Senator Collins Casts 10,000th Consecutive Vote

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Senator Collins’ remarks.

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Senator Angus King’s remarks.

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Majority Leader John Thune’s remarks.

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s remarks.

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Minority Whip Dick Durbin’s remarks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins cast her 10,000th consecutive Senate roll call vote, extending the unbroken voting streak she began in 1997. She is the first Senator in U.S. history to have cast this many votes without ever missing one.

Throughout her Senate service, Senator Collins has always made it a priority to return home to meet with constituents and visit communities, businesses, schools, and events.

“Mainers are known for their work ethic, and they deserve a Senator who works just as hard for them,” said Senator Collins. “Growing up in Aroostook County, I learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and honoring your commitments. I am proud to bring those Maine values with me to the Senate every day. Representing the State of Maine is the honor of a lifetime, and I will continue serve with the diligence and responsibility that Mainers deserve.”

“I want to rise to also congratulate my colleague on a truly remarkable achievement that reflects her character and dedication to the people of this country...,” said Senator King on the Senate floor. “Our state is not one where the weather is always favorable, and it's always easy to get here. And to have maneuvered through bad storms, snow storms, nor'easters, to be here for every single vote, since the first day she set foot in this chamber, is a truly remarkable achievement."

“For nearly 30 years, Susan Collins has shown up for Mainers, has ensured that they are represented in every single vote the Senate takes, no matter what,” said Majority Leader Thune on the Senate floor. “Susan takes pride in the milestones that she's achieved, not because of any desire to have her name in the history books, but because to her, these votes are a tangible marker of the goal that she's set for herself since she came to the United States Senate. And that is ensuring that Mainers always have a voice."

“No matter what has been going on in the world, or in her life, Senator Collins has never, never, missed a vote in her entire Senate career,” said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on the Senate floor. “This is truly a remarkable milestone. Many of us try hard to make every vote. Senator Collins has actually done it. 10,000 times in a row. Senator Collins and I belong to different parties and do not always see eye to eye, but 10,000 consecutive roll call votes is an extraordinary streak by any measure, and I congratulate her on reaching it.”

“This is a true record, and it's one that reflects her commitment to public service, and in my case, friendship,” said Minority Whip Dick Durbin on the Senate floor. “We have worked together in many different capacities. I remember the days after 9/11 when your extraordinary leadership with Senator Lieberman, if I'm not mistaken, led to a complete reform of the intelligence agencies in our nation. It was a dynamic legislative achievement, and I've talked to you about it many times...Our friendship is sound, and my admiration for your achievement is one that's on the record for all to witness. Congratulations.”

Senator Collins’ first vote in the Senate was on January 22, 1997, when she voted to confirm Madeleine Albright as Secretary of State. Her second vote, the same day, was to confirm former Maine Senator Bill Cohen as Secretary of Defense. Senator Collins succeeded Secretary Cohen in the Senate.

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Cornyn Praises DHS for Opening Cornyn-Created State Border Security Reimbursement Fund

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially opened the Cornyn-created State Border Security Reinforcement Fund for applications from eligible states. This fund was authorized through a provision led by Sen. Cornyn as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which included $13.5 billion in funding to reimburse states like Texas for stepping up during the Biden administration to try and secure the border.

“For four years, President Biden’s disastrous open-border policies wreaked havoc on our nation, and no state did more to fill in the gaps to protect and defend the southern border than Texas,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m glad the Department of Homeland Security has followed through on my reimbursement provision by opening the application process for the State Border Security Reinforcement Fund to reimburse states like Texas for the billions of dollars spent to try and secure the border after Joe Biden’s dereliction of this federal responsibility.”

Background:

Senator Cornyn has led the fight in Washington to secure federal reimbursement for Texas by:

Swiftly backing Governor Abbott’s request for Texas to be reimbursed for the taxpayer dollars spent on Operation Lone Star;

Calling attention to the ongoing reimbursement effort on the Senate floor;

Meeting with Governor Abbott and members of the Texas congressional delegation to discuss the legislative strategy for the reimbursement push;

Holding ongoing meetings and phone calls with Governor Abbott, Senate and House leadership, and congressional colleagues regarding the effort;

Leading legislation in the Senate to reimburse the State of Texas for the more than $11 billion dollars Texas taxpayers spent on Operation Lone Star;

And led a letter with members of the Texas congressional delegation to the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) urging them to prioritize the release of funds set aside in the One Big Beautiful Bill to reimburse the State of Texas for the more than $11 billion spent on border security efforts.


Funding Critical Energy Infrastructure Through the Defense Production Act

***Click here for audio***

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced his plan to respond to the nation’s energy emergency by providing funding under the Defense Production Act for upgrades at power plants and other coal infrastructure throughout the nation.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) applauded the president’s actions.

“For more than 20 years, federal and state policies prioritized unreliable, intermittent energy generation resulting in higher electricity bills and distribution grids pushed to the breaking point,” said Cramer. “President Trump recognized the danger posed by decades of neglect and declared an energy emergency shortly after he was sworn in. The president is focused on lower energy bills and more affordable and reliable sources of electricity as he leads us to the front of the AI race. Today, by using the tools available under the Defense Production Act, President Trump is refusing to sacrifice energy security, low prices, or jobs to the fallacies and fantasies of Democrats who have presided over rising electric rates and deteriorating infrastructure.”


Crapo Releases Finalized Idaho Housing Survey Report

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, released the finalized report from his comprehensive Idaho housing survey, marking one year since launching the initiative to gather input from Idahoans and housing stakeholders across the state.

The survey, combined with a series of listening sessions with stakeholders, including a roundtable discussion in Boise with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, provided critical insight into Idahoans’ views of the challenges driving housing affordability in Idaho. Many key themes emerged, including rising constructions costs, limited housing supply, and workforce housing and labor shortages. Feedback gathered through this effort will inform Senator Crapo’s legislative actions on housing and contributed to proposals sponsored by Crapo and ultimately included in the Senate-passed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

“The input we received from Idahoans shapes ongoing solutions to address housing challenges facing the state and country,” said Crapo. “I thank residents, community leaders, local officials and industry professionals who took the time to share their perspectives and expertise. This feedback will continue to help guide legislation that takes meaningful steps toward increasing housing supply and strengthening affordable housing opportunities for Idaho families.”

Crapo remains committed to advancing policies that support sustainable housing development, improve affordability and ensure Idaho communities can continue to grow and thrive, without the use of excessive federal government overreach. While the survey is closed, Senator Crapo encourages Idahoans to continue to share feedback on this topic, or others, by contacting one of his offices throughout the state or via email on his website.

To read the executive summary of the survey findings, click here.

The full report is available on the Senator’s website here.

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Sen. Cruz Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Preserve MQ-9 Aircraft Mission

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) introduced the Sustainment of Unmanned Systems, Total Force Aircraft Inventory, and National Guard Protection (SUSTAIN) Act. This legislation prohibits the Air Force from reducing MQ-9 units or staffing levels in ways that would erode their current operational capabilities.

Sen. Cruz said, “The MQ-9 is a proven, cost-effective platform that provides critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. In Texas, they were invaluable after the devastating July 4, 2025 floods, when the Texas Air National Guard’s 147th Attack Wing deployed the MQ-9 to support search, rescue, and recovery operations along the Guadalupe River. I am proud to introduce this legislation to protect the MQ-9’s operational capabilities and preserve this vital asset.”

Sen. Kelly said, “This aircraft is a critical platform for the Arizona National Guard to gather intelligence, conduct surveillance, and perform strike missions. We must invest in the best tools that strengthen our national security. With this bill we’re making sure servicemembers have the equipment they need at a time of growing global threats.”

Sen. Slotkin said, “Protecting Air National Guard missions has been a priority for me since my time in the House. The message is simple: don't take away missions from the National Guard until you have a plan to replace it. The same rule applies here. I’m glad to have bipartisan support to protect these missions and the servicemembers that form the backbone of our military, including at Battle Creek in Michigan. The SUSTAIN Act holds the Air Force to a basic standard: show us the plan before you start cutting people and planes. Our National Guard units deserve that, and our national security will be stronger because of it."

National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) President MG (Ret.) Francis McGinn said, “The Air National Guard's MQ-9 enterprise provides critical combat capability, homeland defense support, and operational experience that cannot be easily replaced. Two weeks ago, the Air Force Chief of Staff referenced the MQ-9 as the 'MVP' of the US air campaign against Iran in Operation Epic Fury. The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) fully supports Senator Cruz and Senator Kelly’s legislation. Any effort to retire or reduce MQ-9 aircraft and units must be accompanied by a clear, funded modernization or recapitalization strategy that preserves Air National Guard MQ-9 capacity and readiness. A recapitalization plan developed in partnership with National Guard leadership will help ensure Air National Guard MQ-9 units remain ready, capable, and part of the future force."

Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership President Brian Freedman said, “Senator Cruz’s legislation provides a statutory firewall that halts the premature divestment of the MQ-9 fleet and preserves a critical and cost-effective platform vital to modern joint force operations. By establishing long-term inventory and personnel floors through 2032, this bill ensures the Air National Guard, including Ellington Field’s 147th Attack Wing, retains the baseline readiness required for both global threat deterrence and domestic emergency response. Thank you to Senator Cruz for introducing this important legislation and we hope that Congress moves quickly to pass it.”

U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas-36) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Babin said, “The 147th Attack Wing at Ellington Field in my district represents exactly why this effort is urgently needed. MQ-9 units have provided the nation with persistent ISR, strike, and other critical capabilities that strengthen our national defense. The platform that delivers this capability may evolve over time, but we cannot allow the capability, expertise, and readiness these Airmen provide to disappear without a clear and responsible path forward. I am proud to lead this effort in the House alongside Senators Cruz and Kelly to ensure these units are not left behind. At a time when our adversaries are growing more aggressive, we should not weaken our military or hollow out proven capabilities. I will keep fighting to protect Ellington Field, strengthen our Air National Guard, and ensure the United States remains the strongest and most feared military power on Earth.”

Read the bill text here.

BACKGROUND

The Sustainment of Unmanned Systems, Total Force Aircraft Inventory, and National Guard Protection (SUSTAIN) Act prohibits the U.S. Air Force from reducing MQ-9 aircraft, units, or staffing levels from the date of enactment through September 30, 2032. The bill provides an exception for MQ-9 aircraft that are determined to be no longer mission-capable and too costly to repair due to a critical malfunction or if an MQ-9 unit undergoes a change of mission.


After FDA Grants Free Pass To Flavored E-Cigarettes, Durbin Leads Senate Democrats In Letter To Tobacco Companies About Trump Administration Influence

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Jack Reed (D-RI) sent letters to Reynolds American and Altria Group to inquire about these Big Tobacco companies’ engagement with the Trump Administration, following the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent misguided decisions to unleash kid-friendly flavored e-cigarettes.

Reynolds American’s recent $5 million donation and Altria Group’s millions of dollars in contributions towards President Trump’s political operation appears to have enabled tobacco manufacturers to circumvent federal law and unlawfully sell unauthorized e-cigarettes. In the letters, the Senators raise serious concerns about the suspicious timeline of political donations to President Trump and the timing of FDA’s announcement.

The Senators wrote, “After political contributions by the companies—which followed which followed donations to President Trump’s gold-plated ballroom and campaign—and lunch at the President’s golf resort, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alarming new industry guidance. This May 8, 2026, FDA guidance grants enforcement discretion to permit kid-friendly, flavored e-cigarettes to be sold on the market without obtaining the law’s required pre-market regulatory authorization.”

The Senators continued, “FDA’s abrupt reversal and decision to grant a free pass to addictive and harmful vapes will cause irreparable harm to children across the country and the agency’s independence from political influence. But for you and your shareholders, this was a lucrative payday after years of unsuccessful legislative and regulatory efforts to weaken federal tobacco oversight.”

The Senators posed a series of questions to understand how many new and unauthorized e-cigarettes manufactured by Reynolds and Altria may be on the market following FDA’s recent guidance to grant enforcement discretion to addictive, flavored e-cigarettes that lack the FDA’s lawfully required authorization. The Senators request a response to various questions by July 2, 2026.

The Senators’ letter to Reynolds American can be found here.

The Senators’ letter to Altria Group can be found here.

The recent actions by FDA include authorizing the first-ever non-tobacco or menthol-flavored vaping products (mango and blueberry); FDA issuing final guidance permitting e-cigarettes that lack FDA authorization to remain on the market in violation of the law; and former FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary resigning, at least partially, in protest of these actions. By authorizing fruit flavors that are primarily used by children, FDA is once again enabling youth tobacco use and exacerbating the risk of serious chronic disease and death for a new generation. Durbin recently sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging him to push back on these actions.

Durbin has been a vocal leader in the fight against Big Tobacco since he lost his father to lung cancer when Durbin was 14 years old. He went after Big Tobacco when he served in the House of Representatives and led the charge to ban smoking on airplanes, which eventually led to bans on smoking in restaurants, office buildings, trains, and other locations. Durbin has also led efforts to grant FDA jurisdiction over tobacco, raise tobacco taxes to prevent youth initiation, and enhance support for tobacco cessation tools.

In May, Durbin pressed the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dr. Jay Bhattacharya about the Trump Administration’s failure to protect children from nicotine addiction and exposure to toxic chemicals as Big Tobacco continues to push kid-friendly flavored e-cigarettes during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. During last month’s Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing about the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Durbin called on Secretary Kennedy to crack down on illegal e-cigarette products, especially those targeting children.

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Durbin Files Amendments To Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill To Protect Immigrants

WASHINGTON – In response to the current vote-a-rama on Senate Republicans’ partisan reconciliation bill, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, filed amendments to the bill that would protect DACA recipients and keep immigration enforcement officials from targeting sensitive locations like schools and hospitals.

After failing to include funding in the bill for Trump’s billion-dollar ballroom and weaponized Justice Department, Senate Republicans are attempting to push through $70 billion in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

“Nothing in this legislation will help struggling American families with the cost of gas, groceries, housing, or health care. But Republicans are adamant about funding one of President Trump’s most unpopular issues: mass deportation. Americans are outraged at his overreaching anti-immigrant campaign that doesn’t target the ‘worst of the worst,’ and I urge Republicans to at least support these commonsense amendments to establish basic guardrails on an unruly President,” said Durbin.

Durbin’s amendments would:

Redirect $10 million dollars towards timely processing of DACA renewal applications, and restrict funds from being used for the arrest, detention, or deportation of DACA recipients; and

Restrict funds for immigration enforcement at or near sensitive locations, including houses of worship, schools, hospitals, or domestic violence shelters.

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Ernst Cracks Down on Foreign Influence in National Security Contracting

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), members of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, are building on their efforts to prevent the Pentagon from contracting with consulting firms that simultaneously advise the United States, Russia, China, and other countries of concern.

The consulting firm McKinsey & Company has been awarded federal government consulting contracts while working for Chinese and Russian governments.

Ernst’s Combating Obstructive National Security Underreporting of Legitimate Threats (CONSULT) Act became law in 2023 and enables the federal government to identify potential conflicts of interest involving consulting firms and government contractors, such as McKinsey & Company. It also allows those conflicts to be considered when determining whether a firm is eligible to receive national security contracts.

The new Ending Double Dealing Act expands upon that work by:

Encompassing emerging technologies to ensure updates address advancements in artificial intelligence,

Allowing the restriction of secret spending arrangements known as Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) to close contracting loopholes, and

Updating the definition of foreign adversaries to expand the list of countries covered.

“Allowing firms with financial or operational ties to foreign adversaries to secure federal contracts and influence defense-related decisions creates an unacceptable national security risk,” said Ernst. “Updating and enforcing conflict-of-interest protections is essential to safeguarding American interests and ensuring taxpayer-funded contractors are not advancing the objectives of hostile regimes.”

“At a time when the United States faces growing threats around the world, it’s critical that firms that provide mission support services to the Department of Defense are not working with our adversaries,” said Rosen. “That’s why Senator Ernst and I are introducing a bipartisan bill to ensure the Department of Defense cannot contract with companies that do business with hostile regimes.”

Read the full bill here.

Background:

Ernst has long worked to hold the Pentagon accountable for responsible spending, notably shepherding the CONSULT Act into law and pushing for OTA transparency with her Stop Secret Spending Act.

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Gallego, Ricketts to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster U.S. Competition Against China

WASHINGTON – Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) will introduce the China Subsidy Response and Export Competitiveness Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP). CTEP is a mandate for the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) to help U.S. exporters facing competition from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and ensure the U.S. continues to lead in transformational export areas.

“Over the past two decades, Arizona has lost nearly 66,000 manufacturing jobs to China, fueled by China’s trade cheating and unfair subsidies,” said Senator Gallego. “We need to level the playing field. By making the China and Transformational Exports Program more competitive and more flexible, this bill helps get us there.”

“Communist China doesn’t compete fairly. It cheats by subsidizing its industries to undercut American companies and corner critical supply chains,” said Senator Ricketts. “This bill gives the Export-Import Bank the tools to fight back. When Americans compete on a level playing field, they win. The China Subsidy Response and Export Competitiveness Act will protect America’s jobs and our national security.”

Specifically, the China Subsidy Response and Export Competitiveness Act would:

Give EXIM more flexibility to address concerns that the PRC can subsidize their competing goods and services not only through export credits but also through domestic credits and other financial assistance.

Add medical manufacturing as a new transformational export area to revitalize domestic medical manufacturing, help bring down prices, and build more resilient medical supply chains.

Add printed circuit boards to the semiconductor transformational export areas to counter U.S. dependence on overseas providers, particularly China, which now produces over half of the world’s circuit boards.

Find the full text of the legislation HERE.

Senator Gallego is a champion for trade policies that protect workers, consumers, and small businesses while growing our economy.


