creators Caucus to protect their livelihoods. This is the way.” – Catherine Valentine, Head of Politics, Substack

“Creators and their independent voices are essential to today’s digital ecosystem. Rumble was built to empower, support, and amplify these voices, with a commitment to free expression and fair monetization. We commend the Creators Caucus for fostering the growth of the creator economy through initiatives like Creator Row.” Abbie Sumbrum, Director of Government Affairs, Rumble

“Syracuse University is committed to preparing students for fields that are evolving in real time—a philosophy underscored by our work building the trailblazing Center for the Creator Economy. We are honored to be the only university invited by the Congressional Creators Caucus to participate in the Creator Row event, a dynamic opportunity to showcase the potential of the creator economy. Thank you to Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne and Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke for recognizing the important role higher education plays in this national conversation. Through the Center for the Creator Economy, Syracuse University is proud to help students build the skills, confidence, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to shape what comes next.” – Mark J. Lodato, Dean, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University

“The U.S. entertainment industry has entered a new era. People no longer need to move to the coasts to make it – they can build a media career from their hometown in Arkansas, North Carolina, Vermont or Texas. Local economies across the country are sharing in the $110 billion-plus opportunity from the creator economy as creators launch media careers, employ teams, and build studios in every state.” – Carly Munnelly, Head of Public First’s U.S. Practice, Public First's June 2026 Report

“As someone who educates healthcare content creators on ways to use social media to inform the public about health information, I was excited to share my work with legislators. They listened and were curious about the need for healthcare content creators to feel protected and supported while countering health misinformation online. They also validated the need for more formal education when helping younger content creators to navigate this industry safely and under the supervision of parents and caretakers in order to prevent negative outcomes. I felt hopeful about the future of the creator economy after this event. Creators are entitled to safe workplaces where they feel protected, respected and valued. This event gave me the reassurance that one day creator workplaces will be recognized as being just as valuable and essential as traditional workplaces.” – Dr. Judith Fiona Joseph, M.D., M.B.A

Background

In 2025, Representatives Van Duyne and Clarke launched the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus to recognize, support, and empower the rapidly expanding creator economy. The caucus provides an opportunity for Members of Congress to engage with creators, platforms, and industry stakeholders while exploring policies that foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity in the digital age.

Creator Row represents the caucus’ first major signature event, highlighting the creators, creator-led small businesses, and institutions driving growth in communities across America.

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Vindman Applauds Federal Funding to Strengthen Head Start Programs in Culpeper

Vindman Secures Key NDAA Wins for Virginia Service Members & Military Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07), a U.S. Army veteran and member of the House...

Vindman Condemns Republican Move to Block Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Military Families

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today released the following statement after Republicans who...

Vindman Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Corruption, Ban Members of Congress from Lobbying

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) and Barry Moore...

After Hearing from 800+ Virginians, Vindman Continues Call for Lower Utility Costs

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today renewed his call to bring down...

Vindman’s Office Returns $6 Million in Backlogged Dollars to Constituents

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today announced that his office has now returned more than...

Vindman Releases Statement After Devastating Crash on I-95

Woodbridge, Va. – Today, Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) released the following statement after monitoring the...

After Hearing from 150+ Virginians, Vindman Leads on Lowering Costs, Addressing Rising Inflation

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today renewed his call to lower costs...

U.S. House Passes Vindman-Led Bill to Increase Housing Supply & Lower Costs

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today advanced bipartisan legislation led by Congressman...

Vindman Votes to Keep Parents Involved

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today released the following statement after...

Vindman Announces New Legislative Package to Lower Utility Costs for Virginians

Washington, D.C. — After the news that NextEra will attempt to acquire Dominion...

Vindman Releases Statement Calling for Lower Utility Bills for Virginians

“When it comes to utilities, Virginians and I care about one thing: lowering costs.” Washington, D.C. —...


Rep. Watson Coleman Reintroduces Gun Safety Legislation to Outlaw Gun Silencers

Washington, D.C. (June 8, 2026) – Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) reintroduced the Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act, federal gun safety legislation to ban the importation, sale, manufacturing, transfer and possession of gun silencers or suppressors.

