WATCH: Padilla Slams Republican Reconciliation Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to denounce President Trump and Republicans’ partisan reconciliation bill that does not address rising costs for Americans across the country and instead allocates an additional $70 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to carry out Trump’s inhumane mass deportation agenda. Republicans voted to advance consideration of the bill on a party-line basis.

“The proposals and actions of the Republican majority and the White House isn’t trying to tackle the cost of healthcare. They’re not trying to tackle the cost of housing,” said Senator Padilla. “They’re not reducing the price of gas, that’s for sure, or addressing the increasing costs of groceries. The end result of the proposals before us continue to be personal gain for the president and those around him, plain and simple.”

Padilla called for his colleagues to reject the partisan funding bill, highlighting that it does not address rising costs families are facing across the country, including gas, groceries, and housing. Padilla also criticized Republican attempts to fund Trump’s White House ballroom and his continued support for the “anti-weaponization fund” for payouts to January 6 rioters. Padilla instead proposed that his Senate colleagues regroup and negotiate a new reconciliation bill to actually address the concerns and urgent needs of everyday Americans — and holds ICE and CBP accountable.

“They’re trying to ram more money to these agencies while shielding them from oversight and accountability. Let me remind us all of the deaths of Americans like Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Ruben Ray Martinez. Let me remind us of how this Administration is using children like 5-year-old Liam Ramos as bait. Let me remind our colleagues about the price gouging that’s happening: Mothers and children at Dilley Detention Center having to pay so much just to access clean water. And letting thousands of children languish in detention, jailing more than 6,200 children since the beginning of this Administration,” said Senator Padilla. “This Administration’s immigration enforcement efforts have clearly not just been extreme and cruel; they’ve been unlawful and indefensible.”

Padilla has been vocal in his criticism of the Republicans’ attempts to provide additional funding to ICE and CBP without any guardrails, Trump’s out-of-control mass detention and deportation agenda, and Republicans’ misguided spending priorities. Last month, Padilla criticized the budget reconciliation bill at the Budget Committee markup, highlighting the affordability crisis that everyday Americans are facing. Padilla reiterated his concerns that the Republican-proposed budget reconciliation bill would pour even more funding into ICE and CBP without necessary reforms.

Video of Padilla’s remarks is available here.

Full transcript of Padilla’s remarks is available below:

Mr. President, like the reconciliation bill before us, the past few weeks have been really eye-opening for the American public to see in plain view the clear priorities of President Trump and his allies here in Congress.

It’s increasingly clear that their top priority is not addressing the affordability crisis that’s hurting so many families across the country. Families who are struggling just to get by.

The proposals and actions of the Republican majority and the White House isn’t trying to tackle the cost of health care. They’re not trying to tackle the cost of housing. They’re not reducing the price of gas, that’s for sure, or addressing the increasing costs of groceries.

The end result of the proposals before us continue to be personal gain for the president and those around him, plain and simple.

But I don’t think we should really be surprised by that. Don’t take my word for it.

We’re talking about a political party whose president, the leader of that party, who has said publicly, in his own words, quote, “I do not care about Americans’ financial situation,” end quote.

Let me repeat that: a president, leader of the Republican Party, who says, quote, “I do not care about Americans’ financial situation,” end quote.

It doesn’t get any clearer than that, folks.

Because whether it’s a late-night social media post or what he says in front of the cameras for everybody to hear, this president has no problem telling us exactly what his priorities are, and his priorities are clearly not Americans’ financial situation.

His priorities include an abomination of a ballroom that he wants the American people to pay for to the tune of a billion dollars. After repeatedly saying that it wouldn’t cost a single taxpayer dollar and that it would be privately funded.

Another one of his priorities is ensuring immunity for himself and for his family, and shoring up support from his MAGA loyalists, including the January 6 insurrectionists who were prosecuted for violently attacking the Capitol and violently attacking Capitol Police.

He was trying to advance a self-serving, corrupt slush fund to pay off his supporters. That’s his priority.

Here’s another one, just from yesterday: selecting an unqualified person, Bill Pulte, into an extremely sensitive position within our government as the director of national intelligence, whose track record leads us to see plainly their goal of interfering in our elections or politically pursuing anyone the President perceives as being an enemy.

These are the President’s priorities, colleagues. Not helping working families.

And as clear as day, as he’s outlined these priorities, there’s no pushback by the Republican majority. They continue to enable every single one of these efforts.

The ballroom, which is nothing other than a vanity project that never should have happened in the first place. It’s a tragedy that the East Wing was torn down without a discussion, without the consultation with Congress that is clearly required.

Yet for weeks we heard Republican members of Congress parroting the lame excuse that, for security reasons, this was a necessary project.

But they have nothing to say about a UFC ring being built on the lawn of the White House? Really?

And by the way, what happened to the private donations that were supposed to be paying for the ballroom project? The President bragged about the $400 million, probably more, that he secured. So where is it? Where is that money?

We have to remain vigilant that ballroom project funding does not appear in this new reconciliation bill or work its way back in.

Now, while Acting Attorney General Blanche stated yesterday that the so-called weaponization fund was not moving forward, it’s really hard to take this Administration at its word when they’re constantly saying one thing and doing another. Lies over and over to the American people.

When we first learned about their plans to create this fund, I actually came to the floor and asked that this floor pass by unanimous consent my No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act, which I introduced back in January, to stop this proposal in its tracks.

Trump already gave pardons to January 6 insurrectionists. Let’s not give payouts as well.

So we must act to ensure that no one who attacked the Capitol, and especially those who assaulted law enforcement officers that day, can ever qualify for any kind of payout like this.

And again, a few words on Bill Pulte, Donald Trump’s pick to serve as acting director of national intelligence.

It’s clear that his only qualification — the only qualification that matters to President Trump — is blind loyalty to President Trump. A willingness to do whatever Trump asks.

Time and again, we’ve seen Pulte use sensitive information in his role at the Federal Housing Finance Agency to target Trump’s political opponents.

Now just imagine what he might do — imagine what he will do — with the sensitive information at his fingertips in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, whether it’s attacking opponents or finding new, dangerous ways to advance Donald Trump’s election corruption and efforts to take over — the president’s words again — elections.

Each of these is a misplaced and dangerous priority that Donald Trump puts over the needs of the American people.

All these priorities do nothing to advance our national interest or improve the lives of working families across the country.

So let’s not allow ourselves to be distracted from the biggest of the misplaced priorities at the heart of this reconciliation bill.

What I hear some of our Republican colleagues saying is, okay, no ballroom here, no slush fund here. They don’t commit to not coming back to it in other efforts.

They say let’s come back to the intent and core of what this reconciliation bill was at the outset: billions and billions and billions of dollars more for ICE and CBP, for immigration enforcement — the same agencies that are still sitting on more than $100 billion of previously approved and appropriated funds that they can’t even spend.

What happened to fiscal responsibility?

Instead of ensuring that money flows as agencies can spend it, they’re trying to ram more money to these agencies while shielding them from oversight and accountability.

Let me remind us all of the deaths of Americans like Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Ruben Ray Martinez.

Let me remind us of how this Administration is using children like 5-year-old Liam Ramos as bait.

Let me remind our colleagues about the price gouging that’s happening. Mothers and children at Dilley Detention Center having to pay so much just to access clean water, and letting thousands of children languish in detention, jailing more than 6,200 children since the beginning of this Administration.

That’s a shame.

And now they want to shield them from more than 425 judges appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents, including some appointed by Donald Trump himself, who have issued more than 10,000 rulings finding that ICE has violated the Constitution of the United States. That is not an exaggeration.

More than 10,000 findings of ICE violating the Constitution of the United States, violating due process, and violating federal laws since the start of this Trump Administration. Ten thousand rulings.

That’s more than a 90% loss rate in court by this Administration.

This Administration’s immigration enforcement efforts have clearly not just been extreme and cruel; they’ve been unlawful and indefensible.

What we should be doing, colleagues, is discussing how to help American families better afford their groceries and better afford to put gas in their cars so they can get to work.

Helping American families afford their rent, their child care and their health care.

So many Americans are reeling from the “Anything But Beautiful Bill,” from the expiration of the ACA tax credits, and so many Americans are suffering from the experience of witnessing, or having, their children ripped from their arms, with loved ones, family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers disappearing to detention — many in the United States, many now in a foreign country.

They’re suffering through all of that while still wondering how they’re going to make ends meet at the end of the month.

Those are the priorities for countless families across the country who are hurting and struggling right now that we should be focusing on.