Gillibrand, Schumer, Ryan Urge USDA To Approve Disaster Aid For New York Fruit And Specialty Crop Growers After Devastating Spring Frost

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Representative Pat Ryan (D-NY-18), urged Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to approve federal aid for New York fruit and specialty crop growers facing mass crop loss after an April frost that damaged the early growth of fruits and vegetables.

The letter follows New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s request for a Secretarial disaster designation, which would give affected farmers access to low-interest emergency loans. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets estimates more than $30 million in losses to date, with apple, grape, stone fruit, onion, and other growers potentially losing anywhere from 15 to 100 percent of their crops to the frost.

“Farmers are the backbone of New York’s economy, but as climate change worsens, extreme weather events are becoming more common and are wreaking havoc on growers across the state,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said. “These frost events are devastating for New York’s specialty crop and fruit sector, and a Secretarial disaster designation would help ensure that impacted growers have the resources they need to recover. I urge USDA Secretary Rollins to swiftly consider and approve New York’s request in order to bring relief to farmers across New York.”

“From the vineyards of the Finger Lakes to the orchards of the Capital Region, New York’s farms are the heart of our economy. But this past April, they suffered from a devastating freeze that severely damaged crops, which had already started growing due to a warmer winter,” said Senator Schumer. “That’s why I’m calling on USDA Secretary Rollins to swiftly provide New York’s farms with a disaster designation so our farmers can unlock the critical emergency relief funds they need. I will always fight to protect and support impacted farms across Upstate New York.”

“The frost this spring was absolutely devastating to our farmers and growers in the Hudson Valley. Hearing and seeing the damage firsthand makes clear we need urgent action. One of our apple growers told me they lost close to 90% of their crop,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Our community needs the USDA to step up and do their job – now. An official Disaster Designation would unlock millions of dollars in emergency grants and resources to help farmers and growers begin to recover from the estimated $30 million loss. I am fighting tooth and nail to make sure Secretary Rollins understands the on-the-ground impacts and acts with urgency.”

According to USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, New York is one of the top-ranking specialty crop states in the country, including second in apples and third in grapes. Many specialty crop farms also support New York’s agritourism and economy through pick-your-own operations and value-added products, such as hard cider and wine.

The bicameral group wrote to Secretary Rollins: “A Secretarial Disaster Designation will unlock resources, such as emergency loans, for farmers across New York so that they can begin the process of recovering.”

“April’s frost had temperatures easily reaching below freezing and badly damaged the early growth of buds and shoots,” the group continued. “This disaster has significantly impacted New York farmers growing specialty crops, particularly apples, grapes, stone fruit, pears, and strawberries, as well as early vegetables such as onions.”

The letter is also signed by Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), and Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26).

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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Grassley Statement on the Secure America Act

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released the following statement regarding the Senate’s consideration of the Secure America Act:

“Today, the Senate is voting on the Secure America Act. This is a bill to fund federal law enforcement officers and border security. There is no funding for the Department of Justice in this bill outside of enforcing immigration. Democrats proposed a measure regarding the Anti-Weaponization Fund that would have blocked the bill’s passage by sending the bill back to committee. The Acting Attorney General has already stated the Fund is ‘not moving forward.’ I voted against the Democrat proposal and in favor of advancing the Secure America Act, so we can keep our nation’s families and borders secure.”

The Democrat proposal failed to pass, by a vote of 49-50.


PHOTOS: Grassley Speaks at Greater Des Moines Partnership Breakfast During Group’s Annual Advocacy Trip to Washington

Click HERE for photos.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) answered questions at the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Congressional Breakfast on Thursday as part of the group’s annual advocacy trip to Washington, D.C., alongside other members of Iowa’s congressional delegation.

This week, Grassley held meetings with the partnership to discuss their featured priorities of transportation and infrastructure, housing, workforce and permitting reform. He also attended their Congressional Reception on Wednesday evening.

“It’s a treat to spend my morning with nearly 200 Iowans in our nation’s capital. I appreciate every member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership who came to the Capitol to advocate for the region and its priorities. It was great to see so many new faces joining the Partnership’s trip for the first time to participate in representative government,” Grassley said.

Download photos HERE.


Hawley Keynotes American Compass New World Gala: ‘Artificial Intelligence Will Not Choose Moral Liberty’

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered the keynote address at the American Compass New World Gala, presenting on the foundation of our country and its moral covenant. He contrasted our founding with the dangers of artificial intelligence that threaten to unravel the very fabric of this nation.

Senator Hawley said, “For we are confronting now new questions of technology and science that will test our commitment to the great moral covenant that binds us together as a nation. I tell you tonight that the decisions we must soon make about the most powerful technology of our lifetimes—the technology of artificial intelligence—are among the most difficult we have yet faced as a people. These decisions will go far beyond questions of economics or policy. They are questions of labor and the family, of freedom and the value of human life. They are fundamental questions of identity—our identity; they are questions about the nature of this republic given to us by God.”

He continued, “Let me be blunt. Left to itself, artificial intelligence will not choose moral liberty. It will choose the appetite. It will gather power into the fewest hands the world has ever seen and call the result progress. That is the rule of the strong over the weak. That is the dissolution of the covenant. And it is the oldest temptation in the human story, dressed now in silicon. So we must choose. And here is the heart of what I have come to say tonight: in deciding how to govern this technology, we are not merely writing policy. We are renewing—or surrendering—the moral basis of our life together. The covenant does not keep itself. Every generation must swear it again. Ours will swear it, or break it, over artificial intelligence.”

“And let me say a word now to my own party, because the Republican Party has a choice of its own to make—perhaps the defining choice of its next half century. We can be the party of the boardroom: the party of the donor and the share price, the party that measures a man by his market value and a policy by what it does to a stock. Or we can be the party of the covenant: the party of the good, the just, and the right; the party of the worker and the family and the small town; the party that remembers our commitment to justice for all, to the sanctity of the individual, to the dignity of labor, to the priority of the poor,” he said.

Senator Hawley concluded, “For we know, in the end, that license is not liberty at all. Might does not make right. And the strong have no claim to rule the weak. For we are all endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights. And we choose to honor those rights, and the God who gave them, again in our time. That is why we will bend the arc of this technology toward the welfare of the nation, toward the welfare of our families, and our children, and of labor. We will not surrender our principles toward the technology. The technology will answer to our principles. This will happen because the American people, together, with intention, in the time still given us, choose to be a country that is more than the sum of its outputs—choose, as our forebears did on the Arbella, to live in liberty under God.”


New Op-Ed: Hawley Urges Congress to Pass His Legislation to Rescue Trafficked Kids

Hawley’s Legislation is Included in GOP Reconciliation Bill Being Voted on Today, Awaits Final Passage

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) penned an op-ed in The Daily Wire about the need to pass his legislation to combat child trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security funding bill, which the Senate is expected to vote on today, includes Senator Hawley’s provision that would allocate $108.5 million for hiring 200 child exploitation investigators and forensic analysts. Currently, DHS has only seven forensic analysts for these cases. Senator Hawley’s effort follows key advocacy from former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, who testified to Senator Hawley’s subcommittee in March about the desperate need for more resources and tools at the federal level.

Read the full op-ed here or below.

There is a quiet crisis destroying the lives of American children happening right in front of us, but about which far too few people know. It is the crisis of child sex trafficking. Tens of thousands of kids—boys and girls—are trapped in it, and most all of it takes place online.

I learned the story recently of a girl I’ll call Lisa. She was first sexually abused when she was only a toddler, just two or three. Her attacker posted degrading and graphic pictures of the abuse to the internet. That’s where federal investigators first saw her. The good news was, based on certain identifying clues in the photos, they believed they could pinpoint Lisa’s location. The bad news? The government has only a handful of investigators with forensic expertise dedicated full-time to fighting child trafficking. And the scope of the crisis is overwhelming. It’s time we did something about it.

There are thousands and thousands of children like Lisa. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recorded 20.6 million files—images, videos, and other files—of suspected child sexual abuse in 2017. In 2025, it was 61.8 million files. That’s a 200% increase in less than a decade. To give you a sense of the sheer number of abusers involved, consider this: in a single, six-month period last year, 338,000 separate IP addresses—individual online users, essentially—posted or shared images of child rape. All of that in just six months.

What does that mean in real terms? It means that tens of thousands of children are trapped and waiting to be rescued. The global police agency INTERPOL estimates there are 89,000 children for whom law enforcement have identifying images, but who have not been located. This means there are nearly 90,000 kids who could be found and rescued, if we just devoted the time and manpower to find them. How do I know it’s possible? Because of Lisa.

Investigators in her case began analyzing what they found online, zeroing in on clues in the images her abuser shared. A shadow here. The outlines of buildings there. A glimpse of playground equipment in the background of a video that one analyst recognized as unique to certain cities in the American South. They worked and analyzed and narrowed her location until, finally, they were able to find her and bring her to safety.

Lisa’s rescue was no one-off. In another case, investigators were able to isolate the audio of a bird call in the background of a video to locate and rescue a child based on the range and habitat of that particular bird. And in yet another case, federal investigators analyzed an image depicting a young victim in the backseat of a car, with a blurry highway sign through the window. Their analysis of that single sign led to a search that rescued an 11-year-old girl only thirteen days after the images were first discovered online. That’s what the best cops can do when they have the means.