“Silencers are not tools of self-defense, they are tools of murder,” said Watson Coleman. “They have no legal application which is why law enforcement officials around the country have been calling for their elimination. The HEAR Act will save lives and is part of the common sense approach to firearms legislation that polls show has widespread support among voters on both sides of the aisle.”

This bill was first introduced in 2019 following the deadly Virginia Beach mass shooting, in which a gunman attached a suppressor to a .45-caliber handgun before opening fire in a local government office building where he killed 12 people and injured four more. Instead of passing comprehensive gun safety legislation to ensure this never happens again, in 2025, House Republicans tried to eliminate the registration and ownership requirements for silencers that have been in place since the National Firearms Act went into effect in 1934. While this effort was not successful, gun lobbyists were able to pass a bill eliminating the $200 tax on purchasing the devices.

Gun silencers and suppressors have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the gun industry, which pushed accessories as gun sales level off. While several states, including New Jersey, outlaw gun silencers, they are permitted under current federal law, but must be registered. In 2010, there were 285,087 registered silencers in the United States. Since April 2020, that number has increased to over 2 million. A nationwide ban on silencers would ensure the devices are not trafficked into states where bans are in place.

The Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act is endorsed by Newtown Action Alliance.

“When gunfire erupts, every second matters,” said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance. “Survivors know we should never make it harder to recognize danger or respond to violence. Silencers can delay recognition of gunfire and slow emergency response when lives are at stake. Newtown Action Alliance proudly supports the HEAR Act and thanks Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman for her leadership to keep our communities safe.”

The Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act is cosponsored by Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Sean Casten (IL-06), and Ed Case (HI-01).

Text of the bill can be found here.

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ALSOBROOKS COSPONSORS BIPARTISAN BILL TO CAP INSULIN COSTS AT $35 A MONTH

June 8, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) today as one of four new cosponsors of the bipartisan INSULIN Act that would make life more affordable for Americans living with diabetes, bringing the total to 22 bipartisan Senators and representing over 1/5 of the Senate. Alongside Alsobrooks, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) are backing the bipartisan bill led by Diabetes Caucus Co-Chairs Senators Shaheen and Susan Collins (R-Maine), as well as Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and John Kennedy (R-La.).

The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act would cap the monthly out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 for Americans on private and employer-sponsored insurance and create a pilot program to provide insulin at the same cost to Americans without insurance. In addition to Alsobrooks, Shaheen, Collins, Warnock, Kennedy, Ernst, Hickenlooper, and Cramer, the legislation is supported by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Angus King (I-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.).

The push to cap the monthly cost of insulin comes as the cost of health care continues to top Americans’ affordability concerns.

The INSULIN Act would directly address the root problems in the insulin market causing high list prices, while simultaneously extending vital patient protections, fostering competition and broadening access to needed insulin products. Specifically, the INSULIN Act:

Limits out-of-pocket costs for patients with diabetes by ensuring that group and individual market health plans must waive any deductible and limit cost-sharing to no more than $35 per month for at least one insulin of each type and dosage form.

Mandates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) pass through 100% of insulin rebates and other discounts received from manufacturers to plan sponsors, reducing perverse incentives in the insulin market that encourage high list prices and help patients in the form of reduced premiums.

Promotes generic and biosimilar competition to lower costs for patients.

Creates a pilot grant program for 10 states to implement programs to identify uninsured diabetes patients and provide them with insulin at $35 a month.

Establishes an insulin resource center and hotline for uninsured diabetes patients to connect them with resources about diabetes and programs to help them secure insulin.

The bipartisan legislation is supported by the American Diabetes Association, Breakthrough T1D, the Endocrine Society, the National Kidney Foundation and others.

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Bennet, Hickenlooper, Klobuchar, Colleagues Urge Oversight of Prediction Markets

Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee with jurisdiction over prediction markets, and John Hickenlooper joined Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 13 of their colleagues in calling on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to strengthen oversight on prediction markets to reduce the potential for consumer harm, insider trading, and market manipulation.

“These markets have a significantly higher proportion of retail participants than traditional derivatives markets, heightening customer protection concerns. At the same time, increasing reports of potential misconduct—including insider trading and market manipulation—have drawn increasing scrutiny from the broader public and from Congress. It is critical that the Commission provide additional guidance and regulation to address these concerns,” the Senators wrote.