But instead, no. We’re focusing on what this reconciliation bill offers in front of us.

I’ve said it before. I think most folks at some point in this chamber have used the reference that budgets are a reflection of our values. A reconciliation bill is a budget bill.

It too is a reflection of values and priorities that reveal what we prioritize. They reveal what we stand for, what we fight for, and serve as a guide to see whether it truly reflects the needs and priorities of the American people or not.

If you look at the language, if you look at the contents of the reconciliation bill in front of us, it’s clear that Donald Trump and our Republican colleagues have no interest in addressing the urgent needs of the American people.

So I ask, colleagues: let’s reject this bill full of misplaced priorities.

Let’s actually regroup and put a bill together that will lower costs for American families, expand their opportunities and help Americans get ahead.

And I guarantee you, if we were to do that in good faith, you wouldn’t have to resort to this party-line, strictly partisan process of budget reconciliation. That would be something that would garner bipartisan support and be in the best interest of our country, our economy and the needs of the American people.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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The Senate Page Program

U.S. Senate Page Program

Introduction

Welcome! Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Senate Page Program. It is my privilege to occasionally sponsor a Page, and I welcome your interest in this exciting and educational program.

Page Program

Living away from home and attending school with students from across the country allows Pages to experience a myriad of new ideas, perspectives, and issues. Pages meet some of the Nation’s most prominent leaders and witness firsthand the political debates of the United States Senate, often referred to as the “greatest deliberative body in the world.”

Page duties consist primarily of delivery of correspondence and legislative material within the Congressional Complex. Other duties include taking messages for Senators, calling them to the phone, preparing the Chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk. Pages are paid on the basis of an annual salary of $ 38,547.

There are four established page sessions. The academic year consists of two semesters which run from early September through mid-January and from mid-January through mid-June. The summer program consists of two sessions which are three or four weeks in duration depending on the legislative calendar.

Following classes at the Senate Page School, which begin at 6:15 am and extend until 9:45 a.m. or one hour prior to the commencement of the Senate, Pages report for duty to their respective cloakrooms and work until 4:00 p.m. or until the Senate adjourns for the day, whichever is later. The Senate regularly is in session well past traditional business hours.

Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence

Pages are required to live in the Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence during the school year. The cost of living in the residence hall is $1,380 per month and includes breakfast and dinner each day. Payment is made through payroll deduction.

Webster Hall is located on Capitol Hill, a quick walk from the Senate Chamber. Staff includes the Page Program Director, Administrative Specialist and proctors. Proctors reside full-time in Webster Hall. The living quarters are divided by sex and Pages must share rooms with each other. Each room is furnished, has closet space, a bathroom, and a telephone. Communal laundry and kitchen facilities are also located in Webster Hall.

United States Capitol Police maintain a 24-hour security desk and a provision that requires all individuals to present identification and all visitors and guests to sign in. Capitol Police patrol the area by car and foot regularly throughout the day and night. Webster Hall is monitored by a security alarm system and all emergency and safety measures required by the District of Columbia for community life structures are present and enforced.

Pages selected for the Summer Page Program may live with their parents or a relative in the area; alternate housing arrangements must be submitted in writing by a parent or legal guardian for approval by the Page Program Director.

Requirements for Selection

Senate Pages must be sponsored by a Senator

Pages must be citizens of the United States or subject to agreements of the Department of State, and must have a social security number

Page eligibility is limited to juniors in high school who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment.

Summer Page eligibility is limited to students who have completed the sophomore year and who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment

Pages must verify a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a home school transcript and a certification of immunization to qualify for attendance at the school

A general health assessment completed by a licensed physician is required, in addition to a certification of immunization

Pages are required to be covered by health insurance; if not covered, they will be required to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

Deadlines

Application deadlines for the page program are the same each year.

Summer Session – February 15

Fall Session – June 15

Spring Session – November 15

Application


Sens. Rosen & Cortez Masto, Reps. Lee & Amodei Introduce Landmark Bipartisan Bill to Support Veterans Exposed to Radiation in Nevada

Watch the Full Press Conference HERE.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Representatives Susie Lee (D-NV-03), Mark Amodei (R-NV-02) introduced the Sergeant Dave Crete Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act. This bill would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to join the Department of Energy (DOE) in classifying the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), and all other locations where radiation and toxic exposure occurred, as contaminated; identify everyone who served within the NTTR since the date of the first nuclear test on the range in 1951; establish a process for servicemembers and veterans to provide proof of their service within the NTTR and at DOE covered facilities; and require the DOD to share this collected documentation with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as well as any injuries, exposures, or illnesses related to their service, so that veterans will finally be able to claim and access their VA benefits.

From the 1950s through the 1990s, the NTTR – and the then-Nevada Test Site contained within it – conducted over 900 explosive nuclear weapons tests and other dangerous, toxic activities. Currently, because DOD does not consider the NTTR to be a location where contamination and exposure occurred, as DOE does for their civilian personnel who served in the same locations, NTTR veterans are not granted the same service-connected presumption of exposure to receive the care and benefits they would otherwise be owed under the PACT Act. And because their location of service in their personnel records is classified, these veterans are unable to verify where they served to the VA when attempting to file a claim for benefits. This undermines the very intent of the PACT Act and continues to force aging veterans to navigate impossible evidentiary burdens.

“The veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range were unwittingly exposed to radiation and other toxins and for far too long have been forsaken by our government. We owe it to them to make sure that they receive the VA care and benefits they deserve” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “This is why I’m proud to introduce the Sergeant Dave Crete FORGOTTEN Veterans Act with Congresswoman Susie Lee. As the daughter of a veteran, it is my mission to work with both sides of the aisle to deliver for the men and women who served our nation.”

“It’s embarrassing that we ask men and women to serve our country and then make it so damn difficult for them to access the care they need for conditions they develop as a result of that service. These veterans need our help, and they need us to continue fighting for them,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “This bill is another meaningful step in that fight, and I’m grateful for the continued partnership of Senator Rosen as we continue helping victims of toxic radiation exposure who served at NTTR.”

“Taking care of the men and women who served our country is a responsibility we all share and a promise we owe them. Unfortunately, Mr. Crete and countless veterans who served alongside him have spent years fighting for benefits that should never have been in question,” said Congressman Mark Amodei. “This legislation builds off the work I’ve been leading to help right that wrong by recognizing their service and providing access to the care and support they earned through their sacrifices. Our delegation remains united to see this effort through to the finish line.”

“Our veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range put their lives on the line to keep Americans safe,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Now that they are faced with the health impacts of their service, bureaucratic red tape is preventing them from claiming the benefits they are owed. This commonsense, bipartisan bill will ensure our veterans can finally access the care they need.”

“The men and women who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range helped protect our nation during some of the most critical moments in our history. For far too long, their service, their sacrifices, and their illnesses have been FORGOTTEN. This legislation represents hope, not only for the veterans still fighting for care and recognition, but for the families who have spent decades seeking answers. No American who answered the call to serve should ever be FORGOTTEN, and today we take another important step toward honoring that promise. We are grateful to Senator Jacky Rosen and Congresswoman Susie Lee for their leadership and unwavering commitment to the veterans and families who have waited far too long to be acknowledged,” said Dave Crete, Chairman of the Board, The Invisible Enemy.

Senator Rosen has been leading the push in Congress to ensure veterans who served within the NTTR receive the presumption of exposure, benefits, and care they deserve. Last year, she introduced the first version of the FORGOTTEN Veterans Act, which advanced out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Senator Rosen also included much of her FORGOTTEN Veterans Act in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. However, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson blocked its inclusion in the final FY2026 NDAA. Last week, Senator Rosen held a press event in Las Vegas, Nevada to announce the introduction of the new Sergeant Dave Crete FORGOTTEN Veterans Act.

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Schatz Presses Secretary Rubio On President Trump’s China Trip, Impact Of Iran War On Indo-Pacific

WASHINGTON – During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) pressed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on sales of advanced technologies to China and concessions on Taiwan made during President Donald Trump’s recent trip to China. Schatz also questioned Rubio about the impact of the Iran war on key Indo-Pacific allies and partners.

“It's pretty plain that the president violated one of the Six Assurances,” said Senator Schatz. “He says, we discussed arms sales in great detail; it depends on China; it's a very good negotiating chip for us. It seems to me that if the main objective is to touch gloves and initiate conversations, then why give away any of the things that they're already seeking in exchange for essentially nothing? I just don't understand why we would want to sell them our second best chips and why we would start to at least complicate the question of our assurances regarding Taiwan?”