It’s time we gave them what they need.

One man who has been showing the way is Tim Tebow, the former Heisman Trophy winner and football legend. His nonprofit group, the Tim Tebow Foundation, has been a powerful advocate for America’s missing and exploited children. Every year, the Tebow Foundation partners with federal law enforcement to surge resources to the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks help rescue kids. That surge means more forensic analysts, more investigators—and more children rescued.

This program has had tremendous success. But it’s only two weeks, once a year. We ought to make that surge bigger. And it’s time to make it permanent.

Tim and I have worked on legislation together to add 200 full-time cops and forensic experts to Homeland Security to analyze every piece of child abuse evidence they can get their hands on. Our legislation would also create a new training program to coordinate federal, state, and local efforts, so that all levels of law enforcement can tackle this problem together. Taken as a whole, it would constitute one of the largest investments in fighting child trafficking this country has ever made.

Congress has the opportunity to pass this legislation this week. It’s part of the latest funding package for the Department of Homeland Security, which currently awaits final votes in both the House and Senate.

The crisis we face is real, and the thousands of kids trapped in trafficking cannot wait any longer. Let’s go rescue them.


Heinrich Releases Statement Ahead of Oil and Gas Lease Sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Video Here

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement ahead of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s lease sale for the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge tomorrow, June 5, which will open up the area’s 1.56 million acres for harmful drilling:

“I've been blessed to see the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with my own eyes. It is deeply connected to the traditions and daily life of the people who have lived there for thousands of years. For wildlife, it’s essential habitat. And it’s not just a reminder of the past – it’s hope for the future. Simply put, the Arctic Refuge is the crown jewel of the American National Wildlife Refuge System and has been ever since it was set aside in 1960 by President Eisenhower to protect its wildlife.

“To all the oil and gas majors, I have a message for you: I understand you have a job to do. That job never involves drilling in America’s national parks or America’s national wildlife refuges. Don’t bid.”

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urges oil and gas executives to not bid in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Friday, June 5.

BACKGROUND

Today, no oil company holds leases on the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge. Major companies, including Chevron and BP, have abandoned their Arctic Refuge interests entirely, in some cases paying millions to walk away. Every major bank in the United States and Canada has refused to finance Arctic Refuge drilling, citing no real industry interest, extreme costs, remoteness, and decades-long bipartisan opposition.

Republicans have repeatedly tried to use Arctic drilling to help offset tax breaks for the wealthy. Trump’s first billionaire giveaway – the 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act – mandated lease sales in the Arctic Refuge that the Congressional Budget Office estimated would generate $1.8 billion. The first sale in 2021 generated less than one percent of that projected revenue, while the second in 2025 received zero bids. Republicans’ Big, Bad Bill repeated the same tactic, requiring more lease sales to pay for tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy.

The Arctic Refuge, located in northeastern Alaska, is essential habitat for the endemic wildlife that lives there. It is also deeply connected to the traditions and daily life of the people who have lived there for thousands of years.

The Coastal Plain provides critical habitat for polar bears and the Porcupine Caribou Herd, which Alaska Native and Indigenous communities, particularly the Gwich’in people, depend on for subsistence.

Earlier this year, Heinrich, along with U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), led 60 members in the Senate and House in a letter condemning the Trump administration’s plans to auction off sacred and sensitive lands within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas companies.

In December 2025, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor, stressing the need to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and urged his colleagues to vote no on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval that would upend the management plan for the Arctic Refuge, risking one of the world’s last great wild landscapes.

In October 2025, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor, blasting Republicans for pushing forward CRA resolutions of disapproval targeting BLM’s Resource Management Plans (RMPs), putting public lands and National Parks at risk from mining companies.


Hickenlooper Bashes MAGA Republicans for Blocking Amendment to End Trump’s Slush Fund for Tina Peters

Hickenlooper plans to vote NO on ICE funding bill

Submits additional amendments to redirect funding from ICE to protect Coloradans from wildfires, the increasing prices caused by the war with Iran, Trump’s tariffs

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after Republicans blocked his amendment to Republicans’ $70 billion U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding package that would permanently stop Trump from giving taxpayer-funded payouts from the DOJ’s $1.8 billion slush fund to election criminals like Tina Peters and January 6th rioters.

Hickenlooper will vote NO on the final ICE funding bill that does nothing to rein in the out-of-control agency or address the cost-of-living emergency crushing Americans.

“Republicans blocked our amendment to make sure election criminals like Tina Peters don’t see a dime of your taxpayer dollars from Trump’s slush fund,” Hickenlooper said in a video statement. “When will MAGA Republicans finally draw the line? They’d rather give taxpayer-funded bailouts to criminals who sow distrust in our elections or to insurrectionists who attacked police officers on January 6th. All while working families are struggling to pay for gas, health care, and rent. Enough is enough. Americans deserve better than this.”

Hickenlooper voted against the funding bill last month and has consistently refused to fund ICE without an overhaul of the agency. Instead of addressing the cost of living crisis impacting Americans, Republicans are rubber stamping legislation that sends $70 billion in new funding to ICE and CBP, in addition to the $75 billion Republicans already approved for ICE last summer.

Watch Hickenlooper’s interview with MS NOW about his push to permanently kill the president’s slush fund HERE.

HICKENLOOPER AMENDMENT:

Yesterday, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor in support of his amendment to permanently prevent Trump from creating a billion-dollar slush fund to give taxpayer-funded handouts to Tina Peters and January 6th insurrectionists. The Trump administration has walked back their slush fund plans but Hickenlooper still forced Republicans to vote on the record and stop the slush fund permanently.

“President Trump plans to hand out nearly two billion of YOUR taxpayer dollars to January 6 rioters, to his wealthy business partners, and to people who have attacked democracy,” said Hickenlooper. “The acting Attorney General says they’ll no longer pursue this slush fund. I don’t believe that for one second. The only promises this administration has seemed to keep are to billionaires and President Trump’s cronies.”

Click HERE to download Hickenlooper’s remarks.

ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS:

Hickenlooper introduced 12+ amendments to help Colorado fight wildfires, lower prices, stop ICE’s lawlessness, protect Coloradans’ health care, and safeguard our public lands.

Specifically, he introduced amendments to:

Stop Trump’s Corruption

Prevent Special Treatment for Trump and his Family: Hickenlooper-led amendment would undo the settlement the president made with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to create his $1.8 billion slush fund. His amendment would also bar the Department of Justice and the Department of Treasury from protecting Trump, his family, or any business affiliated with the president and his family from being investigated by the IRS.

Lower Prices for Americans

Return Tariff-taxes to the People: Hickenlooper-led amendment would zero out funding for ICE and use that funding to deliver refunds to the American people and the small businesses getting crushed by Trump’s illegal tariffs.

Secure Gas Refunds for Families: Hickenlooper-led amendment to redirect $31 billion away from ICE for immediate refunds for American consumers for high gas prices caused by Trump’s unwanted war.

Help Farmers Survive Trump’s Cost-of-Living Crisis: Hickenlooper-led amendment would redirect $1 billion away from ICE to help farmers overcome the increasingly high prices of fertilizer caused by the illegal war in Iran.

Stop ICE’s Violence and Lawlessness

Protect Kids in ICE Detention: Hickenlooper-led amendment would redirect $1 billion from Trump’s Big Bad Betrayal Act to make sure children in immigration detention receive essential care.

Force ICE to Comply with Oversight Visits: Hickenlooper-led amendment would eliminate all funding for DHS unless they rescind their restrictions obstructing Members of Congress and their staff’s congressional ability to conduct oversight visits of immigration detention facilities.

Protect DACA Recipients: Hickenlooper-backed amendment would provide $10 billion to help process DACA applications and work applications. It would also prevent any of that funding from being used to arrest, detain, deport, or remove DACA recipients.

Lower the Cost of Health Care

Protect Americans’ Health Care: Hickenlooper-led amendment would help extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credits for 2 years to protect millions of Americans’ health care after Republicans gutted the ACA to pay for the $4 trillion tax cuts.

Reverse Republicans’ Medicaid Cuts: Hickenlooper-led amendment would reallocate more than $31 billion from ICE to reverse the disastrous cuts to Medicaid that Republicans made last summer

Protect Public Lands and the Environment

Fight Wildfires: Hickenlooper-led amendment would redirect $31 billion from ICE to efforts to mitigate and fight wildfires as Colorado and the West prepare for another severe wildfire year.

Defend American Science and Public Health

Save NCAR: Hickenlooper-led amendment would redirect $1 billion from ICE to fully fund the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The amendment would stop the Trump admin’s effort to dismantle NCAR and preserve the world-class and life-saving weather research NCAR does.

Protect Our Public Health: Hickenlooper-led amendment to redirect $1 billion from ICE to help monitor and prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases.