In addition to Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Klobuchar, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-IlI.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-M.d.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) signed the letter.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Chairman Selig:

We write to provide comments on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s proposed rulemaking regarding prediction markets.

The volume of event contracts trading on prediction markets has grown exponentially over the past 18 months, and the number of Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) and Derivatives Clearing Organizations (DCOs) participating in these markets has also increased. These markets have a significantly higher proportion of retail participants than traditional derivatives markets, heightening customer protection concerns. At the same time, increasing reports of potential misconduct—including insider trading and market manipulation—have drawn increasing scrutiny from the broader public and from Congress. It is critical that the Commission provide additional guidance and regulation to address these concerns.

Given the dynamic and growing nature of the prediction markets, it is crucial that the Commission provide clear guidance to DCMs, DCOs, and other market participants to prevent the listing of event contracts susceptible to manipulation or abuse and to focus the industry’s efforts on listing contracts with clear economic use cases, rather than purely speculative offerings with limited hedging value. In addition, the Commission must prioritize its examination and review of DCMs and DCOs to ensure that they have appropriate policies, procedures, and resources to comply with this guidance—and in fact are doing so. Finally, the Commission should work to require DCMs and DCOs to ensure that the terms and conditions of event contracts are clear and designed to minimize potential areas for dispute as to resolution and payout.

Listing of Only Appropriate Event Contracts

The explosion in the number and diversity of contracts offered for trading creates challenges for oversight by both the Commission and the various self-regulatory organizations it relies on to oversee the derivatives markets, including both the National Futures Association and the various DCMs and DCOs. Many event contracts offered on Commission-regulated exchanges appear to violate core principles because they are structurally vulnerable to manipulation where outcomes may be influenced or controlled by a limited group of individuals.

Other contracts relate to events the outcome of which is already known to one or more persons (or will be known prior to expiration), making them particularly vulnerable to insider trading (for example, mention markets, where traders can bet on whether certain words will be used during a speech or event). The Commission should provide staff with the ability to identify and restrict categories of contracts that present similar risks.

The Commission also should encourage DCMs and DCOs to limit the number of contracts being self-certified for trading or clearing to those with clear economic use cases for hedging legitimate risks related to economically valuable activities.

Adequate Examination and Enforcement

The CEA’s principles-based regulatory framework relies on self-regulatory organizations to have and enforce their own rulebooks that implement the various core principles. We are concerned that, in the rush to expand prediction markets, DCMs and DCOs may not have adequately invested in compliance, surveillance, and enforcement functions. Recent steps by some platforms to enhance surveillance and address insider trading underscore how underdeveloped these functions were during a period of rapid growth.

It is imperative that the Commission examine DCMs and DCOs involved in prediction markets for compliance with the applicable core principles and ensure that they are meeting their obligations in practice. This requires both appropriate written policies and procedures, as well as sufficient resources, staffing, and prioritization by management.

Self-regulatory oversight should be complemented by active enforcement by the Commission. In particular, the Commission should prioritize targeted enforcement related to potential insider trading and market manipulation, including cases involving government employees and others in positions of trust with access to nonpublic information. Enforcement should also focus on novel cases that can help define clear boundaries for acceptable conduct.

Well-Designed Contracts

Well-designed contracts with clear terms and conditions can help minimize customer confusion and harm. Given the novel nature of many event contracts, additional vetting is needed, particularly regarding resolution and payout processes. While so-called “death contracts” like those relating to Ayatollah Khamenei raise a host of concerns, they also demonstrate the importance of clarifying a contract’s terms up front so as to avoid disputes at resolution. Sufficient resources should be devoted to anticipating and addressing such issues prior to contract listing, rather than after problems arise. The Commission should provide guidance to DCMs and DCOs to assist them in developing these processes.