Senator Schatz added, “The Marshall Islands, the Philippines, and Tuvalu have declared a national emergency on their energy situation. South Korea says its energy crisis is a war-like situation. It is always the case that something in the Middle East undermines our ability to project power in the Asia-Pacific region. But it's not just a question of opportunity cost and attentional challenges. Now we're talking about our allies in the Asia-Pacific region really taking it on the chin with energy costs because of the Strait of Hormuz. What do we say to them: just hang in there?”

Video of Senator Schatz’s exchange with Secretary Rubio is available here.

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Schatz Urges Secretary Rubio To Release Billions In Funding For Gavi Vaccine Alliance, Global Fund To Fight Diseases, Save Lives

WASHINGTON – During a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the State Department’s budget request for FY27, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to quickly release billions of dollars in funding that Congress has appropriated for GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and other global health programs.

In his opening remarks, Senator Schatz, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, said, “You have been granted extraordinary authority, not just as secretary of state, but national security advisor, and one of the closest members of the cabinet to the president. I want you to assert your authority and implement the law we have passed because that is the only way we will be able to pass the new bill. It is hard for me to have swallowed a 13 percent cut and then argue for another bill if the bill we already passed is not being followed.”

On funding for GAVI, Senator Schatz asked Secretary Rubio, “The statute is not unclear about whose authority it is and what you are obliged to do. Can we get a timeframe for moving this money?”

Secretary Rubio responded, “I want to get this solved. I'll be engaged in getting it solved. I don't know of the time, but I mean shortly.”

Without U.S. support, GAVI estimates that 75 million children will not receive routine vaccinations over the next five years, with more than 1.2 million children dying as a result. GAVI has already reduced vaccinations because of funding being withheld.

Pressed by Senator Schatz about $661 million matched by other donors in funding that has not been made available to the Global Fund, Secretary Rubio said, “I think that will move shortly – very quickly.”

Senator Schatz further pressed Secretary Rubio about another $3 billion being withheld for specific global health and other programs, noting Secretary Rubio is “perfectly capable of getting money released” when he wishes, and that malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS are urgent priorities.

Video of Senator Schatz’s opening remarks is available here. Video of his exchange with Secretary Rubio is available here.

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Senator Schmitt: Congress Has a Responsibility to Protect College Sports

Highlights Congress’ Role in Implementing Key Reforms to Preserve a Uniquely American Institution

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Commerce Committee Hearing on the Protect College Sports Act, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) discussed Congress’ role in preserving and strengthening the integrity of college athletics amid the chaos and instability of the current college sports system.

Watch the Senator’s opening remarks HERE.

“There [are] so many great lessons to be learned in life through college athletics, and I truly believe we are on the precipice of that going away… you certainly won’t have 500,000 student-athletes being able to learn those lessons every year. It’ll be something very different, very different than what we’ve grown accustomed to. I think college sports—college football in particular—is such a uniquely American institution and it really is worth fighting for. It’s worth preserving, but it’s not going to happen by itself anymore…”said Senator Schmitt. “People have asked me, ‘Why is Congress getting involved in this? And it’s a legitimate question… Why in the world would the federal government have anything to do with college sports? Well the truth is Congress is the only entity on the planet that can provide the anti-trust exemption status to empower a governing body to set the rules, and to enforce the rules… No one else can do it. It is up to us…

“The way I view this thing is there’s two buckets: you have the governance issue, and you have the revenue issue. The governance issue is granting that authority, to have the rules to protect the student-athletes, for there to be enforcement. On the revenue side, look, the business model of college sports forever has been—basically—you make money on your football program, and it subsidizes all the other non-revenue sports, the women’s sports, the Olympic sports. We will lose out if this thing continues down the path. We will not have the same level of athletes competing in the Olympics.”

Schmitt is an original cosponsor of the Protect College Sports Act. The bill includes Schmitt’s framework to allow conferences to pool media rights to generate new revenue and preserve opportunities for women’s and Olympic athletics programs.

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Senator Schmitt Secures $350 Million Fund for Arresting Released Unlawful Aliens in Reconciliation Bill

The Schmitt-Authored Provision Provides Needed Resources to ICE by Supporting the Arrest of Unlawful Illegal Aliens Released from Local Custody

U.S. SENATE — Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) released the following statement after securing an additional $350 million in the reconciliation bill text to give U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) dedicated resources to arrest unlawful illegal aliens released from local custody after jurisdictions refuse to honor ICE detainers, provide release notice, or coordinate safe jail-to-ICE transfers.

“In 2025 alone, 17,864 aliens were released from local custody instead of being transferred to ICE. That is insane. These are not hard cases. They were already in jail. ICE had already identified them,” said Senator Schmitt.

“My provision fixes that. If a jurisdiction refuses to hand these unlawful aliens over to ICE at the jailhouse door, ICE will have the resources to be waiting outside. Arrest them when they walk out. Protect Americans from preventable crime,” Schmitt continued.

The Schmitt-authored Fundprovides dedicated ICE resources for detainer management, release monitoring, custodial transfer, transportation, arrests, and detention connected to criminal aliens released from local custody.

“This is about commonsense immigration enforcement in America. Unlawful aliens. Already in custody. Released instead of transferred to ICE. Democrats claim they support targeting the worst of the worst. Now they have no excuse,” Schmitt concluded.

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ICYMI: On Bloomberg’s Balance of Power, Shaheen Highlights Bipartisan Effort to Cap Insulin Costs

**Shaheen’s bipartisan bill to cap the monthly out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 enjoys robust and growing support in Congress**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined Bloomberg TV’s Balance of Power this evening to highlight her bipartisan legislation to cap monthly out-of-pocket insulin costs at just $35. Shaheen, co-chair of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus and author of the bipartisan INSULIN Act, discussed how capping insulin costs addresses a key concern from the American people by addressing health care affordability.

Click HERE to watch the interview.

Key quotes from Shaheen on Bloomberg TV:

“Our hope is to ask all insurance companies to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month so that it mirrors what we have done with Medicare. It also sets up a pilot program for those people who don't have health insurance that would, again, cap that cost of insulin at $35 a month.”

“We think this is a bill that needs to be passed. We have 8 million people who are living with Type 1 diabetes in this country. It is the most expensive chronic disease, it’s one of the fastest-growing chronic illnesses in the country. We can provide some help for those people who are dealing with those high costs by passing this legislation.”

“Insulin for those who need it [...] is not an option for people. If they don't have that insulin, they are going to die. So, we need to address this. Too many people are not able to afford the costs and we can do something about it by passing this bill.”

The Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act—which Shaheen leads alongside U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and John Kennedy (R-LA)—would cap the monthly-out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35. Importantly, the legislation would create a pilot program to provide insulin at the same cost to Americans without insurance. Shaheen’s bill enjoys robust and growing bipartisan support with nine senators from each party backing the proposal.

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Shaheen Statement on Trump Administration’s New Tariff Threat

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee, today released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s latest proposal to impose tariffs of at least 10% on many of the nation’s top trading partners, including Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom:

“This Administration appears dead set on making life harder and more expensive for working families and small businesses who already struggle to make ends meet.

“Let’s be very clear: This latest attempt to impose sweeping tariffs on dozens of our trading partners under the guise of cracking down on forced labor practices is a transparent pretext to force a new tax on the American people, who are already paying more for everyday essentials as a result of the President’s war in Iran and economic agenda.

“Enough is enough. President Trump promised to lower prices for Americans struggling with high costs, but we’ve seen just the opposite. As we did with the President’s illegal and costly tariffs levied under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Democrats stand ready to fight this backwards proposal.”

A senior member and former chair of the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee, Shaheen leads efforts to mitigate the harmful impacts of President Trump’s tariffs, including with the introduction of the Speedy Tariff Refund Act to ensure full refunds of President Trump’s illegal tariffs that raised costs for American small business owners. In January of last year, before President Trump took office, Shaheen introduced the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act to shield American businesses and consumers from rising prices imposed by tariffs on imported goods into the United States by clarifying that the President does not have the authority to levy sweeping tariffs under IEEPA—while preserving IEEPA’s authority for sanctions and other tools. Shaheen then led more than 30 of her Senate colleagues and 171 House colleagues made in a bipartisan Amicus Brief she filed with the Supreme Court last year.

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DOJ Charges Scientists from Rocky Mountain Laboratory with Smuggling Monkeypox into the U.S.

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy today released the following statement after the Department of Justice charged two researchers — Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe — from Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) in Hamilton, MT, with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox into the United States and giving false statements to federal law enforcement.