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Hickenlooper, McCormick, Heinrich, Young Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish National Commission on Robotics

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Dave McCormick, Martin Heinrich, and Todd Young introduced the bipartisan National Commission on Robotics Act, which would create an independent commission to evaluate America’s competitiveness in robotics and recommend policies to strengthen U.S. leadership in that field. The legislation comes as America’s dependence on foreign-manufactured robotics technology raises urgent questions about supply chain security, economic competitiveness, national defense, and workforce development.

“Advancements in robotics are rapidly changing how we live and work. If America is going to lead the future, we need a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead—from supply chains and national security to workforce development,” said Hickenlooper. “Colorado is a growing robotics and innovation hub, and this legislation will help ensure we harness these technologies in ways that build opportunity, strengthen our economy, and minimize the unintended consequences.”

“Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh especially, is an incredible hub of robotics talent and demonstrates that American leadership in robotics creates high-paying jobs, strengthens domestic supply chains, and drives long-term growth,” said McCormick. “The Commission on American Leadership in Robotics will bring together leading experts to help ensure the United States maintains its technological edge over our adversaries and builds the workforce needed to succeed in a technology-driven future.”

Specifically, the commission is directed to examine and make recommendations on:

The competitiveness of the United States in robotics and the strength of the domestic marketplace.

Whether the U.S. has the appropriate means and methods to assert and maintain a technological advantage across industrial, retail, and commercial sectors.

Foreign actions and policies to advance robotics.

Whether certain strategic partnerships in robotics with industry, the public, and academic institutions could enhance economic competitiveness and manufacturing.

Workforce incentives and programs to attract and recruit leading talent in robotics and associated STEM fields.

Supply chain risks and policies to increase domestic manufacturing of robotics.

The commission will deliver an interim report to Congress and the President within one year of establishment and a final report with concrete recommendations within two years of establishment.

The National Commission on Robotics Act is supported by: Gecko Robotics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh Technology Council, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, Agility Robotics, Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Association for Advancing Automation (A3), FANUC America, Technology Councils of North America (TECNA), the Colorado Technology Association, Advanced Construction Robotics, Carnegie Robotics, Near Earth Autonomy, HEBI Robotics, Robots for America, the New American Industrial Alliance, and the Mass Technology Leadership Council.

“Robotics is poised to be one of the defining technologies of the 21st century, with profound implications for economic growth, national security and societal well-being. At a time of increasing global competition, the United States must take an ambitious and deliberate approach to maintaining its leadership in this critical field,” said Farnam Jahanian, President of Carnegie Mellon University. “Carnegie Mellon University applauds the bipartisan leadership of Senators McCormick and Hickenlooper in advancing a National Robotics Commission. By bringing together leaders from industry, academia, government and the workforce, this effort can help develop a shared national strategy that accelerates innovation, strengthens American competitiveness and ensures the benefits of robotics are broadly shared across society.”

“AUVSI commends Senators McCormick and Hickenlooper for their leadership in introducing the National Commission on Robotics Act. Robotics will be central to the future of U.S. manufacturing, productivity, and national security. With the People’s Republic of China moving strategically and aggressively to shape and win this market, the United States needs a clear national strategy to align policy, strengthen trusted industrial capacity, and compete to win. This bill is an important step toward that goal and AUVSI strongly endorses the National Commission on Robotics Act,” said Michael Robbins, President & CEO of Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).

“The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) applauds the leadership of US Senators David McCormick (R-PA) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and welcomes their introduction of legislation in the United States Senate to establish a national robotics strategy,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of A3. “The accelerated adoption of robotics, along with enabling technologies like artificial intelligence, machine vision, and motion control, will strengthen every US industry in the future. Robotics and automation are essential to bringing more manufacturing back to the US while creating better, safer and higher paying jobs for American workers.”

“Staying on the cutting edge of robotics development and deployment is critical to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. So much of the innovation in this space is being driven by entrepreneurs and small/medium-sized businesses across the country—thousands of which are served by TECNA’s member councils. We applaud Senator McCormick’s effort to create a Robotics Commission and ensure we continue to foster and leverage American ingenuity,” said Jennifer G. Young, CEO, TECNA

“FANUC America applauds Senators David McCormick (R-PA) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) for their leadership in advancing robotics,” said Mike Cicco, CEO of FANUC America. “The National Commission on Robotics Act is an important step to strengthen U.S. leadership in robotics and industrial automation. As a global leader in industrial robotics, FANUC America strongly supports federal efforts to develop a skilled workforce and accelerate the adoption of robotics across U.S. manufacturing. FANUC America is proud of its continued investments and expansion in the United States and looks forward to working with Congress to create high-quality jobs including robotics designers, technicians, and operators, while advancing initiatives that strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.”

“Robotics has the potential to power America’s manufacturing renaissance, which is why it’s critical to enact smart policy that leads the way on adoption. The National Commission on Robotics Act would do just that, by creating a bipartisan commission to assess the state of American robotics and establishing a strategy to ensure continued American robotics dominance. We thank Sen. McCormick, Sen. Hickenlooper, Congressman Obernolte, and Congresswoman McClellan for acting urgently to address this critical need,” said the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA) .

“Despite inventing the modern robotics industry, the United States currently operates less than 10% of the world’s industrial robots, which significantly threatens America’s position as the global economic leader. There’s no time to waste, which is why the creation of an independent, bipartisan commission on American leadership in robotics must be an urgent priority for US policymakers. We thank Senator McCormick, Senator Hickenlooper, Congressman Obernolte, and Congresswoman McClellan for their leadership on this effort,” said Robots for America .

“Global competition around robotics and AI is accelerating quickly, and the U.S. must move decisively to remain the global leader. A national robotics strategy is essential to strengthening American industry, infrastructure, energy, and national security, while accelerating innovation and high-skilled jobs. Gecko, from our Pittsburgh headquarters to facilities around the world, is at the forefront of companies transforming critical industries using robotics and stands firmly behind Senator McCormick and Senator Hickenlooper’s initiative,” said Jake Loosararian, Co-founder and CEO of Gecko Robotics.

“America’s robotics leadership will be built on strong research institutions, a skilled workforce, resilient supply chains, and bold entrepreneurs going after big problems. This commission is exactly the kind of federal commitment our industry needs. We strongly support this legislation and urge that workforce development, technology transfer, supply chain resilience, and academic-industry partnerships be central in its considerations.” said Audrey Russo, President and CEO, Pittsburgh Technology Council.

“Pittsburgh has been at the forefront of robotics innovation for decades, which is why Agility has made a meaningful investment in its footprint there,” said Peggy Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Agility Robotics. “Sen. McCormick and Sen. Hickenlooper’s introduction of the National Commission on Robotics Act reflects a clear understanding of the strategic importance of U.S. leadership not only in developing, but in deploying robotics, including humanoids, at scale. We hope the Senate will move swiftly on a bipartisan basis to advance this critical legislation.”

The full bill text can be found HERE.

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Hoeven: Basin Electric to Receive $27 Million For Antelope Station Under Federal Coal Support Program

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump released a $700 million plan to support the nation’s coal producers, including $27 million to modernize Basin Electric Cooperative’s Antelope Station, improving efficiency and increasing generation capacity. The funding is being made available under the Defense Production Act to ensure the nation can meet growing demand for power and to strengthen the long-term resiliency of the U.S. coal industry. To this end, the funds will be used to make upgrades to existing coal plants, help finance two new coal plants and support the construction of a coal export terminal on the West Coast.

“Coal is available 24/7, regardless of weather, providing an affordable and reliable source of electricity that can ramp up to meet demand and ensure power is available when we need it most. Today’s announcement, which includes $27 million for upgrades at Antelope Station in North Dakota, is a welcome step to support the continued resiliency of our coal producers and ensure their facilities and infrastructure can meet the growing demands on our grid,” said Senator Hoeven. “This aligns with our Crack the Code 2.0 initiative, where we are working to double the life of our coal plants while also doubling oil recovery in the Bakken. Through efforts like these, combined with the regulatory relief we’ve advanced for our energy industry, we are working to make the U.S. truly energy dominant.”

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Hoeven Pressing Forest Service to Better Manage Prairie Dogs, Prevent Impacts on Private Lands & Ranchers

WASHINGTON – During a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee this week, Senator John Hoeven pressed for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to more proactively manage prairie dog populations on USFS lands, which are impacting ranching operations and adjacent private lands. Hoeven outlined to USFS Chief Tom Schultz language he included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior Appropriations bill that calls on the agency to:

Limit prairie dog habitat to no more than 1.5 percent of federal land in any single grazing allotment.

Establish a one-mile buffer between federal lands and state and private lands.

The senator stressed that current USFS policy has not created a sufficient buffer, resulting in prairie dog encroachment upon adjacent, non-federal acres, damaging the landscape and creating a real hazard for livestock.

Schultz responded that USFS expects to release a plan in the next month, and Hoeven secured a commitment from Schultz to visit North Dakota and discuss the plan in detail with local grazing groups.