* * *

We urge you to consider these concerns as you develop rules and guidance for the prediction market industry. In particular, we encourage you to work proactively to prevent issues before they arise through enhanced listing standards, targeted compliance efforts, and rigorous contract design, backstopped by more robust surveillance and enforcement efforts. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

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Bennet, Padilla, Cortez Masto, Goldman, Crow Denounce Trump Administration’s Nonpayment for Legal Services for Unaccompanied Minors, Demand Payment

Legal Services Providers Have Not Received Payment Owed Since 2025

Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), along with U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Jason Crow (D-Colo), and 70 lawmakers to demand that the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) reimburse providers for work performed under their contract to furnish legal services to unaccompanied children. ORR has not issued reimbursements for services rendered since December 2025, despite Congress having appropriated funds for this purpose. The agency’s ongoing refusal to issue payments contravenes the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) requirements, appropriations directives, and the federal government’s contractual obligations.

“ORR’s plain breach of contract threatens the viability of the nationwide network of nonprofit legal service providers that serve vulnerable unaccompanied children. These providers deliver critical legal representation, legal screenings, and Know Your Rights presentations to thousands of children across the country,” wrote the lawmakers. “Their work is essential to ensuring that children are protected from trafficking, exploitation, and other harms, and that they appear for and are able to meaningfully participate in their immigration proceedings. Nonprofit providers do not have the reserves necessary to absorb prolonged nonpayment at this scale. As a result, organizations may be forced to lay off staff, stop accepting new cases, or cease operations altogether. These outcomes would jeopardize thousands of children’s access to legal representation mid-case.”

In their letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the lawmakers also expressed concern about reports that ORR is conditioning reimbursement on the provision of additional, case-specific information not required under the terms of the contract. These demands are an administrative stall tactic and reportedly include identifying information about child clients that may implicate attorney-client privilege and ethical obligations governing confidentiality.

The lawmakers demanded that ORR immediately fulfill all pending invoices; provide an explanation of the basis for the payment delays; and confirm that ORR will not condition payment on the provision of information not required under the contract.

In December 2025, Bennet joined Senators John Hickenlooper and Cortez Masto, as well as 19 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act, legislation to reverse the provisions in Republicans’ so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” that harm children seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries. In November 2025, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 48 bicameral colleagues to introduce the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. In March 2025, Bennet urged the Trump Administration to reinstate critical protections for unaccompanied migrant children following the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) decision to rescind the 2023 Memorandum on Children’s Cases in Immigration Court and reinstate 2017 guidelines. Bennet also urged the Trump Administration to ensure unaccompanied children in the immigration system receive legal representation.

In 2024, alongside Senate colleagues, Bennet called on Senate Appropriations leaders to ensure EOIR reports on the implementation of specialized children’s immigration courts. In 2023, Bennet and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Immigration Court Efficiency and Children’s Court Act, a bipartisan bill to establish a dedicated Children’s Court within EOIR. The legislation would combat the immigration court backlog and strengthen due process rights for unaccompanied migrant children.

In addition to Bennet, Padilla, Cortez Masto, Goldman, and Crow, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-Ariz.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Angus S. King, Jr (I-Maine), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Maizie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D- Conn.), Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Representatives Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-Ga.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-Ill.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.), Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Robin L. Kelly (D-Ill.), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-Texas), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Norma J. Torres (D-Calif.), Summer L. Lee (D-Pa.), Paul D. Tonko (D-N.Y.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Ted W. Lieu (D-Calif.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), James R. Walkinshaw (D-Va.), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), John B. Larson (D-Conn.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-Va.), Robert J. Menendez (D-N.J.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.), and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) signed the letter.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

We write with urgent concern regarding the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) failure to reimburse providers for work performed under its contract to furnish legal services to unaccompanied children. Based on available information, ORR has not issued reimbursements for services rendered since December 2025, despite Congress having appropriated—and ORR having obligated—funds for this purpose. These non-payments violate numerous laws and imminently threaten the continued provision of essential legal services to vulnerable children.

As you know, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA) requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that unaccompanied children have access to legal representation “to the greatest extent practicable.” For nearly two decades, ORR has fulfilled this mandate through a contract it administers that presently provides funding to nearly 100 legal services providers throughout the country. Successful implementation of that contract depends on timely reimbursement for services rendered. Indeed, bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations measures mandate that ORR fund services performed under the contract. The agency’s ongoing refusal to issue payments contravenes the TVPRA, appropriations directives, and the federal government’s contractual obligations.