The Justice Department’s announcement comes a week after Senator Sheehy sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell concerning a whistleblower complaint alleging misconduct by RML and Dr. Munster. In the letter, Senator Sheehy urged thorough oversight of RML’s safety, security, and personnel management practices, as well as NIH’s protocols for employees under investigation.


Slotkin, Klobuchar, Colleagues Raise Concerns on Prediction Markets

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), both members of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined 13 of their colleagues in calling on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to strengthen oversight on prediction markets as they continue to grow.

“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.”

Along with Slotkin and Klobuchar, the letter was signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

The full letter is available 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 additionalguidance 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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House Passes Sullivan Legislation Protecting Alaska Native Artists’ Cultural Heritage and Economic Opportunities

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today celebrated the House passage of the Alaska’s Right to Ivory Sales and Tradition (ARTIST) Act, his legislation to protect the legal rights of Alaska Native artists who use walrus ivory in traditional handicrafts, art, ceremonial regalia, and clothing. The bill previously passed the Senate unanimously and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“I want to thank my colleagues, especially Alaska Congressman Nick Begich, for working to get my ARTIST Act across the finish line in the House,” said Sen. Sullivan. “We are one step closer to ensuring the lawfully harvested and crafted walrus ivory works of Alaska Native artisans will no longer be targeted by well-intentioned but overly broad state laws aimed at stopping the illegal African elephant ivory trade. We’ve been working on this for over eight years, and I want to commend the Alaska Native leaders who first brought this issue to my attention and who’ve relentlessly supported our efforts to correct this historic injustice. I look forward to President Trump signing the ARTIST Act into law and protecting the right of the Alaska Native people to continue these centuries-old traditional practices, a critically important economic driver for Alaska’s rural communities.”

“Ensuring Alaska Native artists’ ability to create and sell their traditional handicrafts is about more than income. It’s about supporting families who have used their work to preserve heritage and culture through generations. For many artists, materials such as ivory have long-been vital to their craftsmanship and are already protected under existing federal law. Recent restrictions on the use of sustainably and legally sourced items could make it harder to continue practicing these skills and passing on the culture of their elders. Safeguarding wildlife and honoring Indigenous art can coexist,” said Senator Murkowski. “I’m pleased to support Senator Sullivan’s legislation to ensure a one-size-fits-all rule does not prevent the world from experiencing the beauty of Alaska Native art.”

“For generations, Alaska Native artisans have created world-renowned works of art from legally and sustainably harvested walrus ivory,” said Congressman Begich. “The ARTIST Act ensures that overly broad state ivory bans cannot unintentionally criminalize these lawful handicrafts. This legislation protects the rights of Alaska Native artists to continue sharing their craftsmanship, traditions, and heritage with the rest of the country, while also supporting rural economies across Alaska. I’m proud to have led the House effort on this issue and grateful to Senator Sullivan for his partnership in getting this legislation across the finish line.”

Below are statements from key leaders and stakeholders in support of the ARTIST Act.

QUOTES

“Today’s vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to advance the ARTIST Act to the president’s desk is an important milestone for our North Slope Iñupiat cultural self-determination,” said Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat President & CEO Nagruk Harcharek. “For thousands of years, our people have transformed walrus ivory into important tools, arts, and crafts. The ARTIST Act will ensure that our cultural traditions – which form the bedrock of our Iñupiaq identity – will be protected and can be perpetuated for generations to come. Quyanaqpak to the Alaska congressional delegation for your perseverance and standing by our side in this endeavor.”

"For thousands of years, Alaska Natives have sustainably harvested Pacific Walrus to survive in the Arctic,” said Melanie Bahnke, president of Kawerak, Inc. “As our ancestors have, we continue to rely on this resource for food, tools, and to create artwork celebrating our culture. We are grateful that the Congress passed this bill to ensure that our artwork and tools are not deemed illegal in various parts of the United States. On behalf of Kawerak and the people we serve, thank you, Senator Sullivan, for recognizing that banning our culture is wrong and for championing this bill through Congress.”

“The Eskimo Walrus Commission (EWC) strongly supports this bill and thanks Senator Sullivan and his staff for working with us on it,” said Vera Metcalf, Director of the Eskimo Walrus Commission. “We also greatly appreciate the support from Kawerak, the Indigenous People’s Council on Marine Mammals (IPComm), the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), WWF Arctic Program, and especially our Alaska Native communities. The Pacific walrus remains a significant component of our Indigenous food security and remains a major feature of Alaska Native cultural heritage. Our use of ivory gives full expression to our traditional relationship with the Pacific walrus and our way-of-life. EWC thanks Congress for passing this bill to ensure the cultural and economic well-being of Alaska Native communities thrive.”

“The ARTIST Act reaffirms the rights of Alaska Native artists to create and sell authentic artworks and traditional handicrafts in the U.S. that are made from sustainably sourced marine mammal products, including walrus ivory,” said Steve MacLean, Managing Director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) U.S. Arctic Program. “This longstanding cultural tradition is a vital source of economic opportunity and income for many Alaska Native communities, and walrus remain a critical component of Indigenous food security and cultural expression. Senator Sullivan, working with the Eskimo Walrus Commission, has shown dedication and leadership in crafting this bill, which helps to restore opportunities for Alaska Native artists to share their artwork and provide for their families.”

“The passage of this legislation into law marks a significant milestone in recognizing and protecting the cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and livelihoods of Alaska Native artisans,” said Ben Mallott, President of the Alaska Federation of Natives. “AFN celebrates this achievement, and we thank Senator Sullivan for his leadership and advocacy throughout this effort, as well as all those who helped advance this important legislation to the President’s desk.”

BACKGROUND

For years, several states have enacted overly broad ivory bans intended to combat illegal African elephant ivory trafficking. Unfortunately, those laws have also swept in lawful, sustainable Alaska Native handicrafts made from walrus ivory—undermining centuries-old cultural practices and limiting important economic opportunities for Alaska Native artists and rural communities. The ARTIST Act clarifies that states may not ban the import, sale, or possession of authentic Alaska Native handicrafts, and ensures these lawful and culturally vital traditions can continue to be practiced, shared, and sold across the country.

TIMELINE

In May 2026, Sen. Sullivan urged the CEO of Etsy to change a proposed ban on fur products that would negatively impact Alaska Native artists authentic garments, handicrafts, and accessories made from lawfully harvested animals.

In October 2025, Sen. Sullivan’s ARTIST Act passed the Senate unanimously.

In January 2025, Sen. Sullivan reintroduced the ARTIST Act at the start of the 119th Congress to continue his effort to protect the rights of Alaska Native artists.

In October 2024, Sen. Sullivan introduced the ARTIST Act.

In September 2020, Sen. Sullivan led a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on the Empowering Rural Economies Through Alaska Native Sustainable Arts and Handicrafts Act, Sen. Sullivan’s bill to preempt states from banning walrus ivory, whale bone, and other marine mammal products that have been legally carved by Alaska Native people under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Sen. Sullivan has advocated for Etsy and Facebook to amend their guidelines on handicraft sales to include products or artwork made by Alaska Native artists using sealskin, otter, walrus ivory, and other protected materials.

In September 2017, Sen. Sullivan wrote the National Governors Association and National Conference of State Legislatures with the Alaska congressional delegation to highlight the “potentially devastating and unintended consequences of broadly crafted state ivory bans that are currently in place or under consideration in nearly half of the United States.”

In September 2017, Sen. Sullivan introduced the Allowing Alaska IVORY Act, legislation to preempt states from banning walrus ivory or whale bone products that have been legally carved by Alaska Native people under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

In October 2016, Sen. Sullivan convened a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee field hearing at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention to discuss a series of reported problems and confusion surrounding state laws across the country that prohibit ivory sales and harm Alaska Native artisans.

In June 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a regulation banning most commercial and non-commercial trade in raw and worked ivory of African elephants following a global decrease in elephant populations due to illegal poaching. Many states have since enacted broader bans on ivory sales that generally include walrus, mammoth, and fossilized ivory used by Alaska Natives and Alaskans to produce artistic carvings, clothing, or authentic handiworks. These actions led to confusion among consumers regarding other legal ivory products, resulting in decreased demand for legal Alaska Native handicrafts and mammoth ivory carvings.

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Thune: Trump Accounts Set Kids Up for Success

Clickhereto watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Mr. President, as of tomorrow, we will be one month away from the opening date for Trump Accounts.