“Prairie dogs are a big problem in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands,” said Hoeven. “Our grazers are losing ground, not just on federal lands where they are permitted, but on their adjacent private lands. The existing buffer isn’t getting the job done. I appreciate that Chief Schultz is working to comply with the legislation we passed, and I look forward to reviewing the plan the Forest Service is developing, which should be released in the next month. At that time, we will arrange a meeting with the Chief to get input from our local grazers and make sure this new plan works for them.”

In addition, Hoeven thanked Schultz for USFS’ continued efforts, including those of USFS Deputy Chief Chris French, to control noxious weeds on federal lands. Hoeven continues to work to advance the $4.5 million grant to local grazing groups for weed spraying.

The senator also stressed the importance of ensuring multiple use on USFS lands, including for grazing, energy development and recreation, and highlighted that Schultz’s visit to North Dakota will be an opportunity to review and strengthen access for these important priorities.

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Kaine Unveils Amendments to Republican Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, unveiled his amendments to Senate Republicans’ budget resolution in an effort to improve the partisan megabill, which the Trump-Vance Administration is using to end-run regular order for funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

“Democrats have been advocating for common-sense guardrails for ICE and CBP to protect our communities, particularly in the wake of the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by ICE and CBP agents. But instead of negotiating, Republicans are shoehorning funding for ICE and CBP into a partisan budget reconciliation process—the same process they used last year to fund massive tax breaks for the uber-wealthy. I’m filing amendments to this legislation to add important public safety and law enforcement standards and help fix our broken legal immigration system. These include making ICE and CBP agents abide by the many of the same professional standards as local cops, getting our legal immigration backlog unstuck, providing automatic tariff refunds, and conclusively blocking President Trump’s IRS settlement slush fund.”

Kaine’s amendments would:

Provide automatic and full refunds for Trump’s illegal broad-based tariffs, which the Supreme Court struck down.

Instead of adding unnecessary funding for ICE, redirecting some of those funds to close the Pell Grant shortfall and ensure that student aid is not restricted or cut.

Conclusively prohibit implementation of the recent settlement agreement that establishes the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund, a $1.776 billion slush fund that Trump intends to use to financially reward political allies for lawless behavior.

Lower prescription drug costs.

Prohibit Trump’s family—and the families of all past and future Presidents—from being granted lifetime immunity from IRS audits.

Prevent the funding of Trump’s slush fund and instead use that money to help Americans access health care and to lower costs, including:

Funding to support rural health, in the wake of numerous health institutions facing the danger of closing after the cuts in the first Republican reconciliation bill;

Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), to help mitigate the harmful effects of the cuts from the first Republican reconciliation bill;

Funding to support low-income Americans trying to afford home energy bills, as Americans struggle with higher energy prices driven by the President’s tariffs and Iran war;

Helping veterans afford rent; and

Supporting working parents trying to pay for child care.

Redirect ICE funding to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to be used to eliminate the backlog of legal immigration applications and petitions that have accumulated during Trump’s second term in office.

Require ICE and CBP to inform and deconflict with state and local law enforcement agencies when conducting large-scale immigration enforcement operations.

Prevent ICE and CBP from entering homes without judicial warrants.

Require ICE and Border Patrol to respond timely to inquiries about the location of people they are detaining.

Require the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women to distribute approximately $150 million in so-far-undistributed Fiscal Year 2025 grants.

Kaine is also a cosponsor of an amendment filed by U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) that would prohibit ICE and CBP agents from using masks or face coverings and require such agents to identify themselves. Kaine and Warner introduced legislation to this effect last year and have been vocally pressing DHS to require that ICE and Border Patrol agents remain unmasked and identify themselves.

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Warner, Kaine, Van Hollen & Alsobrooks Raise Concerns Over Blanket Pause on Immigration Decisions Based on National Origin

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD) raised concerns over the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) blanket pause on the adjudication of immigration applications for foreign nationals from 39 countries and a re-review of cases since January 20, 2021.

In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow, Sens. Warner, Kaine, Van Hollen, and Alsobrooks wrote, “We write to express serious concern regarding U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) overbroad and indefinite pauses on completions of immigration and citizenship cases, particularly when they are based solely on national origin. Such stops in legal immigration based on arbitrary factors do not make America safer and leave immigrants, their American families, and employers in limbo due to no fault of their own.”

The senators noted that USCIS issued two policy memoranda, one on December 2, 2025, and the other on January 1, 2026, directing personnel to place a hold on all pending and future immigration benefit requests for foreign nationals from 39 countries, which has led to the indefinite pause of permanent residence petitions and applications, naturalization interviews, citizenship ceremonies, and applications for employment authorization documents, based solely on the person’s country of birth or nationality. The memoranda also ordered a “comprehensive re-review” of approved applications and petitions for individuals from these countries, if they “entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021.”

There is also increased confusion surrounding these decisions, as USCIS did not inform Congress, affected parties, or the general public about how it is conducting this pause.

The senators continued, “USCIS cannot stop adjudicating or re-adjudicate previously approved applications and petitions based solely on arbitrary factors such as the subject’s national origin, date of entry, or the type of application they filed. This approach is overbroad, imposes significant harm on immigrants and their American families and employers, and raises questions about USCIS’s discretion and operational capacity.”

The senators are especially concerned about the far-reaching impacts of the pause.

“Our offices are hearing from constituents whose naturalization interviews have been canceled, whose green card applications have stalled, and whose employment authorization documents have lapsed while awaiting renewal. These lapses in work authorization are forcing individuals out of jobs, threatening their families’ financial stability, and creating losses for employers who depend on their contributions. Additionally, individuals seeking travel documents, including advance parole, face disruptions to future travel plans,” the senators wrote. “The pause is also compounding an already significant immigration processing backlog at USCIS, which will only grow more severe the longer it continues.”

The senators also address USCIS’ May 22, 2026 press release that forces immigrants who are applying for permanent residence to “return to their home countries to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances.” This is a stark change in decades of well-established immigration law and practice on lawful permanent residence without the appropriate changes in the statute or regulations.

The letter asks a series of questions on the details of the pause, including the expected duration and number of applications and petitions subjected to it, and what USCIS’ plan is to mitigate economic harm and provide guidelines and transparency to the public. The senators are requesting a response within two weeks of receipt.

The senators concluded, “As a country, we have long pledged that individuals who follow the law and navigate our legal immigration system in good faith deserve timely and fair adjudication of their applications. Additionally, the legal requirement set forth by the Homeland Security Act requires timely adjudications by USCIS. An indefinite, nationality-based freeze on processing - without clear operational guidance, a defined timeline, or adequate transparency - undermines that commitment and imposes real consequences on families and communities across the nation. We urge USCIS to provide the requested information promptly and to take immediate steps to resume the orderly processing of immigration and naturalization applications.”

Read the full letter here and below.

Dear Secretary Mullin and Director Edlow:

We write to express serious concern regarding U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) overbroad and indefinite pauses on completions of immigration and citizenship cases, particularly when they are based solely on national origin. Such stops in legal immigration based on arbitrary factors do not make America safer and leave immigrants, their American families, and employers in limbo due to no fault of their own.

On December 2, 2025, then on January 1, 2026, USCIS issued policy memoranda directing its personnel to place a hold on all pending and future immigration benefit requests. These memoranda impose an indefinite, sweeping hold on the issuance of final decisions on immigration and naturalization applications for foreign nationals from 39 countries, impacting permanent residence (i.e., green card) petitions and applications, naturalization interviews, citizenship ceremonies, and applications for employment authorization documents, based solely on the person’s country of birth or nationality if listed in Presidential Proclamation 10949 and 10998. In addition, the memoranda ordered a “comprehensive re-review” of approved applications and petitions for individuals from these countries, if they “entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021.” The December 2nd memorandum initially placed an indefinite hold on all asylum applications, regardless of national origin, but this pause is now being applied only to asylum seekers whose national origin is reflected in the presidential proclamations. The January 1st memorandum also included a section entitled Exceptions to the Adjudication Hold, but did not include clear guidance on how applicants or legal representatives should file for such exceptions, even after requests for clarification have been made.

Furthermore, USCIS has not informed Congress, affected parties, or the general public about how it is conducting these stoppages. On April 29, press reported that USCIS has stopped approvals of pending asylum, immigration, and naturalization applications and petitions regardless of the subjects’ country of origin and ordered USCIS personnel to re-submit fingerprints if the cases began prior to April 27, 2026. It is unclear how many applications are impacted by this latest hold on approvals and how long impacted cases will be delayed. On the other hand, USCIS is now apparently adjudicating applications and petitions for foreign doctors from the 39 countries but did not announce this important update other than by a change on its website, which was done without any notice.

USCIS cannot stop adjudicating or re-adjudicate previously approved applications and petitions based solely on arbitrary factors such as the subject’s national origin, date of entry, or the type of application they filed. This approach is overbroad, imposes significant harm on immigrants and their American families and employers, and raises questions about USCIS’s discretion and operational capacity.

These memoranda provide that they were issued in the wake of the tragic shootings of National Guard members in November 2025, which resulted in the death of a servicemember and seriously injured an additional servicemember. The Administration has inappropriately and unreasonably used this isolated attack, involving a single foreign national, as justification for suspending immigration benefit processing for millions of applicants across nearly 40 countries. Imposing a blanket ban on legal immigration processing based on the actions of a single individual is neither proportionate nor consistent with due process principles that undergird our immigration system.