ORR’s plain breach of contract threatens the viability of the nationwide network of nonprofit legal service providers that serve vulnerable unaccompanied children. These providers deliver critical legal representation, legal screenings, and Know Your Rights presentations to thousands of children across the country. Their work is essential to ensuring that children are protected from trafficking, exploitation, and other harms, and that they appear for and are able to meaningfully participate in their immigration proceedings. Nonprofit providers do not have the reserves necessary to absorb prolonged nonpayment at this scale. As a result, organizations may be forced to lay off staff, stop accepting new cases, or cease operations altogether. These outcomes would jeopardize thousands of children’s access to legal representation mid-case.

We are particularly troubled by reports that ORR is conditioning reimbursement on the provision of additional, case-specific information not required under the terms of the contract. The additional demands appear to be an administrative stall tactic that is wholly unjustified and unacceptable. Moreover, these new demands reportedly include identifying information about child clients that may implicate attorney- client privilege and ethical obligations governing confidentiality. Such requirements are inconsistent with longstanding legal ethics rules and raise serious additional concerns, particularly given existing information-sharing arrangements between HHS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which serves as opposing counsel in immigration proceedings. Legal services providers cannot—and must not—be compelled to violate ethical obligations to their clients as a condition of receiving payment. Conditioning reimbursement on such disclosures would represent a unilateral and improper modification of the contract.

Ultimately, we are concerned that these payment delays may be an attempt to circumvent requirements that ORR continue funding legal services for unaccompanied children. However, the federal government must meet its obligations under the law. Accordingly, we request the following:

Immediately fulfill all pending invoices for legal services performed under the ORR contract;

Confirm that ORR will not condition payment on the provision of information not required under the contract, not least where such requirements would implicate attorney-client privilege or ethical obligations;

Provide a detailed explanation of the basis for the payment delays, including any internal directives or policy changes that led to this situation; and

Outline the steps HHS will take to ensure timely reimbursement going forward, consistent with contractual and statutory requirements.

Given the urgency of this matter and its impact on vulnerable children and nonprofit providers nationwide, we request a response no later than June 5th, 2026. We appreciate your prompt attention to this issue and look forward to your response.

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After Years of Delay, Blumenthal Demands U.S. DOT Finalize Rule to Prevent Deaths in Hot Cars

[Hartford, CT] — Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation Sean Duffy urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to take immediate action to prevent deaths and injuries resulting from children being trapped in hot vehicles.

“Every year, far too many children die when temperatures inside cars become lethally high, which can occur in mere minutes during the summer,” said Senator Blumenthal. “These deaths are deeply tragic – not only because of the heartbreak they cause countless families, but also because they are fundamentally preventable.”

In 2021, Blumenthal led the Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in the Rear Seat (HOT CARS) Act which was enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This legislation requires a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard in all new vehicles sold or leased in the U.S. to prevent hot car fatalities by alerting drivers to check rear seats after turning off the engine. The law required NHTSA to publish a proposed rule by November 2023, but it has failed to do so as of June 2026.

Since 1990, 1,177 children have died in hot cars in the United States and at least another 7,500 have survived with varying degrees of injury. Over 86% of children who have died are age 3 or younger.

“I, along with auto safety advocates, are calling for a robust safety standard to require effective technology that can detect the presence of a child unattended in a vehicle,” Blumenthal continued. “This type of technology exists, is readily available, but is only being voluntarily included in a few makes and models on the market today. That is why the rulemaking is critically important for saving the lives of very young children.”

As unprecedented heatwaves in early 2026 signal a dangerous, long-term trend of rising temperatures, Blumenthal is demanding NHTSA to take immediate action to implement rules to protect children from vehicular heatstroke.

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Duffy,

I write to urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to take immediate action to prevent deaths and injuries resulting from children being trapped in hot vehicles. Every year, far too many children die when temperatures inside cars become lethally high, which can occur in mere minutes during the summer. These deaths are deeply tragic – not only because of the heartbreak they cause countless families, but also because they are fundamentally preventable.

I was proud to champion the Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in the Rear Seat (HOT CARS) Act, which was enacted as Section 24222 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that passed in 2021. The provision called for a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard intended to mitigate hot car fatalities by requiring technology in all new vehicles sold or leased in the U.S. NHTSA had a statutory deadline of November 15, 2023, to issue a related final rule. Yet today – more than two years after the deadline for a final rule – NHTSA has not even issued a proposed rule.