“These are new, tax-advantaged investment accounts for children created by Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts.

“And as of a few days ago, parents can now download the new app for Trump Accounts.

“The app will allow parents to track current and projected account balances.

“Schedule automatic account contributions – whether that’s $20 a month, or $200 a month.

“And, eventually, choose among multiple broad-based investment accounts, all designed to make investment easy.

“The app also offers several modules to educate children and parents on investing and to boost financial literacy.

“Mr. President, Trump Accounts, as I said, were created as part of Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts law.

“We call it the Working [Families] Tax Cuts for a reason, Mr. President – because that’s who we were focused on with this legislation.

“We prevented a massive tax hike on Americans making less than $400,000.

“Made lower tax rates for hardworking Americans permanent.

“Increased the child tax credit, which we had already doubled in 2017.

“Implemented no tax on tips and no tax on overtime to give American workers a further break on their taxes.

“Instituted a new bonus deduction for seniors.

“And more.

“All of these measures were designed to help everyday Americans and to make life a little easier for working families and help put their dreams within reach.

“Trump Accounts are a part of that.

“These tax-advantaged accounts were designed to allow parents to save for their children’s future beyond their education: to give kids a nest egg, whether large or small, to help them buy a home or start a business – to help them pursue their American dream.

“And if kids choose not to withdraw money once they reach adulthood, they can use these accounts as retirement savings – a financial priority for every American.

“Mr. President, to get savings started for a lot of families, kids born between 2025 and 2028 will receive a free $1,000 for their Trump Account should their parents choose to open one and opt in to the money.

“That money alone will grow over a kid’s childhood.

“And then, of course, parents will be able to add as desired – anywhere from a few dollars to up to $5,000 a year.

“And parents are not the only ones who can make contributions.

“Employers will be able to contribute to Trump Accounts for their employees’ kids.

“And multiple philanthropists are also offering initial contributions for a lot of American children.

“All of this is designed to give kids a leg-up in the world of savings and investment – and, as I said, a head start on their American dream.

“Mr. President, musician Nicki Minaj attended a Trump Accounts summit with the president a few months ago.

“She grew up in a housing project in a family that faced its share of financial struggles, and now she’s raising her own family.

“And she has said of the Trump Accounts, and I quote, ‘This program will benefit everyone, decreasing the gap for future prosperity between children who traditionally aren’t born with a full bank account and children who are.’

“‘… decreasing the gap for future prosperity between children who traditionally aren’t born with a full bank account and children who are.’

“Increasing opportunity.

“Opening new paths to prosperity.

“Ensuring that working families can keep more of their hard-earned money.

“That, Mr. President, is Republicans’ mission – and the goal of the Working Families Tax Cuts.

“I’m proud that working families are benefiting.

“And I look forward to seeing the opportunities that will be unlocked next month when Trump Accounts kick off.”


Tuberville Exposes Life-Altering Risks Associated with Transitioning Minors

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Chloe Cole, a de-transitioner and advocate, and Dr. Kurt Miceli, Chief Medical Officer of Do No Harm, during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) hearing examining the use of gender-transition surgeries on minors. During the hearing, the witnesses raised concerns about the long-term effects of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical interventions, particularly when administered to children and adolescents. Sen. Tuberville also highlighted concerns regarding informed consent, with the witnesses arguing that many parents are not adequately informed of alternative avenues to protect their children.

Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Chairman, thanks for having this hearing, this is a very confusing hearing to most of us. Why are we even having to talk about something like this?

Chloe, thank you for being here today. Thank you for your testimony. After all your surgeries and things that you went through over the years, do you think now, with all the information out there, that a minor can make an informed decision about transition?”

COLE: “Thank you for your question, Senator. I do not think that children have the developmental capacity or worldly experience to make decisions like this that are very adult in nature. Because this is not just a cosmetic change that these interventions cause to the body. Puberty is the only process through which a child can fully develop into adulthood—physically, psychologically, socially, and of course, reproductively. I didn’t know what was at stake. I didn’t know how much it would mean for me to lose my ability to breastfeed and, potentially, my ability to have children. At the time that I was allowed to go through this, because I still very much was a child myself. I was still growing up. No child can consent to being sterilized. Thank you.”

TUBERVILLE: “You mentioned also that your parents were not fully informed about the alternatives like watchful waiting, counseling, and long-term risks, including infertility and sexual dysfunction. What improvements could be made in the informed-consent process so that minors and their parents are fully aware of what their options are?”

COLE: “Thank you, Senator. I think that, first of all, we need to stop allowing these treatments to happen in the first place because, frankly, they’re dangerous for children. They’re dangerous for the human body regardless of how old you are, but the younger you go, the more damage results from this. But I think that parents need to be told that they have an option that isn’t just medically experimenting on their own child. Their children don’t need puberty blockers. They don’t need cross-sex hormones. They don’t need surgery because the issue is not their body. This is completely psychological in nature. There is no gene, there is no structure in the body or brain, that makes somebody transgender. These are feelings that these kids are experiencing that are real, but it doesn’t mean that they are true because sex is not something that can be changed in human beings.

Parents need to be informed of the risks of doing these procedures, especially the younger […] their child is. And also, the fact that they can watchfully wait […] and see how the child’s feelings about their body progresses. For the most part, most children with gender confusion will desist by the time they enter adulthood and reintegrate their identity with their sex. That’s the information that parents need.”

TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Dr. [Kurt], nearly two dozen reviews have found weak or no credible evidence supporting gender-transition procedures for minors. Based on this evidence, why do you believe that major U.S. medical organizations continue to endorse this process?”

MICELI: “Thank you for the question, Senator. I believe, unfortunately, many of our medical societies within the United States have been captured in some respect. I mean, we look at the American Medical Association, and it speaks to the quote-unquote ‘medical necessity’ of these gender procedures in minors, yet they don’t look at the evidence that is there. And that’s very much in contrast to what the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has done in terms of looking at the systematic reviews, recognizing that there is very low evidence of benefit, understanding that the risks are significant, and taking into account the ethical considerations, as well as the issue of consent. And when medical societies start doing that, we’ll find that more and more of them support the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ statement as opposed to supporting the WPATH Standards of Care, which has clearly been quite scandalous, I would argue. And certainly, in terms of taking off safeguards, taking off any sort of need for psychiatric assessment, totally eliminating barriers, and allowing free-fall access, it has been dangerous. And again, especially in light of the evidence, we need to look at the evidence reviews. We need to look at what our European counterparts have done in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Finland, and elsewhere. I think when we do that, we understand that these procedures are harmful and come with very low evidence of any benefit.”

TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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Warnock Bashes Bessent on Higher Prices in Senate Finance Hearing: ‘You Should Talk to the People in Georgia’

Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the Trump administration’s continued indifference to the economic concerns of ordinary Americans

A recent survey by Fox News states that more than 70 percent of Americans feel that the economy is getting worse, and consumer sentiment is at a record low

President Trump’s policies and domestic agenda have added an enormous amount of money to the national debt without alleviating prices for American families. In May, the U.S. national debt held by the public ballooned to more than $31 trillion, exceeding GDP

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Folks back at home in Georgia, whom I represent, are struggling to just make their lives work. And they know President Trump’s Iran war and the tariff taxes are only making things worse. Talk to farmers in Georgia, they’ll tell you that”

Washington, D.C. – Today, during a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) bashed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the Trump administration’s continued indifference to the economic concerns of ordinary Americans. In May, President Trump told a group of reporters outside the White House that Americans’ financial situation is not something he thinks about “even a little bit” despite the impact his war in Iran is having on the price of gasoline in Georgia and across the country.

“Folks back at home in Georgia, whom I represent, are struggling to just make their lives work,” said Senator Warnock. “They know President Trump’s Iran war and the tariff taxes are only making things worse. Talk to farmers in Georgia, they’ll tell you that.”

A recent survey by Fox News states that more than 70 percent of Americans feel that the economy is getting worse, and consumer sentiment throughout the country is at a record low. Since assuming office in January 2025, President Trump’s policies and domestic agenda have added an enormous amount of money to the national debt without alleviating prices for American families. President Trump and Washington Republicans’ signature legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will add nearly $5 trillion to the national debt. In May, the U.S. national debt held by the public ballooned to more than $31 trillion, exceeding GDP.

Senator Warnock continues to push back against the Trump administration’s reckless tariff policy and the uncertain market conditions it creates for Georgia businesses. As ranking member of the Finance Subcommittee on Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, the senator has oversight jurisdiction over federal trade policies and continues to work to foster a financial climate that will bolster the Georgia economy.