The impacts of this pause are far-reaching and growing. Individuals who are lawfully present in the U.S., many of whom have already undergone extensive, multi-step background checks, interviews, and security screenings, now face indefinite uncertainty through no fault of their own. Our offices are hearing from constituents whose naturalization interviews have been canceled, whose green card applications have stalled, and whose employment authorization documents have lapsed while awaiting renewal. These lapses in work authorization are forcing individuals out of jobs, threatening their families’ financial stability, and creating losses for employers who depend on their contributions. Additionally, individuals seeking travel documents, including advance parole, face disruptions to future travel plans. The pause is also compounding an already significant immigration processing backlog at USCIS, which will only grow more severe the longer it continues.

Of particular concern, both memoranda direct USCIS to “conduct a comprehensive re review of all approved benefit requests” for nationals of the designated countries in Presidential Proclamation 10949 and 10998 and that were approved on or after January 20, 2021, the start of the prior Administration’s term. This retroactive re-review effectively calls into question every immigration benefit granted to individuals from these countries over the past five years, completely ignoring that these approvals followed well-established, lawful procedures and thorough vetting at the time. Reopening previously adjudicated cases on the sole basis of national origin undermines the finality of agency action, destabilizes the lives of individuals who reasonably relied on those decisions, and raises serious questions about whether this review is motivated by legitimate security concerns or by a blanket presumption that prior approvals were deficient.

With respect to immigrant visa applicants, USCIS has provided no legal analysis as to how these policies comply with the prohibition in section 202(a)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on discrimination “in the issuance of an immigrant visa because of the person's race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence.” According to reports, USCIS has also issued guidance that national origin is “a significant negative factor” for consideration of applications and petitions for immigration benefits from within the United States, including green card applications. It must be noted that while many applicants may have been born in one of the currently listed “high-risk” countries, these same applicants also hold passports from second countries where they have lived and held ties to for several years, but are being castigated for where their birth is registered.

We also note that both memoranda committed USCIS to issuing operational guidance within 90 days of issuance. The deadlines for both memoranda have passed, yet to our knowledge no such guidance has been published. The agency provided a March 30, 2026 update, yet it read vague and did not issue real guidance for impacted individuals. The absence of clear operational procedures raises serious questions about the agency’s capacity to administer this policy and the timeline for resuming normal adjudications.

Finally, USCIS issued yet another policy memorandum on May 21, 2026, that attempts to change decades of well-established immigration law and practice on lawful permanent residence without the requisite changes in the statute or regulations. While the memorandum itself does not explicitly state what it is trying to do, the May 22 press release announcing the memorandum makes it clear that the goal of this memorandum is to force immigrants who are applying for permanent residence to “return to their home countries to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances.”

However, for decades, the Immigration and Nationality Act has allowed immigrants who have been “inspected, admitted, and paroled” into the United States to “adjust” their status to lawful permanent residence. Under both Democratic and Republican administrations since the 1950s, millions of immigrants who met the statutory criteria for adjustment of status have become lawful permanent residents without having to leave the U.S. for an indefinite period of time to apply from abroad. For example, in Fiscal Years 2018 to 2020, during President Trump’s first administration, 1,579,606 immigrants became lawful permanent residents through the adjustment status process.

The May 21 policy memorandum caused a firestorm of concern from those eligible for adjustment of status, as well as their U.S. families and employers who are at risk of lengthy separation from their loved ones or valued employees. A USCIS spokesperson later suggested that green card applicants in the U.S. who will provide an "economic benefit" or serve the "national interest" would be allowed to complete their lawful permanent residence process without having to leave the U.S. It is unclear whether USCIS leadership reviewed this subsequent clarification, since immigration law does not require “economic benefit” or “national interest” for adjustment of status.

In light of these concerns, we respectfully request that you provide written responses to the following questions within two weeks of receiving this letter:

What is the anticipated duration of the adjudication stops? What has been the impact of the fingerprint resubmission requirement on the duration? What specific conditions or benchmarks must be met before USCIS resumes normal processing of applications and petitions?

How many applications and petitions are currently subject to the adjudication stops? Please break out this number by form numbers (e.g. N-400, I-130, I-589, etc.) and country of nationality and birth.

How many employment authorization document renewal requests have been impacted? How long have these requests been pending? Please break this number down by the employment authorization category (i.e., whether the application is associated with a pending asylum application, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, etc.). What steps is USCIS taking to mitigate economic harm to these individuals and their employers?

What is the status of the operational guidance that USCIS committed to issuing within 90 days of each memorandum? When does USCIS expect to publish this guidance?

Given that the Presidential Proclamation itself does not apply to dual nationals, what is the legal justification for applying the pause to individuals who are dual nationals applying with a passport from a non-travel ban country?

Please provide a copy of any guidance, memoranda, or written policy reflecting that the previous hold on all asylum applications now only applies to individuals whose national origin is reflected in the presidential proclamations. What steps has USCIS taken to effectuate this policy change? Please provide the number of asylum applications processed, broken down by nationality and country of origin since the pause was lifted.

What is USCIS’s projected impact on the agency’s processing backlog as a result of the travel ban pause and the fingerprint resubmission process, and what resources have been allocated to address the anticipated surge in adjudications once the hold is lifted?

Both memoranda direct a comprehensive re-review of all immigration benefits approved on or after January 20, 2021. How many previously approved cases are subject to this retroactive review? What specific deficiencies in the original adjudications, if any, has USCIS identified to warrant reopening these cases, and what criteria will USCIS use to determine whether a previously approved benefit should be revoked? What is the expected timeframe for completing this re-review? What type of notice will individuals receive if their case is subject to re-review? Would an individual's status at present be affected when flagged for re-review?

How many naturalization interviews, citizenship oath ceremonies, and interviews for lawful permanent residence have been canceled or postponed since December 2, 2025, as a result of these memoranda? Please break down this data by country of nationality and states in which these applicants reside.

Please provide the number of individuals who have been sent a Request for Evidence, Notice of Intent to Deny, or denial based on the new policy considering national origin “a significant negative factor,” broken down by country of nationality, country of origin, and associated form type.

The President rolled out an expedited pathway to lawful permanent resident status via the “gold card”. Without any clear legal authority, DHS announced this new path to citizenship for “qualified individuals and corporations, who contribute $1 million and $2 million respectively . . .” Will the adjudication hold apply to gold card applicants?

Will USCIS apply the May 21, 2026 memorandum to individuals who already filed I-485 applications for adjustment of status and are currently present in the United States?

The May 21, 2026 memorandum provides that USCIS “may” provide specific guidance as to whether applications “may or may not warrant [an] act of grace and exception to the regular consular process.” When does USCIS plan to issue this guidance and will it be made public?

As a country, we have long pledged that individuals who follow the law and navigate our legal immigration system in good faith deserve timely and fair adjudication of their applications. Additionally, the legal requirement set forth by the Homeland Security Act requires timely adjudications by USCIS. An indefinite, nationality-based freeze on processing - without clear operational guidance, a defined timeline, or adequate transparency - undermines that commitment and imposes real consequences on families and communities across the nation. We urge USCIS to provide the requested information promptly and to take immediate steps to resume the orderly processing of immigration and naturalization applications.

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Kelly, Cruz, Slotkin introduce Bipartisan Bill to Preserve MQ-9 Aircraft Mission

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced the Sustainment of Unmanned Systems, Total Force Aircraft Inventory, and National Guard Protection (SUSTAIN) Act to prohibit the Air Force from reducing MQ-9 units or staffing levels in ways that would erode their current operational capabilities.

“This aircraft is a critical platform for the Arizona National Guard to gather intelligence, conduct surveillance, and perform strike missions. We must invest in the best tools that strengthen our national security,” said Kelly. “With this bill we’re making sure servicemembers have the equipment they need at a time of growing global threats.”

“The MQ-9 is a proven, cost-effective platform that provides critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. In Texas, they were invaluable after the devastating July 4, 2025, floods, when the Texas Air National Guard’s 147th Attack Wing deployed the MQ-9 to support search, rescue, and recovery operations along the Guadalupe River. I am proud to introduce this legislation to protect the MQ-9’s operational capabilities and preserve this vital asset,” said Cruz.

“Protecting Air National Guard missions has been a priority for me since my time in the House. The message is simple: don’t take away missions from the National Guard until you have a plan to replace it. The same rule applies here. I’m glad to have bipartisan support to protect these missions and the servicemembers that form the backbone of our military, including at Battle Creek in Michigan. The SUSTAIN Act holds the Air Force to a basic standard: show us the plan before you start cutting people and planes. Our National Guard units deserve that, and our national security will be stronger because of it,” said Slotkin.