I expect NHTSA to immediately recommit to finalizing the rulemaking as required by law. I also urge the agency to ensure any technology proposed is sufficient in mitigating death. Currently, many new vehicles are equipped with basic back seat reminder alerts that are triggered by a rear door being opened prior to driving. However, NHTSA has studied these reminders and found them to be inadequate in saving lives. In fact, Kids and Car Safety has documented at least 14 pediatric hot car deaths in vehicles equipped with end-of-trip reminders.

I, along with auto safety advocates, are calling for a robust safety standard to require effective technology that can detect the presence of a child unattended in a vehicle. This type of technology exists, is readily available, but is only being voluntarily included in a few makes and models on the market today. That is why the rulemaking is critically important for saving the lives of very young children.

It is simply unacceptable that NHTSA has still not issued a proposed rule, and the consequences of delaying this rulemaking are dire. Since 1990, at least 1,177 children have died in hot cars in the United States, and at least another 7,500 survived with varying degrees of injury. Over eighty-six percent of children who have died in a hot car are age three or younger. Just last week, three babies died in a matter of 24 hours in the U.S. Moreover, recent, unprecedented heat waves in early 2026 saw nearly 20,000 daily U.S. records broken, indicating a dangerous, long-term trend of rising temperatures. As temperatures across the country continue to rise and we see more and more record heat days, the dangers of leaving kids in cars are only increasing.

I urge you to direct NHTSA to act with haste and issue proposed and final rules to protect children from vehicular heatstroke deaths without further delay. Thank you for your attention to this critically important matter. I look forward to working with you further to ensure that we are doing all we can to protect children and families and eliminate these fully preventable tragedies.

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Blumenthal & Frost Introduce the Right to Record Act

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) introduced the Right to Record Act, a bicameral bill to protect individuals’ First Amendment rights while engaging with federal law enforcement officers. The new legislation is being introduced as protests and public demonstrations continue outside New Jersey’s Delaney Hall detention center, where there are reports of agents harassing journalists, advocates, and community members who are trying to document the conditions of the facility.

“Over the last year, I’ve investigated dozens of cases of Americans brutalized by agents of their own government, and across the board, video footage corroborated their testimony – showing the world what they experienced and making sure that justice was served. Without recordings, we wouldn’t know the truth of what happened to Renee Nicole Good, Alex Pretti, Marimar Martinez, George Retes, and so, so many others,” Blumenthal said. “The right to bear witness has never been more important. I’m proud to work with Congressman Frost on bicameral legislation that will strengthen the right to record, observe, and peacefully protest – creating real enforcement tools for the protections of the First Amendment that lay the foundation for our democracy.”

“The First Amendment defends the right to assemble, protest, and record government officials in public. That right has never been more important. In cases like the murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, officials and their allies tried to paint the victims as threats despite evidence showing otherwise,” said Frost. “Without firsthand recordings, those false narratives might have become the official story, which is why the Right to Record Act is so important. It would protect the public’s ability to expose the truth without fear, giving individuals a legal path forward if an officer does violate their constitutional rights.”

While the right to document and record federal law enforcement agents is enshrined in the First Amendment, these constitutionally protected rights have not always been enforced. The Right to Record Act would add new legal consequences for federal law and immigration enforcement officers who prevent or attempt to prevent a person from recording, observing, or peacefully protesting law enforcement activities. In addition, officers must not command that an individual stop recording, demand identification from an individual because they are recording, or retaliate against an individual for exercising their First Amendment rights, including by threatening them, pursuing them to a different location, or surveilling them.

The Right to Record Act has been endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

“The right to observe and record law enforcement is fundamental to our democracy,” said Jenna Leventoff, senior policy counsel with the ACLU. “We can’t hold our government accountable if we can’t see for ourselves what they’re doing in our communities. Observing and filming allows people to create an independent record, share information with their communities, and demand better from our government. Protesting for what we believe in is a core American value, and observing and filming government activity can drive the protest movements that spark change. All of these rights are squarely protected by the First Amendment, and we're hopeful that Congress will codify them into law by enacting the Right to Record Act.”

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