Watch the Senator’s full remarks HERE.

See below a transcript of the exchange between Senator Warnock and Secretary Bessent

Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): “Last month I asked the president’s nominee to lead the Federal Reserve what I thought was a simple question, but he tried to dodge it. His answer was cute. I’m not sure the American people, who are struggling, were laughing. So, I’ll ask you the same question to see if I can get a clear answer. President Trump has said that his grade of the economy, his words, is “[A] plus plus plus plus plus”. He said this before he sent energy and gas prices soaring with this illegal war in Iran, a war that’s costing taxpayers billions of dollars, a billion dollars or more per day, turbocharging inflation.

“So, I’ll ask the Secretary of the Treasury the same question. Given all of the challenges facing ordinary Americans, our political differences aside, what grade would you give the US economy right now?”

Secretary Bessent (SB): “Which challenges other than temporarily elevated prices? Would you identify, Senator?”

SRW: “I’m asking you, what grade would you give the economy?”

SB: “I think we have the makings of one of the strongest economies in history. We’ve had 2.6% growth and core inflation has dropped. Food inflation, since President Trump began—as much as you all want to disagree—is 2.5%.”

SRW: “I got it. So, you agree with the President? You would give the economy an A plus, plus, plus, plus plus?”

SB: “I think we have all..”

SRW: “From where you sit?”

SB: “I think we have all the makings for a very strong economy. I think that we have temporarily elevated prices. We’ll come back down.”

SRW: “I got it. So, you’re telling Americans it’s not so bad. Americans give the Trump economy a failing grade. You and I can disagree, but this is not about us. They give the economy a failing grade because they can’t afford anything. Folks back at home in Georgia, whom I represent, are struggling—let me finish—to just make their lives work. And they know President Trump’s Iran war and the tariff taxes are only making things worse. Talk to farmers in Georgia, they’ll tell you that.

“But I’m not so sure folks fully grasped the long-term crisis that’s also brewing for our children and our grandchildren. Wars do not pay for themselves. And this year, under the Trump administration’s economic policies, the $31 trillion national debt exceeded GDP for basically the first time since World War II. Think about that. Now, to be fair, debt did exceed GDP during the COVID 19 pandemic, but that was only briefly, as the GDP crashed as a result of a once in a century pandemic. The big ugly bill alone will add nearly $5 trillion to the national debt. Something that I do care about, and I think it matters. I think it’s interesting that Republicans talk about it when Democrats are in charge, but I haven’t heard much discussion about the national debt lately. According to our nonpartisan scorekeepers in the Congressional Budget Office, it will add $5 trillion to the national debt. Do you still think that driving deeper into debt to extend billionaire tax cuts were a good investment?”

SB: “Sir? That 90% of the filers who availed themselves on President Trump’s signature policies make below $100,000 and if you want to know who is responsible for the American people, you all torched them during the Biden administration. I’m not sure if you were part of that. We had a 21.5% increase. Joe Biden—had real negative wage growth.”

SRW: “Sir, I’m asking you a basic question. Do you think that going into debt to extend billionaire tax cuts was a good investment? Yes or no?”

SB: “I disagree with the categorization of billionaire tax cuts, when in fact most of the tax cuts went to work for ordinary Americans. Senator, you are quoting a Congressional Budget Office, which…”

SRW: “According to the Yale Budget Office—the Yale Budget Lab…”

SB: “The Yale Budget Lab is a bunch of Biden hacks.”

SRW: “Well, you should talk to the people in Georgia. They will tell you, sir, that whatever tax relief you think you gave them was more than taken up by these tariffs, they, according to the Yale Budget Lab, the administration’s tariffs cost families three times as much as they got back in tax cuts. But I don’t talk to the folks at Yale, I talk to the folks in Georgia.

“How about the Iran war, which is costing tens of billions of dollars and counting. You previously said we have plenty of money for the war. Wars increase the national debt. Is that spending still a good idea, sir? Yes or no?”

SB: “Sir, do you think it’s a good idea to spend? Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

SRW: “So you do think it’s a good idea? You think the Iran war makes—”

SB: “I think just as many people historically—when President Obama was in office—said that Iran may not have—”

SRW: “President Obama left office in 2016!”

SB: “I know, but I’m saying there are many people on this committee who said Iran should never have a nuclear weapon at any cost.”

SRW: “I agree with that. They should not have a nuclear weapon, and they’re closer to it, thanks to this administration’s policy. And the Strait of Hormuz is still closed. And you should tell the people in Georgia that this war is a good idea. I think they’ll disagree.”


At Hearing, Secretary Bessent Defends President Trump’s Stock Trades, Dodges Warren’s Push For Investigation On Potential Insider Trading

President Trump’s recent ethics disclosures reveal more than 3,400 stock trades worth hundreds of millions of dollars in the first three months of 2026

Warren: “We need stronger anticorruption rules and conflict of interest rules in Washington for everyone, and that includes the President, and it includes Congress.”

Warren: “Instead of draining the swamp, what Donald Trump is doing is he is enriching himself by taking advantage of his position.”

Video of Exchange (YouTube)

Washington, D.C. — At a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on whether President Donald Trump’s stock trades pose a conflict of interest, highlighting Secretary Bessent’s previous statements in support of a congressional stock trading ban. Secretary Bessent defended President Trump’s trades, ignoring Senator Warren’s push for an investigation into potential insider trading.

Last month, President Trump's latest financial disclosures showed he made over 3,400 trades worth hundreds of millions of dollars in the first fiscal quarter of 2026.

Despite Secretary Bessent’s previous public support for a congressional stock trading ban, he defended the President's trades, stating, “President Trump is not sitting in the Oval Office engaging in a high-frequency trading strategy. Clearly, he had an outside manager who was doing that.”

Senator Warren highlighted that President Trump signed the 113-page ethics disclosure publicly listing all of his individual stock trades, and those trades occurred as the President made decisions affecting those stocks.

On January 6, President Trump purchased up to a million dollars' worth of Nvidia stock. The following week, his administration loosened the rules on export controls so that Nvidia could sell its chips to China, raising the company's stock and ultimately benefiting President Trump. The disclosure also showed a purchase of tens of thousands of dollars worth of stock in Robinhood and the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY). On April 6, the Treasury Department announced it had chosen to implement the new Trump accounts program with BNY and Robinhood. Both stocks have risen since the announcement.

Senator Warren continued to press Secretary Bessent’s views on whether it's a conflict of interest for President Trump to trade stocks and if the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should investigate these trades. Secretary Bessent dodged the question, refusing to answer directly.

Senator Warren concluded the hearing by calling for stronger reforms against corruption: “We need stronger anticorruption rules and conflict of interest rules in Washington for everyone, and that includes the President, and it includes Congress. And instead of draining the swamp, what Donald Trump is doing is he is enriching himself by taking advantage of his position.”

Transcript: Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Treasury.Senate Finance CommitteeJune 3, 2026

Senator Elizabeth Warren: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, Secretary Bessent, let's start with something you and I agree strongly on. Last year, you came out in support of a trading ban for members of Congress, and I have introduced legislation to do exactly that. You explained the need for a ban on our trading stock by saying, “You look at some of these eye-popping returns, every hedge fund would be jealous of them,” and that “If any private citizen traded that way, the SEC would be knocking on their door.” Those are strong words from someone who used to run a hedge fund. Last month, President Trump's latest financial disclosures came out, and they show that he made more than 3400 stock trades, worth more than a quarter of a billion dollars, in just the first three months of 2026. That's roughly half of what all 535 members of Congress made last year combined. And the value of virtually every one of those stocks that the President traded in is directly affected by President Trump's official actions.

Secretary Bessent, you and I agree that it is a conflict of interest for members of Congress to trade stocks. Do you also agree that it's a conflict of interest for President Trump to trade stocks?

Secretary Bessent: A couple of things, Senator. One, President Trump is not sitting in the Oval Office engaging in a high-frequency trading strategy. Clearly, he had an outside manager who was doing that, and I think it's incumbent upon both houses of Congress to get their house in order before you move to the administrative branch.

Senator Warren: Before? You think it's okay for the president to do this? Let's be clear, you are a Wall Street guy, so you know better. The investments that President Trump has made are not blind. President Trump literally signed the 113-page document publicly listing all of his individual stock trades at the same time that he is making decisions affecting those stocks. So you're going to sit here with a straight face and say it's not a conflict of interest for the President of the United States to do that?