Representative Brian Babin (R-TX-36) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“The 147th Attack Wing at Ellington Field in my district represents exactly why this effort is urgently needed,” saidBabin. “MQ-9 units have provided the nation with persistent ISR, strike, and other critical capabilities that strengthen our national defense. The platform that delivers this capability may evolve over time, but we cannot allow the capability, expertise, and readiness these Airmen provide to disappear without a clear and responsible path forward. I am proud to lead this effort in the House alongside Senators Cruz and Kelly to ensure these units are not left behind. At a time when our adversaries are growing more aggressive, we should not weaken our military or hollow out proven capabilities. I will keep fighting to protect Ellington Field, strengthen our Air National Guard, and ensure the United States remains the strongest and most feared military power on Earth.”

“The Air National Guard’s MQ-9 enterprise provides critical combat capability, homeland defense support, and operational experience that cannot be easily replaced,” said President of the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), MG (Ret.) Francis McGinn. “Two weeks ago, the Air Force Chief of Staff referenced the MQ-9 as the “MVP” of the US air campaign against Iran in Operation Epic Fury. The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) fully supports Senator Cruz and Senator Kelly’s legislation. Any effort to retire or reduce MQ-9 aircraft and units must be accompanied by a clear, funded modernization or recapitalization strategy that preserves Air National Guard MQ-9 capacity and readiness. A recapitalization plan developed in partnership with National Guard leadership will help ensure Air National Guard MQ-9 units remain ready, capable, and part of the future force.”

Background:

The Sustainment of Unmanned Systems, Total Force Aircraft Inventory, and National Guard Protection (SUSTAIN) Act prohibits the U.S. Air Force from reducing MQ-9 aircraft, units, or staffing levels from the date of enactment through September 30, 2032. The bill provides an exception for MQ-9 aircraft that are determined to be no longer mission-capable and too costly to repair due to a critical malfunction or if an MQ-9 unit undergoes a change of mission.


WATCH: In EPW Subcommittee Hearing, Kelly Pushes for Rural Transportation Planning Support and Better Roads on Tribal Lands

This week, during a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee hearing on the Federal Highways Administration’s (FHWA) proposed FY27 budget, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly pressed for the need to strengthen transportation planning resources for rural communities and improve road infrastructure on tribal lands.

Kellyhighlighted how rural communities are often left behind in the transportation planning process becauseRegional Transportation Planning Organizations(RTPOs) do notreceive dedicatedfederalfunding: “Years ago, Congress created an equivalent program for rural communities called ‘regional transportation planning organizations’ but there’s never been dedicated funding provided in the highway trust fund to fund them. I think that’s been a real disservice to rural communities; it’s another way where they’re just left behind. Projects that go through a local planning process are delivered more efficiently with fewer delays and have more community support and all of that likely means that projects can be delivered at lower costs when we do this and we fund them.”

Kellyraised concerns about the poor conditions of roads on the Navajo Nationand the challenges they create for students and essential services: “As you know, many roads on tribal lands are in very poor shape. On the Navajo Nation, we have hundreds of miles of unpaved, poorly maintained roads. They often wash out in rainstorms, school buses get stuck taking kids to and from school, and even teachers have a hard time getting to these schools, so it’s hard to find teachers who want to work on the Navajo Nation because the roads are so poor. Kids there then get a poorer education. All of this is a real problem, and I think we need to look at how the tribal transportation program, managed by the Federal Highway Administration, can help fix this. We need to make sure that this program is well funded, but we also need to make sure that tribes aren’t bogged down in undue permitting processes.”

Sen. Kelly questions witnesses at an EPW Committee hearing.

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

Senator Kelly:

Mr. McMaster, thank you for being here today. I want to discuss transportation planning in rural communities. To help facilitate transportation planning and local buy-in, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, or MPOs, bring local leaders together in urban areas to identify regional transportation priorities.

Would you agree that these MPOs are effective at bringing together local leaders to develop and execute projects?

Federal Highways Administrator Sean McMaster:

Yes, metropolitan planning organizations and rural transportation planning organizations play an important role in making sure that not only local but state transportation plans are developed consistent with the priorities of all of the communities within the state.

Kelly:

I agree, and that’s why MPOs get dedicated funding out of the highway trust fund. But MPOs only exist in urban areas, and small cities and rural communities often get left out. Years ago, Congress created an equivalent program for rural communities called Regional Transportation Planning Organizations but there has never been dedicated funding provided in the highway trust fund to fund them. And I think that’s been a real disservice to rural communities and is another way where they’re just left behind.

Projects that go through a local planning process are delivered more efficiently, with fewer delays and have more community support, and all of that likely means that projects can be delivered at lower costs.

So, Administrator McMaster, in your experience as a transportation professional, do you think that dedicated planning funding would help rural communities deliver projects faster and at a lower cost?

McMaster:

I do know that these rural communities and the RTPOs work closely with their state partners. If you’re considering that in reauthorization or other legislation, we’d be happy to work with you and provide technical assistance as to what that could mean and how that could be implemented.

Kelly:

Has the Federal Highway Administration looked at opportunities to provide dedicated transportation planning funding to RTPOs to ensure that these entities have the resources to provide quality support for rural communities?

McMaster:

We do provide technical assistance within our division offices for our rural transportation planning organizations. As far as specific funding, I’m not aware of that. But we do provide technical assistance and work closely with the RTPOs in the planning process.

Kelly:

Well, let me just say I hope that we can look for opportunities to work together on this to make sure rural communities have the support they need. And we’re going to look for opportunities in the surface transportation bill to do this.

I also want to ask a question about the challenges facing tribal communities. As you know, many roads on tribal lands are in very poor shape. On the Navajo Nation, we have hundreds of miles of unpaved, poorly maintained roads. They often wash out in rainstorms, school buses get stuck taking kids to and from school, and even teachers have a hard time getting to these schools, so it’s hard to find teachers who want to work on the Navajo Nation because the roads are so poor. Kids there then get a poorer education. All of this is a real problem, and I think we need to look at how the tribal transportation program, managed by the Federal Highway Administration, can help fix this. We need to make sure that this program is well funded, but we also need to make sure that tribes aren’t bogged down in undue permitting processes.

So, Administrator McMaster, is it accurate to assume that most tribal transportation projects take place on tribal trust land?

McMaster:

That’s my understanding, but I share your interest in supporting our tribal nations across the country. It’s a significant need that they have. Resources are challenging for tribal communities. We have a number of programs directly addressing tribal needs and tribal projects, and we look forward to working with you to address these needs further.

Kelly:

Thank you for that. I’ve spent a good amount of time on the Navajo Nation in Arizona. It’s almost as big as West Virginia and has a population of 225,000 tribal members, so it’s incredibly rural with significant challenges delivering services, and power, water and roads are such a challenge. To get these roads improved and to get a company up there to do the work, it’s often twice as expensive as getting it done in Maricopa County.

I appreciate your willingness to work with us on this to improve the infrastructure on these tribal lands. Thank you.


Kim Amendments Demand Justice at Delaney Hall, Republicans Instead Hand Billions More to ICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Senate Republicans worked to hand billions more to Trump’s ICE, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) pushed solutions to ensure accountability and justice at Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey and around the country. During a marathon voting session, the Senator filed amendments to end inhumane treatment in the facility, improve medical care at all ICE detention facilities, and require de-escalation training for ICE officials, and more.

On the Senate Floor, Senator Kim spoke about one of the many detainees he met who is suffering without proper medical care. Senator Kim shared: “Only after he and other detainees protested and got the nation’s attention was he able to get released this week from Delaney…There are many of these type of stories at Delaney Hall. This amendment would have an audit of conditions at Delaney and require the for-profit company GEO Group, who is getting nearly a $1 billion contract for that facility to fix the problems or risk not getting any taxpayer dollars.”

Watch Senator Kim’s Full Remarks

Specifically, Senator Kim’s amendments would:

Ensure the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Office of Inspector General conduct audits of the conditions at Delaney Hall and require GEO Group, the private company that runs Delaney Hall, to address concerns or risk not getting a single additional taxpayer dollar.

Demand that ICE and CBP provide proper and prompt medical care to the detainees in their custody.

Require annual de-escalation training hours for interactions with civilians, detainees, and protestors, and provides funding to audit whether that training is being appropriately implemented in the field.

Prohibit DHS from using funds anymore tax dollars to purchase a warehouse or to repurpose, operate, staff, or maintain already purchased warehouses like the one ICE has threatened to build in Roxbury, New Jersey.

Investigate the lawless actions of DHS agents who have arrested, killed, detained, or deported U.S. citizens.

Last week, Senator Kim led members of the New Jersey Democratic Congressional delegation in sending a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche outlining a series of demands for immediate action and accountability, and to end ICE brutality and inhumane detention at Delaney Hall.

The letter built on months of work by Senator Kim to close Delaney Hall and end inhumane detention across the country, including hisoversight visits this past week and previous inspections and direct conversations with those detained. During committee mark-up, Senator also filed a series of reforms to rein in the Trump administration’s lawless ICE, including specifically to end inhumane detention at Delaney Hall, and introduced a package of legislation to end warehouse detention nationwide and prevent taxpayer dollars from funding ICE’s lawlessness.

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