Secretary Bessent: I'm going to say this body needs to get its house in order first.

Senator Warren: How about we get the White House in order at the same time?

Secretary Bessent: I would encourage you to do that.

Senator Warren: I don't trade in individual stocks. I don't own any individual stocks. My house is in order, thank you, Mr. Secretary.

Secretary Bessent: Others on this committee can't say that, Senator.

Senator Warren: Let's look at some individual trades. On January 6, Donald Trump purchased up to a million dollars' worth of Nvidia stock. One week later, his administration changed US policy and loosened the rules on export controls so that Nvidia could sell its chips to China. Now the price of Nvidia stock is through the roof. So, Secretary Bessent, you said last year if any private citizen traded the way members of Congress do, “the SEC would be knocking on their door.”

So, my question is, should the SEC be knocking on President Trump's door to start an investigation over this trade?

Secretary Bessent: Again, if this body wants to ban individual stock trading, which I would advocate for yourself, start there. And if you want legislative action to continue, that's your prerogative.

Senator Warren: So it's our prerogative. So you would support our saying that President Trump should be investigated over this? Our trades should be investigated and President Trump’s should be investigated?

Secretary Bessent: I would support you getting your house in order, Senator.

Senator Warren: And how about the White House getting its house in order? Would you support that investigation?

Secretary Bessent: Again, please lead by example.

Senator Warren: I would like to see the President of the United States lead by example. You say there should be an investigation when that kind of activity takes place. How about we start with the White House?

Secretary Bessent: You create statutes. The president does not.

Senator Warren: Let's do one more. President Trump bought tens of thousands of dollars worth of stock in Robinhood and the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, known as BNY. On April 6, your Treasury Department announced it had chosen the financial agent to implement the new Trump accounts program, BNY, and its partner, Robinhood. Both stocks, of course, have risen since then.

So, Secretary Bessent, let me ask you a different question. If these stock purchases that Trump made were made using inside information, would that be illegal?

Secretary Bessent: Again, I'm not a lawyer. I'm not going to speak to that.

Senator Warren: Would it be worth investigating? You don't have to be a lawyer. You’re the one who said what should be investigated.

Secretary Bessent: Why don't we investigate many people on this committee, Senator? Why don’t we start here?

Senator Warren: And you don’t think the White House should have to follow the same set of rules that are already the law?

Secretary Bessent: I think you should get your house in order here.

Senator Warren: My house is in order, thank you, Mr. Secretary.

Secretary Bessent: And you should have your fellow committee members, many on your—mostly on your side of the aisle—do the same.

Senator Warren: We need stronger anticorruption rules and conflict of interest rules in Washington for everyone, and that includes the President, and it includes Congress. And instead of draining the swamp, what Donald Trump is doing is he is enriching himself by taking advantage of his position. That is not public service. He's the one who should lead by example.

Senator Warren has led the fight to root out corruption and hold the Trump administration accountable:

In June 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), along with Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.), pressed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles following reports that the White House interfered to deliver a lucrative Department of Defense (DoD) contract to Vulcan Elements, a key Trump Jr.-linked company.

In May 2026, Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed the Acting Director-Designate for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), David Venturella, on his decades-long revolving-door career between ICE and the private prison industry and his reported use of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel and resources for personal or political favors.

In May 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced the Banning Lobbying And Safeguarding Trust (BLAST) Act, a bipartisan bill to impose a lifetime ban on lobbying by former members of Congress.

In March 2026, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Representative Maxine Waters, Representative Angie Craig (D-Minn.), and 37 other lawmakers, wrote to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) urging the agencies to address illegal insider trading in prediction markets by federal employees.

In February 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), along with Representatives Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) pressed the Inspectors General (IGs) of 16 key agencies to open investigations into senior Trump officials who were recently lobbyists or “shadow lobbyists” and may be using their roles to benefit their former employers and clients.

In January 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on potential conflicts of interest surrounding the awarding of multiple lucrative Department of Defense (DoD) contracts and loans to companies associated with President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.

In December 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) pressed the Trump administration to follow through on promises to limit defense companies' stock buybacks and incentivize them to increase research and development spending.

In September 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Donald Korb, nominee for Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), ahead of Korb’s confirmation hearing, pressing him on his stark conflicts of interest and urging him to make ethics commitments to mitigate these conflicts.

In July 2025, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) wrote to former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin seeking an explanation and further information on his recent decision to start a strategic advisory firm. Austin had publicly promised Senator Warren during his 2021 confirmation process that he would not become a lobbyist after his government service ended.

In July 2023, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and United States Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) introduced the Retired Officers Conflict of Interest Act – a bill that would require public reporting on retired service members working on behalf of foreign governments and create civil penalties if they break the law.

In December 2020, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) reintroduced the Anti-Corruption & Public Integrity Act to strengthen ethics laws and crack down on government officials’ conflicts of interest across the government.

###


Warren, Lawmakers Slam White House After Reports of “Egregious Corruption” Involving Lucrative Pentagon Loan Gifted to Trump Jr.-Tied Company

New reporting revealed White House interfered to secure DoD loan for Trump Jr.-linked Vulcan Elements

“If this report is accurate, it reveals a staggering level of corruption and influence peddling that … enrich(ed) the President’s son at the expense of U.S. national security and taxpayer dollars.”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), along with Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.), pressed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles following reports that the White House interfered to deliver a lucrative Department of Defense (DoD) contract to Vulcan Elements, a key Trump Jr.-linked company.

“If this report is accurate, it reveals a staggering level of corruption and influence peddling that superseded this process, enriching the President’s son at the expense of U.S. national security and taxpayer dollars,” wrote the lawmakers.

After President Trump was elected to his second term, Donald Trump Jr., his son, joined venture capital firm 1789 Capital as a partner. Since then, 1789 Capital-backed companies have won hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of contracts and loans from Trump’s DoD.

New reports appear to indicate egregious corruption behind closed doors at the White House and Pentagon to influence the DoD’s approval of one of these loans. The most valuable DoD award to date is a $620 million loan to Vulcan Elements. The loan was worth twice Vulcan Elements’ entire valuation. After the award, “estimates of its valuation grew tenfold”— creating an immediate windfall for the President’s son.

Reporting revealed that Vulcan’s approval for the loan came amid White House interference in the process. Specifically, “interviews and Defense Department records reviewed by ProPublica show that the request to loan hundreds of millions of dollars to the firm linked to Trump Jr. was made by Peter Navarro, a White House adviser to President Donald Trump and a friend of Trump Jr.’s,” and that Navarro’s prodding prompted staff to fast-track the approval.

In addition to the $620 million loan, Vulcan landed $10 million in direct contracts with DoD and received a $50 million equity investment from the Department of Commerce ("Commerce").

“The American public – and service members that are in harm’s way – expect that the DoD contracting process is fair, unbiased, and competitive to ensure that only the best companies, providing only the best products, receive taxpayer dollars,” wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers also raised concerns about other instances of Trump administration investments that have — or could — enrich Trump Jr. Last year, PsiQuantum, a quantum chip start-up backed by 1789 Capital, received a $10.8 million Pentagon contract, and Commerce recently took a $100 million equity stake in the company. In another case, after a story broke that the Trump administration was considering funding a group of drone companies, including a drone company that “counts Donald Trump Jr. as a shareholder and advisory board member,” the company’s stock value increased by more than 50 percent.

The lawmakers asked Wiles to provide answers to their questions regarding these Pentagon contracting decisions no later than June 16, 2026.

“Congress and the public deserve answers about whether the White House is rigging or intervening in Pentagon contracting decisions in order to benefit the President’s family, and if so, who is responsible and how this impacts national security and the expenditure of taxpayer dollars,” the lawmakers concluded.

Senator Warren previously pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on potential conflicts of interest surrounding the awarding of multiple lucrative DoD contracts and loans to companies associated with President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.

Senator Warren has led the fight to root out corruption and hold the Trump administration accountable:

In May 2026, Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed the Acting Director-Designate for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), David Venturella, on his decades-long revolving door career between ICE and the private prison industry and his reported use of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel and resources for personal or political favors.

In May 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced the Banning Lobbying And Safeguarding Trust (BLAST) Act, a bipartisan bill to impose a lifetime ban on lobbying by former members of Congress.

In February 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), along with Representatives Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) and Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) pressed the Inspectors General (IGs) of 16 key agencies to open investigations into senior Trump officials who were recently lobbyists or “shadow lobbyists” and may be using their roles to benefit their former employers and clients.

In January 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on potential conflicts of interest surrounding the awarding of multiple lucrative Department of Defense (DoD) contracts and loans to companies associated with President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.

In December 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) pressed the Trump administration to follow through on promises to limit defense companies' stock buybacks and incentivize them to increase research and development spending.

In December 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called for then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to recuse herself from the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s review of any Warner Bros. merger due to potential conflicts of interest related to her former employer, lobbying firm Ballard Partners.

In September 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Donald Korb, nominee for Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), ahead of Korb’s confirmation hearing, pressing him on his stark conflicts of interest and urging him to make ethics commitments to mitigate these conflicts.

In July 2025, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) wrote to former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin seeking an explanation and further information on his recent decision to start a strategic advisory firm. Austin had publicly promised Senator Warren during his 2021 confirmation process that he would not become a lobbyist after his government service ended.

In July 2023, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and United States Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) introduced the Retired Officers Conflict of Interest Act – a bill that would require public reporting on retired service members working on behalf of foreign governments and create civil penalties if they break the law.

In December 2020, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) reintroduced the Anti-Corruption & Public Integrity Act to strengthen ethics laws and crack down on government officials’ conflicts of interest across the government.

###


Welch Presses Secretary Bessent About National Debt and Tax Policies at Finance Committee Hearing

Bessent concedes need to address tax haven loophole that allows corporations to avoid paying their fair share

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today pressed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the ballooning national debt and its implications for hardworking Vermont families.

Sen. Welch: “I want to talk about what I think is a looming crisis that gets far too little attention in this Congress and that’s the national debt…The projection of the debt, first of all, January of 2025, it was $36.2 trillion. It’s now $39.2 trillion…The trajectory of this debt is just going up and up and up. The Congressional Budget Office right now says that that debt held by the public—is 99% of the Gross Domestic Product—is scheduled to go up by 2030 to 120%. And, we’re now paying interest, as you know probably better than anybody, of $970 billion. So, taxpayer revenues are going $970 billion to debt—that exceeds our military budget. Obviously, that means we cannot spend that on other things that folks in Mr. Crapo’s district and folks in my district need. The federal interest payments rose to 18.5% of all of our revenues and the CBO says that’s going to go up to 25.8% by 2036. We don’t talk about it at all. It’s not even a topic. Which is astonishing to me because it’s such a threat.”

Senator Welch continued: “I absolutely believe that the people who owe money should be paying that money, and that we should have assertive enforcement in order to get that collected—regardless of what the growth rate is. That’s number one. Number two…companies are now using these low-tax dodge countries: like American Express avoided $423 million in taxes by using the Island of Jersey, saying that’s where they do their work. BLACK+DECKER cut their bill by $27 million by using Cyprus. Many companies use Malta—S&P Global cut its tax bill by $269 million. Is that something that we should tolerate?”

Secretary Bessent: “No.”

Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks below:

Senator Welch opposed Secretary Bessent’s nomination. In his confirmation hearing, Senator Welch pushed Secretary Bessent about the affordability crisis and the need for the incoming administration to work with Democrats to extend tax credits to help all Americans access affordable health care, childcare, and housing. Last summer, Senator Welch grilled Secretary Bessent about how President Trump’s unpredictable economic policies have wrought instability for Vermonters in every corner of the Green Mountain State.

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Young Touts Progress at U.S. Southern Border

**Click here or above to watch Senator Young’s floor speech.**

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) spoke on the Senate floor about how tough border security policies put in place by President Trump and new resources provided by Congress to combat drug smuggling and human trafficking are working.

To watch Young’s full floor speech, click here.

Senator Young’s full remarks are below:

Mr. President, I cannot be the only member of this body to notice that several words and phrases are used a lot less on the Senate floor these days.

They include:

Open borders.

Illegal crossings.

Catch and release.

And migration surges.

These terms have dropped from our debates and are no longer in the news, because President Trump and Republicans in Congress helped largely close the border to illegal immigrants.

With support from this President and this Republican Congress, our law enforcement personnel ceased catch and release and stopped the record migration surges.

This is what the American people elected us to do: end the chaos at our southern border and block the flow of illegal immigrants into our communities.

We did these things so effectively, it has almost gone unnoticed.

Of course, there were some who denied there was a crisis in the first place.

The numbers from one administration to the next tell a different story:

From 2021 to 2024, over ten million illegal immigrants crossed the southern border. By design.

President Joe Biden paused deportations, laxed requirements for asylum seekers, ended construction of a border wall, and suspended Remain in Mexico.

The previous administration created an influx of illegal immigrants that endangered public safety and taxed resources in communities along and far from the border.

These policies also undermined Americans’ faith in legal immigration because they prioritized law breakers over those who wish to come to America legally and embrace its values.

As soon as he was inaugurated, President Trump increased the number of troops along the southern border, began deporting illegal immigrants, and reinstated Remain in Mexico.

And Republicans in Congress did our part too.

The Big Beautiful Bill, passed by this Congress and signed into law by President Trump a year ago, increased resources to secure the border and combat drug smuggling and human trafficking.

The bill contained funding for additional Border Patrol Agents.

As a result, the screening and vetting of illegal immigrants increased.

And increased funding for the Department of Justice enabled the hiring of additional immigration judges to clear out the back log of asylum cases.

Today, the results speak for themselves:

In November 2024, there were 106,333 reported border encounters.

In January 2025, the number dropped to 61,465.

It was down to 8,326 the next month.

A year later, in April 2026, apprehensions on the southern border were 94 percent lower than the monthly average during Biden’s presidency.

The seizure of drugs – cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana – has increased by weight 60% from since April 2024.

And we just marked an entire year of zero releases at the southern border.

A nation that does not control its borders, that cannot enforce its laws, is a nation that willingly surrenders its sovereignty.

Abandoning our right to determine who participates in that process – indiscriminately allowing all comers to enter our country – endangers our citizens, burdens our taxpayers, and makes a mockery of the rule of law.

It is also dangerous to the immigrants themselves, some of whom perish on their way to our southern border.

Americans realized this, even if some of their leaders did not.

And this is why President Trump and Congressional Republicans acted to end the border crisis.

How can you tell?

The relative silence in the mainstream media and on this floor from many of our Democratic colleagues tells you all you need to know.


Yakym Announces June 2026 Staff Mobile Office Hours

MISHAWAKA, IN – Today, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) announced the following dates, times, and locations that his office will be holding mobile staff office hours in June 2026 throughout Indiana’s Second District. Mobile office hours are designed to be respectful one-on-one conversations with the Congressman’s team, primarily for federal casework assistance. These are not town halls and disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.

Cass County

Thursday, June 4, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

Walton Public Library

110 N Main Street

Walton, IN 46994

Elkhart County

Tuesday, June 23, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET

Nappanee City Hall

300 W Lincoln Street

Nappanee, IN 46550

Fulton County

Rochester District Office – Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET

709 Main Street

Rochester, IN 46975

Thursday, June 18, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

Akron Clerk’s Office

206 W Rochester Street

Akron, IN 46910

Kosciusko County

Thursday, June 18, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET

Bell Memorial Public Library

101 W Main Street

Mentone, IN 46539

Tuesday, June 23, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET

Etna Green Town Hall

106 S Walnut Street

Etna Green, IN 46524

La Porte County

Thursday, June 11, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT (2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET)

Kingsford Heights Public Library

436 Evanston Road

Kingsford Heights, IN 46346

Marshall County

Thursday, June 18, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ET

Argos Town Hall

201 W Walnut Street

Argos, IN 46501

Miami County

Thursday, June 4, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET

Peru City Hall (2nd Floor Conference Room)

35 S. Broadway

Peru, IN 46970

Pulaski County

Thursday, June 11, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET

Pulaski County Public Library

121 S Riverside Drive

Winamac, IN 46996

Starke County

Thursday, June 11, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT (12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET)

Starke County Courthouse

53 E Washington Street

Knox, IN 46534

St. Joseph County

Mishawaka District Office – Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET

2410 Grape Road, Suite 2A

Mishawaka, IN 46545

Wabash County

Thursday, June 4, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ET

Wabash City Hall

202 S Wabash Street

Wabash, IN 46992


Rep. Young Kim Discusses FY27 State Department Budget Priorities with Secretary Marco Rubio

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairwoman of the East Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee Young Kim (CA-40) asked questions during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing featuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

As Secretary Rubio appeared before the Committee to discuss the FY27 State Department budget, Chairwoman Kim raised questions on key priorities such as critical minerals, international shipbuilding, and Taiwan arms deliveries.